Chapter 7

Alice was pacing around her room, her mind filled with the events of the day and the anticipation for the stone to hit the window. He had promised he would come tonight.

She was wearing her new expensive nightgown with a light housecoat over the top of it, she was warm and a little uncomfortable in the stiff new garments but all her old comfortable ones had been thrown away.

Her discomfort caused her to be unable to rest, she couldn't lie down and even try to catch some sleep, she was too restless. She wanted to see Jack. Nothing could get the feeling out of her. Desperate to try to calm herself she attempted to read a chapter of one of the books that had been collecting dust on the shelf, she read one page to the best of her ability but found her mind had completely wandered off by the time she reached the last line.

Ping.

Alice Jumped. Discarding the book on the floor, she ran to the window. Opening it quietly she called Jack's name into the darkness to make sure she hadn't been hearing things. She heard a faint 'yeah' come from the dark silhouette; she smiled recognising the voice instantly.

"I'm coming down!" She replied shutting the window.

"Good, 'cause I'm getting cold out here!" Jack said tutting when he realised that Alice had already left the window.

Treading as quietly as he could Jack made his way to the front entrance, reaching it at the same time it was opened for him. Slipping through the gap, his fingers began to tingle as the heat from the warmed house began to give back life to the bare thin extremities.

The only source of light was that of the candle that Alice held, illuminating her face and hair which Jack couldn't help but noticed seemed to be brighter and shinier then he had ever seen it. Unconsciously Jack ran his fingers through Alice's knot-free light chestnut hair and leaned in to kiss her. She moved her face away at that precise point in order to lock the door; carefully she turned the key and replaced it on the peg. Then she returned her gaze to Jack. He tried again, leaning in for a second attempt at gaining a kiss but she put her finger on his lips to stop him. He understood.

Alice linked her fingers with Jack's frozen ones and, with the candle held in front of her, she led Jack up the stairs.

Halfway up Jack heard the sound of a door creaking open. In effort to make sure no one knew he had heard he tried in vain to see which door it was without moving his head. He felt Alice's hand suddenly tense and realised that she too had heard the sound only she didn't need to look to know whose door had creaked open.

Alice had left her bedroom door ajar and so the two of them entered without making so much as a whisper of noise. Alice placed the candle on the bedside cabinet and came back to close the door.

"Alice…" Jack started thinking that she had shut the door and that they were now free to talk.

"Shh!" Alice replied as Jack twisted round to find her listening through the gap, holding his tongue he listened too. Through the silence of the night they heard a door creaking and then 'click' as it closed. Alice then pushed her own door shut, her eyes drawn to the ground.

"Oliver." Alice explained.

"He wouldn't tell." Jack said trying to figure out what it was about her brother that Alice was concerned about.

"I know he's just got such a curious mind that's all." Alice looked up at Jack.

"He'll be fine." Jack reassured her, gently kissing her on the cheek. "You said yourself that he loves his new lifestyle." He added trying to settle Alice's mind.

"I just worry." She sighed.

Jack stroked her long hair.

"Don't," Jack kissed her other cheek. "It don't suit yer." He told her.

Alice smiled, throwing her arms around his neck and hugging him tightly to her.

The only times she felt just plain happy was the times she was with Jack. When she was with her brother she worried and took her responsibility as the older sister very seriously. When she was with her uncle he frustrated her with his rules and regulations that he expected young ladies, like herself, to follow. And when she was around Mrs Bedwin she would get annoyed at all the tidying up that went on around her as if she couldn't possibly do it herself. Last of all she hated the fact that servants where not treated equally, how could she be considered of higher importance when they did everything for her? It was beginning to dawn on Alice that the rich lifestyle wasn't all it was made out to be, although it was considered to be the best lifestyle to have, she was seriously doubting the authenticity of the statement.

Alice slid her hands underneath the shoulders of Jack's jacket, slipping it down until he eventually shrugged it off completely. It was warm in the bedroom and if Jack wasn't warm now he soon would be. Jack folded his jacket and placed it on the chair that was beside Alice's bed, he turned back round to her to find her staring at his hat using her eyes to tell him that there was no need to be wearing a hat indoors. So grudgingly the precious hat came off and was carefully placed on top of the jacket.

Alice moved to the end of the bed she had her eyes fixed on Jack and couldn't help but notice that he had grown out of most of his clothes and they were now more ripped and torn then she ever remembered them to be.

Her eyes followed him as he walked around the bed ending up directly behind her. He slinked his hands around her waist, twisting her so she was facing him. They kissed. The first proper kiss in months, until this point they had been happy enough in each other's company and had temporarily forgotten their first kiss amiss the otherwise occupied crowd in the town square all those long months ago, but of course it never really left their minds.

