The Christmas Card

by Dilly Court

  After a fortnight, when it had seemed that winter was never going to loosen its hold, there came a spectacular thaw. Looking out of her window one morning Alice could see tufts of heather rising out of the snow and patches of green grass. The real Miss Cotton would inevitably put in an appearance and the time had come to make a move, but Flora was adamant that they must take Mary with them and had refused to leave without her. Alice could tell how much Mary meant to Flora, and she herself had grown fond of Mary. To abandon her to her fate in such an institution was unthinkable.

  Late that evening, when all the lights were out and everyone had gone to bed, Alice lit a candle and made her way to Miss Millington’s study. On an occasion when she had been summoned to the headmistress’s office, she had taken the opportunity to inspect the shelves while she waited for Miss Millington to make an appearance. She had noted where the admissions book was kept and it was this she selected now, placing it on the desk and leafing through until she found the entry that marked the arrival of two-year-old Mary Morgan. Alice discovered to her relief that Flora had been correct in saying that Mary was an orphan. Her guardian appeared to be an elderly maiden aunt residing in Kent. There was a note in the margin stating that Mary was to stay at school during the holiday periods, and that any future correspondence was to be addressed to Miss Morgan’s solicitor, a Mr Doolittle with an office in Chislehurst. She made a hasty note of both names and addresses before replacing the book and hurried from the office, undiscovered. Armed with this information, Alice decided that she would take Mary, even though their progress would be slower. The little girl’s aunt must surely take pity on the child if the facts were put before her, or maybe Mr Doolittle, despite his name, might be persuaded to help. In any event, Mary was not going to be left to face the rigours of life at Willoughby Hall.

  Alice returned to her room and sat down to pen a letter to Frederick, explaining why she had been absent from work for so long and revealing the truth about the school that he had thought would be a place of sanctuary. Her plan for the next day was to walk as far as the village, where she hoped she might find transport to York. From there it was a simple matter to get the London train and they would return home. Surely Frederick must relent when he was in full possession of the facts: she was pinning her hopes on gaining his support, and she could not believe that Lydia would turn Flora out when she knew how the poor child had suffered. At the very least they might find a better school, closer to home, where Flora would be safe and happy. As to Mary – Alice was certain that one more mouth to feed would not bother kind-hearted Rose Young. Who could fail to be touched by the fate of a small orphan? Perhaps she was being naïve, but if all else failed she could afford to rent rooms in a better neighbourhood and have Mary live with her. Flora could visit during the school holidays and they would have a lovely time together. Alice sighed; she knew she was being over-optimistic, but she had to cling to hope or she would have given in long ago. She folded her letter and sealed it with wax melted in the candle flame.

  Next morning she was up before dawn and made her way to the dormitory where Flora and Mary slept. She awakened them without disturbing the other girls and led them to her room, where she helped them to dress in their warmest clothes.

  ‘We must travel light,’ she said softly. ‘We’re going on a big adventure, Mary. Flora will hold your hand and I want you to creep like little mice.’

  ‘We’re going home.’ Flora’s voice broke with excitement. ‘We’re leaving here for ever, Mary, and you’re coming with me.’

  Alice stiffened at the sound of a horse-drawn vehicle pulling up outside the gates. She ran to the window and peered out. Dawn was breaking with faint green and silver streaks piercing the darkness in the east, and there was just enough light to see the silhouette of a man who had alighted from the carrier’s cart. His battered top hat and bulky overcoat made him look sinister and threatening. There was something disturbingly familiar about him as he tugged at the bell pull, and the metallic clanging sound echoed around the deserted courtyard like a clarion call. Alice held her breath and her pulse was racing, but it was fear and not excitement that caused the blood to drum in her ears. A male visiting this entirely female domain was unheard of in term time.

  ‘No!’ she gasped. ‘It can’t be. He can’t have discovered us.’ But she knew that he had. Unless she was very much mistaken it was Eric the Axe who demanded admittance, and as a woman alighted from the cart, shaking out her skirts the hood of her cape slipped off her head and Alice knew without a doubt that it was Molly Bishop.

