Anne smiled. “There were times when I wondered what I’d done, but do keep in mind, Lizzy, that Weston is a marvelous person. He’s not spoiled like so many gentlemen. He’s kind and takes delight in the happiness of others.”
“Well, I can see that you’re happy,” Lizzy said, envy filling her heart as she watched Anne with Sarah. She tried to squelch the emotion, but it lingered off and on throughout her entire visit.
During the ride home in the carriage, Lizzy worked to dispel the black cloud coming over her. She wasn’t very successful. Even after she arrived back at Ludlow, she could not drive off the feeling.
Usually Morland heard her arrival and came to greet her. Today he did not. Lizzy was slightly relieved. She was down at the moment and didn’t want to burden her husband with her poor attitude.
Besides, she told herself, Morland’s birthday is tomorrow, and the family is coming for supper. You’ve got things to do.
Lizzy learned that this was easier said than done. When her husband finally tracked her down in the small salon, she was trying to concentrate on the menu and making a complete mess of things.
“When did you get back?” Morland asked as he bent to kiss her. Lizzy was at her desk, and Morland took a nearby chair.
“Not long ago.”
“I was in the study. Did you not look for me?”
“No, I thought I should work on this menu for tomorrow night.”
Morland had seen the paper and now watched his wife’s face. There was more going on than his birthday the next day, but he didn’t start there.
“How are Anne and Sarah?”
“They’re fine.” Lizzy’s voice took on a wistful quality. “Sarah must be the loveliest child in all of England.”
“She’s beautiful,” Morland agreed, having seen her on Sunday. “Tell me, Lizzy, did you find me a birthday gift?”
“Yes,” Lizzy answered, looking surprised.
“Are you fearful that I won’t enjoy it?”
“No, I think you will.”
“How about the party? Is it too much for you?”
“It’s only the family,” she said by way of explanation.
“Then what’s wrong?” Morland came out and asked.
Lizzy studied her nails for a moment.
“I was trying to hide it from you,” she finally admitted.
“Hide what and why?”
“I came home from Anne’s in a terrible humor, and I didn’t want you to know.”
“Why is that?”
“Because it’s wrong. I have no reason to be unthankful.”
Morland finally caught on. She wished for a baby of her own. She had spoken of it several times, but he’d forgotten for the moment.
“I was reading in 1 Samuel this morning,” Morland suddenly told her, “the first chapter. I was struck by Elkanah’s words to Hannah when she had no children. He said, ‘Am I not better to thee than ten sons?’”
Lizzy stayed quiet, listening to her husband.
“I was also struck that we know the end of the story. We know that God honored her request and gave her Samuel and other children. We don’t know the end of our own story, Lizzy. We might have children and we might not.
“And I was thinking that if we didn’t, and God asked of me, ‘Am I not worth more to you than ten sons or daughters?’ I would want to say ‘yes, Lord, You are.’ Does that make sense?”
Lizzy nodded.
“I don’t wish to make light of Hannah’s plight—she was in terrible pain—and I know that question was asked of Hannah by her husband, and not of me by God, but it’s still a good way for me to measure my attitude.”
Morland fell silent then and let Lizzy take it in.
“Thank you, Morland,” Lizzy said, her heart a mix of relief and pain. She was thankful that he’d understood without a lot of words but almost wished she could cry her eyes out in self-pity.
“Come here,” Morland said softly, holding his hand out and waiting for Lizzy to sit in his lap. She snuggled close against his chest and felt him press a kiss to her brow.
“I love you, Morland.”
“And I love you, Lizzy—more than I can say.”
Lizzy tipped her head back to look into his eyes. Before he kissed her, she saw every bit of love written there.
Blackburn Manor
“I’ve been meaning to ask you a question since Sunday,” Mary Walker said to Niki on Tuesday morning while the boys played in the yard.
“What is it?”
“Have you and Edward Steele met before?”
Niki smiled and said, “As a matter of fact, we have.”
“My goodness, Niki, what a small world. Where was this?”
“On my last illusory trip.”
Mary’s mouth opened in surprise.
“How did he know you on Sunday?”
“He knew I wasn’t a man. He saw through it.” She glanced at the boys. “He’s the first person to figure it out.”
“Did he say how?”
Niki actually laughed at the memory.
“He said he had three sisters.”
Mary laughed with her.
“Does he have three sisters?” Niki asked.
“Yes, and I suppose that would make some men more astute. I can believe it of Edward.”
“What’s he like?”
“He’s a dear. Walker has Bible study with his older brother, Henry—another fine man.”
“I could tell that Edward had something special, Aunt Mary. I just didn’t know how to ask him about it. He gave me a list of verses from the Bible.”
“Do you want to ask me any questions?”
“May I?” Niki looked pleased, turning a little to get a better view.
“Certainly. Should I get my Bible?”
“I don’t know.” The younger woman looked uncertain all of a sudden.
“Why don’t you ask me, and if I don’t know I can get my Bible or we can check with Walker.”
