The Appalling Strangeness of the Mercy of God [M - Hannelorian x DuchessLivilla]

[Hannelorian]

Alice had essentially revealed herself, at this moment the exact moment when the Duke bowed, Alice had dropped into a deep curtsy. This was her training, one bowed to those of a higher station, or curtsied if they were but a mere woman. Alice did this without so much as a second thought, it was just what was done. It did not matter that just seconds before she had been escorted over on the arm of the Prince of Wales, alongside her mistress.

"Thomas, good man." Arthur smiled as he stood before the Duke, a man who reminded him partially of himself, very much working against the system, though the Duke would prefer to flee it all together. "Allow me to present my wife, Her Highness the Princess of Wales, or as I like to call her Alexandra." The Prince, with caution to the wind moved to kiss his wife gingerly on the cheek. "And of course, Alice." Arthur motioned to the maid who at this point seemed somewhat a loss. "She is a very dear friend of ours." Arthur purposely made no mention of her actual position, but instead only highlighting the piece that mattered most.

"Your Grace." Alice said, bowing her head as she did so.

[DuchessLivilla]

Thomas smiled and 'kissed' Alex's offered hand; in reality his lips merely hovered over her gloved hand but the gesture was the point. "Your Highness. I am honoured to finally meet you and must offer my apologies for not being here to attend your wedding. A grand day, I am sure."

The Duke, having been absent and not one much interested in court gossip was unaware it had not been a public affair. Still, it did not matter and Alexandra was not about to tell him.

She smiled. "Thank you, Your Grace. Yes, I was, and I hope to remain, made the most happy of women that day. My dear Alice can attest, I do believe I sprained my jaw in smiling."

Thomas chuckled and glanced at Alice, "Lady Alice, I am equally as pleased to make your acquaintance then, if her Highness speaks so highly of you. Have you been in the country, perhaps? I myself have been on the continent and I confess, I know very little of the guests."

[Hannelorian]

"I can assure you no apologies are necessary." Arthur smiled widely, and also would not be one to correct the Duke on this particular issue. "A young man should travel the continent, see the world. It's good for the education." Arthur continued, he then caught himself, having forgotten one important thing. "Please allow us to offer our condolences on the loss your father." Arthur suspected Thomas didn't particularly miss his father, and truth be told he didn't either. A vile old man.

"That is quite kind of her Highness to say." Alice smiled, only until that is he asked her his next question. Had she been in the country? Was that not why the two of them hadn't met before? "I must confess that I spent quite awhile with Her Majesty at Suffolk." Yes, she had, but it was short and she was a maid. "Lately I've kept myself busy here in London. You know how busy the Wales' keep their friends." Perhaps she could have revealed more, but if this was her one day to be a lady, she would embrace the entirety of it.

"I dare say, you haven't missed on terribly much. I would be delighted to catch you up, if your Grace is amenable." Alice, normally shy, could hardly believe the confidence she was forming, it started as fakery at first, but perhaps she was beginning to convince herself that she truly believed it.

All the while Arabella, in polite breaks in conversation cast her gaze over to her sister, and smiled. It seemed Alice would finally get her opportunity to meet and impress the Duke. Don't mess this up, she thought.

[DuchessLivilla]

Thomas nodded, "Ah...yes, thank you, Your Highness. A...tragedy, indeed." In truth, the new Duke had never held his father in much regard; he was one of the reasons the lad had fled abroad so much and at every chance he got. Still, the dead must be respected, in public if not in private.

He blinked, rather taken-aback but impressed by the young woman's openness. Most ladies were shy, vapid creatures who spoke only of their dubious accomplishments such as the piano-forte and such. He was intelligent enough to know that, for the vast majority, they were kept so straightened by their parents -mothers mainly- that they had little else to speak of in any event...but still. Some appeared to have no thoughts of their own at all!

Thomas, having heard, in passing at dinner and such, of the rumours surrounding the Princess, surmised that her friend was cut from the same cloth. At least she would not be dull, he reasoned.

"I should be honoured," he replied, smiling. "Perhaps, if your dance card is not full, might I ask for a dance? With His Highness's permission, of course," he added, assuming the Prince was here as her escort and therefore, in want of a family member, in charge of her actions.

Alexandra, who had explained this to her friend, smiled. As a married lady, she had no such card, but Alice, like all 'debutants' -for that is what she was, essentially, pretending to be- wore a card about their wrists on a ribbon, with a little pencil attracted, so that suitors could 'claim' a dance. A lady could not, when asked, refuse a dance with any man, unless her card was full -or unless her escort intervened- as it was the height of rudeness to rebuff a gentleman...whatever her actual desires.

