Page 39 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

"Edward!" Alessandra called out as she saw him approaching the manor two mornings later.

Being the confident horseman he was, Edward seemed to fly down off Beauty before he cast the reins at the groom and rushed into his wife's arms.

The young couple kissed as if they had been apart for much longer than only three nights.

Breaking apart, breathless, Alessandra looked at him.

She had missed him desperately, and felt the need to be closer to him.

Her desire made her feel shy around him all of a sudden.

Edward looked at her face and smiled in the knowledge of just how much his wife had grown to love him.

No matter how handsome his adversary was, it was he - Edward - who held her love.

"My beautiful wife, how I have missed you," he said before kissing her again.

Upon realising they had an audience, he laughed softly.

"Father, Mother," he greeted his parents.

"Edward, it is good to have you home.

Come and see us when you have given your wife the attention she deserves," his father said, walking his wife away and leaving the lovers to go to their room and have some privacy.

Once in their room, they were immediately in each other's arms, making Edward laugh at her enthusiasm.

"Wait, Alessandra.

First, tell me if you did get the message about your mother and father being well."

Alessandra nodded and smiled.

"Yes.

It was so kind of you to go and check on them for me.

It is a relief for me to know they are well. Were they good to you, without me there?" she asked, curious since she'd spent the previous three nights in the company of just his parents also, and had found that not uncomfortable, but certainly very strange.

"Yes, of course.

They were very kind, and I learned much about your family background, which was good to know since that will be part of our children's heritage," he said as he led her to the seat by the fireplace.

"Speaking of which, how is our little one?"

As he asked, Edward placed his hand on her belly, caressing it softly.

Alessandra rested her hand over his, having missed his touch.

"All is well, Edward.

I am happy to have you back with me.

It was not the same being in bed without you," she said, looking at him with a look that fuelled him instantly.

"Oh, how you invigorate me, Alessandra, even when I should be feeling so tired," Edward said.

He looked at her fondly, trying to back away from the desire he was feeling.

As she leaned in to kiss him, he found himself eager to please her.

He gently guided her back so she was reclining on the seat.

There he let his hand move up her leg, inside her gown, and felt her legs part as her breathing deepened.

After moving all of the fabric up and aside so that he could kiss her there, he heard her moan with the pleasure he was providing her, and very quickly reach that peak that she loved.

When he pulled away from her and rearranged her dress, he smiled at her, seeing how much more relaxed she was.

Alessandra made to move toward him, but he held himself back from her reach.

"Later, my lovely wife.

I must find my father and talk to him.

Come down with me," he said to her with teasing in his voice.

As he held out his hands to help her up, she tried to kiss him again.

"Do not try and tempt me any further, Alessandra!" he laughed at her as he led her out the door.

"I was disturbed on reading your note, Edward.

Who is this man, and why do you believe he might come here?" Edward's father asked when the two of them were alone in the steward's room.

"He is a man Alessandra had feelings for before we met her.

He has appeared several times now.

Since she told him in Bath that she did not want to see or talk to him, he has been writing love letters to her, trying to tempt her away from me," Edward said.

He immediately saw distaste on his father's face. "He was the cause of Alessandra not receiving her mother's correspondence. He had been pretending to send them, but instead was not. I believe it was his hope that Alessandra would get so worried that she would go back to her village, and he would be able to see her."

"It is a shocking business, my son.

But do you truly believe that he would dare come here?"

"I do not know.

I hope not, but he did seem particularly determined in his quest, when he spoke to me," Edward quietly said to his father, who had a look of increasing concern on his face.

"Very well.

You and I will begin visiting tenants tomorrow, and make sure everyone is vigilant across the estate.

In the meantime, do you agree it is best to keep this from Alessandra and your mother?"

Edward nodded.

"I do, Father.

I do not think any good could come from either of them being worried about this."

"Very well then.

Let us not speak of it.

Perhaps this man may not know where you are living, and all this worry will be for nothing."

