The Courting

by Bella Bryce

  “Perfect,” Bennett said, as he looked down at the clean, sophisticated cursive. “Alice?” he asked, looking down at her. “Won’t your father look handsome?”

  Alice shyly nodded her head and glanced at the man behind the counter. She definitely felt ten years old.

  “Very good. And I have one more thing to collect, but it wasn’t ordered from this store, it’s a resize.”

  “Same last name?”

  “Yes,” Bennett confirmed.

  Alice wandered down to the next counter and peered through the glass at the diamond rings, necklaces and watches. Everything sparkled and seemed to be calling her to look at them. She laid eyes on many lovely things but she didn’t feel particularly bothered to own any of them, which was quite peculiar, considering that before she’d moved to Waldorf she would have wanted all of it.

  “Come along,” Bennett said, and held his hand out to Alice and carried a small black bag with the top secured by a ribbon in the other hand. “I’ll give Wellesley your father’s gift and see that it’s wrapped.”

  “Thank you, Uncle Bennett,” Alice said, looking up at him.

  “You’re welcome. Clever girl. Your father is going to like these.”

  Alice smiled as they walked across the town centre and into Costa Coffee.

  “Go and sit at that table there, I’ll be along in a moment,” Bennett said, bending down and pointing to two overstuffed leather club chairs with a low wooden table between them. He also handed her the bag from the jewellery shop.

  “Yes, Uncle Bennett,” she replied innocently.

  “What a well behaved little girl,” an elderly lady remarked loudly.

  “She is,” Bennett smiled and removed his wallet as he approached the counter.

  He assumed the elder lady’s volume had something to do with the unruly children and the distracted parents behind them.

  Alice unbuttoned her coat and draped it neatly across the arm of the chair, then smoothed the pleats of her tartan pinafore. Her thick, woollen navy blue tights made her feel cosy, but she pulled her cardigan over her chest and folded her arms as a draft followed another customer through the door. She sat back in the leather club chair, thinking how it was a very modern chair that was trying to look like something she was very accustomed to at Waldorf. She pushed herself back and then crossed one leg under her thigh and glanced around the coffee shop.

  Alice suddenly realised that not only was it her first time being off Waldorf Manor property without Brayden, but it was also the first time she’d stepped foot inside of any public place for nearly a year. She felt strangely privileged to be sitting there amongst other people and the buzz of their conversations, watching how they spoke and related to one another. Waldorf Manor was good in many ways but in particular, that it made one appreciate the world for what it was when they reacquainted themselves with it. In the time Alice had been with Brayden, she’d not used a computer, been shopping, lazed about or slept in, skipped meals or had time to sit alone with her thoughts or bad memories. She had been on a routine since the day of her arrival and it had done nothing short than wonders for her character development.

  Bennett arrived at the adjacent chair, removed his topcoat and draped it over the arm of the chair, and replaced his wallet in his trouser pocket before sitting down. He saw Alice observing the conversations around them and put his phone on silent before slipping it back into his blazer.

  “Your father does the same thing when I can get him away from Waldorf for an afternoon,” Bennett remarked.

  Alice looked over at her uncle and smiled with the corner of her mouth.

  “You’re more alike than you might realise,” he added, resting his chin between his second finger and thumb under his chin with his forefinger along his cheek.

  “I know,” she said casually.

  A barista appeared with their drinks on a tray and apologised for the delay in warming the croissants. The girl placed the hot chocolate with whipped cream in front of Alice and the double espresso in front of Bennett.

  “Thank you, Uncle Bennett,” Alice said with a smile as she picked up her spoon and took a small helping of whipped cream to her lips.

  “You’re welcome,” he replied, and sat back in the chair, crossing one leg over the other as he took his espresso cup and saucer with him.

