"Thank you, Tante. I know Italy has done little more to help my skin than to kiss it golden. I look forward to your educating me on the care of skin, English style."
"Oh, you naughty girl, to laugh at me so! Now look out the window, Surely you can see the flambeaux at the doorway from here." Ladies Alice and Eleanor as well as Estaria began to rustle around in the carriage, pinning up stray curls, straightening their bonnets, removing the traveling furs and brushing away wrinkles. Allie stifled a yawn and smoothed her gloves. "Look lively, my dears! We have arrived."
*********
"Rosy, my darling, how lovely you look! The fresh country air agrees with you."
"Oh please, Allie, doing it up rather brown, aren't you?" Ammie gathered her in her arms and then passed her on to Edwin who welcomed her with a kiss on both cheeks Continental style and then on both hands as she greeted him with loving sympathy.
"Tante Rose, it is so good to see you. The last time I saw you this happy was years ago . . . ," Esteria's green eyes blinked with embarrassed tears as she moved to hide her face in her aunt's shoulder. "I am so very sorry, she whispered. "My mouth always gets ahead of my brain."
Laughing, Ammie passed Esteria on to Edwin and turned to her mother. "Oh, Elle, I missed you so much! she breathed. "So many times the last two years I have wondered how you are doing. When I heard you were returned from Italy with Esteria, I was so relieved."
Elle looked down at her best friend and the tears flowing down her cheeks and felt again the stab of disbelief at the betrayal that had sent her packing off to Italy with her daughter. "It will be okay, Rosy. Someday, it will be okay." She kissed the upturned cheek and turned to Edwin. "Hello, Edwin. Here we all are again. All except the two who began it all. First Grandmere and now the old Marquess. How will we get on without them!"
Edwin smiled down at her and gently kissed her cheek. "We have learned to manage have we not? We will continue to go on. Now, ladies, please follow Mrs. Darling. She has prepared your rooms."
Ammie ushered them to the stairs. "I believe hot water awaits you and some tea as well. When you have been refreshed, we will meet in the front parlor for dinner. Those who arrive later will be served in their rooms."
"Oh, you naughty girl, to laugh at me so! Now look out the window, Surely you can see the flambeaux at the doorway from here." Ladies Alice and Eleanor as well as Estaria began to rustle around in the carriage, pinning up stray curls, straightening their bonnets, removing the traveling furs and brushing away wrinkles. Allie stifled a yawn and smoothed her gloves. "Look lively, my dears! We have arrived."
*********
"Rosy, my darling, how lovely you look! The fresh country air agrees with you."
"Oh please, Allie, doing it up rather brown, aren't you?" Ammie gathered her in her arms and then passed her on to Edwin who welcomed her with a kiss on both cheeks Continental style and then on both hands as she greeted him with loving sympathy.
"Tante Rose, it is so good to see you. The last time I saw you this happy was years ago . . . ," Esteria's green eyes blinked with embarrassed tears as she moved to hide her face in her aunt's shoulder. "I am so very sorry, she whispered. "My mouth always gets ahead of my brain."
Laughing, Ammie passed Esteria on to Edwin and turned to her mother. "Oh, Elle, I missed you so much! she breathed. "So many times the last two years I have wondered how you are doing. When I heard you were returned from Italy with Esteria, I was so relieved."
Elle looked down at her best friend and the tears flowing down her cheeks and felt again the stab of disbelief at the betrayal that had sent her packing off to Italy with her daughter. "It will be okay, Rosy. Someday, it will be okay." She kissed the upturned cheek and turned to Edwin. "Hello, Edwin. Here we all are again. All except the two who began it all. First Grandmere and now the old Marquess. How will we get on without them!"
Edwin smiled down at her and gently kissed her cheek. "We have learned to manage have we not? We will continue to go on. Now, ladies, please follow Mrs. Darling. She has prepared your rooms."
Ammie ushered them to the stairs. "I believe hot water awaits you and some tea as well. When you have been refreshed, we will meet in the front parlor for dinner. Those who arrive later will be served in their rooms."