The Princess remembered, on those brief occasions when she was allowed to attend balls before she met Arthur, spending most of the dances either alone by the wall or, perhaps worse, partnered with an old, lecherous and and normally with foul breath, old man whom all other escorts had rebuffed but whom Duke Richard, through Bella who found it amusing, allowed to ask Alex.

She was determined Alice should be spared that, if she had anything to say about it.

"You are in luck," she said, smiling. "The waltz, I believe, is next. A perfect dance to enjoy while one talks."

One had to hand it to her; she was masterful at arrangements, the same as her sister; slow and sedate, allowing talk to be easy as the steps were not complicated, this would give the two a chance to speak freely.

Thomas gave a shy smile, "I would be honoured," he said again then glanced at Alice, "May I?" he asked, gesturing to her card.

[Hannelorian]

Alice, while the Duke was not looking, made quite the face at Alex who had rather masterfully manipulated the situation. Alice, now familiar with the dance card, such things she admitted having never paid attention to. One thing that Alice was not familiar with was dancing. Granted, she had watched plenty of people dance and reckoned it couldn't be too difficult... Growing up she had danced with a few boys, but nothing serious, nothing since she began her life working within the circles of nobility.

Alice nodded when Thomas asked her, she replied only with a simple "you may." Alice raised her gloved wrist delicately and to allow him to sign the card as it were. Once he had, the two took the dance floor. Alice found it rather odd, she was touching a man. Of course there were the gloves and the clothes and the finery, but sure enough she was here. Faking her was through the whole thing. Nervous as nervous could be. But, ever determined she would push through this, and do her very best at pretending to be a proper lady.

[DuchessLivilla]

Alexandra, wishing to be near just in case, and also, if she was honest, wanting to watch, took to the floor with Arthur, smiling as she did so. "I think he likes her," she said softly as the music began. "I think he finds her different than other ladies..."

She blushed then looked up at her husband, "A little like us, isn't it? I still find myself remembering how you looked at me that first night. I want that for Alice."

-

Thomas, not a natural dancer, blushed as they took the floor, though he tried to hide it. "You must forgive me, madam," he said softly, "I fear I am not the best partner for a lady such as yourself but I did not wish to disappoint..." he swallowed. Why did he suddenly feel so...so...lacking in confidence?! Damn society. He was not meant for this. "Do...do you prefer the country, Lady Alice? Or does the city cheer you more?"

[Hannelorian]

Arthur found himself completely lost in the moment with his wife, the two dancing the waltz. It was a dance the two had done many times now, and the steps were something of second nature. It was ideal when one wanted a simple moment of conversation away from all else. The music was just loud enough to cover the softened voice or whisper. "She is different than the other ladies." Arthur began, "She isn't a lady." Of course Arthur meant not to be derogatory, but rather to state a simple fact. Alice was not a lady, rather in many ways she was something much greater. The common woman had experience, a view on the world that the aristocracy had long since forgotten. That very sense of reality was key.

"I wish I knew enough about him to speculate, but I can't." Arthur was always rather candid with his interpretation of events. "He spends all his time running across the continent, far, far from his duty here." That was, until recently anyway. But as Thomas travelled there was no time to get to know him at court, or at country estate parties. There were only rumours and passing interactions that gave hints at what the truth might be. "If anyone could steal a heart, however, I would certainly put money on Alice. She's one of a kind."

That much was true, Alice, was not like the other servants he had come to know. Arthur liked to think himself easy for the servants. He asked for very little, was always polite, and made sure to express his gratitude. But even so, few had shone themselves as much or as well as Alice had. She was something of a diamond in the rough.

--

"Why would you ever think you'd disappoint?" Alice asked. She had settled on, don't think about her own responses. Rather she should just respond. This way she could only regret what she said and at the least, not overthink what she was about to say. "I'm nothing of a dancer myself." She wasn't. Alice though, was rather proud of herself in this moment for fairing as well as she was. Even if she had to glance over to another couple for a little bit of direction in what she should be doing.

"The country. I like the peace...the quiet... the time for getting to someone." Yes, this was true, but here Alice had clearly indicated her intention to get to know Thomas, she wanted to know more. "I'm flattered you should assume I'm a Lady. It's rather cute. Even if you suspect it is untrue." Alice was well aware that as well as she could act, her subtle actions betrayed her. But that wouldn't stop her, not now. Even if this night was all she had.

"I imagine you cannot wait to leave again, see the continent, continue your work. Weddings like this... they do put a taste in one's mouth." She wanted to say more, but settled on less, to allow him to pry would be her test of his interest. Then again, for the next few minutes they were indeed stuck to one another.

