-Evening- Dinner Table -
Lorina's fiancé, Albert, was due to arrive at any moment. I did not know why he made my teeth clench whenever he would walk into a room. His eyes drooped, his mouth tightened into a sneer (always in my direction). He was always prim and proper, though. My mother liked him for this very reason. His wealth only added to his undue attractiveness.
We ate in silence, picking up each morsel as if it were a delicacy. A lady must eat with grace. Her lips should open only to allow food to pass through. She must not gape like a cod fish. When I learned this lesson, I imagined an opera singer belting out a high note as someone would insert a large spoonful of mashed potatoes into her mouth. It had taken me weeks to learn the proper art of eating. Lorina, my mother pointed out, had only taken two meals to execute the art of dining. Lorina was an effortless natural.
"Alice," sighed my mother. "Your eyes are wandering into the distance. Stop daydreaming."
"Sorry mother," I said. It is hard to keep concentration when there is little said.
We returned to silence, and I began to watch the clock. Albert was due to arrive in five minutes. Albert was always punctual to my irritation. He would never enter a house if he were five minutes early.
Sure enough, like clockwork, Albert strode into the doorway five minutes and fifteen seconds later. I say fifteen seconds because Albert had made such a great deal that our clock was behind fifteen seconds.
"Lorina my dear, you look ravishing. I could just eat you up," Albert said while removing his top hat. Lorina blushed. "And Alice, lovely to see you." His mustache twitched ever so slightly. I knew he meant the opposite. He was as happy to see me as he was to know that his mustache covered an unfortunate mole near the side of his lip.
"Of course, I cannot forget the Madame. How do you do?" He asked my mother.
"Oh, very well Albert. It is so wonderful you could make it. I have some tarts in the kitchen. Shall I ask Martha to bring them out?"
"Excellent idea." Albert plopped down next to Lorina. I saw his hand worm its way across her back. He reached lower and lower. She winced slightly and blushed again. He only chuckled under his breath. Oh Lorina, thought I. This was only the beginning. He was already obnoxious and they hadn't even said their vows.
"Lorina has been telling me that you have taken an interest in mid-day strolls, Alice. Is that true?" I would not call strolling an interest, but rather a way to leave home whenever Albert was planning to call upon Lorina.
"Yes," I lied. "Walks are refreshing for young women of my age."
"Are you accompanied on these walks?"
"No, usually I tend to go alone," I looked down.
"Alice, how many times do I have to tell you. I dislike when you venture off. There will be no more unaccompanied walks, understood?"
"Yes mother," I said.
"I only ask out of curiosity," said Albert. "I rarely see you anymore. It is so rare that I am graced by your presence."
"I can assure you my presence is hardly a treat in comparison with Lorina's."
"Alice the queen of ice. You must watch your daughter, her frost bite will penetrate the heart of any man. It is no wonder she is not engaged."
"Albert," Lorina interjected placidly. "Alice is spirited, is all."
The tarts had arrived. They were Martha's special strawberry tarts. Out of satisfaction I found myself gloating that a few pieces of strawberries had made their way into Albert's mustache.
For the rest of the evening, mother attempted to please Albert as he called out his various demands. If he asked her to play piano, she would comply. If she had taken his favourite chair, she would get up. It seemed as if he would never leave.
Then, somehow, Albert and I were alone. Lorina had left the room earlier, then suddenly mother left to find Martha. It was rare that Albert and I found each other alone. I felt vulnerable. He had gotten up from his chair and proceeded to me.
"The ice queen is lovely from this point of view. Her gold hair shines in the firelight." I said nothing.
He leaned in closer. I could see his eyes. They were blue, and vacant.
"Alice, I will soon be your brother. I cannot help but feel as if you dislike me. I want us to be brother and sister, as we should be." He brushed my cheek with his hand, trailing my lip.
"I saw you look at me tonight. I saw your eyes turn cold as I touched Lorina. You are in love with me aren't you?"
"Don't flatter yourself," said I. "I think of you as my brother."
His lips descended upon mine, but they hardly made contact before my hand whipped across his face in an automatic gesture. He pulled away abruptly, half-startled that such a reaction could come from such a complacent girl.
"Is everything alright, brother?" I whispered icily with narrowed eyes.
"You forget," he wiped his mouth. "You, your mother and your sister are on the threshold of poverty. When your sister marries me, I have the power to lift you from sure ruin." He paused. "Or I can ruin you. It is your choice, Alice."
With that, he took his hat in a swift motion and strode out of the room and into the night.
