"That was truly invigorating, I did not take you for the dancing type," Henry said wiping the sweat off his forehead.

"Well if I am not being watched by dozens of people then dancing is quite enjoyable."

"Should I apologize for staring at you then?"

"I... Um."

"Should we go out riding before dinner?"

"No."

"Dancing after dinner in the kitchen?"

"No."

"Please."

"I will see you for dinner."

"Lady Alice what is the matter with dancing? Or riding? Surely you see nothing wrong with the activities, or was I a bad dancing partner?"

"No you were quite good."

"Then?"

"Mr. Henry I am already being talked about..."

"Why?"

"Because of my close friendship with Lord Joseph, and now with you."

"We have a close friendship?"

"No I meant we should not fuel talks of the sort."

"That is how our society works so if you are to deny me of your presence I would rather it be because you dislike me not because on the account of others, so do you dislike me? Or may I entertain you for a while longer before you are done with me?"

"Mr. Henry..."

"Riding or dancing?" I debated on the answer then began to think why would I be excluding myself from knowing other gentlemen? What reason did I have for pushing Mr. Henry away? Mr. Howard? No he did not deserve any kind of sacrifice on my part.

"I will go walking in the gardens alone after tea to read my book."

"Then I wish you a lovely stroll Lady Alice," Mr. Henry kissed my hand and went on his way while I went outdoors.

After everyone was done with the tennis game, all the ladies headed inside for afternoon tea while the men stayed with each other's company in another room. The gossip was plenty and during their chatter I exited with Miss Lilly who wished to rest before dinner except when we got upstairs I waved her goodbye, got my book inside my bedchamber and went into the gardens alone.

"Hiding I see," Mr. Henry said about me sitting on the floor by some bushes that kept me out of sight.

"No simply reading," I raised my book.

"And was it that you're reading?" Mr. Henry took a seat next to me and leaned his head towards the book.

"Uh Evans."

"Oh the scandalous one, well well aren't you an interesting one Lady Alice," Mr. Henry closed my book.

"I believe it is best I go."

"I just arrived."

"Yes," I agreed feeling flustered by Mr. Henry "please stay."

"Why sir?"

"I wish to say something very important."

"Then be quick Mr. Henry I really do not think this was a wise idea."

"You see when I watched you earlier, dancing, the only thing I thought of doing was..." Mr. Henry carefully waited for the moment and then said, "kissing you right there in front of the staff, oh you were so alive Lady Alice like never before," he put a strand of my hair behind my ear and I was confused.

"Uh thank you for controlling yourself then."

"Do not thank me yet for I am about to lose control," he came in like a well-aimed arrow for my lips and kissed them eager to boil the temperature of our bodies. And as if waiting for happiness to fill me I let Mr. Henry take me in his arms until we were out of breath again, if Mr. Howard thought me low than this would prove him right.

"Goodbye Mr. Henry!" I got up and fled inside until I was slamming the door to my bedchamber out of breath.

Safe in the privacy of the room I could scarcely believe I was to be guilty of what I was unjustly accused of by Mr. Howard the night before. He saw me as a silly girl, a girl who threw her charms on everyone and though I knew he was wrong the accusations led me to its realization. The more Mr. Howard hated me, the worse he acted, the farther I got from whom I naturally was, the simple poor maid transforming into a disreputable society lady before my eyes. I wanted revenge for Mr. Howard's doubts of my character, for his hateful words, for him walking away from me when I asked him if he loved me.

"Your mother suggested the yellow one dress Lady Alice," Mrs. Miller said bringing over the yellow dress.

"The yellow is fine," I agreed.

"Good I agree with your mother's taste," she said helping me inside it.

"So do I," I nodded.

"Is it just me or do you look better Lady Alice? I think your cheeks look rosier than when we first arrived." I thought of the kiss between Mr. Henry and I before going down for dinner.

This was the third dinner at Stanley Hall, the earrings hung from my ears and I fixed the gloves before I declined the stairs when Mr. Henry was also arriving for dinner and stayed behind to talk to me.

