Hello!

Thank you for reading my last chapter. This chapter continues with a young Alcina meeting a new maid who is not whom she appears. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter: 6

A week had passed since the incident and there had been no sighting of the kidnapper. Quentin, convinced by Lady Daciana to call the police to report the incident, the officer claimed there had been no recent child abductions. With that settled and done, Lady Daciana kept the guards posted in case the kidnapper attempted it again.

"Perhaps we should head to our summer home sooner rather than later," Lady Daciana said to Lord Quentin one night.

"If that is what you desire," Lord Quentin said, flipping to the next page of the book he was reading.

"Do you not think it wise? I mean with all that has happened," Lady Daciana continued, rubbing some cream on her face. "A change of scenery would be good for us all."

"Mm," Lord Quentin said in response, which usually meant he was done with the conversation.

Lady Daciana hated when he did that, and so pressed him with another question.

"Did you call the references for that young woman you spoke to?"

"Yes."

Lady Daciana turned in her seat, annoyed.

"And?"

"She will start work at the summer house. We will see her when he get there," he said, not looking up at her as he spoke.

"Does she have a name?"

"Sabra."

Lady Daciana gave up on further questioning and returned to finish her nightly manicure. Once she had finished, Lord Quentin was just taking off his glasses and setting the book down on the bedside table. He looked over at her for the first time since picking up his book.

"Why do you put that stuff on?"

"What?" Lady Daciana said, pulling the blankets back in preparation to climb in.

"The cream you plaster on, why do you do that?"

"Because I am vain," Lady Daciana said, sardonically.

Lord Quentin sat in silence, continuing to watch her as she snuggled down into the bed and pulled the blankets on top of her. She had just begun to close her eyes when she felt his lips press down upon her cheek.

"Quentin," she yawned.

He continued to kiss down past her cheek and to her collarbone, his curly beard tickling her skin and causing gooseflesh to run rampart.

"Quentin," she moaned now, his thick digits gripping hold of her hips and traveling up her nightgown one hand now squeezing her bottom.

He growled lustfully, throwing off his own night garb and carefully climbing on top of her.

Lady Daciana smiled at him, running her hands across his hairy chest.

"Hurry, my lord," she hummed, grinning at the sight of his hardened manhood. "A lady such as I does not like to be kept waiting." She raised up her arms as he pulled off her nightgown. How much self-control he had in his lust. He did not take it too quickly, continuing to kiss her and nip at her skin.

Lady Daciana did not have such restraint. She wanted him then and there. And when she was not receiving him, she turned on her side to give him less access to his most favorite parts of her body.

He made another growl. A deep sound that reminded Lady Daciana of a large bear, and in a way he was, especially when he made love. Aggressive. She felt his paws on her again. Stroking her sides up and down and then smacking her rump.

She moaned out in pleasure, turning now to lay on her belly as he once again climbed atop her and mounted her. She gasped in relief, gripping hold of the bedsheet as he thrusted rigorously into her. She did not bother to fight for dominance. In fact, she enjoyed the feel of his body pressed down on her. Allowing him to have total control.

She moaned out again, feeling his strong arm wrap around her midsection and raise her lower half up into the air. He switched his own position and was now kneeling behind her, both his paws gripping her as he continued to pump into her.

"Quentin," she hissed, grabbing hold of a pillow and placing it over her head to muffle herself. She knew her cries of pleasure would be guttural just by the way he was thrusting into her.

The bed creaked louder and louder as he went into the homestretch.

"Quentin! Quentin!" Lady Daciana groaned, collapsing down onto the bed spent.

Quentin grunted in pleasure, continuing to rock into her until he was satisfied. He did not say a word nor kiss her. He climbed off of her and walked into the bathroom, leaving Daciana lying in bed with a smile. The smell of their sex wafting heavily in the air. She knew how much he yearned to have another child, a son. However, they had not been so lucky.

Slowly she sat up in the bed and slid on her nightgown. Two years ago she had become pregnant, but due to complications lost the baby. It was a hard blow for them both, yet they continued to try and try with no success. No prescription. No treatment from the doctors could help them.

Lord Quentin's heavy steps came out of the bathroom, she watched him pick up his own garb and don it before he climbed into bed with a content sigh.

