Shine Like the Dawn

by Carrie Turansky

  Praise for

  Shine Like the Dawn

  “Shine Like the Dawn is a shining gem of a story. Turansky creates characters that are vibrant along with a sweet romance that elicits a satisfying sigh. Intrigue, secrets, and dangerous conflicts make the plot riveting until the very end.”

  —JODY HEDLUND, author of Luther and Katharina, ECPA Book of the Year

  “Reading a Carrie Turansky novel is the next best thing to taking a trip to England, with the added luxury of stepping back in time. Shine Like the Dawn is an Edwardian gem, layering rich spiritual truths with love, loss, secrets, and forgiveness, always showcasing God’s abundant restoration. This hope-infused story is as lovely as the cover!”

  —LAURA FRANTZ, author of A Moonbow Night

  “From the first compelling page to the last heart-lifting moment, Shine Like the Dawn drew me in, made me smile then cry—all while keeping me on the edge of my seat. Turansky’s latest English historical romance, rich in mystery and intrigue, brings to life warm and memorable characters nestled between a charming Edwardian village and its local grand estate. Uplifting and highly recommended.”

  —CATHY GOHLKE, Christy–award winning author of Secrets She Kept and Saving Amelie

  “With her trademark heart and attention to historical detail, Carrie Turansky paints a picture of loss, inner torment, and—ultimately—healing. Set against a backdrop of Edwardian England, Shine Like the Dawn is aptly named because it shows the illumination that floods the soul when forgiveness replaces bitterness and a hurting heart finds its way back to the Maker of Light. A moving, life-impacting, engrossing story.”

  —KIM VOGEL SAWYER, best-selling author of Guide Me Home

  “Enter a world of innovations, mysterious manor houses, sweet romances, and whispers of suspense, all wrapped within a novel that gives off Elizabeth Gaskell’s North and South vibes. In typical sweeping style, Carrie Turansky takes us on a journey to another time and place with added intrigue to keep us wondering to the very end—a story worth adding to your reading list.”

  —PEPPER D. BASHAM, award-winning author of the Penned in Time series and A Twist of Faith

  “In this charming novel—filled with mystery, surprise, romance, and courage—Carrie Turansky skillfully transports us to Edwardian England. Readers will root for our heroine as she faces the shocking loss which dominates her life and reaches toward a future filled with faith, hope, and perhaps…love. Captivating.”

  —SANDRA BYRD, author of A Lady in Disguise

  “With a vivid setting in beautiful but tumultuous Edwardian England, Carrie Turansky masterfully tells a tale of family, love, trust, and betrayal. A charming story for every lover of historical romance!”

  —ROSEANNA M. WHITE, best-selling author of the Ladies of the Manor series

  “Lovers of English drama set during any era will certainly enjoy Carrie Turansky’s latest novel! With a mix of themes from both Downton Abbey and North and South, Shine Like the Dawn will intrigue and enthrall readers until the very last page!”

  —DAWN CRANDALL, award-winning author of The Hesitant Heiress and The Cautious Maiden

  BOOKS BY CARRIE TURANSKY

  NOVELS

  A Refuge at Highland Hall

  The Daughter of Highland Hall

  The Governess of Highland Hall

  Snowflake Sweethearts

  A Man to Trust

  Seeking His Love

  Along Came Love

  Surrendered Hearts

  NOVELLAS

  Moonlight Over Manhattan

  Mountain Christmas Brides

  Where Two Hearts Meet

  Christmas Mail-Order Brides

  Kiss the Bride

  A Blue and Gray Christmas

  A Big Apple Christmas

  Wedded Bliss?

  SHINE LIKE THE DAWN

  Scripture quotations and paraphrases are taken from the King James Version and the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

  The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.

  Trade Paperback ISBN 9781601429407

  Ebook ISBN 9781601429414

  Copyright © 2017 by Carrie Turansky

  Cover design and photography by Mike Heath, Magnus Creative

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  Published in the United States by Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

  MULTNOMAH® and its mountain colophon are registered trademarks of Penguin Random House LLC.

  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Turansky, Carrie, author.

  Title: Shine like the dawn / by Carrie Turansky.

  Description: First Edition. | Colorado Springs, Colorado : Multnomah, 2017.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2016050786 (print) | LCCN 2016058940 (ebook) | ISBN 9781601429407 (paperback) | ISBN 9781601429414 (ebook) | ISBN 9781601429414 (electronic)

  Subjects: | BISAC: FICTION / Christian / Historical. | FICTION / Christian / Romance. | FICTION / Romance / Historical. | GSAFD: Christian fiction. | Love stories.

