The sun broke through the curtains.

Nyssa squinted against the light, and rose from her bed. It was early in the morning. She could hear the sounds outside of the animals, as well as the occasional footsteps of the servants in the rooms below. The bedroom was not especially grand, but it was homely and cosy. Besides, Nyssa was more inclined to appreciate homeliness at such a time as this.

After washing and dressing, Nyssa stared at herself in the mirror. She was not normally in the habit of doing so, but she made an exception this morning.

She gently poked at the wrinkles beginning to form around her mouth. She noticed the paleness of her complexion and the frown lines developing on her brow due to constantly needing to appear serious and studious.

Seven years.

Nyssa sighed, got up and went downstairs for breakfast. After helping the cook with the preparation of the food, she went off to find her nephews.

The room young Charles was sleeping in was empty aside from the sleeping boy himself. Nyssa could guess that his brother was around somewhere nearby.

She entered the nearest room. The floor was littered with toys. Sighing, Nyssa bent down and began to pick them up. She wished that her nephews were more in the habit of tidying after themselves, but she supposed such behaviour was to be expected from boys their age-

'Aunt Nyssa!'

Nyssa startled as the young boy leapt onto her back. Nyssa sighed; due to the heavy nature of her dress, she could not rise with the child clinging to her.

'Aunt Nyssa, play with me!' exclaimed the young boy. 'Charles is no fun because he's still recovering!'

'But I can hardly play as anything other than a donkey with you on my back,' Nyssa said, smiling to herself. 'Come now, please climb off!'

'Play, Aunt Nyssa! Please!'

'Come off, young man; your poor aunt can't kneel like that forever.'

Nyssa froze, her eyes widening.

The weight of the young boy was lifted off her back, and Nyssa slowly got to her feet.

Captain Jovanka was stood, her muscles taut under her shirt as she gently lowered the boy to the ground.

'Now,' said the Captain, addressing the child. 'What do you say to your aunt?'

'Sorry, Aunt Nyssa,' replied the child in a small mumble.

'Good lad,' said Captain Jovanka, clapping him softly on the shoulder. 'Now, go and play cards with your brother.'

The young boy nodded, before hurrying away.

'T-thank you, Captain,' Nyssa said, quietly. 'My apologies for you having to intervene.'

'Think nothing of it,' replied the Captain. 'I arrived looking for Charles and I happened to overhear.'

Their eyes met.

Nyssa felt her heartrate rapidly increase as she stared into those deep brown eyes. Was… was the room too hot? She was suddenly aware that her palms were sweating.

'You… you are too kind, Captain,' Nyssa said. 'I am… most grateful.'

'I…'

The Captain seemed to be at a loss of words. Nyssa felt as if her own tongue was caught in a vice. Despite the room being of a decent size, she suddenly felt as if the walls were closing in on the two of them, leaving almost no space between herself and the Captain.

'You… you give yourself too little credit.'

Captain Jovanka hurried away. Were… were her cheeks reddened?

Nyssa stood like that for a while, as her heart beat frantically against her chest.

Captain Jovanka had left for a walk with Charles, the cook had informed Nyssa. She had to admit, she was glad of it.

Deciding to take advantage of the nice weather outside, Nyssa put her wrap on, fastened her bonnet under her chin, and set off into the garden. It was a somewhat overcast day, but the rain had yet to make an appearance.

The gardens between the great house and Mary's house were rather wonderful, and the gardeners had clearly put a lot of work into the upkeep of the place. Everywhere, trees and bushes were blooming with new life, as befitted the spring season. Nyssa was just about to turn a corner around a large clump of bushes when-

'She likes me!'

Nyssa froze. Through the blooming leaves of the bushes, she could see Louisa and Henrietta Musgrove sat on a bench a short distance away. They were engrossed in conversation and Louisa was the one who had exclaimed.

'But you are spoken for,' Henrietta replied, urgently. 'She is trying to be fair; he will come to a decision.'

'But why should I shift my ground?'

'There is mama and papa to think about; Henry Hayter is a man they both admire. Arrangements have been made; do come to your senses. The Captain has not known you long, after all...'

