**I don't own BATB, Catherine, Vincent or any other characters mentioned. I also don't own any places mentioned or any scenes that may be similar to another work.**
**The italicized section is from -Alice's Adventures In Wonderland-. All credit for the section goes to Lewis Carroll.**
The next day Vincent arrived early and Tess did not have Catherine ready so Thomas took the time to speak alone with Vincent.
"Vincent, may we speak a moment?"
"Of course Lord Chandler." Vincent said following him out onto the steps. "What do you wish to speak about?"
"I was simply wondering what the intentions of someone with such a class as yours would see in my daughter."
"What do you mean?" Vincent asked, knowing he was most presumably caught.
"I am well aware of your standings and status. I knew the night of the masque, but my daughter did not for she attends so few royal masques. I simply wish to know what a prince of York wishes of my daughter."
"How did you know?"
"My boy, I have been in attendance of many balls where royalty is present. The quite hidden purple in your costume is what gave you away. Beside the fact that I have seen your family introduced before and distinctly remember that the youngest was named Vincent."
"In being forthright Lord Chandler, my intentions of your daughter are completely innocent. I saw her unusual choice of dress at the masquerade and she interested me. I was lucky enough to meet her and I have been completely enthralled with her since. I am hoping that in time I may start courting her."
"Surely you plan on telling her of your true status?"
"I wish to, but I am not sure it is wise."
"Pray tell."
"She is not fond of royalty. She has made this expressly clear and I do not know of how she would react."
"Trust me my boy, it is wiser to have her learn from your word than from that of the people. Word shall spread, especially the more you call upon her and abandon court."
"Sir, I would have no notions of how to tell Catherine." It was silent for a moment before both were shocked to hear Catherine's voice.
"How to tell me what?" She asked as she walked outside and took her place next to her father after curtsying. Thomas looked at Vincent for a moment, waiting to see how the prince would back his way out.
"How to tell you that I am completely honored to be accompanying such a beautiful lady." Vincent said which caused her to look away while blushing furiously. "Are you ready to take leave of the manor Lady Chandler?" She nodded. He then helped her into the carriage before saying goodbye to her father. Once the carriage was away from the manor their formality dissolved. He noticed she seemed to be deep in thought as she started out the window. He left it silent for the ride and when they arrived at the monastery they went straight to the library. This time he lead her to the bookcase so that she could return her book before watching her run her hand over the spines of the books before pulling out one of similar size to -Peter Pan-. She lead him out to the tree they had sat beneath before.
"So, what is the tale for today?" She gave a smile before she handed him the book to look over. He looked at the cover and realized that he had never heard the story of -Alice's Adventures In Wonderland- by the author Lewis Carroll. He handed the book back to her and watched as she opened it before starting to read.
"Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having
nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had
no pictures or conversations in it, 'and what is the use of a book,' thought Alice 'without
pictures or conversation?'
So she was considering in her own mind (as well as she could, for the hot day made her
feel very sleepy and stupid), whether the pleasure of making a daisy-chain would be worth the
trouble of getting up and picking the daisies, when suddenly a White Rabbit with pink eyes ran close by her.
There was nothing so VERY remarkable in that; nor did Alice think it so VERY much
out of the way to hear the Rabbit say to itself, 'Oh dear! Oh dear! I shall be late!' (when she
thought it over afterward, it occurred to her that she ought to have wondered at this, but at
the time it all seemed quite natural); but when the Rabbit actually TOOK A WATCH OUT
OF ITS WAISTCOAT-POCKET, and looked at it, and then hurried on, Alice started to her
feet, for it flashed across her mind that she had never before seen a rabbit with either a
waistcoat-pocket, or a watch to take out of it, and burning with curiosity, she ran across the
field after it, and fortunately was just in time to see it pop down a large rabbit-hole under
the hedge.
In another moment down went Alice after it, never once considering how in the world
she was to get out again.
The rabbit-hole went straight on like a tunnel for some way, and then dipped suddenly
down, so suddenly that Alice had not a moment to think about stopping herself before she
found herself falling down a very deep well.
Either the well was very deep, or she fell very slowly, for she had plenty of time as she
went down to look about her and to wonder what was going to happen next. First, she tried
to look down and make out what she was coming to, but it was too dark to see anything;
then she looked at the sides of the well, and noticed that they were filled with cupboards
and book-shelves; here and there she saw maps and pictures hung upon pegs. She took
down a jar from one of the shelves as she passed; it was labeled 'ORANGE
MARMALADE', but to her great disappointment it was empty: she did not like to drop the
jar for fear of killing somebody, so managed to put it into one of the cupboards as she fell
past it.
'Well!' thought Alice to herself, 'after such a fall as this, I shall think nothing of tumbling
down stairs! How brave they'll all think me at home! Why, I wouldn't say anything about it,
even if I fell off the top of the house!' (Which was very likely true.)
Down, down, down. Would the fall NEVER come to an end! 'I wonder how many miles
I've fallen by this time?' she said aloud. 'I must be getting somewhere near the centre of the
earth. Let me see: that would be four thousand miles down, I think-' (for, you see, Alice
had learnt several things of this sort in her lessons in the schoolroom, and though this was
not a VERY good opportunity for showing off her knowledge, as there was no one to listen
to her, still it was good practice to say it over) '-yes, that's about the right distance-but
then I wonder what Latitude or Longitude I've got to?' (Alice had no idea what Latitude
was, or Longitude either, but thought they were nice grand words to say.) ..."
Figured since there was such a long break since I added chapter 6, I would give you all two chapters to make up for it.
Read and Review, and let me know what you think. Please don't bash the story through the reviews. If you have an issue, PM me instead. Thanks.