As Ellie let go, she looked to Darius.
Quickly, he stepped over to Maggie and set his hand on her shoulder. “You’re a good sister.”
Maggie threw her arms around his waist, and he held her close, his heart filling. He now had the family that he’d always wanted, and all because of Ellie…his wife…the woman he loved.
Chapter Fifteen
Ellie fairly floateddown the stairs, though she still held the balustrade. Darius had not only made love to her twice in the night, but he’d stayed the night in her room. Waking up in his arms had her feeling as if she could do everything perfectly.
Their St. Nicolas Day, the week before, had been better than she’d hoped. With Peter’s sprained ankle, she’d insisted that they have their breakfast together in the nursery. Seeing Darius relax, not even wearing his tailcoat or cravat and enjoying the children’s joy over their small gifts, had been so fulfilling. That he had found a carved elephant that could fit in the palm of his hand for Peter was so thoughtful. Maggie had been very excited by the small telescope Ellie had given her. While she hoped Maggie found her own interests, the young girl had been excited to see the Pleiades when the skies had finally cleared.
And today, finally, Ellie’s former classmates were due to arrive. She stepped into the entry and headed into the parlor to await the arrival of Sophie, Georgina, and Felicity. Truly, the day couldn’t be better. While she waited for her friends, she would make out the invitation list for their Twelfth Night ball. She wanted to get the invitations out very soon, since people wouldn’t be expecting them. She feared there would be very few people attending, as many made plans far in advance.
She pulled out the chair to the writing desk then opened the drawer to retrieve a piece of paper. Picking up the quill, sheset to writing. After adding forty-seven family names to her list, she dropped the quill into the ink pot and counted the number of people there would be if they all came. Accounting for sons, daughters, and elder relatives, it didn’t even reach two hundred. And unfortunately, a hostess could not expect all invitees to respond positively.
She lifted the paper and waved it to help it dry. Maybe her friends would have some ideas. Maybe she should write to Lady Saunders and Lady Chelton and see if they knew of anyone she should invite. Yes, they would know who lived nearby, even if not in the immediate area. The paper slipped from her fingers and floated toward the floor. She grabbed at it, catching it against her peach skirts just before it hit the ground. Triumphantly, she lifted it back onto the table and reviewed it. A couple of places were slightly smeared, but she still understood the names.
She could start writing out the invitations immediately. Happy with her plan, she pulled five more sheets of paper from the drawer and set four of them to the side of the desk. Picking up the quill again, she set it to the paper. Just then, she heard the main door open. Immediately, she dropped the quill on the paper and rose, almost toppling her chair in the process. After righting it, she strode out of the parlor and into the entry, where Georgina was just stepping inside to stand next to Sophie.
Ellie smiled widely, so happy she felt as if she were a star exploding. “Sophie! Georgie! I have missed you both so much.” She embraced Sophie and then Georgie. As she stepped back, another woman stepped inside in a cloak with a hood. Not wanting Felicity to feel any less welcome, she turned to the woman.
The figure threw back her hood. “Surprise!”
“Rose! What are you doing here? Sophie said you could not come.” Ellie didn’t wait for an answer before giving the laughingRose a hug as well. She stepped back and eyed her friend. “Whatever did you do to poor Felicity?”
Rose chuckled. “Do not worry, Mother Hen. Felicity never intended to come, as her brother was arriving home from his grand tour, and she missed him desperately. I made Sophie write a falsehood, which I will admit was no easy task.” She waggled her brows.
“That is hardly true, Ellie,” Sophie added. “I didn’t mind at all, since it was to surprise you.”
Ellie’s heart filled with joy to have her classmates with her once again. Eventually, Lissa would arrive and then only Dory and Elsbeth would be missing…and the new ladies like Felicity, whom she’d just started to take under her wing. “I know you have just arrived, but would you like tea or cocoa before settling in?”
“Cocoa, please,” Georgie answered immediately. “Can you have your staff add a bit of cinnamon?”
Ellie smiled warmly. Georgie loved anything sweet, yet remained thin, though she appeared even thinner because of her height. “I can. And I believe we have some marzipan to serve with the cocoa.”
Georgie’s eyes rounded, as marzipan was her favorite. “Oh, Ellie. We have sorely missed you.”
“Then come into the parlor so I can learn all that has been going on at Silver Meadows since I left. I’ve missed you all.” Ellie hooked her arm through Sophie’s and led the way.
Sophie, who was petite, with caramel-colored hair, wore a white traveling dress and took the chair closest to the fireplace. She naturally gravitated toward like colors in the room, and as the fireplace was white, it didn’t surprise Ellie in the least. Knowing her good friend hadn’t changed her ways made things more comfortable.
Georgie took an enthusiastic seat upon the settee and patted the space next to her for Rose, who gracefully sat as requested. The two ladies complemented each other. Rose wore a pale-pink traveling dress that gave her a rosy hue, the two chestnut-colored ringlets she allowed loose on each side of her face giving her a sophisticated appearance. Georgie’s pale spring-green dress complemented her amber eyes and dark brown hair.
Ellie took the chair next to Sophie, before speaking to Beacham, who, having hung their outerwear, had followed them in. “Beacham, we shall have hot cocoa and marzipan before my friends retire to their rooms to rest. Have their trunks sent up in the meantime.”
“Yes, my lady.” He turned and exited.
Rose waited until Beacham was out of the room. “So tell us, Ellie. How do you get along with the mysterious Lord Ferncroft?”
“Yes, tell us.” Georgie leaned forward. “It was so brave of you to marry him without meeting him.”
Ellie chuckled. “I wasn’t brave at all. I was desperate to avoid another season. That, and I trusted Lissa’s judgment, especially since she’s so happy with Lord Bellamore.”
Sophie set her hand on Ellie’s arm. “But are you content?”
Ellie grasped dear Sophie’s hand and squeezed. “I am more than content. I’m happier than a newly born star gathering its planets into orbit.”
Rose waved her hand about and sat back. “If she’s waxing about the universe, you know it’s true.”
