The Christmas Card

by Dilly Court

  Flora opened her mouth and began to wail. ‘Don’t go. I won’t let you go, Alice. I’ll die if you leave me.’ She sank to her knees, clutching Alice’s skirt with both hands.

  Her cries brought servants running and Frederick himself appeared at the top of the stairs. ‘Flora, my dear, are you hurt?’ He descended hurriedly, crossing the floor to lift his daughter to her feet, but Flora resisted, drumming her feet on the floor.

  ‘I won’t let her go. I love Alice.’

  Frederick exchanged concerned looks with his brother. ‘I need to know exactly what happened.’

  ‘Flora is unharmed,’ Rory said quickly. ‘I think you ought to allow Miss Radcliffe to take her to her room.’

  Flora raised a tear-stained face. ‘If you send Alice away I’ll go with her and live in that horrible attic room. I won’t stay here without her, Papa.’

  Alice pulled her to her feet. ‘Now, Flora, you must listen to your papa and do whatever he says.’

  ‘I’ll hold my breath until I turn blue in the face. I’ll make myself sick, but I won’t let you go.’

  ‘She’s overwrought, sir,’ Alice said simply. ‘If I might settle her down for the night it would be for the best.’

  ‘Very well.’ Frederick gazed helplessly at Flora. ‘Will you promise to be good if I allow Miss Radcliffe to put you to bed?’

  ‘I want her to stay with me. I’ll have nightmares if I’m left on my own.’

  Frederick nodded. ‘If that’s all right with you, Miss Radcliffe, perhaps it would be for the best.’

  ‘Yes, sir. Of course I’ll stay if Flora needs me.’

  He signalled to Nettie, who was hovering in the background. ‘Take Miss Flora to her room. I want a private word with Miss Radcliffe.’ He patted Flora on the head. ‘Go with the maid. Miss Radcliffe will follow in a minute.’

  Flora’s eyes filled with tears and her bottom lip trembled. ‘You will come, won’t you?’

  ‘Of course.’ Alice bent down to kiss her on the cheek. ‘Go with Nettie.’

  Rory waited until they were out of earshot. He turned to his brother. ‘Flora depends on Alice. You can’t allow Lydia to dismiss her out of hand. None of this was Alice’s fault.’

  ‘Lydia is in a terrible state. She told me everything, but I’m as much to blame as anyone,’ Frederick said, sighing heavily. ‘I spend too much time at the office or at the factory and I fear that I’ve neglected my family, Flora in particular.’ He turned to Alice, meeting her anxious gaze with an apologetic smile. ‘You’ve done wonders with the child. I want you to know that I appreciate your good work.’

  ‘Thank you, sir.’ Alice waited, watching him carefully. There was something he was not telling her and she had a feeling it was not going to be what she wanted to hear.

  ‘Miss Radcliffe,’ Frederick said slowly, ‘this business with Molly Bishop is unsettling and potentially dangerous. The woman is obviously unhinged and will stop at nothing to get what she wants. I think for her own sake that Flora should be sent away to boarding school as soon as possible.’

  Alice stared at him, too shocked to speak. She could see the sense in what he was saying from a practical point of view, but Flora needed love and affection as well as a firm hand. It was hard to imagine how a sensitive child would cope with being far away from home.

  Rory met her anxious gaze and she could see that he, too, was disturbed by the idea of sending Flora to live amongst strangers. ‘I think we need to talk this over, Freddie.’ He gave Alice an encouraging smile. ‘Leave this to us, Alice, but at the moment Flora’s needs are more important than anything. She loves and trusts you.’

  ‘And I love her,’ Alice said with a break in her voice.

  Frederick had started towards his study, but he stopped, as if struck by a sudden thought. ‘I’ll speak to my wife, Miss Radcliffe,’ he said, looking over his shoulder. ‘Lydia told me that she had dismissed you, but I’ll insist that you stay on until we find a suitable place for Flora at a school far enough away to be out of reach of Molly Bishop.’

  ‘Thank you, sir.’

  He acknowledged her response with an attempt at a smile. ‘My study, Brother. Now, if you please.’ He walked on.

  Rory caught Alice by the sleeve as she was about to step away. ‘I won’t stand by and see you suffer for my failings. If Flora is sent away to school it means that you will lose your job.’

