Page 75 of A Housekeeper for the Earl of Drinkwater
“She is the best mother in all the world!” he said. “Are you ready to go, darling?”
Serena nodded.
“Yes,” she said, clapping her gloved hands together. “Let us go.”
Edward knew how much she had been looking forward to this day, which made him just as excited as his wife. He escorted her to the waiting carriage, which had recently been replaced with a brand new one as a wedding present by all the farmers collectively and presented by the bailiff just two days before.
“Oh, it is magnificent,” Serena breathed, seeing it for the first time.
Edward smiled, feeling a wave of emotion as he looked at the brand-new coach.
“It certainly is,” he said. “Those men and their families are the best tenants an earl could ever hope for.”
Serena smiled, kissing his cheek before he helped her into the carriage.
His wife was a bubbling pot of excitement as they travelled. He never tired of her endless love for life, and he loved the fact that her joy was always infectious. On the day he’d proposed to her, he did not think it was possible to be more in love with her than he was then, but he fell in love with her all over again, every single day.
***
When the carriage finally pulled up in front of Magnolia House, Serena covered her mouth with her hands and sobbed.
“Oh, my,” she breathed, taking Edward’s hands, and practically pulling him out of the carriage. “To think I once never thought to see this place again.”
Edward pulled his bride into a loving embrace, kissing the top of her head.
“Are you sure you want to rent it out, darling?” he asked. “We could keep the staff employed for upkeep and leave it vacant, in case you would like us to stay here from time to time.”
Serena shook her head, gazing up at the townhouse fondly.
“No. The Turner’s have been promised it,” she said. “And it is better this way, I think. I am thrilled that children will once more be running through the halls, just as I did as a girl.”
Edward scooped his wife up, just as he had on the day they were wed. He nudged the door open with his knee and carried a squealing and giggling Serena over the threshold once more.
“Welcome home, my darling,” he said.
Edward smiled as he watched his wife’s childlike excitement. They had seen the main hall of the townhouse during the wedding breakfast, but the rest of the house had been under maintenance and out of bounds. Now, he followed Serena around the place, listening with loving awe as she gave him a tour of her old home.
“This was father’s study,” she said, looking at the old desk with a sad smile. “He used to show me his ledgers, and I would pretend I understood everything he told me.” She paused and giggled. “And then, one day, I realised that Ididunderstand. I so enjoyed our time together.”
Edward remained silent, taking in his wife’s every word.
“Come,” she said, taking his hand and pulling him toward the stairs. “I want to show you my old rooms.”
He followed, laughing as she continued to squeal with delight as she rediscovered her old haunts. When she showed him her old chambers, he smiled to see her happiness as he admired it.
“This is beautiful,” he said, eyeing the yellow bed canopy and pink curtains. “I can imagine you in these rooms, playing with the same girlish glee.”
Serena nodded, smiling somewhat sadly.
“I was so sure this place was lost to me forever,” she said, wiping fresh tears from her cheeks. “I can hardly believe it has been returned to me.”
Edward embraced his wife, rubbing her back gently.
“It will be yours forever, my love,” he said softly.
A moment later, his wife was pulling him back down the stairs. Edward followed gladly, watching Serena’s face light up as they entered what he knew immediately was the music room. She walked straight over to a beautiful pianoforte, covering her mouth with her hand.
“Oh, my,” she breathed, sobbing softly. “I am so glad that that horrible man was unable to sell this.”
