Page 17 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

The following morning, Alessandra woke up to find herself intertwined in Edward.

He had his arm over her, while her leg seemed to be thrown over his.

He was still asleep, and she was alarmed when she heard someone else in the room, making up the fire.

After initial surprise and shock at the discovery, she realised that the bed she was sharing with Edward had curtains around it and they were not at all visible to whoever was also in the room. She lay quietly and looked at her husband. She loved the word. Her husband! Her mind drifted back to the nice things they had learned about each other the night before.

As she listened, she could hear the person outside the curtain finishing up the lighting of the fire and the laying of hot water on the dresser.

The door opened and closed quietly, and then there was silence again.

Alessandra extracted herself enough from Edward to be able to peek out from the curtain.

When she did, she could see that no-one else was in the room and the fire was starting to warm up. She huddled back to the spot she had been and felt Edward start to stir.

When he woke, Edward opened his eyes and was happy to see Alessandra there still.

He pulled her close and kissed her.

"Good morning, my beautiful wife," he said.

Alessandra cuddled against him, kissing him with a fervour that woke him up immediately.

He lowered his hand to touch her as he had the night before and she moaned in his arms as she moved her hand and touched him at the same time.

They kissed deeply, touching each other until one and then the other exploded in blissful pleasure, after which they continued kissing.

Finally, Edward pulled away, breathless but smiling.

"We do need to leave this bed today, you do know," he said.

Alessandra smiled shyly at him, before she then remembered that her parents were leaving that day.

Edward saw a shadow pass over her face.

"What is it?" he asked.

"My mother and father are going home today," Alessandra replied.

"I shall miss them very much, Edward."

He pulled her to him and held her tighter.

"You can see them whenever suits you all.

They are welcome here, Alessandra, anytime they wish to visit, and we can go and see them too."

She pulled back and looked at him with a glimmer of hope in her eyes.

"You would truly be happy for us to go and visit sometimes?" she asked, prompting Edward to smile and kiss her forehead.

"Of course," he said.

"You have seen where I grew up, so of course I am curious to see where you grew up."

Alessandra suddenly felt ashamed of her home, uncertain and embarrassed that he should see it.

She changed the subject quickly.

"We must leave this bed," she said and after kissing more, they began their first day together as husband and wife.

They also found a new adventure in seeing each other dress and do things in the quiet privacy of their marriage room.

After breakfast, Alessandra prepared to say goodbye to her parents, but not before her mother had pulled her aside to talk to her quietly.

"Are you alright, my daughter? He did not hurt you?" Isabella asked quietly, closely studying Alessandra's face to read how it was for her.

Alessandra smiled.

"All is well, Mother.

You need not worry," she said to put her mother's mind at rest.

"Edward and I shall be well together. He has also told me that you and Father are welcome to stay here whenever you wish to. Please do come back and see me."

Her mother and her father both hugged her before leaving, and even her father surprised her with his words before he left the manor.

"If he treats you in a way that makes you unhappy, you must send word to us immediately and we will help you to come home, Alessandra," he said.

"Too many women stay in situations they should not.

Promise me you will ask for help if you need it."

"Father, I will be fine but, yes, if I need help I shall be certain to ask you for it," she said.

Soon her parents were off on their way back home, leaving Alessandra standing on the manor doorstep, watching until they had long disappeared from view.

"Alessandra, come.

The weather is too cold to stay out here.

Let us go indoors," Edward said, putting his arms around her completely in a full standing hug, openly for the very first time.

Alessandra responded by putting her arms around him and kissing him deeply, not caring who would see them.

Through their clothing, she felt him press against her, hard.

She giggled as he looked sheepish in the realisation that she had woken him up again.

"Perhaps we do need to stay here for a few minutes after all," he said, making her giggle more.

They stood like that until he felt it was safe to be walking around again.