Edward remained silent to the fact that Tom must know where they lived if he'd intercepted the letters.

He saw his father pause and look at him.

"I am very proud of you, Edward.

I hope you know that."

Edward was taken aback at such a declaration.

They had always had a sound father and son relationship, but Charles Chisholm was not generally one to talk about his feelings.

"I am glad you convinced me to take heed of your mother's wishes about Alessandra as a choice for you," Charles continued.

"I do not think we could ask for a better daughter."

The expression in his father's voice worried Edward.

"Father, are you alright? Why are you speaking like this?"

His father smiled sadly.

"Yes, I am well, Edward.

I must now do some paperwork.

You are free to return to your wife. She missed you terribly when you were away."

"I can help you with the paperwork..." Edward began to offer.

"No, thank you.

Leave me now," his father said.

"Tomorrow we shall resume regular duties around our visits to the estate tenants."

Edward knew he was dismissed.

He left the room and started to head toward the drawing room.

As he walked, he passed view of the glass room and saw Alessandra sitting peacefully and alone.

For several minutes, he stood and watched her before he entered quietly but with enough sound to make sure she wasn't startled.

As he moved into the room, he saw her turn to him and smile.

He approached and sat beside her on what seemed to have become her own little bench on the property.

Taking her hand in his, he looked into her eyes.

They smiled at each other before she laid her head on his shoulder. Edward sat quietly, waiting to see if she wished to speak, but she sat silent.

"You are very quiet," he whispered.

"What is on your mind, my lovely wife?"

Alessandra took a deep breath before seeming to find the words to answer.

"The weather is warm most days now.

I would like to be outside more, but I do not want to risk riding Misty in case something happens.

I am scared that I may fall or do some damage to our little one," she said, instinctively placing a hand on her belly.

Edward sensed her impatience at sitting still.

"I agree that it might not be good for you to ride, but what about just walking?"

Alessandra looked up in surprise.

She had not even considered going for a long walk.

"But where could I walk to?"

"I would not wish you to walk anywhere alone, however, I know of a very nice path that sneaks around behind the manor, and leads to a magical place indeed.

I would be very happy for us to walk there if you like," he replied, making it all sound like a dream.

"It is quite a walk to get to the destination, but very flat.

If you feel up to it, we could begin walking there, and come back whenever you feel tired."

Instantly, Alessandra brightened and gave Edward a magnificent smile.

"Do you mean it?" she asked and saw Edward nod, his smile broad.

"Oh, but do you have to help your father today?"

"No," Edward replied.

"Tomorrow I am going to spend the day out with him, visiting tenants.

For the remainder of today, I am all yours," he replied indulgently.

He was tired from his journey, but considered that a long walk might be just what he needed himself, to stay awake for the rest of the afternoon. "Let us go and visit Cook, and see what food we can pack up in a small bag to take with us, and then we shall head off."

Half an hour later, Alessandra found herself being led through one of the back gardens behind the manor, and then on to another garden behind that one.

Having not seen the second garden before, she was already surprised and thought that perhaps that was their destination, but still Edward walked.

They made their way through the rear wall gate of the second garden before entering in a bushy area with tall trees and shade.

"Oh!" Alessandra exclaimed as she realised she was visiting an entirely new area of the estate.

"How pretty, Edward!"

He smiled at her, letting memories of his childhood flow over him.

He remembered the days when he would run around the estate in complete freedom.

At times, he'd explored the area for hours on end while his childhood tutor had tried to keep watch over him from not far away.

"Are you well enough to keep walking?" he asked.

Alessandra nodded.

"Yes, I feel fine."

"We do not have to go the full distance today.

If you tire, let me know immediately and we can turn back and come back another day."

Alessandra held his hand tightly.

She felt more alive than she had in weeks.

She relished the feeling it inspired in her.

"I did not know that you ever walked anywhere," she said, surprised at seeing a different side of her husband.

Edward laughed softly.