  Bennett watched the girl he’d come to know as his niece as she innocently swiped whipped topping from her oversized cup of hot chocolate and ate it. Her pinafore pleated sweetly across her small knees and the curls Celia always put in draped over her shoulders. When Alice turned her head to see who entered the coffee shop next, Bennett caught of glimpse of her navy blue satin hair ribbons. He thought back to the girl Brayden had first described to him on the night she arrived, the one whose mother attacked her and tried to keep her from leaving. Alice had been abused most of her life, and yet somewhere inside of her, she knew it wasn’t okay and that she needed to get out; she needed a real home and love that wasn’t conditional. Bennett hadn’t been there the night Alice arrived at Waldorf, but Brayden had told him in confidence the kind of home she’d come from some months later. Between what Brayden had told him and the girl he’d come to love as his niece, she seemed like two different girls, and the difference was her trust. Alice didn’t have to stay at Waldorf; she wasn’t required to remain there as a child and she knew she would have to grow up when Brayden told her it was time. But temporarily, the limits placed on her proved the overflowing strength of redemption. Alice had overcome.

  “Uncle Bennett?” she asked, catching him off-guard with her eye contact.

  “Yes, darling?” he asked, clearing his throat. He cleared his mind of poignant thoughts.

  “What did you get Elisabeth for Christmas?”

  Bennett lifted his espresso cup. “A lump of coal. She’s been a naughty girl,” he replied.

  Alice smiled at Bennett’s lack of expression. Sometimes her uncle could be such a Grinch.

  “Perhaps I’ve given you a lump of coal,” she said, bringing the massive cup to her mouth.

  “Two hands, Alice,” he said, watching her closely. “Don’t be cheeky.”

  “Did Aunty Evelyn really hire a Father Christmas for tomorrow?” Alice asked, her voice nothing short of disappointed.

  Bennett nodded as he replaced his cup in the saucer. “She did and you’ll have to sit on his lap and answer all his questions. So will Elisabeth.”

  “Well, at least it’s not just me.” Alice sat back in the chair. “This is going to be so humiliating.”

  “I like to think of it as character development,” Bennett replied.

  Character development indeed, Alice thought to herself the next morning, Christmas morning. She lay with the duvet over her head as she moaned at the impending doom of Father Christmas’ ridiculous antics, which she would be expected to play along with. Alice had embraced every facet of her new life as Brayden’s ten-year-old child, but she was entirely dreading Aunty Evelyn and her maternal mode on full blast later that day.

  “Happy Christmas, darling,” Brayden said quietly, when he sat on her bedside.

  Alice yanked the duvet down from over her head and shot up in bed. “Happy Christmas!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms about his neck. “It’s Christmas!” Alice reiterated as she pulled herself back to look at him.

  Brayden laughed gently and kissed her forehead. “It is. Do you know what our Christmas tradition is?”

  Alice’s eyes were sparkling and curious as she smiled and shook her head.

  His face turned solemn. “Your father brings you a special present before you get out of bed,” Brayden said, as he removed a small blue and white box from his blazer pocket. Alice’s eyes widened and her mouth slowly formed an ‘O’ shape.

  “Something tells me you need a reminder of how much I love you,” Brayden said quietly, as he handed the box to Alice.

  She looked up at him, still in shock as she lifted the lid. Brayden watched Alice stare at the stunning, ova
l platinum locket with an ‘A’ in the centre surrounded by a border of small white diamonds.

  “Father,” Alice breathed, her manner still quite shocked.

  “Open it,” he told her.

  Alice removed the necklace carefully from the small bed of cotton and gently opened it to reveal a four-photo display; one of the late Kathryn James, one of the late Oliver James, and one of Brayden.

  “The last one is empty,” he said quietly. He wasn’t sure what that meant, but he stated the obvious in any case.

  Alice exhaled a breath and leant over to cuddle him. “Thank you,” she said meaningfully.

  Brayden cuddled her back for a long moment before pulling her into his lap. “Now we’re always with you,” he said, giving her soft cheek a small kiss.

  Alice nodded. She might have cried if she hadn’t been so touched that it seemed to have dried up her tears before they could even form. Perhaps it was that Brayden wanted his late parents to somehow be a presence or memory to her, even though Alice never knew them, it touched her deeply. Brayden had never withheld anything he could give to the girl he’d adopted as his own and this was another example of how he wouldn’t ever.