  ‘I can’t think about that now. Flora is all that matters.’

  ‘If you have designs for the Christmas cards we talked about I’ll show them to my brother. I can’t guarantee anything, Alice, but I’m almost certain that Freddie will agree with me, and that we’ll be able to offer you a position in the design department.’

  She nodded dully. They had enjoyed a perfect afternoon in the winter sunshine and then darkness had fallen. The subsequent events had been a living nightmare and now she felt numb and emotionally exhausted. It was impossible to think, let alone make important decisions.

  ‘I must go to Flora.’ She walked towards the baize door and he made no further attempt to delay her. For a while she had forgotten that she was just a servant and could be replaced according to her employer’s whim. Her place in the household hierarchy had been clearly redefined. She used the back stairs.

  With amazing resilience Flora recovered from her ordeal more quickly than anyone could have hoped, but she was thrown into a fit of despair when her father told her that she was to be sent away to school. She tried every trick she knew to make him change his mind, but tears and tantrums proved to be futile and her father remained unmoved. Alice had to put up with Flora’s sulks, but after a while even she began to lose patience.

  A boarding school in Yorkshire was chosen and it was left to Alice to see that Flora was kitted out with her new uniform. This entailed several trips to the outfitters and they were always accompanied by Mrs Upton, although Alice doubted whether the housekeeper would be much use as a bodyguard should Molly make another attempt to abduct Flora. It was unlikely that she or her gang would try anything in broad daylight, but in the evenings when Alice walked back to her lodgings she made sure she varied her route and she kept as much as possible to the well-lit streets. Perhaps Molly had given up, but no matter how much Flora appealed against her father’s decision he was adamant that Willoughby Hall Academy for Young Ladies was the answer. Nothing Alice could say would convince Flora had she might actually enjoy being in the company of girls her own age, and at the end of January, accompanied by her father, Flora left for Yorkshire.

  Their goodbyes had been tearful and heart-rending, doubly so for Alice, whose employment was now terminated. She had been on excellent terms with Cook, Nettie and even Hoskins, who was very conscious of his senior position in the servants’ hall. As she left the house in Russell Square it felt like leaving home for a second time, and it was raining.

  She made her way to Queen Square and was encouraged to find that her mother was out of bed, dressed and seated in a chair by the fire in her room, reading a copy of yesterday’s Times.

  ‘Horace saves it for me,’ she said, smiling. ‘He might be a little set in his ways, but he’s a kind-hearted man, Alice. You know, my dear, you could do worse.’

  Alice perched on the edge of the bed. ‘You don’t mean that, Mama. Horace is old enough to be my father and he picks his teeth at table.’

  ‘Horace is a year older than me. He’s just forty, which is a good age for a man to settle down. He’s past his salad days, but a good heart is important in a husband, my love.’

  ‘I only agreed to the engagement so that you had a roof over your head,’ Alice protested. ‘You know very well I have no intention of going through with the marriage.’

  ‘But, darling girl, you have little choice now. You have no job and if Mrs Dearborn puts it about that you are unreliable you’ll find it very hard to find employment elsewhere. I beg you to give Horace a chance, Alice. He’s been telling me about a sweet little house for sale in Islington. It sounds delig
htful and all three of us could live there in perfect harmony. I’ve grown quite fond of him these past few weeks.’

  Alice sprang to her feet. ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t go on with this conversation. Anyway, I have to go to Farringdon Street for an interview. I might have found myself a new job after all.’

  ‘Oh, Alice, do be careful. You can be very wayward at times.’

  Alice leaned over to drop a kiss on her mother’s white lace cap. ‘I’m glad to see you up and about, Mama. I’ll come and see you again tomorrow.’

  ‘Promise me that you’ll give Horace’s proposal some serious thought, my love.’

  ‘I think about nothing else, Mama.’ Alice hurried from the room. She had spoken the truth, but her thoughts were such that she could not share them with her mother. She would rather remain a spinster for the rest of her days than tie herself to a man she positively disliked. Their meetings in her aunt’s house had been brief, as his job in the counting house meant that he worked long hours. He often arrived home just as she was about to leave, and sometimes she managed to miss him altogether. Evenings spent alone in the cold, cheerless attic room in Half Moon Passage were preferable to being in the company of Aunt Jane and Horace.