Nyssa turned and, being very careful not to make a sound, retreated back the way she had walked.

Of course, it was potential marriage proposals that they were discussing. And, of course, Captain Jovanka would be on the lookout for a young wife. Louisa was pretty, talented and of a good social standing; the perfect young wife for a successful Captain of the navy.

Henry Hater, as Nyssa understood it, was a local gentleman who had been a close friend of the Musgroves for a number of years. Not many years older than Louisa, but of great standing in the local community. But, to a young woman like Louisa, a dashing navy Captain would seem far more of a catch.

Nyssa ignored the ache in her heart, and entered Mary's house. She took off her wrap and bonnet, and entered the drawing room. Mary was sat with young Charles at the table. The young boy was attempting to complete a jigsaw puzzle, and smiled when Nyssa entered.

Nyssa smiled in return, and sat down beside her nephew. Young Charles was recovering nicely, although it would be another month or two before he would be completely recovered.

As Nyssa sat down, Mary stood.

'Oh, won't you come inside and sit with us?'

Mary hurried over to the window and called out of it. With her heart sinking, Nyssa saw that she was talking to Louisa and Henrietta, who were stood a few feet from the house.

'We would love to…' Louisa said, stiffly. 'But we were just out for a walk.'

'I'd love a walk,' Mary replied, not seeming to notice Louisa's tone, as well as the body language of the Musgrove sisters that indicated that they wanted to be alone to talk between themselves.

'This is a very long walk.'

'Now, why is everyone supposing that I am not a long walker?' Mary said, in indignation. 'I should like to join you very much.'

Louisa and Henrietta exchanged a glance, before acquiescing with a tired nod. Mary, once again, did not notice their general mood.

'Come along,' Mary said, bustling past Nyssa towards the cloak room. 'We must fetch our wraps…'

'Mary, we have a puzzle to finish-'

But Mary had already tramped into the cloakroom, ignoring Nyssa's words entirely.

Young Charles reached out and patted Nyssa's hand, giving a small smile.

'I will be fine here, Aunt Nyssa,' he said, quietly. 'Mother will be frustrated if you do not go with her.'

Nyssa sighed, and clasped the young boys hand fondly.

Nyssa followed Mary out of the house, where they met Louisa and Henrietta. From the looks of both the Musgrove sisters, they were well aware that Mary did not seem to recognise why they had wanted to have a long walk by themselves. Although Henrietta did smile kindly at Nyssa as she joined them, which Nyssa appreciated very much.

However, as the four of them crossed the courtyard and towards the road, two figures appeared from the other direction. Charles was one of them.

The other was Captain Jovanka, who smiled at them all.

'Good morning; Mary, Louisa, Henrietta…'

Nyssa looked away, avoiding the Captains eye as she trailed off.

'Good morning,' replied Mary, not seeming to notice this. 'We were just out for a long walk.'

'Really?' Captain Jovanka replied. 'Charles, are you tired?'

'No,' replied Charles, cheerfully. 'We'd love to join you.'

'Splendid,' Mary exclaimed, smiling. 'That would be a pleasure.'

Nyssa did not speak, but she felt her stomach dip low within her as she followed a few paces behind the others.

The countryside was green and bright, with the promise of a good summer later that year. The clouds had slowly disappeared and the sun was out, although it was not yet strong enough to feel unpleasant to the skin.

They followed along the road until they reached a pathway that aimed through the fields. Charles and Captain Jovanka walked ahead with Louisa and Henrietta. Nyssa found herself walking a short distance behind, matching Mary's slow pace.

At one point, there was a stye over a stone wall. Captain Jovanka helped Louisa over it, as the stye was not easy to traverse in a dress. As Nyssa neared, the Captain looked up.

Briefly, her eyes met Nyssa's. Swallowing quickly, Nyssa looked down. When she looked up again, the Captain had moved away, leaving Nyssa to awkwardly climb over the stye herself.

Mercifully, her dress was fairly practical.

'I think you're trying to get out of it.'

'Of course I'm not trying to get out of it!'

