By the time Charlotte and Alexander returned to Heywood Manor the next morning, a hearty country breakfast had been enjoyed by all – and Ruth, Catherine, Augusta and the twins were in the final stages of washing, drying and putting away crockery, glasses, and various pots and pans in the kitchen. For a moment, Alexander stood in the doorway with his arm around Charlotte's shoulders and listened to the lively conversation.
"She is so changed," Alexander said softly, listening to Augusta's laughter.
"She has a family again," Charlotte said, leaning her head affectionately against his shoulder.
"Aha!" Ruth called out, coming toward Charlotte for a hug. "The lazybones have decided to join the day!"
Charlotte laughed, "Mother! It has barely gone seven o'clock!" She received a warm embrace from her mother, just before Alexander was pleasantly surprised to receive the same.
"Yes, and the chickens and pigs have been fed, the cows milked, and this one…" she said, pointing toward Augusta, "... is a natural at it."
Augusta stood beaming, while both Charlotte and Alexander stared, trying with some difficulty to imagine her sitting under a cow and milking it.
Alexander laughed. "Well, Ruth, you may have convinced me. Straightaway upon getting home, we will look toward procuring a cow."
"You won't regret it, not for a minute. You'll never want for milk and cheese or sweet butter for as long as she lives. And you'll not have children be slug-a-beds when a cow needs milking in the morning. That noise from the barn gets them up and moving until they do it, because a cow knows when it's morning and that's for sure. Have you had your breakfast?"
Charlotte smiled at her mother. "Yes, we had tea and toast at the Arms."
Ruth frowned. "Well, that's not breakfast," she said, reaching around to pull out leftover corn cakes, bacon, thick slices of ham and fresh eggs.
"Oh, no, Ruth, no need for that," Alexander said quickly. "We haven't earned our breakfast with chores yet, have we?"
Ruth laughed. "Good man. No, that you haven't. There's always a fence needs mending or a barn slat loose." She looked at Alexander's white shirt, waistcoat, trousers and jacket. "Though you hardly look dressed for it."
Immediately, Alexander pulled off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, laughing with her. "Better?" he said, as Charlotte went to Augusta and her sisters and hugged them good morning.
"You'll do," Ruth said, though she still looked skeptical. "You'll be finding your daughter out at the stables with Joseph and the boys. She wanted to see the horses, and my husband was all too happy to oblige. You might see if they have chores out there that need doing." The sparkle in Ruth's eye was unmistakable, and for a moment Alexander simply looked at her with great affection. The resemblance Charlotte bore to her mother in this moment was uncanny, and it took hold of his heart suddenly, as Alexander saw his future laid out before him with a woman of good sense, a wry sense of humor, and uncommon beauty.
"Thank you, Ruth," he said softly, giving a shallow bow and reaching his hand out to touch her shoulder. In turn, she laid her hand on his cheek.
"My Charlotte has found a good man and there's no mistaking it. I'm so glad for you both."
Alexander folded her into another hug, unable to stop himself. "Not half as glad as I am," he said.
Ruth took a deep breath, and as was her way when she was feeling strong emotions, she got back down to business. "Now off you go, all of you," she said, wiping an eye surreptitiously. "I have work to do, and you have a stable to muck out," she said to Alexander, raising an eyebrow.
"And do not think I don't know how," he said, laughing and taking Charlotte's arm.
After Edward Denham left the sunroom, Georgiana and Arthur listened carefully to hear the front door close. They moved from their places and came together to look out of the window. For a moment, both worked it through, and then Georgiana asked the question they were both thinking. "Alexander Colbourne? What can he possibly have to do with all this? And beyond that, how on earth would Edward Denham come by information about my parents?"
"Yes, my thoughts exactly," Arthur said, a frown creasing his forehead. "If your mother and father did indeed meet in Sanditon, it obviously would have been more than twenty-one years ago, long before Tom began any development of the properties – so when it was still a small fishing village." He looked out at the sea. "But Heyrick Park has been here for generations, which in truth, is why Mr. Colbourne was not excessively supportive of my brother turning it into a tourist destination. His feeling was that the people who lived here were of the sort who loved their sleepy little town and had no desire for it to change."
Georgiana smiled, "Alexander was not wrong to feel that way. The town certainly has changed, and I am certain there are those who feel not for the better." She went to the door and called out, "Rosie?"
"Yes, Miss?" Rosie said, rounding the corner from the kitchen.
