“I suspect they will enjoy each other’s company. Danby enjoys running loose in the pasture. Cooper enjoys chasing and seems agile. When the puppy grows, he might keep up with your horse.” Lydia leaned over and tickled Cooper behind the ear.
“I apologize. I had not realized I had spoken my thoughts aloud.” Heat rose as she wondered if that was all she had uttered. Leaning down, Lilian gave Cooper a quick kiss on his head. “You will enjoy chasing Danby, little man,” she told him. “Danby has been with me a little longer, so you may have to give him time to get used to sharing. However, I think the two of you could be the best of friends.” She propped back and closed her eyes, conjuring up Elysium Manor. The drive to her home wound around a small lake, two-thirds of the edge of which was framed by an apple orchard. The scenery always brought to mind images her grandmama had given her in stories she had told her years ago.
According to legend, Avalon was the place they took King Arthur to recover after the Battle of Camlann. Grandmama had explained that Grandpapa had loved hearing stories of King Arthur when he was growing up and so he had renamed the property Elysium Manor because it gave a mystical aura to the name, and because the meaning of Avalon was very much the same as Elysium. Elysium had sounded more magical to him. Avalon and Elysium both meaning isle of apples, Grandpapa had planted large tracts of apple trees along the far side of the lake. It had been her favourite place to ride while growing up, especially during the summer. Danby had favoured being allowed to reach an occasional apple, which were always plentiful in the summer, from the trees.
She could tell when their black carriage pulled off the road and onto the drive leading to Elysium Manor, and heaved a sigh. We are almost home. Just ten more minutes. She heard the oyster shells that covered the road being crushed beneath the carriage. Mama instructed the servants to always crush and spread any crustacean shells whenever they served seafood. That had been a family custom, and it added a fashionable appeal. Over the years, the drive had become mostly shells, until it ended at the circular brick drive in front of the house. On impulse, Lilian moved the curtain aside to look. The house stood on a slight hill in front of them. The pink brick and grey limestone, Georgian-styled manor had large east and west wings of three storeys, while the main house was four storeys. Matching brick paved a large round drive in front of the house.
Her family’s three carriages came to a stop, the massive oak door opened, and the housekeeper and footman greeted them. Chambers always travelled to London when they opened up the town house, but the home journey taxed him immensely because he could not reach his post quickly enough. She knew Chambers and Clara well enough to know they would be supervising everything in a matter of minutes, the very moment their feet touched the ground. As if he heard her thoughts, Chambers took his habitual position at the door, causing the housekeeper and footman to withdraw.
“My lord, Lady Avalon, ladies, welcome home!” The stout man pulled on his waistcoat as if shaking out any residual wrinkles.
“Thank you, Chambers. You did not have to rush to greet us. You have just arrived home yourself,” declared Father, as he exited the conveyance.
Lilian was always last. She imagined Winston was bringing the chair they maintained here to the door. He would carry her up the steps. She found no enjoyment in this part of her homecoming.
It was still early in the day and Lilian was most eager to see her horse. “Would you go to the stables with me, Lydia? Cooper should meet his bigger brother.”
“Brother, you say? Lud! Danby is a horse and you are not his mother.” Lydia pretended exasperation.
“Will you go with me? I am quite excited to be home again.” Lilian knew Lydia would go with her.
“Let me change my dress first. I am most eager to get this dusty gown off!” Lydia responded.
An hour later, Lilian wheeled her chair down a newly bricked path to the stables. Father had arranged for the completion of this while in London. Lilian was delighted at the surprise. It made access to her horse so much easier. The new gardens thrilled Cooper. He walked ahead of her, stopping every few minutes to assure himself she was behind him. He sniffed everything—dandelions, grass, trees, bushes, everything, and marked as much as possible as his territory. Lilian smiled at his antics while she wheeled herself down the path. It took a little longer than being pushed; however, the path had a slight downward slope from the house, so she moved unimpeded. Returning to the house will require some help, she thought.
“Good afternoon, m’lady,” called Barney, surprise clear on his face. He dusted off his hands, walked up and pushed her towards the stable yard. “I know who ye are ’ere to see. ’E will be mighty glad to see you, m’lady. I’ve put him in the Long Meadow.”
“Oh, I hope so! I have brought him a bag of apple slices from the kitchen.” Lilian pulled one out of her pocket.
“We have been enjoying the apples your grandpapa planted. ’Tis a good season for them this year. Cook has already made several pies.”
“They are my favourite pies,” Lilian exclaimed. “I shall have a piece today, should there be any left!”
Barney turned her chair in front of the stables and wheeled it along the service road to one of the paddocks generally used for a mare with a new foal. “This is as close as I can bring you. Yer horse will be ’ere in a moment. I sent Ned to fetch ’im.” Barney then nodded at
