Lavender Lady by Carola Dunn Page A

long search and two days of uninterrupted journeying caught up with him abruptly, and he wept.
    Alice naturally burst into tears too, and some moments later, when the baby joined in and his cries inexorably drew Alice’s attention, they found they were holding each other comfortingly.
    Scarlet with confusion, Alice bowed her head over little John as she calmed him. Equally flustered, embarrassed, and appalled at his own behaviour, and slightly dizzy with fatigue, Mr. Collingwood did the first thing that came into his head. Bending over the chair in which Alice now sat, he said softly into the shell-like perfection of her ear:
    “Miss Alice, will you marry me?”
    Alice burst into tears again.
    “Oh dear,” she wailed, “Hester will say I am always falling in love, but indeed it is different this time; I know it is!”
    Staggered by this evidence that his own astounding sentiments were reciprocated, Mr. Collingwood ventured once more to place a consoling arm around Alice’s shoulders.
    “My dear,” he soothed, “pray do not weep. I am taken quite by surprise at my own feelings, and it was very wrong in me to speak to you so abruptly. You must forgive me; I am fagged to death and cannot think clearly.”
    Alice raised brimming brown eyes, quite unreddened by her tears.
    “You must think me very inconsiderate, sir, not to have realised that. I daresay you will see everything quite differently in the morning,” she said wistfully.
    “Oh no, I would not have you think I did not mean . . . But you are an angel of compassion. You spoke unthinkingly, to comfort me. You must have time to consider, to reflect. I shall not hold you to your words, have no fear. I’d best go now, my dear Miss Alice.”
    “You will come tomorrow?”
    “I will come.” Mr. Collingwood kissed Alice’s hand reverently and took his leave.
    Below stairs he found Hester, who thought him agitated merely by the sight of Grace’s child.
    “Pray excuse me, Miss Godric,” he apologised hurriedly, “I shall retire to the inn presently. I find myself overcome by weariness.”
    “Of course, Mr. Collingwood. You will treat this house as your home, I hope. I only wish I could offer you a chamber. You will join us for luncheon tomorrow?”
    “Thank you, ma’am, I . . . That is, it is . . .”
    “You are too tired to talk.” Hester smiled in sympathy. “Geoff shall drive you to the inn at once; and we will see you tomorrow whenever it suits you. Good night, sir, and rest well.”
    Hester went upstairs and found her sister rocking the baby and gazing starry-eyed into the middle distance.
    “Oh no, Allie, do not tell me you are in love again!” she exclaimed crossly, recognising the symptoms. “Really, you only met him half an hour ago.”
    “I was never in love before,” stated Alice with calm certainty. “He is . . . you would not understand, you have never been in love.”
    “And I suppose he has already developed a passion for you,” Hester sighed. “There are times when I am positively glad I have no looks. Supper is ready; I’ve had no time to prepare a proper dinner.”
    “I could not eat. Pray go ahead without me. I shall feed little John.”
    Hester told the others that Alice was overwrought after the emotions of the evening, which surprised no one. She did not wish to hurt Mr. Fairfax by revealing that her sister had fallen in love with a gentleman with whom she was scarce acquainted. Mr. Collingwood might be an amiable and principled young man, but it was incomprehensible to her that Alice could prefer him to Mr. Fairfax.
    In the morning she underwent the expected difficult interview. Never before had it occurred so soon after the enamoured suitor had set eyes on Alice.
    “Mr. Collingwood,” she protested, “my sister is truly beautiful and has taken excellent care of your nephew, but you cannot consider that a sound basis for marriage. You do not know her at all. I must tell you that Alice has excessive sensibilities, and her