Heaven Made (5 page)

"Well, what do we have here?"

"I’m Alice, and this is my mama." Alice walked
right up to the woman and looked at her with curiosity. "Who are you?"

"I’m Mrs. Dixon, or Cook to most. But you and your mama
can call me Delores." She crouched down to look Alice in the eye. "Aren’t
you the pretty little thing."

"We’re very pleased to meet you, Delores," Sabrina
said through chattering teeth.

"Where are my manners?" Mrs. Dixon said, standing
up and reaching for Alice’s satchel. "Come in and warm yourselves. My, my,
my, we need to get you fed, Mrs. Tremaine. You look like you haven’t eaten in
days."

Sabrina was grateful as they were ushered into the warm
friendly kitchen. She wanted to go to their room and unpack right away, but
Delores was right and food would have to come first. She was ravenous and Alice
would be too having only had a stale bite of bread and some thin soup earlier
that morning. Delores fussed over them and helped them out of their coats. She
poured a glass of milk for Alice and set out a bowl of apples while she
prepared a hot meal for her two new household members.

"You just sit there and let me take care of you. It’s good
to have someone under my wing again." Delores was happy to be serving. "Mr.
Northcliffe doesn’t keep me busy enough in this great old house. I haven’t felt
much needed since the mistress died."

"Mrs. Dixon," a deep male voice called from the
corridor. "Was that Mrs. Tremaine knocking? She’s supposed to be arriving
tonight."

"Oh dear," Sabrina said looking from her daughter
to Delores. "He doesn’t know about Alice."

Delores froze and looked directly at Alice. "Run and
hide missy, before the master sees you."

Chapter Three

The candles flickered gently, stirred to action by the
slow movements of Madame Lou as she walked about the room, chanting in a
singsong voice. The tarot cards sat on the table, still wrapped in their
customary black silk. Sometimes she didn’t need to use them because the spirits
spoke to her directly. They were telling her that things were going along well
and her guidance was greatly appreciated. It would be needed again, however,
but she would have to be patient. And soon, she would need to reveal herself.
Madame Lou protested. After all, she had worked long and hard to conceal her
identity and true gifts. But the spirits were insistent in this matter.
Swirling in a wide circle, scarves and bells followed in her wake creating a
musical vision of color and glitter, Madame Lou would indeed give in to the
wishes of the dead.

Alice was gone like a shot. Delores appeared as calm as if
she hadn’t just participated in a conspiracy to deceive her employer. Coolly,
she picked up the half- finished glass of milk and the apple core and tucked
them neatly beneath a dish towel.

"Ah, Mrs. Tremaine," Ford said coming into the
kitchen. "You’ve arrived, and met our cook. Mrs. Dixon, so nice of you to
be present to welcome our new addition in out of the cold. I hope everything
will be to your satisfaction, Mrs. Tremaine?"

"Yes, thank you, Mr. Northcliffe." Sabrina said
almost choking on her apple. She felt the hot guilt of deception creeping up
her throat. She could barely look at the man, let alone meet his eyes. "Delores
has been very kind. She is going to fix us—me a plate before I go to find my
room."

"Rooms," Ford corrected, looking around as if he’d
lost something. "Mrs. Dixon, have you seen Mr. Roland? I told him earlier
today to prepare the yellow suite for Mrs. Tremaine."

"Mr. Roland said everything was all ready,"
Delores responded. "I’ll show Mrs. Tremaine to her suite once I get a hot
meal in her. She’s skin and bones, Mr. Northcliffe, and you know I can’t have
that in this house." She gave him a keen look that seemed to make the man
squirm. "Speaking of which—did you eat that supper I sent to the laboratory?"

"Well, I, uh…" Ford pulled at his starched collar,
unnecessarily clearing his throat. "I managed a few bites. It was cold by
the time I got around to lifting the lid."

"Lordy be, Mr. Northcliffe. You got to keep up your strength
if you want to finish your research." Delores tutted under her breath as
she busied herself with preparing the food. "I’m going to fix you another
plate right now and send it up to your rooms. I’ll have Mr. Roland bring it up
straight away. Now shoo. Me and Mrs. Tremaine need to talk about how I like my
kitchen run."