“I guess my question was over the fact that Edward studied his Bible so much. I’ve hardly studied the Bible at all. I want to, but I don’t. Why is that?”
“When you wrote to me several years ago and told me that you’d trusted Christ for salvation, Niki, what church were you and Louis attending?”
“We weren’t.”
“Then who told you about Christ?”
“A neighbor. I was miserably pregnant with the boys, and she came to visit me each week. We started talking, and she told me that I could have peace with God. She read the verses to me, and I prayed, but I don’t know if it was enough. I still don’t know.”
“Niki, have you ever heard of the phrase ‘proving works’?”
“No, never.”
“Good works do not save us. There is no number of good deeds we can do to earn heaven, but after we believe in Christ, we are changed. Good works, or proving works, are what tell others that Christ now lives in us and that we’re different.
“It doesn’t sound as though anyone has ever told you. The mighty act of Christ’s death on the cross and our belief in His act is not where it ends. It conludes with a life of devotion to Christ, a life of putting our old selves aside and becoming what Jesus Christ wants us to be. Am I making sense?”
“I think so. Would I have learned this had I gone to church?”
“I certainly hope so. You’ll learn it at our church.”
“I enjoyed Sunday,” Niki suddenly confessed. “I didn’t know there were verses that commanded children to obey their parents. There’s so much I don’t know.”
“Do you have a Bible, Niki?”
“No. I’ve traveled too much. I don’t afford myself the luxury of taking books along.”
“Having your own copy of Scripture is a luxury, but it’s also important. We need to get one for you soon. You need to understand the God you put your faith in, so you know what He expects of you. The way to know Him is to study His Word.”
Niki was suddenly back in the coach, traveling
from Lisbon to Coimbra and watching Edward read his Bible. He seemed to be a man with such peace and confidence. Niki was certain the cause could be traced back to his reading of the Bible.
Ludlow
The meal for Morland’s birthday was a smashing success. The family gathered in great humor to celebrate, and the conversation turned to younger days at the Steele home.
“I don’t remember that, Edward,” Cassandra told him in no uncertain terms. “I think it was you and Lizzy who sneaked into mother’s room and tried on jewelry.”
“I would never do such a thing,” Lizzy protested, but she received no sympathy. Indeed the table erupted with laughter and disbelief.
Nevertheless, that particular episode was debated for some time. Not until there was a slight lull did Tate get a word in.
“Come now, Henry,” he urged. “You’ve not dragged any of your secrets out. I want to hear them.”
Henry smiled and said, “I was angelic, didn’t you know?”
If the laughter had been loud over Lizzy’s declaration, it nearly shook the room over this. Without missing a beat, Henry’s siblings took delight in reminding him of some of his escapades. For a such a serious child, he had been a bit wild as a young teen.
“If I recall,” Lizzy put in, “Henry got in the most trouble for being on horseback when he was supposed to be home.”
“I think you’re confusing me with our dear sister, Charlotte,” Henry said.
“Not fair, Henry,” Morland admonished. “She’s not here to defend herself.”
“Well, then, let’s trot out her deeds,” Edward suggested. “We can blame it all on her and make ourselves feel much better.”
“What I wish to know,” Cassandra interjected, changing the subject completely, “is if Charlotte and Barrington sent you a gift, Morland?”
“Yes,” the guest of honor answered.
“What is it?”
“I didn’t open it.”
Cassandra looked surprised.
“But you must!” she proclaimed, and heard her husband start to laugh. “You never mind, Tate! Now listen to me, Morland—a present that arrives by post must be opened on the spot.”
“But it came two days before my birthday,” Morland explained.
Cassandra patiently wagged her head in his direction, the pity she felt for him clearly showing on her face.
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Have you not heard these rules about birthday gifts, Morland?” Tate interjected. “She has quite a number of them.”
“They never worked on Mother,” Henry reminded his youngest sister. “She always made you wait.”
“And I have forgiven her,” Cassandra said piously, putting the room into laughter once again.
Cassandra looked across at Tate, who was smiling hugely at her, her look of innocence changing to laughter with the rest of the family.
Lizzy suddenly pushed her chair back, gaining everyone’s attention.
“All this talk of gifts has made me excited. Shall we, Morland?”
He smiled by way of reply as all came to their feet with plans to exit to Ludlow’s largest salon in order to watch Morland open his birthday presents.
Newcomb Park
Henry and Edward were still at the breakfast table on Wednesday morning when Henry received a note. He read it to Edward.
“This is from Walker,” Henry said. “‘Some business has come up, Henry. Will it work for you to come on Thursday? Let me know. Walker.’”
This read, Henry looked across the table to Edward.
“What will you do?” Edward asked, squelching the disappointment he felt. Niki and the boys had come to mind several times since he’d seen her on Sunday.
“Go tomorrow. Does that work for you?”
“I think so. Should you let them know I’m coming with you?”
“I don’t think so. Although there are no guarantees that Mrs Walker or Mrs Bettencourt will be there.”
Edward shrugged a little.
“If that’s the case, you can join Walker and me.”
