The barking of the dogs had brought the footman from the house, and he scurried back inside to announce the arrival of Lady Elizabeth. By the time Aldrick reined the horses to a stop at the door, a small crowd had gathered in the courtyard. Baron Leigh strode across to the carriage to catch Elizabeth as she leapt from the step into his outstretched arms.
The baron and his first-born remained in a tight embrace while Aldrick climbed down to open the door, lower the step and assist Judith down. Wilson followed, then the three stood back and watched as more people assembled. A woman stepped forward and approached Wilson, introducing herself as Elizabeth's mother, Anne. "Pay no mind to them. They often forget propriety." She shrugged. "Welcome to the family."
Aldrick smiled at the misunderstanding, then with a bow and a sweep of his arm, he said, "Thank you, Your Ladyship. May I present Wilson, my coachman? And this is Mistress Hodgins, Elizabeth's lady's maid. We are delighted to meet you."
Anne laughed aloud as she assessed the two men. "I should have guessed. Elizabeth had written that you are much taller than is she. And that you wear a beard." She offered her hand.
By this time, five more people had approached, Wilson and Judith had withdrawn, and Elizabeth brought her father into the small gathering. Edward shook hands with Aldrick; then he introduced his children who had arranged themselves in descending age. "My heir, Thomas, his brothers, William, Henry and George, and our youngest, Mary."
Aldrick shook hands with the young men; then he took Mary's to his lips.
"We had not expected you until the end of the afternoon. Did the storm not reach the Gap?"
"We continued to Rugby yesterday, Papa." Elizabeth motioned toward the house and smiled. "Shall we go in? There is more privacy for my need there than I might find here in the courtyard."
Anne laughed. "You will never change, will you? Always so forward. Come. We will sit and sip tea while we await dinner, and you can share tales of your new adventures."
Elizabeth returned the greetings of the assembled house staff as she walked toward the door, then she stopped to examine the plaque mounted above it. "A new one?"
"By looks, but no. Mary had the maids clean it, then she repainted to make it fresh for everyone as they arrive. It had become rather faded over the years."
Elizabeth ruffled Mary's hair and led her through the door ahead of the others. "A splendid job. You must show me what new you have painted."
"And you must tell me what it is like to be with a man you love."
She put a finger to her lips. "Hush, little miss, else others will hear."
Mary blushed then looked over her shoulder. "They are still out the door and cannot hear us."
"There is too much for now. Far more than I dared write in my letters lest they be seen. We shall talk later when you show me your new art."
A few minutes later, after having relieved and refreshed themselves from their travel, Elizabeth and Aldrick joined the others in the drawing room. Partway through Anne's recitation of a long list of guests who had accepted, Elizabeth interrupted, "Mother! I had told you we wished only a small, intimate gathering."
"But, you know we cannot invite some without others. If we expect Marquis Powis and the Countess to attend, we must also invite the Duke and Duchess of Bedford." She shrugged. "And so it goes down the list."
Elizabeth heaved a heavy sigh. "So, how many have you invited?"
Anne tilted her head side-to-side. "With the irregularity of the mail, I am still awaiting replies from a few. You did not give us long notice."
"Seven weeks. How many, Mother?"
"I have instructed the cook to prepare for sixty."
"Sixty? Mother!"
"Including us." She blushed. "And Bishop Smalbroke who will perform the ceremony."
"And where have you thought to do this?"
"In the west wing salon. I have had all the furniture removed, and —"
"On what will they sit? Will the salon hold that many?"
"With all the other furniture removed, we can arrange it like a chapel. We have the twenty-eight dining chairs, and there are two chairs from each of the guest bedrooms, so well over sixty. "
"And to eat?"
"Do you recall how impressed we were at the ball in Burlington House the end of your final season? The food ranged on the great table down the centre of the room, and the guests serving themselves while standing."
Elizabeth nodded. "Our dining table is easily large enough for that."
"This was my thought, and after the ceremony, we can have chairs brought in from the salon for those who need to sit."
Aldrick had sat quietly watching the interaction, enjoying the obvious love and respect between the two women. He was startled out of his observation and introspection by a tap on his arm, and he looked up to see Edward standing beside him, motioning to the door.
He rose and followed, and once through the doorway, the baron said, "We will leave the two of them with the arrangements. Walk with me, and we will talk." He was quiet for a short while, then he asked, "Do you still believe you can handle her?"
"Even more than when last we talked. I allow her to be herself, and she returns it in kind. We share a similar spirit and a similar passion for life."
"Does her eccentric behaviour frighten you?"
"It intrigues me, as I think mine does her."
"And I assume you have had union."
"From the beginning. And I attest she had been a maiden."
"And since Mistress Hodgins?"
"She has ensured our behaviour has not been seen by others."
"You are a frank and honest man. But I knew that when first we met. Elizabeth would not have chosen otherwise."
"Thank you, My Lord." They turned a corner and continued down a long hallway. "You have raised a superb daughter, one who can be held as an example for all women."
"Unfortunately, most men do not think this way. In the past, many such women were labelled as witches, and now, increasingly as hysterical."
"If she were a man, she would be highly respected for her strength of character, her intelligence, her adventurous nature, her spirit."
"Indeed." The baron nodded in thought. "Elizabeth is my first-born, and she is far more suited to succeed me than is my lawful heir." He opened a door and ushered Aldrick into the salon.
"Two days hence, in this room, I give part of my being to you. Respect her as you respect yourself."
"I shall always."
They stared at each other in silence, then embraced.