The Courting

by Bella Bryce

  “Ho Ho Ho!” broke Alice’s moment of fond observation.

  Elisabeth covered her mouth and tried not to laugh when she saw Evelyn’s eyes light up and dart to Alice.

  “Who’s that, Alice?” she asked, in an animated voice.

  Bennett maintained his composure and sat back with one leg over the other, enjoying every second of it.

  Brayden looked at Alice and leant down to her. “Play along, darling. I know you can do it.”

  Alice looked up at Brayden and rolled her eyes before getting off the sofa. Evelyn waited with bated breath as Alice walked right up to the jolly man in the impressively realistic red and white fur suit.

  “Hello, Father Christmas. Now, before you start asking if I’ve been a good girl, I think you might like to sit down. There’s been some rather shocking behaviour this year and I’d like to speak to you about it.”

  Alice’s comment produced laughter from everyone as they watched her lead him by the hand toward the tree. Greystone’s Christmas tree stood fifteen feet high with crystal clear baubles scattered amongst crystal diamond drops and white lights from top to bottom. A gold embroidered satin tree skirt surrounded the bottom and countless presents with foiled wrapping paper and oversized matching bows adorned the idyllic scene.

  She pulled Father Christmas by the hand toward a large burgundy leather wing chair, which had very obviously been strategically placed beside the tree and another fireplace to create a very particular setting. She’d been to Greystone Hall enough to know the wing chair belonged on the other side of the room. Evelyn had very clearly carved out the perfect space for the morning’s festivities to occur. Alice hid a smile and rolled her eyes as she approached the chair and insisted Father Christmas sit in it.

  No one was more enthusiastic than Evelyn Fowler, who was exceptionally delighted and promptly abandoned her tea in the most ladylike manner to witness it first-hand rather than from across the room. Evelyn signalled for one of her staff to get into position and photograph the unfolding of events that felt very impromptu. Alice hadn’t realised the Father Christmas charade would be documented by photographs, but she pretended no one was about as he pulled her onto his lap.

  “Now,” Alice began, folding her hands and resting them on top of her sweet taffeta dress.

  “I must start off by saying there are several very misbehaved people in this room, Father Christmas. Although, if you really know what’s going on like the song says you do, then I don’t need to point out any of their shortcomings.”

  Father Christmas laughed instead of forcing out his “ho ho ho” and looked down at her through the glasses which perched on the end of his young-looking nose. Whomever Evelyn had paid to be Father Christmas wasn’t even the right age. Not that it bothered Alice; she found the entire thing ridiculous. Nevertheless, she went on.

  “I’d also like to say that no matter what your elves tell you, I have been the most well behaved I’ve ever been in my entire life. I’ll tell you why,” she started, and pulled out a small piece of paper from the hidden pocket of her Christmas dress, producing laughter from Brayden, Jonathan, Evelyn, Bennett and Elisabeth as they all stood in a cluster nearby, observing. They were all dressed in their usual formal clothes, looking on at Father Christmas and Alice with smiles from ear to ear. If nothing, it was good fun for everyone.

  “What is that you have there, then?” Father Christmas bellowed.

  “It’s a bullet point list of things I’ve been thinking to say to you this year,” Alice began.

  Evelyn put her hands together and brought them to her lips as she watched one of her staff expertly photograph Father Christmas with Alice on his knee. She especially loved the shots whereby Alice began to read out from a small piece of rolled up paper in her hands as though she were quite grown up and telling Father Christmas just how things were. Brayden smiled as he watched Evelyn soaking it all in.

  “The shocking behaviour doesn’t start with me, might I remind you. Now, first of all we have my father, who thinks nobody notices when he frowns at a smudge on his shoe. He doesn’t like smudges. It becomes shocking when he asks Wellesley to buy him a new pair as a result,” Alice said, grinning at Brayden.

  Brayden cleared his throat and furrowed his eyebrows as Bennett looked at him. “As if you never do,” he remarked, then returned his attention to Alice.

  Bennett nodded in a rather amused fashion.

