For the next two weeks, Allie did not notice as time practically flew past, all her attention being on her family. In particular, her niece and nephews. Kit was sorting out some issues with his tenants while Cassandra, Nate and Emily spent nearly all their time on little Alex. In fact, Emily had not even had to go through the process of searching for a nanny, for Cassie was there to help her whenever she needed it.
While Henry and Juliette did have a maid to run after them when their parents weren't able to do so, Allie found that playing with them was a pleasant diversion. In fact, she had nothing better to do.
Although there had been multiple social events since Alex's birth, Nate and Emily could not attend for obvious reasons. Kit and Cassandra were not particularly interested in doing so, but had said they were willing to chaperone Allie if she wished to. However, she didn't mind skipping them at all. No longer did she enjoy balls much, for they were filled with people who were nothing if not boring.
The only good thing about balls was the dancing, but Allie's favourite dance partner was regrettably absent, having thrown himself from his horse for all she knew.
She quickly dressed, donning a pretty pink day dress. Her corset, as she was only going to be home all day, was loose and perfect for running after the children if she had to. She left her hair loose, and allowed it to fall in curls down her back. Tying it up was far too much of a hassle.
"Would you like breakfast in your chamber or downstairs, milady?" Dottie, the maid who had come in to assist Allie dress, asked and Allie replied that she would take breakfast in the dining room with the others.
Emily was up and about, her son asleep in a bassinet by the table. Juliette and Henry, awed by the little creature, were peering into the bassinet, both barely tall enough to see over the edge. Cassandra was buttering some toast while Kit was cracking a hard boiled egg with his fork. Nate, on the other hand, was reading a newspaper while drinking a cup of tea.
"Good morning!" Allie greeted as she took her usual seat to Cassandra's right, slightly disappointed at the fact that there were no scones. They were certainly her favourite breakfast. A chorus of the same greeted her and Nate passed her the toast.
Breakfast was a light-hearted affair with a joking atmosphere. Allie found herself in peals of laughter by the end of it, amused both by the antics of her brother and her niece, as the latter ceaselessly asked the former questions about her new cousin, nearly all of them incredibly entertaining for neither could understand the other very well at all.
Halfway through the morning meal, a footman entered the room, bowing before he spoke, presenting a platter with it to Allie, which was odd considering that the mail had already arrived a while back, "Lady Alexandra, a letter has arrived for you."
She glanced at the envelope as she turned it over in her hands. Her name and address were written in neat, if a little hurried, writing. The symbol pressed into the wax seal was an unfamiliar one, but it all made sense once she was able to place the familiar handwriting. It was a letter from Richard! She exhaled in relief as she all but tore the envelope open, thanking the Lord that he was alive. She hoped he was injured, though; he rather deserved it for making her worry so.
It was a short letter, one that neither began to explain his five week long absence nor contain an apology for his complete silence. It made her want to leap with happiness and strangle him, too.
Dear Alexandra,
I hope this letter finds you well. I have been in Exeter for the last few weeks. It is imperative that we meet. Might I call on you on Saturday?
Yours,
Richard
"What is wrong with him?" She demanded, fuming, under her breath as the others watched, clearly confused as to what had made her so angry. "Really, what does he think of himself?"
"Is something the matter?" Nate asked, taking note of her frustration. "Who is the letter from?"
"It is nothing." Allie waved it off, before deciding to give in and provide the others some information for they certainly wouldn't leave her be unless she did. "Richard has written and asked to call on me on Saturday."
"Is tomorrow not Saturday?" Emily asked before Cassandra, who had opened her mouth to speak, could say anything. Cassie would probably take note of Allie's previous irritation and worry simply to tease her.
"Is it?" Allie exclaimed, thinking she would have a few more days until Richard came to see her. She had assumed she would have to spend those days in turmoil, but now both anticipation and anxiety surged through her as she wondered what it was Richard had to say to her.
He would have to offer an explanation, to be sure. But something important had clearly occurred, and there was clearly some urgent matter that he wished to speak to her regarding. Was something wrong? Did he require her assistance for something? Moreover, was he alright or had something horrible happen to him? Even when simply asking to call, his letters tended to be longer or, at the very least, much more casual.
The worry that had eased since his original disappearance took root again and she wanted nothing more than for tomorrow to arrive so that she might see him and hear what he had to tell her. She found she could not concentrate on anything her family did all day, and her thoughts were permanently occupied by Richard. Her night was spent tossing and turning restlessly in bed and, when morning arrived, she rose a little after dawn and dressed herself.
