by Bella Bryce
“Brayden, darling, you’re a naughty boy for not coming to see us sooner,” Evelyn Fowler said, upon entering the marbled foyer. Her heels announced her presence as she walked across to meet him and Bennett. Her husband, Jonathan Fowler, finished a call on his mobile phone and followed her as she embraced Brayden and gave him a kiss before letting her hand rest on his cheek for a moment. It was painful for her, having lost Brayden’s mother Kathryn, one of her dearest friends.
Evelyn embraced Brayden and gave him a kiss before letting her hand rest on his cheek for a moment. Evelyn saw Brayden’s mother, Kathryn, in his eyes whenever she looked at him. It was painful for her, having lost one of her dearest friends.
“Brayden, my boy,” Jon said, shaking Brayden’s hand.
“Sir, thank you for having us this evening,” Brayden said.
“Nonsense, you’re family. Now then, where is she?” Evelyn asked, looking around.
Bennett let out a humoured sigh and put his hands in his suit trouser pockets.
“I’m afraid I’ve had to use your sitting room just now to teach her a lesson in manners. Bennett can attest to that,” Brayden said, nodding to him.
“Oh dear,” Jon said.
“The poor darling,” Evelyn said, looking at her husband.
“No,” Brayden, Jon and Bennett all said at the same time.
“Mother, she’s been misbehaved,” Bennett said.
“She’s not used to being in a strange house,” Evelyn said.
“It started in the car,” Brayden said.
“Where’s my niece, then?” Damian asked, as he reached the last stair and joined everyone in the foyer.
“Facing the wall,” Brayden and Bennett said, at the same time.
“Awww,” Damian said.
“Don’t you start,” Bennett said, not entirely amused.
“I shall go and get her. Let me have a word, first,” Brayden said, and left the Fowler family in their foyer to wait.
Brayden entered the sitting room and walked across the room.
“Alice, come here to me,” Brayden said, putting his hands behind his back.
Alice obeyed and removed her hands from her head. Her eyes were red from crying and she was still sniffing when she stopped in front of Brayden.
“I don’t need to tell you that your behaviour has been disgraceful. You’ve disobeyed and argued with me, no less whilst we are here visiting. You can expect to have a proper spanking when we get home later. Now, I am about to introduce you to Uncle Bennett and Damian’s parents; I expect you to greet them properly as I’ve taught you. If you misbehave or so much as make one smart remark this evening, I will deal with you publicly. Am I understood, young lady?” Brayden asked.
“Yes, Father,” Alice answered quietly.
“Right, come along then,” Brayden said, offering his hand out to her. Alice took Brayden’s hand and he pulled her to him and bent down to give her a kiss on the top of her head. “Good girl,” he said, before leading Alice out of the sitting room and into the foyer.
Evelyn put her hand on Jon’s arm the moment she laid eyes on Alice, who had a forlorn yet sweet look on her face. Alice was still in her formal winter coat and beret when Brayden lead her to the Fowler family and stopped in front of them.
“May I introduce my daughter, Alice Kathryn Lillias James,” Brayden said, receiving a meaningful look from Evelyn upon hearing that his mother’s name had been taken.
“Alice, this is Mr. and Mrs. Fowler, Uncle Bennett and Uncle Damian’s parents, and very dear friends of mine,” Brayden said. Alice looked at the five people staring at her. Jon, Brayden, Bennett and Damian were all in three-piece suits, whilst Evelyn was in a flattering knee-length dress with pearls and matching heels.
“Welcome to Greystone, young lady. We are very pleased to meet you,” Jon said, his hands behind his back as he spoke.
“Thank you, Sir,” Alice said, timidly. She then remembered to give a small curtsey.
“How do you do?” she added.
Brayden felt both relieved and disappointed at the same time. Alice said the right thing but hesitated too much. He would need to drill her again before she met anyone else.
“Isn’t she lovely?” Evelyn said, loudly and then moved toward Alice and bent down toward her and tapped her nose. “You’re lovely,” she said.
Alice visibly blushed and pulled herself closer to Brayden.
