Five Years Later

The door banged open. “I have returned!”

Victoria, who had been in the process of showing Elaine how advanced she was in her reading, screamed and leapt off the sofa, throwing arms around Elaine’s neck and knocking the wind out of Elaine’s chest. Victoria’s scream was all it took to send Robert crying out in fear, his small legs carrying his three-year-old frame across the room and into his father’s arms.

The screaming only disturbed the sleeping child tucked into the corner of the main drawing room of Ryewood Estate. The governesses who had been taking a well-needed break immediately got to their feet to tend to the crying six-month-old toddler. Little Elizabeth, who had been playing by her brother’s previously sleeping frame, simply looked around in confusion, calm despite the chaos.

Lorna was no different. She leapt halfway off the floor in fright, clutching the front of her dress. Henry, who had been engaged in conversation with Lorna and Beatrice, pressed his fist against his mouth to keep his laughter at bay while Beatrice slapped him lightly on the arm in an effort to get him to stop.

The only person who didn’t seem bothered by the sudden disturbance was Edward. He still slept soundly by the window.

Simon blinked, scratching the back of his head. “Perhaps I should not have made such a loud entrance,” he murmured apologetically.

Elaine didn’t know whether to laugh or scold him. She focused instead on soothing Victoria, who seemed determined to squeeze every bit of oxygen out of her. Despite the fact that, at five years old, Victoria liked to say she was mature, moments like these proved otherwise.

“It’s all right,” Elaine soothed. “It is only your Uncle Simon.”

“Uncle Simon?” Victoria paused her crying to actually look at the door. The next second, she was all smiles. “Uncle Simon!”

“Victoria!” Simon bent to scoop Victoria into his arms. “I’m happy to see that someone is glad to see me return.”

“Forgive us for trying to mend the chaos you caused in your outburst,” Michael drawled as he went to Elaine’s side, still soothing the crying Robert. Elaine smiled a little at the sight. Robert and Victoria were the spitting image of Michael, much to Elaine’s happiness. They shared many similar traits as well. One might think Elaine had played no part in their creation, but she did not mind.

“I’ll take care of him,” said James to the governess holding his crying baby. “Hush now, Harry. You shall soon grow accustomed to such outburst now that your uncle has returned from his Grand Tour.”

“You act as if you did not miss me, James,” Simon said as he went to Lorna’s side and pressed a kiss on her temple.

“He missed you, all right,” Lorna told him. “Every day he asked me when you were scheduled to return.”

“Lies,” James drawled and Clarissa laughed.

“Oh, don’t hide it, dear,” she told him gently, brushing her hand over Elizabeth’s curls, who had gone back to playing. “It is adorable.”

“It is nothing of the sort and I did nothing of the sort,” James protested.

“Come here, Simon,” Elaine called. She would have gotten up to greet him herself if she wasn’t so heavily with child.

Simon was on his way over when he noticed her rotund stomach. “Good grief! When did that happen?”

Elaine laughed. “I have only just begun to show.”

“You look just about ready to pop!”

“Watch it,” Edward spoke up. Elaine looked over in surprise but her father’s eyes remained closed. “That is your sister you’re talking to.”

Simon laughed. “Thank you for the reminder, Pa. And I’m happy to see you too.”

Edward waved a hand. “I’m going back to sleep. Keep it down, won’t you?”

Simon shook his head, then sank into the vacant spot next to Elaine. “Have you two decided on a name for this one yet?”

“Well,” Elaine rubbed her belly. “Since Victoria was named after Michael’s late mother, I thought we could name this one Emilia after Mama, if it is a girl.”

Simon nodded, smiling. “And if it is a boy?”

“Perseus,” Michael told him. Clarissa shook her head at that, laughing to herself.

“Why Perseus?”

“Because I always liked that name,” Elaine stated as if that should be reason enough. No one argued but they certainly exchanged looks.

Simon was wise enough not to pass any comments. “Well, whether it is Emilia or…Perseus, they shall fit right in.”

Elaine smiled. “How was your Tour, Simon? I thought you would have spent longer than two years considering how eager you were.”

“I almost did, but I grew homesick. But I did see someone interesting during my trip to the colonies.”

“You went to the colonies?” Henry asked in surprise.

“Only to observe. And I happened to see the Marquess of Grovington working on one of the plantations. Hard labour does not become him.”

“It only serves him right,” Michael commented. Elaine noted that he spoke with no resentment. They’d learned of the marquess’ punishment a year after they had married but by then, Michael claimed he had laid such thoughts to rest. His focus was now on his family and dukedom.

“It is a pity that his daughter had to suffer,” Simon said.

“She fared well enough considering the scandal,” Clarissa informed him. “She married Lord Weatherby and has since bore him a son. They reside in the countryside.”

“Do they now? Well, at least she was not affected too much by the scandal.”

“Is that why you have returned?” Elaine asked him with a raised brow. “To learn of society’s recent gossip?”

“Of course not,” Simon gasped in mock shock. “I came because my darling niece missed me. Didn’t you, Victoria?”

Victoria, who seemed content to stay in her uncle’s arms, nodded with a broad, mostly toothless smile. Elaine smiled at the sight.

On days like these, when everyone simply gathered for gathering sake, she felt at peace. Sometimes she could hardly believe that, only five years ago, she had been so alone, burdened by the need to save her family. And now she had more family than she had ever dreamed of.

“What’s got you smiling like that?” came Michael’s voice in her ear.

Elaine smiled down at her stomach as she rubbed it fondly. “I think Perseus wants to join the fun. He is kicking quite a lot.”

Michael placed his hand over hers. “So, we are determined to go with Perseus, are we?”

“I am. Are you?”

He sighed heavily and she laughed. “Anything you wish, my love. Once you are happy, so am I. Now, I do feel inclined to say that our darling son may not be happy with such a name.”

“I am certain he shall come to love it,” she giggled. 

Michael joined in with the laughter but then it faded as he looked into her eyes. “Have I told you that I love you today?”

“You have,” she confessed softly. “But I have no qualms with hearing it again.”

He leaned closer, brushing a soft kiss against her lips. “I love you, Elaine. Forever.”

“I love you too, Michael. Always.”

There was more she wanted to say but was interrupted by Simon’s regalement of his Grand Tour, everyone gathering closer to hear. So, she leaned into Michael’s arms, brushing her fingers over Robert’s dark curls as their son fell asleep in Michael’s arms.

And she was happy. So happy that tears welled in her eyes. So happy that, as she listened to her brother’s story, she wished it would last forever.

The End