Alice’s Shameless Spinster’s Society

by Charlotte Stone

  When Frank did finally speak, he said, “I’ll have to find another way for you to repay me for this debacle.” The words meant that no matter what Calvin did, Frank was with him.

  Calvin looked at the woman who’d been weeping and rambling since she’d been thrown to the carriage’s floor. He’d not given her a seat. He didn’t want her anywhere near him until he could calm himself.

  “She’s gone,” Albina cried.

  Calvin turned to her.

  “No!” She threw her hands up to ward off anything he might do. “She’s…” The tears started again.

  Calvin was breathing hard.

  “Calvin.”

  He turned to look at his brother.

  “What is your plan?” Frank asked.

  Calvin wasn’t sure but he was willing to do anything to get Alice and he wanted answers now. “Do you have a gun?” he asked his brother.

  “No!” Albina shouted as she began to plead for her life.

  He turned to her. “Where is Alice?”

  “I don’t know,” Albina told him. “She ran.”

  “Where?” Calvin asked.

  Albina shook her head. “I don’t know!”

  Frank moved into Albina’s face and suddenly the air in the carriage changed. The hostility quieted, and Albina relaxed once she met Frank’s eyes. His calming expression seeming to be the antidote for the confusion and anger.

  As if Albina and he shared the same facial muscles, her face slowly relaxed and the crying subsided.

  It was Frank’s gift. He was very good at getting people to tell him anything. He’d counseled men and a few women while at Oxford but instead of pursuing his wishes to study the foreign form of communal medicine, he’d focused on business for the estate. People thought Calvin to be the expert with people but he knew that the expertise lay with Frank.

  . He understood people on a plane that Calvin couldn’t begin to.

  Just like he understood how very much Calvin needed Alice in his life.

  “Breathe,” Frank told her. Then he settled a hand on her shoulder. “Slower now… that’s it.”

  Albina pulled in a deep breath.

  Frank squeezed her shoulder. “Tell me what happened.”

  Albina turned to looked at Calvin and her breath grew quicker.

  “No, look at me,” Frank told her. “Tell me what happened.”

  Albina pulled her gaze from Calvin and looked at Frank. She licked her lips, pulled in another breath, and said, “I took her from Lady Lorena’s home.”

  “And then what happened?” Frank asked her.

  Albina stilled and her eyes flickered to Calvin. “The other woman who was with her began to ask me questions. She knew what I was about, so I pulled out a gun.” The other woman was Maura, he knew.

  Calvin held his breath.

  Albina went on. “I shot at her but I didn’t hit her. The girl was already pulling Alice away.”

  Frank turned to look at Calvin and they shared a look. Calvin would not believe that Alice got away until he saw her for himself.

  Frank turned back to Albina. “Why did you take Alice? Why her?”

  Albina held his eyes and some of her strength returned. “Because I wanted her father to know what it felt like to lose someone. I offered to let him sacrifice himself but when he wouldn’t, I went after Alice.”

  “Sacrifice himself?”

  “Join the navy,” Albina told her. “Fight in this bloody war. My husband did and came back half the man he’d been. Ralph, for the death of my father, deserved much worse than that but I’d have settled for it, for him to have to give up his club and the possibility of his life.”

  “Why do you blame Ralph for Thomas’ death?” Calvin asked as he drew closer.

  Albina looked to him. “My father died because of him. Everyone knew. Even Ralph. He blamed himself for my father’s death. That’s why he gave my mother so much money and helped rebuild our home when it was destroyed. What sort of man gives so much unless he is guilty?”

  “Perhaps a man who understands what it’s like to raise a child on his own.”

  Calvin’s words seemed to paralyze her as though she’d never thought of the possibility before. She stared at him and he saw the moment when a glimmer of shame entered her eyes before she suppressed it to give him hard eyes.

  But it was too late. He knew he’d gotten to her.

  “Ralph raised Alice all on his own. You don’t suppose he’d known your mother would struggle with three of her own?”

  “That’s not the reason,” she shouted.

  He shook his head, knowing she was only trying to convince herself.

  “Do you know who I am, Mrs. Steen?” Calvin asked her.

  Albina whispered, “From your description, I would suppose one of you are the Mr. Lockwood who came to visit my mother the other day with Miss Alice.”

  “That would be me,” Calvin told her. “My name is Calvin Lockwood and the woman you kidnapped was my fiancée.”

  That seemed to give Albina some pause.

  Calvin went on, “You may not have heard my name, Mrs. Steen, but I’ll have you know that I’m a very wealthy man with friends in a position to make life very hard for you.”

  Her brows lifted.

  He continued, “They could see that this life you lead comes to an end if I so much as find one scar on Alice.”

  Albina looked to Frank for confirmation.

  Calvin had yet to finish. “I can already guarantee that the life you knew before you took Alice has changed. It changed when you stole her father. You’ll be punished for this. Justice will be served.”

  “Where was justice for my husband when was stolen?” Albina asked. “Or my father—”

  Calvin leaned even closer. “I couldn’t give the slightest fuck about your husband or your father.”

  She jumped back further into the carriage wall.

