Chapter One 

   “Miss Ellicott, you dance divinely.” David Hemingway said. “Until this moment, the world has been denied such extraordinary grace.”

   Katherine grinned as she was swept to the left by the waltz, her eyes gleaming underneath the light of the crystal chandeliers. “You do flatter me, sir. I have stepped on your feet twice!” She could feel her hands perspiring underneath her silk gloves. “If indeed you think me to be an exceptional dancer, than I must say it is you who has been denied finer ladies.”

   “There is none in this room who match your beauty, my dear.” David insisted with his usual smile, which then faltered slightly as she trodden upon his foot once again. “P-perhaps all you need is a little bit of tuition?”

   Katherine’s lips made a straight line and she cast her eyes over his shoulder. “Perhaps, Mr. Hemingway, all those gentleman – including yourself – are in line to dance with me because of the simple fact that I look better than the average lady?”

   “Of course not! I happen to find you charm - ”

   “And because of my father’s money, no doubt about it.”

   “Miss Ellicott, you most certainly are opinionated!” David chuckled. “But I assure you, I not only find you beautiful, but rather charming, and well… intelligent.”

   “Indeed!” Katherine laughed. “Than I apologise, for that surely is not the reason those other gentleman wish to dance with me.”

   “If I had my say, none of those gentleman would get a turn tonight. I want you all to myself…” He bent his head towards her ear. “Just the thought of what I’d do to you makes my stomach cramp, my darling.”

   Katherine’s eyes grew wide. This time she totally missed a step and swung in the wrong direction. “Oh! Dear me – sir – I’m so sorry!”

   David caught her and flung her back towards him. “Watch your step.”

   “I…you…” she tried to form words, her mouth open. “Mr. Hemingway, that was rather un-gentlemanly of you! How dare you say such things to me – in public, of all places!”

   “I assure you, no one heard.”

   They swept across the ballroom in the waltz, floating between other couples. No one could have guessed the conversation that was happening between them. Katherine thought she could feel her stomach rising up to her throat, and her head growing as light as a leaf. “I feel a little faint, sir.”

   “Of course you do, you’re a woman.”

   “I beg your pardon!”

   “What I mean to say is that feeling faint is a typical excuse for a slightly flustered lady so that she can get away from that which is causing her to be flustered. Am I right?”

   “Of course not!” Katherine almost yelled, so that the few couples near them turned their heads. “I feel genuinely faint, and if you do not unhand me I shall collapse at your feet!”

   “I will unhand you only when such time comes, my dear.”

   Katherine felt the heat rising to her cheeks and her corset getting tighter and tighter by the second, as if an invisible hand was pulling the stays. “David Hemingway, may I remind you that these gentleman are here in hope that I will choose them as a suitor, and maybe a husband? Well I can tell you this much, you are doing all you can to repel my interest!”

   “My dear, it is only a bit of humour, surely you understand that.” David said. “There are far too many overly serious people out there, I was merely trying to spice up our meeting.”

   “I am not laughing.” Katherine said through her teeth. “It was not funny.”

   “Then I apologise, and will have to work at my humour in order to not offend young ladies.”

   “Are you patronising me?”

   “Goodness, no… I mean it.” He swept a curl of auburn hair off her forehead. “I get carried away quite often, but that will all change. You are helping me to learn. I shall do anything to please you, remember that.”

   “Even in marriage?”

   “Even more in marriage!”

   “I do have everything I will ever need already – what may you offer to tempt me to be your wife, sir?” Katherine could feel her stomach settling back down and her head clearing.

   “I can offer you many things, among them…love.”

   “My father loves me very much.”

   “Different type of love, my dove. Very different.”

   Katherine’s face turned pink, causing her green eyes to glow. “You are a walking scandal, Mr. Hemingway.”

   “But don’t tell me you are not tempted by it!” David insisted, placing a hand on the small of her back, just above the bulge of her emerald skirts.

   “I have always wanted to experience true love, yes. But the question is, will you be able to give me that? I want my marriage to be more than a business agreement between my father and my husband.”