Nyssa could hear Louisa arguing with Henrietta as they headed down the slope. It wasn't especially easy to traverse, as the ground was still somewhat wet from recent rainfall. Nyssa was glad that her boots were of a sturdy quality that enabled a decent amount of grip. Especially since none of the others looked back to her to check her progress.

Well, that wasn't strictly true. Henrietta did briefly but was too caught up in her argument with Louisa to do much more.

And… and Captain Jovanka caught Nyssa's eye. But, once again, Nyssa felt her eyes automatically veered away, accompanied by that same dull ache in her heart.

When Nyssa eventually reached the bottom of the slope, she found Charles arguing with Mary. Of course, Mary had never liked Charles's aunt, who lived in a farm further down the valley in Winthrop, and was making this well known to Charles at that present moment.

'I really feel…' Charles said, his voice betraying his frustration. '… that you ought to accompany me.'

'I will not,' Mary retorted, stiffly. 'Coming back up that hill will do me no good! I shall wait here and then we will return home.'

Charles let out a sigh, before hurrying down the slope towards the distant farm. Louisa grabbed Henrietta's hand and pulled her down behind her.

'It's most unpleasant, having such connections,' Mary said, addressing Captain Jovanka. 'But I assure you I have only been inside that place twice in my life.'

Captain Jovanka, who had watched all this with mild confusion, nodded.

However, at this moment, Louisa hurried back up the hill, coming to a rest before the Captain. Nyssa could see Henrietta give a look of frustration before walking further down the hill in the direction of the farmhouse.

'Shall we try and glean some nuts from the hedgerow, Captain?'

Captain Jovanka turned, almost automatically, to look at Nyssa, who turned away.

'Indeed, yes.'

The two of them walked away, heading towards the hedgerow.

Mary sat down on a log nearby, and Nyssa slowly sunk down next to her. The bark was somewhat damp beneath her, and Nyssa was glad for the thick wrap, despite the spring sunshine.

'My seat is wet,' Mary said. 'I'm sure Louisa has found a better.'

'Oh, leave her be, Mary…'

Nyssa had spoken without really thinking. Mary seemed at a loss for words, before rallying quickly.

'No,' she replied, firmly. 'I will not be damp.'

'I would not be turned back from a thing I was determined to do…'

Nyssa turned in her seat. Towards the top of the slope, Louisa came into view, walking a few strides ahead of Captain Jovanka.

'by the airs and interference of such a person…' Louisa continued. 'I am not so easily persuaded.'

'Would she have turned back then, but for you?' The Captain replied.

'I am ashamed to say that she would.'

'Henrietta is very lucky to have you as a sister. I have always found that, as an individual, you should always stick firm to your purpose and be firm.'

'Shall you like me more for it?'

'Well…' Captain Jovanka said, slowly. 'I suppose so, yes.'

'Mary has a great deal too much of the Traken pride,' Louisa continued. 'We all wish that Charles had married Nyssa instead.'

There was a pause. Nyssa felt her eyes widen, and her hands clenched, bundling the material of her wrap between her fingers.

'Did… did Charles want to marry Nyssa?'

'Indeed. Charles is a good man but apparently not quite good enough for Nyssa,' said Louisa. 'Given that she did turn down his marriage proposal.'

Nyssa felt her heart leap into her mouth.

'She… she turned him down?'

The Captain's voice sounded strangely… forced, as if she was attempting to keep a sense of calm in her voice.

'Yes,' answered Louisa, who apparently hadn't noticed this. 'Oh, she has never been anything other than courteous to Charles, of course. But… well, I do wonder why she did reject his proposal.'

'When was this?'

'About a year before he married Mary, now I come to think of it,' Louisa said, placing a nut in her mouth and chewing, before swallowing. 'If only Nyssa had accepted his proposal; we should have all liked her a great deal better. My parents think it was Lady Russell's doing… that my brother, not being philosophical enough for her tastes… she persuaded Nyssa to refuse him...'

The two of them drifted away along the hedgerows, and the conversation gradually became impossible to hear.

Mary stood up.

'I had better sit your side, Nyssa,' she said. 'If you have had your rest.'