"Thank you Mrs. Dixon." Ford appeared relieved to
have things taken care of. "Welcome, Mrs. Tremaine. I hope that you’ll
find your rooms comfortable. Goodnight ladies."

When his footsteps had faded completely, Sabrina finally let
out the breath she had been holding. "That was too close," she
muttered, angry at herself for being scared.

"Can I come out now?" Alice whispered from the
doorway.

"Come here child," Delores said, holding out the
glass of milk to her new charge. "You sit yourself right here and let old
Delores feed you and your mama. Now Mrs. Tremaine, you eat this here supper up
and I’ll find Mr. Roland so we can get the master fed too. I swear that man
wouldn’t even sleep if he didn’t collapse from exhaustion every other day. He
works so hard in that laboratory of his."

"What is he working on?" Sabrina asked, eating
succulent mouthfuls of chicken so tender it fell off the bones. She was
ravenous and the food was delicious. Alice was already working on a second
helping.

"A cure, poor man." Delores was making disapproval
noises again as she busied herself with preparing Ford’s tray. "First he
loses that dear little girl, and then his mother. I’m telling you, what the man
needs is a wife, not another housekeeper."

Sabrina remembered Miss Blakemore had mentioned the little
sister. She was curious now about her employer. He was so handsome, she
couldn’t imagine he’d have any trouble finding a wife.

"Years ago, his little sister died of the influenza.
Ever since then, the master has been determined to find a cure. He went to
medical school, even though it wasn’t fashionable, and he’s spent years working
himself to the bone." Delores went to the wall and pulled a lever that
rang a bell somewhere in the house. Presumably to call Mr. Roland to the
kitchen. "Then last winter his mother died and ever since, he’s been more
determined than ever to somehow avenge his sister’s death."

"Avenge?" Sabrina asked, accepting a piece of
peach pie from Delores.

"Well, maybe that’s too strong a word. But it always
seems to me like he’s battling someone or something." Delores gave Alice a
piece of the pie that was twice as big as was good for the girl. "Sometimes
I worry that he blames God for his losses. A good woman and a child of his own
would be the best medicine for Mr. Northcliffe."

Sabrina was quiet as she and Alice finished their meal. Poor
Ford, as she thought of him privately. He had lost the most important people in
his life and he couldn’t let them go. She could certainly sympathize as to why
Cassie didn’t want him to see Alice right away. The agonizing memory of his
little sister’s death would be brought to the surface if he were faced with a
little girl of about the same age. Sabrina knew such a thing would be too
excruciating for her to bear if she had been exposed to that kind of grief. She
now had a deeper understanding of why it would be better to introduce him to
Alice slowly.

A tall balding man suddenly appeared in the doorway. He had
moved so quietly that neither Sabrina nor Alice had heard him approach. His
friendly brown eyes sparkled when he saw the little girl.

"And who is this lovely young lady?" Mr. Roland
asked, going over to Alice and taking her hand. He leaned low and kissed her
wrist, then dropped to one knee so he could look her in the eyes.

"I’m Alice. You must be Mr. Roland. Everyone’s been
wondering where you were. Ford needs a tray and Mama and I should really get
some sleep. We’ve had a very long day."

"Well, Miss Alice. It is my distinct pleasure to make
your acquaintance. If you ever need me in the future, Delores knows where to
find me." Mr. Roland stood and bowed to Sabrina. "And you must be our
new lady of the house."

Sabrina extended her hand to Mr. Roland. "I hope that
we shall all get on. I don’t really know what etiquette is involved with being
an employee and I’m hoping that you and Delores and of course the housekeeper
will help me sort it all out."

Mr. Roland gave her a direct look that was stern but
friendly. "Well, you are something of an oddity, Mrs. Tremaine. Not
exactly the usual sort of servant. But I’m sure we can come up with some kind
of a mutual understanding. After all, we are all earning a living the best way
we can."

Delores picked up Mr. Northcliffe’s tray and handed it to Roland.
"And don’t be mentioning the little girl to the master," she warned. "He
doesn’t need to know about her being here until he’s certain he can’t live
without Mrs. Tremaine’s services."

"We should discuss this situation, I believe," Mr.
Roland said astutely.

Sabrina was in complete agreement. "Yes, when would be
convenient for you?"

