When I'm with you

Helping hand

She shifted in her chair, clearly uneasy, and kept glancing back at the terrace. Then she glanced at her watch and tried to focus on her companions, but it was hard to do so.
Charlotte fidgeted with her already battered napkin.
"Honey, I think they'll be fine without you," Esther said calmly.
Charlotte looked up at her and forced a smile. She knew perfectly well how worried Allison had been before this meeting with Susan.
"Yes, but suddenly -" Charlotte began.
"She's a Heywood, just like you, and she bears that name with honor, said Lady Denham -" Allison won't let anyone hurt her".
"You are very kind to us, Sophia," Charlotte replied.
"Not kind, but objective," said Lady Denham, with an expressive frown. Esther smiled knowingly.
"I understand everything, but I still have to go there", said Charlotte, abruptly getting up from the table, - "I'm sorry".
Charlotte left the table and ran across the room to the cherished glass door behind which, perhaps, her own sister was begging for help.
"Will these girls ever learn your patience?"  Sophia asked.
"Who knows," said Esther, smiling, " more tea, Aunt?"
"Yes, I think so," said Lady Denham, " and hand me that eclair over there. Arthur Parker is quite a funny and clumsy fellow, but his cakes, I must admit, are incredibly delicious. This scoundrel could still surprise even such a battered old woman as me".
Esther smiled again and handed her aunt a plate of various desserts.

Charlotte's feet carried her straight to the terrace. She took a deep breath and froze right in front of the open door, not daring to go inside.
"Could she have interfered in the conversation? Was Allison so helpless, and why had she suddenly panicked and decided that Susan would somehow hurt her sister? Lady Worcester has known Allison long enough to know that she would never have started a relationship for money or social standing, Charlotte thought to herself over and over again.
Finally, she shook her head and looked out resolutely, but there was no one there. Annoyed, she ran out onto the terrace, looking around in confusion, but she was met only by a dense thicket of ivy and numerous flowers in tubs.
Charlotte was about to leave when she suddenly heard her sister's joyful laughter. She leaned against the green living wall and looked out through the gap between the large carved leaves.
Allison and Susan were sitting on a bench in the garden, talking peacefully.
"My God, he came to his room, and there's this girl there? Naked?" - Allison asked, still giggling - "Daniel must have been angry."
"Yes, no doubt he was furious. When we came in, she was already lying in the bathroom with headphones on and singing a song. I must admit, the worst performance I've ever heard, "Susan replied, smiling slyly," and this girl brought a bald dog with her, which chewed up a good half of his shoe."
"My God, how could this happen?" - the younger Miss Heywood asked - "this is a mansion, it is guarded, how did she get there?"
"His sister Eleanor is desperate to marry him. Let's just say it's a little thing of hers, "Susan said, laughing," that our poor Broome hasn't stayed at his parents ' house for over two years, and quietly hates Chinese crested dogs."
"Poor thing," Allison said, " I thought he liked them, and other animals, too. Dan was willing to help me in the stable."
"He'll do anything because he loves you so much," Lady Worcester said at last, raising one eyebrow dramatically, "and he'll even turn a blind eye to the fact that you suddenly decide to put a couple of these 'beauties' in your house."
Allison laughed again and blushed at the same time.
"Oh, no, that would be too cruel," Allison said, " I would never do that, even though I've always wanted a dog."
"Well, then listen to my advice",  said Susan in a conspiratorial tone, " choose a royal corgi - this is exactly what you need. Dan will be thrilled. His mother used to keep them. They always remind him of his childhood. And then they get along well with the kids."
"But Susan, I don't ... I think it's too early to tell," Allison said, " he... Daniel didn't..."
"I'm sure he's just waiting for the right moment," Lady Wooster said. " Dan really cares about you and wants to do everything right and beautiful."..
"Are you talking about me?"  Broome asked, suddenly appearing out of nowhere, sitting down on the bench next to Allison. So close that he touched her arm and thigh.
She flinched, tensed, then thawed as she felt the warmth radiating from his body and gaze.
" No... we are... ", Allison was extremely confused and didn't know what to say.
"I was talking about what you were like when you were a kid," Susan answered for her.
"Jesus," he said jokingly, gently taking Allison's hand and instinctively pressing it against his thigh, " I hope it didn't come to the baby pictures?"
Susan smiled, noting that her cousin's every move, every gesture, simply screamed that Broome was hopelessly in love, attracted to Allison and ready to protect her from anyone, even his own family.
"Of course not," Susan said playfully, and then added, " I just didn't bring my sketchbook.. . But I can go up to the room, it's a matter of a couple of minutes".
"Oh, no, fire me," he said, laughing.
"In that case, I don't think you need me anymore. Perhaps I should return to my previous conversation, " said Lady Worseter, rising from the bench.
Dan got up with her.
"You don't need to see me off," Susan said, smiling slyly.
Broome nodded at her, and Allison gave her the most charming smile she could muster.
Susan left. Broome was smiling and whispering as he gently kissed Allison's hands, and Charlotte couldn't tear herself away from what was happening. She was suddenly overwhelmed with an incredible joy that her sister had finally found what she was looking for, that Allison would be happy. Just like her.
"It's not good to peek," said a quiet voice behind her, " even if she's your sister."
Charlotte jumped in surprise. Lady Worcester herself stood before her.
"I, I was just worried about Allison ," she said faintly.
"Did you think that I suddenly turned into a bloodthirsty monster and ate your sister?"  Susan asked, laughing.
" Yes...Oh, no, of course not", exclaimed Charlotte, "I've just ...."
"Calm down, your sister is not in danger, and if there was something, then besides you there is definitely someone to protect her", said Susan, squinting, " I'm sure he will fight to the death for her. I've never seen Dan like this before."
Charlotte smiled back at her.
"You'd better tell me about your Mr. Parker and all that's happened," said Lady Worcester, taking Charlotte by the arms.
"It's going to be a very long story," Charlotte said.
"I'm not in a hurry," Susan said, walking with her to the far corner of the long terrace.