by Leah Conolly
“I do not take it for granted, it is true. At least I try not to. It is a great privilege to live in an estate like this.” He waved her forward. “I can show you around if you would like. Dinner will be ready for us as soon as we have finished the tour. I am sure you must be hungry after such a long journey today.”
He took Elizabeth all around the house, showing her the many rooms. She seemed especially interested in the art gallery, where James admired some of the work that he hadn’t taken time to look at in a very long while.
“My friend Daniel is a great artist,” he explained, as he gazed at a beautiful painting of the mountains. “He has been kind enough to paint several landscapes I have commissioned.”
“He truly has a remarkable talent,” Elizabeth commented, next to him.
He could sense Elizabeth’s complete and total awe, as they moved on to another part of the house. About halfway through the tour he said, “I do hope that you are not too overwhelmed.” He cleared his throat. “Not to say that you would be overwhelmed so easily…”
“I understand your meaning. And no, I am all right, but I am awestruck, James. Your home is beautiful.”
“It will be your home too, very soon.” He watched her reaction, wondering if he had said too much.
But she smiled and blushed a little. “Then I really must pay attention, or else I shall get lost constantly!”
James laughed heartily at her humorous remark.
Erin met them halfway through the tour. Elizabeth looked delighted to see her again, and James was happy to note that his mother seemed glad to see Elizabeth as well.
“I hope your journey was pleasant?” she asked, as they walked through the vast library.
“James is always excellent company,” Elizabeth said. “Time seems to pass quickly when we converse.”
“I must say the same for you as well,” James added, with a smile.
Once they arrived back in the foyer, James could tell that Elizabeth was tired, though her excitement hadn’t diminished one bit.
“We will save the tour of the grounds for tomorrow,” he said. “For now, let us have dinner. Will you be joining us, Mother?”
“Oscar and I ate before you arrived. We were going to wait, but you know how Oscar is when he is hungry.”
James chuckled. “Yes, I know. We will see you after dinner, then.” He kissed her cheek, before guiding Elizabeth to the dining room.
They sat in silence, as the first course was served. James couldn’t stop thinking about how Elizabeth had talked to Oscar earlier, and he felt he had to say something about it. “Elizabeth, I want to thank you for how you treated Oscar when we arrived. I apologize that he was rather blunt.”
“He is a child, James. I can tell that you are training him to be a wonderful gentleman, but you cannot berate him for speaking his mind. It is what a child does.”
James smiled. “He really does behave, most of the time.” He paused. “You seem to have a natural way of relating to children,” he commented, as he continued eating.
“In a way, I wish everyone could remain as children. Though we may grow older and wiser, we should retain that same sense of hope and eagerness. We should still speak what we think instead of being trained to act like someone we are not. I like the fact that children are honest, like Oscar.”
“I understand your sentiments. Children are so easy to speak to. I think that Oscar likes you too, for the same reasons.” He hesitated, wondering if he should say his next thought aloud. “I think we will make a very happy family.”
Elizabeth was silent, and James feared that he may have said too much too soon. Then she met his gaze and smiled warmly at him. “Yes. Yes, I think we will.”
Chapter 17
“Lady Elizabeth, will you go outside with me after breakfast?”
James and Erin both smiled at Oscar’s question and looked at Elizabeth, waiting for her answer.
Elizabeth grinned at him, having only to look beside her, since he had insisted on sitting next to her at breakfast. “There is nothing that would give me greater joy!” She glanced at James. “Your father said that he would take me around the grounds. Do you think that you would be a better guide?”
Oscar seemed to think about the question for a minute. He looked at James, then back at Elizabeth.
“Father knows the grounds better than anyone,” Oscar decided, “but I know all the best places to play.”
“Well, that is very fortunate then, because I love to play.”
Oscar’s eyes lit up. James smiled at his son. “Perhaps, if you ask very nicely, she may teach you how to climb a tree.”
Oscar gasped. “Will you, Lady Elizabeth? Everyone says I am a very fast learner!”
“That you are, Oscar,” said Erin. “I am sure you will have no trouble, as long as Elizabeth agrees.”
“Of course, I will teach you,” said Elizabeth, “but only if you can show me a good tree.”
And so it was that Oscar ate his breakfast in record time and tugged on Elizabeth’s dress, insisting that they go immediately to find a good tree to climb. When asked what the rush was, Oscar simply responded. “In case we have bad weather later!”
Elizabeth followed Oscar out of the house and marveled once again at the extensive grounds, painted golden in the morning light. There was still a trace of mist clinging to the woods. Though Elizabeth longed to go toward the dark cluster of trees, she knew it was a little too far. She feared that she might get lost not knowing the area.
