Catching up with family members and sorting out affairs of business, put the issue of Hattie to the back of Will’s agenda for several days. At night she came to him in his dreams. Memories of making love to her onboard the ship mixed with anger and pain created a strange cocktail of images which had him waking in the dead of night drenched in sweat and heavily aroused.

He consoled himself with the knowledge that when he did finally run her to ground, she would be even more surprised. At this moment, Hattie was living the false reality that she had managed to escape from Will.

“Looking forward to tonight?”

His father gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. They were standing in the foyer of their home in Dover Street awaiting the arrival of the bishop, his wife Mary and two of their adult children.

“Yes, it was good to catch up with Uncle Hugh the other night after Evensong, I am looking forward to spending an evening with the rest of the family,” he replied.

Gatherings within the Duke of Strathmore’s extended family were always light hearted and at time raucous affairs. New Year’s Eve Hogmanay celebrations at Strathmore Castle in Scotland, were a time of late nights and never- ending snowball fights.

When the Radleys arrived, the Saunders were waiting to greet them.

“William! About time you got your foolish self back home to England.”

His cousin James had never been one for mincing his words. The only boy in a family with two girls, he had forever been loud and boisterous. Always up for a laugh, but possessed with a generous soul. James Radley would give you his last penny if you asked for it, and his last pound if you did not.

Sitting down to dinner with his extended family members reminded Will of how much he had missed them all. Knowing that the war was over; and Europe was once again at peace was comfort for those long years away.

The only family member not appearing to be having a wonderful time was Eve. She sat quietly at the table, barely saying a word. Will worried for her. In falling in love with Frederick Rosemount, she appeared to have given her heart to a young man unable to see the true worth of her.

“Cheer up Eve,” he said.

She gave him a small smile, one he suspected had taken a lot to muster. An odd realization dawned on him. He and his sister were both somewhat crossed in love. Freddie valued his gaming and hell raising friends above Eve, while Hattie could not see her way to find a good enough reason to marry Will.

A footman stopped at Will’s chair and handed him a card. Will excused himself from the table, as Lord Shale entered the dining room.

“Sorry to disturb. An urgent matter which I need to discuss with Will has arisen.”

Adelaide Saunders greeted her nephew.

“Bartholomew, how lovely to see you. Do come and join us. It’s just a family gathering.”

He shook his head.

“Sorry Aunt Adelaide, I have just dashed out into the night to give Will some news. Rosemary and our son are waiting for me at home,” he replied.

Will handed him a glass of wine and pointed toward the doorway of an adjoining room. He followed Bat into the room, closing the door behind them.

Bat opened his coat and withdrew a large leather satchel. With a flourish he handed it to an intrigued Will. A school boy grin was spread across his lips.

“My man of business has been busy following up on Felix Wright. While the trail ran cold with Felix now being based in America, he did manage to turn up something else. Or, should I say someone else. One Aldred Wright, who until he recently set sail for Africa with his wife and daughter, lived at number forty- three Newport Street.”

Will frowned; an address wasn’t much to get excited about. Bat pointed to the satchel.

“Number forty-three Newport Street is up for lease.”

Will opened the satchel and took out a document, marked LEASE. His heart began to beat loudly in his chest. Adrenaline his old and trusted friend coursed through his veins.

“They were asking a little over market price for the lease, but it's a good house. I assumed you would want it, so I instructed my man to tell the agent you would take it. The agent will see you tomorrow at ten to make final arrangements. The house is yours until the Wright family returns,” said Bat. He clapped his hands in boyish delight.

For Will this was a most unexpected, but welcome development. Moving into the house would effectively kill two birds with one stone.

He had held reservations about moving permanently back into his parent's house since his visit home earlier that summer. He loved his family and it was wonderful to be able to see them again, but the years had passed, and he was no longer a carefree young man. The house in Newport Street was close enough for him to see his parents and siblings on a regular basis, without having to live under the same roof as them.

He now desired privacy and his own home in which to reestablish his life. To create his own family.

Moving into Newport Street would also help move matters forward with Hattie. There was a good chance she was hiding out from society and her family within her parent’s vacant house. If he took over the lease, she would be forced to come out of hiding and face him.

He was not looking forward to the difficult conversations which he knew lay ahead with her, but if they were at least able to speak to each other, face to face, they could make a start.

“Bat, you are a genius. Tell your man I owe him a tip for the work he has done.”

He slapped his cousin firmly on the back. Then shook his hand for good measure.

The earl smiled. “I have already paid him a bonus of five pounds on your behalf. You can pay me next time we are at the card tables.”