Hello again! Yeah, I know, it's been six weeks since I updated. As I said, I had gone to Europe for a two-week tour. It took me some time to settle down after I was back, and then I started writing a blog about my experiences there. I am still writing it, actually.

Thank you so much for reviewing the last chapter and sending me your good wishes. I read them on my phone, so I could not reply (because I am hopeless that way). But please know that they were much appreciated.

I had imagined this would be the last chapter, but it seems there is at least one more!

Disclaimer: Same as usual.

Chapter-6

An Unexpected Arrival

Spring began on a joyful note. Ben, Angela's sweetheart, arrived with the news that the Newton family had found another coachman, so he had been free to leave. He was glad to see Bella looking well when he came to pay his respects to her, and to see for himself how much care she received from Edward as well as Shelley Cope. Angela had of course sang Edward's praises to him earlier, but after working for the Newtons for years, Ben had become rather distrustful as to the motives of 'rich people'.

"They are so selfish," he had retorted on being chided softly by his soft-hearted girl. "Didst thou ever see them do anything for the good of others? Master Michael was an all right gentleman, but his father does not care for anybody except himself, and Master James is almost cruel. He thinks the poor are not worth the mud on his boots. Several times I have seen him raise his hand on servants and his whip on horses. Didst not thou witness him beating me one time, just because I dared to suggest the black horse needed rest before he rode it into town again?"

Angela nodded slowly. She had indeed been aware of James' nature. At least Mistress Newton had cared enough to prevent him from hitting any servant girls in her household. "Thou say the truth, Ben. However, Master Edward is most unlike James. Why, he was ready to risk his life to save my mistress, before he even knew who she was. He is a true physician, trying to help each and every ill person whether or not they can pay him in coin. Sometimes they just send milk or eggs to the kitchen, and he does not mind."

Ben was indeed satisfied after observing the Masen household for a few days. Mistress Cope was particular as to the cleanliness in the house and the food that was made in her kitchen, but she never scolded anyone. She just let them know what she expected. As for Bella and Edward, they were lost in a world of their own, emerging only to fulfil their duties. A body might have yelled to warn of fire or flood and Edward wouldn't have heard if he was looking at Bella. He was that taken with her.

Ben had started working in the vegetable garden as soon as he had the chance. Before that he had to go with Edward to a nearby town and buy a horse—a placid, sturdy animal that could be trusted not to jostle the occupants of the carriage he would be pulling. Edward planned to buy another, faster one for himself later on, so he could visit his patients in other villages if they were too ill to come to him. Tyler helped Ben with cleaning up the carriage and fixing it as required. As the weather became somewhat less cold, Bella and Angela begun to take a ride in the carriage during the afternoon. Sometimes Edward would join them, if he had the time.

Tyler and Ben got along well. Both of them were honest, hard-working folk who liked their life simple. When Ben came to know about Tyler's wedding plans, he suggested they make it a double and save on the costs. Tyler agreed readily. Once Mary and Angela said 'yes', Shelley Cope, Edward and Bella were informed.

Edward had visited Uncle Eric meanwhile, asking him to name the exact sum he owed to him on behalf of his father. However, Eric Swan had astounded him by refusing to accept any money from him, saying it wasn't morally right.

"Are you saying that you…cheated while playing with my father?" Edward asked hesitantly.

Eric shook his head. "No, no, that is not what I meant. But your father was a poor player, and I still encouraged him and made him lose money. So I did take advantage of him. Even though I won fair and square, it was wrong of me to let him play. I knew he was grieving for his wife…I should not have…I cannot take that money. I have sinned enough against you."

When Edward continued to look doubtful, Eric tried again.

"Listen Edward, I have no need for that money. This estate my brother has left has enough income that my wife and I will be comfortable in our old age. Jane will soon be married, and Alec says he will go into trade. I know I was a greedy fool earlier, but I have changed for the better. Family is more important than money—I understand that now. To be honest, if I had kept my word and married Bella to you as I had promised, I should have provided her a dowry as well. Think of this money as that dowry, and absolve me from my sins. I beg of you. I want my wife and my children to look up to me as a good man, not a perfidious one."

He looked and sounded so sincere that Edward forgave him there and then. Even the worst villain had the right to start over if he repented truly, he thought. If Eric Swan gained peace of mind by forgoing his father's debt, who was Edward to refuse him? After all, he had sinned too, whatever his object might have been. Had not his darling Bella forgiven him from her heart?

Bella agreed with him. "Most people are not really bad, Edward," she said, looking at him earnestly. "Most are only misguided, either by fear or greed. Thou did well to forgive him."

They decided to spend the money on the many repairs needed in the house, and hire more hands to work on the land. Tyler could do with more help, certainly. All these years he had been managing fairly well, but Shelley Cope had more than once brought up the many plans he had to farm more of the land the estate had. Now that they had the means, those plans could be brought to fruition.

Bella's aunt and cousins arrived in the second week of March. They had a joyful reunion, accompanied by many tears. Aunt Lauren apologized to Bella for having pushed her into marriage while she was still grieving for Edward, explaining that she had no idea of the bond they had shared. Also, she could think of no other way for Bella to have a respectable life.

Jane and Alec were sad that Bella had to suffer so much pain, but glad that she had finally found her love. Lauren and Jane declared that she should have a big wedding, but neither Bella nor Edward were in favour of it. Finally they agreed to keep it simple, as long as Bella agreed to a new wedding dress. It was not unusual in those days to use a wedding gown for a second wedding, to cut the costs.

The day before Tyler and Mary, and Angela and Ben were to be married, Lauren and Jane had come to visit Bella. Lauren, who had a keen interest in designing clothes, wished to show her a few sketches she had made. Once Bella approved one of them, they could place an order with the seamstress in the nearest town.

It was a mild day, compared to the week that had passed, so Bella had come out to see them off. Their carriage was waiting some way off, with the driver chatting happily with Ben, who had come to ask if Bella wished to go for her afternoon ride a little earlier. Both Tyler and Ben were going to the market after that, for they wanted to buy gifts for their brides. Angela was in the kitchen, helping the housekeeper and Mary to prepare the wedding feast. It would not be anything too grand, but still it was going to take some work on their part to feed the guests.

Just as Bella was assuring her aunt that she would let her know which design she preferred within the week, their attention was attracted by the thundering sound of hooves. Looking up, they could see a large black horse galloping towards them.

"Were you expecting a guest, dear?" asked Lauren as Bella squinted to make out who was the rider. The horse raised so much dust that it was impossible to identify him.

"No Aunt, Edward did not mention any guest. Perhaps somebody is very ill and this man has come to fetch—oh no! No!"

The rider had thundered past the astonished coachmen and was almost upon the little group standing in front of the house. As he stopped suddenly, the dust settled and they could see the man's face.

James Newton. And he looked furious.

End Note: So, why is James here? Any guesses?

The next chapter will definitely be the last one, so if you have any questions, this is the time to ask!