The Glass House

by Bella Bryce

  Whilst on the outside, Colin Maxwell was well dressed and behaving like all the other wealthy gentlemen in their circle, he'd begun to hopelessly obsess over Alice - the child-like adult living as Brayden James' daughter. But Colin had been warned. Three months later at Brayden's birthday ball, Alice had been put to bed at her usual bedtime as the party continued down in Waldorf's ballroom. Whilst she waited for Celia to help her ready for bed, Colin appeared in the doorway of her en-suite bathroom in his tuxedo, staring at her. He made her stand still as he gently wiped the toothpaste from around her mouth, then led her into her connecting bedroom. Colin sat on her window seat and pulled Alice into his lap and confessed that he liked her. He also tried to convince her that she wanted to be with him.

  Alice knew something wasn't right and tried to get free of his grip, reminding Colin that she was ten-years-old, which he haughtily dismissed with an insult at Brayden. Alice slapped his face in reaction, which only angered Colin further. He pulled the girl across his knee and told Alice that she would experience a spanking from a man who wanted to court her, by which she was utterly disgusted. After he punished her, Colin continued to insist that Alice reciprocated feelings for him, which she not only adamantly denied, but followed up with the words, "I hate you and wouldn't be with you if you were the last man in England."

  Alice also voraciously defended Brayden's decision to regress her, telling Colin that she needed to be ten years old, that it was necessary for her wounds to heal and the idea of being intimate with or being near men in general (outside of her father and uncles) frightened her. Alice was firm in her stance and finally got her point across to Colin, which was the start of a rather devastating realisation for him in that he had deeply misread her. Aside from the fact he'd always liked girls a handful of years younger than him, he'd also thought Alice's cheeky remarks were hints that she wanted him to discipline and pursue her.

  Colin finally realised he'd made a grave mistake. What it would have meant for him if Alice had gone straight to Brayden and told him that Colin had appeared in her bedroom, smacked her and tried to gain a truly adult conversation out of her with regards to leaving Waldorf and building a relationship akin to the one her Uncle Bennett and Elisabeth were in process – she didn't want to know. Alice's last words to Colin Maxwell had been, "this is how it's going to go, Maxwell; you will leave in thirty seconds without another word, grateful that I am going to forgive your idiotic behaviour. My father's last birthday ball was utterly devastating, I refuse to let him feel that way about this one – which I assure you – if he found out about this, is exactly how he would feel. Just leave now. And I don't want you near me ever again."

  Clearly, Colin Maxwell took her seriously. If not, he would have been at the piano recital.

  Alice couldn't have brought herself to tell Brayden, because it took a great deal of tension and emotion for him to even find the strength to allow a party after his parents had been held ransom and murdered during his 26th birthday ball. Alice had to dig and push in a very subtle, very respectful way as his daughter, as only she could, just to get him to be open to the idea of continuing the tradition of a birthday ball. She wouldn't let anything ruin it for him. Not even Colin Maxwell going to her bedroom and forcing his hand upon her backside. So long as Colin stayed away, she would spare Brayden the shock of finding out. It was the least Alice felt she could do for the man she loved and respected more than anyone.

  "I'm not one to gossip, but I must say there is a slightly less vile atmosphere here without Maxwell," Patterson commented, as he poured himself another cup of tea.

  Alice swallowed and dropped her eyes to her hands fidgeting in her lap.

  "Now, now, Patterson, I'm teaching my daughter not to speak negatively of others." Brayden raised an eyebrow at his long-time friend. It was a very mild reminder with a hint of teasing behind it.

  "I apologise," Patterson replied, looking up at Brayden.

  "No, it sounds about right to me. I never liked him," Alice remarked.

  Brayden looked up at Patterson and then back down at Alice. Elisabeth looked over her teacup as it sat on her lips. Everyone was surprised by her contribution.

  "Your father's right, Darling, I shouldn't speak ill of anyone. I apologise," Patterson reiterated, looking back at Alice.

  "It's not rude if it's true, Father?" She turned to him.

