AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"Good, then?” she beamed at her reaction. "I ampleased you twohave reconciled and are finally getting along. All that matters is that both of you are happy.”
Caroline felt moisture gather in her eyes, she had not realized she would be accepted so easily. “Thank you,” she croaked out, embarrassed when her voice shook so obviously.
"Oh sweetheart, there is no need for that, you are always welcome here. Right, Henry?" Elizabeth asked.
"Certainly, you are a part of the family now, dear girl." Her father-in-law smiled.
Alexander took her hand in his and smiled at her. Her heart suddenly felt so full, like she had gained something she did not know she was missing at all. She returned Alexander's smile; happy he had asked her to come with him.
"To be young in love again. Eh, Henry? Do you remember?" Elizabeth chuckled as the four sat down to breakfast together.
"How could I forget?" Henry smiled as he turned to Alexander. "Your mother refused my advances for a very long time, entertaining the attention of a certain Duke because she said I was not pursuing her seriously enough, simply because I danced with another woman twice. I had to keep proving myself, sending flowers, taking her to the opera and so many other things before she finally agreed to court me. Once she refused my name in her dance card, claiming a sprained ankle only for me to see her dancing later in the night.”
Caroline raised her brows. So, Alexander’s mother had a history of rejecting men’s advances. No wonder that was what she liked about her. Perhaps she reminded the woman of her younger self. From Alexander’s expression, it seemed this was the first time he was hearing this as well.
"Oh well. Your father was a rake who thought he could get any woman he wanted without committing, so I made it difficult for him until I beat him at his own game," she teased. "My parents were worried of his reputation, but little did he know that he had met his match."
Caroline smiled as she listened to them. Although she and Alexander did not marry for love, she hoped that they could one day be just like this.
"You know, for a long time, I was very popular, and many women wanted to befriend me simply because they wished to knowhow I had tamed the town's biggest rake," her mother-in-law said.
"You have always been beautiful. It was what attracted me to you, but I stayed for your wit and antics. I wanted to have her so intensely, by the time I did, I realized she had me too," Henry smiled and kissed his wife's hand. "We have been enjoying our marriage since then, no regrets whatsoever."
“Father was a rake?” Alexander looked flabbergasted. "So that’s where Colin gets it from! How come you never shared these stories with us?"
His parents laughed. “We’re only telling you this now because you are married. Colin must not hear of this, lest he thinks it is justification for his antics,” his father joked.
Caroline smiled as the family laughed. It was so peaceful. Alexander casually covered her hand with his as she continued to talk animatedly with his parents.
I could get used to this.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
The days after the visit to Alexander’s family home were blissful. Caroline was happy her marriage had finally taken a turn for the better. She woke up every morning feeling energized and refreshed, with her husband lying beside her. He took her hand more often and kissed her more as well. He was romantic. It felt like a brand-new chapter had finally started in her life and she was glad for it.
That morning, Caroline sent a letter to her sister, Ann, anxious to tell her all that had transpired. She was bursting at the seams to tell her everything, especially with how supportive Ann had been the last time she had visited when she had told her just how terrible her life was.
Caroline could still remember the words Ann had whispered in her ear just before she left with her brother-in-law. “Things will get better, I promise.”She had not believed her words of assurance then, but now it almost seemed like prophecy and there seemed to be no one more important to tell about it than Ann herself.
Things had gotten better after all. Alexander was attentive, always informing her of his whereabouts and when he would return, placing lingering touches on her body no matter the time or place, and staring at her with those intense eyes of his that always seemed to hold wicked promises he intended to keep.
Caroline looked up when she heard a knock at her door, “Your sister is here to see you, my Lady,” her Lady’s maid announced. Caroline nodded and waved her off, getting to her feet immediately as she rushed to meet with her.
“Caroline, is everything alright?” Ann asked, hugging her. “I got your letter and came right away. Has something happened?”
Caroline cocked her head to the side as Ann seemed to be worried. She supposed the single line of“I need to talk to you, come as soon as you can,”did not specify if the news was good or bad. Taking her sister’s hands in hers, she led her to a chair. “I am fine, Ann. Everything is splendid!” she said, beaming.
“Yes, you appear to be so. What has changed?” her sister asked, a thoughtful look in her eyes.
Unable to sit still, Caroline got up from her seat and walked toward a window. Her smile was so wide as she turned to face her sister, that she could feel her cheeks hurt. “Oh, Ann, I do believe I am to be happy finally. I find it hard to believe it myself.”
“Well, do tell me, I am intrigued!” Ann demanded impatiently. She got up from where she had been seated and walked to where her sister stood, dragging her back to her seat. “There, now tell me.”
“First, Alexander and I… we have been intimate,” she began, a blush colored her face as she suddenly felt shy at having to say these words to her sister.
Ann let out a tiny squeal at the news. “Finally!” she joked. “Now tell me, did you seduce him?”
Caroline blushed and smacked her sister for bringing it up. “It was a bit more complicated, but I did approach him first,” she said, red with shame.
