Nothing made sense. Surely Juliet didn't want Ethan! Ethan had been searching for Juliet for a very long time. If Juliet wanted to be reconciled to Ethan, she could have done that long ago.

The longer she sat pondering on the questions that raced through her mind, the lesser sense any of it made.

She shivered from the cold night air but she didn't make any attempt to rise to her feet as Matthew tightened his hold around her, his body heat helping to keep her warm. She leaned into his embrace and took a deep breath, his cologne filling her nostrils. He still smelled of aftershave and the brand of men's cologne he had been using when they were courting. Of course, there was a new addition to the team of fragrance; hay. If she remembered very well, this was the smell of hay and most likely farm work. A smile spread across her face as she shook her head slightly; she didn't think she could have survived on a farm in the heat of California. She could already picture herself making Matthew take lots of hot showers just to get rid of the smell. A soft giggle escaped her lips, earning her a questioning look from Matthew.

She leaned back then, staring into his eyes, and while she might have known it before, today, she was completely certain; Matthew wasn't made for her, he was made for Sharon. She reached out then, her hand settling on his face as she stared into his eyes.

“I'm so glad you found Sharon.” She whispered.

The distinct sound of approaching horses reached them. Immediately, she turned from Matthew and turned sharply toward the sound. Rising to her feet, her eyes followed the approaching carriage and the horse and it's rider alongside the carriage. She could now make out Ethan's figure riding on the horse. Practically racing down the cobbled stairs, she reached the end and waited anxiously until the approaching party came to a halt.

“Ellie?” She asked, her anxiety rising as she watched Ethan dismount the horse.

The door to the carriage was pulled open, revealing an aged man with a bulging belly, dressed in a gray suit and carrying a suitcase. She continued to stare at the door to the carriage, hoping Ellie would be brought down as well; she wasn't.

“Lord Williams, what happened?” Matthew asked.

“This is Lord Wellington, an old friend of my father's and a Judge.” Ethan motioned to the old man who nodded solemnly.

“Where's Ellie?” She turned to the Judge.

“Gretchen,” Ethan covered the distance between them and pulled her into his embrace. “I swear to you my love, I shall bring Elizabeth back but right now, we have more pressing issues to attend to.”

“What could be more important than finding Ellie?” She struggled out of his arms, glaring at him.

“Lord Shaw's judgment was misplaced. Taking the child away from her father without a hearing is not only wrong, it's suspicious and I shall get to the root of it.” The old man, Lord Wellington spoke.