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She smiled up at him, knowing what he meant. “I hoped for that as well.” She glanced at their children. “I miss your father joining us.”

Freddie nodded. “Yes, it doesn’t quite feel right without him here, does it?”

She shook her head. “I believe he loved it almost as much as the children.”

“He told me once that he both loved and hated it.”

She turned her attention from the children, and stared at him with furrowed brow. “He hated it? But why?”

Freddie shrugged. “It reminded him of what his meddling almost cost me...cost us.”

Pippy leaned against his arm. “But he made amends. Indeed, he treated me almost as his own daughter.”

“Yes, which made it harder for him to think on what he’d tried to do.”

“Nevertheless, I still miss him.”

Freddie nodded. “As do I. We are very different people, but I have to give him his due. In great part, he is responsible for the man I am today.”

She lifted up onto her tiptoes and kissed him. “And for that alone, I shall always love him.”

Soph and Adi jumped around Julian, trying to grab the shield he held high above his head.

“I found it, so I deserve the prize,” Jules said, shaking his head at his sisters.

“So you do,” Freddie said. He pulled his arm from around Pippy, and she immediately felt its absence. “Come, fetch your reward!”

“But he always finds it first,” Soph whined.

Freddie withdrew four wrapped packages. The top one, which was slightly bigger than the others, he handed to Jules. “As the finder, you receive the greater reward.”

Adi opened her mouth to protest, but Freddie cut her off. “But as he wouldn’t have found it without the both of you helping⁠—”

“I would have found it without them,” Jules defended.

Freddie gave him an only slightly stern look. “I thought you two deserved a reward also.” He handed them their packages, and each girl squealed with delight.

“What is it, Papa?” Adi asked, pulling the strings of the bow.

“Why do you not open it and see?” He looked over at Pippy and winked. Her stomach still fluttered when he did that.

“Peppermint sticks!” Sophia exclaimed.

“Mine are lemon drops.” Adi popped one in her mouth before either Freddie or Pippy could tell her to wait. But then, neither of them would have denied her one treat.

“Let’s slay the dragon before it grows cold.” Pippy stepped forward and motioned the children over to the rug.

Freddie cautiously handed little Albert over to her and kneeled to froth the chocolate.

Once the children were enjoying their drinks and cakes, Freddie came back and stood at her side. “Would you like a cup?”

She shook her head. “I’ll wait until this evening when we’re in our sitting room.”

He lifted the package still in his hand. And this is for you, my love.”

Pippy accepted the gift. “You need not have given me anything.” She fingered the paper. “I did very little to find the hoard.”

“Oh, but do you not see? You have done everything.” He glanced at the children. “You made us a family.”