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Since Archie and Miss Gaywood had found them together, Flint had insisted that they talked to her parents at once. Then Flint would locate Mr. Gaywood and Miss Gaywood and explain the situation to them. Hester had thought that it would be better if he went after Miss Gaywood, but Flint had stipulated that this was the proper thing.
“I want you to be mine officially,” he said.
After having washed her hands and fixed her hair as best she could, she and Flint found her father in his study right next door and after Curtis had brought her mother, Hester told both of them what had happened in as few details as possible.
Hester had not had time to give much thought to how her parents would react. But if given the time to analyze the situation, she would probably have said that they would have shown concern over the scandalous beginning of their relationship and the hurt that it caused Miss Gaywood but would ultimately not be against the match. She had not expected both of them to react as if this was the most natural occurrence in the world.
“We are very happy for you, my dear, for both of you,” was all her mother said as she sent Hester’s father a look that Hester could only interpret as smug.
Her father rose from his desk and kissed Hester’s cheeks.
“We are indeed,” he said in a mild voice that Hester for the last couple of years had mainly heard him use with his grandchildren and his horse. She was surprised at how pleasant it felt that he would use it when he spoke to her.
“Thank you, Father,” she told him.
“I promise I will protect her and do everything to make her happy, Your Grace. I sincerely apologize for the circumstances. I can only regret that I did not have a chance to speak to Miss Gaywood before...” Flint's very serious demeanor faltered for a moment as he was clearly looking for the right words. Hester quickly took his hand to give him strength, but her father spoke before Flint had found a suitable phrasing.
“I know, Lambourn. I agree that the situation with Miss Gaywood is regrettable, but there is nothing to be done about it. I will have Curtis summon Mr. Gaywood and his daughter and then you can explain it to them."
Flint simply nodded and looked a little pale. Hester squeezed his hand, which made him look at her. She sent him an encouraging smile and he returned it, although not as widely.
“Why don’t we sit while we wait?” Hester’s mother asked and gestured towards the sofas in front of the fireplace as the perfect hostess she was.
They sat down, Hester’s parents on one sofa and Hester and Flint on the other.
“When will the wedding be?” Hester’s mother asked.
The three others all spoke at once.
Her father said, “Millie,” in a tone that clearly showed he thought she was prying.
“We really have not talked about it...” Hester began but trailed off when at the same time she heard that Flint’s response was:
“As soon as possible.”
She looked surprised at him, but he only smiled and squeezed the hand that he was still holding. He turned to her parents again.
“I know that it might only add to any scandal, but now that the decision is made, I have no desire to wait,” he told them.
They both nodded but had no time to speak as Curtis knocked on the door and Mr. Gaywood burst in the moment after.
“What is this?” he demanded.
All four of them rose as Mr. Gaywood approached the sofas. Hester felt cold dread in her stomach; it seemed that their actions hurt more people than simply Miss Gaywood.
“I am very sorry, Mr. Gaywood,” Flint began as he was holding tightly onto her hand as if Mr. Gaywood would forcefully pull them apart.
“Sorry?” Mr. Gaywood barked but halted as Hester’s father stepped forward and held out his hand for the other man to be silent. Hester had thought he meant to intervene, but his gaze was locked on Curtis at the doorway. A maid had joined him, and he was holding a note.
“I beg your pardon, Your Grace, but it seems Miss Gaywood is not here. Katie here found this note in the young lady’s bedroom.”
He stepped into the room and handed the note to Mr. Gaywood. It spoke to the strangeness of the situation that Curtis had forgotten to place the message on a silver salver before offering it to a guest of the house.
“It is addressed to you, sir,” Curtis told them, retreated out of the room, and closed the door.
Mr. Gaywood had already torn the letter open. His eyes moved quickly from side to side as he scanned its content. Hester held her breath as he read. She was hoping that Miss Gaywood had not done anything foolish.
“She has eloped...” Mr. Gaywood said in a slow voice as if he could not believe it himself.
Hester quickly thought of the two only possible candidates: Percy Eavesgrave and Francis Drummond. Neither seemed very likely to have eloped with her. Perhaps Miss Gaywood had formed a tendre for a member of their staff.
“With your son,” Mr. Gaywood added, and Hester’s first thought was how Miss Gaywood and Gregory knew each other and how Gregory had arrived at Great Farleigh Hall without her knowing.
She was not the only one confused by that statement as her mother asked, “Archie?" in a voice that was laced with uncertainty.
“Lord Archibald, yes,” Mr. Gaywood stated glumly.
***
“I’m so thrilled we are to be sisters,” Sophia exclaimed as Hester told her the news. Hester nodded and tried to smile. Her happiness had dimmed somewhat in light of what Archie and Miss Gaywood had done.
She turned her gaze to Arthur who was playing on the floor with the wooden bricks in the nursery, once again attempting to build the highest tower possible with them.
“Are you not happy?” Sophia asked gently and nudged Hester with her elbow. “I have to say, I always had a feeling the two of you would suit.”
Hester turned to look at her as she was sitting next to her on her old bed. Sophia’s expression was one of complete happiness.
“I am happy,” Hester assured her. When she thought of what had happened in her study and the library, she could not help but smile. This was what they could do every day once they were married. Besides sitting by the fire in the evening and talking. Or not talking at all. “But I am also sad that we hurt Miss Gaywood.”
Sophia took her hand and smiled comfortingly.
“I’m sure she will survive. It was not as if she was in love with Flint, although I’m certain that she was fond of him. And she is marrying the son of a duke now after all. Heavens, she will be your sister now instead of mine!”
Hester gave a rueful smile as she tried to comprehend that thought. She had no idea what could have prompted Archie to elope with her. He seemed the least likely man to do so. It would have seemed more likely to her if he had remained a bachelor well into his forties, perhaps the rest of his life. But if Archie felt anywhere closely towards Miss Gaywood as she felt towards Flint, then she was very happy for her brother.
All the men had given pursuit after the couple, hoping to find them and bring them back. It was assumed that they were on their way to Gretna Green, and the men had split into three groups to cover the most ground. The plan was to bring them back and have them married by special license as fast as possible. Hester knew that her father had already sent an express message to the Archbishop of Canterbury before he left.
She could not help but sigh at the thought of Flint being out in the cold, gray October day in chase of his former almost betrothed instead of being with her, celebrating their betrothal. It was not that she wanted a grand gesture, but she had been looking forward to being able to sit next to him in the drawing room after dinner. Perhaps she would be able to hold his hand under the cover of her skirts and she definitely did not have to pretend not to be interested in him anymore.
But by dinnertime, the men had still not returned. Mrs. Gaywood had been in her room all day, seemingly with a megrim, although Hester suspected that it was to hide her emotions. The same went for the eldest Miss Drummond. It had not escaped anyone’s notice that she had hoped to catch Archie and that he had not been interested but apparently Miss Drummond was still grieving her loss.
No one seemed inclined to spend much time in the drawing room after dinner and all the ladies retired early. Hester entered her room with an empty feeling. She would have liked to at least catch a glimpse of Flint and exchange a few words with him. Just to share a smile and perhaps a few meaningless sentences. He had rushed out of the door after Mr. Gaywood had opened the letter and there had been no time for even saying goodbye. She tried to comfort herself with the fact that he would be back tomorrow, but it felt ages away.