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Part 12

Peter was alone in the breakfast room when Jennings entered.
"A note for you from my lady, my lord," said Jennings proffering a small silver tray with a note on it.
Peter took the note. "Thank you, Jennings."
Peter waited for Jennings to leave before unfolding the note to read it. He smiled at his sister's apology for missing breakfast. He could feel the happiness behind the words. He hoped his plan would be as successful.
Over the next few days, Peter watched, and even occasionally participated in, the many activities his sister's family participated in. The first time he heard Thalia say 'Max' he had nearly asked who she was talking about. He noticed that Thalia, instead of keeping the children away from their father, created opportunities for Grenfield to be alone with them, as a group and individually.
As with watching Nick and Sylvia, Peter felt a bit of jealousy for the love he witnessed between Thalia and Grenfield. He really was happy for them. He just wanted to have the same kind of relationship with someone. He was sure now he would be unable to until he put his old ghosts to rest. He was ambivalent toward the outcome he hoped might come from a trip to Bath. Was he going to prove that his memories of Helen were only fancies and hoping that would stop his comparing every woman he met with her? Or was he going hoping to rekindle the old relationship; the way it had been before that last morning? Twelve years could cause a lot of changes. Thalia said she had children. Had Collins been good to her? Did she resent him for not having stepped in and declared himself? So many questions ran through his mind.
In due time, although it felt like forever to Peter, he received his mother's response to his letter. She had agreed to the visit. He cringed slightly at her references to daughters of her friends that he could meet while visiting. His mother had been trying her hand at matchmaker since his twenty-fifth birthday. In her own home she would be able to pursue that activity much more than she had been able to do when he had seen her at his home or one of Grenfield's homes.
The morning after his mother's letter arrived, Peter was ready to leave for Bath. Thalia and her family had stepped out on the porch with him to say their goodbyes.
Thalia hugged him and whispered in his ear, "Good luck, Dear Brother. It seems to be the season for love." Grenfield walked Peter to his carriage. Peter quietly told his brother-in-law, "Keep my sister happy."
"I will try my best," Grenfield assured him.
Upon reaching the carriage, Peter turned to wave a farewell to his sister and her children before climbing into his carriage to start his journey to Bath, the past, and, hopefully, the future.

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Part 13

Peter had thought himself well prepared for his mother's matchmaking efforts. He had underestimated her. She had not limited herself to the young women of Bath. She had invited five prospective brides and their marriage-minded mamas to stay with her! He was surrounded by the simpering, lash-fluttering, young, very young to his mind, misses bent on getting him to the altar. It had taken him a couple of days to be able to politely get away on his own for a few minutes to visit the bookshop.
He had barely entered the store when he saw her. She was engaged in animated conversation with a matron as she had been when he first saw her twelve years earlier. He felt propelled back in time. The effect on him was the same now as then. An objective observer might note the wisps of silver in her hair or the way her figure had filled out but Peter saw only the full-face smile and the twinkle in her eyes behind the spectacles and they had not changed at all. Peter tried to look at the books in the shop but had a difficult time as his eyes kept straying back to Helen. He knew the moment she recognized him. She had stopped talking and stared until the customer she was talking to regained her attention. Peter waited as customers came and went from the shop. Finally there was only him and one other person. When that person left, Peter wasted no time approaching Helen as another customer could enter at any moment.
"Good morning," said Peter.
"Good morning, my lord," replied Helen. Peter noted her eyes were wary, not smiling, now.
"Peter," he said.
"I do not think that would be appropriate, my lord," she replied.
"Helen," he started.
"Mrs. Collins," she interrupted. Peter realized this was not going to be as easy as he had expected.
"If you insist." Peter began again, "Mrs. Collins, I need to talk with you. Do you still come into the shop early?"
"Lord Brant, I do not think we have anything to talk about. Might I help you find the book you are looking for?" she asked.
"I came to talk," he insisted. He heard the bell above the shop door ring and lost Helen's attention as she left to assist the newcomer. As a couple more people entered the shop he decided he would not have time this day to speak to her and left in frustration.
When he returned to his mother's home, he dodged the young ladies and their mothers and went to his room. He had left his valet, Jameson, in London when he travelled to Nick's lodge knowing he really would not need him there. Jameson, he knew, preferred the city to the country. Peter had planned to return to London immediately after seeing Thalia to Grenmarsh Abbey so had not summoned Jameson to join him there but Peter had written his valet to come to Bath and to bring Peter's favourite mount. Now he had Jameson help him change to riding clothes. He hoped a brisk ride would ease some of his feelings of frustration and clear his mind so he could decide his next step. He sent Jameson on a fact finding mission before leaving the room for his ride. Servants, he had found, often knew much more than their employers realized. Helen's family was in trade but they would still have servants.

