Chapter 10

Dinner Is Served

Alexander sat at the table in stony silence as his sister and Rose chatted and laughed. He felt something stir inside of him as he watched them, and tried to puzzle it out.

"Why are you glowering, Brother mine?" Olivia pointed her spoon at him.

"I am not glowering." Alexander was fairly certain he hadn't been glowering. "I am thinking."

"Then perhaps you should think less aggravating thoughts." Olivia laughed. "Or you could share your thoughts with us."

"I was simply glad that you and the Duchess seem to have developed such an affection for each other." Alexander felt the same, unfamiliar twinge in his chest and frowned. "Will you be visiting us long? Mother did not let me know of your travel plans, or I would have accompanied you."

Olivia rolled her eyes at him. "My dearest Alexander, Mother told you last month that I would be visiting on the eighth. And that she had arranged for me to travel post from Glassley. I had a maid with me. I was quite safe, I assure you."

"It is not the eighth already, is it?" Alexander frowned.

It is not like me to lose track of dates.

Olivia gave him a pitying look and then turned to Rose. "I must apologize for my brother, he is not usually so slow-minded."

Rose smiled but did not look at Alexander. "No apology needed."

"How was Glassley?" Alexander asked, hoping to change the subject before an awkward silence could fill the room.

"It was lovely. The Dowager Duchess decided to host a ball, and I danced all night."

Out of the corner of his eye, Alexander noticed Rose stiffen. "The Dowager Duchess loves an excuse for such things."

"They do." Olivia lapsed into silence, before adding, "You know, I think this has been the most talkative I have seen you all evening."

Alexander frowned at her. "What do you mean?"

"Well, before that exchange, I had scarcely heard a word from you." Olivia turned to Rose. "He has been most silent, hasn't he?"

Rose glanced at him and nodded. "Is he usually more talkative?"

"Oh, yes, it is almost impossible to get him to be quiet." Olivia laughed. "To have him sit in complete silence is quite unnerving. Honestly, it is like trying to talk to a stone."

"That is untrue. I have spoken before now." Alexander kept his voice level, feeling anger and embarrassment rising within him. Attempting to keep his voice light and humorous, he pointed out, "I said ‘I hope the food is to your liking' as we took our seats at the table. That is not silence. In fact, it is eight words."

After a moment of silence, Olivia laughed. "If we were not in polite company, I would have thrown my napkin at you." She waved the item threateningly.

"Yet, I know you would not do such a thing, because that would be deeply childish and not befitting of your station." Alexander prepared to take a bite of his food, but a moment later, something soft hit the side of his head.

His sister's napkin slid down his face and came to rest on his shoulder. He reached towards it, intending to fold it into a hat and wear it on his head, but, at the last moment, he remembered that Rose was in the room.

She will think me a fool, and I have no wish to add to her bad opinion of me.

Instead, he placed the napkin on the table and met his sister's insolent stare. "I am sure my dear wife does not wish to be subjected to such childishness at the table."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Do not pretend you are above such things. The last time you were at the castle, I am quite certain you threw a pea at Peter."

"I am certain I did no such thing. You must be mistaken." Alexander gave her a meaningful look that said, Do not embarrass me.

Olivia ignored the look. "I am quite sure I saw you fling a pea at our younger brother. In fact, I distinctly remember it."

"You are mistaken." Alexander took a sip of his wine before adding with a straight face, "It was a piece of broccoli. A pea does not have a sufficient weight to cover the distance between us effectively."

Olivia let out a delighted laugh.

Rose, who had made the mistake of sipping on her wine, choked and spluttered. Alexander made to reach for her, but she was already waving her hand dismissively.

"I am fine. Really. Do not worry." Her voice was hoarse. "It was my fault."

"I blame Alexander." Olivia grinned at her brother. "Do you not know it is dangerous to make someone laugh while they're drinking?"

"My apologies." Alexander inclined his head towards Rose. "Perhaps it would be better if I?—"

"If you try and escape to your study, I shall tell Mother of your frightfully bad manners and bring the whole family here to teach you a lesson." Olivia nodded, before turning to Rose. "You need only write to me, and I shall bring them all with me, and we shall knock some sense into him."

Rose laughed, and Alexander found that he quite enjoyed the sound. It surprised him. Perhaps it was the novelty of it.

A fresh wave of guilt crept through him.

She would not be so at ease if it weren't for Olivia. Do not think she will laugh like this again.

"Perhaps you might like to visit Emberly Castle?" Olivia's eyes were wide and hopeful. "Oh, I am sure you would love it."

"Oh, I don't know…" Rose twisted her napkin and continued to look down at her plate.

"If you would like to go, you should. We can make the arrangements." Alexander tried to make his voice soft, but it came out cold and unfeeling.

"Actually, I think you should both stay with us." Olivia smiled. "The twins are desperate to see you, and I'm sure that everyone would love to get to know their Aunty Rose better."

There was silence as Alexander studied Rose's face. In truth, he had missed his family and wanted to see them. Yet, he did not want to force her into something that would make her uncomfortable.

"Would you like to visit Emberly Castle?" he asked.

Rose lifted her head, meeting his eyes with her hopeful ones. "I should very much like to visit and to get to know your family."

Something inside his chest twisted, and he found himself nodding. "Very well. We shall make the arrangements, and we shall spend some time at the castle."

Olivia let out a delighted squeal and immediately began telling Rose of the things they could do. Alexander smiled, though a peculiar emptiness seemed to spread across his chest.

He had not spent more than a few days at a time at the castle, not since his father's death. Nor had the castle been visited by anyone other than his family in years.

Am I ready to share this with a stranger?

Alexander glanced at Rose, noticing how she seemed to come alive while talking to his sister. He was so used to people treating him with disdain and treating his family with scorn that he had not stopped to consider that Rose would not do the same.

Perhaps I have misjudged her.

He thought about the tall turrets of Emberly Castle. He remembered many days spent there, and the joy of spending time with his younger siblings. Though, none had met many people outside of their family, and Olivia's display tonight reminded him how unruly they could all be.

Yet, he was unable to shake the feeling that he wanted Rose to see his old home. More than that, he found that he wanted her to like it.

The thought surprised him.

I do not usually care what people think of the castle.

The thought of Rose disliking the castle made him uneasy, but he knew that he would not be able to keep her from it now. He had already agreed, and Olivia would never let him renege on it.

I cannot let myself relax around her. There is nothing to be gained from closeness. She will only despise me in the end.

Sighing, Alexander found himself thinking of all the ways he could avoid seeing his wife once he was in his childhood home. His sister might be determined to have them spend time together, but she knew little of the world.

She was too blinded by her love for him to see his flaws. He knew them, though. And he was determined to keep away from Rose, no matter what it took.