CHAPTER 1
December 1888
Yorkshire, England
LADY ROSALYND
“MUST YOU GO, ROSIE?” Petunia's tearful voice quivered as she buried her face in my gown. No surprise that the fabric was quickly dampened by her flood of tears.
Her grief was not entirely unexpected. After our parents had been tragically killed six years ago, I’d taken on the role of caretaker for my siblings, a responsibility I wore proudly. For all intents and purposes, I was the only mother Petunia had ever known, and each parting, no matter how brief, felt monumental to her. So it was no surprise she dreaded a separation.
I crouched down to Petunia's level, gently lifting my sister's chin so I could look into her eyes. "I’ll only be gone for three days, poppet,” I soothed, brushing a stray copper curl from her tear-streaked cheek. "I promise I’ll return in time for Sundayservice. I’ll be but ten miles away at Lady Eleanor's home, barely a two-hour drive. If something dire occurs, Cosmos can send word, and I’ll return at once."
Petunia sniffed, her small lips trembling. "But what if something happens toyou?”
I chuckled softly, placing a kiss on her forehead. "Nothing will happen to me, my sweet. The roads from here to Lady Eleanor’s home are well maintained, and no snow is expected.”
Logical as my arguments were, she was not about to concede her grievance. “But what if a highwayman accosts you?”
I arched a brow. “A highwayman? Who put that thought in your head?”
Laurel’s cheeks turned bright red. My twelve-year-old sister loved to read novels, the more lurid the better. I tried to hide them, as they were not proper reading materials for her, but she always managed to find them in our vast library. But now was not the time to call her out on it. Not when Petunia’s concern needed to be addressed. In as kind a voice as I could manage, I said, “There are no highwaymen in Yorkshire, sweetheart.”
“But—”
The grandfather clock in the drawing room chimed, reminding me of the hour. “No more, poppet. I have to leave. I promised Eleanor I’d arrive at Needham Hall before luncheon. You don’t want me to disappoint her, do you?”
She sniffed once more. “No.”
“You’ll be in good hands here with Chrissie.” My next younger sister dearly loved Petunia, indeed all of her siblings. I could rely on her to care for them. “And Cosmos as well.”
Petunia scoffed. “Cosmos spends all his time with his plants. He hardly knows I exist.”
Our oldest brother, the Earl of Rosehaven, was an avowed botanist who spent an inordinate amount of time in his greenhouse. But then, it was for a good reason. He’d becomesuch an expert in British flora, Scotland Yard regularly consulted him when a thorny problem arose.
“I might starve,” Petunia insisted in dramatic fashion.
“I doubt that, Petunia,” Laurel said. “He shows up for all his meals, so he’s bound to notice if you weren’t eating.”
Chrissie curled an arm around Petunia’s shoulders. “I’ll make sure you don’t starve, sweetheart. I’ll ask Cook to bake plenty of fairy cakes just for you.” Fairy cakes were Petunia’s favorites.
That brightened up Petunia to no end. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
I smiled at Chrissie, grateful for her effort, though I knew my absence would be harder on her than she let on.
Glancing once more at the gathered group in front of the drawing room hearth, I addressed my sisters with a reassuring nod, "I expect you to be on your best behavior while I’m away. That means no teasing Petunia and no arguing with Chrissie. While I’m gone, she’ll be in charge. Understood?"
The twins Holly and Ivy exchanged mischievous glances, but answered “Understood,” readily enough.
“It’s not fair.” Laurel, ever the rebel, piped up.
“What’s not fair?”
“We get admonished while our brothers are not even here to say goodbye.”
“Of course, we’re here,” Cosmos said, entering the drawing room with William and Fox in his wake. “We couldn’t very well let Rosie leave without saying goodbye.” He strolled over to me and kissed my cheek. “Enjoy yourself, sister. Don’t worry about them. I’ll make sure they don’t set themselves on fire or poison anyone.”