“What about this one?” Oscar asked, as they came upon a single tall tree.
Elizabeth examined it for a minute, making a show of looking it over. “The lowest branches are too high,” she observed. “See?” She reached all the way up, and there was still a long span between her fingertips and the branch. “Even your father could not reach this branch. We must find a tree with branches that are a little lower to the ground.” She turned and surveyed the vast area, pointing to a small group of trees a little further away by the stream. “Perhaps we should try those? What do you think?”
“I like those trees,” said Oscar. “Let us see.” He led Elizabeth, pointing out a few flowers and birds whose names he knew. As they approached the trees, Elizabeth saw that they would be much easier to climb than the last one.
“They are perfect!” said Elizabeth. She noted that the low branches were only a few feet off the ground, which was ideal for Oscar. The boy grinned and immediately jumped onto the lowest branch, reaching up for the next one.
“Be careful!” Elizabeth laughed. “The most important thing about climbing a tree is to make sure that every step is certain. The goal is not to be hasty, but to be safe. As long as you take your time, you will not fall.”
Oscar paused and looked at her over his shoulder. “If I were to fall, would you catch me?”
“Of course, I would. I will be right here all the while. Can you reach that next branch?” Elizabeth instructed him and helped him climb until he was on a branch above her.
“I am taller than you, Lady Elizabeth!” Oscar exclaimed triumphantly, standing on the branch with his feet planted.
“Be careful, Oscar,” Elizabeth warned. “And if you like, you may call me Elizabeth since we are friends now.”
Oscar’s eyes widened. “I don’t know if Father would like that.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Your father calls me by my Christian name, as well.”
Oscar frowned in thought. “It must be all right then. May I go higher, Elizabeth?”
“Only a little.” She paused, watching as he got higher and higher. “Are you not afraid?”
“Why should I be?” he asked. “You are there to catch me.”
Elizabeth’s heart warmed at the boy’s faith in her. “Yes, you are in no danger. Perhaps though, you should stop there. Another important part of climbing a tree is knowing when the branches become too thin for you to climb on.”
Oscar reached up and tugged on the branch above him. It bent underneath
the force. Oscar nodded. “Yes, I think you are right.”
“Now would you like to come down, or shall I come up there with you?”
Oscar grinned. “Join me, Elizabeth!” He giggled. “I have never seen the house from this high before. It is so beautiful!”
Elizabeth climbed up to Oscar’s height in half the time it had taken him. He was right. The height provided a complete and perfect view of the house and the grounds. “You live in a beautiful place, Oscar,” Elizabeth said. “Do you like it better here or in London?”
Oscar hummed, making a thinking face that reminded Elizabeth of James. “I like playing outside here,” Oscar said, “but there is more to do in London. Father takes me to plays sometimes, or we go on carriage rides!”
“Has your father taught you chess?”
Oscar shook his head. “Not yet. He says I am too young to understand it.”
“He does know the game best. But,” Elizabeth whispered, like a secret, “I think that you are a very clever boy.”
“Really?” He grinned.
“Look at you. You climbed the tree perfectly! You are even better than your father was when he climbed a tree back near my home.”
“Father climbed a tree?” Oscar laughed.
“Oh, yes.” The boy’s laughter was contagious, and Elizabeth couldn’t help but join in. “He was quite frightened!”
Oscar’s laughter only increased. Elizabeth couldn’t help but take a moment to appreciate how like his father he was. She had a fleeting thought, wondering what her future children with James would look like. Would they have the same curly hair as Oscar? She hoped so. But the thought made her blush, so she looked away and gazed out over the grounds again.
Eventually, James met them and informed them that they were to have a picnic lunch on the grounds. James grinned at his son, who was practically buzzing with excitement.
“It seems you have been having great fun with Elizabeth?”
“Yes, Father! I climbed a tree and wasn’t scared! You can see into the woods from up there!”
“You will have to show me later on,” said James, “though I confess that I am not a very good tree climber. Elizabeth knows.”
Elizabeth smiled. “Yes, I do. I told Oscar that he is better than you are!”
James laughed. “Sometimes I think that my son is much cleverer than I am.”
Elizabeth loved seeing James interact with Oscar. His demeanor was so much softer, and he always smiled at him. She could tell he loved him very deeply.
Once the picnic was laid out, Erin joined them, and they all laughed and talked as they ate. Elizabeth felt refreshed and full of joy, much more at home here than she had ever been in London or, indeed, even at Deuney Keep.
After the picnic, Elizabeth wandered down to the stream that trickled through the grounds. It was a wider section, too far for her to jump across. She stooped down and watched the clear stream trickling by, reaching out to dip her fingers in the cool water. Just as she leaned over, her foot slid on the pebbles that lined the edges of the stream, and she cried out involuntarily as she fell forward. A strong arm came around her waist and quickly pulled her back from the water.
