“Alaina, before you flay me for a perceived grievance, it was Eleanor who requested time with her son. It seems she has missed him this past week,” Christopher said. “I will deliver you safely to Graham’s side for dinner. Let us try and remain cordial on our short walk. That should not be too hard?” Christopher questioned.
“Of course, my lord,” Alaina stated, her tone flat. “I cannot imagine we would have any time for a row.”
Christopher chuckled, “I fear it seems to take no time at all for us to ever be at odds, but let us forget that. And, I beg you to remember that my name is Christopher. I promised to not bother you overly much on our journey, and I will strive not to do so here. I hope we can let the next few days pass pleasantly.”
“You think it is so simple? It must be nice to have such an easy disposition. You bother me without even saying a word.”
“I bother you without…” Christopher started, but his voice faded, as if realizing Alaina’s intended meaning. Christopher cleared his throat and continued, “We must both endeavor to forget that particularinteraction.”
“You do not think I have tried?” Alaina questioned. “And imagine my surprise to find you are not the least bit affected.”
“Ah,” Christopher said, and they traveled in silence a few paces more.
Just before reaching Alaina’s place at the table, Christopher leaned over and whispered, “It matters not what I feel, but what is right, and there is nothing more to it. Graham has certainly found a gem.”
Alaina had no time to respond as they finally reached her place at the table to the left of Graham, who sat at the head of the table, his mother directly across from her. Alaina watched silently as Christopher pulled out her chair. She settled herself primly on the edge of the seat, hopeful that no one would notice her burning cheeks in the candlelight. She was momentarily relieved as the marquess moved to take his own place at the table, but found her eyes surreptitiously watching as he sat and conversed with his own dinner partner. Turning her attention to the duke, Alaina forced a bright smile and was happy to lose herself in easy conversation.
Only a few times did she find her attention once again drawn toward the other end of the table, always to find Christopher in animated conversation.For one so opposed to social gatherings, he seemed to be enjoying himself. And what was she to make of that statement of his? Was he affected the same as she? Was it his commitment to remain unmarried? Was it his friendship with Graham?
Chapter 11
After the awkwardness at dinner on the first night, Alaina resolved to make the best of her time at Ashford, not necessarily avoiding Christopher, but avoiding one-on-one conversation. She wanted to get to know Graham and ultimately her heart. In this, Alaina’s conversation with her father was never far from her mind.
Unfortunately, the next two days passed with little time spent with Graham, who seemed to be spending more and more time dealing with tenant issues. It almost seemed that every time Graham and Alaina were engaged in private or semi-private conversations, Graham’s steward would appear with some sort of pressing matter. Graham had not yet confided exactly what was happening, but from what she could gather, some serious mischief was being levied on the tenants, possibly even thefts and violence, and they had yet to find the perpetrator. Alaina thought it may have been a conflict between tenants, and had offered such a suggestion, but Graham’s reaction had firmly put that option out of her mind. On certain occasions, Graham even sought out Christopher to accompany him in his investigations. On these such occasions, Alaina could breathe easily, knowing she could easily engage with the group activity without having to be aware of the marquess’s presence.
It was the times where the duke did not seek his friend’s council that set Alaina’s nerves on edge. She was both angry at Christopher and angry at herself. She was angry at Christopher for saying some nonsense about ‘what is right,’ but leaving her to wonder about his feelings for her. It would be easy enough for any person close in proximity to get the wrong idea, ruining her chances of determining if she and the duke were a match at all. She was also angry at herself for her heightened reactions, both to his statements, and to his mere presence. The marquess had made it quite clear he was not interested in her, or really marriage as a general concept, but Alaina found it difficult to categorize his actions as uninterested. She had always been one to take a person’s words at face value, and she was questioning her own instincts.
On the third full day of the garden party, the group enjoyed a luncheon toward the back of the manse in a room that buttressed the courtyard. It was situated between the wings of the house that stretched far to either side of the entrance, perfectly symmetrical. Since it was toward the back of the house, the room was quite large, which could cause loud echoes in conversation, making it seem filled with more people than it truly was. The windows in the room were floor to ceiling, flooding the space with light even in the winter months. The table, extremely long, was set lengthwise along the windows, with the guests situated more to one side, to allow for more intimate conversation.
The guests were now enjoying the second course, conversation filling the cavernous space, from time to time with peals of laughter. It was the rare occasion that Alaina was seated next to the duke at the head of the table, and they both were engaged in easy conversation about the afternoon activities.
“So, I know you do not prefer to ride, but it would be an excellent way to show you the grounds. I have not had the opportunity to do so yet, and would be honored if you would allow me to act as your guide,” Graham proposed. Alaina considered for a moment his earnest and hopeful expression and thought the idea would be delightful, even if her lack of riding skills required a slower pace.
“I would be delighted to accompany you,” was her easy response, joined by a smile.
“Well then, we shall plan to leave immediately following lunch,” Graham stated, as if relieved to finally have some time to show Alaina his estate.
Just then, the door at the fore end of the room opened, and Graham’s steward, Francis Locke, walked in and quickly made his way to where Graham sat at the head of the table. The same scene of the past two days played out yet again, with a quick whisper in Graham’s ear, a furrowed brow from Graham, and a hurried apology to Alaina.
“Alaina, you must forgive me yet again. It seems I must attend to some business.” Graham sighed and gave Alaina a longing look before quickly standing from the table and offering a brief apology to the group. On his way out of the room he tapped Christopher on the shoulder and made a quick motion for him to follow.
As both men exited the room, Alaina heaved a sigh, upset once again to have her plans for the afternoon fouled. At this rate she would neither spend quality time with the duke nor see the grounds of his estate. She was at least relieved Christopher had been called to duty by his friend, saving Alaina from an afternoon of angst about their interactions.
Georgiana had been seated across the table, but only a few chairs down from the couple, and had heard their conversation. Seeing her friend’s disappointed expression, Georgiana offered to salvage the afternoon.
“Perhaps I can show you the grounds after lunch?” Georgiana queried.
Alaina responded with a half-smile, “That would be lovely, Georgiana. Thank you.”
“Good, we will bring your sister along with us; I know she has been wishing for a ride. She may leave us in her dust, though.”
Alaina giggled, “Evelina certainly has a way of leading the charge, at least on a horse.” Maybe it would be a pleasant afternoon after all, Alaina thought, attempting to buoy her own spirits.
Graham and Christopher quickly walked through a few back hallways, usually reserved for the servants, making only one stop in the estate’s armory for their pistols. They found their way out to the stables through a side door on the west wing of the manse. With only one barn hand currently in the stables, as the others were taking a quick lunch, it was easier for the two friends to quickly saddle their own horses. It was only after this was accomplished, and they were on their way to see to the trouble, that Christopher inquired about the issue.
“What is it this time?”
“One of the barns used by a group of tenants for storage and livestock is burning,” Graham answered quickly, his mind fast at work.
