Page 34 (1/2)

Prologue

Scotland, 1817…

“Lord preserve us, milady! Surely a creature such as this one will not hesitate to attack us! Is it wise to feed it?”

Ignoring the overly dra of Sarah, her lady’s maid, Lady Phoebe Francesca Maitland, lowered a piece of succulent roast onto the snow-covered ground near the creature in question It appeared to be a wolf, and the very first one she’d ever seen outside of a picture book The large gray and black animal seemed half-starved, pained, its upper lips curved into a vicious snarl even as a tear leaked from its eye

Despite the chill in the air, Phoebe unhooked her dark green redingote, spread it to the ground, and lowered to her knees to peer at the animal hidden in the underbrush It stared back at her, its dark eyes piercing and cautious Phoebe carefully pushed the piece of roast closer, hoping to te She could see its ribs, yet the creature would not co she had bid Sarah secure from one of their picnic baskets

“Please eat,” she whispered, her throat aching “It ry, and you are stubborn I can see the drool on your mouth”

The large beast whined and pushed back even further into the bushes Had it been abused? She dearly hoped not “Why won’t you eat?”

“The person who has been watching atop the hill is co closer, milady!”

Sarah sounded appropriately alaro that she had spied so down at them Since that person had made no effort to approach, Phoebe had not been too terribly worried There were a couple of foot distance if assistance was needed

“Is it a gentleman or a lady, Sarah?”

“I cannot tell as yet,lady,” Sarah said, shifting cautiously closer but still a fair distance from the creature she seemed to believe would rip their throats out at anyus”

The sound of a boot heel crunching into the snow echoed behind her

“Are Jeffers and Thomas still nearby?” Phoebe asked of the footmen who had kept a discreet but protective distance as she had walked away froes

“Yes, milady”

The determined crunch of footfall halted, yet Phoebe did not turn around

“It’s best to leave it alone,” a soft, lilting voice said “That dog has no will to live anymore I’ve tried to feed it these last few days, and it refuses wholeheartedly”

A dog? She dipped even lower and shifted a shrubbery coated with snow to assess the animal further It was then she noted a collar around its neck with so “Why does it have no will?”

“The dog’s , and it seems the beast wants to follow” The tone was now perplexed and even edged with frustration

Phoebe released the snow-covered branch, pushed to her feet, and turned to face the owner of that lilting voice A young girl of about sixteen years or perhaps younger, as dressed in trousers, stood with her feet braced apart, glorious red curls tu over her shoulders and down to her back in wild disarray Large gray eyes returned Phoebe’s regard boldly

“You sound very unaffected at the notion of so her beloved oldest brother, Francis, a few years ago still lingered in her heart Many days she would lie on the grass at her family’s country hoh, his warather her in his ar At the lack of response, Phoebe surmised that no, this lady was not at all concerned hoever lingered at death’s door

“Then why isn’t this poor beast by its master’s side?”

“Doctor’s orders,” she said tersely