Alfie observed as Eva gave her husband a most seductive smile. She obviously hoped to appeal to his desire for her. “Garrick, you returned from Hull earlier than you expected.”
“Eva, you, and Alfie have some explaining to do.” He lifted Eva from the coach. His attention then turned to Alfie as he struggled down. “What in heavens happened to you?”
He needed to ease his brother’s anger toward Eva. “The copper-sorrel threw me; I broke both arms. A local surgeon fixed me up. I asked them to contact Eva to assist me in getting home.”
“Alfie it grieves me to hear you were injured, but it was inappropriate, and irresponsible to ask for Eva’s assistance.”
He turned back to Eva. “Dammit Eva, you should not have obliged him. You are as much to blame. Have you no care for yourself, and for our unborn child?”
Alfie began to defend her, but Eva quelled him with a look. Alfie knew Garrick did not honestly believe Eva had no care for their child, but his brother was a possessive, and jealous man when it came to her: Alfie was still a sore subject even though their brotherly relationship had greatly improved, it was far from ironclad.
“Garrick, Alfie is lying to you. A letter came to Lexington Hall stating he had been seriously injured. Alfie was there for me, for you, and for our son when we needed him. I was not going to abandon him when he needed me. He was angry when I arrived, and he insisted we return immediately. Please, let us get him home.”
Garrick assisted in retrieving their belongings from the public coach, and loaded them into his own, along with his wife, and brother.
Eva had not told Alfie’s sister, Nora, of his accident. When they arrived, Nora winced upon seeing his condition. All was soon explained though, and forgiven.
That evening, his beautiful angel, came to him in a dream. She told him she had fallen in love with him. It was a wonderful dream, but one that would never come true. He had been furious when he realized she was engaged. Why had she not told him? She had allowed him to kiss her, twice, and she had said nothing. He questioned himself. Could he have been wrong about her nature?
After weeks of healing, and feelings of perplexity over Miss Parker, Eva brought him a visitor. “Alfie, look who I found on my doorstep.”
It was Dr. Shirley. “How are you getting along Mr. Lockwood?”
“I will leave you two alone,” Eva said.
“I thought I would come see if you were ready to free up those arms.”
“Actually, I am. I thought of seeing a physician in the village.”
“Yes, well, I do not often have patients leave before I have followed through on their care, so I thought a trip was in order.”
“Where are you staying?”
“I was planning on staying at the coaching inn, but Mrs. Winter insisted I stay at Lexington Hall.”
“Once freed from his constraints Alfie, and Robert walked the property.”
“You have made a nice place here for your sister, Mr. Lockwood.” Alfie remained silent; he could see the good doctor had something more on his mind than pleasantries.
“I thought you may ask about the Parkers.”
“Forgive me, it did occur to me to ask, but I did not know if it is a topic you wished to discuss.”
Dr. Shirley came to a halt. “Mr. Lockwood, Alfie, I realize you became fond of Audra during your stay; I cannot offer you any explanation as to why she did not tell you of our engagement other than she shared your infatuation.”
Alfie interrupted. “How did you know she had not told me?”
“I am afraid it was painfully obvious from the expression on your face when you heard. Look, I have loved Audra since she was a girl. Even as a child one could see the woman she would become. When she came of age, I asked for her hand. Her brother approved, and she accepted. I wanted to hold off until I had a proper home for her. The renovations on my family’s home are complete now; we will be setting a date for the wedding soon.”
“Why are you telling me this if you thought what I felt for her was merely an infatuation, doctor?”
“Please call me Robert.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I have waited a long time to have her in my arms, to watch her bear my children, to wake every day just to see her beautiful face in the morning, but I want her to be happy. When you left she changed, I am unsure if she has fallen in love with you, or simply fills guilt over her infatuation with you, but something is different. Tomorrow I will be going on to Edinburgh for a few weeks. When I return I would hope the two of you have resolved any unfinished business, one way or another.” Robert walked away.
Astonished, Alfie knew how hard it must be for Robert to give him this window of opportunity to usurp him. He was a good man.
*
Nora returned that afternoon. She and Eva had been spending most of their days of late planning Nora’s wedding. He loved his sister, and had happily approved of the young man who asked for her hand. A young tenant farmer himself who would be taking over Nora’s father’s lease from Alfie after the marriage.
Alfie motioned for her. “Nora, may I speak with you.” Nora crinkled her eyebrows in curiosity.
“Of course, is something wrong?”
They sat together over a pot of tea. “It was a young woman, and her maid who found me the night I was thrown.”
Nora raised one sable brow, but undeterred he continued his tale. “She cared for me along with her mother, her sister, and their local surgeon.”
“The surgeon who came to Lexington today?”
“Yes, Dr. Shirley”—Alfie took a long sip of his tea—“I fell in love with the young woman.”
Nora understood the importance of that statement for she knew just how much he had loved Eva over the last two years.
Alfie gazed out at the moonless night. “She let me kiss her, but failed to tell me she was engaged to the good doctor.”
Nora brought her hand to her mouth. “Alfie. I am sorry. How did you find out?”
