Epilogue
Divine Timing.
The Reverend Bertram Honeywell sat before the fire in his cosy parlour and smiled as he reread the letter Izzy had sent him.
That it was the tenth time he’d done so hardly mattered.
Her happiness shone from every word. He smiled to himself, folding up the letter and putting it carefully to one side.
Lifting the glass of very fine brandy he had poured himself, he stared into the fire and told himself not to be so dreadfully ungrateful.
The good Lord had seen fit to bless all his daughters with marriages as happy and blessed as his own had been to his darling Mary.
He had a fine house, as well as the honour and delight of being a doting uncle and foster parent to Caspar and Daisy.
There was not the slightest reason for him to feel in the least down at heart, and yet…
and yet. He sighed. The house just did not feel right without his lovely daughters’ laughter, their light footsteps running up and down the stairs, and their affectionate bickering.
One by one they had flown the nest, just as they ought, and he felt nothing but pride in them, but the nest felt decidedly empty, and he felt older suddenly, in a way he never had when they were here.
“Forgive me, Lord,” he said ruefully. “I am an ungrateful devil when you have given me so many blessings. I pray you will forgive me. I shall be better presently, I promise. Perhaps you would send me a new challenge, something to keep me busy in the meantime? I’d appreciate it if you’re of a mind to indulge me. ”
So saying, he lifted the glass in a silent salute and sipped his brandy.
A knock at the front door interrupted his musings, but the reverend ignored it. Everyone knew not to disturb him this evening, for he was in no mood for visitors and had made that clear. Unless, of course, someone needed him, which was a different thing.
He glanced at the window. The curtains had not yet been closed. The days were growing longer, though the weather remained resolutely grim and cold, no doubt not helping his mood. It was far easier to feel light-hearted when the sun shone upon the world.
The sound of Mrs Adie’s voice raised in agitation reached his ear and he got to his feet just as she burst into the room.
“I beg your pardon, Reverend. I don’t know what things are coming to when young girls go about the place by themselves, calling on strangers at such an hour without a by your leave, but they won’t go until they’ve spoken to you, nor will they give me their names.
If I know anything, they’re in a pickle of some sort, and like to bring a scandal down upon our heads, mark my words. ”
The reverend blinked at her, gazing at his glass of brandy with an absent smile. Well, well, that was quick work, and no mistake. Smiling to himself, he set the glass down, silently sending his profound thanks to the almighty.
“Thank you, Mrs Adie. Let me see what our young arrivals want with me.”
He patted her shoulder fondly and went to the front door, where he found two girls, just as Mrs Adie had said.
He could understand her misgivings, for though their clothing was of excellent quality, it was dirty and creased, and it looked very much as if the poor dears had been having a very trying time of it.
Their faces were also a little grubby, their hair tangled beneath bonnets that looked to have been out in all weathers.
Two heavy bags sat at their feet, as dirty and dusty as the rest of them.
“You poor things, you look worn to a thread. Won’t you come in?”
The older girl, a lovely child perhaps eighteen years of age, looked so relieved her eyes filled with tears, but the younger, perhaps only twelve, gazed at him doubtfully and huddled closer to her sister.
They must be sisters, for their strawberry blonde colouring and hazel eyes were quite distinctive.
“Thank you, sir. I am so sorry to throw ourselves upon your mercy, but I did not know where else to turn.”
“You did quite right,” he assured the girl kindly, ushering them inside. “Now come and warm yourselves by the fire. Mrs Adie will get you some supper, for I am certain you must be famished. When did you last eat?”
“Yesterday, sir. Someone stole my money purse two days ago, and the little coin I had tucked away in my pocket for emergencies ran out when we reached Rye. We had to walk the rest of the way.”
“Dear me, what an adventure you have had,” he said, gesturing to Mrs Adie to make haste. “Have Polly bring tea and biscuits in the meantime,” he instructed as she shook her head in dismay and bustled off.
Guiding the girls into the parlour, he drew the armchairs closer to the fire and bade them sit down.
Refusing to leave her sister’s side, the younger one forced herself into the same seat, much to the older girl’s chagrin.
Still, she took her sister’s hand and squeezed it.
“There now, Abbie. Didn’t I tell you he was a kind man? ”
The younger girl still looked a little uneasy, but she nodded, watching the reverend with wide, anxious eyes.
He gazed at them, a little taken aback by this description. “But, child, you speak as if you know me. Have me met?”
The older girl smiled at him, and the reverend’s breath caught as he saw how very beautiful she was, and something nagged at the back of his mind, some memory too fleeting to catch hold of.
“I do not blame you for not remembering, it was a very long time ago.”
“Not so long as all that,” the reverend chuckled. “You are no more than eighteen if I had to guess.”
She nodded. “Quite so, but I was only seven when we met, and Abbie only a babe. But I never forgot how kind you were, nor how you stood up to my Papa, for I had seen no one else do that before, nor since.”
Reverend Honeywell gazed at the girl as the pieces finally fell into place. He gasped, unable to hide his astonishment. “Lady Caro! Heavens above, child. Whatever are you doing here? Does your father know?”
The young woman swallowed, her eyes filling as she stared at him.
“We ran away,” she said, her voice trembling.
“And we’ll do so again if you tell Papa we are here and don’t promise to help us.
I know it’s a lot to ask of you, and that it puts you in a dreadful situation, but we are desperate, or we would not do so.
Please, Uncle Bertie, don’t cast us out. ”
“Oh, my dears,” he said, touched to his soul by the fear and desperation in her voice.
“As if I would do such a terrible thing! Now, don’t you fret.
Whatever the trouble is, if there is any way to fix it, your Uncle Bertie will do so.
In the meantime, you will stay here for as long as you need or wish to.
Now, why don’t you tell me all about it? ”
Finally, Abbie relaxed as she saw the weight of responsibility lift from Caroline’s shoulders. Caro looked down at her little sister and smiled. “See, love? I told you. We’re safe now.” Turning back to her uncle, she sighed. “I hardly know where to begin.”
“At the beginning, my dear,” the reverend said with a reassuring smile. “Start at the beginning.”