Elizabeth stared at him, knowing in her heart that everything would be all right.
Chapter 28
“Elizabeth!” Sarah raced into her arms and clung to her.
Elizabeth walked into the salon with Sarah wrapped around her. “I missed you, Sarah.”
“I missed you so much. Please don’t ever leave again.”
Elizabeth looked over at Will and said, “I do not plan to.”
“Sarah, run upstairs and have your sisters and the boys come down here,” Will said, removing Sarah from Elizabeth’s arms.
Sarah raced off with a look of glee.
Elizabeth sat on the sofa with her heart pounding. They had decided to tell the children of their plans before announcing it to the world. She heard the boys running down the stairs and smiled. She still had some work to do to turn them into young gentlemen.
“Elizabeth,” Michael said with a look of surprise on his face. “I thought you left.”
“I have decided to return,” she answered.
“Elizabeth!” Ellie and Lucy said in unison.
“Sit down, everyone,” Will said loudly as the volume in the room continued to grow.
“Oh, my!” Ellie whispered and stared at Elizabeth.
“Elizabeth and I have decided to marry.”
Elizabeth braced herself for a mix of emotions. She knew the girls would be happy but wondered about the boys, especially Michael. A loud shout erupted from the room and suddenly everyone, except Michael, enveloped Elizabeth in a hug.
Slowly, she broke away from the crowd and walked over to Will’s stepbrother. Sitting next to him, she asked, “Are you all right with this?”
Michael shrugged. “This means we are never going home, doesn’t it?”
“I do not know, Michael. Will and I have not discussed where we shall live.”
“Would you come to America?”
Elizabeth nodded with a smile. “If that is where Will wants to live, then yes.”
“And what if Will wants to live here?” Will asked in a gruff tone. There was a look of delight on his face like she had never seen before.
“I will live wherever my husband chooses to live.” Elizabeth patted Michael’s hand. “But how do you feel about it?”
“Honestly?” he asked.
Elizabeth nodded and then Will sat down next to her.
“I don’t mind too much. I’ve met a couple of friends while Mr. Smith takes us on walks in the park.”
“And you will make plenty more in the next year,” Elizabeth said.
Michael put his arms around Elizabeth and whispered in her ear, “Thank you for marrying Will. Abigail was an awful person. And we all love you.”
Elizabeth’s heart swelled with love. She had gone from feeling completely alone to having a large family around her.
“Excuse me, Lady Elizabeth,” Kenneth said from the doorway. “Lady Selby and Lady Blackburn are here to see you. Shall I tell them you are at home?”