Dear coz,
How are you? I haven't heard much since you've turned one and twenty. I'm faring well. Mama has given birth to a new baby. It's a girl and we have named her Susanna Madison. She looks very much like dear old Dad, and everyone is delighted. Mama has constantly demanded that I write to you with the insistence that you come visit us. After all she wants Uncle Horace to see his newest niece. Anyhow, things aren't getting interesting here in Boston. Hope you can write back.
Yours,
Theodore
Edward paused to himself. He was in his bedchamber. The hour on his grandfather's clock struck quarter past noon and rays of the sunlight peeped its way into his room. With a fresh paper laid out, He was about to pick up his quill to ink when Collins opened the door, and said, "Lord Douro, ye have a visitor awaiting ye in the drawing roo
"Pardon?" Edward asked.
"Ye have visitor who wishes to see ye," repeated Collins, "She is most persistent in seeing ye."
"She?" Edward frowned, "Is it Lady Alexandra?
"Tis the Countess of Hereford, m'laird," replied Collins
Nodding, Edward said, "Tell Lady Hereford that I will be soon joining her."
Collins nodded, "Aye, m'laird."
When Collins left him alone in his room, Edward took a deep breath and pushed his chair back as he made his way from his desk to the door. Closing the door behind him, Edward wondered to himself what the Countess of Hereford wanted from him. Even though he was acquainted of the Earl, they weren't close as Henry was to him.
She was sitting in the drawing room when Edward spied her sipping elegantly on her tea. She was a lovely auburn hair lassie, wearing a dark blue dress. Her green eyes flashed to him and she gracefully stood, and curtsied to him.
"Lady Hereford," said Edward, "This is a pleasant surprise."
"Pleasant surprise indeed, my lord," replied Lady Hereford, as she sat down.
Edward sat in the armchair in front of her and said, "So Lady Hereford, what has brought you to see me?"
"A certain curiosity," replied Lady Hereford, "to see the man who is engaged to my best friend, Lexa."
"Your best friend Lexa?" Edward asked.
"Why Alexandra," she said, "Though I call her Lexa as a nickname."
"Lexa," said Edward smiling, "It suits her."
Lady Hereford smiled wickedly, "You fancy her, don't you?"
"Have you come here to only interrogate me on behalf of Alexandra?"
"Lexa," she corrected. Then she said, "Of course I would. She did the same for me. So I wanted to see you and now I know the truth."
"The truth?"
"You'll make her happy."
"My lady," said Edward smiling, "I am utterly flattered that you compliment me."
"I think we'll get on just fine as friends so we must go pass all formalities and just call me Caroline."
"Caroline," said Edward, "Alexandra was quite right about you. We'll be fine friends, and therefore, you must call me Edward."
"Edward," said Caroline, "why do address Lexa as Alexandra? You sound like her mother."
"Wouldn't her mother be calling her by her full name?"
"Only when in anger," laughed Caroline, "once when we were younger Lexa and I accidently let loose baby toads to her mother's luncheon. Lady Pembroke was furious and shouted 'Alexandra Marguerite Rose!' "
"Rose," said Edward, "She has the name Rose."
"You must know about her fondness for roses," Caroline said.
"Yes, though I find it interesting that she actually has the name Rose."
"It's because her birth flower is the rose," replied Caroline.
"She's born June?"
"End of June," replied Caroline, "And the stars in her favor point towards the Cancer sign."
"Into astronomy aren't you?"
"Oh no, just the cards," said Caroline. She paused and said, "When were you born?"
"End of November," said Edward.
"November twenty-eighth?" she asked
"The thirtieth actually," Edward replied.
"Then for you the stars fall on Sagittarius," said Caroline, "and that the stars are really in your favor."
"Are they now?" Edward said, a humorous glint in his eyes.
"Yes indeed," said Caroline. She stood up and said, "Well I best be off. Lexa is leaving today for Denmark."
Lexa glanced up at the steamship at the harbour. She had accompanied her father, mother, and sister to Gravesend in Kent to catch the HMY Victoria and Albert steamship that was to take them to Copenhagen. Lucien had stayed behind to manage Wilton House in his father's stead. It took two days travel from her home to Gravesend.
Lexa was deep in thought that she did not hear someone calling her.
"Lexa! Lexa!"
"Huh?" Lexa turned to see Caroline waving at her with Edward at her heel.
"Caro," said Lexa as Caroline came to hug her.
