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Only when Tessa’s older brother climbed out of the limousine did Tessa pause to catch her breath. “Peter!” She let out a squeal and ran across the yard toward the lane, her tangled hair flying in the breeze. She drew near and fought to catch her breath. “W–why didn’t you t–tell us you were coming?”

He pulled her into a warm embrace and kissed her forehead. “No one knows I’m here. I’ve come on a mission.” His
brow creased, and he glanced toward the cottage. “Is Mum at home?”

“She will be soon. She’s gone to the village to barter.”

“I’d hoped as much but asked the driver to let us out here, just in case.” Peter’s lips pursed. “Pa?”

“Where do you think?”
At the tavern, of course.

“Then the timing of our little visit couldn’t be more ideal.” Peter spoke a few words to the chauffeur, who got into the expensive car and drove away, leaving the three of them standing on the edge of the lane.

Peter smiled and extended his hand to the lovely young woman, who slipped easily into his arms. The stranger’s china-doll cheeks were pinked with the slightest bit of rouge, and those lips—those full, perfect lips—were painted on, no doubt about it. Tessa tried not to stare at her gown, though she’d never seen anything like it. The majestic blue was a perfect match for the sparkling eyes of the unfamiliar girl standing before her. Still, what was such a creature doing curled into Peter’s arms?

Peter looked at the girl with tenderness in his expression then glanced Tessa’s way. “Tessa, this is Jacquie Abingdon. I work for her father.”

She started to reach out to shake the stranger’s gloved hand but then pulled back, concerned about the dirt on her own.

“It’s fine.” The young woman took a step in her direction and reached for her hand. “I’m not put off by hard work. I admire it, in fact.” The afternoon breeze toyed with a tendril of her lovely chestnut hair as she gave Tessa’s hand a firm shake. “Nice to meet you, Tessa. I’ve heard so much about you.”

“You—you have?” She pulled back her calloused hand, shame washing over her at how she must appear to this pristine woman.

“I’ve only told her the good things.” Peter slung his arm over Tessa’s shoulder, pulling her into a familiar, comfortable hug, one that put her at ease right away. “She doesn’t know what a rapscallion you were as a child.”

“Rapscallion? Me?” Tessa laughed as she crossed her arms at her chest in defiant fashion. Just as quickly, her gaze shifted back to the beautifully attired stranger.

Jacquie’s silk dress shimmered in the afternoon sunlight, as did the pearl combs that held her beautifully coiffed hair. Her pristine button-up shoes caught Tessa’s eye, but nothing compared to the exquisite feather-plumed hat with its tiny silk bird. For a moment Tessa envisioned herself in that bird’s place, perched and ready to fly off to the skies, away from this godforsaken place. Just as quickly, her thoughts shifted back to her brother, who pointed to the stalls as an annoying squeal rang out.

“Is that Countess I hear?” A hint of a smile graced his lips.

“Naturally.” Tessa pressed back the desire to groan aloud. “She’s made a mess of things again. I’ve repaired the crates three times this month alone. And you won’t believe the holes she’s dug, trying to escape. I’ve never met a more determined sow.”

“Well, let’s go visit with her. It will give us a chance to tell you why we’ve come.” His near smile twisted into something more suspicious, and her heart fluttered. They’d come specifically to talk to her? Why?

“You want to talk—in the barn?” In the muddy recesses of the pig stall? With Countess in rare form and the piglets squalling at fever pitch? What would this lovely vision in blue think of such a meeting place? Tessa’s cheeks heated in embarrassment.

Before she could voice the question aloud, Peter led the way across the yard toward the barn. As they drew near, the young
woman on his arm pulled an embroidered handkerchief from her reticule and pressed it to her nose. No doubt the smell of the pigs and goats left something to be desired, though Tessa had grown used to it. One of the hens, likely stirred up by their approach, scurried around Jacquie’s feet and pecked her on the leg.

“Oh!” Blue Eyes let out a squeal. “Well, that was a fine how-do-you-do!”

Peter waved his hand at the intrusive bird and sent it on its way. Then they arrived at the barn, and he headed straight for the farrowing crates, setting them aright and giving Countess a scolding as only he could.

