Alaina turned a pointed look on Christopher. Trying to appear stern proved difficult and Alaina eventually gave way to a smile and giggle, which made Christopher chuckle as well.
Alaina attempted to pick up where they left off, moving her rook recklessly on the board in order to just keep the game going. “Well it seems, my dear, it is now your turn.”
Christopher heaved an exaggerated sigh, moving his pawn to capture her rook. “Well, if I had to guess, you are letting me win, or is it that you are distracted?”
Alaina pulled her hand forcefully from his grip and whispered, “Will you stop?”
Christopher put up his hands as if to signal his concession, and they played the game in silence for a few moments. It was Alaina who once again started the conversation, “It is nice to meet your family, although I fear that your cousin may not have taken much of a liking to me.”
The abrupt change in conversation seemed to catch Christopher off-guard, but it was not long before he responded, “Fear not, Alaina. I expect that he was half-distracted by the lady who interrupted dinner.”
Alaina mulled over Christopher’s assurances and found it difficult to accept them, but could not find anything concrete in her mind to provide evidence to the contrary. Alaina gave a quick shrug of her shoulders. “I must admit that there is nothing to contradict your assessment, so I will allow that you may be correct.”
Christopher once more recaptured Alaina’s hand, a chuckle escaping him. “I know I am correct, my dear. Fear not, I am sure that Charles likes you, and even if he does not, I do not care. It is just recently that Charles and I have truly reconnected.”
“I do wonder why your families were so at odds,” Alaina commented.
Christopher sighed. “I was too young to realize all that happened between my father and my uncle, but there was one season in London where I remember a row after some night at a ball or some social event. I was supposed to be abed, but I could not sleep and waited for my parents’ return. I was excited when I heard my aunt and uncle’s voices as well, but partway down the stairs to greet them, I heard yelling. I do not remember ever seeing my uncle after that night. My father became surly and withdrawn, taking to drink more and more often, and my mother receded from society, from everyone. I rarely saw her smile after that day, and she refused to ever attend a season in London again. For nine years after that, my parents lived as strangers, and then she died from fever.”
“Did you hear any of what happened?” Alaina asked.
“I was only five at the time, but I heard the words ‘common whore’ thrown about a bit before my aunt and uncle stormed out of my family’s townhome,” Christopher recounted. “My father was silent after they left, but I could hear my mother pleading with him. I did not stay to witness the aftermath and retreated to my room. I fear I did not sleep well, if at all, that night. Reflecting on it many years later, my best guess is that my mother had some affair. I know we are all awed by our parents when we are young, but I truly could not reconcile what I knew of my mother with that type of accusation.”
“What was your mother like, before everything with your uncle?”
Christopher smiled as if reliving happy memories. “I was so young, but I still remember her laugh. She was so happy, so carefree. Even my father seemed infected by it. It was the only time I ever heard him laugh; my earliest memories were of my mother and father laughing together. To see such a change in both of them was confusing, and my father refused to talk of it ever, even after my mother passed.”
Alaina threw her arms around Christopher. “Oh, my darling, how awful.”
Christopher reciprocated the embrace, his arms enveloping Alaina and pulling her close, but a clearing of a throat intruded, snatching each back to their original seats.
Alaina was too embarrassed to look around, but Christopher turned to meet Edward’s gaze, the latter having just awoken. Edward was just turning in his seat to see the couple, causing relief to flood Christopher, thankful Edward had not witnessed their closeness. He did not wish to mar what had been a beautiful evening.
“It seems I fell asleep. Perhaps it is time to end the evening. Will you both forgive me?” Edward yawned, his voice still carrying the sound of sleep, its deep timbre crackling a bit as he talked.
Alaina had regained her aplomb and turned to her father, waving her hand in dismissal. “No forgiveness needed, the hour certainly is late.”
Edward took in the sight of the couple, the chess game largely unfinished, and smiled knowingly, giving a warning, “I do hope my slumber did not cause either of you to forget the game of chess. Perhaps my snoring was too loud?”
Christopher chuckled, understanding the implication, and then laughed more heartily after catching a glimpse of Alaina’s confusion. “No, sir, we had just gotten to talking about the wedding and our excitement for summer so we can be man and wife.”
“Ah, yes, I remember those days. Charlotte and I were also excited for our nuptials. But there is so much planning to do for a wedding, the summer still does not give us much time,” Edward stated, matter-of-factly.
“There is always a special license that can be procured.” Christopher pressed his luck.
“No daughter of mine will need such a thing. Besides, her mother would be heartbroken to not plan a large celebration,” was Edward’s response, choosing to ignore the implication of a special license. “Young love is so much fun, so many stolen kisses and moments of joy. Well, I remember this one time at the Darby townhouse where Charlotte and I… Let’s just say, we enjoyed being out in society and married. It always amazes me how many dark corners of balconies and secret hallways are out there, positively unseemly.”
Christopher and Alaina caught each other’s eyes, surprised their actions were so transparent to her father, but Christopher found amusement as well.
“It certainly would be unseemly if it were true, although I have yet to find such things,” Christopher stated, the overly bright tone giving away his lies, but Edward seemed, or at least acted, as if he did not notice.
“Well, I should be going, it is very late,” Christopher started, but before he could finish Edward continued, “And you have a lot of planning and a long engagement ahead of you.”
Alaina giggled, “That we do, but it will be so much fun.”
Chapter 19
Alaina smiled as she looked out an east facing window at Waverley, the Rochester country estate. The morning light draped everything she could see in a warm glow. The weather was perfect for the couple’s wedding day, and Alaina was more than eager to join together with Christopher in holy matrimony. She was ready for the ceremony, and had some time to reflect on the past couple of months.
