© 2016 by Roseanna M. White
Published by Bethany House Publishers
11400 Hampshire Avenue South
Bloomington, Minnesota 55438
Bethany House Publishers is a division of
Baker Publishing Group, Grand Rapids, Michigan
Ebook edition created 2016
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4412-2945-8
Scripture quotations are from the King James Version of the Bible.
This is a work of historical reconstruction; the appearances of certain historical figures are therefore inevitable. All other characters, however, are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Cover design by Jennifer Parker
Cover photography by Mike Habermann Photography, LLC
Author represented by The Steve Laube Agency
To my childhood friends,
Brittney, Jennifer, Melissa, Elisa, Christy, Lisa.
We traveled many years together, grew together, became who we are together. And though now we’ve drifted apart, nothing can ever change the memories forged in the innocence of childhood. That’s a magic no amount of time can ever erase.
Contents
Cover
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication
Character List
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
Sixteen
Seventeen
Eighteen
Nineteen
Twenty
Twenty-One
Twenty-Two
Twenty-Three
Twenty-Four
Twenty-Five
Twenty-Six
Epilogue
Author’s Note
About the Author
Books by Roseanna White
Back Ads
Back Cover
Character List
Rowena’s Family | |
Rowena Kinnaird | Daughter of Douglas and Nora Kinnaird. |
The Earl of Lochaber and Chief of Clan Kinnaird | Rowena’s father. Given name of Douglas Kinnaird, and though he should officially always be addressed as Lord Lochaber or Lochaber, he prefers his clan title to his peerage one and often answers to “the Kinnaird.” |
Nora | Rowena’s mother, deceased. Called Lady Lochaber while she lived. American-born. |
The Countess of Lochaber | Rowena’s stepmother. Given name of Elspeth. Called Lady Lochaber. |
Annie | Rowena’s stepsister, daughter of Elspeth. Given name of Annys. |
Lilias Cowan | Rowena’s lady’s maid and distant Kinnaird cousin. |
Malcolm Kinnaird | Rowena’s third cousin and the heir to the chiefdom of Clan Kinnaird. |
Brice’s Family | |
Brice Myerston | The Duke of Nottingham. Called Nottingham or Duke. Called Brice by family. |
Charlotte, the (Dowager) Duchess of Nottingham | Brice’s mother. Called Duchess or Duchess of Nottingham by peers, Your Grace by the public, Charlotte by friends. Her family (family name Brice) was from Scotland—Highland ancestral home, Gaoth Lodge. |
Lady Ella Myerston | Brice’s younger sister. Called Lady Ella. |
Other Characters | |
Duke and Duchess of Stafford | Brice’s closest friends. Brook and Justin from The Lost Heiress . Young son, William—usually referred to as Lord Abingdon. |
The Earl of Whitby | Brook’s father, called Lord Whitby, Whitby, or Whit. |
The Earl of Cayton | Justin’s cousin. Given name is James, called Cayton. A recent widower. Infant daughter, Addie. Deceased wife, Adelaide. |
Lady Pratt | Widowed viscountess. Called Lady Pratt by most, Catherine or Kitty by friends. |
Lord Rushworth | Catherine’s brother, given name of Crispin. Called Lord Rushworth, Rushworth, or Rush. |
Geoff Abbott | Brice’s oldest friend; soon to be a vicar in Bristol. Called Mr. Abbott or Abbott by most, Geoff by his sister and father. |
Stella Abbott | Ella’s oldest friend; soon to be a governess in Hertfordshire. Called Miss Abbott by most, Stella by friends. |
Old Abbott | Steward of Midwynd Park; father of Geoff and Stella. |
Davis | Brice’s valet. |
Lewis | Ella’s lady’s maid. |
Lapham | Charlotte’s lady’s maid. |
Mr. Gordon | Butler at Gaoth Lodge. |
Mr. Macnab | Jeweler in Lochaber. |
Mr. Child | Butler at Midwynd Park. |
Mrs. Granger | Housekeeper at Midwynd Park. |
Mr. Morris | The constable in Brighton. |
One
A
UGUST
1912
L
OCHABER
, H
IGHLANDS
, S
COTLAND