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After being on the road a while, the carriage came to a stop. Adeline could see out of the carriage window that it was a very small quaint village, and the Inn was very small, even smaller than the Green Tavern, but she found it quite cozy and lovely.
“Here we are my love. Let us stretch our legs and get a morsel,” William said.
Adeline smiled at him, she would never get tired of him calling her ‘my love’, and was excited to look forward to the days when he continued to call her that. He put his hand on her lower back escorting her toward the door and she felt very safe and cared for. This was the first time of being out in public, as an engaged couple, and she felt something close to calm and relief. After all her trials and tribulations, she did not think that it was possible for her to feel this way, yet here she was with her fiance taking adequate care of her.
“There are quite a few empty tables, we are lucky that this is not too busy a time of day. Let us sit here,” William said pointing at a table.
“Yes, this is pleasant.”
William and Adeline sat side by side. Now that they were engaged it was fine to do such a thing, sitting quite close.
“This comes to mind when we sat at the Red Lion Inn together, do you remember that?” William asked.
“Indeed I do, sir. It was a very pleasant time, only I did not have my memory returned to me then, so this time is much more exciting.”
“And you were not my fiance at that time,” he smiled.
“I have only been your fiance a few hours,” she smiled.
“And I hope that turns into being my wife forever,” he said.
“As do I,” she reached out her hand and squeezed his.
The newly engaged couple ate a light meal before returning to the carriage for their journey.
Adeline quite enjoyed the change in scenery, for as they continued the grassy fields gave way to wooded forest. It was very beautiful indeed, and she knew that this must be the region that Katrina spoke of fondly in her letters to her. For now that she had her memories back she remembered every word Katrina had told her when writing to her after she took residence at Brentwood, as the wife of the captain.
“There it is, Brentwood Manor,” William pointed out as the carriage came around the bend. Adeline moved forward in her seat and pushed her head out the window, to see a very fine Prospect.
“I do not think I have ever seen a place so happily situated such as this. Katrina is a very lucky woman is she not? I am very happy for her,” She said.
“More happily situated then Linwood Manor?” William asked.
“Oh no William, of course I love your home very dearly. I believe that it is just the dark memories of dealing with Ashford, and the negative sentiments of your sisters that have put a dark cloud over that estate for me, something I am sure it will go away in time. But it is a very lovely home as well,” She said.
William squeezed her hand. “I will do whatever it takes to erase any negativity you have with Linwood. For you will now be the Mistress of Linwood Manor, and I believe your energy shall erase all negativity from it. We will christen it with our love.”
“Yeah, we shall.”
Adeline turned her attention back to the stately home. It was made of white limestone with large round pillars out front. The sprawling estate moved from one side to the other across a landscape that was surrounded by forest, and beside it a small pond.
“I hope that it is not too much trouble for us to stay,” she said.
“No trouble at all. I have often stayed here when the Master and Mistress of the house are away. You will see.”
She smiled, feeling excited to see Katrina once more whenever she would arrive. It had been too long and much time lost.
Settling in at Brentwood later that evening, Adeline felt relieved to be there. She was very much excited to be able to be reunited with Katrina, it had been so long. She wondered what she would say to her.
The house staff was very kind to William just as he said they would be, and were more than happy to accommodate them. They remained there for two days, and Adeline was quite content to be with William alone and away from society. Now that they were engaged they were openly able to claim their fondness for each other. Adeline was quite ready to take him as a husband and to start their life together, but she was happy to be with him after having so much doubt and after having lost so many of her memories.
She still regretted that she had lost so much time to the illness of Amnesia, but she knew that the hardship that she had endured had made her a stronger person, but to know that she could have been with William that entire time made her heart ache. If only she had not ran away from him that day that she ran into him on the streets in London and had taken him seriously. Then all of this would have been happening then, instead of much much later. Still she had to be grateful that it was happening at all.
On the second day at noon of their stay, the maid ran into the parlor.
“They are here. Their carriage is coming down the way,” She said.
Adeline looked at William and smiled. At last Katrina and her husband had arrived.
“Let us go greet our friends, dear. They will be so happy to see you. It will be quite the surprise.”
“Oh William, I am very glad that I get to be reunited with Katrina, but what a shock she will get. I wished that we could have sent word ahead of time that I was going to be here.”
“Yes, except they were on a ship, with no way to reach them. By the time I would have sent word to Portsmouth they would already be in a carriage on their way here, there was no way to warn her. It will just have to be a shock, though I am sure that she will be quite happy.”
“As am I to see her.”
The two waited in the foyer as the servants lined up outside. The carriage stopped, and only then did William and Adeline step out the doors. She watched as Katrina stepped off the carriage, looking down at her feet. Then she lifted her head, and froze. A word could not come out of her mouth. Adeline quickly ran to her.
“Yes, it is true. It is me, I am sorry to have shocked you like this.”
“Adeline? Adeline, really is you? Oh my Lord!” Katrina hugged her friend fiercely. Both of them burst into tears almost immediately.
“My dear friend I thought you were lost forever, oh my dear sister. I have missed you so.” Katrina cry .
“I thought so too. I have so much to acquaint you with; everything that happened. I am just happy that you are happy to see me, so much time has passed I did not know.”
Katrina pulled away from her and held her at arm's length with her hands on Adeline's shoulders. “How dare you say such a thing to me? I have longed to see you. You do not know how much trouble we have gone through to find you. Now here you are happy and healthy. Oh my dear I'm so happy!” Katrina hugged her again and again.
Adeline was beside herself in tears to see her friend again. She thought that it may never be possible, yet here she was with Katrina, her long-lost sister by name. The very woman that had been through so much along with her, starting with the brothel in Portsmouth. Then the theater in London and going on tours performing their performances to all the grand houses of London and some in Bath and Brighton. Now they were together again at last and Adeline was overwhelmed with emotion. She felt very grateful and blessed indeed that not only was she reunited with Katrina, but she would also be the wife of the man that she loved, William Dawson.
“Have a good trip Captain?” William asked Mason.
“Yes, very profitable. I see you have been very busy in our absence. I'm glad that you have come here. Anything that makes my wife smile the way she is now, as happy as she is I am more than happy to attend to. So you found her? You really did it?”
“Yes, it is quite a story. But shall we all go inside, you must be very weary from your journey.” William said.
“Right you are. Have the table set for a late noon meal. I want everything we have to eat on that table for I am famished and it seems that we have a lot of catching up to do. Tea at once,” The captain ordered his servants as they scurried inside.
“Oh yes husband, let us go inside, Adeline. Come with me to my chambers immediately so that I may wash up and get this dirt from the road journey off of me. The men can go have their cigars and brandy. We have so much to talk about and I am not to let you out of my sight ever again.”
Adeline laughed. “I yes I will come to your chambers of course, but I think eventually will have to let me out of your sight in a few days time whenever I have become the Mistress of Linwood, and must go there to attend to my husband.” Adeline said, showing Katrina the ring on her finger.
Katrina squealed with delight, so much that her husband had his ears. The men laughed and together the party of four walked inside listening to Katrina's excitement over everything.
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