While her mother sounded strong and feisty, Dr. Hanson had said her recovery would take months. He had left Alice with a stern warning. “Keep a close watch of her. Your mother pretends to be stronger than she is.”
Yes, she was the master of pretense, pretending to be meek for Mr. Carson, happy for the world, and strong for her daughter.
When Alice put her arm around her mother’s waist, she objected. “I can walk on my own.”
“Yes, I’m sure you can. However, I enjoy placing my arm around you. Since I could never hug you as a child, I intend to now.”
For a moment, her mother appeared terribly fragile, but then she straightened her back and smiled. “I look forward to the change, as well.”
***
The moment they entered the drawing room, Claire stood and pressed her hands dramatically to her heart. “You’re alive. Thank God, Victor didn’t totally bungle the matter!”
Alice frowned at Claire’s words, but before she could object, her mother did so, forcefully.
“Bungle it? My rescue was superbly done. No one has any cause to criticize Victor.”
Alice led her mother to a chair and helped her sit down. She then looked at Claire, unrepentant and currently receiving comfort from the manservant. “It’s true. Victor found Mother in less than two days and, with the help of a skilled accomplice, rescued her without incident.”
Claire’s mouth fell open. “Without incident! Twenty-one gentlemen were injured and according to the afternoon paper, one woman was killed. That is not without incident.” Claire handed over the paper to Alice as her proof.
Knowing her mother would want to see the article, Alice knelt down so they could read it together.
Her mother snorted upon reading the first few lines. “Gentlemen indeed! No real gentlemen would step foot in the place. These men were nothing but debauched jackals dressed in fine clothes. I am most pleased they received a taste of the pain they so freely give to the inmates.” She then frowned as she continued to read. “I am sorry about the woman, but if she was an ‘unfortunate’ as the paper says, it may have been a blessing in disguise. Had I not held out hope of being rescued, I would have prayed for an early death myself.”
Hugging her mother, Alice thanked God for Vic and Jacko.
Claire’s sniffles caused Alice to release her mother and tend to her friend. However, the wretched servant was already there with a handkerchief, gently patting her back. Under his ministrations, Claire recovered from her scolding.
“Vic said the same of the men. I thought he was only making excuses for his mishandling of the situation. He did this without Xavier Thorn, you see. He caused a riot so he could rescue you…”
“I know. I was there,” Mrs. Carson snapped.
Claire flinched at her sharp words. The manservant came to her rescue and gently rubbed her arm.
Alice rolled her eyes. No chance Mother failed to notice that.
Her mother frowned as she returned to the paper. “The woman is thought to be me.”
“According to Vic, Mr. Carson identified the body,” Claire added, “no doubt to claim your possessions.”
“Then he’s made a mistake. My will leaves everything to a charity.”
A smile came to Alice’s lips as she realized to what charity the ‘soul of the suffragettes’ would leave her money. “You left it to the Woman’s Franchise League.”
Her mother patted her arm. “I did indeed. I can only imagine Mr. Carson’s shock to discover suffragettes now own ‘his’ house.” She then frowned. “Unfortunately, I cannot wait until the will is read. I must return and let them know they have misidentified the victim killed.”
Claire shook her head. “Vic says you must not. He says the lady was murdered and he believes Mr. Carson was behind her death.”
Alice was about to ask why, but her mother spoke. “Was this woman in the section that rioted?”
“No, she was in your ward.”
The news hit Mrs. Carson hard. Her hand pressed over her heart, as tears welled in her eyes. “I know who it was then. She lived in the cell beside me. Poor thing, death had to be a blessing for her.”
“I insisted Vic find out her identity, but he claimed he had more important matters to address,” Claire added.
Mrs. Carson stood. “I dare say he does. When you return to London tomorrow, please give Vic my undying appreciation for saving me, and tell him I will remain quiet about the mistaken identity until he says otherwise.”
“You do realize the woman will be buried in your grave without her family there to mourn.”
“If she had family, they forgot her long ago.” Mrs. Carson’s eyes saddened at the thought. She then gripped Alice’s arm. “This has tired me more than I expected. Will you see me to my room?”
Wrapping her arm around her mother’s waist, Alice walked her upstairs.
Once her mother was inside her room with the door closed, her strength seemed to revive. “Maddy Hamilton must be turning in her grave to see that child turn out so.”
Her mother had always used Claire as the epitome of propriety so Alice just wanted to be certain she had the correct child in disgrace. “We are talking about Claire, are we not?”
“I’m certainly not referring to Victor. He’s a fine young man. I only wish you two…but we can discuss that later. No, I meant Claire. I am disappointed in so many ways I hardly know where to begin.”
Relieved her mother was unhappy with the correct sibling, Alice relaxed. “I have never been half-so enamored with Claire as the rest of the world. She was always too imperious for my liking. When we were children, she resented my preference to play with Victor over her, but Vic was a wonderful companion. He and I would climb trees and chase fish in the water.”
“I remember all too well. You would return home covered from head to toe in mud, your skirt torn and your jacket missing entirely.”
“Maddy would bring this perfect little angel and her rambunctious boy, and no matter how hard I tried to get you to play with Claire, the moment I left the room, you’d be off with Victor.”
