The Sisters Of The Court

Chapter 48: Alice

The holidays past and I started noticing Scarlett's behavior. Yes she did apologize to me but I didn't like how close she was getting to George. I seem just like a jealous wife but the way she follows him around, the glares she gives me although she apologized. I sigh looking out the window, wishing that the snow would go away so that we can resume to having picnics outside. I sit in the nursery with Nicholas in bed. His leg still swollen, I ordered Scarlett's children to have a separate room from mine.

My poor baby, I kiss his cheek. Nicholas looks up at me. "Mama am I okay?" He asks me. "Of course my darling, it's just temporary, everything is going to be fine" I hold his hand gently, petting his hair. He smiles at me, the most perfect smile I have ever seen. "Can I play with papa later?" He asks me. I smile at him, "Of course darling, when this goes away." I say. The governess comes in and gives him his medicine. "Mama I don't want to take this" he pouts to me. "Darling you must, you must get better so that you can play with papa later" I remind him.

"Okay" he sighs as he takes the medicine with his tea. "You are a very good boy my love" I smile as the governess smiles at him. "Good! I can be good! Like papa!" He says confidently. I kiss my sons cheek as he yawns. "You are tired my love, go take a nap" I say gently as he closes his eyes and falls asleep. I let go of my son and tuck him in, kissing his forehead before leaving him to sleep with the governess by his side. I gently close the door behind myself and walk down the hall to George's office but find that he is outside, spending time with Scarlett and her children. I stand still and watch as they have a snowball fight, laughing, having fun, just as a family would.

I walk to my room and shut the door. He lied to me, saying that he would keep his distance. I am not that ridiculous or and idiot! I know what is going on around me. Out of anger and emotional exhaustion I shut my eyes, as tears stream downy face. It's stupid that I'm crying over nothing but why do I feel like the other woman in my own home. I eventually fall sleep, unintentionally.

***
"Alice you must be very good alright? Then we can be able to get something sweet later!" Victoria smiles as we sit in the carriage, on our way to the shops. "Yes Victoria" little me says, fascinated by the outside world. "You know my little star, we are going to go to England soon together" Victoria says looking at me nervously. "Really?!" I say. "Yes my darling, you will get to see family there" she smiles at me.

"Oh how exciting! Will mama and papa join us?" I asked her. "No darling, it will be just you and me, how does that sound?" She says. "Fun! Just for sisters!" I giggle as Victoria seems to have a hint of sadness, "You will have so many new things once we get there, England has the finest places to visit you know? Imagine all the flowers my love" Victoria smiles.

"Pretty flowers" little me says as I look at the common people walking by. "It will be fun" Victoria says pulling me onto her lap, hugging me close. "M- Victoria why so sad?" I put my hand on her cheek. "Oh it's nothing, it's nothing" her voice echos.
***
We never ended up going to England, she fell ill and well, she past, the rest is history. I wake up disoriented and check the time, 4:00pm. I get out of bed and go to the bathroom, splashing water onto my face. I try to clear my mind as I walk into the dining room. George and Scarlett are already there, chatting away, they never seem to run out of things to talk about. None of them notice my presence as I clear my throat, George hears and and turns to look at me, "My love! I saw you sleeping and I didn't wish to disturb you!" He says as he stands up, placing his hands on my waist, kissing my cheek.

I look over at Scarlett sitting in my seat again. Her dress has such a low cut that it looks as if her bosom is about to fall out. So much material and layers onto that dress giving it a large shape. George let's go of me, letting me sit in his seat again. He pulls up another chair so that he can sit next to me. "So my love how did you sleep?" He asks me as I look around the room. Something seems different, I notice that the curtains are different. They are much more filled with material and less plain then to my and George's taste. "Who changed the curtains?" I ask out loud.

George looks up at the curtains, "Oh Well- Scarlett did I guess" he says. I look at him already starting to boil with anger. "She changed the curtains?" I emphasize the word she. "I did" she says loudly, unbothered. "Why?" I ask her simply. "Because the old ones were unflattering, plain. You don't want to look poor, do you now cousin?" She asks me. "As if you live in a poorhouse?" She says. I sit there, anger about to spill out of me but I bite back my tongue as George holds my hand.

"Well cousin if you have an issue with the way that our house looks then you can always go back to your own home, you can not order anything around, you don't run this house, you are a guest. If there is an issue bring it up to me" I tell her politely. I can tell that what I said has upset her. She sits, her face red, as if she is about to burst. "I don't think so Alice" she grits her teeth. "Excuse me?" I look up at her.

"You do nothing! You left your husband for a month! You left him all alone! You aren't even able to give him a daughter and you are a lying dumb selfish bitch! I'm sure that Peter is a bastard you cheating whore! You don't deserve anything! You are nothing! I'm not some house guest! Respect a woman of higher standing!" She spits at me, throwing her drink at me. I sit shocked, tears in my eyes, wiping the spit wine away from my face. "I want you gone, tonight! I want her out of this house! I don't care where she goes but she can't stay here!" I say with tears in my eyes walking away as George calls after me.