The autumn of 1875 was unusually warm in the small village of Eldridge, nestled in the rolling hills of northern England. The air carried the scent of ripe apples and fading roses, and the lake that bordered the village shimmered under the late afternoon sun. Clara Ashwood stood at the edge of that lake, her boots sinking slightly into the damp earth, clutching a letter she hadn’t yet dared to open.

Clara was twenty-four, with chestnut hair that fell in soft waves and eyes the color of storm clouds. She was known in Eldridge for her quiet demeanor and her skill with a paintbrush, though few had seen her work. Her days were spent tending to her aging father, a retired schoolmaster, and dreaming of a world beyond the village’s borders. But today, the letter in her hands promised to change everything.

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It had arrived that morning, delivered by a young boy who worked for the postmaster. The envelope was heavy, made of fine cream paper, and sealed with a wax crest she didn’t recognize. Her name was written in elegant script, and the return address bore the name “Lord Nathaniel Harrow, Willowmere Manor.” Clara’s heart had skipped at the sight of it. She hadn’t heard from Nathaniel in seven years—not since he’d left Eldridge to claim his inheritance after his father’s death.

They had been children together, inseparable despite the difference in their stations. Nathaniel, the son of a wealthy lord, and Clara, the daughter of a humble teacher, had spent their summers exploring the woods, reading poetry by the lake, and dreaming of grand adventures. But when Nathaniel turned eighteen, he was called away to manage his family’s estate, and their letters had dwindled until they stopped altogether. Clara had mourned the loss quietly, tucking her feelings into the corners of her heart.

Now, as the sun dipped lower, she broke the seal and unfolded the letter. Nathaniel’s handwriting was as familiar as her own, though it carried a new weight, a maturity that made her breath catch.

My dearest Clara,

I hope this letter finds you well. It has been too long since we last spoke, and for that, I owe you an apology. The duties of Willowmere have kept me occupied, but they have not erased the memories of our time together. I am returning to Eldridge for the autumn, and I would be honored if you would meet me. There is much I wish to say, and much I hope to hear. I will arrive on the 15th of October. If you are willing, meet me by our old oak at dusk.

Yours, always,

Nathaniel

Clara pressed the letter to her chest, her heart racing. The 15th was tomorrow. She glanced at the ancient oak tree across the lake, its gnarled branches stretching toward the sky. It was their tree, where they had carved their initials as children, where they had promised to always be friends. Could she face him after all these years? And what did he mean by “yours, always”?

As the first stars appeared, Clara made her decision. She would go. Whatever Nathaniel had to say, she needed to hear it.

Chapter 1: The Letter

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