  Despite everything that had happened, Alice had a spring in her step as she left Queen Square. It was cold and wet, but she was oblivious to the weather as she made her way to the Dearborns’ office in Farringdon Street. Rory had promised her an interview, and she had a small portfolio of drawings and designs to show him. If she were taken on to work in the design office there would be compensations. She would have first-hand news of Flora’s progress in her new school, and maybe she would get to meet her when she came home for the holidays. Having to part with her young charge had been painful, but Flora’s wellbeing must come first. Molly Bishop would never find her in the wilds of Yorkshire, and Flora’s education would be complete.

  Alice entered the building with a feeling of renewed optimism, and was greeted by Beasley, who seemed genuinely pleased to see her.

  ‘Mr Rory left instructions for me to take you to his office, miss. Follow me.’

  Her feet hardly touched the floor as she walked behind him, and she felt as excited as a child on Christmas Eve as she entered Rory’s office. He was seated behind a large kneehole desk, half-hidden behind overflowing filing trays, but he jumped to his feet, dismissed Beasley and hurried round the desk to pull up a chair for her.

  ‘Welcome to the firm, Alice.’

  Her knees were trembling and might give way beneath her if she did not sit down immediately. ‘Thank you, Mr Dearborn.’ She sank down on the hard wooden seat.

  Rory moved to the fireplace and threw a shovelful of coal onto the already blazing fire. ‘You’re shivering,’ he said cheerfully. ‘It must be cold outside.’

  ‘I stood outside the house in Russell Square to wave goodbye to Flora. It started raining as they climbed into the cab. It was almost as if the clouds were crying too.’

  He gave her a searching look as he resumed his place behind his desk. ‘I’m sure you were as upset as poor little Floss. You’ll miss her and she’ll miss you.’

  The ready tears sprang to Alice’s eyes and she dashed them away with her gloved hand. ‘I’m sorry. I know she’ll be better off in the school, but it’s such a long way away. I hope she settles in well.’

  ‘She’s young and she’ll make friends. At least she’s safe from that dreadful woman. The police haven’t had any luck catching her. She gives them the slip each time they get close.’

  ‘I’m sure they’re doing their best.’

  ‘I hope so.’ Rory sat back in his chair, eyeing her speculatively. ‘I see you’ve done what I ask. May I have a look?’

  Alice opened her portfolio and took out her most prized possession. ‘You once expressed interest in seeing this. I told you about it some time ago.’ She laid the Christmas card on the desk in front of him. ‘It’s the first card to be printed commercially in 1843, the year I was born. My father gave it to me and I treasure it.’

  Rory picked it up carefully. ‘I’ve never seen one of these before, but as I recall you told me they were not a huge success.’

  ‘Some people objected to the fact that all the family, including the children, are drinking wine. Although I don’t think that’s important.’

  ‘What does it say to you, Alice?’

  ‘It shows a happy family together to celebrate Christmas. It shows people being generous to others in the season of goodwill.’ Her eyes filled with tears and she could not go on. The card illustrated everything that she had lost.

  ‘It’s a fine sentiment, and I can see that it means a lot to you.’ He laid his hand on hers for the briefest of moments, and then reached for the portfolio. ‘But these are what I wanted to see, and it’s your work I’ll put before my brother.’ He smiled and his dark eyes seemed to glow like warm honey in the firelight. ‘Of course I know how excellent they are, but we have to be seen to do things properly. Freddie will take a look at them when he returns, but he’s given me the authority to offer you a position should I consider you a suitable applicant.’

  It was impossible to resist him in this mood and she smiled shyly. ‘Am I suitable?’

  ‘There are, of course, a dozen or so other candidates.’ He chuckled. ‘Don’t look so worried, I’m teasing you. Of course you’re the best person for the job or I wouldn’t have encouraged you to apply. When can you start?’

  She breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I believed you for a second or two. That was mean, Rory.’

  ‘I like that much better. Never call me Mr Dearborn unless my brother is present, when we’ll observe the niceties.’ He tempered his words with a disarming smile. ‘Are you free to start immediately, or do you need to consult your fiancé about such matters?’

  ‘I make my own decisions, and I can start right away.’

  ‘Capital. You may consider yourself hired, Alice Radcliffe.’ His eyes darkened. ‘There is just one thing I have to tell you.’