Nyssa switched places with Mary, staring out over the valley.

Presently, the Captain and Louisa reappeared. Captain Jovanka happened to turn and look straight at Nyssa. Nyssa's heart beat painfully against her chest and she quickly looked down.

There was the sound of footsteps, and Charles approached from down the hill, followed by Henrietta and a young man of similar age to her.

'This is Mr Hayter,' Charles said, gesturing to the young man. 'Captain Jovanka, I don't believe you have been introduced.'

'Good day, sir,' the Captain said, shaking the mans hand.

'Good day, Captain,' Mr Hayter replied, smiling.

After pleasantries had been made, it was decided that it was getting quite late in the afternoon. Nyssa followed the others up the hill. By this point, the sun had gone behind the clouds, leaving the air with a damp, humid quality. There was little wind as the group slowly crossed the fields back towards the road.

Once she had reached the road, Nyssa found herself beginning to tire. She could feel perspiration on her face, and her feet began to stumble as she followed the others along the road.

Captain Jovanka happened to look back briefly, but Nyssa found herself too tired to worry much.

'Good day!'

Nyssa looked up. A horse-drawn carriage approached. It was the Admiral and Mrs Croft.

'Good day!' replied Charles, cheerfully.

'Hello, Sophie,' said Captain Jovanka, to her sister. 'We've just been to Winthrop and back.'

'The ladies must be exhausted!'

'There is a seat for one,' said the Admiral. 'It will save you a full miles walk.'

The Captain leaned in and spoke into her sisters ear.

Captain Jovanka's voice was barely above a whisper, but the words echoed through Nyssa's brain nonetheless.

'Nyssa is very tired.'

Nyssa felt her stomach sink in mortification. Had she really been that obvious? She could have sworn that she had tried to be as inoffensive as possible. And for the Captain to realise…

'Oh, Nyssa,' said Mrs Croft, in concern. 'You must be very tired; do give us the pleasure of taking you home.'

'B-but there is not room, Mrs Croft.'

'Nonsense,' replied the Admiral. 'Sophie and I will squash up. Were we all as in leanness as yourself, there would be room for four.'

Captain Jovanka's hand was suddenly at Nyssa back, and she found herself gently helped upwards into the carriage.

Her mind racing, Nyssa sat down in the seat. Goosebumps has erupted up her back where the Captain's hand had been placed, and she could swear that she had started perspiring once again.

Captain Jovanka turned away, her eyes looking away down the road.

'Goodbye, then,' the Admiral said, to the rest of the group. 'We will all see you later.'

The carriage pulled away. Nyssa caught one last look of the Captain, brown eyes unreadable.

The carriage carried along at a decent pace, turning around the corners of the country road.

'I'm surprised Captain Jovanka hasn't brought home a young lady. Although I suppose this hesitancy is due to the peace; if we were at war, she would have sorted it very quickly,' the Admiral said, before turning slightly to address his wife. 'Do you think your sister is ready to fall in love?'

'My sister is ready to make a very foolish match,' replied Lady Croft, chuckling. 'Any woman between twenty and thirty years of age could have her for the asking. A little beauty, a few smiles, a few compliments to the navy and my sister would be a lost woman!'

Nyssa did not say anything.

Later that afternoon, Nysa was sat at the table with Charles and Mary, all of them eating cold meat sandwiches.

'I imagine that Louisa would happily agree to marriage with the Captain,' Charles said, covering his mouth with a hand as he eat. 'While Henrietta seems quite taken with Mr Hayter.'

'But didn't Louisa also admire Mr Hayter?' replied Mary. 'And you forget that Henrietta also enjoys the company of the Captain; she is simply less forthright than Louisa is.'

'What say you, Nyssa?' Charles asked. 'Which of my sisters do you think will marry Captain Jovanka. Mary says Henrietta but I say Louisa. Which do you reckon?'

Nyssa sat still for a moment, and took a large sip from her glass. She did not reply and instead let Charles and Mary continue to talk.

'A love letter, Tegan?'

It was the next day. Captain Jovanka was sat in a chair, reading a letter. Charles and the others were sat around. Nyssa was stood at the back of the room.

