Rebel Heart

By Marina Oliver

Elinor is bored with her quiet life in Norfolk with her aunt and uncle, waiting until she can marry Francis, a captain in George I's army. Though she looks forward to the marriage she worries about the probable disapproval of her brother Kit. If, that is, he is still alive. He has been fighting for the Jacobites, now defeated and driven from the country. Kit, however, has not been heard of and could be dead, perished on the battlefield. Either that or he is now a fugitive. When a mysterious stranger arrives claiming he carries messages from Kit she dare not believe him, especially as he says Kit wants her to go with him to France. Saying he has promised Kit to bring her, Sir Talbot Carr carries her off, and they find the journey far from easy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marina Oliver
• Release date: Jan 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465828897

Marina Oliver

Most writers can't help themselves! It's a compulsion. Getting published, though, is something really special, and having been so fortunate myself I now try to help aspiring writers by handing on tips it took me years to work out. I've published over 60 titles, including four in the How To Books' Successful Writing Series, and Writing Historical Fiction for Studymates.I have judged short story competitions, been a final judge for the Harry Bowling Prize and was an adviser to the 3rd edition of Twentieth Century Romance and Historical Writers 1994. If you want to find out more about your favourite authors, consult this book. I once wrote an article on writing romantic fiction for the BBC's web page, for Valentine's day.I have given talks and workshops for the Arts Council and at most of the major Writing Conferences, and helped establish the Romantic Novelists' Association's annual conference. I was Chairman of the RNA 1991-3, ran their New Writers' Scheme and edited their newsletter. I am now a Vice-President.As well as writing I have edited books for Transita, featuring women 'of a certain age', and for Choc Lit where gorgeous heros are the norm.I was asked to write A Century of Achievement, a 290 page history of my old school, Queen Mary's High School, Walsall, and commissioned to write a book on Castles and Corvedale to accompany a new circular walk in the area.Most of my Regencies written under the pseudonym Sally James are now published in ebook format as well as many others of my out of print novels which my husband is putting into ebook format. Our daughter Debbie is helping with designing the covers. For details of all my books and my many pseudonyms see my website.

Book preview

REBEL HEART

BY

MARINA OLIVER

Elinor is bored with her quiet life in Norfolk with her aunt and uncle, waiting until she can marry Francis, a captain in George I's army.

Though she looks forward to the marriage she worries about the probable disapproval of her brother Kit.

If, that is, he is still alive. He has been fighting for the Jacobites, now defeated and driven from the country. Kit, however, has not been heard of and could be dead, perished on the battlefield. Either that or he is now a fugitive.

When a mysterious stranger arrives claiming he carries messages from Kit she dare not believe him, especially as he says Kit wants her to go with him to France.

Saying he has promised Kit to bring her, Sir Talbot Carr carries her off, and they find the journey far from easy.

Rebel Heart

By Marina Oliver

Copyright © 2016 Marina Oliver

Smashwords Edition

The moral right of the author has been asserted

Cover Design by Debbie Oliver

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or distributed in any form, including digital and electronic or mechanical, without the prior written consent of the Publisher, except for brief quotes for use in reviews.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return it to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Print edition first published 1985 by Robert Hale

See details of other books by Marina Oliver at

http:/www.marina-oliver.net

AUTHOR NOTE

After any battle when an army is scattered, there are many fugitives trying to evade capture by the victorious enemy. They will be attempting to return to their homes, or to rejoin the retreating remnants of the defeated army. Some may be injured, and they cannot trust anyone.

REBEL HEART

BY MARINA OLIVER

Chapter 1

Elinor ran swiftly across the village green, past the children playing near the pond. The westerly sun still shone brightly in a cloudless sky though the heat of the day had partly abated. Aunt Theodora would scold her if she were late for supper.

At the thought Elinor cast an apprehensive look at her bundle. Aunt Theodora would disapprove of the bright salmon pink satin she had chosen for her new gown, even though it was such a pretty shade and would suit her to perfection. Bright colours set off her dusky curls and vivid blue eyes better than did the browns and greys her aunt favoured, and she wanted to look her best when Francis visited them tomorrow. From the heavily jocular hints Uncle Edward had let fall it was clear that an offer of marriage would be forthcoming, and her aunt and uncle approved.

She turned into the yard of the Red Bull. There was no one about. If the stable lads were at their supper it was even later than she had supposed. She entered the stables and paused, unable for a moment to see her way in the gloomy interior. Then a giggle followed by a deeper voice made Elinor flush angrily. Rosa was too aggravating, flirting indiscriminatingly with stable lads, farm hands and soldiers.

'Rosa!' she called sharply. 'Have the ponies been saddled ?'

There was a scuffle, and as Elinor's eyes became accustomed to the dim light she saw the maidservant emerge from a loose box at the end of the row, adjusting the neck of her gown, then brushing wisps of hay from her skirts.

'Aye, Mistress Elinor, long since,' she said pertly, leading two ponies past her mistress. Elinor followed her into the yard, then looked back to see a tall, dark man, broad shouldered and with long, shapely legs, lounging against the doorpost. With a slight shock she realised that the luxuriant dark locks, carefully tied back, and the sword visible under the flared skirts of his coat, did not belong to a man of the lower orders. She frowned. Rosa was foolhardy to become entangled with such a man. Unlike her rustic swains a gentleman could not be forced to marry her when, as seemed inevitable, the results of her dalliance became obvious.

He was handsome, Elinor admitted, with deep-set eyes under well-shaped brows, a firm straight nose, determined chin, and full lips that were parted now in a smile of amusement. He was presumably some traveller who had decided he would be unable to reach Norwich that day.

Elinor glanced at him contemptuously and swung on her heel. She took the reins of Trusty, her own pony, and was leading him across to the mounting block when a deep, musical voice spoke at her side.

