by Joyce Alec
Alice didn't wish to be dismissive of Betty. She had nowhere else to go and Betty was only trying to be kind. It didn't help that her heart was back with the duke and Edmund. She sighed as she began to prepare dinner. This was usually the time she began to dress for dinner. Just a mere twenty-four hours ago, her main concern was that her family wouldn't be as warm as the duke and Edmund. She had gone from being a lady to a maid, and she would have to start her new job sooner rather than later.
Their evening was quiet. Alice didn't wish to be intrusive and excused herself after clearing away the dishes.
"Alice, my boss said for you to call upon his wife tomorrow. Here is the address." Jim gave her the piece of paper, "It's a live-in position, which is good."
She knew he meant it as a positive for the job, but she couldn't help feeling a little sad that again she would be uprooted.
"That was very kind of you to go to so much trouble," she said as she settled into her little corner bed.
Her world was about to change again.
9
Alice pretended to be asleep while Betty woke to fix breakfast. She left with Jim, and Alice was alone. She knew she was lucky to have such good people in her life, and today, she prayed she would be successful in gaining employment. She liked children. As her whole life was spent in an orphanage, she had taken care of children. Alice was feeling good about the prospect of working and being back in cleanliness again.
Her night's sleep had settled her mind. Betty was right. It was best to stay away from the duke and Edmund. In time, she would write, but for now, it was best for things to settle down, so each of them could move forward with their lives. Today she wanted to give back to Betty and wanted to clean her little homestead. Not that it needed much cleaning, Betty was a good housewife, but Alice saw that the stove could do with being spruced up.
As she scrubbed away, Alice began to daydream. She couldn't help but think about the duke. He would be in his study by now. Her lady's maid had told her how the duke had changed his morning routine so he could breakfast with her. She wondered if he had returned to his old ways.
“Poor, Edmund. I hope you are coping,” she said out loud as she sat back on her haunches and wiped her brow.
The sound of something wrapping the door made her shriek with fright. She went to the door and as she opened it; her mouth fell open. It was the duke!
"Your Grace," she bowed her head and curtsied.
"Alice, may I come in?" he asked.
She nodded and stepped out of the way as his presence filled the room. Jarvis walked in behind the duke, as the duke surveyed the place.
"Alice, I have come to return your necklace." He handed it to her and she didn't know what to do or say. Betty was right. She didn't feel the same in his presence.
"Do you know how you came to be in possession of the necklace?" he asked.
"When I was due to leave the orphanage, they gave me an envelope which contained the necklace. There was just a note to say it belonged to my mother. Apparently, she had died giving birth to me. I know nothing of my heritage. Your Grace, you do know that I did not remember anything of my past. I want you to know that I would never try to deceive you or his Lordship…"
"I know that, Alice. Your demeanor is a gentle one, and I must trust my instincts about people. You are as sincere as they come. The Earl of Bosley on the other hand…let's leave him out of this. Do you know anything else about your father?"
"No, Your Grace."
"I do. Do you want to know who you are?"
"What?" she loudly exclaimed, with Jarvis clearing his throat to remind her of her manners.
"Your Grace, pardon me but how could you know?"
"Your necklace. Jarvis found it in your reticule. He gave it to me, and I thought there was something vaguely familiar about it. I hadn't seen it on your initial arrival, Cholmosley and Jarvis had looked at your belongings. After that unfortunate incident at Almack's, I was looking at my wife's portrait. I was looking to her for guidance, for you had given me a new lease on life. And as always, the duchess supplied the answer. The symbol on your necklace was part of her family crest. Then I remembered the necklace. She had twin nieces, and she had necklaces made for them when they were born, together they created the family crest. She was very fond of them, Eliza and Cecily, were their names. Lovely young girls, but you see, there was a family fall-out. The girls' mother, and my dearly departed wife, had words and we never saw the young ladies again.
When I found your necklace, I had some investigations done and it appears that Eliza, your mother, had run off to Gretna Green with an officer and they married. He was sent to France some months later and I'm afraid, killed in battle. What happened next seems vague. Either your mother was rejected by the family for her disgrace of eloping, or she was too proud to ask for help and you know the rest."
"I have a family."
"You have a grandfather, who is still alive. Your aunt died from scarlet fever and your grandmother has long since passed. But you are a titled young woman as your grandfather is a duke. You have your mother's title of lady."
Alice couldn't believe what she was hearing, and as she was about to exclaim, Betty walked in. She looked at the gentleman and Alice.
"Betty, I'm a lady after all! The duke's wife was my grand-aunt. I have a family. I belong to someone."
Alice ran to Betty and hugged her and then ran back to the duke to hug him too. She couldn't resist hugging Jarvis who was very uncomfortable with her display of affection. The duke smiled.
"This means you can stay with me for a while until we arrange your carriage to the Duke of Lanzaby. Edmund is home and he has missed you.”
