Page 38 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

Unwilling to stop at all in his riding, Edward rode through the day and night and arrived at Alessandra's family home the next morning.

After securing Beauty, he knocked on the door.

At first he thought that no-one was there.

Then an older woman, who he had never seen before, opened the door.

"I am looking for..."

"Oh, you are Miss Alessandra's husband! Has something terrible happened to her?" she asked, with a look of terror on her face.

"Oh, no.

Sorry ... you are?"

"Oh, Mister Edward, I am June, the housekeeper.

Sorry, we were not introduced when you were here before."

"Alessandra has been worried she has not heard from her mother, so I have come to see if everything is alright," he said, still wondering what was going on.

"The mistress and master are well, Mister Edward.

Come inside and sit down.

They are not quite up for breakfast yet, but the food is ready.

If you are hungry, you are welcome to sit at the dining table. and I can bring in some food for you."

Edward entered the house, reminded again of how small it was.

He thanked the housekeeper in her offer to have breakfast, having not stopped for a meal along his journey.

Just as he was finishing his meal, he was joined by Alessandra's mother and father.

"Edward! What brings you here? Oh no! Something has happened to Alessandra?"

"No, Sir.

Alessandra was worried that something had happened to you, as she had not had any reply to her last two letters.

I want to keep her calm, so I thought I could ride here and see that you are both alright," Edward replied.

Alessandra's mother looked confused but sat down and took his hand.

"We are both well, but I have written to Alessandra twice in the past month, Edward.

Why would she not be receiving my letters? Are you having problems receiving post at your home?" she asked.

Edward laughed quietly to himself, remembering the painful letters that most definitely had been arriving.

"No, there has been post most days," he said.

"Perhaps it is a problem at this end?"

"I do not think so.

Other letters I have sent have been replied to.

An old friend of Alessandra's, Tom, has been kindly bringing our mail to us, and sending away our outgoing correspondence."

Alessandra's father watched as he saw horror and then anger flow over his son-in-law's face.

It was a level of emotion he had never seen on Edward before.

"Tom ... Missinger?" Edward asked, trying desperately to maintain calm.

"Yes, do you know him?"

Edward rubbed his eyes as both parents looked at him in confusion.

"Is there some problem, Edward?" he heard Alessandra's father ask.

Edward felt uncertain about whether to speak to them or not.

"Is there any possibility that Tom Missinger has prevented your letters from getting to Alessandra?" Edward asked.

"Could it be that he never sent them?"

"Why should he do that?" Isabella asked.

Edward took a deep breath and then spoke.

"When Alessandra and I were in Bath not too long ago, he was there.

He made a declaration to her, which she rejected.

Since then he has been writing to her, persisting in declaring his love for her.

He has written of his desire to leave his wife and make a new life with Alessandra and the baby."

The anticipated shock appeared on both of Alessandra's parents' faces.

"Oh, but Tom is a nice boy.

What would he gain from doing this?" Alessandra's mother asked, remembering that Tom had been particularly attentive to them in recent weeks.

"I do not know..."

At that moment, they heard a knock on the front door.

Shortly afterward, the person in question walked into the drawing room.

Upon sight of Edward, Tom's face changed from the charming smile that had entered the room, to surprise, and then to a surprising display of eagerness.

"You!" Edward said, standing up and walking closer to him.

Alessandra's parents watched on nervously.

Tom maintained his composure long enough to ask, "Is Alessandra here?"

Edward breathed out a sigh of realisation.

"That is why you have been stopping letters from her mother reaching her?" he asked.

"Because you thought it would bring Alessandra home, and you could see her?"

Tom quickly realised that he had miscalculated something in his plan.

Without Alessandra to witness, he took the opportunity to speak plainly.

"You need to let her go, you ugly, horrible man," Tom said.

"She deserves better than you, and she and I are meant to be together."

Edward took a moment to maintain composure for the sake of Alessandra's mother and father, who watched on with confusion on their faces.

It was evident they were now realising they'd been charmed by a man who was, all the time, having plans of ruining their daughter's marriage.

