The Christmas Card

by Dilly Court

  ‘It’s a long story.’

  ‘I love long stories.’ Carrie yawned and pulled the covers up to her chin. ‘Go on, please.’

  Once again Alice was compelled to relive the difficulties she had faced since her father’s death.

  ‘… So you see,’ she said in conclusion. ‘I don’t know what to do for the best. Mr Dearborn says that Flora is safe and must be left to settle into her new life, but I can’t accept that.’

  Carrie raised herself on one elbow. ‘What a time you’ve had, Alice. It’s hard to believe – not that I doubt you,’ she added hastily. ‘But I know what I’d do.’

  ‘Really?’ Wide awake suddenly, Alice peered at her in the soft glow emitted by the dying embers of the fire. ‘Tell me, Carrie. I need to know.’

  ‘I’d go to Yorkshire and visit Flora at the school. Then you’d know for certain how she was placed.’

  ‘But what if I was followed? Molly Bishop seems desperate to get her hands on Flora.’

  ‘You’d have to make sure you weren’t seen.’

  ‘You make it sound so easy.’

  ‘There must be a way, Alice.’ Carrie curled on her side. ‘Perhaps if we sleep on it we’ll come up with a solution.’

  Next morning there was barely time to think, as Alice discovered the moment she opened her eyes. Carrie was already dressed and doing her best to tame her wildly curling hair into a snood at the nape of her neck. The sound of footsteps thundering down the stairs was a sign that the boys were also up and about, and George’s voice was raised to make himself heard above their protests as he marshalled them into a semblance of order. The more subdued tones of the new lodger could be heard as he passed their door, followed by the shrill voices of the girls as they tumbled out of their bedroom and made their way downstairs.

  ‘I’m late,’ Carrie said, pulling a face. ‘I’m usually first to rise. It’s my job to see to the fire in the range and then I light one beneath the copper in the washhouse.’

  Alice sat up and swung her legs over the side of the bed. ‘I suppose you must have a lot of washing with such a large family.’

  Carrie fastened the last pin in her hair. ‘Ma takes in laundry as well as doing our own. She says it’s the only way to make ends meet, Alice. Pa works hard but money is always short, even though George and I contribute what we can, and the older boys have jobs too.’

  ‘I didn’t realise,’ Alice said humbly. ‘I was brought up to think that we were poor, but now I can see that wasn’t the case at all. I’m afraid I’ve got a lot to learn.’

  ‘We’ve all got our place in the scheme of things. That’s what I was trying to say last night when I told you about Bertie. We’re not desperately poor because we all work hard, but that doesn’t make me Bertie’s equal, or that’s what his parents would think if they knew he wanted me for his wife instead of the rich and beautiful Margery.’ Carrie opened the door. ‘I’ve got things to do, but you can take your time.’

  Alice was already out of bed, pulling on her clothes. ‘I’ll be down in a minute and I’ll help all I can.’

  If supper had been chaotic then breakfast was pure bedlam. Rose had gone outside to the washhouse, leaving Winnie to see to the two youngest children, while Carrie served dollops of porridge to Charlie and Bill, Ned having already left for work on the docks with his father. Alice found herself in charge of the large Brown Betty teapot and she filled cups, dealing out small lumps of sugar, which Carrie explained had to be carefully rationed or the boys would fill their pockets and munch it like sweets on their way to work in Billingsgate Market. Nellie and Lizzie had to be cleaned up and made ready for school, and finally George put in an appearance, looking dapper as ever in his city suit.

  ‘Are you ready to go to the office, Miss Radcliffe?’

  She put the teapot on the table and brushed a stray lock of hair back from her forehead. ‘Yes, George. Just give me a minute to put on my bonnet and cape.’

  ‘But you haven’t eaten,’ Carrie protested.

  ‘I’ll see that she gets something at dinnertime,’ George said cheerfully. ‘I’ll look after her, so don’t fuss, Mother Hen.’

  Carrie flicked the wooden spoon catching her brother on the cheek with a splodge of porridge. He wiped it off with the tip of his forefinger and licked it clean. ‘Excellent shot. Remind me to get you back for that one, Carrie.’ He headed for the doorway, almost tripping over Annie, who was holding up her arms for a cuddle. He ruffled her hair. ‘Not now, poppet. George has to go to work or the nasty man will tell him off and keep some of his money on pay day.’ He picked her up and handed her to Carrie. ‘This one is as slippery as an eel. She tried to follow me out of the house yesterday.’