  “Perhaps you’ve also noticed how my Uncle Bennett never lets me win at chess,” Alice added, glancing over at him.

  Bennett let the corner of his mouth rise just enough to let her know he found her comment amusing.

  “Elisabeth Warner has only been living with us for a month, but she’s never told my father how many times I’ve climbed into her bed for a midnight chat,” Alice said, then opened her mouth and met eyes with Elisabeth, who blushed slightly.

  Bennett squeezed her hand and raised his eyebrows. He wouldn’t be terribly hard on Elisabeth, although he fully intended to give her a little bit of a Christmas smack to remind her to behave for the upcoming year.

  “Now, Uncle Jon is far too quiet to be blamed for anything and my Aunty Evelyn, well, she just cuddles me until I can’t breathe,” Alice said, giving them both a grin.

  Evelyn took every word from Alice as enduring and put her hand over her heart. Jon couldn’t help but smile and put his arm around his wife. He knew Brayden’s adoption of Alice filled voids in more than just his life.

  “But you see, Father Christmas,” she continued, as she rolled the paper up and replaced it into her pocket. “It’s not the cheeky behaviour that’s shocking, it’s really the things you might not see. My father gets a new pair of shoes every week but he asks Wellesley to give away the others to the local charity shop; that means someone who can’t afford Savile Row will get a pair of presentable, gentlemanly shoes at over 75% off what they really cost. My father doesn’t just give to charity, he’s helping the local economy because the man wearing those shoes is going to look smart at his next interview and get the job. See how that works?”

  Brayden couldn’t help but laugh, as did the rest of them. Elisabeth shook her head and looked up at Bennett.

  “My Uncle Bennett never lets me win at chess because he believes I’ll be good enough one day to beat him fair and square,” she told Father Christmas, but looking over at Bennett. He straightened his face and gave her a small nod.

  “Elisabeth isn’t actually being naughty by not telling my father I’m out of bed, she’s providing a necessary daily injection of female companionship, which, according to the NHS, is just as good as or better than not having a mother in the home. So, she’s pretty much a saint.”

  Elisabeth wiped the corner of her eye and laughed. She’d actually found Alice’s words rather touching, having been insecure about admitting she felt a protective sense over her. She didn’t want Alice to think she was strange, although convention had been completely tossed out of their circle when Brayden adopted her in the first place.

  “My Uncle Jon is quiet, because he’s wise and always thinks before he speaks and Aunty Evelyn fusses because she loves me,” Alice finished, looking very seriously at Father Christmas.

  Evelyn waved a hand over her face, as if tears might fall and Jon smiled as he kissed her other hand.

  “So, if you please, Father Christmas, make sure we’re all on the nice list, because I don’t think you’ll find a better family anywhere else.”

  Father Christmas stared back at her and leant forward. “Aren’t you forgetting someone?” he asked, too quietly for anyone else to hear.

  Alice looked into his eyes and frowned. It only took a moment for her to recognise those eyes, but before she could say anything, Father Christmas cleared his throat.

  “Ho Ho Ho, my my, what an intelligent girl you are. And it just so happens that you’re all on the nice list!” he replied, with jolly vigour.

  A participatory round of smiles and ‘yeahs’ went around, as Alice seemed to ha
ve convinced Father Christmas they were all worthy of whatever was in the large, red velvet bag at his feet.

  “Now then, Alice, I believe I have something for you in my bag,” he said, as he reached down.

  Evelyn tapped the photographer on the shoulder and insisted he get a bit closer to capture how ‘adorable’ it was that Santa held Alice securely on his lap as he reached into his large gift bag and removed a square box. The wrapping was purple and gold thick-foiled paper secured with a large exquisite gold bow.

  Alice smiled and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Thank you,” she said, holding it in her lap.

  “Now then, you go and stand beside your father, I want to have a word with Elisabeth Warner next.”

  Elisabeth’s eyes widened and she looked up at Bennett. He smiled and gave her bottom a discrete swat and nodded toward Father Christmas. She forced a smile and shyly walked over to the man in the red suit. He opened his arms and pulled her into his lap as she sat across his knees.

