PROLOGUE

September 1821

"Beth. Bethany, wake up. It's morning." Eric whispered in her ear, shaking her up. She stirred and turned, shoving him away as she did. "Wake up woman, it's your birthday." He whispered again, successfully capturing her attention. Beth sat up and glared angrily at her brother who was sitting on the edge of her bed.

The heat from the fireplace had reduced with the dead fire, but Eric held up a candle to her face, smiling sheepishly at her. His face would make anyone think that the survival of the world rested singularly on her birthday. She blinked and started to lie back down.

Eric pulled her legs to rouse her even more. "Stop it!" She whined. "What is it about my birthday that you are so joyful?"

He placed his finger on his lips, then walked to the table and sat candle down. Whispering, he said. "Quiet down, unless you intend to wake mother and father."

Beth pulled her covers to her neck and whispered back. "I'm glad you realized that it is too early to be rudely interrupting other people's sleep." Then, "What do you want?" He got out of her bed and pulled the covers. "Hey!" She protested.

"Quiet down!" He was still whispering.

"Why would you do that?" At the brink of tears, she lamented, hugging herself in her cotton night garment. "Why are you doing this to me? It's cold. And it's my birthday!"

"I said to be quiet." He threw her the cover, rolled up into a messy ball. "Get dressed."

She angrily pulled the cover to herself, intending to return to sleep. "Why?"

He smiled and pirouetted in a parading manner. Beth noticed that he had shed his nightshirt for outdoor clothes. At the early hours of the day? She wondered. "You always wanted to see the sunrise from the hill at the east side of the manor. Come with, I'll take you there." Then he smiled again.

Beth spared him a look, her eyes shining. "Do you mean your words?" She tested. He nodded the smile widening. "But mother would never let us get that far out." Although she said that, half her heart was already on the hill.

"All the more reason to be quiet." He warned. "She can't keep us sheltered forever. And you are eighteen now, soon you would have to leave home." When she hesitated, he said. "I'll take responsibility." She squealed and jumped into his hands. He gave her a bear-hug and ordered. "Get changed. Let's escape before anyone wakes up."

Without a second to lose, Beth shooed her brother out and hurriedly got dressed in an old thick dress. She gathered, secured and abandoned her hair on the top of her head and jumped into the nearest boots. Grabbing her jacket, she rushed out and nearly bumped into Eric. With a gasped, she stopped. "Sorry."

"Shh." He reminded his finger again on his lips. "Let's be as quiet as church mice."

Beth gave him a scornful look of unbelief. "Church mice are not quiet, they are poor." He was strong physically, but she feared for his intellects. How was he so good at saying the wrong proverbs? It always left her amazed.

"Stop being a bookworm and follow me." He compelled.