   “My, you certainly are smart for your sixteen years, Miss Katherine Ellicott.” David grinned down at her. “Will it make you feel any better to know that I’m also willing to marry you for your intelligence?”

   “Yes… although it would also make me feel suspicious.” She narrowed her eyes to slits.

   “Oh? Why so?”

   “No man wants a wife who will question and challenge him, and well – talk back like I do. A wife is best if she is submissive, am I right?”

   “In a sense. But I am not that kind of man, Miss Ellicott. Also, believe me, you are not extremely outspoken. Slightly, yes, but not very.”

   Katherine did not know whether to take that as in insult or a compliment. “You do not know me that well, Mr. Hemingway, how can you make such a judgement?”

   “Because if you were truly rebellious you would have already given me a tongue-lashing with a kick to the shin before you ran off to be refreshed because of feeling faint.”

   “Arh! But that’s truly unladylike! I would never do that in private, let alone my debut ball!”

   “Exactly … then I believe you really are a tame little kitten. May I call you that, since your name can be Kat for short?”

   “The formalities between us are not yet over.” Katherine bit out. “You will call me Miss and I shall call you Mister…”

   “As you wish, Miss Ellicott. I apologise – like I said, I like to joke and sometimes I go overboard. I’m sorry.”

   They danced in silence for a few more minutes until the music stopped and the guests moved toward the buffet for refreshments. He fixed her arm underneath his as they neared the punchbowl, a small smile on his face, for Katherine seemed as tense as a slingshot. “I remember a certain conversation with your father…” David poured her some punch and passed it to her before serving himself.

   “Really…?” Katherine said absently, taking a sip. “Which conversation might that be? And why mention it to me now? I thought your affairs with my father were kept private.”

   David ignored the latter part of her question and went on, “He is planning to travel to America in March next year, and will likely desire my company on this trip, and I was thinking - ”

   “So soon?” Katherine gasped. “Why, I thought it would be at least another year before he even began organising the trip! What of me – I have just come out, I want social gathering and outings and balls! Instead I shall be in the middle of a desert!” Katherine finally clapped her mouth shut after she realised just how self-centred she was sounding in front of a gentleman. “I’m sorry, I got carried away.”

   “No reason to apologise.” David laughed. “But never worry, it is still four months away. Plenty of time for you to attend balls, socialise and search for a suitor. And there is still time for that after you return.”

   “But I shall miss the most important and exciting time in my life! I know no one in America, I shall be all alone but for you and my father.”

   David placed a hand on her elbow. “Let us go somewhere more private and appropriate for this conversation, Miss Ellicott. How about the drawing room?”

   “Very well…” Katherine led the way out of the ballroom and into the drawing room across the parlour. The music grew muffled and conversations faded. “Take a seat.” She said, and watched as he lowered himself into a wing-backed chair before she sat onto the armrest of a deep red couch, arranging her wide skirts around her. The fire in the hearth between them was small and tame, enough to warm the room just to perfection.

   David studied her regal posture; rigid back, head held high, and both gloved hands upon the knee of her crossed leg, of which the outline was barely visible beneath the bulk of emerald material of her gown. She seemed so untouched by the hardships of life, perfection to be preserved inside the four walls of her father’s mansion. David doubted that this creature, who was but a child, would be able to survive for one day in the Arizona desert. “Perhaps you may remain in London while your father is in America.” he suggested.

   “Of course not, papa needs me.” Katherine said, as if talking to an imbecile.

   “Miss Ellicott, your father is a grown man, he can take care of himself. Besides, he shall not be alone. I will be there, and he will take that little maid you call Anne.”

   Katherine almost fell backwards. “By God – he will not! Anne remains with me, no matter what happens! There is no way she will go to America unless I am there too!”

   “You seem fond of her. Or is it her service you are fond of?”

   “No one lays a hand on my person but Anne.” Katherine explained, crossing her arms for comfort. “She is responsible for the way I look tonight. I tell her both my secrets and desires in confidence. If she were to leave without me I would be quite lost.”

   “It appears to me that you have a very long conversation awaiting you with your father.” David said. “It shall be interesting to learn of the outcome. Will the old Mr. Ellicott be defeated by his young daughter?”

