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Chapter One

Summer 1814

Corporal Thorne could make a woman quiver, from all the way across the room

An inconvenient talent, so far as Kate Taylor was concerned

The e All he had to do was stride into the Bull and Blossolower into a pewter tankard and keep his broad, hulking back to the roolancehe had poor Miss Elliott’s fingers tre as she laid them to the pianoforte keys

“Oh, I can’t,” the girl whispered “I can’t sing now Not with him here ”

Yet another music lesson ruined

Kate never had this probleo Before then, Spindle Cove had been chiefly inhabited by ladies, and the Bull and Blosso iced cakes and jaanized, the establishentlemen’s tavern

She wasn’t opposed to sharing—but there could be no “sharing” with Corporal Thorne His stern, brooding presence took up the whole room

“Let’s try again,” she urged her pupil, striving to ignore the inti in her peripheral vision “We almost had it that time ”

Miss Elliott blushed and knotted her fingers in her lap “I’ll never get it right ”

“You will It’s only aat the duet, and we’ll be ready for a trial performance at this Saturday’s salon ”

At the irl’s cheeks went crimson

Annabel Elliott was a pretty young lady, delicate and fair—but the poor thing flushed so easily Whenever she was flustered or nervous, her pale cheeks blazed as though they’d been slapped raw And she was flustered or nervous far too much of the time

So ladies came to Spindle Cove to recover fro bout with fever Miss Elliott had been sent in hopes of a different cure: a reht

Kate had been tutoring her long enough to know that Miss Elliott’s difficulty had nothing to do with a lack of talent or preparation She only needed confidence

“Perhaps soested “I find a folio of crisp, new-s music to be even better for o into Hastings this week and see what I can find ”

In truth, she had been planning to visit Hastings for a completely different purpose She had a call to pay there—one she’d been putting off Purchasing new music made an excellent excuse

“I don’t knohy I’irl lamented “I’ve had years of excellent instruction And I love to play Truly, I do But when others are listening, I always freeze I’m hopeless ”

“You are not hopeless No situation is ever hopeless ”

“My parents”

“Your parents don’t believe you’re hopeless, either, or they wouldn’t have sent you here,” Kate said

“They want me to have a successful season But you don’t know the pressure they’ve put on me Miss Taylor, you can’t possibly understand what it’s like ”

“No,” Kate admitted “I suppose I can’t ”

Miss Elliott looked up, stricken “I’htless of me ”

Kate waved off the apologies “Don’t be silly It’s the truth I’ht—I can’t possibly knohat it’s like to have parents with such high expectations and soaring hopes ”

Though I’d give anything to experience it, just for one day

She continued, “But I do knohat a difference itfriends This is Spindle Cove We’re all a bit unusual here Just ree is on your side ”

“Everyone?”

Miss Elliott’s wary gaze slid to the enormous, solitary man seated at the bar

“He’s so big,” she whispered “And so frightful Every time I start to play, I can see him wince ”

“You mustn’t take it personally He’s a military ave Miss Elliott an encouraging pat on the arh, keep a s ”

“I’ll try, but he’she’s rather difficult to ignore ”

Yes He was Didn’t Kate know it

Even though Corporal Thorne excelled at ignoring her, she couldn’t deny his effect on her own composure Her skin prickled whenever he was near, and on the rare occasion that he looked her way, his glare had a way of slicing deep But for the sake of Miss Elliott’s confidence, Kate set her personal reactions aside

“Chin high,” she quietly re ”

Kate began playing the lower half of the duet But when the tier lady faltered after just a few bars

“I’m sorry, I just” Miss Elliott lowered her voice

“Did he wince again?”

“No, worse,” she moaned “This time he shuddered ”

With a little gasp of indignation, Kate craned her neck to view the bar “No He didn’t ”

Miss Elliott nodded “He did It was terrible ”

That sealed it For hi was another But there was no excuse for shuddering Shuddering was beyond the pale

“I’ll speak with hi from the pianoforte bench

“Oh, don’t I beg you ”