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Part 14

The next morning, Jameson brought Peter some breakfast to his room so that Peter could evade the females lying in wait in the breakfast room. It was enough that he had to dine with them all each evening. While Peter ate, Jameson recounted what he had found out about Helen, Mrs. Collins. Her home was not overly large so there were not a lot of servants to glean information from; just a cook-housekeeper, butler, governess, two maids and one footman. Mrs. Collins had two children, an eleven year old daughter named Julia and an eight year old son named Anthony. Mr. Collins was remembered with respect as a decent sort of chap. The staff were obviously very fond of Mrs. Collins and spoke very highly of her. Mrs. Collins went to the bookshop each morning for eight o'clock (an hour before it opened Peter noted silently) on Monday through Saturday. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday she left at four PM and the other days she left at noon to lunch with her children and spend the afternoon with them. Sunday morning she took her children with her to church services and then devoted the day to them. If the weather was suitable, the three often visited the park near their home on Sundays and the afternoons she was away from the bookshop.
After the way things went the day before, Peter decided it would not be a good idea to try to see Helen before the shop opened for business yet. Still, Lady Luck seemed to be shining on him. It was a gloriously sunny day and a Thursday. It seemed an excellent day for a walk in the park.
It did not take Peter long to find Helen and her children in the park Julia was the image of her mother, minus the spectacles. Anthony wore spectacles but that was the only feature he seemed to share with his mother. They were trying to get a kite airborne without success. Peter thought he should offer his aid. He walked over to Anthony and said, "Might I be of some assistance?"
Helen stared at Peter a moment before speaking.
"Good afternoon, Lord Brant," said Helen. "I am sure we can handle this. I am sure you have more important things to do."
"Good afternoon, Mrs. Collins," Peter said. "These are your children?"
"Yes, my lord," said Helen, a bit flustered. "May I present my son, Anthony, and my daughter, Julia? Children, this is Lord Brant."
Anthony bowed and Julia curtsied. Peter smiled at them. "I believe you are acquainted with my nephew and nieces," he said to them. "Catherine, Richard and Rosalyn."
"Yes, my lord," said Julia.
"You are their Uncle Peter!" exclaimed Anthony.
"Yes, I am. Now," said Peter, removing his jacket and handing it to Helen, "let us get this kite aloft."

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Part 15

Once the kite was flying, Peter returned to Helen to retrieve his jacket. The two adults were apart from the children who were busy taking turns holding the kite string.
"Thank you, my lord," said Helen.
"It was my pleasure," said Peter. "They are wonderful children."
"Yes, they are," said Helen with one of those full-face smiles Peter loved to see. Oh how he wanted to be the cause of such a smile.
"Julia is beautiful like her mother," said Peter. That made Helen blush.
"While I do agree, my lord, that my daughter is beautiful, I cannot think she looks like me," she said.
"Other than her lack of spectacles, she looks just like a younger version of you!" proclaimed Peter. More softly he added, "Please call me Peter as you did years ago."
Helen just stared at the ground without speaking.
"Helen, please, talk to me," Peter pleaded.
Helen looked up at him, unspilt tears in her eyes. "Sometimes I think those weeks were just a dream," she finally said.
Before either could say more they heard the children running toward them with Julia carrying the kite.
"It fell," said Anthony.
"The wind has gone," observed Peter. "Anthony, is there a good shop for ices here in Bath?"
"Yes, my lord!" answered Anthony.
"With your mother's permission, perhaps we could go there now," said Peter.
Helen looked at Peter, unsure what to make of his offer.
"Please, Mama," pleaded Anthony.
"Alright," said Helen hesitantly. "If you are sure, Lord Brant."
"Very sure, Mrs. Collins," Peter answered.
Peter enjoyed his time with Helen and her children immensely. An emptiness he had not been aware of till recently was being filled. The shared laughter warmed him.
Peter knew his mother would be upset with him. She would not be happy that he dodged her guests, again, but that would be nothing compared to when she learnt with whom he spent the afternoon, and he had no doubt whatsoever that she would hear of it. He now knew that he came to win Helen; that he had loved her all through the years. If he was successful in his goal, he knew he would have to face a confrontation with his mother but he was in no hurry to deal with that.
Peter accompanied Helen and her children on the walk back to their home. Peter and Helen fell behind the children.
"I have enjoyed this afternoon, Helen," Peter said softly so that she alone heard.
"Lord Brant," she started.
"Please, Helen," said Peter, "admit that you enjoyed it, too. I always thought you an honest person."
"Yes, I did," said Helen.
Peter smiled. "Well, I will take that as a first step."
Helen smiled too. "Yes, I guess it is."
"I do need to talk to you, Helen," said Peter.
Helen looked at him, "I am not sure that is a good idea."
"I just want to get to know you again," said Peter. "To understand."
"To understand what?" asked Helen.
"Just to understand," said Peter. "I think I am getting closer to understanding many things."
"Do you truly wish to listen to my chattering in the mornings?" asked Helen.
"Very much," said Peter.
"I will leave the door open for you then, Peter," said Helen.
Peter felt like shouting but only smiled and said, "Thank you, Helen."

