"Mother," Martin said, interrupting the silence in the dining room, "I heard that Willowfair is having a grand season at the moment."

Lady Vivian nodded. "So I've heard."

Martin looked around the table with a smile. "I believe it would be best for you and Lady Edwina to visit friends and get more acquainted with each other."

Lady Edwina blinked, surprised by the suggestion. "I am still in mourning, dear."

"Ah, then forgive my insensitive gesture." Martin said with a kind smile. "I was not thinking. I merely wished that you and Mother can perhaps get closer."

His tone seemed to deliver more meaning than his words, which Lady Edwina immediately understood. At first, she was quiet, obviously thinking about Martin's suggestion. "Well," she started to say, making Alice tense by each passing second for she knew that her mother would do anything to please Martin. "Now that you have suggested it, I believe it would not be deemed as bad if I attend a few small balls with Vivian."

"We cannot go to the grander ones, of course," Lady Vivian said. "People would start to talk."

Martin eagerly nodded. "Or you can visit other sights nearby. Our villa in Willowfair will be a change for Lady Edwina."

Alice cleared her throat. "Mother, we have been mourning for merely a few months. I do not think showing yourself to the ton will do you any good."

"Langworthy is undergoing several constructions at once at the moment," Martin pointed out, looking at Alice. "It will eventually cause your mother stress."

Alice squared her shoulders. From the corner of her eye, she could see Harold Everard looking at her intently, perhaps waiting for her next words. "Very well, I can go and accompany them. Eva can come along as well. She could reunite with her parents there."

"Ah, but the purpose of this vacation is for our mothers, Alice. They ought to enjoy each other's company."

"You can stay here, Alice. You cannot show yourself in this season," Lady Edwina said, giving Alice a meaningful look.

Alice suddenly felt helpless. Lord August's words did not help ease her panic either. "I will have our villa in Willowfair prepare for your arrival," he addressed his wife. And he turned to Edwina with a smile, adding, "Alice will be safe here. I shall play the part of Nicholas while you are away."

"I only had one father," Alice snapped.

"Alice!" her mother hissed. "You do not talk to your uncle that way."

Alice's jaw tightened as she muttered, "Forgive me."

August shook his head. "Nothing to forgive, my dear."

Martin clapped his hands together. "It is settled then! The two of you shall have a grand time in Willowfair!" he said, smiling at his mother and Lady Edwina. "And fret not about these ladies," he gestured his hand at both Alice and Eva, "for they shall be safe here. You can enjoy two fortnights or more in Willowfair without worry. You both deserve it."

Alice was already boiling inside. She knew why Martin was orchestrating this vacation. He wanted to isolate her so he could pursue her. However he would do that, she was not certain.

But she knew for certain this would not be good.

Her mother was eager to please Martin and Lady Vivian for the same reasons. She stole Eva a glance and her friend was looking concerned as well.

How could she escape Martin now?

*****

"That was a rather risky move," Harold told Martin later that evening as he walked toward the liquor cabinet with ease.

"How so? My mother secretly wants to be away from my father for a while and Lady Edwina wishes to please us, most especially me." Harold stole his friend a glance. Martin could no longer hide the look of pride in his face. "I would not call it risky. It was calculative, that's what it is."

He paused at the act of opening a bottle of brandy to narrow his eyes at his friend. "You are feeling very challenged with Eva, are you not?"

Martin shrugged. "She does not make it easy."

"So does Alice," he nonchalantly said, returning to his task. "I do not see why you would rather want the other woman." He poured two drinks as he said it.

His friend dramatically sighed. "You do not get it, Harry. You do not see what I see."

Holding two glasses, he delivered Martin his drink. "What I see," he pointed out as he handed the man his glass, "is you being obsessed. She barely spoke to you this morning. And you made all attempts to embarrass yourself in front of everyone, most particularly when you suggested that you want to start learning the pianoforte."

Martin blinked in self-defense. "I do wish to learn the pianoforte."

"From Eva. How convenient," Harold droned, settling in a winged chair.

"She is willing to teach me."

"She was willing to teach you in front of your parents. Go ask her again alone."

"I can barely find the timing to be alone with her," Martin grumbled.

"Thus you chose to send your mother and Lady Edwina to Willowfair?"

Martin's eyes glimmered with wickedness. "Precisely. It will make things rather easier. I have two less women to deal with."

Harold shook his head. "And now you expect me to distract Alice while you pursue her friend? Is that why I am still here in Langworthy?"

"Well, you are right to assume that I do need your help as you do need my help getting you back into Grey's," Martin started, "but you are wrong to assume that I would want Alice to be distracted."