Stepping back, Caroline frowned and said, "You little minx. You were planning on leaving with saying goodbye?"
"Sorry," Lexa said, "But did it make you desperate that you had to drag poor Edward here?"
"Of course," replied Caroline. She turned to Edward and said, "You didn't mind did you?"
"Not at all," said Edward.
"You here to see me as well?" Lexa asked sweetly, bashing her lashes at him.
"I indeed wish to see you off."
"Don't get too bored," said Lexa teasingly
"I won't," said Edward, "In fact, I'm heading to America."
"Really?" said both Caroline and Lexa.
Edward nodded, "My father insists that I say hello my aunt Hestia."
"Hestia?" Lexa asked, astonished, "As in Hestia Young?"
"Yes..." Edward said, "Do you know my aunt?"
"Why yes! She is good friends with my aunt, Lady Althea Croft. As my aunt was my guardian while I was attending Bentley University, I saw Mrs. Young often."
"That is very interesting," said Edward, "I never knew."
"I never knew you her nephew until you mentioned it."
Caroline chuckled and said, "Have you two gotten engaged yet? I'm bored beyond my mind and want to plan a wedding."
Both of them turned to stare at her, and Caroline shrugged, "What?" she exclaimed noticing that they were glaring at her, while blushing furiously.
"Must you say that?" Lexa asked.
"Oh Gosh Lexa don't be so embarrassed. You did the same thing to me with Richard."
"So you're out for revenge?"
"If not so sweet," replied Caroline. She smiled and said, "I'll go to say goodbye to your parents."
"Do so," said Lexa.
Caroline winked at her, and as she picked up her shirts, the red vixen was gone. Lexa breathed a sigh, and looked to see Edward quietly studying her.
"You were right about her," he said, "Caroline is interesting."
"Caroline? Have you two become friends?"
"Her insistence," Edward said, "She said that we should be pass all formalities. She even insisted that I call you Lexa."
"Everyone calls me Lexa. Or Lexie but hardly ever Alexandra."
"Caroline said I sound like your mother when I call you Alexandra."
Lexa smiled, "But I like it when you call me Alexandra. You make it sound beautiful."
"That's because you are beautiful," he said.
She flushed, and he smiled at that, and moved slowly towards her, "Very beautiful," he said, taking his hand to stroke her cheek with his big and calloused hand.
Lexa felt her breath hold for a moment, and flashed her lashes up him.
Kiss me, her mind screamed at him, as he came closer, his hot breath tickling her cheek, and as if he read her mind, he leaned down and captured his mouth with hers.
It was that moment that made everything around to stop. Her beating heart was the only thing she could hear, and it was pounding wildly. Edward lifted his hand from her cheek and wrapped it around her waist. She took her hands and grabbed at his shirt
Soon it was all over, and they broke apart. Lexa flushed, and panting looked at him. Edward looked dazed as if he could not believe what he had just done. "Uh..." he began, completely flushed. Lexa was smiling at him, brushing her lips with her thin fingers, "You were bewitched to kiss me weren't you?"
Edward looked at her dubiously and said, "Bewitched? Are we quoting Austen?"
"No man ever kissed me like that," Lexa said, "and I have wanted to kissed by you."
Edward flushed and said, "You do?"
"I won't say that," Lexa said.
Suddenly Lexa hear her name and turned, "I must leave now. Mother is getting rather impatient.
She started to walk past him, but Edward caught her hand and said, "Wait. I wish to do something first."
"What are you-," she began but stopped as Edward slid on one knee and taking a black box from his trouser, opened it. Lexa gasped. It was a sliver diamond ring cushioned in.
"Alexandra Marguerite Rose Herbert. Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife? Lexa, will you marry me?"
Tears started to swell up in her eyes and as Lexa glanced down at Edward she wondered to herself, could she spend the rest of her life with his man. As she gazed to his dark hazel eyes Lexa felt as if Edward could answer that, that her life was gong to be joyful and eventually a loving marriage.
She looked at Edward and said, "I would be honoured to be your wife. Ja, jeg vil gifte mig med dig."
Edward looked at her confusedly and asked, "What did you say in Danish?"
" I said, 'Yes, I will marry you.'" She replied.
Edward got to his feet, and took her left hand and slid the ring on her fourth finger. Lexa looked at her ring, and he said, "It fits well."
"I'm engaged now," she said.
