by Ginny Dye
The morning slipped by slowly. Alice kept applying cold compresses to her face. The other women from her room had not approached her. They sat in a huddle, muttering among themselves as they peered at her. Susannah refused to look at her, but merely sat wringing her hands as she stared at the floor.
Sympathy twisted Alice’s heart. She didn’t know what had reduced Susannah to the pitiful mess she was now, but Alice was certain that at some point in her life, this demented woman had been a happy child looking for love. Whether she had entered the asylum in this state, or had turned into an insane person because of the treatment she had received, Alice couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. “Susannah?” she called softly.
Susannah lifted her head enough to peer out from under her long, blond hair, still clean from the previous day’s washing.
“Would you like me to brush your hair?” Alice asked tenderly. Somewhere in Susannah’s mind, she knew there was regret for what she had done. Alice knew the woman could not be held responsible for her actions.
Susannah stared blankly for a moment, and then shuffled over to where Alice sat. “Hurt?” she muttered.
Alice managed a smile. “I will be fine.” She patted the floor in front of her. “Sit down and I will brush your hair. Remember how much you like it?”
Susannah nodded and settled down like an eager little girl.
Out of the corner of her eye, Alice saw Miss Wade staring at her. She ignored her and gently began to brush Susannah’s hair. She had learned early that the best way to maintain her own sanity was to give in every way she could to the others in worse shape than herself.
*****
“Alice Archer!”
Alice jerked awake when her name was yelled. The movement made her wince. She had finished Susannah’s hair, and fallen asleep sitting in her chair. The exhaustion from the long night had finally caught up with her. She looked up, relieved she could still see something from her left eye. The relief turned into immediate dismay when she realized it was Mrs. Bartle glaring down at her. “Yes?” she asked quietly.
“They want you upstairs,” Mrs. Bartle barked.
Alice was certain she saw a brief flash of sympathy in the woman’s eyes when she took in her battered condition, but it was quickly replaced by her usual disdain. Alice smoothed her disheveled hair the best she could, straightened her shoulders, and followed the broad woman from the room. Every eye was on her. She wondered if she was about to undergo some new kind of punishment, but she was too tired to even worry about it. The reality of that acknowledgment did worry her, because she knew it was another step closer to giving up, but she just couldn’t find the energy to care. Another sleepless night was coming. She wondered how many more she could endure. There were moments when she envied the truly insane women housed here. They were miserable, but she didn’t believe they could fully comprehend their situation.
“Sit down,” Mrs. Bartle barked.
Alice sat.
“You will wait here,” the attendant ordered, and then walked from the room.
Alice gazed around the best she could. The room was plain, but was certainly in better condition than any of the rooms in her ward. It didn’t look like a torture room. She sighed and rested her head back against the seat, relishing the fact that this room wasn’t as brutally cold as the ward with all its open windows. She would find out what she was doing here soon enough.
Alice didn’t know how much time had passed before she heard the door open. She straightened, placed her hands in her lap, and turned. She was surprised when Dr. Tillerson walked in. She gazed dispassionately at his hawk-like features, feeling the same disdain for his cold haughtiness as she had the one other time she had spoken with him. Her attempts to explain her sanity, when she had first been admitted, had been met with a curled lip and silence. He had held up his hand after five minutes, looked at his nurse, declared Alice incurably insane, and walked from the room.
“Mrs. Archer,” Dr. Tillerson said coldly.
Alice gazed at him, but didn’t reply.
“I see you are doing well in our fine facility,” he said snidely.
Alice stiffened, but was determined not to give him the satisfaction of seeing her squirm. She remained silent.
“I am here to give you an opportunity for release,” he continued.
Alice’s heartrate quickened. Had Sherman finally come to his senses?
Dr. Tillerson paused. “Have you nothing to say?” he taunted.
“I’m listening,” Alice said quietly.
Dr. Tillerson smirked. “It’s really quite simple. Your husband is a man of honor.”
Alice barely contained her snort of disgust, but forced herself to remain still.
“He wrote me yesterday with an offer that will secure your release.” He paused, obviously expecting Alice to demand more information.
Alice clenched her fists, watching him cautiously.
Dr. Tillerson scowled, frustrated that his ploy for power was not being received as he had hoped. “As I said, it’s really quite simple, because your husband is a man of honor. You are aware of his displeasure at your choice of career. He is quite confident that your time residing in our pleasant establishment has granted you the opportunity to reconsider your position. He has offered for you to come home to his tender care if you will but renounce your intention of becoming a doctor.” He paused. “Now, or at any time in the future.”
Alice ground her teeth, but outwardly remained calm. More than anything in the world, she wanted to be released from this house of horrors, but she was quite certain returning home to live under Sherman’s control would be just as horrible in its own way. Her mind whirled as she considered her options. Finally, she knew what her course of action must be. Trying to keep the pain and fear from making her voice tremble, she shook her head. “No.”
Dr. Tillerson froze. “What did you say?”