Harold frowned. "Why?"

Martin chuckled. "She jumps away to escape me in every opportunity. It is an advantage, actually."

"You plan to continue to pretend that you wish to pursue her so she would continue to escape you and one way to do so is ask her friend to distract you while she makes her escapes."

"Have I already told you how wise you are?" Martin nearly exclaimed. "Because you are, my friend."

"I am also wise enough to know that you are insane and you are bound to regret all of this."

Martin shook his head. "No, I can feel in my entire being that I am doing the right thing. I caught her staring at me earlier at luncheon."

"Alice was also stealing you glances earlier, Martin."

"Well, the difference is that I was not aware of it for my attention was on Eva."

Harold shook his head. "Very well, go on with your plans. I shall wait and see the mistake you make, and dare not get cross when I laugh if you find yourself drowning in regret."

*****

Alice was not pleased that her mother had just so carelessly packed her things and rode to Willowfair with Lady Vivian.

They were in mourning!

Mourning!

The woman ought to have known better than to go to Willowfair and enjoy the season with the woman she hated!

Oh, but she knew her mother. She knew why she was doing this and that made her fury even stronger.

Lady Edwina was willing to leave her daughter amongst strangers in hopes of a marriage, thereby saving Langworthy.

What she found even more despicable was Martin's devilish orchestration!

Was he too stubborn and arrogant? Had she hurt his pride by refusing his proposal of courtship?

Had she made it even more difficult for herself? Where had she gone wrong?

These were the questions that rushed through her mind as she briskly made her way to the garden where Martin was waiting for her.

When she saw him, he was sitting by the stone bench that her father used to sit on. For a moment, Alice wanted to pull him out of that spot for he did not deserve that seat.

"What can I do for you, my lord?" she asked.

"Ah, Alice," Martin greeted with a smile, standing to his feet. "I was concerned that you might be cross."

"Yes, I am," she matter-of-factly stated. "Are you here to beg for my forgiveness?"

"No, I was hoping to assess how great your anger is."

"Well, it is big enough to last for a fortnight or more," she snapped.

"Oh, please. Your mother and my mother were ecstatic to leave for Willowfair. You ought to have seen them off earlier. They were all smiles."

"Of course, they were. Your mother wanted to return to Willowfair to be with her friends, mine wanted you to succeed with your plans to woo me."

"Ah, but—"

"Alice, the housekeeper is looking for you," Eva said from behind her.

Alice sighed and tore her eyes from Martin. Her friend came just in time as expected.

Without a word, she walked out of the garden, leaving behind Eva and Martin.

Her friend, as she had witnessed before, could put Martin into his place. Alice had not doubt Eva could handle him better than she this time so she decided not to linger and walked straight to find the housekeeper.

"Where are you going?" Harold Everard asked, jumping out of nowhere, startling Alice once again.

"Somewhere I am needed," she gritted out, "since your dear friend decided to suggest a vacation for my mother and Lady Vivian, I have to attend to the household myself. What would you like me to tell the cook to prepare for luncheon today? Martin's head or yours?"

Harold Everard's laughter rang down the corridor. "Would his head be served on a silver platter?"

"A platter will not suffice for the size of his head."

His hand caressed his throat in jest. "Mine will test terrible for it is filled with nasty thoughts. No heads for luncheon, then."

Alice came to a sudden halt and she made a sharp turn to face Harold Everard. She took a step back when she realized he was standing too close.

"What do you want, my lord?"

"You may call me Harry. Everyone does."

"What do you want?"

His face suddenly turned serious and for the first time, Alice thought she was realizing there was another side to this man, one that bordered dangerous and thrilling.

"You ought to stop running away from him."

It took a while before his words made their way into her thoughts. His green eyes were too mesmerizing to entirely focus on his words. "What? Why?"

"Because he has other plans and you would not want to help him succeed by running away."

"I am running away, my lord, to do exactly that—prevent his plans in pursuing his infatuations."

Harold Everard shook his light brown head and stepped closer, their clothes almost touching. "But his infatuations are not directed at you, my lady," he whispered.

"Whatever do you mean—" Alice started but broke off as soon as she realized what he meant. She looked over her shoulder to the direction of the garden. She started to move, but then stopped, utterly confused. She faced Harold Everard once again. "You cannot be serious."

He shrugged. "I am. He is my friend and he tells me of his plans. I would not have approached you if I believe he is making a mistake."

*****

Harold waited, looking at Alice's confused face.

God, she was beautiful. And witty. And funny. How could Martin miss that?

But he ought to stop fretting now that she knew. Surely she would do something he could not.

