In the common room of the manor, Helen Kingsley sat alone in front of the fireplace.
Silently she found herself staring into the lapping flames, as though under a spell by her own thoughts. That is. . .until she heard the sound of a throat lightly clearing. "Ma'am. . ." Her housekeeper called out, causing her to look up at the excited expression on her face.
"You have company. . ."
There to her utter disbelief, Lord Ascott walked in with her youngest daughter bundled in a blanket. Letting out a startled gasp, she lunged to her feet. "Alice?"
Gradually Alice's head lifted, until her tired gaze met hers. "Mother. . ." she feebly replied in a cracked voice. Then before she knew what was happening, Helen lunged forward tightly hugging her. For Alice it was as though the impact her mothers tender embrace, snapped her back into reality, causing her to break down and cry in her arms.
"I found her wondering about in my courtyard. You might want to check on her. She looks a bit torn up." Lord Ascott warmly replied, as she cleaved onto her. This had Helen looking down at her daughter with anguish. "Child, where have you been? You had me out of my mind with worry."
"I'm sorry, mother. . .I just some needed time alone to think. But when it got dark, I could barely see, and I ran into some trouble. . ." she lied. At the same time she could feel her mother pulling away just a bit, giving Lord Ascott a look of sheer gratitude.

"Thank you so much."
Smiling he nodded, "You're quite welcome. I'm just glad she's alright." Thereafter he looked toward Alice. "As for you, my dear. . .we'll talk soon, ok?" He replied, as she nodded. "I'll bid you good evening, ladies." Thereafter he turned and left them alone.

This had Helen pulling her daughter back until she was firmly staring into her eyes. "Alice. . .No matter what happens, please don't ever run off like that again."

"I won't. . ." she choked out, as tears gleamed in her mothers eyes.
"Here we resolve things in this family. No matter how terrible they might seem."

No sooner did she say that, did Alice look up and see her sister emerging in the doorway. For a moment, Margaret was literally frozen over her disheveled appearance. "Alice?" Overwhelmed by a flashback of what had happened between them, Alice could barely look her in the face. But little did she know that Margaret's feelings were more than mutual. Out the corner of her eye she watched as Margaret began to fidget rather uncomfortably.. "For awhile I. . .didn't think you'd come back. N-not after the horrible way I behaved."
Putting a hand over her face, Margaret broke down into heart rending sobs. Beginning to cry herself, Alice slowly approached her sister, who without any hesitation embraced her tightly. "I'm so sorry, Alice. . ." She wept into her shoulder.
"Me too. . .I didn't want to hurt you, but I was caught in the middle."
"I know. . .And I shouldn't have lashed out at you the way I did." she sniffled. "I just. . .felt so betrayed and. . .I didn't know what to do."
"Well. . .I should've done more. . ." Alice choked out.
"No, you're not my husbands warden. . ." she bitterly stressed. "But I know I made you feel that way. I hope you can forgive me, because you're the only sister I've got."
"I do. . ." Alice replied, managing a real smile. Now Margaret literally sighed with relief. "Good. . .Because I was hoping we could start over now. All of us." She replied, as Lovell now walked inside the parlor. For a moment, Alice was so stunned by his presence that she could only shake her head in disbelief. As Alice gaped from him to her, Margaret timidly replied, "He promised me things would be different. So everything will be normal again. You'll see."
This had her looking at the smug expression on Lovell's face. Knowing without a doubt that her sister was willing to endure the betrayal, and heartache, Alice sadly replied,
"Well. . .I guess that depends on what your version of "normal," really means. Doesn't it?"

Later that evening. . .
Literally exhausted from such an emotionally draining day, Alice decided to go to bed early. Yet, as she headed down the hall, she momentarily froze to the sight of Lovell coming out of his bedroom. By the wary look on his face, Alice could tell he was just as averse to seeing her, as she was him. Yet he still managed to come to a stop, as though obligated to acknowledge her. "Alice. . ." he muttered through his teeth. "Turning in, are we?"
"Yes. . .I'm rather tired." she flatly answered.
"So is Margaret. The last few days have been absolutely exhausting." Unable to help herself, Alice's eyes slowly narrowed into a scornful gaze. "Well, I wonder why?" she sarcastically asked, causing Lovell's expression to now turn cold.

