Just letting you know that I haven't died or anything. I've actually got about a few chapters pre-written (about 10), so... yeah. You'll be seeing more.
Hope you enjoy this one!
Right before reaching the house, they parted ways. "We don't want to raise any suspicion," he warned right before he left.
"I understand," she said reluctantly. "But remember- you promised."
Jasper smiled, causing the butterflies in her stomach to erupt in flutters again. She smiled back and turned around to go back to the house.
At the dinner table, most of the soldiers, along with her family and the duke's (who had come to spend dinnertime with them) were already seated. Taking the available seat next to the duke's son, she looked around to see if anyone noticed her late entry. Her mother was too busy trying to start a conversation with the duchess who, with her nose high in the air, was ignoring everything her mother said. Her father was laughing along with the soldiers' crude jokes, and the duke was engaged in a conversation with is cousin, Officer Williams. George, however, was not doing anything specific. For a while he only sat there playing with his napkin. Then, after a while, he stopped, and turned to face Alice. "What took you so long?" he asked her, nonchalantly.
"Oh… I was taking a walk, you see, and-"
"For that long?" he cut in.
"What do you mean?" she asked confused. "I didn't go out until a few minutes ago."
His eyes flashed with anger. "Don't play stupid with me, Mary Alice," he growled. "I saw you walk off with your little soldier boy over there."
Alice's cheeks flushed a slight pink. "We're only good friends," she lied.
"Well that blush on your cheek is telling me otherwise," he countered. "You can't say anything to prove your innocence, I saw you."
Alice wondered if he'd seen everything, but was afraid to ask and arouse more suspicion. She snuck a look at Jasper, who was seated at the other side of the table, just to see his reaction, and George caught it. "Trying to steal another look at him, eh?" he sneered. Underneath the table he grabbed both of Alice's hands to gain her full attention. "Well guess what? You're mine. You'll never be anyone else's but mine," he said, frightening Alice with the fire that raged in his eyes. He leaned in so that his mouth was right next to her ear. "All… mine."
Alice gulped, and satisfied that he had accomplished his task, George let go of her hands and leaned back into his place.
Alice nervously scanned the room to see if anyone else took notice of what had happened, but everyone seemed to be engrossed in their own activity. She also noticed, when examining Jasper's side of the table that his food remained untouched and one of his hands was under the table. The other was on top, clenched in a tight fist. He made no eye-contact with Alice, but she still knew he had witnessed the scene.
Alice began to panic, and eventually her panic had reached a level to where her breaths started getting faster. The room began to spin, and she clutched to the back of her chair to steady herself.
George took note of that, and turned to her. "Are you feeling alright?" he asked, concerned.
She tried to nod, but the movement of her head caused the room to spin faster.
"Don't move," he said, and went to Alice's father. She obeyed, and didn't move from her spot until her father came over. "Alice, what's the matter?"
"I don't know, father," she answered. The dizzy spell had lessened, but it hadn't passed.
"I think it'll be best for you to head upstairs now," he said, lifting Alice up.
"I think so too," she answered, and leaned against him. They both made their way upstairs, with George following them. When they reached her room her father helped her into the bed. "Feeling any better?"
"A little," she told him. "But I'll be okay."
"I know. I don't think you'll be back down after this, so I'll wish you goodnight now."
"Goodnight father," she answered, and turned to go to sleep. The door shut behind her father, and then she was alone.
Kinda short, but they should get a bit longer, and the chapters should get better too. :)