"My soon to be husband," Martha released the information I'd first be hearing about.

"Mr. Walker has mentioned this to Sir Arthur?" I was baffled by the spreading of such news.

"Yes they are friends, he had to tell him the truth about his arm."

"Whose arm's?"

"Good Lord have you lost all your memory? How Mr. Walker lost the movement of one of his arms," Martha could not be right about such news.

"Uh..."

"Oh it is fine for me to know, I am your friend, although the fact that Mr. Walker went to visit you and in an attempt to save you from some rabid animal lost one of his healthy arms is truly remarkable. I am not sure I could ever prevail to be so selfless, I like my arms a great deal you see." Martha fixed her gloves and I fell into a pit of shame, guilt and overwhelming gratitude, how would I ever repay him?

"Right he was most brave."

"And completely in love with you, what other eligible bachelor would risk an arm if not for country?"

"I see..."

"Oh I have told you the big news before he's mentioned it to you haven't I?" Martha thought I was in shock of the incoming question of engagement but I was more ill of having cost Mr. Henry his arm in my house due to my mother.

"Yes, indeed you have," I nodded "but everything shall be fine."

"Oh of course, only a minor bump until the vows, you know looking back now I see how you two were in each other confidences last Stanley Hall dinner, you are a bad friend for never mentioning it but I shall forgive you for I am too happy you are finally back with us," Martha cheered.

"Thank you uh and where is our friend? I see Lady Thomas here but..."

"Yes she was here some time ago, what is taking her so long?"

"There she is, my good old friend," Joseph came with Miss Lilly to greet me.

"Lord Joseph, Miss Lilly" I nodded.

"I am so glad you have come," she said for everyone to hear then gave me a hug and whispered, "my soon to be sister."

Miss Lilly grabbed my remaining arm and Martha raised her eyebrows as if to announce everyone knew what was to come and what was expected of Mr. Henry and I.

"Oh Miss Lilly I..." I tried to spell out the words that could fan away the fire of the rumors but I could not.

"You should show us your dress, maybe it will inspire Lady Alice," Martha teased.

"That is a great idea let us go up before dinner starts," Miss Lilly agreed full of cheer and spirit.

"Lead the way," Martha said and we three went up to Miss Lilly's room.

A door swung open and Cynthia came out of her room running out of breath and flushed surprising Martha, Lilly and I.

"Lady Cynthia you look um..." Martha tried to find the word.

"Are you alright?" Miss Lilly worried.

"Yes of course," Cynthia moved around in her clothes "I am simply feeling constrained in this tight corset."

"Come we can help you loosen it while Miss Lilly shows us her dress," I held Cynthia's hand and we continued to Lilly's room.

Miss Lilly's dress was pure white with lots of ruffles and volume to the sleeves, "you will look beautiful as a bride Miss Lilly," Cynthia sighed.

"I do hope with all my heart he thinks it too," Miss Lilly touched the fabric in a constant daydream like gaze.

"What jewels will you wear with it Miss Lilly?" Martha asked.

"Come let me show you what my groom has ordered for me."

Miss Lilly soon opened two boxes with a set of diamond and pearl jewels, they were the same ones from the room that belonged to Lydia, though they had been cleaned and polished to look brand new. Seeing the plain happiness of Miss Lilly and Joseph made it obvious my world was like a cloudy day; not exactly as it seemed and if the clouds were to move away oh what a dreadful sight I would be.

Dinner was about to be served when the rest of the men walked in and so did the entire family of Mr. Henry Walker for Miss Lilly's wedding.

"Finally there you are brother," Miss Lilly said about her brother who would escort her into dinner.

"Yes I am here, we were only out paying a visit to the neighbors west of here," Mr. Henry explained to his sister their family's whereabouts.

"Social calls, of course where else," Miss Lilly then glanced over at me curiously observing her brother's arm and called on me, "Lady Alice come, my mother and father will wish to see you."

"Yes," Mr. Henry said and I walked over being pulled into their family's lap, "good evening Lady Alice," he said politely.

"Good evening Mr. Henry."

"I shall go call my father and mother, excuse me" he said and Miss Lilly and I waited together for their short walk over to where I was.

"Father remember our family friend Lady Alice Stewart?" Miss Lilly said to them.

"Of course, how could anyone from our family not know who Lady Alice Stewart is, your brother's arm will be a constant reminder to us all," Sir Walker responded.

"My apologies Sir Walker," I blushed.

