As they crested the hill, Constance brought her horse to a stop and stared gaping at what lay ahead. The house was the largest she had ever seen. “It is beautiful,” she gasped.
“Welcome to Sweetspire Estates.”
Thrice the size of Lankster Manor, it had pink stained stone walls and more chimneys than she could count. The middle portion of the house had three stories, at least according to the number of windows that looked over the drive, and at either side sat a wing of equal height connected with a single-story section.
Constance sighed.
“What is wrong?” Louisa asked.
“When we left Lankster Manor, I feared for what our future would hold. I was unsure if we would find a new home. Now, we will have a place to live and friends willing to share their home with us. I could not be more pleased.”
Louisa nodded. “You do have a home now, and one day it will be filled with love and laughter. My dream is to have many others join us, where they can learn and where they can be loved.”
“Do you believe you will marry again?” Constance was unsure why she had asked such a question. “I’m sorry. It is no business of mine.”
“No, it’s fine. I’m not certain. I have had men in the past eager for my company, but there is always so much to do. Do you think me too old? Few will marry a widow, unless they are hoping to take my money, and I would hate that I may attract only men who are old and gray.”
Constance laughed. “You are not too old to remarry,” she replied. “In fact, you are quite beautiful. I’m sure many men would fight over you if they were given the chance.”
“That would be pleasant to see,” Louisa said. “Perhaps we shall find your sisters suitable men first and then I can find one for myself.”
Constance gave a firm nod. “Yes, that is a wonderful idea.”
As they continued to the trek across the field toward Sweetspire Estates, Constance felt the bond between them grow. The fact they would be living together would make that bond grow even stronger, and Constance found she looked forward to that happening.
***
Though the sun shone down upon him, Stephen did not feel its warmth. Those who rode with him were happy as they made their way toward Sweetspire Estates, and though he was pleased for Constance and her sisters, a gnawing in his heart refused to leave him.
“You look a man who learned his horse died,” Robert said, breaking Stephen from his thoughts. “What troubles you?”
Stephen slowed his horse to allow the others to ride ahead a distance. Constance spoke with Sally as they passed, and she looked back and smiled. And what a beautiful smile it was.
“The truth?” he asked, and Robert nodded. “I have grown fond of Constance. We have discussed our relationship and have come to the conclusion that it be best we do not pursue anything beyond friendship. My obligation is to those at the camp and finding my mother’s killer, but we did consider pursuing more once that happens.”
“If that’s so, what’s the problem?” Robert asked. “If she’s willing to wait for you, then everything should be fine.”
As the riders disappeared over the next rise, Stephen sighed. “I had thought the same at the time, but now I’m unsure. It was Constance’s dream to find a home for her and her sisters and then to return to society.”
Robert laughed. “I’m well aware of that, and Louisa’s home will provide this for them.”
“For her sisters, yes, but what will Constance do once they are gone? Spend her days waiting for a man to return to her? I may spend another dozen years in the woods, perhaps more. It does not make for a very fair exchange.”
Robert removed the cap of his canteen and offered it to Stephen, who waved it away. With a shrug, the man took a drink and returned the cap. “It appears you wish to be with this woman, but you believe the best thing for her is not to be with you. Am I correct in saying that?”
Stephen nodded. “Yes. You have said it far better than I have.”
Robert pushed back a strand of hair. “Mary’s grown fond of me, and I of her. But I have the same worries as you. We would be separated for long periods of time, and the risks we take? I can’t put her through that.”
“Then you are willing to let her go into the arms of another?”
Robert snorted. “It’s not what I wish, and I’ll admit the thought doesn’t sit well with me. But I have to consider what’s best for her.” He shrugged. “I believe that would be that she doesn’t wait for me.”
Stephen considered the man’s words, and though it pained him, he knew what Robert said was right. It was unfair to allow Constance to wait with the hope that he would return, for there was a chance he never would. Yet, if he told her as much, the thought of her in the arms of another man made him ill.
“What is best for Constance?” he whispered as they moved their horses forward. The question plagued him, for he believed he knew the answer. And he did not like it.
Chapter Twenty-One
A stable hand helped the men lead the horses to the stables - a young man also employed from the camp by the name of Percy - and Constance walked up the stone steps at the front of the house. At the top, she turned to gaze over the deep green lawn carefully trimmed low to the ground without a single leaf or dead patch to be seen.
The door opened, and a man bent of back and gray of hair, what hair he did have, stood gazing out at them.
“Lady Dewhirst,” he said with a bow, “you have returned at last.”
Louisa smiled. “I have, and I’ve brought friends. Mosley, I would like to introduce Miss Constance and her sisters, Mary and Emma. They will be my guests for a while.” She turned to Constance. “Mosley has been butler to Sweetspire Estates, and more importantly a friend to me, for many years. He will make your stay pleasant, so never hesitate to ask him for anything.”
Constance smiled, her heart filled with gratitude. “I will,” she replied.
