“The horse farm is very profitable.”
“It is, but what if taking a wife makes you miserable?” Miss Sidney asked. “You will be tied to her for the remainder of your days.”
Alden nodded. “That is why I will need to choose wisely.”
“Is that even possible in such a short time?” Miss Sidney inquired.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Alden asked. “After all, I am an excellent judge of character.”
Miss Sidney didn’t quite look convinced. “If you say so,” she muttered, turning back to her food.
Alden leaned towards her. “You don’t believe me?”
“It seems rather far-fetched to me,” Miss Sidney replied.
He set his fork and knife down and turned to face her. “Besides being quite beautiful, you also have a tender heart. You care, far more than you let on. And I have seen the way you treat your servants. It is with compassion and kindness.” He paused. “Tell me that I am wrong.”
Emotions flittered across Miss Sidney’s face, but he couldn’t decipher them. Was it sadness? Disappointment? Finally, after a long moment, she spoke. “You flatter me, sir.”
“It was merely the truth.”
“You are wrong about me, though,” Miss Sidney said. “I am not as kind as you have led yourself to believe.”
Alden gave her a knowing look. “I truly doubt that, considering you are willing to help me out of the goodness of your own heart.”
“Well, I… uh…” Miss Sidney’s words came to an abrupt halt when an older woman with silver hair stepped into the room. “Aunt Cecilia,” she shouted. Loudly. She almost seemed pleased by the interruption.
Alden rose and Mrs. Hardy waved him back down. “Take your seat, young man,” she said, softening her words with a smile. “It is nice to finally see you fully and not through a white sheet.”
“It is a pleasure to finally meet you,” he greeted.
Mrs. Hardy sat down and he followed suit. “You must excuse me, but sometimes I feel like I need to be invisible,” she said.
“I can understand that,” Alden responded with a grin. “I have often wished that I was invisible around my family, especially my brother.”
Miss Sidney reached for her teacup and brought it up to her lips. Her perfectly formed lips. Alden cleared his throat at his wayward thought. Where had that thought even come from? He was just trying to convince Miss Sidney to marry him, not develop feelings for her. Feelings would just complicatethings. And he didn’t need any further complications in his life.
As Miss Sidney returned the teacup to the saucer, she turned her gaze towards her aunt. “Will you be accompanying us to visit Mrs. MacBain?”
“Heavens, no!” Mrs. Hardy exclaimed. “I think it is best if I stay behind and work on the bagpipes.”
“You play the bagpipes?” Alden asked.
Mrs. Hardy bobbed her head. “Yes,” she replied. “Some people would consider me quite proficient.”
Miss Sidney lifted her brow. “Who are these people?”
With a dismissive swipe of her hand, Mrs. Hardy replied, “It matters not. I will be regaling you both soon with my impressive skill.”
“I can’t wait,” Alden responded.
“Trust me, you can,” Miss Sidney muttered to him.
Mrs. Hardy gave her niece a pointed look. “Make sure you take your lady’s maid with you to call upon Mrs. MacBain. I do think you will have a much more open conversation without an old lady being present.”
“You are hardly old,” Miss Sidney attempted.
“That is rubbish! I have one foot in the grave,” Mrs. Hardy declared.