“Her brother brought it up the day Eva came to retrieve me.” Alfie scooted back from the table and placed his hands on his thighs. “When he came today he told me he was going to Edinburgh for a few weeks; he expects a resolution to whatever is between Miss Parker, and myself, whatever the outcome”
Nora leaned closer, laying her hand on his arm. “You mean he is giving you the opportunity to take her from him if you can.”
“Precisely...”
“Yet you hesitate.”
“I cannot justify in my mind why she would allow me to kiss her, and not tell me she was engaged.”
“Perhaps she fell in love with you as well, unexpectedly. Nevertheless, she clearly felt an obligation to her fiancé, but was not ready to take the chance of losing you before she had time to think about what she was doing. There could be any number of legitimate reasons, Alfie.” She leaned toward him as if she were going to tell him a secret. “You have several weeks before you have to be here for the wedding. Go see her.”
Alfie left the following morning for Lockwood Farm.
Chapter 5
Elizabeth came running into the house that afternoon. “Audra! Audra you have a letter. I bet it is from Robert.”
Audra tried to grasp the letter as Elizabeth danced around her. “Is it from Edinburgh, Lizzy?”
Elizabeth stopped and took a look. “No...”
“Let me see it.”
Audra took the letter, and saw it was delivered from a village to the north. It had to be Mr. Lockwood. He had finally made it to his father’s home. She went for a walk so she could read the letter in private.
Miss Parker,
I have fully recovered from my injuries, thanks to Dr. Shirley, and your family. I arrived at Lockwood Farm just hours ago. If you would allow, I would like to call upon you soon. I feel we left some things unsaid.
Please let me know when would be an appropriate time.
Alfie Lockwood
Audra suspected Robert visited him on his way to Edinburgh, but what had passed betwee
n them she did not know. Nevertheless, she would not deny him, or herself the chance to see each other one more time. She returned to the cottage. “Mother, Mr. Lockwood has made a full recovery and finally made it to his father’s home. He has asked we visit him.” Which was not entirely false, he did want to visit with her.
“Oh wonderful Audra, I did want to speak to him about a possible match between him, and Elizabeth when she is old enough.”
Appalled, Audra responded. “Mother, I do not think—”
Her mother laughed, and caressed her cheek. “Audra, do you really think me that blind? I know you are in love with the man.”
“Mother, I do care for him, and that is why I must go. I need to explain to him face to face why I did not tell him I was engaged to Robert. I owe him that.”
“You still intend to marry Robert when he returns?”
“I have loved Robert since I was a girl, and he has loved me just as long. I cannot walk away from him now.”
“Audra, you do not see a difference in the way you feel about Robert, and the way you feel about Mr. Lockwood?”
“I do see a difference, but—”
“You are a fool my little girl. Robert wants to see you happy, even if it means losing you.”
“I cannot do that to him Mother.”
“Lizzy, and I will be ready to go in the morning. What have you told your brother?”
“Only that we are going to visit a friend. He is busy with the store.”
*
Audra, her mother, and Elizabeth arrived at Lockwood Farm late afternoon. Mr. Lockwood’s butler, Michaels, took care to see to their needs then Audra asked to be taken to him. Michaels informed her Mr. Lockwood was overseeing some work. A young groom walked with her a ways before Mr. Lockwood’s familiar form came into view. Unmistakably surprised by her presence, he excused himself and came towards her. Her escort turned back.
“What are you doing here Miss Parker?”
“I received your letter.”
Alfie leaned toward her. “I requested you inform me of a good time to come, and visit you there.”
I did not want you to make the trip, Mr. Lockwood. I am sure you are still experiencing some pain. Besides, I felt an urgency to speak with you, to explain...”
He took her arm and walked further away from the men at work. “Miss Lockwood, I had an agenda. You understand”—he reached for her hand—“I wanted you to know I had fallen in love with you before you engaged in any actions that could not be undone.”
Stunned, Audra replied. “You cannot just tell me you love me. You know Robert, and I are engaged. It is all so confusing”—she let out a big sigh—“you begged your brother’s wife to stay with you in your sleep.”
“I did? I did not know. I dreamt of her that first night, but—”
“You are in love with her Mr. Lockwood.”
“I was, yes, and she will always be special to me, but it is different.”
Audra looked away. “Did you... I mean to say, were the two of you ever intimate?” Oh goodness, why did I ask him such an inappropriate question?
He chuckled. “No, I assure you if I had ever acted upon my feelings for her at the time I would not be standing before you now. My brother, Garrick, would have killed me.”
His smile faded. “I am sorry if you misunderstood my relationship with Eva, but I do not see how it compares to you allowing me to kiss you, twice, yet never telling me you were engaged to the man seeing to my injuries.”
“I allowed you to kiss me because I was overwhelmed by your interest in me, the desire I saw in your eyes. No one has ever looked at me that way, and I fell in love with you.”
One corner of his mouth rose in a playful grin. “You love me?”
Her sister’s young voice rang out. “Mr. Lockwood...”
Elizabeth came running. “They told me you have a new foal. May I feed her?”
“Yes you may.”
“I am sorry she is a naughty girl.” Audra tugged on one of her little sister’s curls. “I asked her to wait.” Her voice quivered giving away her emotional state.
