“Did I not tell ye, lass, it would come out all right?”
Chet Gibbons had finally managed to return to Sedwick Hall as he had promised nearly a year after his sister dragged him off to the Highlands to make amends with his family. He had stopped by earlier in the year, but only briefly, as he was on his way then to join Wellington’s forces gathering in Belgium to deal finally with one Napoleon Bonaparte. That task accomplished, Chet was back again. He and Harriet were riding together on a beautiful autumn morning as Quint rode ahead, forcing his stallion to keep to the pace of ponies ridden by the twins and Sarah.
“That you did,” she said, “but, believe me, it was not easy.”
“He’s a proud man,” Chet said. “Has all these English ideas about money and all.”
“That was not much of an issue with us. Although English law gives a husband control of all a wife’s money and property, Quint would have readily allowed me control of mine. In fact, he told me he wanted nothing to do with it.”
“Would have? But did not?”
She smiled. “We worked it out. I continue to harangue the government about its abuse of children working in mines and the sordid conditions in workhouses while he uses my fortune to rescue Sedwick—which he is well on the way to doing. He loves all that numbers stuff and nonsense. I hate it. Eventually, Sedwick will be profitable enough to pay us back.”
“So—young Phillip comes out all right in the end.”
“And so will we.”
“And you got Lady Margaret to return to the dower house. Good girl! That must have taken some doing.”
Harriet laughed heartily. “I did not touch that one! Quint moved her back while she was in Vienna, then wrote to tell her what he had done—oh, and, incidentally, that he and I were married. What I would not have given to have been a fly on the wall when she read that letter!”
“So many changes here in just a few months’ time,” Chet said. “Phillip told me—before he and Maria left for school—what a time he had persuading you and Quint to take over the chambers of the earl and countess.”
“Both Quint and I felt that would be presumptuous, but Phillip just insisted—said as long as we were doing the jobs, why not? He all but threw a tantrum over it! Said he would take over later when he comes home with a countess and needs that much room.”
“Then what—for you and Quint?”
“By then, the dower house—maybe? That is a joke. Who knows? It will not be a problem—there is all that property my father left me.”
“Both Phillip and Maria seemed happier this year about going off to school than before.”
“They were ready. And their first letters are positive.”
“Their absence is leaving empty space in the nursery wing, is it not?”
Harriet laughed and touched her waist. “Not for long. Quint and I are working on the first replacement, though we have not made that public yet.”
“Ah, well—congratulations to both of you.” Chet laughed with her.
“Now stop grilling me about the Hall and its inhabitants, Chet Gibbons, and tell me: are you going to take Quint’s offer? Will you be taking over as Sedwick’s steward when Mr. Stevens retires in a month or so?”
“Yes, I think I will. The colonel and I work well together.”
“Hmm. Then Emma Powers and I must see what we can do about finding you a wife.…”