  Brayden met eyes with Patterson briefly. "It still is," Brayden replied, then cleared his throat.

  The subject quickly changed after that.

  Later that afternoon when the guests began to trickle through the foyer, Waldorf's staff appeared and offered their coats, scarves, hats and gloves. Brayden saw his guests off until it was only himself, Alex Patterson, Bennett, Elisabeth, Damian and Alice. The circle had become smaller and was attempting to become more dispersed as Alice challenged her Uncle Bennett to chess. She'd done her required socialising for the day and would have been happy to hide away in the corner rather than give away any more of her energy. It had taken most of her courage just to sit at the piano and even attempt to play the last song; she felt she deserved to be able to avoid humanity for an unprecedented length of time.

  "Elisabeth and I are going outside for a walk, Darling. I'm sure your father or Uncle Damian wouldn't mind stepping in for me," he said, glancing at Brayden.

  Brayden acknowledged Bennett and Elisabeth's departure from the sitting room and then returned to his conversation with Damian and Alex.

  Alice wasn't keen on the idea of sitting amongst three men to hear their financial and investment conversation, but it wasn't to be avoided when Brayden glanced at his daughter and signalled with his finger for her to approach, all the while keeping eye contact with Alex. She knew what that meant—no chess. No avoidance. No chance she could go away and be sick from the build-up of anxiety from wondering if she would make it through the recital. She still felt a little queasy from all that adrenaline.

  Alice walked around behind Alex in the wingchair and slipped past, although finding it somewhat surprising when Brayden pulled her onto his lap in front of both of his friends. He managed to carry on the conversation, sit up straight and look as though it were no effort, which was enough to make Alice blush. The last time Alice had sat on her father's lap in front of people he was acquainted with had been the first night she met Bennett and Damian; it seemed a very long time since that night. It was in fact nearly a year since then.

  Brayden's action very naturally and paternally pulling her to sit sideways across his knees was enough to encourage Alice to react in a way which seemed appropriate to the action, and she couldn't resist a more obvious regression.

  "Father, I wanted to play chess," she told him, leaning against his blazer and waistcoat.

  "Darling, don't interrupt," he said quietly, as Alex paused and then carried on speaking after Brayden spoke to Alice.

  In her mind, she'd done all that was required of her for the day and felt it was well within her rights to do just as she pleased for the rest of it.

  "Will Mr. Patterson play chess with me?" she asked, when there was another pause in conversation.

  Brayden didn't even look at Alex. "No, my darling, dinner is shortly. It's time you went upstairs and changed. Tell Celia I asked her to put you in another dress."

  Alice felt a strange sensation to make a face and complain in front of Damian and Alex, but she didn't know why because she knew it would only mean a rather humiliating telling off. She wouldn't otherwise have minded because of her implied age and she knew it was all part of playing the role of a child at times, but Alex Patterson's presence made her feel a good deal more self-conscious. Or was it that she felt shy?

  "Yes, Sir," she replied quietly and slid off his lap with a slight blush to her cheeks.

  "Will either of you stay for dinner? Bennett and Elisabeth are joining us this evening," Brayden said, looking from Damian to Alex in opposite wing chairs to his left and right from where he sat on the Victorian sofa.

 
"I'm dining at Greystone this evening, I'm afraid. It's the least I can do, I suppose," Damian said, looking at his watch from beneath his starched cuff and blazer. He'd made a point of dressing up properly for Alice's recital.

  "Alexander?" Brayden asked.

  "I'd like that very much. Thank you," he replied.

  Chapter Six

  During dinner, conversation was refreshingly diverse, considering the uncommon presence of Alexander Patterson. He hadn't been to Waldorf for dinner since he and Brayden were boys on half-term holiday from boarding school. In fact, prior to Bennett's dinner party the previous September, Alexander and Brayden hadn't seen each other since the ten years they'd been out of boarding school.

  The topic of conversation for three grown prep-school boys could be nothing other than reminiscing of their boarding days.

  Bennett and Elisabeth sat across the large, formal dining table and to Brayden's right. He sat at the head and was directing conversation between both sides.