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Part 16

Peter had been just about to climb the stairs to his room, hoping to avoid his mother, when he heard her voice.
"Brant, I wish to speak to you," said his mother.
Peter bristled at his mother's tone and use of his title. She had ceased to call him Peter as soon as his father died. She had come from the study.
"Shall we use the study?" he asked.
"Yes," she said leading the way.
Peter only half-listened to his mother's tirade about his poor behaviour toward her guests and his choice of company this afternoon. News had certainly travelled quickly but he knew that it would. He said not a word until she seemed to reach an end.
"Are you finished, Mother?" he asked.
She just looked at him. "Well, what do you have to say for yourself?" she finally asked.
"In what respect?" he asked. "I have paid your guests no insults. I believe I have behaved with complete courtesy toward them at every dinner and through every evening's activities. Is that not so?"
"Well, yes," she conceded. "But, you have avoided them during the day!"
"I see," he said. "You expect me to be their entertainment. If you had told me that you were having so many guests, I am sure I could have made other arrangements for myself."
"No!" said his mother. "They are here for you to meet. I just wish to help you find a wife."
"I appreciate your intentions but I do not require your help," Peter said.
"I am not so sure," said his mother. "You have allowed gossip to tie your name with a shopkeeper's daughter by your actions this afternoon."
"Be very careful, Mother," warned Peter.
"You cannot mean that you are interested in that woman!" exclaimed his mother. "She is totally unsuitable."
"Whether or not she and I suit I believe is up to us," said Peter.
"You are a baron!" exclaimed his mother.
"I am quite aware of that," said Peter. "While that does make me a member of the peerage, it is only the bottom rung of the ladder."
"But she is a widow! Over thirty years of age and plain!" continued his mother. "My guests are young and pretty and all from good families."
"I have to disagree with you that Mrs. Collins is plain and I am over thirty myself," explained Peter. "I do not feel there is anything wrong with the girls you have here except that they are girls. I am interested in a woman."
After a pause Peter continued, "If things go as I hope, she will become my wife and her children will be my children. I hope that you can accept that, Mother."