"Might we have some tea, please?" Georgiana asked.
"And some modest cakes?" Arthur asked hopefully, appearing from behind her.
Rosie smiled and gave a small curtsey. She liked Mr. Arthur Parker immensely, and always made sure to have cakes on hand for him.
Georgiana sat down at the table and Arthur joined her, asking, "So if your parents did meet in Sanditon, might it have been through some connection at Heyrick Park?"
Frowning, Georgiana said, "Yes, it is possible, but Alexander would only have been a child. What could he know about it?" Suddenly, Georgiana's eyes lit up. "He might not, but I am acquainted with someone who would possibly know. Evaline Wheatley has been on that estate since before Alexander was born, and I would not be surprised if she knows the answer to this riddle."
Rosie knocked softly on the half-open door, and Georgiana said, "Please, come in, thank you." Once she had poured out the tea and each had a small cake in front of them, Arthur spoke.
"Did you not say that Charlotte and Mr. Colbourne were visiting in Willingden? When are they due back?"
"Not until this evening," Georgiana answered. She took a sip of her tea, thinking. "Arthur? If Sidney was able to get so far as to procure my mother's necklace, and was searching for her still when he died, why did he not also give me her name so that I might better continue the search on my own? He only gave Charles Lockhart's name to warn me. I almost got the impression from his letter that he felt it might be wiser for me to simply leave off the entire business of searching for my mother."
Arthur frowned and nodded. "My dear, you are absolutely right." He took a small bite of his cake while he was thinking. "So perhaps there is something about the answer to this riddle that might not be to your advantage?" He raised his eyebrows. "And if Sidney knew what it was, then perhaps Denham knows it too."
Narrowing his eyes, Arthur said, "So there may not only be a second part to the riddle – there may be further blackmail attached to it. As you said, you can easily afford the 10,000 and Denham may be banking on more."
Georgiana nodded. "And then there is still the question of how Edward Denham, of all people, came by this information. Lady Denham has been in Sanditon as long as the Colbournes. Might she have spoken of it to Edward?"
"Lady Denham may be many things, but what she is first and foremost is a gossip. A juicy piece of information like the identity of your mother would have her on your doorstep this very minute, simply to enjoy your reaction to the news. And after the way she has been treated by Edward, he is the last person she would share it with," Arthur said, making clear his distaste for anyone possessing the last name of Denham.
Georgiana took another sip of her tea and looked out at the vast ocean. The answers were out there, and she might not be able to wait to begin looking for them until Charlotte and Alexander arrived home.
As they neared the stables, Alexander, Charlotte and Augusta could see that Drew was riding in the small pen, taking a slow circle. His back was to them, and as they moved closer and he brought the horse around, they were surprised to see Leonora riding in front of him with her hands holding the reins. He was gently giving her instruction on how to hold the leather straps, and the manner in which she should use them to turn the horse and stop.
Her face was suffused with joy mixed with intense concentration, and Charlotte smiled broadly at Alexander. "She's very good!" she said, noticing how straight Leo sat in the saddle and the easy, controlled way she held the reins. She could see already that Drew was doing nothing to guide the horse, but was simply sitting back against the cantle with his hands at the ready if they were needed.
As they came up to the fencing, Drew looked over. "She's picked it up surprisingly quickly. She'd be just fine without me, but I didn't want to assume until you gave permission," he said to Alexander.
"Look, Father!" Leonora said, her eyes bright. "I am riding a horse!"
"Yes you are, Leo," Alexander said. "And doing a fine job of it!"
Joseph walked up behind them and made his way into the pen to help Leonora down. "Don't suppose you'd all like a ride? Best way to see the land, and Charlotte knows a good number of picnic spots," he said.
Augusta followed him in, saying to Leonora, "Cousin, you will soon convince me to get up on one of those beasts. If you can do it, I certainly should be able to!"
Charlotte turned to Alexander and raised an eyebrow, whispering, "You heard my father, you're not the only one who knows all the best hiding places," she said.
Alexander took a deep breath and gazed at her. The sun was bringing out the red highlights in her dark hair, and the fresh air of the country had put a glow in her cheeks. "Enticing as that sounds…" he said softly, reaching out to take her hand, "...perhaps that should wait until we're married, Miss Heywood. I am not certain that I would trust myself in the country on a picnic blanket alone with you."