  She swallowed a lump in her throat as Brayden clasped the necklace around her. Alice’s small fingers caressed it and she opened the locket and closed it, adoring the sound it made when it was secured again.

  “Did Elisabeth get the same?” she asked.

  “No. I’m giving her a handmade leather sketchpad, it has a gold plate on the front with her name engraved on it.”

  Alice’s eyes lit up. “She’s going to love it!”

  “I certainly hope so,” he said, watching Alice hold onto her necklace. He had certainly taken his time deciding what to get each of the girls. Both of them were deeply considered, well paid for and perfectly wrapped – the latter sorted by Celia of course.

  “I have something for you, you know,” she announced.

  “Oh?” he asked.

  Brayden knew perfectly well that Alice had a gift for him because Bennett took her to town the previous day to collect it. Brayden had also paid for the gift himself despite Alice insisting he take it out of ‘however much my trust fund is.’ Brayden had chuckled. He wouldn’t do that, even if it meant he bought his own gift.

  “But you won’t get it until later. Father Christmas is going to give it to you after you sit on his lap.”

  Brayden stifled a laugh and shook his head.

  Alice nodded with a huge grin. “Yes, Father,” she told him.

  “Well, now, you’d best get changed before this father gives you some encouragement. Your Christmas dress is behind the screen. Celia will be right along to help you.” He kissed her forehead and left the room.

  Alice ran her fingers over the diamonds on the face of the locket and looked at the photos once more. Something told her the last space wasn’t for her own photograph.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “Happy Chriiiist-mas, my darling, don’t you look just so love-ly!” Evelyn exclaimed, drawing out the syllables as if to extend her enthusiasm. She pulled Alice into her shapely Vera Wang dress and balanced on her heels with ease as she seemed to smother the girl with a strange amount of ladylike class and sophistication.

  Brayden never noticed Alice’s detriment when in Evelyn’s presence; he only viewed Evelyn’s attention toward Alice as effective and useful. Hence, he turned to greet Jonathan.

  Bennett and Elisabeth were standing away from everyone in the foyer and kissed quietly and slowly as though no one else were in the room. She would have stayed there all day if Bennett hadn’t pulled away.

  “Have you greeted everyone else properly?” Bennett asked, with that tone. The one she loved.

  “I saw you first, I’m afraid,” Elisabeth looked at him demurely.

  “Run along and greet my parents, then, young lady. You wouldn’t want to sit on Father Christmas’ lap with a sore bottom.”

  Elisabeth half smiled and half blushed.

  “I want to give you your Christmas present before everything starts. May I?”

  Bennett raised an eyebrow.

  “I don’t want you to open it in front of anyone. Please?” Elisabeth asked, her mouth in a sweet smile.

  Bennett glanced over Elisabeth’s shoulder and noted his parents, Brayden and Alice were still occupied with one another. Their conversation had almost become inaudible as he’d stood there with Elisabeth.

  “You were given very strict orders not to get anyone Christmas gifts and your Uncle Brayden was told not to give you pocket money,” he said.

  “I know,” Elisabeth said, “And he didn’t. I made it.”

  “All right, then,” Bennett agreed.

  “Check your pocket,” Elisabeth said, utterly proud of herself as the words left her mouth.

  Bennett frowned and looked down at his blazer. He checked his right outside blazer pocket and then the left, looking up at Elisabeth when he felt something.

  Elisabeth bit her lip as he removed his hand and a small, flat wrapped gift. He looked up at her.

  “When I arrived I slipped it into your pocket as we kissed,” she revealed, noticing he was rather surprised. “Open it,” she urged, smiling.

  Bennett really didn’t like to be on the receiving end of two things; spankings and gifts. He believed it was his place to give those things rather than to get them.

  He untied the gold cording ribbon and tore the smart red paper from the credit-card sized gift in his hand. Bennett knew immediately what it was before Elisabeth even explained.

  “It’s our story; I drew out my favourite memories since we first met.”