  ‘Quick,’ she said, grabbing her valise into which she had crammed a few necessities for the girls. ‘Follow me. Be very quiet because no one must hear us.’

  Flora clutched at her sleeve. ‘Is it the woman who says she’s my mother?’

  ‘Yes, Flora, it is and she’s a bad woman. No mother would treat her child in the way she wants to use you, but I won’t let her get you. I’d die first.’

  ‘Don’t die.’ Mary’s brown eyes widened and her lips trembled. ‘You can’t die.’

  ‘Of course not,’ Alice said hastily. ‘It was a figure of speech. Come, we have to hurry.’

  She led the way down the back stairs and out into the stable yard. It was a three-mile walk to the village across open moorland, and she had planned to go on foot when the weather improved, but the arrival of Molly and Eric had put paid to that and now she was risking everything in a dash for safety. Having successfully negotiated the open yard, Alice unbolted the wicket gate and ushered the children outside into the chill of the early morning.

  ‘Wait here a moment and don’t move,’ she said softly. ‘Hold Mary’s hand, Flora. Be brave girls and soon we’ll be away from here.’

  It was a desperate gamble but Alice was banking on the fact that the carter would have pressing business in the village, and that Molly would insist on gaining admittance. She could hear her arguing with Miss Millington as she rounded the corner of the building.

  ‘But I’m the child’s mother,’ Molly said loudly. ‘You will let me in. I want to see her.’

  ‘We don’t allow visitors in term time, as you must know, madam.’ Miss Millington’s voice was as cold as the ground beneath Alice’s feet. She held her breath, hoping for a miracle.

  ‘You’ll let us in or I’ll break the bloody door down.’

  Alice could not see their faces but she could imagine the shock on the headmistress’s face on being spoken to by a lout like Eric the Axe. She waited, praying silently that the carter would not lose patience and drive off. Miss Millington seemed to be losing the war of words and Alice did not hear her response, but the rasp of the key in the lock was followed by the grating of the hinges as the gate opened. Alice poked her head out in time to see Molly surge into the school yard followed by Eric. They headed for the front entrance and Alice waited until she heard the door closed before making a dash for the wagon. ‘Can you take me and two little ones to the village?’ she asked breathlessly.

  The carter turned his head, shifting the pipe from one side of his mouth to the other with a puff of smoke. ‘I remember you, miss.’

  ‘That’s right. You brought me here a couple of weeks ago.’ Alice delved into her reticule and took out a florin. ‘We’re going on a visit.’

  He took the money and stuffed it into his pocket. ‘Running away, are we?’

  ‘The children are my charges, I’m taking them home.’

  ‘Can’t say I blame you, miss. I wouldn’t want to leave any of my bairns in this place.’

  Alice hesitated. ‘The man and woman you dropped off – are you waiting for them?’

  ‘Picking them up on me way back – that was what we agreed.’ Taking the pipe from his mouth, he spat onto the ground. ‘I’d like as not leave them to make their own way to York. Can’t stand Southerners, present company excepted, of course.’

  ‘I’ll fetch the children.’ Alice turned to see Flora’s pale face peeping round the corner of the building and sh
e beckoned frantically. At any moment Molly or Eric might suddenly reappear and her plans would be ruined. Flora needed no further encouragement and holding Mary by the hand she raced towards them. Alice helped them onto the cart and leaped up after them. They were barely settled when the driver urged his horse to walk on and Alice could have cried with relief, but she managed a smile as she slipped her arms around the girls’ shoulders. ‘We’re off on a big adventure.’

  ‘That’s the first time I’ve heard anyone say that about yon village.’ The carter chuckled deep in his belly. ‘You won’t find much there apart from a few cottages and the church.’

  ‘I was hoping to find transport to take us to the railway station in York.’

  He took the pipe from his mouth and tapped out the ash on the side of the cart. ‘Why didn’t you say so in the first place, miss? I’ve got a delivery at Fox Farm and then I’m on me way back to town.’

  ‘But you’ve got to pick up those people at the school.’

  He held the reins in one hand while he refilled his pipe with the other. ‘What people? They haggled over the price and beat me down to the bare bone. I don’t hold with folk like that. Let ’em walk, I say.’