  "Thank you," Alexander told Wellesley when his wine glass was topped up.

  Alice side-glanced at Alexander, watching him neatly pair a slice of pork and roasted carrot on his fork – as everyone did – although it was much more interesting watching him do it. Her eyes casually transferred to the white tablecloth when Alex looked up. The last thing she needed was to be caught watching him.

  "Of course, the girls' school was nothing but trouble. I remember my first night as Head Boy doing the rounds in the sixth form dormitories, checking to make sure boys older than me were in bed by curfew and found three beds empty," Bennett said.

  Alice's eyes glanced up at her uncle and then went to Elisabeth, who sent a subtle grin across the table.

  "It sounds like the girls weren't the ones causing trouble," Elisabeth remarked.

  Brayden raised his eyebrows and nodded at Elisabeth in silent agreement.

  "Do you remember that chap, he was only with us for one term, what was his name? Percy?"

  "Percy Wilton," Brayden and Bennett responded simultaneously.

  "He tried to run for house Prefect, but he was caught in the woods near the school trying to light a rocket he'd built during election week," Alex said.

  "Yes, I'm the one who caught him," Bennett replied, not amused.

  "How did you manage to do so without breaking your own curfew?" Brayden asked, frowning, with a bit of a smile.

  "I had my ways. And it was all in the name of being the fiercest Head Boy, thank you. I wasn't about to let Percy Wilton make a fool of me. I thrashed him with the slipper, sent him to the Headmaster, and he was promptly expelled. Thankfully."

  "He works for NASA now," Alex added, before he took a sip of wine.

  Alice couldn't help but stifle a laugh. Bennett looked up at Alice, then Brayden and Alex.

  "Yes, well, NASA is the proper place to build and set off rockets, not the school grounds," Bennett said, then cleared his throat and carried on eating his dinner.

  Brayden laughed gently. Bennett Fowler would still be Head Boy if anyone would let him.

  "You two were thick as thieves from the first day, I remember it," Alex said. "It looks like you still are."

  Brayden glanced over at Bennett. "Yes," he said, giving his friend a confirming smile. "Well, our mothers were also very close."

  Alex sat back in his chair with his wine glass and watched them both.

  "And of course you know, Brayden was quite a bit shorter than me when we were lads, so I had to look after him. He fit perfectly into cupboards back then," Bennett said, in his usual serious voice although everyone knew he was being funny.

  Alice's eyebrows raised and she looked at Brayden. She remembered hearing stories of how he'd been bullied at school, but only Bennett could rehash those stories and make them amusing. It certainly hadn't been amusing back then.

  "That was only until I was made Prefect and then Deputy Head Boy," Brayden corrected.

  "And grew a head taller," Bennett added.

  "Thank you, Bennett." Brayden half-smiled.

  Alice quietly laughed; she loved when her father and uncle got into the rarely seen 'school boy' mode. She was always amused by her Uncle Bennett's placid humour, which came right over the top of Brayden because her father handled it well, and the gentlemanly ribbing always made her smile. It reminded Alice that her uncle and father were once children too.

  Elisabeth and Alice played chess after dinner, although Alice's attention was less than intent.

  "I know I'm not your Aunty just yet," Elisabeth began, causing Alice to roll her eyes. "However," she emphasised.

  Alice sank back into the stiff tufts of the leather wingchair opposite.

  "I can tell something is on your mind." Elisabeth folded her hands in her lap.

  "You certainly know how to speak to a pre-teen," Alice replied with gentle sarcasm and a smile.

  "Don't be difficult, Darling," Elisabeth replied. "I am in actual fact going to become your aunt. And whether we like it or not," she paused as she glanced across the sitting room to where Brayden, Alex and Bennett were chatting, all holding a glass of brandy with neatly pressed trouser legs crossed one over the other. "They are all expecting a visible shift in our relationship."

  "You're not married just yet!" Alice laughed.

  Elisabeth maintained her rather grown up look and posture. "Let's not leave things to the last minute," she said, gently. "Think of how shocking it will be when suddenly we are no longer quite equal. I'd rather get comfortable with the idea now, and gradually work my way into being someone you can look up to."

