Page 5 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

"Isabella, Alessandra, we are nearly there," Alessandra's father said to his wife and daughter.

They were nearing the estate they expected to be guests in over the following three weeks.

Alessandra had experienced so much excitement in previous days, she hadn't thought she could become any more anxious.

When she heard her father explain how close they were to the man who might become her husband, she felt a new level of nerves appear.

Inside of her was so much self-doubt about what the young man would think of her, that she hadn't given any thought to whether she would like him.

She hoped that he wasn't expecting someone beautiful or pretty. They were expectations that, in her mind, would most certainly result in his disappointment when he saw her.

"Look, Alessandra," she heard her mother say.

They both looked over the land to see the large home that looked as though it was getting closer.

Alessandra was in awe, never having seen a home quite so big.

The front fa莽ade alone looked like it would be four times the size of the small home she had grown up in.

She found herself wondering how she would ever be able to find her way around it.

When they finally arrived in front of the manor house, they were greeted by strangers that none of them had ever laid eyes on.

Fortunately, with there being only three family members on the doorstep of the home, it was easy to identify who was who.

The first person Alessandra noticed was the young man.

At first sight, she didn't see any handsomeness at all.

In fact, there was something about him that was very unattractive.

That contributed to Alessandra's heart sinking. At that moment, she realised she'd been assuming he would be the most handsome man she would have ever seen - perhaps even more handsome than Tom Missinger. The year before, Tom had indeed swept her heart away with his good looks.

Catching her mind wandering, she cursed herself inwardly for being so silly.

She only had a moment to think such thoughts before Edward's parents were moving forward toward her own.

They both held out their hands, and gave a customary kiss on each cheek.

"And here is our son, Edward," Edward heard his mother say, breaking him out of his thoughts.

He'd been looking at the young woman who was intended to be his wife.

On seeing her, he instantly had similar thoughts about her as she'd just had about him.

At the prompting from his parents, he stepped forward and greeted Alessandra's mother and father.

He then moved right up to Alessandra, gently took her hand, and raised it to his lips.

Alessandra was momentarily stunned before remembering her manners and giving a small curtsey to Edward and his parents.

They took some time for introductions and friendly greetings, all the while subtly looking at each other and assessing each other.

Soon they were all ushered inside the great home, and Alessandra and her parents were shown to their rooms.

Inside the bedchamber that would be hers for the following three weeks, Alessandra sat on the bed and looked around before going to stand at the window.

As she looked out, she felt her breath catch as she realised she was facing a view more beautiful than she had ever seen.

For as far as she could see lay different shades of green, orange, red and yellow, over flat land and a tall hill.

From her angle, the hill looked like it might almost reach the sky.

After she'd stood like that for a time, taking in the land's beauty, she heard a light knocking at her door.

When she opened it, she saw an older woman deliver her a friendly smile.

"Miss, the mistress has asked me to invite you down to the drawing room, where the family is assembling before their evening meal.

Is there any way I can be of assistance to you?"

Alessandra was taken aback, wondering if there was something she was supposed to be doing, or to have done.

She was pleased when the woman in front of her looked at her kindly, and then spoke again.

"The family is relaxed this evening," she said.

"You will fit right in."

"Thank you," Alessandra said, smiling.

"I would appreciate if you could show me the way."

Walking into the drawing room, Alessandra felt a new set of nerves begin.

This time, it wasn't because of Edward but, rather, the uncertainty of how she was supposed to act in the great house, with such grand people.

She desperately tried to remember all the rules of etiquette she had been taught growing up.

She wanted so much to not put her parents to shame.

She was still deep in thought when she realised Edward was in front of her, saying something.

She looked at him, flustered at not having been giving him her attention.

"Oh, I am so sorry," she stammered.

"What were you saying?"

She could feel herself falling deep into blush, knowing her face would become deep red in her flustered state.

"Would you like to sit with me?" Edward asked, finding her blush in one way endearing, but also a little uncomfortable.

"Yes," Alessandra stammered again, feeling like she had been reduced to mumbling at a level that he probably wouldn't even understand.

She felt the blush grow deeper and deeper.

Despite her discomfort increasing, she pushed herself to follow him and sit down near him.

Edward looked at her, remembering his mother's words from the night before, about making a young lady try and feel at ease.

He was uncertain what was the best way to approach the young woman in front of him, given that she was looking so terrified.

On the other side of the room, the two of them could both see their parents talking amongst themselves.

Now and then, one or more of them would glance at Edward and Alessandra.

They seemed to be talking about them.

That realisation compounded the distress Alessandra felt even more.

Edward was dumbfounded about what he should do.

Should he keep trying to talk to her, to draw her out and relax her, or would that make her feel even more uncomfortable? Would it be better to not speak, and let her have more time to relax instead?

Alessandra could not raise her eyes to look at the man she was intended to marry.

It had all seemed so easy, and even a little bit romantic, when she'd thought about it in her mind.

Being in his presence, she couldn't summon even the smallest amount of confidence in herself.

She heard Edward try to ask questions about her, and show an interest in her. Alessandra found herself answering automatically, but without thinking enough to provide any additional information to her answers.

Soon, dinner was announced, and both young people were relieved.

They would be separated as both families gathered around the dining table and everyone talked together.

It wasn't an easy evening for anyone.

When Alessandra retired that night, she was overwhelmed with emotion.

She wasn't unhappy to be in the grand home, but she did feel like she'd let her mother down by not being anywhere near as eloquent as she'd been taught to be.

In another part of the house, Edward also was thinking about the evening, and the young woman who could become his wife.

He knew he wasn't a handsome man, but the way she hadn't wanted to talk to him made him feel even more unattractive and unwanted.

In his heart, he knew the most important thing was that he wanted to make his mother happy.

If the marriage was what she felt was best for him, he would do his best to make it work.