Red-handed
Chapter 1
"William Albert Ardlay!"
That voice rumbled through the walls like a thunder and spread in every corner of the most luxurious mansion in Chicago.
"What is the meaning of this?"
Those words, full of horror, tore the peace of the room and pierced the deep silence that wrapped the two bodies who were dreaming peacefully as if they were one.
Two pairs of eyes opened, totally disoriented; a pair of blue eyes and another pair of green.
Great Aunt was standing on the threshold with her hands on her hips, frowning, and with her eyes wide open at what she had just discovered. Not even a heart attack could be compared to the pressure the old lady was feeling in her chest.
Albert opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was some blond curls very close to his nose. He inhaled gently and found out that this was the scent that had brought him such a deep sleep as he had never had before. He moved a little to confirm that those curls belonged to Candy. She was by his side, or rather in his arms! But that scream which had awakened him hadn't come from her, because like him, Candy had also just opened her eyes.
Oh! That voice was very much like Aunt Elroy's voice! He was breathless.
Candy didn't understand what was happening. That voice couldn't belong to any other than Aunt Elroy. She could even swear she was in her room; but why was she looking for Albert there? She tried to move and it was at that moment that she saw the sky itself in front of her nose...but it was not the sky. It was a pair of eyes she had never seen so close before, a pair of eyes looking at her as astonished as she was...Was it Albert? Albert was beside her! Oh, God! That's why Great Aunt was screaming...
Completely stunned, they tried to move away from each other; they were definitely too close. When they finally managed to sit up, one on each side of the bed, they tried in vain to think of a good excuse to give to Elroy Ardlay, who was looking at them with intermingled reproach, indignation and wrath.
Candy tried to cover herself, full of embarrassment at having been found in such a painful situation. Her face was all red.
Although she was in pajamas, she felt naked before the fiery look Great Aunt Elroy threw at her.
Albert stumbled out of bed, trying in vain to hide his disturbance. He was still wearing the suit he had worn the previous day; the only things missing were his tie, jacket and shoes which were on the chair next to Candy's bed.
"Aunt, it's not what it seems to be. It's only a misunderstanding."
It was odd to hear the president of the Ardlay enterprises say these words with his cheeks blushing.
Great Aunt raised an eyebrow and closed the door behind her with a thud that only confirmed her anger.
What did her nephew think of her? That she was blind? That she was a fool?
He was very much mistaken if he thought he could get away with this. Over her dead body. She was not going to allow such disrespect in her house; well, it was her nephew's house, but she wouldn't allow it just the same.
She quickly glared at him; at least he was dressed. His Italian suit was totally damaged, but he had his pants on and the closure was in its place. She turned her gaze to Candy who was more disheveled than usual, although she could see with relief that she was in pajamas. But she wouldn't let appearances deceive her. What she had discovered was simply unheard-of. Two young people, not related by blood, sleeping together in the same bed was scandalous and much more so when they were not married, even if they were dressed; that was inconceivable...
"Great Aunt...I'm sorry...We didn't do anything bad," said Candy almost in a whisper, unable to conceal her embarrassment.
"Silence! Inconsiderate girl! We have given you a home, a name, a family...and that's how you pay us back."
Great Aunt's eyes were full of hatred.
"Going to bed with William!" she snapped, pointing at her nephew who had just put on his shoes.
"Aunt, I won't allow you to talk to Candy like that."
Albert's blue eyes inflamed at his aunt's harsh words as he was getting ready to face her.
He was not going to let Candy's reputation be tarnished because of a misunderstanding. However, if he thought better about it...what he had done was not at all right. Any sane person would think the worst if they found them there. But that was something only the two of them could understand. Their friendship had deepened to an unsuspected limit that sometimes touched other feelings. But they would never cross the line. They hadn't even thought about it.
"Don't you dare raise your voice to me, William," snapped the old lady, turning her eyes to her nephew.
He was very tall, but she wouldn't let his height intimidate her.
"Then stop making false assumptions and let me explain," he said, modulating his voice in order to appear calm.