The group entered the house, and Constance looked around in awe. A large red and gold rug lay on the floor of the entryway, a look of the far east in its pattern. A finely crafted dark oak table rested against the wall beside the elaborate rounded staircase, its railing also of dark heavy oak. A chandelier, unlit, hung above them, and sunlight glinted off its many crystals from a set of windows on either side of the front door.
Two men, both in livery, approached them, one short and stocky, though not fat, and the other tall and thin.
“David and Edwin,” Louisa said with a smile for the two, “are highly trusted. They take care of the estate in my absence, and we are all grateful for what they do.”
The shorter man, David by name, tapped his thigh. “I’d rather be in the woods, but my leg can no longer handle the terrain, so now I busy myself playing servant.” He said this with a smile, making Constance realize that, though the words could have been taken as complaint, he did not mean them as such.
Soon, the group engaged in small talk, and Constance listened intently to every word as they discussed others who were at Sweetspire Estates. Some, such as Louisa and Stephen, came from titled families, but others, like Sally, came from poorer backgrounds. It did not seem to matter, for they acted as if they were family regardless of their pasts.
“This is our home,” Mary whispered with awe. “I cannot believe our good fortune. Louisa is very kind to take in strangers.”
Constance nodded as she looked at the red-haired woman. Upon her arrival at the camp, Louisa had been anything but kind. However, now she treated Constance as though they were family, and for that, Constance would be forever grateful. It was a relief to see someone make such a drastic, and positive, change.
A tap on her arm made her turn and smile at a grinning Charles.
“I can show you every room in the house if you’d like,” he said.
“I appreciate your offer, but we should wait to see what your mother wishes to do. It is her house after all.”
Charles nodded, but his face was filled with disappointment.
Louisa cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention, and the room grew quiet. “Constance, Mary, and Emma will remain with us here at Sweetspire Estates for as long as they wish, and if I’m fortunate enough, they will choose to remain forever. My home is their home. If they make any request, treat it as if it came from me. I only wish them to be happy.” She turned to Constance and her sisters. “Now, ladies, allow me to show you your rooms. Stephen, please show Sally where she will be staying, as well. The rest of you, begin preparing for tonight’s dinner. If you choose not to help, you are welcome to sleep in the stables, for that is where you will be assigned to work.”
Laughter filled the room, and Constance joined them, for Louisa’s words were said in jest. Or were they? This thought only made Constance laugh all the more.
“And, Charles?” Louisa said as she turned to her son. “What will you be doing?”
“I’d like to help show the house,” he replied, pride clear on his face. “May I?”
Louisa smiled and ruffled his hair. “It appears Charles enjoys the company of his tutors. Do you mind if he joins us?”
Emma placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I do not mind. It will serve him well in his training to be a gentleman.”
“Let us begin, then,” Louisa announced. She motioned to their left. “The library and dining room are this way. To the right are the parlor, drawing room, and ballroom. I will show you each of those rooms, but I wanted to go upstairs to your bedrooms.”
Louisa led the way up the staircase, and when they reached the landing, Constance looked down below them into the entryway. The view made her a bit dizzy it was so high. The landing was decorated with large white vases with ornamental patterns of blue and red.
However, what drew her eye was a pair of portraits, one of an old man, his face in a scowl and his hair white, and the other of Louisa in a green gown, her beautiful red hair around her shoulders.
“That’s my father,” Charles explained. “I did not know him, for he died a long time ago.”
“I’m sorry,” Constance replied.
Charles shrugged. “It’s fine. I have Stephen now.” His innocence nearly broke Constance’s heart.
They continued to a hallway, which branched off to the left and the right. Taking a right, Louisa stopped at the first door. “I will allow you to choose your rooms, if you would like,” she said.
When Constance and her sisters entered, they stood gaping at the opulence of the room. The sitting room had a settee and an armchair, both covered in white brocade. On the floor lay a lush white rug. Between the sitting room and the bedroom was a wardrobe large enough to hang more dresses and gowns than any of them had ever owned. The bedroom itself was grander, its bed draped with white curtains tied to the four posters. A vanity table with three mirrors sat between two large windows. A dresser sat against another wall, and two matching nightstands flanked the head of the bed. Another lush rug lay on the floor.
“It’s beautiful!” Emma exclaimed. She walked over and placed her hand on the bed. “Truly, this is the finest bedding I have ever seen. This is my room!”
Constance pursed her lips. “Emma, do not be rude.”
Louisa laughed. “Leave her be, Constance,” the woman chastised. “Yes, you may have this room if you would like.”
“Oh, thank you!” Emma said before walking over to the window. “Constance, Mary, you must look at this view. The gardens are simply beautiful!”
Constance, red in the face with embarrassment, joined Mary and Emma at the window. Emma had not lied; the gardens were indeed beautiful and well-maintained. Stone paths snaked between hedges and flowerbeds, forming swirling patterns only seen from above. Several benches had been placed throughout, inviting its strolling visitors to rest and enjoy what it had to offer.
Mary turned to Louisa. “May Emma and I go to the gardens once you have shown us my room?”
