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“A remarkable place,” Jackson observed, looking around him with interest.
“Reverend Drake had a vision of an orphanage without orphans. The children who come here are loved as though by a father and mother. We’re a family,” the steward elaborated.
He led Jackson and Delphine along a short corridor to a door marked with Reverend Drake’s name and knocked.
“Come in, please,” a cheery voice called out, and Jackson and Delphine were admitted to a book-lined study, with a desk at one end, behind which sat a bright-faced elderly man, dressed in a tailcoat and the tall, starched collar of a clergyman. He smiled at them and laid down the book he was reading.
“Reverend Drake, this is His Grace, the Duke of Kenwood, and his companion. They’re here to inquire after one of our children,” the steward announced.
Reverend Drake rose to greet them. He had a twinkle in his eye, and he listened carefully as Jackson explained the situation. But at the mention of Alice’s connection to Viscount Snowden, his face became grave.
“Ah yes! Oh, dear me, yes, I know precisely who you mean. Though we knew her not as Alice but as Charlotte.”
At these words, Jackson’s eyes grew wide with astonishment, and he turned to Delphine, who looked equally astonished.
“Ah, but that’s wonderful. Anything you can tell us, anything at all will be gratefully received,” Jackson exclaimed, hardly able to disguise his delight in what the clergyman had said.
“Won’t you sit down.” Reverend Drake pointed to two chairs by the window.
Jackson and Delphine took the seats, and Reverend Drake went over to one of the shelves and pulled down a large ledger which he proceeded to examine.
“Ah, yes, here it is. Eighteen hundred and two. Charlotte Snowden,” he pronounced, showing Jackson the entry in the ledger.
It reported fact, rather than emotion, stating simply the arrival of Charlotte accompanied by her father. Whilst Alice’s name was changed, that of her father was not. The Viscount Simon Snowden had sent his daughter to Wingate Towers, and there was the reason in black and white.
“Lineage,” Jackson read, looking up at Reverend Drake in confusion.
“Yes, Your Grace, one doesn’t wish to speculate on these matters. But a question of lineage usually means a question of legitimacy. Children are a blessing, but when they come from… unconventional sources, they can often prove a burden to their parents. It’s a sad fact, but true.” The clergyman closed the ledger and sighed.
“And she was here? She lived here?” Delphine asked.
“Oh, yes, very happily so, as do all our children. She lived a happy life here and grew into a fine young lady,” Reverend Drake replied.
“But no one ever came looking for her?” Jackson pressed.
The clergyman pondered for a moment and shook his head.
“I’d receive a substantial donation each year from her father, the Viscount, I mean. It continues to this day. A princely sum, and more than generous. I believe he still cared for her, but the threat of scandal was too much. We live quietly here, away from gossip. Our children grow up knowing they’re loved, whatever their circumstances, and that’s all that matters.”
Jackson was astonished. He had not expected to find Alice – or Charlotte – and to have done so felt quite extraordinary. How he longed to tell Eloise this good news. He could only imagine how happy she would be to know her sister had been found, except…
“Where is she now?” Jackson demanded, realizing that the trail had to continue.
This was only the first piece of the puzzle. Alice was older now. She could be anywhere. Reverend Drake now took out another ledger from the shelf and consulted it.
“Ah, yes, she left us when she was eighteen years old. All our children do, though we never allow any to leave without somewhere to go. It’s all too easy for those with nothing to simply disappear into obscurity. No, we teach the children crafts, reading and writing, things to have them in good stead for the future,” Reverend Drake responded.
He flicked through the pages of the ledger, muttering to himself, as Jackson and Delphine watched with bated breath.
“Did she ever speak of her sister, Eloise?” Jackson probed.
He knew Eloise’s greatest sorrow was the fact she knew nothing of why her sister had left. Whilst Eloise was desperate to find Alice, she did not know if Alice wanted to be found, or if her sister even thought of her any longer.
“Oh, yes. She was always speaking of Eloise. I got the impression they had been the best of friends in childhood, and I know she missed her terribly, though I always felt as though she knew why she had to be here,” Reverend Drake remarked.
It seemed an odd way of putting it, but Jackson was merely thankful to have at last found what they were looking for.
“And now?” he asked, as Reverend Drake’s finger alighted on an entry which he tapped, nodding his head and smiling.
