Alexis smiled to herself as she stared down at her engagement book, realizing it was a busy afternoon ahead. But then it was Wednesday, the day when she managed to pack in a great number of things after one o’clock.
She noted the date. It was April 18, 1888. She had taken three meetings that morning, and very shortly, she would go down to Whitechapel, where Haven House was located. Wednesday afternoon was her time to visit the charity which she had started in the summer of last year.
Claudia usually joined her, and they stayed there for several hours, helping in the kitchen, speaking to the battered women living there, and going over matters with Madeleine Thompson, the manager they had hired.
Looking at the date, it instantly struck her that Claudia’s wedding was only weeks away now. She was to marry Cornelius Glendenning in early June, and it would take place at Sebastian’s great stately home, Courtland Priory, which had been in the Trevalian family for several centuries.
It was a beautiful old house, and, of course, Sebastian had ensured it was well kept and well run. He had an efficient staff that followed all of his rules precisely.
The first time he had taken her there he had made her laugh a great deal, comparing Courtland to the old farmhouse in Kent. It was true they were very different indeed.
Although he kept telling her he enjoyed being in Kent more than at Courtland, she knew that deep down he loved his stately home as much as Goldenhurst. They were very different, that was obvious, but he truly enjoyed living different lives, whatever he said. And she enjoyed sharing them with him.
She glanced at the small clock on her desk and realized she must set off for Whitechapel. Closing the engagement book, she rose and went to the cupboard, took out a dark green wool jacket, which matched her ankle-length skirt. Turning, she glanced at herself in the mirror, fluffed out the jabot of her white silk skirt. She picked up her handbag, her gloves, and left her office.
Outside their office building on Piccadilly, her carriage was waiting. Her driver, Josh, spotted her as she came through the door and jumped down from his seat to greet her.
Within minutes she was sitting back, many thoughts rolling around in her head as she traveled through the center of London. The traffic was heavy, filled with horse-drawn buses, carts, and carriages. The pavement was crowded with people rushing about their business. It seemed to her that there was a great sense of urgency everywhere as determined pedestrians traversed the streets and all types of vehicles jammed the roads. Was it busier than ever today? Or was it her imagination?
Endeavoring to relax, she let her mind wander to her own wedding, which would be in September. She had proposed that month to Sebastian and he had seized on it. She knew he would hold her to it, and she wanted him to. It was the right time for them to marry, following Claudia’s footsteps rather than ahead of her and Cornelius.
By the time they had reached the High Street in Whitechapel, Alexis was completely settled down, her mind calm. She smoothed her dark green jacket, knowing she was nicely dressed but understated. That was one of her rules for Haven House. Delia, Vera, Claudia, and herself must always be simply dressed in order not to offend the women.
Claudia was already there, sitting in the office with Madeleine Thompson. Both women jumped up when she entered and came to greet her warmly.
A moment later they were seated, the door closed, discussing the business of the charity. Alexis had good news for them. Their five thousand pounds, which Sebastian had invested for Alexis last year, had doubled in value and would continue to grow.
“So you don’t have to worry about buying medicines, food, and small daily requirements the women need,” Alexis finished. “But I’m still going to cadge lots of things from my friends, and you must too, Claudia.”
Her dearest friend nodded and opened her handbag. “My future mother-in-law has given me a check for three hundred pounds,” she said with a big smile. She handed it to Alexis. “Not only that, she’s promised to keep any unwanted bed linen and towels for us, rather than throwing them away.”
“How lovely of her,” Alexis said.
Claudia beamed. “I like her a lot. She’s a very nice woman and, of course, she’s thrilled Connie is marrying me.”
Madeleine Thompson laughed, and so did Alexis, who then changed the subject and asked, “How many women are staying here this week, Madeleine? It sounds a bit quiet out there in the communal sitting rooms.”
“We’re not as full as usual, Alexis, but that doesn’t necessarily mean there’s been a drop in marital abuse. Perhaps some women haven’t found the courage to come here yet.”
“I understand. However, my father says some of the stall holders at the Malvern Market think the more brutal men are trying to hold themselves in check.”
“Oh, I do hope so,” Claudia exclaimed. “Will there ever be a day when we can actually close down Haven House? Because of a shortage of women in need?”
“I doubt it,” Madeleine answered, suddenly looking dour. “There will always be brutes around. Some men might change, but not all of them. Now, shall we go over the books for the week? It won’t take long; everything’s in order.”
Once they had done this, they went out of the office and made their way to the kitchen. The three women who lived in Haven House and worked there greeted them cheerfully. Within seconds they were all preparing tea sandwiches, bringing out pastries, cakes, and jam roll from the pantry, and making pots of tea.
Alexis and Claudia enjoyed this part of the visit to Haven House. They got to chat amiably to the women in the kitchen, Mavis, Gladys, and Doreen, and share moments of female bonhomie with them.
Claudia knew that it was Alexis who set this wonderful, friendly tone, made the women feel good, and equal to them. She genuinely admired her friend for doing this. Her quips, her laughter, her small confidences kept the women laughing and listening.
What a gift Alexis has for making everyone feel as if they are the most important person in the world to her, Claudia thought. She smiled to herself, thinking what a wonderful stepmother Alexis was going to be … probably like no other in the world.
Later on, when tea was served, both Claudia and Alexis were glad they had come this afternoon. They generally did experience this same sense of happiness that they had given safety and security to these helpless, battered women and brought hope to them.
As she always did, Alexis had dismissed her driver and she went back to Mayfair with Claudia, sharing her carriage. As she did every night, she was having dinner with Sebastian.
The women chatted about the visit and shared their thoughts about the success of Haven House. They were encouraged to keep it a financially stable charity. It meant a lot to both of them that they could give back something to women less fortunate than they were.
After that they spoke about the next fitting for Claudia’s wedding gown and those for her two sisters, Lavinia and Marietta. Claudia had begged Alexis to be the third bridesmaid, but she had declined. Sebastian had backed her in this decision.
A silence fell between them for a short while, and then suddenly Claudia took hold of Alexis’s hand, and lowered her voice. “I want you to do something for me,” she whispered.
“What is it?” Alexis asked, also in a low voice.
Claudia told her, and instantly Alexis froze in her seat.
After a moment, she said, “No. No, that’s not possible. I can’t…”
A chill swept through her and goosebumps flew up her arms. Someone just walked over my grave, she thought, remembering an old wives’ saying. She pushed this saying away, considering it silly. But the chill stayed within her and she was filled with a strange sense of foreboding.