"𝐂𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬"

𝟒𝟔. "𝐅𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐧"

"Thank you so much for letting us stay here, Oswald." I grinned widely and wrapped my arms around the man. He immediately returned the embrace.

"I'm just glad I could help you in some way." He mumbled into my curls. Jerome cleared his throat in an unnecessary loud way.

"Asshat." I whispered. Cobblepot chuckled and nodded as we pulled away.

"I'll show you to your room." He smiled, gestured for me to follow and headed somewhere. I quickly followed him.

"W-what about myself and Mr Crane, dear Alice!?" Hatter exclaimed. We halted.

"That's..." Oswald trailed off.

"Later." He sighed and walked forward again. I giggled and joined his side.

Jerome then caught up to us and yanked me possessively into his side. I ignored his childish behaviour and looked around the massive corridor full of paintings and other interesting trinkets.

"Your house is incredible." I muttered to Cobblepot.

"Thank you. It was my father's." He told me and stopped next to a huge black door.

"This is it. If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask." He smiled warmly at me. I returned it and nodded.

"Goodnight, Grace." He raised his eyebrows at me to symbolise he only wished me a peaceful night and then paced away.

"If you need anything else, don't hesitate to ask. Goodnight, Grace. Uuuh." Jerome softly mocked Penguin.

"What are you, five?" I sighed.

"You mocked Bag-head, and I'm seven. Now come on..." He grabbed my hand, opened the door and dragged me inside the room.

"I need to strip you and make you perform naked contortionism." He declared bluntly as he pulled me over to the bed. I snorted with laughter.

"I don't know how I feel about doing a naked show for a seven-year-old, Gingy." I chuckled. Then I took a look around the room, and my face fell.

I immediately ripped my hand out of Jerome's hold, bolted towards the gigantic bookcase and leapt on the step stool to get a better look at all the beautiful, old editions of all my favourite classics.

"Gorgeous?" Jerome piped up. I frantically waved my hand at him to make him shut up.

"Greeeey!" He cried. I groaned with irritation and looked at him.

"Bed." He noted and pointed to it. I couldn't hold it in, and I snorted with laughter.

"Can't you wait?" I pleaded.

"Fine. Five minutes." He sighed and took off his coat. I beamed and immediately got back to examining the books.

My eyes lit up when I noticed a beautiful edition of "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland". I carefully took it off the shelf, jumped to the floor and headed to the door.

"W-where are you going?" Jerome mumbled. I turned my gaze from the cover to him.

His vest was discarded on the bed, and he was in the middle of loosening his tie. I swallowed heavily when I saw it. He threw it on the bed and started unbuttoning his shirt. I shook my head to get a grip and raised the book.

"I think Jervis will like this." I shrugged and waved the volume. His face fell, and he pointed to the door.

"You're going to have tea with the Hatter? Now?" He breathed with utter bafflement.

"Well-"

"No, no, no. You would rather have tea with Hat-head than consummate our engagement?" He scoffed and crossed his arms on his chest. I giggled and set the book on a dresser.