Vow of Deception (The Ministry of Curiosities #9)(45)

"Pack you things, Alice," Mrs. Everheart said as her sharp gaze darted around the entrance hall and up the staircase. "You are coming home with us. You cannot stay in this vile pit any longer. The good lord knows what debauchery you've been exposed to already."

Alice protested, but my voice rose above hers. "I beg your pardon! This is a respectable household and I would thank you not to suggest otherwise." I sucked in a breath to steady my nerves. "My name is Charlie Holloway and I am Alice's friend and mistress of Lichfield Towers. If you'd like to have a calm, rational conversation with Alice then please come with me to the drawing room and we'll have tea."

"We are not staying for tea," Mrs. Everheart bit off. "We are collecting Alice and leaving. Things have gone on too long already."

"Things?" I echoed. "What things?"

Mrs. Everheart looked around the entrance hall again, as if she couldn't bear to look at either Alice or me. "You know what sort of things. Unmarried men and women living together…it's not right in the eyes of God."

Alice bristled. "Mama! That is not fair. And I am not leaving."

"Don't argue, Child—"

"I am not a child! If I'm old enough to marry then I'm old enough to make my own decisions."

Mrs. Everheart's gaze finally locked onto Alice. "You are not old enough to marry without our consent."

"That is not the point, Mama! I don't want to get married yet, and certainly not to Mr. Crossley. He's far too old, for one thing, and as dull as a puddle."

"He is our very good friend!" Mr. Everheart spluttered. "He is sensible, responsible and godly. He's everything one could hope for in a husband."

"Then you marry him," Alice snapped.

"How dare you!"

"Living here has infected your mind." Her mother wrinkled her nose, as if she could smell the so-called debauchery. "The morals we instilled in you are corroding from idleness and lack of purpose. Do you even attend church?"

Alice huffed. "I give up. You won't listen to me, and never have. I'm tired of being treated as if I carry some sort of disease that must be cured. I am your daughter, your only child now, not someone you need to wash your hands of."

Her father thrust out his chin and gave a triumphant smile. "If we were trying to get rid of you, why are we here collecting you?"

"Because you promised Mr. Crossley I would marry him and you were prepared to wait for me to come around to the idea, but grew impatient."

Mr. Everheart's smile slipped but he kept his chin out.

"You're worried that my reputation will be tainted beyond repair because I live with a gypsy, a pugilist and a thug as your last letter pointed out. You want me to be as pure as fresh snow for my marriage. Or, rather, that's what Mr. Crossley wants and he is becoming impatient. Well? Is that how it is?"

"Lower your voice," her mother hissed. "The servants will hear you."

"There are no servants at the moment." As soon as it was out of my mouth, I regretted it. I'd just given them the ammunition they needed.

Mr. and Mrs. Everheart exchanged glances. "Do you mean to say you are unsupervised?" Mrs. Everheart asked.

"Of course not," I said. "Lady Vickers is in residence. She's an upstanding pillar of society."

Mrs. Everheart snorted. "Our inquiry agent says she ran off with her footman."

"They married."

"After living in sin for several months."

"That is neither here nor there," Alice said.

"What my wife is trying to say," Mr. Everheart said, voice tight, "is that without a housekeeper, governess or other respectable woman living here, we must assume the worst."

Alice did not respond. I wondered if, like me, her father's use of "my wife" and not "your mother" had thrown her off balance. It may mean nothing, but considering Alice's doubts surrounding her parentage, the words dropped like stones at our feet. And there was the rabbit's statement about Alice's aunt, the queen, still ringing in my ears.

"The servants are usually here but have been given time off," I said to break the silence.

"Why?" Mr. Everheart asked.

"Er… Well…"

"What Charlie is too polite to tell you," Alice said, her eyes flashing, "is that the servants have been sent away for their own safety. My dreams have become more frequent and took a dangerous turn. You recall my dreams, don't you? The ones that come to life? The reason you sent me to that dreadful school?"

Neither parent met her gaze.

"The fewer people near me at the moment, the better. So you see, if I leave here with you, it's likely you'll wake up to soldiers on your doorstep tonight. Is that what you want? Are you able to defend yourselves against Wonderland's army?"

Mr. Everheart paled. "Army?" he whispered.

Mrs. Everheart clutched the collar at her throat. She stared off into space. "We should never have taken you in," she murmured. "We thought we were doing our Christian duty, but…what if it was the devil that led you to us?"

Alice gasped and staggered back. I took her hand in mine and steadied her. "I am…" She gulped and began again. "I am not your child, am I?"