by Joyce Alec
"Ouch!" Alice touched her head, and as she looked at her hand, saw there was blood. How long had she been lying on the street? What on earth was she wearing?
If her head hurt before, it was now ready to explode as all her memories came flooding back and the recent events. She was an orphan. Without anyone to care for her except for Betty. She would go to Betty's until she could figure out what to do. It pained her to think of the upset she had caused Edmund and no doubt the duke had already heard about what happened. She hoped they would forgive her and understand that she never intended to deceive them.
Where did Betty live? She had to get her bearings as she set off in search of the one place that would give her shelter for the night.
Betty had continued to worry about Alice. The police weren't interested in looking for a disgraced maid, and therefore, there was no option for Betty except to imagine the worst. She had gone to the morgue day after day in case Alice's body turned up. The dark streets of London were no place for a sheltered woman like Alice. She didn't know whether to be relieved or not when Alice's body wasn't there. Although she hadn't known her very long, it seemed peculiar for her just to disappear like that.
She didn't sleep much, and that night was no exception, as she sat by the burning embers of her fire. Jim was sound asleep, judging by his snoring, as Betty's thoughts were on Alice. A tapping on the door broke her thoughts. She thought about waking Jim, but usually, men would bang on the door rather than just tap. Could it be Alice coming back to her? She ran to the door and opened it.
"Yes, m'lady," she said.
"Betty, it's me, Alice."
"Get in here. You look so fancy. Where have you been?"
Alice was shivering and no wonder, wearing just her ball gown, as Betty fetched a blanket for her. Alice seemed different to her. It took her a few moments to recognize her, but as Alice let her hair down, and washed off her make-up, Betty could see it was her.
"I've been so worried, Alice. I tell you that every day I expected to identify your body. You must tell me what happened. Are you bleeding? Where is that blood coming from? You must get changed and tell me what happened."
Between her sips of broth and her tears, Alice managed to tell Betty what had happened.
"That Lady Jane was always a little jealous of you from what I read in my letters. It doesn't do when the maid outshines the mistress. Loyalty works both ways. It must have been awful for you. I think you should sell the dress you're wearing. You'll get a good price for it."
"No, Betty, I cannot have the duke and Edmund think badly of me. Well, no more harshly than they do now. This belonged to the duke's wife and must be returned. I never gave the bracelet back; it must go, too. Promise me you'll take them to the duke for me. They were so good to me, Betty. I thought Edmund was even going to propose."
Alice broke down in tears, and Betty offered her a hug. Alice had a gotten a glimpse of a life she would never be part of, but Betty didn't think now was the time to tell Alice this. She was hurt enough as it was. The toffs were going to think she planned it, and Betty's mind was that Alice should keep what she had, but it wasn't her place to decide for Alice. She would do as Alice asked, but not before washing out the markings from Alice's fall.
"You must try to go to sleep. Give me the address, and I will ensure that the dress and bracelet are returned."
Despite herself, Alice soon fell asleep as Betty dealt with the ball gown. She couldn't help trying on the bracelet. The money it could bring was more than her husband would earn in a lifetime.
After sending Jim off to work, he had overheard the whole conversation but felt it better to stay in his bed, Betty folded up the dress and bracelet in brown paper and left Alice sleeping.
Betty made her way to the duke's house. She placed the parcel by the door and rang the bell as she turned on her heel. A carriage was pulling up to the house as she walked away.
"Miss, who are you?" the man shouted from the carriage.
Betty kept walking.
He saw the parcel by the door and ran after Betty.
"What did you leave by the door?" Edmund asked.
"It's from Alice. She's very sorry, but she really did forget who she was, but it's all come back now. She's not keeping nothing that wasn't hers," Betty defended her friend.
"Is she safe? I've been driving around all night looking for her. I'm afraid I froze at the news and did nothing to help her. Where is she?"
His demeanor was of concern and it touched Betty that even after hearing about who Alice was, he wanted to ensure she was safe.
"She's safe now, my lord. You needn't worry on that score. I think it's best that you go home now. No need to think about her. She didn't do no harm."
"I wish to see her," Edmund said. "tell me where she is."
"No, my lord, I will not do that for I fear you may call the police. It doesn't do for the likes of us to pretend to be who we aren't."
The butler of the house came to them asking his Lordship to return to the house. Betty could tell the butler wasn't happy about Edmund talking to her, but it gave her the opportunity to slip away.
"Where is she?" she heard Edmund say as he turned back to seek more information.
She watched the marquess and the butler return to the house. Alice was right; the marquess had fallen in love with her, but it would never come to pass. Love didn't cross the upstairs-downstairs divide. Alice would have to move on with her life, Betty told herself.
"Who was that woman?" the duke asked as Jarvis opened up the parcel.
"I can only presume, Faith, I mean, Alice, is with her, but she didn't tell me her name. She was afraid I'd send the police for her. As if…"
"I know it's a shock for all of us Edmund, but you know there can be nothing between you. I don't care for what Bosley did. He should have come to you like a gentleman, and we could have sorted this out quietly. You are a social pariah, for now at least, well, until the next scandal takes over. I do not get the impression she was trying to deceive us in any way, but it's a mess. I only wish I got to hear her side of the story, presuming she remembers her past now."
