Page 19 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
“Yes, well, we all have our hobbies.” I smiled at her, and her expression hardened. “I was just visiting with Father.”
“As I said, bothering everyone.” Her voice was as icy as her gaze. “I’m amazed you’ve managed to stay on your feet this time.”
“Yes, well, fortunately, the stairs are no match for me and my thick skull.” I tapped my temple with my fingertip, then pushed my hair over my shoulder with a sigh.
“You should be careful, dear sister.” Sophia stepped up towards me and put her hand on my shoulder. “Next time, you may trip and fall from a higher staircase.”
“Oh, please don’t worry,” I said, turning my face so my mouth was close to her ear. “I shall be sticking to shorter hems for a while, so I don’t think I’ll be tripping over my dress anytime soon. You, on the other hand, really should be mindful of yourself.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“There’s more than one way to skin a cat,dear sister.” I pulled back as her face contorted into the ugliest expression that was a mix of anger and confusion. “Do excuse me. I need to rest.”
“Skin a cat? What are you talking about? Alicia! Come back here this instant!”
I clapped my hand over my mouth and ran up the stairs towards my bedroom, desperately trying to hold in my laughter. I made it into my room and threw myself on my bed before it burst out of me into the pillow.
Oh, man.
That felt good.
Chapter Four
New Friends, Old Enemy
White.
Bella had put me in white.
And not just any white. A whitelacedress. Complete with matching lace gloves.
This was a disaster.
I didn’t know how comfortable the previous version of me was with this getup, but me in my past life was not someone who could wear white. Especially not where food was concerned.
The only saving grace was that in keeping her memories, I also had all the knowledge she’d gained through her life—including all the etiquette I would need to survive this kind of event.
Thank you, Original Alicia, for being such a model noble lady. Your time spent studying all this hooey was not in vain.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked Bella, fidgeting with the dainty headband she’d situated in my hair right before we’d left. “White is a bit…”
“It suits you perfectly, my lady,” she said without batting an eyelid. “And you may have missed it on the invitation, but Lady Georgina requested her guests all wear white to her tea party.”
“Oh.”
Why white, of all the colours?
Why, why, why?
“Don’t worry too much, my lady. If you have any issues or feel unwell, I will be with the other maids close by.” Her smile radiated warmth in a way that settled a few of my nerves.
“What do maids talk about while we have these tea parties?” I wondered aloud, looking out of the window.
Bella cleared her throat. “The local gossip, of course. It’s far grittier than what you ladies discuss.”
“That explains how you know everything about everyone.”
She beamed as if I’d tripled her pay. “I’m an excellent listener. And don’t worry. I tell you everything good I find out.”