Constance gave Mary an admonishing glare. “We have been invited for a tour. Must I remind you that there are certain rules of propriety to follow?” She could not believe her sisters had forgotten everything they had been taught. It was as if life in the camp had erased every bit of instruction they had ever received on decorum and conduct.
“Perhaps I did not make myself clear,” Louisa said. Was she angry? “This is your home. Treat it as though you are the owner and not simply a guest. If you wish to walk in the gardens, do so. If it is your desire to read in the library or have a drink in the parlor, you never need to ask. To keep asking would only offend me.”
Charles stuck out his elbows. “I would be happy to escort you ladies to the garden,” he said with a bow. “That is, if you wish it.”
Mary giggled and then covered it with a cough. “We most certainly do wish it, my fine gentleman,” she replied, snaking her arm through one of his as Emma took the other. All three left the room wearing wide grins, Charles the widest of them all.
Once they were gone, Constance turned to Louisa. “You are too kind, and…”
“If you bestow any more praise upon me, I may begin to believe I am royalty. I know you are thankful, and it truly pleases me to see all of you safe here. That is all I need. With what you have to offer, the training, the lessons, your company, you have no idea how many people you will be able to help.”
“Thank you,” Constance said as she gave the woman a hug. “It will be the last time I say it, but we are indebted to you.”
Louisa gave her a derisive sniff. “There is no debt save one. Continue to teach Charles, and I shall be the happiest woman in England.”
Constance laughed. “I believe that can be arranged.”
“Before I forget, there is something about the butler, Mosley, you should know. He is kind, but in his old age, he is quite forgetful. I’m afraid his memory is only getting worse. Do not take offense if he forgets your name or forgets to bring you something you have requested. He is a kind soul, but he is an important part of our household. Others look after him so he is able to remain in his position.”
“Does he know about the camp?” Constance asked as she followed Louisa into the hallway.
The marchioness shook her head. “He believes I travel to a sister’s house, though I have no sister. It’s not that I do not trust him with our secret, for I certainly do. However, I worry he will tell someone without realizing his mistake.”
Constance nodded. “I understand.”
Across the hall sat Mary’s room, which was a mirror to Emma’s. Then they stopped in front of the next door. “This will be your room.”
Constance was amazed. It was grander and much larger than Mary’s or Emma’s bedrooms. It, too, had a sitting room, but it had several more armchairs as well as a settee, all with blue flowers on a white background. The bedroom was twice the size of her sisters’ rooms, and it had its own balcony, a set of French doors leading out to it.
“This is too much!” Constance exclaimed. “Surely this room is meant for you?” She went straight to the doors and onto the balcony. “The views are amazing.” Not only did the room look over the gardens, where she could see Charles strolling with Mary and Emma on his arm, but she could also see across the vast lands that Louisa owned.
“Yes,” Louisa replied. “I have always loved the views.”
From below, Mary shouted to Constance and waved wildly. Constance gasped and went to admonish her, but Louisa placed a hand on her arm.
“They are happy and embarrassing no one. Do not forget that these last months have been tiring for them. They learned to live in a way they were not accustomed, and not once did I hear them voice a word of complaint. Let them be happy and at peace in this new life.”
Constance sighed. “You are right. They never complained to me, either. Their strength through all this has been great.”
“It is your strength from which they borrow,” Louisa replied. “A strength I believe many of us should possess. Come, let me show you the rest of the house, and then we shall speak to Sally before she thinks y
ou have taken on a new lady’s maid.”
Constance laughed and followed Louisa from the room. It was as though her life had return to what it had been before - no, it was better - and her happiness knew no bounds.
***
The first week at Sweetspire Estates passed quickly, and Constance and her sisters settled in better than she could have expected. Each person in the grand house went out of his or her way to help them adjust to their new home, and she could not have been more grateful.
However, she had one regret. The one man who had captured her heart had not been himself since they arrived. His gaze seemed distance and his smiles forced.
Mary and Emma had gone into town with Louisa, as had several of the staff, and Constance remained behind in hopes of speaking to Stephen. She had searched the stables and inquired of his whereabouts, but Percy had not seen him. When she returned to the house, she found Mosley snoring lightly on a chair beneath a painting of a waterfall flowing into a pool below. She tried to suppress her giggle, but before she could, the man snorted and his eyes flew open.
“Miss Constance,” he said, pushing himself up from the chair. “Forgive me. My eyes needed to rest, and I merely closed them for a moment. Please, tell me. Did I snore?”
“I’m afraid you did,” she replied. “But do not worry, it was not that loud.”
Mosley sighed. “Is there anything I can do for you before I hang my head in shame for the day?”
“As a matter of fact, I was hoping to speak to Stephen, but it seems no one has seen him. Do you know where I might find him?”
The man nodded. “I would go to the gardens and follow the path to the left. You should find him at the end of it.”
Constance had never seen the man so sure and did not ask how he would know. Thanking him, she made her way to the back of the house.
It was nearing midday as she walked down the stone steps. It had rained the night before and water droplets still clung to the blades of grass on either side of her. With the sun shining down on her, she felt as though it would guide her right to Stephen.
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