The thorn lady

1: A New

g crash. Pain had enveloped her, darkness soon following, pulling her d

ttered open, adjusting to the golden light streaming through tall, ornate windows. A canopy hung

.. whe

ked down in alarm, her breath catching in her throat. This wasn't her body. Her hands were pale and delicate

the gown that clung to her frame. There was a mirror-an enormous gilded thing-just a

ction was

k, dark waves down her back. Her eyes, once brown, were a deep blue, framed by

-a nightmare. She closed her eyes, willing herself to wake up. But when

with a loud creak. A woman, dressed in maid's attire, c

d over the name, but she

on seeing you at once," the maid continued, glancing nervo

l?

altered, sounding strange a

ked her concern. "Would you like

here she sat in stunned silence. The girl's hands moved deftly, p

. Somehow, someway, she had been thrown into someo

n fine clothing, his face lined with worry. His dark eyes scanned her intently, and tho

voice rough with emoti

o was this man? The Duke? Her husband? Her hear

eeling well? The doctor said the fall left no la

strange. She wasn't Eleanor. She

say, her voice steadier tha

behind his eyes before he nodded. "Rest, then. But we will ta

dded weakly. The Duke gave her one last look before leaving the

eleased the breath she hadn

trigue, she had no idea how she had ended up here-or how she would return ho

omehow, she woul