  ‘I can pay extra,’ Alice said, doing a quick calculation in her head. Miss Millington had given her two weeks’ wages, informing her with grim satisfaction that she would have to wait until the end of the quarter to be paid in full. It was not much but at least she had just about enough money to get them to London.

  ‘It’s going to rain.’ The carter licked his finger and held it up to the chill wind that had sprung up. ‘Can’t guarantee a comfy ride.’

  ‘That doesn’t matter,’ Alice said, breathing a sigh of relief. ‘Just get us to the station and I’ll be grateful for the rest of my life.’

  The carter had been right on both counts. It was not a comfortable journey and it did rain, starting with a light shower, which rapidly turned into a downpour. Alice did her best to keep the girls’ spirits up, but they were wet, cold and hungry by the time they reached York station. It was mid-afternoon and Alice was stiff and sore from being bumped about on the hard seat.

  She paid the carter. ‘Thank you for bringing us here. I’m truly grateful to you.’

  He tipped his cap. ‘Glad to help a young lady like you, miss.’

  She opened her reticule and took out the letter to Frederick. ‘Would you do me a favour and post this for me?’

  ‘Be glad to, miss.’ He took it from her and put it in his pocket.

  She gave him the penny for postage and, with a strange feeling of being alone and unprotected, watched him drive away. It seemed silly to send the letter when they would be arriving back in London later in the day, but she planned to go straight to Five Foot Lane, and Frederick should receive the letter by first post next day. It was important for him to know exactly why she had been absent from work, and that Flora was safe and sound, and he needed to be apprised of the terrible conditions at Willoughby Hall.

  She ushered the children into the booking office where she purchased tickets for London. It was hard to believe that they were on their way home at last, but there was an hour to wait before the train arrived and Alice bought tea and cake from a stall on the platform. There was a fire in the ladies’ waiting room and they made themselves comfortable, sipping the hot beverage and munching cake. Flora soon regained her spirits, but Mary curled up on the wooden bench and closed her eyes.

  ‘She’s only little,’ Flora said, seriously. ‘But I’m glad we’re taking her home with us. Do you think Mama will like her better than me? I know I wasn’t always a good girl, but little Mary never does anything wrong.’

  Alice put her cup on the table, wondering how best to answer the question that had been worrying her. ‘I’m not sure that Mrs Dearborn will want to take her in. Mary might have to stay with me in Five Foot Lane, at least for the time being. You know your mama, she doesn’t take easily to strangers, and Mary has an aunt in Chislehurst who might decide to give her a home.’

  Flora’s bottom lip protruded ominously. ‘Mary is my friend. I won’t go anywhere without her.’

  ‘And that feeling does you credit, but you have to be practical, and you must behave yourself if you’re to get on well with your mama.’

  ‘We could both live with you, Alice,’ Flora said eagerly. ‘I love you and we’d be very good, both of us, I promise.’

  ‘And I would love to look after you, but I haven’t got a home of my own, and there’s still Molly Bishop to contend with. She almost caught up with us today, and she’s not likely to give up now.’

  ‘I hope the train comes soon,’ Flora said nervously. ‘I want to go home.’

  Alice rose to her feet. ‘I’ll go out onto the platform and take a look at the clock.’ She went outside and saw to her relief that the train was due at any moment. In fact she could hear the distant whistle announcing its approach. She returned to the waiting room and awakened Mary.

  ‘Come along, sweetheart. The train is about to arrive and we’ll be on our way.’

  Flora grabbed the valise and hefted it out onto the platform with Alice and Mary following on her heels. ‘It’s coming,’ Flora cried excitedly. ‘I can see it now.’

  Clutching Mary’s small hand, Alice drew Flora back from the edge. ‘Be careful, we don’t want any accidents.’

  ‘No indeed.’ Molly’s voice rang out loud and clear above the roar of the steam engine as it thundered into the station.

  Alice spun round. ‘How did you get here so quickly?’

  ‘You thought you’d got us beat, didn’t you?’ Molly moved closer with Eric at her side. ‘You took our place on the cart, you bitch. We might have been stranded in that godforsaken place for days, but luckily some prim old maid arrived and caused a stir. You’ve been a bad girl, Alice Radcliffe. The old hag who runs the school is after your blood.’

