"I got a letter from Jeremiah," Octavia said one morning at breakfast.

"Oh," Jamie sighed, he wished he would have really seen what his son was and had tried to change him. Jeremiah and Delilah were his biggest failures as a father. But with Delilah there was hope if he could find the right man for her.

"Evidently he moved his bride to the old place and is refurbishing it, my brother is really upset he said at the rate that Jeremiah is spending his money the coffers will be empty by the time his son becomes Duke," Octavia said.

"There is nothing we can do Octavia he is a willful young man. But I am so proud of my other sons they are all doing so well, Lewis says Tristen is as good as Todd if not better, and Lucas has this farm running so well, and Joseph and Nicholas are doing excellent in school. Quentin just got appointed to an important job in the tribe.

"That is wonderful," Lucas said, he often wished he had time to go see Quentin.

"Why don't you take the boys out to see him before school starts?" Jamie asked.

"Don't you want to go father?" Lucas asked.

"I thought I would help Philip at the Inn so Tristen could go too," Jamie said.

"Really that would be great, us four brothers together, along with Quentins sons," Lucas said, he had been wanting to spend some time with Tristen, but with him at the inn all the time and himself busy on the farm it seemed hard to get together.

"Do you mind if I go Valerie?" Lucas asked.

"Of course not you need some time off, besides its so peaceful now that my father is off on his new goat ranch what could go wrong?" Valerie said smiling.

"Neils looked happy when we visited him last," Lucas said.

"You know he told me he was glad I had married you," Valerie said smiling.

"Father when can we go?" Jospeh asked.

"Tomorrow or the next day," Jamie said smiling at his son.

"Good," Nicholas said hoping they would get to use Quentins canoe.

Later when Valerie and Lucas were sitting in the quiet great room.

"Do you really mind me going?" Lucas asked. "No, I will be fine, your parents are wonderful, I feel so comfortable here," she said smiling.

"Then you do not feel too cramped here?" he asked.

"No I like it here, someday we will have our own place," she said smiling.

"We will have this place mother and father have said so," he said smiling, "When Joseph and Nicholas go away to school they are moving to the cottage father is building on the land by the springs.

"That is wonderful," She was ready to have her own home, but Octavia was so sweet and helpful and she still was very ashamed on one level of how Lucas had tarnished his sterling reputation for her. No one knew that Andrew was not Lucas's child but she and Lucas. But Lucas couldn't love Andrew any more if he had been his father.

"It is but as long as you are happy it is all that matters, Joseph won't be going away to school for about five more years," Lucas said, he loved her so much. He was so glad she had turned down Ingrids offer to come to England. Valerie loved Lucas too much to even think of going to England she had let him down once in a moment of teenage stupidity and now there would be no way she would ever let him down again. He was too good for her if anything.

"Octavia I went by Delilah's and she is not there," Jamie sighed.

"Who is with the children?" Octavia said.

"No one, I worry about our daughter, why couldn't she find a man as good as the other three have found, I feel as if those young men are my sons," Jamie sighed.

"Despite my doubts about Philip, Lissa is so happy with him, and Alan and Alexander are both sweet men, maybe Delilah will find someone, what about constable Martin, he is only nine years her senior that is not bad," Octavia asked. She liked Warren Martin he was a good stable young man.

"I think he has someone but I will find out for sure." Jamie said.

"Father could you help me find Amber she is not in the pasture," Nicolas pleaded.

"She is at Lissa's you are going to have to ride a pony," Jamie said.

"All right father." Nicholas said smiling.

"He is such a good boy," Octavia said proudly.

"All my sons here are good," Jamie said smiling, it was not his fault his father had spoilt Jeremiah.

"I can not believe Thoren went to seminary school, my son a parson? I am a son of a whore, a illgotten spawn born on the wrong side of the blanket," Lewis said.

"I think it will do him good," Delilah said softly.

"I hope it will. Darling what is wrong with you?" Lewis asked, as they drove along this beautiful late summer day.

"Nothing," She said softly.

"Something is bothering you, and why are you wearing that old dress you wear to clean in?" he asked.

"I am not a good person Lewis," she sighed.

"Neither am I so we are well matched," he laughed.

"Lewis I am expanding again, I am wearing this dress because it is loose and no one is apt to notice," she sighed.

"Oh darling, this is wonderful especially if the child is mine, but it doesn't matter I love all children," Lewis said.

"It really doesn't matter?" she asked thinking he would be upset, Julius threw a fit every time he discovered she was expanding.

"Not at all I adore Ross, Rosalee, and Rochelle as much as Nathaniel," Lewis said.

Delilah smiled, and said, "Well I believe this is a boy and he is yours."

