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“Right here.” Morris nodded at a footman who was presenting a glass of brandy to Alex from a small tray. “Your aunt has luncheon ready to serve as soon as your fiancée and all the women gaggling about her come downstairs.”
Alex nodded and walked around the room, speaking with other family members and friends. Two other men joined them, but Alex was more focused on who came down the stairs and headed to the drawing room.
How was Natalie surviving upstairs? He’d no sooner had the thought when Aunt Jane, his mother, Denise, and Natalie came downstairs, but went immediately to the drawing room where he could hear the women exclaiming over her.
Bugger it.This was Vivian’s wedding. Why weren’t they fawning over her instead of terrifying Natalie? Despite knowing how it would look to the others, he downed his brandy and walked to the drawing room.
“Oh, look, he can’t stand to be away from his fiancée!” His cousin, Meredith, grinned at no one and everyone, as he walked up to Natalie, who was looking a bit like a rabbit does right before one’s pistol fires.
He leaned in close to her. “How are you doing?”
“Fine.” The word squeaked out, and she cleared her throat. “Just fine.” Her smile was somewhat strained, and he could see the pulse in her neck jumping. Just then, the Applethwaite butler appeared at the doorway to announce luncheon was being served on the patio.
Before anyone budged, Alex took Natalie’s arm in his and moved her forward. “Come, I will escort you to the patio.”
With a sigh of relief, and a few chuckles behind them, she nodded and took his arm.
Methinks this will be a very long five days.
CHAPTER5
Natalie was ready to bolt and run as far as she could and as fast as she could. This was a nightmare. Alex’s mother, sister, and aunt had inundated her with questions. No wonder the poor man had to bring a pretend fiancée with him. With the way the women spoke, they’d been pushing Alex toward the altar for some time. In some ways she preferred her father’s lack of attention than the overwhelming focus these women seemed to have on his marital state.
She’d been asked—in a very subtle way—about her age, her prior marriage, her daughter, where she and Alex met, how long they had been courting, had they set a date yet. That last question resulted in a squabble among the three ladies on the best date. If she were truly going to marry Alex—which she wasn’t—she would suggest a trip to Gretna Green. Whoever he decided to marry had better be ready to run when the time arrived.
They took a very slow stroll on the patio, Alex moving them around the area and past the tables spread with luncheon items, giving them a bit of privacy, although Natalie noted that most of the women continued to watch them. With very frightening smiles on their faces.
Alex patted her hand resting on his forearm. “I apologize for the behavior of my aunt, mother, and sister. Was it so terrible?”
Natalie attempted a smile. “The difficulty was them asking for answers to questions we hadn’t decided on yet. Like where we met, how long we’ve been courting, that kind of thing.”
“Bloody hell.” He looked down at her. “I’m sorry. That sort of slipped out.”
“That is fine. I hear much worse when I am sewing up a patient in Dr. Stevens’ infirmary. And, you may say it once again for me.” She smiled.
“What did you say in response to all their questions?”
Natalie sighed. “You do realize I had to make things up as I went along?”
He nodded.
“I said we met at the theater, that I was with my sister and Sterling. I said you and he were friends.”
“I am impressed. That was a very clever answer.”
“Maybe so, but then I said we had been courting for a month. That seemed long enough for an engagement, but not too long that you hadn’t had reason to mention it to them before.”
“Mrs. Natalie Shaw, I believe you would make a wonderful spy for the Crown.”
She took a deep breath. “I think I would rather be doing that now instead of being here.”
Alex paled a bit and looked at her. “Please don’t tell me you are going to leave?”
She shook her head, her lips tight. “No. I made a commitment, and I don’t ever go back on my word.”
He studied her for a moment, seeming almost taken aback by the strength of her words. “Is there anything else you need to tell me before we mingle once again with the hordes?”
“No. Only that they kept pressing me for a wedding date.”
