It was impossible for Alex to leave the Mores without any advanced betrayal of his engagement to Isabella, so he stayed away until Christmas, at which point, both of the young people were extremely happy to meet again. Isabella was seated next to Alex at dinner, which she attributed to Lady Wittier’s knowledge of their engagement, although she was not sure her uncle had alerted anyone as to its existence yet. They were able to speak somewhat privately, since the party was a bit larger than a family party.
In addition to the Wittiers, Miss Bloomingfield, and Reginald, Lady Wittier had invited Lord Ashby, Mr. and Mrs. Wellington, Miss Barnes, and Mr. Winters. Lord Ashby was one of the local aristocrats, who was Lady Wittier’s cousin, and a man easily in his seventies and without any other relatives surviving him, having never married. Mr. Wellington was an old friend of Mr. Wittier’s from his youth and was always invited to Lady Wittier’s Christmas dinners, along with his wife. Miss Barnes was a middle aged old maid who was one of Lady Wittier’s more favored companions. While Mr. Winters was the family physician and occupied an almost familial place in the Wittier household.
As a party of twelve there was just enough noise to allow Isabella to speak with Alex, but she did have to turn to avoid Thomas’ gaze, which was trained upon her, as her right handed dinner companion. Alex faired better with Evelina at his side, since she was extremely fond of Lord Ashby, who was heading one end of the table with Lady Wittier at the other, and was engaged in catering to his every wish and entertaining him with her girlish chatter.
"I’m sorry I’ve been away." "You said you might not be able to come. It’s all right. I’m just glad you’re here now." Isabella could feel Thomas’ gaze on her back and she turned back around. "Thomas, you would do very well to speak with Miss Barnes; she sits there without a soul to talk to with Gerald monopolizing Lady Wittier. Do your duty as the grandson of our hostess." "You know very well that Miss Barnes wants nothing to do with me," Thomas whispered. "Well, perhaps that should be taken as a commentary on your behavior." "You’re too cruel. I know you once thought me very amusing." "You’re right, I certainly did, but I must beg of you, as your cousin, to please…" She was interrupted by Mr. Wittier, who was sitting across from his daughter and next to Lord Ashby.
Mr. Wittier stood up, picking up his wineglass, which a servant had just filled. "I would like to welcome everyone to Lady Wittier’s home. We are all very glad to have Lord Ashby, the Wellingtons, Miss Barnes, Miss Bloomingfield, Mr. Winters, and Mr. Reginald with us." "Here, here," Gerald added. "The Christmas season is always an exceptional time of year, when we gather together to celebrate with old friends and family, but it is also a time when people are brought closer together…many times people who have known each other since they were but children. I cannot think of any other time when I have been so connected with Mr. Reginald than this festival season, even though I’ve known him since he was a young boy. I have a remarkable person to thank for this as well. Miss Bloomingfield, my niece, of whom I am fortuitous enough to have been guardian for so many years has brought Mr. Reginald closer to our family than previously possible."
Isabella blushed, embarrassed at the attention of so many eyes upon her, yet happy that now everyone would know that Alex would be her husband. Alex looked proudly upon her. "Mr. Reginald, I give to you the hand of one I treasure as dearly as my own children, and I wish you both the greatest happiness and many blessings. A toast!" And with that everyone stood, as they toasted Alex and Isabella happiness and blessing. Alex then stood and began, "thank you very much, Mr. Wittier. You are indeed entrusting me with a treasure. I shall try to do my utmost by you and your niece. To Mr. Wittier and Miss Bloomingfield!" Everyone agreed to Alex’s toast as well, and the general merriment of the party was immeasurably increased by the joyous announcement.