“Thank you, Henry.”
With that the subject was dropped, at least verbally. Edward found that the trip to Blackburn Manor lingered in his mind the rest of the day.
Pembroke
Cassandra woke slowly, trying to figure out where she might be. She blinked a few times before realizing she’d fallen asleep while reading in her room.
This was so unlike her that she sat up in surprise, looking down to where her book had fallen to the floor. She picked it up and stood stretching a little, trying to fully wake up.
Where her next thought came from, Cassandra would never know, but an odd feeling hit her so strongly that it could not be ignored. Setting the book aside, Cassandra exited her room and went to her desk in the small study she’d claimed for her own.
She studied the days of her calendar and began to smile. Unless the dates before her had her completely confused, she was going to have a baby. For a moment Cassandra sat and smiled, letting the delight of it sink in.
Her next thought was of her spouse. Tate had gone for a ride, not planning to be long. Cassandra glanced at the clock, wishing she’d known what time she fell asleep. She paced around inside for a time, hoping to hear Tate return, finally gave up, and walked outside. She’d been milling around for 20 minutes, trying not to look anxious, when she saw Tate heading her way.
“Well, this is a nice welcome,” he said gently, coming off the horse to hand the reins to a waiting servant.
Cassandra smiled up at him and asked if he would walk with her for a time.
“You don’t mind that I smell a little like that horse?”
Cassandra’s answer to that was to take Tate’s hand. She was so excited that she couldn’t look at him as they walked, but he glanced down at her often.
“I think you have something to tell me,” he guessed once they’d rounded the house and were at the rear. The foliage on that side of Pembroke was nothing short of spectacular, but Cassandra barely noticed.
“Are you going to keep me in suspense?” Tate tried again.
“No, I just thought we could walk to the bench over here and sit down.”
“All right.”
Cassandra could wait no longer. The moment they sat down, she turned to Tate and confessed, “I think we’re going to have a baby.”
Tate looked surprised by this sudden announcement, but that didn’t stop his smile.
“You said ‘think,’ ” he mentioned, his face thoughtful. “What did you mean by that?”
“Well, I’ve looked at the dates, and I think it might have happened.”
“How do you feel?”
“Fine, but my stomach has had a hollow feeling lately, and just today I thought that might be the reason.”
Not caring if he smelled like a horse or not, Tate put his arms around his wife. Cassandra sighed when he hugged her but looked up in surprise when she felt him stiffen. She suddenly found herself being held by the shoulders, Tate’s serious face watching her.
“I chased you around the music room this week.” Tate’s tone said he was not happy.
“That’s true; you did.”
“What if you had tripped?”
“I probably would have skinned my knee.”
Tate did not look relieved.
“We will be very careful from now on.”
Cassandra had to think about this. She didn’t recall anyone else being careful. Indeed, unless problems arose, the expectant women she knew carried on as usual. One look at Tate’s determined face, however, and Cassandra knew that now was not the time to mention this.
“Do you suppose that this was what Henry saw in you?” Tate suddenly asked.
“I don’t know, but it might explain why I looked pale and tired to him.”
“Shall we tell Henry first?” Tate suggested.
“Yes, but let’s wait just a bit. I’d like it to be our little secret.”
Tate had no argument
for that. Neither wanted to move for the next hour. They sat quietly and talked about the changes a baby would bring, as well as the joy and excitement their family would share.
“I just have one question for you,” Tate finally put in. “When the baby gets a birthday gift by post, will he be required to open it right away?”
Cassandra’s laughter sounded all through the yard, and Tate, unable to stop himself, could only kiss her.
Chapter Twelve
Blackburn Manor
The coach carrying Henry and Edward arrived midmorning and found Walker outside, the twins nearby.
“Good morning,” Walker greeted as the men emerged, not missing the way the boys ran to Edward when they spotted him.
“Good morning,” Henry greeted in return, but Edward had already hunkered down to talk with Niki’s sons. In a matter of moments, they were speaking to him with rapt attention, and Walker smiled at the sight.
“Have you come to join us, Edward?” Walker asked when Edward pushed to a standing position.
“Unless a better offer comes along, and I think it has. The boys want to show me the horses.”
“A sight not to be missed,” Walker said graciously, although his eyes gleamed with amusement.
Henry met the twins, taking in their rapt little faces and feeling his heart melt a little. Watching as they looked to Edward as soon as it was polite, he knew that Edward had worked his charm once again.
“We’ll see you later,” Henry told his brother, smiling a bit. He stood quietly while Edward, Christopher, and Richard began to walk in the direction of the stables.
“How are they doing?” Henry asked out of genuine care.
“Remarkably well. It’s as though they’ve been here for weeks. I’m weary from hours of play, but I wouldn’t miss any of it.”
“Edward will wear them out.”
Henry might have laughed at his own words if he could have heard the twins just then. They were once again on the subject of Hessian boots, and Edward was just barely keeping up.
“I thought we were going to talk about horses,” he finally put in, and with that, the boys were off on a new subject.