James looked down at her, still holding her close. “Are you all right?”
Elizabeth, still breathing heavily from the shock, took a moment to reply. “Yes, I am fine. Thank you.” She looked into his eyes, so close, and found herself breathless. It took several seconds for James to release her, and when he did, he laughed. Elizabeth laughed as well, despite herself.
She thought that if she had to pick one perfect day out of her whole life, it would be today.
Chapter 18
The next day, James was disheartened that they were going back to London. He could see how Elizabeth came alive away from the confines of the city. With people like his family surrounding her, she seemed to be at her very brightest. He almost considered delaying their journey by another day, certain that Elizabeth would agree to the idea, but he knew that they had to continue with their wedding planning.
Oscar was especially sad that Elizabeth was leaving, and he made her promise that she would visit him when he was back in London. Elizabeth seemed just as bereft, and she gave Oscar a long hug before James helped her up into the carriage. Oscar waved after them, and James was moved when he saw tears on the boy’s face. He couldn’t blame him. It had been a wonderful weekend for all of them, filled with love and joy.
As the carriage started away from the estate, Elizabeth sighed. “You must miss this so much when you are in London.”
“I do. It is a little more bearable, because I have Oscar and my mother with me in London most of the time.” He smiled over at her. “Once we are married, we will have to take trips here often.”
Elizabeth smiled. “I would like that.”
“Is there anywhere else you’d like to go?” James asked. “You’ve told me that you haven’t been to many places, but that you often dream of traveling.”
Elizabeth gazed out of the window and seemed to think it over. “I would like to see Paris,” she said wistfully. “My mother used to tell me stories about it. She said it was like London, but better.”
“It is a nice city,” James said. “I went there with my father twice, but I would like to visit again with you. Perhaps I can arrange for a trip after the wedding.”
Elizabeth’s expression lit up with excitement. “That would be wonderful!” She paused and shook her head. “It is incredible to think that we will be married in less than a few weeks.”
James couldn’t quite discern her tone. “How do you feel about it?”
“I am…” She seemed to struggle with words for a moment. “I am glad to be marrying you, James.” She huffed a short laugh. “With the way my father has tried to marry me off, I never thought I would be married to someone so kind.”
James’s heart warmed at her statement. “I’m glad. I know that the way I proposed was rather hasty. Sometimes I fear that you have been forced into this.”
Elizabeth placed a comforting hand on his, looking straight into his eyes. “There is no need to worry, James. I made a choice to accept your proposal, and I have never once regretted it.” She smiled. “As you said, we will make a very happy family.”
He found no trace of deception in her face. Elizabeth was truly happy with him.
* * *
Several hours later, they arrived back at Isabelle’s house. As they entered the drawing room, Isabelle stood and smiled, thrilled see them. Victoria stood as well, a tight smile on her face.
“It’s wonderful that you are back,” the countess said. “Isabelle told me that you took a trip to your estate, James?”
James sighed silently. He hadn’t planned on meeting Victoria when they arrived back in London. She had completely spoiled his joyous mood. “Yes, I wanted to show Elizabeth my estate and allow her to spend some time with my mother and Oscar.”
“The poor child,” sighed the countess, “growing up without a mother. It is so tragic. I know you look after him well, James, but a son needs a mother as he’s growing older. I know that your mother is such a comfort to you even now. I hate to think about how Oscar misses someone like that in his life.”
James had harbored the same thoughts many times. His spirit plummeted as he thought of Braith and how much Oscar had missed her when she had first passed away.
“Oscar is a perfectly wonderful boy,” Elizabeth interjected. “James is doing a fine job of raising him into a young gentleman.” She glanced at James briefly, who mustered a smile in response. “It is a shame that you never had any children, Countess, with either of your husbands.”
James was relieved that Elizabeth had driven the conversation away from him. Once again, he had her to thank her for speaking on his behalf.
The countess frowned at Elizabeth’s statement. “It was my husbands’ fault, not mine, but it matters little, since they are no longer here.”
James thought it was a rather odd response,
but he didn’t ponder it much further, as Isabelle invited them into the parlor for tea and pressed James to stay for dinner. He accepted, knowing that if he ate dinner at home, he’d be alone.
Already, James had noticed that Elizabeth seemed different to the way she had at the estate. She hardly tried to remain civil towards the countess and made sarcastic replies to her godmother. He could see how the wedding planning was weighing down on her. He remembered how she had been with Oscar, so carefree, as though that had been the real version of Elizabeth.