Alex flashed Anne a tight-lipped smile. She stared straight at him. All the eyes in the room were on him. “Oh, of course, miss.” He said, his politeness was as strained as a bridge on its last thread.

“Alright. Anyway,” She sighed. “My name is Anne. I’m Alcide’s-”

“No need, darling.” The woman chirped. “These two must be starving. I’ll go make dinner.”

“Thank you!” Scarlett and Alexander chimed in union.

“You’re very welcome.” The woman purred.

She jogged out. Anne stared. “I do apologize but I must excuse myself.” She told the two solemnly. “I’ll be upstairs.” Anne finally returned Alex’s smile. She waved her hand and sauntered to the staircase. Scarlett looked back at Alex. Even if their mind was drier than the Sahara, a bitter taste was still left on their tongue.

Alex glanced at them. Just the look in his eyes told he felt the same. The two kept their neutral expressions glued onto their faces. The staircase creaked and moaned as Anne approached the top. She glanced at Scarlett one last time before heading down the hallway.

That was it. The two remained silent for what seemed like hours on end. Scarlett’s thoughts could barely squeeze through their mind. Their eyelids were heavier than bricks. It seemed as if Alex’s little shoulder taps were the only thing keeping track of the time. Every ten minutes Scarlett felt as if they were starting to fall asleep.

“Scarlett!” The woman chirped cheerily as she rushed back in.

She turned to Alex and pulled her best curtsy. “Your grace—Dinner is done.” She huffed, pulling herself up and sweeping the sweat from her brow. The grin on her face was contagious enough to put one on both Scarlett and Alex.

“Of course.” Scarlett and Alex replied in union again.

“I do have a request though.”

“What would that be?” Asked Alex before Scarlett could even open their mouth.

“No, eh, Hughes. Could you run upstairs and fetch Anne for me?”

“I shall.”

“Your grace, please accompany me to the kitchen.”

Alex gave a little nod and parted ways. Scarlett, meanwhile, bit their lip and headed up the stairs. Their throat became just as dry as their mind for reasons they couldn’t possibly dig up. Every creak the staircase let out almost resembled shrieks. Scarlett held tight to the railing, which cooled their hand through their gloves.

Scarlett huffed. They stepped onto the top and looked around for where they thought Anne would be.

The narrow hall only went so far. Two oak doors stood at the ends while two walled in the center where a little table rested. Beside it were two houseplants and above it was a miniature silhouette of Jack which hung in a gold frame. Scarlett’s gloom conquered whatever it was that they felt before. They held themself upright as they went for the first door in sight—the guest room.

They stopped in front of it. Their hand was a hundred-pound weight. Everything seemed to scream for them not to knock. They took a deep breath and collected themself as best as they could. There was just them, the quiet, the distant crackling of the fireplace and… talking? Scarlett jerked upright.

“Hughes is just downstairs??!” Asked the same man in a murmur, his voice continued breaking as distress hammered at it.

“Hughes and Plymouth. They’ve come unexpectedly.”

“This wasn’t supposed to happen..”

“I know, I know.” “Anne” hissed, sounding more calm and collected than her accomplice. He sounded like he was about to flip off the edge at any moment. “Wait for me.”

“Did they see you at the garden party??”

“There’s no way.”

The room melted to silence for a split second. “Just go. I’ll meet you in a bit..”

“Right..”

Scarlett’s eyes widened. Who were these people? They clasped their hands behind their back. The clock was no longer turning the right way. They counted down in their head to about a minute. They took a deep breath and collected themself again. One knock. Two knocks. Scarlett knocked thrice. They put on a neutral face as Anne opened the door.

“You are needed downstairs, Anne. Mrs. Lavigne-Barerre finished dinner.”

“Oh, of course.” Anne sighed, sounding like she’d just ran a marathon. She gripped the door knob. “Well, please let Juliette know I’ll be down in a moment.”

“Of course.” Scarlett replied with a friendly half-smile. Anne returned it and shut the door.