"Dinner is being served please make your way to the dining room," Mr. Howard said interrupting whatever would come next.

Although our dinner was delightful, I only had a few bites as to not alarm anyone, then I saw Mr. Howard motioned his head and used his eyes to make it known he had more to say so I plotted a detour from him.

"Ladies, my friend and I feel so tired from our trip we will retire ourselves early tonight," I got up.

"Oh come you two, stay a while longer," Martha protested.

"We promise to stay up until dawn tomorrow to celebrate Miss Lilly and Lord Joseph's union but tonight..." I explained and Cynthia nodded.

"We must go to bed," Cynthia gave them a smile tapping her foot anxious to go to bed.

"Of course ladies but I will hold both of you to the promise of celebrating until it is day," Miss Lilly got up to say goodnight.

"Thank you," Cynthia held my arm "have a goodnight ladies."

"Goodnight Miss Lilly, Miss Martha," I nodded and we went up together Cynthia's room came first and then I went alone to the opposite side to mine.

Edna arrived to help me out of the dress, the jewels and into a night gown, letting down my hair which ached my scalp from staying up for so long, I had grown unaccustomed to dressing every day for society and no longer just in my night gowns and loose hair strands.

"Milady are you well?" Edna asked as the news of Mr. Henry's arm was still freshly delivered to my mind.

"Oh yes, everything will be fine," I stopped my worrisome eyebrows from troubling her as she undid my hair, "so how are you getting on with Mr. Howard's staff?"

"You were right they are good people to work with and they speak highly of you."

"Do they?"

"Yes Mr. Eugene said you worked very well and he commends you for when you rose in life you did not take on any airs of denying your past as it would be expected."

"I would have never guessed I had left a good impression with Mr. Eugene of all people. And yes I do not deny my past but I hide my mother's condition, is it not as bad?"

"Milady you are protecting your family and she would have wanted you and your brother to be protected of such talks as well."

"I know but was there any other way? A less terrible separation? Maybe then my peace of mind would be attainable."

"Milady do not be sad, the best you can do today is to sleep, be rested for tomorrow so you can be of cheer for the happy couple."

"You are very wise," I agreed, "thank you Edna; you should know your care has been vital to me during these months."

"I am glad to be of such use here, my previous employers, never mind, I am happy here..."

"Edna? Who were your previous employers?"

"They were very poor and troublesome, they owed most of their staff, used up the money they had at taverns, it was a difficult situation."

"I am glad then that I am not the worst the employer you have had."

"As am I Lady Alice."

"Right then, have you seen if your room is comfortable?"

"Yes I believed it use to be your old room."

"Good, I liked it there."

"So do I milady."

"Well then thank you, you may go to sleep, Edna."

"Goodnight Lady Alice," Edna was about to excuse herself when I could not let her leave before finding out the truth.

"Edna wait may I ask you something?"

"Of course."

"It is about Mr. Henry."

"His arm?"

"Yes, you have heard then?"

"Yes m'lady."

"What are people saying?"

"That he's seen many doctors but the accident means he will never regain the full movement of his arm again."

"Oh... Goodnight Edna," I walked over to the bed with a candle to the bedside and she closed the door.

Edna was turning into an older sister though I had previously always been found in that position. The responsibilities and burdens were naturally latched on to my back for so many years that to share them was not in my nature. Yet Edna who helped me carry this load like a saint, gave me possibilities to look up and not constantly down.

As I prepared for the night my mind worked in reverse as to distress my nerves about an engagement to Mr. Henry, how was I to say no now? I would certainly be the most ungrateful being to ever walk the earth, I was not worthy of such a display of courage like Martha had mentioned so I pursed my lips to blow out the candle and hopefully my inner workings when Mr. Howard came into my bedchamber like a thief in the night.

"Alice," he said with his white shirt hanging loose over his pants behind the light where I knew his shadow too well.

"Mr. Howard you cannot be..." I started to say upset with his uncommon manners, I thought for sure if I turned in early he would find himself indisposed to come near the room but here he was.

"Shhh," he went with his hand to my mouth and shut me up. "I need your forgiveness and I know after the wedding you will leave and I will not waste this opportunity. So let me know at once that you forgive me Alice or none of us will not have any peace until you do."

*************************
No part, character, names, plot, setting, conflict or resolution, point of view, theme or symbolism of this story may be replicated.

Copyright: All Rights Reserved to A. Sena Gomes.