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Chapter 1
It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. Mr. Henry Woodhouse seemed an exception. He was forty-two years old and there was not any sign of his intention to be married. He lived in Hartfield, which belonged to Highbury, a large and populous village. The estate was not really big, but most of his fortune was laid in different things like shares and other financial means. This fortune was exceptional and his family was the first in consequence in Highbury. His parents has already been died. His father died when he was only twenty and studied at Cambridge. Finishing his studies he returned to Hartfield and shared the quiet way of life with his mother. Mrs. Woodhouse was a devoted mother and liked the same things as his son. Or the son liked the same things like his mother? Maybe yes, maybe not. Their life was a line of common and mutual interests and joy: card games, books, collections of different things, a little music sometimes and meetings with the neighbours. Reverend Bates and his wife were frequent visitors at Hartfield, but the closest friend of Mr. Woodhouse was Mr. Knightley, the owner of Donwell Abbey, the neighbouring estate. They studied together at Cambridge, and John Knightley married immediately after finishing his studies. After a long time expecting in vain for a child he and his wife were blessed with two lively sons: George and John who were 10 and 7 years old.
There was one thing which either Mrs. Woodhouse or her son did not like. Any outdoor activities were strange for them, including a pleasant walk in the spring not mentioning riding a horse in any weather. And all this cautiousness was useful: Mrs. Woodhouse survived her seventieth birthday and died in her sleep two years before at seventy-three. Henry Woodhouse mourned for her and continued his bachelor life at Hartfield. The family had a townhouse in London at the Brunswick square, but they hardly used it since the death of the older Mr. Woodhouse. After his mother died Henry Woodhouse spent more time in London, and made some new friendship. Most of his financial matters were organised and taken care by the Petherick, Petherick & Rhodes firm and during his visits he often met the son of Mr. Rhodes. The bright Mr. Malcolm Rhodes was around thirty. He was tall and handsome with dark hair and blue eyes. He was always talkative and liked many things which London could offer to a young man: theatres, clubs and nice girls either in the parlours of the high society or in a pub far from the downtown. He and Henry Woodhouse became good friends in spite of all the differences between them. Or because of them?
Henry Woodhouse was of average heights with blond hair and grey eyes. His body was well built, but he did not like the physical activities so his moving was rather slow. When he was in the town he liked to visit mostly his club and spend the evenings with a glass of whisky and some newspapers. When he met a lady he was always polite or even gallant but he never really thought seriously about any girl or woman. During his years at Cambridge he learned the lessons of young men which were not on the official schedule, but were compulsory for everybody at a certain period. He finished this type of study too and stated that there is not too much sense and joy in it on that way. To get to know a woman better, not for some hours, yes that would be a different case, but a lifetime can also be too long.... Her mother never persuaded him to marry although she longed for grandchildren. She knew her son well and thought that a certain time and place he would know what do.
Some people at Hartfield did not share this opinion. Mrs. Knightley was a very gentle woman, but she was convinced that she could find the proper wife for Henry Woodhouse. She had big hopes in the two Miss Bateses who were around twenty this time. Jane was really beautiful. Hetty was short-sighted and talked a lot but she was regarded as the smartest in the family of the minister. She and Henry could talk about everything but in spite of all the maneuvers of Mary Knightley they never saw the man and the woman in each other. Jane was only interested in men wearing uniforms, so from her point of view Henry was not attractive at all.
In June Henry spent three weeks in London. At the end of the month the town became unbearably hot and he decided to go back to Hartfield. He invited Malcolm Rhodes for a farewell dinner at the Brunswick square and tried to persuade to join him for some time at Hartfield. Malcolm had another idea. He was invited by a friend to his family estate where his parents and sister lived. This Charles Crawley was well-known for Henry too. He was a good companion at any talks and card games so he agreed and after two days the three men left together for Chawton Park.
Chapter 2
Chawton Park was only in one day from London. The three man enjoyed the trip and it was a good occasion for Henry to get to know more about the Crawley family. Charles was the only son and she had two younger sisters: Caroline, who got married a year before and recently gave birth to a little daughter, and Victoria who lived at Chawton Park with their parents. Charles talked about much love about both girls, but it could be seen easily that Victoria was her favourite.
