1 Prologue

Windamere Estate

1801, England Countryside

Summer

Olivia felt the sun on her face. It was a rare sunny day here in the countryside and she enjoyed every second of it. She thought to herself what a

wonderful painting it would make. Olivia hasn't picked up a paint brush or sketched a drawing in months. She used to love to draw or paint anything she saw or whenever she could. Yet, for what seemed like a long time she hasn't thought of her favorite past time. It was all just to painful with old memories attached to it.

Suddenly she heard laughter in the distance. She opened her eyes and turned towards the direction of the sound. There she saw three small children playing by the pound on the estate. Two of the children have blond golden hair like their mother Emily, Olivia's closest friend's daughter. She saw Emily as if she was a younger sister to her. After her mother had passed Olivia took in Emily and made her part of her family.

How happy she was for Emily to have found her true love, and to have family of her own. Which she was sitting next to her in the lawn chair. Emily's husband Andrew stood almost 6 ft, dark blond hair and blue eyes. He leaned down and kissed Emily on the forehead. Emily's golden hair shimmered in the summer light. She smiled up at him. It made Olivia think back of the past and of her one true love Michael. It seemed like a long time ago. How she wish she could have that again. To be with the man she loved.

Now she had a part of him that she loved more than anything. Their son, Theodore, but she called him teddy for short. He looked just like his father; curly dark hair like a ravens, and grey color eyes. How she missed her beloved, Micheal. They had known each other since they were children. His father Edward Thornton worked as a ship merchant and was a business partner with her father, Duke Theodore of Windamere the 3rd. She named their son after her father.

Michael and her were inseparable while growing up. His father Edward would bring him along each time he meet with her father about their shipping business they were in. Michael was learning the merchant and ship building business from his father and one day take over it.

When he wasn't studying with his father he would spend his time with her, and they would play with each other. They would run and play in the gardens and swim in the pond on her father's estate. He was always protective and was always there for her. She knew that as long as he was at her side nothing bad would happen to her. When she began sketching and began to get into different paints, Michael encouraged her to pursue it. He believed in her and her skills in drawing.

Olivia have always cared for Michael as if he was like an older brother to her and he cared for her. Over time that caring feeling she has for him, it slowly began to turn into feelings of falling in love. Olivia realized one day after years of being close she was in love with Michael. Yet, she was afraid to tell him how she felt. He cared for her like a younger sister, but he might never see her as grown woman.

It wasn't until she turned 18 that her father wanted to present her to London's high society. She was to be presented at court in the summer during the season. Before traveling to London her father

threw a grand masquerade ball, and invited half the county and all of high society had attended. It was at that party the she finally confessed to Michael how she felt. For the party she was dressed as Odette from swan lake, a white swan. She sketched the gown herself and her closest friend and cousin Marie made the dress. The two of them hoped to one day begin their own dress company. A old dream that the two of them thought of long ago.

Her gown was pale white, long and flowing. It had white feathery wings attached to her back, and a mask with white feathers and beaded pearls along the edges. Her dark auburn was pinned up, and she wore a small crown on her head.

It was her best gown made according to her cousin. Marie was dressed as Juliet from the play Romeo and Juliet. Her gown looked like something right out of Renaissance time period. It was dark red with gold trim, and her dark brown hair was down and curtly. Michael was dressed like Prince Charming. He looked like something right out of a fairy tale story. She remembered how handsome he looked, all dressed up and wearing a dark blue mask.

It there at the party that she told him how she felt about him. He asked her dance and they waltzed together on the main dance floor. Her heart was pounding the whole time. When they finished dancing, Michael asked her to take a walk in the garden. As they made their way over there Olivia's heart keep beating faster. As they get to the garden which was decorated for the ball, white paper lanterns and flowers everywhere, Michael and her sat down on a bench.

He then pulled out a gift box for her. He told her to open it, inside was a long silver chain, at the end of it were two charms of silver swans. "They are beautiful she said. Why swans she though she asked him?"

He told her that swans mates for life, and always remained together. She asked him what he meant being together forever. He looked down at her and told her what she was afraid to say to him. "I have fallen in love with you Olivia. I know that we have been friends since we were children, and I saw you as younger sister. Then one day I saw you being all grown up. Then tonight you came down the grand stair case in this beautiful gown, and I realized you are no longer that little kid swimming in the pond. Or covered in paint when drawing. I don't want to be without you. That's why I got you the necklace. I want to spend the rest of lives together."