  Carrie took the protesting toddler in her arms. ‘Did you have a nice time with Bertie?’

  George shrugged and opened the door. ‘What sort of question is that? We talked shop mostly and had couple of pints in the pub. Come along, Alice. We’ll be late if you don’t hurry.’

  As they walked briskly along the street Alice had to quicken her pace in order to keep up with George’s long strides.

  ‘I love your family,’ she said breathlessly, ‘but I can’t impose on them like this.’

  He shot her a sideways glance, eyebrows raised. ‘I don’t understand. You’re more than welcome to stay with us. Ma and Pa both said so.’

  ‘And they’re the kindest people I’ve ever met, but I need to find somewhere more permanent.’

  ‘What’s the matter? Aren’t we good enough for you, Miss Radcliffe?’ George strode across the street, ignoring the shouts of the cabbies and draymen whose paths he crossed regardless of the danger. Alice followed more slowly, catching up with him as he reached Ludgate Hill.

  ‘That’s not fair and it’s certainly not true. But I’ve seen how hard you all work to keep a roof over your heads, and if I overstay my welcome you’ll come to resent me. You all will, and I don’t want that to happen.’

  ‘I can’t see it myself,’ he said sulkily. ‘Why are you women so difficult to comprehend? There’s Carrie moping because my friend Bert is engaged to an heiress. She thinks I don’t know, but anyone can see that they’re both moonstruck, and then there’s young Annie constantly demanding attention and she’s not yet three. Why can’t you be more like the boys?’

  A gurgle of laughter escaped from Alice’s lips. ‘Would you really like girls to be the same as boys? If I were like you I might punch you on the jaw if you said something that offended me.’

  ‘I suppose that’s true. But you must admit that you complicate our lives and your own.’ He came to a halt outside the door of Dearborns’ establishment and held it open. ‘After you, Miss Radcliffe.’

  She stepped inside, coming face to face with Martin. He looked from one to the other with a smile twisting his lips. ‘So that’s how the wind blows, is it? You two are getting very friendly.’

  ‘Stow it, Collis,’ Alice said gruffly.

  His jaw dropped. ‘Well, I’ll be damned.’

  Martin’s shocked expression was exactly what she had expected; young ladies were not supposed to answer back, let alone use common parlance. She winked at George, who seemed equally startled, and holding her head high she sashayed off towards the office, greeting Beasley with a friendly smile as she passed his desk.

  As she opened the door she could hear Martin speaking in a hushed tone and George’s loud response. ‘Well, what do you expect, old man? You always treat her like one of your brainless popsies. Alice is a colleague and you’d better get used to the fact.’

  ‘Thank you, George,’ Alice whispered as he caught up with her.

  ‘You made your point,’ he said sheepishly. ‘I don’t think Collis will make that mistake again.’

  ‘What’s all this? You two are late.’ Rawlins erupted from behind his partition, glaring at the clock on the wall.

  ‘One minute, sir,’ George said pointedly. ‘I’ll take care to work one minute past my time tonight, Mr Wall.’

&n
bsp; ‘And so will I,’ Alice added boldly. Standing up to Martin had made her feel that she was their equal, although she doubted whether men would ever acknowledge the fact. She had the satisfaction of seeing Rawlins at a loss for words as she went to her desk. There were decisions to be made that would affect her future as well as Flora’s, and there was no time to lose. She bent her head over her work and began to draw.

  Perhaps Mr Dearborn was right and Flora simply needed more time to settle into the school routine. She was a bright child and if she put her mind to it she could do very well. Maybe all she needed was discipline and guidance, but it was not that simple: Molly Bishop still posed a threat and the school needed to be informed of a possible attempt to kidnap one of their pupils. If only Rory were here, she thought, chewing the end of her pen. He would know how to persuade his brother that some action was needed. It was not her place to interfere in Mr Dearborn’s arrangements, and yet she felt in some way responsible for Flora, and it was clear from her letter that the poor child was utterly miserable.