“Claire would dismiss me when I said or did something she didn’t like. Instead of ignoring her rude behavior, I’d leave and find Vic.”
Her mother reached over and patted Alice with affection. “I had no idea. She was always such a pretty angel.” She shook her head. “I know I use to chide you to be like Claire. I am very glad you ignored me and became the wonderful woman you are.”
Alice hoped her mother still felt that way when she revealed her choice of husbands. She decided to ease her mother’s opinion of Claire, just to be safe. “I think two years in mourning with a servant indulging her every whim has worsened Claire’s bad habits.”
“I agree. We need to get her away from—I cannot believe she arrived with a servant in tow!”
“I think his tongue is glued to her shoe,” Alice teased.
“I daresay that is not where it spends much of its time.”
“I did not mean literally on her shoe. I simply meant he worships her.”
Her mother’s face crumbled for a moment. When she recovered from whatever thought had caused her pain, she turned the conversation in an unexpected direction. “My poor darling. I fear you’ve only learned the worst of life. I pray all will change now. There is much pleasure with a good man.”
A wistful smile came to her mother. “I can still remember my life with your father.” She gripped Alice’s hand and met her eyes with such determination. “Sex does not have to be brutal and unpleasant. With the right man, a good man of a generous nature, it can be the finest sensation you will ever know.”
Alice would not have believed her if not for Jacko. When she simply touched his arm or sat next to him, her body experienced flurries of pleasure she had never thought possible.
She helped her mother change into a clean sleeping gown and saw the scars, some of them still crimson, like claw marks from demons, covering her back. They were far worse than hers, but then M
other could not run and hide in the pantry.
“Mother, forgive me for asking and if you don’t wish to explain, then I’ll withdraw the question…”
Her mother chuckled. “It sounds most impertinent indeed. What is it you wish to know?”
“You mentioned downstairs your will gives everything away to charity. Why would Mr. Carson allow you to leave your estate to anyone other than him?”
“I did not wish to marry a fortune hunter, so I led my aunt and my suitors to believe the mass of your father’s fortune was Litchfield estate, which he left to you. No one, other than my lawyer was aware of the amount your father left me. Everyone else believed I had only a small pension.
“Still, Mr. Carson would have to sign off before you could give it to someone other than him.”
Her mother smiled. “When my lawyers arrived with a large satchel of documents for him to sign, he did so without reading a word. He had a different plan in mind and did not see any harm in signing whatever they wanted.”
“What was his plan?” Alice asked.
“Had I known what he intended, I would have refused to marry him. Unfortunately, he still played the jolly fool until I came to his bed. After being defiled in every way imaginable, he told me he intended to legally adopt you. When I assured him I would begin divorce proceedings before I allowed that to happen, he beat me with his whippet.”
Alice pulled her into her arms. “I’m so sorry.”
Her mother breathed in and stepped back. “No matter how many times he beat me, I would not relent. When he demanded he run the estate, I told him an experienced manager had been hired by your lawyer and nothing could change that. To ease his fury, I confessed I possessed money enough to support us and a home in London.
“While he never lacked for anything, he always resented he depended upon my money. He often remarked if I were a proper wife, I would turn over my inheritance and your estate to him. Overtime, he lost his initial anger and treated my money as his while continuing his plots to steal your estate. Thankfully, your father had selected a very good lawyer to protect your rights.”
“Does Mr. Carson still not know the whole of your wealth?” Alice asked.
“No, he believes I have the house and one savings account. I cannot fathom his reaction if he discovers the massive wealth he signed away the day before we married.”
“Well, I’m glad I didn’t clarify this matter in front of Claire,” Alice said as she kissed her mother’s cheek.
“I should not have mentioned the will at all around Claire,” she said. “If only I had stayed up here and let you ferret out Vic’s message in all her complaints.”
“Better you came. I might have left before obtaining Vic’s message.”
Once settled in bed, her mother gave into fatigue. “See that Claire leaves tomorrow. I’ve lost all patience with tyrants.”
“I will do my best,” Alice promised and blew out the lantern.
Thomas waited in the hallway, looking decidedly out of sorts.
“Problem?”
“I have readied Miss Hamilton’s bedroom.”
“And the servant?”
“I have not bothered. Unless you wish me to place a guard at her door, I know very well where he intends to sleep.”
“Let’s not make an issue of it.”
Thomas frowned. “If your mother discovers, it might be the death of her.”
“Mother is stronger than you think, and also more observant. She saw the lay of the land at once.”
Thomas’ head shook in outrage. “She cannot approve.”
“No, she does not. If Claire had not been so aggravating tonight, she might have received a kind lecture, but right now, Mother just wants Claire to leave.”
With that news, Thomas lost his gloomy demeanor. “Shall I set them out now?”
His question made her chuckle even if it was not possible. “I will send her back in the morning.” What had Claire done to make Thomas so mad that he would send her home in the middle of the night?
“Is she in her room or downstairs?”
“Downstairs, waiting to speak to you. She does not like the room prepared for her. She prefers the pink room.”
“What pink room?” Alice wasn’t aware of any room in the house of that color.
