Persuasion by Brenda Joyce Page A

face set. “Hello,” she said, as cheerfully as possible. “Aren’t we fortunate? It has stopped raining and tomorrow promises to be a glorious day.”
    “Good, I will go riding,” William said, far too decisively for a boy his age.
    “I will go riding, too,” John said, beaming at her. “Can you come with us? Please?”
    Amelia glanced at the tutor. “I would love to go riding with you, but I do not have a hack. However,” she said, before they could protest, “if you both settle down and begin your assignments, I will ask your father permission to take you on a picnic on the weekend—after all your assignments are done.”
    William’s sullen expression had vanished. “Picnics are for the summertime,” he said.
    “I want to go on a picnic!” John shouted, jumping up and down.
    “This will be a special picnic,” Amelia told William. “And if the weather permits, we will even bring your sister.”
    John began dancing around the room. Amelia realized he was entirely out of bounds. William said seriously, “I’d like that. But Father is locked in his rooms.”
    Amelia took his hand. “No, he is downstairs, dining.”
    Such a poignant look of hope flared across the small boy’s face that she went still. The best medicine for these children would be their father, she was certain. And she wondered if she dared take them downstairs, then and there, and reunite the family.
    Signor Barelli said, “Thank the lord he has come out of his apartments. They miss him dearly, Miss Greystone.”
    Did she dare?
    “I want Papa,” John cried, pouting. His gaze was moist with tears.
    If she went through with this, he would throw her out of the house, once and for all. But did it matter? She held out her other hand. “Come, John. We are going to call on your father.”
    John’s eyes widened and he ran to her, giving her his hand.
    Amelia prayed she was not making a mistake. She turned to Barelli. “I think they need a moment with their father before they resume their lessons.”
    “I think you are right,” he said with relief.
    Amelia smiled at both boys, holding their hands, and they went into the corridor. As they started down the hall, the nursery door opened and Mrs. Murdock came out, her eyes wide. “I thought I heard your voice, Miss Greystone,” she said, smiling. “Oh, I am so glad you have called!”
    Amelia paused to greet her. “I am taking the boys downstairs. It is high time they chatted with their father. How is the baby?”
    “She has just awoken.”
    Amelia looked past Mrs. Murdock. From where she stood, she could see into a part of the crib. The infant lay on her back, her hands and feet in the air. She was gazing at a toy suspended over the crib.
    He had yet to see his newborn daughter, she thought with unease. Did she dare bring the baby down, as well?
    “Why don’t you take her and join us? His lordship hasn’t seen her yet, has he?”
    Mrs. Murdock seemed to grasp the significance of what they were doing. She paled. “Only that one time, when he first arrived from London.”
    But he hadn’t even looked at the baby then, Amelia thought. “He will fall in love with her,” Amelia said, speaking her thoughts aloud.
    Mrs. Murdock smiled and retrieved the baby. The group then went downstairs. Amelia led them toward the dining hall, her heart pounding. The moment everyone was settled, she would make her escape; she hardly needed another word with Grenville now.
    The servant was outside the dining room, unmoving. Both doors remained open. John screamed, “Papa!” He released her hand and ran into the dining room. William let her go and followed.
    Grenville had been seated at the far end of the table, reading a news journal. He stood up, incredulous. Then, as John barreled into him, she saw the smile break over his face. As he embraced his son, lifting him up and whirling him about in a sign of sheer joy, Amelia felt faint with relief.
    He so loved the boys.
    He set John down and hugged