Love is in the Air Read online

  At five-thirty the next morning, Miss Paige went to Harry’s room and found his bed empty. She then checked the playroom and finally the guest rooms of the visiting children. When she found them all empty, she went to Mr. and Mrs. Bingley’s door and knocked.

  Charles sent the maids and Miss Paige to search the other areas of the house, one of the manservants to the stables, another to search the back yard, and he and Jane headed to Butterfly Orchard.

  Harry Bingley opened his eyes as the sun started to peek through the trees he and the others were hidden behind. On seeing his sleeping cousins, he suddenly remembered where they were. He heard the voices of the children who had been in the treehouse last night. They were barely ten feet away from him in the gazebo. The boy was telling his sister they would tidy up the treehouse, and then when the sun showed it was nearing noon, they would head towards the other spot and get some apples. She would like that?

  Just as the boy finished speaking, he turned around quickly as he heard Mr. Bingley enter Wisteria Lane calling for Harry, Robert, and Amelia. The boy grabbed his sister and looked around. They did not have much time to hide. He decided to get into the bushes closest to the gazebo. He pushed his sister in first and jumped in behind her, just as Mr. and Mrs. Bingley walked into Butterfly Orchard.

  The boy’s heart was racing as he tried to steady his breathing. Lilly was lying on her stomach with her face hidden in her hands, trying to be as quiet as possible, just like they had practiced. Levi felt a hand tap him on the shoulder. He slowly turned his head to look behind him and saw Harry’s big blue eyes inches from his face.

  The boy yelled and pushed Harry, who fell on his cousins. The cousins were woken up so abruptly by the yelling that they started to scream also. Harry did not know why he joined in, but he felt compelled and began to scream as well. His cousins were trying to free themselves and swung their arms wildly in the confusion. Levi managed to crawl out of the hiding space and reached in to grab Lilly, who was still lying there quietly and was not budging, as she had been previously instructed.

  Charles and Jane watched the procession of children as they began to scramble out of the bushes, still screaming. They pushed against each other, and the boy trying to get his sister out, pushed back. Amelia’s screams became piercing when her hair got snagged in the bushes.

  Charles pulled Levi up by his shirt as the boy kicked and swung trying to get free and back to his sister. Harry and Robert were finally able to make it out with bleeding scratches on both of their faces, arms, and legs. It took some doing for Jane to get Amelia to quiet down. No one in the history of the world had ever heard Jane Bennet Bingley yell so loudly in order to be heard over Amelia. The girl’s yells became less intense when she realized her Aunt was nearby to help her. Quieter, but, they did not stop as the frightened girl was trapped in the tangled bushes.

  Before she figured out what she was going to do, Harry ran to the gazebo to retrieve the pocket knife only he and Miss Paige knew about, which she kept on hand to cut the fruit when necessary. Charles could not let go of the unknown boy, Jane was now asking him how they could get Amelia out, and no one noticed Harry. He saw where the thin branch was twisted around his cousins hair and with a few quick strokes of the sharp knife, he had her free. He pulled her up and used the knife again to finish getting the remaining bushes free.

  Levi attempted to escape again, and when Charles got him under control he caught site of his niece. Jane saw the look of horror on her husband’s face and turned in the direction he was looking. Amelia was standing there crying quieter now. Jane had stood there for a few seconds in shock before she went to the girl to comfort her. She looked around, as she tried to understand how this happened. She saw Harry closing the knife. He looked at his mother with a huge smile on his face before he reached in and pulled Lilly out by her feet.

  “There!” he said proudly.

  Jane’s legs felt like they could not support her any longer. She sat on the ground and cradled her blubbering niece.

  Levi broke free, went down next to his sister and lifted her up from the ground.

  “Everything is alright, Lilly Pad,” he said.

  She had not uttered a single sound all this time. The girl looked around quietly. And then her eyes went to Amelia. Amelia’s remaining hair of various lengths was sticking up in every direction. Blood from a large scratch had trickled down in a line from her forehead to her chin. The sight terrified Lilly. She buried her face in her brother’s shoulder and wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. She stayed that way as Charles gathered everyone together.

  After everyone had taken a seat under the gazebo, Charles asked, “Robert, would you mind telling me what is going on here?”

  “I can tell you, Papa,” Harry offered eagerly, as he stood up.

  Charles had given his son a look that was unlike any Harry had ever received from his father. The smile vanished from Harry’s face, and he sat down again.

  Charles looked at his nephew. “Robert?”

  Robert nervously recounted the events from his point of view. Charles then asked the other boy his name and where he and his sister were from.

  “I’m Levi and this is my sister Lilly. We are from the other side of Derbyshire.”

  Charles sighed. “Jane, please return home with the children while I talk to Levi and Lilly.”

  Jane took the calmed down Amelia’s hand while Harry and Robert quickly followed her home. As he went to exit Butterfly Orchard, Harry glanced back. He had never seen his father look so serious before. Something inside of Harry ached, and he had for the first time tasted of the pangs of conscience. On the walk home, no one said a word, and the guilt Harry felt seemed to increase with every step. When they arrived back at Bethany House, the children were taken for baths.

