Subj: That Way Madness Lies chapter 3
Date: 5/13/01 7:36:12 PM Central Daylight Time
From: Melissa
"I hope you don't mind me asking," Catherine began, "I just thought it would be nice if we knew a little about your family."
"I don't mind," Diana said. "I am the only child of Geoffrey and Wilamina Westenria. My father was a general in the army, he retired ten years ago, my mother died five years ago. I was staying with Lady Montgomery, who is an old friend of my mother."
"Goodness, I met your mother when Bramwell I and went to England after our marriage, she was very lovely," Catherine said.
"Thank you. It's funny that you would have met," Diana said.
"Yes it is. You resemble her very much," Catherine said.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Would you like to go for a walk," Edmund asked Diana after dinner. The family was all sitting in the drawing room.
"Yes that would be very nice," she said getting up, "Let me get a shawl."
"Edmund," Nathaniel said coming to his brother by the front door, "I got to talk to you about something very important."
Diana was coming down the stairs before Edmund could ask him what was wrong.
"We'll talk when I get back," he whispered to Nathaniel.
"Come to my room at midnight then," Nathaniel said and walked away.
"I'm ready," Diana said smiling.
* * * * * * * * * *
Edmund lay in bed listening to Diana's soft breathing. He looked over at the clock, ten minutes to twelve. He rose carefully and dressed.
He went to his brother's room and knocked quietly. Nathaniel opened the door, "Come in," he said. He was still dressed in the clothes he wore at dinner.
"What is it Nathaniel?" Edmund asked, "what was so important that I had to come here for you to tell me?"
"It's Alexander, you have to be careful. He's not happy that Father turned the companies over to you."
"I know that, what do I have to be careful about?"
"I don't know, but I just want you to keep an eye out, especially for Diana. Remember if you have an heir, Father will change his will, and it won't matter if you're the youngest son. He will turn it all over everything to you and the child."
"Only if it is a son," Edmund pointed out.
"Well of course," Nathaniel said.
"Thank you Nathaniel," Edmund said. "I'll remember what you told me."
He returned to the bedroom, and sat down beside his sleeping wife. He ran his fingers through her soft chestnut colored hair.
Would his brother really try and harm them? He thought.
He didn't want to think that about his own brother.
* * * * * * * * * *
Alexander stepped out of the carriage and walked into the hotel.
"Name sir," the man behind the counter asked.
"Colin Alexander," he said. What kind of alias was that he thought.
"Ah yes. Here is your key and a message was left for you."
Alexander went up to his room, where he read the letter.
Darling Alex,
Everything is prepared for you. Several young ladies will be coming to visit
you. They all have appointments. A Mrs. Edwards, the owners wife will call you
when the first young lady arrives. There is a room that she has prepared for
you to talk with the ladies in, do not worry, no one will ever know what this
interviews are about. Once you have selected the young lady, send her to Rastus
Mactavish. He will know what to do. The young lady will then met you for one
week, at a different hotel. I will arrange this all for you.
Speed counts dearest,
Rose
Alexander reread the letter, then put it in the fire, and watched it burn until it was nothing but ashes.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Mr. Alexander," a voice called from behind the door, waking Alexander up.
He went over and opened the door, "Yes?"
"I'm Mrs. Edwards, the first young lady is waiting for her appointment."
"Thank you, tell her I'll be down directly."
"Very well sir," Mrs. Edwards said.
Alexander grabbed his coat and put it on as he walked down the stairs, he ran his hands threw his hair before entering the room that Mrs. Edwards was waiting by.
"Thank you, that will be all."
"Yes sir," she said turning away closing the door behind her as she left.
Alexander turned into the room and saw that there was a pretty blonde sitting in a chair in the middle of the room.
Rose certainly knew his tastes. It was only then that he felt lost, and unsure of what he was supposed to do.
The girl smiled and he moved closer sitting in the only other chair available to him. He began to ask her the questions that Rose had told him to ask.
