Page 20 of The Fifth Life of Alicia
“As you should.”
The carriage drew to a stop, and seconds later, Harry knocked on the carriage door before opening it. “We’ve arrived at Alansia Manor, my lady.”
“Thank you, Harry. My sister hasn’t arrived yet, is that correct?” I asked, taking his hand as I got out.
“No, she hasn’t. I don’t see any of our carriages yet, and I don’t believe anyone else has left since the Marchioness returned.”
“Good. Please make sure you’re comfortable while you wait. The breeze is rather chilly today.” I smiled and nodded for Bella to follow me.
Alansia Manor was a sprawling mansion not dissimilar to what I knew as the Jacobethan style of Vermillion House, although it was larger than our property. The gardens that surrounded it were extensive and well-maintained, and honestly, they might have been slightly prettier than the Imperial Gardens at the palace.
Thankfully, the carriage had stopped right outside the front door, so I didn’t have a marathon to walk before I could go inside.
The butler bowed. “Lady Alicia, please allow me to escort you to the greenhouse. Lady Georgina is awaiting your arrival.”
“Thank you.”
He stepped outside and turned to the side, and I followed him along the curving path.
“Will your maid be waiting for you, my lady?” he asked.
“Yes, if that’s not a problem.”
“I will show her to the waiting room Lady Georgina has had prepared for the attendants once you’ve arrived.”
“Thank you, sir. That’s most kind,” Bella said quietly from behind me.
We turned a corner and the greenhouse loomed over us. It wasn’t a greenhouse I was used to in my past life—it was like a gorgeous, giant sunroom that was something I’d expect to see in a botanical garden.
I was slightly jealous we didn’t have one at Vermillion House.
I didn’t intend to live there much longer, but still.
“Lady Alicia Vermillion has arrived,” the butler announced in a booming voice as we approached the table surrounded by ladies.
The young woman at the head of the table turned with a beaming smile on her face. Her hair was red—flaming scarlet red, the kind that fit perfectly with her light purple eyes, reminding me once again that I was living in a fantasy world.
“Lady Alicia! I was so thrilled to get your response. Please, come and have a seat.” Her smile never dropped, neither did the excitement in her eyes as she motioned to the chair immediately next to her. “It’s so wonderful to finally meet you. I’m Georgina.”
Meet me?
Ah. That’s right. The previous memories told me that she was sickly as a child and teenager, so her debut into society was delayed. Where most ladies debuted by the age of twenty, Lady Georgina Alansia had only done so six months ago—just before her twenty-second birthday.
“Thank you so much for inviting me, Lady Georgina.” I bobbed into a small curtsey. She was, after all, a duke’s daughter, thus higher-ranking than me. “It’s an honour.”
She blushed. “It’s an honour to have you attend. We’re still waiting for Lady Elisa but let me introduce you to the other ladies for now. I’m sure you’ve all met before, but opposite you is Lady Vivian, the daughter of Duke and Duchess Trelawney.”
Lady Vivian smiled warmly at me, and her dark curls bounced as she slightly tilted her head. “It’s good to see you again, Lady Alicia.”
“And you, Lady Vivian,” I replied.
What did I know about her and the rest of these women? The Trelawneys were known as the shield of the empire, talented in magic, and Lady Vivian was a skilled mage herself who’d attended the academy and spent time at the Magic Tower. She was short-tempered and sharp-tongued, and it was said that she was either your worst enemy or your most loyal friend.
I wondered which was the case for me.
I knew which one it was in the version of this world that I knew, and I was sincerely hoping it wasnotthe case in this iteration of the world.
“Next to you is Lady Sasha, the daughter of Marquess Ambrose.”
