Alice rushed over with the glass and said, “Frank thought you might like this.”
Genie hiccupped and said, “Thank you.” Then she took a sip while still holding Alice’s eyes. Her cheeks were only a few shades lighter than her hair, reddened by her crying, as well as her eyes. When she finished drinking half the cup, Francis took it from her.
Genie reached out a hand and Alice took hold of it. Genie squeezed it and said, “Tell the others I’ll be out to greet them soon. I’m so glad you all came. Thank you.”
Alice smiled and was glad she came, too. Then she left and stopped at the sight of Dr. Hanford in the foyer.
“Miss Alice,” Hanford said with surprise. “I didn’t know you were acquainted with the marquess.” He stood by the door with his bag in his hand and his hat already situated on his head. If he was here then it meant Calvin and Emmett had arrived at the hospital and had been disappointed.
Alice walked toward him slowly and though it felt slightly inappropriate, considering the circumstances, she didn’t know if she’d have the opportunity to speak to him again. Her father had fled, and she needed to know if he was the reason why. “Dr. Hanford, may I please speak to you for a moment?”
Hanford smiled. “You can see me to my curricle. Have you seen Isaac recently?”
Alice nodded. “I have.” She followed him out the door and heard it close behind her. She spoke as she tied her bonnet to avoid him asking any more questions about Isaac. “Does my father owe you money?”
Hanford paused and turned to her. “Where did you hear this?”
“Is it true?” she asked, getting closer.
Hanford frowned. “It’s not me he owes but I collect the debt for him. That’s all I can say on the matter. Now, about my nephew—”
“Dr. Hanford, I was shot.”
His eyes flashed and he frowned. “I know. If you recall, it was I who stitched you back together. I’ve spoken with Isaac and he informed me that your affliction came from your association with Mr. Lockwood. I must advise that you leave that man alone, considering you will soon be wed to Isaac.”
“I am not.” Her voice was rising and she brought it back down. “I was shot because of my father’s debt to whomever you’re collecting for.”
Dr. Hanford’s eyes widened but then he shook his head and said, “That’s impossible.”
“Are you collecting money for a woman?” she asked.
Hanford sighed. “Yes.”
“A woman shot me.”
The doctor took a set back and blinked a few times before saying, “Come with me.”
Alice frowned. “What?” She took a step back.
He studied her. “Let me show you that you are wrong.”
Alice looked at the house then turned to the doctor. “I can’t go alone. I’ll need to bring someone with me.”
“Of course.”
Alice rushed back into the house and into the drawing room in the hopes of finding Sophia but Sophia wasn’t there. She didn’t want to alert the men of her plan to leave because she didn’t wish them to stop her like Calvin or Emmett would. She had to find out who was after her father so that she could get him back.
She saw Maura sitting alone and went to her. “Will you come with me?”
Maura looked up at her and asked, “Outside?”
“Yes.”
“Of course.”
Alice nodded and the women left the room with only a few odd glances. The glances mostly came from the fact that Alice had not taken her bonnet off. Maura donned her own and they left the house.
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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
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Alice had suspected she knew where they were going but when they arrived at St. Ambrose Hospital, it was still a surprise. A large brick wall surrounded the grounds and they were driven through a tunnel before reaching its circular drive. The campus seemed quite busy, and she noticed women in white walking from one part of the building to the other while men helped patients down from wagons or saw them from the door.
She felt Maura stiffen beside her and turned to see her friend had gone white.
“Maura?”
Maura slowly turned her blue eyes to Alice and whispered, “You brought me to the hospital?”
Alice took her hand and squeezed. She didn’t understand her friend’s reaction. “I didn’t know we were coming here but it will be all right. It’s not as though we are patients.”
“Are you going to leave me here?” Maura’s hand was holding her steady but her breathing was rushed.
Alice’s eyes widened. “Why would I leave you?”
There was no time to answer because Dr. Hanford was calling her name.
Alice grabbed Maura’s arm and said, “I’d never leave you behind, do you hear me?”
Maura stared at and gave a very small nod.
They both descended and followed Dr. Hanford into the building. Inside seemed calmer and quieter but then a scream from a male made both the women jump. His screams filled the hall from a room far away.
Maura covered her ears.
Dr. Hanford looked over his shoulder. “Gangrene. He’s getting a leg removed.”
They walked down another hallway and the screaming eventually faded away. The white hallways grew dark since there were no windows to light the way. Alice looked over at Maura and watched her look around in horror as they went on. She was also trembling and began breathing hard again.
Alice could take no more. She wanted to find out the truth about her father but not this badly. Not if it meant hurting her friend. “Dr. Hanford, I’m afraid we’ll have to come back another time.”
Hanford turned around. “She’s not much further.”
“She?” Alice asked. Then she shook her head. “Another time.” She started to turn Maura away but Maura stilled, dropped her hands, and latched them onto Alice. “No.
“What?” Alice asked.
Maura shook her head without meeting her eyes. “Let’s go on.”
