There was then a knock on the door, and the butler, Dooley, or so she was told, cleared this throat, and said, "There's a del'very lad requestin' Lady Douro's presence."
Lexa raised her eyebrows just as Edward glanced at her with a wondering look. Lexa shrugged as if to say she wasn't sure either, but stood up, and walked towards the door. Edward followed in her stead, and Dooley led them to the drawing room where a boy, a redhead freckle-faced bonny child no less than eleven years. He looked at Lexa and Edward who entered, and said, scrunching up his nose with his finger, "A' ye Lady Dooro?"
Lexa nodded, and said, "I am indeed her. What's your name?"
"Bat," The boy produced a brown packaged from behind him, and handed it to her, "Doc'or Jenkins ask I to bring this to ye, Lady Dooro."
Lexa's eyes brightened brilliantly, and said, "Tell Dr. Jenkins that I thank him for sending the new pair of spectacles over to me. But I must ask: how did he know that I was in the Duke of Wellington's residence?"
"Yer wedding. Tis was on the scandal sheets," said Bat, "And me 'eard from the streets." Lexa smiled, kindly at Bat, and said, as she produced a few shillings from her dress pocket. Bat raised his hands and she handed it to him. he gave her a check smile and then was ushered out of the room by Dooley.
Lexa blew her breath, and opened the brown package to find a new burgundy leather case with the inscription JENKINS EYE-EXAMINER which she couldn't read and was blurry. she opened the case and took out the newly minted spectacles. she closed the case, and Edward asked, "When have you been wearing glasses."
"Since I can't read a word out of a book without them," said Lexa as she placed them on. she then lifted the case and the words of the inscription became clear.
"When did you start wearing them?" Edward asked, as he took her other hand in his. The touch of his hand sent a shock through Lexa and Edward was unaware of that fact. She felt herself blush, and said, throat clearing, as they made their way back into the library and Lexa answered as he released her. his withdrawal made her a bit disappointed. they went to sit back on the sofa, when Lexa cleared her throat and told him.
"I was thirteen," said Lexa, "Mother and Father brought us to church one Sunday, and we were reading from Matthew. I couldn't see the words well so i made up some of it. It was embarrassing, really. Father ha sent Dr. Jenkins as he wondered if my sight was becoming poor. Dr. Jenkins assured him that I merely needed reading spectacles. So...that's how I got it."
Edward looked at her and slowly smiled, the curve of his lips caused butterflies in her stomach.
Clearing her throat, Lexa asked, "Where's your father?"
"In Hampshire managing the estate," replied Edward, "He has been busy ever since we returned from America."
"And I haven't...." Lexa trailed deep in thought. "Why wasn't he at the wedding?"
Edward gave her an apologetic look and said,"I wrote to him, but matters at Straferid Saye is in need of management."
"Your Hampshire estate?" Lexa asked.
He nodded.
She scowled. "For someone who arranges his son's betrothal, he sure doesn't come to the wedding. While my parents saw me off."
Edward shrugged, "He is the duke," he said, "Once I succeed him, I will take over his duties."
"I haven't had a chance to speak to him. He and your mother."
Edward snapped and asked, "What of my mother?"
Lexa could feel the tension in his voice. She looked at him warily, and said, worried that she may have displeased him, "It's just...that I haven't met her yet."
Edward pursed his lips and said flatly, "She's dead."
Lexa gasped,"Oh. I'm so sorry. It must have been terrible."
Still tense, Edward replied. "It's okay. It's been years."
"Has it really?" Lexa asked, for she was curious.
Edward had no idea how the conversation changed to his mother. And he didn't want to talk about her. Lying to Lexa had been bad enough. She looked at him sympathetic as if he world had ended with his mother's "death". Edward had to laugh. If only she knew...he thought.
"I saw her portrait," said Lexa now, as he refocused on her. "She quite beautiful. And so young."
"So are you," he said.
"I'm not that young. Merely one and twenty."
"Twenty-one years is young," said Edward.
Lexa hummed thoughtfully, and said, "She looked nineteen."
"She was nineteen," Edward said, "She had me the following year."
Lexa looked at him. "So fast? Had she not thought of getting to know your father first? Establish a relationship first? Mother said that an establishment between husband and wife is what leads to an successful marriage."
"Is that so?" Edward asked.
Before Lexa could say anything, Dooley reappeared and said, clearing his throat, and said, "I poloize, m'lord. 'here is a caller for Lady Dooro?"
"Who is it?" Lexa asked Dooley.
"A Miss Abernathy," replied Dooley.
Edward watched his wife rise gracefully and said to Dooley. "Where is Miss Abernathy?"
"I placed 'er in the drawin' room, m'lady," said Dooley.
Lexa nodded and said, "Tell Miss Abernathy that I will her in a moment."
Dooley nodded and then disappeared. When he left, Lexa turned to Edward, and said, "I can't believe Phoebe here."
"Do you know Miss Abernathy?" Edward asked.
"I'm acquainted with many people from the United States," said Lexa. She paused and said; "Phoebe told me that she saw you at your aunt's home."
Edward nodded and stood up, walking beside her, he said, "Let us see to Miss Abernathy."
Lexa smiled, and she smiled as she wrapped her hand around his arm. Her touch ignited butterflies within his stomach. Lexa was unaware as they left the library to the drawing room.
Miss Abernathy rose when they arrived in the drawing room. She was wearing a light-blue two-piece dress. She stood up her hands clutched to her purse. Her eyes, dark hazel shone bright, and she said, "Lord Douro, Lady Douro, I pray I haven't disturbed you."
"Of course not," said Edward, "It is a pleasure to see you."
Miss Abernathy nodded, and then said to Lexa. "It's good to see you, Alex."
Lexa smiled at her and said, "Hello, Phoebe. What brings you here?"
"I just wanted to give you something before I head off to the hotel," Miss Abernathy told her. She pulled out her present from behind her and handed it to her. Lexa curiously took it from Phoebe and unwrapped in front of her.
It was a book locket, adorned with gold and blue enamel. She opened it to see an empty space where portraits where placed. Closing it, Lexa smiled and said, "Thank you, Phoebe."
Phoebe blushed, and her dark hazel eyes sparkled.
Strange, Lexa thought, she really does look like Edward.
Her thoughts were troubled. Standing with Edward and Phoebe, she couldn't just deny the resemblance between the two.
It made Lexa determined yo uncover this mystery. She had a feeling that there was some blood relation between the two. Like Shakespeare said, the truth will out.
***
When Phoebe departed, silence befell them. Lexa looked at her husband and said, "That was sweet of her."
Edward eyed her present and said, "I remember her from Boston."
"She looks a lot like you," commented Lexa.
"She does," Edward mused, "But what of it? It's not as if we are related."
Lexa bit her tongue for what she really wanted to tell him was: But I think she is. But how could she say that? There was no proof whatsoever.
Turning to Edward, Lexa asked, "What do we do know?"
Edward looked down on her and said, "We're going Scotland, dear. It's time you and I spend our honeymoon."
Lexa felt her face flush. Her honeymoon. Oh god.
Her heart fluttered at his smile.