Over Elizabeth’s head, their eyes locked for what felt like an eternity.
He took Elizabeth by the hand then. “I will take you to see the foal if you wait until after dinner.”
Audra quickly interceded. “I will take her. I should not have interrupted you; we can talk later.” She could see he was not pleased she was putting him off.
“Very well Miss Parker, we will talk after dinner.”
*
Elizabeth kept the dinner conversation lively. Afterwards, Elizabeth and their mother retired early. Audra was in a corner now she had to talk to him. She straightened her posture. It was what she had come for after all.
He pulled her chair away from the table. “Miss Parker would you join me in my study?”
She followed him; he shut the door behind them.
He set upon her immediately. “You say you love me, yet you are doing your best at avoiding being alone with me, which can only mean one thing.”
“...and that is Mr. Lockwood?”
“You still intend to marry your fiancé.”
She tried to maintain eye contact with him, he deserved that much from her. “You are correct. I made a commitment to him. I will not break it. We have cared for one another since I was very young. I cannot just walk away from him for a man I hardly know, no matter my feelings for you. I just cannot do it.” She faltered. The tears were threatening to spill.
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “What if I told you Angel he only wants to see you happy.”
“He came to see you on his way to Edinburgh?”
“He did...”
“He may say he just wants to see me happy Mr. Lockwood, but it would devastate him, you must see that.”
“All I can see is that I love you, and you have admitted you love me.”
He moved toward her. She held her ground. He reached for her and pulled her into his arms. He kissed her roughly. She responded in kind. She could not resist him. His hands made quick work of the buttons at the back of her dress while he maneuvered them towards a chair. He pulled her down to straddle him, his hands underneath her dress, now hiked up to her hips with the neckline gaping. He trailed kisses down her slender neck, and atop her exposed flesh.
“Audra...” It was her brother’s voice. She looked. He had averted his eyes, and Michaels discreetly walked away.
Mr. Lockwood helped her to her feet, steadied her, and buttoned her dress. She saw sympathy in his captivating greyish-green eyes, but then it morphed into an unmistakable look of contrition. Bewildered, she turned away from him; It was then she discovered Mr. Lockwood had been facing the window, which would have given him an unrestricted view of Allan’s arrival. She spun back around. “You did this on purpose.”
Allan took her arm and forced her toward the door. “Audra, go to Mother.”
“No, Allan, he did this on purpose. He saw you coming.” She resisted.
Allan’s voice rose. “Was he forcing you Audra, because if not, him seeing me coming means nothing.”
“No, he was not forcing me.”
“Then go to Mother.”
As she made her exit, she called back to her brother. “I will not marry him!”
Audra stormed into the hallway but stopped in the shadows across the hall. She could see Alfie from her vantage point. He faced Allan steadily. “Before you say anything Mr. Parker, I love her, and I want to marry her.”
“You did see me coming?”
“I did... She had told me she was in love with me, but she was still planning on marrying the good doctor. When I saw you I knew at the very least my butler would see us together.”
“I know she loves you Mr. Lockwood, but I also understand the loyalty she feels towards Robert. Did you tell her Robert came to see you?”
“You know about that too?”
“I assumed,” Allan said.
“Is that why you came her
e tonight?”
“No, I found the letter you sent, and I know my sister’s impulsive nature. I was afraid one of you may do something foolish, but now I see my coming here has provided a catalyst for her ruin. You have put me in an awkward position with her. I am cognizant of the fact I do not need to insist on a marriage since with your precipitous action you intended to bring about that precise situation; however, I would ask it be as soon as you can acquire a license, and the banns are read. I imagine your entire household is aware of the situation by now. The longer this drags out the harder it is going to be on everyone.”
*
Audra just made it to her mother in the guest room, and explained the situation, before Allan entered.
“Audra, as soon as Mr. Lockwood can acquire a license, and the banns are read, you two will wed.”
“No...”
Allan took her hands in his. “I understand your feelings of loyalty to Robert, but do you realize he went to see Mr. Lockwood on his way to Edinburgh. He just wants you to be happy.”
Tears were streaming down her face now. “Everyone keeps telling me he just wants me to be happy. I know he wants me to be happy, but I also know this will hurt him terribly. He has waited so long for us to be together, and he worked so hard to have everything just right. I ruined everything by coming here.”
“It makes no difference now Audra. Two people witnessed you in a compromising position, and you did not deny your willing participation. You will marry Mr. Lockwood. I will talk to Robert.”
“He will hate me.”
“Robert could never hate you my dear.” Her mother scolded her. “He always knew the possibility was there for you to fall in love with someone nearer to your own age. He had spoken to me of such on more than one occasion.”
“I am tired Mother, please, I just want to go to bed now.”
The following morning she did not speak to anyone. She accepted her breakfast, and Allan arranged for their transportation home. Allan departed separately for Edinburgh to inform Robert of the situation. He had not returned from his trip when Mr. Lockwood arrived a few days later. Elizabeth greeted Mr. Lockwood with her usual enthusiasm.
“Hello Lizzy, would you let your sister know I am here?”
A Bride for Alfie (Yorkshire Brides) Page 3
