Miranda knew who she needed to go see. There was only one person whom she could confide in and that would sympathize with her situation. Cissy. Putting on her bonnet, and setting aside the questions that had been spinning her mind since that atrocious evening, Miranda readied herself for the half-hour walk into the more affluent side of London.

Besides William, Cissy had become a trusted friend and confidante, especially during her prolonged courtship. She involuntarily winced. Miranda didn't think that her and William ever had an actual courtship. But how could he have not known that she was expecting an offer of marriage from him? Wasn't it obvious that season after season she was waiting for him? But then why did he never say anything?

Walking outside, Miranda took in a deep breath of the fresh air and put her face slightly up to the sun, allowing it to warm her face. Although she had come to dread the social season, spending time outdoors in the parks helped. If only her parents had been able to save the summer cottage in Yorkshire. Miranda was sure she would have loved vacationing in the country.

Double checking that she had her reticule and parasol, in case the sun became too much, Miranda set out on her much needed walk. With only being able to support a few servants, Miranda usually walked on her own so as to not take anyone away from their duties. As long as it was in a decent part of London during the day, her parents made no fuss.

As she began to stroll the streets of London, Miranda could feel the weight of her burden begin to lighten. She even sent up a small prayer for her situation, even though she felt that her and God were not on good terms at the moment. But on such a beautiful day, it made her feel that maybe there was some hope for the future.

As Miranda drew closer to Cissy's residence, the houses became more and more grand. She was truly happy that Cissy had been able to make such an advantageous match. She only hoped that it was a love match as well. Whenever Miranda came by to visit, her husband Nicholas was usually nowhere in sight.

Approaching a yellow-bricked house that was three stories tall, Miranda walked through the cast iron gate, and up to the front door. Knocking three times, the door was immediately opened by a butler.

"Miss Edwards," the butler said, bowing slightly. "Mrs. Benson is waiting for you in the drawing room."

"Thank you Walter," Miranda said kindly, handing him her bonnet and parasol. Knowing the way, Miranda led herself to the drawing room where she could already hear the faint sounds of a cooing baby. Picking up her pace, Miranda stepped through the open door to see Cissy on a settee cradling a small infant wrapped in a pink blanket.

Looking up, a smile broke out on Cissy's face when she noticed her arrival. "Mandi!" she exclaimed. Handing the baby off to the nursemaid who was standing by, Cissy stood up to give Miranda a hug. "It has been too long."

Miranda lightly laughed, hugging her back. "Hardly. I was here just two weeks ago for a visit, but with you just having Margaret, I thought it best to let you recover first before coming back."

"Speaking of," Cissy said motioning back to the nursemaid. "Here she is." Taking back Margaret, Cissy presented her to Miranda.

Two chubby cheeks and the bluest eyes Miranda had ever seen peered up at her. "Oh Cissy," Miranda breathed, "She's beautiful." Reaching out a tentative hand, she softly stroked one cheek. "She has your hair," Miranda said, noticing a small tuft of auburn hair sticking out from under the blanket.

"Nicholas of course had been hoping for a boy, but I'm secretly glad to have a daughter." Cissy looked at Margaret with so much love and adoration, that it made Miranda's heart ache a bit. "Do you have any news for me?" Cissy asked, looking back at her expectantly. "I was surprised you didn't come the day after the Sheffield Ball."

Miranda swallowed a lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. Cissy had been well informed in the past of her relationship with William and her hopes of an engagement soon. "I was unwell the day after," Miranda managed to say, feeling the tears begin to form.

Cissy's smile faltered. "Oh," she said. Realizing she was still holding the baby, Cissy turned back to the nursemaid. "Lucy, why don't you take Margaret and I'll ring for tea." Handing off the baby, Cissy grabbed Miranda's hand and led her to the settee. "Tell me everything," she said earnestly.

Miranda laughed through tears that began to fall. "There's not much to tell," she sniffled. "There's no engagement and now I'm sure that there never will be."

"But you and William have an understanding," Cissy said.

Miranda shook her head. "I'm not sure there ever was an understanding. I was so foolish Cissy. William and I had been nothing but good friends these past three seasons, nothing more."

Grabbing her hand, Cissy gave it a squeeze.

"Cissy," Miranda whispered, "I don't know what I'm going to do. I'm in my third season with no marriage prospects, hardly anyone knows that I exist."

