"Tonight we are still friends," I signaled for Martha to come out of the drawing room and out into the hall before anyone caught me alone and it took a while for her to come.

"For now yes, but you see the people I am friends with every single one of them accept you without any reservations." Joseph talked as I waited for Martha to grab Cynthia and come to my rescue.

"Is this why you called me to dinner Joseph?"

"I need you to know you will not be treated as an inferior when we are together."

"Joseph, it is not my importance at stake here, I have no such vanities" I looked in his kind green eyes.

"Then what are we to do since I also have no such vanities? We should only be glad that what ever others say of us will be of no hindrance," he smiled then came midpoint to a kiss.

"Joseph no," I backed away in a rush before he got to my lips.

"Where are you going?"

"Back where I should be so should you," I said as the girls reached the doorway. "And do not attempt this again I have not changed my mind," the ladies came out seeing a glimpse of Joseph go in the other room.

"Was that Lord Stanley?" Cynthia noticed the near death of my principles.

"Yes, he wanted to talk but I told him to go," I told them.

"Wait what if he wanted to ask you something important?" Martha jumped to conclusions, "what if he was going to propose?"

"He was not going to ask such a thing so inappropriately, he is not that kind of gentleman."

"How would you know?"

"Because it is easy to see who he is and we are merely good friends," I defended it.

"I would say it is a pity but if you two are not fond of each other than the better it is for Cynthia and I," Martha shrugged her shoulders latching onto me.

"Martha," Cynthia criticized her but Martha did not care.

"But if an eligible young man ever wants to talk to me in private I expect you two will make it happen."

Martha wished to get married and so did her family, or at least she wanted to fall in love sooner than later, later though was not a word that suited her anymore.

"If your mother heard you," I giggled.

"But Martha is right, if we are each other's keeper then nothing can go wrong." Cynthia agreed to the understanding and I was glad they were not harsh judges as the rest of society.

"Come girls the gentlemen will join us for a while," Lady Thomas said desperately wanting to keep us close to the bachelors.

"Coming mama," Cynthia said.

"So Cynthia how is Arthur?" Martha asked.

"He is so sociable, out of all the boys he does distinguish himself does he not?" Cynthia asked us as we got away from the painting.

"Yes he does," I agreed.

Arthur was the bachelor most people knew of, he was never short of invitations but Henry had his moments, and Joseph was easily influenced by Arthur's good spirits.

"Do I look alright?" Cynthia asked before we walked in to the room.

"Here," Martha said and pinched Cynthia's cheeks.

"Better," I said and Martha fixed her dress as we three made our way in and then the oddest thing caught my eye my mother was laughing and it was Mr. Howard who had caused it.

"I will go talk to my mother," I left Martha and Cynthia trying to think back when did Mr. Howard owned a sense of humor.

"Dear Alice, Lord Howard was telling us how he got the inspiration for his first painting."

"Oh really?" I asked without any interest.

"Do not bother her with it, maybe she will only think I am deranged." Mr. Howard said but I did not need to hear another story to come to those conclusions.

"I will tell it anyways, Lord Howard was chasing a chicken one day in Stanley Hall and ended knee deep in mud so from that while he lay in the mud he thought to draw soldiers heading out to war. Can you believe his imagination?" Mother said lowering her laugh to chuckles.

"And yet they claim you to be the romantic genius of the era right?" I asked about an article from not too long ago with a sarcasm only him and I would understand.

"I am afraid so but articles can be such an exaggeration, they all too quickly turn nothing into something bigger than it should. Though who can blame them it is their only job, to exaggerate their tales so that we may gather around and talk as if we knew anything for certain." He showed me a little wry smile on the corner of his shapely mouth.

Mr. Howard understood the meaning of my provocation and answered up to par. I did not know if I rather this or his oblivion, it seemed like anything he did or said would have made me angry either way after his audacity to touch my hand under the dinner table.

"You are the same old trouble maker, always against the papers," Sir Walker remarked.

"Mother I am so sorry to interrupt but I am sorry to say I do not feel well may we head home?"

"Oh no Lady Alice stay a while longer we are almost done," Lady Scott who had taken a liking to me pleaded.

"I apologize truly but I feel a little unwell and feel the only thing that will make it better is some rest Lady Scott," I excused myself.

"Well I wished to stay a while but if you do not feel well then I shall go with you." My mother had never before wanted to stay at any gathering of society but one dinner with Mr. Howard changed her.

"No uh you should stay mama, " I was vexed from her question and her desire to be friends with Mr. Howard who in turn did not discourage her.

"No I think its best I go take care of you," she sighed with a smile on her face.

"No please you can ride back with someone I'm sure, I will go home and do not worry about me mama," I was forced to insist she stay for her own happiness and my utter dread.

"Are you very sure? I would not want to leave you..."

"Mama I am very sure, please everyone enjoy the rest of your night and I will excuse myself now..." I began to say my round of goodbyes leaving him for last as he waited his turn to talk.

"Goodbye Lady Alice feel better," Mr. Howard got up and held the hand he previously caressed under the table then ended my night with even worse words. "Thank you for lending us your mother for the rest of the evening, we so appreciate it."

"My pleasure Lord Howard, enjoy your evening ladies and gentleman," I turned my back thinking of what could happen while I went home leaving them here with their rumors and speculations.

Between Mr. Howard touches and Joseph's requests I was pushed into such a horrendous mood and insomnia night. I worried every minute of that night and of the next days on what to do with both of them and only one solution came to my mind. To tell Joseph I never wanted to see him again, how cruel this would be, to treat a person so dear with such indifference as to not keep him or his father close for another minute.

Some days passed and I saw mother had been in a cheerful mood so one morning I practiced the piano with much intention of mastering it while mother had already gotten up and had her breakfast.

"Mama you are up early," I said.

"Yes I received an invitation to go to tea at Lady's Walker's house; all the ladies will be there would you like to come?"

"No, I think I need more practice, I will see you for dinner."

"All right dear see you soon," she put her gloves on and left me alone while Mrs. Trudor went for her daily walk with Joan.

"Lady Alice flowers for you," Edna came in to deliver.

"Thank you Edna and dinner will be served late so you may have a few hours to do as you please," I said to her and grabbed the letter; the seal was from the Joseph's crest.

Dear Alice,

Meet me at your local church as soon as you get this, I must see you at once.

With the energy of the piano playing still running through me I accepted the request at once and set off alone by foot to church tired from being trapped indoors doing lady things. Though I could have asked Edna to come as to keep with the rules that I must be accompanied by a lady everywhere I went I was not sure she would keep the secret from my mother. So I slipped away when the staff was busy and the danger of being found out though brought me instant regret as I looked for Joseph in the church to no avail. There were three other women knelt down praying and I joined them by the far right corner alone in talking to God though I was concerned of where he could be. From the corner of my eye on my knees I prayed for the right words to tell Joseph to give up the idea of proving me wrong about my decision to marry him.

"You came."

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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.