  “You know who did care for your family? The man you’ve put on a boat. Ralph Wilkins was a very generous man but understand when I say that I am not him. I will not be generous with my forgiveness or my mercy if Alice has been hurt. For every ache and pain that my fiancée suffers because of your wrongdoing and for every drop of her blood that is shed, I shall take it to you tenfold.”

  Albina’s eyes had watered during his speech. “But I—”

  Calvin pulled away to speak to Frank. “Make sure you deliver a note to the proper authorities for Mr. Steen to be picked up from his home and imprisoned.”

  Albina was shouting again. “She ran away! I didn’t see where she went!”

  He ignored her but when the carriage stopped in front of Francis’ house, he leaned toward her again and said, “If you make a sound or put up a fight, I’ll be forced to hurt you, and though I’ve never hurt a woman before I’ll lose no sleep over striking you, do you understand?”

  Albina leaned away from him and turned to Frank as if for help.

  Frank didn’t blink at his brother’s words and kept his eyes set on Albina. “Do you understand, Mrs. Steen?”

  Albina looked between them and nodded.

  Calvin and Frank took her around the back of the house, up the servants’ stairs, and into Francis’ cabinet.

  “Do we have rope?” Calvin asked.

  “I’ll see what I can find,” his brother replied.

  “What do you need rope for?” Albina was dropped into a chair but Calvin kept a hand on her arm. “I’ve told you everything I know. I don’t know where Alice is.”

  “Get me the curtain sashes.”

  Albina began to struggle then.

  Frank brought over the curtain sashes and Calvin used one to bind Albina’s arms to the chair’s back while he used the other to bind her legs.

  Then Calvin walked around the room and turned to Frank. “Ring for a blade.”

  “What?” Albina asked.

  “What sort of blade?” Frank asked.

  “Anything that will cut.”

  “Cut what?” Albina was brea
thing hard and looked ready to faint. Then her eyes widened and she shouted, “I’ve children.”

  Calvin looked at Frank. He was starting to sweat.

  Frank pulled the bell. He was with his brother all the way, even if it meant prison.

  “No!” Albina cried.

  Calvin continued to pace while he removed his cravat.

  A servant came quickly.

  Albina opened her mouth to scream, and Calvin shoved his cravat in her mouth and covered it with his hand.

  “I need a blade,” Frank told the young man, who Calvin couldn’t see from the other side of the door.

  “A blade?” the young man asked.

  “Yes, something to… cut with.”

  “Of course.” The servant left quickly.

  Albina began to make coughing noises, and Calvin stepped away to stare at her as she struggled to breathe over the cravat. Then she began to choke. He watched her eyes and throat strain and her body try to lift from the chair.

  “Calvin,” Frank called.

  Calvin knew he should save her but the moment he thought of Albina pulling a gun out on Alice, he changed his mind. For all he knew, his Alice could be dead. Why should the woman before him live?

  Albina’s eyes and face turned red.

  “Calvin,” Frank said more urgently.

  Albina tried kicking.

  Calvin walked over to her and snatched the cravat from her mouth.

  Albina took a large breath and with the next, she began to weep forcibly. Her body shook with it and for the first time, she looked at Calvin with pure fear, as though he were the devil and she finally understood the consequences of her actions.

  “Where’s Alice?” he asked her.

  “I don’t know!” Then she began to plead.

  He shook his head and wondered if Alice had pleaded for her life. “Where’s Alice?”

  A knock came to the door, and Albina’s cries grew bolder and her kicking stronger. She truly didn’t want Calvin to get his hand on the blade. She’d just learned how far he was willing to play with her life.

  Calvin didn’t look at the door. He only held his hand out for the blade, slightly trembling himself, unprepared to face the truth of just how far he was willing to go. He kept his eyes steady on Albina and watched as her eyes moved to the door and a strange relief seemed to settle over her but unless it was Jesus himself, Calvin didn’t see what she’d feel relief for.

  Then something touched his hand and he quickly identified it as very soft skin. He turned and lost his breath as his eyes settled on Alice’s and as if a cloud had been lifted from his eyes, everything seemed brighter and clearer.

  She was looking at him worriedly with her eyes moving from Albina to him. “Calvin, what did—”

  “Don’t ask.” He couldn’t bear if she’d asked him what he’d been willing to do in order to find her. She meant everything to him and in a very short time, he’d come to learn that he had very few limits when it came to seeing to her safety. Actually, he had no limits. None. She was all that mattered but he had the feeling that Alice’s heart was much softer than his and for her, she had limits. It was best she never asked after his.

  As if knowing him to be right, she simply nodded and threw her arms around him. “I’m all right, darling.”

  He held her close and buried his face in her neck, breathing in her scent and taking in her warmth. She was alive.

  He leaned away and set her back so he could have a better look at her, checking her over for breaks or scrapes but besides the one she’d received from her heroics at Lord Dovehaven’s home, Alice was perfect.

  “I love you,” he told her.

  She smiled. “I love you, too.” She placed her hands behind his neck and brought it down for a kiss.

