Thanks again for the reviews, and hopefully you were all able to find the chapter after the technical difficulties for the last posting. Sometimes there seems to be gremlins on this site!

This chapter is kind of slowish, I guess...will try to move things along more next time!

Chapter Twenty
Finding Henry

Within a few minutes, Derek was dressed and helping Meredith into her gown. "And who exactly is Henry?" he inquired, doing up the buttons along the back of the dark green satin. "We haven't acquired an extra child since we returned home, have we?"

Meredith laughed softly again, as she twisted her hair up loosely. "Not yet. Henry is the latest creature rescued by the girls."

"Creature? Not a kitten or a bunny, I take it."

"No, my dear...this time it's a ferret." Meredith quickly joined him where he waited by the door, his arms folded over his chest. She lifted up on her toes to kiss him quickly. "And we apparently need to go and find him, before he gives the staff heart palpitations."

Out in the corridor, they found two of the younger footmen on their hands and knees, searching beneath various rugs and tables. Rose and Meggie were conferring with each other, keeping a cautious eye on the floor around them.

"Lady Meredith..." Rose spoke up first. "I am sorry you were disturbed..."

"It's fine, Rose. What happened?"

"The girls had Henry in the playroom, and well...he had been sleeping, from what I understand. They left him alone for a few minutes..."

"...and he escaped..." Derek finished dryly.

"Yes, my lord," Rose sighed. "As soon as they realized he escaped, it was quite the predicament, I must say!"

"I happened to see the rascal scamper down the hallway..." Meggie spoke up, "and the girls gave chase, which only made things worse."

"Hence all the shouting," Meredith observed. Hannah and Ella came running up the hallway, with Shadow at their heels. He was barking, caught up in the excitement, but he prompty sat down at Meredith's feet, giving her an adoring look. "And you, Shadow...can't you find him either?" In response, he tilted his head, and whined softly, as if apologizing for not bringing the ferret to her.

The footmen stood, giving up the quest, and Derek directed them to continue their search down the stairs and elsewhere in the main floor. "He won't hurt anyone, he's just a small creature after all."

"Begging your pardon, my lady, but I do not wish to find him popping up in my bed," Rose said, with a little bob of her head.

"I understand, Rose." Meredith exchanged a sympathetic smile with the little maid. "I am sure that would upset me as well."

"Well, it would seem that Henry has found a good hiding place," Derek pointed out. "I believe that dinner will be ready soon, and we can worry about this later."

"Of course, Your Grace," Rose nodded. Meggie dropped a curtsey, and directed the girls to their meal. "Michael is still resting, but he felt cooler. I believe he will be fine."

"Excellent news. We will be up to check on him after dinner," Meredith smiled. Derek took her hand and tucked it into the crook of his arm.

"Life is never boring at home," he commented as they made their way down to the dining room.

"Are you still sure you prefer this to court?" Meredith teased him.

"Quite sure, my love," he assured her, as Winston met them at the bottom of the stairs. He bowed and held open the door to the dining room, his impassive expression not giving away any indication he was aware of the previous mayhem. Meredith wondered briefly what he would do if Henry appeared in front of him, and bit back a smile at the idea. It was good to be home, no matter what happened.

After dinner, which proved to be without incident, Derek escorted Meredith into the great room. He was ready for a brandy, and they settled into the chairs in front of the fireplace. If Henry was around, he was hiding himself admirably, she mused. Winston had reported to them during the meal that the footmen had no luck in finding the ferret, and again Meredith had marvelled at the complete lack of amusement in his expression at imparting this news.

"Where do you suppose Henry has gotten himself to?" she asked, glancing around the room. The portrait over the fireplace of Derek alone had been replaced with one of Meredith and the children, painted the previous summer.

"I am quite sure we will hear about it when he makes his appearance," Derek grinned. "Ferrets can be very acquisitive, you know. He could very well be searching for items to hoard, and building a nest of his own liking to keep them in."

"Oh my goodness...perhaps I should not have let the girls keep him." She looked at him in concern, as he swirled the fragrant liquid in the snifter.

"He will turn up somewhere, love. Let's not worry about it." He reached over to clasp her hand in his. "And we have our children that need our concern, at any rate."

"You are right, of course. I just hate to think of the poor little thing lost and scared," she told him.

"It is no wonder our daughters bring in all manner of injured animals, Meredith. They have inherited your gentle heart."

"And what will you do if we have another girl?" she asked, giving him a sweet smile.

"It will be a wonderful thing. There is a trait of females in the Shepherd family, after all." Besides Kate, he had three other sisters, Elizabeth, Sarah and Anne, who all had growing families of their own.

"Very true. Speaking of that, we need to send out invitations to all of your sisters for Christmas. If we are planning a celebration, we should include all of the family."

Derek nodded. "Very well, but do not be upset if everyone does not make it. Winter makes for difficult travelling."

"I know. However, feelings can be hurt if we do not ask them all," she reminded him. "Along with our parents...and oh, Izzie and Marcus..." Her thoughts were suddenly spinning with all of the details, and what kind of festive wreaths and decorations would be needed. "Oh, and of course, Dr. Wilding and the village gentry..."

