Page 83 of The Scandalous Saga of the White Lady

But by later in the second day, as they closed in on their final destination, Dorothy could barely contain herself, and was peering out the carriage window every five minutes trying to catch sight of the Stewart estate.

“There, there!” she shouted as they rounded a bend and could see the house rising up before them. She clapped her hands and bounced in her seat.

At last, the carriage came to a halt in front of the Stewart estate entrance and Christopher was already waiting for them along with his mother and father and a number of footmen ready to retrieve their luggage.

Christopher flung open the door and shouted, “Dorothy, you made it!”

She flung herself into his arms and he twirled her in a circle as Anna alighted from the carriage and was greeted by Christopher’s mother and father.

“Theodore Stewart,” a robust looking gentleman with a ruddy bald pate and flyaway hair introduced himself while shaking her hand. “And this is my charming wife, and Christopher’s mother, Claribel.”

The mother was plump, red-faced but with a happy demeanor. “And you must be the sister, Anna.”

“I am. What a pleasure to be here and to meet you all.”

At that point the other children came down the steps. “And this is our other son, Thomas, and our two daughters, Louisa and Florence.”

The young fifteen-year-old Thomas bowed, and the two slightly older sisters curtsied.

Christopher introduced Dorothy to his family and they went into the house followed by the servants with the luggage.

Florence directed the footmen where to take the luggage. Christopher had moved aside with Dorothy and they were smiling, chatting, and holding hands, totally removed from the rest of the activity going on around them.

“You must be parched after your long journey. Might we offer some refreshment? Supper will not be served until seven and regular tea is at four.” Theodore said to Anna. “But cook has just made up a batch of lemonade that our children love so much. Would you like to try that?”

“I would,” Anna said, “But I should like to freshen up first. The last few miles were very dusty.”

Theodore laughed. “Yes. Those are the estate’s roads and I have not kept them up as I should have. We have not had any rain for quite a spell.” He turned to his wife who had just returned and asked, “Which room for Miss Anna, dear?”

“She is to be in the blue room and Dorothy is in the yellow.” She asked Anna, “Has my husband offered you tea or something?”

“He kindly has. But I have requested to freshen up first.”

“Of course, dear. Let me direct you.” She laced her arm with Anna’s and led her up the stairs and to her bedroom.

Anna glanced back, seeing that Dorothy and Christopher had already disappeared and were no doubt catching up on the time that had separated them.

Louisa and Florence joined them as they headed to the bedroom.

“You are very pretty,” the young Louisa said. “Are you married?”

Anna smiled. “No, dear, I am not. As you can see from my dress I am in mourning, as our father died recently, and I may not consider marriage for a time.” With that question, Anna could not help but think first of her dear friend Harry and her suitor, Percy. Neither were ever very far from her thoughts as she found she had feelings for each man.

“Does that mean Dorothy may not marry yet either?” Florence asked.

“Yes. It does. But it will not be long.”

“Girls, let Miss Anna be. She is tired from her journey. Let us give her a little time to refresh herself and then we can all meet for tea later.”

“Yes, Mamma,” Louisa said, and the sisters scampered off.

Claribel showed Anna her room and left her with, “Cheery-bye. Come down when you are ready.”

Anna immediately collapsed into a comfortable looking chair, but almost immediately there was a knock at the door and a chambermaid entered.

“I brought you your lemonade and might I unpack your luggage for you, Miss?” she asked as she handed the cold glass to Anna.

“Oh, yes, please. That would be lovely.”