Captain Jovanka chuckled and shook her head.

'No; it's from one of my old comrades. Harville; he seems to have settled in Lyme.'

'Lyme?'

'Yes. Is it far?'

'About seventeen-odd miles.'

'I'll ride there tomorrow, in that case.'

'A good man, is Harville?'

'Indeed,' Captain Jovanka said, smiling. 'We've had many a great adventure together during our time abroad. Unfortunately, he is not in good health; old leg wound, from the war. But if you would meet him, Charles, I'm sure you'd be firm friends with him just as I am.'

'Well…' Charles said, slowly. 'Why don't we make a visit? Altogether. I myself have always wished to see Lyme. It's supposed to be a lovely place.'

'Oh, yes please!' exclaimed Louisa.

'Can we take Nyssa too?' asked Henrietta, smiling over at Nyssa, who froze with her cup halfway to her lips.

'Of course,' Charles said. 'A nice treat; especially since Nyssa must leave us for Bath.'

Nyssa blinked quickly, feeling rather awkward.

Lyme, it appeared, was as wonderful as Charles had believed. A small, quiet village clustered around a busy harbour. It seemed the perfect place for a retired man of the navy to reside.

Captain Harville could not walk far, but he was a cheerful man with an easy smile. His wife and children were also decent people, albeit somewhat poorer than Charles had expected.

Captain Benwick was a rounded man with a pair of large, sad eyes. As Captain Jovanka had explained, the poor man had been devoted to Harwick's sister and been determined to marry her. However, the sister (a woman called Phoebe) had passed away while they were at sea, and so Benwick had returned to the country with a broken heart.

Captains Harwick and Benwick followed the rest of them past the harbour and towards the pebbled beach nearby. The sun had brightened and the sea now glistening in the light.

Nyssa found herself sat down on the beach next to Captain Benwick, who was idly watching the horizon, as if lost in thought.

'So, what do you find to occupy yourself in Lyme, Captain Benwick?'

Benwick was silent for a moment, staring out to sea.

'I read.'

'And… what do you read?'

'Poetry, as hard as it may be to believe,' he replied.

Nyssa smiled, looking out over the sea. The waves crashed against the stone walls of the harbour.

'We are living through a great age of poetry, I think.'

Benwick turned to look at her.

'You read it too, Miss Traken?'

'In the scarce moments I have to myself,' Nyssa said. 'It… helps. Not to think of the small responsibilities of life, at least for a few moments.'

Benwick nodded in understanding.

That evening, Captain Benwick had joined them at the inn they were staying. After a hearty meal, the group had splintered off into several different conversations. The room was thick with the smell of tobacco. Nyssa found herself once again sat next to Captain Benwick.

'Have you been reading any poetry in particular, Captain Benwick?' Nyssa asked.

Captain Benwick stared at her for a moment before answering.

'Whatever can take my mind briefly away from my troubles,' he said. 'I read.'

Nyssa sat forward in her seat.

'Phoebe would have married me before I went away to sea,' Benwick said, pain etched into his face. 'But… but I told her we should wait. For… money, after I had begun to earn. Money.'

'Come, Captain Benwick; come now,' Nyssa said, leaning forward slightly. 'You will rally again. You must.'

Benwick stared at her, his eyes weary and exhausted.

'You… you have no conception of what I have lost.'

'Yes,' Nyssa said, very quietly. 'I have.'

The next morning, Captain Benwick again joined them to walk around the harbour. The sun had gone behind the clouds now, and there was a noticeably cool sea breeze.

The group walked along a section of the harbour wall, which ended in a narrow set of steps carved into the stone itself. Charles and the two Captains helped Mary, Nyssa and the Musgrove sisters down the steps. However, Louisa then climbed back up a few of the steps.

'Captain Jovanka, may you catch me?'

'Of course.'

Louisa then leapt off the steps and was gently caught by the Captain, who placed her onto the stone floor beneath them. However, deciding that she would enjoy this more from a greater height, Louisa hurried up the steps again to the top of the harbour wall, looking down at them all.

