Faith was true to her word, she came to call the next day . . . and the next . . . and the next.  She visited every day for a week, always asking if I would like to return with her to the Winchesters.  I assured her that I was well and that I would not be leaving, not until I had word.  I could tell that she was still worried about me, no matter how many times I confirmed that I was indeed all right.

            Leah was my constant companion, aside from Jasper.  We spent practically every hour of the day together and we did not need to say much.  It was enough that we were there, supporting each other silently.  Every glance was reassurance that Isaac would return and everything would be set to right.

            The lord and lady were not quite on speaking terms, making for tense meetings.  I could tell that Leah was especially anxious during this time, and she needed me just as I needed her.  Lady Edgehill would occasionally smile at me and tell me that everything will be fine, that Thomas always finds his way home.  I wanted to ask her how that would make me feel better, but then I had to give her credit for even trying.  Lord Edgehill, on the other hand, had taken to inviting Leah and I on daily outings to the park to let Alice and Jasper stretch their legs.  That was what he claimed, although I think it was more to get out of the house and away from his wife.  In fact the only times I saw him smile recently were when we were at the park and he taught Alice how to return a ball.  Poor Jasper was still a bit clumsy, but he tried.

            We were well into the second week and no word from Isaac yet.  My daily affirmations of "he'll return" were no longer cheering me.  I spent time leafing through my journals, marveling at the collections of pressed violets I had accumulated.  I felt a new sadness when I realized I hadn't had a new bunch in two weeks and I was unsure if I would ever get another.

            Thursday evening was drawing to a close as the four of us were in the parlor after supper.  The lady remained quiet, tending to her embroidery.  The lord watched as Leah and I were playing with the puppies, trying to get them to sit and stay.  Once Jasper had enough he crawled into my lap and curled up, "Oh, Jasper, are you ready to go 'night?"  With that Alice scampered over to Lord Edgehill, he let his hand hang down over the arm of his chair and he gently rubbed her head before she curled into a ball and closed her eyes.

            "I think I shall head to bed," Leah yawned, "Jasper has the right idea."  I nodded in agreement and moved my puppy into my arms so I could carry him upstairs with me.

            "Goodnight," we said and left the deafening quiet of the parlor.

            I was in my nightgown and brushing out my hair when I heard my name, "Margaret!  Margaret, come down!"  It was Lord Edgehill calling me.  I grabbed my robe and ran into the hallway, Leah following quickly.

            "Sir?" I asked from the top of the staircase. 

            He was pacing at the door, "He's back . . . finally!"  I could see excitement in his eyes.  "I knew he would not be gone long!"

            Leah gave an excited hop and squeezed my arm, I started to frantically pat myself, I was not dressed properly at all, "You're fine," Leah whispered, "he'll just be happy to see you."

            There was a brief knock and the lord opened the door swiftly, "Thomas!" he said clamping his son's shoulder, "what kept you?"

            I could tell by the queer look that Lord Edgehill received that it was not Isaac that he welcomed.  "What are you carrying on about?" Thomas said, a look of disgust on his face, "I've only come for some funds since my arrangement seems to have skipped out on me."  He looked up the stairs at Leah and myself, "And you're still here?"

            "What are you carrying on about?" Lord Edgehill closed the door behind him.

            Thomas let out an exasperated sigh and moved into the parlor, falling into a chair.  Leah and I quickly followed, but staying back since we were in our nightclothes.  The lady glanced at her son and just went back to her needlework.  "I'm so tired of this already," he said letting his head fall back, "haven't they told you yet?"

            "Told us what?" Lord Edgehill was clearly not amused, he stood in front of his son, looking down at him disdainfully with his arms crossed harshly.

            "Ugh," he sighed melodramatically, "It hasn't been me."  The lady stopped her work immediately and looked with alarm at her son.  "That's right," he goaded, "it's been your precious lost son that's been here."  I held onto Leah, was the truth finally coming out?

            "What are you talking about?" the lord snapped.  He took a look around the room, looking at everyone's face in turn, "How could it not have been you?"

            "Thomas, you're drunk," Lady Edgehill stood and rushed to her son, "stop talking nonsense and let me get you to bed."

            "Don't," he warned his mother as he kept her from fawning over him, "I'm tired of this charade and I want what's mine.  The only way to do that is set everything straight, don't you think?"

            "Victoria?" the lord said turning to his wife.

            "What?" she shrilled, "He's clearly inebriated and doesn't know what he's saying."

            "Ha!" Thomas said jumping to his feet, "If you don't want to trust me, ask them . . . the girl and Leah, they know!"

            "Know what?" the lord's voice got heavier with anger, "Someone better tell me what he's going on about!"

            "Isaac," Thomas said the name tauntingly, a smug smile pinned to his face, "your precious lost son . . . he's been here . . . for months now and you've never known!"

            "That's not funny, Thomas.  Isaac's been dead for six years, you know that!"  Lord Edgehill turned from him, going to the side table to fix himself a much needed brandy.

            "Come now," the lady whispered, "enough of this, let me get you upstairs," she tried a bit more forcefully to move Thomas before he pushed her aside.

            "Enough, Mother!" he spat, "Don't you think it's time he knew?  Isaac isn't dead, you sent him away!"

            Lord Edgehill set the glass down hard and spun around, "What?" the word barely escaped his tightly formed mouth.  He took a deliberate step towards his wife "What did you do?" his voice was boisterous, "Victoria!  Answer me!"

            The lady quickly backed away, stopping at the wall, nervously, "I don't know what he's talking about."

            "Come, come, Mother," Thomas rolled happily, "you remember, it was shortly after our twelfth birthday and we just had a really go row.  You went on about how we'd eventually kill each other and then you got that brilliant plan . . . "

            "Thomas, be quiet!" the lady squealed emphatically, "for goodness sake, be quiet!"

            "Go on, Thomas," Lord Edgehill demanded, keeping his eyes on his wife as she remained pinned against the wall.

            "So you packed Isaac a bag and had him sent to your cousin along with a bit of money for his care.  That was the last we ever heard of him . . . and you told everyone that you had lost him during the summer . . . accepting so much sympathy for the death of a child, when he was alive and well, just out of your thoughts."

            I could see the color drain from Lord Edgehill's face.  "How," his words were shaky, "how did he come to be here?"

            "I wrote to him," Leah explained, "two years ago . . . we met again for the first time this Season."

            "It can't be," the lord's shoulders dropped and he turned towards the fireplace, "impossible."

            "Tell him," Thomas turned to us, "tell him how you know it's true!  He needs proof, now's your chance!"

            "I'm sorry, Lord," I managed to find my voice finally, "I have seen them both together . . . I have seen Isaac's scar."

            "How could you possibly know?" he turned harshly towards me, "you never met him!"

            "It's Isaac that I'm in love with," I confessed, "I've seen them both together, I've seen the scar, it runs from under his thumb, up along his right arm, stopping near his elbow." 

            I watched as the tears breached his eyes, his shoulders were shaking, "All this time?"  He inhaled sharply and quickly headed for the door.

            "Gideon, where are you going?" Lady Edgehill called after him.

            "I'm going to find my son!" his voice boomed throughout the house, followed by the slamming of the door.