Derek saluted her with the snifter. "I leave it all in your capable hands, my love."

Meredith smiled at him. "Rather like our wedding, then?"

"Between you and Rose, there is nothing you can't handle."

There was a discreet knock, and then the doors to the room opened, and Winston appeared. "Pardon me for disturbing you, Your Grace," he said, "however there is something you should see."

Derek stood up, and held his hand out to Meredith. "I have a feeling I know what this is." They headed out into the front hall, where one of the footmen was waiting for them.

"Dominic has found the escaped creature," Winston advised, indicating the footman. "Under the stairs in the servants wing..." His tone was impassive, but Meredith was sure she detected a faint look of amusement in his eyes this time.

Dominic nodded, and held out the ferret. "Your Grace..."

Meredith couldn't help but smile herself, exchanging a look with Derek. "This is quite an unusual situation."

"Indeed." Derek accepted the little animal, who blinked up at him with interest. "Thank you, Dominic. I appreciate the assistance in this matter. Did you find any items with him?"

"Yes, my lord. A pair of spectacles, some yarn and a hatpin...I left them in the kitchen."

"Very good. If anyone is looking for them, I will know where to direct them."

"We should return Henry to the playroom," Meredith murmured.

"And lock the doors," Derek added. "However, if he is feeling well enough to escape, perhaps he should be returned to the stable."

They ascended the stairs, towards the children's rooms. Meredith reached over to pat Henry's head. "One more day or so...the girls will enjoy taking care of him, so long as they keep a leash on him."

"Agreed. A leash would be wise."

In the morning, Meredith checked on the girls first, and found them curled up together as usual. And the box with Henry was at the foot of the bed, with the little ferret curled into a furry ball. She shook her head; obviously they had brought him into their room at some point, but she wasn't about to make a fuss over it.

Then she looked in on Michael, and was happy to see that he was awake, and sitting up in bed. "Well, good morning," she greeted him. "How do you feel?" She touched his forehead, and his skin was not feverish thankfully.

"Better, I think, Mama..." His eyes were brighter as well, but he still sniffled a little. "Is it time for breakfast? I'm starving..."

Meredith hugged him, kissing the top of his head. "We can find you something to eat, I'm sure. Some toast and porridge, would you like that?"

Michael frowned a little. "No porridge, Mama...maybe some eggs?"

"All right, coddled eggs then...on toast points, with hot chocolate?"

He nodded happily. "And may I go riding then?"

"Oh no, my dear. That will have to wait for a few days. Your pony will need to be patient awhile longer." She ruffled his hair. "I'm glad you feel better...the girls have a new pet to show you as well. I'm sure they will be in to see you when they wake up."

"What is it?"

"A ferret, they called him Henry. He's already proved to be an escape artist, though." Meredith stood and rang for the maid to come and bring breakfast. She opened the curtains, and saw that the weather had turned sunny. A good day to take Mistral for a short ride, she mused.

"Was he in trouble, then?" Michael looked concerned.

"We found him, or rather, Dominic found him, along with a few things that Henry had hidden. Your father believes that Henry should be returned to the stables soon, however."

"I hope I get to see him first..."

"We'll make sure to keep him for awhile yet," Meredith assured him. "Now, breakfast will be here soon and then you should try to sleep again. The doctor said you needed to rest to get better."

"I feel better," he protested with a stubborn tilt of his head that reminded her of Derek.

"Not enough, my dear. You can stay in bed today, and then tomorrow we will see how you feel, all right?" She kissed his forehead, and he nodded.

Michael nodded, but he stifled a small yawn, and admitted to himself that perhaps that sounded like a good way to spend the day.

There was a soft knock at the door, and then Rose appeared. "You will be wanting breakfast, my lady?"

"Yes, please, Rose. Coddled eggs on toast, with hot chocolate, if you please."

"And for you?"

"Just some tea. I will join Derek for breakfast in the dining room."

"Very good, ma'am. And if I may say so, it is wonderful to see Michael looking so much better. Now you all be able to enjoy being home again!" She dropped a quick curtsey. "Be right back with breakfast!"

"Mama...will we be staying here now?"

"For quite some time, and for Christmas we will have a big party, with some of your cousins here to visit."

His smile grew again at that prospect. The door opened again, and this time it was Derek, with Shadow tagging after him. "I thought you would like to have Shadow for company today. The girls have Henry, so he can sleep with you." Shadow jumped up on the bed and snuggled in against Michael happily. By the time Rose appeared with the breakfast tray, Michael was almost ready to sleep again but he managed to eat some eggs and toast, with some swallows of hot chocolate. Meredith tucked him in again, kissing his cheek, as his eyes were already sweeping shut.

"Sleep well," she murmured, exchanging a smile with Derek as they moved towards the door.

"I didn't mention that we might go riding today," she told him, once they were in the corridor. "He wants to see his pony so badly."

"Soon enough. And we can have a nice quiet ride today, no antics," he warned her, thinking of her condition.

"Derek..." she chided him. "I am able to ride quite well, no matter what..."

"Indulge me, love." He kissed her temple. "You can race me another time."

"Oh, I will hold you hold you to that," she laughed.