Mary was pacing the floor, listening to the cracks of the wood as she stepped onto the weaker boards. Eli was sitting behind his desk, watching her walk back and forth from the window to the door.

She was nervous. And frightened. And fearful. But also hopeful.

"Mary, darling, please do not break the floor," Eli interrupted her trail of thoughts. She stopped walking and turned toward him. He too looked nervous and fearful, but not very hopeful.

She sighed and lowered herself on the coach next to her sister. The latter wrapped an arm around the youngest Brompton, and Mary laid her head on Elizabeth's shoulder. Twas indeed a way to be calm, yet her heart kept racing like it was mad. If she was not holding her own hands, she was certain they would be shivering. That was how nervous and frightful she was.

Just when she closed her eyes in an attempt to calm everything inside her down, the floor from the study started cracking again. William was now pacing back and forth from the window to the door.

Elizabeth chuckled, while Eli sighed loudly. "If you break my floor, I will make you pay it."

"Eli," Mary warned, not wanting her family to know of their money problems. Elizabeth had already wondered where the nurse was.

As William sat down, Elizabeth moved so that Mary lifted her head and looked at her sister.

"I have an idea," she said, then quickly looked at Eli before turning her eyes back at Mary. "While we wait, why do we not discuss how you are doing?"

Mary frowned. "We are doing good, considering..."

"And you cook?" she asked, startling Mary.

"What?" she asked, hoping it would divert Elizabeth's attention from Mary's anxiety.

The oldest sister sighed. "Eli had to work twice as much, all your staff is gone... Tis not difficult to see that the play is not doing very well and you are not having enough money."

Mary looked at Eli, then sighed. "Tis our problem, Elizabeth. And I believe we have solved it."

Her sister gave her a kind smile. "Allow us to help you anyway." She turned to look at her husband, who nodded. Then she looked at Eli and motioned for him to come closer.

"William has worked more than usual for over half a year. And he has earned more than we can spend, and that is beside all the money we have had stored for years."

Though Mary's heart started to swell in hope and love, she shook her head. "No, Elizabeth, we could never-"

"Yes, you can," William interrupted her. "And you shall."

"Everything William has earned in those eight months is yours."

Mary tried, but she could not stop the grateful smile from spreading across her face. She put a hand in front of her mouth, but Elizabeth chuckled at the sight. Then the oldest wrapped her arms around Mary, who could only hug her back while trying to fight back the tears.

It had been a very long time since Mary shed tears of joy, and today she let them run. It might not be for the reason she initially wanted – her daughter to be brought back to her – but it was a good reason anyhow. And right now, she would take every bit of happiness she could.

She pulled back from Elizabeth's embrace and looked at her. "It might not be much, but we can thank you by letting you be the first ones we tell it to."

Her eyes moved to Eli, who apparently had the same thoughts. He nodded with a proud smile, and with a similar one Mary turned to look at her sister again.

"Tis not like we would not tell you, but to show our gratefulness, you will be the first ones we tell." Instinctively she laid a hand on her belly, then told her sister: "I am with child."

A broad smile appeared on Elizabeth's face before she wrapped her arms again around her sister and pulled her close.

"I am so happy for you," she whispered in her ear. "You deserve every bit of happiness you are granted, and more."

"Thank you," Mary whispered back, feeling a tear roll down her cheek.

When she finally let go of her sister, Mary stood up to take a hug from her brother-in-law, who also congratulated her, while his wife hugged Eli.

Who would have ever thought that Mary – of all people – would find herself such an amazing husband who got along with every member of her family? Twas even more surprising that Mary was as loved by his family as he was by hers. And she had given him children. Not just one, but soon four – two of them being a twin, like her husband was himself.

There were so many things that could leave someone happy. She was on of the lucky ones who got so much of it. There was only one thing missing, but she had hope. Hope that one day, Nora would be returned to her and she could finally live the life she always wished she could have.

She was so close to that happiness, yet every smile made her feel guilty. Nora could not smile now, so how could she? How could she feel happy when her daughter was not with her? True, she had more than one child to look after, and she truly cared them all. But with one of them missing, nothing was the same. She tried to look after all of her children and not to think of Nora too much, but whenever she thought of being pregnant, she thought of Nora.

What if they could not find her soon enough for her to see the baby? What if she was still not found after months of being stolen? Should she still have hope of her daughter being alive? Would the baby still recognize her parents?