  Chapter Twelve

  “What happened to the poor child, ma'am?” Shirley gasped when she saw Amelia’s hair. The uncomfortable feeling in Harry’s stomach grew, and he felt like he was going to be sick.

  Jane gave Shirley a look which Shirley understood to mean not to talk in front of the children. “Please do the best you can with it. I believe you will need to take most of the rest of the hair off as well.” Looking at Harry and Robert she said quietly, “Boys go to your rooms.”

  Charles arrived back at home a few hours later. He looked weary, but the anger Jane had seen on his face when he had looked at his son in Butterfly Orchard was no longer there.

  He had gone to her as soon as he had entered the room and given her a quick kiss followed by a long embrace. “How are the troops here?” he asked.

  The stress of the day showed plainly on Jane’s face as she sighed before answering. “As good as can be expected. I sent the boys to their rooms after their baths and have not seen them since. Shirley and I had to cut off most of the remaining long pieces of Amelia’s hair. I got some of my childhood bonnets out that I was saving for our daughter. The bonnet hides the disastrous mess underneath well, but she will have to wear a bonnet every day for months, Charles. Poor child! What of you? Where are the boy and girl?”

  “It is a long story,” he said as he sat down on the settee and Jane sat next to him. “The children’s names are Levi and Lilly Robins. They are Mariah’s brother and sister.”

  “Mariah’s brother and sister?” Jane asked with a puzzled look on her face. “Mariah did not have any siblings.”

  “To say she did not know she had siblings would be more accurate. Her father left when she was probably around six years old, and she never saw him again. He started a new family and had Levi, who is twelve and Lilly, who is six. Their parents both died from….. ironically, complications from influenza. Their Mother first, and then Mr. Robbins just a few weeks ago. He had never fully recovered from pneumonia he developed during the illness. From what Levi told me, I think Mr. Robbins was a drinker who did not take care of himself. In any event, on his deathbed he told Levi he had an older daughter who also lived in Derbyshire. Yes, you heard correctly. Mr
. Robbins lived about fifteen miles on the other side of town. He gave Levi the name of a friend in town who might know where Mariah was.”

  “Oh dear! Do they know their sister died, Charles?”

  “Yes, they found the man they were looking for and he knew about Mariah’s death. But he sent the children in our direction and told them they might find other family members here. I do not know why he said that, but perhaps he did not know what else to do.”

  “Do the children not have any other relatives?“

  “Not that they know, Jane.”

  “Where are the children now, Charles?” Jane asked.

  “I brought them to Louisa’s and got some food into them. They had been surviving on apples from the orchard and were thankful to have found shelter in the treehouse. They had run out of options. While they ate, I went into town to buy them some ready-made clothes and by the time I got back they were bathed and wrapped in blankets. They had fallen asleep. I believe Levi has been under a lot of stress these last few weeks, trying to find one of his sisters while taking care of the other. Louisa and Hugh said they could keep the children there for now until we figured out what we are going to do. I told them we would go over tomorrow to discuss the situation with them. Today, we must deal with your son.”

  “My son, is it? Well, I seem to recall from your cousin’s stories that little Charles Bingley was much more mischievous than little Jane Bennet had ever thought of being!” she said playfully.

  “No, no. If you will remember Darcy said Harry took after your side of the family. Today, we blame your parents. That makes him your son,” he said with that certain twinkle in his eyes.

  ……………………………………………………………………………………………………....

  Harry was sitting at his desk writing when his parents came into his room.

  “Harry, turn your chair around. We want to talk to you,” said Charles as he and Jane sat on the bed.

  Harry quietly said, “Yes, sir,” and turned his chair around, while keeping his head down.

  “Son, we are not going to tell you what you did wrong. We want you to tell us what you think about your actions yesterday and this morning. And please be thorough.”

  Harry swallowed hard because of the lump he had in his throat. “I have been writing it down while I waited for you. I first want to say I am very sorry,” was all he managed to get out before tears started to pour out.

  Jane looked wide-eyed at her husband. He could see she was softening in response to the boy’s tears. He gave her a stern look to remind her that they had decided to stay firm. After Harry had cried for a minute, he got himself together.

  “We appreciate that you are sorry, son. What is it exactly that you feel sorry about?” Charles asked calmly.

  “I should have told you someone had gone through my things in the treehouse.”

  His parents sat there without saying a word. Charles only nodded in response, hoping the boy had more on his list.

  “I should not have suggested we children go to Butterfly Orchard at night to investigate.”

  “Why not?” asked Charles.

  “Because we could have gotten into trouble we could not handle if it turned out to be adults there instead of children.”

  Charles nodded, “And?”

  “And Robert and Amelia’s blood would have been on my hands if something had happened to them,” cried the boy.

  Charles looked at Jane sideways and raised his eyebrows at the boy’s dramatics. “How do you think their parents and yours would have felt if anything had happened to any one of you?”