10
Life had changed dramatically for Alice in a few weeks, especially since the revelation that she was the Duke of Lanzaby's long lost granddaughter. Her grandfather was a dear, sweet man who had cried on meeting her. As the two dukes watched Alice and Edmund take a walk around the grounds, they couldn't help notice the similarity between Alice, her mother and her great-aunt.
"I should have seen it all along. There was an iridescence about her that was somehow familiar and different all along. Her effect on Edmund was no different than the effect my dearest wife had on me when we first met. I should have made her make up with her sister. Alice could have been in all of our lives all this time."
The Duke of Lanzaby agreed.
"I have a feeling this visit is more than to just to reacquaint me with my granddaughter," he smiled, knowing that the young marquess was going to request Alice's hand in marriage.
"I will, of course, agree," he continued, "but it seems like I am losing her after just meeting her. I must look on the bright side. If she has a son, he can be my heir, and I won't have to choose my nincompoop heir who just happens to share a small amount of my bloodline. The young people today, why can't they be like our generations."
As the old men continued their talk on the follies of youth, Edmund and Alice were enjoying some alone time. Edmund was a little more nervous than usual, and he would start sentences and never finish them. Alice wondered what was going on.
"My lord, are you quite well?"
"Alice, it is my intention to ask your grandfather's permission to seek your hand in marriage. From our time together, I have grown to love you immensely. I cannot imagine my life without you."
He spoke so fast; he felt like his life depended on getting these words out as quickly as possible. He looked at her to see her reaction.
"That would make me very happy, as I have grown to love you, too, Edmund. However, I would like to stay with Grandfather for a little while to get to know him. You understand that, don't you? After our wedding, where will we live? Will it be in London?"
"At our estate in Cholmosley. His Grace was correct in that I have not been a very good landowner, or very responsible, but that will change. I will need a good estate manager, but as you will be my wife, I had hoped for your input in this."
"I would like fo
r Betty and Jim to live on our estate. I would be uncomfortable in asking her to be in the household, but Jim could be the farm manager. He's a good man. And I'd like Mrs. Dempsey to come as our cook. I want to give her security, and if not for her, I would never have met Betty. You know Betty searched for me every day I was missing."
Alice felt good. She was going to be able to repay the kindnesses that had been bestowed upon her.
"You see, within moments, you have already solved my dilemma. I am blessed in having you in my life, my dearest, and I will do everything in my power to make you the happiest woman. You came into my life when I didn't think I deserved redemption."
Edmund's mind was on Bosley whose plan had backfired. Edmund had allowed himself a moment of glee when Bosley had heard of Alice's heritage. With the information Alice and Betty had supplied, and the fact that Connie gave Bosley up, the duke had discretely made it known about the Earl of Bosley and his propositioning of young maids. Connie had been in a long line of maids to steal on his behalf. While he wasn't formally charged, he was now persona non grata in London.
"Shall we go inside and make the old dukes happy?" Alice smiled at her soon to be husband.
"Yes, my dearest, let's go home and make this official."
Alice was happy. Never in her wildest dreams had she envisioned this moment. The closest had been when she could remember nothing of her past and Edmund and the duke were her world. The sense of security she felt with them had only deepened. They loved her, and now she would get to know her grandfather. She belonged to someone now. And her family was only going to get bigger. She knew the Lord worked in mysterious ways, and through her sadness of being passed over for adoption, she had never let it change her pleasant demeanor. And now she found her way home.
"Home," she said to herself as she looked over at her grandfather. This was home, for now at least. It was a new concept for her that home would actually mean her home, not just a place where she lived at the pleasure of another.
"Alice, why are you crying?" Edmund asked with concern as he realized that Alice was no longer by his side but standing looking up at the great house.
"These are happy tears. I've just realized what home is. It isn't a house; it's the people. You and the duke made me feel at home from the moment we met. And this feeling has just intensified. I've never felt like that before. Thank you for being in my life and for wanting to spend your life with me. It feels wonderful to be loved."
Edmund couldn't help but rush to his beloved and gather her in his arms, etiquette or not, he had to kiss her tears away because otherwise she would see his tears of joy. She was right. Home was a connection between people and his home was with her.
THE END
Part IV
Delayed Duchess
By Caroline Johnson
1
Chloé’s entire world shattered in one fell swoop. She received word that her dearest father, Sir Henry Dalton, had just fallen at Quatre Bras.
Sir Henry joined Wellington’s Army with the sole purpose of defeating Napoleon and reclaiming the France he had grown to love. The gentleman left his native England years before to marry the love of his life, Vivienne. When he lost Vivienne to consumption, his daughter, Chloé, was all he had left. He would not let the rogue general destroy her home. France was destined to be at war with Britain and the rest of the world as long as Napoleon was in power. Sir Henry had amassed quite a fortune for a man of gentle birth, and he wanted it secured for his daughter. Even in France, a daughter’s inheritance was little protected.