“Maura, you’re trembling. There is no need to subject you to this.”
Maura looked up at her. “You won’t leave me here?”
“Maura, never,” Alice swore.
Maura nodded and turned to Hanford. “We’re ready.”
They walked the rest of the corridor and walked into an office that had a small desk in the corner and three chairs.
“Wait here,” Dr. Hanford said. “I’ll go see if my patient is willing to see you.” Then he was gone.
Alice continued to hold Maura as they sat in a pair of chairs against a wall.
“I’m mad,” Maura whispered.
“What do you mean?”
Maura looked at her with sorrowful eyes. “I’m mad, Alice. I lived in Bedlam for ten years until two months ago.”
Alice felt her own face go white and she pictures a sweet soul like Maura locked away for a decade.
Maura went on. “They shackled me to the bed.” Her hand went to her throat. “They… did things to me.”
Alice’s throat constricted. “Maura, I’m so sorry.”
Maura looked away. “My mother released me the moment my father set for sea.”
“Your father did that to you?”
“He’s not a bad man,” Maura said. “He visited me often and made sure none of the worst of it touched me. I didn’t suffer like many.”
“Still,” Alice said. “What a horrible thing to do. Why were you there?”
“I see ghosts,” Maura told her with a small smile. “Well, actually, just one. He comes and goes. Sometimes I only see him once a year. Sometimes much more.”
“Did you hurt anyone?” Alice asked.
Maura shook her head. “No, but when I wouldn’t take back what I’d seen, my father grew angry and locked me away. Every Christmas, he would ask me if I’d seen the ghost and I wou
ld tell him I had. Then I would stay for another year.”
Alice never knew Maura had such strength. Ten years in an asylum because she refused to lie? Alice didn’t think herself strong enough to have endured such a thing.
They were silent before Alice asked, “What happens when your father returns?”
Maura shook her head and looked at Alice. “I don’t know.”
Alice didn’t know either but she had no intentions of letting Maura go back there. She didn’t know what she would do when the time came but she would try and stop it at all cost. Maura was gentle and sweet and was willing to suffer so that Alice could find out what happened to her father. She saw no reason for her to be locked away.
The door opened and Alice prepared herself to see Dr. Hanford but instead, it was Calvin. He did not look happy.
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CHAPTER THIRTY
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Calvin walked over to Alice.
Alice’s eyes widened. “Calvin, I—”
“Take Maura outside,” he told Emmett.
“Is Lorena here?” Emmett asked.
“No.” Alice turned to him as Maura rose without a word.
Calvin heard the door close swiftly behind him.
Alice’s eyes returned to him. “Calvin, I had to come. I—”
He leaned over her chair and held her frightened eyes, thinking it was wise that she was frightened because he had no idea what he would do with her. “Lorena isn’t here.”
Her fingers rested on her chin. “No,” she whispered.
“Didn’t I tell you to stay with Lorena?”
“Yes, but Calvin—”
He leaned in closer.
She pulled away and leaned further down the chair.
“Then why are you here?” he growled.
She reached out and touched his shoulders tentatively. “I had to come, Calvin.”
“I told you—”
“I needed to know.”
She shook her head. “He’s my father. I have to know.”
“Alice—”
“Genie’s father is dead!”
Calvin felt his world tilt around him. “What?”
Alice’s tears came quickly and her voice shook. “Genie’s father is dead. He was all she had left. My father is all I have left. I can’t lose him, Calvin. I simply can’t!”
He pulled her into his arms and held her as she wept and his heart broke not only for her but for Genie. When she calmed, he pulled away and asked, “How is she?”
Alice wiped at her tears. “She managed to give me a smile but Calvin…” She shook her head. “She’s so sad.”
Calvin grabbed her arms. “That won’t happen to you.”
“I have to know,” Alice whispered before she bit her lip.
Calvin held her eyes and nodded. “Then let’s find out what we may.”
He helped her to her feet and into the hall. Emmett’s face was red and it was obvious that he’d run a hand through his hair. He guessed that Maura had also told him the news.
“Go,” Calvin told him. “Take Maura. I’ll make sure Alice gets where she needs to be.”
Emmett nodded and turned to Maura. “Let’s go.”
Maura looked to Alice. “Would you like me to stay? I’ll stay for you.”
Something passed between the women, and Alice went over and wrapped Maura in a tight embrace before whispering, “You’re a very good friend, Maura, but go.”
“All right,” Maura said and let Emmett take her away.
“This way,” Dr. Hanford called.
He led them down the rest of the hall and in through the final door.
A woman lay in the bed with a broken leg that had been wrapped and strung into the air. Otherwise, she looked fine and merry. She was plump with red cheeks that made the blue of her eyes more vivid and brownish-gold hair was piled on her head. Calvin immediately knew that she was not the woman who’d shot Alice. She smiled at seeing Alice and said, “You must be Miss Alice Wilkins.” She offered Alice her hand.
Calvin walked Alice over and Alice took her hand.