Tessa looked on, confused. Peter glanced her way, and she could read the concern in his eyes. Her heart twisted within her as she anticipated his words. Clearly, he had come on a mission, one that involved her. With her pulse now pounding in her ears, Tessa settled onto a bale of hay to hear what her brother had come to say.

Chapter Five

Saturday, March 30, 1912

Gloucestershire County, England

Tessa brushed her calloused hands across her dirty skirt and gazed up at Peter and Jacquie. Her brother paced the stall, his gaze on the muddy floor. After a moment of awkward silence, Jacquie pulled down the hankie she’d held to her nose and cleared her throat.

“Tessa, we won’t keep you waiting. I know you must be curious about why we’ve come.”

“I am, yes.”
To say the least.

Jacquie took several steps in Tessa’s direction, finally, stopping in front of her. “I know that you and I are total strangers, and you might find this odd, but I’ve come to encroach upon your kindness to ask a favor.”

“A favor?” A thousand questions flittered through Tessa’s mind at once. What could she possibly do for someone such as this?

“Yes. I know I have no right to ask or expect anything of you, but I feel sure once you’ve heard our story that your heart will be affected.” Jacquie paused and glanced in the direction of the piglets then back at Tessa. “No doubt what I have to say will startle you, but if you will hear me out, I would be grateful.”

“Well, of course I will hear you out.” What could this china doll possibly have to say that might cause Tessa to be ill at ease?

“Please have a seat.” Jacquie perched on a bale of hay, and Tessa glanced out the barn door, knowing Mum would arrive shortly. And heaven help them all if Pa arrived home from the tavern to find Tessa seated on the job.

The lovely scent of Jacquie’s perfume wafted across the stall and countered the smell of the pigs. Almost, anyway. She gazed at Tessa, her eyes pooling. “This is going to come as a shock, I’m afraid, but your brother and I, well…” She looked up at Peter with a sheepish grin.

“What she means to say is, we are giving thought to marriage.” His cheeks flushed deep red, and though his broad-shouldered stance spoke of confidence, the worry lines on his forehead gave him away. Something about this did not feel right.

Tessa looked back and forth between them, her mouth widening into an
O
. “How— I mean, how is this—?”

“Possible?” Jacquie rose and twisted her handkerchief in her hands. “Yes, well, I see your point there. My father would never approve.” A roll of those big blue eyes followed her comment. “Not that I pay any mind to such things, but he is steeped in the customs and traditions of our family, customs that go back for generations.” Jacquie paused and gazed at Peter with longing. “But that does not negate the fact that I am in love with your brother. He is my life. And we will marry, when the time is right. After a proper courtship, anyway.”

The young woman took a few steps toward Peter and leaned her head on his shoulder. He offered what appeared to be a genuine smile. Still, Tessa couldn’t help but wonder why Peter’s expression did not match the look of sheer bliss on Jacquie’s face.

“I—I see.” Tessa rose and smoothed her dirty skirt. She didn’t really see, of course. Not a lick of this made any sense to her. What
business did Peter have, toying with his employer’s daughter? Had city life confused him? Made him think more highly of himself than he ought? Did he plan to marry this girl to advance himself, somehow? The Peter she knew would never do such a thing.

Her gaze shifted once again to the little silk bird on Jacquie’s hat. It bobbed up and down as the young woman spoke, as if ready to take to the skies.

“My father has arranged for me to marry a wealthy businessman, but I cannot abide the idea.” Jacquie’s nose wrinkled. “Roland Palmer is as dull as paint. Mama has concocted a plan so that I might escape this fate. But I have a plan of my own. I wish for her to think that I’ve actually boarded the ship.”

“Boarded the ship?”

“So sorry. I’m getting ahead of myself.” Tessa giggled. “I’m referring to the
Titanic
. She sails out of Southampton in two weeks. Mama will see me off, and I will supposedly sail for New York, where my grandmother awaits.”

Behind them, the piglets tousled with one another, their impish squeals interrupting the conversation. Countess rooted through her brood, nudging the babes this way and that with her snout, which only served to get them more excited.

“But what has this to do with me?” Tessa ran her dirty palms over her skirt again, more confused than ever.

Jacquie’s voice grew more passionate with each word, which she spoke above the noise coming from the animals. “I do not wish to go to New York. Not now, not ever. I want to stay here, with Peter.”

“I see.” Only, she didn’t. Not really.

