An Acceptable Marriage (BOOK 5)

Chapter 2

"When did the future switch from being a promise to being a threat?"

― Chuck Palahniuk, Invisible Monsters

"There he is, look!" Alice called out excitedly. Arabella turned to see where her sister was waving to. "Oliver!" Alice called. Their brother's head turned in their direction, his handsome face lighting up when he saw his sisters.

"Alice, Bella!" He made his way over to them, a large carpet bag in one hand and his hat in the other.

"Oliver, it's good to see you," Alice smiled as Oliver dropped his bag and hugged her.

"I've missed you two," he said, pulling back and embracing Arabella who had to stand on her toes to hug him properly. He kissed her forehead and looked down at her, beaming. "Bella's all grown up, when did this happen?"

"I've been grown up for a while now, brother," Arabella laughed.

"It's good to see you Oliver," Nathaniel, Alice's husband spoke.

"Nathaniel, how have you been?"

"Very well thank you. Yourself?"

"Not too bad at all, Europe does wonders for you, but come, I shall tell you more about it when we are all together."

"But your bags? Surely you have more than that with you," Alice said, indicating the bag that lay at their brother's face.

"I left most of my things in my rooms in Florence. I have enough clothes here and at Bingham to get by," Oliver replied, picking the bag up.

"I thought you were staying here now," Alice replied, her pretty face wrinkling with  concern.

"Oh no, I'm here for three weeks and then I return to Italy." He replied nonchalantly, leading their small party towards the waiting coach.

Arabella and Alice glanced at each other as they followed their brother out of the station. The rest of the family had been under the impression that Oliver would be coming home for good and the two young women were uncertain as to how the rest of the family would take it.

"I heard about Lilly's book," Oliver said once they were settled in the coach. "I haven't had a chance to look at it yet but it looks smashing and I am sorry I missed the party yesterday."

"Oliver," Alice said uneasily, "how much longer are you intending to stay in Italy for?"

"Hmm?"

"Well, it's just that we all thought you would be returning home for good."

"Oh? Well I don't know, I really enjoy being on the continent so I suppose I'll just have to see."

"Have you met someone there?" Asked Arabella, noting her brother's uneasy expression.

"I've met lots of people," he replied.

"No, you know what I mean. Have you met a girl there? One that has struck your fancy."

"Not really," but his usual bluster had vanished.

"Oliver," Alice's voice was tinged with warning, "you have met someone. Who?"

"It's nothing," but now they could all see he was lying.

"Come on Oliver, you can't keep it a secret, not with this family." Arabella urged, leaning forward in her seat.

"You mustn't tell Richard or Isabella, not yet," Oliver cautioned. His sisters nodded eagerly and even Nathaniel looked interested. "I met a girl in Florence and well, she isn't high born or rich but I am fond of her."