"Drink this, it will help the bruising.' A sweet voice, but a bitter, bitter substance was being administered to me by the owner. I spluttered, but forced myself to choke it down. My eyelids finally began to heed the signals being sent to them, and opened. A fuzzy, but feminine, figure was holding another glass of liquid, smelling far sweeter than the first; a strange mix of honeysuckle, bridle polish and oranges.

'And this is for…your thirst.' she continued after a moments hesitation, although I am half sure she whispered something in the pause. I took the glass, grateful, for I was suddenly aware that I was thirsty. I downed the sweet juice in one, hardly tasting it. I once again tried to focus on the figure at my bedside, and then my vision cleared, and I saw the angel of beauty. She was wearing a tattered, grey dress, and her hair was so dirty as to be almost black, but I knew her at once to be my true love.

She watched me studiously as I struggled to sit up, then I took her hand in mine.

'Merope.' I breathed. Her eyes searched mine for a fraction of a second before her rosebud mouth stretched into a tentative smile.

'Merope, my love, how can I thank you for your kindness?'

The pretty little thing blushed and looked at her feet. Never have I seen anyone so modest, so demure…

'My lord, I do not think your f…fiancé would care to hear you speak in such a way.'

Fiancé? I thought long and hard; a vague image of a haughty, insipid woman crammed into far too much lace and ribbons floated before my eyes. I felt nothing, and could hardly remember her name.

'It is as good as over, if you would do me the honour of accepting my offer of marriage.'

A flash of hope crossed her face, swiftly followed by doubt. I knew I would have to convince her.

'I mean what I say. I love you, Merope. I only realised just now, but it' s no less ardent. Marry me.' It came out as a plea, although I had meant for a command. The girl herself was flustered, I could tell. She was holding back.

'How can I marry you? Your family would forbid it outright, and I am sure your fiancé's family would not let you, one of the most powerful heirs in the valley, nay, the county, go that easily. My father and brother will return from…from their journey soon, and would not be at all pleased that I have been talking to you, let alone that you have been courting me, and I…' She faltered, working up the courage to continue. 'I have loved you since the first moment I saw you, this is something I have dreamed about for years. But I cannot trust that you will stay feeling this way about me.'

There was a silence after her speech. Words of protest ran through my head but died on my lips. I would have to convince her myself.

'Then we will elope. Tonight. We will leave at midnight, I will come for you and we will leave for London.' I pushed myself up so I was sitting on the edge of the bed. I expected my arm to be in absolute agony after the fall, but I was pleasantly surprised when it only felt slightly bruised. Perhaps I had imagined the crack.

I looked at the bowed head of the silent Merope before me, waiting for her answer. Finally she raised her head and I saw tears in her eyes. She nodded gently.

'Midnight.'

I could have whooped for joy, but restrained myself as she led me outside to where my horse was tethered to a tree. I swung up into my saddle, then leant down to plant a gentle kiss on her upturned forehead.

She was still watching me as I rode out the gate.