Dorothy bustled him into a chair though Allan only perched on the very edge, for he was busy watching his niece and nephew together as they played. Something in what Stephen had said conjured a sadness.
Allan had told Frederica when he proposed that he didn’t have to have an heir. He would certainly never demand she went to his bed. He wouldn’t consummate the marriage if that was not what she wanted, but he couldn’t help being sad at the thought of not having a child of his own.
He rather liked the idea of chasing his own mischievous son through the house. As if aware of his thoughts, Peter came towards him and gifted him a wooden horse to play with. Allan thanked him then Peter returned to his sister to continue their games.
“She said yes, then?” Dorothy asked excitedly.
“She did, eventually,” Allan said, looking at the horse and avoiding looking at his sister at all.
“Well, I imagine she was in shock,” Dorothy whispered. “She has always had a soft spot for you, so it can’t have been —”
“What?” Allan nearly dropped the horse. He had to catch it to stop it from falling and breaking.
“Frederica,” Dorothy said as if Allan had suddenly become an imbecile. “She’s always had a soft spot for you.”
“I think not.” Allan shook his head. Nothing in Frederica’s response to him the last few days had induced him to think she cared for him at all.
“I know my friend’s mind better than you do, Allan.” Dorothy sighed and sat back beside her husband. “Maybe you’ll be lucky enough to have a marriage for love like our parents.”
“And us,” Stephen reminded her, pretending to look affronted with a deep frown.
“Maybe one where I don’t bicker as much with my wife as you two do will make me happy.” Allan sat back, laying the horse down beside him, growing increasingly sadder by the minute that he may never have a child.
“You do not believe in love, brother?” Dorothy asked pointedly.
“I do not think it possible with Frederica, now.” Allan refused to look at either his sister or his brother-in-law. He stared at the pile of toys instead, deciding that this simple statement would have to do.
He wasn’t going to tell them that Frederica’s prettiness was infuriating him, nor that he had always been attracted to Frederica from the moment they had met years ago. He couldn’t even tell them that he felt sincerely protective of her, for it might lead them to make more jests as his expense.
“There is something I need to know, Dorothy.” Allan tried to make his tone serious. He glanced at the children, but seeing they were too distracted with their game to listen, he pushed on. “What exactly happened with Frederica and this suitor you mentioned before?”
“He was too forceful,” Dorothy explained. “Frederica hated him from the very beginning. She said he would look at her like he wanted to eat her instead of talk to her. He was demanding. I think the final straw came when he grabbed her under a dining table and tried to kiss her.”
Allan felt his gut curdle again. That protectiveness swelled inside of him. He would make sure that this man was not invited to their wedding. He had to hope they wouldn’t come across him in their future either, or he might very well punch this last suitor and break his nose for what he tried to do to Frederica.
“And she was so scared of him, she ran away? Where?”
“I think you should ask her about the rest yourself. These are her secrets, Allan. They are not mine to share,” Dorothy said with a softness to her voice that was rather unlike her.
“Hmm.” Stephen murmured as he watched Allan intently.
“What?” Allan asked, trying to get his oldest friend to stop looking at him in such a way. Stephen knew his mind better than anyone else did in this world. He didn’t need Stephen to keep looking at him with such discernment.
“You are hardly indifferent to her, Allan,” Stephen pointed out. “I could have sworn the year Dorothy and I married that you and Frederica… well, that there was something there between you.”
“Ha, a work of your imagination, that is all.” Allan tried to laugh it off. “Love was in the air for you, and you mistook everyone else for feeling it too.”
Dorothy laughed too but rather sadly. Stephen on the other hand didn’t look convinced at all.
“It is a shame. I thought you could offer my friend something more than just an acquaintance for a husband,” Dorothy said softly.
Allan ruffled his dark hair, deep in thought.
She doesn’t want more from me.
“Well, when is the wedding to be then?” Stephen asked. “I hope we shall be there.”
“You will be,” Allan said with a nod. “Stephen, I hope you’ll be my best man.”
