As Alice walked through the hallway that would bring her to the room where the Williams family were currently waiting, she felt extremely nervous. She knew that she really shouldn't be, but it was her mother that was agitating her with her wrist-wringing and constant mumbling. Alice tried taking a deep breath to calm herself, and it helped a little bit. Her mother, however, was remained constantly on edge.
"Alice, remember, smile politely, but not big smiles. They make you look gawky. And make sure your dress doesn't get creased. Straighten it from time to time," her mother rambled. Alice only nodded, too nervous to speak herself.
"Good. Remember, Alice, this could be your future right here," her mother reminded her, and went back to wringing her wrists.
Right before reaching the parlor they had to pass by the card room where all the men had filed in for their noonday games. Jasper was, once again, off in the corner with the same book, and looked up when Alice passed. When he caught sight of her he raised one eyebrow. He, smiled, gave a nod of approval, and then returned to reading.
Alice was pleased to see that Jasper noticed that she looked better today. It suddenly occured to her that he had no idea what she was about to do. I wonder how he'll react, she thought, curiously.
Her mother's voice jolted her out of her thoughts. "Mary Alice... we're here."
In the room her father was sitting in the big armchair by the fireplace, and the other two places usually occupied by Alice and her mother contained an older, graying man and a much younger lady with long, brown hair. A third young man, with with very handsome features and short brown hair stood there with a calculated look and a very bored expression.
All four heads simultaneously turned when Alice and her mother entered the room. Her father looked pleased, and the man in the chair smiled politely. The lady, however, had a stern look on her face as she immediately began to scrutinize Alice. The young man's expression suddenly changed from boredom to immense interest when he caught sight of Alice.
"Ah, finally. Mary Alice, Rebecca, may I introduce you two to Duke George Williams VI, his wife Dutchess Anne Stetson Williams, and their son, heir to the title George Williams VII," her father introduced, formally.
"Hello," Alice greeted pleasantly, and did a small curtsy. Her mother did the same.
"Hello, Mary Alice," the duke said, rising to shake her hand. The young man followed close behind. When the duke had shaken her hand his son took Alice's hand. "My pleasure meeting you, my lady," he said, and kissed her hand a bit longer than necessary.
Alice blushed at him. Quite the gentleman, she thought, pleased. But a certain look in his eyes alarmed her, an almost overeagerness in his smiling eyes that weren't as friendly as they seemed.
"Mary Alice, I must say, I can already see you are a charming young woman already," the duke stated. He turned to his son. "Isn't she, Georgie?"
'Georgie' smiled and looked at Alice. "Beautiful as well," he added, a dazzling smile lighting up his face.
"A bit too short for my liking, however," his mother commented, disdainfully. Alice immediately scowled, but recieved a sharp jab from her mother's elbow as a reminder to keep smiling.
"But elegant," the duke rushed, trying to make up for his wife's statement.
"What is your full name, Mary Alice?" the dutchess asked her.
"Well... it's only Mary Alice Brandon," Alice answered, a bit intimidated.
"Nothing else? What about your mother's family name? Don't you include that?" she demanded.
"Well, my maiden name was Kerrins, but we don't include the mother's name in our childrens' names here," Alice's mother explained, worried that Alice's answer had displeased the lady.
"Kerrins? The last time I heard there was never a 'Kerrins' in the place of society," the dutchess spat out, sending an upset looking glance at her husband. Alice's smile got tighter. That woman has just about reached the end of my patience, she seethed.
"Anne..." his husband warned her. She glowered at him and turned away.
The duke laughed nervously. "Let's talk about something else, shall we?" he said, eager to change the subject. "It appears to me that Alice will do fine for my son, like I've said before. My cousin told me that Alice is a well-learned young woman. Isn't that so?" he inquired.
"Oh yes!" Her mother was quick to answer. "She had a private tutor as a child, teaching her only the best!"
"How many languages do you know, Mary Alice?" the dutchess inquired.
"Only english, ma'am," Alice answered, ashamed. With the way the dutchess asked her the question she felt as if she should know a lot more than just plain english.
The dutchess looked disgusted, but the duke remained unfazed. "One does not need to know five different languages to enter society," he said, directing the comment more at his wife. "Don't worry about it, Mary Alice."
Her mother tried to please the dutchess. "Mary Alice would make a wonderful wife, though. She knows how to sew, clean, entertain guests, and such," she went on.
"That's what slaves are for, madam," the dutchess answered, spitefully. "But she does seem to have a quality that would do fine for entertaining guests," she admitted.
"Well, then, now that's been settled," the duke answered, getting uncomfortable. "I approve of Mary Alice. So does Anne," he said, ignoring the look he recieved from his wife by that last statement. "Georgie?"
Georgie looked at his father, and then back at Alice. "I would be honored to have her as my wife." He sent a dazzling smile to Alice that almost made her heartbeat triple its normal speed.
General Brandon nodded in agreement, and Alice's mother looked pleased. Alice felt that the whole thing had been a litte rushed. But she remembered that she had no say in this from the beginning, so she kept her thoughts to herself.
"Now, if you would please-" the duke started, but was interrupted by a knock on the room wall. Alice turned and saw Jasper looking straight at both her and Georgie, who still had her hand in his, with a blank look that startled her.
"Pardon the interuption, sir," Jasper began, emotionless. "The men and officer need you now. They're calling for a meeting," he alerted his general.
"Is my cousin Officer Williams among them?" the duke asked Jasper, curiously.
"Yes. He's our leading general," he answered, his tone unchanging.
"Well, then, General Brandon, if you don't mind I would like to accompany you to greet him. I haven't seen him since I arrived," he answered, getting up.
"Surely," her father answered. "Right this way.
"Anne, Georgie, you can proceed to the carriage that should take us to out temporary lodging," the duke notified them before following Alice's father out of the room.
The dutchess rose from her seat and left the room with her nose high in the air. "Let's go, George," she said, motioning to her son. Georgie, however, lingered and walked up to Alice. He took a strand of her hair and twirled it around playfully. "I hope to get to see you soon, Mary Alice. I really like you," he said as his eyes filled with the same eagerness. Alice smiled but tried to pull her hair back feeling uncomfortable that Jasper was watching the whole scene.
"I'm sure I'll be seeing you often. Good bye," she said, dissmissing him. George kissed her hand one last time and then left the room.
"Mary Alice, you've done it!" her mother gushed, pulling her daughter in for a hug. "My daughter's to be a dutchess," her mother sighed, dreamily, and left the room to make preparations.
The room now composed only of Alice and Jasper. Alice shifted around, uncomfortably. Jasper's face seemed just as blank as before. Alice was bothered by his expression. "Jasper... what's wrong?"
"Nothing. Nothing is wrong," he answered, his voice still lacking emotion.
"You don't seem yourself, Jasper..." Alice added, begging for some reaction.
"I'm the same as I was the days before. Now, if you'll excuse me, I should attend the soldier's meeting." He turned to leave the room.
"Jasper no!" Alice cried. She didn't know why his actions were irritating her this way. "Jasper, please, will you walk with me after your meeting?" she tried one last time.
Jasper seemed to consider his answer. "I'll try." With that, he turned and left the room abruptly, leaving a confused and desperate Alice behind.
