CHAPTER ONE
London,18th March 1787
Abigail Clarkson felt her eyes burn with tiredness as she read the words of the book her father had recommended. It will be good for your education, he had told her, as he placed the thick volume in her hands. But a book on marine insurance was not the best way to keep her awake.
After all, she was exhausted. Getting her mother to drop her insistence on attending at least one ball that season had been in vain. And although it was the only reason they had extended their stay in London, Abbie didn’t share her mother’s obsession with seeing her married.
She closed the book, blew out the candle next to her bed and lay down. She lay her head on the pillow, releasing a scent of fresh linen that filled her senses, enveloping her with the pleasant aroma.
As she drifted off to sleep, a clamour coming from the floor below made her sit up straight in bed. Listening into the darkness, with her head turned to the door, Abbie’s heart pounded with force. The silence broke again when a shrill sound echoed through the room, followed by the unmistakable cry of a woman, sending a shiver through her as she recognised her mother’s voice.
Abbie jumped out of bed andran to the door, but as she got closer, she heard footsteps and a man’s voice, followed by a thud that sounded like a sack of flour falling to the ground.
She pressed her ear to the door, trying to hear what was happening on the other side. As the footsteps approached her room, she stepped back and stared at the door. The line of light coming from the hallway dimmed as the sound of the footsteps got closer and closer. The doorknob began to turn slowly.
She looked around for a place to hide. She saw the dressing screen and ran to hide behind it, flattening herself against the wall. She stayed as still as possible. Her heart was pounding so hard she could feel it echoing in her head.
CHAPTER ONE
London,18th March 1787
Abigail Clarkson felt her eyes burn with tiredness as she read the words of the book her father had recommended. It will be good for your education, he had told her, as he placed the thick volume in her hands. But a book on marine insurance was not the best way to keep her awake.
After all, she was exhausted. Getting her mother to drop her insistence on attending at least one ball that season had been in vain. And although it was the only reason they had extended their stay in London, Abbie didn’t share her mother’s obsession with seeing her married.
She closed the book, blew out the candle next to her bed and lay down. She lay her head on the pillow, releasing a scent of fresh linen that filled her senses, enveloping her with the pleasant aroma.
As she drifted off to sleep, a clamour coming from the floor below made her sit up straight in bed. Listening into the darkness, with her head turned to the door, Abbie’s heart pounded with force. The silence broke again when a shrill sound echoed through the room, followed by the unmistakable cry of a woman, sending a shiver through her as she recognised her mother’s voice.
Abbie jumped out of bed andran to the door, but as she got closer, she heard footsteps and a man’s voice, followed by a thud that sounded like a sack of flour falling to the ground.
She pressed her ear to the door, trying to hear what was happening on the other side. As the footsteps approached her room, she stepped back and stared at the door. The line of light coming from the hallway dimmed as the sound of the footsteps got closer and closer. The doorknob began to turn slowly.
She looked around for a place to hide. She saw the dressing screen and ran to hide behind it, flattening herself against the wall. She stayed as still as possible. Her heart was pounding so hard she could feel it echoing in her head.