[DuchessLivilla]

Alexandra smiled. "You know, as well as I, my love, that not every man wants the same thing. You had the perfect lady picked out for you; noble, of fine rank and title, with no rumours or baggage or...trouble attached to her, and yet you chose me." She blushed, still, even now, rather amazed he had! That she could, and did, love him with all her heart, was a given! How could she not? But the fact, out of all, that he had picked her seemed like a gift from God himself, and she would be forever grateful.

Hell, she would have cherished that one night, one dance, until she died, nevermind the fact she was now his wife, bound together forever and beyond.

"I want that for Alice," she said, glancing over. "I want her to find a man who loves her entirely, and respects her, for herself, not what she should be."

-

Thomas smiled. He could tell, as could any 'noble' that Alice was not like them; they were trained, from birth almost, on how to sit, walk, stand etc and such things, once a person was grown, were impossible to learn, and so, those who 'rose through the ranks' as it were, were always clear by their movements. Still...as she said, he felt nothing negative over this. He was aware he should, his father certainly would have! But all he felt was...interest. He wanted to know more. He wanted to get to the root of who this woman was.

Perhaps that was the natural scholar in him. Who knows. At that moment, he didn't care either way.

"I've never been to an English wedding," he confessed, smilingly, a little wrinkle appearing between his eyebrows. It was rather endearing. He had a rather boyish face still, but he was in no way unmanly, merely young looking. There was something dignified about his manner, beyond the training, a natural way about him. "But I have been to many others. English ones are certainly very stayed!" He chuckled. "Even other Catholic ones have more life I fear...Then again, I have never been to a Royal Catholic wedding so perhaps the addition of a Crown makes it so. It is certainly no Indian wedding. You would not be able to believe the colours that exist until you have seen one."

"As for being in a hurry to leave..." he smiled shyly once again. "I...I was. I had no reason to stay..."

[Hannelorian]

"No one told me I could have married a Princess!" Arthur laughed, obviously his comments were in jest. "I suspect Alice will turn out just fine." He danced with his wife and glanced over at Alice and Thomas. Perhaps Alex had been right, well, she often was. There was something just different enough in the way that Thomas looked at Alice. It was a look of wonderment. "I think you've changed her. She's not the girl she once was." Arthur commented, looking down at Alexandra, leaning in briefly to press his lips to her forehead. "You seem to be an overwhelming force for change." No one could meet Alexandra and not suddenly have their eyes opened, their confidences strengthened. It was her most natural talent, perhaps stemming from her kindness.

--

"I suppose you did miss a fantastic event. The King dueled one who objected to the death. Thrilling." Alice smirked, her sense of humor was not subdue or dulled. "I think though... not that you'd solicited an opinion... you might enjoy spending more time at home." The boldness of her words, not entirely implying he should spend time with her, but absolutely implying if he stayed in England he might just find something he liked.

"I should very much like to hear more about an Indian wedding. All things un-English are rarely spoken of... I can't begin to imagine the wonders you've seen on your travels." Alice before this moment, could not comprehend of the world beyond their borders. The thought of seeing such a world was also out of the question. It was clear from their movements, awkward as they were that Thomas was strong, and above all he seemed kind.

"What exactly does a Duke such as yourself do with your time?" Alice knew the answer, but she had Alexandra's voice in the back of her mind, beckoning her to keep him engaged.

[DuchessLivilla]

Alexandra laughed softly. "Do not tell anyone, you will ruin my spotless reputation, husband!" She smiled, looking very pretty in the candle light. She sighed softly then and said, "It is a shame life cannot always be like this, isn't it? Not grand balls, I mean but just...us, safe, being able to be ourselves. I am enjoying myself and yet at the back of my mind I am fearful that, any second, your father shall appear and descend upon us like an avenging angel...or demon."

-

Thomas chuckled at her jest. He would not put it past the King, frankly, given what information he had gleaned from his father's few letters when he had been away! His father had painted the King's excesses as worthy and good, but Thomas had frankly thought them...unhinged? If that was the right word. He had been pleased to remain away, that was for sure.

The young Duke blinked at her. "Really?" he asked, genuinely stunned. He smiled, shaking his head, "Forgive me, it's just, well, few have expressed any interest in hearing of my travels. We noble young men are sent off for our 'grand tour' before we marry to...I am not sure, really, make us men, show us the world we are meant to control as members of the empire, either one, but no one is interested in what we see. I am thought most odd for wishing to know more about other places, other cultures and religions. It is not something anyone wishes to discuss..."

He sighed, then smiled again. "If you are really interested, and not just making conversation, and please, tell me if you are, I would love to share what I have seen."