Later in the quiet evening after all the guests had left, Isabella remained in the sitting room with Gerald. She was looking out the window, and as she was somewhere off in the distance recesses of her imagination, she barely realized that she was the last one left other than her cousin. Gerald came to stand beside her, folding his arms over his chest. "I’m very happy for you, Bella." Isabella turned to smile on her cousin, almost too delighted for words. "I know Reginald will do everything he can by you." She looked back out the window, blushing. "And if he doesn’t, I shall deal with him most severely," he said with mock seriousness. Isabella laughed quietly. "I’m so happy, now that I know I shall be…" Isabella began, unable to finish, and Gerald put his hand on his cousin’s shoulder. "I know, Bella, dear."
There was a pause in their conversation, as Gerald engaged himself in serious contemplation and Isabella did the same. "I suppose I will not be allowed these solitary nights with you anymore, Bella. I am feeling very selfish at the moment, thinking how my life shall be changing dramatically. Never mind your life," he said smiling into the dark night looking over the still present white snow. Isabella looked up into her cousin's eyes. "Oh, but we are all friends, so things will not be too different, Gerald." "True, but it shall not be as I always hoped." "And how was that?" "I hoped that I would be able to have my sweet cousin cater to my whims until I was very old, ill tempered, and suffered from gout." Isabella laughed gaily, shaking her head. "No, you laugh, but I have no intention to marry, and therefore, I had counted on your being more dedicated to me than to my friend. I believe that it was quite a ridiculous mistake on my part to bring Reginald home, so many years ago."
Isabella could see her cousin’s teasing smile in the light reflected from the moon off of the snow outside, but she knew there was some sense of loss on her cousin’s part, because she felt some of the same--her life would be changing dramatically upon her marriage. So, she took her cousin’s free hand and kissed it lightly. "It no matter. As long as you’re happy. You are happy?" "I know I acted as if I didn’t know what I wanted, but truly, I did all along…my head was full of foolishness that I now regret. But, yes I am so very happy, Gerald. And I suppose I do owe you a great deal of thanks for all of this as well," she said quietly. "Oh well…" Gerald said, finding himself incapable of bragging, although it was usually a well-practiced art of his. "Why don’t we retire for the night, Bella, dear? Come along," he said turning her away from the window, and together they made their way into the great hall and up the grand staircase.
Conclusion
Alex banged his boots against the stone walkway leading to the stone cottage with white shutters and a tidy garden neatly arranged in beds below the windows. He used his horsewhip to brush off the rest of the mud clumped to his shiny black boots: Isabella would be cross if he tracked mud inside. It was late spring and Parliament was not in session, so they were staying in their country living, which was located in Alex's seat. Their London town house was a rather extravagant gift from Lady Wittier, but Alex found he preferred this smallish cottage for a number of reasons: he had provided it for them, he did not have to attend to Parliament while here, and he had his Isabella completely to himself.
His attention was drawn to the lower left window which had just been thrown open, and Isabella’s pretty dark head leaned outside, hands griping the white windowsill. "Alex, dearest, tea is ready," she called to him gaily, pleased to have her husband back for the afternoon. Laying his whip on the side table, he pulled the letter in his coat pocket out, so he could give it to his wife. "I have a letter that you will enjoy," he said, entering the room with the carefully laid out tea service. Isabella had already taken her spot at the table, and put out her hand for the letter, which Alex promptly handed to her, bestowing a kiss on her cheek as he did so.
Sitting opposite his wife, Alex watched her over his tea cup, as she perused the letter from her uncle. Alternately her bud-like mouth would turn up in a slight smile, and then crease at the corners. Observing her, he could tell what point she had reached in the communication. Alex thought fancifully that with time, he would eventually know Isabella so well that by watching her read a letter, he would know what the contents were without ever reading it himself, or at least he hoped that might be the case. Just yesterday she had confided to him that they were soon to be a family, and by watching her radiant face, he had felt as if he had known this information instinctively the moment she sat beside him on their bed and gently rested her head on his shoulder. All of his hopes and dreams were encased in the beautiful creature that sat before him, and as he watched the tender movement of her hand reaching across the table to rest on his own, never before had he felt so sure of success in his life.
Finis
