Page 1 of Watch For Me By Candlelight

Prologue

Her foot was twisted at an unnatural angle and she had a deep cut on her forehead. He prayed it wouldn’t scar — she was too beautiful to be scarred like that. She was too wild and adventurous, too perfect for this world she lived in, but she couldn’t leave it like this — she couldn’t.

‘I’ll get you to the cottage,’ he told her, ‘I’ll look after you. Only please wake up, please wake up. I can’t bear it if—’

A bark from behind him, his dog running in mad circles in the snow.

‘I know, I know. We’ll get her warmed up. She’ll be well in no time. No time at all.’

His heart pounded and his breath came in little puffs of air as he hurried back to the cottages.

He had to believe that all would be well or else . . .

Chapter One

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The streets of Hartsford village were always at their best this early in the morning. Kate Howard stepped out of her front door and headed away from the Folk Museum, a long, low building made up of a row of old stone cottages. She was the museum manager and also lived upstairs, in a flat made up of a couple of attics knocked together.

If she headed towards the bakery, she’d just be in time to get a batch of fresh rolls, still warm from the oven. Then she could fill one with hot, sizzling bacon for her breakfast.

She walked along the old streets, with Hartsford Hall a backdrop to the Suffolk village which took its name from the stately home. As she turned a corner, lost in her thoughts and anticipating the smell of bread that always greeted her when she entered the bakery, she walked straight into someone. A man clutching a paper bag printed with the name of the bakery. He’d obviously had the same idea as her, and quickly put his hand out to steady her as she barged into him.

‘Oh! I’m so sorry!’ Kate blushed and side-stepped him.

He smiled down at her, his dark eyes flashing with mischief. ‘That’s okay. My breakfast is safe, that’s the main thing.’

Kate laughed. ‘Definitely. There’s not usually many people around at this time in the morning. Again, I’m so sorry. I must still be half asleep.’

‘I know that feeling well. Have a good day, anyway!’ His smile widened for a moment, and he paused, looking as if he was about to say something else; then he nodded and walked away.

Kate stared after him — he wasn’t local; his accent told her that, and she would have known him had he lived in the village. Still, there was something oddly familiar about the way he strode along the main street and disappeared around a corner. Something about the set of his shoulders, and the way his light-brown, sun-streaked hair was tousled and a little too long, that had her wanting to call after him and ask where they’d met before.

She definitely seemed to know him — her body told her that with a little fizz of excitement or recognition, as if she’d seen him quite recently, or maybe not — perhaps it was a long time ago? She waited another moment, then shook her head. How strange.

Then she turned back towards the bakery, and continued on her way, still feeling the gentle touch of his hand on her arm.

* * *

Later that morning, the front door of the museum slammed open. Kate, her fingers poised over the keyboard of her computer in the reception area, found herself staring at her best friend, Cassie Aldrich. The museum wasn’t due to open for about half an hour, but unfortunately, Cassie knew Kate kept the door unlocked from the moment she set foot in the place. And obviously, Kate was never late.

‘I’ve got to get something vintage for the weekend!’ Cassie was bright red in the face and clearly panicking.

‘Vintage as in . . . ?’ Kate asked, amused. ‘Clothing? Wine? Motor vehicle? And which weekend are we talking about? It’s Friday already. Or is it the very special weekend you’ve been working towards for Elodie?’ Cassie’s brother Alex — the current Earl of Hartsford — and sister-in-law Elodie owned the Hall. Cassie was organising a Living History weekend for them, to take place in August. It was currently the very beginning of June.

‘Yes. That weekend. And a vehicle. Yes. I think a vehicle might describe it.’ Cassie threw herself onto one of the old church pews in the entrance and sighed dramatically. ‘Goodness knows why I took this on.’

Kate smiled at her friend. They’d had this conversation before. ‘You had a moment of weakness and volunteered to help Elodie. You’re just too nice. Cuppa?’ She swung her legs around and jumped off the stool.

‘You’re such a doll. Thank you. Tea would be marvellous.’

‘A doll? In what respect?’

Cassie shrugged. ‘Well, you know. As in kind. Nice. Sweet. Sorry.’ She leaned forward and tucked her chin in her hands. ‘I’m living and breathing this flipping Country House Party Weekend and some of it is rubbing off on me.’

‘Oh, you’re getting there.’ Kate dipped her head so Cassie didn’t see her smiling. The whole village had heard about Cassie’s trials and tribulations. By all accounts she hadn’t done very much actual organising yet. It was usually Elodie’s task, but as Elodie was heavily pregnant with twins it hadn’t quite panned out the way it normally would. So Cassie had decided she would help out.