Alice could barely contain her excitement throughout the day. Whenever she thought about what happened last night, gooseflesh rose on her skin. It was almost as if her body was missing the way his arms had felt around her, how nice it felt to be pressed against his chest. As the day dragged on into night, it had taken all she had not to bounce around in enthusiasm at the thought of being alone with him again.
I truly hope we kiss again.
Alice had already accepted the fact that she liked him in a way that she’d never liked another man before, a way she’d never thought possible. Just the mere thought of him was all it took for her to grow giddy, for her to smile like a fool to herself. She wouldn’t think about whether she loved him, wouldn’t think about what she’d almost said to him before they’d been interrupted. For now, she would simply enjoy his company.
I really need to get a hold of myself.
She laughed to herself and took her time getting ready to calm her eagerness. After thinking about it for a moment, she chose to wear a lavender scent and decided to keep her hair draped around one shoulder. While she patted her cheeks to keep them rosy, there came a knock on the door.
“Enter,” she called a bit hesitantly. If it was Emma, it would be difficult for her to leave. Emma would want to sit and talk for a while and if Alice tried to chase her back to her bedchamber, her sister would only grow suspicious.
No one came inside. Alice paused after a moment, looking at the door. Then she stood and went over to it. She opened the door to reveal that there was no one behind it. Confused, Alice stepped out further and looked up and down the hallway to see if she saw anyone.
This must be a joke.Slightly irritated, she turned to go back into her room when something white on the floor caught her attention. She picked it up and realized that it was a note.
She went back into her room, closing the door behind her as she studied the note. It was small, the scribbles difficult to read. She hurried to her bed and brought it close to the candle by the nightstand.
Upon opening the note, it read:
Meet me on the west side of the garden.
The west side of the garden?The note had to be from William but why would he want to meet there instead of the library? Had he forgotten what happened there? And why would he not tell me that before, rather than change his mind? A tremor of fear rushed through her at the memory of the pistol shot, but she tucked it away, rising.He must have a reason for asking me to go there.
The only way to get answers to those questions was to simply ask him. Already, the thought of seeing him again was beginning to override the fear that had lanced through her for a moment. Certainly, everything would make sense when she arrived.
Leaving the note on her bed, Alice quietly left her room and began making her way toward the gardens, listening out for anyone as she did. Her excitement grew the closer she got to the garden. Unbidden, the image of William standing amidst the shrubbery, frosted by fog drifting around his legs, popped into her mind. She imagined him walking toward her, imagined how he would embrace her, how he could take her hand and caress her cheek as he lowered his lips to hers—
It scared her a little how much she was looking forward to this. She already had to keep up a purely platonic image with him in front of everyone. Their clandestine, nightly encounters felt like a place where she could let go all pretenses and be free to feel anything and everything. They were her personal moments with him where nothing held them back, where she didn’t have to think about anything but being unapologetically herself.
Alice smiled as she arrived at the doors leading out to the gardens. Alice passed over the patio and stepped onto the path lined with high, trimmed bushes. The garden was truly beautiful, even at night. Moonlight filled the area allowing her to see her way ahead. Soon enough, she came upon the open space where she’d first saw just who William was. That day was forever branded in her mind, not only because of what had happened, but it was the day she’d realized that she liked William far more than she thought she would.
He wasn’t here though. Alice frowned, looking around. “William?” she called out. “Do not tell me you asked me to come all the way out here only to make me wait.”
She’d hoped that would bring him out of hiding, just in case he truly was watching her from someplace else. She couldn’t fathom why he would need to do such a thing, but she planned on saving the questions for when she could ask him directly. But there was no answer.
Alice sighed, deciding it would be best if she simply relaxed and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere as she waited for him.
Then, she heard something behind her, rustling leaves. She turned in the direction of that sound. “William? Why do you—"
She didn’t get the chance to finish when something hard collided against her as temple. She only managed to see a dark figure, a hand lashing out viciously at her before the darkness rose up to claim her and she slipped into its peaceful embrace.
Chapter 18
William stared at himself in the mirror, a surge of giddiness rising through him. For most of his life, he’d always known that he was a good-looking man, that he could often use that to his advantage whenever he wanted to have a bit of fun. He’d never had to worry about how he looked or wonder what others saw through their eyes. Not until now.
He ran his fingers through his hair, the dark strands flopping easily over his forehead. Nervously, he tugged on the lapels of his coat, the one he’d been wearing since dinner. Like the past few nights, dinner had passed in relative comfort with everyone talking at ease. Alice and Lady Emma seemed interested in hearing about their hunting trip and somehow it had turned into a bit of a competition about who had the more interesting day. Alice, of course, spearheaded the budding rivalry and William had been more than eager to combat her.
It only brought home just how perfect she was for him. She was capable of matching him step for step, always keeping him on his toes. She had the power to shine as brightly as the sun but made sure not to cast shadows on anyone else around her. Her beauty, her personality, the way she made him feel…it only drove home just how much he’d grown to love her.
And in such short time too. With his past love, it had developed over time. Perhaps their social differences had been a factor in how long it had taken. Perhaps it had simply been because the way he felt about Alice was somehow different, somehow stronger, yet altogether just as all-consuming.
He grinned at his reflection, excitement thrumming through him at the thought of seeing her again. He turned and left his bedchamber, certain that it was time.
I’ll try to get a response from her this time. It was clear that she planned on saying something to me before we’d been interrupted last night. This time, I won’t let the chance slip by.
He wouldn’t forget how he’d felt in that moment. Utterly afraid—and yet so proud that he’d gathered the courage in the first place. He told himself, as he watched emotions pass over her face, that no matter what she said, he wouldn’t give up. He wouldn’t simply let her go just because she was not yet ready to let go of her fear of love. He would stay by her side and make her see just how beautiful it could be. Even if it was capable of bringing him to his knees.
Within minutes, he arrived at the library, grateful that it was once again empty and dark. He considered sitting without light again, to wait for her, but opted against it. Instead, he lit a few of the candles around the room and then tried to busy himself by perusing some of the titles he hadn’t gotten a chance to look at before.
