The funeral arrangements were made quickly. The incoming threat of winter weather and the beginning of Advent gave only a week after Gideon's passing for a service to be held. Mrs. Ellis stayed with Emmeline for the first two days but had to return to Mooreland Park to resume her duties. She did not leave the home until she was reassured that Mrs. O'Malley would be with the young girl. Dr. Keller and his wife had returned Mr. O'Malley's missive and were to arrive the day before the funeral before taking Emmeline to London.

Emmeline was in a silent daze. She worked with Mrs. Ellis to make the funeral arrangements. It would be a small ceremony. Her father would not have wished for much of a fuss. When Mrs. Ellis left, Emmeline worked with Mrs. O'Malley to prepare the house for guests and also for her departure. She would go to London with the Kellers for a time, while the practice was being settled. This had been decided after the passing of her mother. The Kellers were the closest thing the family had to kin. Her parents were both the only surviving children of tradesman families. Her grandparents had long since passed during her infancy. 

~

Daniel, for his part, gave Emmeline distance during the week. Mrs. Ellis had taken him aside when she returned to Mooreland Park and explained how deep the young girl's grief was felt. He also had Matilda to attend to. His daughter had formed a strong attachment to the elderly fellow and she was too young to remember her mother's own passing so Daniel reassured his daughter in a way he hoped she would understand.

"You know how your Mama was bound to be with the angels darling? That God called her home to be with Grandpapa and Grandmama?"

Matilda nods, snuggling close to her father, wiping her nose on his shirt.

"Well Mr. Gideon was called by the angels as well. And Miss. Emmy told me that one angel in particular was calling rather loudly to him for a long time. You know Miss. Emmy's mama died when she was young, just like your mama. Well Miss. Eleanor was Mr. Gideon's fairy princess, and a fairy prince cannot be without a fairy princess for long. He knew he needed to stay for his daughter, to make sure she would be okay, and when he was sure of that Miss. Eleanor's calls became louder. And now they are together again, watching over their daughter."

"But does that mean you will leave me, Papa? Do you talk to Mama?"

"Sometimes, my dear, but when we talk she tells me how proud she is of you. She and I are both in agreement that I should never leave you for sometime. She knows that you and I have many a wonderful adventure to go on yet."

"Do you think there could be two princesses for one prince, like if one dies like Mama and Mr. Gideon?"

"Of course it is possible my dear, those that have left us for the other realm still want us to be happy on earth and sometimes that means finding a new fairy princess."

"Good, I think it would be sad to only have one princess if they have to go be with the angels too soon."

"I completely agree."

~ 

The Kellers arrived the day before the funeral. Dr.Robert Keller was a stately sort of fellow. His years in London gave him a level of brevity that set him apart from those in the small hamlet of Abbotshire. He had met Gideon while at university and the pair had become fast friends. While Gideon knew he wanted to move back to his hometown, Robert looked for bigger and better things. He was the third son of a Maquess, and knew a life of either military service or clergy was to be his future. He did not like either of those and decided to pursue medicine. This allowed him to maintain his connections in London while still earning a respectable income.

His wife Fannie was the sister of a childhood friend. She was expected to marry well as to help raise her family's status, but could not deny her affection for Robert. She was a sweet woman, nurturing in nature. Together they made the perfect pair serving London's elites. They were never able to bear children but doted on their nieces and nephews. It was decided after Eleanor's death that the Kellers would be the best caretakers for Emmeline. They were the closest the Somer's family had to kin. 

~

"'There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.' Gideon Somers understood this more than anyone. He was a healer, who faced both the joys of new life, and the sorrows of the end. He was a friend to us all. Every single person in this room has been touched by his healing nature. Even after the passing of his beloved Eleanor, Gideon showed kindness to everyone he met. He was a quiet man, but when he spoke, he showed a level of grace that many of us can only wish to achieve. Gideon may have left to be with his beloved wife, but he left behind a wonderful daughter, Emmeline. She is a model of both of her parents, working with the same amount of grace and kindness that her father did, taking over her father's practice when he became sick. She has been a pillar in this community, and she will be missed as she leaves for London to be with the Keller family for a period."

Daniel, standing at the back of the church, looks at Emmeline at the front. Her eyes focused in rapt attention on Reverend Ellis. A pang of sadness seeps in his soul.

The service concludes and the somber party walks to the cemetery at the side of the church. Emmeline places a book into the casket, the collection of John Wilmot's poetry, as a final goodbye to her father. She takes hold of Mrs. Keller's hand and watches as they lower the casket into the ground. The party begins to break up, but she stands near, holding fast to the last few moments. 

"I am going to go back to the house and make sure everything is ready for our departure. Take all of the time you need my dear. We have rooms arranged at Luton for us for the night." Mrs. Keller kisses her hands and walks to her waiting husband. 

Emmeline stays at the site for a few more minutes, embracing the silence as they finish covering the casket. She kisses her fingertips and places them on Gideon's headstone. She smiles, seeing her mother's final resting place next to his.

"Say hello to Mama for me." She whispers.

She feels Daniel's presence behind her and turns around.

"So you are leaving then?" She looks up at him, his eyes showing a deep sadness that breaks her heart. 

She turns away from him, wrapping her shawl tighter around herself.

"I need to go away for a while. I cannot be in the house alone right now. I cannot work. Everything I see reminds me of them. A constant reminder that I am alone."

Daniel places his good arm gently on her shoulder.

"But you are not. You have ones that would love and care for you here." 

Emmeline turns around, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Please do not make this harder than it already has to be m'lord." Her voice is harsh. Daniel is taken aback and Emmeline sees the hurt in his eyes. 

She steps closer to him.

"This was what my parents wanted. I must honor them. I must honor myself and give myself to adjust to a world without him in it. I will return when I am well again, but for now this is how it must be."

Daniel takes her hand and kisses it gently.

"Then I shall pray every day for your peace."

~

Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for reading this story. 

We are getting near the end  of the story which seems so crazy to be able to say after I let it lay dormant for so many years. I can't promise you there won't be a few more twists and turns before we get to the end.

I hope you've enjoyed the journey so far!

The next chapter should be up within the next week!

-M