Chapter 1 #6
Henry and Catherine returned to the abbey to see to the final preparations for the party.
Nate and Eleanor continued to the path through firs she and her mama had walked when she was a child.
Eleanor made peace with the path and found that it didn’t seem too gloomy, even on a cold day during Christmastide.
Nate went to change for supper and then joined Henry in the library so Eleanor could change into her new rose gown.
She admired herself in the mirror, not quite the same form as her younger self, but she had retained her beauty, and the love of her family, the devotion of a beloved husband, and it was all she needed.
They supped on white soup, roasted chicken and beef, boiled potatoes, and vegetable pie, then followed with fruit and nuts, lemon cheesecakes, ratafia, and fruit tarts.
The dinner table was adorned with a single pineapple surrounded by flowers and greenery, all from the abbey’s hot houses.
It was as grand as a meal at a ball. Catherine had created a magnificent party, and Eleanor felt blessed, once again, to have the love and care of a wonderful family.
They retired to the drawing room, where the children entertained them with a play, and then they all played charades.
Catherine and Henry gave her the tea service adorned with rosebuds, which had belonged to her mother, and they had commissioned a copy of her mama’s portrait to take home.
Nate gave her ruby drop earrings to complement her ruby cross pendant.
It was a wonderful birthday, spent with the people she loved most.
Christmas
Eleanor and Nate awoke early to enjoy seeing the snow-covered meadows of Northanger Abbey. A quiet stillness enveloped the world, and they felt the peace within. A beautiful day, and their last at the abbey.
The children rushed in with their Christmas excitement, before leaving for the drawing room to join their cousins. Nate had already dressed and was following the children, whilst Eleanor dressed in a mezereon green muslin day dress. The Pomona green silk taffeta was for later.
Catherine had arranged another wonderful breakfast for the family, and afterward they walked to the chapel for the Christmas service liturgy led by Henry. It was a lovely service, and a few visitors from the village attended.
The Christmas supper was roast beef, venison, and goose, savoury potatoes, Brussels sprouts, and carrots; and desserts included trifle, mince pie, and the Christmas pudding. The pineapple, flowers, and greenery still adorned the table since Eleanor’s birthday party.
The yule log burned in the drawing room fireplace, where they gathered with the family.
Nate and Henry passed gifts to the children, which they enjoyed opening.
Henry gave Catherine the gift of an amethyst cross pendant, and she joyfully cried over it.
Nate bestowed upon Eleanor a ruby and diamond gold bracelet to complement her new earrings and her beloved ruby cross pendant.
Eleanor and Catherine gave books to their husbands.
The children enjoyed leading the parlour games and charades with their parents, and it was a fun time for all. Eleanor played the pianoforte whilst the family sang carols, a jubilant end to their last night together.
The trip home with three tired children in the town coach made for a quiet journey, whilst Nate and Jerome rode their horses alongside the carriage. Eleanor passed the time reading as they rumbled along the country roads.
The servants had the day off for St. Stephen’s Day; there was no one to greet them upon their arrival. The boys and Nate carried the trunks up the stairs, whilst Eleanor and the girls went to the kitchen to assemble a dinner from the larder.
The morning sun crept through the crack left by the curtains’ parting, leaving dappled petals of light scattered on the bedside table. Nate was gone from the bed, which was not unusual, as he was always the first to rise. Something in the house felt different, empty.
Eleanor rose, padded across the chamber towards the fireplace, where she found a note from Nate. He was ever thoughtful, and oft left her notes to remind her of his love. It had the lingering scent of his soap, a Pears wintergreen she had purchased for him in London.
Settling into her favourite floral chaise, she unfolded the note to read.
Opening it, another note dropped out, and it had a bit of weight.
Nate informed her that he had unexpectedly been called to London and he hoped to be back within a day.
He had forgotten to share the letter Henry had given him as they were leaving Northanger Abbey.
Nate did not know of its importance, but he knew she would want to read it.
The weight of Henry’s note intrigued her as she broke the seal. She pulled the folds aside, and a small key dropped onto her lap. It had a tag with her name, written in her father’s hand. Henry explained the key had been found in the box that the runners located at the site of the accident.
He did try the locks from her former bedchamber, and it didn’t fit any furnishings, nor did it fit anything in the general’s apartment, so he hoped she knew whatever it may open.
Puzzling key, indeed. Small enough to fit her sewing kit, a gift from Nate; she tried, but it was not a match.
Adding her gifts from Nate to her jewellery box, she tried that lock, again not a match.
Eleanor had no trinket boxes from her father, a mystery, indeed.
She attached the key to her chatelaine for safekeeping.
Eleanor went about the day, checking with the servants and cook, asking after their families.
Trying the key in her tea caddy—it did unlock.
The children were disappointed their father wasn’t there, and the games she tried to interest them in were not diverting entertainment.
She sent them outside to play whilst she caught up on her correspondence in her parlour.
A thank you note to the Tilneys, thanking them for lovely birthday and Christmastide celebrations, adding that she knew not what the key would open. A few other letters were written and were readied for tomorrow’s post.
