Mrs. Rawley was horrified, though she tried to hide it. She was ordinarily someone I looked to a great deal in matters of setting up the household, but I was very clear in my request to have one of the beds set up in the new house immediately. I would take a carriage from the current arrangements in Portsmouth, to Southampton, and stay in the new house. Alone.

Ordinarily, I knew, this would be outrageous, but I was feeling outrageous.

I was a young woman, still only twenty, and had managed to marry the single most boorish man on the face of the planet and only have to withstand his presence in my bedchamber once. As it stood right now, I was sure I did not carry his offspring, and while the demise of any human life is no reason to celebrate, I found myself acting well out of my natural standards simply because of the life I now knew I would lead.

A familiar voice in my head admonished me and warned of my ruin and I giggled, suddenly. Mrs. Rawley looked at me oddly and gave up the fight. She knew better than to try to convince me otherwise. Into the carriage I went with a small valise of items I would need and as we began the short journey, I smiled to myself. "Outrageous" I said to myself, and laughed.

The carriage stopped in front of my new estate, and while footmen brought in my things and assured themselves, at least, that all was well, I stood admiring the view. I refused to step foot into the house until they were gone. Watching the carriage rattle empty back to Portsmouth, I waited until it was around the bend, and took my time up the walk and through the doors. The echo of my footfalls was impressive; so empty and so cavernous it was. I walked up the staircase and into the room that would eventually be filled with my things, and unhooked the outer robe of my gown, slipping it down my arms and laying it over the foot of the bed that had been temporarily brought in.

Shrugging my shoulders to loosen them, after being freed from the burden of yards of silk brocade, I walked the length of the room, then into the hall. I peered over the balustrade and imagined a house full of people, all dressed in finery, and enjoying the music, the food, the free-flowing champagne and suddenly I felt a joy I had not felt since being a child.

Small tapping noises against the window startled me, until I realized it was rain and I dashed down the stairs, across the entry and through the front doors dressed in my chemise and stood, arms outstretched, as the water cascaded down from the sky. I felt wonderful. Baptized by nature and reborn; delirious with the possibilities of my life. I stood laughing at the grey skies until the gauzy fabric clung to me like a second skin, then made my way indoors and up the stairs to my room. Disrobing completely and putting on my night clothes, I quickly jumped under the covers. It had been a very long day, and tomorrow promised to be the same. I pulled another pillow close to me and hugged it tightly, smiling and quickly dropping off.

The rain continued to fall as I slumbered, storms rumbling in the distance, and I began to dream. . .

I was in the new home, and it was furnished! Oh, the lovely brocades and damasks, lace and raw silk, highly polished wood and gilt accents, crystal and china all gleaming under the soft light of candelabras. I walked through the house, hearing a song being sung by what sounded to be a very young girl's voice.

Fairest Isle, all isles exce-lling.
Seat of pleasure and of love,
Venus here will choose her dwe-lling,
And forsake her Cyprian grove.

It seemed an unlikely song for a young girl, and I sought her out, room after room. Her voice sounded so near, but still I could not find her.

Cupid from his fav'rite nation,
Care and envy will remove;
Jealousy that pois'nous passion,
And despair that dies for love.

I began to run through the house, now urgently needing to find the source of the song, when my eyes glanced left and I saw her through the window. I glimpsed a vision of her dancing through the flowers beside the house as she sang, and moved quickly towards the doors to pursue her. Again, I saw a flash of her making her way towards the lake behind the house and I felt compelled to find her, to ask her of what or who she sang.

Gentle murmurs swe-et complaining,
Sighs that blow the fire of love,
Soft repulses, kind disda-ining,
Shall be all the pains you prove.

Finally at the edge of the lake, I stood at the clearing and looked around. Her voice was still clear, constant and beautiful, but she was nowhere to be seen. My eyes traveled the edge of the wood, and then saw something in the water. I clutched my breast and gasped: She had fallen in the lake! But still. . . she sang. How could that be? I carefully walked to the water's edge, climbing gingerly out onto a rock and looked into the lake, reaching out my hand, hoping to be able to save this girl.

As I leaned forward, arm outstretched, I saw her. She was there in the water, smiling at me, covered in flowers with small butterflies fluttering about her. I opened my mouth to ask her to take my hand and my voice was not my own, but her's, finishing the song in that clear and perfect pitch.

Ev'ry swain shall pay his du-ty,
Grateful ev'ry nymph shall prove;
And as these excel in bea-uty,
Those shall be renowned for love.

My lips closed as the song finished and as my outstretched hand touched the water's surface, her reflection disappeared.

I felt someone shaking me and I turned to look at who might be preventing me from saving her when Mrs. Rawley's voice broke through the web of my dream and pulled me back to reality.

"Heavens, you gave me a fright! I have heard moans and screams from the depths of sleep but a song sung suchly?? I feared you were taken by a spirit!"

I looked up at her, and must have reassured her somehow of all being well, though I don't recall uttering a word to her. Finally satisfied, she left the room. I sank back into the pillows and closed my eyes, smiling, allowing my mind to think of a handsome face with smoldering eyes that stared at me, silently. And I softly sang the song to the morning sun.