Men of Iron

Over the coming months, Myles discovers a mentor and ally in Lord George Beaumont, the Earl of Mackworth’s brother. Myles becomes acquainted with Lord George’s associates, who in turn extend their cordiality. One afternoon, Myles finds himself accidentally introduced to two important members of the Earl’s family.

While playing a game with the other squires, Myles overshoots the tossing of a ball; it sails over the wall of a garden, the private outdoor sanctuary of the ladies of the household. Myles feels obligated to retrieve the ball. Gascoyne, ever cautious, reminds him what a foolish idea this is. In the past, a servant had been caught trying to scale the garden walls and was shot with a crossbow by the castle guard. Determined, Myles climbs a pear tree, dropping from its upper limbs onto the top of the wall. He means to use one of the trees surrounding the garden to slowly lower himself to the ground, but the branch he grasps snaps, and he tumbles to the ground below—to the sound of a woman screaming.

Myles finds himself face-to-face with Lady Anne, the Earl of Mackworth’s 20-year-old daughter, and her cousin, 15-year-old Lady Alice. Lady Anne demands to know who Myles is and what he is doing in their garden.