“Poor darling, she’s shy. Come and see great Aunty Evelyn,” she said, inching closer to Alice.
Brayden turned Alice by her shoulders toward Evelyn and let go of her hand.
“Willis, take Miss Alice’s coat please, I think she’s going to behave now,” Bennett said.
Willis removed Alice’s coat and beret and Evelyn immediately straightened the girl’s collar on her dress and smoothed her hair.
“That’s a very pretty dress, and look at your matching hair ribbons. Lovely,” Evelyn said, in a bit of an animated voice.
Bennett looked at Damian; he despised when their mother turned into a melt in the middle pudding. He felt it weakened her image, which was otherwise rather fierce.
“My father had it made,” Alice said, quietly. Evelyn had to lean in toward Alice to hear her.
“Yes he did, he’s done a very good job of it hasn’t he?” Evelyn asked.
Alice nodded shyly although she really didn’t like Evelyn fussing over her. Evelyn took hold of Alice’s hand and looked up at her husband.
“Jon, shall we go through for drinks?”
“Yes, my darling,” Jon said, and indicated the three boys were to follow.
“I’ve yet to have a proper cuddle or even a hello from my niece,” Damian said, once they reached the parlour, which was the equivalent of Brayden’s drawing room - where they received and entertained daytime or evening guests.
“Yes, because someone needed a good seeing to,” Brayden said, raising his eyebrows at an on-looking Alice.
“Go on and give Uncle Bennett and Uncle Damian cuddles,” Evelyn said, letting go of Alice’s hand, seemingly unaware the girl was perfectly capable of doing things on her own.
Alice stepped toward Bennett and kissed his cheek once he had bent down. She wasn’t terribly fond of him because he was rather stern and Alice always felt as though he wanted to tell her off.
“Good girl,” Bennett said, and let one finger stroke her cheek. He found it very difficult to show affection to Alice, although he wanted to. Bennett smiled at Alice for a moment and then turned as Damian approached them.
“Hello,” he said, with a tad more enthusiasm than Bennett, and then bent down to give her a cuddle. Alice automatically reciprocated the hug and then kissed his cheek when he bent down.
“I’ve got something for you,” Damian said, keeping his height low in order to be closer to Alice.
“What is it?” Alice asked, her eyes suddenly lighting up with curiosity.
Damian removed a small square booklet from his inside blazer pocket and showed Alice. It was a flipbook, containing a simple drawing in black ink pen of a little girl in a dress holding a balloon and when he flipped through it quickly the balloon sailed away. Alice gasped and tried it for herself.
“I drew that for you,” Damian said, watching Alice flip through it again.
“Thank you, Uncle Damian,” Alice said, and kissed his cheek again. Damian planted a kiss on the top of her forehead while Bennett hid the brew of envy welling up inside of him. It was not his idea to give presents to Alice in order to gain her respect or affection. He believed Alice should respect and love him simply for who he was and nothing else. Everything beyond that was privilege.
Bennett watched Alice until she returned to Evelyn, who seemed to have staked a claim on the girl; Damian knew his elder brother would comment on his little gift later.
The Fowler family, Brayden and Alice all enjoyed conversation and drinks until they were called through to the dining room. Alice sat between Evelyn and Brayden at the table, Jon was at the
head, and his sons across from their mother and guests. Jon prayed a short blessing over the food and then their uniformed staff served the first course.
“She’s a darling little girl,” Evelyn said, looking over at Brayden. Alice wanted to be sick - the amount of fussing and babying Evelyn was handing out was nauseating. Clearly, the woman thought she was younger than she was, or even younger than Brayden told her she was.
“Thank you,” Braden said, and smiled. “She is,” he added.
It was all too much affection for her and Alice had to try very hard not to explode. She wanted to yell at everyone to stop doting on her, and she also wanted to cry because she’d never felt so loved and didn’t know how to handle it.
During the main course the conversation turned to business, involving everyone except Evelyn and Alice. Jon frequently interrupted Bennett to preface all of his points with, “Now, in my day . . .” Bennett rolled his eyes at one point and Alice saw, raising her eyebrows in surprise.
