Elizabeth went about her day as normally as she would any other. She went into town to check for any letters, there were three. One for her father, one for her from Georgiana, and one for her mother.

She put them in her reticule as she went about the normal errands of the day. She then headed home to deliver the letters.

She went to her father's bookroom and found him staring out the window as he usually did, his mind far away from home.

"Papa, a letter." she said as he jumped in surprise.

"Thank you, Lizzie." His voice raspy and unclear, his hands trembling slightly as he reached for it.

She sat in her usual chair, across from William's dusty one. Her father handed her the pen-knife and they read their letters together, gasped in despair together.

Elizabeth,

The War Office delivered the letter and I couldn't believe it myself. We still have hope. He is still alive until confirmed. Missing in Action, he will find his way back to us. We cannot visit you at the moment, Aunt is sick in bed. She will be fine, just the shock I suppose. I apologize for the length, but I find I just cannot believe it. He will be fine.

Please visit as soon as you can,

Then her father's letter...

Henry,

William is not dead, that much is true. We would feel it, if he were, we are holding out hope that he is found soon. The War Office informed us yesterday that he was announced Missing in Action after a bombing. We couldn't ride over, Maria has been ill. Henry, I know how much you love our boy, how much he loves you. We are praying he is well.

I am sorry I cannot write more, I find my hands are shaking from the shock or the grief I know not which emotion I should be feeling. Our boy will be found.

Please visit soon,

-Robert Fitzwilliam

That day, both father and daughter hugged each other close. Hearts filled in half agony, half hope.

Father thinking of the small boy he helped raise, a boy he thought of as his own son. His boy, lost somewhere, probably hungry and cold. He could feel the pain in his body engulfing him and his legs crumpling to the ground. His daughter, placing him into his chair. He glanced at the place where William had sat. He saw the small boy that stuttered over his words and looked at him with dimpled cheeks and bright eyes. He saw that same boy lying somewhere, lost and cold. He couldn't do anything for his boy, he felt useless.

Daughter thinking of her love, the man who loved her and made her feel so beautiful. He was only missing, he wasn't- he was alive, just missing. She, too, looked over at his place and remembered her playmate, her best friend, the person she teased just to see his blush. She remembered how her heart raced when she saw him on his return from University. How he had changed, how his simple presence made her blood race and her palms sweat. She remembered their goodbye and all their letters. She couldn't do anything for her love, she felt helpless.

Sorry for the late update. Four more chapters to go.