She came on a gray day to a gray house on the gray earth, a speckle of black dropped on a canvas of clay. The veil obscured her face, and perhaps she was quite lovely, and perhaps she was not.
But there was no mistaking the smile of her red lips. She was here for a reason.
They led her into the private room where she sat to wait. She perched herself like a proper lady, legs together, dainty ankles in their high, button-up boots crossed demurely, her black skirts drawn under her. As she waited in her black dress and black veil in the white room with white walls, the grey clouds split open over the gray house and it began to rain.
Then they led the man in, and a hand in a white glove covered the hand in the black glove.
"Darling," rasped the man, clearing his throat. "Frabjous to see you."
"And to see you, my Hatter," she murmured in reply, lifting the veil so he could see her face and the tears of joy standing out in her cerulean eyes.
"There's my lady…tell me, precious, can we speak freely?" He looked haggard, but she knew that a bath, a shave, and a meal would make all the difference in the world—and these were things she intended to provide him with at the earliest possible moment.
"But of course! This is a conjugal visit, my love." He blushed.
"You told them we—"
"Forgive me for the impropriety, my treasure, but there was no other way to ensure privacy!"
He paused for a moment, then nodded. "I see. Very well, then, my dear—thank you for the clever move." She smiled, delighted at the praise. "Now tell me, where do we stand?"
She began to tick off the list with her fingers. "Well, let me see, now…the money is safely in the bank in Switzerland. As we thought, they assume you took the money…no one dares think otherwise."
He lifted her hand to his lips. "Perfection."
"I fear not," she sighed. "The particular place we had our eyes on, darling? It…well, it had another bidder."
He went stiff. "Oh, dear. Then how much more do we need?"
She sighed and stroked her thumb over his hand. "Two million. We could always find another island, of course…"
"Never one as perfect, however," he reminded her, frowning when she sighed in agreement. "Surely another two million will not be hard to come by. We've already got the rest, after all."
She smiled. "I hoped you'd take it in stride."
"Nothing to fear, my sweet. Now tell me…what else?"
"I've kept my job, of course."
"And they suspect nothing?"
"Not a thing! I'm still a model employee." He laughed aloud at that and gently stroked her cheek. She tilted into the touch, smiling with undisguised love. "And I've disposed of the boy."
"Excellent! I couldn't bear him touching you, my love."
"Not I him. But they'll find the body in a day or two…poor unfortunate Miss Pleasance, hmm? Ah well. Her luck will turn!" They laughed lightly together for a moment, before falling into comfortable silence.
"You are comfortable here, aren't you? Black Gate wouldn't be easier?"
"Oh, no, this is infinitely better…condescension instead of brutality. Let them think too little of me than too much."
"As you wish, my love. As long as you are able to stand it, I don't mind where you are."
"When can you visit again, Alice?"
"I'll come as soon as I can, darling, but we cannot afford to make this look unseemly. You will tell me if you need help, won't you, Jervis?"
"You'll be the first I'll come to, angel."
The blonde woman smiled and kissed his lips. "Until then, Jervis darling. Next stop…Wonderland."
"With a garden fit for the Queen," he smiled, returning the kiss.
She grinned, stood, and dropped the veil back over her face. With a gentle squeeze of his hand, she left the room.
Jervis sighed happily. It was all going according to plan.
A/N: Ta-da! An Evil!Alice fic! A steamy sequel has been requested...we shall see.