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“Should I take a tray of food and drink to the cottage? The Darcys have not appeared to break their fast.”

Maddie’s question brought Abby Barnwell out of her daydream, and she turned to see the maid holding a platter of sweet rolls that was destined for the dining room.

Maddie continued with a sly grin. “They have not appeared in the dining room, and most of the guests have eaten, except a few stragglers. There may be nothing left by the time they remember to eat.” Her slight teasing was not lost on the proprietor.

“What? Oh, heavens, no! Leave the newly wedded couple alone! It would be most improper to interrupt them. They will appear when they are good and ready. Our duty is to have plenty of food and drink available for them whenever that may be.”

Maddie curtsied and left, a bright blush filling her cheeks at the thought of what occupied the couple instead of finding the time to eat. As she moved into the dining room, Margaret passed her on the way back to the kitchen as she returned with some dirty dishes.

“Have the Darcys come out of the cottage yet?” Margaret enquired, a big grin on her face. She knew full well that they had not, as she and Maddie had been going on about their absence all morning.

“You had better wipe that smile off your face before the Mistress sees it. She has just chastised me for asking if I should take them a tray of food. She says we should just let them be, as we might be interrupting them.” They both giggled.

“Interrupting? What might we interrupt in the broad daylight?”

Maddie, who was nearly seven years older than eighteen-year-old Margaret, smiled knowingly. “You have much to learn about men and women. I have been here six years, and I could tell you many stories about what goes on in the broad daylight, newlyweds or not!”

Now it was Margaret’s time to blush. “I ... I had better get these dishes to the kitchen.”

As she hurried to finish her job, Margaret pondered the implications of Maddie’s comments. Many times she had heard strange noises as she made her way down the halls of the boarding house. Once she had even summoned Mrs. Barnwell to the hall outside the last bedroom on the first floor, sure that the moans and groans coming from behind the closed door indicated that the guests inside were sick. The proprietress had promptly sent her to do another chore, insisting that she would handle the situation.

Her face now burned. Perhaps they were not in any distress at all. Perhaps they were ...

By the time she had placed the dirty dishes on the counter, she felt sure she would faint without a breath of fresh air. Heading into the garden through the back entrance of the boarding house, she almost ran directly into a tall gentleman and his lady. The Darcys!

“Good Morning!” William ventured to the obviously flustered maid.

If it were possible, Margaret blushed even redder, bobbed a curtsy and mumbled a slight greeting before running past them down the gravel path they had just come up.

Elizabeth chuckled. “My goodness! She was in a hurry. If I did not know better, I would think she was embarrassed to see us this morning.”

“Indeed,” William replied, his puzzled brow following the path the maid had taken before turning to find Elizabeth watching him. “Come, Mrs. Darcy, let us find the others and see if Mrs. Barnwell will be good enough to pack us a box of food and drink so we may be on our way.”

“Mrs. Darcy will be happy to oblige, Mr. Darcy,” Elizabeth jested, bringing a smile to her husband’s face. He held out his arm, and she wrapped hers around it as they entered the door.

Inside, Maddie pointed them in the direction of her Mistress, who was overseeing the dining room staff as they cleared the room. As William and Elizabeth headed in the direction that the maid had indicated, they could hear Abby Barnwell instructing the help on the proper way to clear a table, when suddenly she appeared before them.

“Oh, Mr. Darcy, Mrs. Darcy, I am so pleased to see you this morning. I trust you found the cottage adequate?” She beamed as she looked from one to the other, awaiting their approbation.

“It was enchanting!” Elizabeth answered. “You will never know how much we appreciate your letting us stay there. It was as if we were the only two people in the world—so peaceful and quiet. We heard only the sounds of the birds this morning. I can assure you that we will wish to stay there again sometime in the future,” she smiled lovingly up at William, “to remind us of our wedding and our honeymoon.”

William raised the hand he was holding to his lips, and Elizabeth leaned into him affectionately. Abby Barnwell smiled at their devotion. “Of course! I make it available only to a select few but, rest assured, you will always be welcome to have the cottage whenever you visit Liverpool.”

“And we cannot thank you enough for making our wedding day so lovely. You will always have a special place in our hearts for the many acts of kindness that you performed for us!” Elizabeth continued taking Mrs. Barnwell’s hands as William nodded his agreement.

Changing the subject, William asked, “Could I trouble you to prepare a box of food and drink for Elizabeth and me to take on the coach? I fear our travelling companions have already eaten and are most likely tired of waiting for us. We were supposed to have left an hour ago.”

“Do not worry about your companions, sir,” the proprietress declared, a secretive look crossing her face as she reached into a pocket of her skirt to retrieve a piece of paper. “This note should explain everything.” As she handed William the paper with his name on the front, he recognised Richard’s handwriting.

“I believe you shall have plenty of time to eat, and I have a private room prepared just for you.” She began to walk away. “If you will follow me, please.”

As the older woman went in an entirely different direction, William raised his brows at Elizabeth’s questioning look, took her hand, and began to follow their proprietress with his wife. Once they were inside the room, Mrs. Barnwell quickly left them saying she would send a maid with a tray shortly. Not bothering to be seated, he opened the note simply addressed to Darce, and read it aloud to Elizabeth.

“Finally! The lovebirds are prepared to break their fast and join us!

Well, it is too late. We have already departed, having decided last night that you deserve to spend the journey home alone with your lovely bride.

Though I had no doubt that you would miss my witty repartee and excellent company, I was unable to convince Evan and Mr. Williamson of that. Thus, I have joined the vicar in Evan’s coach. We have hired a coach to take all the servants home as well.