"You look glorious Lady Alice," Mr. Henry said.

"Thank you Mr. Henry," I smiled at Mr. Henry who kissed my hand while Mr. Howard came to the door and caught us and as if asking me what was I doing, I quickly fended off Mr. Henry and went inside with the ladies.

"Well my dear you look better this evening," my mother said and I nodded yet how could it be so apparent, maybe Mr. Henry had some powers.

"I think Gertie's food has done me well," I said and took a seat near her.

We were quickly led into the dinner although Mr. Howard did not set up Mr. Henry to lead me into the dining room he did place my seat right next to him once more as if he was playing cupid for everyone invited to Stanley Hall.

"Sorry everyone for interrupting this dinner," Joseph tapped his glass.

"What is he doing?" I asked Mr. Henry.

"The obvious," Mr. Henry replied and I knew it was coming.

"I would like to announce a very important piece of news which has been a long time coming."

He paused and held Miss Lillian's hand, "Miss Lillian Walker and I are engaged to soon be married."

The whole table and the staff clapped like you would at the end of a recital, Miss Lilly blushed and so did Joseph with the blush of pure love, something I asked if it was possible for me, to love so purely after all I had done and gone through.

"Lady Alice we must talk," Mr. Henry whispered as everyone congratulated the newly engaged.

"Now?"'

"Alone please."

"Where?"

"Under the stairs to the west wing there is a painting."

"A painting?"

"Yes wait for me there."

"Alright."

"Thank you," he smiled and so did I wanting to see in Mr. Henry a possibility for a better love.

The dinner was over and we separated into two different groups for a while which would be the only way to escape.

"My dear where are you off to?" Mother caught me trying to leave early.

"Oh uh to my bedchambers to sleep."

"Oh please stay a while longer; you have gone off early from every other activity."

"Yes mama," I sat back down and stayed the whole night even though it worried me to leave Mr. Henry waiting for me as I would never show up.

The next day while we had breakfast Mr. Henry made  sure to glance at me and nod as if asking me to nod back and so I did for when breakfast was finished the men started with their plans to fish so I knew our talk would not be long.

"Lady Alice please," Mr. Henry asked when I stood looking left and right, he pushed on the corner of the wall and a door opened he had a candle in his hand for it was dark inside the small corner under the stairs.

"Mr. Henry no."

"Please before someone sees us," he asked and I walked in.

"How did you know of this place?"

"Lilly, Joseph and I played hide and seek, this was my favorite spot."

"Would this not be cheating?"

"Not if there were no rules," Mr. Henry lowered his lips and I did not know whether or not to kiss him.

My wishes were a mess and one could say uncertainty was one of the biggest afflictions upon mankind, for whoever was certain of what they desired had their hold on it but not I and thus Henry kissed me again.

"Mr. Henry no, this is foolishness, we will do this no more, find another girl to focus your charms on please."

"No, I will tell father and mother today, if you say yes," he held me by the fingertips.

"What?"

"Marry me Lady Alice Stewart."

"Is this how you flirt with every girl?" I let go of his hand shaking my head; Mr. Henry wanted to keep me so close it scared me.

"Believe for a moment that I am serious about my proposal please."

"No, you speak nonsense."

"I have a duty to you, you have been promised to me."

"That is impossible Mr. Henry."

"Your grandfather, Sir Paul Stewart himself talked to me on his death bed."

"What? You saw my grandfather before he died?"

"Yes I went with my grandfather to visit him when we heard he was ill."

"And why did you not mention this before?"

"How could I when my best friend might have had asked for your hand."

"He did not, he loves your sister and your sister alone," I tried to make it clear so there would be no further speculations on the matter.

"I was not sure then when we met."

"Now you are so what did you talk about when you were with my grandfather?"

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No part, character, names, plot, setting, conflict or resolution, point of view, theme or symbolism of this story may be replicated.

Copyright: All Rights Reserved to A. Sena Gomes.