69. A second interval

After the passing of her father which obviously affected Helena deeply, at the beginning of June my mother and my sisters packed themselves into our spacious landau and set off for Henley-upon-Thames, to stay with Arabella and her mother at their house. My mother and Elizabeth had become quite comfortable in each other's company. Similarly, Arabella had become good friends with my mother and sisters, and she and Charlotte would often take the afternoon air with a carriage ride in Hyde Park. The idea was for them to celebrate Hermione's coming wedding by throwing a bachelorette's party.

I was not invited, which bothered me not at all, Henry and I were busy, so I would be at Rogeringham Hall at least part of the week. So, while Barclay and I made ready to leave for Rogeringham Hall and the country, on the Monday morning, Rogeringham House was all a-bustle as my mother and my sisters gathered their gowns, goods and chattels for the journey to Henley.

We embraced and they all left, and soon Barclay and I were off as well.

I had several tasks to accomplish while I was there. Henry has established the estate office with two good clerks, both of them old soldiers, and he had also employed some more to work as a workman's gang, across a number of roles - maintaining the estate buildings, road mending, and general tasks.

I rode out with Henry one day, to meet them where they were maintaining some stone walls and the trackways that ran past them. I took some beer and some food with me in one of the smaller carriages. We ate and drank together and as these things happen, they talked. They seemed a handy bunch, from a variety of regiments, all sound in wind and limb, but home from the wars and looking to re-establish themselves.

I met with the High Sheriff's officers and started the process of my appointment as a Justice of the Peace. There was talk about my representing Buckinghamshire in the House of Lords, but I explained that that was very low on my list of things to accomplish and that there were other items on my agenda that needed attention first.

"HEM!" Sir Arthur coughed loudly, "Getting five sisters married and settled, I believe!" He laughed, and each of the gentlemen around Sir Arthur's table that night commiserated with me. They all had daughters, and we laughed about it, but they understood my reluctance.

I took the opportunity to call upon Emily Dodgson. She was now teaching at our local school on a full-time basis. Dr Locksley took some lessons but Emily bore most of the burden. Mrs Dodgson had elected to keep her daughters with her, though she thanked me again for my offer to fund their schooling.

I did not mention the award against Sir Montague Fellowes as it was still under appeal and thus, not settled yet, I did not want to disappoint her if it failed to appear.

When we were private for a few moments at one point, Mrs Dodgson made it quite clear that she was willing to express her gratitude for everything I had done, in any way that she could or that I wished her to.

Fortunately, I was saved from having to evade that particular conversation by the arrival of the good doctor.

It was a busy week, but by the middle of it I had progressed a long way in my affairs and decided to return to London on the Thursday so that I could carry out some errands in the Ton on the Friday.

Sleeping in my bed in Mayfair was a peculiar feeling, that night. The bed felt like it was too large, and it was strange not to have Helena beside me, and my sleep was disturbed by the return of my old nightmare. It was not as a disturbing as it had been, not that it wasn't uncomfortable, my heart was still racing and my breathing rapid, but I felt less terrified than I had in the past. It woke me and it was a while before I could compose myself for sleep again, but the feeling of panic was less and I did not feel the need for a tot of rum, as I would have previously.

This was the first time in some time that I had had this dream, it has become rarer as the weeks have gone by. What did its return mean? I could only guess at that, but not having my mother asleep near me may have been a factor. Perhaps she gives me a feeling of security and comfort, I do not know, but I looked forwards to seeing her again.