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Chapter Eleven
Charlotte had never been so happy to see her daughter-in-law. Which was saying something, as her son, William, wasn’t the only one who’d count down the days to when Susan and her brother would come stay with her during the summer holiday every year.
It had been several days since the ball, and if she wasn’t mistaken, Seth had been avoiding her ever since. Charlotte was more than ready for another diversion.
Charlotte had first met the woman who was now her daughter when both Susan and William were children, and Susan’s older brother was William’s best mate from school. Any young girl who would purposely stick her foot out to trip a boy who’d been rude to her was bound to be a favorite. Year after year, they’d spend August together. And year after year, Charlotte grew to love the little girl and later the young woman even more. In many ways, Susan had become the daughter she’d never been able to raise. Between her and the girls Charlotte helped at the asylum, much of the hole in her heart had been filled.
Then, only a few years ago, Susan and William had married. Now, they were truly family.
Which came with an immense added benefit.
Grandbabies.
“Where’s my little handsome grandson?” Charlotte asked before Susan even had time to make it up the stairs and into the house. At eighteen months old, he was Charlotte’s only grandchild so far, but she prayed frequently and fervently that he wouldn’t be her last. Susan held little Samuel out and Charlotte pulled him in close to her. “My, but you’ve grown.”
“He does nothing but eat and sleep,” Susan said, climbing the stairs one slow step at a time. “Anyone on such a schedule is bound to grow.”
“Eating, sleeping, and running his mother ragged, it looks like.” Charlotte looped an arm through Susan’s. “Come on in and we’ll get you all properly settled.”
“Happy to see you, too, mother,” William called from where he still stood next to the carriage.
Charlotte turned slowly, her brow creased, and she studied him carefully. “Tell me your name again.”
William cast his eyes heavenward and let out a loud sigh. “You have one baby and suddenly you aren’t worth even a hello.”
Charlotte smiled and waved him forward. “Come here, my sweet boy.”
He skipped up the stairs and wrapped his arms around both her and the fidgeting little boy.
Charlotte reveled in the feel of being wrapped in the arms of her son while holding her grandson close in turn. How had she ever ended up so blessed?
William pulled back a little but left one arm around her shoulders even as he turned his attention to Samuel, his voice turning singsong. “You going to stop fussing now the carriage ride is over? Are you, old man?”
Charlotte glanced over at Susan. “Did he fuss most of the way?”
“Allthe way,” Susan said with a nod. “He fussedallthe way.”
“Oh, my darling,” Charlotte said, shaking her head, “you must be exhausted. Why don’t you go lie down, and I’ll see to this little one.”
“No,” Susan said, stepping into the house. Charlotte and William followed in after her. “If I sleep now, I won’t sleep a wink tonight. Then I’ll only be all the more tired tomorrow.”
“Well, then, suppose we left Samuel with William, and you and I took a ride through Hyde Park?”
Susan’s smile was answer enough.
Though she was reluctant to let Samuel go, Charlotte knew, with her family come to stay for a time, she would have plenty of opportunities to snuggle her little grandson. Right now, her daughter needed her.
William took his son from Charlotte and started back toward the front door. “First thing, old man, we need to tell the footman which trunks go in Mama and Papa’s room and which go in the nursery. Then we have many important, manly things to discuss. Such as Parliament, the war on the Continent, and what’s for dinner.”
Susan took a few minutes to refresh herself, but soon she and Charlotte were sitting side by side in the barouche and riding out toward Hyde Park.
“How fortunate it is we arrived just in time to ride out during the fashionable hour,” Susan said. They’d only left the house a few minutes ago, and already Susan was appearing better.
Charlotte understood, as any mother did, that one may love her own children more than anything—even more than life. But that didn’t mean a break wasn’t welcome and necessary now and then.
They greeted several acquaintances in passing, many of whom wished to stop and speak a short while with Susan to welcome her back to London and to congratulate her on her new baby boy.
Even Lord and Lady Finch stopped as they were passing by in their carriage. “Good day to you both, my ladies Blackmore,” Lord Finch said, nodding to each of them in their turn, his round spectacles perched as precariously atop his nose as ever.
