Allison

By Sandy Grissom

Book four told the story of Allison's friend, Cecelia who found love with Andrew Colton. Allison met his friend, Colin Abbot at the same time. This book goes along with Cecelia as Allie seeks to know if Colin sees past her often remarked on beauty to know her heart. Cecelia aids in the process as a go between via her fiancee and he best friend, Allie. The time is the 1700s when proper behavior and speech kept a lady from knowing absolutely what a gentleman thought of her. Certain words and phrases were expected but did they really mean what they seemed to or were only politese?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Sandy Grissom
• Release date: Oct 5, 2020
• ISBN: 9781005572792

Sandy Grissom

Sandy Grissom has loved books all her life. That love began by listening to her older sister read when she was still too young to discover the magic for herself. She's read everything from history to the phone book but her favorite authors are James Michener, Agatha Christie and the mystic William Blake. Over the years, romantic novels became a favorite. The top of that list is Pride and Prejudice. When she retired she had too much time on her hands and spent too much money and trips to the library to get books in order to satisfy her restless soul. It was then she began to write herself. As an adult she held a variety of jobs, all of them grist for her imaginative mind. The occupations in Choppy Waters will hopefully inspire someone to fight for their own dreams, to never give up on themselves or on love. A widow, Sandy recently moved to southern Indiana where she lives near the younger of her two beloved sisters.

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ALLISON

by

Sandy Grissom

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

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This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2020 by S.K.G. Haag

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Sandy Grissom has loved books all her life. That love began by listening to her older sister read when she was still too young to discover the magic for herself. She’s read everything from history to the phone book but her favorite authors are James Michener, Agatha Christie and the mystic William Blake.

Over the years, romantic novels became a favorite. The top of that list is Pride and Prejudice. When she retired she had too much time on her hands and spent too much money and trips to the library to get books in order to satisfy her restless soul. It was then she began to write herself.

As an adult she held a variety of jobs, all of them grist for her imaginative mind. The places she’s lived also feed into her stories, namely Colorado and the desert of eastern Washington State. Her heart, though she wasn’t born there, grabbed onto and lives in the west, Nebraska, Wyoming and most especially Texas.

A widow, Sandy recently moved to southern Indiana where she lives near the younger of her two beloved sisters.

Allison

Chapter One

March

Best friends, Andrew Colton and Colin Abbot make it a practice to ride together every morning possible. They lived on adjoining estates which made it easy to do, weather permitting. At times issues or other invitations intervened but the men considered it important to keep up with what was happening in the other’s life. Their estates were in Cambridgeshire in Peterborough County. It was an easy matter to guide their horses toward the neighboring estate and meet in between. It was always pleasurable to ride in the cool of the morning with one’s best friend.

Colin grew up knowing he would be master of Rutherford Park. Twenty three now, he had been managing it for a few years. Discovering he was heir to Grayson Park was a shock to Andrew. He considered himself not close enough in lineage to be heir to Grayson. Yet the estate was left to him, not to any of his cousins. They were all great, great nephews of the recently deceased master or so he thought.

He learned he was to be master of Grayson Park when he was in school thinking to become a solicitor. Then he discovered he was not a nephew but of the direct line. He was the old gentleman’s great grandson. He was shocked to know it. Andrew was the product of illegitimacy and the old master three generations back from him could not allow it to be made public. Though it seems he bent his pride enough to name Andrew his heir. One could only suppose the ‘cousin’s’ were also anxious to keep the secret for none opposed the will. Not even his uncle’s second son, now likely to become a solicitor himself.

A man named master of an estate, rather by birth or because he married the daughter of an estate, was treated with great respect. He was accorded the status as if he was born to the estate. In Andrew’s case, people assumed he was the closest relative. The local attorney said so and that man devoted himself to knowing who was next in line to inherit Cambridgeshire estates. Andrew then was given the respect afforded an heir. Though acceptance of it was not that easy for the now ‘gentleman’.

Colin felt badly that he had not informed his best friend of his future. He had known for some years but promised his grandmother and Andrew’s that he would keep it secret. He supposed Andy would ask him about it sometime and in time he had. For it turned out that Andy was not a nephew but actually the great grandson of the late master.

Andrew spent the first few months learning what his new role in life would be. Yet almost immediately he took over the estate, he met Cecelia Parton. She was in house with Lord and Lady Farthingale along with her best friend, Allison Nelson. The four were close in age so the two couples were paired together a great deal at various suppers. Andy and Cece had little to obstruct their path to love. The couple was recently engaged but it would not be the same for Colin and Allison.

Andy spoke first for they had been riding a bit with little more than a morning greeting.

I thought you genuinely happy for me when my engagement to Cece was announced. Yet you seemed quite thoughtful. Are you worried for me? Because if you are, I can assure you I am quite happy to know Cece will be my wife.

I did not wish to give you a wrong impression, Colin replied. I am certainly happy for you. I admit I was surprised it happened so quickly. It occurs to me now I ought not to have been. You took up the reins of Grayson Park quickly enough. I might have expected a like manner of selecting a mistress for the estate.

Not at all, Andy replied.

He supposed his friend guessed he was hasty with his decision.

I simply fell in love. It might have happened later on. I would have been as happy then to have met Cece as I am now.

Then I am well pleased, Colin replied.

He was relieved. Andy had taken on much when he discovered he was heir to Grayson Park. It might have overwhelmed some men. It was enough of a shock to learn he was heir and should have lived there all his life. Yet he was banished as an infant to the home of an uncle.

What was Miss Cecelia’s response to hearing of your life, Colin asked.

