River Maid

London, 1854: Twenty-year-old Essie Chapman lives with her father in poverty stricken Limehouse, working on the river as a boatman. Then, one night, she must transport a mysterious man from a foreign ship to the banks of the Thames, a man who ends up renting a room in Essie’s house, identifying himself only as ‘Raven’. When curiosity gets the better of her, Essie follows him and finds herself on a ship bound for the penal colonies in Australia.  Book 1 of series.