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They both took it as a good sign they had received no missive calling them back to Castlemere. Could it be that against all expectations Archy had improved somewhat?

They had decided to stop at Castlemere first, then they would go onto Snowhaven, before beginning the journey to Rosings Park.

Richard was more than keen for Mary to see their estate.

He would be forever grateful to Lizzy and Hertfordshire for making sure they were already married before the Duke had passed away and not waiting for the mourning period to pass before solemnising the marriage.

Mary was as ebullient as she had ever been, Richard was kissing her below her ear, something she enjoyed greatly.

At the moment they approached the gate posts at Castlemere, his ministrations caused her head to turn, and she saw the black fabric hanging on each gate post. There was hardly a breeze, so the material was hanging lifelessly.

“Richard, look!” Mary exclaimed as she pointed.

Startled, Richard sat straight up and followed his wife’s finger to where it was pointing. “Hertfordshire,” was all he said.

“I asked Lizzy to notify us,” Mary complained. “How could she renege?”

“Mary, my love, did Lizzy ever promise to summon us back from our honeymoon?” Richard asked.

“Yes…no! No, she did not.” Mary had begun to cry in her grief for the brother-in-law and former guardian whom she loved. “Lizzy wanted us to enjoy our wedding trip, did she not?”

Richard nodded.

“She has always done anything she could to make my life easier. I suppose as sorry as I am that Archy is with God; I cannot be upset with Lizzy. Mother and Father or Aunt Anne and Uncle Robert, or even William, could have notified us. I think it means they all agreed with Lizzy.”

“I am pleased you puzzled that out, my wonderful Mary. The last thing our sister will need now is for you to be angry with her.”

“You are, of course, correct. She will need sympathy not anger.”

For the miles until they arrived at the castle and manor house, Mary and Richard sat in contemplation. It was expected, but that did not make it easier.

When their coach pulled to a halt in front of the entrance to the castle, Lizzy, Jane, Cathy, and Lydia were all waiting for them. Richard had barely handed Mary out when she fell into Lizzy’s arms, both of them sobbing.

“I could not disturb…” Elizabeth began to say between sobs.

Mary put her finger on Lizzy’s lips. “You did the right thing, Lizzy, Say no more about it. We are here with you now, that is all that counts,” she said, and pulled her older sister into the circle of her arms.

Eventually, after Richard commiserated with his new sisters, especially Lizzy, they made their way inside to find Mother, Father, the Darcys, the Barrington parents, and the MacIntyres in the large sitting room. After Richard greeted his parents, aunt, and uncle he went to speak to William.

A little while later, Lizzy and Mary went to the nursery to see the children. Matty was still sad, but a little less now that Aunt Mary was back, and when he told her of his first lesson on the pony, he was almost his old self.

They spent time with the twins who were slowly but surely asking for their papa less each day. It was the same when Archy had been gone for two months to Ireland, they had asked less and less, but how happy they had been to see him when he had returned.

Later that evening, the recently married Fitzwilliams resolved to remain with Lizzy and the children for as long as she needed them.

~~~~~~~/~~~~~~~

Elizabeth knew she had put off opening Archy’s first letter for longer than she should have.

That night she took the letter from the drawer next to her bed where she had placed it the day Aunt Anne gave it to her.

She kicked off her slippers and sat on the bed, her back against the pillows as she held the still sealed missive in her hand.

Then she placed it on her legs and allowed her fingers to run over her name which he had written.

She took a series of deep breaths and reminded herself that she was brave. She broke the seal and smoothed the paper out before beginning to read.

12 March 1812

My dearest, magnificent Lizzy,

If Anne gave you this, the first of my letters to you, then as much as I did not want to leave you, I have been called home to God.

You know as much as I do it was not my choice.

As we have seen, being honourable, good, and Godly does not mean that He will not call us home before we are ready to join Him.

Lizzy, I have told you this, but it bears repeating. You are by far the best thing which ever happened to me!

From the first time I met the pixie who had no fear at Pierre Lambert’s parsonage, I knew you were special, but I never imagined that one day you and I would marry and have children.

The next time we met, when you bumped into me and then scolded me, I knew.

At that instant I was certain that I would be yours one day, and as you know a year or so later, it came to pass.

Look at all the obstacles we overcame to find one another.

It was ordained, and we allowed Him to guide us to each other.

The years we had together were the highlight of my life, and just when I did not think it could get better you gifted me Matty, and two years later we were blessed with Gracie and Winston.

(Do you know how tempted I was to write Winny as his name?

I can only imagine your face had I called our second son that.)

I can hear you saying that a little short of 5 years of marriage was not close to enough.

I agree with you with all that I am. As we have canvassed it is not something over which we have control.

There is nothing I would have liked more than growing old with you.

(Well me getting old, and you getting a little older.)

Lizzy, I beg you, concentrate on the blessings we had, not what we did not have. You will drive yourself to distraction if you think only of the negative, and that is not what I want for you, and neither will it be a way to honour me.

The way you will honour me and give my life ultimate meaning is to live yours to the fullest. Yes, that means marrying again.

Not only to protect you from the sharks who will circle, but because you will need someone to love.

A man who will love and respect you in return.

One who will not be intimidated by your wealth or try to circumvent the protections which are in place.

He will have to be a good father to our children, and a good, upstanding, and Godly man.

Before you claim that a man like that does not exist; he does! All you have to do is allow the scales to fall from your eyes and look.

The next letter will be given to you at some point in the future. In it, I will be more explicit as to who I believe will, in my absence, be the ideal man for you.

Remember this: regardless of whether you find another to love, our love is eternal.

With all of my love, and more,

Archy

Elizabeth was in tears as she read the letter, but she made sure to protect the paper from her tears. She wanted to keep the letter with all of the others he had ever written to her, and she did not want it damaged by anything, not even her tears.

She appreciated that even while he was in pain he had taken time to write to her.

As she looked at his words about who would be the man he felt she should marry, a face formed in her mind’s eye.

Her head told her she knew Archy was right in his choice, but her heart refused to consider him, or anyone else, at least at this point.

After she placed the letter into her memory box, Elizabeth returned to bed, and before she fell asleep, she resolved to open any further missives without delay.