  Alice looked down at a hangnail on her finger and began picking at it. "I already look up to you," she casually replied.

  Elisabeth looked over the chessboard, then back up at Alice and gave her a smile. "It's lovely to hear you say that, Alice."

  "It's lovely to put you in Check, Aunty Lissy," Alice replied, completing the move.

  Elisabeth's smile faded. She certainly was in Check.

  After Alex Patterson and Bennett said their goodbyes, Waldorf Manor returned to the quiet that always followed guests leaving, the quiet of missing company. Candles and fireplaces blazed, the corridors and wood-panelled rooms lit at even intervals and voices lowered to more gentile tones to mirror the impending curfews. Most of the house staff had finished for the day and it was nearing the time Brayden sat on the edge of Alice's bed for their chat.

  He entered his daughter's bedroom to find Elisabeth huddled up with a tartan blanket around her as Alice sat against her headboard, the duvet pulled up around her knees as they practically hugged her chest. The girls' conversation faded as Brayden neared the king-sized bed that was a good metre off the ground. He had one hand in his trouser pocket as he slowed his pace and stopped beside the bed.

  "Is this a conversation only for girls?" he asked, pulling up his trousers as he perched on the side of the bed.

  Alice stroked her plaited hair as it draped over her shoulder.

  "You can stay, Father, but I make no guarantees you will like the topic."

  Brayden raised his eyebrows and looked over at Elisabeth, who smiled and shook her head.

  "She's being cheeky. We were only talking about where I might like to go on honeymoon. I didn't think you would mind me asking Alice her thoughts on that?" Elisabeth knew there was a clear boundary between her and Alice – she wasn't to be viewed or treated as anything other than ten-years-old. So conversation on such topics had to be handled with care.

  "There's no harm in her utilising her knowledge of geography, I suppose. What has she come up with?" Brayden asked.

  "Iceland," Alice piped up, proudly.

  "Uncle Bennett wouldn't go to Iceland." Brayden stifled a laugh.

  "That's what I said," Elisabeth replied, finding it humorous.

  "Why ever not? He needs to try new things. Perhaps you can get him to incorporate a little bit of colour into his wardrobe, Elisabeth. He looks as handsome as anyone can in black and navy blue but rusted umber never k
illed a man."

  Brayden raised an eyebrow, causing Alice to offer an upturned innocent look.

  "I'd like to redeem myself by letting you know I also suggested Istanbul, Prague and Zurich," Alice said.

  Elisabeth pulled the blanket around her shoulders and looked at Brayden with an amused face.

  "I think those might be even more adventurous," Elisabeth replied.

  Brayden smiled at his niece before looking back at Alice. "Well, you've certainly given Elisabeth plenty of suggestions."

  "But it's time for bed and the lights are going out. I know, I know." She pulled the duvet over her head and sunk beneath the layers of bedding amongst the plethora of pillows.

  "Darling, come out and say a proper goodnight," Brayden said, in a tone that would turn to warning rather quickly if she didn't obey.

  Alice pulled the duvet down and looked up at Brayden. "Can she sleep in my room tonight?"

  Elisabeth cracked a smile and looked down.

  "No, Darling. I'm going to see Elisabeth to her own bed in a moment. Have you brushed your teeth?"

  Alice looked horrified. "Would I even think of getting into bed without doing so?"

  "You've done it before," Brayden replied.

  "How do you know?" She sat up.

  "Because I know everything."

  Alice heaved an exasperated sigh.

  "Say goodnight to Elisabeth," Brayden reiterated.

  "Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight then," Alice said as she rolled forward on her knees and hugged Elisabeth.

  "Goodnight," she replied, with a bit of a laugh.

  "I'll be along to your room in a moment," Brayden told his niece.

  "Yes, Sir." Elisabeth slid off the bed and crossed the large bedroom.

  Alice looked over at Brayden, and he signalled to her. She crawled over the fluffy duvet and sat cross-legged in front of him in her cotton Peter Pan collared nightdress.