"Parting is such sweet sorrow
That I shall say good-night till it be morrow."

~ William Shakespeare ~

Phoebe had packed them something to eat for the trip back to Edrington Manor despite Horatio's reassurances that they did not have far enough to go to warrant it. But she would have none of it, insisting that she would never be able to eat it all by herself.

Horatio finally gave in, helping her stow away the sandwiches and fruit in the wicker basket.

"Did you sleep well last night, Horatio?" Phoebe asked suddenly, quite out of the blue.

Blushing, Horatio nodded. "Quite well. In fact, Archie fell asleep the moment he lay down. It was most odd."

Phoebe's mouth opened, but she closed it again, shaking her head and smiling mysteriously. "Very odd indeed. That was not meant to... Well, no matter," she reassured herself. "The effect will be the same."

"Effect, Aunt?" Horatio asked in confusion. He'd seen his lovely aunt this way before, and while he knew she was up to something, he would likely never find out what it was. She did so like to be secretive.

True to her reputation, Phoebe smiled, stroking his cheek. "It is nothing, dearie." She knew he would reap the fruits of her labour soon enough. Besides, it would all be much too hard to explain. So she changed the subject. "Have you finished packing your belongings?"

"We have." Horatio paused, biting his lip. "I will come to visit you again soon, Aunt," he promised for the third time since breakfast. "As soon as I am able to get shore leave again." The dark rings under her eyes had him worried.

Phoebe smiled wistfully. "Dearie, I would not expect you to want to spend time with your old maiden aunt when you could be spending it in the arms of your lovely Earl."

Horatio hid a grin. "I am certain Percy would not mind. In fact, I know he would love to see you again as well."

"I most certainly would!" came a silky voice from the door to the garden. Percy was leaning in the door frame, looking most picturesque in his soft white shirt, green brocade vest and matching breeches. His hair was once again neatly braided and tied with a black ribbon.

Horatio exchanged a warm smile with him, and Phoebe watched them happily. "Some day, we will all meet again," she said mysteriously, adding to herself, 'But not for a very, very long time...'

"I'm looking forward to it!" Percy said emphatically and invited her to visit him at Edrington Manor at her earliest possible convenience.

She smiled, wishing she could accept the gracious invitation. Thankfully, at that moment, Archie entered with Edward, and the topic of conversation changed.

When the Earl's coach arrived to take them back, they had the driver stow away their luggage and the picnic basket.

Horatio felt rather sad about leaving Phoebe, having only just found her again. He watched as she hugged Archie and held him close for a moment, stroking his hair as if he was a little boy. And apparently, he rather liked it, for he smiled at her happily.

"Look after yourself, Archie dear," Phoebe told him. "And after my darling Horatio too, you hear?"

"I promise," he said, smiling a little sadly.

Percy took her hand and kissed it, much as he had when they had arrived. "You really must visit me, Phoebe," he said. "When we both get too sad about our loneliness, you come to me, you hear?" The last bit was said quietly so as not to upset anyone else.

Phoebe smiled and surprised him by hugging him lightly, before standing on her toes and pressing a quick kiss on the tip of his fine nose. "I have wanted to do that since you arrived," she said, giggling.

Percy joined in her laughter and stepped aside so Edward could say good-bye.

Phoebe looked at the Captain seriously before reaching up to stroke his cheek. "Take good care of him, Edward. I know you will." And she hugged him as well, glad of his warm, strong embrace because it assured her that he would be all the strength and comfort Horatio would need while at Sea and facing who-knew-what dangers.

Edward stroked her full locks reassuringly. "I will, Phoebe. I will guard him with my life, and that is a promise."

She sniffed a little, withdrawing reluctantly from his steady presence. "Thank you, my dear, dear Captain," she said, smiling with moisture glistening in her eyes.

Then she turned towards Horatio and reached out to him with her arms wide. He held her tight, his lips trembling and his eyes demanding that he blink repeatedly. No, he would not cry. It would only upset her.

"I love you, Aunt," he said softly. "And it will not be years before I come back this time."

Phoebe nodded, her face wet against his neck. She closed her eyes for a moment, determined to remember him just like this. Yes, he would be safe and secure with his dear Edward. That knowledge allowed her to smile when she removed herself from her nephew's embrace with a sigh. "I shall look forward to seeing you again, dearie." She kissed him quickly before giving him a playful swat on his behind. "Off you go now! Before you really make me cry."

Horatio gave her a lopsided grin and climbed into the coach next to Edward, who immediately placed a comforting arm around him. Archie and Percy had already been waiting inside, watching the tearful farewell.

"You all take care, you hear?" Phoebe called out as the driver climbed back on his seat above. Waiting for Horatio's nod, she took one last look into the coach before shutting the door with a soft clank and standing back as it rolled down the gravel path towards Cedar Grove.

Once it was out of sight, she wiped at her eyes, turned and went back inside. Just in time.

As the expensive-looking coach rolled through Cedar Grove, some of the local shopkeepers stepped outside their shops where a few passersby were already assembled.

"That coach? Did that really come from up there?" one of the residents asked, scratching his head.

The pharmacist nodded. "Aye, that it did. A young gent came down the other day, buying some herbs. Claimed he was staying at Heathwood Cottage."

"Did someone buy the place?" That was the butcher who had been wondering himself about the strange young visitor. "Didn't think anyone would want to. Not after..."

"Nobody bought it. I would have heard." The pharmacist shivered slightly. "I don't know where that young man was staying, but if he did stay up there, he's a might braver than those folks who were looking at buying it for the last ten years."

"He never even mentioned anything?" the butcher wondered.

The town vicar had joined the small gathering. "I really do wish you would not talk about her. I don't know what went on up there before the accident, and I definitely do not wish to know now."

The pharmacist shrugged. "That boy was probably just fantasizing. Tried to tell me she had sent him down to buy a few things for her."

"Oh, stop it!" a little old lady said, shaking like a leaf. "This is not at all amusing. Why can you not let the dead rest?"

"He did say so!" the pharmacist insisted. "And I must say I was much too shocked to point out that it could not be, what with her having been thrown off that horse of hers and breaking her neck. Must be coming up on 8 years now." He looked quite distressed. "I don't know where he came from," he repeated his earlier statement. "But unless he's been staying with a ghost..."