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I am glad to have seen you and to have had the chance to explain myself to you. I hope you have a little faith in me and trust that I shall find a way to escape this dreadful situation. I cannot help the questions filling my mind at the thought of the way our meeting ended — about your visitor. Please put my fragile heart to rest and tell me that you have not set your sights upon another.
I remain yours, and you, I hope, mine.
Alex.
Finished with his letter, Alexander rang the bell by his side to send for a servant. He was surprised to see that his valet, Barnaby, was the one who responded to the call.
“Barnaby, I was not informed of your return. How is your mother?” He asked warmly. His smile fell off his face as he noticed the sadness that clouded the other man’s face at the mention of his mother.
“She passed two nights ago, Master Alexander. I was with her when she drew her final breath,” he said quietly.
Alexander felt his heart go out to the man; seeing the sorrow in his eyes. He wondered why Barnaby had returned to work so quickly. Surely, he deserved a little time to mourn. “I am sorry about your mother, Barnaby. Please accept my condolences.”
“Thank you for your kind words, Master Alexander,” Barnaby said, trying but failing to muster a smile.
"Why did you return so quickly?" You should take some time to mourn," Alexander said sympathetically.
"I am grateful, Master Alexander," Barnaby said, "but I would rather keep myself occupied so asto notwallow in my grief.”
Alexander nodded in understanding. “Well, in that case, have this letter delivered to Lady Isabella and see that it reaches no one but her.”
The valet nodded and was off to do as he had been tasked. Alexander felt slightly better. Soon he would have the answer to his question.
CHAPTERFOUR
Caroline lay sprawled on the bed and let out a deep sigh. “I do not know what to do Ann. Mother is frustrating me,” she said to her sister who was sitting by her feet, back rested against the bedframe. After their argument, she had successfully avoided her for the rest of the day, making noncommittal grunts at dinner when spoken to.
Ann, being her best friend, was worried about her. While they had their differences, one of which being that Ann always found humor in everything, Caroline knew for certain that in a serious situation such as this when she really needed help, Ann would become her champion without question.
“What has mother done to frustrate you now?” Ann asked, rolling her eyes, no stranger to the fact that Caroline and her mother hardly ever saw eye to eye on any matter. She always ended up in the middle of their arguments as the peacemaker. Despite her personality, Ann kept to herself most of the time, enjoying her time painting, or needling, so it seemed that she had not caught the gist of the latest news.
“Do not roll your eyes at me, Ann. This is a serious matter.” Caroline kicked her sister lightly.
“Ow! Alright, I am sorry. What has she done?” she asked.
"Mother is to blame for the rumors circulating about Alexander Mannfield and me being in a relationship.Everyone expects me to marry a complete stranger because of her. I do notunderstand why she would do such a thing to me." Caroline's frustrationgrew, her voice quavering with rage as she spoke.
“Rumors? How so? It was such asimple matter, and it could have been easily dismissedonce father discovered you had no relationswith the man. How did it come to this?” Ann seemed truly shocked.
Now it was Caroline’s turn to roll her eyes. “Mother spread the rumor about us courting through letters, and about Alexander Mannfield planning to marry me. She destroyed my choice to marry for love, and does not care about the man loving another either.”
Caroline thought back to the letter she had read, and she could not help the blush that stained her cheeks. While it was true that he had taken liberties with a woman he was not married to, but it was evident he had feelings for this woman. She did not want to have to compete for her husband’s attention. Her mother, however, did not seem to care about that at all.
Caroline felt hands wrap around her and jolted back to the present. She turned her head to find her sister situated behind her, a sad smile on her face.
“I am sorry, Caroline. If it had not been for me making jokes about the letter, mother’s attention would not have been drawn to it and you would not be in this situation right now,” Ann said, sounding honestly apologetic. Caroline frowned slightly and removed herself from her sister’s hold so that she could turn to her.
“It is not your fault.” She held up her hand when Ann tried to interrupt her. “It is the truth. Mother would have found out regardless.”
“If anyone is to blame, it is her. I cannot believe she would choose to disregard my feelings so carelessly.” Caroline sighed, her head plopping on the pillow.
"You cannot let her do this.I, too, do not want you to marry under these circumstances. What shall wedo?” Ann asked. Caroline smiled and touched her hand to her sister’s cheek.There’s my champion,she thought as she stared at her eyes.
Caroline, feeling energized, stated, "We must impedemother's plans.We may not be able to undo all of the damage, but we can stop it from worsening further.”
She sat up and clapped her hands as an idea came to her. “I know just what to do. Ann, I need you, Marjorie and Alice have mother taken out of the house. You may say you need new sun hats as your old ones have worn out. When she comes to see if I am interested in joining you, I shall pretend to sulk as I have been since yesterday, and stay behind.”
Caroline smiled slightly at how keen her sister seemed. “Alright. I take it there is a reason you want us to take mother out of the house?” Ann asked.
