The Darkening Leaf — Caroline Stickland

On the storm-tossed beach of Dorset in 1847 a vessel is wrecked. Two young lovers, Philobeth Alleyn and Frederick North, happen upon the scene in the middle of the night and decide to search for survivors. They are just in time to prevent prowlers from cutting off the heavily bejeweled hand of what seems to be a beautiful, dead woman. But as Philobeth and Frederick lift the woman into their carriage, they are shocked to discover that she is just barely alive. She is then left to recover under the care of Mrs. North, Frederick's grandmother.
The rescue proves to have far-reaching effects. Ellen Farebrother, as she calls herself, is lovely and beguiling. Quickly she becomes a favorite with old Mrs. North. She then tries her hand at captivating the wealthy Frederick. And Frederick's intentions toward Philobeth, which were quite clear before Ellen's rescue, are now assuming a less fevered pitch. Will Frederick or Philobeth be able to extricate themselves from the insidious web that is being spun about them?