"Good and more reason for you to love the surpise, do you like this horse and rig?" Lewis asked.

"Yes of course it is Lissa's Bonnet and her rig," Delilah said, hoping that was the horses name, she had thought it a rediculious name.

"Yes it is Bonnet but the rig and horse do not belong to Lissa, they belong to me," Lewis said smiling. "That is nice, she is so gentle Rochelle could probably drive her," Delilah said. "She is that is why I am lending her to you." Lewis said softly, "I would gift it to you but she is yours in every way but reciept, because some people would not understand." Lewis explained.

"I love you Lewis," Delilah said, wondering if she would stable the horse at the March house like Lewis did his horse when he visited her.

"I love you too, I am sorry I have not been around much in the past few weeks but I have been very busy." Lewis said smiling as she hugged and kissed him.

"Well I understand," Delilah said, thinking she had to be kinder and gentler and a better person, but it was so hard not to snap at him and tell him how lonely she had been.

"Close your eyes darling, we are almost there." Lewis said.

"All right but I thought the horse and rig were the surprise," she said trying her best not to peek.

"Well now you need a place to put it do you not?" he laughed, then said, "You can look now at your new home."

Oh my, Lewis you are joking . . . who lives here?" she said looking at the neat blue cottage.

"Come inside you will see I am not kidding, I got to thinking about our problem, your father wishing you to marry in a year, and how neither of us wishes that, the main reason a woman has to marry is to have a home and if you have one no one can force you to marry," Lewis said.

"But Lewis you have no money of your own and . . ." Delilah said, thinking she could not live on Astrid's money, it was not right.

"I have money, some came from Oly but more recently I recieved a bit of money from England as well, and with Roland and good Orsens help I have managed to buy this cottage without the knowledge of my wife or any of the family." Lewis said, hoping she would like it he had no idea what women liked in houses. It was the only one near Todds pub he could find for a good price.

"Oh how lovely," Delilah said.

Lewis really hoped he was doing the right thing, if Astrid died tomorrow, he would be without a home with just his horse and the clothes he owned and a few books. He had gambled all he had on Delilah. True he had the job with Jamie and he could probably live at the Inn. But if Jamie threw him out, he would have to turn to Todd. Perhaps Justin would allow him to stay on until Richard was old enough to go out on his own or at least to academy in Rivers Edge.

"Oh I love it, it is so light and airy and nice," Delilah said smiling.

"I am happy you like it I was so afraid you would be disappointed," Lewis said, thinking it was better then her cabin but it was no Landcrest either.

"Disappointed never, it is wonderful.

"Shall we go upstairs?" he asked after she eyed the kitchen and dinning area.

"The boys can fish," Lewis said as they stepped onto the balcony that over looked the property.

"Oh and Rosalee she loves fishing with Rafe and Joseph." She smiled, "Next summer I can plant a garden."

Lewis nodded, he was glad she wanted to be self sufficiant.

"This is perfection, oh Lewis how can I ever thank you?" Delilah asked throwing her arms around him.

"Just tell me you will always love me and take me in if I need shelter," Lewis said gently.

"That is easy, I am yours Lewis, I never want to marry anyone," Delilah said, and she met it, she would be a free woman until the day he could marry her, if it never came, then so be it. Somehow she would make it.

"I love you," Lewis said and she sprang into his arms and he groaned as his back protested a bit

They kissed, and she thought having this place would get her father to stop worrying and picking at her about marriage.

Kissing her Lewis carried her to the bed hoping his back didn't give out, she had gained quite a bit of weight. The house he had put in the name of his son Nathaniel Warwick Orphington and Delilah as executor, if for any reason Thoren looked in the records he would not find Lewis's name anywhere.

"I love this house, it is so wonderful but how did you do all this?" Delilah asked.

"Well to be honest the house was pretty well built, but the floors were in bad shape because a tree had fallen on the roof and rain had damaged them. I had Silias Timberlane work on it when he had time. The furniture all came from Cass shop they were a special order that was refused by Neils when he was drunk months back, so I got it for a song. This bed used to be in the Inn and Jamie didn't like it so I got a new matterest for it, the rest came with the house," He said smiling he was so pleased she liked it.

"Anyway we have to move your household goods and the childrens beds over here, and you are moved in. I will have one of my men do that," Lewis said.

"What would I do without you?" she asked.

"That is something we should talk about some day, I am 24 years older then you are, but not now though," he said and her protest were drowned with his kisses.

The wedding was even smaller then Janette had planned, of her sons only Liam had shown up, Orsen had taken a trip so Alexander could be home with Monique who was to have a child any time now.