Olivia didn't know what to say. She was stunned for she felt the same way as he did. Before she could say anything he kissed her. Took her in his arms and pulled her to him. He then leaned down and kissed her passionately. Her head was spinning, and she knew that she didn't want to be without him. "I love you too." She blurted out loud to him. He smiled at her and pulled her back into his arms. After that night they knew they wanted to be together.

Afterwards they talked about what their future together. He wanted to marry her but first he wanted to make name for himself, and to support them. Once he turned 21 he took over his fathers business Michael was able to support them both, and he proposed to her. It was her 19th birthday, when he proposed to her. She was the most happiest person in the world. When Michael asked her father for permission for her hand, her father did something unexpected and refused him. Which Olivia couldn't understand. He had known Michael since he was young, knew he was good man and had his own business to support her and him.

Her father told them that because of the different class from each other. Society wouldn't understand nor allow it. Her fathers sister, her aunt Katherine was also there the day Michael asked her father. She had a hand in turning her father against them. Her aunt was a rigid, and cold woman. Who only cared for what society wanted to see. She was a spinster, and unloving person.

Olivia knew that her father wouldn't deny her being happy. If it wasn't for her aunt who somehow turned her own father against. He would have approved of it. So when he told Michael and Olivia that if she decided to be with him she would never be allowed back into this home or into high society. Olivia couldn't believe that she had to choose. Michael turned to her and told her no matter what decision she came to he would still always be with her and would find a way.

He then took her hand and kissed it gently. He said he would give some time to think it over. As he turned away to leave so he could let her decide, she watched him walk away out of her father's office. Olivia stood there watching the man she loved leave. Her father and aunt were talking amongst themselves. She could hear what her aunt was saying. "How dare that young man walk in here thinking her could marry above his station."

"He came here to ask for my hand, he is self made man, who had know work his whole life. Unlike the men who were born into high society. Know nothing of hard work. I'm so sorry father that you can't see that he's a good man, but Ive made my decision. I'm going to spend my life with him." Her father and aunt didn't know what to say. She turned away from them and went after Michael.

They then got married in a small ceremony, without her father, but her cousin Marie attended as her maid do honor. Michael and her spent their honeymoon in Bath. Once they returned they moved to London. He bought house for them in the upper side of town. They were happy together for a short time. Two happy years went by, then fate stepped in and dealt them a cruel hand.

Michael's shipping business was doing well. He was traveling on one of his ships he owned, named Odette, named after Olivia on her 18th Birthday and her dressed in that white gown. It was Olivia's 21st birthday, and Michael was to be coming into port that early evening. While she waited for him to come home, she was out for the day celebrating her birthday with her dear friend Maggie, and her her daughter Emily. When her and her friends were out for a luncheon at one of London's high end cafe,

she received the most terrifying news from Michael's closest friend Lucas. He was captain to one of Michaels other ships, the Twin Swans. Lucas was in change when Michael was away on one of his expeditions.

Lucas had a grim look on his face, and Olivia knew something was wrong. Michael's ship, the Odette was caught in a terrible storm and went down in the English Channel. Olivia just couldn't believe it. She sat there feeling numb all over. He couldn't be gone, he just couldn't. She didn't believe it. Lucas told her how sorry he was for her loss. That if she needed anything he would take of it. He would over see Michael's company until she was ready to come down to the shipping yard herself.

Thankful Maggie and Emily were there for her. They wouldn't leave her side. Olivia sat there in shock for what seemed like an eternity. She didn't cry, nor did get hysterical, for what good what do. It wouldn't bring him back. Finally Maggie was able to get her to stand up and help her get back home. As the three of them made their way back to her house, Olivia could smell something burning in the air. She didn't think anything of it. She was still in shock from Michael's death. Then there was suddenly large mob of people running past them. The three of them had to step out of the way or be run down.

"What is going on, what's happened?!" A man from the crowd stopped and turned to them. "There's a huge fire burning thru the city. It's unstoppable, people are running for their lives and to the docks from getting burned." The man turned away and ran back into the crowd. "London is burning!? That can't be?" Emily said. Olivia couldn't believe what was happening. Not just losing her love, now the city was burning.