"What are you going to explain? Everything is crystal clear. I had already been told. That's why I decided to return very early from Lakewood and ascertain with my own eyes."
"Ascertain what?"
Albert clenched his fists.
"That you and Candice had been sleeping together since a few days ago."
"Who told you that?"
His eyes turned like ice at such a statement.
"The servitude knows more than you think, William," she said airily.
Great Aunt's words had fallen on both of them like a bucket of cold water. They thought nobody knew about "their nights" together. Of course the malicious minds had distorted what actually happened between them.
William thought seriously about changing all the servants.
Candy, who had stopped by the window, had to hold on to the curtains so as not to fall on her back in front of such an accusation. She couldn't conceive that someone would misinterpret things. Maybe if they waited for Great Aunt to calm down and explained everything to her calmly, she would understand...or maybe she would not...
Since Albert had assumed the management of business, his life had been complicated and he came home very late. Candy and he missed their long talks. So one night Candy heard him coming at a late hour. She peeked out of her door and surprised him as he was passing on tiptoe so as not to wake her up...
"...Albert!"
Poor Albert almost had a heart attack when he heard that voice whispering in the semi-darkness.
"Candy, you almost scared me to death."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," she said stifling a laugh.
"What are you doing up so late?"
"I was waiting for you. We haven't talked for a long time..." she answered, with an expression very similar to a pout.
Albert looked at her and a slight smile appeared on his face. She was right. She smiled back at him and then, without any hesitation, he entered her bedroom and they began to talk long and hard.
That became a habit which bordered with a need. It was the way they had discovered to free themselves from pressure and to share things between them. Whenever he wasn't able to come back early, he went to her room to say good night to her, they talked for a while and then he retired to his room...
But unfortunately for them, the night before, he was overcome with drowsiness while Candy was telling him about her day at the hospital, and he had fallen asleep before he knew it. It was the first time he had slept for the whole night in Candy's room, and his aunt had surprised them.
She was supposed to be in Lakewood. If Albert had known she would return home, he wouldn't even have allowed himself to go and bid Candy good night because he knew very well his aunt.
But it was no use thinking about what he shouldn't have done. They had been caught red-handed.
"Now it will be impossible for this girl to get married," said Great Aunt contemptuously.
"What?" both of them replied at the same time.
"Who would marry her after this?"
She put her hand to her forehead.
"It's a dishonor!"
"Aunt, Candy has not been dishonored."
Albert spoke each word on the brink of anger. How could his aunt think that? He wouldn't dare touch her, let alone taint her reputation like this. However, that's what he had done. He had never stopped to think about what people would say; he had only thought how good her company was for him. His aunt was right.
Candy was completely speechless; she didn't even dare to breathe for fear she would make Great Aunt angrier. What they had been doing was not quite right, but it was not the end of the world either...
What did Great Aunt think of her? That she was a nobody? She'd rather not answer that question; Great Aunt always had the worst opinion about her. But Albert would never touch her and all this was just a misunderstanding.
Candy didn't care about her reputation since she knew that Albert was a perfect gentleman and as for getting married, that was the last thing she would like. She was sure she would be an old maid. But she wouldn't be forced to marry anyone. She was already tired of Great Aunt's insistence that it was time to find a good husband for her. Hopefully she would completely forget that matter after that incident. Finally something good had come out of all this.
"Ever since this girl has come here, there has been one misfortune after another."
"Aunt, I won't allow you to say such a thing. If it wasn't for Candy, probably I wouldn't be here."
"I know," admitted his aunt reluctantly. "But after this..." – she looked at her contemptuously – "...our name will be the laughing stock of the whole society."
"Aunt, that's enough!"
As always, Elroy only thought about what the others would say. She was so attached to the old traditions that she didn't see the feelings of people.
"Of course, it's easy for you to say it: 'that's enough', because you do what you like best. You have even dared to defy the Council when they suggested to you that you look for a wife." – Seeing that her complaint didn't have the result she expected, she changed the argument: – "But you haven't thought that this girl..." – she pointed at her contemptuously – "...will be rejected in all the social circles," she concluded, seeing that her words had hit the target; her nephew's eyes became sombre.
