Mon Bel Oiseau

Chapter 4

"I'm so sorry that we don't have many guest rooms, but my children can share four rooms and your children can take the other four?" Alma said as she poured some tea into two cups and sat down across from you.

"That would be just fine, sorry for the bother, Alma. But may I ask if you have a sofa in the studies I can sleep on? Or I can sleep on the floor in one of the rooms." You said as you took a sip of your tea and looked at her.

"Oh, you could sleep with me if you don't mind that?" Alma suggested as she looked at you in anticipation.

"Oh, I don't want to cause you much trouble-"

"Nonsense, you aren't causing any troubles at all! My bed is big enough for the both of us." Alma smiled at you as you cleared your throat and took another sip of your tea trying to cover your blush.

You and Alma soon got into a steady conversation about what it is like in Wales and New York and who you both studied under, leaving the tea discarded aside.

"I have to go prepare dinner now, we are going to be having roasted duck, some vegetables, and a pie for dessert. Hope you aren't vegetarian." She winked at you before taking the teacups away.

"Oh let me help you with dinner!" You quickly stood up and followed behind Alma.

"Don't, I can manage alone. You had a long trip, go take a nap and I will wake you when dinner is ready" Alma said as she pushed you away from the kitchen.

You went to protest but started yawning which made Alma raise an eyebrow and smirk. You went upstairs in defeat knowing you could not win against her. The hall was long, but you were sure Alma's room was at the end. As you made it to her room a closed door caught your sight. You know you shouldn't be snooping especially since you are a guest, but you were curious. Deciding to ask Alma about it later, you walked to her room and went inside. The room was a nice mixture of dark colors and leaf patterns. It wasn't messy and it wasn't organized, but it didn't bother you. You walked to her bed and took off your sweater, putting it aside on a chair, and laid down on the bed. It smelled distinctly of Alma's perfume which soothed you into a steady breathing. In a couple of seconds, you were out cold as you drifted off.

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You felt a presence next to you as you started to stir awake from your slumber. You looked over to your side and saw Alma next to you with her hair down and in sleepwear reading a book peacefully. The room was dark except for a small lamp next to Alma casting a low light, just enough for reading and for you to stare at Alma like an idiot.

"I see that you are awake, I tried to wake you but you looked very peaceful and unbothered yet dead as a stone. So I just let you sleep and have dinner saved for you later when you have woken up." Alma turned the page in her book not bothering to look at you.

You sat up and leaned against the headboard and noticed that there was now a blanket over you that was not there before. You decided that you weren't hungry at the moment, so you didn't bother to get up and get some food.

"I put your children to bed if you were wondering, they seemed happy with the arrangement but confused about your whereabouts. I told them you were tired from the trip and retired to bed early. " Alma said as she glanced at you.

"Thank you for everything, and once again I am so sorry for the trouble. I didn't mean to sleep for so long." You apologized as Alma put a hand on your arms and told you it was alright.

Both of you sat in comfortable silence with only the sound of Alma's soft hums as she continued to read. You looked over at her and wondered how someone could look so effortlessly beautiful, her hair was down in lovely curls, her face was clear of makeup which she certainly didn't need. She looked so peaceful and beautiful. You saw her mouth twitch upwards and she let out a little laugh.

You quickly looked away when you realized you were staring at her longer than one should if admiring someone. You always were different, you never really liked the opposite gender. You always went for the same gender that it bothered your parents to an extent that they locked you into your room until you got ahold of yourself. That is until Percival came along asking for your hand in marriage, which your parents accepted.

You came back into reality and stared at the ceiling for a moment before you remembered the closed door, you decided right now was the perfect time to ask Alma about it.

"Say, Alma. I saw a door that was closed on my way to your room, may I ask what is behind it?" You asked as you glanced over at Alma.

You saw Alma froze for a moment and her face morphed into a frown. She put her book down and took off her glasses.

"Please don't ask questions that isn't of your business." She said as she turned off the lamp and slowly slid down onto the bed and turned to face away from you.

You realized you most likely hit a nerve and muttered an apology before you also decided it was time to go back to sleep again.

You laid there on your side for a few minutes planning where you should take the children tomorrow to look around. You felt an arm wrap around your waist and slow breathing on your neck.

Realizing it was Alma you tried to get out of her arms but her grip on you was tight. You could tell she was fast asleep from the steady breathing on your neck. Trying hard not to blush, you tried to go to sleep hoping she would let you go before the morning.

You fell asleep with the warmth of Alma next to you, loosening her hold on you but very much awake.