“What a threat,” Aurelia said, drawing Antonia’s attention back to the door.
“Oh! You came!” Antonia said, sweeping her into a hug.
“I told you we would.”
“Still, I figured you’d want a day to relax after yesterday’s excitement.”
Antonia hugged Oliver next, then waved them inside and led them to the kitchen, where she turned on the kettle.
“We’ve just had coffee—” Aurelia began, hoping not to linger too long.
“It’s no bother,” Antonia said as she pulled out mugs and teabags. “Our train’s not until this evening, but I keep telling Max we should see if we can leave sooner since the kids have been at each other all morning.”
“I haven’t been at anyone,” Julia said, coming into the kitchen and sounding annoyed.
“No, you’ve been an angel,” Antonia replied mockingly, narrowing her eyes at her daughter.
“Fine. I pushed Owenoncethis morning,” Julia conceded, struggling to hide a smile. “You’re here!” she added, only just noticing Aurelia and Oliver and giving them each a hug. “Mum said we wouldn’t see you again.”
“I promised I’d come,” Aurelia said. “But we can’t stay long. We’ve got to get back and organize things before we leave tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow… tomorrow is Monday,” Julia said pensively. “Who’s going to open the shop?”
“No one. Extended holiday,” Aurelia told her.
“I could run things while you’re gone. I can stay,” Julia said, turning to Antonia hopefully.
“No, you can’t,” she said dismissively.
“Don’t even want to pretend to consider it?” Julia asked in a tart tone that made Aurelia laugh before mouthingsorryto Antonia.
“No, I don’t,” Antonia said firmly, though there was a hint of a smile on her lips, as well.
“You’ll have the run of the place soon enough,” Aurelia reminded her. “Once you’re old enough, Oliver and I will be off on holidays every other week just to take advantage of the free labor.”
“Free?” Julia’s eyes ran to each adult, hoping someone would contradict Aurelia. “But not really?”
Aurelia, Oliver, and Antonia left her question unanswered as they walked into the living room so that the newlyweds could say goodbye to their squalling nephews and Max.
By the time they went to bed that night—which was early as they were both exhausted—Aurelia and Oliver had their bags packed and waiting at the top of the stairs. They’d had a quiet dinner in, which was a welcome change from the fuss, however fun it had been, of the last few days.
When she woke just after two o’clock in the morning, it came as a surprise to Aurelia. She was certain she’d sleep straight through the night given how tired she was, and yet there she lay—wide awake in spite of herself. As the minutes ticked on, she began to hear the faint sounds of the characters below. She tried to put them out of her mind, but she couldn’t help wondering who was talking with whom, and how they were getting along. There had a been a few nights when Rochester and Darcy seemed as though they were about to trade barbs, but inevitably they’d move past it only to be just as friendly as before.
Oliver stirred next to her, and she held her breath for a moment, as if that might put him back to sleep. Instead, he reached out a hand and patted the nearest part he could reach—her shoulder.
“Go down,” he said, his voice muffled in his pillow.
“No, I’m alright,” Aurelia whispered, stroking his hand. “I’ll fall back to sleep in a minute.”
“You won’t see them for a week, and then we’re swapping out the books.” He paused and she thought he’d fallen asleep again before he murmured, “You should go down.”
He patted her arm again, then resumed the deep breathing she knew was a sign he was fully unconscious.
She lay there for a moment, thinking, then decidedwhy not?Oliver was sleeping, he didn’t mind, and she’d like to say hello to everyone, even if only for a few hours. She slipped out of bed and went through her usual routine of changing in the bathroom. As she ran her fingers through her hair to tame it, Aurelia spotted her engagement ring, now nestled above her wedding band. She smiled to think that, from then on, she wouldn’t have to pretend she was married when she spoke to the characters.
As she opened the door to the shop, Aurelia was greeted by a loud welcome from Rochester (once Jane told him who had arrived), making her smile all the wider.
She chatted with the characters until dawn and even managed to speak privately with Lizzy so she could tell her all about the wedding. Once the characters disappeared into their books, she made her way back upstairs, back into the bathroom to change into her nightclothes, and back into bed.