  Alice went to the office next day, trying hard to concentrate on the work in hand, but Flora’s plight was never far from her thoughts. At the first opportunity she raised the subject once again with her boss, but Mr Dearborn brushed her fears aside.

  ‘Miss Radcliffe,’ he said, smiling, ‘it’s to your credit that you worry about my daughter, but I can assure you that Willoughby Hall is as secure as any of Her Majesty’s prisons. It’s situated in the middle of inhospitable moorland at least five miles from Ryby, which is the nearest village, and then it is little more than a hamlet. Flora is safer there than she would be in the Tower of London. I suggest you concentrate on your work, which is excellent. I can’t wait to show it to my brother when he returns from Ireland.’

  Alice felt her heart flip against her ribcage at the mention of Rory’s name, and Flora was momentarily forgotten. ‘Will he return soon, sir?’ The words tumbled from her lips before she had time to think and she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. ‘I mean, it will be so exciting to see the new machinery in action. Printing cards in colour will be an amazing achievement.’

  Frederick’s eyes lit up and he nodded vigorously. ‘I agree entirely, and that is why I need you to come up with designs that will thrill the public and encourage them to buy. You must stop worrying about Flora and concentrate on your work, Alice. You know that as well as I.’

  That evening Alice repeated his words to Carrie as they made ready for bed.

  ‘It makes sense,’ Carrie said after some thought. ‘But I can see that you’re not convinced.’

  Alice sank down on the flock-filled mattress. ‘My head tells me that he’s right but my heart won’t agree. I know that Flora is in danger and that she’s unhappy. I can’t explain it, but that’s how I feel.’

  ‘Is she more important to you than your work?’

  ‘I didn’t think so, but she’s just a child, Carrie. She’s nine years old, and she’s far away from home. If Molly gets her hands on Flora she’ll make her life hell, or even worse. The woman has no conscience and no morals. She scares me, so what would she do to Flora?’

  Carrie finished plaiting her hair and fastened the braid off with a ribbon. ‘I think you’ve answered your own question. You must follow your instincts, Alice.’ She rose from the dressing stool and went to sit beside her. ‘What would Rory do in similar circumstances?’

  ‘Rory?’ Alice stared at her in surprise. ‘What has he got to do with anything?’

  Carrie threw back her head and laughed. ‘I’ve kept my feelings for Bertie hidden for a long time and I can recognise a fellow sufferer. You blush whenever his name crops up in conversation, and when you told me about the Christmas tree and the snowballs in the square there was a dreamy look on your face.’

  ‘It’s not like that. We’re just friends.’

  ‘How often have I said that? Come along, Alice, this is me you’re talking to. We’ve come to know each other quite well over the last few days. It’s more what you don’t say about Rory Dearborn that gives you away.’

  ‘I do like him a lot,’ Alice admitted grudgingly. ‘But you and I are in a similar situation, Carrie. Rory is kind and he’s fun to be with, but he’ll marry someone from his own class, not a humble working girl like me.’

  Carrie slipped her arms around Alice and gave her a hug. ‘He’d be lucky to have someone like you.’

  ‘Yes,’ Alice said, chuckling. ‘He would, but if I were ever to marry I would prefer a husband who was a bit more reliable than Rory Dearborn. My parents married for love, but Pa was a dreamer and lived for his books and his intellectual friends. My mother was always delicate and had no idea how to manage a household. I hardly saw her while I was growing up as she took to her bed with the slightest ailment, leaving the servants to do as they pleased. I don’t want to live like that.’

  ‘You’ll have to take a chance sometime,’ Carrie said softly. ‘Maybe Rory is the one, or perhaps you need someone more like George?’

  Alice stared at her in surprise. ‘George? Goodness me, I’ve never thought of your brother in that way. I like him enormously, but he’s just a boy.’

  ‘He’s the same age as you and he’s growing older each day.’ Carrie stood up and took off her wrap. ‘Anyway, I’m tired and I need to sleep.’

  Alice moved over to her side of the bed and slid beneath the covers. ‘You don’t think that George fancies me, do you? I mean I’d hate to lead him on.’

