by Dilly Court
Chapter Ten
‘Where have you been, Alice?’ Beth demanded querulously. ‘I thought something terrible must have befallen you.’ She raised herself on her elbow, peering up at her daughter in the dim light of a single candle.
Alice placed the jug on the rickety table beneath the eaves. The fire had gone out long ago, judging by the chill in the room, and she could see starlight through the gap in the roof tiles.
‘I’m sorry, Mama, but I had to take Flora home. I won’t get paid if I don’t do my job properly.’
‘I know, but this place is awful. We were better off living with Jane.’
Alice moved to the bed and helped her mother to a sitting position. Having plumped up the pillows she reached for Beth’s shawl and wrapped it around her shoulders. ‘I’ve brought you some hot soup, but I’ll have to go downstairs and ask for a bowl and some cutlery. Goodness knows how much the old dragon will charge for that.’
‘I’m a burden to you, Alice. I wish I could be of more use.’
‘Don’t talk like that, Mama. We’ll look after each other and this is only temporary. You’ll feel better with some hot food inside you.’ She left the room without waiting for a response. It was obvious that her mother’s spirits were low, and it was little wonder considering the circumstances.
Alice went to find Mrs Leech, prepared to do battle, but there was no answer when she knocked on the parlour door, and no sound from within. She made her way below stairs to the basement kitchen and that too was deserted. Feeling like a thief, but driven by desperation, she helped herself to the items of crockery they might need and some cutlery. She found a crust of bread in the pantry and she spread it liberally with butter. Tomorrow she would pay the price that Mrs Leech would no doubt demand, but tonight her mother would have something nourishing to eat.
Despite all her attempts to make the attic room more comfortable Alice could not provide the warmth and good food that her mother needed to make a full recovery. Beth grew weaker by the day and, left alone for many hours in the dismal room, she became tearful and depressed. She was in constant pain and although she attempted to put a brave face on her suffering it was obvious that she could not survive in such straitened circumstances. By the end of the second week Alice knew that she must take drastic steps or her mother would become seriously ill, and might not recover. She had spent her last penny on coal and kindling, and she had already used up most of her weekly wage. Matters were desperate.
It was Sunday and Mrs Dearborn had given her the afternoon off. Flora was sulking at the prospect of spending time in the drawing room where her mother was entertaining her friends, but Alice was not in a position to argue with her employer, and she had an urgent personal matter to settle before she could return to Half Moon Passage. She hoped that she would catch her aunt between church services and she made her way to Queen Square.
Clara’s face brightened when she opened the door and saw Alice standing on the step. ‘Have you come home, miss?’
‘I need to speak to my aunt. Will you ask her if she’ll see me, please, Clara?’
‘It ain’t been the same since you upped and left, miss.’ Clara stood aside to allow Alice into the entrance hall. It was chilly, as always, but compared to the intense cold in the attic room the temperature in her aunt’s house seemed almost balmy. Alice waited while Clara scuttled off to announce her arrival. She reappeared moments later. ‘She’ll see you, miss.’
Alice entered the drawing room, moving one foot in front of the other like an automaton. She was about to take a step that would change the course of her life, but she had no choice if she were to save her mother from quietly fading away.
‘So you’ve come grovelling,’ Jane said with a triumphant smile. ‘I didn’t think you’d last very long in the real world.’
The temptation to walk away was almost too great, but Alice forced herself to remain calm. ‘I’ve been thinking things over, Aunt. I’m ready to make a compromise.’
‘Are you indeed?’ Jane curled her lip. ‘And what makes you think that you’re in a position to dictate terms to me, young lady?’
Alice regarded her steadily. ‘I know that you are desperate for an heir to the Hubble name. You’ve obviously tried to find a wife for Horace and failed.’
‘You’re impertinent, Alice. Horace is an eligible bachelor.’
‘Then why did you want him to marry me?’
Jane’s hand flew to the gold cross that she always wore. ‘You are my dear Robert’s niece. If you and Horace produce an heir to the Hubble name your child will be a blood relation to my late husband. Do you understand what I’m saying?’
Alice nodded slowly. ‘I think so, Aunt.’