"I understand you are having breakfast with the master
tomorrow?" Mr. Roland asked. Sabrina nodded, confirming his statement. "Well
then, after he goes off to his laboratory, we’ll gather for a tête-à-tête. I’ll
make sure that all the others are present. Delores, Mrs. Tremaine will be
residing in the yellow suite. It is the furthest from Mr. Northcliffe and has a
small spare room for Miss Alice. Until tomorrow, ladies." Mr. Roland bid
them adieu and took the freshly prepared dinner tray to his master.

Alice finished her pie and was starting to doze off, when
Sabrina declared that it was time to retire to their rooms. Delores led them up
the servants’ stairs and showed them the grand suite that was now their new
domicile.

"Oh my." Sabrina exclaimed as Alice raced past her
to inspect their new quarters. "This is even finer than my rooms at home."

Sabrina was used to a life of ease and privilege, but this
was beyond what she had expected. She began to wonder uneasily if Ford had ties
to nobility. Suddenly, she felt gauche and uncomfortable. She would know soon
enough if she was out of her realm of comfort.

"Mama," Alice said, fully awake now from the
excitement. "My room is just as nice as at Papa’s house. Come see."

Sabrina took her daughter’s outstretched hand and followed
her to what normally would serve as a lady’s maid’s room. It was simple, snug
and appropriate for a girl Alice’s age. With a doll and some toys, it would be
perfect.

"Let’s get you tucked in," Sabrina said, taking
Alice’s satchel and unpacking its meager contents. She pulled a muslin nightgown
out and laid it across the bed. "Hurry now. It’s very late and you should
have been in bed hours ago."

Alice was still restless and Sabrina sighed as the little
girl bounded off to inspect the rest of the suite. First, the big bedroom that
would be Sabrina’s and then the small sitting room. It was all quite beautiful
and lavish. It was decorated in colors of gold, cream and yellow, done in
silks, damasks and other fine materials. The artwork and furniture all looked
to be French and of the highest quality and the same mixture of old and new
that seemed to be present throughout the grand mansion. Both she and Alice were
enthralled.

"It’s even prettier than your old room, Mama." The
little girl was quite right.

"We can look at it all tomorrow," Sabrina said,
trying to be firm, but she was too overwhelmed to be convincing. "Alice,
please. It’s time for bed."

Alice complied, although she dragged her feet as she entered
her own room. "What will I do when you are working, Mama?"

The question was something Sabrina had been thinking about
all day. What in the world would she do with Alice? The other servants couldn’t
possibly manage her all day, could they? And the child needed to keep up with
her lessons. It was all beginning to be too much for her to think about. Deciding
she would deal with it in the morning, after her meeting with Ford, Sabrina
simply told Alice that everything would work itself out. She hoped it would
anyway. She prayed it would.

"Goodnight, Mama," Alice yawned. The long day was
finally catching up with the little girl.

Sabrina tucked her into bed and kissed her forehead
affectionately. "Sweet dreams, my darling girl."

Turning down all the gas lamps except for one near her own
bed, Sabrina began undressing. She had grown accustomed to doing without a
lady’s maid in the last few months. Without the fancy accessories she used to
adorn herself with, the process had become quite simple. Sitting at the vanity,
brushing her long dark hair, Sabrina allowed herself a moment of weakness. It
had been all she could do to not cry in front of Alice since they had fled
Gerald’s protection. What she had really needed was protection from Gerald.
This position was the answer to her prayers and an escape from the
circumstances she had found herself in.

"Damn you, Edward," she whispered now as the tears
flowed freely. "Alice seems convinced you are watching. If you are, then
please make this arrangement work out for us. We simply cannot survive in the
streets. I tried, but I’m just not strong enough." What a goose I’m being,
Sabrina thought as she looked into the mirror at her red rimmed eyes. Edward
can no more hear me than I can him. I don’t know why I let Miss Blakemore
convince me otherwise.

Wiping the tears from her face, Sabrina put her clothes away
in the Louis XIV armoire and turned down the finely woven linens to crawl under
the covers of her new bed. A knock sounded on the door to the sitting room,
startling Sabrina. It was late and she couldn’t imagine why someone would be
knocking. She quickly put on her wrapper and went to the door.