“Uncle Bennett just rolled his eyes at great Uncle Jon,” Alice reported, quietly to Evelyn.
Evelyn’s attention went directly from Alice, across the table to her eldest son. Suddenly, the whole doting mother facade seemed to dissolve and her manner became quite firm. She gave Bennett a serious look, causing him to instantly meet her eyes and mouth the word, “alright?” and give a small nod. He knew that look. Alice immediately returned her attention back to her meal secretly hoping
Bennett would be admonished for his behaviour. It would serve him right for witnessing two of Alice’s punishments, one of which had been the very first time she met him. It didn’t matter that Brayden had allowed him to watch, the fact was, he had.
Evelyn didn’t respond to Bennett, but her manner from across the table was cold. Bennett was slightly uneasy, continuing to participate in the conversation, meanwhile retaining one eye on his mother.
As soon as dessert and coffee were finished, Evelyn left the dining room and Bennett followed. She stopped in the foyer and turned to Bennett.
“Mother, are you alright? You seem upset,” Bennett said, concerned, putting a hand under her elbow.
“Had I been the one to witness you rolling your eyes at your father, I would have put you across my knee as if you were in prep school again,” Evelyn said, completely seriously.
“I beg your pardon?” He asked, suddenly feeling confused as to how his Mum knew that. He had made sure she wasn’t watching when he did so.
“Alice saw you. She told me. You should be setting an example to her and more importantly, respecting your father, after everything he has done, after everything we’ve given and provided. You’ve wanted for nothing. Perhaps you need a reminder in manners,” Evelyn said.
Bennett suddenly felt as though his entire image had been torn in two. He looked around them discretely to be sure nobody was about to witness such a humiliating conversation.
“I’m sorry, Mum. I apologise. I find it very difficult to carry on a conversation when he is constantly interrupting me and always going on about the past. It’s very tiring,” Bennett said.
“That is no excuse. You are twenty-nine years old and have more money than I wish to remind you of. A distinguished, well-bred gentleman in tailored suits hasn’t the manners of a small boy to know he shouldn’t disrespect his father so. You will go to your room for the rest of the evening.”
Bennett’s eyes widened.
“Mother!?” He asked, unbelieving.
“Bennett, I am not afraid to put you in your place. You heard me,” she said.
“This is absurd!” He said, looking around.
“If I hear one more word, I will tell everyone just where I’ve sent you and why. Now off you go,” Evelyn said, nodding toward the staircase. “I will tell Brayden you’ve taken ill, seeing as you’re going to do as Mummy says,” she said, before leaving the foyer. Bennett’s mouth was nearly open as he turned and climbed the staircase.
He was cross and became even more so as he changed out of his three piece suit into his Derek Rose striped pyjama trousers and button-front top, followed by his navy blue dressing gown. He rang a small buzzer near the fireplace for tea and paced the room, becoming less and less amused with Alice. He vowed to have a private word with her the first opportunity he got, although he planned to do more smacking than talking.
Chapter Fifteen
Brayden was quite disappointed when Evelyn returned to the dining room to say Bennett had taken ill for the evening and went to his bed. Brayden didn’t think it was like Bennett to do so without saying a proper goodbye. Perhaps it was worse than Evelyn had lead on.
“Poor chap,” Brayden said.
Alice smiled to herself. She had a feeling it was something to do with what she had told Evelyn earlier, and she was glad. Alice relaxed a bit more and spent most of the evening chatting to Damian about what books she had been reading since living with Brayden. Jon and Evelyn wanted to know more about Alice and asked several questions about Brayden’s comfort regarding going from being a young, single, multi-millionaire, to being a those and a father overnight.
“I feel fulfilled. I think I feel I can justify a lot of things because Alice hasn’t experienced a fraction of privilege before now, so I can share that with her,” he said.
“You haven’t said about her schooling. Are you going to enroll her at Kings?” Evelyn asked.
“She’s done with school,” Brayden said, trying to hide any sense of uneasiness around the subject. He wouldn’t otherwise and he didn’t care that the situation may be judged by others, but he did care about Jon and Evelyn’s opinion.
