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Was her ? The tiny curvature of the lips added s Alice cast her mind back to the rider Not retired or ancient, quite youthful, for a colonel “He looked a fineof him”

Her mother relaxed her posture and it pleased Alice, the bad air between theun to clear “You do know hione in your memories Ed deceased The colonel has visited here, but not instart”

Alice now understood why he had a familiarity about him For the first time since her mother had entered the room, curiosity about the mysterious colonel over took despair at her predicament “Is he a kind man?”

“As an officer he will be strict, of that you can be assured, but yes, he is a decent, kindfor you, do you not remember?”

“No,” Alice peered about the rooiven her?

“It is in the old nursery The doll’s house He fashioned it for you, hier”

Alice pictured the rather makeshift toy in her old nursery She hadn’t the heart to throw it away, believing it should be given to her own children A fortuitous preiven that she was about to marry the man who made it “What happens next?”

“You will tidy your face and hair, put on your prettiest dress and meet your betrothed”

Half an hour later, Alice took tentative steps downstairs to the drawing rooone fronation She dried her eyes with a face cloth No allant soldier in his uniform Was that not her dream?

Opening the door, she immediately dropped into a curtsey before her parents and the scarlet uniforer hidden under a cocked hat, he could be seen clearly in the light A fine set of rey eyes, faintly chestnut hair swept forward about the temples and square shoulders exemplified by his epaulets Brass buttons shone, as did his black boots One hand clasped behind his back, the other holding his cocked hat His regalia coh Alice gulped, def

initely not old in years, but a deance and vitality

“Miss Aubrey, Alice,” He bowed his head Throughout his salute, his eyes rerow to like his pale eyes His voice, too; a soft, deep tone, which htly

“Sir,” responded Alice, unable to articulate anything further The colonel hypnotised her with his unwavering expression He didn’t leer or ogle, soreeted her compared to most men she met Did he like what he saw in her? She had been so foolish the previous night with the young officers who had flattered her with false enthusiasuously Would he tell her how he felt? Why he wanted to marry her?

“Excellent,” said her father, clapping his hands and rubbing theue immediately lifted from his face “There is much to discuss Please be seated, Ned”

Alice noted the informal nickname, a courtesy that didn’t extend to her, his bride to be She had yet to earn it, she assumed