  “Hello there, Elisabeth,” Father Christmas started.

  “Hello,” she said quietly, as the tops of her cheeks blushed. Elisabeth really, really didn’t want to sit on his lap, especially in front of everyone.

  Alice covered her mouth and giggled as Brayden rubbed her back.

  “I’ve been watching you recently, Elisabeth Warner, and it seems that you’ve been a little bit misbehaved this year,” he said, raising his obviously fake bushy eyebrows. Elisabeth glanced over at Bennett.

  “Oh?” she asked coyly.

  “Yes, but from what I understand, Bennett is doing a good job of keeping you in line,” he said, causing Bennett to give Father Christmas a warning look. Elisabeth didn’t mind and laughed out loud.

  “Do you know what happens to little girls who are naughty?” Father Christmas asked.

  Elisabeth nodded and tried to appear to be remorseful. “If you ask Bennett, it means they go over his knee,” she admitted, causing Bennett to clear his throat. Brayden’s eyes widened and he covered them with one hand, shaking his head as they all chuckled.

  Evelyn’s eyes widened and she looked at her husband.

  “Not from me, I’m afraid. Father Christmas gives naughty girls a lump of coal,” he said, and removed an oval-shaped piece from his pocket to show her.

  Elisabeth looked a little surprised and made a fake pouting face. “Awwwww,” she said, glancing over at her audience.

  “I’m afraid Bennett feels this is what you should have this year,” Father Christmas said, with dramatized remorse.

  Bennett abandoned his place and approached where Elisabeth and Father Christmas were in the wing chair. Her first instinct was to think he might play-act a smacked bottom or something to embarrass her, but instead, he took the piece of coal from the white glove of Father Christmas. Elisabeth followed Bennett’s movements as he slowly crouched down until he was on one knee and ‘opened’ the piece of coal.

  “Elisabeth Grace Warner,” he started.

  Alice’s mouth dropped, Elisabeth’s mouth dropped and Evelyn audibly gasped and flung her hands to cover her mouth.

  Tears instantly formed in Elisabeth’s eyes as she looked at Bennett in his three-piece suit kneeling down, still taller than where she sat on the lap of Father Christmas.

  The round yellow diamond sparkled something prideful surrounded by two rows deep of brilliant white diamonds and a matching diamond band. It was a ring that was made to be shown off.

  “Will you do me the honour of becoming Mrs. Elisabeth Grace Fowler?”

  She covered her face with her hands and immediately slumped her shoulders and began to cry. Bennett’s expression was about to change to worry, until she uncovered herself and put her arms around his neck gently. Bennett wrapped his arms around her and pulled her from the lap of Father Christmas down onto his knee and held her there where they cuddled quietly. The room was silent. Tears filled the eyes of more than Evelyn and Alice as they watched the touching moment unfold. Bennett wasn’t concerned when she hadn’t replied; he felt her body shake as she hugged him and hid her face in his suit.

  “Don’t cry,” he said quietly. “Your ring reflects your mood so if you’re sad it won’t sparkle.”

  “Yes,” she said quietly, looking directly into his eyes. “Yes!” Elisabeth repeated louder, leaning around Bennett to ensure they all heard her, which resulted in an eruption of congratulatory chatter and a request for champagne.

  Bennett was as close to crying in public or in front of anyone as he’d ever been in his life, as he removed the ring from the ‘coal’ and slid it onto Elisabeth’s left finger. She broke into a smile and watched it sit with obedient splendour against her delicate fingers. Elisabeth smiled and met his eyes. She didn’t know how to tell Bennett it was the most incredible ring or that he’d surprised her to death by opening the fake piece of coal to reveal it.

  “I couldn’t wait any longer,” he said quietly, turning her chin toward him.

  “I might have had a fit if you did,” Elisabeth replied, as she shyly smiled.

