H. Rider Haggard 
Witch’s Head and The Spring of a Lion 

Opens around 1860 with 13 year old orphan Ernest Kershaw moving in with his mother’s brother (single and caring for the 2, Dorothy & Jeremy, children of the woman who he had wanted to married. He has also been pursuing vengeance upon those who prevented his marriage.)) following the death of his mother after his father’s brother rejects the request. The story quickly moves forward to Ernest and Jeremy, now fast friends, are in their early 20’s and have graduated from Cambridge. Added to this mix are Florence and Eva of similar age and new neighbors. In a cemetery collapsing into the sea, they discover a box containing the well preserved Saxon(?) woman’s head who they deem a witch and who close resembles Florence. Things begin to be less positive after the head is discovered. (Goodreads)