   “You mock me.”

   “No, no. I just admire your … confidence, and bravery. Although, it has further to be proved when you act on more than mere words. If such a time comes, that is.”

   “I will not quarrel with papa.” Katherine glared at him. “He must see the inconvenience in travelling to America so early, I shall just remind him. And you shall not intervene!”

   David smiled and shook his head. “You do realise that I must have a say in this too? For me, it is far more convenient to travel in March next year. And if your father agrees, then you have no power to stop us…this is business, you understand.”

   “It is a mere book!” Katherine cried desperately. “How can a book be more important than my own life? The book has no deadline, why cannot he wait? Why can not he write from researched performed in London?”

   “The book is bound to sell better if first-hand research is used. He cannot simply use other people’s findings and compile them together to write his own book…he needs something fresh, what no one else knows.”

   Katherine scowled and huffed, getting briskly to her feet. She paced the room with one arm across her chest and the other leaning against it as she chewed on her fingernails. David’s head moved from left to right as he followed her with his eyes, curious as to what she was thinking. “Tell me, Miss Ellicott, is there a particular gentleman on your mind whom you consider to be a suitable match for you?”

   She stopped before the fireplace and stared at him.

   “A gentleman, perhaps, whom you would like as a husband?”

   “Not as of yet, Mr. Hemingway.” Katherine said icily. “I still feel like a child. Perhaps when I am no longer treated like one.”

   David stood up and stepped towards her. “I am offering you marriage now, Miss Ellicott, in the belief that it is the best for both of us, and in the belief that you are no longer a child.”

   “Have you spoken to my father of this?” Katherine asked incredulously. “At this moment I cannot accept…I-I am undecided about marriage.”

   “I will speak to your father.”

   “My, you are stubborn. Do you never accept a decline from a lady?”

   “Not from a lady such as yourself,” David admitted. “And I assure you, I will never give up on marrying you.”

   Katherine sighed and turned away from him, walking across the room with long, slow paces so that her hips swayed from side to side. She stopped in front of the window at the blackness of night, and then studied her reflection from lack of anything else to do. The horizontal neckline, tight bodice and flaring skirt did her figure perfect justice, yet she was never quite satisfied with her hair…

   She began to fiddle with it, rearranging the auburn curls here and there.

   David approached her from behind, trying to hide the look of distaste from showing on his face. It was typical though, he thought, for her to be so vain as to stare at herself in the window and fix her hair while a man had just proposed marriage.

   Just as he was about to open his mouth to talk, the door flung open and two people stumbled in. A man and a woman, entwined in a passionate kiss, with hands groping every inch of each other. They groaned and moaned until Katherine – who was rooted to the spot – felt positively sick. After the initial shock, her mind registered that the woman was wearing a maid’s black and white uniform. “ANNE!”

   The couple flew apart, startled. The maid hysterically adjusted her hair and straightened her dress. “M-M-Miss K-Kather-ine?”

   “Good evening sir.” Katherine snapped at the gentleman, who was dressed respectably in a suit. “I see you have taken a liking to my maid. I hope for your sake that you have done nothing else but – but fondle and kiss her, or I shall…I shall…”

   “I assure you, ah, Miss Ellicott…nothing else happened…” The man said, running both hands through his black, rumpled hair. His face was awash in red and his shoulders hunched in humiliation.

   David was leaning against the chair he had been sitting on, amused by the whole situation. He nodded in greeting to the other man and grinned.

   “I don’t believe we’ve met, sir.” Katherine tapped her foot, hands on hips. “I have a right to know the names of my maid’s acquaintances.”

   “I’m Peter Halliwell.”

   “M-my father’s…accountant?” Katherine gaped at him. When he nodded, she threw a glare in Anne’s direction.

   The girl whimpered in shock and ran from the room in a flurry.

   “Miss Ellicott, I apologise for what happened, it shall never happen again,” Peter fumbled for words. “I hope you would not speak of this to Mr. Ellicott, it will ruin - ”

   “You are right, sir, it shall never happen again, for you are never to see Anne again. Not while she’s under this roof.”

