Page 69 of Alessandra (Chisholm Manor #1)

As the four-month anniversary of his father's death passed, Edward found himself starting to feel very lonely.

He knew his wife was there for him, and yet he could not bring himself to bother her with his desire for her.

Night after night, he kept quiet and focused on simply holding her close.

As always in the evenings, he and Alessandra put the children down to sleep after extensive time hugging each of them, and then moved to the privacy of their bedchamber.

On that evening, he sensed something about his wife was different, as if she had something serious on her mind.

He put his arms around her and held her in front of the fire before taking her hand and leading her to the sofa.

There they reclined back and held hands, sitting close.

"What is it, Alessandra?" he asked gently, finding a surge of panic inside of him.

Alessandra looked at him as if only just realising he was there.

"Oh, it is nothing, Edward.

My milk has dried up much sooner than it did with Isabella and Elizabeth, that is all.

Margaret has already weaned Charles onto cow milk," she said and put the matter out of her mind, determined as she was to not talk about trivial things when Edward was so exhausted at the end of each day.

"I am sorry. Please tell me how your day was. Did you sort out..." she continued, encouraging him to speak about his tasks of the day.

The next morning, after breakfast, Alessandra felt withdrawn and alone.

As difficult as it was to acknowledge to herself, she knew she missed Edward.

She tried to formulate some kind of plan to have some real time alone with him.

The idea initially seemed impossible, until she considered her father's offer the day before.

Midway through the day, she entered the drawing room and found her father in pleasant conversation with Edward's mother.

Alessandra decided to be bold and approach both of them for help.

"I would like to ask both of you for assistance with a matter," she started.

She could feel a slight blush on her face beginning, but determined to see the request through.

"Of course Alessandra, how can we help?" her father asked, jumping up quickly, as if it were an emergency.

"It is not something that requires immediate attention, however..." she started, feeling awkward before she found her resolve once more.

"I would like - if the two of you would not mind - to go away to Bath with Edward for a short time.

I..." she continued, now feeling the full force of her 'beetroot face', as she had come to refer to it over the years.

Alessandra saw her father look at Edward's mother knowingly, as if the two of them had already discussed such a plan.

When he looked back at her, he smiled broadly.

"Alessandra, that is a wonderful idea."

"Yes, go tomorrow, Alessandra, with our blessing," Edward's mother said.

"Do not worry.

The estate will be well, in the hands of me and your father.

You and Edward have been working so hard that you deserve it."

Alessandra could not hold back her smile as she moved to give each of them a hug.

"Thank you!" she exclaimed excitedly, making them both laugh.

"I shall sort things out now." Before she left the room, she turned back to them with a sly grin on her face.

"Could we perhaps keep this a secret until breakfast tomorrow?" she asked.

Both parents nodded, smiling.

That night in bed, Edward sensed that his wife was keeping something from him.

He did not want to pressure her, given all that she was dealing with, so once again went to sleep feeling content to be with her, but at the same time feeling a slight sense of loneliness, like he was losing her.

After breakfast the next morning, Edward stood up to excuse himself, before he was unexpectedly commanded by his wife.

"Sit down, Edward ... please."

He did so, looking at all of the faces at the table, and realising that something was going on that he had not been made party to.

"You shall not be going to work around the estate today," Alessandra continued, pretending to be stern in her voice.

"I have quite another job for you to do."

Edward looked at his wife.

He was ready to comply with whatever she needed assistance with, but when he looked into her eyes, he saw something he had not seen in a long while.

"What can I help you with, my lovely wife?" he asked, sensing she was somehow teasing him in her mock seriousness.

"You can help me with packing enough clothing for you and me, for two nights."

Edward sensed his mother and Alessandra's father both looking at him.

Turning his attention away from his wife, he saw how much they were both smiling.

Upon seeing his further confusion, all three people before him started laughing quietly.

"What have I not been told?" he asked in good humour.

"You shall go with your wife, Edward, and enjoy two nights in Bath with her.

Do not worry about the estate.

We shall look after it, and we are quite qualified to handle anything out of the ordinary, should it happen," he heard his mother say, smiling at him.

"Your children are in good hands, and the estate is in good hands. Do not argue. Just do as your wife bids."

Alessandra watched her husband's face change through different emotions as he looked at each person in the room.

When his eyes settled on hers, she saw he was inwardly pleased.

It made her happy.

"Go!" Alessandra's father insisted.

"You are young, and you are in love.

Do not waste another moment."

As the door closed behind them in their bedchamber, Edward felt shy for the first time since their wedding night.

Sensing it, Alessandra moved to him, put her arms around him, and kissed him deeply.

"Let us go and say goodbye to our children, and then be off, Edward," she said to him, making him instantly aroused and hard just by the look in her eyes.

Edward blushed and smiled at her.

"I cannot go to the nursery right at this moment, Alessandra," he said, making her giggle for the first time in months.

As he listened, he remembered what a wonderful sound it was to him - and how much he had missed it.