Something wasn't sitting right with Grace throughout dinner. Darlene didn't appear the least bit phased by Oliver's refusal to bring her and Marlene along to the knighting. Marlene had also dropped the teary act. She did, however, look uneasy.

She kept an eye on the clock throughout the meal, wondering what was keeping the girls. It's true that Annie wasn't known for her punctuality, but she'd missed two courses. Under different circumstances, she would be angrier. She didn't blame her and the other girls for wanting to stay away from Darlene and Marlene. If not for her weak-minded husband, she wouldn't be here, either, especially not with all the smells filling the dining room making her queasy. Although, since Darlene's comment about Annie not being a legitimate daughter, Oliver had hardened toward her. Still, she noticed him staring at Marlene, completely baffled by it all.

"Really, Oliver," Darlene said after taking the final bite of her dessert. "You're a doll for having treated us to such a fine meal yet again. I suppose we can't have any hard feelings, can we, Marlene?"

"No."

"I'm glad to see you've come to see things from where I stand," Oliver said. "There's too much going on to tackle such a serious matter."

"I do apologize for being so bitter about it before. Of course, you must understand us as well. It hasn't been easy for Marlene to face you."

"I'm sure it hasn't," he said in Marlene's direction.

Sweet expression turning sour, Darlene eyed Grace. "You've been awfully uncombative this evening."

"Darlene…" Oliver headed.

"Where are the girls?" Grace said to Oliver, ignoring their dinner guests. "They're never out this late unless there's been trouble."

Looking at his watch, he said, "I'm getting worried myself."

"Good heavens, now I know they're in trouble!"

While Oliver tried to retract his words and calm Grace down, Darlene laughed. "You, you both are such worriers. They're quite an unruly lot. I'm sure they're still at the park."

"They're good kids," Oliver said. "I'd appreciate you not being so hard on them. In all likelihood, they lost track of time or went to have dinner with the Webbs."

Grace relaxed at this notion. "I hadn't thought of that. They did say they were spending the afternoon with Michael."

"See? No need to fuss," Darlene said all too happily. "They're perfectly safe."

. . .

Oliver and Grace tried to make the best of the evening, allowing themselves not to panic. This was especially difficult for Grace, but she'd heard Oliver when he said she was too overprotective. London wasn't New York City. She could also take comfort in the fact that Michael was with them. They likely weren't lost or in a bad part of town. She could almost see them all sitting around a large dining table with the Webbs. They had wanted to get to know Molly better after all. The biggest worry was really that they'd tell her of their adoption plans prematurely.

"I'm thinking about ordering us some champagne," Oliver said, interrupting Grace's reading.

She looked up at him, an eyebrow raised. "What are we celebrating? The knighting is tomorrow. We'll have your party then."

"Yes," he said, sitting on the arm of her chair and sliding his hands from her shoulders down to her forearms, "but I've been thinking that maybe we can make the best of an impromptu evening without the kids. You and I have something to celebrate, too."

Grace's eyes went wide. "I haven't heard you talk like this in a long time."

"We could use a night together." He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Things are finally calming down between us, don't you think?"

"Yes, but—"

"I know you can't forgive me yet. I understand. I know the fights and the strains haven't come to an end all due to the baby. What I'm really suggesting is that we take a break from it. We know we're going to get through it and be okay. Tomorrow's a big day… and you really do look smashing in that new dress. I'm glad you wore it tonight."

Grace smiled, taking hold of his hand and giving it a squeeze. After a moment, she said, "What's that you mentioned about champagne?"

. . .

Oliver had been right when he said they needed an evening alone. It was nice to talk about something other than this trip, work, and the kids, even the most trivial things such as the book she was reading and the new Broadway play they wanted to go see when they were back in New York. They sat snuggled on the sofa, Grace's legs curled up beneath her as she rested her head on Oliver's shoulder. She took slow sips of her champagne fearing her stomach would decide to bring the evening to a close. To her relief, the bubbles seemed to ease her stomach, or perhaps it was simply helping her to relax for the first time in weeks. Oliver kept one arm draped around her, the other holding his glass.

"I can't believe how quiet it is," Grace said, fiddling with Oliver's tie.

He chuckled. "It's nice, isn't it?"

"I don't know why we talk as though we only have one child. Hannah spends more time at our house than her own and Molly's been with us for a while now."

"It's going to be strange when she moves out."

"You're positive you'll be able to find a job for Mr. Webb and the older boys in America? It would break the girls' hearts to be separated from one another. I couldn't bear it."

"Don't you worry, my dear. Arrangements are being made. Michael is an extraordinarily bright young man. There are many opportunities for him to study."

"Will you still be saying that when the time comes when he shows up at our door to ask if he can take Annie out for an ice cream soda?"

"I will save that crisis for another day."

She smirked, and then asked, "And you're positive they're all right with the move?"

Taking her glass and setting both drinks on the coffee table, Oliver then fixed both of his arms around her. "As ready as anyone can be leaving their homeland. Come now, you'll see that it will all work out. You know how easy it is to change your life because of a little girl."

"That is true. I never thought I'd see the day you'd be more eager to spend a quiet evening with your – potentially – pregnant wife than about an honor such as being knighted."

Touching her stomach, he said, "With how sick you've been I don't think there is any 'potential' about it."

"I do hope you are right."

In a moment like this, it was easy to let difficulties melt away. Right now, there was no Darlene or alleged daughter. There was no wondering where Annie, Hannah, and Molly had run off to. There was no lingering resentment for a weak and foolish moment – at least not much. For Grace especially, she was wholly here with her husband, almost certain of their child growing inside her.

For the first time since leaving New York, she let him kiss her. Really kiss her. Through that kiss, he communicated a deeper level of remorse and love than words ever could. He held her close, leaning back against the cushions. Soon, he, too, couldn't pay any mind to the outside challenges, only that he was a fool for every moment he might have resented making love to this woman.

They'd only just stood up to move to the bedroom when there was an urgent knocking on the door. Oliver looked murderous as he tore his lips away from Grace's.

"If that's Darcy I will throttle her," he seethed.

Equally distressed, Grace replied as she refastened the zipper on the side of her dress. "Not if I get to her first."

As he swung the door open and opened his mouth to rebuke whoever had dared to interrupt them at this hour, he saw a panicked Mr. Webb standing before him, face red and out of breath as though he'd run the distance to the hotel.

"David, what the devil is the matter?"

"Michael hasn't come home," he managed to get out. "I've looked everywhere for him and the girls. There ain't a sign of them."

"What?!" Grace shrieked, rushing to Oliver's side and gripping his arm.

"You checked the parks? The streets near your house?"

"All of them. This isn't like Michael. He doesn't stay out later than he says."

"What are we going to do, Oliver?"

He didn't answer, a plan of action already spinning in his mind. "Punjab! Asp! Get the police!"