Eli must realize she was drowning herself in thoughts again, for he laid a hand on her shoulder and asked everyone in the room: "do you know why Thomas is coming?"

It sparked Mary's interest, for when her brother had sent a letter, she had been very curious. Secretly she had hoped that it was good news about Nora or Arthur. But when Elizabeth and William arrived on their doorstep, saying they were sent by Thomas, she did not know what to think anymore.

Elizabeth bit her lip before she responded. "He had not said much to you, for he did not want you to hope. But he told us he was getting closer to closing the case. Andrew and Mother should not be bothered with uncertainties."

"Closing the case?" Mary asked. She did not want to hope too much indeed, but she could not stop herself when she heard those words. "Did he mean Arthur's case?"

Elizabeth nodded, but she did not seem like she was going to tell Mary more. So she stared at her sister with an intense gaze, before the oldest sighed and gave in.

"He followed Arthur after the funeral. The man had been hiding in the crowd, but Thomas found him. Arthur went on foot, so twas easy to go after him unnoticed. He walked out of London and to a remote, abandoned building. He did not enter, he told me, for he feared it might be dangerous."

Mary frowned. "Then why does he want us to meet him here, at our house?"

Elizabeth shrugged, but twas clear in her eyes that she had the same suspicions as Mary. Yet neither voiced them, for the disappointment would be too great if it was not true.

A hand rested on Mary's shoulder, and when she looked up, she stared into the eyes of her husband. He gave her an encouraging squeeze, then dropped his hand. But she quickly stood up and wrapped her arms around his torso.

Being held by her husband was the most comforting state to be in. Though her thoughts and worries were still there, there was something comforting about his touch. The mere knowledge that she was loved was enough to make her feel better.

Whatever Thomas had to say, she would make the best out of it. If Arthur was caught, then they could freely search for Nora. If Nora was found, she would feel free to look for Arthur and bring him down for everything he had done.

And if it was only an announcement that was not as good as what she hoped for, she would manage. Thomas would not call on them to tell them something bad, so however small the victory, twas a victory nonetheless – if it was a victory, of course.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door, and Mary turned around to greet whoever would enter. But then Eli passed her and walked out of the room to open the front door. She could slap herself for waiting for a servant to do what they could do. They had no servants anymore, but she still had to get used to that.

She did not mind it though. Twas different from what they were used to, but she did not mind the change. Some changes were good. And if it meant she would see her husband outside her dreams as well, she would do anything she could.

It did not take long before Mary heard her name being shouted from the hallway. She could hear Eli's voice talking to Thomas, and as she got closer, she also heard many gasps.

With her hopes increasing, she started running until she suddenly stopped. Her mouth fell open and her eyes widened. Her hand found its way in front of her mouth as she tried not to cry.

Eli noticed her and Elizabeth and William coming to stand next to her, and turned around so that she could fully see him. But mostly he meant to show her what he was holding in his arms. A bundle of blankets was held tightly to his chest, and through the folds she could see pieces of pink skin.

With tears in her eyes, she ran toward her husband and only stopped when she was standing right in front of him. Her blurry vision made it difficult to truly see what he was holding, but as she looked up to Eli, she could clearly see his smile and she was seeing what she had hoped she could see.

"Nora," she was able to whisper against her hand. Eli nodded, a tear falling out of his eye. Mary pushed the blankets aside so that she could see the beautiful and unharmed face of her daughter. Her hand made its way in front of her mouth again, and before she could stop it, tears started falling out of her eyes like a waterfall.

She wrapped her arms around her husband and cried against his shoulder. She only needed to look down and she could see Nora's gorgeous face. Her eyes were open and staring at her parents with an intense gaze. She was probably wondering why they were crying, but if she only understood the reason, she would cry as well.

Though it was improper, she gave Eli a quick kiss on her lips before taking the baby out of his arms. With a huge, uncontrollable smile, she lifted the little girl above her head. The laughter that escaped her, was the most beautiful thing Mary had ever heard.

Tears started flowing ever harder, but – again – they were tears of happiness.

She looked at Thomas and gave him a grateful smile. He simply nodded, though he could not hide the smile that spread across his face. He was happy to restore a family, and Mary was even more grateful that her daughter was returned to her.

For the third time today, she realized that this was the best day ever. This was the day in which everything good happened, and a day she would never forget.