They arrived in the afternoon and Chawton Park showed its nicest view to them. It was an impressive building in the middle of a big park which went to a little river. Charles and his friends were accepted with much warmth by Mr. and Mrs. Crawley and after taking their rooms the guests went to the library to have a drink with Charles and his father. It was the first visit of Malcolm Rhodes too and Mr. Crawley asked the guests about themselves with understandable curiosity. He was a youngish gentleman around fifty and was very proud of her little granddaughter, but the situation with him was the same like with Charles: Victoria was in the middle of his heart. He found sympathetic both men especially Henry who was closer to him in age and manners too. They were called for dinner and at the dining room they were awaited by Mrs. Crawley and her daughter. Both gentlemen saw with content the charming face of Victoria, especially her eyes which were true hazel and there was a curious look in them for everything. She curtsied and they began to eat.
During the dinner Malcolm led the talks. Obviously he was enchanted by Victoria and tried to get to know about her as much as he could. Henry found her interesting but some remarks of her rather astonished him. Answering the questions of Mr. Rhodes Victoria told that her most favourite pastime is the wandering in the park in any weather, that she likes music, books and all the activities which she can create new objects with. After it Mr. Rhodes began to ask her about the different kinds of entertainments which could be available in Audenshaw, the nearest little town.
"There are assemblies and even balls there." Answered she.
"I presume, you enjoy them." Said Mr. Rhodes.
"My sister did." Answered Victoria. "I was once at a ball and that was enough."
Henry saw that Mr. and Mrs. Crawley change a look above the table. Malcolm was also surprised but he managed to continue.
"Was it enough? Why did not you like it?"
"I liked it." Said Victoria. "I liked dancing and the company of friends and family, but there is not any sense in that you meet people for the first time and pretend that you are honoured by their attention."
Henry realised again the changing of looks between the parents and now he asked.
"What do you mean by pretending?"
Victoria turned her dark eyes to Henry and smiled.
"Nothing special, but it is absurd for me that I don't know anything about a man and I have to dance with him. First I want to know him, what he thinks, what he does and what he wants."
"Victoria, there would be enough time for it later." Said her mother.
"Like for Caroline?" Retorted Victoria and Henry felt the cooling of the air in the dining room. After some minutes Mrs. Crawley gave the sign for the end of the dinner and the men went to the library for a glass of brandy.
While Charles showed some gravings about the house to Malcolm, Henry sat at the fireplace with Mr. Crawley. After a little silence he said.
"I am a little concerned of Victoria, Mr. Woodhouse. She is such an amiable creature but she has her own opinion about everything, first of all the most important matters. I can't see how she can find happiness."
"She is remarkable really." Henry heard his own voice. "She seems very definite about her expectations."
"A man can do it, but a girl at her age?" Mr. Crawley looked helpless. "She won't be twenty-one forever."
"It is always worth to wait for the perfect solution." Said Henry Woodhouse but he added only in his mind: like I do.
His room looked to the back of the house. The maid left the window open and the lukewarm evening air was very pleasant and very unusually it did not give him the thought of getting cold rather he sat there and listened to the voices of the night. It was after eleven and he almost jumped when he heard claps and cracks from the room above his. It took about ten minutes, but after it the silence was only short. Henry heard the sound of a flute. It played a little piece three or for times then it became silent.
Henry smiled: it cannot be anybody else but Victoria. He decided to sleep with the window open and the smile was on his face even then when he blew out the candle.
Chapter 3
Next morning Henry overslept. The sun was high above the house and the park. He looked out his window and watched the view. There was a good piece of lawn before him. A path led to the grove, but before reaching it took a bend and went down to the shore of the river which was only a narrow blue ribbon across the bushes and trees. Henry got dressed slowly and when he arrived at the breakfast room he found only Charles at the table reading his newspaper.
"My father and Malcolm have gone to the stables and my mother takes care of the household matters." He explained. "Have your breakfast and then we can go after the men."
"Is your sister sleeping yet?" Inquired Henry.
"Victoria? She is always the first and I think she is rambling somewhere in the park. Not mentioning that she is always the last going to bed."
"I realised it." Answered Henry. "It took a time to figure out that the strange noise comes from her room."
"It had to be her loom." Laughed Henry. "He promised not to disturb anybody with it during the night, but she surely forgot that you got the room under hers."
"Never mind." Henry laughed too. "It was rather amusing."
