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Two afternoons later, Barclay’s carriage drew to a halt in front of Saunton Park. Aurora and Jane stretched their limbs across from him to prepare for disembarking. They had left for Rose Ash Manor the morning after Jane had accepted his offer. There they had spent the day and evening with Jane’s rambunctious family.

To be fair, it was her younger twin brothers who were the rambunctious ones. Her parents were convivial, and her youngest brother, Thaddeus, was a studious boy. And little Maddie was a sweet delight who had run through the gardens playing with Tatiana, excited to have a girl visiting who was close to her in age.

Beside him, Tatiana opened her sleepy eyes, having fallen asleep against his shoulder. “Are we back at Saunton Park?”

“Yes, little one. We should find something for you to eat.”

She rubbed her flat stomach, which gurgled in response. “I am hungry.”

Barclay smiled down at his daughter. It had been some time since she had been so happy and relaxed as she was during their visit to Rose Ash.

Mr. Davis had graciously given his approval for the match, and Mrs. Davis had helped Jane to pack up her things in trunks, which were now tied to the carriage. There had been tears of joy, nostalgia over the passage of time, and much laughter as her family had celebrated their impending union. Jane had played lively Irish arias on the pianoforte while her family sang and danced with the Thompsons.

Soon the Davises would arrive at Saunton Park for their second wedding this month. He had sent Tsar an invitation to join them while the duke and the earl had been conspiring to arrange a marriage license during the departure to Rose Ash the day before.

“I am glad Maddie is coming to the wedding. I want to show her the grotto,” announced Tatiana.

“With an adult, Tatiana. Do not go down there on your own,” warned Barclay.

“Because of the vodorosli?”

“Yes, little one. The algae is slippery, and the pond looks deep.”

“Will you teach me to swim, Papa? Maddie says she swims at Rose Ash with her brothers, and it embarrassed me to admit I did not know how.”

Barclay grinned down at her, chucking her chin as the footman opened the carriage door and lowered the steps. “You have been cooped up in Town for too long if I have not yet taught you to swim. Perhaps we should ask the earl about a suitable swimming hole while we wait for the house party to end and for all our wedding guests to arrive.”

Tatiana’s eyes shone brightly in the shadows of their vehicle at this news. “Truly?”

“If we are to be discreet, I will join you,” Jane interjected.

Barclay smiled across at his betrothed, still in awe of her beauty. He was having trouble with his sleep—not because he was in mourning any longer, but because his dreams were plagued with the anticipation of marrying Jane.

He shook his head and stood to descend. Turning around at the foot of the steps, he assisted Tatiana down, then Jane. His mother disembarked last, an expression of contentment relaxing her face.

“Mother?” He held out his hand.

She smiled as she took hold to climb down. “You have done well, Barclay. I am pleased to welcome the Davises into our lives. Mrs. Davis is a generous woman, to have taken Ethan and his mother in when they were all alone. They weathered scandal for a boy who was not their own. I can think of no better match, and Tatiana will have aunts and uncles and cousins to support her long after we are gone.”

“We have certainly extended the size of our family considerably. I am delighted that Tatiana now has relations of her own age.”

They turned to watch Jane and Tatiana walking up the steps hand in hand to enter the manor, while the stone sentinels on the roof peered down to guard their progress.

“Perhaps I should have attempted to marry. So you might have had brothers and sisters,” Aurora said in a wistful tone.

“Mother, you have done more for me than most in your position. I regret nothing about our lives. As wonderful as it is to unite with the Balfours and the Davises, the Thompsons are a strong family in our own right.”

Aurora took his arm and squeezed it gently to express her approval. Then they followed his betrothed and his daughter into the manor.

After parting ways to freshen up after their travels, Jane and Barclay reconvened in the library, where Richard was playing his afternoon game of chess with Ethan, while Tatiana observed their play. The duke was sipping a cup of coffee while contemplating the park bathed in late afternoon light and shadows.

Barclay looked back to the door when Aurora entered, her face lit with joy. He shot her a quizzical look as the duchess and the countess arrived behind her. As theirs was a family gathering to discuss the details of the approaching nuptials, the countess shut the door to the hall so that other houseguests would not wander in to interrupt them.

“Oh, Barclay! I have the most tremendous news.” His mother paused, tears springing into her eyes and her voice thick with emotion. Holding a hand over her mouth, she gestured to the duchess to speak on her behalf.

“I was telling your mother that the duke and I are involved in charitable endeavors in Halmesbury. A close friend of ours manages a foundling home, The Halmesbury Home for Beloved Children, for which His Grace is the primary patron. We provide a home and schooling. For older children, we facilitate vocational training with honest local businesses to help them explore their options. His Grace and I had discussed creating a similar home in London, and your mother has volunteered to direct it. As an architect, I am sure you possess valuable insight about where we might establish a safe haven.”

Aurora was ready to speak. “The Thompson Home for Beloved Children, in honor of your grandmother.”