Chapter 4 - Photo of Ebony

Chapter Four

Henry didn’t attend the opera the next week, or the week after that. He’d taken heed of Ebony’s request for him to stay away, and instead he’d invested the majority of his time in research regarding the ‘she’ that Ebony was talking about.

He didn’t have much to do in the way of work for the estate as there were no new contracts to be drawn up and signed and all the current tenants didn’t yet need to renew their leases.

First he’d started with the basics. He’d searched his father’s library for any history books on the English counties, hoping to learn anything about the ‘Seaver’ family. He ought to have just asked his elder sister, Little J, as she’d read every book in the library cover to cover but she was a busy, working mother now. He scoured the Suffolk pages for hours looking for any trace of her ancestors but couldn’t find anything.

He then decided to write to one of the sitting Earls.

“Papa,” Henry had asked Sebastian two days after he’d seen Ebony last. “Who is the Earl sitting closest to Suffolk?”

Sebastian had peered at him peculiarly. His father looked quite tired as he hadn’t been permitted in his bedchamber with Emilia and he never slept well away from her. They were still arguing at that point. A week or so later though and Emilia forgave Sebastian after his constant grovelling won her over.

“What on earth do you want to know that for?” Sebastian asked.

“A … project,” Henry replied.

“You know you can’t lie well, son,” Sebastian said knowingly.

“It is Ebony’s home county,” Henry admitted. “I’m trying to find someone for her.”

“Do you know, in my day we just asked a girl to a dance and that was that. You were married a few months later and before you knew it you were parents. What has she tasked you with? Find someone for her and she’ll marry you?”

“Did you ask mama to a dance and that was that?” Henry quipped, already knowing the answer.

“That is a different story. Mama was quite bitter when I met her. Don’t tell her I said that. I’m already in trouble.” Sebastian paused for a moment to listen for any footsteps outside the study.

“Not that it’s any of your business but Ebony doesn’t care for me, and nor do I for her. We are just acquaintances … perhaps we shall even be friends when I have found her.” Henry didn’t know whether to say ‘mother’, ‘daughter’, ‘grandmother’, ‘sister’ or ‘friend’. He truly had no idea who he was looking for. He wanted more than friendship though. He wanted to get to know her on a deeper level. He wanted her to trust him and he wanted to see her let go of whatever was keeping her dark eyes cold and hard. He had to show her that she could trust him. He would find ‘her’ and that would prove it.

“Alright, I believe you.” Sebastian smiled. “I don’t know of all the Earls in Suffolk but I know of one – Earl of Pembroke. Lord Christian Dagwood, I believe he is called. I’ve only ever heard of the man, your Uncle Daniel is good friends with him. I hope he can help you.”

Henry had written to the Earl straight away.

Lord Pembroke,

I am Henry Alcott, the nephew of your friend, Lord Southerby and the second son of Lord Sebastian Alcott, Earl of Ethridge.

I am writing to you to inquire after a family that live in your county. I am requiring information on a family caller ‘Seaver’. A daughter of the family is currently residing in London and her name is Ebony.

I need information on this family with the names and known addresses of the members still living and any information on those who have since left your county mysteriously.

A man named Vernon Shaw came to your county two years ago and took Ebony from her home to train her as an opera singer, and I was wondering if you, or any of your acquaintances know if anyone else went with him.

I appreciate you taking the time to peruse this letter and I would be very grateful to receive a response.

Yours sincerely,

Henry Alcott

It had been a fortnight and he hadn’t received any letters. It was a Saturday afternoon and Kitty and William were visiting with their brood of four. Will and Millie, aged seven and six, were enjoying being able to sit with the adults and enjoy the sweet biscuits and cakes that Mrs Norris had prepared for them. Josie and Alexander were amusing themselves with Jack, Juliette and Madeleine with a few children’s books that Emilia had fetched for them. They sat next to the pair of settees on the floor.

William and Kitty sat in between Will and Millie with their arms around each other. It sometimes made Henry shudder knowing how much his sister loved William and how they shared a bed. He didn’t like to think of any of his sisters sharing a bed with their husbands but it was hard not to when they so publically showed their affection.

