The Headmistress of Rosemere
A
DVANCE
A
CCLAIM FOR
The Headmistress of Rosemere
“[E]ngaging scenes of the times keep the pages turning as this historical romance . . . swirls energetically through angst and disclosure.”
—
P
UBLISHERS
W
EEKLY
“Sarah E. Ladd has written a story sure to warm your heart even on the coldest day.”
—L
AURIE
A
LICE
E
AKES, AUTHOR OF
A R
ELUCTANT
C
OURTSHIP
“Readers will cheer for the determined heroine and the flawed hero in this engaging story of redemption, set in the lush English countryside. Sarah E. Ladd is quickly establishing herself as a rising star in Regency romance.”
—D
OROTHY
L
OVE, AUTHOR OF
C
AROLINA
G
OLD
A
CCLAIM FOR
The Heiress of Winterwood
“If you are a fan of Jane Austen and
Jane Eyre
, you will love Sarah E. Ladd’s debut.”
—USAT
ODAY.COM
“My kind of book! The premise grabbed my attention from the first lines and I eagerly returned to its pages. I think my readers will enjoy
The Heiress of Winterwood
.”
—J
ULIE
K
LASSEN, BEST-SELLING, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF
T
HE
T
UTOR
’
S
D
AUGHTER
“Oh my, what an exquisite tale! With clarity and grace, Sarah E. Ladd has penned a timeless regency that rises to the ranks of Heyer and Klassen, a breathless foray into the world of Jane Austen with very little effort . . .
and
very little sleep.”
—J
ULIE
L
ESSMAN, AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF
T
HE
D
AUGHTERS OF
B
OSTON AND
W
INDS OF
C
HANGE SERIES
“This debut novel hits all the right notes with a skillful and delicate touch, breathing fresh new life into standard romance tropes.”
—
R
OMANTIC
T
IMES
,
4
STARS
“Captivated from the very first page!
The Heiress of Winterwood
marks Sarah E. Ladd as a rising Regency star sure to win readers’ hearts!”
—L
AURA
F
RANTZ, AUTHOR OF
T
HE
C
OLONEL
’
S
L
ADY
AND
L
OVE
’
S
R
ECKONING
“A delight from beginning to end,
The Heiress of Winterwood
is a one-of-a-kind Regency that kept me sighing with joy, laughing, crying, and even biting my nails when the occasion called for it! A whirlwind of emotions captured in an exciting tale of intrigue, kidnapping, and bittersweet love. This is Ms. Ladd’s debut? I can’t wait to see what she writes next! Remember the name, Sarah E. Ladd, because I’m sure you will be seeing much more from this talented author.”
—M
ARY
L
U
T
YNDALL, BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF
V
EIL OF
P
EARLS
AND THE
S
URRENDER TO
D
ESTINY SERIES
“Ladd’s charming Regency debut is enhanced with rich detail and well-defined characters. It should be enjoyed by fans of Gilbert Morris.”
—
L
IBRARY
J
OURNAL
“This adventure is fashioned to encourage love, trust, and faith especially in the Lord and to pray continually, especially in times of strife.”
—
CBA R
ETAILERS
+ R
ESOURCES
O
THER
B
OOKS BY
S
ARAH
E. L
ADD
WHISPERS ON THE MOORS
The Heiress of Winterwood
The Headmistress of Rosemere
A Lady at Willowgrove Hall
(Coming Fall 2014)
© 2013 by Sarah Ladd
All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, scanning, or other—except for brief quotations in critical reviews or articles, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Published in Nashville, Tennessee, by Thomas Nelson. Thomas Nelson is a registered trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Thomas Nelson, Inc., titles may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fund-raising, or sales promotional use. For information, please e-mail [email protected].
Scripture quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Bible.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Ladd, Sarah E., author.
The Headmistress of Rosemere / Sarah E. Ladd.
pages cm. — (Whispers on the Moors ; 2)
ISBN 978-1-4016-8836-3 (trade paper : alk. paper) 1. Young women—Fiction. 2. Girls’ schools—Fiction. 3. London (England)—Fiction. 4. Christian fiction. 5. Love stories. I. Title.
PS3612.A3565H43 2013
813'.6—dc23
2013025256
Printed in the United States of America
13 14 15 16 17 18 RRD 6 5 4 3 2 1
I lovingly dedicate this novel to my parents, Ann and Wayne. Thank you for going on this journey with me and for believing in my dreams.
Contents
D
ARBURY
, E
NGLAND
, F
EBRUARY 1816
T
here was no doubt in William Sterling’s mind. He was being followed.
He was an easy target—now more than ever.
He knew better than to travel at such a late hour in the moors, when midnight’s haze shrouded the moon’s gray light and the new-fallen snow gave the illusion of an even terrain.
An owl’s mournful cry sliced the night’s uncomfortable silence, and with a sharp click of his tongue, William urged his mount into a faster gait.
He’d avoided the main road that leads directly to Eastmore Hall’s iron gate, for it was too broad. Too exposed. He chose, instead, the cart path leading from Darbury’s town square to Wainslow Peak. For although it was narrow and masked with snow, he’d be hidden.
The thoroughbred beneath him pranced and skittered to the
left, tossing his magnificent head in tenacious indignation. William regarded the horse’s caution. Perhaps the stubborn beast was wiser than he was.
He could dismount and lead Angus back to Eastmore Hall on foot. Considering the ice and wind, it would be less treacherous. But the walk would be long and would slow his pace considerably. As quickly as he had the thought, the memory of the two suspicious men who’d been eyeing him at Griffin’s End Inn came back.
No, he needed the protection of Eastmore Hall. Now.
William tightened his knees against the animal’s sides and cast yet another glance over his shoulder. “Ya!”
In spite of the frigid air, perspiration trickled down his temples. Time seemed sluggish in the uncertainty. He crested Wainslow Peak, which was little more than a shallow hill with outcroppings of ancient stone, and circled his horse in the clearing next to Sterling Wood. He filled his lungs with the bitterly cold air and scanned the shadowed landscape.
The snow-covered grass swept down to the valley of the River Thaughley. The moon’s waning light fell on Rosemere School for Young Ladies—his tenant.