After that terrible night, Olivia, had to learn to pick up the pieces of what was left of her life. Sometime after the fires were put out. The city started to rebuild. Olivia moved in with her friend Maggie and Emily. Her home with Michael burnt in the fires. She had nothing left from her life with him. Or least so she thought. Not long after she found out she was carrying Michael's child. The only thing left of him and what they had.

The London fires had burned thru half the city including Michael's shipping yard. There was hardly anything left. What was left of it was sold off. She received some money from the sales. Lucas, Michael's friend, was called away on business the night of the fires. When he returned he was told about the shipping yard. And was mistakenly informed that Olivia didn't survive the fires. He devastated to learn of his best friend's wife dying in the fires. Not knowing either one was alive.

It was a few weeks after but Olivia used the money to start over with her life for her and their child. Olivia's father still refused to see her, so she, Maggie, and Emily left London, and traveled to America. Where she had some family in Boston who would take her in. She would start a new life with her son.

What she didn't know was that fate had stepped in and saved Michael's life that day in the storm.

He survived, along with his ship, but he was badly hurt. The ship the odette, needed major repairs before he could sail it again. He was desperate to return home to his beloved. It took him months to return to London. When he returned people believed he was a ghost. Michael made his way to his home with Olivia only to find it torn down. The building was to damaged after the fires that it had be taken down. When people heard that he was looking for his wife, his best friend Lucas gotten word he went out to find him. He couldn't believe it that he was alive.

He took Michael back to his home, which was near the docks. And told him what had happened, the fires and the shipping yard being destroyed. Michael kept asking about Olivia, and Lucas couldn't bare to tell him that she was gone. When he finally told him, Michael sat there in silence. Then he got up from his chair and walked to outside. He couldn't believe it, that she was gone. He walked towards the docks, and looked out into the water. The only thing he left of her was one of the silver swan charms. Olivia has given him one and she kept the other one.

He couldn't stay here, to many memories of her. He went back up into the house and told Lucas he was leaving. That he needed to leave all this behind. Lucas said he would come with him, and get a crew together. Michael would turn to what he knew, sailing the seas. He turned to a life a piracy.

Seven long years later fate would step in again, and both Olivia and Michael would see each other again. Neither realizing the other for both have changed over time. When they realized that the other one was alive they knew that even after all that time they both wanted to still be with each other. Michael wanted to be a family with Olivia and their son teddy. Because he was a known pirate, the authorities were after him and were determined to see him hang. Not wanting to drag his beloved and son down with him. He turned himself in to save his family.

Olivia couldn't bare to lose him again. Not a second time. He told to leave before the authorities would connect her to him, and take their son away from her. So Olivia took their son and got away before they too were captured. And returned to England to her fathers estate. Now it's been several months later and she had to learn to pick up the pieces again.

"Olivia, Olivia, are you alright?" Emily looked at her with concern. "I'm alright, really I am." She smiled at her to reassure her. She looked up and saw Marie walking toward them. "There's a visitor here for you, Olivia. He's come all the way from Boston, a letter from your uncle. It's about Michael." Olivia's heart began to race. It couldn't be coisnce that she was just thinking of him just now and now there was a letter from her uncle concerning him. "Would you like me to come with you?" Emily asked. "No I'll be alright."

Olivia stood up from the lawn chair. She was expecting this letter would come from her uncle in Boston for some time now. "Mama where are you going?" Teddy called out to her. "I'll be right back honey. You keep playing." She smiled at him, and he gave her a huge smile back. How she wished their son could get to know his father better. She slowly made her way up to the main house all the memories came rushing back. Olivia stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. She continued on to her fathers study. As she came upon the door, she pushed it open. There was a man standing over her father's desk. His back was facing her. This man was tall looking, at least 6 foot, he had dark black hair, it was tied back, he wore a long leather coat, and black boots. Something about him seemed familiar.

"Can I help you? My cousin said you had a letter from my uncle."

The man turned around to face her and Olivia's heart felt like it stopped for a second. She was looking into the face of a ghost. It couldn't be her beloved. But this man who stood in front of her had his gray color eyes, and dark raven hair. "Michael..."