chapter three: tears fro tea

Helen's POV:

I smiled to myself as I watched Tarrant and Alice hug. That display that my daughter just put on was shameless, improper, rude, and, I thought to myself, just like me and Charles. Oh, the things we did, why it would have given my own mother heart failure. I remember pulling my dress up to my knees and running bare foot into a stream with Charles. Why didn't I see that my darling daughter would never be happy with Hamish before? Hamish was not the right man for Alice.

This Mad Hatter on the other hand, why, he was everything Alice would ever need. He was slightly mad, he and Alice where already close friends, and as a result there would be nothing forced with these two! If only they would see it the way I do. Or maybe they do, and are too shy to admit it? Well then, it's my job as a mother, to give my daughter a push into the right direction.

A strong wind chilled the air around us, causing Alice to shiver.

"Alice are you cold?" Tarrant must have seen her shiver in the cold.

"Just a little chill, Tarrant what are you doing?"

I watched as he shrugged off his jacket, and handed it to Alice.

"Don't want you to get sick." Alice took the coat, wrapping it around her slim frame, and smiled gratefully at him.

"Tarrant, I-thank you."

She poked her arms through the long sleeves, and wrapped her arms around her waist, shivering against the wind.

"It is getting rather chilly, why don't we take our tea inside?"

Hamish smiled apologetically. "I would love to stay, but it's about time I took father home to mother. She hates it when we keep her waiting."

I nodded in acknowledgment. Yes, we all know not to keep Lady Ascot waiting. That lady could make your blood run cold with just a look into her eyes!

"Hamish, Mr. Ascot, we really must have you over again sometime, let me see you out."

I rose from the chair and started to walk away as they said their good byes to Alice and Tarrant.

"Alice, it was a pleasure, and Tarrant, it's great to finally have made your acquaintance, I've heard so much of you young man." Mr. Ascot grasped the young man's hand for a firm hand shake.

Alice was blushing fiercely; I wonder how much Mr. Ascot knows of this young man?

Hamish stuck his hand out, a large, friendly smile on his face. "Alice, it was great seeing you again, and Tarrant, I hope we will get to know each other even more." Tarrant nodded in agreement.

"Aye, I hope so as well, Hamish. Fairfa…I mean, goodbye."

"Boys you must hurry, you have a Lady waiting for you." I said, tapping my foot impatiently.

Alice's POV:

After both Ascot men left with my mother, I was finally alone with Hatter. I still had his jacket on. I closed my eyes and breathed deeply, and my nostrils were filled with the scents of various teas and scones. I opened my eyes to see Tarrant smiling at me, his eyes a light lavender. He gave me a shy smile, and then spoke.

"Shall we bring the tea in for your mother?"

I blushed, nodding. "Let's."

Both Tarrant and I had our hands full of cups, pastries, sugar and cream, when I noticed we left the most important part of tea time on the table; the tea pot.

I went to reach for it, when my hand collided with Tarrant's hand, still bandaged. I blushed and pulled my hand from his.

"Sorry." I mumbled, trying hard to hid my voice in embarrassment, because, truth be told, I enjoyed it maybe more then I should have. He took my hand in his, gently rubbing the knuckles with a callused thumb. 'His hand is so warm', I thought. He looked into my eyes, and I gulped at the swirl of colors I could see deep within.

"You have no need to be sorry."

A single drop of rain fell from the gray clouds, and it landed on my check. Tarrant's eyes zoned in on it, and brushed it way with one of his free fingers. For a moment, we stood together in a frozen tableau, only to be brought back to Earth at the sound of the amused voice of Mother.

"Shall we have tea, or do you children wish to play outside?"

"Tea is great where ever you have it, but seeing that it is getting rather cold, why don't we journey inside?" Tarrant said, as he pulled his hand from my face.

I felt my check heat, and I so desperately wanted to touch the patch of hot flesh where Tarrant's hand just graced with his presence. I settled instead for simply giving him a winning smile. "Mr. Hightopp, would you be so kind as to escort me inside?"

He grinned and extended his arm. "I would be delighted, Miss Kingsleigh."

Tarrant/ Mad Hatter's POV

"Wait, you're telling me, that you believe that Underland is real?"

Alice was quite shocked by her mother's remark a few moments ago, when she asked me when I planned to return to Underland. Alice's poor sweet little, well, not little, more like average sized head, twisting with so many emotions. Shock, amazement, awe, questioning, fear, stunned, sadness, why on earth would Alice be sad?

"Alice, I knew the moment that Tarrant came in the door."

Alice gaped at her Mother, still finding it hard to believe that she knew about Underland. "You knew, how?"

Helen laughed. "Alice, I may be old, but I know things."

"Being secretive are you now mother?" Alice asked, with an eyebrow raised. Helen smirked at her.

"Yes, now, Tarrant, you never did answer my question."

"Didn't I, how strange, well, you see, I can up here, to see is Alice, wanted-"

A small knock on the door interrupted him. Mrs. Kingsleigh started to rise from her chair, but I gently pushed her back down, smiling. "I'll go get it. Please, I insist, after you let me drink all this marvellous tea!"

Ms. Kingsleigh sat back down as I ran from the table, well, not ran…walked quite quickly.

I pulled the door open, and before me stood a very sad older version of Alice. "Yes?"

She gaped at me in shock. "Who the blazes are you?"

I stared right back. "I might ask you the same question."

There was a long silence, which was broken when Alice entered the parlour, staring wide eyed at the older woman.

"Margaret, is that you?"

"Alice!" this poor woman shoved past me and flung herself into Alice's arms, sobbing. Alice clung back, and they sank to the floor. After a bit, Alice pulled away and stared hard at a small bruise just under Margaret's left eye.

"Margaret, what happened?"

She swiped her eyes, growling in shame and rage. "Lowell, that sick bastard!"

"What did he do Margaret?"

"He had a lover, in our bed, in my `only my husband gets to see` wear. I confronted him after the harlot left, and he did this to me! I ran out of the house, and I am never going back! That bastard! That foul, evil, self centered bastard!"

Alice hugged her tightly. "Oh Margret, don't you waste your tears on that foul man! Mother and I will think of something, I promise. Come and have some tea, you'll feel better."

As Alice led her sister away, I found myself thinking. This Lowell man cheated on his wife, in their own bed, no less! Why, if he had been in my clan, that would not be tolerated. If a male Hightopp cheated on his life-mate, he would be sentenced to wander Underland on his own, bearing a mark of shame. Nobody would ever look at him without knowing what he did. My anger was building up inside of me, and I felt my eyes turn red. I looked away from the two women, and my blazing red eyes landed on Mrs. Kingsleigh, and turned into a soft blue. She was looking like she had just seen her entire life ripped from her.

I decided that no matter what, I would make that slurvish bastard pay for hurting his wife.