“She’s here,” Frederica called to him from across the hallway. “Will you come and meet her?” she asked, a softness in her voice, a gentle pleading.
Sighing, Allan turned to look at her.
She was nervous, wringing her hands together as she stared back at him.
She expects me to say no. I suppose I should be flattered that she wishes me to meet her aunt at all.
“Of course, I will.” Allan walked across the hallway with Frederica falling in step beside him as they neared the door. He could feel her sneaking glances at him though she said nothing.
It couldn’t have escaped her notice that he was pulling back from her, but he didn’t know what else to do to protect himself.
To kiss her had felt so natural, the thrills and excitement between them bubbling over into a declaration of affection. He couldn’t forget the fact that she had kissed him back. It made her rejection even more confusing.
He opened the door and stepped out of the house.
The heat was overwhelming today. Summer had well and truly arrived, making the air so hot and sticky that Allan had to shed his tailcoat at once, slinging it over his shoulder. Frederica was suffering in the heat too, pulling at her thin gown and trying to fan her face with one of her hands.
Before them, a small carriage was pulling up on the driveway. It was a modest carriage, petite but well-kept and cared for. As the carriage pulled up, the door opened long before either Allan or one of his manservants could hurry forward to open it.
Honora stood on the carriage step, tilting her head high, revealing a face that Allan had not expected.
When he had pictured Frederica’s aunt, he had seen someone in his imagination who was mild in manner and gentle in appearance. This woman, with her rigid straight back and her hooked nose, was rather different to his expectation.
Her eyes darted over the house, moving as fast as bees. With her lips pursed together, she was judging it intently. Then her eyes moved to Frederica, and she smiled, the expression transforming her appearance.
“Frederica!” she declared, flinging her arms outward as she jumped out of the carriage. She dropped her reticule in her excitement, prompting Allan’s manservant to run after her and pick it up. She then also dropped a spencer jacket she had been holding, so the manservant hurried after her to pick up that too. “There you are! Oh, how my nerves have suffered since you left.”
Frederica moved off the stairs to greet her aunt. The two embraced tightly as Allan watched on, unsure what to make of the woman before him.
“I am sorry I left in the night,” Frederica said as she moved back from their embrace. Honora continued to fuss over her as a mother might, pushing back loose locks which had fallen out of Frederica’s updo and looking intently into her face, clearly checking the heavy shadows which were under Frederica’s eyes. “It was for the best though.”
“So I see.” Honora held a small smirk as she turned her face to look at Allan.
Those eyes were so piercing, he actually found his back straightening under that look.
“Welcome,” he said stiffly, trying to be as formal and as welcoming as he could be. “You are more than welcome to stay as long as you like.”
“That is kind,” she said softly, moving toward him. “So, you are my niece’s husband?” She lifted her chin high, looking over him the way that she had looked at the house. “Tall, handsome, well presented. You’ve done well for yourself, Frederica.”
“Aunt!” Frederica hissed, but Honora was already laughing. She offered a curtsy to Allan and at her laugh, Allan found himself softening. He bowed in greeting to her too.
“I think I embarrass her,” Honora mockingly whispered. “But I am glad to see her so settled.”
“Have no fear. I embarrass her too,” Allan added. This made Honora laugh all the more though it did not escape his notice that Frederica burned beetroot red at his words. “Well, I shall leave you with your niece, so you can talk of all that you wish to, but I hope I shall see you again at dinner this evening?”
“I’d like that. Thank you.” Honora smiled. As Allan turned to walk away though, she spoke again. “One thing before you go, My Lord?” He turned back to face her. “I hope you are happy with this marriage?”
“Aunt!” Frederica hissed once again, blushing so much now that the color reached down her neck.
“You do not beat about the bush, do you?” Allan asked, deciding he liked her more and more.
“Never,” Honora declared. “In my experience, life is too short and messy not to say what we really mean.”
“Then rest assured, I am content.” Allan nodded. “I pray your niece is too. If you would excuse me, I have business to attend to.” Eager to escape, for he could feel Frederica’s gaze intently on him, he walked away and back into the house.
“Hmm.” Honora’s next words still reached him, despite his efforts to escape fast. “Strange, from your letters, I pictured a man with much more warmth in his character.”
“Aunt!” Frederica hissed for a third time. “He is warm. He’s kind, too.”