"Aunt, please..." Albert tried to refute knowing he couldn't argue about that since she spoke the truth.
That truth couldn't be concealed. Albert had adamantly opposed to marrying just for convenience's sake. It was true, he was the head of the Ardlays but marriage was not in his closest plans, however much that would benefit the family. They had even found the perfect candidate, but he had flatly rejected any pressure. He would marry whenever he decided and whomever he decided. There was nothing more to say about it.
But when he was told he should marry Candy off, he refused more emphatically. Besides, the Council had nothing to do with it; that only depended on his direct authorization. And he would authorize it only if Candy was in complete agreement with it.
Sometimes, belonging to one of the wealthiest families was a real problem. Just the mention of his name made marriageable girls get emotional and some of them practically go after him shamelessly. Not to mention that, whenever he appeared at some social gathering, his presence caused a stir.
The president of the Ardlay enterprises was a delight for the eyes and a temptation for the pockets. Starting with that physique worthy of a Greek god; that straight and perfect nose was in divine harmony with those eyes that seemed to have captured the blue of the sky in a sunny morning, and those sensual lips were promising of such gentle and passionate kisses that just imagining it took one's breath away. His blond hair tempted even angels, and that athletic bearing was indisputable. As a man he could be so handsome and so sexy at the same time...Only William Albert Ardlay could afford that luxury and above all wealth...as if that were not enough for him to have the world at his feet.
"We should have married her to Neal..." – Elroy Ardlay's tone was impotent. – "We should have done it when we had the chance. As soon as they find out about this..." she went on reproachfully, "...not even the park gardener will want to take her as his wife."
Candy's jaw practically dropped at such an affirmation. And the worst of all was that Great Aunt acted towards her as if she were just a piece of furniture.
"What kind of future is in store for this girl?" added the old lady dramatically, seeing that her words had affected her nephew.
With each word, Candy was getting more and more incredulous. It was impossible; she only saw her as merchandise sold to the highest bidder, a husband in that case.
Now she was more certain than ever that she preferred to be an old maid than marry just for convenience. She would never do that. It was enough to see them choose a husband for Eliza who didn't like him at all, but there are people who can sell themselves for anything, and Eliza fit very well in that model of a young lady of high society.
But not her! Even Annie had told her how eager she was because Archie had asked her to marry him and how stubborn her mother had been about being related to the Ardlays. She was indignant. But thank God she had Albert who wouldn't let Great Aunt impose a marriage on her, and after what had just happened she was more certain than ever that she would remain single for a long time, if not forever. She smiled to herself.
"The Council is going to say that it is because of this..." – she made a gesture towards the bed – "...that you didn't want to marry; because you entertained your own..."
"Don't say any more, aunt!" Albert cut her off in anger.
His imagination began to run wild; he could even see Candy being despised at the altar. A pang of guilt pierced his conscience.
He, who had wished to give her a better future...he was now the only one to blame because her future seemed so dark.
He could already imagine the whole society gossiping. He generally didn't care about that. But if that gossip was about Candy, then it would affect him directly. He had to protect her...
"I never thought I would live to see our name dishonored, dragged in the mud."
His aunt was on the verge of tears as she thought of how many things people would say about them. And the worst of all was that there was no solution. If Neal wanted to accept her again, it might be a good option.
Not knowing how to remedy that situation, Albert felt lost for a few moments...Suddenly, like a burst of light, an idea came to his mind. He took a deep breath and while his aunt continued to talk about morality and dishonor, that idea became stronger...It was the only solution.
"Aunt, that's enough!"
Albert spoke vehemently trying to silence her.
Candy saw with pain Albert's face suddenly take on a worried expression. She didn't like seeing him like that. She had to do something. Maybe renouncing their name and going away would be a good option...The mere idea of leaving him constricted her heart.
Albert fixed his eyes on Candy for a moment and discovered a gleam in her eyes that showed him she was suffering. No! He had never meant to hurt her...He could stand everything, except seeing her suffer.
