She heard her dresser moving around the room as she washed off the horse smell. “It will be almost like when we first came to Town.” Matt and Grace had met within days of them arriving and had married three weeks later. But even before they had wed, the whole family began breakfasting together. “I wish the boys and Augusta were here.”

“Mrs. Thorton said Masters Walter and Phillip would be here for Easter.”

“Augusta had better arrive soon,” Eleanor muttered to herself. Her sister had been off traveling for the last three years but had promised to return for their Season.

Jobert helped Eleanor don a pretty sprigged muslin day gown in light yellow with purple flowers. Footsteps clattered down from the nursery floor. “I must hurry.”

She met her sisters in the corridor. Suddenly, squeals of delight filtered up from below. “Something is going on.”

Alice and Madeline nodded, as the three of them tried to walk sedately down the stairs, but they gave up at the first landing. Augusta, Phinn, and Charlie were being mobbed by everyone in the house who could walk on their own. Their sisters, Theo, now fourteen, and Mary, eleven, were taking turns hugging the new arrivals.

It was not until Mary broke from Charlie and embraced a Great Dane that Eleanor realized it was there. “Whose dog is that and what is its name?”

“This is Minerva.” Augusta pointed to a box on the floor. “Etienne is in there. We found them in Vienna. Minerva’s original owner died, and Phinn bought Etienne for me.”

“It was one of my attempts to get her to marry me.” Phinn grinned.

“We are very happy to have you all back home.” Grace exchanged a glance with Matt, who was smiling broadly.

“And in good time too,” he added, leading them toward the breakfast room. “Will you stay with us, or have you made other arrangements?”

Augusta tucked her hand in the crook of her husband’s arm. “Charlie has asked us to reside with him for the Season.”

“How did you all manage to arrive at the same time?” Eleanor asked.

Charlie took his usual seat at the table on Grace’s right. “I was in Spain when I ran into them on their way home. I decided it was time for me to return as well.”

“What happened to your bear-leader?” Matt asked.

“He wanted to explore Europe for a while longer,” Charlie said, accepting a cup of tea from Grace. “I was with family members, so we agreed to part ways.”

“I am glad everything worked out so well.” Eleanor accepted a baked egg from one of the footmen. “Albeit knowing Augusta, that does not surprise me at all.”

“Oh, no. I cannot take credit.” Augusta cut a piece of toast in half. “Cousin Prudence and Mr. Boman, Phinn’s secretary, usually make the arrangements.”