An Unwilling Maid: Being the History of Certain Episodes during the American Revolution in the Early Life of Mistress Betty Yorke, born Wolcott

"An Unwilling Maid" by Jeanie Gould Lincoln is a historical novel set during the American Revolution, likely written in the late 19th century. The narrative focuses on the early life of Mistress Betty Yorke, a young woman navigating the challenges of war and notions of loyalty amidst personal conflicts and societal expectations. At the start of the narrative, we are introduced to a warm summer day in the Connecticut hills, where a young man—likely a soldier—named Geoffrey Yorke finds himself lost in enemy territory. Meanwhile, two sisters, Betty and her younger sibling Miss Moppet, are out gathering herbs when Moppet accidentally falls into a pond. Geoffrey dashes to the rescue and successfully saves Moppet, leading to a dynamic that intertwines the fates of these characters. This opening sets the stage for themes of love, loyalty, and the personal costs of war that are likely to unfold as the story progresses.