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Bravo, Natalie.
“I missed seeing you today, Alex,” Mildred purred as she shook out her napkin and placed it on her lap.
Alex said, “St. John to you, Miss Walsh.”
She reached over and touched his arm. “Oh, how silly of me. I forgot you wish to be formal.” She glanced over at Natalie. “Not like we used to be.”
He continued his meal and looked over at Natalie. “The Potted Shrimp is quite good, my love. Have you tried it yet?”
Both women spoke at once.
Mildred looked over at Natalie and then Alex and placed her hand on her chest. “Oh, my mistake. I thought you were speaking to me.”
Alex felt no comment was the best way to handle that. The three ate in silence. Within minutes, Mildred had turned her body so far toward him she was quite close to falling from her chair. She leaned over and spoke softly. “Do you remember our trip to the art museum? And those nasty statues?” She giggled like a debutante.
“No, I am sorry. That seems to have slipped my mind.”
Thankfully, Natalie seemed finished with her meal, and he was only too happy to remove the dinner plates from the table. He nodded at her and stood. It was truly bad manners on his part to leave the table with Mildred still eating, but he’d had enough.
Extending his hand to Natalie, she took it and rose. Not bothering to tuck her arm in his, they remained holding hands as they left the patio and entered the house.
“Oh, don’t go far, Alex.” Vivian hurried up to them. “I am planning some parlor games after everyone finishes dinner. I’m hoping you two will play.”
Alex groaned. There was nothing he hated more than silly parlor games. He turned to Natalie. “Sweetheart, what do you want to do?”
Vivian sighed and clasped her hands on her chin. “How very sweet of you, Alex.”
He grimaced. “Please do not tell anyone I am sweet, cousin. I shall never live it down.”
Vivian leaned in close to the two of them. “What was Miss Walsh doing at your table?”
Alex shrugged. “She asked to sit with us, and I could not refuse without making a scene.”
Vivian straightened and sniffed. “That was quite rude of her.” She placed her hand on Natalie’s shoulder. “Do not pay her any mind, Mrs. Shaw. I never cared for the woman when Alex was planning to marry her.”
She looked over at Alex. “Yes. I never did like Miss Mildred Walsh, and I could never understand what you saw in her.”
He had a hard time remembering himself. All he could recall was his need for a wife to appease his mother. Mildred was pretty, charming, and raised to be a nobleman’s wife.
Unlike Natalie who was not raised to be a nobleman’s wife, yet her sister was married to Lord Sterling and Natalie herself was honorable, loyal, beautiful, and kind.
Then why don’t you marry her?
That brought him up short, although he had to admit it was something that had crossed his mind after spending time with her and greatly enjoying it.
However, he wasn’t sure Natalie was interested in making their betrothal real. She had been adamant about never wanting to marry again and it was apparent that her marriage had not been a pleasant one. One day she might trust him enough to tell him what the wedded state with Mr. Milton Shaw had been like.
He realized that Natalie and Vivian had been chatting away while he’d been lost in his thoughts.
Vivian turned to Alex. “I’m so glad you two will join us for games tonight.”
Blasted hell.While he’d been woolgathering, Natalie must have agreed to playing silly games.
He nodded at his cousin. “My pleasure, Vivian. Anything to please the bride. Before we part, I’d like to ask you why in heaven’s name did your mother invite Miss Walsh and her parents?”
Vivian shook her head. “Mother was most upset when their carriage pulled up. It seems she sent the invitation when we first planned the wedding and that was before Miss Walsh decided you two would not suit. And, of course, since none of us had known about Mrs. Shaw until you arrived together, it has become most awkward.”
“Do not concern yourself, Lady Vivian. This is your wedding, your time to enjoy the happiest day of your life.” Natalie smiled warmly at his cousin, and the warmth spread to him and throughout his body. Watching her smile and hearing her words he felt something he’d never felt before.