   “I shall do my best, Miss Ellicott…”

   “Very well,” Katherine waved a hand in dismissal. “You may return to the party – I wish for some privacy with Mr. Hemingway here, if you please.” She watched him meekly leave.

   David whistled. “I must say, this household is never boring. You wish for some privacy with me? Are you considering my proposal after all?”

   “I shall think it through in the coming week,” She shrugged, still staring at the door. “But tonight I want to hear no more of it. I want to return to my party and enjoy the remainder of the time to the best of my ability. But I suggest you keep your distance from me, because I am sorely in need of female company just now … thanks to you and Mr. Halliwell.”

   “As you wish… I shall be happy to oblige to your wishes.”

   Katherine turned to look straight into his eyes. “And one more thing: I do not need you to oblige to my wishes, for they do not depend upon you. You have no say in what I do, and therefore your permission is not needed.” And with a slight tilt to her head, she marched from the drawing room in search for her female friends, in the hope that they would take her mind off certain matters with another session of gossip.

   As the ball continued downstairs, Anne paced the gallery above the parlour, every now and then stepping back into the shadows when she spotted people below. Each time a lady wandered into the parlour like a brightly coloured bell, Anne would think it to be Katherine, on her way up to scold her maid. But no, she comforted herself, her lady was wearing a brilliant green gown, not red or blue or yellow…

   She bit her nails almost to a pulp until it hurt, and then lowered herself down, leaning against the wall, to sit below a portrait of Mr. Ellicott. She spread her legs out, not bothered by the fact that her dress was pulled up to reveal half her stocking-clad legs. Anne sighed. What had she done? She had not even been thinking about anything else but the moment … never had she laid eyes on the man, and now he happens to be the master’s accountant! Such was her luck…

   Time passed, but for Anne it seemed to stand still. She must have sat there for hours before she heard doors opening and closing, voices and footsteps. The ball was over, she realised, and guests were either leaving or retiring to the many rooms. Soon her services would be needed in filling up bathtubs and ordering around the scullery maids. Besides, she did not wish to be seen in such a state by anyone, not even Katherine.

   Anne stood up very slowly, taking her time. She peered over the banister at the parlour. It was filled with people, laughing and talking, being shown out by Katherine and her father. She scanned the crowd for Peter, but he was not among them – it would not surprise her if he had left early out of embarrassment. Poor man. 

   Suddenly, Katherine looked up and caught Anne’s eye, holding it there for a while. She shook people’s hands automatically, her mouth set firmly and eyes narrowed. Anne did not move, and simply stood with both hands resting on the banister. She gave Katherine what she hoped was a look of apology and sincerity. It was best not to get on her wrong side.

   When the goodbyes and goodnights where over, Katherine climbed the wide staircase on her father’s arm, holding up her skirts with the free hand. The two of them stopped at the door of the master bedroom. “Thanks so much, papa, I had a lovely time.”

   “I’m glad to hear it poppet,” Lionel Ellicott smiled, his already wrinkled skin crinkling even more. He gazed up at his only daughter and pinched her cheek with a plump hand. “You absolutely glowed tonight.”

   Katherine laughed. “I danced almost every dance – my legs are ready to collapse. But papa…” she paused for a moment, “I must talk to you tomorrow regarding your trip to America. Shall I meet you in the drawing room after lunch?”

   Lionel’s smile slightly wobbled at her suggestion, but he nodded. “Very well, I shall be there. Goodnight, Kat.”

   “Goodnight father.” She kissed his forehead and watched him enter his bedroom, happy for the fact that she had such a kind, understanding father.

   Katherine felt a presence to her left, like a stone in a brand new shoe. It was Anne, visibly uncomfortable and impatient to get the scolding over with. She curtsied and looked to the floor.

   “You are to unlace my bodice as soon as we are in my room; I feel ready to faint.” Katherine stormed past her maid, who briskly followed her down the corridor and into the bedchamber.

   “Say what you must, Miss Katherine.” Anne said, shutting the door firmly so that their conversation did not carry through the house, which was filled with guests. “I realise I have wronged, so please spare me the silent treatment. I did not know that the gentleman was your father’s accountant, to that I swear.”