After breakfast they went to the stables and watched all the nice horses of Mr. Crawley, had a drink after it and talked about different matters. In the afternoon they had their tea before the house in the beautiful weather where they met again Victoria and her mother. Victoria was in good mood, laughed a lot, and talked mostly with Malcolm Rhodes. The young man asked many questions of her and she answered sincerely. Henry Woodhouse listened to this talk silently, answering absent-mindedly for the remarks of Mrs. Crawley or her husband. He got to know a lot about Victoria: her definite opinions and views. Later Victoria turned to Henry.
"Excuse me, Mr. Woodhouse disturbing you with all my activities last night."
"Not at all, Miss Crawley. It was a funny contrast between the sound of the loom and the flute."
"This evening I try to choose something else." She promised and continued the talk with Malcolm Rhodes. Henry watched them during the tea and later during the dinner: they were at ease, laughed a lot and Henry does not entirely understood that pressure he felt around his chest seeing them. That evening he closed the window and went to bed immediately.
Next morning he woke up with a sudden feeling. As he saw the light from his bed it could be very early. He got out of bed, took his nightgown, walked to the window and opened it. He saw Victoria directly before him walking back from the river. She also noticed him, came closer and waved to him. He realised that Victoria is walking barefoot, carrying her shoes in her hand, but she did not take care of it.
"Good morning." She said. "Did you sleep well?"
Henry hardly could answer.
"Good morning, Miss Crawley. You has risen rather early."
"I always do, especially on such a beautiful morning. Come and have breakfast with me."
"Good idea. I'll be there in a quarter." He answered and closed the window, but instead of beginning to dress he sat down for a while and tried to recover. His body and soul were in a complete turmoil. Different images appeared before him which he never thought to remember again, and if he had analysed his feelings more thorougly he would have figured out that he never was in such a state earlier. But he did not do that because there was only one thought in his mind: to get out of this room as soon as he could.
After twenty minutes he entered the breakfast room in a more composed state and he found there Victoria drinking a cup of tea and reading the newspaper. She smiled at him and has shown the seat beside her.
"Are you interested in the news?" Asked Henry and felt himself very stupid because of such a silly question, but obviously Victoria did not mind.
"Yes, I am interested in politics." She said seriously. "And many other things which I cannot experience, just to read about them."
"As I have heard you to talk the last two evenings it seemed to me that you are not too much interested in special female matters." Henry did not know if he had any right to tell such a thing but he felt an urge to say it.
"You mean dance, marriage and children?" Asked Victoria with very serious eyes.
"Hmmm.....yes." Henry felt himself in inconvenience.
"Mr. Woodhouse, I would like to dance with a man whom I feel confident. Whom I know for a while and know what to think about him. And I would marry a man whom I love and have children whom I expected for and not to get in it not knowing anything about it including my own feelings." Victoria seemed rather agitated.
Henry did not entirely understood her, or rather did not dare to believe to his own ears.
"What made you think such bitterly about all these?" He asked.
"I am not bitter at all, just saw my sister to marry a man whom she felt respect and no more. And it was not enough to accept the facts of a real marriage far beyond the mirth-crown and the wedding oath." The eyes of Victoria were full of tears.
"You must not condemn anybody if she feels unhappiness sometimes..." Henry did not know what to tell really.
"I do not condemn anybody. I just say that she could be happy if she had somebody to tell what to expect and how to receive it. I don't want to reject the idea of marriage, I only want to wait until something in me tells: you will find everything beautiful with him. It is only bearable for my sister and it is not enough for me." She tried to smile again. Henry nodded, but could not say anything. Fortunately Mrs. Crawley appeared at the door and they began to talk about the prospects of the weather for the coming day while Victoria turned back to her newspaper.
Chapter 4
The next two weeks were very similar to the first two days. The three men, Charles Crawley, Malcolm Rhodes and Henry Woodhouse discovered the niceties of the estate and in the afternoons and evenings spent their time mostly with Victoria and her parents. There was a nice friendship developing between Victoria and Malcolm. They mostly sat beside each other in the folly where they had their tea in the hottest times, laughed a lot, teased each other and when Victoria invited his brother for a walk Malcolm joined them, while Henry was sitting in the shadow. He was mostly untalkative during the lively conversations, but he listened to the talks with attention and a kind of jealousy. Day by day he saw more clearly the personality of Victoria: a woman with warm feelings, vivid mind and cruel sincerity who was convinced that she was always right. She and Malcolm Rhodes made a good match: the young man was enchanted by Victoria, and he had the same opened mind like she, but there was a tendency in him to make the necessary compromises. Henry thought that this feature of Malcolm will make the society and her obligations in it more acceptable for Victoria. Mr. and Mrs. Crawley also seemed delighted with this situation.
