devoted - 𝐓𝐄𝐖𝐊𝐒𝐁𝐔𝐑𝐘

03

You're in the right relationship if you can't readily imagine being more happy or satisfied with another person.

I had already packed my clothes and other things i needed, no, im not running away somewhere far off to escape this madness but today, today is the day I'll meet my so called soon to be husband— i shouldn't think too much of it, perhaps he is genuinely kind and can handle my stubbornness. Whatever he might be like, this is only for the sake of my family.

But... What if he thinks im insane, what if he likes someone else?

A knock was the heard pulling Alice away from her thoughts. "the carriage is here. " a familiar voice said, it was her brother coming to fetch her.

"I'm coming" she said slightly anxious and nervous but a hint of excitement rushed through her body as she kept a brave look and left her room walking with Charlston and Mrs. Caroline.

After going down the grand staircase and walking down the hallway leading outside Alice couldn't help but tear up, for the sake of her family she was putting her own life on the line, her own future...

This was it... She was now bidding farewell to her family.

Her brother had promised to visit sometimes, her father did not speak at all as if trying to hide the sadness, but inside— even if he didn't look like a loving father he still loved his children,
Alice loved her father even if he didn't act like a father to her, she hugged both Charlston and her father not wanting to let go now, but she had to.

She had ran to Mrs. Caroline the old lady had tears running down her aging face, she hugged her so tight, like if she let go she'd be lost forever.

Its like losing the daughter you've had for so long... And as much it pained Mrs. Caroline she pulled away from Alice's embrace, Alice kept strong— she will save the estate and ensure that she wouldn't ever see the fall of her father, she vowed to clean his name and his nobility; she was going to save them all.

She climbed onto the carriage and sat down trying to get comfortable and waved one last goodbye to her family.

The coachmen then closed the carriage door and hopped infront to lead the horses. The carriage finally moved and started to speed up as she felt the wind in her face, She could still visit— but she had to ask for Tewkesbury's blessing, breathing in one final breath of the place she grew up in, she closed her eyes and let the moment linger.

The bustle of people were heard at the busy streets of London along with heels clicking by the sidewalk, the trains and people selling things that were mostly seen in the great London.
The Heart of Novels, known as the Big Smoke, the capital of England, a busy place indeed.

Alice looked outside the opening of the carriage, people everywhere. She sinked back into the slightly uncomfortable cushions of the carriage and looked for her books in one of her bags that she had brought inside with her.

Jane Eyre. It was a romance novel yet filled with so much traces of feminism, a step into challenging the patriarchal system where male dominates in society, a novel pertaining to achieve equality and to overcome oppression. She felt connected as she turned to the bookmarked page, why shall we believe women to be inferior to men, when women are perfectly capable of doing what men can?

Reading that made Alice feel empowered, she was also just a woman, betrothed to a man. Losing her sense of freedom for the sake of her family, as much as a challenge it may be she wasn't going to feel threatened, her soon to be husband might be a Lord but she wasn't less of a person of nobility next to him.

They continued to a path as Alice continued to read. It took a while to get there.

But finally they arrived at a big estate, the sun was shining brightly but the temperature was not at all scorching hot, the gates were opened by two guards, then getting closer to the entrance of the big estate she met two faces one she knew and one she didnt. She quickly put her book back into her bag.

The coachmen then got off and opened the door for her she got down as she was offered a helping hand. A boy her age.

His hair was cut unevenly and she could tell it was cut off by merely a blunt object. His eyes brown and honeylike they had made eye contact as he had helped her down the carriage, tall and a well built physique.

Alice swore she had almost tripped going down the carriage from being lost in his eyes.

And when he spoke to her as he greeted her. She was speechless.

—

The carriage sped off after the coachmen unloaded all of her belongings for the men to carry into the estate to her room.

Alice greeted the Marchioness. The woman smiled righteously and gestured for Tewkesbury.

"Tewkesbury, greet Margaret Alice dear. " she said as if she was waiting for him to do it before she would even say it. So he was Lord Tewkesbury, this charming boy in front of her was her soon to be husband.

"M'lady. " he took his hand out for Alice to take, he bent down too because he was a bit taller than she expected.

Did my heart love till now?

He was a gentleman yet Alice had yet to learn more about him and his rumoured adventure. She was so curious about Lord Tewksbury, she had to know more.

"I better leave you two to get to know each other, you two have yet a long day to get used to." The lady chuckled as she turned back leaving the two alone.