Chapter One

Kate Dawes should have been content with life.  She had a father whom she loved greatly, good friends, and the satisfaction of knowing her place in the world.  As a vicar's daughter, she was seen by others in the small town of Hawthorne as respectable, pleasant, and well-mannered.  Her skill at the piano was unrivaled, and her beauty had made her the talk of the county.

Why then, she wondered, did she feel so discontented?  Lately she had been feeling so...unsettled, unsure of herself.  Her family and friends were no longer enough to complete her world.  Oh, she had gotten plenty of offers of marriage, many from men that she liked and respected, but she had known that she did not love them and had politely refused.

She left her house one day, contemplating her situation.  Perhaps a visit to her aunt in London this spring would cheer her mood, she thought to herself.  Her aunt had offered, but Kate didn't think she should leave her father for so long.  Maybe next year...

Kate followed the path behind her house through the woods, stopping occasionally to pick a flower or admire a bird singing in the trees.  Her gaze was suddenly drawn to the pasture on the far side of the path, and was surprised to see a man and a horse standing by the side of the fence.

"Oh," she gasped.  "Who are you?"  Then annoyed at being surprised on her solitary walk, she added, "This land belongs to Viscount Pembroke.  Do you have his permission to be here?"

"I should think so," he replied arrogantly.  "I'm Pembroke, and I believe you're trespassing on my land."  The man's eyes narrowed as he looked at Kate, a clear look of annoyance on his face.

Kate shook her head disbelievingly.  "Lord Pembroke is at least 60 years old!  And he's always allowed others to take this path across his land."

The man sighed.  "My uncle passed away last week.  I was his heir, and am now Pembroke."

"Oh," she whispered in embarrassment.  "I hadn't heard.  I am very sorry...I'll just be leaving now."  She turned and fled.

"Wait!" he cried, but she had disappeared into the woods.

The next day, Kate met her friend Hester Bainbridge for tea.  Hester was the squire's daughter, and not known for her beauty.  She was a friendly girl, though, and her painting skill had made her marginally famous among the county's elite.  Hester was cursed with a matchmaking mother, though, who never ceased to push her daughter forward in the most embarrassing ways.  The times that she could escape to the vicarage to visit her friend Kate were the few peaceful moments she had these days.

Kate set her teacup down with a rattle.  "Lord, Hester, it was so embarrassing.  Here I was, practically accusing the man of trespassing on his own property.  And then I accuse him of not being Lord Pembroke.  He must have thought I was an idiot." 

Hester smiled at her friend.  "It could have been worse.  He could have charged you with trespassing!"

"It's not funny, Hester!" Kate cried.  A mischievous smile crossed her face, though, and she could not stay angry at her friend.  She sighed and leaned back in her chair.    "Oh, I do hope he doesn't stay long.  I don't think I could face seeing him again."

"I have some bad news for you then," Hester said solemnly.  "I heard from Mrs. Jenkins that Lord Pembroke plans on staying indefinitely, and that he'll be broadening his acquaintance with the local gentry."

"What?" Kate cried.  Her brother, Freddie, looked up in surprise from where he was playing before the hearth.  Kate groaned.  There would be no avoiding meeting Lord Pembroke again... 

Chapter Two