A Most Unconventional Courtship

‘When do you expect to be back in the town, Alexandra?’ Alessa stopped wondering about the Count and focused on her aunt’s question.

‘Tomorrow evening, ma’am. I shall need two or three days to settle my affairs and pack.’

‘Well, the clothes we have ordered for you should be ready before we sail.’

‘Yes, indeed. I imagine Miss Trevick will be glad to have her property returned to her.’ Still no mention of the children. Alessa realised her aunt was avoiding any confrontation in front of witnesses. She could precipitate matters by bringing the subject up now. But no, Lady Trevick was pushing back her chair and everyone was rising to their feet in a babble of plans and conversation.

‘You and Frances will be able to attend at least two parties with us when we are back,’ Maria announced. ‘What a good thing your aunt has ordered you an evening gown.’

‘Yes, indeed.’ Alessa tried to smile and look pleased, but her mind was already whirling with plans. ‘Will you excuse me, I really must go up to my cottage and begin packing.’

The next morning Alessa let Kate drive the cart with the luggage piled in the back. Dora sat up beside her and Demetri was thrilled by permission to take the second mule. Alessa rode ahead in silence, her vision clouded with unshed tears.

It had been so much harder than she had imagined, to leave the cottage where she had lived with her father, and harder still to take leave of Agatha. The old woman might not be here when she returned, they both knew that, although neither spoke of it. Alessa gave her the papers for her cottage and had seen the priest before she left the village. He would make sure that a suitable family moved in, one who would look after their neighbour as she got frailer.

‘Don’t fuss, girl,’ Agatha had said briskly. ‘This is the best thing for the children, and you know it.’

Even so, she rode through fields of wild flowers, the little gladioli waving purple in the breeze and her mule’s feet picking their way amidst the sheets of cyclamen and orchids, until the sound of hoofbeats made her focus on the here and now and look round.

It was Chance, his grin as he exchanged greetings with Demetri turning to concern as he saw her woebegone face.

‘What is it? That old besom again?’

‘No, it is hard leaving the cottage and Agatha, that is all.’

‘It is no small thing.’He reached down from the saddle and touched her shoulder fleetingly. ‘You love the old lady. Did she want you to go?’

‘Mmm,’ Alessa mumbled, not wanting to talk in case she started crying again and upset the children. They had no idea they might have parted from their surrogate grandmother for the last time.

‘We will talk of other things.’ Chance was brisk. ‘Tell me what all these flowers are.’

‘All of them?’ She managed a watery smile. ‘Have you a month?’ Even so, she began to point things out to him and as the little party made their way at the pace of the cart along the dusty track she felt her heart lift. Was Chance aware of what he was doing? Whether he knew or not, he was letting her imprint the loveliness of the island in her memory so that she would be able to conjure it up, fresh, hot and fragrant, whenever she needed it.

They stopped to eat and rest the mules at mid-day by one of the old Venetian wells that were scattered amidst the groves throughout the island. Kate, replete with bread and cheese, tipped her hat over her nose and began to snore softly in the back of the cart and the children, after rushing around playing hide and seek for ten frantic minutes, suddenly went quiet and curled up to sleep in the soft grass under an olive.

Alessa was feeling drowsy herself. Chance was sitting close by, his shoulder as tempting to rest her head on as it had been on the beach the day before. She set herself to make lists in her head instead.

‘Alessa?’He spoke softly; none of the sleepers stirred. She was conscious of butterflies in her stomach. ‘What do you think the Count is up to?’

‘Oh. I have no idea, but surely it cannot be anything too disreputable. After all, he tells me he is looking for a well-bred English wife. That argues that whatever his business, it is open to scrutiny, does it not?’

‘He told you that, too, did he? If he’s after one of the Trevick girls, he is due for a disappointment—their mama has sized him up very tidily!’

‘Well, Helena is disillusioned with him because he kissed my hand, and I did what I could to reinforce that feeling. And Maria—’ She stopped on the edge of an indiscretion.

‘Is in love with Mr Harrison. I kept my eyes open after your hint yesterday. Go to sleep, Alessa. I’ll watch out for the animals.’

To her own amazement, she did sleep, waking an hour later to find Kate packing the cart again and the ludicrous sight of Dora, Demetri and Chance, all kneeling with their noses virtually on the same spot on the ground, their sterns pointing skywa

rds.

‘What can you be doing?’ She strolled over, stretching.

‘Trapdoor spiders,’ Chance explained, straightening up. ‘Demetri has been showing me how they hunt. That boy has the makings of a scientist.’

‘Kate thinks he will become an ambassador.’ Alessa untethered her mule and swung up into the saddle before Chance could help her.

‘Good God,’he said, regarding the grubby child with awe. ‘Had she been drinking?’