Edward remembered how Alessandra had described Tom the night before - only a beautiful shell.

That was all she considered him to be.

Before Edward could speak, Alessandra's father moved forward and placed himself between Edward and Tom.

"Tom, you have brought unnecessary concern on my daughter, and particularly so in the state she is currently in.

That is something I could never forgive you for.

Please leave our house and do not return.

You are no longer welcome in our home," Edward watched Alessandra's father say, with the strength and fortitude of someone twice his size.

Tom ignored him, now needing him no more in his quest.

He turned to face Edward once more.

"You do not deserve her, and I will have her," he said with a more menacing tone to his voice than anyone in the room had heard from him previously.

After his declaration, he stormed out.

Edward and Alessandra's parents all looked at each other, perplexed as to what just happened.

"I cannot believe it.

Was he making us like him, to win us over so that he could take our daughter away from you, Edward?" Alessandra's mother asked.

"I had not thought he was quite so serious, but yes, it does seem that may be so," he said quietly.

"Edward, what will you do now? You are welcome to stay here for the night, before returning home," Alessandra's father said.

Edward weighed up options.

He was tired, as Beauty must be also ... Beauty! He quickly remembered that the township seemed to be largely horse-free, so immediately worried.

"Thank you.

I do need to think about letting Beauty rest and feed..."

"All taken care of, Mr Edward," the housekeeper said as she entered, catching the end of the conversation.

"My John has taken him around back and is letting him enjoy some fresh grass and a little bit of hay.

Worry not.

John has been a horse lover all his life. He will look after him alright."

"Thank you," said Edward, relieved.

"I do need to let Alessandra know you are all well, as she has been fretting about your wellbeing.

Is there some way for me to do that from here?"

"I can do that for you, Mr Edward.

If you write a quick note, I can arrange its delivery when I go into the village shortly for supplies," June replied.

Alessandra's father leaped up to get writing supplies.

Edward wrote as quickly as he could that her mother and father were well.

He then faced the dilemma of what else he should disclose to her.

"I do not know whether to tell her about Mr Missinger or not.

I would not like to alarm her," he said out loud.

He was glad he did, as both of his in-laws offered their view on the subject.

"Oh Edward, I do not know," Isabella said.

"If she is already fragile, would it do any good to tell her?"

"Do you think there is any chance he will go to her now?" her father said, putting Edward in a further panic.

"Oh, I must return to her..." he started to say as his worry intensified.

"No! Edward, you have been riding all night, and you will need to rest.

Just send her word that we are well.

If you want to alert anyone to the issue of Tom, perhaps you could send a second note, privately addressed to your father, just so that someone there is aware of how this young man has been acting."

Edward thought about that and agreed.

"Yes, you are right.

I shall stay tonight if you are sure I am not inconveniencing you.

Tomorrow I shall set out first thing.

Thank you."

Edward wrote the two notes and gave them to the housekeeper, who assured him they would be sent off later that afternoon.

"I have also put some hot water up in your room, Mr Edward, for you to wash with if you wish," she said.

Edward was appreciative of her kindness.

"Thank you," he responded.

When all was done, he considered that he was alone in Alessandra's family home, with her family but without her.

It did seem an odd situation to have gotten himself into.

Edward spent the afternoon partly in the company of Alessandra's father, then partly just with her mother, and at times with both.

He found himself enjoying their company very much.

In particular, hearing her mother talk about Italy was exciting for Edward.

"Alessandra has never been to my homeland," Isabella said.

"I always hoped we would one day go there, so I could show her some of her heritage, but it never happened.

As your family grows, Edward, you must not forget that there will be some very special Italian blood in your children."

Later in the evening, lying in bed alone for the first time since he had wed, Edward kept thinking about the images of Italy he'd had put into his head during the day.

He filed those thoughts away in the 'one day' section of his mind, to talk to Alessandra about at a later date.

Lying back on the bed, the image of his beautiful wife came to mind.

In exhaustion, he was almost instantly asleep, a smile settled on his face.