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    "Welcome home," he told himself, his heart lightening.
    Taking a last look around, Derek climbed down the ladder. Devon was nowhere to be seen and Blueberry was gone, too. Lady Sarah Mary-Ruth snorted at him.
    "Don't you start," he told her. "It's not like I asked to be here."
    She didn't seem to accept his excuse because she turned away from him, but not before sniffing at him, her nostril flaring in annoyance.
    Derek looked at her for a moment then laughed out loud. There was nothing that could ruin this day for him. He was home. He was one step away from that house. One step closer to being free. He could come and go as he wished, not having to worry about tripping over others, or being tripped over. He felt quite certain the amount of lectures and punishments he received would decline as well. He was even willing to bet he could go days without seeing Mrs. Worthington, if he put the effort into it. As he contemplated these new thoughts, he was sure nothing could upset him, least of all Lady Sarah Mary-Ruth.
    Resting his hands on the gate and leaning close to the mare, Derek grinned and said, "Nothing could make this a bad day. Not even you." Laughing once more, he walked out into the sunshine.
    The humidity had spiked, coating the land in a nearly visible layer of moisture. There was no reprieve from yesterday's heat wave and it was still morning. Strolling up the small hill, Derek made his way to the kitchen. A little bit of breakfast, some cool water, and then he could start his chores. With only the back lawn to clip and the carriage house to tidy, he would have plenty of time to slip off for a long, swim.
    As he opened the side door of the house, the sound of large objects being moved could still be heard from the upstairs hall. Thuds and skids were mingled with swear words and grunts. He ducked down the steps to the basement kitchen before anyone could drag him into helping again. He'd always been content in knowing he didn't have to see Mr. Millstone outside of church and the more that could get back to normal, the more he would like it.
    "Beth?"
    "Hmm?" Beth was just pouring cornmeal into a bowl.
    "What's going on upstairs?"
    "It seems I get to move into your old room."
    Sitting on the edge of the chair, Derek shook his head a little, his brow furrowed in thought. "Why?"
    A moment of silence passed as the slave woman busied herself as if she hadn't heard him. She pushed up her sleeves and began to turn the contents of the bowl over on itself with her hands. Scraping dough off her fingers, she turned the bowl and folded the thickening mixture a few more times.
    "Beth?"
    She sighed. "I take it you haven't heard then."
    "Heard what? From who?"
    Wiping her hands off on her apron and scattering flour on the counter, she replied in a get-it-over-with sort of voice, "Gabriel told me what was in Missus Worthington's letter. Mr. Worthington and his wife are going to be staying with us for a time."
    "Jonathan?"
    "That's what I said."
    Despite what he'd said to Lady Sarah Mary-Ruth, Jonathan could certainly ruin his day. "What are they moving things around for? Jonathan's room hasn't been touched since he left for school. They can stay in there."
    "I don't know. All Gabriel said was they'd be coming here today to stay for a little while. That's why I'm making extra bread." Not bothering to let it rise, she twisted a lump of dough off the huge ball, rolled it into a biscuit, and set it on the baking sheet beside her. "You're breakfast is over there by the hearth."
    Walking to the table, Derek picked a roll off the plate. "When are they getting here?"
    "By lunch, I expect. Mr. Devon left just a few minutes ago to wait for them at the train station."
    "I'll make sure to have my chores done by lunch then." He poured some honey onto his plate. "That way I can go for a good, long walk or something."
    "Missus Worthington will want you here to help take their things in."
    "Jonathan can carry his own bag," he sneered, violently