She wore a pale green dress that suited her very well, and spent half an hour before the mirror, attempted to look less exhausted if not pretty. In the end, she gave up, for all the powder in the world was incapable of hiding the dark circles beneath her eyes.
She hoped Richard would come in the morning, for she did not think she had it in her to wait for him all day. Already, she felt as if her anxiety was clawing at her insides and her throat, and she was afraid to speak lest something she did not wish to say escaped her.
"You're awake early." Kit commented when she stepped into the parlour, her roiling stomach in no mood for breakfast. Christopher was an fast riser, she'd learnt, and wondered how he could stand to always be awake so early.
"Yes." She smiled wanly, "I could not sleep all night so, when dawn broke, I decided there was no point in trying any longer and woke up." She yawned at the end of her explanation, drawing a little laugh from her brother-in-law.
"Does it have anything to do with the fact that Richard will be visiting today?" He asked, a twinkle in his eye that brought a blush to her cheeks.
"Perhaps." She admitted, for this was Kit and she knew he would not tease her horribly for things like this.
"Alright." He said, smiling but not taking it any further. "Have you had some breakfast? Some ginger or chamomile tea, if nothing else? The ginger might soothe your stomach and the chamomile might soothe your nerves." He suggested, and she nodded, thinking that some weak tea might be best to calm her.
Before she and Kit could call for some, however, the footman arrived to announce an arrival— Master Richard Kensington, heir to the Duke of Exeter.
Richard did not wait around outside for long after, and immediately entered the parlour. The sight of him drew a gasp from her, for he appeared awful. His clothing was rumpled, his lips were turned downwards, his hair was an absolute mess and the bags beneath his eyes were twice the size of hers. The sadness in his bright blue, eyes was the worst, however, and it was an emotion she was loath to see in his normally alive and dancing irises. It made her heart sink to her stomach and her mind flood with worry.
"Richard?" She questioned softly, stepping towards him. He took off his hat and held it close before looking up and meeting her gaze, making her chest clench painfully. For a second, she prayed Kit would remain for he had known Richard for years before Allie had met him. Then, she recalled that Richard had written to her, not Kit. She would have to be brave. Kit, seeming to draw the same conclusion, mentioned something about sending someone in with some tea before stepping from the room, giving Allie a reassuring nod before he did.
"Are you alright?" She asked, reaching forward and taking his hand before pulling him onto a chair and seating herself across from him. He seemed to become less numb at the contact and, finally, he answered.
"I think I am alright." He said, his eyes downcast and filled with a heartbreaking melancholy. "I apologise for calling so early, but I stopped directly on my way back. I suppose I—" Richard paused, clearing his throat and refusing to meet her eyes again, inclining his head downwards, "I suppose I was hoping to see you as soon as I could."
"What's wrong?" She pressed, wanting to reach forward and take his hand once more, pretending that his confession that he had come to her directly had no effect on her. However, they were interrupted by a maid, Dottie, who curtsied before placing a tray with tea and some fresh lemon cakes.
As she waited for Richard's reply, she busies herself with pouring them each a cup. Kit had been thoughtful enough to send in some chamomile— by the looks of it, Richard needed it just as much as she did. He accepted the cup she offered him with shaky hands.
"How have you been?" He asked, in an attempt to divert the conversation as he took his first sip.
"Richard." She said sharply, but noticed the pleading look on his face. He wanted to waste a little more time before he had to speak. The least she could do was allow him that. With a sigh, she gave in. "I've been alright. Emily had her baby, a boy named Alexander."
Richard muttered something about how he ought to congratulate her. Allie wasn't sure why or what possessed her to say it, but she continued speaking. "I have missed you, though." Her words caused him to look up sharply and meet her eyes, appearing shocked. "I've been worried sick, too. It has been five weeks, Richard. I supposed you heard that I tried writing to you, multiple times. You drove me mad with concern, my friend, I must confess. I am simply glad that I can now breathe a sigh of relief since I know that you are alright or, at the very least, present."
"Alexandra—" He began, his voice low as his breath but still she heard it as if he had screamed into her ear. He exhaled slowly, and she simply knew that what he had to say next would not be easy for him. Finally, after holding her gaze for a long moment, the weariness in his eyes wearying her heart, he spoke, "There's something I must ask you, something that might anger or offend you. May I ask you regardless?"
"You may ask me anything." She promised, once again forcing herself to resist the urge to reach out and take his hand. "I promise I shan't be angry or, even if I am, I promise I shan't let it linger."
He nodded, swallowing before he spoke, words escaping in a rush, yet still clear enough for Allie to hear them and reel in shock.
"Will you marry me?"