“I said no,” Alice replied, the confidence in her decision growing. “I will not move from one prison to another by my own accord. I have rights as a woman. I am being held here against my wishes, and in contradiction of my rights. At some point, this will become known. I am quite sane. Sane enough to know that to return to Sherman Archer would be as terrible as remaining here in your pleasant establishment.” She made no attempt to hide the sarcasm in her voice.
Dr. Tillerson laughed harshly. “No one has explained to you that as a married woman, you have no rights?”
Alice lifted her head and met his derisive eyes. “At some point that will change,” she said. “I will wait.” She tamped down the trembling that fought to take control. Her voice remained steady. “I shall not do as Mr. Archer wants.”
“You are a fool!” Dr. Tillerson snapped.
Alice felt renewed strength as she made the decision that gave her a small amount of control over her own destiny. Her body may be imprisoned, but she was declaring freedom for her soul and mind. “Perhaps.”
A long silence passed in the room.
“That is all you have to say?” Dr. Tillerson demanded.
“What more would you have me say?” Alice asked wearily. “You have presented your offer. I have declined.”
Dr. Tillerson stared at her for several long minutes, and then stood abruptly. “You will wait here,” he said harshly, before he turned and left the room.
Alice, suddenly exhausted beyond words, sagged back against the chair. She might have just confined herself to the asylum for the rest of her life, but the idea of returning home, defeated, to the man who had put her here was equally unfathomable.
She swallowed back tears as she waited for an attendant to return her to her ward.
*****
Carrie and Anthony stepped off the boat that had just navigated the gray, choppy waters of the East River. Carrie shivered as she pulled her coat to her more closely. The dark day mirrored her feelings of dread as she stepped onto the wharf of Blackwell’s Island.
“You’re going to be all right,” Anthony said
quietly, squeezing her arm reassuringly.
Carrie gazed up at him, grateful beyond words for his presence. “I’m frightened,” she admitted.
“Of what?”
Carrie appreciated Anthony’s willingness to let her talk through her feelings. The closer she had gotten to the island, the more her fears had grown. “I’m not afraid of what will happen to me in there. I believe the letter from Dorothea Dix will make certain I come to no harm…” Her words trailed off, but Anthony remained silent. “I’m afraid,” Carrie finally said, “that I won’t know what to say to Alice.” Her words tumbled together as they rushed out. “I’m afraid I won’t know how to help her. How to give her hope.” Her voice trembled. “Anthony, I have not seen her in two years. She ended her friendship with me because of my belief in homeopathy. What if she won’t see me?” Her voice sharpened. “What if, despite the letter from Miss Dix, they won’t allow me to see her?”
“That’s a lot of things to be afraid of,” Anthony said. “Where would you like to begin?”
The calm easiness of his voice somehow cut through Carrie’s fear the way a warm knife cuts through butter. She chuckled. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
Anthony cocked his head.
Carrie looked up at him. “You do have a way of helping me put things in perspective. It’s only normal to be afraid, but we both know I’m going to walk into that asylum and see Alice. I’ll do the best I can. It will have to be enough,” she said. “It will just have to be enough.”
*****
Alice, too exhausted to stay awake in the warm room, had drifted off. She didn’t know how much time had passed when she heard footsteps, followed by a key turning in the lock. She yawned, realized she felt marginally better after some rest, and then straightened. There was no way of knowing what would come next, but she had to attempt to be ready.
When the door creaked open, Dr. Tillerson strode into the room.
Alice blinked, surprised to see him again. Had he returned to force her to change her mind? And why was Sherman anxious to have her home again?
“You have a visitor,” Dr. Tillerson announced, displeasure evident in his voice.
Alice took a breath, readying herself for Sherman to walk through the door with an attempt to bring her under his control once again. If nothing else, her month in the Blackwell’s Island Insane Asylum had convinced her she would never spend another moment with the man who had wooed her to become his wife, only to control her, and then entrap her in this horrible place.
*****
Carrie thought she was ready for anything when she stepped through the door of the room where she was to meet Alice, but nothing could have prepared her for the pitiful sight that met her eyes. She wanted to cry out and run to her, but she maintained a rigid control.
She turned to the man standing by her side. “Thank you, Dr. Tillerson. I will let you know when we are finished.”
Dr. Tillerson scowled. “I cannot leave you alone with this patient,” he said. “She is quite insane, and quite volatile.”
Carrie maintained her composure. The beaten woman sitting in front of her could not possibly be a danger to anyone, sane or insane. “I will be left alone,” she said, unwaveringly. She held up the letter from Dorothea Dix. “This letter clearly states I have been granted clearance to spend private time with Alice Humphries.” She couldn’t bring herself to use Sherman Archer’s surname.
“You mean Mrs. Archer,” Dr. Tillerson retorted, his eyes flaring with anger.
Carrie remained silent, meeting his eyes steadily. In truth, she felt no fear. The farther she had walked into the asylum, the more her anger had grown. Her first glimpse of Alice had stoked the anger to full-blown fury. She made no attempt to hide it.
Dr. Tillerson looked away. “Fine,” he snapped. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you. There will not be anyone to save you if you need assistance.”
“I’m sure I will be fine,” Carrie replied in a cutting voice. After reading Elizabeth Packard’s book, she knew what kind of man she was dealing with.