“When Mrs. Hamilton would come, we would put the children up in the third floor.”
“And the pink room is up there?”
“Yes. We call it the storage room now.”
“Did you tell her the room was not available?”
Thomas’ eyes fluttered in agitation. “I did. And she told me she did not mind waiting for it to be readied, except not to be dreadfully long, for she was tired from her eternal drive.”
Alice rolled her eyes.
“Do not ask me to ready that room,” he warned.
“I would never! Not even for the real Queen of England.” Alice leaned in and kissed his cheek. “You have my permission to ignore her entirely, if you like.”
That brought a hint of a smile to his stern face. “Thank you. I would like that very much.”
He followed her downstairs and disappeared into the kitchen. Alice wished she could join him, but good manners required her to speak to her guest.
She managed to walk two feet in the room before Claire began her complaints.
“Where have you been? I have been left alone for hours. You have the worst manners, Alice, but never mind. Your butler tried to put me in some stuffy room. I asked him to ready the pink room.”
“It’s a storage room now. I doubt you would enjoy it nearly so much.”
Pressing her hand to her chest, she frowned. “Oh dear, how long will that take to rectify? I am so very tired.”
“Then you should retire in the guest room provided.”
“Alice! I came all the way out here to see you. Why are you being so mean?”
Alice pinched the bridge of her nose as she gathered up all reserves of patience she possessed. “I am not trying to be mean to you, Claire. But your request is most unreasonable. The room readied for you is far superior. Even if I asked my staff to perform the massive undertaking of moving out boxes and furniture, dusting everything, mopping the floors, changing not just the linens but the curtains, as well, you would soon discover your memory of the room outshines reality.”
Handing the servant her glass, Claire rubbed her temples. He quickly set the glass down and took over the onerous task of massaging her headache away.
The clock chimed ten. Alice stood up. “I’ve had a long day and need my sleep. Is there anything else you need before I go to bed?”
Claire pushed away her servant’s massaging fingers and frowned. “When you arrived at my house unexpectedly you were welcomed with open arms. Why do I not receive the same?”
Her question hit Alice hard. She had received a warm reception and Claire never blinked when she asked to leave at five in the morning so she could ensure she escaped London without Mr. Carson knowing her presence.
She walked over to Claire and pulled her to her wobbly feet. Poor thing must have drunk a half bottle of sherry. She embraced the girl. “Welcome, my dear friend. Let me take you to a very fine bedroom, for you look exhausted.”
Claire nodded and clung to her waist as they left the room with the servant following. When they reached the bedroom Thomas had readied, she spoke. “Is there no way I can have the pink room?”
Alice led Claire up the narrow steps to the third floor and opened doors until she found the room with pink-flowered wallpaper. “Do you really want me to wake up the servants to ready this?”
She hoped Claire came to her senses and said no, because she was not waking up her servants to start on a chore that would take a full week to complete.
Claire’s brow furrowed as her head began a slow shake. “This isn’t the pink room. This room would barely fit a mouse.”
“When you stayed here you were a little girl. The room probably seemed larger back then.”
> Claire refused to believe her memory was so distorted until she looked in every room on the third floor and then returned downstairs to check all those rooms, as well. Upon determining she had received the largest guest room available, she conceded defeat. “I can make do with this.”
“Then all is well. Goodnight.” Alice kissed both her cheeks and left.
As she went to bed, with Jacko’s scarf wrapped around her neck, she wondered what he would make of such a spoiled, self-indulgent creature. Probably toss her in the lake and let her bleat. Alice laughed at the image of Claire, standing beside Alice’s former suitor, Alton Dobbs, calling out for her damn servant instead of walking out of the water.
She hadn’t always been this bad. Last year, a very bossy but competent Claire had helped her build her small laboratory in the basement. How had she fallen to this state?
The answer came to her. Claire’s choice of men. Just as Mr. Carson turned her mother meek, Claire’s servant had spoiled and pampered her friend into a dreadful and unpleasant shrew.
Alice wondered how Jacko would change her. She smiled as she recalled his laughing eyes and ready smile. She would no doubt laugh more. Breathing in his scent, her loins tightened with need. “And I will finally discover the pleasure of sex.”
She touched her breasts through the flannel gown. “I will wear provocative gowns. I will feel safe and protected, but confident that I can protect myself.”
Her mind turned to bleaker thoughts. “I will be shunned by society.” She didn’t really care, except for her mother. Would her mother wish to remain in society? That would be difficult if her daughter was married to a gypsy.
Alice shook away these thoughts and focused on the pleasure of his image as she fell off to sleep.
Chapter 9
A hundred armed soldiers of Her Majesty’s Army marched to the rhythm of drums down St. George Avenue. The locals might have mistaken it for a parade if the amazing event had not occurred in the dark of night.
Jacko joined the crowd who followed the incomprehensible sight of the British army marching on British soil. He could feel their fear. They all knew something had been up for days. The large number of strangers, dressed in rags, and armed to the tooth, bursting in and searching rooms had everyone on edge. And now the British army invaded their docks.
A Right to Love: Romantic Spinoff From The Adventures of Xavier & Vic Book 2.5 Page 9