The best way to stop Martin's stupidity is by stopping Eva herself. The moment the two women connived, his friend would not have a chance and they would both return to Wickhurst unscathed.

But Alice's next words nearly caused everything to freeze, including him. "Well, I do hope he will find better luck with Eva."

And then she turned and started to walk away, but not to the direction of the garden where she ought to go, where she ought to grab her friend and walk away from Martin.

No, she was walking down the corridor, away from the garden.

"You cannot seriously be thinking of letting him—"

"He shall leave me alone for good if what you are suggesting is true," she stated, chin up and eyes looking straight down the corridor. "And I have very little fear, honestly. Eva is quite very smart."

"You cannot have too much confidence now, my lady," Harold said, following close behind. "Martin can be very persuasive and Lady Eva may not have the same will as you."

"My friend has as much strong will as I, my lord. And if this ever results into something that you fear, then I will have no say on the matter for I am merely her friend. I shall support her in every way."

"Even though you believe she will be making a big mistake?"

"One ought to take risk when in love."

Harold's eyes widened in disbelief. "I cannot believe I would hear that from you."

"I heard that from my father." She continued to walk and he kept following her.

"You cannot allow this to happen. Martin is making a mistake. And the moment he realizes that, it might be too late for your friend."

"I shall be by her side if that ever happens. My task is to be her friend and supporter. You, on the other hand," she said, stopping to face him, "is to make certain that your friend does not do something too stupid." She sighed as he gaped at her. "Now, if you think approaching me with this information will push me to step between Martin and Eva, you are entirely wrong, my lord. I am a supporter of free will and if the two of them decides to practice it, I am not one to stop them." And as he opened his mouth, she lifted her hand and pointed a finger at him. "And dare not say that I am merely doing this because I do not want Martin, because the very moment he hurts Eva is the moment I step in and skin him alive. No one would ever know about it because I would tear him to pieces and scatter his remains in the Dark Forest. If you do not wish that to happen, best you warn your friend and help him assess his true plans and feelings toward my dearest friend." She was breathless as she finished. "I hope we are agreed. Now, if you would excuse me, I have luncheon to oversee now that I cannot serve any heads."

*****

Eva silently slipped into Alice's bedchamber an hour or so later and she yelped when she saw Alice sitting in front of her vanity, brushing her hair.

"How was your time with Martin?" Alice asked.

Eva turned to lock the door, paused there for a moment, silently considering her next words. When she finally turned to face Alice, her faced looked confused.

Alice tried to hide her smile as she waited.

"Alice, I think I enjoyed my time with Martin," Eva admitted, tone confused. Her brows furrowed as she approached Alice. "And he said something quite unnerving and shocking to me in the garden."

"He did?" Alice asked, the corner of her lips twitching.

"He said that he rather likes me more than you."

"Hmm. As expected, of course."

Eva sighed, still looking confused. "Do you not think it is too fast, too soon?"

Alice shrugged. "That he shifted his attention from me to you?"

"Yes." Then Eva's eyes widened. "Do you think he thinks me easier than you? Is that why?"

"No, I merely think he enjoys your company more than he does mine." She resumed brushing her long black tresses, looking at Eva through the vanity glass. "And attraction is not congruent to free will. It comes suddenly and attacks anyone without warning."

"I do not think you believe that as well."

"Well, my father had said so. He seemed to have believed it. Why can we not, yes?"

Eva sighed and aimlessly went to the bed where she sat, looking at nothing in particular, looking dazed. "I still cannot believe it. He seemed sincere. I ought to be careful. He has already swayed me a little."

"Of course, you ought to be careful. You are an unmarried lady and very inexperienced in courtship at that. And you must push him away if even a little part of you is in doubt, no matter how big or small it may be."

Eva nodded. She turned her gaze to Alice. "Are you not going to stop me from spending time with him?"

"No, of course not. I am here to support you. You are your own person, Eva. Do what you feel is right. We cannot live forever to be too cautious and uptight."

Suddenly, Eva burst out laughing.

"What is funny?"

"Oh, nothing," Eva said, shaking her head and wiping tears from her eyes. "A thought just came to me. If anyone had been listening, they would think us insane. Martin was supposed to woo you!"

"Well, I have made my assessment that he is not for me," Alice said with a shrug, "but I never said he is not suited for other women, including you."

Eva laughed even more.

Looking at her friend through the mirror, Alice allowed a tiny smile. "Thank God I am not in love with the man, eh?"

"Oh, goodness gracious, yes! Otherwise, this would end into a bloodbath," Eva agreed and they both chuckled.