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A sitting room

Mr. Williamson joined Richard and Evan in the sitting room that connected their bedrooms. They were making plans to leave in the morning and wanted to discuss who would be riding in William’s coach. He did not mention the plans that he had executed, nor would he, as it was not his secret to reveal.

“I assume I shall ride back with William, but I have not spoken to him about it,” he replied casually in answer to Richard’s query.

“Where is my elusive cousin?” Richard complained. “I imagine I shall have to forcibly remove him from Miss Elizabeth’s room so that she can get some rest.” Everyone chuckled at his jest.

“I, for one, want to leave at first light!” Evan proclaimed. “Ana will be worried, and I do not want her to suffer unnecessarily. Besides,” he said candidly, “I miss my girls.”

Richard chuckled. “I was about to say that, when you volunteered the information! You would never make a soldier—having to be gone for months.” He had ordered a bottle of brandy and had just poured himself a drink, holding up the bottle. “Would either of you like one?”

Mr. Williamson stated, more calmly than he felt, “I would love a small glass.” Richard proceeded to pour two fingers and handed him the glass just as a knock came at the door.

Evan opened it, revealing the innkeeper’s wife, Abby Barnwell, smiling brilliantly and looking very satisfied with herself.

Seeing Mr. Williamson over Evan’s shoulder, she raised her chin and winked at him, raising the other men’s suspicions. And just as Richard and Evan exchanged quizzical glances, she made an announcement.

“The happy couple awaits you in the family parlour, Reverend. Everyone, just follow me, if you please.”

Richard heard the glass shatter as his drink crashed into the hard wood of the floor.

~~~*~~~

Chapter 40

Pemberley

Mr. Walker barely had time to open Pemberley’s front door before Georgiana flew through, Millie in her arms. She gasped for breath as she began addressing Mr. Walker animatedly before he could begin to greet her properly.

“They are coming home—Elizabeth, William, Richard, Evan! They shall begin their journey home tomorrow morning! Only two men were injured, Mr. Avery and Mr. Judson, and both of them are expected to fully recover. God has answered our prayers!”

Before the butler could say a word in reply, footsteps alerted them to the approach of Mrs. Reynolds who was coming from the direction of her office. Mille, having just been set on her feet, began running towards the housekeeper, and as the child got closer, the elderly woman stooped to catch the bundle of energy.

Rising with the child in her arms, she practically beamed with happiness. “Yes, we have received an express as well! It will be so good to have them home.” She tilted her head to look down at Millie, “I imagine you will be glad to see your papa.”

“Papa?” Millie responded and then craned her head to look behind at her mother. “Papa?” she repeated to Georgiana.

“Yes, we have talked about Papa coming home.” Georgiana moved close to rub Millie’s back affectionately as she addressed the housekeeper.

“Millie goes to the windows to look at the front drive when we are in the drawing room. She knows that Papa always rides up the drive when he returns from his morning exercise. When one of the servants asked me about Evan yesterday, she ran to the window and pulled back the curtain to peer out.”

Both servants laughed aloud. “It does not take children long to figure things out,” the old butler exclaimed. “I remember when Mr. Darcy had the servants search the house to find Master William one summer’s day when he was barely four.”

Mrs. Reynolds interrupted, “I remember that too! He was hiding because he thought he was going to be punished for breaking his mother’s favourite vase.”

“Yes!” Mr. Walker continued. “And all the time we were searching for him he was atop the ladder in the library, sitting partially on the ladder and partially on the last bookshelf. He was so quiet and still that no one noticed him. Thank God he did not fall.”

“And, poor Mr. Darcy was so relieved that the child was found and that he would not have to report back to Lady Anne that their son was lost, that he never did punish him,” Mrs. Reynolds finished as everyone had a chuckle.

Mr. Walker was the first to sober. “It will be so good to have them home, although I shall miss my good friend, Mr. Judson.”

“Yes, and poor Mr. Avery, too. Evan explained that Mr. Judson agreed to stay behind with him until he is well enough to travel,” Georgiana volunteered. “I have no idea how Brother and I could have been so blessed to have such loyal, trustworthy servants.”

The butler and housekeeper both coloured. “We feel that we are the ones who have been blessed,” Mrs. Reynolds replied.

Just then, Millie spied Margaret, a young maid who often played with her at Pemberley, coming towards them and began to point to her. “I suppose you want Margaret to play with you,” Mrs. Reynolds stated, glancing at Millie and then her mother. “Do you mind?”

“Of course, not. Give Mama a kiss.” Millie leaned in to kiss her mother’s cheek, and then Mrs. Reynolds handed her to Margaret, who had halted when she saw the party in the foyer included her little friend.