Prologue

London 1740

Torrents of rain beat against the thick glass windowpanes as the late afternoon storm darkened the interior of the tavern to a shadowy cave. Shivering from the dampness, a girl knelt on the crumbling bricks before an ancient fireplace, blowing sparks of life into the dying coals. The street door slammed open and a gust of wind scattered the ashes. A cry of pain escaped the girl's lips as she rubbed at her eyes with the corner of her apron.

The spit dog cowed against her legs as a man's heavy tread crossed the slanting oak floor. A hand closed over her arm, pulling her to her feet.

"Are ye all alone then, sweet?"

She tried to pull free, but he held her fast. "My mam's in the back," she lied.

"Is she now? You must be mistaken, sweet. For I saw her in the square not a quarter hour ago."

A foul-smelling hand caught her chin and turned her face up to meet his brutal kiss. A wet mouth covered hers and a thick tongue sought entrance. The smell of rum filled her brain and she struck at his face with her fists.

A blow rocked her head and she would have fallen backward if he hadn't caught her. From far away came the sound of drunken laughter. "All alone and wantin' to play," he taunted huskily. "I'll teach ye a game, Miss High 'n' Mighty!"

Rough hands tore at the front of her dress and she gasped as the fabric ripped away, exposing her full white breasts. "Damn you!" she screamed. "Get out of here!" She lashed out with her foot and caught him in the knee. He hit her again and a trickle of blood ran from the corner of her mouth.

"You love it, you slut! Yer jest like all the others. Ye like to be swived by a real man. I seen ye watchin' me." He lifted her from the floor and covered her mouth with his callused hand. "We'll jest go back into the kitchen where we'll be alone."

The terrier nipped at his ankle and he kicked the little dog aside as he pushed open the low door to the back room. The girl tried desperately to get a grip on his hand with her teeth, and he closed his fingers over her nose, cutting off her breathing. His mouth closed hungrily over one nipple and he moaned with pleasure as he pushed her back against a flour-covered table.

Her knee struck his crotch and he loosened his grip long enough for her to roll free. She fell backward to the floor, hitting her head against the fireplace. She caught her breath and screamed as he lunged for her, pinning her to the floor with his hard muscular body. His fingers twisted in her hair to hold her as he fumbled with the tie string on his breeches.

Desperately she reached out with one hand and her fingers closed around the cold iron of a poker...