Cissy gave her a smug smile before taking back her hand. "Well, from what I've been hearing through the grapevine, that's not exactly true."

Miranda sat up straighter, surprise etched into her face. "What do you mean?" she asked.

A sly smile formed on Cissy's lips. "Rumors are going around that you danced with the most eligible bachelor of the season at the Sheffield ball."

Miranda went blank as she tried to process what Cissy had just said. "That's impossible, I didn't dance with any-" then Miranda suddenly stopped. "Oh no," she said, covering her mouth with both hands when she realized who Cissy was alluding to, "But why would there be rumors? Wouldn't he have danced with any number of different ladies at the ball?"

Cissy's face dropped. "Mir, didn't you know you were dancing with the Earl of Carlisle? Ever since the start of the season, he hasn't asked anyone to dance."

Miranda could only stare at her friend. The Handsome Stranger was the Earl of Carlisle? Alexander Archer? Now she could see all the pieces fall into place. "I had no idea," she said, flabbergasted. "I thought he never came to town for the social season."

"Not since his father's death, but he came this year because it was his sister Lady Evelyn's debut," Cissy explained. "But you have to tell me how you were able to snag a dance from him!"

"Well, I bumped into him while trying to run away from William-" Miranda stopped when she noticed Cissy's shocked face. She paused and took a breath. "Maybe I should start from the beginning."

Miranda recounted how after seeing William with another woman on the veranda, she ran back inside, colliding with the Earl and then again while trying to flee from William on the dance floor.

"I couldn't understand how he knew my name yet I had no idea who he was," Miranda said. "All he would tell me was that his name was Alex."

Cissy just about choked on her tea. "Miranda Edwards!" Cissy exclaimed. "And here I thought you were the epitome of a lady."

"I didn't call him by that," Miranda huffed. "But what does it matter now? First I've been spurned by my 'suitor' and now I have rumors circulating about dancing with an Earl." Miranda threw her hands up in the air in frustration. "Could my week get any worse?"

Cissy pursed her lips. "I don't think you understand the situation Mandi. Dancing with the Earl of Carlisle has brought positive attention upon you. Everyone wants to know what you did to catch the Earl's eye. You could use this to your advantage."

"And how's that?" Miranda asked doubtfully.

"You said that no one even knew you existed, well they definitely know now," Cissy said. "It might bring some suitable suitors in your direction, helping you make a match."

"I don't know anything anymore," Miranda said, "All I know is that this is my last season, no matter what the outcome is."

Cissy stared at her in confusion. "But what will you do if you don't get married?" Cissy asked.

Sighing, Miranda looked down at her hands, unable to look her friend in the eye. "A teaching position is coming available at the London school for boys and girls."

Silence reigned in the room. Miranda could feel the tears coming again but she tried to push them back. She was so tired of crying all the time. Crying didn't fix anything.

"Mandi," Cissy said, reaching for both her hands and making her meet her eyes. "I don't know what the future holds for you but know that whatever happens, I will always be here for you."

Sniffling, Miranda pulled out her handkerchief and dabbed at her eyes. "Oh Cissy, what would I do without you."

Cissy gave a small laugh. "I think you mean the other way around. What would I have done if you hadn't saved me at my own debut ball?"

It was Miranda's turn to laugh. She'd almost forgotten how her and Cissy had met. Cissy's debut ball had been an absolute crush, and Cissy had been dubbed the top debutante of the season with her auburn hair and striking green eyes. But as she had been dancing, Miranda noticed that a part of her dress had started to unravel. While others looked on with smug looks that the belle of the ball was about to lose her crown in humiliation, Miranda stepped into action.

"You were so surprised when I whisked you off into the powder room," Miranda said giggling. "You looked quite ready to put me in my place."

Cissy giggled too but then gave her an apologetic look. "I was so naive to the underhandedness of society. I thought all those people there were my friends, but only you came to my aid."

"And we've been best friends ever since."

"Everything will work out Mandi, you'll see," Cissy said, giving a reassuring smile.

"I hope you're right," Miranda said, though inside she didn't feel so sure.

+++

After bidding Cissy adieu, Miranda ventured back out into the summer heat. She was still in a bit of shock that people were talking about her. It was not a scenario that she ever thought she would have found herself in. She also didn't find herself ever dancing with an Earl.