Charlotte laughed. "That is probably the better part of valor, Mr. Colbourne." She looked up at him and thought him the handsomest man she had ever seen. His hair was blowing in the soft breeze, and his face was entirely relaxed, while his eyes spoke only of his love for her. "Until later, then?"
Alexander put her hand to his lips. "Oh, you can count on it…"
"Uncle," Augusta called out. "I should like to learn, and if we all took a ride perhaps it wouldn't seem so daunting. May we?"
"Nothing would make me happier, Augusta. And I know that you will become proficient in no time." He turned to Joseph, "If you were indeed serious, we would love to take you up on your offer, Joseph."
Frowning, Joseph said, "And why would I offer if I wasn't serious?"
Alexander smiled, realizing that his soon-to-be father-in-law was asking an actual question. "No, of course, you would not," Alexander said. "And we would very much appreciate a ride."
Leo ran up to him. "May I ride my own horse, Father? I have learned how!"
As they walked toward the stable, Alexander scooped her up and said, "I think we will wait a bit before we put you on your own horse, Leo. But perhaps you'd like to ride with me? I promise I will let you hold the reins."
Charlotte watched Leonora's face light up, and she could only imagine all the times she had seen her father ride off on Hannibal, dreaming of riding with him. "I would like that very much, Father," was all she managed to say before being rendered entirely and uncharacteristically speechless at the prospect.
Joseph said to Drew, "Bring out Charlotte's Maple, and we'll put Augusta on Mattie. He turned to Augusta, "She's a sweet old mare who will give you an easy first ride, missy." He turned to Alexander, "We'll give you Samson. He'll not be like your Hannibal from the sounds of it, but he'll give Leonora a safe ride and hold you both with no troubles."
While Drew saddled and tacked Mattie, Alexander watched in awe as Charlotte pulled down a saddle and tack and readied Maple for the ride. Joseph let Alexander saddle Samson to get them acquainted, and before they knew it, they were up and ready to go.
Drew at twenty-two and Augusta at eighteen laughed together easily as he gave her some instruction. His hand rested a little too long on Augusta's at the reins, and she blushed – at which point, Charlotte looked over at Alexander and raised her eyebrows, wondering if he was seeing the same thing she was.
He was. Charlotte saw first the protective uncle, then the shock of realization on his face that Augusta was a fully-grown young woman, and quite beautiful at that. Alexander had watched his niece dancing with young men for the better part of a London season, and he had seen them stumble and stutter with her, but what he had never seen was Augusta having that reaction herself to a young man. Drew was a large, strapping farm boy, and Alexander supposed him handsome, but he was also intelligent and had a sharp wit much like Augusta's. Now Alexander was remembering that they had sat together at dinner the night before, and had been immersed in conversation every time he had chanced to look over.
Alexander looked back at Charlotte and she had to smile. His look said nothing less than Help! She nodded to him, laughing, and said softly, "All will be well, my love."
Joseph lifted Leo up and into the saddle with Alexander and his focus was pulled away from his niece, but another aspect of fatherhood had just reared its head, and in a way that he would not soon forget. His gratitude that he would not be alone with these challenges was overwhelming, and he looked back at Charlotte and said gratefully, "Thank you."
The picnic lunch that Ruth brought out within moments lent credence to the fact that this outing had been considered beforehand by Charlotte's parents, and she reached down and squeezed her mother's hand. "This is very sweet of you," she said with affection.
"What? Just some leftovers, and you'll have to make do with cider and not ale, as we drank it all last night," her mother said offhandedly. "Now go, enjoy your family," Ruth said, with a touch of sadness that only Charlotte could hear.
Charlotte still held her mother's hand as she said, "You will always be my family. We are simply adding to it. I love you with all my heart, Mother."
"And I, you, my sweet girl. Go have fun."
Georgiana took another long sip of her tea and made a face, as it had gone cold. She stood suddenly. "I am too impatient, Arthur. We are going to Heyrick Park to speak with Mrs. Wheatley now, this minute."
Arthur nodded and said, "As you wish, my dear! Lead on, Macduff!" he said, quoting Shakespeare in his excitement. He reached back and snatched up the remainder of his cake and Georgiana's untouched one, wrapping them quickly in a napkin. "Just in case we should find we need nourishment on the carriage ride."
He followed Georgiana to the front door, and as Rosie handed him his hat, Arthur did a small dance. "What an adventure!" he said with evident glee.
