Perry returns to Blair Water only to be leaving shortly to fight in the Boer War. Other strange occurances are also going on with a love letter finding its way to Cousin Jimmy and a stranger coming to town.

Overjoyed at finishing her first book she goes to see Teddy to see what he thinks of it. Only he breaks her heart when he is brutally honest about it bringing back memories of Dean Priest.

Emily then falls down the stairs and remembers back through a series of flashbacks the moments in her life that have shaped her future.