He let out a deep sigh before saying the only sensible proposal he had thought of:
"I will marry Candy."
Albert looked into Candy's bewildered eyes as he said those words. To his amazement, looking at her made his decision firmer. There was no going back.
"What?" said Candy and Great Aunt at the same time, almost on the verge of a heart attack.
"I will marry Candy...I will take responsibility for my actions."
His eyes shone with determination.
Whenever Albert's eyes shone like that, there was no power that could make him change his mind. He was determined.
"But...but, Albert...you know that nothing has happened between you and me."
Candy was about to faint.
"I know that, but in the eyes of the others it's not like that, Candy." – His tone softened when he addressed her. – "I can't allow your reputation to be tarnished by a thoughtless act on my part."
"B...b...but you don't have to do it...I am the one to blame...and..."
She couldn't go on.
"Nobody is to blame, Candy...It's our actions that make us seem guilty or innocent."
His voice was still gentle. Albert wanted to go to her and tell her to stay calm, to tell her that everything would be fine, but his aunt's presence made him somehow uncomfortable, so he restrained himself.
"William..." said the old lady hesitantly, "you can't do that..."
She spoke in a tone very different from the one she had used earlier.
"I'm going to do it, aunt," he said decidedly. I am the one who has 'stained' Candy's reputation...It's reasonable to assume my responsibilities."
"But, my dear boy...You can't..."
Now she wasn't sure of anything...She only knew that she wouldn't let her nephew condemn himself to a marriage with that misguided girl. Her voice was trembling with panic.
Albert looked at her and for a moment it seemed to him she had become older. But if he had learned something from her, that was honor.
"Aunt, it was you who taught me to accept the consequences of my actions, and although I haven't touched a single hair of Candy's, I assume that what I did was not right."
The poor old lady couldn't argue with her nephew; what he had said was true.
"I'll prepare everything," said Albert taking his suit jacket. "I'll start the legal procedures in order to be able to marry Candy."
"William..." stammered his aunt.
"There is nothing to say, aunt..."
"You don't have to take it like that..."
Great Aunt Elroy felt the world collapsing in front of her.
"Aunt, I can't stop doing what is right. You have taught me that yourself," he reminded her again.
The old lady opened her eyes wide in amazement. It was true...She had instilled moral values in her nephew herself.
Albert gave Candy an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry, Candy." – Their eyes met. – "I had never intended to hurt you or stain your reputation," he said distressed.
"B...but...Albert..."
She had just managed to stammer his name before he closed the door behind him as he was leaving.
Great Aunt and Candy remained wide-eyed. Neither of them had expected this.
Candy tried to run after her friend, but Great Aunt Elroy held her by the arm, angrily.
"You must be satisfied now," she said, her voice full of hate.
"I don't understand you."
"I'm sure you did this on purpose..."
"No, Great Aunt, you're wrong..."
Candy was completely stunned.
Her eyes blurred in a second and a prick of repentance pierced Great Aunt's cold heart when she saw the girl's painful expression. She had carefully hidden her gratitude to her for having taken care of her nephew when he needed it the most. It was that untimely gratitude that silenced her well-founded objections.
"Get dressed immediately," she ordered her dryly. "It is fortunate that William is a man of honor."
The tone of her voice softened when she saw the girl's face bathed in
tears, making her look more vulnerable than she was.
"Great Aunt...you don't understand," she tried to explain. "Nothing has happened between him and me, absolutely nothing. We are friends. He came very late yesterday and just passed to say good night to me...He lay down next to me and..."
"I don't want to hear any more," the old lady interrupted her, raising her hand. "I'll wait for you downstairs."
She turned and left the room, banging the door and leaving Candy full of depression.
How did everything get so complicated in the blink of an eye?
She had to do something to fix things up. She couldn't let Albert marry her just to keep appearances. It would be madness. It was madness.
As soon as she was dressed, Candy left her room quietly. She was determined to talk to Albert. He would reconsider. Together they would find another way out. She walked to his room and as she was about to knock on the door, Great Aunt's voice resounded in the corridor, making her heart stop.