"And what's that supposed to mean?"
Having about enough of his game, Alice's head slowly shook with disgust. "You know good and well what it means. Walking around here, playing this little game with my sisters heart. Thinking you've won." She angrily hissed through her teeth. "But you don't fool me, Lovell. And I assure you, every dog has it's day!"
"Is that so?" He asked, in an almost patronizing manner.

Feeling her blood beginning to boil, Alice fought with everything she had not to slap him across the face! "That's right. . ." she hissed in a trembling voice. "Eventually my sister will open her eyes to the loathsome cad you really are, and you'll get what's coming to you. Even if it's not through me." She hissed, now passing him up. That is. . .until she stopped and slowly turned back around. "Frankly. I don't know how you can live with yourself." she hurtfully replied. "You don't know a good thing when you've got it!"
But the more she thought about it, the more Alice found herself staring down at the pin ring on her finger. . .and realized for the first time that she in fact did.

Having it settled in her mind what she intended to do, Alice first headed back to Ascott manor.
"Feeling better, dear?" he asked, handing her a cup of tea.
"Yes. . ." Alice lightheartedly replied, "And I wanted to thank you for bringing me home, last night. I got a bit lost in the dark, and-"
"Fell down the hole again?" He playfully interrupted, causing Alice's eyes to widen with some trepidation. Letting out a nervous chuckle, she replied, "Now why would you ever think that?"
"Because you looked the same way you did two years ago, on your prior "engagement," His clever implication had Alice desperately trying to come up with an excuse. "No. . .no. You see. Something rather disturbing happened back at home, and I was a bit distraught. But I assure you it had nothing to do with that."
"Oh, well either way, I'm not taking any more chances. Which is why it I had it filled in. "
Feeling as though she'd lost her breath, Alice gaped at him with alarm. "You. . .you what?"
"I said I had it boarded up."
For a moment Alice could only gaze at him so hopelessly, swept away by the horrible realization that he'd just sealed off her only way back. And the very thought of that. . .was absolutely devastating. Feeling herself getting more and more distressed, she babbled out.
"B-But. . .why?" Marveling at her, Lord Ascott chuckled.
"Why? Because it's a hazard, that's why. I mean. . .surely you could agree to that."
"I-I know. . .but. . .what about the rabbit?" she babbled, as he gave her a befuddled glance. "Seriously. . ." she insisted. "How will he get out?" Although she meant the "White Rabbit," Lord Ascott didn't realize it, and thought she was being rather dramatic. Fighting not to smile, he cleared his throat in an attempt to be sensitive.
"Alice. . .dear. . .I really don't think there's a rabbit in there." he soothed, as Alice looked away from him. "The hole is much too deep. And that's what makes it so dangerous. Besides. . .with my being away on business most of the time, suppose someone else gets curious and falls in? Like one of my groundskeepers? With no one aware of it, they could be trapped for days." Knowing he was right, Alice could only remain silent, as he shook his head. "No. . .It needed to be filled in. And frankly I should've done it a long time ago." By then Alice was so overwhelmed with disappointment, she could barely look him in the face. Setting her cup down, she weakly replied, "Excuse me. But I'm not feeling very well. I think I'll turn in early tonight."
"Oh, alright then. Just so you know that we set sail for Japan at 6:00am, sharp."
This only had her more upset. "Fine. . ." she whispered in a cracked voice. Troubled over her emotional state, Lord Ascott gently gripped her by the shoulder.
"Alice. . .I don't know what's going on with you lately. But if it's because you're feeling pressured or obligated to come with me, don't. You're free to do as you please. . .Ok?" Barely able to look him in the face, she gave him a timid nod. As Alice quickly headed out, she tearfully whispered to herself. "Not anymore. . ."