Lord Rowan was staying with Lord and Lady Melmoth and so it was to ‘ Eldon House’ the brothers took her the following day. There was no ceremony about the greeting she received. As soon as the carriage stopped before the front door Lord Rowan—limping slightly Lavinia noticed immediately—closely followed by Lord and Lady Melmoth, appeared on the steps. Jonathan gave her his hand as she stepped from the carriage. But then she ran forward into her grandfather’s outstretched arms. ‘Lavinia, my dear, dear child. Let me look at you,’ he said when they had embraced and he held her at arm’s length. ‘ My dear child—no, I am wrong—you are no longer a child but a young woman.’ She saw the unshed tears glint in his eyes. ‘So like Mélanie,’ he added very softly, ‘in fact, exactly like Mélanie now.’ ‘ ’Pon my soul!’ Lord Melmoth demanded of his wife. ‘Is it the same girl?’ ‘It is indeed. Lavinia my dear,’ as she greeted her.