"Candice! What do you think you are doing in front of William's door?"
"I...I just wanted to talk to him."
Candy's hands were trembling. How unfortunate that Great Aunt should have come right at that moment.
"You foolish girl, it's about time that you learned to behave like a lady. I don't know what you have been taught at college; and to think that it had cost so much. I will send a letter to the principal to complain about her teaching, although, knowing you, I'd better think about it. I will teach you myself about how a lady behaves..."
Oh, she could already imagine Sister Gray's indignant expression when she would read that letter. Candy lowered her head and followed the old lady, listening in resignation to her reproaches. Surely her patience should be taken into account so that her soul wouldn't suffer for a long time in the purgatory.
"From now on I'll be your guardian," said Great Aunt, straightening up, ready to assume that difficult task with courage. "As the future wife of William, you have to refine your manners and above all to change your crazy behavior."
Poor Candy opened her eyes wide with horror seeing that Great Aunt had accepted Albert's crazy proposition.
"But, Great Aunt...we can't marry; Albert and I are just friends," she said, trying to make her see how absurd that was.
"Stop calling him Albert...And give thanks to God that William wants to marry you, otherwise I would have to send you to a convent."
"But..."
Maybe that would be the best, rather than ruining the life of the only person who had given her a real home.
"No buts. Close your mouth; a lady never contradicts a person older than herself. Now let's polish your table manners."
The only hope of the poor girl was that Albert would come for breakfast. But her prayers were not answered. Great Aunt brought her to her rooms to teach her how to polish her table manners which, according to the old lady, left much to be desired.
When finally she was able to get away, he had already left for the Ardlay Company. Everything was a mess.
Albert arrived at his office with an expression of concern. He sat behind his huge desk of dark wood which was as much polished as if it were a mirror. He had a lot of papers to sign. He ran his hand through his blond hair and fixed his eyes on the most urgent documents. The knocking on the door caught his attention. George entered with another folder of documents.
"Good morning, William."
"Hello, George," he replied, not so cheerfully.
George watched carefully the man behind the desk. He had an indecipherable look.
"George, I need you to take care of a very personal matter."
"With pleasure, William."
"I want you to arrange all the papers so that Candy won't be in my custody any longer."
"What?" – George processed that information for a while. – "Forgive my interference. But...I thought you would never abandon Miss Candice..."
"I'm not abandoning her..." – Albert took a deep breath before telling him what had happened. – "I don't want to have any legal impediment so as to be able to marry her."
"What?"
Poor George's jaw almost dropped in astonishment. Unable to stand, he looked for the nearest chair to sit on so as not to fall down.
"Don't look at me like that; I'm not crazy," he said, seeing George's gaze.
"I don't think I've heard correctly. You want to marry Miss Candice?"
"Yes, that's right."
"I didn't expect it so soon...but if you have decided..."
"What? What do you mean, you didn't expect it so soon?"
Albert immediately saw what was hidden behind those words; he was not a fool.
George felt he had said too much.
"It's that, since you and Miss Candice are so close..."
Albert looked at him dubiously for a moment, knowing that he wouldn't get much out of him. It was better to tell him how things were and let him draw his own conclusions like Aunt Elroy.
"Last night I slept in Candy's room," he began. "Don't look like that; we didn't do anything bad, we were just talking and this morning Aunt Elroy came in and found us asleep...and you can imagine what happened..."
George saw clearly the scene: the two of them sleeping and especially Elroy Ardlay's face before that unusual discovery. It was a miracle the old lady was still standing...Surely she must have been on the edge of a collapse...
He simulated a smile; he would have liked to see the faces of the two of them at that precise moment. Whenever he saw them talk it was as if they were locked in a crystal sphere...in a different world. Their relationship was too close. Moreover, he couldn't imagine a world in which the two of them were not together...That news had affected him.
"Did she get hysterical?" he asked.
"Worse than that." – Albert recalled his aunt's expression and arguments. – "You know what she's like...Our name is tarnished..."