Thinking about Alex, or Lord Carlisle, made Miranda's temperature rise a few degrees. What could have been the purpose of hiding his identity from her? Was it all for a little fun? Was an earldom so boring that he got a kick out of tricking young ladies? Although the Earl had come across as pompous and arrogant, Miranda had to admit that she hadn't detected a nefarious side in him. If anything, he showed more concern for her wellbeing than anything else.

Opening her parasol to help take off the brunt of the sun's heat, Miranda continued walking, completely lost in her thoughts. Earl or no Earl, Miranda still had a major problem to solve in regards to her future. Cissy did point out that Miranda's reputation had slightly increased and that she might be able to use it to her advantage. How she would go about doing that, she had no idea.

All too soon Miranda arrived back at her parent's residence. The walk definitely helped in clearing her head, but she didn't feel any closer to coming to a decision about what the next few months would bring. At least one thing Miranda could count on was never having to worry about bumping into the Earl again. She was sure that he would have forgotten all about her by now.

Walking into the front entryway, Miranda handed off her parasol and bonnet and headed towards the drawing room where her mother usually resided during the day. Upon entering, Miranda was surprised to see that her mother had callers. One was an older lady with dark hair with streaks of gray beginning to show. The other, a younger girl who looked around seventeen or eighteen, was in contrast, fair haired. Miranda had never seen either before in her life.

"Ah, Miranda," her mother said when she noticed her arrival. "I was hoping you would be back soon. Allow me to introduce my daughter, Miss Miranda Edwards. Miranda, this is the Dowager Countess, Lady Carlisle and her daughter, Lady Evelyn."

Miranda froze. Alex's mother and sister were here? Regaining her composure, Miranda gave a slight curtsey. "It's a pleasure to meet you Lady Carlisle," and took the empty seat next to Evelyn, with her mother and Lady Carlisle across from them. Now that she could get a closer look, she did notice that Evelyn's features seemed to match Lord Carlisle's, right down to the blue eyes. Evelyn looked back at her with a friendly smile.

"Lady Carlisle was just stopping by to deliver an invitation to a dinner party this week," her mother continued.

Miranda wasn't sure what to say. It was very unusual to receive an invitation the same day of making the acquaintance, but she guessed that when you were a Dowager Countess, the rules could be slightly bent.

"That is very kind of you Lady Carlisle," Miranda said, though inwardly she was squirming about why such a prestigious family would be making a connection when they had no prior acquaintance. Did her dance with the Earl have something to do with this?

As Lady Carlisle turned back to ask Miranda's mother a question, Evelyn turned to her, a wide smile on her face. Miranda was instantly weary. After witnessing what had happened to Cissy, she had no pretenses as to how young ladies of society act, especially the ones belonging to the aristocracy.

"I was very happy to have finally made your acquaintance," Evelyn gushed, "I had to meet the lady who could entice my brother to dance."

Miranda felt her cheeks grow warm. "I wasn't aware that he danced so little."

"Oh I believe he enjoys dancing," Evelyn continued, "He is just very...particular about who with."

Miranda wasn't sure how to respond to that but thankfully Lady Carlisle stood to signal that their visit had come to an end.

"Thank you for your time Mrs. Edwards," Lady Carlisle said, "We look forward to your attendance on Thursday."

Miranda and her mother walked them to the door and said their goodbyes. When the door had closed, Miranda's mother turned to her with raised eyebrows.

"Well, that was a visit I was not anticipating," she said to her daughter. "I know your father keeps a respectable standing in society, but I never expected to move in the circles of an Earl and his family. Do you have any idea why they would want to form an acquaintance with us?"

Miranda wasn't sure how much she should reveal about what had transpired at the Sheffield Ball. In all honesty, she didn't know why the Archer's were interested in her family. Or interested in you came a stray thought. But that was even more of a mystery. How did one dance with an Earl create so much to-do?

"I'm afraid I'm in the dark as much as you Mother. It seems so unlike the aristocracy to put forth an invitation without a prior association." This was mostly true as when she had danced with his lordship, he hadn't given a proper introduction, thus hardly counting as an acquaintance.

Her mother gave an indifferent shrug. "Well, it can hardly hurt. Her ladyship seemed kind enough. And her daughter Evelyn is very lovely. It should make for an interesting dinner to say the least."

Of that Miranda had no doubt.