   “I believe you.” Katherine sat onto her four-poster bed and lifted one leg over the other as she undid the laces of her slippers. Yards and layers of material spread out around her like a green and white clouds. “That was also my first meeting with the gentleman.” One slipper fell to the floor, so she swapped legs and began work on the other. “Although, I did expect more proper circumstances for our meeting, but it had to happen one way or another. Anne, my feet are positively aching as if they’re about to drop off.” Katherine discarded the last slipper and threw herself back in a lying position.

   Anne got down on her knees and took one of Katherine’s feet to massage it. “It must be all that dancing, I don’t remember once seeing you in a chair.”

   “It was my debut ball, I was hardly going to waste it sitting on my behind.” She mumbled in reply, holding one arm across her face.

   “Aren’t you going to mention anything about what I did?” Anne asked from the floor. “Are you just going to let it pass?”

   “When I have enough breath to do so.” Katherine sat up abruptly, then held her head when her vision blurred. “Get me out of this gown.” She stood up and waited while Anne undid the tiny hooks of the bodice from the back. When the dress was lying across the bed, Katherine removed the crinoline, glad to be rid of the weight. And then when she stood in petticoats, corset and chemise, Anne sighed. “I suppose I was silly to expect anything from Mr. Halliwell. Breathe in.”

   Katherine took a deep breath as her maid unlaced the corset, but kept it in place. Then very slowly she let it loosen bit by bit as Katherine breathed out again, until she was finally able to toss it onto the bed. 

   “Of course you were silly.” Katherine said. “And I’m surprised at you, for even letting him touch you.”

   Anne brought over Katherine’s long-sleaved nightgown and helped her pull it over her head and smooth it down. “I wasn’t thinking rationally – I really think I do fancy him. You know what I mean.”

   “I think you may be letting your eyes do the judging, Anne. Mr. Halliwell’s very good-looking, and you hardly know him at all.” Sitting down at the dressing table, she let Anne take the combs out of her hair one by one until it eventually fell down around her shoulders and down the back of the chair in a thick pile of waves and kinks. Katherine picked up the ivory comb and passed it over her shoulder to her maid.

   Anne shrugged and ran the comb through Katherine’s hair. “I’ve spoken to him, and I’m getting good vibes. He seems very nice, in every aspect.”

   Katherine stared up at her through the mirror. “He’s my father’s accountant. Honestly, I believe it would be a very bad idea for you to court him. Think of the complications!”

   “O, what complications? I cannot see how him courting me would affect his relationship with your father!”

   “Then imagine you are my father.” Katherine suggested. “You are a very wealthy man with a grand house, only one child. Then imagine how you would feel if your daughter’s maid was courted by your accountant! It would be odd, at the least. And besides…if papa wished Mr. Halliwell to court anyone, it would be me, don’t you think so?”

   Anne dropped the comb, her face turning red. She bent down to retrieve the object with clenched teeth, feeling a sudden urge to rip out her mistress’s hair from the scalp. But she controlled her angry and returned to the task at hand. “Well, has Mr. Halliwell showed any interest in you?”

   “Of course, not – which brings me to wonder why he would ever show interest in you! I mean no disrespect, but you’re a maid, Anne, and he’s quite well off. What advantage would he see in expressing a romantic interest in you? It doesn’t make sense.”

   “And you are a spoiled little brat, Katherine Ellicott!” Anne threw the comb onto the dressing table. “I may be a maid, but I know that much!”

   Katherine’s mouth hung open and she shot to her feet to face her. “How dare you! You have no right to speak to me like that!” She lunged at Anne and the two of them toppled back onto the bed.

   “Get off me!” Anne screeched, her arms flailing as she tried to push Katherine away. But Katherine pinned her down against the bed with both hands pressing down against her shoulders. “Don’t you ever talk to me like that again! Understood?”

   “Yes, yes – I understand! Get off me!”

   Katherine suddenly laughed and Anne stopped struggling, staring with narrowed eyes. “What’s funny?”