"Yes you are," Edward replied
"About time too," she said.
Edward chuckled
Then Amara came over and said rather in a frustrated voice, "Lexa, we have to leave. Mama and Papa are waiting for you."
Turning to her youngest sister, and said, "Oh alright. Let's go."
Amara turned around and walked backed to the steamship. Lexa looked at Edward and said, "I best be off now.
"Have a safe journey, Lexa."
Lexa nodded, "You as well."
She then stretched on his toes and kissed him softly on the cheek. Edward blinked surprised not to be expecting that, and then she was gone.
Edward watched Lexa climb the steamship, and as the ship started to move towards the waters, Edward started to move his legs and walk past the crowd towards Caroline's carriage where waiting for him was Caroline.
"Did you propose to her?" was the first thing Caroline demanded when Edward got inside the carriage. He looked at her as she followed in, seating herself across him.
"Shouldn't you be home with Hereford?" Edward asked instead.
Caroline waved her hand in dismissal and said, "Rick's busy these days with Parliament. The bill is to be passed soon." She looked at and said, wickedly,"Have you proposed to her?"
Edward looked at her wicked smile, and said, "Yes. We are engaged."
Caroline squealed with delight and clamped her hands together, "About time," she said, "When Lexa returns to England I'm gone to declare myself as maid of honour!"
"Slow down, Caroline," said Edward, "the wedding's not even planned yet."
"Humph," Caroline said, "A wedding is a wedding and soon Lexa will be Alexandra Wellesley, Marchioness of Douro."
"Alexandra Wellesley," he said, "Marchioness of Douro. I like it."
In fact, as far as Edward could recall there has not been a Marchioness of Douro since his parents' divorce. There had been the Duchess of Wellington, a title his grandmother Victoria once held but his mother never got the chance to become Duchess as his parents' divorce had occurred prior to his grandfather's death, and soon...Lexa would not only become the Marchioness of Douro but the Duchess of Wellington as well.
Crawforde's carriage stopped at Drumbroke Manor and Edward got himself out and waved goodbye to Caroline as the carriage rolled away. When he entered the house, he went to find his father pale-stricken and angry sitting on his chair.
This surprised Edward as his father hardly ever got mad, unless...
Edward turned to see a blonde-haired woman sitting on the armchair, rise. Those cold blue eyes flashed at him and her Cupid's bow lips stretched into a cold smile.
"Edward," she breathed, "It's has been too long since I last saw you."
"M-Mother?" Edward choked in shock
"You've grown quite handsomely," she said, smoothly, "You look like that bastard father of yours."
"I'm right here, Charlotte," his father said, his teeth gritted.
"My apologies, Your Grace," said Charlotte.
"What do you want?" Edward asked, his eyes narrow and cold.
Charlotte raised her hand and said. "Come home with me, sweetling. Come to Wales, fy un bach."
Edward flinched at her sweet tone, and said, "No."
"No?" Charlotte asked, feiging innocence, "Why ever not?"
"Because London is my home," Edward replied flatly, "Wales is home no longer."
"You deny your Welsh blood, my son?" Charlotte asked
"I deny nothing. I simply said that Wales is not my home. Two very different things."
Charlotte looked at him, and said, taking a handkerchief from her dress pocket and wiped the corner of her eyes, "What has your father done to you, Edward? You no longer the babe I remember."
"It has been nearly fourteen years since I remembered you."
"And you wish to stay with your father?" she demanded.
"Why yes," Edward replied, and at that moment Horace rose from his seat and walked towards the two of them, "Mrs. Abernathy."
"You mean Charlotte, Marchioness of Douro," his mother said pridefully.
"No," snapped Horace, "You lost being Marchioness of Douro the minute we got divorced and you remarried that bastard Abernathy.
"We could always get remarried," Charlotte said, "Be a family again. I could give you another child."
"I think not," said Horace, "Edward is enough."
"Pity," said Charlotte, "If your father had died before we married you would have become Duke a lot sooner."
"Well I am Duke now," said Horace, "and it's a shame you will never be Duchess."
"I gave you an heir!" Charlotte shouted.
"You gave me a son," Horace countered, "and you did your duty quite well in the bed thank you very much." Charlotte flushed furiously, and he gestured towards the door, " Now I will escort you out of this house."
"I will not leave without my son!" she hissed at him, "I have not forgiven you for taking him away from me all those year ago.
"By law," said Horace smoothly, "He was to be under my custody. I am his father after all."