  ‘Don’t worry about him. He’ll have his heart broken a few times before he finds the right girl, and in case you’re worried, I don’t think that it’s you. You’re too bright and too ambitious to want to tie yourself to someone who doesn’t match up to you. I love my brother, but he’ll always be happy to plod along in a nice safe job. He’ll be a wonderful family man, but I don’t suppose he would provide the excitement you crave.’

  Alice turned her head to gaze at Carrie’s profile outlined against the starched white pillowcase. ‘Heavens above, what a strange opinion you have of me.’

  ‘Do I?’ Carrie met her startled look with a smile. ‘I don’t think you know yourself very well, Alice Radcliffe.’

  Alice was silent for a moment, watching the flickering shadows on the ceiling above the fireplace as tiny flames licked around the coals. ‘I’d always led such a quiet life until Pa died,’ she said thoughtfully. ‘Then everything turned upside down and now I have nothing.’

  ‘Nonsense,’ Carrie said severely. ‘You have friends, and you have talent, which landed you a job in the workplace. That is beyond the reach of most women. You’re thinking of travelling to the wilds of Yorkshire to see a little girl you care about, and quite obviously she has a strong attachment to you.’

  ‘Yes, you’re right. I can’t desert Flora and I won’t rest until I know that she’s safe and happy, but Mr Dearborn won’t allow me time off to go and see her.’

  ‘So what will you do?’

  ‘I’ll get a train to York and make my way to the school. I have to find out if it’s as bad as Flora says it is. I can’t just leave the poor little thing to suffer.’

  ‘At least you’ll know how matters lie,’ Carrie said sleepily. ‘Seeing Flora again should put your mind at rest.’

  ‘I’ll have to tell George, but I’m not going to mention it to anyone else. He can tell Rawlins that I’m unwell, and that I’ll be back in the office as soon as I’m better.’

  ‘I hope you know what you’re doing.’ Carrie turned on her side. ‘Good night, Alice.’ Within minutes she was snoring gently.

  Alice lay awake for some time. There was one thing she must do before she embarked on such a journey, and that was to visit Queen Square and make sure that all was well with her mother. She closed her eyes.

  Beth greeted her daughter with a bright smile. ‘I’m so glad you came, darling. I’ve been worried about you. It was all a silly misunderstanding.’

  Alice kissed her mother’s flushed cheek. ‘It’s all right, Mama. I do
understand, I really do.’

  ‘No, dear, you don’t. You can’t know what it’s like to lose the man you’ve loved for most of your life, and be at the mercy of someone who actually despises you.’

  ‘I don’t think Aunt Jane despises you, Mama,’ Alice said hastily.

  ‘She can’t wait to get me out of her house, but I don’t mind now because I’ll soon have a home of my own again.’ Beth looked away, and her hands shook as she twisted her handkerchief around her fingers. ‘Can you forgive me for stealing your fiancé? I know it was an unforgiveable thing to do, but I was desperate and Horace is a kind man. I think we’ll do well together.’

  Alice seized her mother’s hands, holding them in a firm clasp. ‘Mama, I’m grateful to you. I couldn’t have gone through with it, but I hope you’ll both be very happy.’

  ‘Do you mean that, Alice?’

  ‘With all my heart.’

  Beth’s lips trembled and she moved away to stand by the window, staring out as if mesmerised by the view. ‘I’m sorry about the boxroom. I did suggest that you ought to have the larger bedchamber, but Horace pointed out that you would probably marry some day and move out, and that we were in desperate need of a superior type of cook-housekeeper, one who would not be satisfied with a such a tiny room.’

  ‘Don’t upset yourself, Mama. There’s no need to feel bad about it because I wouldn’t want to live with you and Horace anyway. I have a good position at Dearborns’. At the moment I’m staying with friends, but I’ll be looking for more suitable accommodation very soon.’

  Beth turned to her with a sigh. ‘You are so clever and brave, my darling. You are much more like your papa than me, thank goodness. I am a poor weak thing compared to you, but I want you to know that I’m very proud of you.’

  ‘Thank you, Mama. That means a lot to me.’ Alice glanced at the clock on the mantelshelf. Horace would be returning from his job in the counting house very soon, and there was always the chance that Aunt Jane would walk into the room. ‘I really should be going. I just wanted to make sure that you were all right.’