   “It seems to me we’re quarrelling over a man!” Katherine announced. “Really, Anne don’t pursue this further on your own – let matters take their own course, will you not?”  She sat up on the bed, watching as Anne pushed herself up onto her elbows and then slid off the bed.

   “I never intended to pursue it myself, Miss Katherine. I just hope it doesn’t get back to your father.”

   “Of course it won’t – not from my lips, anyway. But be more careful in the future, won’t you? Just imagine what would have happened if – instead of myself and Mr. Hemingway being in the room – it was my father.”

   “I cringe to even think about it.” Anne shivered.

   “Good. Now, I’m absolutely exhausted, and I need my sleep. So would you mind putting out all the lamps and leaving me to retire early?”

   “Of course.” Her maid shuffled around the room, putting out the numerous oil lamps, letting the room plunge into total darkness while Katherine climbed in-between the sheets and rested her head on a large, fluffy pillow. “Good night, Anne.”

   “Good night, Miss Katherine. Sleep well.” She shut the door lightly, leaving her mistress alone.

   Katherine shifted around, wide awake, her thoughts humming with everything that had happened at the ball. But the issue of Anne’s interest in Mr. Halliwell totally evaded her – instead she was left pondering the thoughts of what it would be like to travel to America.

*     *     *     *     *

   The earth pounded beneath the fury of galloping hooves, which kicked up clods of dirt and a cloud of dust in their wake. The surrounding desert was a colourful blur of speed as his horse raced, flat-out, across the level ground. The animal’s ears were pinned back, its head thrusting forward, nostrils flared and mouth gaping open.

   The young Navajo man grinned into the wind and black mane of his horse, holding the reins of rope tightly in his fists. The sun was scorching his bare back and his thighs were beginning to ache from the friction of the horse’s saddle-free back, but he ignored the discomforts. He was alone, surrounded by beauty, and was free.

   Very slowly, he released the reins, spread his arms out and raised himself up by bringing up his legs so that his knees rested near the horse’s shoulder blades. He wobbled somewhat and fought to control his balance.

   The land dipped slightly and the horse snapped its neck back and stuck out its chest so as not to topple over headfirst. Before them was a jagged, golden ravine, the start to a canyon.

   The man quickly settled back down, seized the reins and stopped the horse abruptly. Puffs of dust rose up around them. “Quiet there, Raven.”

   The sooty stallion pawed the ground, throwing his head up and down. Foam was developing at his mouth and his flanks were glistening with sweat.

   Way down below in the canyon, protected from both sight and sun, was a camp, evidently set up by at least a hundred white men. Their horses and supplies were spread out and cooking fires let off spirals of smoke into the air. Raven’s ears pricked forward and he whinnied.

   Cautiously, the young man slid off the horse, keeping his hands on his neck even with feet firmly on the ground. He could see the forms of men down below, moving in and out of tents and wagons, tending to horses and fires, conversing with each other. Up here, he realised, he was in full view.

   Cupping a hand over his horses nose, the Navajo man coaxed him to the left, behind a cluster of boulders and shrubs. His breath came out heavy, his shoulders tensed.

   A slow, hissing sound came from somewhere at his feet. Dreading the sight, the young man looked down to see a sandy-coloured snake sliding across his horse’s hoof. His heart fluttered in his throat.

   Raven’s eyes bulged, showing the whites, as he noticed the creature. The horse stomped and bucked, kicking up pebbles – and then he let out an ear-piercing neigh as he reared, pushing the man to the ground.

   The people down below shot to their feet, scrambled out of tents and craned their necks, searching the rim of the canyon for the source of the noise. They mounted their horses, yelling and shouting to each other. “Spread out – there’s someone up there! Quick!”

   With most of the white men on horseback, they trotted off in different direction, none of them going directly towards the location of the noise.

   Raven, too frightened to stand still, bolted to the side, legs flying up high as if he was prancing. He moved sideways for a few meters and then broke into a gallop. The Navajo man kicked at the snake with his moccasin-clad feet, until it fell down the ravine in a series of coils. But it was too late – they had been spotted and now he could see five of the white men running after his horse.

   “Stop right there, Injun.”

   The young man spun around, only to face a large group of mounted white-eyes, their pistols cocked and ready.