Dr. Hanford said, “Alice Wilkins, Calvin Lockwood, meet Mrs. Louisa St. George.”
“St. George?” Alice’s eyes widened. “Have you any relation to the former Mr. Thomas St. George?”
“Thomas was my husband,” Louisa said. Then her eyes moved to Calvin and she took him in and gave him an approving smile but made no comment.
Calvin asked Alice. “Who is Mr. St. George?”
Alice turned toward him. “He worked for my father. He died when he fell from a ladder a few years ago.” Alice turned back to Louisa. “I’m so sorry for your loss.”
Louisa sighed and said, “Thank you, dear, but if he had to go, I’m quite glad he was working for your father when he did. Your father doesn’t owe me any money. He simply gives it to me because he feels poorly about me losing Thomas. I’ve been ill and struggling to take care of three children. Our house had burned to the ground just before Thomas died. Your father brought us a new home. He’s also paying for my stay since I broke my leg. So generous.” Louisa visibly squeezed Alice’s hand and said, “We’re all very grateful to him.”
Dr. Hanford said, “He’s sending me the money only because Louisa is in the hospital. Nothing more. You know your father doesn’t gamble.”
Alice smiled and Calvin could she in her eyes that she was coming to appreciate the man her father was. Even Calvin liked him, though he didn’t think it right that he’d been willing to marry Alice off in order to make another wrong right, never mind that Alice knew Isaac and even had a fondness for him.
Hanford asked, “Is that all?”
Alice nodded.
Calvin turned to Mrs. St. George. “You said you have three children?”
Louisa nodded and her smile grew. “Yes, three daughters. Are you married?”
He paused. “No. How old are they?”
Louisa flushed and said, “My eldest Albina is married but my middle girl Horatia is fifteen. The last, Lucy, is only five. We never expected to have her but then she came. Thomas was only slightly disappointed in having another daughter but he quickly got over it. What is it that you do, Mr. Lockwood?”
“I manage a club.”
“Oh.” Some of the shine left Louisa’s eyes. Calvin knew the woman had been trying to pair him with one of her daughters. He decided to not mention his other investments that had already made him a very wealthy man or the fact that he now ran half an estate. There was no need.
“Where are they?” Calvin asked.
Louisa studied him for a moment.
“We need to ask them some questions. Do they live in London?” Calvin went on.
She turned to look at Dr. Hanford. “What is this about?”
Dr. Hanford looked uncomfortable as he spoke. “Someone tried to kill Miss Alice, a woman.”
Louisa’s eyes widened. “My daughters would never do such a thing. Your father has been very good to us. They know it would be foolish to bring you harm. Mr. Wilkins treats us like we are part of his family. We’d never—”
Alice patted her hand. “Of course.”
Calvin pressed. “Where are your daughters? Do they live in London?”
“Mr. Lockwood,” Hanford began. “I believe we are done here.”
Calvin was nowhere near finished but he decided to not announce it to the room. He’d look into it himself. He tipped his head at Louisa. “Mrs. St. George.” Then he grabbed Alice and barely allowed her a ‘good day’ before they were leaving.
Outside the room, they waited for Hanford.
Alice turned to him. “Calvin, I don’t think—”
“You have a friend who works for your father. Who is the woman that was in the room when I arrived to find you with Isaac?”
Alice frowned. “Her name is Tabitha. She helps
manage.”
“Invite her to the house. We’ll see what she knows about the daughters.”
Hanford came out and looked at them. Then he glared at Mr. Lockwood but he spoke to Alice. “If I were you, Alice, I would be done with this man and simply marry my nephew. The last person you need in your life is another club owner. Isaac will own a bank one day.”
“Let’s go,” Calvin said to Alice.
Alice stepped toward the doctor with her brows borrowed. “How dare you look down on my father? Does his charitable heart mean so little compared to Isaac’s wealth? And does Calvin not stand here in the hopes of protecting my life? Does that not speak to his character?”
Hanford shuffled on his feet but tried in vain to keep his discomfort from his face
. “I do apologize, I simply want who is best for you. If you allowed Isaac to protect you, I know he would.” He glared at Calvin once more.
“I don’t want Isaac,” Alice said.
Hanford looked at her. “You don’t want the money and position that comes with being a banker’s wife? This is the reason why women are not left to make these decisions. It’s best you leave this to your father.”
“He approves of Calvin and his wealth matters very little to me, Dr. Hanford, because I love him.”
Calvin grinned.
Alice went on. “And if I had to work at his side for the rest of my life, I’d do it.”
Calvin smiled but decided to speak on that matter. “You wouldn’t have to work.”
She turned to him and placed a hand on his arm. “It’s all right. I’ve been working for my father since I could carry a pail. There’s no need for me to force you to labor by yourself.”
He was still grinning at her and said, “Alice, I’m a very wealthy man.”
Her lips parted. “You are?”
He nodded. “The club is a hobby. Nothing more.”
Alice blinked a few times but said nothing.
Alice’s Shameless Spinster’s Society (The Spinster’s Society Book 2) Page 17