“She’s hardly a junior,” Jon said.
“No, Sir, she’s . . . she finished with school two years ago. She’s eighteen now,” Brayden said.
Evelyn and Jon looked each other and then at Alice.
“Brayden, should I be worried about you, son?” Jon asked.
“No, Sir,” Brayden said, chuckling. “Not at all.”
“We thought she didn’t look any older than eleven or twelve,” Evelyn said.
“Good. That’s how I want it to look,” Brayden said, feeling as though he were regaining a bit of control.
“Is this a mid-twenties crisis, darling?” Evelyn asked, putting a hand on his knee.
“I’m past mid-twenties, Aunty Evelyn,” Brayden said.
Brayden had been referring to Bennett and Damian’s parents as ‘Sir’ and ‘Mrs. Fowler’ for nearly a few years until Evelyn insisted he call her Aunt Evelyn, and for the last ten years it was still ‘Sir’ and ‘Aunty Evelyn.’
“You can’t imagine what her mother was like. She was horrible to her; she’s never even met her father. She hasn’t the capacity at the moment to function in my household properly, not without being embarrassed by her own ignorance, and it isn’t her fault. But how could I present her to anyone in our circle without her being criticised rather openly. I know how this lot works. I couldn’t bear that. So I told her that because her knowledge and behaviour of etiquette was that of a ten-year-old, and she can pass for it, that would be her age and I would raise her from that point. She needs this, and I feel as though she will gain a little bit of what was wrongfully stolen from her childhood,” Brayden said, looking at Jon and then Evelyn.
“Brayden, your mother would be so proud of how loving your heart is,” Evelyn said, and leaned over to give him a kiss on the cheek.
Brayden smiled, although he refused to let the compliment saturate his emotions, he would at least wait until he got home that evening and was alone in his bedroom where he could think about his parents in a private place that wouldn’t tell anyone if he got emotional upon reflection.
“Yes, you’re doing a good thing, son,” Jon said, and gave Brayden an approving nod.
“Thank you,” he said, maintaining a stiff upper lip.
Brayden glanced over at Alice, watching how naturally she had taken to Damian and was involving herself in conversation with him. She had become rather animat
ed and had at one point folded her legs beneath herself on the sofa. Brayden snapped his fingers to get Alice’s attention and then pointed at her shoes, indicating for her to put them on the floor. Damian understood Brayden’s hand signal and verbalised it. Alice was so deep into explaining the book she was currently reading to Damian that she pulled her legs out from beneath her and sat back down on the sofa without paying much more attention to it. Brayden realised how much he adored Alice, when she carried on connecting with Damian, how natural and innocent she was.
Before Brayden and Alice departed Greystone Hall and the Fowler family, Brayden asked Evelyn to send Bennett his best regards “and a cuddle from Alice.”
“Yeah right,” Alice thought to herself, as said goodbye.
“Father?” Alice asked, once they were in the car and the driver had pulled them down the drive.
“Yes, my darling?” Brayden asked, turning to her.
“Am I still getting into trouble when we get home?” Alice asked, remembering he had said she would receive further punishment.
“I think you have learned your lesson and you were a very good girl afterward, so no. If there is a repeat performance of that behaviour, however, I will not be so gracious. So I expect you to appreciate it this time,” Brayden said.
“Yes, Sir,” she responded.
“Did you enjoy chatting to Uncle Damian?” Brayden asked.
“Yes! He is well lovely!” Alice said, suddenly turning toward Brayden and putting her hand on his arm.
“Oh darling, please don’t use the term ‘well’ anything, it’s very common. You’re not common any longer,” he said.
“Alright, sorry. But he is,” Alice said.
Brayden chuckled as he witnessed her energy bubbling throughout her explanation. He enjoyed watching her eyes light up and her hands demonstrate various points she made.
“Father, are you listening?” Alice suddenly asked.
“Yes my darling, you know I am. I was watching you,” he said, and leant over and kissed her forehead.
“What is it?” Alice asked, when she realised Brayden looked rather solemn.