“And what have you been up to, little brother?” Kitty asked as she brushed cake crumbs from Millie’s front. “No more,” she whispered to her.

Millie pouted as she finished the small collection of biscuits that were in her lap.

“Nothing really,” Henry replied. “The estate hasn’t needed me that much for a few weeks.”

“We will just as soon as summer comes. People are always flocking to London to take advantage of all the visitors,” Sebastian said. “Do you boys have any interest in seeing my new billiards table? Perhaps play a few games?” he asked, standing.

Sebastian’s new toy was his billiards table and he’d been waiting for enough people to be at the house so that he might have a bigger game.

“Alright,” William agreed. “Though I must warn you. Years in the navy have made me somewhat of a professional when it comes to billiards.” He stood, along with James and Henry while the women carried on with their conversations about the other Alcott sisters and what they were getting up to.

Just as soon as the four men left the drawing room, they were stopped by Mr Carter who was holding a silver tray with a letter atop it. “Begging your pardon, sir, but there’s a letter arrived for Master Henry.”

Henry didn’t wait for anyone to speak. He immediately snatched the letter and saw that it was from Lord Pembroke. “Thank you, Mr Carter,” Henry said quickly. “Go on without me,” he said to the men. “I need to read this.” He stole into the library and was glad it was vacant. Sitting down into the nearest armchair, he broke the seal and pulled the stiff parchment from the envelope.

Master Henry,

Any family member of Daniel’s is a friend of mine and I am happy to offer you any information that I can.

The Seavers happened to live in one of the villages that I preside over, in fact, Mrs Seaver was the midwife who aided my mother’s births. But she was Mrs Fitzpatrick then. I remember a little Ebony. The girls weren’t out very often once Mrs Seaver remarried. Mrs Seaver died a year or so later and the girls were cared for by their step-father.

I don’t recall a Vernon Shaw, but of course I cannot keep track of every man who wanders through my land. But I haven’t seen Ebony or Celeste in a few years. Their step-father still works in the village. He runs the tavern.

I can’t give you any more information unfortunately. Mrs Seaver was a kind lady. I was sorry to hear that she had died. Give Miss Seaver and Miss Celeste my best and please convey my wish for them to return home from time to time.

All the best,

Christian

Henry had a breakthrough, and now he had ‘her’ name. Celeste. Celeste Seaver had to be the girl Ebony wanted to see. Vernon had her hidden somewhere. Now that he had a name he could ask around. He could also go to Ebony with the fact that he knew who he had to look for. Hopefully his initiative would show her he was determined to help.

One thing he knew for sure, he would bring Celeste home to Ebony.

Ebony carefully dusted her latest bruise with powder, hoping to disguise her swollen cheek well enough to take the stage without anyone noticing.

Vernon had not liked her resistance the previous night when he’d visited her bed. He hadn’t liked her tears either. She always cried. Every time. Each time he violated her the self-loathing she felt just worsened.

She didn’t hate herself for allowing herself to be put herself in such a position, which was her own fault for trusting anyone other than herself, she hated herself for putting her baby sister in danger.

Celeste was all of eight years old, six when Vernon had found them in their little village in Suffolk. She had been singing for any money anyone could spare while Celeste scampered around and stole purses and watches from the onlookers pockets.

After their mother, Helen, had died, her once kind step-father, Bill, and Celeste’s true father, had begun to train them in the ‘art of thievery’ as he’d called it. Ebony wasn’t proud of it, but if they didn’t steal, they didn’t eat. Bill was only too happy when Vernon caught Celeste with her hand in his pocket. He was nice at first, commending Ebony on her talent and informing her that he could make her a star. He promised to take care of her and Celeste, and for a while he did. They ate like Kings and dressed like Queens. They wanted for nothing while Ebony got to stretch her legs in the most beautiful theatres in the world.