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Part 17

Saturday morning, Helen was busy dusting and arranging books in the shop when she heard the door open. She was almost afraid to look to see if it was Peter entering the shop. She had expected him the morning before but he had not shown. She had been surprised at the hurt she had felt. She took a deep breath and turned to look at the door.
Peter locked the door after letting himself in and turned to face Helen.
"Good morning, Helen," he said.
"Good morning, my lord," responded Helen.
"I see I am back to being my lord," said Peter. "Why?"
Helen said nothing but knew it was her armor; her protection against getting close. She had let her guard down a bit on the walk home the other afternoon and felt hurt.
"Is it because I could not come yesterday?" asked Peter, half hoping that was the cause as it would mean that she had wanted his visit.
"I have no claim to your time, my lord," said Helen.
"You did not answer the question, Helen," said Peter. "I had planned to come but other things required my attention."
"You do not owe me an explanation," she said.
"Yes, I do," said Peter. "I had led you to believe I would be here and did not show. I had to find a new place to stay."
"You left your mother's house?" Helen asked.
"Yes. One of my mother's young guests managed to get me alone in a room for five minutes and my mother then 'found' us and demanded I marry the girl. I refused to be manipulated and said it would be best that they keep quiet about what happened for the girl's sake. She would most likely have a very difficult time finding a husband if her scheme became known. The girl became very upset and said 'But your mother said you would marry me!' Then Mother claimed to have arranged the scenario to save me from my own folly. I had no choice but to leave her house."
"Oh, Peter," said Helen. "How awful for you!"
"I underestimated her," said Peter. "Perhaps I should have expected something after I told her I hope to wed you."
"You told your mother that?" exclaimed Helen.
"Yes," he said smiling. "I did."
"Why?" asked Helen. "I mean why would you want to marry me?"
"Do you find the idea repugnant?" asked Peter.
"Of course not," said Helen.
Peter smiled. "Good," he said and stepped closer to Helen. He looked down at her face using one hand to lift her chin so that she looked at him. He started to lower his head murmuring, "I have never kissed you." He touched his lips to hers gently, briefly. He did not want to scare her.
"Peter," Helen whispered. "Please explain. I need to understand."

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Part 18

Peter took Helen by the hand to a couple of chairs. Once they were sitting, still holding hands, he began his tale. He told her of Nick finding Sylvia and how he witnessed the love they shared. He told her how Thalia and Grenfield had come to a new understanding. He told her how he had started thinking about his own life; how he had come to realize he had loved her all those years ago and felt that was why no woman he met after ever won his heart. When Thalia had told him, Helen was a widow, he had had to come to Bath to see if he truly still loved her or only loved the memory.
"I blame my cowardice and arrogance on youth," Peter said. "I have to confess to being as haughty as my parents on the issue of rank back then. In my ignorance, I failed to realize the beauty and uniqueness of love. Looking back I think you already understood that even though you never spoke about it. I was a year older but so much less mature."
"Peter, if we were to marry, you could be ostracized," said Helen.
"It would not matter," said Peter, "but I do not think it would happen. Thalia is taking Sylvia under her wing. I know she would be happy to do the same for you."
Peter grinned. Helen raised an eyebrow as if to question the grin.
"Although I did not tell Thalia exactly why I was coming to Bath, I believe she knows," explained Peter. "When I left she wished me good luck and said that it was the season for love."
Helen smiled. "If anyone can smooth the way for another it would be Thalia."
"You would have both earls and their wives on your side as well. Nick is new to his title of Earl of Campton and has never been one to spend much time in London but he still is an earl. Grenfield has a well established reputation in London."
"I suppose you are right," said Helen. "There are my children to consider as well."
"I know," said Peter. "They are quite wonderful. I would not take you from them. We would all be together."
"And there is the book shop and my father," said Helen. "Would we live in Bath? Would I still work here in the shop?"
"I have thought about the shop," started Peter. "I do need to be in London at times and on my estate other times. We could keep the house here and visit frequently so that you may see your father. If you approve, I could get my man of business to find a trustworthy person to aid your father in the bookshop until Anthony is through with his schooling. He could decide then whether he wished to take over his role in the shop or sell it to finance a different career."
"There is so much to think about," said Helen.
"This is true," said Peter. "I acknowledge there will be obstacles but I believe with love on our side we can overcome them."
"Peter," Helen said, hesitantly, "Does that mean you love me?"
"Of course, it does," said Peter. "Did I not say that?"
Helen smiled. "No."
"I love you! I love you! I love you!" declared Peter as he rose from his chair and moved closer.
Helen laughed and Peter pulled her to stand close to him. "I love you, Peter," she said.
Then Peter kissed her thoroughly as he had wanted to do for so very long.