Sometimes in the middle of a long conversation Victoria turned her face to Henry and asked something from him. Her hazel eyes were attentive and the question was always followed by a smile. In these minutes Henry felt that the hoop which all the time pressed his heart was a little bit lighter. He woke up early every morning and almost every day he saw Victoria walking toward the river through the curtains. He did not open the window anymore, but he always had a look through his window on her especially when she came back swinging her shoes in her hand. He heard her loom again, but only in the mornings and he realised that she played not only flute but guitar too. He felt his heart heavy like a stone. Late in the nights and early in the mornings he thought a lot about his life: his long and friendly ally with his mother, all his years he spent at Hartfield, but did not make plans, did not want more than a pleasant day every day, his times with his friends and families when he saw their children first as babies then adolescents and last year he was a guest at the wedding of the oldest daughter of one of his Cambridge mates. He realised that he never denied the possibility of an own family, a wife and children, but he always thought that he had enough time to seek and find. He watched Victoria with the resignation of a person who woke up too late to participate at a memorable event. In spite of these feelings or rather because of them he tried to seize every occasion to be close by her, so everytime after Victoria came back from the river he went to have his breakfast too. It became a little habit of them to spend some time together at the breakfast room before the others came. Victoria was attentive and interested in his matters. She asked questions about Hartfield, his mother, his life, and never expressed any disapproval of this way of live and never was critical as she often did with Malcolm Rhodes. Henry had to admit it, but also remembered, that Victoria laughed much more when Malcolm was present and it also gave him some uneasy feelings.
At the end of the second week Mr. Crawley got a letter from a friend and it heralded that an assembly will be held at the Audenshaw inn and all the people from the neighbourhood were invited, included the Crawley family and their guests. Mrs. Crawley began to make plans about her dress for the evening and Victoria also decided to have a new gown. So is Victoria going to the assembly? If she is going, she will dance as well? If she is dancing whom she will dance the first set with? All these questions were taken by Mr. Rhodes and from all these questions came the last one. Would Victoria be so kind to give the first two dances to him? After expressing so often her strange opinion about assemblies and dancing this time Victoria only turned her serious, almost sleepy eyes to Mr. Rhodes and simply said: yes. Henry Woodhouse observed almost the same what he had noticed on their first evening at Chawton Park. Mr. and Mrs. Crawley changed a knowing look above the heads of the others, but this time in their gazes there was a kind of triumph.
The evening of the assembly arrived very fast. Victoria was beautiful in her ivory coloured new dress, the gentlemen were elegant and Mrs. Crawley could be as proud as any mother in the hall. Henry watched Victoria dancing first with Malcolm Rhodes and then two other sets with some young men from the neighbourhood. During this time Henry was walking along the hall, talked to some people, told compliments to the older ladies, but one of his eyes always was on Victoria. She was beautiful and seemed really happy. At the interval when the musicians stopped playing he stood beside the big window going to the garden when he saw Victoria walking toward her.
"Don't you dance, Mr. Woodhouse?" She asked.
"I used to when I was ...." Henry did not feel to say "young" and he finished the sentence on different way. "....at Cambridge."
"You could be as good dancer as any other man in this room." Victoria smiled but her eyes seemed to ask a question from him.
"For me is enough to see that you and Malcolm are dancing. I am happy that a friend of mine is finding joy." Henry hoped that it seemed frank enough.
Victoria was silent for a minute. She looked around the room and Henry thought for an instance that she forgot about him looking for Malcolm. Then she turned to him again with the same sleepy look in her eyes when she promised the first dance to Malcolm and said.
"You are very nice to your friend. But you had better think about him not only as a friend but a rival of you." She turned and walked back to her mother's side.
Henry sighed deeply. He understood what Victoria had said but he was rather afraid to understand it.
"Tomorrow." He said to himself. "Tomorrow I will ask her about it."