"Well I want him back, Horace," Charlotte said, "You deprived him from his mother.
"Are you going to force him to go with you?" Horace countered, "As I recall, Edward is no longer a babe but a man of choices."
"Edward,cariad," Charlotte said turning to him, "say you wish to go with me. Mummy misses you."
Edward looked at his mother and then at his father. He crossed his arms and said, his eyes cold, "I told you once, Mother. London is my home. It always has and always will be."
Charlotte looked at him, and said, "I should have known what kind of person you've become. A cold-hearted bastard like your father."
"Why thank you, Mother," Edward said coolly, "I am utterly flattered that you compliment me."
Taking a deep breath, Edward watched as his father escorted his mother from the house. Sighing Edward went to his father's chair and fell on it.
Horace Wellesley glared at his former wife, as she walked beside him. In all these years...her selfishness had not changed. She was still beautiful just as his father presented her to him on his eighteenth birthday. His blue-eyed angel mesmerized him to the point of falling in love. Horace shook his head, her beauty and innocence was nothing but deceiving, as following Edward's birth she had proved to be not only selfish, but also unfaithful and cruel.
"I have heard of Edward's engagement," she said, "I would love to meet Lady Alexandra if you introduce me to her."
"That is Edward's choice, Charlotte," Horace sneered, "And I'm most certain that he does not wish to introduce his whore of a mother to his fiancée."
Charlotte turned on him and slapped him hard across the cheek, "I liked you better when you were a helpless lovesick fool."
"And I liked you better when you not revealed to be a whore who enjoyed being fucked with."
Charlotte slapped him again, "I had wished so many times that Edward was not your son."
"Unfortunate for you, Mrs. Abernathy," said Horace, "But I have every proof that he is."
And with that the iron gates of the manor shut closed in front of Charlotte Abernathy. Horace turned on his heel, and marched his way back into the manor.
Edward was reading Milton's Paradise Lost when his father Horace entered and fell on his chair and sighed, rubbing his temples, "Damn that woman to hell," he muttered bitterly. He uncorked a bottle of Scotch and poured himself a cup and drank it.
Father?" Edward asked, come over to where his father was sitting, "are you well."
"I'm fine," Horace said, waving Edward's concern off, setting the cup down.
"How did Mother come?"
"Barging in as usual," Horace scowled, "I think I'm going to released that dastard Dooley from service."
"Did Dooley allow her to enter?"
"Of course," Horace said, bitterly, "Never trust an old fool as he."
Edward smiled at him, and said, "Well, since you are in a terribly sour mood. I have news for you."
Horace looked tired and uninterested, "Edward, I don't-,"
"I proposed to Alexandra and now we're engaged," Edward finished off.
Horace turned to Edward and smiled, "that is good."
"I knew that was going to cheer you up."
"Is Lady Alexandra here?"
Edward shook his head, "She left for Denmark."
"Well you mustn't worry about that because you and I are going to America."
"Where you intending to run away from Mother?"
"No," his father said, rubbing his cheek, "I intend to go to America so she wouldn't irritate me to death."
Edward looked at his father's cheek, his eyes widened and he said, "Did she slap you?"
Twice," Horace muttered.
"You really do hate her," he mused.
There was silence for a moment, and Horace took a breath and said, "I don't hate her. She's your mother. You can't, in a sense, hate your mother."
"But I do," Edward said, "I hate her."
"I pity her," Horace said, "Your mother had a terrible upbringing. Her mother died at a young age which left her with her ambitious and money-loving father."
"Are you trying to make me sympathetic towards her?"
"Of course not," Horace snorted, "If your mother wasn't conceit and selfish maybe you would but she hasn't changed her ways."
"Why did you divorce her?"
"She proved to be unfaithful. Taking countless of lovers and bring them to my house. What else was I to do? I divorce her on the spot. Cause quite a scandal 'The Marquess and Marchioness of Douro End Marriage' was the headline of the Daily Mail. Your Grandfather was furious, and then there was the custody battle for you.
"I remember that," Edward said, "Mother took me to Wales."
Horace took a deep breath, "You were only three years of age when that wench took you." He turned to glance at the window. It had begun to rain, clear strains of raindrops slithered its way down the glass. The fire in the fireplace crackled, and Edward relaxed on his chair, and continued flipping the pages of Paradise Lost.
"I sung of Chaos and of Eternal Night..."