  Classification: LCC PS3620.U7457 S55 2017 (print) | LCC PS3620.U7457 (ebook) | DDC 813/.6—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/​2016050786

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  Contents

  Cover

  Books by Carrie Turansky

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Epigraph

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 36

  Reading Group Guide

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  This book is dedicated to my heart-sister, Judy Conroy, for her faithful friendship, powerful prayers, and endless encouragement.

  Commit your way to the LORD;

  trust in him and he will do this:

  He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

  your vindication like the noonday sun.

  PSALM 37:5–6

  August 22, 1899

  Sunlight blinked off the rippling surface of Tumbledon Lake and into Margaret Lounsbury’s eyes. She squinted and adjusted the brim of her straw hat to shade her view, then took hold of the oar on her side of the sixteen-foot rowboat.

  “Are you ready?” Her father, Daniel Lounsbury, dipped his oar into the water and looked across at Maggie. Pleasant lines fanned out from the corners of his dark-brown eyes. A reddish-brown beard c
overed the lower half of his tanned face, but it couldn’t hide his smile.

  “Yes!” She returned his smile and lowered her oar for the first stroke.

  “The sun’s bright today, especially out on the water.” Her father looked across the lake to the rocky shore and lush woodlands beyond. Five years earlier, he and his team had dammed a section of the Debdon Burn, filling the small valley with water and creating this beautiful lake in the northernmost section of the estate. It was just one of his many accomplishments as lead landscape architect for Sir William Harcourt of Morningside Manor.

  “Do you have a special spot in mind for our picnic?” Maggie’s mother, Abigail Lounsbury, sat in the rear of the boat with Maggie’s younger sister, Violet, on her lap.

  “I found a lovely little glen surrounded by birch trees.” Father turned and grinned at Maggie’s older sister, Olivia, seated up front. “It will be the perfect place to celebrate your birthday. It looks like a fairy forest.”

  Olivia’s eyes sparkled. “I can’t wait to see it.”

  Maggie’s heart lifted, and she pulled her oar through the water, matching her father’s strong strokes. With the warm sunshine on her shoulders and her family around her, she couldn’t imagine a happier day.

  The breeze picked up and blew a strand of Maggie’s hair across her cheek.

  “It looks like rain is coming our way.” Her mother nodded to the west, a slight crease in her brow. She adjusted her hold on Violet.

  Heavy, gray clouds rose above the trees beyond the shoreline, though the rest of the sky remained mostly clear.

  Father lifted his gaze and studied the clouds for a few seconds. “I’m sure we’ve no cause for concern.” His confident tone eased Maggie’s mind. There was no one who knew more about plants, animals, and the weather than her father. If he didn’t believe a storm would threaten their afternoon picnic, there was no need to worry.

  A graceful white egret rose out of the grass on the far side of the lake and flew across the water toward them. Violet squirmed on her mother’s lap with a gleeful shriek. She looked as though she would climb over the side of the boat any moment if Mother didn’t keep a tight hold on her.

  Father chuckled. “It seems Violet would like to go swimming.”

  Olivia turned toward them. “There’s not much Violet doesn’t like, except perhaps cooked carrots and going down for a nap.”

  Maggie smiled. Olivia was right about that. Violet had started resisting her naps a few months after she celebrated her first birthday, and she’d never been fond of carrots.

  “No swimming today,” her mother replied in a serious tone, but Maggie could see the glow of good humor in her eyes.

  “Keep up, Maggie,” Father called, stroking his oar through the deep water.

  She focused on rowing again and picked up her pace to match Father’s. As they reached the center of the lake, Maggie heard an odd sloshing sound and looked down. Water slapped against the side of her shoe. She pulled in a sharp breath and lifted her foot. “Father, look!”

  He followed her gaze, and his eyes flashed wide. He jerked his oar from the water and scanned the hull of the boat.

  Mother straightened. “What is it, Daniel?”

  “We seem to have sprung a leak.” His voice remained calm, but the muscles in his jaw grew taut.

  “What?” Olivia shot a startled glance at Maggie.

  Mother wrapped her arms more tightly around Violet. “How large a leak?”

  “I don’t know.” Father frowned as he continued to search the floor of the boat, then he grabbed his dripping oar again. “Come on, Maggie, we’ve got to get back to shore.”

  Maggie’s hand trembled as she reached for her oar.

  Olivia rose, rocking the boat side to side. “Aren’t we closer to the other shore?”

  “Olivia, sit down!” Father’s sharp tone startled them all. Olivia sank onto the bench, and Father plunged his oar into the water.

  Maggie’s heartbeat pounded in her ears as she strained to keep up with Father’s rapid pace. But even if she could match his deep, steady strokes, would they make it back to the dock before water filled their boat?

  What if they couldn’t?

