Alice noticed Helena’s reluctance to talk about the children and found it very odd. She wanted to ask if there was something in the matter, but she was not sure the other woman would appreciate it. They had only been hanging out for about a month, but Alice was still not sure where this friendship was leading. Helena was a nice acquaintance, but did not reveal much about her personal feelings and Alice did not want to seem nosy, even though she was very curious about the heiress to the Peabody fortune.

“She’s good. She has that tournament coming up in a few weeks, so she’s training a lot.” ‘And spending time with her ex.’ Alice thought to herself darkly.

“Oh, that’s right! The ‘Open something’. Tell her I wish her all the best.” Helena smiled.

“Thanks. I will.” Alice smiled back. She was surprised she felt so shy around Helena. Shy was not something Alice Pieszecki was used to feeling. She had never been shy. She had always blurted out her thoughts about anything and everything without hesitation. It was just something in the other woman’s gaze that made her feel like she was thinking out loud. “Can I ask you something?”

“What is it you wish to ask?” Helena asked seriously hoping it was not something about the children.

“I I was just wondering about your accent. Is it real? I’ve been wanting to ask you that for like, forever.” Alice asked. Helena broke in to a little laughter.

“Yes it’s real! I lived in England until I was… 18.” Helena smiled at the memories coming back to her.

“Really? Did you live there with Peggy?” Alice asked, happy she finally was getting some background information about this secretive person in front of her.

“No, I didn’t live much with my parents as a child. I was mostly raised by my grandmother in London.”

“How come?” Alice had overcome her shyness and now felt like her usual curious self again.

“Well, my parents travelled a lot, and mostly lived in New York working with the foundation and Unified Steel. My grandmother stepped down in my father’s favour after Rupert died. She was never interested in working very much, I guess she wasn’t used to it. And then my parents thought it a good idea for her to be responsible for me.”