Awakening Love

Part thirteen:

Alice POV

Mothers voice echoed in my head as I slept that night. I could only imagine how furious she would be when she found out about last night. I know Charlie is going to try his best so she doesn't find out, but my mother will always have a way. 

I was awoken by Beatrice, she was humming a sweet tune as she prepared a bath for me. I heard water be poured into a large container. I opened my eyes and turned to watch her, she turned around and saw me. 

"Ah! good morning Miss Bristol!" She exclaimed, she walked over to the the window that sat in front of my bed, "let me open this for you." She opened the curtain and immediately my eyes felt burnt. 

"Beatrice! close them." I covered my eyes with one of my pillows.

"But Miss Bristol you cannot bathe in the darkness."

"Fair point, but you should have given my eyes more time." I was now sitting up in my bed, hands rubbing my face. 

A knock at the door, "come in." I said politely. In walked Charlie, I had just remembered our talk from last night. Charlie held a new glass of water in his hand, he handed it to me. 

"Looks like everything is going good in here." He smiled, "your mother will be here is about... hopefully two hours."

"Two hours?" I asked. 

"Yes, that is correct." Charlie rubbed the back of his neck, "I want to be sure you look as presentable as possible, and so far you don't look to sick." 

"I would hope I wouldn't look ill, if I did then of course my mother would know."

I looked behind me, Beatrice was waiting at the bath, "Miss Bristol the bath is ready." She smiled sweetly. 

"That's my cue to leave." Charlie smiled and then left my room. 

I walked over the bath where Beatrice stood, she helped undress me. Then she left my room as well. I slowly dipped my feet into the fresh warm water, soon I was buried by the water. I loved baths, they were so calming and gave me so much time to think about everything 

________

I was walking down the stairs, Charlie behind me, Thomas waiting in the entry way. Beatrice stood next to Thomas, as well as Henry next to her. They all smiled. Mother was pulling up in the courtyard as I walked. As soon as I reached the bottom of the stairs, we all went outside. Greeted with the crisp morning air, we all breathed in. Thomas and I were first to walk down the front steps, then Charlie and Miss Hughes. Beatrice and Henry were last. Mother's carriage stopped and one of the coachmen opened the door and helped her out. She hadn't aged a day, but somehow she looked more fake then I ever imagined. 

She smiled and slowly walked over to Thomas and I, she opened her arms for Thomas first. They kissed each others cheeks. She grabbed on to his arms and looked up to him.

"look at you my shining little boy, it is a blessed day that I get to see you. It's only been a month and half but it feels like years," My mother rejoiced, she was hiding the anger for me. 

"it is good to see you mother, you look beautiful as usual." Thomas smiled without teeth showing.

My mother turned to me, her facial expression immediately changed. "and my... gorgeous Allison, who I will have a talk with later." She gave me a hug, no kiss and left. 

She walked to Miss Hughes, they kissed each others cheeks. I was shocked, mother never do something like that to me in front of others. Others that aren't our family. She then turned to Charlie.