The Solicitation

by Bella Bryce

  Bennett found it difficult to observe Alice’s behaviour toward Brayden without feeling envious. Why couldn’t he have what Brayden had? “For starters,” he thought to himself, “you’ve not taken your trust fund money and left home yet. Perhaps go and buy yourself a property and then you can think about getting a little girl of your own.” Certainly not under his parents’ roof would he proceed to mimic what Brayden had done, for the simple reason that his family would become too involved. His mother would want to fuss and make her into a little project when she wasn’t dragging her to various social functions. His father would probably tell Bennett everything he was doing wrong, meanwhile Damian would rather play and be fun loving than actually accomplishing any kind of improvement such a girl would require. And the longer Bennett watched Alice, the longer he wanted a legally responsible girl to consent to the same lifestyle.

  He wanted it bad enough by the middle of their conversation he suddenly said, “After nearly twenty years of friendship surely you must insist Alice acquaints herself properly with me, Brayden. I can’t do so when she is not sitting near to me.”

  Brayden stopped talking to Damian and looked at Alice, who was still curled up in his lap, lying against his chest.

  “You are right, of course, I do apologise,” Brayden said, caught completely off guard by his friend’s comment. “Go and sit beside Mr. Fowler, darling,” Brayden said, pulling Alice up from beneath her arms and placing her on her feet.

  Alice took one look at Bennett, who was a taller, more stern-looking man than Brayden (and that was hardly possible), and turned back toward Brayden, not wanting to go.

  “Alice, come here,” Bennett said.

  Alice turned and slowly approached Bennett. When she reached him, Bennett pulled her onto the sofa beside him. Alice hadn’t realised what was happening until she was suddenly facing Brayden, sitting between Bennett and Damian on the sofa, as if she were a small child who could be picked up and placed wherever. She looked up at Bennett and he gave her a look that said, “I’m your father’s closest friend, I can do things like that.”

  Alice could see Brayden in rather deep conversation with Damian that meant she was really stuck with Bennett. His rather stern demeanour discouraged any natural liking of him Alice may have otherwise felt.

  “You know your father and I first met at boarding school together twenty years ago,” Bennett said, looking down at Alice.

  “Really?” Alice asked.

  “Yes. We were Prefects together and then Head and Deputy Head Boys in our sixth form year as well,” Bennett said, as if reliving the days.

  “Were you the Head Boy?” Alice asked.

  “I was. Your father was my deputy Head Boy,” Bennett said.

  “My school didn’t have prefects, that’s only for posh schools,” Alice remarked.

  “Well, had you been living here a few years ago your father would have had you in a proper school,” Bennett said.

  Alice didn’t bother getting offended that Bennett hadn’t regarded her local secondary school as a ‘proper’ school because he was right - it hadn’t been. It was rundown and near several rough estates, which meant the pupils who attended weren’t entirely interested in lessons. Many of them dropped out or left without any qualifications. It was no wonder people from better schools looked down upon such places. It didn’t even have a mediocre reputation, to say the least.

  “It’s too late now,” Alice said, shrugging.

  “Not entirely. He could just as easily hire a private tutor and start you from your junior year,” Bennett said, looking up at Brayden, directing the comment at him.

  Brayden was still in conversation with Damian and hadn’t picked up Bennett’s comment.

  “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. I’ve already finished school!” Alice protested.

  “Now that’s no way for a ten-year-old girl to speak is it?” Bennett asked, caught off-guard by her rather vocal disagreement of his suggestion.

  “I’m not really ten though, am I?” she asked, in a tone that insisted Bennett was stupid enough to think so.

  “That’s a rather haughty attitude to take,” Bennett said. When Alice didn’t respond he took her chin in his hand. “Hmm? Is it?” he asked, turning her face to his.

  “Don’t!” Alice shouted, pushing his hand away.

  “Alice Kathryn,” Brayden said, looking over at her. Alice was angry and scowling, and Bennett was not impressed in the least and completely put off by her open rejection of his implied authority.

