Page 18 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
“Very well. What is it?” He stirred his tea.
“I would like to discuss the topic of getting married.”
Caldwell dropped his spoon with a clatter that rang out through the silent room and blinked erratically. “Please excuse me.”
Father glanced at him with barely veiled amusement. “Don’t worry. If I’d been holding one, I might have done the same.” He turned to me, eyebrows twitching. “I thought you had no interest in getting married.”
“It wasn’t that I had no interest, but rather I was apprehensive about the candidates that would be chosen.” I reached for my tea and raised the teacup to my lips. “The reason I’m bringing it up is that I would like to request that I have some say in the matter.”
He stared at me. “Are you romantically involved with anyone?”
“No.”
“Is there someone you’re interested in?”
“No.”
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Then why are we suddenly having this conversation?”
“Because I just turned twenty-five, and I’m aware that you’ll start looking for suitable marriage candidates soon,” I replied smoothly. “I’m only asking to be a part of the process.”
Father met Caldwell’s eyes. “Brief her on my parameters for her suitors.”
“Before that, you should know that I refuse to marry anyone under twenty-two or over the age of thirty-five, and I must be their first wife.”
He swung his gaze back to me. “Pardon?”
“Twenty-two to thirty-five and the first wife. That’s my hard line. If you try to marry me off to a fifty-year-old count somewhere looking for his third wife, I shall run through the Imperial Palace gardens naked.”
Caldwell coughed, but it was closer to a choking laugh than anything else.
“Alicia!” Father stared at me, his green eyes round with shock. “What has gotten into you?”
“I don’t know,” I replied, finishing my tea before delicately setting the cup down on the saucer. “They say people’s personalities can change after a major incident. And goodness! I did hit my head awfully hard on the stairs after Itrippedon my dress, didn’t I?”
His expression darkened. “Yes. After you tripped.”
Ah-ha. Maybe he did have some doubts after all.
After all, Alicia had been raised with the perfect noble education and wasn’t a naturally clumsy person. Tripping and falling down the stairs wasn’t something she was likely to do.
Now, me in my past life was a different story. I would absolutely have tripped over my own feet given half a chance.
This body wasmuchmore eloquent.
“Indeed.” I smiled and stood up. “I shall excuse myself. Sorry to have bothered you when you’re so busy, Father. I’m most grateful that you’re willing to include me in the marriage discussions and take my preferences to heart. I will let you know if I find anyone that I’m interested in.” I took a step back from the desk and, clasping my skirt, offered him a small curtsey.
Then promptly left the room.
Well, that went better than I expected.
“I see you’re back to your usual self, bothering everyone.”
I stopped at the sound of Sophia’s grating voice, slowly dragging my gaze upwards. If I had little in common with my father where my looks were concerned, I had even less with Sophia, despite us sharing his blood. She had my stepmother’s dark brown eyes with Father’s light blonde hair, and her features were a perfect blend of the two of them.
Absolutely nobody in this world would ever mistake the two of us for sisters.
And thank God for that.
