Chapter Two

Starting over in a new life was never easy, but this was the first time in a very, very long time that she’d lived in a society with general access to both sophisticated industrial technology and magic. Humans always seemed to prioritize one over the other even in worlds where both were possible, so she hardly ever landed in a world like this and those worlds always ended up being one of her favorites.

Mira got more hints about Violet’s circumstances when Anna brought over a box of cosmetics and lotions. Neither of them brought up the possibility of her getting out of the bed. If she couldn’t hold her own cup then Mira wasn’t ready to see what it would be like if she tried to walk so she submitted to being wiped down and made up while still in bed. The soaps and lotions Anna brought out all had the faint scent of magic to them and Anna used it all with the kind of confidence that said she wasn’t concerned about replacing anything that got used up. Anna didn’t seem stupid or careless, so that implied good things about Mira’s financial situation.

Just because Violet had been frightened to death about her prospects didn’t mean she had no personal assets; just that she had no experience managing personal property nor any idea of how to start. Hopefully that was the case. If not, then Mira had a lot of work to do and no healthy body to do it with and that would be hard.

Matron Byrde returned from her errands just as Anna finished putting Mira’s hair back up into a silk bed cap. Mira didn’t notice her right away until she heard a soft ‘oh!’ from the open door.

The older woman from her earlier memory stood just inside with a coat draped over one forearm and her fingertips resting gently on the doorframe. She had soft, gentle features and wore her graying hair up in a cottage loaf pompadour. Looking at her evoked a slew of memories–enough to know that this was not only Violet’s nanny, but she was also a major maternal figure in Violet’s life.

Nanny Byrde had once been Violet’s mother’s personal attendant and got promoted to nanny when her mistress died in childbirth. Violet’s memories of her nanny were all of soft hands and Nanny Byrde’s blatant partisanship on her behalf. Violet’s relationship with her family looked strained in those memories so Nanny Byrde must have been her central support while growing up. It was no wonder, then, that the older woman went along when Violet left home to be married.

Another realization Mira had, and this one was less welcome, was that she should have been able to see Nanny Byrde in her peripheral vision from where she was seated.

There was something wrong with one of her eyes.

“Miss, you’re awake,” Nanny Byrde dumped her coat and hat on one of the chairs near at hand and hurried over to fuss over Mira. “How are you feeling? Have you had anything to eat or drink?”

“I’m fine,” Mira’s hands came up to cover Nanny Byrde’s seemingly of their own volition, which confirmed that Violet had had a closer than usual relationship with this woman. Mira had had biological mothers who didn’t touch her with this much care, including her first one. “A bit confused,” she added. “Anna helped me take some water and soup.”

“Good girls, good girls,” Nanny sighed. “What’s this about confusion, miss?”

Mira was an old hand at this particular con, but it was still frightening every time she had to do it; like putting your foot over a ledge and trusting there would be a glass bridge there to catch you.

“I’m having trouble remembering things,” she admitted, making sure to sell her hesitation and vulnerability. It wasn’t difficult. She was scared. She was confused. So, those feelings were available for her to draw on.

“She didn’t remember the seizure earlier, but I’ve heard that’s normal surrounding a fainting spell,” Anna admitted as she stepped back to give Nanny room to fuss. “Are you having trouble remembering anything else, miss?”

“Most things,” Mira ducked her head and concentrated on the feeling of lowering her eyelids. Only one of them moved and the urge to touch her face was overwhelming. Nanny and Anna didn’t seem to think anything was wrong with her face so whatever was wrong with her eye had been wrong since before the seizure.

She’d been thinking that Violet’s engagement had fallen through for financial reasons, but that might not be the case. What had happened to this child?

“The memories are there,” she hastened to reassure Nanny, who’d gone a ghastly shade of greenish white. “They just seem to need prompting. I remembered a bit of the incident in the sitting room when Anna mentioned it, but… everything feels so vague.”

Nanny nodded slowly. “I–I understand, miss. Anna, use my crystal to call the doctor back…”

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“A different doctor, please, Anna,” Mira reminded her.