Chapter One
England, 1814
Mr. Alden Dandridge was tired of being poor. That was the only reason why he was sitting outside his Great-aunt Edith’s solicitor’s office, hoping for good news. He had been waiting for what felt like hours, with only the incessant ticking of the long clock in the corner marking his misery.
Tick-tock.
When he had received word that Mr. Davidson wished to meet with him, Alden couldn’t help but wonder what Great-aunt Edith was about. She was kind but eccentric, a woman he had learned to avoid over the years. So why was he here? He was hardly close to her.
Tick-tock.
Alden ran a hand through his hair. He had more important things to do with his time. Although, even he couldn’t fathom his own lie. As the second son of an earl, he had no prospects, no title, and no land. His older brother, Alexander, was their father’s heir and he was living the life of leisure.
How was that fair that he had been born second? A spare,as his brother constantly reminded him. He wanted to make something of himself, but he didn’t even know where to begin. His studies in Latin at Oxford seemed useless now.
Tick-tock.
That blasted clock. Why did it have to constantly remind him that he was sitting here, twiddling his thumbs, while the world continued to go on turning? It was a world of happiness that he had never known.
His eyes roamed over the small area and he saw three of his cousins waiting for the solicitor. He met Colin’s eyes and tipped his head.
Colin leaned forward and asked, “Do you know what this is about?”
Alden shook his head. “I do not. I was hoping you did.”
Turning his head, Colin asked their other cousins, Rose and Richard, the same question. They both shrugged, equally clueless.
Botheration.
The door to the office opened, and a short man with a thin face stuck his head out, pushing back the rounded spectacles on his face as he announced, “I apologize for the wait. Do come in.”
“It is about time,” Alden muttered under his breath.
He followed his cousins into the small office and saw there weren’t enough chairs for him to sit so he opted to stand by the one lone window. The short man went around his desk, which was extremely meticulously tidy, with stacks of papers neatly arranged. He offered them a brief smile. “Allow me to introduce myself,” he started, “my name is Mr. Davidson. I am Lady Edith Walker’s solicitor.”
Colin spoke up. “Why are we here?” he demanded.
Alden bobbed his head in approval. He wanted the solicitor to get straight to the point so he could get on with his day.
Mr. Davidson didn’t seem perturbed by Colin’s direct question. If anything, he seemed to welcome it. “I’m afraidthat I am the bearer of some bad news. Lady Edith is dying.”
Rose gasped. “Oh, dear,” she muttered. “How much longer does Great-aunt Edith have?”
“It is hard to say,” Mr. Davidson replied.
Alden stared back at the solicitor as emotions whirled inside of him. He may not have been particularly close to his great-aunt, but he didn’t wish her any ill-will.
Mr. Davidson continued. “I requested this visit because Lady Edith wrote each one of you a letter.” He picked up four letters from his desk. “She would like you to read them here, and I am available to answer any questions you may have.”
Rising, Mr. Davidson distributed the letters and returned to his seat.
Alden looked at the small, folded letter in his hand and wondered what Great-aunt Edith could have possibly wanted to say to him. He sighed. He might as well get this over with.
He unfolded the letter and read:
My Dearest Alden,
As you have heard by now, I am dying. But that is not why I am writing this letter. It is to inform you that I want you to marry for love. For without love, life is pointless. That is why I am giving you the opportunity to do so.
