"As long as Lord Arvill wants me here." Her gaze fluttered to James, a nervous smile crawling across her face.
He couldn't blame her for her nerves; Edwin had that effect on people, even when he wasn't trying. Perhaps it was his handsome features or his strong build, but he had an unconscious habit of making people - especiallywomen -nervous. James tried to ignore the stab of jealousy as he interjected, "Miss Sempill will be staying here for as long Jenny and Samuel need her. Or as long as she can stay."
Apparently soothed by his voice, Alicia relaxed. James didn't miss, how she gently slid out of Edwin's reach before inching closer to the kitchen hallway. "I'm happy to stay as long as needed, my lord," she answered cheerfully, and yet her smile didn't reach her eyes. "If you'll both excuse me, I have to get back to the children." Then she turned, scurrying down the hall that led towards the kitchen. She didn't look back, and soon enough, she was swallowed by the curve in the hall.
Her behavior was odd recently - or perhaps it had always been so - but at least James had an explanation for this. Edwin. Whether intentional or not, the poor woman was clearly uncomfortable around him. James made a mental note to mention it later, should it continue. Recently reunited or not, he wouldn't have his own brother making his staff uncomfortable.
When he turned back to Edwin, it was with a smile. Hewasmaking a stab at this happy family thing, after all. "I'll let you get settled in," he said, "Find me in the study if you need anything."
"Of course," Edwin replied, "I'll be in my bedroom unpacking."
Edwin left, and once again, James was alone. He sighed, dropped his head into his hands, and tried to fight back the developing headache in the back of his skull.
* * *
Jenny sat at Alicia's feet, idly playing with two dolls. She murmured under her breath, different voices for each doll, and tilted their heads and limbs as if in conversation.
Alicia didn't reallyneedto stay with the children after lessons, but Jenny was happy to sit in peaceful quiet, at least for now. Samuel was off doing who knew what, leaving rare peace to settle over the playroom.
"Edwin came home today," Jenny piped up suddenly, "He's been away for a really long time, and he never stays for long."
"Oh?" Alicia replied. Their home lives really weren't any of her business, and she didn't want to overstep... but at the same time, curiosity swelled inside her. "I met him earlier. He seems nice."Niceperhaps wasn't quite how she would have phrased it, but Alicia had only spoken to him ever so briefly.
Jenny shifted, wide eyes turning up to look at her. "I don't like him."
Alicia's chest stuttered. "You don't like your own brother?"
She shook her head, a frown overtaking her pretty young features. "No, I don't," she replied firmly, "James says they used to be really close, but whenPapa died, Edwin changed."
Alicia shouldn't have been listening to this. What would James have thought if he knew what secrets Alicia was listening to? Surely he'd throw her out of the house or punish her in some other way. She was just a governess, and their business was their own.
"I think they had an argument, but I don't remember." Jenny scowled down at the dolls, which were now laid across her lap. "Then Edwin went away for a long time, and James said he was traveling, but I know he left because Papa died."
Without thinking, Alicia reached to brush a strand of hair from Jenny's eyes. She had such lovely hair - a rich, perfect black with a few strands of deep chestnut brown. Bleached by the sun, probably, because the two children spent a lot of time outside. "Adults have complicated lives," Alicia soothed, "and sometimes it's difficult to understand why we do the things we do. But James and Edwin, both love you, I'm sure of it."
She only shrugged and hauled herself to her feet with a stretch, arms pointing for the ceiling. "That's what James always says too," she replied. "Anyway, Edwin won't be here for long, and then he'll be gone again. I wonder where he'll travel to next?"
Alicia parted her lips to reply, although what she planned to say was a mystery even to herself. She never got the chance to reply – because, at that moment, there was a shriek from one of the other rooms, followed by thundering footsteps as someone tore through the hall.
"What on earth," Alicia murmured - and then she was darting into the hall, head whipping from one direction to the other as she searched for the source of the noise.
A maid was leaning heavily on the tall metal banister that overlooked the foyer below. She clutched it like a lifeline, breathing heavily.
"What's wrong?" Alicia murmured, a careful hand on the maid's shoulder. She didn't yet know the names of all the staff, but this poor woman was hardly older than a girl. Sixteen at most and terrified, she looked close to throwing up.
"I was just - I was changing Lord Arvill's sheets, and there's a deadraton the pillow! Oh, he'll be so angry if he hears about this."
Alicia frowned, biting down on her lip as she turned to glance into the room. It was enormous, with a ceiling height wardrobe made of carved wood and a beautiful carpet of gold and blue. It was impossible to see the bed from here.
That was when she heard stifled giggles from the playroom. There was a flash of movement as Jenny poked her head into the hall, a grin lighting up her face.
It clicked, then, but perhaps a moment later than it should have. "You," Alicia said coolly, as dread washed over her, "that's why Samuel wasn't with you. What did you do, Jenny?"
The girl only shrugged narrow shoulders, laugher drifting through the hall. "I didn't do anything! All Samuel wanted me to do was distract you."
So, everything that Jenny said about her brothers and her father was all nonsense to keep her occupied while Samuel planted something in the bedroom? Alicia's stomach turned. "Please tell me you didn't put a deadratin Lord Arvill's bed?"
Jenny only beamed. "No, silly! It's just a toy."
