excuse me.”
“Can we go see the men?” Harry asked. “I want to see how they are doing. Mr. Pimmel, Mr. Brown, and Mr. Garfield, in particular. I’m friends with them.”
“We can do that,” Dalinda said. She looked to Dez. “Didn’t you wish to ride about with Rhys and see what’s been taking place at Sheffield Park?”
“I would like to,” Dez replied. “Rhys?”
“Yes, I am free to take you around now.” He took her hand and brought it to his lips, kissing her fingers. “We’ll only be gone a couple of hours. Back in time for tea.”
“Very well. I will see you then. Come along, boys.”
She held out her hands and was glad when both Arthur and Harry took one. The last year, Arthur had been pulling away from her, claiming to be too old to show affection. It seemed at least for a little while he was back to his old self. They returned inside, both jabbering away at her. It made her realize how giving them the opportunity to spend time with Dez and Anna had been the right thing to do. She hoped it would become a tradition. Perhaps her twin’s children would also come to visit their cousins here at Sheffield Park in the future. Hopefully by then, she and Rhys would have added to their family.
They went to the ballroom and Dalinda introduced her sons to Dr. Robinson, his daughter, and Mrs. Nathan, as well as another girl from the village who had been hired to help with the nursing of the men. Four more injured veterans had arrived in the past week and the boys accompanied Dr. Robinson as he went about the room tending to everyone present. The former soldiers seemed happy that Arthur and Harry had returned and they sat in a circle as the boys told them about the different activities they had participated in at Sheffield Park. Pimmel shared his news about the possibility of having a prosthetic made for his missing leg and that Dr. Robinson was going to London to consult someone about the possibility.
“You’ll have to learn to walk again without your crutches,” Arthur said. “If anyone can do it, it’s you, Mr. Pimmel.”
She glowed with pride at how well her children had adjusted to having so many wounded men around and how well the boys accepted these men, no matter what their physical appearances.
After an hour, they left the ballroom. Arthur was wanting to see some of the men already working on the estate. They went to the garden first and found Davis weeding. He greeted the boys enthusiastically and they spent a quarter-hour with him, catching up on his news and sharing their own. Next, they located Hensley, who was painting new chicken coops built by another soldier, and they did the same with him.
Finally, they headed toward the stables, where Brown was outside bathing Arthur’s pony. The blind man tilted his head as she and the boys drew near.
“Is that Lord Harry and Lord Arthur come home?” he asked.
“How did you know?” Harry asked, a look of delight on his face as if Brown had performed a clever parlor trick.
“I can tell by your gait, Lord Harry. And Lord Arthur cleared his voice. I would know that sound anywhere.” Brown paused. “Lady Sheffington is also with you, I suspect. Good morning, my lady.”
“How did you know about Mama?” Arthur wanted to know. “She is light on her feet and didn’t make a sound.”
“Ah, she is, indeed, but your mother always smells of roses. I have learned since becoming blind that all my senses are magnified. I can hear and smell things better than I could before the shell exploded, robbing me of my sight.”
“Do you like working in the stables?” Harry asked.
“I am in tune with the horses,” Brown replied. “I think this is a good place for me. Lord Arthur’s pony is getting his bath. Yours is next, Lord Harry.”
“I want to go see him now,” Harry said, dashing into the stables, Arthur in close pursuit.
“They are good lads, my lady. I know you are proud of them,” Brown said.
“I am, Mr. Brown. I am also proud of you. You have met every challenge with purpose and fortitude. I hope you will remain at Sheffield Park for many years to come.”
Dalinda saw Rhys and Dez approaching and waved to them. She waited for them to arrive and they dismounted, leading their horses into the stables. Harry was at his pony’s stall. She stopped as