‘I was unable to bear children, but your progeny will be part Radcliffe and part Hubble; a combination of which I could be proud.’
‘I understand what you’re saying, and I’m prepared to accept Horace’s offer, but only if you will agree to give my mother a home and make her feel welcome. She is not a well woman and she needs medical attention, which you will pay for because we haven’t a penny piece between us.’
‘Is that your final word?’
‘It is. I can’t allow my mother to die of want.’
Jane rose to her feet and paced the floor, clasping her hands tightly behind her back. She came to a sudden halt. ‘This doesn’t alter the fact that I dislike you and your mother, but I will have a nephew of whom I can be proud. You are just a means to an end and that sickly mother of yours is just a cipher, but if she is part of the bargain, so be it. She can live here with me until you and Horace are married, when you will have your own home and can resume responsibility for her.’
‘Thank you, Aunt.’
‘Don’t thank me. I’m doing this out of Christian duty and because you drive a hard bargain, but you will remain where you are until the wedding. I cannot have you and Horace living under the same roof. It wouldn’t be proper.’
‘Very well. I agree, but only if I can be certain that my mama is well cared for and gets the medical attention she needs.’
‘You have my word on that. Ring the bell for Snippet. She will fetch Horace and we’ll settle this now.’
Alice’s feet felt like lead and each step towards the bell pull was like wading through water, but she knew what she must do. She rang the bell.
Horace stared from one to the other, his moustache drooping and his lips quivered as he took in the news. ‘I – I don’t know what to say,’ he stammered.
‘Get down on one knee, you fool,’ Jane said crossly. ‘Ask you girl to marry you.’
‘But she’s already refused me twice, Cousin.’
‘Do I have to do it for you?’
He held up his hand. ‘No, I can do this myself.’ He moved closer to Alice, going down on one knee, which creaked ominously as it took his weight. He grimaced with pain and took a deep breath. ‘Miss Radcliffe, would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
His gaze was fixed at a point somewhere above her right shoulder and his hand, as he took hers, felt cold and clammy. The thought of spending the rest of her life with such a feeble creature, let alone the physical side of marriage, of which she had only the very haziest knowledge, was so appalling that she was momentarily speechless. Then she remembered the dismal attic room and Mrs Leech, who was forever holding out her hand demanding money. She thought of her mother, rapidly fading away like the shadows of night at sunrise.
‘Well, speak up, girl,’ Jane said impatiently. ‘Give him an answer.’
Alice turned her head, fixing her aunt with a hard stare. ‘You will allow me to bring Mama here today, won’t you?’
‘I’ll keep my part of the bargain if you’ll keep yours. Are you going to accept his offer?’
‘I’m not sure I agree with being part of a bargain.’ Horace shifted uncomfortably, changing his weight to his other leg as he kneeled before Alice. ‘This is between me and Alice, Cousin Jane.’
‘If you believe that yo
u’re more of a fool than I took you for.’ Jane waved her hand dismissively. ‘Get it over with, girl.’
Alice licked her dry lips and swallowed hard. ‘Yes, Horace. I will marry you.’
He clambered to his feet and opened his arms as if to embrace her, but she backed away. ‘This is a business arrangement, Horace. I don’t pretend to love you, but I will do my best to be a good wife.’
‘I suppose it’s all I deserve,’ he said humbly. ‘I know I’m not a great catch, Alice. I’ve never been one for the ladies, but—’
‘Leave it at that, Horace,’ Jane said dismissively. ‘Alice has your measure, and you know what is required of you. Now I suggest you accompany her to your former lodgings and bring my ailing sister-in-law home.’
‘She will need a fire in her room,’ Alice said firmly. ‘I can brave the cold, but poor Mama is suffering terribly.’
‘I wouldn’t mind a fire in my room too,’ Horace ventured nervously. ‘It is rather chilly in this house, Cousin.’
‘I can see that you’ll bankrupt me if you go on like this.’ Jane looked from one to the other, pursing her lips. ‘However, it is a small price to pay for the continuation of the Hubble name. You may light fires as you wish, but you will purchase the coal, Horace. You’re not paying rent for your room therefore you can afford luxuries for yourself, and your fiancée’s mother.’ She sailed out of the room with a triumphant twitch of her shoulders, head held high.