The duke became quiet. In fact, the whole house was somber with the news. It was as though a death had occurred. Alice had brought so much life into the house. The duke was concerned that Edmund would now fall back into his delinquent ways again. Why hadn't he just escorted her out of Almack's and come back home? But Edmund had never been one to move quickly. He had to think things through, the duke reminded himself. The only time he had shown any backbone was when he knew Bosley had deceived him, but Bosley's actions at Almack's had been too much for Edmund to process.
He was at a loss for words as the duke took in the news himself.
Edmund went to his room. Why had this happened to him? How could she have forgotten who she was? No wonder no one was looking for her? But he was just going through the emotions of being angry. Angry that he hadn't jumped to her defense. After all, Bosley could easily have set the whole thing up. It hadn't dawned on him to check his bonafides, or those of Lady Jane Guildford. He knew he was hoping it was still a mistake, but deep down Edmund knew Alice was a maid. He couldn't possibly break with tradition and marry her; it just wasn't the done thing. He had a duty and responsibility to his title. The duke was right; it was a mess.
8
Alice woke feeling very hungry. Was this how she usually reacted to stress? No, it was her body looking for sustenance. She smiled as she looked at the table. Betty had left her some bread and soup. She wondered where Betty had gone. Anything to avoid thinking about last night. Her dress was gone as well as her reticule. Betty must be returning them to the duke, she told herself. Then it hit her.
"Oh no, my necklace," she exclaimed, remembering it was still in the purse.
She couldn't be without the only connection to her family. It was the only thing of value she owned. Now she would have to call upon the duke, but perhaps Jarvis would just give her the necklace. After all, he would know
it was hers as it had been with her on the day she arrived at the duke's home. Her little case was where she had left it, and she took out the better of her two dresses to call upon the duke.
As she readied herself to leave, Betty returned.
"Where are you going?" she asked and Alice explained herself.
"No, Alice, I do not think that is a good idea. Just let it go. It isn't worth it. My fear is that you will be arrested and then you'll be done for. You won't survive prison."
Was she right? Alice asked herself. Alice knew she didn't know much in the way of the world. She had always held the view that to tell the truth was the right thing to do but recent circumstances had taught her this wasn't the case. It didn't seem right to her, but she couldn't risk it. The duke and Edmund would be socially shamed for believing her. She could hear the gossip in her mind, wasn't it obvious she wasn't of their class, imagine how she must have used her feminine charms to fool them. No, Betty was right. She couldn't waltz back and expect them just to take her word of having amnesia. They would be looking for atonement.
"I saw your young man. He did seem quite charming," Betty wasn't going to reveal any more. It wouldn't do for Alice to get her hopes up. Edmund was just being a gentleman by looking for her. Betty's duty was to protect Alice now.
"What did he say, Betty?"
She looked into Alice's hopeful face. Alice had to be taken out of her fantasy. Betty knew that love clouded judgment.
"No, Alice, I didn't get to speak to him much. The butler called him away. We shall have to think about what kind of work you can do. Jim has heard that a family is looking for a nanny. He owns the factory Jim works in and they would be interested in you. Jim has said you are his sister who has been recently widowed, and therefore, have no references. It's something until you can find better."
"Betty, I don't know what I'd do without you. Last night, I realized I was alone with nowhere to go, except to you. You were the only one I could turn to. How lucky you are to have Jim. God bless you both for looking after me."
"You are a nice young woman and you need someone on your side. It wasn't right what was done to you, and I have no doubt that Connie was involved, but unless we can prove it, then you are to blame. Alice, did I ever show you the photograph from the newspaper that Mrs. Dempsey sent showing us the toff that Connie said she was involved with? It was too funny to throw away. We always thought she was a liar. It was from last Season." Betty knew Alice needed to find humor in something to break her state of mind.
"Look at this," Betty showed her the image of four young people in the society pages.
"Goodness gracious me!" Alice couldn't believe what she was seeing. Bosley was the man that Connie claimed to be seeing. Now it was coming back to her. At the Guildford estate, she had seen Connie with Bosley.
"That's the man who disgraced Edmund last night. He brought Lady Jane to Almack's just to unmask me."
"Then he's a cad and typical of the sort of company Connie keeps. The only way to shift jewelry like that would be to have connections. He would give Connie that connection and could easily sell the jewels off. No one would question one of them. But knowing and proving are two different things, Alice. But at least you know the truth."
Betty watched Alice as she sat down.
"Betty, Edmund needs to be protected from him. He needs to know the truth. I'm sure if I told the duke then…"
"No, Alice. They will not believe you. It will come across as revenge for him outing you in public. You are the one that will suffer. Forget about how kind they were. They were kind because they thought you were one of them. They will always stick together. It's different now. You're a commodity. Leave it be."
"But Betty, you don't know them like I do."
"No, Alice. You don't know them as Alice. You know them as Miss Faith, the damsel in distress. You are nothing to them. If you had been dressed as you are, they would have sent you on your merry way when the carriage ran into you. If you wish to clear your name, then we can see what we can do, but nothing more. You cannot go to them. I can see you are disappointed in my words, and I have no wish to be harsh with your, Alice, but you need looking after. Why don't you make dinner tonight? It will help to get your mind off this whole sorry business."
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 re
ticule. 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.
