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Mrs. Natalie Shaw was an amazing woman. She took a very difficult situation and just went along with it, rather than cause the bride anxiety.
Another point for you, Mrs. Shaw.
Unable to help himself, he raised their joined hands and kissed her knuckles. “My fiancée is truly a wonderful woman.”
Natalie’s cheeks turned red, and Vivian nodded. “I agree, Cousin. I am so looking forward to your wedding.” She hugged them both and hurried off to answer her mother’s summons.
“Alex, this is all beginning to make me very nervous,” Natalie said while they watched Vivian as she reached her mother’s side.
“Come, I believe it is time for another stroll.” He led her off the patio and down the few steps to the garden.
They continued holding hands as they made their way through the pathways until they reached the pergola in the middle of the rose garden. Alex walked them up the few steps and they sat on the white, wooden bench amidst the beautiful flowers.
* * *
Things were certainly gettingout of hand as far as Natalie was concerned. This had begun as a favor to a friend of Sterling’s and had now turned into something very frightening.
“Alex, have you thought about how difficult things will be when you announce another broken betrothal? You may be forced to move from the country.”
He stood and paced in front of her, rubbing the back of his neck. “About that.”
She waited for him to continue and when he didn’t, she said, “What?”
Alex finally stopped pacing and faced her. “What if there wasn’t a broken betrothal?”
It took her a moment to let his words register, and then she said. “I don’t understand. Nor am I sure I want to.”
He sat on the bench alongside her and took her hand. “What if we continued with the engagement and it became real?”
“Real? You promised me this was pretend, and only for the wedding.”
He sat back and sighed. “I know that. However, we do seem to rub along together quite well. I need a wife and your daughter needs a father.”
Natalie hopped up and raised her hand, her palm facing him. “Wait a minute. Just wait a minute.” She was now the one doing the pacing. “I think I made it perfectly clear when I agreed to this charade that I had no intention of ever marrying again.”
“I know that, and I am not going back on my word. I’m only asking that you consider the idea of us marrying.”
She stopped and closed her eyes. “Do you know I shiver when I hear that word?”
“Come on, you two. You spend too much time alone together. I’m thinking we might have to cajole the vicar to marry us and you two while he’s here.” Lady Vivian walked up to the pergola, arm-in-arm with her fiancé, Mr. Kenneth Walker.
Natalie hadn’t seen a great deal of him, but he seemed like a pleasant chap. And he seemed quite taken with Lady Vivian. She hoped their marriage was a pleasant one. But it had to be better than hers because, from what she’d heard from the ladies when they were interrogating her, Mr. Walker was quite fat in the pockets.
It had been a lack of money that had caused some of the problems between her and Milton. He certainly worked hard for his money, but he spent a great deal of it on spirits and gambling. Then he would take his anger out on her when there wasn’t enough money to pay the rent, or if she asked for money to buy fabric to make a new dress for her or Annalise.
All the pondering brought her back to Alex’s proposal. Was it a proposal? She really wasn’t quite sure. And she certainly wasn’t sure what to make of it. Yes, she had a bad marriage, and, yes, Alex was nothing like Milton and seemed well liked by his friends and family. But marriage again? Where she would be trapped, and where she must obey whatever her husband ordered her to do?
Before she could gather her thoughts, Lady Vivian had her arms linked with hers, with Mr. Walker and Alex walking behind them. “The games will be fun, I promise,” she said over her shoulder to Alex, who Natalie assumed was well-known for disparaging parlor games.
When they reached the steps to the patio, Miss Walsh seemed to be waiting for them. She sashayed up to the two men and placed herself between them, taking both of their arms. “I claim you as my partner in charades,” the bold woman said to Alex.
Vivian said, “Miss Walsh, there are many ready to play. There will be more than two people on each team.”
“Very well, then. I will be on Alex’s team.”
Vivian looked over at Natalie and sighed. Speaking softly, she said, “I am so sorry she is here. But just soothe yourself with the notion that Alex has chosen to marry you.” She leaned in closer. “Not that witch.”
They both giggled.