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Part 19

As earlier agreed upon, Thalia, along with her family, arrived at Nick's hunting lodge to get Sylvia and Mary to travel with them to London. They arrived in the early afternoon and would wait till the next morning to resume the journey.
Nick could not help but notice something was different about Thalia and Grenfield. He had never thought Thalia unhappy but now she seemed to radiate happiness. Grenfield, who had always been so very proper and reserved, was laughing and, when he thought no one would see, giving his wife the most provocative looks.
The two couples sat on blankets on the grass to one side of the house watching the children running and playing.
"I received a most surprising missive from Peter," said Nick. "He said he is courting a widow in Bath."
"I, too received a letter from him but was not so surprised," said Thalia, smiling. "I had thought that was why he was going to Bath."
"Did you?" asked Nick.
"It was just a suspicion I had," said Thalia. "I have gotten to know Helen a bit during my many visits to Bath over the years. I like her."
"Then I am sure I will, too," said Sylvia.
"It does not sound like your mother is as accepting," said Nick.
"I have learnt that my mother is not always right," said Thalia with a touch of sadness.
Nick was surprised to see Grenfield put his arm around Thalia's shoulder. But then maybe it was not so surprising. He had, after all, noted the new closeness the two shared.
"It will be all right," said Grenfield. "Peter and Helen will have us supporting them."
Thalia looked up at her husband, smiled and said, "You are right, Max."
Max? Nick smiled. He had never heard anyone call Grenfield that before. His reverie was broken by a young voice calling, "Papa!" He looked at Grenfield who held his free arm open for little Rosalyn to run into. She wiggled in to sit between her parents.
"Yes, Poppet?" Genfield asked.
"Richard and Catherine were whispering about something. They said I was too little to understand," she pouted.
Grenfield smiled at his little daughter. "I see. I think you are a very good size. Just right for sitting on my lap."
"Really, Papa?" asked Rosalyn.
"Really," he reassured her.
The little girl smiled but then her brow wrinkled. "But yesterday you had Mama on your lap and she's much bigger than me!"
Thalia blushed; the other adults laughed; and Rosalyn looked bewildered.
"I think it must be time for dinner," said Thalia quickly, getting to her feet.
The next day the group prepared to leave for London. Mary joined Grenfield's valet, the governess and nurse in the second carriage. Sylvia joined Thalia and the children in the first carriage. Grenfield would ride his horse along side the carriage.
Leaving Nick had been very difficult for Sylvia. They had spent nearly every waking minute together over the last several weeks. He would be leaving the lodge this morning, too, to travel to his estates and see how things were progressing. Soon they would be together again.

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Part 20

The time flew quickly by in London as Thalia taught Sylvia the ways of the ton. It was an exciting time but she still missed Nick. They wrote each other daily.
Sylvia watched the love Thalia and Grenfield shared with each other and their children. One day she told Thalia, "I hope Nick and I are as in love with each other in ten years as you and Grenfield are."
Thalia laughed and confessed, "This is brand new for us."
"How do you mean?" asked Sylvia.
"I was so busy trying to be the perfect countess as I was told a perfect countess should be," started Thalia, "that I cast us both into roles that kept us from having any true closeness."
Thalia paused. "I think Peter and I both owe much to you and Nick."
"You do?" asked Sylvia.
Smiling, Thalia told Sylvia of the carriage ride to Grenmarsh Abbey, how she and Peter spent so much time reflecting on their lives after seeing their friend Nick happily in love. With Peter's encouragement, she had decided to really talk to her husband and Peter made plans to go to Bath.
When Thalia finished speaking, Sylvia hugged her. "I am so glad for all of us."
Nick came to London two weeks after Sylvia and started to court her. A week later they received Peter's letter that he would wed in a quiet ceremony in Bath in two weeks time. Sylvia went to Bath with Thalia and her family a week before the wedding. Nick travelled separately to be best man at the wedding. Before leaving London, they had announced their engagement. It would take place three weeks after Peter and Helen's so that the newly married couple would have time to honeymoon before Peter stood up as best man for Nick at Nick's estate.
In the midst of the celebrating at the Earl of Campton's wedding, the three couples quietly slipped away, as they had arranged, to meet together in the privacy of Nick's study. Thalia and Grenfield had brought six champagne flutes. Peter and Helen had managed two bottles of champagne. Nick poured the champagne into the glasses and Sylvia passed them to their friends. Then Nick offered a toast, "To this season for love! May the seeds now planted be nourished and carefully tended so that the love grows ever stronger with an abundance of joyous blooms and deep roots to aid in weathering life's storms."

The End

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