  “Apologise to Mr. Fowler immediately for your rudeness toward him,” Brayden said, when he had reached her.

  “Sorry,” Alice said, frowning. She wasn’t sorry at all.

  “Mr. Fowler is your elder just as much as I am, young lady, and you do not push his hand away when he is speaking to you. That was very naughty,” Brayden said, seriously.

  Alice looked down at the carpet, hoping Brayden would go back to his chair and leave his correcting at that.

  “She said that she isn’t really ten years old,” Bennett said, looking at Alice.

  “Is that so?” he asked, standing to his full height. “I shall remind you just how old you are,” Brayden said, and then took Alice by her arm and returned to his nearby wing chair and pulled up her sailor dress and then down her bloomers. Alice began to cry instantly, unbelieving that he would expose and smack her in front of his two friends.

  Bennett crossed one leg over the other and sat comfortably, awaiting the justice of Alice’s humiliating he felt he deserved to witness. Damian wasn’t terribly impressed with Brayden’s daughter being smacked in front of him, but he understood it to be a fair punishment, considering she had misbehaved in front of them. It was only fair to be punished openly for open defiance.

  Brayden administered twenty abrupt smacks to Alice’s bottom, causing her to cry out after every couple. She didn’t have a high pain tolerance and it didn’t take much to get a visible reaction from her. Alice saw Bennett watching intently as Brayden punished her, and she wanted to go over and smack him. She wanted to tell him it was his fault she was in trouble. Alice seriously disliked Bennett and had no intention of spending any further time than was required by Brayden, with him.

  “These gentlemen deserve respect, Alice. Not only are they your elders, but my friends and they are like family to me. I will not allow you to disrespect or answer either of them back, do you understand me?” he asked, after he had redressed Alice and stood her in front of him. Alice’s back was to Bennett and Damian.

  “Yes, Sir,” Alice said.

  “I want to hear ‘Yes, Father,’ Brayden said.

  “Yes, Father,” Alice repeated.

  “Right, now say a proper goodnight to your Uncles, I am putting you to bed,” Brayden said, and stood up.

  “Uncles?” Alice asked, confused.

  “Now,” Brayden said.

  “Goodnight,” Alice said, turning to Bennett.

  “Goodnight, Sir,” Bennett suggested, to her.

  “Goodnight, Sir,” Alice repeated, staring back at him.

  Bennett then pointed to his cheek and Alice hesitated for a moment before giving him one. Damian leaned toward Alice as she approached.

  “Goodnight,” Alice said, quietly, and then kissed his cheek.

  “Goodnight, darling,” Damian said.

  Bennett and Damian both watched as Brayden held out his hand to Alice and after she took it, was lead out of the drawing room.

  Brayden didn’t respond to Alice’s question until after he had walked her up to her bedroom and she was dressed and in bed. Brayden sat beside her and folded his hands.

  “Bennett and Damian are my closest friends, Alice, and they cannot be in your life without being something significant, because they are significant in my life. They always have been.”

  “That doesn’t make them my Uncles,” Alice said, ensuring her tone was gentle and inoffensive. She had learned from the last time.

  “It
does,” Brayden said, looking at her.

  “You never said they were to be,” Alice contested, looking the other way.

  “That’s enough for tonight. You are going to sleep and I will speak to you in the morning. Alright?” Brayden said.

  “Yes, Father,” Alice responded, begrudgingly.

  “Good girl. Goodnight,” Brayden said, leaning over and kissing Alice’s cheek.

  When Brayden returned to the drawing room Wellesley had just finished serving a second round of drinks.

  “Uncles,” Bennett said, as soon as Brayden appeared. “I thought for sure you would have introduced us as such when we arrived. It only took . . . . three hours,” Bennett said, glancing at his watch.

  “I’m sorry. I couldn’t have assumed you would be comfortable taking on a proper role in her life before you actually met her,” Brayden said, retrieving his new glass of brandy from Bennett.