Chapter 5
They arrived home late. Henry slept hardly two hours, and during all this time he was dreaming that he is awake. When he really woke up his body was fully in sweat and his heart beat like a drum. He dressed and sat to the window in order to see Victoria when she goes for her morning walk. She must have been tired also because this day she did not come. Henry sat there watching the sun rising higher and higher and after a while he fell asleep. He woke up for a knock on his door. In the first minute he did not know where he was and what the time was. The sun was high above the park and he suddenly remembered everything.
He went to the door with a sigh and opened it. Malcolm Rhodes stood on the threshold.
"Good morning, Henry. May I come in?"
"Yes, please." Henry held back a yawn. "It is rather early, I suppose."
"Not at all. It is almost noon." Malcolm looked around the room and if he realised that one of the armchairs is pushed to the window he did not give any sign of it.
"Please sit down." Henry showed to the fireplace where the other armchair and a sofa stood. "What can I help you?"
Malcolm sat with definite care on the sofa and Henry realised that he is dressed in that suit which he usually wore in the church. He began:
"Henry, you are a dear friend of mine, older than me, with much more experiences and prestige like me. With such a request one can turn to one's father, but my father is in London and I don't want to loose a minute. I am convinced that he agrees with my decision and choice. So that's why I ask you to do it."
"I am afraid , I don't understand you." Henry did not understand him indeed.
"Henry, I love Victoria and I want to propose her here and now, that is I want to ask her father to give me the permission of joy to have her the beloved wife of mine. That is I would like to ask you to be my ally and tell it to Mr. Crawley on my behalf."
"So you have already told it to Victoria and she said yes." Henry could not hide his disappointment but Malcolm did not realise it.
"There was not any reason to ask her." Malcolm was rather surprised. "It is brighter than the sun that she has the same intention. She agreed to dance with me for the first question, and did it two times last evening. She also gave many signs of her feelings during the last two weeks.
"Are you sure of it?" Henry did feel some doubts what Malcolm had told about.
"Well, she never stepped beyond any boarders which are stood up for young ladies in the company of young men but she was always vivid, talkative and seemed happy to meet me."
Malcolm seemed to hesitate a little bit but was steady even.
"In that case I cannot help you." Henry's voice was clear, his look determined. " I have as many as reasons to think that there is attraction in Victoria's soul toward me like you. So I cannot speak to Mr. Crawley only on my own interest and I will do it now." He stood up.
Malcolm could not say a word for a while. On his face different feelings could be seen: surprise, disbelief and trouble. He stood up too.
"So we have to go together to Mr. Crawley and he has to decide whom to give her daughter."
"It is Victoria who has to decide." Henry's face was serious, but in his mind he laughed. Is it so easy to seize what you want ... and love?
They left the room together and found Mr. Crawley in his library. He was not surprised to see the gentlemen together: it was the time of the day when they had a drink together. But he noticed that the two men were rather ceremonial and wanted to tell him something special. They were not be seated but looked each other and after clearing his throat Henry Woodhouse began to talk. He was plain and short. He told that he had a special feeling in his heart toward Victoria and had strong hopes to think that Victoria felt the same so he asked Mr. Crawley to give him the big honour to accept him as his son-in law. Mr. Crawley was shocked but before he could answer Mr. Rhodes began his speech and told the same like Henry Woodhouse but more longish and with more expression of his sentiments. Mr. Crawley could not help but laughed.
"Dear friends, I always was very concerned of Victoria how she can manage her life in a world which is completely different like her ideas and now she has two suitors. But she is dearer to me than to decide instead of her. I will ask her about it and accept what she says. I myself call her here." He said and left the room.
The two men remained in the library but they did not say a word during Mr. Crawley's absence, did not look at each other even. After some minutes the door opened and Mr. Crawley appeared again with her daughter. Obviously he did not tell anything to Victoria and after her courtsey he told her about the proposals and asked her to decide according to her heart's wish. He also warned her if she needed any time to think about it she would get any.
Victoria shook her head and answered looking at the two men.
"It was a big honour to get to know both of you in the recent time. Everybody can be proud to be called both of your friend and enjoy your confidence and even more. Mr. Rhodes, you are a remarkable person, have a big future and hope that I will be the wittness of it but I have to tell you that my heart belongs completely to Mr. Woodhouse now and ever."
She reached out both her hands toward Henry. He stepped forward and took them. They smiled to each other ignoring the presence of her father and Mr. Rhodes.