"The flowers are different here," Leo said, running up to the blanket. At the last minute, she had convinced Mrs. Wheatley to pack a pair of her short play trousers, and she had pulled them on before going out to see the horses – with the result that she now was able to run freely through the tall grasses to her heart's content.
"These are blue, too, but they are not cornflowers," Leo said, settling down on the blanket and handing one each to Charlotte, Alexander and Augusta.
At the same moment, both Alexander and Augusta said, "Forget-me-nots. Myosotis sylvatica," and then looked at each other and laughed.
"Lydia did love flowers," Alexander said softly.
"She taught me all the names," Augusta said, turning the small blue flower in her fingers.
"You must miss her very much," Alexander said, and Augusta's head came up quickly, amazed to hear such a thing from her uncle. Never in all the time they had been together, had he mentioned her mother. She sighed and smiled at him, supposing that his love for Charlotte must mean that anything connected to Lucy had become less painful somehow.
"I do miss her," Augusta said slowly. "I miss both of them. But they are gone and that is a fact of my life, so dwelling on it does me no good." She smiled again and looked at the other three on the blanket. "And there is so much in my life that I am thankful for." She reached out and handed her flower to Charlotte, hardly even knowing she was doing it, and Charlotte smiled back, her heart expanding.
"This is our second picnic," Leonora said, matter-of-factly. "And I hope we have many more."
"So do I, Leo," Charlotte said. "We used to come out to this very spot, all of us, for picnics when I was younger. Even when I was your age."
Leonora frowned. "I cannot imagine you at my age," she said.
"Or me?" Alexander said, ruffling her hair.
Her eyes wide, Leonora said, "Never you!"
They all laughed, and Charlotte couldn't resist being the teacher. "We all start out just like you, Leo, as children. And then we grow up and get married and have children of our own." She had simply said it without thinking, but when she looked over at Alexander he was gazing at her with his eyes glistening in the sunlight, wearing a look of longing that caused her to stop and smile back at him.
"When you get married, will you have children?" Leo asked.
"I hope so," Alexander said softly, never taking his eyes off of Charlotte.
"May I have a brother?" Leo asked. "I liked playing with Sam very much, and should like having someone to play soldiers with," she said, lying back on the blanket and looking up at the sun through the trees.
Augusta had seen the entire exchange and now, to give her uncle and Charlotte a small measure of privacy, she lay down next to Leonora and looked up at the sky. "You cannot just order a little brother, cousin. You must take what you get. Even if it is a little sister," she said, reaching over and tickling Leonora, making her giggle.
Augusta pointed up at the sky. "What does that cloud look like, Leo?"
"It looks like a giant ferocious lizard," Leo said.
Laughing, Augusta said, "You would say it was a lizard! To me, it looks like a beautiful feather I might put in my hair…"
Alexander and Charlotte sat close by each other, but now, with the girls' attention elsewhere, he could finally lean over and touch his lips to hers, gently, chastely, in deference to the fact that they weren't entirely alone. He moved his lips slowly down to her neck, where he kissed her again and again, making her shiver and sigh quietly.
"I love you," he whispered, saying something he had been wanting to tell her since he last said it, just before they had climbed out of the carriage this morning.
Charlotte turned so that her lips were just next to his ear, by the soft curls that she so liked to run her fingers through. "And I love you," she whispered back.
Alexander took a long deep breath, and Charlotte felt them moving onto dangerous ground, so she raised an eyebrow at him and gazed down at the girls. To distract him from any thoughts he might be having, and in truth, to distract herself from the same thoughts, she reached into the basket and pulled out some carrots that Ruth had packed for the horses.
"Leo, would you like to feed Mattie a little treat?"
"Very much!" Leo said, popping up like a jack-in-the-box.
Reluctantly, Alexander said, "And we should probably begin getting ready to go back. We still have the ride back to the stables, and our good-byes to say, and a carriage ride home before it gets dark."
Augusta was still looking up at the sky. "I wish we never had to leave," she said dreamily.
Alexander smiled. "And why would that be, Augusta?" he said, a lightly teasing tone in his voice. 'Would it be the food, or the country air, or perhaps… the company?"
Rolling over quickly onto her stomach, Augusta narrowed her eyes at her uncle with a smile. "All of those things, uncle. And yes, I enjoy spending time with Charlotte's family exceedingly well."
"Perhaps some more than others…" he muttered under his breath, smiling broadly and looking up at the sky.