It went on like that, each of the following girls were more beautiful then the last, but he didn't feel like any of them were the one.
"The last young lady is here to see you," Mrs. Edwards said letting in the last girl. Alexander didn't look at her until she was in the seat. When he looked up he saw a beautiful dark haired girl, with extraordinary eyes. She looked back at him with curiosity.
They sat in silence for a few moments, "What is it exactly that you want," she asked.
"Well," he began, "it's not the easiest thing to discuss," he said.
"Well just start at the beginning," she said.
"I'm supposed to be conducting this interview, not you," he said.
"What kind of interview is this anyway? From what I understand you are looking for a woman to have your child. Why don't you just go to some poor woman who would be willing to give up her child for a few dollars?" she asked
"I need a wife, and for her to have my child," he said.
"And that's where I come in," the girl asked.
"I don't know you ask too many questions. What's your name?" Alexander asked.
"Maria Cappucilli," the girl replied.
"You don't sound Italian," Alexander said.
"Well I am," Maria said. "My father came from Sicily, he met my mother in Boston. They were killed four years ago."
"Why did you reply to the ad?"
"Because I have no one left," she said matter-of-factly.
"You would be willing to marry me and have my child?" he asked.
"Yes," Maria said.
Later in his room Alexander wondered why he had chosen this girl out of all the others, she was different from any other woman he had ever known. He had sent her off to the doctor that Rose had told him about, it wouldn't be long now until they would be married.
* * * * * * * * * *
"Diana won't you come with us," Daisy asked over breakfast the next morning, "we're going to town to pick out patterns and fabric for our dresses.
Diana looked over at Edmund, who smiled at her, "Go," he said, "I want my wife to be the most beautiful woman at this party, not counting my lovely mother, and my sisters of course," he said smiling at them. "Besides I am going to the office to look over some things, so I can drive along with you."
When they were alone Edmund took Diana into his arms, "If you want something, or if there's something that you want to do, you don't have to ask. I want you to have everything that you want."
"I don't want everything," she said. "I only want to be with you."
"Come to the office when you are done shopping," he said tracing her cheek with a finger, "send my sisters home."
"All right," she said.
* * * * * * * * * *
"I'm going to see Edmund," Diana said as they walked out the door of the dress shop. "You two can go on home. I'll go home with him."
"All right, we will see you later then," Olivia said.
Diana watched as their carriage drove back to Collinwood. She then turned and walked to the offices of Collins Enterprises.
"There's my beautiful wife," Edmund said when he saw her walk in, "Did you have a good time?"
"Yes, I found a dress that I think you will like very much," Diana said following him into the little room in the back.
"I cannot wait to see you in it," he said closing the door behind him. "I hate being away from you," he said.
"So do I," she murmured as he held her close to him, "what did you want me to see?" she asked.
"I almost forgot," he said, he took her hand and lead her out of the office. They got into a buggy and road off into the woods.
"I forgot to show you this place," Edmund said, as he helped her out of the buggy.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"Collinsport Woods," he said leading her down a path. They walked in silence until they came to a clearing. There she saw a boat tied to an old tree that leaned over the water.
"I was thinking that this could be our secret spot, that we could use whenever we wanted to get away from everything," he said.
"It's wonderful," Diana breathed. "It's so peaceful. I always thought that my home was the most beautiful spot on earth, but after all that I've seen here. I can't imagine ever going back."
"It's just beautiful because you are here," he said. "Shall we go for a ride?" he asked pointing to the boat.
"That would be lovely," she said. He helped her into the boat and boarded himself. He untied the rope and rowed out into the middle of the water.
"I love the sunset against the water," Diana said gazing out at the water.
Diana moved careful so that she was now facing Edmund, "I love you," she said.
He leaned forward and kissed her softly. He set the oars down, he held her in his arms as they watched the sun set.
When it was gone Edmund rowed back, and tied the boat up, and returned to the buggy and to Collinwood.