Sir Henry knew that there was but one way to ensure Chloé would not lose her home. She must marry. He never feared she would have any trouble finding a suitor because of her radiant beauty. Although, she did give her opinion quite forcefully for a woman on most occasions, a trait he hoped to hide from eligible prospects.
Chloé’s beauty was well-known throughout the South of France, and Sir Henry hoped to parley her popularity to Paris at her debut, which would occur within the year. He believed he would be returned from the duke’s army well before. He would not chance Chloé’s future, however, and orchestrated a deal with his distant English cousin, the Duke of Dorchester, when it appeared as though Napoleon’s army would be tougher than imagined.
Chloé was devastated the dark, rainy day she got the letter. Her bright blue eyes flooded with hot tears as she sank to the cold, wood floor. Her brilliant pink skin faded to a malevolent paleness. She pleaded with God to not let it be true. She could not imagine a world without her father. She had lost her mother at such a young age, her father had become everything to her. Her mother’s family disowned them shortly after Sir Henry joined Wellington’s army. Vivienne’s cousin, Michel Ney, was a top Marshal of Napoleon. Her father was all the family she had. She was now alone. Her morning gown grew wet with her unrelenting pain.
She held the letter tightly to her bosom late into the night, trying to dry her tears in front of the warm fire. “Oh, Papa, que dois-je faire,” she whispered. The reality of her situation was setting in on her. She was but seventeen. And she was a woman. There was little chance she would be allowed to keep her family home outright. She would need to speak with her father’s attorney immediately.
Chloé Dalton was no impotent woman. She was brilliant and possessed a will equal to any man. She would find out what needed to be done, and she would make it happen at all costs. Her home was now all she had. It echoed with the laughter of her father and mother. It reeked with the smells of her father’s snuff, an odor she had always detested, but now was a corporeal connection with him. She felt the love of her family still there. She must not lose that.
She ordered her footman to send a letter to Marseille, directly requesting the presence of Monsieur Le Clerc in the morn. She would find out what to do tomorrow. For now, her dizzied mind must rest. She retired to her room, hopeful her weary body would somehow find sleep.
The Duke of Dorchester received the same letter of Sir Henry’s demise, prompting him to call upon his London-based son. The duke thought his cousin’s proposition to be the perfect answer to all their problems. His only son, Edward, the future Duke of Dorchester, seemed more interested in squandering their dwindling family fortune on London society than doing anything productive with his life. The duke, fearing for the future of the dukedom, hastily answered his cousin’s request. He thought if he could acquire his cousin’s fortune and get his dandy son married, his family may survive. The duke’s health had been rapidly failing, and he feared his time was short. Making his son comply was of most importance.
“What are you doing here?” Edward’s severe tone irritated the duke.
“Your father is calling on you. Is that acceptable?” the duke answered, equally severe.
His son stepped back, allowing the plump older man into the grand foyer of his London townhouse. The three-story house was modern, stocked with the best furnishings, and smelled of a warm chestnut fire. Edward ushered his father into the large, book-filled study.
“What do I owe the honor, Your Grace?” Edward chided. Their relationship was obviously strained. It was clear neither one ever gave in, hence their obstinate lack of proper communication.
The duke sat down on the tufted leather sofa and asked for a drink. Edward suspiciously complied and asked again, “What do you need, Your Grace?”
“Edward, do you really need to be so stalwart in your affectations toward your father?”
Edward sat across from the duke and relaxed. “Duly noted,” was his only reply.
The duke rolled his eyes and took a long swig from his brandy sifter. Edward watched him closely. He was looking exceptionally old lately. Edward was suddenly apprehensive about his father’s health considering this strange behavior. He despised the man, but felt a twinge of sorrow at the thought of losing him, and it would distress his beloved mother to lose the old coot. She adored the man. Edward had no idea why. He was abrasive, judgmental, and snooty, and Edward would never be good enough f
or him.
“I need you to do something, Edward,” the duke began, “for the family.”
Edward couldn’t believe the old man was asking him a favor. “Yes, what is it?”
The duke cleared his throat. “You are most likely unaware that our family fortune has almost disappeared. Your… our debts have taken a gross toll. We have little resources for recovery, and unfortunately must use our only asset, the dukedom.”
Edward could not believe what he was hearing. Of course, his lifestyle came at no small cost, but it was necessary to maintain his standing with the ton. It was his job, as he saw it. If his father was proposing he remove himself from society, he was wholly incorrect. Edward would never forsake his standing. There must be another way. “Father, I will not…” he began.
“Edward, you will do this for me. For your mother,” the duke interrupted.
Edward was taken aback at the mention of his mother. He would do anything for her. His ire softened. “What exactly is it that I should do, Your Grace?”
“You will marry your French cousin, Chloé Dalton.”
The young duke-to-be sat silent, his eyes hardening and his square jaw clenching. “I will not,” he objected, rising to his feet.
“You will, son,” the duke commanded gently. “You must. It is the only way.” He dropped his eyes, coughing harshly into his shoulder.
