And could swear that when the wind blew again, she could hear the islands whisper, Elizabeth.
Author’s Note
This story began, interestingly enough, when my copies of The Number of Love arrived. I sat down on the floor with seventy copies stacked around me and all the packing slips at hand for those who had preordered signed copies from my website. I had my purple pen at the ready, and I set about signing, stuffing, and labeling all those orders. As I did, I noticed a trend . . . many of these readers had the same or similar names. By the time I got to the sixth Elizabeth, I thought, Oh, look! Another Elizabeth! And something about those words stuck in my head.
Another Elizabeth . . . Over the course of the next twenty-four hours, a story emerged to match the words. A case of mistaken identity . . . a cranky landlady ready to judge one Elizabeth because of what another had done . . . that first Elizabeth’s things still in the house . . . and that first Elizabeth’s brother showing up at the door, shocked to find some other Elizabeth where his sister ought to be. I ran the idea past my editors, who encouraged me to develop it. So, the next question was where to set this tale of mistaken identity.
My best friend/critique partner and I have long been enamored with what we call “island books,” so I decided it would be fun to set Elizabeth’s tale on an island. I spent quite a while considering and dismissing the various British options—the Channel Islands? Been done. Isle of Man? So small it would be quite limited. Then I discovered—and fell in love with—the Scillies.
I need to thank Richard Larn, a native of the Isles of Scilly and a prolific writer himself, for taking the time to answer my questions about when things like electricity and automobiles reached the islands, as well as reminding me that no one but the Duke of Cornwall owns any land there and only the house of the Lord Proprietor is really worthy of a nobleman. Most of this I found easy work-arounds for . . . and occasionally I said, “Hey, this is fiction!”
So the Tremayne house is a total fabrication, though other landmarks are described as accurately as I was able to make them. I also wanted to incorporate some modern traditions, like the Wednesday gig races. These haven’t been going on for a hundred years, but it’s a tradition I thought reasonably could have had its start in those days, and it’s such a wonderful example of island community that I couldn’t resist putting it in.
The Isles of Scilly were, historically, a hugely popular place for pirates and smugglers to congregate, given their location. So of course I had to include a bit of pirate lore! And Mucknell was certainly the most notorious of the Scillies’ pirate residents. After decades of working for the East India Company, he seized the excuse of the English Civil War to lead a mutiny, steal the Company flagship, the John, and start preying on other East Indiamen with the excuse that it was for the exiled Prince of Wales. And the prince not only gave him his blessing, but he named him a vice admiral . . . of a pirate fleet. How fascinating is that? For many years, no one knew what happened to the John after its last battle, nor the haul that it had in its hold. Modern evidence suggests that it was purposefully beached and emptied, but there’s still speculation about that booty. Is Mucknell’s treasure still buried somewhere? Or did he really turn it all over to the Crown? Well, I have my opinions. . . .
I also need to thank my old friend Meagan Fitzgerald for being open with me about what life is like in a household with mito kids. I knew I wanted Morgan to have had a condition they didn’t even have a name for at the time, and as I learned more about mitochondrial disease, I knew this was something I wanted to explore, if only in part. Because not only would Morgan have been hugely affected by the limitations, the illnesses that would always find him, and the always-present fear of an early death, but the whole family would have been altered by the care he required and the monetary output. I wanted a hero who had been forever affected by loving a brother with a debilitating illness—and a brother who had loved him so much that he’d selflessly preserved as much of the family legacy as he could so that Oliver would have something to inherit after Morgan’s death. Though I couldn’t name his condition in the story, I pray the slivers of attention I gave to it honor the families who fight those battles daily.
On a lighter note, while I was developing this story, my husband came across a rather unexpected blessing outside our church—a small tabby kitten in desperate need of saving. We named her Sammy and integrated her into our house (much to the initial despair of our two older cats), and she became the inspiration for Darling. All of Darling’s mannerisms are, in fact, Sammy’s—though what I didn’t manage to work in is our kitten’s utter gracelessness. She has the most remarkable ability to not land on her feet!
As always, I need to thank all the people who help me in my writing process. Elizabeth (yes, this is for you too!), my England native who checks for Americanisms for me; Rachel, for being the best virtual assistant in the history of the world; Stephanie, who cheers me on from afar with hilarious emojis when our writing retreat is canceled because of a pandemic and I’m forced to closet myself in my office alone; David, for being a superhero of a husband, giving me writing time, and being a brainstorming partner and beta reader; Xoë and Rowyn, for always putting up with a distracted mama; Mom and Dad, Nanny, Jennifer, and Terri, for always being proud of me. The amazing team at Bethany House, who help me transform my manuscripts into something worthy of the readers’ time; and finally, YOU—my readers. Your enthusiasm, loyalty, and encouragement make it all worthwhile. Thank you for all the notes you send, the social media photos of my books in pretty settings, and always asking about other possible stories. More than once it’s been those questions that have inspired me!
I hope you all enjoyed this introduction to a new world set in the islands and that you’re curious about what might come next. Because Beth, Lady Emily, Sheridan, and Telford have their own stories to tell, and I, for one, can’t wait to see what legends and mysteries they stumble upon!
Discussion Questions
Libby feels out of place in her own family and society. Have you ever felt this way, or do you know someone who does? What have you done to find true community? How have you helped others find their place?
Oliver’s life was greatly shaped by his brother’s illness. How have you seen physical afflictions shape a family? Make it stronger? Break it apart? How can we ensure that these struggles strengthen us and not break us?
Mabena came home again solely because of her fears for her best friend and cousin. Has there ever been a place, situation, or person you’ve avoided because of a past hurt? What would convince you to face them again?
Libby struggles to reconcile science and faith. Do you think there’s a battle between the two? Must there be, or is it created by the opponents of each? Does knowing which questions belong to which side help reconcile it in our minds?
Who is your favorite character? Your least favorite? Why?
What did you think of Oliver’s rivalry with Casek Wearne? How do you think they’ll get along now? Would you have been quicker or slower to move toward a truce?
Do you think Mamm-wynn could really see “beyond the veil”? What did you think of her and her eccentricities?
The power of names and naming is discussed several times. Do you think names are important? What does yours mean? Your kids’? If you could know the name God calls you, what do you think it would be?