  “Don’t expect our parents to be amused if you assume they aren’t to have a role in her life either. You must remember we were still here after the funeral. Where has everyone else gone?” Bennett asked, feeling as though he needed to give Brayden a telling off.

  Brayden quietly sipped his brandy. Bennett had a point. After the funeral for Brayden’s parents a lot of his and their social circle faded into the distance while the Fowlers remained in constant contact. Brayden sometimes avoided it, and wanted to be left alone behind his electric gates, but he also knew Bennett would never let him do so for too long. And because Bennett had been Head Boy, slightly older and taller than Brayden, he always felt a tangible protective role over his friend. He wasn’t afraid to tell Brayden when he was becoming too reclusive, as he often did in his world at Waldorf.

  “It’s not good for you to stay behind these gates for too long without sharing a bit of yourself. I shan’t say much more, but you can’t allow Alice to be denied such relationships as well. Damian and I are your family. Our parents care for you and would want to welcome Alice. I expect to see you both for dinner next week to meet Mum and Dad and for you to allow them to be part of this. Alright?” Bennett asked, raising his eyebrows at his friend.

  Brayden was looking into his brandy glass and nodded.

  “You’re right,” Brayden said.

  “You know it’s because we care,” Damian added.

  “I know, of course,” Brayden said, looking up at Bennett. “I sometimes need a reminder. I shouldn’t like to impose; this was my choice to adopt Alice and my choice to bring her under my authority and into position as my daughter. Whilst this situation is perfectly normal to me, I do not wish her to face ridicule. Once we leave these gates I open her up to all kinds of criticism. You know my mother’s friends were, and still are social vultures,” Brayden said.

  “Classless women, at the very least,” Bennett said, before taking another sip and offering a small shake of his head in disapproval.

  “A proper lady would never judge you harshly,” Damian said.

  “Or at all,” Bennett added.

  “She shan’t be meeting them, in any case,” Brayden said.

  “Perhaps not, but I must say old chap, I am surprised you got so far without even telling us,” Bennett said.

  Brayden suddenly felt as though he were back at school, being told off.

  “Forgive me, both, won’t you?” Brayden asked.

  “Of course,” Damian said.

  “On the condition that I am referred to appropriately. If Alice is my niece then I expect to see evidence of that relationship soon enough,” Bennett said.

  “I will speak to her first thing in the morning. Is my telling off over with now?” Brayden asked.

  Bennett and Damian looked at each other.

  “I suppose,” Bennett said.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “But they aren’t my Uncles,” Alice protested, the next morning at the breakfast table.

  Brayden met eyes with Alice as Wellesley placed a cappuccino in front of him.

  “That is not for you to decide, young lady,” he told her. “Whilst you’re at it would you like to tell me that I am not your father?”

  “No, Sir. But you are,” Alice said.

  Brayden’s heart warmed to hear her say such a thing with simple confidence.

  “Darling, I am helping to rebuild the family I cannot naturally provide you. My mother and father were only children and they are now passed away. I can’t hide you from people and friends who mean something dear to me. Bennett and Damian are like my brothers so they will be your Uncles. I shan’t expect to hear protests every time I introduce a new person or relationship to you,” Brayden said.

  “What next, you’re going to get married and I will have a mother?” Alice asked, putting her napkin back on the table irritatedly.

  Brayden looked at Alice seriously.

  “If it happens, then so be it. You will carry on as you are expected to. I will hear no more complaints about our arrangements; you are supposed to be ten years old and you should behave as such. Let’s just get on with life now, and you can start by putting that napkin back in your lap and eating your breakfast. The subject is closed,” Brayden said, picking up his cutlery.

  “This is unfair,” Alice declared.

  Brayden stopped cutting and looked over at her.

  “One more word before I excuse you from breakfast, Alice, and I shall spank you right here. Now the subject is closed,” he said, firmly.

  Alice begrudgingly obeyed, keeping her eyes on her plate. Breakfast continued in silence except for the sound of cutlery on china and cups being refilled.

  The next time the subject was broached, was the evening four days later when Alice and Brayden were in the car on their way to Greystone Hall, home of the Fowlers.

