Chapter 13 #2
Graham cleared his throat from behind Alaina. “This was my father’s room before it was mine. I have not had a chance to change anything.”
Alaina turned to meet his gaze, and smiled, crinkling her nose ever so slightly in amusement. “I do not think I agree entirely with your assessment; I see you in some corners.”
“I imagine you mean the mess. My mother and Georgiana always say I should keep a tidier study,” Graham responded, diverting his gaze ever so slightly downward, betraying a boyish nervousness he had not felt in some time.
“Not the mess, the books. But I find it quite charming, actually, giving the impression that someone human resides here. Otherwise, it might be quite unwelcoming.” Alaina hoped she had not insulted the duke, especially with what she knew was bound to come next in their conversation.
Graham cleared his throat. “Well, I had hoped you might find my home in Ashford a charming place. Georgiana has a way of putting our best foot forward as well, which plays to my advantage.” Graham segued, a lopsided and disarming smile finally gracing his face.
“Oh, I have most definitely been charmed by this place, your grace,” Alaina assured him, tentative about what to say next.
Christopher moved away from the study door and went to stand on the other side of the foyer, afraid that if he eavesdropped any further, his heart would be torn from his chest. He watched the door intently, expecting that at any moment, the happy couple would burst forth to share the news.
It took every ounce of willpower that Christopher had to stand rooted to his spot, resigned to offer his congratulations should that moment come.
It also, unfortunately, gave him time to consider all of his mistakes.
By pushing away Alaina, and the idea of marriage, he was now convinced that he had put in jeopardy his very happiness.
And even last night, he had been offered an opportunity to right everything, if he had just admitted to Alaina that his feelings for her overruled his reservations.
That a vision of a lifetime with her had taken form in his mind, and could not be uprooted.
All these things, Christopher had realized too late, and now he would have to stand aside for his friend, no matter the cost to himself.
Graham looked at Alaina more intently as the silence between them stretched, as if he wished for Alaina to continue speaking. When she did not, Graham was forced to break the silence. “But? It certainly sounds like there is a but in your statement.”
Alaina sighed, feeling no better option than to forge ahead most directly. “But I fear I am not as charmed as I should be, or moreover, no more charmed than a good friend is when they learn pieces of a person they care about. I imagine that is what we are here to discuss?”
Alaina felt a little embarrassed to have stated such a sentiment, especially with no proclamations from the duke. She broke eye contact with Graham, and studied the bear’s head on the rug closest to her.
“Well, I had hoped for otherwise,” Graham stated, moving to stand near the fireplace, resting his arm on the mantel and staring into the flames. After some time, he turned again to face Alaina.
Chuckling, Graham sought to put her mind at ease.
“Fear not, Alaina, I had hoped, but felt it was possible you did not feel exactly the same as I did. I assume there was nothing in particular wrong with our courtship?” The last question hung in the air uncomfortably, and Alaina watched a passing grimace cross Graham’s face.
“No, your grace. I am afraid we cannot control matters of the heart so readily, that is all. You are wonderful and will find someone to share in the overwhelming kind of love that both of our sets of parents found, I believe,” Alaina responded, hoping to sound genuine and sincere, for she truly valued her new friendship with Graham and his family.
Graham turned his head away again and said hollowly, “I thought I had, but it seems the past couple of days have set even my senses a bit on their ends.”
Alaina was about to reassure the duke once more when the door handle smacked the wall as her mother rushed into the room.
“Alaina, my dear, we must leave at once!” Charlotte nearly burst as she flew halfway across the room to her daughter, clearly distraught.
“Mother, what is wrong?” Alaina asked, surprised.
Charlotte remembered herself, if only a bit too late, took a breath, and continued.
“My apologies, Graham, but it is your father, Alaina. He has taken a bad tumble off his horse in Hyde Park. It knocked him unconscious, and he has yet to wake, based on the note we just received, but that was from the time it took the letter to get here. Things could be better or worse by now! I sent Christopher to find Evelina to pack, but we must leave posthaste. I hope you will forgive us, Graham.”
Graham moved closer to Alaina and her mother and gave a short bow. “No forgiveness is needed. I will help to get you on your way quickly, however I can.”
Trying to ignore the tinge of sadness in Graham’s voice, Alaina expressed her gratitude. “Your grace, we appreciate your offer of assistance. If you would be so kind as to have our carriage readied, we should be able to embark to London within the hour.”
Alaina hurried out of the room after her mother, her blood hammering in her ears. She fixed a vision of her father in her mind, hale and healthy, and forced it to stay. A trip to London would be long enough without thoughts of the worst.