  She was thoroughly enjoying how her patent shoes hovered above the ground as she remained sitting on Bennett’s leg, and he could see an unrelenting sparkle in her eye as he held her securely in the same position as moments before when he’d proposed.

  “Good girls mustn’t sulk,” Bennett whispered into her ear before planting an intimate kiss on her lips.

  Elisabeth and Bennett carried on, completely unaware of the presence of anyone else in the room. Father Christmas had discretely abandoned the wing chair to grant the newly engaged couple a bit of privacy when he realised they weren’t going to move for a little while.

  “How long will it be until I can undo that waistcoat?” Elisabeth asked, when they finally pulled away. She felt very mischievous as she ran her finger over one of the brass buttons down the front with his tie neatly tucked inside.

  Bennett raised an eyebrow. “Not long. So don’t get too comfortable at Waldorf.”

  The End.

  Bella Bryce

  I started writing of my own accord when I was 13 years old; a fictional world of rules and discipline which I hid behind to escape a broken home and trauma. Now in my mid-twenties, I'm still writing, but now I'm not escaping anything . . . rather bringing to life beloved characters and plots that have been with me for a very long time. My first proper book, "The Solicitation," was written during the first few weeks of living in the Mid-Atlantic region after my husband and I were seconded here from England in 2013.

  My stories must have a direction and a guiding inclination of some kind. They won't always be romantic or have happy endings, but they will challenge readers to look at themselves and reflect on their own behaviour, thoughts and belief systems. And I always include personal circumstances and memories in my writing, but those that are fact from fiction shall remain undisclosed.

  Visit her blog here:

  http://authorbellabryce.weebly.com/

  Don’t miss these exciting titles by Bella Bryce and Blushing Books!

  The Solicitation, Waldorf Manor Book One

  The Shortlist, Waldorf Manor Book Two

  Please Enjoy Chapter One of the last book in the Waldorf Manor series!

  Chapter One

  There were empty Vodka bottles on the dingy floor as her foot caressed a path toward the light switch. Alice knew exactly how many steps it took to reach it because she’d counted those steps in the dark countless times before. But that night seemed different, it made her uneasy. Alice had never felt as uneasy as when her hand slid along the wall and she couldn’t find the switch. She felt herself frown and because it was pitch black there was no one to commiserate her discomfort – not that anyone would have. Alice’s mother, Sally, was far from being a compassionate or empathetic person and her ever-rotating boyfriends were even less so; they never stuck around long enough to feel anything but arousal and subsequent relief, in any case.

  They always disappeared after the latter.

  Alice e
xhaled a frustrated and concerned breath as she tentatively pushed her hand further along the wall higher then lower to no avail. The sound of extraneous breathing caused her eyes to widen and search the blackness in front of her frantically.

  “Mum?” she asked, worriedly.

  The breathing intensified and became more drawn out as if to communicate indifference.

  “Mum!” Alice demanded, as her hand abandoned the wall and reached out in front of herself.

  She took a hesitant step forward in the direction of the breaths and soon felt a hot, steamy response against her palm. Alice gulped and her own breath shook as she followed her left foot forward in response to her right. Her fingers found their way to a piece of flesh Alice thought was her mother’s nose, but the monster-like breath seemed to translate into the features she felt beneath them. Alice took in a sharp gasp and began to whimper.

  “Mum!” as hot tears spilled down her cheeks. “Is that you?” she pleaded.

  Alice’s other hand investigated the disfigured face-like thing, her fear intensified with each new nook and cranny when she realised the parts were in the wrong place. There was hair where eyes should be, an oversized nose where the mouth belonged, still spewing its steady, fervid exhale. She expected the mouth to have been responsible for such heavy vapours and her mind instantly recognised just how inhumane the thing before her, whom she knew despite complete lack of proof in the pitch-black darkness, was. And she knew it was her mother. Perhaps the exhaling from its nose was intended to trick her because from where one cheek should have been Alice discovered a mouth with jagged teeth. Before her mind took note of the danger, the mouth of vicious and knife-like teeth opened and then snapped closed, slicing down and straight through Alice’s fingers.