“What?” She asked with a small frown.
“I think Emma wants to go inside,” he said with a very insincere smile.
A few days later, they were at breakfast, saying goodbye to everyone in Ashbury.
“I wish I could go with you to see Amelia,” Sophie said sadly. “Please make sure to relay the visit to me in as much detail as you can. She has fallen out of the habit of writing regularly ever since her marriage!”
Elizabeth thought that all of Amelia’s free time was most likely spent writing heartbreaking scenes for her heroines, but she said nothing of the sort.
“I will. You know how much of an adjustment marriage is in the beginning.”
All of those present nodded in acknowledgement.
“Speaking of letters,” Isabella said gleefully, “I just had a letter from cousin Theodosia.”
She turned to Lizzie and told her, “You’ve met her and her brother at Almack’s once, remember?”
“I do,” Lizzie nodded, “Miss Pilkington.”
“Yes! Well, cousin Theodosia had the most wonderful news to share, allow me to read that part to you,” she said as Frederick pulled out the letter from his waistcoat and handed it to her.
She cleared her throat dramatically.
Dearest Bella,
I am overjoyed to inform you that Brother has finalised negotiating his marriage settlement with his future bride, Lady Helena Grey. Her father is an earl and the family is from London, they mentioned being acquainted with you and yours.
I’m certain the move to Sussex will be an adjustment for her, but we all shall do our best to facilitate it for her as much as possible.
You know, more than anyone how much I’ve always dreamed of having a sister, etc etc.
Isabella finished reading abruptly and looked around the table to see everyone’s reactions.
“Poor Miss Pilkington,” Talbot said dryly. “Her dream is about to turn into a nightmare. What is the brother like?”
Lizzie remembered Mister Pilkington’s rancid breath and said, “The couple’s insides are perfectly matched.”
“Please come join us in Norwich as soon as you’re well enough to travel,” Colin told Sophie before they got into the carriage, and she thanked him for the invitation.
The two were almost cordial now, and since Colin and Nicholas had also renewed their friendship, the Talbots’ stay at Ashbury had been more than pleasant. Elizabeth thought back to how envious she had been of Sinclair’s close relationship with her brother and of the married life she had imagined Charlotte would be having, and realised that one truly could never know the future.
Wexcombe was but twenty miles from Ashbury, so the Talbots’ journey wasn’t too taxing or too long, which Elizabeth was more than grateful for, given her womanly troubles. When the carriage stopped in front of Amelia’s new home, Elizabeth took a deep breath, hoping that her friend had completely overcome her negative feelings towards her.
“Are you ready?” Talbot asked, watching her face for any discomfort.
“Yes and no,” Elizabeth replied with a smile, and he opened the door.
Amelia’s hug dispelled any lingering doubts she’d had.Our friendship will survive,she told herself as she exhaled.
“Hello, Your Graces,” Harding told them, standing taller here in his domain. “Welcome to our home.”
“Thank you for the invitation, Corporal,” Talbot said. “I’m looking forward to spending some time in this beautiful part of our country. The horses here are extraordinary.”
“I can show you to my stables if you’d like?”
Talbot enthusiastically accepted and, after excusing themselves, the two men walked off. Elizabeth wanted to laugh at the bizarre sight of her husband and her former fiancé becoming friends.
“How was the drive?” Amelia asked.
