As Miranda's eyes flickered open, the first thing she registered was the colour of the sky. It was a stark flat grey, almost white, fragmented by black branches and leaves. She sat up and held out her arms in front of her, inspecting her limbs and finding them unscathed. Her fingers ran over the floaty fabric of her dress. It was a diaphonous white nightgown, unlike any she owned. Despite the fine mist that hung in the air, she was not cold. It was quiet but not silent, the air filled with an otherworldy stillness. The woods looked familiar but different, with trees that seemed to stretch on forever.

"Fear not, help is on its way," she heard a man say.

She turned her head and jumped when she saw Mr Preston beside her.

"You're going to be okay."

His lips were moving but the voice was not his.

"Why are you-" she began to ask, when all of a sudden her ears began ringing and a powerful light began growing, brighter and brighter until it enveloped her in pure white. She squeezed her eyes shut and-

"Madam! Are you alright?" called out a gentleman's voice. Miranda's eyes snapped open and she gasped for breath. Everything was blurry, the sunlight was much too bright. A hand was on her shoulder. As her vision cleared, she saw a stranger kneeling next to her. He wore spectacles and his face was full of concern.

"Oh thank goodness you're back," he said, a smile of relief forming on his lips. "You're going to be okay."

"What happened?" Miranda mumbled, wondering why on earth she was lying in the middle of the woods. The pounding in her head was most unpleasant.

"You've had a nasty fall. I'm afraid you and Sugarlump gave each other quite a fright."

"Sugar… that's a nice name… One lump or two?"

He chuckled softly at this, then rushed to support her when she attempted to prop herself up on her arms. "Please be careful, you mustn't hurt yourself further."

He helped her up, but a searing pain shot up her leg when she tried to stand. "My ankle!" she cried, grabbing onto him.

"Right, we must get you home and send for a doctor. I know someone very good," he said, picking her up with ease and lifting her onto the carriage. "Where do you live?"

"Woolford Park. North through the woods."

His driver steered the carriage with great attentiveness, and the gentleman held her hand the entire way. The short journey passed in a daze as she slipped in and out of consciousness, and next thing she knew, he was carrying her into Woolford.

"Oh Miranda! What has happened?" Penny wailed, before gasping when she saw the stranger carrying her daughter. Mr Hartford and Tilly came running in, and Miranda saw her mouth something to them while gesticulating wildly.

"It's nothing," Miranda mumbled.

"I must apologise unreservedly for the intrusion," the gentleman said. "She had a run-in with my horse. I have sent for the doctor already."

There was a flurry of pillows and blankets, and a cool cloth was laid on her forehead.

Once it became evident Miranda was not gravely injured, Penny began oozing charm. "Oh Captain, you are too kind," she crooned.

Captain? Miranda thought.

A most handsome doctor by the name of Dr Gale soon arrived, and Tilly and Penny almost fell over themselves at his charms.

Dr Gale pronounced her ankle a simple sprain. The blow to her head was moderate, but she was expected to recover fully with time. He prescribed a week of poultices and bed rest in a darkened room, along with a tonic for her aching head and the strain on her nerves. If only he had one that could heal a broken heart, she thought.

The situation under control, the Captain stood to take his leave.

"Please, won't you come back and visit us?" Penny asked. "We must thank you for taking such wonderful care of our daughter."

"Anyone would have done the same. But yes, I should quite like that, Lady Hartford," he said.

Once everyone had departed, Penny became ecstatic, spinning around the room. "Miranda, do you have the faintest idea who that gentleman was? He is Captain Michael Jackford, son of the Duke of Bromley! A Duke! How fortunate your clumsiness was! This kind of introduction can form quite a fondness in a gentleman's heart. Oh my girl, you have done well for once."

Miranda did not take any of this in and soon fell asleep, deeply confused.