Lady Daciana rolled her eyes at him adoringly, the sigh she learned was his way of saying, 'excellent'. No sooner had he made the sound did he fall into a heavy sleep. His loud snores proving just how satisfied he was.

'I will not get much sleep tonight.' She sat up in the bed. 'Perhaps I should go check on Alcina then. He will not notice my absence now.' Lady Daciana tiptoed out of the room and down the hall to Alcina's room.

Inside the room, Lady Daciana could hear Alcina's gentle breaths from her bed, and near the fireplace sat Phoebe fast asleep.

"Phoebe," Lady Daciana walked over to her and shook her gently. "Phoebe."

Phoebe awoke slightly startled.

"M-my lady," she whispered.

"Go to bed, my friend," she said. "I can take it from here. Thank you."

"You are welcome, my lady," Phoebe said.

Lady Daciana walked over to the bed, smiling at the sight of Alcina gripping hold of her little dolly sound asleep. The child had not a care in the world. She pecked her cheek before scooting into the bed, lying flat on her back and resting both her hands on her belly.

'Perhaps Alcina will get a sibling this time around… it would be better if we were to have a son. I do not think she would like to have a sister to compete with.'

She lay awake for a long while. Thinking about the summer home and how she looked forward to going back. The parties she would host. How she missed the socializing, especially the nightly card games. Quentin did not like the card games as much as she, but she would force him to sit and join her.

Lady Daciana released a soft yawn, closing her eyes in hopes she would finally get some sleep…

{…}

Lady Daciana awoke to feel a weight on her. She opened one eye to find it was Alcina. The child still sleeping away, though her doll was abandoned near the pillow.

She stroked through her daughter's hair, how long it had become after cutting it only two weeks ago.

"Alcina," she hummed, continuing to stroke her. "Darling it is time to wake up."

"Just a few more minutes," she mumbled.

"I am afraid not. After all, a lady is expected to rise with the sun and be prepared to seize the day."

"What will we do today?"

"We will make ready to leave for the summer manor."

"I have finished packing," Alcina said, yawning.

"Excellent," Lady Daciana said. "Then we should be ready sooner rather than later."

"Are you and Father fighting?" Alcina asked out of the blue.

"No, why?" Lady Daciana answered.

"Because you are in my room," Alcina said innocently, crawling up and kissing her mother's cheek.

"Do you want to hear the truth?"

"The truth?" Alcina now wide awake.

"Yes, but you must not tell your father, agreed?"

Alcina nodded her head.

"Very well," she said, continuing in a whisper. "Your father was snoring, like a great bear in his cave. I could not get a wink of sleep and decided to be with you."

Alcina had begun to giggle.

"Daddy is like a bear."

Lady Daciana laughed, wrapping her arms around her girl and kissing her forehead.

After five minutes had passed, Lady Daciana rose from the bed and pulled on the rope hanging on the side of the bed. No sooner had she done this did Phoebe make her appearance.

"My lady," she said.

"Phoebe, I need you to prepare Alcina a bath, please."

Phoebe and Alcina locked eyes with one another. This was always the most difficult part of the morning process. Phoebe fighting with Alcina to get into the tub, not to splash and stay still when she was washing her.

Lady Daciana got out of the bed and stretched herself out. Feeling a bit sore. No doubt it was from the previous night's engagement.

"Alcina, you best be down for breakfast in exactly forty-five minutes. If I hear you were not being a good girl to Phoebe, I promise there will be a punishment."

"Yes, Mother," Alcina said, watching Phoebe's every move as the woman circled closer and closer to her. Acting like she was about to pounce on a loose animal.

As soon as Lady Daciana closed the door, Alcina scurried off the bed and ran straight for the closet, Phoebe close in toe as she snatched the child.

"Nice try, Miss Alcina," Phoebe said.

Alcina stuck her tongue out at her, pulled along to her own personal bathroom and to the tub.

Somehow Phoebe had managed to get Alcina down to breakfast with two minutes to spare. She was slightly wet from Alcina splashing her twice. When they entered the Dining Hall, only Alcina's mother sat within. She was sipping a hot cup of tea, one eyebrow shooting up at the sight of Phoebe's hair soaking wet. Her gaze then averted to Alcina, who was staring across the room with her lips puckered and arms crossed.