Chapter 6
While Victoria and Henry were looking at each other's eyes holding hands and not noticing anything but each other Mr. Crawley called his wife who entered the library with much vigour and opened her arms to embrace her daughter and future son-in-law with the same motion. Mr. Rhodes stared to the happy couple but after a while he began to laugh.
"I cannot compete with the intensity of these feelings." Said he to Mr. Crawley and the older man felt relieved hearing this. He did not want to loose a friend and he really liked both gentlemen. In fact he was happy that Victoria chose Henry Woodhouse. He thought that his daughter needed an older and more experienced husband, but seeing the newly engaged couple he realised that Henry would do what Victoria wanted, and he would do it with pleasure.
After a little turmoil everybody sat down and they began to talk about the wedding. Henry asked Malcolm to be his best man, and he happily said yes. Mrs. Crawley began to plan the invitations for the wedding breakfast, and that she would hire an excellent cook. At this moment Victoria interrupted her.
"Mama, it will be a small family occasion, not mentioning that you have not too much time to organize it."
"What do you mean by it, darling?" Mrs. Crawley had a very familiar feeling in her heart hearing her daughter.
"Why, Mama, we can have our wedding in a month from today, can't we?" She flashed her smile to Henry and he enthusiasticly nodded. "And now, Papa, please let me show to Mr. Woodhouse what I make on my loom. Are you interested, I presume?" She turned again to Henry and he could only nodded this time too.
"Yes, darling." Mr. Crawley kissed the forehead of her daughter and she stood up.
"Mr. Woodhouse, my I show the way?"
They left the library together and ascended the stairs toward the room of Victoria. None of them told a word. They entered the room. Victoria walked slowly to the window, but Henry stood at the door. He had a look around the room. It was a big and sunny one with many signs of her activities. He saw the guitar and the flute. The books were scattered along the little tables. On a little desk lay an open diary, its pages full written. The loom was before the window and the piece which was being made on it has shown many bright stripes of red and yellow colours. Victoria turned back from the window, standing without a word, her hands beside her body, the whole figure is full of expectation. Henry walked to her but stood in one-step distance.
"Victoria." He whispered. "Tell me, why have you chosen me?"
Victoria took a step closer.
"You attract me, like the butterfly is attracted by the candlelight." She whispered also. Both of them came closer to each other. They were so close that Henry hardly could see sharply the hazel eyes before him. He could not wait anymore and kissed Victoria embracing her.
Epilogue
It happened as Victoria had wished. After a month they held the wedding at the Audenshaw church and spending two weeks at the seaside Mr. and Mrs Woodhouse arrived at Hartfield. All the neighbours were surprised hearing the news of the wedding and were much intrigued to see the young wife. Everybody was enchanted by her beauty and nature, but above all they were happy because there were not any doubt that their love is mutual and it radiated anywhere they went.
Victoria found her home at Hartfield. She discovered the park and the places around. She never tried to persuade Henry to join them, but promised one thing: she never would walk barefoot. After a year a little daughter was born at Hartfield. Victoria named her Isabella and spent all of her time with her. Henry was also very happy with the baby and as she developed Victoria often teased him that she is a spitted image of him in and out. Henry allured Victoria, that their second child surely will take care after her. But they had to wait for a long time. Isabella was already seven and Henry was fifty when a second daughter arrived with the hazel eyes of her mother. The childbirth was hard and Victoria hardly recovered after it. The little Emma developed quickly but her mother faded more and more. She left all of her outdoor activities, mostly sat in an armchair at the window or the fireplace and when her daughters asked her to play something with them she could only undertake to tell a short tale to them.
Emma inherited her mother's features indeed and it gave much consolation to Henry who powerlessly watched his beloved wife dying. That is he tried everything: called famous specialists to her, took her to different spas and never gave up to tell her how much he loved her and how happy she made him. All of these efforts were useless: when Emma was four she slept forever.
Henry was inconsolable, but he knew that he had obligations toward her daughters. He spent much time with them and after some time decided to employ a governess. After receiving more young women he realised that he was looking in vain for the joy of life and sincerity of Victoria. Recognising this he would not find it again if only in his daughters he employed a simple but honest candidate. Her name was Ann Taylor.
Henry was faithful to her Victoria. His first and last thoughts went to her everyday and was very happy when a movement, an accent or a gaze of her appeared either in Isabella or Emma.
THE END