Pulling a bread roll from the basket, Augusta lobbed it at him. "Perhaps!" she said. "We are in no way related, you know?"
Alexander's eyes went wide, "Ah, so you have thought it through that far, have you?"
Augusta blushed bright red and put her head down, laughing. "I think I should go and help them feed the horses," she said, her voice muffled in the blanket. She turned and stood, making an attempt at a glare, but succeeding only in causing her uncle to laugh again.
"You make a fine couple," Alexander said in earnest, as she walked by.
"Thank you, uncle," she said softly, smiling at him and making her way to the horses.
"Mrs. Wheatley, there are visitors here for you," Worthing said, finding her in the kitchen.
"For me?" she asked, looking up from her cleaning. "Send them around to the kitchen door, Alfred," she said with impatience.
The butler shook his head, "These are not the type of visitors you might think, Eva. These are fine people. Miss Lambe and Mr. Arthur Parker."
Eva stopped her cleaning and looked up in surprise. "Do they know that the Master and Miss Heywood are not here?" she asked.
"Yes, I told them. They wish to speak with you."
Eva was already wiping her hands on a towel and removing her apron. "Very well, please show them into the drawing room, and I'll join them presently." She turned to Maisie, who was on the other side of the kitchen, polishing silver. "Please go ask them if they would like tea, Maisie."
By the time Mrs. Wheatley had freshened up and had joined them in the drawing room, Arthur and Georgiana had already politely refused tea and were seated on the couches facing each other. When she entered the room, Arthur stood and made a short bow, and Georgiana patted the couch next to her, asking her to sit.
Georgiana and Eva had already enjoyed many talks with each other, but never in such a formal setting. Eva was decidedly uncomfortable to be sitting on the couch in the drawing room with Mr. Parker and Miss Lambe, who was now known to be the richest person in Sanditon, even richer by a slight amount than Mr. Colbourne and Lady Denham.
When they had first conversed in town, Georgiana had not come of age yet, and they had simply been Georgiana and Eva. Now, in this setting, and particularly in front of Mr. Parker, Eva felt compelled to call her Miss Lambe. In truth, she was entirely unsure of what they might wish to talk with her about, and it had her somewhat on edge.
"Eva," Georgiana said kindly, aware that she was making the older woman uncomfortable. "I have some questions to ask, and I am hoping that you might have the answers."
Simply nodding, Eva stayed silent and waited.
Georgiana thought for a moment how to begin. "As I have mentioned to you, I am searching for my mother. I had believed that she died in childbirth when she gave me life, but I have learned that is not true. Someone has come forward and told me that my answers to the true story lie not in Antigua, but here in Sanditon, with Mr. Colbourne."
Georgiana could see Mrs. Wheatley's breath come slightly faster, although her eyes did not change, nor did she speak.
Reaching into her pocket, Georgiana pulled out the shell necklace that had come with Sidney's trunk. She gently opened Mrs. Wheatley's hand and placed the necklace into it. "This was my mother's. According to Mr. Sidney Parker, she left it for me to remember her by."
For a moment, Georgiana saw recognition suffuse Eva's eyes, and then a split-second of strong emotion, before she collected herself into her usual neutral aspect.
"You have seen this?" Georgiana asked quickly, leaning down to peer into Eva's eyes.
"I cannot say," said Mrs. Wheatley, softly.
Arthur had been rapt with attention through the entire interchange. Now he leaned forward and tilted his head. "You cannot say, or you will not say?"
"I cannot…"
Of course she knew the answer, but she spoke truthfully. Until Alexander returned to Heyrick Park and she could talk with him, she could not say anything.
"The Master will return this evening, and I will explain your request to him, Miss Lambe," she said. "I am sure he will send word if he has any information to give you."
The four occupants of the carriage traveling back to Sanditon were the same, but also entirely changed from the four who had ventured forth just two days ago to Willingden. For in that time, friendships had been formed, stories exchanged, laughter shared, and promises made to all join together again after a month had passed, although to some that seemed forever away.
For a time after they settled into the carriage and Alexander rapped on the ceiling to begin the trip home, there was only the sound of the creaks of the joints and the clatter of the wheels on the pebbles of the road as each sat with their thoughts. Occasionally a smile would widen or a soundless chuckle would emerge as a particular event or conversation rose to the front of their memories, but there was no need to speak it aloud as each of the four had a head full of those moments. There would be time to talk of all that had transpired, but for now, after the inevitable cacophony of so many people saying heartfelt goodbyes in the relatively small confines of the Heywood house, the silence of the carriage was welcome and felt somewhat necessary.
