Betrothed

Chapter 18: Allie

I am in the sitting room with Lord Thomas when the invitation comes. Apparently the guards had given it to my father first because right in the middle of my conversation with Thomas he storms in.

"Alyssa, look at this!" He exclaims angrily when he walks into the room. He stops short though when he sees Thomas sitting in one of the plush velvet chairs. "Oh, hello Thomas, I was not aware that you were coming over today."

"Oh well I thought that it would be nice to get to know my future wife before the wedding so I came over to visit. I am sorry for not telling you first Lord Maxwell. What has you so angry?" Thomas replies to him. Ever since Nikki left two days ago my father has been in a rather sour mood. This means that he has been taking his anger out on me more than usual. Which is probably the reason why he came to show me this thing anyways, so that he could beat me to a bloody pulp over it.

"Oh it is nothing really, just this invitation that we received today." He tries to play it down with Thomas being here.

"What did you get invited to father?" I ask him cautiously, fearing an angry response.

"Well Alyssa, WE have been invited to attend a ball in London. It is celebrating 'the return of the long lost daughter of Lord Jernigan and Princess Caroline: Lady Nicole Jernigan.' Can you believe that! They have the gall to invite us to HER ball. As if we would attend after how they threatened to arrest me after I did not believe them when they claimed her as their daughter." He rants; I am too lost in thought to follow him. Nikki is having a ball, and she invited me. I believe that she would want me there but would it not be suspicious that she invited her former employer's daughter. Either way I have to get my father to let me go.

"I am sorry Lord Maxwell but I do not follow. Do you know this Lady Nicole Jernigan?" Thomas asks him.

"Yes, unfortunately I do Thomas." My father explains to him. "Nicole has been working here as a servant in my house for five years and then two days ago Lord Jernigan and Princess Caroline show up claiming that she is their daughter that was stolen from them as a newborn and that they were going to take her home with them. I did not believe them of course, then they handed me this file full of 'proof' and threatened to have me arrested so that they could take her with them."

"Oh, I am sorry. I did not know. I can understand why you would not want to go." Thomas tells him with sympathy in his voice.

"I think that it would actually be a good idea to go father." I speak up quietly.

"What did you just say?" He asks me coldly and my voice falters in fear.

"I said that it would be a good idea to go. Think about it. Lots of influential families in London will be there and you are always looking to align yourself with powerful families, this will be a great opportunity to do so. Besides, I am sure that Nicole wants to shame you in front of those families by inviting you and you not coming. So if we do not attend then that would be letting her win." I say quietly while looking at the floor. That last part was a bunch of nonsense but I know that my father hates losing so if this will not get him to agree to going then I do not know what will.

"You actually make a good point Alyssa." My father says and I look at him in surprise. That is the closest thing to praise that I have received from him in years. "When you put it that way then we will certainly go. Thomas you will accompany my daughter of course." My father tells him, more in a command then a request.

"Of course. I would be delighted to attend with Alyssa." Thomas replied to him. I am just ecstatic. I get to go to London and see Nikki. This is the longest time I have been without seeing her since we had met. Besides, I have always wanted to see the kingdom's capital. I will have to get a whole new dress made and I will have to see Maddie and Quentin and see if they got their invitation too and see what they are wearing. My thoughts keep jumping back and forth in my excitement.