Page 60 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

"It is a fine house, indeed," Alessandra's father exclaimed as he approached the front door.

He couldn't help but be pleased with how well his daughter had settled into a secure life.

As a father, it gave him joy and relief.

As they entered, the service staff greeted the family, taking joy in meeting Alessandra's parents, little Elizabeth, and even Margaret.

Almost immediately, the family was ushered into the drawing room and a lavish tea served with various dainties.

After eating and talking, a grand tour was given and Edward took his father-in-law to meet the outside staff, including John at the stables.

Alessandra, meanwhile, sat in the drawing room with her mother, who was cuddling Elizabeth.

Isabella's countenance worried Alessandra.

Despite the excitement of seeing the new home, her mother appeared uncharacteristically subdued.

"Are you well, Mother? You are very quiet today.

I hope travelling here has not tired you too much."

Her mother smiled at her and passed the baby back to her.

"I am well, Alessandra, but I do feel tired.

Would you mind terribly if I went to lie down?"

Alessandra felt a moment of panic.

Her mother was one of the strongest women she knew, and she could not remember her ever having been ill before.

"No, of course not.

Margaret, could you please go with Mother and find someone to help with the assignment of a bed chamber, and to make her comfortable?"

Margaret smiled at her mistress.

"Of course, Miss."

Alessandra sat back on the sofa that enabled a view out over the grounds.

As she held Elizabeth tightly against her, a niggling level of concern began to grow in the back of her mind.

A short time later, Margaret knocked and came into the room again.

"Would you like me to take her, Miss?" she asked, indicating to the baby.

"Yes, thank you, Margaret," Alessandra replied, handing Elizabeth to her.

"How did my mother seem to you?" she asked, completely trusting the observation of the woman before her.

"I do not know your mother well, Miss, so I do not know how she usually is, but she does, to me, look somewhat unwell.

It may be that she is just tired from the journey here, and will seem better after a rest."

Alessandra thanked her and watched her curtsey and leave the room, baby in her arms.

Alessandra sat where she was for some time, thinking over how her mother had seemed since they'd arrived from Edward's home two days earlier.

As she thought about it - as she focused on her mother instead of herself - she had to admit that perhaps her mother was not her usual self after all.

With that thought, Alessandra immediately ran outside to find her father.

"Father," she said loudly, interrupting a conversation that was happening between Edward, John, and her father, no doubt about horses and their care.

Everyone turned, surprised by the forcefulness that came from her - something highly unusual for Alessandra's countenance.

"Please forgive me.

I am sorry to interrupt," she said, realising her rudeness.

"But Father, is Mother unwell?"

Straight away, she saw her father look grave, and look away from meeting her eyes.

"Father?" Alessandra asked again, quietly, oblivious to John moving away from them to give them some privacy for their conversation.

"Walk with me, Alessandra," he said, leading his daughter away even from Edward, who watched on in uncertainty of what was happening.

When the two of them were a distance away from anyone else, her father finally spoke.

"Your mother has been declining in health these past few months, Alessandra.

She maintains a brave face, but she is very ill.

The doctor has said she is unlikely to live much longer.

I am sorry I did not tell you earlier. It has been your mother's wish that you not be told in advance. She does not want you worrying, especially when everything is going so well for you."

"But there must be something that can be done, Father! I have substantial funds now.

If we find the right doctor..." Alessandra started to cry out, but her father shook his head.

"No, Alessandra.

We have had enough consultations, and they all say the same thing.

It is a natural thing to happen, my daughter.

One day I shall leave also, and it will be up to you and Edward to set your children up for when you hand everything over to them."

Alessandra felt tears come to her eyes.

In a rare show of physical affection, her father enveloped her with his arms and kissed her forehead.

She could sense inside of him a desperation to not cry.

All of a sudden she could see that even though her mother would be leaving her in the world, it must have been even more difficult for her father to contemplate his lifelong companion leaving him. With that thought, she determined to cast aside her sadness and let him lean on her, putting her arms around him and holding him tight.

"What do we do, Father, to make her most comfortable if her time is coming?"

Her father sighed, letting some of his frustration and sadness show.

"Just love her," he said.

"There is nothing to be done medically, so it is important to me to keep showing her how much I love her, and to do what I can to make her as happy as I can, for as long as I can."

"Very well.

Would it be best for us to leave here and go home immediately, do you think?" she asked and saw him shake his head.

"No, I do not think she cares where she is, my sweet daughter.

Just being near you and near little Elizabeth is enough, I believe," her father said.

"And Nicholas? I can summon him here.

The house is large enough to house everyone."

Her father looked at her with pride, knowing fully how strong his daughter had turned out to be, even though he had considered her a timid little thing before she had wed.

"Yes," he replied.

"If that is possible, I think that would make her very happy, Alessandra.

Thank you.

Now let us walk back. Edward will worry about what is happening, I am sure. I will go and see your mother and check on her, to make sure she is alright."

They walked back.

Seeing an intended look from his wife, Edward fell in step beside Alessandra to walk to the drawing room, as her father left them to find the bedchamber his wife had been set up in.

"What is wrong, Alessandra?" he asked, feeling some distress.

"My mother ... is unwell," she started to say before feeling a tear escape from her eye.

She looked directly at him.

"My mother is dying, Edward.

