pointing at the vehicle. ‘That looks like Mrs Dearborn. Your mama had returned, Flora.’
‘What will we do, Uncle Rory?’ Flora clutched his hand. ‘Mama will send Alice away. Please do something.’
‘Wait here,’ Rory said firmly. ‘I’ll keep Lydia talking. Take Flora in by the servants’ entrance, Alice, and go up the back stairs to the nursery.’ He brushed Flora’s cheek with the tip of his fingers. ‘Don’t look so scared, poppet. I’ll take care of everything.’ He nodded to Alice and set off, strolling out of the gardens and across the road to arrive just as Lydia stepped out of the carriage.
Under cover of the tall plane trees, Alice waited until they entered the house and as soon as the front door closed she took Flora by the hand and hurried her across the street. The wrought-iron gate opened noiselessly and they descended the steps to the basement area. Alice tapped on the door and after a minute or two it was opened by Nettie. She gaped at them open-mouthed.
‘Lawks! What’s going on, miss?’
‘It’s nothing to worry about,’ Alice said, propelling Flora into the narrow passageway. ‘We thought we’d come in this way so that Miss Flora could thank Cook and the kitchen maids for all their trouble.’
‘Well, I never did. I never heard of such a thing.’ Nettie backed away, turned and ran into the kitchen.
Flora glanced up at Alice, a frown creasing her brow, but Alice placed her finger to her lips. ‘Just follow my lead.’
The kitchen was hot and steamy, filled with the savoury aroma of fried onions, herbs and roasting meat. Every surface was covered with baskets of fruit and vegetables and the ingredients for the festive meal. One of the daily cleaning women was at the sink in the scullery, plucking a large goose, and feathers floated to the ground like snowflakes. Cook was at the table whisking something light and frothy, while a small girl, even younger than Nettie, was attempting to peel the skin off blanched almonds.
Alice led her young charge across the slippery flagstones to the table. ‘Miss Flora has something she would like to say to you and the kitchen staff, Cook.’ She nudged Flora, who had been staring at the preparations, wide-eyed.
‘Thank you for making such nice meals,’ she said in a small voice.
Cook stared at her, gulped and swallowed. ‘There’s no need for thanks, Miss Flora. We’re just doing what’s expected of us.’
‘Nevertheless, Miss Flora wanted you all to know that she appreciates what you do. Merry Christmas to you all.’
‘Yes,’ Flora said, nodding. ‘Merry Christmas.’ She was about to take a mince pie from the table, but Alice hurried her towards the back stairs.
When they reached the nursery she saw to Flora first and then took off her sodden boots and hung her stockings from the mantelshelf to dry.
‘Well, that was a near thing,’ she said, pulling up a chair and resting her bare feet on the fender.
Flora sat on the floor, warming her hands in front of the fire. ‘I don’t care if I get into trouble, but I don’t want Mama to send you away, Alice.’
‘That won’t happen, I promise you.’ Rory’s voice from the doorway made them both turn with a start.
Alice hastily covered her bare limbs with her damp skirts and rose to her feet. ‘We were just getting warm.’ She knew she was blushing and she was embarrassed to be caught barefoot and barelegged, but if Rory had noticed he gave no sign of it.
‘That’s very sensible of you. I came to reassure you that my sister-in-law suspects nothing.’
Flora gazed up at him. ‘So Alice won’t be sent away?’
‘I think it’s safe to say that Miss Radcliffe will stay for as long as she wants.’
‘If Alice leaves then I’ll go with her.’ Flora jumped to her feet. ‘Will I see you tomorrow, Uncle Rory? Are you coming to dinner?’
He nodded, smiling. ‘I am indeed. My landlady is the worst cook in London, and probably the worst cook in England, so I have to come here if I want a good meal.’
‘I’m glad,’ Flora said earnestly. ‘I mean, I’m not glad that she’s a bad cook, I’m just happy that you’ll be here on Christmas Day. I only wish that I could see my real mother and give her a present.’
Forgetting everything other than the child’s needs, Alice slipped her arm around Flora’s shoulders. She met Rory’s concerned look with a question in her eyes that she could not voice in Flora’s presence.
He nodded, seeming to understand. ‘I’m sure she was well compensated and now lives in a degree of comfort. She wanted the best for you, Flora.’
‘Will you take me to see her, please?’
‘Much as I’d love to make you happy, I’m not sure that would be the right thing to do. I can’t go against your father’s wishes.’
Flora stamped her foot. ‘He’s not my father. I want to know who my real father is, and I want to go and see my mother. If you don’t take me I’ll run away and I’ll find Blossom Street. That’s where she lives; Smithson said so.’
Alice laid her hand on Flora’s shoulder. ‘You can’t do that, my dear. She might not be there now and you would be all alone in a part of London you know nothing about.’ She turned to Rory. ‘You shouldn’t encourage her, sir.’
He nodded, frowning. ‘Yes, you’re right. What Miss Radcliffe says is true, Flora. But I’ll see if I can find out exactly where she is living. I can’t promise anything, but I might be able to arrange for us to visit her, if that would set your mind at rest.’
Flora’s eyes shone with excitement and she jumped up and down. ‘Yes, I want to see her more than anything in the world. I think it must be a lovely place where she lives with trees covered in pink blossom and the sun is always shining. Sometimes I see her in my dreams. She’s beautiful, like a golden angel.’
‘I think you’re old enough to learn the truth about your family,’ Rory said, frowning. ‘I’ll see what I can do, Floss, but I have to go now as I have an important business appointment. I’ll see you tomorrow.’
Alice followed him to the door. ‘You shouldn’t tell her things just to make her happy. This could end badly.’
He met her searching gaze with a hint of a smile. ‘I promise to do my best for everyone concerned. I wouldn’t hurt Flora for the world.’
Flora was tired after playing in the snow and needed little persuasion to go to bed that evening after supper. Alice helped her to wash and put on her flannel nightgown, and when Flora was comfortably settled she read her a story, but Flora was asleep before the tale ended. Alice put the guard around the fire and blew out the candles before leaving the room, and as she made her way downstairs she racked her brains in an attempt to think of a suitable present for Flora. She was still deep in thought when she reached the entrance hall where she met Rory, who