"On a scale from one to ten, how bad?" Lady Daciana directed the question to Phoebe.

"Seven, my lady," Phoebe said.

"Alcina. Alcina look at me!" she said sharply.

She did so.

"When I am in the study today finishing the last of the paperwork, you will join me and practice both math and English. I will have Phoebe collect the booklets you have been working on with your tutor."

Alcina opened her mouth to protest, but her mother shot her a stern look.

She released a growl of frustration.

"Do not growl at me, young lady, now sit down and eat."

She stomped over to the table and plopped down in the chair.

"Your father will not be joining us this morning," Lady Daciana went on, nodding to the servants to begin serving them.

Alcina said nothing, barely touching the food placed on her plate.

Lady Daciana just shook her head, not always understanding these sudden mood changes in her. One minute she would be happy and the next she would be quite the little devil.

'Perhaps I should page for the doctor to come around and give her an examination. She is overdue for one…'

Breakfast did not last long and soon the two were walking up to the study. Alcina dragging behind her mother as she used the key and unlocked the door.

"Come along, Alci," Lady Daciana said, growing impatient with her pouting.

"This is anine."

"What?" Lady Daciana snapped, whipping around to face her.

"Nothing," Alcina mumbled, her cheeks flushing a little.

"Sit over by the window at the little desk. Phoebe has already brought the books and should be there waiting for you," Lady Daciana said. "Come to me if you have questions about any of the work." She sat down in the seat, watching Alcina take a seat and open the red book. Math. Satisfied once Alcina picked up her quill and began to write, did Lady Daciana pick up her own and start her own math problems.

The two worked straight on for an hour. Lady Daciana, a bit surprised that Alcina had not started complaining in the first five minutes, slowly got up out of her seat to stretch. The room a bit muggy and in need of some fresh air. She walked over to the window Alcina was seated in front of. Deciding this would be a good opportunity to take a glance at how well she was doing.

"Pardon me, Alci," Lady Daciana said, using both arms to push the window up a little. "Does that feel a little better?"

"Yes," Alcina said, staring at her mother.

"How are you doing?"

"I do not like math sentences."

"You will have to learn them as part of what we do in the business."

"Can you check to see if I am doing them correctly?"

"Of course," Lady Daciana said. "What page did you start on?"

"Five through seven."

Lady Daciana flipped through the pages. There were twelve questions on each one front and back. She did not nod or shake her head as she went through them. Not wanting to make Alcina upset, though from what she could tell, she was doing just fine.

"Check these two again, darling, the rest are all correct."

"Really?" Alcina's eyes widened.

"Yes, really," Lady Daciana said. "For these two you just transposed the numbers. Make sure you slow yourself down. It may even help you to read the content out loud. I do that quite a bit."

Alcina nodded her head in understanding.

"Thank you."

"You are most welcome," she said, walking back over to the desk with a smile.

{…}

Once the shipments had all been taken care of, Lady Daciana got to work making the final preparations. Speaking to the remaining staff who would remain in the manor to keep it well maintained. This also included the head butler who would be in charge of the shipments. Once Lord Quentin had finally returned, the two got the three cars prepared. Two would hold the luggage and the few servants joining them; the other for the family.

Into the vehicle they piled in. Alcina squished in-between her father and mother as they began their journey. The trip would take three days'. They would have to stop when they reached towns to eat and rest.

"Alcina."

Alcina, who had been fast asleep against her mother, was shaken gently awake by her.

"What?"

"Look," she was pointing out her window.

"I cannot see," Alcina said, craning her neck.

Lady Daciana picked her up and set her down on her lap.

"Do you see it now?"

Alcina's eyes widened at the sight of the vineyard. How far it seemed to stretch and then finally the manor came into view. Alcina could not wait to get out of the car and explore.

Once the car had stopped, Alcina fumbled off her mother's lap and dashed out at full speed.

"Slow down, Alcina!" Lady Daciana called out to her, but the child was long gone. Running straight for the large peach tree. She was most disappointed to find there were no fruit on the branches.

"Alcina!" Lady Daciana was calling out to her. "Come along, darling, you have things to unpack."

Alcina turned away from the tree and ran back to her mother.

"There's a good girl," she said. "Here, carry this little suitcase."

