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“I should’ve remembered, my memory is not as sharp as it once was. She married a gentleman farmer and moved to the village of Draycott. It’s not far from here. Her husband’s name is… Burrows. Charlotte Burrows. That’s her name now, and she’s married to James Burrows.” Reverend Drake looked up at Jackson and smiled.
“We can’t thank you enough, Mr. Drake,” Jackson said, and he vowed to make a substantial donation to the orphanage as soon as his financial situation improved.
A hundred thoughts now raced through his mind. They had found Alice, but what to do next…
“I’m glad when families can be reunited. It’s a tragedy to receive an orphan, but one with parents who… for whatever reason can’t take care of them… I find that even more tragic.” The clergyman sighed.
Jackson had written down the details from the ledger on his pocketbook, using Reverend Drake’s quill and ink. It would surely not be difficult to find the farm belonging to the Burrows. He wondered what their welcome would be like, and whether Alice would be glad to hear news of her sister.
“I hope it won’t be long before a reunion takes place,” Jackson voiced out, rising to his feet, and shaking the clergyman’s hand.
“I pray not, Your Grace.” Reverend Drake nodded.
He led them from his study and down the corridor to the hallway. The children had just finished their luncheon and were filing back towards the garden. Jackson tried to picture Alice amongst them. What a strange change it must have been for her to come to this, after living the life her sister continued to enjoy.
“We’ll send word when we find her,” Jackson promised, shaking the clergyman’s hand once again.
“And what of her sister? What of Eloise?” Reverend Drake asked.
Jackson shook his head sadly.
“Alas, her sister faces her own troubles, but if the two can be reunited then I have no doubt happiness will ensue,” Jackson replied.
As they left the orphanage, Jackson was thankful for all they had discovered. But he knew it was the first step in their search, and climbing into the carriage, he felt determined to continue.
“To search out the Burrows, Your Grace?” Delphine guessed as they set off, and Jackson nodded.
“Precisely so, Delphine. We’ll find her, I know we will.” He was thankful to at last have found the answers to his questions, even as he knew time was of the essence.
CHAPTER24
“One of the city churches, perhaps. The abbey’s too big. I don’t care for it,” Lord Crawford said.
“Saint Martin’s in the Fields? That’s a beautiful church,” Penelope suggested.
“Yes, that’s a possibility, isn’t it?” He nodded and glanced at Eloise, who was staring straight ahead of her.
They were sitting in the drawing room of her father’s house, discussing plans for the wedding. But the discussion was not a conversation, but rather a dictation. Lord Crawford had already made his decision. The date of the wedding was set and only the finer details were still to be worked out.
“You’ve got your choice of churches, George. Anywhere would be honoured to see the marriage of the Baron of Mismarch. You’re heir to one of the greatest titles in the nation,” Claudia bragged, smiling at her brother, who laughed.
“Yes, I can have what I want, can’t I?” he said, glancing at Eloise and smirking.
Eloise had not said a word during these proceedings. She had remained stony-faced, listening as they talked about her and made plans for her. There was no point in saying anything. This was not Eloise’s wedding, it was Lord Crawford’s. He would decide where they were married, what she wore, who was invited, and every other detail possible. In this task, he was assisted by Penelope and Claudia, both of whom had adopted the role of a domineering sister-in-law. The narrative of Eloise’s madness suited them well, and she was viewed merely as an object of pity by any who called on her.
“It’s so good of you to be doing this,” well-meaning women would compliment as Lord Crawford sat at Eloise’s side.
He would nod and speak about the challenges that having to take care of a woman like Eloise presented. The visitors would nod and make sympathetic noises in response. Eloise would remain silent. It made her feel sick to think of what Lord Crawford had done, even as she wondered if she had brought it on herself. She had resisted him with all her might and had believed her behavior at the Royal Dance would make him realize she had no intention of marrying him. But all it had done was cause this sorry situation to come on her. Now, everyone believed she was mad. Lord Crawford’s power was absolute.
“What do you think, Eloise? Do you favour Saint Martin’s in the Fields?” Penelope asked, addressing Eloise in a tone one might adopt when addressing a child.
Eloise looked up and shrugged.
“We didn’t hear you,” Claudia retorted.
“I don’t mind, I suppose,” Eloise replied, and Penelope gave her a false look of sympathy.
“Yes, far better to allow your betrothed to see to such matters, I think,” she said, and Claudia nodded.