  She was a strong swimmer. Father had taught her that skill when she was only seven. She could make it. But Mother and Olivia had never wanted to learn how to swim, and Violet was too young.

  Maggie clenched her jaw and pulled the oar through the water, her arms burning from the strain, but their swift pace across the lake only seemed to bring more water into the boat. It splashed around Maggie’s ankles and the hem of her dark blue skirt.

  “Daniel, it’s too far! We’ll never make it!” Mother’s frantic voice sent tremors racing down Maggie’s legs.

  “Pull, Maggie!” Father grunted and heaved his oar around again.

  Maggie gripped her oar and darted a glance toward the shore. Panic climbed up her throat, stealing her breath. They were only halfway there. Mother was right. Water sloshed up Maggie’s leg and soaked her skirt. Soon lake water would pour over the side and the boat would go down.

  “Father!” Olivia scooted forward as far as she could, but there was no escaping the rising water lapping at her legs.

  Violet grabbed her mother’s neck and broke into pitiful cries.

  Father’s gaze darted from one family member to the next. “We’ll have to swim. Maggie, you take Violet. I’ll help your mother and Olivia.”

  Fear froze Maggie. She blinked and tried to focus on the distant shore. It was at least half a mile, maybe more. If Violet would calm down, she might be able to swim with her sister, but how could Father help Mother and Olivia?

  Father pulled Violet from Mother’s arms.

  “No, Daniel!” Mother reached for her youngest daughter. Her face had gone pale, and her eyes shimmered with tears.

  “Be calm, Abigail. Maggie will take care of Violet.” He passed Violet to Maggie.

  Her hands shook as she grabbed her squirming sister, but she held on tight.

  “We’re counting on you, Maggie.” Love and fierce determination radiated from his eyes. “Safeguard your sister. Don’t turn back for any reason.”

  Maggie swallowed hard. “Yes, Father.” She blinked her burning eyes, wanting to say she loved him and she would do her best, but there was no time.

  “Go on now.” He helped her over the side of the boat and into the cold water.

  Kicking to stay afloat, she rolled over onto her back and pulled Violet onto her chest. Slipping her arms under Violet’s, she pushed off from the side of the boat.

  The shock of the cold water and the weight of her skirt and blouse pulled her down, but she thrust herself through the water, holding tight to Violet and kicking as hard as she could.

  Oh God, have mercy on us! Save my family!

  Tears and lake water flooded her eyes, blocking her view of her family and the boat. Water rushed past her ears, but it couldn’t block out her mother’s fearful cries, her father’s shouts, or her sister’s heartrending calls for help. But she pushed on, her promise to her father giving her strength.

  Violet whimpered and tossed her head from side to side, then she lay back on Maggie’s chest, stunned by the cold water and frightening events.

  Maggie swam on, listening for her father’s confident call or his strokes in the water behind her. But all she heard was her own heavy breathing and the splashing water as she kicked her way closer to shore.

  Finally, her feet touched the muddy bottom, and she dragged herself and Violet out of the water. Her legs trembled and water poured from her clothes, pulling her down. But she forced herself to stay standing. Turning, she wiped her face and scanned the water.

  Nothing broke the rippling surface of the lake. No boat. Not one member of her beloved family. Numb with dread, she blinked and stared across the quiet lake.

  Where were they? How could they all just disappear?

  Violet cried and clung to Maggie’s leg through her soggy skirt. A gust of wind
sent a cold shiver through Maggie, and her teeth chattered hard.

  Clouds scuttled across the sky, blocking the sun and casting a gray shadow over the scene. Heavy raindrops splattered on the ground, and then the heavens opened and rain poured down on her head and shoulders. Still, Maggie stood, staring across the lake.

  Her father had been wrong. A storm had come. A more terrible storm than she could’ve ever imagined.

  Maggie searched the lake once more, straining to hear the voices of those she loved, but the only sound was the cry of the egret as it rose from the water’s edge and flew across the lake toward the eastern shore.

  She sank down on the muddy shore and pulled Violet into her arms while rainwater and tears ran down their faces.

  Four Years Later

  April 1903

  Maggie turned the hat block and examined the broad-brimmed, yellow straw hat. Red silk roses circled the crown, with little blue cornflowers sprinkled in between. It looked perfect. She could imagine wearing it to a garden party or afternoon tea in London.

  She released a soft sigh and sat back on her stool. Not that she would be going to London to attend events like those any time soon or wearing this lovely hat.

  “I like the color combination and the choice of flowers, but you’ll need to add several ostrich feathers if you want to please Mrs. Huntington.” Grandmother Hayes looked across at Maggie from behind the long glass display case on the opposite side of the millinery shop. Her silver-rimmed spectacles rested halfway down her nose, and her rosy cheeks creased as she sent Maggie a knowing smile.