Alice tugged the bell pull. ‘I’ll ask Clara to light the fires and then I’ll go to Half Moon Passage to fetch my mother.’ She hesitated, eyeing Horace warily. ‘Could you lend me the money for a cab? I’ve just paid the rent, which took most of my weekly wage.’
‘I’ll come with you, my dear.’
The mere thought of sharing a cab with Horace made her shudder. She managed a sickly smile. ‘No, it’s all right. I can manage on my own.’ She could see that he was about to argue and she laid a tentative hand on his sleeve. ‘It might be best if you stay here to make sure that the fires are lit. Clara does her best, but the poor child lives in terror of doing something wrong and being sent to the workhouse.’
He nodded. ‘If you’re certain.’ A slow smile caused his moustache to twitch, moving as if it had a life of its own. ‘Tomorrow I’ll buy you an engagement ring.’ He put his hand in his pocket and took out some coins, placing them in her outstretched hand. ‘Jane promised to buy me the pretty little house I’ve had my eye on when I married. We can visit it together, my dear.’
Alice tucked the money into her reticule. ‘I’ll be off now, Horace. Please see that my mother’s room is ready for her.’ She hesitated. ‘Will you make sure that she gets everything she needs? I wouldn’t ask but I won’t be here very much.’
He stared at her, clearly puzzled. ‘I don’t understand. Surely you’ll give up your job now that we’re engaged? I cannot have my future wife working as a servant.’
‘Horace,’ she said patiently, ‘I don’t think you quite understand the situation. My aunt is only willing to look after Mama because I’ve agreed to marry you. I have to remain in the lodging house, and I must continue to earn my own living until we’re married.’
He grabbed her by the hand. ‘Then we should get a special licence and be married as soon as possible.’
‘Let’s not be too hasty.’ Alice drew away from him, suppressing a shudder. ‘We don’t want to upset Aunt Jane, so I suggest you do as I ask. I’m quite capable of looking after myself, but I need to know that Mama is well cared for. You will do that one thing for me, won’t you?’
‘To the best of my ability, but we do not want to wait too long before we marry. A house of my own, I mean a house of our own, is a very tempting thought.’
She eyed him suspiciously. Horace Hubble was not as stupid as he seemed to be on first acquaintance. His ambition to own a property was obviously the force that drove him to agree to a marriage of convenience. Aunt Jane, she thought, was like a puppeteer, manipulating them both with a marked degree of skill in order to get what she wanted.
Alice moved towards the door just as it opened to admit Clara. ‘Are you leaving already, miss?’
‘I’m going to fetch my mother, Clara. I want you to light a fire in her room and make sure the bedding is properly aired.’
‘You’re coming home, miss?’ Clara’s cheeks flushed bright pink and her eyes shone. ‘I’ll tell Cook.’
‘I’ll be visiting more often, but I won’t be living here. Mr Hubble will see that you have everything you need.’ Alice turned to Horace with an enquiring look. ‘You will, won’t you?’
‘Yes,’ he said grudgingly. ‘I suppose so. I want a fire in my room also, girl.’
‘I have to go now, but I’ll be back soon.’ Alice stepped out into the hallway. ‘What have I done?’ she murmured as she made her way to the front entrance. She let herself out of the house and started walking, having decided to keep the cab fare in order to pay Mrs Leech for any further extras she might charge.
At first Beth complained that she was unhappy with the arrangement that left Alice to the mercies of an avaricious landlady, but as her health improved she began to see things in a more positive light. Alice visited her mother every day when she finished her duties in Russell Square, and she was pleased to see that Horace had kept his word. A fire was lit in Beth’s room early each morning, and Mrs Jugg seemed to take personal pride in producing light but nourishing meals to tempt an invalid’s appetite.
For the most part Horace kept to himself and with long hours working in the counting house he returned home late in the evening. Alice did her best be out of the house before he arrived. A notice of their engagement appeared in The Times and Horace bought her a diamond ring, although it would take a jeweller’s eyeglass to find the tiny stone. Alice would have preferred to wear it on a ribbon round her neck rather than on her ring finger, but the announcement in the newspaper had precluded this.