He spoke imitating the resigned air of the old lady.
"But that doesn't worry you so much, does it?" George asked again.
"Actually, no...What worries me is Candy..."
George raised an eyebrow; that was the real reason, Candy. He knew there was something more; he had seen it, but it was better for them to discover it on their own.
"I understand...Then I'll take care of that."
"Thank you."
"Do you want the procedure to be delayed?" suggested George.
Maybe they wanted to wait for Madam Elroy to calm down so that she would reconsider and forgive them.
"No...Do it as fast as possible."
"Very well."
George left the office with a smile of conspiracy. Fate plays strange jokes on people.
Albert took the first paper he found on the desk. Even though his eyes were fixed on that document, he wasn't reading it. He was only thinking of one thing: Candy.
He had never seen her eyes so close...Well, he had, but never when she opened them first thing in the morning. That green color seemed so similar to that of a virgin forest...and her long and thick eyelashes gave an exotic touch to her look...
How have things come to this point? he wondered, trying not to think of Candy's eyes.
But the worst thing was not the fact that they had to be married in that way; the worst thing was...that this idea didn't seem so crazy to him.
Maybe he was still stunned by the abrupt manner he had been awakened in the morning. He shook his head in denial and decided that the best thing for him to do was concentrate on the document he was holding in his hands...
Margaret, Albert's secretary, took a deep breath before knocking on the door. She had seen her boss thoughtful all morning. He had barely spoken to her to ask her for some documents.
"Excuse me, sir; your aunt is here."
Albert looked at her for several seconds, trying to focus on her words. That day he was unusually distracted.
That morning Aunt Elroy had surprised him while he was sleeping in Candy's room and now she was at his office, surely intending to persuade him about the decision he had made to assume the responsibility of his actions.
"Let her come in, please."
He breathed deeply, preparing himself for what was awaiting him.
"Right away, sir," said Margaret, looking at him carefully for a moment.
She noticed he seemed worried.
The door remained open while the secretary asked the haughty old lady to enter.
Albert got up when he saw her and offered her a chair, while Aunt Elroy made sure that the door was closed after she came in.
"I am sure you will ask for the reason of my visit," she began when she saw her nephew sitting in front of her.
"Certainly I will."
"However, you must imagine what it is, of course."
She knew that he was very intuitive.
"I have a slight suspicion," admitted Albert, who kept looking into his aunt's brown eyes.
Madam Elroy barely moved her lips in an attempt to smile, but that seemed more like a grimace. She definitely couldn't allow William to marry Candice; that was madness. Therefore she had thought of a plan to dissuade him.
"My boy...we all make mistakes, some more serious than others, but nothing that can't be solved." – She looked at him tenderly, as if he were a child. – "I think I overreacted this morning..." – She took a deep breath. – "That is to say, I don't believe Candice's reputation is as tainted as I said..." – She looked into the blue eyes of her nephew who was watching her cautiously. – "Moreover, I have the perfect solution to end this situation, without having to take extreme measures like your marrying." – She gave him a determined look. – "You don't need to sacrifice yourself for Candice's well-being," she corroborated.
William looked at her and almost rolled his eyes but he refrained from doing it because it would be disrespectful to his aunt.
"Sacrifice myself?" he asked, slightly frowning.
"That's right; you said yourself that marrying was not in your closest plans," she reminded him, referring to their conversation on that subject, weeks ago.
"No, it was not," he admitted, "but that has just changed," he confirmed, sure of his decision.
"My boy, you never make any decisions lightly," refuted his aunt with concern.
"If I am not mistaken, in that conversation you're referring to, you insisted that it was time I started thinking seriously about marriage," he reminded her.
"I said you should think about it..." she cut him short.
"Think about Elizabeth Brands?"
"Why, yes," she admitted. "Why not marry her instead of Candice?" she asked suddenly.
"Because it's Candy whom I have brought to this with my actions, and even though these actions have not been ill-intentioned, they are so in the eyes of others. You said so yourself," he answered.
