The boys were overjoyed to be home surrounded by all their things and especially the toys that they missed. They spent most of the morning in the garden playing with their tin soldiers and cannons, making forts in the dirt.

Juliana watched them from the window. She wondered after her and Richard's time together if it were possible she could be pregnant. It was a thought that both terrified and thrilled her. She could not imagine a life without children and she wanted a large family. Never having brothers or sisters of her own she knew if God was willing she would not want any child to endure being alone like she had been.

Clara was gazing out at them as well. "I am going to miss them," she said quietly.

Juliana thought Clara would make an excellent mother. Annabelle told her Clara had tried but they have been unsuccessful. It bothered Juliana how lonely Clara seemed.

"I also. They are wonderful boys," Juliana agreed.

Clara smiled at her like she took partial credit for that statement.

Annabelle came bounding into the kitchen. "Here you are! Come with me!"

She grabbed hold of Juliana's hand and dragged her from the room, Clara following close behind.

There were a number of packages awaiting Juliana. Stacked up in piles around the parlor. "These are all for me?" The sheer number of them shocked Juliana.

Annabelle squealed in delight. "Go on open them!"

Clara took a seat and just sat back and observed.

Juliana tore through the brown parcels. The boxes were filled with bonnets and trim, silk hose and garters, dresses and chemises; box after box revealed an entire new wardrobe with all the trimmings.

Although excited for Juliana, Annabelle felt a little disappointed, "Well I guess taking you shopping for a new trousseau will not be necessary."

Clara just looked at all the extravagance and wondered what it would be like, to have someone who doted on you in such a way.

Richard came into the parlor and smiled as he took in the display of Juliana sitting in a pile of presents scattered all around her, brown wrapping paper torn haphazardly and thrown carelessly about the floor.

She obviously was having fun. He had just gotten back from his dealings about the properties. Cyril was well connected in London, so finding a new owner for his flat and builders to take on the task of turning Juliana's house into a storefront became far easier than he had expected.

Richard walked up to Juliana. He pulled from his pocket a small velvet box, which he held out to her. Juliana wondered what it could contain, truthfully she thought he had done too much already.

"Go on," he urged.

The box held the insignia of Rundell and Bridge. Never would she think in her lifetime she would hold a box from the jewelers to the Crown. Her hand shook slightly as she pulled on the ribbon. She opened the box to reveal a pair of golden bands.

"Read the inscription," Richard told her.

Her lip trembled and her eyes filled with tears. Engraved in Latin were the words 'Omnia Vincit Amor'.

"Love Conquers All"

Those two continuous circles no beginning, no end would be their wedding bands. Juliana immediately stood and threw her arms around him.

"I thought you might like them," Richard said crushing her to him.

"I have sent word to Albert before we left Clara's that we are to wed the day after we return home and he has been given detailed instructions of what I need to be prepared upon our arrival. Soon, Love, we will be "officially" man and wife."

The way he emphasized "officially" brought color to Juliana's cheeks and he laughed. Shamelessly reminding her of the stolen moment, of their "wedding night".

"Dear Lord, what happened here?" Cyril asked coming into the parlor and taking a look around. "When you came back with only one small package that night, after being gone an entire day, I had thought you ran into some difficulties on what to purchase. Now I see you just limited yourself to what you could carry. I think you may be single-handedly responsible for the boost to our economy."

Juliana laughed, "You may be right. It is a bit excessive."

"What it is, is a long time coming," Richard said.

"Here add this to your pile," Cyril said cheekily, handing Richard the marriage license. "Now you have everything you need to be certain she can never run away from you again."

"I have never run away, only towards," Juliana said standing to be by Richard's side.

"Your running days are over, Love. You are mine and with me, you will stay," Richard said pulling her close and kissing her in a way that made everyone in the room uncomfortable, well everyone except Juliana.

"Everything in place?" Cyril asked when the lovebirds finally broke free.