  Calvin’s arms went around her and he vowed he’d never let her go again but then remembered that there was another grave matter to explain to her.

  He looked around to find his brother, Francis, and Hugh standing in the room and wondered who’d found Alice first. Then the door opened again and a servant came in carrying a blade.

  “For you, sir,” the young man said to Frank.

  Frank looked at Calvin.

  Calvin looked at the renewed worried expression on Alice’s face.

  “Don’t ask,” he warned her again.

  She pressed her lips together.

  He kissed her hand and delivered the truth. “Your father has been impressed by the Royal Navy.”

  Alice took a step away but didn’t get far with him holding her hand. She shook her head. “What does that mean?”

  Calvin frowned and turned to look at Albina, loathing her all the more for what he had to do. He turned back to Alice. “Your father is no longer on England’s shores.”

  “What does that mean, Calvin?”

  She glanced around at everyone but no one gave her a reply. Then she looked at Albina. “What did you do?”

  Albina’s eyes were hard but she kept her mouth shut and still seemed to be struggling to breathe.

  “What did you do?” Alice shouted at her.

  “Alice,” Calvin called.

  She turned her head to him and pressed herself close. “What does this mean, Calvin?”

  Calvin’s arms went around her and held her tight. “It means your father is a soldier for His Majesty.”

  Alice started to shake and whispered, “Where did he go?”

  “We won’t know until Will returns. That is, if Will was given any information.”

  “He could die.”

  Calvin had nothing to say to this since it was true. England had lost hundreds of thousands of their men in the last few years to war.

  Alice pressed her face into his chest and he held her as a policeman came in and led Albina from the room. Then, moments later, they were alone as the others went to explain what had occurred. Alice didn’t cry and Calvin didn’t let her go but led her to a chair where she could sit and make herself comfortable.

  They turned when Will entered the room.

  He took a seat before them and spoke quickly. “Your father is on his way to America. It could be months before he returns. It could be a year.” Then he stated the obvious. “If he returns at all.”

  Alice closed her eyes and sighed.

  The men shared a look.

  Will asked, “Exactly, what did you plan to do with the blade?” Blades were his specialty.

  Calvin’s eyes moved to Alice in a motion that told Will to cease.

  Will nodded. “Another time.” Then he left.

  Alice remained quiet a moment longer and, when she finally spoke, she was looking at him with renewed strength. “My father will return.”

  He smiled and touched her hair.

  “Until then, we can’t marry. Not until my father returns.”

  Calvin stilled and held her eyes. “What?”

  Alice stood. “There will be no wedding until my father returns.”

  “Alice.”

  She leaned over and cut off his words with a hard kiss. It was unexpected and passionate and Calvin hardened quickly. He reached out to grab her but she pulled away and straightened. “No wedding until my father returns.” Then she licked her lips, smiled, and started for the door. “I’m to return to Genie’s. We’re reading Isaac’s book for entertainment. It’s very good.” At the door, she turned to him and her smile brightened. “I love you, Calvin.”

  “I love you, too,” he managed to get out, confused by all that was happening to him. A long engagement was the last thing he’d wished for.

  “I know you love me,” she whispered. Without another word, she left Calvin mired in bewilderment and arousal. He wasn’t sure which was worse.

  * * *

  .

  .

  .

  * * *

  * * *

  .

  .

  .

  EPILOGUE

  .

  Two Months Later

  Alice put down the paper a
nd looked over at Calvin. Sofia’s article about the newest love match between the Spinster’s Society and the Men of Nashwood had been published two days ago and had been delivered to Morris’ estate that morning. The Men of Nashwood had retreated to Morris’ estate for what they deemed necessary training if they were to resume another season with Lorena.

  As luck would have it, Lorena’s aunt, Mrs. Matilda Shaw’s, country house was situated just outside Morris’ lands. So, with Lorena and Alice visiting Maura, Calvin and Emmett visited them every morning… and some evenings as well. At the moment, Mrs. Matilda and Maura were visiting a sick friend, which left the couples alone for an hour or so.

  Calvin had already read the article before handing it over to her, so could share his opinion when Alice said, “Sofia did very well with our story, don’t you think?”

  Calvin murmured over the brim of his coffee, “It would have been a better story if it had ended with our wedding.” His golden eyes held his irritation.

  Emmett leaned back in his chair and said, “Now you see how I feel.”

  Lorena touched Emmett’s arm. “I’d feel awful if we married before the London house was returned to its former glory. The ton will laugh if I have nowhere to invite them to.”

  “We could rent,” Emmett countered.

  “There will still be talk,” Lorena pressed. “Any other house will simply be a reminder of the house they think I burned to the ground. When we wed, I must have a home I can take company into and say, ha!” She threw her nose up at the end.

  “You could easily say ‘ha’ to the fact that I married you in spite of you burning my house down.”

  Lorena frowned. “See? Even you still blame me.”

  Emmett rolled his eyes. “You know I know you’re innocent. Who cares what the ton chooses to believe. We’re not having this again.”

  “We are!”

  Emmett stood and, in the next minute, Lorena was squealing as she was grabbed from her chair and carried from the room in her fiancé’s arms.