  His serious expression alarmed her. ‘What is it?’

  ‘I told you that I was trying to persuade Freddie to invest in chromolithography.’

  ‘You did.’

  ‘Well, he’s taken to the idea but unfortunately it means that I will have to go to Ireland to learn the ins and outs of the business from the beginning. I’ll be away for quite some time.’

  Chapter Twelve

  The announcement hit Alice like a physical blow. ‘How long?’

  ‘A month or so, but Rawlins Wall will look after you. He’s an experienced designer and he knows the business inside out. I’ll make it clear that Martin and George must co-operate fully.’ A wry smile curved his lips. ‘They’re not used to having a female colleague, but I’m sure that you’re more than capable of dealing with them.’

  Still reeling from the news that she would be joining the company without him there to support and guide her, she nodded. ‘Yes, I suppose so.’

  ‘You mustn’t worry,’ he said earnestly. ‘George is little more than a boy. He’s nineteen and lives at home with his parents and half a dozen younger siblings. As for Martin Collis, he’s unmarried and thinks of himself as a lady-killer and man about town, but he’s not a bad chap when you get to know him.’

  ‘I’ll be too busy working to pay much attention to anything else. I won’t let you down.’

  ‘I have absolute faith in you and your talent, Alice. When I return with the knowledge I’ve gained in Ireland we’ll be able to produce Christmas cards by the thousand, and they’ll be in colour. I’ve no doubt that your designs will make them irresistible.’

  Late that evening, in the chilly solitude of her attic room, Alice sat by the fire, wrapped in a blanket with her stockinged feet resting on the wooden fender. Her toes were roasting, but the heat barely reached as far as her knees, and an icy draught pinched her cheeks and nose. She always tried to eke out her ration of coal in an attempt to make it last for two days or even more, but the t
emperatures at night rarely rose above freezing and the scuttle was almost empty. She was certain that Mrs Leech counted every nugget in the cellar, keeping a tally of how much each tenant took in order to extract more money from them.

  It had been a long day and she was exhausted. Rory had put her to work immediately. Rawlins Wall had grudgingly made room for her in the design office, and had cleared a small corner by the window where she could work in daylight. George had tried to be helpful, showing her where the drawing materials were kept, but Martin had it clear that he was simply tolerating her presence. He was a young man who seemed very sure of his personal charm and good looks, but he was conceited and patronising. His casual style of dress added to the image he had chosen to create, clearly basing on his look on that of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. While working on a design he had a habit of loosening his cravat and then ripping it off with a dramatic expletive, as if overcome by artistic temperament. Alice thought him rather silly, but she kept her opinions to herself and ignored him as much as possible. Her main aim was to impress Frederick and to justify Rory’s faith in her.

  Rawlins Wall was another matter altogether. He was middle-aged and openly hostile. It was obvious from the start that he resented having a young woman foisted upon him, and she knew instinctively that he would watch her closely and any slight misdemeanour would be reported to Frederick. She had to be very careful when dealing with Rawlins.

  She shivered and wrapped the blanket up to her neck. It smelled of cooking fat and wet dog, but it helped to combat the draughts that whistled around the room like angry spirits out to wreak their revenge on the living. At least it had stopped raining, and there was only a relatively small puddle beneath the gap in the roof tiles. Feeling slightly warmer Alice closed her eyes and allowed herself to relive the moment when she had said goodbye to Rory. He had come into the office and had spoken to each of them in turn, making her wait until last. He had held her hand and raised it to his lips; the warmth in his eyes had promised her much, but his words had been formal. He would return, but that did not fill the gap in her heart, which had opened like a knife wound the moment the door closed on him. She had been left alone with the three men with whom she must work in harmony. She had to prove herself capable of being creative in a male-dominated environment, and she suspected that given the choice all three of them would have preferred to share their office with another man. It would take time and effort on her part to win their approval and trust. The only thing that would help to make life bearable was the fact that Rory had doubled her wages. Even so, she could not afford to be extravagant, and while her mother was recovering her health and strength in Queen Square and dependent on Jane’s charity, Alice knew she must keep up the fiction that she would marry Horace. If she could save enough money from her earnings she might be able to rent rooms in a respectable area where they could live in reasonable comfort.