shaking her head.
“Thank you both, but I shall be fine,” she said with a small, brave smile before stepping into his office.
Elijah and Thatcher shared a look, before Elijah tilted his head to the side, then motioned for Thatcher to follow him into the parlor that shared a wall with his father’s study.
This room wasn’t often used, and despite the fact that it had been opened up for this house party, a musty odor lingered, one that even a good cleaning couldn’t quite remove.
Eli lifted a finger to his lips, then led Thatcher over to the side wall, collecting two hardback chairs on the way. He pointed up toward the ceiling, to where the transom window overtop of the door was slightly ajar.
They took a seat, and sure enough, soon his father’s voice came through the window at the top.
“Caroline,” he said, his voice gruff from years of smoke curling around his throat, “I am very disappointed in you.”
There was a pause.
“I understand, Father, but you must understand something as well. I love Samuel Thatcher, and I am going to be with him, despite what you think. I know he is a footman, but he is a good man — the best man I have ever known. I love him, and—”
“Caroline,” her father’s voice was softer now, “that is not why I am disappointed. It saddens me that you would think that to be the case.”
“Then what—”
“I am disappointed that you would run away from the family. Especially during Christmastide. We had no idea where you were, if you were safe, or what had become of you. If Elijah hadn’t realized that Miss Merryton had gone with you, we would have been most frightened. I—” his voice broke, and Elijah started. He hadn’t been aware that his father possessed such depth of emotion. “I was worried I had lost you forever.”
“Oh, Father,” Caroline said, and Elijah could picture the two of them embracing.
He snuck a look at Thatcher, who was running a hand through his hair, his eyes wide and incredulous. Elijah didn’t blame him.
“Now,” Eli’s father said, obviously sufficiently recovered, “if you are sure you want to marry Thatcher—”
“Oh, I am, Father, I am.”
“—then we had best start making some arrangements.”
Elijah could only sit there, his eyes wide as he listened to it all.
He had been so hurt by Joanna’s inability to believe in him that he had forgotten one thing — how much he loved her. How much he hoped she loved him.
He had to put his hurt feelings aside and understand that past misdeeds could cause great present misunderstandings. But things could change, people could change, and they needed to work through this — together.
If Caroline and a footman could have a future, then surely so could he and Joanna?
“I have to go,” he whispered to Thatcher, who nodded and stood, following him out of the parlor.
He reached out his hand, and when Thatcher took it, he pumped his arm up and down a few times. If the war had taught Elijah anything, it was that a man was not made by his station. Thatcher seemed a good enough sort, and if he was Caroline’s choice, then he would welcome him as a brother-in-law.
“Best of luck,” he said, and then turned to go.
“Same to you,” Thatcher called after him, and when Elijah looked back, he caught his knowing grin.
He would pack his bag, and then he would go find Joanna. He couldn’t let her go again.
Joanna had never sewn so fast or furiously in her life. Thank goodness all of the other costumes were ready. It was just Elijah’s she had to perfect.
She found Caroline’s maid, Mary, who was astonished to find Joanna within the house. She had many questions, of course, but Joanna just shook her head as she told her that she would reveal all later.
“Right now, we need to get these costumes to where they need to go,” she said, and Mary nodded, although Joanna could tell that she was fighting her curiosity.
Arms loaded, Mary continued to carry the costumes, delivering them to the appropriate rooms. On her last visit to Joanna’s room, she took in her hands the one remaining costume.
“For Lord Elijah,” she said, and the girl held it out in front of her, staring at it,
“It’s perfect for him,” she said with a surprised glance at Joanna and Joanna smiled softly.
“It is, isn’t it?”
If only he would understand just what she thought of him, and how she loved the man he