With a deep breath, Lily turned away from her uncle and left the apothecary, holding her head high, trying desperately to retain any semblance of courage she could muster.

She’d barely covered two strides when a voice as shrill and unwelcome as the early morning cockerel broke her resolve in an instant. ‘Apothecary!’

Chapter Four

Alice Blackwell opened her eyes.

The world was black, suffocating. There were no stars that night, no moon to illuminate the sky. She had no idea where she was. All she knew was the pain of the splitting headache that resonated from her right temple, the side to side, bone-shaking movement of a horse-drawn cart, and the sound of the hooves that echoed on the cobbles below. Her brain felt foggy and her eyes were crusty with dried tears, and she found herself growing increasingly disturbed and confused.

She scrunched her eyes closed and then opened them again, trying to focus in the darkness. Where am I? Panic started to creep in. How did I get here?

She breathed in deeply and felt a strange material brush against her lips.

The brain fog disappeared in an instant when she realised the world wasn’t black.

There was a heavy bag over her head blocking out the sky, rendering her blind and helpless. Frightened, she tried to reach up to tear the bag away from her face. Pain shot through her as coarse rope dug into the delicate skin around her bony wrists.

Her hands were bound.

An attempt to separate her ankles confirmed her legs were also tied together. She felt the terror rise in her throat, her breathing became laboured, and she grew unbearably hot with the thick wool pressing against her face.

She couldn’t think. She couldn’t breathe.

‘Help me!’ Alice attempted to scream. A gag prevented the words from forming and instead all that escaped from her mouth was a pitiful shriek, muffled and only audible to those nearby. The panic only increased, bile filled her mouth, and sweat dripped mercilessly down her forehead, running down the back of her saturated neck. Alice’s heart was hammering so hard she feared her ribcage might actually shatter in her chest. In the distance, she heard the driver of the carriage command the horses to halt and the rumbling of the carriage wheels beneath her stopped.

Disorientated, Alice screamed again, feeling sure that this time she would be heard, now that the carriage was still. She imagined everyone within earshot running to her aid, rescuing her, telling her everything would be all right. She imagined her best friend appearing out of nowhere to hold her hand and guide her home.

Instead, she heard heavy boots walking towards her. The owner of the boots kneeled by her side and Alice could feel the pressure of a hand at her throat as her captor leaned over her and growled. Another pair of boots joined the first, but this second person stayed standing. Alice could feel the power emanating from them both.