Jacquie took Tessa’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “We’ve come up with a plan that should change all of our lives for the better.
I want to offer you the opportunity to escape from your life here, Tessa.”

“To escape?”

“Yes.” Peter drew near and slipped an arm over Tessa’s shoulders. “I know how it is with Father. He’s cruel and he—”

Tessa put her hand up as tears sprang to her eyes. “Say no more.”

“He does not treat you well.” Peter’s arms tightened around her in protective measure. “But there is a solution, Tessa. One where you can leave his evil ways behind and move forward with your life.”

“You’re making no sense, Peter.” Tessa plopped back down onto the bale of hay, her thoughts in a whirl. Truly, the yelps from the piglets made more sense than the peculiar conversation with these two lovebirds.

“I want you to take my place aboard the
Titanic
.” Jacquie’s words were whispered, but they might as well have been shouted in Tessa’s ear, they took her by such force.

“W–what?” A wave of nausea passed over Tessa, followed by a dizzy spell.

“Yes, don’t you see? As soon as Mama gets me settled in my room aboard the ship, we will trade places—trade lives, as it were—and you can sail to New York in my place. You will take my boarding pass, my clothing, my…life. All of that I will gladly trade for the pure joy of marrying your brother and spending my days as his wife, here in England.” She batted her eyelashes in Peter’s direction, and he responded with a smile, though it looked a bit strained.

Still, Tessa couldn’t make sense of this. Was the girl daft? Had years of wearing tight corsets squeezed the common sense out of her?

“It’s the perfect solution.” Peter turned to Tessa, pleading with his eyes. “Don’t you agree? Jacquie does not care to leave, and you…well, you need to leave. I will feel better knowing you’re safely away from here.” His gaze shifted to the house and then back to her.

“I do not agree.” Tessa rose and marched across the barn. “You’ve both spent too much time consuming rich foods, I fear. It has affected your reasoning. Do you really think, for one moment, that I could possibly play the role of a—a—” She pointed to Jacquie, not wanting to be rude.

“A society girl?” Jacquie offered a confident smile. “Yes, I do believe it possible. You’re the right size for my dresses, the perfect hair color, everything.”

“Not everything.” Tessa folded her hands over her chest and glared at her brother’s beau, taking in the wealth of dark hair and perfectly arched brows. Her gaze traveled to the narrow, fitted waist on the beautifully trimmed-out dress and finally landed on the pristine shoes with their pointed toes. Her feet ached just thinking about them.

Jacquie cleared her throat, which brought Tessa back to her senses. Resolved to put an end to this ridiculous conversation, she looked her way and spoke with fervor. “I can wear the dress, but I cannot wear the life. I do not speak like you or walk like you or put on prissy airs like—” She stopped herself.

“I will teach you all of that.” Jacquie gripped her hand with such force that Tessa felt it might break. “We have two weeks to accomplish it. I feel sure it can be done.”

“And in two weeks, you think I can learn to be a proper English lady?” Tessa snorted and ran her rough palms across her dirty skirt. “If so, then you truly don’t know me. I am far more at
home here, in the stalls, with a swine who thinks she’s a countess, than rubbing shoulders with the real thing.”

Jacquie’s eyes pooled. “You want to leave this place. That much I do know. From what Peter has shared, your life is very difficult. What you’ve had to endure is beyond comprehension.”

Tessa trembled and glared at her brother. How dare he share her personal stories with this stranger?

“You, of all people, deserve a fresh start,” Jacquie said. “And I hope to offer you that. Please consider this, Tessa. It will be my gift to you. And yours to me, of course.”

“Consider it, Tessa.” Peter’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Please.” Something about the tone of his voice gave her reason to actually do so.

The erratic thumping of Tessa’s heart nearly knocked the breath out of her. She rose and paced the barn before turning toward her brother, doing her best to suppress the anger threatening to erupt.

“What will you tell Pa when I turn up missing? He will be furious. You know how he depends on me to work the farm. I’m the only one left, you know.” Her comment was meant as an accusation, and from the pained expression on her brother’s face, the words hit their intended mark. Just as quickly, his wrinkled brow softened.

“We’ve the perfect solution for that,” Peter said. “We will tell him that you have been offered a lucrative position as a companion to Jacquie’s grandmother in New York.”