She is only expected to live a short time longer. My father is keeping watch over her, but he thinks the thing that will make her happiest before she leaves us, is being with us - me and Elizabeth ... and you ... and my brother."

Edward took in what she was saying, his mind racing.

"Edward, if my mother wishes it, I would like for her and my father to stay here, and for us to stay here also, and to invite my brother and his family ... to wait..."

Alessandra felt Edward pull her close to him and hold her tight.

At different times, he had pondered how life would be without his parents in his life.

The conversation brought about that thinking again, making him desperately miss his own home.

Not wanting to distress Alessandra any further, he kept those thoughts in his head, unspoken.

"Yes, my love, if you wish," Edward responded.

"That sounds like a good idea."

"But do you need to return to your parents?" she asked, mindful of his own mother now.

He shook his head.

"No, they will understand."

Alessandra looked up at him, appreciating, as she had done many times since their wedding, the good man who had been chosen as her husband.

Passion was the last thing on either of their minds as she pushed herself against him and into his arms, encouraging him to hold her tightly as she started to cry.

"My daughter, I am so proud of who you have become, and the life you are living," Isabella told Alessandra as she sat on the side of the bed.

"You are happy with Edward, are you not?"

Alessandra nodded and tried to smile.

In the night, her mother seemed to have begun a steep decline, and could not summon the strength to get out of bed.

"Oh yes, Mother! He is a good man and I do believe he loves me."

"He does," Isabella replied.

"There is no doubt about that.

When a man looks at his wife as he does you, it can only be a deep love.

I am pleased you are happy, and I am pleased I have gotten to meet little Elizabeth. She will be strong, like you."

They sat quietly, holding hands.

Everything had happened so quickly.

Word had been sent for Alessandra's brother, and he and his family had quickly arrived and settled into the estate.

Since then, Edward's mother and father had also arrived to provide support.

"Daughter, will you ask Edward's mother to come in to see me? I would like to speak with her," her mother requested.

Alessandra nodded and quietly left the room.

After she passed the request on and Edward's mother went to the bedchamber, Alessandra settled into Edward's arms in the drawing room once again.

The local physician had been and gone, confirming that her mother was in the final stages of her life, and would soon pass quietly.

"Alessandra," she heard a voice say.

She turned to see Nicholas, her brother, looking eager to talk to her.

"Could we walk in the garden together?"

Alessandra nodded and pulled away from her husband once more.

Outside, she and Nicholas walked companionably beside one another.

Although it had been just the two of them as children in their family home, they had not grown up close, nor spent much time together as they'd each embarked on their own lives.

Despite their usual distance, they were not uncomfortable with each other.

"Thank you for inviting me and my family to come and be with Mother for this time," her brother said, surprising her.

"Of course you must be here, Nicholas! She is our mother - mine and yours!" Alessandra exclaimed.

Nicholas smiled at her.

He'd met his share of people who had been so driven by greed that they would not have brought any family members to such an estate, refusing to share their wealth.

As he looked at his sister, he felt a strong brotherly sense of pride in the woman she'd grown to be.

"It has been nice for Victoria to see Mother one more time also, and for the children to see her," Nicholas replied.

"It is good for Mother, too.

And Father.

He will need our support most of all, I suppose.

When I try to imagine losing Edward..." Alessandra said, shuddering at the horrifying thought.

"You seem very happy in your marriage, Sister.

I like Edward.

He seems a very good man, and very much in love with you," Nicholas said with a wistful sound in his voice.

"Yes.

But you are also happy, are you not, Nicholas? You have four children, so something must work well," she said, trying to bring some humour into their sad circumstances.

Nicholas looked at her and smiled, somewhat surprised by her open candour.

"I do not think we have what you and Edward have, but yes, we are happy enough.

I do love our children, and it is nice that they can spend this time with their grandparents.

You are a good sister to let us be here."

She smiled at him and they continued to walk peacefully together, not needing any more words.

As days passed, everyone in the family spent time in Isabella's bedchamber at some point in each day.

Isabella continued to look at her daughter and appreciate the person she was, to have been able to bring all of her family together for her.

Even the three grandchildren who were past the baby stage and able to run around and climb up on her bed, brought her much joy.

"You have given me the greatest gift, Alessandra," Isabella said as the two of them enjoyed some time alone.

"Bringing everyone here under one roof is such a joy to me.

Thank you," she continued, reaching out and taking Alessandra's hand in hers.

"I was not with my mother when she passed, and I do regret that. There was no true reason that I could not have gone back to Italy, but once I was married to your father ... well, I never did get back. Take your children there, Alessandra. I have written down the names of people I remember who are family, and their addresses. It has been some years since I heard from any of them so they may not still be there, or still alive, but go and see your heritage, Daughter. Promise me."

Alessandra found herself crying quietly yet again whilst holding her mother's hands tightly.

"I promise I shall do that, Mother."

"Do not cry, Alessandra.

I have lived a blessed life and I go happily to Him, knowing that my children are both well settled in their own lives.

Please keep a distant eye on your father.

He is a strong man, but sometimes he, too, needs someone to lean on..."

Alessandra felt the hand in hers go slack, and saw her mother relax back as if going to sleep.

Deep in her heart, Alessandra knew that it was not sleep at all.

She took one more moment of alone time with her mother before announcing to everyone else that her mother had finally gone to rest.