'Permit me, Mistress,' the stranger said, and as she turned to deliver a curt snub Elinor found herself swept into his arms, clasped tightly to his chest for a few moments until, with a laugh, he swung her into the saddle.

'How dare you!' Elinor stormed, glaring at him, her cheeks flushed and her heart pounding at the sudden close contact.

'I'm always ready to assist a beautiful armful,' he replied, chuckling.

His eyes were level with her own, and Elinor was unable to tear her gaze away from his penetrating look. His lips smiled, but his eyes were cool and calculating, and she suddenly shivered.

'You are impertinent!' she managed, kicking Trusty and jerking on the reins as she finally turned away from that disconcerting scrutiny. Elinor urged Trusty into a canter and Rosa followed her home, casting apprehensive glances at her mistress and scuttling away as soon as old Jake took the ponies from them.

Elinor, still ruffled, entered the parlour to make her excuses for being so late. To her surprise Aunt Theodora did not scold, but smiled understandingly.

'Of course, and you doubtless wished to have the gown for tomorrow. Come, eat now, and you shall show it to me later.'

Her affability was somewhat shaken when Elinor took the brightly coloured gown from its wrappings.

'Great heavens, child, you'll look like a peacock!' she exclaimed. 'What will Francis think?'

'He wears rich clothing himself sometimes,' Elinor said quickly. 'He's no Quaker even if his uncle did go to America with William Penn!'

For a moment she thought she had gone too far. Aunt Theodora pressed her lips tightly together and frowned. Mistress Dakers, although less extreme than the Quakers, fully approved of the abolition of what she called 'frills and flummeries' from the services in the village church, and the anti-papist views of the minister's long and tedious sermons.

Then she contrived a bleak smile. 'Many people cling to the old ways, not realising that sobriety in dress assists sobriety of behaviour. But you are both young, and I must confess the colour looks well on you,' she added grudgingly as Elinor held the gown in front of her. 'It would not do for a fairer girl. But put it away now and get out your sewing. You must finish hemming the sheets if you are to be ready soon to set up a home of your own.'

*

Elinor carried the gown up to her room, and frowned as she thought of the endless hems awaiting her. If only her aunt would permit her to embroider gaily patterned chair seats as her mother had. She blinked back sudden tears. Her parents had died of fever six years ago, and she was approaching her eighteenth birthday, but any recollection of them and the happy home they had given her and her brother still had the power to agitate her. The lack of news about Kit, who had left to join the Jacobites just before that fatal battle at Preston a year and a half earlier, had kept the wound of her loss open.

No one knew whether Kit was alive. For weeks after the battle Elinor had waited for news. King James, for so she thought of him despite her uncle's insistence that England no longer recognised the Stuarts, had escaped from Scotland into France, and Elinor prayed daily Kit had been equally fortunate. But if he had reached safety he had never sent word of it and after so long she was beginning to lose hope.

Deliberately she forced herself to think instead of Francis. The son of a neighbour, he had been particularly attentive during the past year, visiting them regularly whenever he was on leave from his duties as a soldier. Handsome, tall and dark with wide shoulders and powerful muscles, at five and twenty it was high time he took a wife. His mother had been dropping hints to Aunt Theodora for some months now that his choice had fallen on Elinor.

She smiled as she bent over her hemming. It would be pleasant to have a home of her own. Francis spent most of his time in London and she was determined to persuade him to take her there rather than leave her in his mother's household. That would be worse than remaining with her aunt, for Mistress Merton had even stricter views than Aunt Theodora on the proper behaviour to be expected from a well-conducted young lady. Francis was less stern than his parents, and she was content to become his wife provided they could live away from Norfolk.

She was up early on the following morning. While Rosa helped her with the new gown Elinor scolded her for her behaviour the previous day.

'You behave too wantonly with men,' she warned.

Rosa giggled. 'I can take care o' they,' she boasted. 'Besides, we weren't doing nothin' wrong. Couldn't, expectin' you back any time,' she added regretfully.

'Then why hide away so? One day, Rosa, you'll regret being so free with your favours.'

'He were only askin' questions,' Rosa protested.

'Questions? What about?'

'People here'bouts. Said he were lookin' for an old friend but had lost the directions. Not anyone I knew of.'

'A ploy to engage your attention,' Elinor said scornfully. 'There, that will do. I've a ribbon the same colour, I'll tie my hair back with that.'

'You look lovely, Miss Elinor,' Rosa said. 'It's 'bout time Mr Merton made his offer.'

'Don't be impertinent!'

Rosa giggled again. 'Sorry, Miss, but us all think he's dallied long enough. If any other gentleman saw you Mr Merton'ld have to watch out!'

*

When Francis arrived the look in his eyes left Elinor in no doubt as to his admiration. He drank some wine and sampled the small honey cakes which, at her aunt's insistence, Elinor had made, before he begged permission to walk with her in the gardens.

'The roses are in full bloom,' Aunt Theodora said quickly. 'Take Francis to see them, my dear.'

Elinor, embarrassed, led Francis along a short flagged path edged with wallflowers and stocks and through an archway in a thick yew hedge. Beyond was an enclosed garden laid out in the Italian fashion where the scent of dozens of rose bushes lay heavily in the hot still air.

'Your aunt is tactful, permitting us to be alone,' Francis said, catching Elinor's hand in his.

'Yes, indeed,' she replied breathlessly. 'See this white rose, my uncle is very proud of it, it has bloomed excessively well this year!'

'It is lovely, but less so than you. Elinor, you must have guessed my purpose in coming today. It is high time I took a wife, a companion for me and a mother for my children. My father is old and dearly wishes for a grandson to carry on his name. And I have leisure now to pay you proper attention. I have your uncle's permission