Liam slipped out as soon as the wedding was over to go see Victor and Ivan, hoping they were not at work.

Ivan was home, he was getting ready to go down to the pub.

"Can I go with you, mother wouldn't approve but . . ." Liam said, knowing by saying mother would not approve he would be allowed.

"So she married that old man eh?" Ivan asked as they walked towards the pub.

"She did, why do you hate him so?" Liam asked.

"I don't really hate him, I just think he is a liar and he is trying to replace father," Ivan said softly.

"He is a liar?" Liam asked.

"Yes," Ivan snapped and felt bad Liam was so kind hearted and sweet like their father, he smiled and hugged Liam.

"Do me a favour don't believe anything he says unless you see it or know it for a fact or it seems reasonable to you."

"All right," Liam said wishing his brother did not hate religion so much there was a lot to be said for it.

Even though Liam wasn't sure himself if he believed it all that would be gullable now wouldn't it.

Ivan loved his brothers so much as well as his sisters, but his sisters seemed to side completely with their mother. Plus now Liam was the oldest at home, it would be up to him to see that the girls and little Olle become good Swensens.

Tristen and Ivan had always been friends, they had gone to academy together. Ivan hoped that Liam and Nicholas would form a closer friendship when they went next year. The Warwicks were a lot more open minded. Octavia was a Quaker and Jamie had no religion, Quentin was a pagan, and all the others went to what they wished to do. That was the way it should be Ivan thought. No one should have to go to church or anything if they did not wish too.

Liam decided to stay outside and play with the little boy that lived there, Ivan couldn't remember his name, but Liam played with him at school. Ivan thought it was good, that Liam have boys his age with to play. Richard was a bit of a cry baby and the Warwicks were a bit far to travel.

"Hello Tristen how are things with you." Ivan said getting a glass of wine.

"Good and you?" Tristen asked.

Tristen grinned seeing him smell of it and wrinkle his nose, and whisper "People really drink this stuff?"

"Yes then act as fools," Tristen said, wondering what Ivan was up too.

"I want to talk to you, I hear you are going to visit Quentin," Ivan said softly.

"Yes, Lucas is taking me and the boys.

"I want to talk to you in private," Ivan said.

"Sure lets go into the store room," Tristen said smiling, Ivan and Victor were his best friends.

"I want to go with you, I want to stay up there and become an Indian like Quentin," Ivan said.

"Ivan I really think you should think about this, it is not that easy, I mean you are welcome to come with us, if you have a horse. But its hard not like here, they have no wells, and they share everything. Food and firewood, there is not mine there, except for your horse and clothes and shelter you don't own anything. It is a different life," Tristen said wishing he could explain better the life style.

"All right maybe I don't want to be an Indian but darn it Tristen I want some kind of adventure. I am tired of this town and tired of the same old thing. I want to go on an adventure and I want you to go with me," Ivan said.

"Adventure that sounds good," Tristen said smiling.

"It is what we are lacking here in Amberly, nothing ever happens," Ivan said, neither boy saw Alan come into the store room and listen to their plan to have some kind of an adventure. Alan thought he should speak to Jamie about this at once.

"What about Victor?" Tristen asked.

"He won't go he likes pushing pieces of paper around and being Orsen and Alexanders underling. I really don't understand why Thoren didn't go that route instead of running off to be stupid like he did," Ivan said.

"Well we will talk more about this when I get back.

"Sure I can maybe send away for some information." Ivan said, he should have known good Tristen would not let him go off alone.

He started back to the house thinking he would get some painting done, he was glad Liam had decided to go fishing with some boys.

He thought he heard a bird, he always liked watching birds and was looking for the bird in the trees on the common.

Then he realized it was heart wrenching sobbing and not a bird at all. He looked around and saw a girl by a tree, someone he did not know at all.

Are you all right?" he asked thinking she might be a made or a farmers daughter by the way she was dressed in homespun.

"Yes, I am just lost," she said in heavily accented English.

"Lost? Where do you live?" he asked hoping she understood.

"I am Caroline I live . . . in mountain before I come this country now I live in wagon I wake up go for walk look for berrys, now wagon and my papa gone, I know not where," she sighed.

"I will help you. Caroline, my name is Ivan," Ivan said.

"Well met, Ivan is a good name, she said and curtsied.

"Well met indeed," Ivan said, thinking he had heard that phrase before but where.

"How are you to find papa?" she asked thinking it would be a miracle if this young man could do so.

"Stay here, I will go talk to someone and see what I can find out for you," He said.

"You are so nice, I stay," she said.

Ivan had a feeling about her, something was wild and free and adventurous about Caroline and that accent, and not only that she was pretty.