"Albert has been informed we are heading home. Upon our return I expect us to get married immediately. I have informed him that Mother and Clara will be accompanying us, and that invites are to be sent. Albert will have all well in hand, although I do feel guilty deceiving him in this way."

"Servants are the best at getting the gossip spread," Clara said. She had been so quiet in the room most of the occupants had forgotten she was there.

"Truer words never were spoken," Juliana agreed, "and Albert will understand. He always puts the needs of the family first."

"So, are we ready to take on another adventure?" Richard asked.

"Ready, willing and able," Juliana said giving him a sailor salute and he chuckled.

"How about you dear sister? As my memory serves you were never big on our adventures. Are you certain you wish to come? It is not too late to back down, and I would think none the less of you if you did," Richard asked of Clara.

Clara smiled at him. He wished she was more open, she appeared so guarded and it bothered him that he did not know her better. Annabelle was an open book, wore her emotions on her sleeve and was never at a loss for words. Clara however, was a mystery.

"I am all in," was her response.

"Well then ladies, let's pack up the carriage and get you all home," Cyril said and then chuckled. "Certain you have enough room?" he teased Richard.

Richard smiled. Honestly, he was not sure. He did go a bit overboard but he still did not think it enough. He wanted to give Juliana the world.

"We will manage, somehow," Richard said encouragingly.

As Annabelle helped Juliana pack her new belongings in a borrowed trunk, Annabelle really looked sullen. Juliana placed a hand on Annabelle's stilling her movements.

"I can not express enough how much you mean to me. I will never forget all you and Cyril have done. You gave me my freedom, my life, and helped me find my way back to my Love. You have given me everything. How do you thank someone for so much?"

Annabelle, hugged her. "My reward will be having you for a sister. I have always thought of you as such and now it will be so. I so wish I could be there with you, but know I am there in spirit. You both will not be far from our thoughts. You must promise to write to me every day or at least every other so I am kept in the know."

Juliana nodded, refusing to cry by sheer will. It was difficult because she loved this woman so much.

"Ready?" Richard asked, Clara, standing next to him.

"This is the last," Annabelle said, speaking up to give Juliana a moment to compose herself.

Juliana closed the trunk and said, "Ready."

The two women spent a moment saying their good-byes to Annabelle and Cyril. When Juliana and Clara smothered the boys, they complained of course but deep down they loved the attention.

Outside was a Town Coach ready to take them home with driver and a team of six horses. He opened it and helped Juliana and Clara climb aboard. They would be traveling back in comfort and together, as Richard had hired two drivers one for the coach and another for the cart that held, the casket hidden by a tarp and their belongings packed in trunks.

Richard normally preferred to drive but felt it would give him a chance to spend time getting to know Clara and of course give him more time with Juliana. It would take a few days to get back to Bentley Manor.

Richard gave Annabelle a long embrace. "I will miss you, little sister. Pray all this gets resolved soon."

"I have faith it will," Annabelle said finally letting him go.

Richard turned to Cyril. He held his hand out to him. Which Cyril frowned at and hugged his friend with a pat on the back. "Keep us informed will you? You know how she worries?" he said putting the blame entirely on Annabelle even though the truth was Cyril was worried and did not like the idea of sending them off to face whatever it was that fate held in store.

"We will all be together again soon," Richard said not mistaking Cyril's meaning. "I give my word on it."

"Take good care of my sister and those two troublemakers over there," Richard said chuckling when Alex pushed Willy and Willy punched him back.

Annabelle frowned at the two of them and they immediately stopped.

"Say good-bye to your Uncle," she told them and they ran and tackled him.

Richard swung them around much to their delight, and as he set them down he wondered if one day he would be so blessed as to have sons of his own. He relished the idea, and if knew Juliana as well as he thought, he knew they would be starting a large family as soon as possible.

Richard climbed aboard and signaled for the driver to drive on. Juliana poked her head out and waved until Annabelle and Cyril were but dots on the road.