Prologue – July 1875
The sun began to set, dappling the forest floor with light. Behind a large birch a young girl peeked out, stifling her giggles. She watched as a youth walked through the woods, his gaze scanning the forest. Just as he approached the tree she jumped out in his path, causing him to start and then sigh in exasperation:
"Rachel Darcy; Your father is looking for you and as usual you are playing silly games."
"Oh shush, George. You're just annoyed because I scared you." She grinned smugly.
"You didn't scare me" he replied defensively
"Oh please..." she raised her eyebrows in a way that always annoyed him
"I'm just sick of having to chase after you in this weather!" he replied angrily, pulling at his sweat-stained shirt.
"Oh dear, you do look like you could do with a swim." she giggled. George narrowed his eyes and darted back just in time to take the force out of her shove. Had he not, he would have fallen straight into the high-flowing river behind him.
His gaze darkened, "Oh, you're in for it now" he growled and ran towards her. She squealed with delight, hiking up her skirts and sprinting along the bank. George chased after her, quickly gaining ground. Rachel heard a sudden curse. She looked around to see George sprawled on the ground holding his ankle gingerly. She furrowed her brow and cautiously came back.
"George! Are you alright?" she said moving towards him before shrieking as he jumped up and pulled her to sprawl beside him.
"Gotcha" he crowed "you can always rely on a woman's sensitive side" he chuckled.
"Oh stop, I knew it was a ruse, I just decided to take pity on you" she returned smugly
"There you go, still your sensitive side" George grinned. Rachel thumped him in the arm and he winced "Hey!"
"Sensitive enough for you?" She asked innocently.
"You're lucky I'm such a forgiving fellow, Rachel. Really, I'm doing you a disservice putting up with this nonsense. You'll never catch a man after how I've spoilt you!"
"If I decide to marry somebody he will do exactly as I want!" cried Rachel stubbornly
"Ugh, not this again, you know your Father hates it when you talk like this." George groaned
"I don't care. Ms. Erstwhile lives quite happily alone and is very independent"
"Ms. Erstwhile is your governess, she is not from a wealthy family and is not being relied upon to 'continue the family line'" George said in an imitation of her Father's voice.
"Ugh, don't parrot his lectures to me, I'm only 15 and yet he's already trying to introduce me to all of the boring, selfish young men in this tiny county!"
"Now, now, he's only trying to do what's best for you. He's struggled without your mother you know." George remonstrated. Rachel whipped her head around to glare at him, her brown eyes flashing angrily.
"I've struggled without my mother George! And he certainly hasn't helped! He's always moping and when he's not ignoring me, he's trying to get rid of me by marrying me off to some rich 'gentleman'! Honestly, it would be better if he weren't around" she cried furiously.
"Rachel, come on now, you shouldn't say things that you'll regret…. I know you've struggled too"
George awkwardly patted her on the shoulder. Although he'd come to live with his godparents years ago, following the death of his mother, he had a young man's discomfort with physical contact.
Rachel shrugged off his awkward pats and slowly got to her feet "I suppose we'd better get back then" she sighed.
"First sensible thing you have said today" replied George "… or all week… maybe all month" he continued ponderously.
"Sensible speeches are for adults and, thank goodness, neither of us are that yet. Race you back!" She sped off, forcing poor George to chase after her. Keeping his charge safe really was a pain, he thought darkly.