The wind sang through the trees outside the window of Alice's room, where she lay on her bed, her thin cotton nightgown barely covering her body; although it was cold, Alice was to deep in thought to feel the iciness of the room. How could she be expected to love one of these faceless suitors her aunt chose for her? She reached for her diary and a pencil, then found a clean page and began to write.

I wonder…could I ever find someone with whom I would be satisfied? I sincerely doubt it. And besides, my aunt would never approve. I wonder if she would have approved of Lee. Not that it matters now, that was three years ago, but I'm still curious as to what she would have thought. The thought struck me earlier today, I think that she thinks that I am courting Alexander! Perhaps I should bring him home one day, and invite him to stay for the night, ask him to my bed, and then see what aunt Clara thinks! I think I shall. Invite him to dinner, that is. I shouldn't want to give him the wrong idea about me, but I do think I could grow to like him. In fact I think I've already begun to have feelings for him; and after all, he is certainly a gentleman…but that is no reason for me to fall for him…or is it?

Just then there was a knock on her bedroom door.

"Who is it?" She called

Her Aunt Clara opened the door slightly, and spoke softly to Alice.

"I'm sorry, I don't like to disturb you at this hour, but there's a gentleman at the door asking to see you."

Alice sighed. "Oh, send him away. Tell him I'm asleep. Tell him I'm not fit to see him just now, and that if it's urgent he's to come back in the morning." Alice began to close the bedroom door, but her aunt pushed it open again.

"He says he expected you to send him away, and asked me to tell you that if you won't see him now, he'd shimmy up the tree in the garden and climb through your window." She smiled, "He's very intent on speaking to you tonight. And it is rather cold to send him away without at least a hot drink. Besides if he leaves now he'll get his suit ruined. It's a fine suit, if rather oddly coloured. Please, at least speak to him, Alice."

"Oh, very well. I shall speak to him, but I'm hardly dressed for a tea party. I shall put my dressing gown on and come down directly."

She closed the door and reached for her silk dressing gown. Oddly coloured suit? she mused, oh, it couldn't be. He wouldn't call at this time of night.

She stepped out of her bedroom, and hastened downstairs, eager to see her visitor. As she stepped into the sitting room her heart leapt. There was a man sat by the dining table in a beautiful suit of a deep purple velvet. His hair was fair and cut just above his shoulders, and he had a small, not quite untidy moustache above his lip.

"Alexander! Whatever are you doing here at this time?"

Alexander stood up, clutching his hat against his stomach, politely took Alice's hand and kissed it.

"I'm sorry that I've had to call so late; I intended to come earlier, only I was held up. I came to invite both you and your lovely Aunt to my father's birthday party. It's tomorrow, at nine thirty, hence the reason I couldn't have waited until morning. I'm sorry it's such late notice, but I'm sure you'll both find something appropriate to wear. Providing that you can both come, that is."

Aunt Clara nodded. "Of course we can come. We'd be delighted. Edward was a great friend of Harold's, and your mother and I haven't spoken since we went horse riding together in June. But how do you plan to get home tonight? It's almost midnight."

Alexander shrugged. "I'll walk. It's not that far, really."
Clara looked concerned, "You'll do no such thing, young man! I couldn't let you walk, what if something happened to you?"

Alexander took her hand, "Clara my dear, I shall be fine. I am twenty-three years old, I'm sure I can walk home alone."
Alice interjected "If you wanted you could sleep in the spare room; the one next to mine. It's large enough and there's no-one using it"

"Oh I wouldn't want to be any trouble, I'm sure I could manage-"

"Nonsense!" Clara interrupted, "It would be no trouble at all. The bed is freshly made, and you look tired. I'm making some tea, so why don't you head up there now and leave your things. I'm sure Alice will show you the way, and I'll bring you a pot of tea upstairs."

Alice smiled and took his hand, leading him up the stairs like a small child bringing their friend to tea for the first time. Alexander flushed red at the sight of Alice's bare legs as she climbed the stairs, secretly enjoying every moment, and Alice turned to speak to him.

"Might I ask where- What's wrong? Oh."

Alice looked down and blushed, pulling her dressing gown around herself as she noticed Alexander looking at her. She giggled,

"Now Alexander, I thought you had more manners than to stare at a lady who isn't properly dressed."

Alexander smiled.