And then it came time for Ebony to take the stage under a strict contract. ‘Obey and relinquish all salaries or suffer the consequences’. When Ebony refused to sign such a contract, Vernon asked her if she’d seen Celeste anywhere that day. She hadn’t and Vernon had told her that she was safely working in one of his many brothel’s scattered about the globe as a maid and if Ebony ever tried to leave him, refuse him, or disobey him in any way, she would be ‘put to work’ as Vernon called it, and given to a man no matter her age. Ebony was trapped, and had been trapped for a long time.

She prayed for the day when Vernon would tire of her and he would discover a new girl that he could be infatuated with. She’d only seen Celeste once in over a year. She had been brought to London and Ebony was never left alone with her. She’d lost weight as well and her once silky, white blonde hair was tangled and dry. Dirt was caked under her nails and her skin looked grey. They only thing that remained of the old Celeste was her pretty blue eyes.

The sisters looked nothing alike. Ebony took after her father, the one that had abandoned her mother at her birth when he learned she was a daughter. Her mother had always told her father’s eyes were as black as his heart. Unfortunately Ebony’s eyes were black also. Her heart wasn’t black, but Vernon’s abuse was slowly changing it.

“Ebony,” Ellen said, knocking on her door. Ellen’s cheek had healed in the fortnight and a half that it had been since she’d been hit by Vernon. “You have a visitor.”

Ebony froze, praying that it wasn’t Vernon wanting another visit before she went on stage. He’d broken her, couldn’t he leave her alone?

But then, it could be Celeste. Vernon had been promising a visit. But she hadn’t been on her best behaviour in the last few weeks so she wouldn’t be surprised if the visit had been suspended.

“Who?” she called out.

“Mr Alcott,” she replied.

Ebony dropped her powder brush and spun around instantly. He hadn’t been to see her in weeks, why now? She couldn’t help but feel a little nervous at the prospect of seeing him. He looked at her differently, in a way she was not used to. Most men saw a woman of the stage as an easy conquest. Henry however seemed more respectful, timid even. He wasn’t skilled in how exactly to converse with a woman but she didn’t need poetry. She only wanted respect.

“Come in,” she said after a moment.

The door opened and both Ellen and Henry walked in. Ebony suddenly wished she’d had a few minutes to do something with her uncontrollable curls or perhaps to throw on a shawl. Henry however didn’t notice her untidy hair or her corset ensemble. His eyes just zeroed in on her swollen cheek.

He looked even handsomer when he was angry. Ebony stopped her thoughts. Had she seriously just thought that? It wasn’t like it was a lie. He had an awkward charm about him. She liked the fact that he didn’t know he was handsome. Conceited men, like Vernon, were repulsive to her.

He had a kind face, one that lit up when he smiled. His eyes were a nice brown, not an ugly dark brown like hers. His hair was straight and came to his chin in length. He was about a head taller than her with a lean frame. Henry was a very good looking young man.

“What happened?” he demanded to know. His voice was sharp with anger.

“More like who happened,” Ellen muttered.

“Quiet,” Ebony snapped.

“I’ll kill him,” his hissed angrily. His teeth were clenched and his hands were in fists. He was starting to shake. Ebony wanted to touch him, hold him somehow to calm him but she didn’t know if it would make things worse.

“Don’t,” Ebony begged. “Don’t do anything. It was my fault.”

“It is never your fault,” Henry said seriously. “Ever. There is no excuse … no reason at all –”

“But there is,” Ebony interrupted. “One very important reason.”

“Celeste.”

Ebony froze and stared at Henry. “How do you know about Celeste?” she gasped.

“We need to talk.”

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Photo on the side is Ebony :) Emmy Rossum is singing in Phantom of the Opera so I thought it was perfect so you could see what Ebony looks like singing :)

Hope you liked it!

Interesting day today! I drive a manual car, or a stick shift as Americans call it, and my best friend and I got to university early so we were just sitting in the car doing nothing and she's like 'Can I drive your car?'. She has an automatic car and has never driven a manual in her life. SCARIEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE! She couldn't handle the clutch and the accellerator and I had to do the gears and we were only in the carpark. Damn, now I know why my mum hated teaching me :P

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