The next day Jasper and Eliza wave goodbye to Charlotte and Thomas as they leave their house and travel to Ryddan Manor. Jasper insisted on waiting till the middle of the afternoon so he, Benjamin and Thomas could have a serious discussion about an upcoming business venture in Europe. Eliza and Charlotte were extremely uninterested so they spent a nice time in the library picking out possible baby names from notable works of literature. By the time they had finished, Charlotte held a long list of name.

They say their goodbyes in front of the carriage, Charlotte cries softly as Eliza, Jasper and Benjamin trundle away but Thomas hugs her with one arm and distracts her by asking about Eliza's and she's list of baby names so she cheers up quickly.

Eliza settles comfortably into the soft seats of Jasper's carriage, she feels a sense of normality after the stressful months she and her family and friends had endured. Benjamin opens the newspaper and begins to mutter to himself. Her fingers drum on the book she is holding. Jasper looks over and moves her fingers to see the title.

"Romeo and Juliet?" He asks with a lilting tone.

"What?" Eliza says defensively, she tucks the book under her arm.

"I find it a bit unrealistic." He says, turning his nose up, his wife narrows her eyes.

"Why is that? Because they kill themselves?"

"Partly." He replies, "They found themselves so absolutely in love with each other that they killed themselves because the thought of living without each other was incoherent. However, I think that if they had survived, despite all the family differences, they would have discovered that they weren't as nearly as in love with each other than thought. They didn't know the basics about each other and yet they sought themselves "in love."

"Do you not find their love both inspiring and hopelessly and tragic?" Eliza asks.

"I find it unrealistic and preposterous."

"That is because you are a cynic," She says opening her book.

"And you aren't?" He asks stealing the book out of her hands, he glances down the page and wrinkles his nose. "You never dreamt of true love in an instant or happy marriage, you made that clear the second time we met, you are twice the cynic I am."

"Oh really? Then for two cynics, I think we did rather well in the love side of life." Eliza says pinching the book back. Jasper grunts and looks out of the window, she smiles and begins to read.

The carriage stops in front of the house fifteen minutes later, Eliza steps out of the carriage holding onto Jasper's hand.

"Eliza!" Penny sprints out of the front door, her mother calls something about slowing down but it falls on deaf ears.

"Hello." Eliza laughs as Penny wraps both her waist and squeezes. Helen reaches the party, she embraces Benjamin and turns to her son.

"Jasper." She kisses both his cheeks and pats his face comfortingly. Penny lets go of Eliza or rather Eliza prizes herself away. Penny waves hi at Benjamin and then proceeds to cling to Jasper's legs.

"Brother." She cries.

"Eliza." Helen moves to her, hugs her, kissing her cheek. "It is delightful to see you."

"You too." Eliza smiles

"Let go," Jasper grumbles, trying to dislodge his little sister. Penny does, after a strict glare from her mother, let go and takes Eliza's hand.

"Come inside, have a cup of tea." Helen gushes, her fluttering hands pushing everyone towards the house.

"Race you?" Penny asks.

"Eliza has been very ill..." Jasper begins but he trails off as his sister and wife both sprint towards the front door. The rest follow at a more subtle pace. Everyone piles into the living room, taking up armchairs and poofs. Helen passes around cups on tea and biscuits.

"How are yo..."

"Where is she?" Elizabeth De Roch's loud voice cuts of Helen's question as it travels through the house, she quickly walks into the room, her cane bangs on the floor as she enters. Eliza sets her tea down and stands to greet her aunt. The old woman marches over to her with the energy of cheetah.

"Let me see you," Elizabeth says grasping hold of her niece's shoulders.

"It's nice to see you too Aunt," Eliza says, her aunt tuts. Her eyes shrewdly inspect Eliza's face, she makes her turn and has another long look.

"She's had quite the ordeal, let her sit down," Benjamin comes to her rescue, Elizabeth shoots a pointed glare at him but she lets go and turns her attention to Jasper, she advances on him with her stick in the air.

"I warned you." She says shaking her cane. Jasper looks up from his cup, alarmed.

"Aunt it is not his fault I became ill, " Eliza says sitting down and picking up her cup. "Have a cup of tea."

Elizabeth frowns, halts but sits down with a huff next to Eliza who passes her the tea.

"How are you feeling?" Helen asks sympathetically.

"Quite well." Eliza replies, "I have recovered."

"We are leaving tomorrow." Penny says sulking, "But I don't want to go, I am going to miss all the Christmas celebrations."

"We have to return before Christmas." Helen says, "We have spent quite enough time here, it has been lovely however you must miss your friends?"

Penny nods her head as she chews on a shortbread biscuit.

"We should make the most of your last night then," Benjamin says. "Play some cards."

"I'll teach you poker." Eliza winks at Penny. Helen's and Benjamin's eyes widen, Elizabeth chokes on her tea but Jasper simple smiles.

"So what are your plans now Eliza is not dead?" Elizabeth asks him after she has cleared her throat.

"We are moving to Chester Valley tomorrow, we need to pack tonight," Jasper replies, finishing his tea.

"I heard that it was finished." Helen says, "I surprised you wanted to do up, you never liked London."

"It has become less unbearable." He says. His mother smiles warmly and Eliza blushes.

"It will give you an excuse to visit. " Benjamin says to Helen, "I am going to be very lonely in the house."

"I'll stay." Elizabeth muses. "The town air clogs my lungs and I am in need of being looked after."

Benjamin's face drops dramatically and Eliza has to stifle a snort.

"So what is the house like?" She asks through her amusement.

"How many rooms?" Elizabeth asks.

"Around fifty," Jasper replies.

"Hmm, rather small." Elizabeths sniffs.

"This house only has thirty," Benjamins says confused.

"When I was a young duchess we lived a house that had over 200 rooms." Elizabeth boasts, "It was beautiful."

"I think Sizsergh Castle has around 200," Jasper says.

"You have a castle?" Eliza exclaims.

"It was one of the first things my father bought when he received his inheritance. It is mainly for show." He explains, Helen nods,

"I have never been." She says.

"I have, he took me once. " Jasper says, "It is smaller for a castle but the land is exquisite, 1,600 acres of forest, wild meadows, and there's rockpool garden. It's a quiet place but there is a lake. The castle itself is well looked after and private, there is a separate housing for the servants that live there.

Eliza's mouth hangs open as she listens to his every word.

"Does your new house have a piano?" Elizabeth asks, trying to change the subject.

"It does," Jasper confirms. "I bought one recently."

"It's going to grow dusty," Eliza says wisely.

"Of course you don't play." Her aunt says disapprovingly.

"Oh she does." Benjamin says, "She has had lessons but she refuses to play. Everyone looks at her curiously, Jasper watches the way his wife shrugs delicately and makes a mental note to ask her about it later.

"We should begin packing soon." He says, "I have a feeling there is going to be a lot of things."

"I do have a lot of books," Eliza says thinking.

"We will help you," Benjamin says, Penny nods as does Helen.

"I will not." Elizabeth says, "I am too old to pack up clothes."

"You stay in here and we will help." Benjamin edits.

"Most of you dresses are still packed up." Helen offers. "We can simply place them in a trunk."

"Most of my trunks and dresses are in Oxford." Eliza realises. "Oh, I had completely forgotten."

"They are at Chester now." Jasper informs her, "I called for them when you were recovering along with mine."

"Oh." Eliza says surprised, "Thank you."

"Shall we begin?"