  ‘We took a ride back to town in her hired carriage,’ Eric said smugly. ‘We had a more comfortable journey than you did.’

  Alice drew the girls closer to her as the train came to a halt. ‘We’re leaving and you can’t stop us.’

  Molly threw back her head and laughed. ‘See that constable at the end of the platform? Well, I just told him that you was taking my daughter from me.’ She seized Flora by the arm. ‘One word from me and you’ll be arrested.’

  ‘The old bitch gave the carriage driver money to send a telegram from York to Flora’s father. Soon they’ll know what you’ve done.’ Eric moved forward and gave Alice a shove. ‘And when the coppers discover that you passed yourself off as a teacher and took payment what was due to another, you’ll be up before the beak and thrown in clink. What will your boss think of you then? That’s if you still have a job, which I doubt.’

  ‘Don’t let them take me, Alice.’ Flora’s face paled to ashen. She looked up at Molly with tears pouring down her cheeks. ‘Please let me go. You aren’t my mother. I want to go with Alice.’

  ‘Please,’ Alice cried, holding out her hands. ‘Don’t do this, Molly. I’m sure Mr Dearborn will give you money if that’s what you want. Let her come with me. I beg you.’

  Chapter Eighteen

  ‘It’s all right, mate,’ Eric said gruffly as the police constable headed towards them. ‘The young person has seen sense. We’ve got our little girl back.’ He lifted Flora bodily and threw her over his shoulder. ‘She’s a bit simple, is this one. But my old woman will see to her needs.’

  Molly laid a warning finger on her lips. ‘Say one word and you’ll end up in the mill, or worse.’ She marched off after Eric, and Flora’s screams were drowned by a burst of steam from the engine.

  ‘Best get on the train, miss.’ The young policeman eyed her warily. ‘Lucky for you they didn’t press charges.’

  Alice stood for a moment, speechless and at a loss as to what to do for the best. Mary was clinging to her, sobbing as if her heart would break. Molly had enmeshed her in a web of lies from which there was no escape. If she wante
d to keep her freedom she had no choice other than to board the train and return to London. She would have to tell Mr Dearborn that her attempt to help Flora had ended in disaster and now she had a small child wholly dependent upon her.

  ‘I’ll help you, miss.’ The constable opened the carriage door. ‘You take the little lass and I’ll see to your case.’

  Alice lifted Mary onto the train and climbed in after her.

  It was late afternoon when they arrived at King’s Cross station. Mary had slept most of the way, but Alice had spent the journey in a daze. She had tried so hard to keep Flora safe, but all her efforts had been in vain and the Dearborns would almost certainly blame her for what had occurred. The thought of Flora suffering at the hands of Molly and her companion was too terrible to contemplate, and she wished that she had told the policeman that they were lying, but it was their word against hers. If approached by the police Miss Millington would be only too pleased to give evidence, and it would not be in Alice’s favour. She knew that she must speak to Frederick and explain as best she could, after which the matter would be out of her hands. She led Mary to the cab rank and hailed a passing cab. ‘Russell Square, please, cabby.’

  Hoskins admitted them and Alice knew instantly that the news must have preceded their arrival.

  ‘It’s a bad day, miss. I doubt if the master or mistress will wish to see you.’

  ‘But I must see Mr Dearborn,’ Alice insisted. ‘It’s very urgent.’

  ‘What is it, Hoskins?’ Frederick leaned over the balustrade on the first-floor landing. ‘Is that Miss Radcliffe? I was expecting her.’

  Alice stepped forward. ‘It is, sir. I must speak to you.’

  ‘And I want words with you. Come up.’ He disappeared in the direction of the drawing room.

  ‘Best do as the master says.’ Hoskins stood aside.

  ‘Come with me, Mary,’ Alice said, controlling the tremor in her voice with an effort. ‘Don’t be scared.’ She took her by the hand, giving the small fingers a gentle squeeze. ‘You’re going to meet Flora’s mother and father.’ With an outward display of confidence she negotiated the wide staircase and entered the drawing room.