In the next moment, Elinor pulled him into a tight embrace. “Thank you, Alden. I can’t even begin to explain what this means to me.”
Alden smiled. “I take it that it pleases you.”
“It does,” Elinor declared.
Just then, the door to the stables opened, and a footman stood in the entryway, looking slightly hesitant. “I apologize for the interruption, but Lady Edith has come to call.”
Alden’s brow shot up. “My great-aunt is here?”
“Yes, sir,” the footman confirmed. “She is waiting in the drawing room.”
Elinor dropped her arms but quickly reached for his hand. “We mustn’t keep her waiting,” she said as she practically dragged him out of the stables.
Once they arrived at the manor, Alden followed Elinorinto the drawing room and saw his white-haired great-aunt gracefully sitting on one of the camelback settees. Her body looked frail and tired, but her eyes sparkled with liveliness.
When she saw them, she rose slowly and held her arms up. “My dear Elinor,” she greeted warmly.
Elinor hurried over to her and threw her arms around Lady Edith. “It is so good to see you, my lady,” she said, her voice brimming with affection.
“My lady? Since when have you started standing on formalities,” Lady Edith said before turning towards Alden. “And how are you?”
“I am well,” he replied.
Great-aunt Edith waved him forward with a playful gesture. “Do I not at least get a kiss on the cheek since I gave you a horse farm?”
“Yes, of course,” Alden said, moving to kiss his great-aunt’s cheek.
Once he had done so, he waited until the ladies sat before he claimed the seat next to Elinor.
Great-aunt Edith beamed at both of them. “It makes my heart happy to see you two together,” she said. “I knew the moment I met Elinor that she would be perfect for you, Alden.”
“You did?” Alden asked, slightly incredulous.
Great-aunt Edith nodded. “Yes, and I had to come up with the perfect reason to bring you two together,” she said. “Furthermore, you have always been rather cocky, especially when it came to the ladies, and I knew that Elinor would knock you down a peg or two. Was I right?”
Elinor giggled. “You were,” she agreed.
Alden shrugged, trying to hide his own amusement. “I am a smart enough man not to argue with that.”
Mrs. Hardy entered the room and sat down next to Aunt Edith. “I am happy to see that you do not look worse for the wear,” she said, her words light.
Lady Edith merely smiled. “I meant to arrive earlier, but I had to stop in York to speak to my great-niece, Rose.”
“How is she faring?” Alden asked.
“With any luck, she is married now,” Lady Edith said. “We had a good heart to heart talk, and I hope she heeds my advice. Unlike Cecilia did.”
Mrs. Hardy looked the epitome of innocence. “In what way did I not heed your advice?”
“When I told you that I intended to play matchmaker with Elinor and Alden, I said to make yourself scarce, not dress up like a ghost,” Lady Edith remarked.
Not appearing perturbed by Lady Edith’s chiding, Mrs. Hardy responded, “It worked, did it not? It gave them the opportunity to speak freely.”
The lines around Lady Edith’s eyes crinkled with amusement. “I suppose it did,” she admitted, turning back towards Alden. “My solicitor will arrive shortly with the deed to the horse farm and papers to transfer it to you. I do hope you will take good care of it.”
Alden tipped his head. “Wehave every intention of doing so.”
Great-aunt Edith’s face softened with satisfaction. “I am so glad that you two found one another. Love is not something one should take for granted.”
