Thank you Kisses on the Steps for the Beta reading.

Percy wrapped his arms around the young woman and buried his face in her curls. Although she was taller than the average woman, her head still did not reach to Percy's chin. "I have missed you, Bess." Percy whispered. "It has been too long."

"Dear, dear, Percy," Elizabeth said through tears of joy as she continued to cling to him. "I have been watching for you every day since your letter came. I had thought you had forgotten all about me," she said with feigned hurt.

"Never, my darling, never," Percy's voice took on a seriousness that seemed to be at odds with the teasing tone that his sister had taken. Percy seemed to shake himself and regained his good humor as he gently moved his sister to look at her at arms' length. "Now about this ensemble that you are wearing, M'dear."

Elizabeth glanced down and her clothes. She was wearing a blouse, a men's waistcoat, britches and boots. Her protective jacket was now unbuttoned and her hair was in disarray. "I can hardly fence in skirts and stays, can I, Percy?" Elizabeth asked the question with mild reproof. She knew perfectly well that her brother was not overly bothered by such conventions when it came to her and to doing what they both thought needed to be done. It was an on-going game with them that he would tease about two things they both knew would shock proper English society - her fencing and her mode of dress while doing it.

"Too true, my dear, too true. But perhaps now would be a good time to change into something...umm...more appropriate. I have a surprise for you and you may want to be properly attired as it is almost time for tea.

"A surprise? How intriguing," Elizabeth smiled at her brother. "I do not suppose, you will tell me what it is?"

"Not until you are properly dressed, Madam." Percy affected a stern tone, although the smile in his eyes clearly indicated he was teasing.

"Oh very well, even as you say, Percy," Elizabeth acquiesced as she stood on her tip toes to kiss his cheek and afforded him the opportunity to kiss the top of her head.

While Elizabeth was upstairs changing, Percy, a glass of port in hand, thanks to the very attentive footman, sat on a comfortable divan to wait and to think.

At 30, he was just about 12 years older than his sister who would be 18 in about a month. He smiled at the recollection of his parents informing him that he would have a sibling and him informing them in no uncertain terms that a sibling would not be necessary. He also remembered the wonder he felt when he first saw Elizabeth in her crib - how small and fragile she was and how immediately and strongly his protective instincts were roused. Those instincts were to come into play not two years later when their parents died in a carriage accident leaving him, at 14, the Lord of the Manor, and solely responsible for his sister's well-being.

Percy smiled - he thought that he had done rather well. Elizabeth, was a well-educated and intelligent young woman. He had been careful to ensure she was well versed in all the arts deemed important for a lady about to enter into society.

However, he saw no reason to stop there. He ensured that her education was on par with any man, even though it meant hiring tutors much past the standard age to ensure she would learn what was taught at university. In addition to such skills as dancing, playing the piano and singing, Percy also made sure that his sister was a consummate horsewoman, could fence as well as most men, could use a pistol and spoke several languages like a native. Percy knew that his sister had a very keen mind and he spent a great deal of timing cultivating it by introducing her to strategic challenges such as chess, a game where she was a fierce competitor. You could probably separate this next sentence from the paragraph as well, since it sort of reveals a thought too. "Ah, Bess," Percy thought, not for the first time, "if you had been born a man, what an addition to the League you would be."

But he did not have a brother; he had a lovely young sister. A sister who needed to be introduced into all the right circles. Percy actually laughed out loud as he contemplated Elizabeth's introduction into British society. It would be the social event of the season, and he had every reason to believe that his sister would outshine any other young ladies as the sun outshines the stars and the moon.

Percy was so lost in thought that he barely noticed when Tony walked in. The younger man, nodded briefly and almost imperceptibly to Percy, "It's done; everyone is onboard the Daydream, which will be ready to set sail on the morning tide."

"Well done," said Percy. "I assume the Comtesse and her children have been made comfortable, and informed that for their own safety they are to keep to their cabins as much as possible?"

"Of course, Percy," Tony replied with a slight inclination of his head, although his eyes were focused on the door from where Elizabeth would come.

Had it really been three years since he last saw her?

Tony had known Elizabeth her whole life. His mother and father had been her God Parents. He had always viewed himself as another older brother – fond of the child, but not particularly close to her. That was until that night.

Elizabeth was home for a visit, and to celebrate the occasion, Percy organized an intimate dinner party with Elizabeth acting as the Lady of the House, as was her right. Tony had been stunned to see her then. While not fully matured, and still possessed of the coltishness some young women experience, the promise of her beauty was evident to anybody with eyes.

As a hostess, Elizabeth was charming and gracious. She was so very different from the coterie of young ladies that moved in the same social circle. She carried herself with grace and confidence and did not preen and simper like many of her contemporaries. Tony, who had not yet seen his twenty-first birthday was drawn to her immediately and once there, he hardly left her side that evening.

They shared many common interests in books, chess, and history not to mention being passionate about horses. Tony did not recall speaking to any other women that night, but he did remember being enthralled with Elizabeth. He had remained enthralled all these years. There had been other women, of course, but he had always held out the hope that they would meet again.

And now he was here, waiting to see Elizabeth after three years. He wondered if she would even remember him after all this time. What would she think? Did he have any hope with her at all?

A creaking floorboard caused him to look up and he froze as he saw a vision walk toward him.

My apologies as I have not writted for a while. I wanted to go back and provide a bit more back story for Tony and Elizabeth. I know not all will love that there is no Yvonne, but for the purposes of this particular story, I thought a bit more history would be helpful. Comments and reviews always welcom. Thank you so much for reading.