Blind The World

Chapter Eight

"I am not sure we have anything to talk about" Alicia said, refusing to tell her to come in, she had heard enough hidden secrets for one day.

She understood Miranda's secret wasn't her business, but she wished Miranda was sincere about how she felt and what she thought about her.

Miranda opened the door, lining on the frame “Just hear me out, I am really sorry Alicia, I should not have said any of the things I said” Miranda apologized

“But you did” Alicia interrupted

“And you meant every word you said, I am sure they were thoughts you had harbored In your mind,” Alicia, said hurt by Miranda's actions.

“There is absolutely nothing to apologize for, I was hurt, but I no longer feel that way" Alicia said, looking away from the door, and adjusting her sit on her bed.

Miranda cautiously walked to the middle of the room, “Thank you Alicia, and I am honestly sorry, you are a good friend, the best actually, for years I have tried to avoid the truth so much, that …” Miranda tried to explain before Alicia stopped her,

“Please don’t, I don’t think friends is what we should call ourselves anymore, you also don’t have to explain anything to me, it best everyone stays within their title" Alicia said not concerned about how terrible it must have sounded.

Miranda looked taken aback by Alicia’s statement.

“What does that mean” she questioned her brows furrowed.

“You are the servant and I am a lady” Alicia blurted, she did not say it out of spite or to hurt Miranda, although she knew the statement was sure to leave a sting, she didn’t care either, she said it cause she felt it best.

“What!” Miranda instinctively said, before falling speechless, she looked sternly at Alicia who just kept a straight face.

Alicia had always been vindictive and unforgiving but this was unexpected, she turned towards the door, then paused.

At Alicia one last time, she said, "I know you don't mean it, I hurt you, and I am sorry” wanting to say more, but she stopped herself, she knew nothing would change Alicia’s mind.

Changing her tone and accepting Alicia statements, "I am sorry Your grace, I would stay within my title’’ she rephrased. knowing her word fell on deaf ears, she instantly regretted coming to apologize as she stormed out of the room.

Alicia watched her leave wondering if she was too harsh in her decision. Miranda was her only genuine friend, "is what happened worth loosing a friendship?" she asked herself

“But it was never a friendship to begin with” Alicia consoled herself, convincing herself that her decision was the best.

The morning took longer than Alicia wanted, she was excited, to spend more time with her father.

She finally had everything she wanted, but wished her mother was here, it would have been perfect. The empty void in her heart was finally filled.

She laid on her bed watching the sunrise as her mind wandered to Miranda, She couldn't imagine how it felt having a father whose name she couldn't answer to.

"Poor Miranda," she thought

She had spoken to her father the previous day about Miranda’s father but even Duke William couldn’t fathom the idea of Sir Leonard getting married to a maid.

He said Sir Leonard was the noblest of knights and only associated himself with the wealthy, he also added that he was rumored to be engaged to the king’s cousin.

“I am not saying your friend is wrong, after all only the land knows what is hidden underneath it, but I think she should get a confirmation from her mother,” he concluded, changing the topic.

She laid on her bed for hours, waiting to hear the c**k crow, wondering what awaits her at Saintfields, she was expected to take over a whole county after her father.

She had no experience ruling anything, she couldn’t even control the maids in the mansion, how was she expected to rule a whole county she knew nothing about.

She felt tensed at the thought of the responsibilities she was expected to take.

The whistling of the wren on a tree branch outside her window, changed her train of thought, announcing the presence of dawn,

she was lost in thought she didn’t notice the c**k crow she waited so patiently for, she looked through the window and it was already morning, rushing into the restroom to freshen up almost as quickly before rushing out of her room.

She walked straight to the dining to find her father and Aunt Caroline already having breakfast.

Aunt Caroline laughed at the top of her voice as Duke William told her what seemed to be a joke.

‘If I was the one laughing this hard’ Alicia thought, remembering the countless times Lady Caroline told her it was unladylike to laugh so loud.

Saying, ‘simply giggle or chuckle no matter how funny the other person’s joke is'

She watched from the corner, an excitement she had never seen in Lady Caroline before.

She watched Lady Caroline’s body language, noticing how she occasionally placed her hands on Duke William any time she was about to start laughing.

She stood there for minutes and neither of them noticed her presence.

“Ehem!!” she coughed, taking the attention of the room,

“Alicia!!… you are up so early,” lady caroline said looking like a lady who was just caught farting in public, her face flushed.

Alicia gave her a suspicious look, she knew these moves too well to ignore them her father looked clueless.

“Eating breakfast, without me” Alicia said, she changed the direction of her gaze to her father.

“I wanted to wait for you but I was told you don’t come out early” “and I am also in a hurry, I have to pay Duke Benjamin a visit this morning" William explained

"Let's have a picnic later” Duke William said, waiting for Alicia’s approval before excusing himself from the dining room.

Alicia watched her father leave feeling a little disappointed, she had stayed all night hoping to spend the whole day with him.

“I am still here You can have breakfast with me lady Caroline” trying to get Alicia's attention

Alicia nodded reluctantly sitting beside her aunt on the table.

“You are leaving tomorrow" Lady Caroline voiced out her realization.

"I would be all alone here," she said her voice laced with sadness.

"Promise me you won't pack everything, leave some of your things here for when you come to visit" Lady Caroline pleaded, reminding her that she had not yet started packing and she needed to.

“packing? I need to pack” Alicia realized.

"You haven't started" Lady Caroline wondered, as Alicia shook her head, Alicia was so excited about clearing things out with her father that she forgot, she agreed to follow him to Saintfields the next day.

After breakfast, Lady Caroline got the Maids to help Alicia pack for her trip the next day. Watching as her room slowly became empty,

Lady Caroline made sure everything Alicia was packed, even the lamps and tools, she wanted Alicia to be as comfortable as possible.

"I would get new ones just like this for when you come visiting" Lady Caroline assured, reminding Alicia that her door was always open.

“I can’t remember the last time I lived alone,” Lady Caroline said looking at Alicia’s room with sorrowful eyes.

She began to tear up as she excused herself, rushing out of Alicia’s room.

“I would miss this place,” Alicia thought looking at the empty room she was about to leave behind.