The background for this book was suggested some time ago by a visit to Cromford Mill in Derbyshire: it presented a fascinating and often disturbing insight into England's industrial past.  On the one hand the mills represented progress, on the other privation and hardship for people made redundant by machines.  As the Luddite element sought to protect their livelihoods, looms, mills and mill owners came under attack. Draconian penalties were imposed by a government already made jittery by the years of revolution in France. At the same time, large profits awaited those unscrupulous enough to use the resulting conflict for their own ends. This last became an important element of the story's sub plot.

 

Unusually, the hero came to mind first. Marcus Edenbridge is an unwilling protagonist who is haunted by the past, overtaken by events beyond his control, forced to take on a role he didn't choose in a place he didn't want to be, and caught up in a dangerous web of intrigue.  No pressure, then.  Just to keep him on his toes I introduced him to Claire, a disturbingly attractive heroine with a secret of her own.

 

Read an extract:

 

Claire drew in a sharp breath.

 

His flesh was fiery to the touch. Hastily she poured more cold water into the basin and rinsed the cloth again. Then she bathed his chest as far as the line of the bandage would permit, her gaze taking in each detail of the powerful torso. She had not thought a man's body could be beautiful until now. Beautiful and disturbing too, for it engendered other thoughts.

She had fled her uncle's house to avoid being married to a lecherous old man, but what of being married to a younger one, a man like this?  If her suitor had looked and behaved like Eden would she then have fled?  Would the thought of sharing his bed repel her?

Shocked by the tenor of her thoughts, she tried to dismiss them. He was a stranger who had once come to her aid.  She knew nothing more about him. Perhaps she never would.

The thought was abruptly broken off by a hand closing round hers.

 

              Copyright © 2009 by Joanna Fulford