Page 63 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

"Father!" Alessandra exclaimed as she saw who was at the front entrance to the manor.

"We were not expecting you.

What has brought you here? Is all well with you?"

Her father laughed at her exuberance and never-ending curiosity, which he was very familiar with.

"Yes, Daughter, I am well.

I am here to see you, and to meet my new grandchild."

Alessandra looked at Edward, his mother, and his father.

Their expressions made her wonder if she had missed some important news.

All were smiling at her, as if...

"You all knew!" she said as they laughed at her.

"Yes, Alessandra, we have known for some weeks that your father was coming to stay," Edward's father said, smiling at his daughter-in-law.

"It is only right that he be here to meet little Isabella."

"Isabella?" Alessandra saw her father ask wistfully.

"You named my new granddaughter after your mother? Oh, my daughter, that is ... oh, thank you," he said, pulling his daughter into his arms, and feeling tears come to his eyes as he kissed the top of her head.

Alessandra waited for her father to relax and regain his composure - something that she knew was always important to him - and let him move away from her as he was ready.

Greetings were expressed and they made their way indoors as Alessandra looked at Edward, seeing on his face the broad grin of amusement that she knew too well.

"You kept that secret hidden well, Husband.

I can see that I will have to better hone my methods of interrogating you," she whispered to him when they were out of earshot of the older generation, in a suggestive manner that produced a deep laugh in him, and a slight blush on his face.

"How long shall you stay, Father? A long while, I hope," Alessandra asked as the two of them walked through the gardens together.

"It is that which I wish to speak to you about, my child.

Edward's parents have invited me to live here..." he started and heard her exclaim a sound of pleasant surprise before he continued.

"I am in a mind to accept their offer, as I do not mind admitting to you, Alessandra, that I am lonely without your mother.

I miss her considerably, every single day."

"It is not too late to re-marry," Alessandra said.

"Oh no! I am not... no, that is not something I desire at my age."

"Then what is it that you seem uncertain about?" Alessandra asked, confused.

Her father looked closely at her, uncertain how she would take the news that he wished to convey to her.

"Alessandra you are well set up now, with this land of Edward's family, plus the other estate," he started and saw her nod.

"Nicholas is not so fortunate.

I believe things are very difficult for him in supporting his family, given the rent they pay where they are living.

So I would like to give them our family home, Alessandra - completely."

Alessandra listened and wondered when the news that he wanted to tell her would come.

When she did not say anything, her father could see that he would have to ask her a question outright for her to comprehend what he was saying.

"How will you feel if you do not inherit any part of our family home? Would this upset you?"

Finally understanding, Alessandra felt her eyes go wide in surprise.

"No, Father! Of course not! No, of course giving Nicholas that house is a wonderful idea.

It will help Nicholas and Victoria greatly, although do you think that the house is big enough for all seven of them?"

She saw her father consider the prospect of the family of his son, which indeed did look like it was unending in producing more offspring.

"Perhaps I may suggest a better solution, Father? Do you particularly want that house to stay in our family? For sentimental purposes?" she asked and saw her father shake his head.

"No, it is not an ancestral home.

It has no importance for passing through the family line.

What are you thinking, Alessandra?"

"What if I invited Nicholas and his family to live at Missinger Estate, and you sold your home and gave him the money from the sale? I have not been able to bring myself to find tenants for the estate manor, as Edward and I do love going there to stay.

If Nicholas lived there, he would be doing me a great favour by keeping it maintained and allowing us to have our own rooms in the home there.

And the money from the sale of your house would keep them well provided for."

As they continued walking, Alessandra could see her father considering her idea, so she remained quiet, knowing he would do what he considered was right for everyone.

"I think it is a good idea, but you must talk to Edward about it first, Alessandra.

I know the estate is yours outright, and no part of it belongs to him, but speak to him and make sure it will not cause any disharmony between you.

We get so little time with our loved ones in this world.

Do not let small things build up."

Alessandra nodded and they returned to the house to once again merge into conversation with everyone else.

"What do you think, Edward?" she asked that night in the privacy of their bedchamber.

"I think it is a good solution for your father and your brother, and you are right - it would give some reassurance to know someone is living in it, who will appreciate it and keep it maintained.

With it being as large as it is, we can also keep enough rooms set up for all of us who live here," he replied, talking to her seriously about her idea.

"I know that Mother and Father are both eager for your father to live here with us, and it will be good for him to have so much family around."

"Shall I arrange to speak to my brother about it, then, to see what he thinks?" she asked.

Edward could see the excitement on her face.

"Yes, my beautiful, generous wife," he said.

"Let me know what you need me or my father to do, and we will move forward with that plan if your brother agrees."

They lay together contentedly and quietly for a long while before Alessandra spoke, breaking the silence.

"Edward?" she asked and he prompted her to continue.

"Will you take me to the waterfall tomorrow?"

Edward looked at her and saw the arousal on her face at the thought, which fuelled him to tease her.

"And what will we do when we get to the waterfall, my love?" he asked as he pushed her gently onto her back and began to kiss the parts of her body that he knew were her pleasure points.

Alessandra lay back, focused on the feelings he was producing in her, and forgot what she had been saying altogether.