Although it was sunny and bright the next morning, Alice didn't feel like it as she got ready for another day at the MacPherson house. As the head maid, she knew she had to set a good example for the other staff members, but it was getting harder and harder for her to stay calm.After tying her hair back and straightening up, Alice looked in the mirror and saw herself. She told her image, "You can do this." "Just three more days."Going downstairs, she was thinking about all the things she needed to get ready for the day. As head maid, it was her job to make sure the house ran smoothly. That meant keeping an eye on the preparations for a dinner party the MacPhersons were throwing that night.Alice's best friend in the house, Clara, one of the younger maid, smiled and said, "Good morning, Alice." "How are you feeling today?"Alice valued Clara's care. Finding Alice crying in the laundry room a few days ago, she was the only one in the house who knew she was pregnant. After Alice made h
While Alice waited for Carson to go on, her heart was racing. Due to his closeness, the small room seemed even smaller, with his presence filling every corner.Carson said it again while running his hand through his hair. "I've been thinking about what you said." Talking about the baby and us. "Alice, I honestly don't know what to do."Alice's heart sank. Possibly naively, she had thought that Carson would have made up his mind. That he would grab her and tell her he loved her and their baby more than anything else."What do you mean, you don't know?" Alice asked, making an effort to speak clearly.Carson got up and started walking around her small room. "I mean, this is all so hard to understand. The company to think about is looking towards a merger with the business owned by Margaret's family. What my parents expects. Now, there's you and the baby...""And where do we fit into all of this?" There was a hint of anger in Alice's voice as she asked.Carson turned to look at her, and hi
The weight of Alice's disclosure—her pregnancy—was heavy on Carson. He ran a hand through his hair, a behavior he had developed from boyhood under stress.His nervous condition was disturbed by a subtle knock on the door. "Come in," he said in a gruff, emotionally charged voice.Alice came in; her face was pale but calm. Her hands in front of her, she stood just inside the room. You wanted to see me, Mr. MacPherson?Her voice carried formality that pained Carson. How had they got to this? They had been immersed in one other only a few weeks before, exchanging stolen moments and covert smiles. The space between them seemed large just now."Alice," Carson started and then stopped. How could he phrase what he had to say? How could he cut both of their hearts? "I had been considering what you mentioned. Regarding the babya.Alice nodded, her expression exactly neutral. " And?"Carson drew in a long breath. "Alice, I look out for you. I am. And considering our child makes one very tired. S
Alice gently closed the door to her little chamber for the last time as the beautiful glimmer of dawn started to adorn the heavens. Her bag, full with the few items she had gathered over the years, seemed weighty in her grasp; maybe this was the weight of her heart making everything seem harder.Stopped in the corridor, she listened to the ancient house's typical moans and creaks. She has lived here three years. It seemed now like a stranger's home, chilly and hostile.Alice couldn't help but recall all the times she had hurried up and down these stairs, ringing bells, carrying trays, or covertly meeting Carson. She was walking down the servants' stairway. She had to stop, resting against the wall to calm herself; the remembrance of those taken events brought a fresh surge of agony.She murmured to herself, "Get a grip, Alice," inhaled deeply. "You are capable of this."She was shocked to see Clara waiting for her at the bottom of the steps, a thermos in her hands and anxiety clearly
Carson stood,staring outside through the window of his study. He kept thinking about Alice, about the anguish in her eyes as she went. His chest seemed congested, as though he couldn't breathe well.His thoughts were disrupted by a knock on the door. Trying to sound regular, he said, "Come in."Margaret entered, her mouth open in a brilliant smile. "You are here, dear! I have searched all over for you. We have to discuss the wedding flower arrangements.Carson started to grin under pressure. "Oh, right. The bloom.Margaret pulled out a sophisticated-looking folder and sat down opposite him. " Roses were on my mind. Of course, red ones Many of these. what do you think about it?"Not really caring, Carson answered, "Sounds nice." In his brain, Alice's voice still rang clear. I am pregnant, Carson. He shook his head, trying Margaret first."Are you even looking at me?" Margaret wrinkled her brow. "This will be our wedding, Carson. You might at least pass for interested."Carson muttered
Carson's chest felt heavy when he woke up. Even though Alice had been gone for a week, it seemed like a long time. He looked at the ceiling because he didn't want to get up and act like everything was fine again."Carson! What are you doing?" The sound of his mom's words came from the doorway opposite. "We have a busy day ahead!"Carson made a sound. No problem. Things for the wedding again. He shook himself out of bed and called back, "I'm up, Mom!"Trying to get dressed, he looked at himself in the mirror. His eyes looked tired because they were dark. He whispered to himself, "Pull yourself together." "You have a job to do."It was already very busy downstairs in the house. Mrs. MacPherson, Carson's mom, was in the living room with a wedding planner and lots of mags and fabric pieces all around them.Mrs MacPherson was glad to see Carson and said, "Oh, good, you're here." "We want to know what you think about the color scheme." Margaret likes pink, but I believe blue is more classy.
Margaret woke up early with a big smile on her face. It looked like today would be a good day. She couldn't wait to start planning the wedding with the MacPhersons, which took up all of her time.She looked at herself in the mirror as she dressed. "You're going to be Mrs. Carson MacPherson," she told herself. "Everything has to be perfect."She got to the MacPherson home right on time. Mrs. MacPherson gave her a hug when she got to the door. "Oh Margaret, dear!" Come in, come in. Today we have a lot to do!"Margaret went into the living room with her future mother-in-law. A lot of wedding mags, fabric samples, and flower catalogs were in it. She saw something that made her heart beat faster. Everything she had ever dreamed of came true."Where's Carson?" Margaret looked around and asked. She was a little upset that she hadn't seen her fiancé much lately.The mother of carson waved her hand. "Oh, you guys know. He talked about work. Don't worry, though—we can do this without him.Marg
"Are you sure about this, Alice?" Emma asked, her voice echoing in the empty apartment as she struggled with a heavy box.Alice paused, looking around the bare living room. It was small, nothing like the grand rooms of the MacPherson mansion. The paint was peeling in one corner, and she could hear the neighbors arguing through the thin walls. But it was hers. A new start. "I'm sure, Em," she said, trying to sound confident. "I need to do this. For me and for the baby."Emma set down the box with a thud. "I still can't believe that rich jerk just dumped you like that. Who does he think he is?"Alice felt a familiar surge of anger and hurt. "He's Carson MacPherson," she said bitterly. "He can do whatever he wants, apparently."The sisters worked in silence for a while, unpacking Alice's meager belongings. The apartment was in a decent part of Manchester, not too far from where their mom lived. It wasn't London, but that was the point. Alice needed to get away from everything - and every