She pondered more on what could have drawn Nate to London so suddenly. She hoped nothing was amiss. He rarely had to go to Town, and much of the time they went together. Eleanor found the children back inside, and they all gathered in the library to read until it was time to dress for supper.
Nate’s absence was most evident in the dining parlour.
Eleanor encouraged Jerome to amuse his brother and sisters with tales from Eton.
Fond memories from their visit to the abbey had the children asking for their own labyrinth.
Their spirits were better after supper, and they had fun playing games in the parlour as Eleanor played the pianoforte for them, encouraging them to sing along.
The quietness felt heavier without Nate’s presence at night. Eleanor missed his soft snores and their late-night conversations about the day’s events. Even her book could not compete with the emptiness she felt when he was not lying beside her.
The morrow arrived, but Nate had not. Eleanor knew it was nothing to fret over, but it was rare for him to not send a note if there was a delay. The nanny kept the children diverted, and that helped to pass the time. Each chime of the clock reminded her of his absence.
The afternoon tea was not enough of a warm balm on the cold winter’s day. Her book failed to distract; perhaps she should try another. Walking to the window, it had begun to snow gently on the park, sparkling in the magical hour of sunlight before dusk.
In the distance, there appeared to be a man on a horse riding towards the house on their carriage drive. He was seated in the saddle with a familiar form: her Nate. Was it a mirage with her wishing him to appear? The snow had begun falling heavily over the past hour, masking the rider’s face.
A footman met the man dismounting from the chestnut mare. He removed his small traveling valise and a wrapped package from the saddlebag before climbing the steps. Eleanor ran to the entrance hall to greet Nate, excitement filling her heart like a young girl awaiting her beau.
A gust of snow-laden air followed him through the door.
Setting his package on the centre table, he quickly shed his greatcoat, hat, and gloves.
Eleanor reached him ahead of the children; his body was colder than an icicle.
Nate kissed her before she led him to the drawing room, the children in tow.
He could hardly get to the fireplace to warm up with the children gathered round. Eleanor ordered tea.
“Children, please, allow your father to knock off the chill. He’s had a long ride.” They pulled a chair closer to the fireplace for him to sit, and they surrounded him.
“I see I have been missed. I was barely gone for more than a day.” Nate settled into the chair with one of the twins on his lap.
“It felt longer. We were worried you’d miss Twelfth Night.” Phoebe exaggerated the time of his absence.
“I could never be apart from my family for so long. My horse threw a shoe, and I had to wait for the farrier, so I was delayed.” Eleanor handed him a hot cup of tea from her mama’s tea set, the Christmas gift from Henry and Catherine.
“Thank you, my love.” He motioned to the door. “Jerome, fetch me the parcel on the hall table.”
“Yes, Papa.” Always eager to please his father.
“Pull a chair for your mama across from me.” Nate encouraged the other children to help.
“Here, Mummy.” The boys pulled the chair closer, and she sat.
“Papa, here’s the package. Is it a gift for us?” The children were vying to unwrap the brown paper.
“No, it is for Mama.” Nate nodded for her to open it.
“A gift?” Eleanor asked as she untied the twine and pulled back the wrappings.
“It is a lost treasure.” Nate’s statement seemed to have an underlying message.
“It is a treasure box?” Hudson was standing close in curiosity.
“What is this?” Eleanor held a damaged box resembling a treasure chest, with loose hinges and and in overall disrepair.
“Papa, you’re supposed to give Mummy shiny boxes, not broken ones,” Henrietta chimed in.
“Despite its shabbiness, the lock seems sound. It looks like it took quite the tumble down the cliffs.” Eleanor held it in her hands. “Do I shake it?”
“I wouldn’t recommend it.” Nate peered intently at Eleanor; his shivering had ceased. “Did you recently acquire a key?”
His words hit her heart with the realisation of what the contents may contain. She pulled out her chatelaine and removed the key. “Perhaps this one?”
Eleanor attempted to insert the key, shimmying it, but it would not unlock. Her face fell. “I don’t think it’s a match.”
“May I try?” Eleanor handed it to Nate. He used more pressure, and they all heard a click and the slight spring of the lid. “You should open it.”
Eleanor’s heart raced in anticipation. She was sure the parure was lost forever, but could the suite be inside?
Slowly, she lifted the lid, then saw an aubergine velvet bag inside.
Setting the box down, she untied the cinched, beribboned bag and pulled it open.
One by one, she pulled out the pieces of her mama’s parure.
All of the suite was there. Though a few stones were lost or loosened, it was mostly intact, and would be easy to repair.
“How? Where? When?” The tears were falling, though joy filled her heart.
Nate explained that it had been found by a farmer’s son, who knew of the accident, and he contacted the runners to return it. He refused the reward, so Nate had ordered items from the farmer’s village to be delivered to the farmer’s family as a gift of gratitude.
“Mummy, why are you crying?” Henrietta patted her with concern.
“Mummy’s happy.” Eleanor was. She had dared not hope, but her mama’s lost parure had been found, an unexpected gift for her birthday and Christmastide. Her father’s promise was just a few days late, but the general had always kept his word.
~ The End ~