"Do I get the same room?"

"Yes," Lady Daciana said. "Let's go up and get you unpacked."

Alcina had never felt such freedom when she was at the summer house. She had much more space to hide away from Phoebe outdoors. Her mother trusting her enough to not get herself into trouble, she would always be at the peach tree reading or playing pretend tea parties with her dolls and stuffed animals.

The days' flew by for her, though at times she would get lonely and invite her mother to play with her.

"I will soon, my love," Lady Daciana had said. "But I must also prepare for our holiday party. Could you have Phoebe play with you in the meantime?"

"I suppose," Alcina said, not enthused to have Phoebe play with her, but she did not want to play alone.

"Thirty more minutes and I will meet you outside," Lady Daciana said, turning back to the table where she continued to write her invitation cards.

Alcina exited the room to find Phoebe. She knew her mother would be good on her word, she always was.

"Hello."

"Oh, hello," Alcina said to a maid she had never seen before. She had bright blue eyes and hair the color of wheat.

"You must be Miss Alcina," she went on.

"I am, who are you?" Alcina said, walking down the remainder of the staircase.

"My name is Sabra, Miss," she said, giving her a little bow. "I am the new maid in the kitchen."

"How come you are here, then?" Alcina said bluntly.

Sabra chuckled at her.

"It is my fifteen minute break before I must return to prepare lunch."

Alcina did not know what to say to that.

"Have you seen Phoebe?"

"I do not know a Phoebe," Sabra answered.

Alcina sighed in frustration, deciding she would just leave Phoebe out and go play by herself. After all, thirty minutes was not a long time, right?

"Never mind," Alcina said. "Bye!" she flew out the Main Hall door without a backwards glance.

Sabra; however, was watching her closely. She approached the window, pulling back the blind to observe the girl running towards a lone peach tree. She had a full picnic set up with different toys and dolls. Her eyes began to tear up. A deep ache in her heart of memories of her own daughter doing the same before the sickness took her away.

"Eva…"

"Miss Stand! What on earth are you doing in the main part of the house?"

Sabra turned to face the head kitchen maid, Mrs. Combes.

"Stretching my legs, Mrs. Combes. Forgive me. I was on my fifteen minute break and did not realize this part of the house was off limits."

"You must get permission from the lord or lady of the house on where you may be," she explained. "Come along. It is time to prepare lunch for the family."

Sabra followed behind her, taking one last look outside with a growing smile.

The minutes dragged on for little Alcina. She was continuously glancing back at the manor in hopes to see her mother, but still her figure did not emerge.

"I do not think Mother is going to make it Miss Izabel," she said to her doll.

The doll stared at her unblinking with the stupid sewed smile stitched on her face.

She set her down roughly, looking around at her other toys in dismay. She then stood up, grabbing her horse stuffed animal and walking around the tree and taking a seat against it.

"I wish you would say something to me…" Alcina said, petting the soft white hair. "Hello?"

"Hello, Miss Alcina."

Alcina jumped a little, not expecting to hear a voice.

"Miss Horsey!"

"Why are you all by yourself? Why don't you join the picnic? Everyone is waiting for you."

Alcina giggled, rising up to her feet and tiptoeing around the tree to spy her mother knelt down on the blanket.

"Well, whenever you are ready to join us. We will all be here pouring the tea."

"Mother!" Alcina bounded around the tree.

"Ahh, there she is!" Lady Daciana said, catching her daughter in a full hug.

"You came! You came!"

"I made a promise to you, didn't I? And I never go back on my word."

"Thank you," Alcina said, kissing her cheek before taking a seat beside her. Alcina introducing all her stuffed animals and dolls to her mother before she began to pour them all pretend tea.

"Mother?"

"Yes, darling?"

"Can I go to the party you are hoting?"

'Hosting', and I'm afraid not. Adults only."

"When can I?"

"When you are older, Alcina. Besides, you would find them terribly boring, and it will be far past your bedtime."

Alcina puckered her lips.

"Do not give me that look," Lady Daciana went to drink from her cup, remembering quickly there was no tea in it. "Someday you will attend more gatherings than you can possibly imagine."

"You promise?" Alcina stared hard at her.

Lady Daciana smiled.

"I promise."