Page 57 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

With an approaching chill of winter in the air, a carriage pulled up outside the family home of Alessandra's parents.

She eagerly jumped out, seeing her mother running toward her.

"Alessandra!" she heard before being enveloped into the familiar, loving arms.

Edward looked on over the loving reunion, and shook hands with Alessandra's father before both grandparents noticed Margaret, with Elizabeth in her arms.

"There is my granddaughter," Isabella exclaimed as she gathered the small bundle up into her arms.

"Oh, how she has grown since I last saw her! Come inside quickly.

It is starting to be too cold to be outside for long now," she continued, ushering everyone inside the small home.

Margaret appreciated further her young mistress upon seeing the home that she grew up in.

She had suspected since first meeting her that Alessandra had not come from money.

Seeing how well she fitted back into the little home - how much it meant to her - confirmed it.

After general talk about their long journey and the progress of Elizabeth in her growth, Margaret was shown to the room that she would share with Elizabeth.

Alessandra and Edward were left to finally speak in confidence to Alessandra's parents.

"Now, my child, you did not say much in your letter, apart from you and Edward needing to visit a property near here," Alessandra's father began, making both young people nervous about mentioning Tom to the people before them.

"Yes, Father, I have ... inherited ... a vast property not far from here.

If agreeable to you, Edward and I would like to leave Margaret and Elizabeth here with you for one night so we may go and visit the property.

We wish to meet the staff there, so we can decide what to do with it."

Edward saw both of her parents look at her in surprise at the news.

"But who has left such a gift to you, daughter? I know of no family members who have passed recently."

Alessandra blushed and looked down before summoning strength and looking both of her parents in the eye.

"I was left it ... by ... Tom Missinger."

"Oh, dear, but he was married, Alessandra.

How could you possibly have been left his property?" her father questioned, not at all understanding what could have brought about such a situation.

"Yes, Father.

It appears that in his will, he named me as the full recipient of his wealth, including land and money."

"But what of his wife?" her mother asked, confused.

"Will she receive nothing?"

"No, it seems he expressly put in his will that she was to receive nothing from him.

Furthermore, the lawyer has said that she has not come forward to make any claim at all on the will.

It appears that she wants nothing from what Tom owned - not even the money and land that he received from her family when she married him."

Everyone was quiet as they thought about the situation that had presented itself.

"You now own land near here?" Isabella asked and saw Alessandra nod in acknowledgement.

"Will you move here then?"

Edward looked at his wife, not having even considered the possible allurement of her wanting to live closer to her parents.

As he watched her face, Alessandra turned to him and smiled, taking his hand in hers to reassure him.

"No, Mother, we will remain living where we are.

However, we do need to see the property and assess what is to be done with it.

That is why we are here.

Are you agreeable to our plan?"

"Yes, of course.

We will take good care of little Elizabeth, and Margaret too.

Take as long as you need to visit the property," Isabella replied.

"Thank you, Mother.

We will stay here tonight, and travel on tomorrow morning for just one night," she said and turned to her father.

"But Father, after we visit the land, I would welcome your thoughts and advice on options for it."

Edward saw Alessandra's father nod and smile softly.

"Of course."

Once settled in bed that evening, Edward held Alessandra close.

The question of living location still lingered in his mind.

"Is there a part of you that would like to live closer to your mother and father, Alessandra?"

"No," she replied.

"I thank you for asking, but your home is now my home, and I love living there with you and your parents."

"But you would be able to see your mother and father more often..."

"I will very shortly be receiving my own income.

That will enable me to come here when I need to, without worrying about the expenditure to your mother and father," she said, moving closer still to him and kissing him.

"We already have a home, and I am happy there.

I have no need or desire to live anywhere else."

The next morning, the two of them set out toward a home and land that neither of them had ever seen before.

Of most concern was the expectation that the staff and tenants on the land would not be welcoming of them, given the circumstance through which Alessandra had obtained it.

In both of their minds, that would be understandable since the property had largely been in the Missinger family for generations.

As they approached the property, they were immediately confronted by the size of the main house.

It was not as large as the estate manor of Edward's family, and yet somehow it held a presence that was commanding, as though it were a great person, famous for its strength and power.

When they approached the front door, they saw Mr Hogelby walk out.

His presence surprised Alessandra.

"Mr Hogelby! I did not expect to see you here," she said happily.

"Mrs Chisholm.

Mr Chisholm," he started, bowing whilst smiling at them both.

"When I learned that you were intending to visit, I wished to ensure that I was here, in case any explanations were required.

I have already taken the liberty of speaking to the staff, and many of the tenants. They are all understanding of how the property has now changed hands, and they are eager to meet you both."

When the lawyer ushered them inside, Edward found himself in awe of the design of the house.

Perhaps being not as old as his own family home, it had aspects to it that made sense to him in a way that he had not even considered before.

"It is a fine home, is it not? This house was constructed only fifty years ago, after the original home burned down.

It has every modern convenience, and is very handsome indeed," Mr Hogelby said.

"Ahh, here are your service staff."

One by one, Edward and Alessandra were introduced to everyone lined up to meet them.

Overall, Alessandra found they were cheerful and eager to make their acquaintance, and not at all resentful as she had thought they might be.

Soon afterward, the two of them were given a tour of the home, walking from room to room in a daze while wondering again what was the best thing to do with the home.

Mr Hogelby moved to excuse himself, but found himself invited to sit in the drawing room and talk more to Alessandra and Edward.

He took his time, answering all of their questions about options for keeping the estate running and earning, or selling it.

Eventually he dismissed himself, saying he would be ready to move forward with anything they wished for, whenever they needed him to.

When he left, it was mid-afternoon and Alessandra made her way to the kitchen to speak to the cook, and on to all the individual household staff members, Meanwhile, Edward ventured out to the stables to inspect the staff, the horses, and the way things were run out there.

Over an intimate dinner that had been lavishly prepared in their honour, the two of them compared notes of their separate investigations, both feeling excited about various aspects of the property.

"How are you feeling about everything, my love?" Edward asked tentatively, still not sure if perhaps she might be lured to live in that part of the land after all.

"It is a fine home, Edward.

I think I need to keep it, at least for the moment, rather than sell it.

Mr Hogelby is certain that the financial side of the estate is profitable, and we can use that profit to keep it maintained and running well.

I do believe we would need to find someone to live in it, however. I have no reason to think it cannot run without direction, as the staff all seem very established in their roles. It would seem a waste, leaving it with no-one to enjoy it."

They spent the evening talking about all the different options they could think of, before settling into a bedchamber which they found to also be similarly modern and comfortable.

The newness of it all - even down to the fireplace which somehow seemed to generate and project much more heat than the ones they were used to in Edward's home - provided a new source of excitement.

That, in turn, overflowed into the realisation that they were once again alone without any parents in the house with them.

While they missed their daughter, once those feelings started flowing, even she was dismissed from their active thoughts.