Alice offered a small smile. "Thank you, Roberts."
"You will be introduced to the rest of the staff in the morning. For tonight, the maids will assist you in preparing for the night. If you would please follow me, I’ll show you to your chambers."
He gestured toward the entrance of the estate, leading her inside. As she walked through the grand foyer and down the polished marble floors, Alice reminded herself not to get carried away by the lavish surroundings.
About two hours after she arrived at the estate, Alice found herself dressed for bed in her chambers. She had changed into a soft, modest nightgown that merely brushed against her skin, a comforting relief from the spine-crushing dress she had worn for the reception. She sat extremely close to the window, her legs tucked beneath her as she leaned against the sill. The cool night air was not only refreshing but also relaxing.
The tall trees swayed gently, their leaves rustling softly, calming her restless thoughts. The size of the estate made her feel both small and amazed, and for a moment, she let herself imagine what life could be like here, away from the worries.
Alice shut her eyes, temporarily forgetting her troubles. She smiled and leaned even further out the window, allowing the wind to tousle her hair and brush against her skin.
"Alice!"
No one had ever called her so fiercely. Startled, she staggered slightly, almost tipping out of the window. Just then, she felt a strong hand grasp her waist, pulling her back to safety. He practically swooped her from the window with one arm and threw her on the bed. Alice struggled to regain her composure, panting.
That could have gone very wrong.
"Have you gone mad?"
It took a moment to gather herself, but she finally pushed herself off the bed and stood in front of him, still panting. His chest rose and fell rapidly, and he glared at her. Alice noticed his hands were shaking and his entire body practically vibrating as he watched her, waiting for a response. A flicker of worry coursed through her, but she quickly shoved it aside.
"Excuse me?"
"There are better ways to end your life than jumping off a window," he said breathlessly. "What were you thinking? Surely, your fate cannot be that awful."
Alice’s eyebrows furrowed. "First, you barge in here without giving me any notice, then you practically scare the life out of me before proceeding to swoop me off the window and throw me to the bed? And you’re asking if I am the one that’s gone mad, Your Grace?"
Victor stepped closer, his eyes wild with something Alice couldn’t quite decipher. "Do you think this is some sort of joke? I don’t know what you were thinking but it will not happen under my roof."
"What are you talking about?" she asked, her frustration boiling over. "I was just sitting. You were the one that scared me."
"Why would any sane person sit on a window?" He ran a trembling hand through his hair as if trying to dispel the panic clawing at him. Alice could see that he was tense, but she couldn’t understand why he was so upset when he was the one who caused the ruckus in the first place.
"Do not do that again," he said.
"You don’t even know me! You have no right to barge in here and dictate how I should feel or what I should do," Alice said and crossed her arms defiantly.
Victor drew in a sharp breath and straightened his back. "Just… go to bed."
"I don’t feel like sleeping yet," she answered.
"Go to bed, Alice," he repeated and turned to walk out of the room.
"Why did you marry me?" Alice asked, staring at his back turned to her. "I mean, you cannot possibly be in any rush to get an heir. But there has to be some reason. So why? Were you doing my papa a favor?"
Victor didn’t respond. He continued walking out of the room and slammed the door behind him.
Alice sank onto the bed, feeling tears sting her eyes. She lay there, staring at the intricately painted ceiling, trying to process everything that had just happened. It had made no sense. There was no head or tail to the argument.
Alice let out a shaky breath, and turned onto her side curling into a ball, seeking comfort in the softness of the bedding. Despite her best efforts to stay awake, exhaustion soon took over. Her eyelids grew heavy, and she slipped into a deep sleep, silently hoping to wake up from the nightmare.
But the moment her eyes opened again, she caught sight of the same familiar ceiling, and a sigh slipped from her lips. The nightmare was indeed a reality, and she had to live with it.
The pale light of morning filtered through the curtains. Alice rubbed her eyes and stretched, feeling slightly better than she had slept. She sat up and was surprised to find an older lady standing at the foot of her bed. Alice frowned, confused.
"Good morning, Your Grace," the woman said. "My name is Agatha. I am the housekeeper here at the Ravenmoor estate. I hope you rested well."
"Good morning, Agatha," Alice said. "I had a good night. Thank you."