To her chagrin, Rory was the first to congratulate her.
‘You kept that a close secret, Alice,’ he said, brandishing a copy of the newspaper.
Flora jumped up from the desk and ran to meet him. ‘Is it true?’
Rory handed it to her. ‘See for yourself. Miss Radcliffe is good at keeping things from us, it seems.’
‘It was quite sudden,’ Alice said, looking away. She could feel her cheeks burning and she wished that her aunt had consulted her before she made the announcement.
‘Sudden indeed. Is the lucky gentleman the same person I saw you with previously? I thought he was a relation of yours.’
Even worse, Alice thought, clenching her fists so that her nails dug painfully into her palms. Having to admit that she was to marry a man like Horace was bad enough, but when the person asking was Rory that made it even more humiliating. Of course there was no question of there ever being anything between herself and the master’s brother – their stations in life were too different to make such an alliance possible – but she valued his good opinion more than she cared to admit. ‘Horace is my aunt’s cousin,’ she said slowly. ‘We’re related by marriage, that’s all.’
Flora’s bottom lip trembled ominously. ‘But if you get married you’ll leave me. You can’t do that, Alice. You must not. I won’t allow it.’ She slid her arms around Rory’s waist and buried her face in his waistcoat, sobbing loudly.
‘Now, now, Floss.’ He disengaged her clutching hands, holding them gently. ‘Alice isn’t going anywhere yet. People become engaged for all sorts of reasons and sometimes they have a change of heart.’ He gave Alice a penetrating look. ‘Isn’t that so?’
‘Yes, of course.’ She held her hand out to Flora. ‘One day you won’t need me, but until then I’ll stay.’
Flora walked slowly towards her. ‘Do you promise?’
‘Cross my heart and hope to die.’ Alice gave her a hug. ‘I don’t abandon my friends, and I don’t intend to get married for a long time yet.’
‘How interesting.’ Rory shot her
an amused glance. ‘You don’t seem eager to tie the knot.’
‘I don’t think my private affairs are any concern of yours.’ The words tumbled from her lips before she could stop herself and she regretted them instantly. ‘I’m sorry,’ she added hastily. ‘I didn’t mean to be rude, it’s just that it’s a private matter and I don’t wish to discuss it.’
‘When you do get married can I be bridesmaid?’ Flora asked eagerly. ‘You haven’t any other little girls to ask, have you?’
Alice stroked a stray curl back off Flora’s forehead. ‘No, Flora. I have no other little girls to ask. If I need a bridesmaid I promise you will be the one I’ll ask.’
Rory pulled up a chair and sat down. ‘Enough of this talk of weddings. I came today with a specific purpose in mind.’
Flora abandoned Alice and hurried to his side. ‘Tell me. Is it something exciting?’
‘It’s not about you, Floss.’ He set her on his knee, but his attention was focused on Alice. ‘Dearborns’ have been printing playing cards, visiting cards and Valentine’s Day cards for many years, but we’ve only recently considered producing Christmas cards.’
‘Christmas is over,’ Flora said, sighing. ‘The snow has melted and my snowman is nothing but a soggy patch on the grass.’
‘Christmas might be over, but that was last season and now we have to plan for next year. That is where you come in, Alice.’
She stared at him in surprise. ‘Me? I don’t understand.’
‘I know what he’s going to say,’ Flora said eagerly. ‘He wants you to draw mistletoe and holly. Isn’t that right, Uncle Rory?’
He threw back his head and laughed. ‘I couldn’t have put it better, Floss.’ His smile faded as he turned to Alice. ‘I’m being serious for once. I think you’re very talented, and what’s more I think you might have ideas for cards that would be very popular with the public. The drawing you did of mistletoe was very clever.’
‘I’m not a professional artist,’ Alice said warily. ‘It was just a sketch.’
‘Even so, it had charm and I’d like to see your designs for cards with a seasonal theme. Fairies and spring flowers are in vogue at present, but in my opinion they are not the embodiment of Christmas.’