“I feel better.”
“Good.” She looked over Cecily’s shoulder at William with an expression that conveyed a fortnight’s worth of accumulated editorial. “You are still on notice.”
“Letitia–” William began.
“I told you that you were an idiot. I want it to be on record.”
“You are on record.”
“Good.” She looked at the baby. Her expression changed immediately, the sharpness leaving and something softer taking its place. “Is that…”
“Yes,” Cecily confirmed.
“Oh,” Letitia gasped. “Today is the best day ever!” William moved closer to them and Letitiaheld out her hand and stroked the baby’s cheek.
Isadora had come down the steps at her own pace. She looked at Cecily with her dark, steady eyes and said nothing for a moment.
“Well…” she trailed off.
Then she stepped forward, and Cecily drew her into a hug. She clung to Cecily and sniffed softly.
They stood like that for a while before she drew back.
Cecily took a deep breath.
This is also home. These are also mine.
“You’re back,” Isadora said quietly.
“I’m back.”
“Good.” She pulled away. Her eyes were bright, and her cheeks rosy. “I have thoughts about the past three weeks.”
“I imagine you do.”
“I will reserve them.” She glanced at William. “For now.”
“I appreciate the restraint,” he muttered.
“It is not restraint. It is strategy.” She looked at the baby in William’s arms. “I am so glad she is back.”
At the door, Mr. Prentiss stood and bowed.
“Welcome home, Your Grace,” he said.
Cecily looked at him. “Thank you, Prentiss. Very much.”
He nodded with a small smile. “Mrs. Beam has made apple cake.”
William’s hand found the small of Cecily’s back as they crossed the threshold, and she felt his warmth spread through her. She looked up at him. He was looking at her.
“All right?” he asked, voice low for her ears only.
“Yes,” she said. All of it was exactly as she had left it, all of it entirely itself. “Very.”
His thumb rubbed small circles on the small of her back, and she leaned into his touch.
After dinner, after the baby had been settled in the nursery with the solemn ceremony that was becoming her established preference—this involved being held by at least three people before she would consent to the crib, a negotiation Letitia had told her very seriously that she was winning—William sent word to Mr. Prentiss to assemble the servants in the entrance hall.