Dr. Tillerson glared at her for another moment before turning to leave the room, pulling the door behind him, and locking it with finality.
Only then did Carrie run to Alice, dropping to her knees before her. “Alice. Dear Alice! What have they done to you?”
Alice stared at her with shock and confusion. “Carrie? Carrie Borden? What are you doing here?”
Chapter Seventeen
Carrie swallowed tears of rage and sorrow as she gazed at Alice. “What has happened to you?” she asked softly. Her eyes narrowed as she took in Alice’s swollen and bruised face, already starting to purple. Her mind flashed to her medical bag, wishing she had been able to bring it in, but they had made her take it back to the carriage, accusing her of attempting to bring contraband to a patient. “Who did this to you?”
Alice shook her head. “It wasn’t one of the attendants. It was a patient I was trying to help last night. I know it looks bad, but nothing is broken.” She reached out and gripped Carrie’s hands. “What are you doing here?”
Carrie realized Alice had no idea how terrible she looked. Her once immaculate, petite friend was down to a skeletal weight, her skin was pale and sallow, and her hair hung limply. She fought her fury, knowing she had to focus on the purpose of her visit. “Elizabeth told me you were here, Alice.”
“Elizabeth?” Alice asked with a gasp. “I didn’t think anyone knew I was here.” Tears began to slip down her cheeks. “How did she know?”
“Your neighbor, Sophia, had taken her dog outside when the men came and took you away. She waited until your husband went to work the next day, went inside to find Elizabeth’s address, and sent a letter. She was terrified for you, but didn’t know what to do.” Carrie hesitated. “She also seemed to be rather frightened of Sherman.”
Alice nodded. “Most people believe Sherman is who he wants them to believe he is, but Sophia has seen the way he treats me. She had come to visit one day when he arrived home unexpectedly. She remained in the parlor when I went to see what he wanted.” She shrugged. “He went off on one of his tirades, leaving again before he realized Sophia was in the house. He would be horrified if he knew.”
Carrie gripped her hands more tightly. “Alice, I don’t know how long we’re going to have today. In spite of the letter I have from Dorothea Dix, they could make me leave. Why did Sherman do this to you?”
Alice sighed. “He doesn’t want me to be a doctor. He said it was ruining his reputation in the business world. When I refused to give up my career and told him I would divorce him, he informed me he would make sure that I would never practice medicine. The next night, I was brought here.”
Carrie was rigid with anger, but managed to keep her voice calm. “What does Sherman do?”
Alice shrugged. “Does it matter?”
“It does,” Carrie said urgently. “We have a plan to get you out of here, but we need to know more about your husband.”
Alice stared at her. “You can get me out of here?” Hope flooded her voice. “I’ve been told I have no rights since I am his wife.”
“Technically, that is true,” Carrie agreed. “But there are other ways to make him sign your release.”
“Sherman sent a message today saying I could come home if I promise not to be a doctor, now or in the future,” Alice said bitterly. “Dr. Tillerson brought me in here to tell me shortly before you arrived.”
Carrie stiffened. “How did you reply?” She could well imagine that Alice was desperate enough to agree to anything to escape the asylum.
“I told them I would not exchange one set of prison walls for another.”
Carrie chuckled, relieved beyond words to see Alice’s spirit had not been crushed. Then she sobered. “Tell me about Sherman. Everything you know.”
Alice pursed her lips. “Sherman is involved with the railroad,” she revealed. “I know he is very high up with the Pennsylvania Railroad company. He is extremely secretive
about what he actually does, but his image is everything to him.”
Carrie nodded. “Does he work from a particular office?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know.” Alice sighed heavily. “I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.” Her body sagged. “Does this mean I can’t get out of here?”
Carrie’s heart ached to hear the forlorn defeat lacing Alice’s words. Her earlier show of spirit seemed to have sapped all her available energy. “Of course not,” Carrie assured her. “I have Wally and Michael Stratford searching for any information they can right now. We will find what we need,” she said confidently, praying she was right. “And when we do, we will leverage his greed and power to make him realize he must free you, or lose his business success.”
“You can do that?” Alice asked, skepticism and hope warring in her eyes.
“I believe we can.” Carrie knew the greatest gift she could give Alice right now was hope that she would get out of the asylum.
Alice stared at her for a moment, and then dropped her eyes. “I’m so sorry, Carrie…” Her voice trailed off. “I can’t believe you are trying to help me after the things I said to you the last time we were together.”
Carrie realized more than ever that none of it mattered now. “It’s all right,” she said soothingly. “Elizabeth, Florence, Janie and I are all good now. We are working together to get you out of here. The past is the past. We are friends.”
“All of you?” Alice asked in disbelief.
“All of us,” Carrie assured her. “I feel the same about you. You are my friend. That is all that matters.” There was so much to catch up on, but it must happen at a later time. “What is it like here, Alice?” Her heart sank when Alice shuddered.
“It’s terrible,” Alice whispered. “I know I must look awful.”
Carrie wanted to assure her she didn’t, but Alice would know she was lying. Instead, she squeezed her hands again. “What can I do?”