"I do not tend to walk anywhere now, but when I was young, I spent many hours exploring out here.

I must be honest and tell you that I had forgotten about it until you spoke earlier about getting out in the fresh air."

"I know nothing about your childhood, Edward.

Tell me about it," Alessandra said.

For the next half an hour, as they slowly trekked forward through the bush and forest area, Edward shared with her story after story about different things that had happened.

He enjoyed reminiscing over such fond memories.

Alessandra was so caught up in his conversation, and the pictures it promoted in her head, that when he stopped talking she almost didn't notice.

Edward quietened as he knew they were close to where he wanted to take her.

He began to watch her face so he could see her expression as he walked her a little bit further.

As they moved closer, the sound of water could be heard, and then began appearing louder.

Finally, Alessandra seemed to hear it.

"What is that?" she asked with the look Edward had seen on her face so often, being that of a scholar on a journey of learning.

Edward led her further still.

Their eyes adjusted to the light as they slowly emerged from the darkness of the forest.

Ahead of her, Alessandra could see a grassy area with sunshine streaming onto it.

Off to the right side of that, a small body of water sat with a tall waterfall flowing into it.

Edward watched her face, mesmerised.

On it, he saw what he'd hoped to - the sense of having been transformed from such darkness of the forest area, into a small but beautiful piece of paradise bathed in sunshine.

Alessandra looked at him and smiled broadly before letting go of his hand and walking forward.

She moved until she was standing in the middle of the grass area, with sun rays shining directly onto her.

As she held her face up to the light and closed her eyes, she listened to the water flowing behind her.

She felt like she'd woken up from sleep, in a new dream.

Edward gained joy from watching her.

He waited before he approached her, letting her enjoy her pleasure.

When he saw her open her eyes and look at him again, he moved forward and gladly accepted the hand held out to him as an indication for him to join her.

Quietly he put his arms around her to hold her. He felt her cling to him as though they were going to be apart again. When he pulled away from her, he could see she had started to silently cry.

"Is this making you sad?" he asked, curious.

Alessandra smiled through her tears.

"No, quite the contrary," she said.

"I am very, very happy, Edward.

I love you so much."

As she kissed him passionately, he indulged in it, this time welcoming it.

Edward pulled a blanket out of the satchel and laid it down on the grass, encouraging Alessandra to sit down and rest.

She did so gladly, and lay back on her back to let the sunshine flow over her.

As Edward sat beside her and contently looked down at her, he loved seeing the happiness on her face.

After a few minutes of watching her lie down with her eyes shut, he saw her look up at him and reach out her hand to touch his face, guiding him down to kiss her.

Edward lay down fully beside her.

They kissed for a long time, with no move toward anything more.

"Can we make love here?" she asked, making him laugh as he once again remembered how shy she had been when she'd first come to the estate.

"Perhaps, but not today, Alessandra.

I do not want to risk you getting a chill, and the weather is not as warm yet as it will get," he said stroking her cheek softly.

"In summer perhaps."

Alessandra made a face like a child might make at being told they could not have pudding after their meal.

"In summer, I shall be too large to make love!"

Edward smiled at her indulgently.

"Then after this child is born, we shall take our time and plan the timing of conception a little better so that you are not with child in summer.

Let us declare that to be our baby-making time from now on, rather than baby carrying time."

"You are so wise, Edward," Alessandra said with humour in her voice before becoming serious.

"But Edward, will you want us to have children straight after each other?"

"Do you mean will I want you to become with child again as soon as a child is born?" he asked and saw her nod in reply.

"No! I would like you to have a proper amount of time to rest and enjoy what you want to.

We shall have a new child in our lives.

Let us take time to enjoy getting to know them."

"But when I am closer to giving birth than this, we will not be able to..." she started to say, but then felt incredibly shy all of a sudden.

"You will be ... hungry ... by the time the child is born."

Edward laughed out loud at her wording, but kissed her to reassure her.