One of the very stark differences on the journey home was that Charlotte's hand rested above the travel blanket, firmly held in Alexander's. Periodically, one's fingers would caress the other's, showing love when even they were unaware they were doing it. And, of course, Abigail Colbourne's teal tourmaline ring was clearly visible on Charlotte's finger.
Leonora's eyes were particularly drawn to their hands and to the ring. Every time she glanced away out of the window, her gaze would gravitate back, and each time it did, she would take in a breath as if each time was a new surprise. What never seemed to change was the smile that was fixed on her lips and in her eyes, her happiness full to overflowing.
In addition, the conversation at the end of their first picnic so long ago seemed especially amusing – when Alexander had joked that Augusta was incapable of smiling – because Augusta was presently looking out of the window of the carriage with what seemed a permanent aspect of contentment, her eyes dancing.
After gazing at their clasped hands again, Leonora suddenly spoke. "Will Augusta and I be in the wedding?"
Alexander smiled at her. "Would you like to be?"
Leonora nodded and looked at Augusta next to her. "Very much. I should think as flower girls would be suitable." She raised her eyebrows and smiled slyly at her father with a gleam in her eye. "I don't suppose I can wear my britches."
As Alexander tilted his head at her with a mock-serious look, Charlotte laughed and said, "You remember what my mother told me?"
Leo recited it perfectly. "A woman should dress appropriately for whatever activity she is engaged upon."
Now Alexander had a full smile on his face. "And what would you think that would be for flower girls at a wedding?"
Leonora sighed, resigned. "I suppose it would be a dress," she turned to Augusta who smiled and nodded, "So we shall wear our prettiest ones." Leo turned back to Charlotte. "And what will you wear, Miss Heywood?"
Charlotte looked at Alexander, her eyes soft. "I want a white dress with tiny cornflowers. And a bouquet of cornflowers."
"You shall have whatever you want, my love," Alexander said softly, holding tightly to her hand and so glad to finally be able to show his affection in front of the girls.
Charlotte turned to Leonora and whispered, "And I should like your father to wear a jacket the color of cornflowers, but I am not certain he will comply."
Alexander laughed and said to Leonora, "Miss Heywood does not realize that your father is so besotted that he will comply with almost anything she asks of him. Pray do not tell her."
Her smile widening, Leo nodded vigorously. Then, after a moment, she became serious. "I think the cornflowers worked."
Alexander raised his eyebrows in a question. "In what way, Leo?"
Leo spoke slowly and deliberately, working it through. "You said that they could heal the centaur from the poisoned arrows." She looked into her father's eyes pensively. "You look a bit like a centaur when you are on Hannibal, Father. And you seemed unhappy until you gave Miss Heywood the cornflowers I picked. I know that my knee had a wound on it from when I fell, and it hurt. But then when it healed, I was happier." She paused and a thoughtful frown creased her forehead. "You are happier. Does that not mean that you are healed?"
For a moment Alexander and Charlotte were silent, in awe of how much Leonora's mind could grasp, and how well she expressed it in words.
"You are a very smart girl, Leonora," Alexander said quietly. "And I believe you are right that the cornflowers worked." He raised Charlotte's hand and placed it to his lips for a moment while he gazed into her eyes. "I am very glad that we put them to the test."
Charlotte took a deep breath and gazed at him. "As am I," she said softly. After a moment, she turned to Leonora and said, "I still have them, Leo. They are pressed in a book that I have kept very safe, because they were so important."
Leo's eyes went wide. "May I see them?"
"Yes, I will bring them over to your house the next time I visit," Charlotte said.
"And soon it will be your house, too," Leo said, matter-of-factly.
A light blush came into Charlotte's cheeks, making Augusta laugh softly and look quickly back through the window.
"Yes, it will," Charlotte said, looking at Alexander. "After we are married, I will come and live with all of you."
"And then I may call you Mother?" Leo asked, her eyes bright.
Charlotte felt tears start quickly and she blinked them back. Smiling, she looked across at Leonora, and Alexander felt the pressure on his hand increase. "If you would like to, I would like that very much, Leo."
"I would," Leonora said firmly, and with that, it was settled. She gazed back out of the window with her ever-present smile affixed, and everyone in the carriage went silent, overwhelmed with the knowledge that important things can be so very simple when there is great love present.