The Captain's Frozen Dream. Georgie Lee

and reject him. It’s difficult to be taken seriously if one doesn’t come from a titled or wealthy family.’

      Katie toed a small piece of slate with her boot.

      ‘Then all the more reason to align yourself with a man who possesses both.’ It wasn’t a subtle reminder of his standing and small wealth, but a powerful one. Though he’d always cherished Katie’s eagerness to love him despite his money and family connections, he wasn’t above using both to try and persuade her to be with him now.

      Katie peered around Conrad with a frown, obviously not as enamoured with his argument. ‘What’s taking Mr Tucker so long?’

      The sun was falling fast and the shadows deepening by the minute.

      ‘He’ll be back soon.’

      ‘I can’t wait any longer.’ She marched to the ladder, sliding a little on a piece of lose slate before she regained her balance.

      Conrad hurried up behind her. ‘What are you doing?’

      ‘If I managed the ladder into the mine, surly I can manage this one. Steady it for me.’

      Before he could take hold of it, Katie began to climb.

      Conrad grabbed the poles tight and the higher Katie climbed, the more the wood wobbled under her weight. As she ascended, the top of the poles nestled against the walls rattled, breaking off shards of slate. Conrad turned his head as the pebbles she’d knocked loose pelted his shoulders and scattered over the mine floor. By the time he looked back up, Katie was at the top, hands on the last rung as she strained to see the bone.