She has known right along. Cece is an intuitive lady. She sensed something was bothering me though she had barely met me. She spoke of it to Lady Katherine who she hoped might know the reason for it through her husband. Wain, Lord Farthingale, recalled the happening though he was only a boy at the time. He told his wife privately who then spoke with Cece due to her concern for me. She shared my parentage and early life. Wain declared it was not important unless someone tried to make something of it. He said he would stand with me if such a thing occurred.

He is a good man, Colin agreed.

Indeed. I have found it reassuring to talk with him along with the other estate owners hereabout. Their histories have been as unusual as mine. John Lewis had his early life and family hidden from him by an uncle. Like me, he only learned his true heritage after the man’s death. He always wondered if he was the legitimate heir and was relieved to find he was. Though his uncle raised him from an infant. James Lister took over Collingwood when as a second son he never expected to manage an estate. He married a lady who had one. Knowing about those two has eased me into my position as master more easily than I might have done otherwise.

I am sure that is so, Colin agreed.

As to Cece, I am aware that marriage to anyone is not a matter to rush into. Part of that is why we fixed the date for the wedding as the middle of September. Her father would have allowed her to marry before his own wedding and trip to the Continent or immediately after their return. We felt it too soon in either case. I did not wish Cece to have such an important day happen in a less spectacular manner than she deserves. I learned that it takes planning to achieve all I imagine she dreamed about as ladies do. I also wanted to have time to enjoy our engagement period. Those days will be over soon enough.

She has accepted you. There is no courting after that, Colin argued.

Andy smiled.

I have been studying James Lister’s behavior toward his lady. He has been married more than a year. Yet he still courts his lady. I think it a fine idea for me not to take Cece for granted but to appreciate her every day we have together.

You are more of a romantic, my friend, than I realized, Colin teased.

I simply expect to have a long and happy marriage and will do my part to make it so. Now tell me what you feel for Miss Allison. I see you staring at her quite often when we are at engagements together.

"I admit I have feelings for her. Yet I have not pushed to declare for her for several reasons. Firstly, I cannot decide if I am only affected by her beauty. You will understand that for you were struck by her beauty on first acquaintance. At times, I think beauty does not matter to me. I admit that I am affected by desire for her. But neither of those, beauty or need is a good reason for marriage.

I know Miss Cecelia affects you. She causes you to smile and even laugh. You have peace around her for already she takes burdens off you. You will make a fine couple. I cannot decide if I fit Allie or if she fits me in some similar way. I cannot do anything of a personal nature until I am sure we can make a happy life together.

You are wise, Colin, to stand afar until these things show themselves to you. Can you tell how the lady feels?

I believe she likes me. It pleases me to know it. Even so…

There is no rush for you just as there was none for me. It just happened as it did because Cece’s father pushed me to declare my feelings. Miss Allison’s father is not doing that. You may take all the time you need to decide.

I expect he would want to be sure of me as well, Colin remarked.

As it should be and will one day for you when you have a daughter of marriageable age.

You tease me. Yet I know what you say is true. Thank you, my friend.

In the meantime, Cece and Miss Allison are helping their friend, Elizabeth, plan her wedding. Cece says she may use some of that lady’s ideas for our day.

Elizabeth’s wedding was to take place soon. She is Vicar Thomas’ sister and engaged to George Lister who will be master of Brookline when his father goes to his reward. Her brother is Frederick, master of Bremerton. George’s brother is James, the master of Collingwood. The wedding is to be held at Lord and Lady Farthingale’s estate. Everyone in the region who can will attend the event.

Amy Walker and her husband, Ian, were naturally invited. They live not far away at Heathrow Park. Amy’s sister is Caroline Smithers, older than Amy but unmarried still. Amy has lately been tutoring her sister in the niceties of society. Caroline somehow dismissed manners as unimportant. She treated people as beneath her. People began to avoid her company. She was not invited to the many parties in the region. Whether it was for riding of a morning, a weekend visit, luncheons or suppers. She was unable, therefore, to meet gentlemen she might be interested in for a husband.

She was grateful that Amy included her a few times. Her sister spent time hoping to alert Caroline to her mistake. She hoped Caroline would make a better impression on their friends and neighbors as Elizabeth’s wedding drew near. She was certain Caroline hoped to make a good one on Walton Drayton. That gentleman was the brother of Evan Drayton, master of Kensington Park and a good friend to Lord Farthingale. Walton was heir to Drayton Park some two days distant.

Amy found it necessary to hurt her sister’s feelings in order she understand why she was being neglected. Caroline was upset but she soon realized her sister was right. She took her behavior of coldness and rudeness to heart and determined to become a better, more giving person. Amy was then pleased to instruct her in society’s ways that Caroline had previously disregarded.

Amy told Caroline she would likely sit at home unless a moneyed husband needed her to accompany him somewhere. The thought had not occurred to her and it struck home. She realized she wanted a partnership in marriage. It caused her to rethink the type of marriage her mother was promoting for her. Amy helped her see such an alliance would not make her happy. Nor her husband either.

That caused her to mull over her previous behavior. She could only hope that her rudeness came from a passionate nature. If so, she could use passion in a positive manner. She then wondered if her mother hoped that if she married a lord it would squash any passionate tendencies in her daughter. Perhaps with a suppressed passion, she should marry a man with similar proclivities. That would surely be happy for both parties. Caroline realized now her mother was in error if that was what she was thinking. She was who she was and if passion was part of her, she ought to use that passion in living.

Her mother was currently off seeking out moneyed and titled men for her. She ought to write that lady that she no longer wanted such a marriage but her mother did so enjoy the search. Now Caroline thought of couples she knew who made such marriages. The gentleman wanted heirs and a lady handy. The lady sought comfort and protection from the alliance. Money was security