"You and I are happy even without joining, are we not?" he asked.

"We shall still share pleasure, just not always like that."

"How then?" she asked, attempting to deliver a look of innocence.

Edward laughed out loud again.

He knew she was working her magic on making him heated.

"You know," he said, grinning at her.

"You may need to show me, so I can be certain," Alessandra said.

Edward swallowed hard and kissed her before moving so he could tentatively touch inside her dress and run his fingers up her leg.

As he watched her face, she stared back at him as he moved his finger to that place she had discovered with him on their first night as husband and wife.

He didn't move for anything else, just moved his finger over her, pleasuring her as he kissed her, until he felt and heard her release.

Alessandra felt the climax and indulged in it.

No matter how far through the pregnancy she was, her desire for him felt like it kept growing, not lessening.

She looked at him as he removed his hand and gently put her skirt back the way it had been.

Aware that it was twice he had pleasured her since arriving home, she felt eager to return the feeling. She kissed him passionately until he groaned in his arousal from it. As she touched him through his clothing, she heard his groan change and become deeper. She tried to rearrange him so she could access him.

"Alessandra, what..." he started to ask before she succeeded in subtly positioning the two of them, gaining full access to him.

She touched him with her hand and then her mouth.

"Oh, my love..."

Edward did not try to argue with her anymore.

Instead, he concentrated on the intense feelings he was having.

It wasn't long before he was in his climax also.

Immediately afterward, he relished the feelings going through his body. He remained like that for several minutes before turning his attention to Alessandra. Seeing the smile on her face, he returned the smile with a slight laugh in his voice.

"I see you now know how we shall survive quite nicely even without joining," he teased her.

They laughed together as he made himself presentable once again.

"I think I had better get our food out so that you have the energy to return home."

She laughed loudly at him.

"I have not done anything active, Edward!"

They sat up, close to one another, both appreciating what a special moment it was.

Their laughter and conversation continued as they ate.

They did not know that nearby, in the dark of the forest, two eyes were on them.

Having seen Alessandra and Edward from a distance as they had embarked through the bushy area, Tom had taken the opportunity to follow them and watch them.

He hated the way they walked together, hand in hand, and laughed together.

It was painful to see the way Alessandra looked up into her husband's eyes, and the way he looked back at her.

Tom had seen them lie down together, and the things they did to each other. The level of pleasure they both seemed to get from that, even without intercourse, evoked feelings in him that he found confusing. He knew that everything that Edward had with Alessandra, he wanted. He wanted her love, yes, but he wanted mostly her appreciation for sexual pleasure and her body.

As he watched them from his current position, he saw them continue to smile and laugh together, even after they had done those things to each other.

It was nothing like what he had with his wife.

Katherine did not welcome his touch.

She did not like to be kissed. The only time she laughed was when someone said something cruel about someone else.

At some level, Tom knew that what he was doing - following them and watching them - was not right.

Even so, he could no longer help it.

Alessandra was his object of affection.

He would have her.

"Come, my beautiful wife," Edward said, standing and helping Alessandra up.

"We should head back to the manor as it will start to get colder soon.

This area only has sunshine like this at the peak of the day, when the sun is high, and only in spring and summer.

All other times, it is not so pretty. It can get very cold, being so close to the waterfall and forest."

"We shall return?" he heard Alessandra ask, and he gained great joy from her enthusiasm.

"Of course," Edward replied.

"For the next few days, however, I must spend time around the estate with Father.

As much as I would certainly like to only spend time with you like this, you and I must know everything we need to when the estate passes to us."

Alessandra nodded, understanding the seriousness of what he was saying.

He was right in subtly suggesting that the two of them did not work as much as they should.

She vowed to herself that she, too, would start making working with Edward's mother a priority.

The estate was, after all, something that would be passed to their children, and their children's children. It certainly deserved their love and respect.

They packed up and started their slow walk back through the forest and gardens, completely unaware that they had not had any privacy at all on their journey out.