Page 19 of A Christmas Temptation for the Duke
“Well, that was unexpected…” she said to her puppy. “And now I won’t sleep on the trip. Fun, having to listen to Felix complaining.” She laughed as she kissed Pickle’s head and then climbed to her feet and left the library.
As she went, she listened for her mother and Winnie, surprised to hear that their cries did not echo through the manor. She supposed that meant Winnie had finally finished packing, which meant…
Oh no!
Her eyes widened as she hurried through the manor, cursing herself because her family were waiting for her and they were sure to be angry. But then why didn’t they just come and wake her? Perhaps they could not find her…Oh, they are going to be furious.
She was still disoriented, which is why she did not notice how dark and silent the manor was. And when she reached the front door, taking the handles to throw them open, she started because the doors were locked.
“What on earth…” she said, noting the key sticking out from the keyhole.
She took the key and turned it, unlocking the front door from inside. It took but a few seconds, but it was enough time for her confusion to grow. A state of being which compounded when she stepped outside.
The first thing she noticed was how late in the day it was, after midday, several hours from when she had walked inside. The second thing she noticed was the complete absence of the two carriages set to take her family north. And the absence of her family, for that matter.
Still waking up, Alison frowned as she placed Pickle on the drive and took cautious steps. She looked about as if expecting the carriages to appear. Of course they did not, and when she glanced beyond the drive all she saw were dark storm clouds buffeted by heavy winds so cold she started to shake.
“Oh no…”
Pickle bounded down the drive, yapping happily. Alison’s knees started to shake, and a stone dropped into her stomach. The realization of it all struck her like lightning hitting a tree and when it did, she stumbled back and nearly collapsed.
Her family had left her behind.
“Maybe it won’t be so bad,” Alison said. “You know… things could certainly be worse.” She sat alone at the dining room table,speaking half to herself and half to Pickle who sat on the table and looked mighty pleased with himself. “Although it’s not as if you were the one who they forgot… who they did not even realize was not with them… who they think so little of that they did not even bother to realize was left behind because why would they?”
Pickle barked happily, tongue lolling from its mouth.
Alison felt that familiar stirring in the pit of her stomach. That which came whenever she was forced to concede that in this little family which she had only recently become a part of, that she was so often ignored and forgotten and treated as an outsider.
The storm blew through in its course. It snowed heavily and the winds battered at the walls. It felt to her that the tempest was building inside of her also, mocking her, laughing at her misery and misfortune.
No… I cannot let this get to me. In fact, what am I even worried about? Once they notice I am not with them, they will surely return. Any hour now, without a doubt. Yes… if anything, I should be thrilled for a few hours to myself. Damn eager for it!
Alison tried to remain positive. And as Pickle yapped and started to pee on the table, she found herself smiling.
“Yes, you are right, Pickle.” She stood and scooped up the dog. “This is a good thing. A wonderful happenstance, in fact!” She beamed and then laughed. “The house is ours for now. And youknow what that means?” She looked at Pickle as if expecting an answer.
It means that I can do whatever I want!
And that was exactly what she did.
She started by hurrying to Nerissa’s bedroom and throwing open her wardrobe. Nerissa was undoubtedly spoiled, and she’d always possessed an enviable collection of gowns. What was more, she rarely let Alison wear them. But seeing as she was not here…
Alison spent the following hour trying on every gown in that wardrobe, laughing to herself as she pictured the look of pure horror that Nerissa would wear if she found out. And when she was done with each gown? She tossed it on the bed, caring not for how the garment would crease.
Once she was finished with all that, rather than redressing, Alison simply strolled about the manor in nothing more than her chemise. Why not? It wasn’t as if there was anyone to stop her.
She grew chilly quite quickly, however, so she ducked into Felix’s room and stole one of his rich coats. It was too large on her and dragged along the floor as she walked, but she giggled to imagine what he would say when he found the hems torn.
“Feel free to urinate on them, if need be,” she told Pickle with a wicked grin. “I am sure the smell will be gone by the time he returns.”
By that point it was early in the evening, so she made her way to the kitchens and rifled through the cupboards. Not much of a chef, she was forced to eat toast and cut her own cold meat, making a darn mess of things but not worrying because why would she?
This house was her own and she could do as she pleased.
After all that, she next went to the drawing room and poured a glass of Lord Pemberton’s most expensive and prized whiskey. It was a little tart for her taste, but it went well with the cigar that she lit from his personal collection. Frustratingly, Alison had no idea how to build a fire, forcing her to light as many candles throughout the room as possible, perhaps not the best option, but the only one that she had.
And there she sat, the candles flickering dully as she drank her whiskey, smoked her cigar, and felt like a queen in her very own castle.
