A look of worry crossed Charlotte’s brow, but she continued cheerfully, “Well, we can all go together tomorrow. I am sure Evelina would like something new to wear as well.” Charlotte received an enthusiastic nod from her youngest. “A garden party at the end of February? It is definitely something new, but it should be magical as long as there is not too much snow, if any, and the weather is not too frigid,” Charlotte mused. “Surely Georgiana knows what she is doing.”
“I do not care if it is too cold; I am just excited to be able to attend! I appreciate that the rules are a bit more relaxed in the country. I have been so bored in London.” Evelina waved her hand to dismiss her mother’s worries.
“Well, I am excited we can all participate. Your father is going to stay in London to tend to his books and solicitors, so it shall be just the three of us. Eleanor and I have been talking about travel arrangements. She insists that we can all travel together. I feel like that may make the journey more fun. How does it sound to you both?” Charlotte queried.
“That would be delightful!” exclaimed Evelina.
Alaina seemed to ponder the question overmuch and then asked a question of her own. “Would the marquess be joining us as well?”
“Well, it is possible. I assume he is invited, correct? Why would you ask?” Charlotte queried, a perplexed look passing over her face.
“I just feel that we would be awfully cramped in one carriage is all. As it is, with the duke and his family and us that would be six people!” Alaina blurted.
Charlotte clucked at her daughter. “Alaina, I am sure Eleanor would not have us traveling together if it would not be comfortable. Besides, maybe the marquess is traveling on his own.”
“It seems like the duke and the marquess are ever together,” Alaina said quietly.
Alaina got up from the chair she had been sitting in and once again stood at the mantle, gazing into the fire. Evelina and Charlotte exchanged a concerned look.
Assuming the same as Evelina, Charlotte tried to reassure her daughter, but misplaced the source of her unease. “There will be plenty of time for you and the duke to continue courting in the country, more quieter moments like this past week. I am sure the marquess will not intrude.”
“Yes, I hope so.” Alaina sighed and turned to face both her mother and sister, who were staring at her with concern even still. “I must just be tired; I am so sorry for being out of sorts this evening.”
“My dear,” Charlotte began, gently placing her teacup in the saucer. “I know today must have been a tiring day, especially with the cold weatherandLady Barbara. We should let you rest.”
Charlotte put the tea service back on the tray, leaving the tray for Alaina if she should need it, and quietly ushered her youngest daughter out of the room. Charlotte paused at the door to look once more at her oldest child, who had turned her attention back to the fire. She thought better of saying anything further and figured heading to the country might bring her out of the doldrums. It would at least be far away from the likes of Lady Barbara.
Much later in the evening, Alaina startled awake and looked around her room, her heart still racing from the nightmare that had plagued her sleep. The fire was still burning high and the clock on the mantelpiece showed the time to be just shy of midnight. After her mother and sister had left, she had forced herself to drink some tea, feeling it warm her up completely. Then, without undressing, she laid down on top of her comforter to rest, planning to stay up and read in the parlor once she had warmed up.
Apparently, she had fallen asleep, completely missing dinner. She imagined her mother had checked on her, found her sleeping, and left her alone. But now that Alaina was awake, she was hungry, and hopeful something was left in the kitchen as a snack, so that she could go back to sleep. Putting on house shoes over her stockinged feet, Alaina grabbed a candle, lighting it from the fire. She quietly made her way out of her room and downstairs, contemplating the dream that had awakened her.
She had been at a ball of sorts, but the people around her were a blur. An image of Graham and Georgiana formed in front of her, with Georgiana whispering in Graham’s ear. He was looking at Alaina both aghast and angry. She stepped forward to try to explain, only for them to disappear into the crowd. Then, as if by magic, Christopher appeared, and when she tried to run to him, he put his hand up to stop her and then laughed at her. And then everyone at the ball laughed at her, their faces seeming to emerge from the blur she had seen before. She began to turn around to look for anyone for help and only saw her family turned from her in shame, her mother crying on her father’s shoulder, and her sister, Evelina, red with embarrassment. She had woken with a cry in her throat and tears stinging her eyes, glad to find that it was just a dream.
Once downstairs, she headed straight to the back of the house and into the kitchen. The stove was cold, but on the small table was a plate of scones and biscuits beside a pitcher of water. Alaina found a glass in one of the upper cupboards and filled it with water, grabbing a few biscuits before retreating from the kitchen and back toward the staircase at the front of the house.
Balancing everything and the candle proved difficult, but Alaina was able to make it to the staircase, when a soft light from the front parlor doorway caught her eye. She poked her head into the parlor, surprised she had not seen it on her way to the kitchen. In the parlor, a lone candle sat on the small table between the two main chairs in front of the fireplace. The flames in the fireplace had burned down to embers, as if someone had accidentally fallen asleep. A chill had begun to creep into the room, and Alaina stepped inside the parlor to get a better look, shivering as she did so. As she moved closer to the fireplace on the far side of the room, she saw her father’s profile and heaved a sigh of relief, as he appeared to have taken up refuge in one of the wingback chairs facing the fireplace.
Depositing her candle, snacks, and glass of water onto the table beside him, she reached out her hand and gently shook his shoulder to wake him.
“Papa,” Alaina whispered, trying not to startle him.
Edward’s eyes slowly opened and for a moment he seemed confused at his surroundings. But as he looked around, his vision cleared. He took stock of the clock on the mantle, and he turned his head, catching Alaina leaning over his shoulder. “My dear, what are you doing up so late? I was just in here relaxing after a grueling day with my estate manager and solicitor and I must have fallen asleep, but I never imagined anyone would be up at this hour. Is everything ok?”
“I fell asleep quite unexpectedly and slept straight through dinner. I was just grabbing a snack and saw the light from the parlor. I will have to say you scared me a bit.”
“Sorry dear,” Edward apologized and then added, “Missing dinner is quite unlike you.”
Alaina paused and then came around to sit in the chair opposite her father. Closer to the fire, it was still warm enough to sit and talk for a few minutes.
“Well…” Alaina started, unsure of where to begin, or really what to say. “I guess I am a bit excited… and anxious about the visit to Graham’s estate in the country.”
“Oh, well, you and Graham have gotten on so well these past two weeks or so, I see little reason that you would be nervous about that, unless his family has been unkind? At least you and Georgiana seem to be getting along quite well. From what your mother says, the dowager duchess…”
“Yes, no, she is quite a good friend. I have really enjoyed her company, and the dowager duchess is quite nice as well,” Alaina interjected quickly, wanting to avoid any thought in her father’s mind that Graham or his family had been unwelcoming in any way.
Edward looked across the small table at his daughter. “Alaina, my darling daughter, I hope you feel you can talk to me about your concerns. I promise to not even mention them to your mother, although we rarely keep secrets from each other. As long as you are not in danger, I will defer to your wishes.” Edward left the statement there, preferring not to pry.
“Papa, I fear…” Alaina paused and chewed her lip.