  Bennett flipped through the numerous 3x2 sketches Elisabeth had slipped between the protective pages of the plastic wallet holder. It had a tab on the end so Bennett could secure it in his wallet, which he intended to do – even considering there was a sketch of Bennett holding Elisabeth across his knee. He looked up at her and Elisabeth was biting her lip.

  “One of your favourite memories, is it?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “Yes, Sir,” Elisabeth replied, loving every minute of it.

  Bennett was somewhat reserved in his reaction, but to say he was moved by her talent and creativity in giving him something that was so unique and intimate would have been a gross understatement.

  “You are a very clever girl. Thank you, darling,” he said, and looked at Elisabeth. “And this is very cheeky,” his voice quietened to almost a whisper as he raised an eyebrow.

  “I know,” Elisabeth smiled.

  “I shall have to learn how to tell your parents in sign language how much I adore their little girl when we see them this evening,” he whispered.

  Bennett put his free hand on her cheek and kissed her on the lips slowly, as they always did when they kissed. Elisabeth giggled when they pulled away and watched Bennett remove his smart brown monogrammed wallet and position the miniature booklet of drawings between where his bank cards were organised. She loved watching him do things like that. He replaced his thin wallet and then took Elisabeth by the hand back over to the small gathering.

  Elisabeth kissed Jonathan Fowler twice and wished him a Happy Christmas. She also witnessed poor Alice being kissed and fussed over, covering her mouth and breathing out of her nose to keep from audibly laughing as Evelyn was still fussing over the girl. Bennett cleared his throat as a warning, causing Elisabeth to bite her lip. He rather enjoyed watching Alice be made a fuss of and wished nobody would draw attention to it.

  “Wouldn’t it have been fun to see the girls in matching dresses?” Evelyn asked, as she securely held onto Alice’s hand and stroked her hair as she finally stopped torturing her.

  Alice’s Christmas dress, which Harriet finished the week before, was a cranberry taffeta, long puffed sleeves with a white lace collar, white satin sash at the waist and a bow on the right side. She also wore two matching cranberry ribbons, which held back a handful of curls on either side of her parting. Her w
hite tights enhanced the colour of the beautiful dress, followed by cranberry patent Mary Janes.

  Elisabeth’s smile completely disappeared and it was Bennett’s turn to clear his throat to keep from chuckling. Although, he loved the idea of seeing Elisabeth dressed to match Alice. He glanced at her and raised an eyebrow. Bennett adored Elisabeth’s red and green tartan A-line dress with subtle puffs on the sleeves and matching red tights with a bow at her collar, but he couldn’t help but think how sweet she would look matching her ten-year-old companion.

  “Perhaps, at Easter, you and little Alice can wear matching dresses,” Bennett whispered into her ear.

  Elisabeth visibly blushed and pressed her lips together as she widened her eyes at Bennett.

  “With a hat and white gloves,” Bennett added.

  Elisabeth bit her lip and hid her face against his waistcoat and blazer, feeling as though everyone had heard him. Bennett was getting more and more frequent with his ability to make her blush.

  Greystone Hall was as beautiful as any mansion at Christmastime; there were countless garlands, wreaths, candelabras, glass ornaments and even a few life-size nutcrackers with real clothes standing guard through the house. Alice wasn’t entirely frightened by them, although she frowned as she passed several of them.

  The Fowlers, Brayden, Elisabeth and Alice sat nearest a nine-foot stone fireplace and warmed up with tiers and trays full of gingerbread, Eccles cakes and mince pies followed by full tea service tended to by Willis, the Fowlers’ long-time butler and two other uniformed male staff. It was a very happy gathering as Alice and Elisabeth sat side by side with Bennett to her right and Brayden to the left and the Fowlers in opposite wing chairs. Alice sat back with her teacup and watched the conversation flowing, the excitable yet extremely polite chatter amongst the people she’d come to love as her family. It warmed her heart when she saw Bennett reach over whilst in the middle of a conversation with his father and take Elisabeth’s hand securely in his own, whilst he held a cup and saucer of tea in the other. Alice smiled to herself and glanced at her father, who was happily chatting to Evelyn, and she wished that Anabelle could be there and that her father might reach for her hand.