  “Terrible!” cried the boy.

  “Yes, that is putting it mildly, son. Do you think there was a possibility of any of you getting hurt in any way even if no one had been outside in the dark except for you three?”

  Harry had not thought of this. He considered the possibility and dried his eyes. “It is possible. But I know my way around the property very well. I really am an excellent guide.”

  “That may be, but, in the dark you cannot see everything and a branch can fall in your path or you could step on a snake. There are any numbers of variables that you would not be able to predict beforehand.”

  “Or I could come across a pack of wild dogs. Or a bear,” offered Harry.

  “Yes, there was any number of situations that could have come up that would put you in danger. Why did you think it was alright to go without asking your parent’s permission?”

  “You never said I could not go,” Harry quietly said as he put his head down again.

  “No, that is the last time you are allowed to use that as an excuse. You are a smart boy, Harry. You knew what the answer would be so you did not ask. You know very well we do not allow you to go there alone during the day. So why would you think you would be allowed to go there at night?”

  “I did not allow myself to consider what you would say, Papa. I just wanted to show Robert and Amelia that I was the king of Butterfly Orchard. I guess I was too big for my breeches.”

  “Too big for your breeches? What does that mean?” Charles asked as he looked at Jane. She shook her head in response.

  “It is something Robert’s Papa says,” replied Harry. “It means he wants to be bigger than he is.”

  “Well, I do think that is certainly part of the problem here. I once heard your Uncle Darcy say something very interesting. He said someone could be dishonest by failing to tell all they knew. Do you think you could be disobedient to your parents by failing to consider all you already know about our other rules?” Charles asked.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Do you think that is something you are going to work very hard to start doing from this day forward?”

  ”Yes, sir,” was the boy’s tearful reply.

  “Good. We expect you to, son. Now, let us address the matter of Amelia’s hair. Harry… I am having trouble understanding what happened with the poor child’s hair. Again, it showed an independent spirit to take that upon yourself without even asking your parent’s permission. What were you thinking, son?”

  “I was just trying to help her. I saw the only way to get her out would have been to cut the rope, I mean her hair, so I did,” Harry replied quietly.

  “Do you realize now that you should not have taken that upon yourself to handle?” asked Charles.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “What could you…. let me rephrase that….what should you have done?”

  “I should have told you and Mama.”

  “Yes, you should have. Why would that have been the thing to do?”

  “Because you do not want me to use a knife.”

  “That is part of it. But also, Mama has more experience. If you had told her there was a knife or brought it to her, she would have taken her time, and Amelia could have kept most of her hair. Now the poor girl has to wear a bonnet to cover up what you did to her! That will be very hard for the girl.”

  “I am sorry, Papa. I will never show an independent spirit again,” he cried.

  Charles sighed, “We will talk about that another time. What has been done cannot be undone. There have to be consequences for your actions, son. What do you think should be your punishment?”

  “The strap!” the boy said through his tears.

  His father replied, “I will be honest with you, son, it is a good thing for you that we do not use the strap. Because I would tan your hide if I did! But take this as a warning, Harry. We will not be so lenient in the future if you ever do anything like this again. Is that very clear?”

  “Yes, sir. I will never do anything like this again!”

  “You seriously had better not. Now, you do deserve some kind of punishment. Your mother and I have decided that you will not go to the stables at all for a month.”

  “You mean I will not see Midnight for a month? Who will take care of him?” asked the boy.

  “The stable hands will take care of him just fine. You will also not be allow
ed to go to Butterfly Orchard during this time, and we have already put away the blocks from Uncle Ambrose as well. That will leave you with a great deal of time to think about being obedient to your parents. You are also going to have to help Mr. Brown with some of the upkeep of the grounds for this month. Every day after your lessons are completed, you are to change clothes and report to him. It will allow you to expend some of that energy of yours in a more productive way. Is that understood?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “One more thing son. You need to apologize to Robert and Amelia and then to their parents when they return. Jane, do you have anything to add?”

  “Just that I do hope you will take your Papa’s words to heart,” she pleaded.

  “Stay in your room for now, and think about what we have said. We will have someone let you know when it is time for lunch,” said Charles before he closed the door behind Jane and himself.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Later that day Harry went to the playroom to give his apologies to his cousins. He had given the apology very sincerely and especially begged Amelia to forgive him. Robert and Amelia looked at each other and started to giggle.

  “Apology accepted, Harry,” said Amelia. “The one good thing about my hair being so short is that now Molly cannot yank the living daylights out of it when she wet combs it! At least I will have a break from that for a while.”

  “Yank the living daylights? You two sure do know a lot of wonderful expressions that I have never before heard,” replied Harry.

  Robert put his arm around his cousin. “That is because we are city folk, and you are a country boy. But you are alright in our book, kid. We will have the best story to tell of anyone when we get back to school. And we will let them look under Amelia’s bonnet at that rat nest she is wearing up there for a penny each. We figure we can get candy every day until the end of the year.”