'Catch me, Captain!'

'No, Louisa!' cried Captain Jovanka, running towards her. 'Don't be a fool!'

Nyssa stared on in horror. One moment, Louisa was jumping off the wall, and the next she was lying on the stone floor.

There was a scream from Henrietta, and everyone hurried forward.

'What do we do?' cried Henrietta, tears sprinkling from her eyes.

'Don't move her!' Captain Jovanka shouted, kneeling down beside Louisa.

'Someone run to fetch a physician!' Nyssa exclaimed, kneeling down on Louisa's other side. Captain Jovanka bounded up to her feet and began to run.

'No!' Nyssa cried, urgently, at the Captain before she could run more than a few paces. 'Captain Benwick should; he knows the area!'

'I… yes!' Captain Jovanka replied, her eyes wide as she stared at Nyssa and hurried back.

'I'll be back as soon as I can!' Benwick cried, before running towards the houses clustered around the harbour.

Nyssa's moved her head down to Louisa's face, putting her hand softly onto the side of the young woman's neck; mercifully, there was a pulse. And… yes, Nyssa could hear her breathing.

'We don't know how much damage has been done,' Nyssa said, looking back up at the Captain, who had kneeled down on Louisa's other side again. 'Moving her could cause more injuries!'

'Exactly,' Captain Jovanka replied. 'She's still breathing; by the looks of it, she must have been knocked out by the shock.'

Eventually, the surgeon arrived. She was a short blonde woman with a pronounced northern (possibly Yorkshire) accent. Once she had checked for any internal injuries, she gave the nod to Nyssa. Together with Captain Jovanka and Charles, Nyssa carried Louisa along the harbour and towards the inn they were staying in.

The staff at the inn helped them lay Louisa out on a bed in the room she had been sharing with Henrietta.

'She should be sent to Uppercross directly,' Nyssa said.

'I agree,' said the surgeon. 'Her home will be best. Help her rest up nice, that.'

Nyssa and the surgeon finished laying Louisa under the crisp white sheets, thanked the maid who was helping them (a middle-aged woman named Barbara) and hurried up to the next floor, where Captain Jovanka and Charles had gone.

Nyssa turned the corner of the staircase.

In the room that the others were waiting, Captain Jovanka was sat at a table, just inside the door.

'But I think it should be Nyssa,' Captain Jovanka urged, her voice earnest. 'No-one is so capable as Nyssa.'

Nyssa's boot slipped on the wooden floorboards, causing a small thunk.

Immediately, the Captain's eyes locked with Nyssa's, and Nyssa found herself unable to look away. Her heart raced, and her palms began to sweat. She had a sudden strange desire to run back down the stairs, but also an inability to move from the doorway where she was stood. What… what did Captain Jovanka mean? She clearly had no need to have such a high opinion of Nyssa. After all, Nyssa was a spinster, to be herded from one family member to the other, a weight around her relatives necks for the rest of her life. So… why… why…

'I… you will stay, won't you?' The Captain said, her voice cracking slightly and her eyes, almost afraid, as she looked at Nyssa. 'And nurse Louisa?'

'I…' Nyssa stammered, feeling her mind swim. 'I…'

'Why should I go instead of Nyssa?' Mary cried, angrily. 'Nyssa is nothing to Louisa; I am family! It is too unkind!'

'Do not treat Nyssa so,' said Henrietta, quietly.

'No!' Mary exclaimed, speaking to her husband. 'Let Nyssa take Henrietta!'

Charles looked over at Captain Jovanka, who sighed before nodding in agreement. Nyssa said nothing, listening to the faint sounds of Mary's sobs.

'I… Nyssa?'

Nyssa opened her eyes. She and Henrietta were sat on the seat of a covered carriage. Henrietta had long since dozed off on Nyssa's shoulder. Captain Jovanka was driving the horse, and it was she who had called Nyssa's name.

'I… I regret…'

The Captain trailed off, sounding almost lost for words as she looked over at Nyssa.

'Damned foolish,' the Captain said, turning back to the road. She seemed to speak almost to herself. 'Damned foolish…'