"I know, I know, and that's why I think that the best thing to do is send her to a convent..." – she saw her nephew's eyes open wide – "...or maybe for a while to some place far away from here," she added, rectifying her plan.
The important thing was to send her away.
"To a convent?" repeated Albert incredulous.
"A convent might be a little too drastic," she admitted. "Maybe England would be more convenient."
"England?"
"Yes, to send her away from..."
She wanted to say "to send her away from you" but she refrained herself. She knew that if she said that, she would put oil on the fire.
"...Away from gossip," she said finally. "You may be sure that even if you tell the servants that they shouldn't say anything, this will be known sooner or later. And if Candice is in England, everything will be only gossip. There will be nobody to point out at her. And you won't have to marry so abruptly and suddenly."
Albert took the pen that was in front of him and squeezed it hard.
"Aunt," he said almost in a whisper, playing with the pen in his hand, before looking straight into her eyes, "I will marry Candy, gossip or no gossip. George is taking care of everything. I'm not going to retract. You know better than anyone what I have to do. And I don't do it just for her reputation, but also because I believe that she is the right woman for me. I want to marry her," he assured her.
Madam Elroy looked at him distressed. William was determined; she knew that look. There was no power in the world that could make him change his mind.
"If I hadn't come so early..." she began to blame herself in a loud voice.
"Don't worry, aunt. I'm not condemning myself," he smiled understandingly. "I know this decision is somehow...sudden, but it is a right decision. As soon as I made it, I felt better. Believe me. If I wasn't sure, I would be the first to admit it and look for another solution."
"But, my boy..."
"If there is someone I want to share my life with, it's Candy," he said smiling. "I hope she wants the same thing..."
He remained thoughtful and troubled for a few minutes.
"She does, my boy," Elroy assured him with a trace of tenderness in her voice. "She would be a fool if she didn't appreciate what you are offering to her."
Elroy suspected that William didn't realize yet that by proposing marriage he was also offering her his heart.
Albert smiled anxiously; he hadn't proposed to Candy as she deserved. Besides, there was something else that worried him. Between them there was affection, camaraderie, complicity, everything except...
"Gossip will begin at any time," declared his aunt, interrupting Albert's thoughts. "We are already lost."
"I think this is inevitable," said Albert, touching his chin depressed.
"Since you are determined and I can't persuade you otherwise," his aunt remarked in a resigned manner, while Albert smiled slightly, "what I can do is take her away from here for a while, until everything calms down and we are able to announce the engagement properly."
"But not to a convent, and not to England either," Albert warned her immediately.
"Of course not...I see you don't like that idea," she said, looking at him carefully.
Albert didn't reply; he only nodded while his aunt raised an eyebrow.
"We'll go to Lakewood," she decided, taking a deep breath.
"If there is no other alternative..." added Albert softly, trying to understand everything he felt inside him.
"The other alternative is New York," she suggested, knowing in advance that he would refuse.
"No," said Albert quickly. "Lakewood is fine. I think..." – he hesitated a little – "I'm afraid Candy won't go..."
"Don't worry about that. She will," replied the old lady.
"Her job at the hospital...is important for Candy," he said absentmindedly.
"As your wife, she won't need to work..." she refuted decidedly.
Albert smiled; he was sure Candy would scream blue murder.
"Don't worry; I know how to convince her," Aunt Elroy reassured him.
Moreover, she wouldn't even give him the opportunity to think about it, much less to refuse.
She took a deep breath and looked at her nephew, trying to guess his thoughts.
"I only hope this madness ends well," she said, as if talking to herself.
"It will end well," corroborated Albert, more sure than ever.
Elroy looked at him seriously. She had wanted William to marry, so that when she was gone, there would be someone to take care of him. She was heartbroken just by imagining that William might be alone...
But with Candice? With her?
Certainly Candice was not her best choice, and what's more, she wasn't even among her options, but she couldn't deny that this misguided girl was the closest to her nephew; sometimes she even thought she was closer to him than she was herself.
God help him, or rather, God help them all...and especially her who would have the task of guiding Candice to become the wife her nephew needed...