"I thought you had more manners than to spring it upon me so; I wasn't expecting you to be undressed. If you'll pardon my saying so, you have a lovely figure."

"Why thank you, Alexander. Such a gentleman, even in such an awkward situation. Perhaps you'd like to stay a while longer in my company before going to bed?"

Alexander took Alice's other hand and she pulled him to the top of the stairs, revealing more of herself to him than she had meant to; all he could do was gasp.

They reached the landing and Alice wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling his face close to hers.

"Now," she whispered into his ear, "would you like me to sit with you in your room, or would you rather be alone?"

He raised his eyebrows. "Alone? Are you serious? Alone? After this? I'd rather you didn't leave me at all tonight. But I suppose that's being a little hasty."

"Just a little." Laughed Alice, "I don't think my aunt would be very pleased if she found us together. Well…I'm not sure. But personally I don't mind. It could be fun."

Alexander kissed her cheek and she pulled him backward, into her bedroom, and closed the door.

As she twisted the handle to lock it, their lips met, gently parted and she felt Alexander delicately lick her lips, as though he were testing her reaction to him. She pulled him closer and they sank onto Alice's bed, softly exploring each other, tongues lightly dancing against each other as their bodies entwined. Alice slipped her dressing gown off of her shoulders and let it slide off the bed.

Alexander pulled away from her for a moment, shocked by her intensity.

"Oh! I'm sorry!" Alice blushed.

"There's no need to be. in all honesty I'm quite enjoying this;" He laughed, "I've seen a side of you never revealed to other men.".

"That's not quite true…oh, nevermind."

"What do you mean?"

Alice looked down.

"Oh, nothing. It doesn't matter." She giggled, "It would spoil the moment."

She slid her hands beneath his jacket and began to unfasten his shirt as he delicately pulled her nightgown away from her legs and over her head. Suddenly there came a knock at the door, and they sat up swiftly.

Alexander straightened his clothes and stood up, away from Alice, picking her dressing gown off the floor and throwing it to her. She rapidly covered herself, still giggling and tied her gown around her.
Alice grinned at Alexander as he unlocked the door.

"Come in." She called.

Aunt Clara opened the door and peeked through. "I brought up some tea for you both." She noticed Alexander smirking. "Am I interrupting something?"

"No, no." said Alice. "We were just talking. A sort of private joke."

"Ah. I see. Well, I'll leave you alone again now." She smiled at Alice. "I can't help feeling I'm intruding somehow."

She set the tea down on the dressing table, and as she turned around she noticed Alice's nightgown on the bed behind her.

"Alice, what…oh, nevermind." She turned to Alexander, "Just be careful. We don't want any accidents."

Alexander looked puzzled and flushed red.

"What do you mean?"

"Don't spill anything on those bed sheets, they're clean on." She winked at him, then turned and left the room.

Alexander's jaw dropped and he coughed in disbelief.

"What was that about? I can't believe it! I think she's on to us, you know. But…I just can't believe it! What she said! Surely, she must have noticed something…but she didn't seem angry so maybe she didn't…but then, she said…I honestly don't believe what she just said!"

Alice grinned. "She thinks we're courting, so…I don't know. She likes you and thinks we should be together. She's quite…free-thinking. And yes, she did see something, she saw this."

Alice picked up her nightgown and playfully threw it at Alexander.

"You shouldn't leave that sort of thing lying around." She laughed.

"Alice, I'm so sorry! Will she say anything to you? Oh, I hope I haven't…oh, I'll go, I'll walk home. I-"

Alice interrupted, "Oh, do be quiet! I shouldn't worry about it. If she was going to be angry, she would have been angry with you! She won't say anything more. She seemed quite pleased with you. She thinks I'm finally settling down." She laughed. "I hate to think what she will say to your father tomorrow!"

Alexander looked anxious, "Do you think she'll mention this? My father won't be pleased, he's not as "free-thinking" as your aunt."

"No, no. She wouldn't. It would be impolite to raise such a subject over dinner." She giggled. "I meant that she may suggest to your father that we are, well, involved."

"Well…are we?"

"Well," She said, as she began to unfasten her dressing gown, "That all depends."

Alexander locked the door, then sat on the bed in front of Alice and began to unbutton his shirt. "On what, dare I ask?"

He took his shirt off, and dropped it on the floor. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her close to him and she reached out and snuffed the candle on her dressing table.

"Well…"