England, 1818

Lady Virginia Croft was having breakfast with her mother, Sophia, The Dowager Countess of Deyonne, who was worried about her daughter's countenance.

"Ginny, darling, why don't you go for a ride this morning?" she suggested. "It would do you a world of good to return to normal. It's been six months now, and I think it's time that you began to live your life again."

Virginia, or Ginny, as she was known to her family, squirmed in her seat. She had been expecting this day to come, and no matter how she prepared herself, she was still surprised. Ginny lowered her head. It wasn't the done thing to become visibly upset, but she couldn't help herself as her throat tightened. Her voice was quiet as she spoke.

"Yes, Mama, I will try. But I do not feel ready to ride today. Perhaps some other time."

Ginny placed her knife and fork on her plate. The dowager countess shook her head as she had watched Ginny move her breakfast from side to side on the plate without eating a single bite. Worryingly, she hadn't been near the stables since that fateful day either. Not even to see her horse, Bathsheba, whom she had for years.

"Ginny, your brother returns home today with his new wife, so we must welcome your new sister into the family."

Ginny was in no humor to be welcoming. She was stuck in a time warp while the rest of the world moved on. Her brother, Charles, was Earl of Deyonne, and his new bride was an American heiress he had met in London. Life was supposed to have been different. Ginny was supposed to be Countess Lanzaby, but life didn’t turn out how she had planned.

No one ever knows what's around the corner, she thought. One minute someone is there, life is going to plan, and the next thing, they're not.

Excusing herself, she went to her bedroom. It was her sanctuary. As soon as she closed the door, she began to cry. How could she possibly be happy for others when her love was taken from her? She remembered that day when Henry, her fiancé, had arrived. There was a gathering at the house for a hunt and she rode out on Bathsheba with Henry by her side. All she thought that day was how in another few weeks, they would be married. Life was perfect that morning.

As they dashed across the fields, Ginny was laughing as she was ahead of Henry. She jumped over a difficult hedgerow that was decidedly deceptive in its width. She turned around to smile at her beloved only to see him flung from his horse who hadn't taken kindly to the jump. She jumped off Bathsheba and ran towards Henry, but she knew by the way his neck was twisted and his eyes wide open that he was severely injured. It all happened in slow motion. Others gathered around him, and Ginny made her way through. She remembered calling his name as though willing him to jump up and come back to her. But he was dead.

Ginny hadn't ridden since, nor even visited the stables. As a child, she would always disappear to them, telling the horses her secrets and fears. It used to be her haven, but now it was too painful a place to visit.

Bathsheba had been the first one to know of her love for Henry, whom she had met at Almack's the previous year. It was her debut to society, and she had enjoyed every moment of the balls, the gowns, and visiting Paris beforehand. Bathsheba had been the first one to know when Henry told her he wanted to marry her, and she had described to her horse their new home.

“It will be wonderful,” she remembered saying. “So much happiness after so much sadness.”

Her father had died two years previously, and her mother was anxious for her to marry as soon as she came of age so she would not be a burden on her brother.

Now Charles was returning home with his wife, and Ginny would be expected to perform.

She was awakened from her thoughts by a knock on her door, and Ginny dried her eyes and said, "Come in."

It was her lady's maid, Dawson, whom she had acquired during her shopping trip to Paris.

"Excuse me, m’lady," she said. "But Her Ladyship has asked me to prepare you for His Lordship's return." Dawson curtsied to her.

"Dawson, could you come back later?" Ginny replied. "I need to rest."

"Do you have another headache, m’lady?" Dawson came over to place her hand on Ginny's forehead. "You don't feel clammy, but I will help you to bed and come back in a little while. Do you wish anything else?"

"No, thank you, Dawson."

Ginny pulled the covers over her head as Dawson closed the curtains. With Dawson gone, Ginny's crying returned. She cried for Henry but also for the loss of the life she was going to have. Ginny was lucky that she had loved him. She hadn't wanted to marry just for life security. She was a romantic at heart. She knew her mother wanted her to get past her sadness, but how could she ever love again? She couldn't open her heart to that kind of heartbreak again. The mourning period was over, and it was time for Ginny to return to normal. She reckoned it was probably easier if there was no love between people. Time hadn't healed anything for her.

"M’lady, it’s almost time. We have received word that the earl and the countess will be here within the hour."

"Oh, Dawson, I must have fallen asleep. What time is it?"

"Time to get up, m’lady, or you won’t hear the end of it. Her Ladyship was quite annoyed when I told her you needed to rest."

"Very well, Dawson. What has Mama chosen for me to wear today?"

Ginny’s mother had already chosen her ensemble. The new countess may have been a Southern belle, but the dowager countess was now going to show her the hospitality of the British.

Ginny made faces as Dawson pinned her hair. It had been so long since she was formally attired that she had forgotten the rigors of dress. However, as she looked at herself in the mirror, she had to admit it was nice to be dressed up again.

"Dawson, you have done a splendid job."

Dawson smiled at her mistress.

"You have lost so much weight, m’lady, that I had to take your dress in at the sides."

"I didn't notice."

There was a lot Ginny hadn't noticed in her grief, but there was no time to dwell. She joined her mother and the staff as they prepared to welcome the newlyweds. As if on time, the carriage came up the long drive. Ginny felt butterflies in her stomach and looked to the sun and closed her eyes to steady herself. It was good to feel the warmth of the sun on her face.

The carriage stopped, and the footman opened the door. The earl stepped out.

"Mama, Ginny, how beautiful you both look!" He greeted his mother and sister.

"I am pleased to introduce my wife, Annabelle, the Countess of Deyonne."

"Charles, my, my, you didn't do this place justice. I believe I'm living in a real life castle." Annabelle looked up at the castle in awe.

"Pa would love this." She didn't seem to notice the staff. And worse still, she didn't notice Her Ladyship or Ginny. Ginny rolled her eyes at Charles who pretended not to take any notice.

"Belle, come and meet Mama and my sister."

"Do forgive my manners, Your Ladyship. It is a pleasure to meet you, and you must help me with becoming a countess. And Virginia, I do hope we can become sisters."

Ginny wasn't convinced as her new sister-in-law walked off again. It was not going to be easy dealing with the new energy in the house. In fact, Ginny had isolated herself so that she no longer received any visitors. Her friends didn't know how to be so sad in her company, especially when they had news to tell her, and they had grown weary of upsetting her. Her grief took some of the happiness from their news of engagements and marriages. They wanted to discuss the latest fashions and gossip about each other. Ginny wasn't fun anymore.

Realizing that the new countess wasn't truly interested in her, Ginny returned to her room. One small step at a time, she told herself. The American way would take some getting used to.

The following two weeks passed in a breeze. Ginny had seen little of the new countess, who was busying herself on making changes to the castle. Charles was in love and agreed to whatever his wife wanted.

All the dowager countess could do was squirm at her home being overturned, but it wasn't her home now. She lived there at the humor of her son and his wife. She was still worried about Ginny being in the changing environment. Something would have to be done for her daughter. It was the only power she had left.