THE STORY SO FAR
1837. Eighteen-year-old Caroline is staying at the quayside town house of her seafaring father, Captain Brook. Caroline’s mother died in childbirth, and Caroline was brought up in the country by Captain Brook’s sister, Lady Emma. Caroline’s father will soon return from sea but she is keen to explore. Captain Brook’s housekeeper Mrs Mabbit forbids it, telling Caroline the town isn’t safe. Caroline goes out alone anyway and is almost robbed. But a handsome young man saves her and, when she faints in shock, he carries her to the Mermaid Tavern. When Caroline comes around, she is tended to by the tavern owner, Lucy Cooper. When Lucy learns who Caroline’s father is, she reacts oddly and hurries away. Back home, Caroline can’t stop thinking about Sam, the young man. Days later, he delivers a letter from Lucy inviting Caroline to visit again. At the prospect of seeing Sam, Caroline determines to go – and nobody will stop her.
As Caroline quietly opened her bedroom door, she was dazzled by the morning sunlight streaming in through the landing window. The only sound was the steady ticking of the grandfather clock. Its enamel dial displayed a sailing ship at dawn, its hands were almost pointing to 11 o’clock.
Downstairs, Mrs Mabbit was busy in the kitchen dealing with the butcher, who had arrived with a delivery of meat for the evening meal. Polly the maid was sure to be in the scullery doing the laundry at this time of day.
Wearing her shawl and bonnet, Caroline crept to the top of
