Page 15 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

Over the following two weeks, Alessandra felt like she was in a whirlwind, being asked so many questions by so many people.

While the household took care of the physical aspects of the wedding, for Alessandra it meant being fitted for a wedding dress, among other things.

She found herself quite overwhelmed by it all.

During that time, she and Edward escaped when they could, to head up to the summit.

It was expected by everyone that the weather would soon be bitterly cold.

They both felt determined to embrace the freedom they presently had to escape outdoors.

Two days before the wedding, they sat up on the summit again, noting the change in the landscape as real winter was due to set in.

"Are you nervous about being married?" Edward asked, studying her face as she looked out over the land.

Alessandra considered the question for some time before she turned to face him.

"There are aspects of it that make me nervous," she said demurely, casting her eyes from his for a moment.

Edward watched her look away and then bring her eyes back to his before he leaned in and kissed her.

Over the previous two weeks, they had grown quite accustomed to kissing.

He indulged in it again, loving the feeling of the softness of her lips.

Always the result was the same for him, embarrassingly, but he had started to realise that when he grew hard, she had no awareness of it, so it no longer worried him as much. He always made sure that he had relaxed again before they stood up to return home. He knew the mechanics of mating. Growing up on an estate like his, with so many farm stock, he couldn't have missed it. Because he believed that the core of conceiving was the same with humans, it wasn't that part of marriage that he looked forward to. It was the kissing that he found himself yearning for more of.

He pulled away, knowing they would soon have to head back to the house, and wanting to be relaxed before they did.

He didn't think the way she affected him was visible to others through his clothing, but he didn't want to take the risk.

"It won't be long and we shall have winter upon us," Edward said, breaking his previous chain of thought.

"When that strikes, we are often snowed in here for weeks," he continued as he watched her face recover from her emotions that seemed to strike when they kissed.

"Will you be comfortable with that, do you think?"

"I think so," Alessandra replied.

"Will I have to learn how to run the estate also? I know your mother has her responsibilities.

I do not know if I am expected to step up and learn them also, or if I am to leave them to her still."

"I do not know, to be honest," Edward said, surprised by her question.

"I will ask her if you like."

"Yes please, Edward.

I would not like to cause any offence to your mother by doing something I should not, or not doing something I should."

As Edward looked at her, he appreciated the ease of the relationship building between his wife-to-be and his mother.

He'd never had many friends, but he was certainly aware that those particular relationships did not always go smoothly at all.

"You must guide me, Edward, as this is all new to me," Alessandra said.

"Please do not ever assume that I will know what I am supposed to be doing."

"You have my promise.

And you must promise me that you will tell me if I do anything to make you unhappy, for I have never been a husband so it will be a learning experience for me also."

They both sat silent until the cold reached a point where it was time to leave.

That evening, Edward sat with her and held her hand again.

"I shall be leaving soon to go and stay with my aunt and uncle in Bath.

I will not see you again until our wedding day," he said, with a slight emotional tinge to his voice.

"I look forward to then," Alessandra replied quietly.

When Edward looked into her eyes, he could see she had the same look that she had when they kissed.

Straight away, he felt fuelled in desire again so quickly turned the conversation away to mundane topics so he could relax before having to leave.

"Edward, it is time," Charles said.

He was eager to get on the road to escort his son to Bath, where Charles would see the brother he did not often see anymore.

"Yes, Father," Edward responded before lifting Alessandra's hands to his lips, bidding her farewell, and walking out.

After he left, Alessandra's mother walked over to sit next to her.

"Alessandra, you do still wish to get married, do you not?" she asked, surprising her daughter.

"Yes, of course, Mother! I regard Edward very highly, and I look forward to being his wife."

Isabella was relieved.

She had been worrying that perhaps her daughter was moving forward with the wedding plan purely to satisfy others.

She could see from the way Edward and Alessandra had been acting towards each other that they did like each other.

It was a great relief, after the first few days of discomfort when they'd first been at the estate.

Edward's mother and Alessandra's father joined them.

Between them, they moved the conversation on to neutral topics to help each other feel relaxed about everything.