Awakening Love

Part Fifteen:

Alice 

I stand in the middle of a great hallway with paintings all around me. I wear a beautiful light green dress that I have owned for a year now. Mr. Oliver is at my side, my arm lopped through his. Kathryn and Mr. Eddington are next to us admiring a piece done by a man named Franklin Johnson.  My brother stands in the corner next to a lovely blonde women Lucille Paddington, a lady in waiting for one of the duchesses. My mother insisted that Thomas got to know her, "She would make a lovely wife Thomas." My mother would say about fifteen time this morning. But as I watch now I can see Lucille is much more taken with the women next to her. Thomas is just here for the drinks. 

I smirk as I watch Miss Paddington giggle as she spoke with a black haired women. She didn't look familiar, but I could tell by the way she would touch her hand lightly, or laugh at everything she said. Lucille was fliting. 

"What do you think of this piece Miss Bristol?" Sam asked me as we approached a new painting. 

I sighed and tilted my head toward him, "It looks like all the others." I laughed.

"I agree." He laughed along with me . 

The event we were at was supposed to be a charity event, but I see no charity in rich people looking at paintings. To add all the painting did look the same. They used the same colors, and every person the painting painted looked the same. Only some were blonde and some were brunette. I don't see why I had to attend this, but mother assured me that it was the best way to meet new people. She wasn't keen on the fact that I have chosen Sam Oliver, and she was still trying to get me to see other men. But other men couldn't carry on a conversation like Sam Oliver could. Sam understood me, and I wasn't scared to be myself around him. The whole morning mother told me, "even though you are attending ever event with Mr. Oliver, doesn't mean you can't talk to the other gentlemen at these events!" She had been furious with me ever since that morning after the ball. That was a week ago, I haven't seen much of Charlie. 

I see him from afar, he is always working though. Has paper in his hands, or is rushing down the hall. I will watch him walk around with clients in the gardens. I know that's creepy, but I was sure that Charlie and I were becoming friends. Or at least I thought we were, I was comfortable enough around him. I teased and mocked him. But now he are strangers again. I passed him in the halls once, I stopped and opened my mouth. Nothing came out. But it was okay, I was moving forward with Sam. I was scared that maybe he would think our outings and events were courting, and then one day he would just propose. I am not ready for a proposal. 

We moved to the next photo, I looked over at Kathryn, and caught a glimpse of Charlie. He gleamed up at one of the paintings. He must have shown up after us, I never saw him leave the house. Then on his arm dangled a red headed girl, pale skinned and wore a gracious smile on her lips. I furrowed my brows. Charlie with a girl? I shook my head and turned my attention back to Sam, and the paintings. 

I was getting tired of all this walking and talking about artwork. So Sam and I went and joined my brother and Lucille. Kathryn and Mr. Eddington were soon to join us. I let Sam go off and talk with others, and then stood with Kathryn. We sipped our drinks and talked with other ladies around us. Charlie was brought up in a conversation. 

"Did you see that Mr. Alton, very handsome." One of the bigger women said to our small group. 

"I had never knew how handsome and perfect he was, if I would've known I would've married him and not the man I got stuck with." Another women perked in. 

I smiled lightly, "whoever he marries is lucky gal, imagine waking up with that face in front of you every morning." 

These women were clearly all so taken with Charlie, it was almost amusing to listen too. I wanted to chime in and talk about his high ego or the way he stops talking to random people. I kept my mouth shut, I knew it would only draw suspicion. All the women dispersed and it was just Kathryn and I again.