I loved Alex comforting Eliza in the previous chapter and the kids here. the foreshadowing is breaking my heart

small chapter to finish Peggys funeral then... well you know what happens next :'(

i will add in happy chapters before that though :)

Eliza woke up with her head on Alexander's lap.

"Morning", he whispered to her as he pushed her hair out of her face. She never got out of her day clothes.

Eliza groaned. Her back was stiff.

"What time is it?" She asked him. He checked his pocket watch.

"It's 5", he placed it up on the bed behind them. 4 hours.

Eliza wiped her eyes.

"You'll be with me today right?" Eliza confirmed. She couldn't do this alone.

Alexander nodded.

"Should the kids go to the funeral?" She asked him. She didn't feel like making decisions.

"Eliza Holly and William might be too young to understand but they should be there", he decided.

"Fair enough".

"I hate to think of all the things Peggy is going to miss", Eliza played with his wedding band. She took it off, trying it on her finger. It is far too big and slips right off. Alexander ran his fingers through her hair.

"Try to think of all the things she did get to do instead", Alexander tried to be more positive.

Angelica knocked on the door, coming in with William, James, John and Eliza Holly.

They all sat on the bed, Eliza Holly cuddling into Angelica.

"Aunt Peggy made the best cakes", James commented.

John and William agreed.

"Kids, I know this is hard. There's no replacing someone like Aunt Peggy. Yous need to remember to cherish the memories that you have and be thankful that you have them", Alexander told the children. Eliza sniffled. She hugged his arm, drawing shapes on his arm.

"Do you remember when we saved a bird with Aunt Peggy?" John asked. James smiled.

"Yeah Uncle Stephen made a small cage from chicken wire", he added.

"I loved how she used to play with us during Christmas or parties", Angelica commented. Eliza felt tears go down her cheeks.

"Yeah!" John agreed. She only did that for the older kids.

"Did I ever tell you about the time when Aunt Peggy saved your aunt Catherine? Our youngest sister", Eliza asked them. James shook his head, "no".

Eliza smiled thinking of how brave her sister was.

"During the war there were times when rebels would come looking for your grandfather. He was a general. One of the times that it happened, we were hiding in the attic. I was pregnant with Philip, and Angelica was pregnant too. We realised that we were all safe in the attic except baby Catherine. She was asleep downstairs. Peggy snuck downstairs and found her. On the way upstairs she was caught. They questioned her about where our father was. Peggy always was a quick thinker. She said that he left to get back up. They threw an axe at her. An axe! And she laughed. Only Peggy would laugh after getting an axe thrown at her. She saved us. They left shortly afterwards because they were scared of what backup my father would bring back", Eliza smiled thinking about Peggy. Talking definitely helps.

Angelica gasped before joining in with the laughter. They were all proud of their aunt Peggy.

"Go get dressed, the funeral is on early this morning", Eliza told them as she got up.

Alexander ushered them out before changing into a black suit. Eliza helped the children to change before getting herself ready. Catherine, her younger sister, knocked on the door. She was in full mourning dress, just like Eliza.

"Betsey? Can you do my hair?" She asked her older sister, she always was shy. Eliz smiled at her. She wasn't as close with her younger sisters.

"Yes Kitty, sit down over there", Eliza pointed to her dresser. She put Catherine's hair in an updo.

"The age gap between us is weird. I could be your daughter", Catherine commented. Eliza laughed. Catherine was very blunt. Way to call her old.

"Yeah there is quite a gap", Eliza laughed it off.

"How are you feeling?" Eliza asked. Catherine shrugged.

"Sad, I guess. More in shock. Peggy wasn't that old, right?" Catherine shrugged. Eliza shook her head.

"No. She wasn't", Eliza agreed.

Eliza Holly climbed up onto Catherine's lap.

"You're all done", Eliza told her as she took Eliza Holly from her lap. She hugged her momma.

Alexander knocked before coming in.

"Your mom is really upset downstairs. She could really do with comfort from you, two", he told them. Eliza smiled at him. She couldn't ask for a better husband. She kissed him before going downstairs to her mother. Angelica had made tea for everyone.

"I love you, mom", Eliza hugged her mom as she cried on her shoulder. Guests were coming and going saying their goodbyes.

Alexander went outside to talk to Philip and Stephen. They had a small funeral and comforted each other all night, remembering Peggy.

thanks for reading xx