Chapter 76

Pulling up to the manor, they

saw both of their parents on the front doorstep, along with

Margaret and the children. Edward laughed at his wife's excitement

as she started to squeeze his hand tightly, and move around on the

seat.

As soon as the carriage

stopped, Alessandra threw herself from the carriage and ran up to

where her children were. She knelt to pull into her arms,

Elizabeth, who had reached out with her arms for a hug. The look on

Elizabeth's face said clearly that she'd hoped she would receive

the desired arms of her mother around her.

"Oh, how much I have missed

you, Elizabeth! Are you well?" Alessandra asked and felt her

daughter nod against her.

Alessandra hugged her tightly

again before kissing her forehead and then standing to take

Isabella from Margaret, and holding her close.

"Oh my, how you have grown,

little one! And so heavy now!" she laughed, so happy to be

home.

Beside her, she saw Edward

kneel and pick up Elizabeth to hug her.

"How have you

been, my beautiful daughter?" he asked her

gently .

Elizabeth shyly responded.

"Good, thank you, Father."

Edward laughed softly at

her timidness, and kissed her cheek. As always with Elizabeth, he

determined not to push too hard with her to speak. He had already

discovered that his oldest daughter also suffered from 'beetroot

face' whenever the attention was put onto her too much. He'd also

perceived it was something she was starting to be embarrassed

about. Not wanting to bring too much attention to her, he held her

tightly against him until she was ready to let him go.

Finally, Alessandra heard her

mother-in-law usher them all inside. They settled in the drawing

room, Alessandra with baby Charles in her arms and Elizabeth

cuddling into her side, and Edward with Isabella on his lap. Once

comfortable, Alessandra and Edward told all about the adventures

they'd had, and the family they had met.

"It was wonderful meeting

my aunt. She told me much about Mother's upbringing. It was

extraordinary hearing her speak," Alessandra said.

Her father enjoyed the

vision of his daughter looking so completely happy. For a moment,

he thought back to the early days of his marriage to her mother.

Increasingly, he also felt an ever-growing sadness that slowly he

was forgetting what his wife had looked like.

As he sat next to

Edward's mother, he felt her reach out her hand and squeeze his, as

if perceiving that moment to be a sad one for him. Edward saw the

action and the look that passed between the two parents. It caused

a confusing array of feelings in him. He had never seen his mother

be affectionate toward anyone other than his father, so it

initially caused a slight amount of anger. Then he saw the look in

his mother's eyes and knew he could not be angry at her. Looking at

her objectively, he could see that she was still a beautiful woman.

He expected it must have been incredibly lonely with his father not

around.

Before he could dwell on it any

more, the moment passed and was forgotten.

~~~~~

As the day moved on,

Alessandra and Edward went with Margaret to the nursery, to settle

the children down for the night. Once there, Alessandra was pulled

into a hug by Elizabeth.

"Please do not go, Mother," she

asked in her timid little voice.

Alessandra gave her an extra

hug and kiss.

"I am not

leaving again, Elizabeth ,"

she said. "Your father and I are back to stay now. When you wake up

tomorrow, we will still be here. Now cuddle down there in your nice

warm bed, and close your eyes."

Edward stood near the door,

waiting for her, but Alessandra felt inclined to stay for another

moment with her daughter, to make sure she was alright. When she

was sure Elizabeth was relaxed and falling asleep, Alessandra stood

up and walked to her husband. After placing her arms around him,

they stood in a quiet hold for some time, looking at their children

before quietly leaving the room.

"I enjoyed our time away

immensely, but it is good to be home, Edward," Alessandra said as

he started to help her undress. "I do, however, wish I weren't so

tired."

Edward smiled at her and kissed

her softly.

"It

has been a very active few weeks, my love," he said.

Alessandra accurately

understood his double meaning and stifled a giggle.

"Perhaps

tonight, in our own bed, we might … rest ," Edward continued.

Alessandra laughed with him

while blushing slightly.

"Perhaps."