Jack lifted Alice into his arms and, moving round slightly, gently placed her on the bed. Without really letting Alice go, Jack kicked off his shoes as he knew they were dirty and didn't want to arouse suspicion if he covered the sheets in mud and grime. Scrambling back onto the bed, he pinned Alice down in the same manner he had when they had been play-fighting, although this time it had a whole different meaning. He tenderly kissed her again. A new sensation had washed over them both, no longer was there the simple need to just be in each other's company, there was much more to it now.

Desire. lust. An overwhelming need to be in possession of each other. Jack fumbled with the clothes, Alice calmly assisted. They were conscious of what it was they were about to do although it was new for both. Any consequences didn't matter at present for love had taken full control.

Jack prised open his eyes. Where was he and why was he feeling so…comfortable? He was warm and generally comfy in this position something he rarely experienced.

He looked around; taking everything in. Memories of the previous night came flooding back as he turned his head to find Alice lying beside him, looking so peaceful and content as she slept. Lightly stroking her hair as a reminder that she was really there and that the events had truly happened, Jack glanced around the rest of the room. He was trying to figure out why the room looked so different to what he could recall, he never remember the walls to be papered in a creamy green pattern, there hadn't been a bookcase there last night had there? Is that where the window had always been? Sun was blazing through into the bedroom. Sunlight – morning. Jack had overslept.

Jumping out of bed he flung his clothes on and slipped on his shoes. He tiptoed round to the other side of the bed where he had left his jacket and hat. Pausing before retrieving them, he took a moment to glance at Alice's sleeping form and bending down he tenderly kissed her forehead. Alice shifted her position and mumbled 'I love you Jack' under her breath.

Jack smiled, taking his jacket in his arms and popping the top hat on his head. After taking one more glimpse at Alice he left the room.

The house was relatively silent but Jack could hear the faint bustle of the servants as they prepared the household's breakfast.

Oliver, being up bright and early his stomach telling him that breakfast should be on its way very shortly, was coming out of his room just as Jack hit the stairs. He was easy to recognise with the old battered top hat being a dead giveaway.

'He's late' Oliver thought, he always heard Jack arrive but was never usually awake to hear him leave.

"Hey Dodger!" Oliver greeted in a low whisper. He was aware that he was meant to keep quiet about Dodger's visits because their uncle wouldn't approve or understand which would then probably end up in Dodger being banned from ever seeing either of them again or worse.

Jack looked up the stairs where the voice had come from to find an angelic face staring down at him. Jack put his finger to his lips indicating Oliver to be silent, in response Oliver bounded halfway down the stairs to join Jack.

"Help me out here." Jack said as they reached the ground floor. Servants where going to and fro the different rooms and, although none of them had actually gone passed the front door yet, there was still a chance someone would and he couldn't risk being seen by anyone while he was still within the house. He was a poor uninvited guest in a very rich gentleman's house; he could be accused of anything.

Oliver understood and gave Jack a nod before skipping ahead and checking the area was clear. He gestured for Jack to come when he was certain that all was clear. Marvelling how quickly and quietly Jack managed to reach him; Oliver barely had time unlatch the door for him. Had he really been able to pass the creakiest floorboard in the entire house without so much as making a squeak? He had, effortlessly.

Oliver open the door wide figuring that if there had been nobody to see him up till now then nobody would notice the door being wide open or whether it was open at all.

"Thanks mate!" Jack whispered as he moved silently through the doorframe. He ruffled Oliver's hair as he passed him temporarily forgetting the boy's sudden dislike to the gesture but then old habits die hard.

"See yer around!" Jack added and with that he turned and jogged down the steps.

"Bye Dodger!" Oliver called after him just loud enough for him to hear and acknowledge it with a last little wave before Oliver had to shut the door on him.

Jack descended into the empty street, he was glad it was empty for no one could be suspicious of him as he came out the front entrance of a practically posh house looking as he did, poorer then the poorest servant.

Although it was very early November morning the sun shone with quite an intense brightness as Jack strode along the pavement at alarmingly fast pace. He had to get off this street before he was spotted, his presence would cause questions and he had learnt from experience that it was best to steer away from any situation which aroused too many suspicions. He relaxed when he reached the more familiar territory of the market square; it was this area that he felt most confident because from this position he knew every street and alleyway that sprung from the central square.

Casually Jack wandered down the first alleyway he came to, subconsciously aware that it would lead him home.

Sorry this has taken a long time to upload, this is my favourite chapter and so I've taken extra care in making perfect! Please review as I would be interested to know whether you all think I went far enough with 'the scene' (I hope you know what I mean!)