Alexandra was pleased by the appearance of her sisters, even if she could not help but laugh at their over excitement of her return. It was the home coming she had wanted from the start. The girls might be more brainwashed by their father then she was, but Alex still loved each of them and had taken it upon herself to fill the shoes their mother left. Goodness knowns the women was not able to.

She greeted each with a kiss and a hug, encouraging them to settle, if to stop the moment from being interrupted by their father. She made space for Eleanor to sit next to her on the arm chair, while the others found seats around her as she talked about the school. She picked the safer topics like her peers, the buildings, the food to talk about rather then the old fashioned teaching and barbaric punishments. Her sister need not know any of that.

She had just finished sharing the story of learning to a new dance with one of the other girls, since there was not males, which had lead them both to falling over as neither understood leading, causing her sisters to laugh and give Alex a chance to sneak a look over at her father. She sent him a soft smile before a question from Isobel pulled her attention back to her sisters. She really had missed them.

Arthur was glad to see that Alexandra managed to bring her sisters to order. Before she had gone to school, she had been the source of the greatest disorder in the household. But he worried. The girls adored their older sister, and he still did not entirely trust her intentions. And if Alexandra did continue insist on calling his wife by her name, the other girls might follow her example.

He twirled his drink while he watched her. She had grown into very pretty young woman. Perhaps he could foist her on that Scottish Earl. He smiled back at her.

A servant announced that dinner was ready to be served. The girls stood up and Eleanor, who could not contain her excitement over being allowed to join a dinner in the formal dining hall, jumped up and down.

"Eleanor, darling, a lady old enough to dine in the dining hall knows how to behave accordingly." Arthur reprimanded. He held out his arm to her and she walked over with a sheepish grin, took his arm, and allowed him to lead her into the room, her back straight and her chin up, all lady-like.

When they were seated, the servants served the first course. Arthur had instructed them to prepare all Alexandra's favourite foods. Hardly the first time he bribed someone.

"How was your journey, Alexandra?" he asked.

Unaware of her father’s marriage plans forming in his head, her attention returned to entertaining her sisters until they were called for dinner. She rose to her feet, brushed down her dress before making her way in. Smiling lightly at her little sister’s excitement. She could remember being like that, but instead of her father being the one to calm her, it had been her mother. It had always been her mother that could control her. Something her father could never do. With her father, it was always games of will power… Alex wondered if it would always be that way.
It was only more evident by the first course of pumpkin soup being placed in front of her. It was hardly up to her stepmothers’ standards, plus it being her favourite soup often meant the women never had it on the table anyway.
She had taken the first spoonful as the question was asked of her.
So, he was speaking to her again.
She shallowed before replying. "It was long but calm. I’m just glad to be home.”

"I'm glad to hear," said Arthur. "If you're not tired of traveling, you must join your mother and Florence and Isobel and me on our trip down to London next week. I have business there, and you ladies can go shopping and enjoy the social season." And find a husband. Alexandra had been down there, when she had been presented at court, but he had cut the trip short then, because his eldest daughter was clearly not interested in charming an Earl or Duke, but rather in tarnishing the reputation of the family. He hoped he could rely on her this time. He lifted a spoon to his mouth, but kept his eyes on her.