  Brayden and Alice were in the backseat of the Rolls Royce while the driver maneuvered carefully over the snow-covered country lanes.

  Alice sat quietly, wearing a cranberry coloured woollen pea coat and matching beret. Her starch white tights contrasted with her black patent shoes. Beneath her dress she wore a long-sleeved cranberry dress with knife pleats and a Peter Pan collar. Her long hair had been curled into ringlets and two matching bows tied up either side of her parting, with one visible from beneath the beret.

  Brayden wore a grey three-piece suit with a burgundy tie featuring gold lions printed repeatedly across it. His black brogues were shined as perfectly as they were when he stayed at Waldorf for the day.

  “Now, remember what I told you, Alice,” Brayden said.

  “Yes, Father, I know, I know, I know,” she said, rolling her eyes as she looked out the window.

  Brayden pulled Alice by the arm closer to him, not having seen her roll her eyes, which was fortunate for her sake.

  “You do not speak to me in such an arrogant manner,” Brayden said, into her ear.

  Alice whined and tried to push him away.

  “But you've told me so many times, it's getting boring now,” she said, trying to break from his grip and return to her place beside the window.

  Brayden’s eyes widened in disbelief.

  “Right, you’re going over my knee the moment we arrive,” Brayden told her.

  “No!” Alice said. “You can’t do that at their house!”

  “I certainly can and I will,” Brayden said.

  The car soon pulled through the gates and the driver opened the double doors. Brayden stepped out first and reached for Alice, taking her by the arm and up the stairs toward the large front doors of Greystone Hall.

  “Mr. James, Miss Alice, welcome to Greystone,” Willis, the butler said. He stepped aside before they entered and then closed the door behind them.

  “Brayden,” Bennett said, crossing the foyer. He could see Alice was scowling and Brayden had a rather disciplining hold on her arm.

  “I’m terribly sorry, but I need to deal with Alice first,” Brayden said, shaking Bennett’s hand, although his mind was on other matters.

  “Of course; the sitting room,” Bennet
t said, nodding toward the nearest door.

  “Perhaps Uncle Bennett will come along,” Brayden said, as he pulled Alice into the sitting room across the grand foyer.

  “No, I don’t want him to come!” Alice protested, as Bennett instinctively followed.

  “That is enough, Alice James,” Brayden said, turning and holding both of her arms down. “If you insist on embarrassing me I shall grant you the very same, you naughty girl. Over you go,” Brayden said, as he picked Alice up and put her over his lap as he sat down on the nearest sofa in the formal room. Bennett closed the door and walked over to where Brayden was as he pulled up Alice’s coat and dress and pulled her bloomers and tights rights down. Alice began to cry before he’d even started.

  “You dare to misbehave like this, and when we are away from home as well,” Brayden said, before using his bare hand to deliver twenty abrupt smacks to Alice’s backside. Bennett observed quietly.

  Alice was crying, and tried to keep it as quiet as possible. She hadn’t ever been to the Fowler house previously and she was there being spanked in it, crying all over their wooden floors!

  “Right,” Brayden said, after he had finished redressing Alice and pulled her to her feet. “If you misbehave again this evening I will repeat this in front of the entire family. Do you understand me, young lady?” Brayden asked her, holding her chin.

  “Yes, Father,” Alice said, her pride hurting more than her bottom. She sniffed and wiped her eyes, avoiding glancing at Bennett. She hated that he had been there to see her getting punished and she didn’t care how close to Brayden he was.

  “Go and face that wall, now,” Brayden said, calmly, and pointed to a corner near them. Alice immediately obeyed, folding her hands on her head as she did.

  Bennett looked at Brayden and raised his eyebrows.

  “I’m sorry, she simply wouldn’t mind me in the car,” Brayden said.

  “No need to apologise, you do what you must to ensure she’s raised properly,” Bennett said, glancing over at Alice. “I dare say I would have done the same thing.”

  Brayden shook his head and left the sitting room with Bennett and let Willis take his coat.