Page 50 of The Swan Syndicate #1
She didn’t know how to react to his response, and the merriment in his eyes said she didn’t have to. She grinned and stepped down seconds before Mary’s arms wrapped her in a hug.
“It’s so good to see you home safe and sound. We want to hear all about it. Barrington has arranged for a light repast. You must be famished.”
“How did you know when we’d arrive?” Stella breathed in Mary’s familiar rose scent. It was good to be home.
“Because Jamie sent a man ahead before he knew Thomas was already in Bristol.” Hensley stepped next to the women and shook Beckworth’s hand. “Good to have you home. Your guests arrived early this morning, and we weren’t sure if we’d have to start the hunt without you.”
“After a good meal and a good rest, I wouldn’t think of missing the hunt.”
“I think he just wants to be on a horse regardless of the hunt,” Stella said, and they all laughed at the truth of it.
The women ushered Stella inside while the men marched toward the stables. Beckworth wanted to see the foal. She did too, but it could wait until morning. It was doubtful Mary would let her out of her sight.
Dinner was a light fare, being the second one of the day, and the conversation was boisterous.
Stella worried they’d have to discuss the mission and the way it ended.
She should have known better. Hensley would never discuss a mission with their guests present.
Of their new guests, she knew Dame Elizabeth and Lord and Lady Osborne.
No one ever forgot Lady Abigail Osborne—AJ’s nemesis.
She would have to ask Beckworth for a quick overview of Lord and Lady Melville and Lord Standish.
She also should have remembered Hensley and Mary’s ability to carry on a conversation without a pause. Other than a slight discussion on the weather during their sailing adventure, Mary shared every detail of the upcoming events for the weekend.
Stella was excited to see everything Mary and Eleanor had put together, but exhaustion from the journey home was taking its toll, and she made an early excuse so she’d be fresh for the morning activities.
No one questioned it, and Mary all but insisted.
Beckworth promised to join her soon, which meant Hensley would want to discuss the mission once the men adjourned to the west study.
Before she left the dining room, she took a last glance back and caught Dame Elizabeth’s gaze. Elizabeth had been watching her all night, and Stella felt the woman’s eyes on her all the way out of the room.
A fter dinner, Beckworth followed the men to his west study and played host as he poured brandy for the others.
He wasn’t surprised that Hensley had already informed Lord Osborne, Lord Melville, and Lord Standish of the mission.
Everyone who was anyone worried about the war—or, more specifically, about Napoleon.
While Stella had laid her head on his shoulder and slept during their ride to Waverly, he’d been preparing his report. It was Jamie’s mission, not his, so he had no plans to go into detail. That could wait until Jamie joined them.
He waited while everyone had a chance to light up their cigars as Hensley positioned himself behind the desk with an approving nod from Beckworth.
While he was happy to be home, he wasn’t ready to play viscount.
He’d wait for tomorrow, and he saw no reason to shoo Hensley out of his office when he had another in the east wing.
He went through his practiced report, sharing their luck at finding not only MacDuff but Cheval as well.
Then he explained that the two smugglers appeared to be joining forces until Cheval got greedy over possible competition.
He didn’t mention Stella’s role in the mission.
While Hensley must have been aware of it, if not through Jamie’s messages, then certainly from Thomas, he didn’t mention it either.
The group in attendance only needed the highlights of the mission, not the details.
Once the talk turned away from the mission and to rumors and gossip within the King’s Court and war council, Beckworth took his leave, claiming a similar excuse to Stella’s.
He left the running of the house to Barrington and climbed the stairs to the second floor, feeling oddly strange to be home after the last week.
Perhaps it was because he’d only been home two days before leaving for the mission.
Maybe it was coming home to a manor full of guests.
Deep down, he wanted the manor empty of everyone but his staff and Stella.
When he entered their room, the only light came from the fire and a single lantern burning by the bed. A bed with an unmoving lump in the middle of it. He smiled as he undressed, tossed another log on the fire, then doused the lantern.
He snuggled next to Stella, who turned into him mumbling something he couldn’t understand. He’d planned for a special homecoming night, but it would wait for tomorrow. This was everything he needed. They were home, and she was safe. Life didn’t get any better than that.