A Life in Alice

Here's a short story I wrote in about 30 minutes.
UNDER HEAVY CONSTRUCTION.
"Me, marry Andrew?" Alice pressed her gloved hand on her rose-shaded mouth, suppressing a laugh. "He is more the merry type than the marrying type."
Her friend Betsy paused in thought. "Yes, that does seem true. His love for frivolity may, in time, outweigh his devotion and fidelity." A grin suddenly sprang to life. Her cornflower eyes sparkled with eagerness. "Aidan, then. Have you ever considered him? Hes really sweet and seems to fancy you."
Alice looked at the other girl in earnest. She took in the blonde hair, blue eyes, slightly blank expression, everything many guys would want in a girl. It was easy to be so casual about these matters when one was already married. "Aidan is a good friend, but that is all he could ever be. Never a life-long companion or anything of the sort. We would literally drive each other insane in but a few days."
"But his parents admire you so." Betsy, the wife of the esteemed Sir Carmichael gently picked up her flowered teacup. "His family would do nothing but encourage. It would be a more than well-suited match."
"I do not desire only a well-suited suitor."
She shrugged her hunched shoulders." No need to take offense with me. I am simply concerned for your well being. "Trading her tea for a lady finger, she continued. "I just want to see you happy."
Alice took her napkin and daubed it in a finger bowl placed on the table and handed it to Betsy. "You have a bit of powdered sugar on your lip."
"Don't change the subject. Why do you insist on being lonely when you can be happy?"
"Tell me truly. Are you and Sir Carmichael happy?"
Betsys eyes lost a bit of their former gleam. "Well, most of the time. We have our rough spots certainly." She pasted an obviously fake smile on her face. "However, we get over those moments and always find comfort in each other. Car and I have something special. Even if you do marry, there is no guarantee you could ever be as we are. There is such love there. Unremitting, unchangeable, undeniable passion and ardor. She leaned in conspiratorially. In fact, the other day I saw him at the jewelers. You know the ones, Hapstein and Sons. I had started to come in the shop and saw him purchasing a locket I had spoken my adoration for. Our anniversary is in two days and he already has my present. Certainly, I made all haste to leave before he saw me. Imagine me spoiling the surprise!" She straightened back in her chair with a satisfied air. "Many husbands forget such occasions entirely. Of course, then I felt rather guilty about my hesitation in his gift. I went straight away to the corner shop on Rambleston and bought Car that newly arrived humidor."
"Yes, I heard him mention in when last we were together. An excellent choice." Alice nodded her approval. "Just because you are pleased with your match does not mean I must choose mine now. Surely, loneliness is a force to be reckoned with, along with the gossip that buzzes behind closed doors about my lack of beaus." She raised her defiant brown eyes. "I refuse to settle for convenience or mutual respect."
Betsy began to gather her purse. "I was simply trying to be of some help. I hope you will not fault me for leaving. I see you are content with remaining a spinster."
"Did I say that was my intent? "Alices eyes flashed. "Sometimes I believe you presume too much on our friendship, Betsy. My heart is only mine to give and therefore my affair. Next week, let us talk of books and philosophies, even the latest trends, but not men."
"I suppose thats you're right. I shall no longer take so much Liberty. My thoughts must remain kept to myself and my opinions also." She rose from the chaise and swept the crumbs from her dress. "I have to pick up my husband's gift on the way home. Who know? I may be giving it to him a little early. He so deserves it."
Alice walked her to the front door. As she stepped outside, Betsy could not resist one more question. "Have you given any thought to Benjamin?"
Alice sighed and soundly closed the door. She could bear no more. The last one had stung smartly. Given any thought? Only nearly every moment of every day. Benjamin. It was so easy to recall his handsome face, pleasant demeanor and brilliant mind. The dark eyes that seemed to see past all of her facades. Yes, she thought of him. Whether he ever thought of her was unlikely. He had woven a spell without even knowing it. She whispered to herself, "Why do we always seem to love those who do not love us?" Every time he called she tried to control her emotions so that he would not see the feelings she held. Alice absolutely would not pursue men like many of the women in her day. Benjamin would have to come to her. Even then there were a sundry of obstacles. He was the local vicar.
A vicar was certainly someone in high standing. But for a lord's daughter, like Alice, he was supposed to be invisible. Someone you might invite over for tea and see on Sunday, nothing else. Though the vicarage was only a stone's throw away, it might well have been on the other side of the world as far as society was concerned. If he would show the slightest sign of affection she would throw caution to the wind and run to his arms. The thought thrilled and terrified her at once.
She mounted the stairs from the parlor to her bedroom, lifting the skirt of her dress so as not to trip on it. She knew she must destroy at least one secret. As she stepped into her room, her eyes immediately lit upon her armoire. Alice slowly advanced and opened the top drawer. Sifting through the first layer of undergarments she found the box. The box that had originally made her slightly intrigued now only made her feel sick. Very, very carefully she lifted the lid and let it drop to the ground. She looped her fingers around the filigree chain and lifted out a stunning necklace. She traced her fingers along the silver heart, feeling every detail before sitting upon her bed. She worked her fingernail along the side and found the catch. It sprang open and the engraving on the locket shimmered in the light.
To my beloved Alice
With undying devotion,
C.
It seemed a thing alive. Alice could almost feel it beating in her palm. She felt herself begin to laugh. Now, why was that?

"But what does that matter in the end? It means nothing. Yes, nothing." >Dr. P<