Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Ebony couldn’t understand how he could have found out about Celeste. The only people who even knew she existed were Ebony, Ellen and Vernon. Ebony had only told Ellen because she needed someone to confide in and Ellen had become a trusted friend. Vernon had to have told him. But why would Vernon reveal that he was holding a child captive? He didn’t want to be imprisoned.

“How do you know about Celeste?” Ebony repeated her question. Had he seen her? Did he know where she was? If he did then they had to leave right away. If she knew Celeste’s location then she would not hesitate to take her and disappear. She had a stocking filled with coins that she’d hidden away from Vernon and she would use that to pay board somewhere until she could find employment. She felt a flutter of excitement in her stomach. She was going to be reunited with her sister.

“I want to help you find her,” Henry replied.

Ebony’s heart sank when she realised that Celeste’s location was still a mystery. But she was foolish to get her hopes up.

“Vernon mentioned you come from Suffolk so I used my resources to learn about your family and who Vernon took with you when he discovered you. I learned Celeste’s name from a friend of my uncle – Lord Pembroke.”

Ebony didn’t know whether to be offended or flattered. He’d been investigating her? She supposed he had no choice considering the fact that she’d sent him away rather rudely. Ebony remembered the Earl who lived in the big house on the hill. From her poor village it looked like a small cottage in the distance but she’d gone walking with Celeste when her sister was about four years old and they’d seen the large manor house up close. It was magnificent. Ebony could only dream of living in such a house.

“Why?” was all she could manage to say.

Henry furrowed his brows. “Why not?”

Was this man real? What kind of person wanted to help a stranger? Vernon had claimed he wanted to help her once. “You don’t know me. I could be a murderer or … or a …” but she didn’t have the stomach to say the word ‘whore’ which was what she was. Not a willing one, but a whore nonetheless.

“I know that a woman should never be treated like this. If it were one of my sisters then I would hope that someone would help them. I want to help you, Miss Seaver. I promise you can trust me. I will do everything in my power to find your Celeste.”

He was speaking so sincerely. She could see the truth in his chocolate eyes. But how could he find her? He could not simply contact a rich man in her home county and say ‘Pardon me, milord, but do you know of any brothels in which a little girl is working?’

It was an impossible quest. “You won’t find her. Vernon’s deliberately hidden her. She’s working in a brothel somewhere in the world and one foot out of line from me and he sends word to the wench who runs the place to put Celeste to work. She’s only eight years old, but he doesn’t care. He’ll do anything to make more money.” The thought of a disgusting old man taking her tiny sister into a room made her want to be violently ill. It would happen over her dead body, and she meant that. If he wanted to put Celeste into that business then Vernon would have to kill her.

“Miss Seaver, I’ll find her. I have money and time,” Henry said seriously.

“I still can’t understand why you would do this for me,” Ebony said in disbelief. She felt terribly guilty for accepting his help but she needed it.

“It might surprise you to know that some people are actually genuinely kind,” Henry replied. But his eyes said more. Ebony could see that he fancied her. For what reason she didn’t know. She wasn’t spectacularly pretty. He was genuinely kind though. She could tell.

“This is a quid pro quo world, Mr Alcott, what do you want in exchange?” Ellen asked.

Ebony shot her a dirty look.

Henry got a little flustered and Ebony could tell he was a little bashful. He did fancy her and had no idea how or what to do next. She could see herself falling in love with someone like him. Kindness and sincerity were rare traits in men nowadays. She found his awkwardness endearing. She was so used to forceful, self-confident men.

“You needn’t answer, Mr Alcott,” Ebony said quickly. “If you find her then I shall be forever in your debt.”

“I just want to bring a little girl home. And when I do I shall have proof that Mr Shaw is corrupt. It will be enough for the authorities to lock him up and throw away the key. You all will be free. Free to perform wherever you like.” Henry smiled, causing the skin at his eyes to crinkle adorably. “You can trust me, Miss Seaver.”

And suddenly she knew she could. She abandoned her dressing table and crossed the small room so that she could hug her saviour. She threw her arms around his neck and squeezed tight, placing a kiss on his cheek. She could feel how tense he was and how timid he was in returning her hug. “Thank you,” she whispered. “If you find her, call her ‘Little Monkey’. She will know it is me. I always called her that.”

They separated and Henry nodded. “Can I write you?” he asked.

Ebony pursed her lips. “Vernon doesn’t give me my letters,” she replied.

“But he gives me mine,” Ellen chimed in. “My mother writes me every month. If you addressed the letter to me and sign it from another then I shall give it to Ebony. Vernon will be none the wiser. If you address it to ‘Ellen Winterberry’ and sign it … what is your middle name?”

“Peter,” Henry replied. “My godfather’s name.”

“Sign it Peter Winterberry. Vernon will just think it is from a family member of mine.”

“Can I ask, what keeps you here?” Henry asked.

“My son,” Ellen replied. “He’s a bastard and I haven’t the money to give him what he needs to succeed in this cruel world. Vernon is putting him through school. I don’t know what I’ll do if Vernon is arrested though …” she said regretfully.

“I will help you. I’ll help whoever here will accept it. I promise you,” he swore.

Ellen had tears in her bright green eyes. “Oh, thank you, Mr Alcott!” She clapped her hands over her mouth. Clearly Ellen had never been shown such kindness either. Her son, Freddie, was ten years old and had been born when Ellen was fifteen. She fought hard against her village vicar to keep him from being taken from her and she ended up stealing away in the middle of the night to London to seek work. She found several little sewing jobs when she had an old woman minding Freddie for her but just as soon as her employers found out she was an unwed mother she was cast out into the cold. And then Vernon found her. Like it was with all the people working for him, it seemed too good to pass up. He cared for her son and gave Ellen the training she needed to become a world class costume seamstress. And then he put Freddie in school and told Ellen that he would be sent to an orphanage if she ever disobeyed him. And now Ellen worked her fingers to the bone for no money, only the incentive of giving her little boy a future.

“We move on to Paris in a month though,” Ebony said, remembering that she would soon no longer be in England.

“Then in a month I shall have Celeste,” Henry countered. His cheeks reddened a little as he began to ask her a question. “Do you think … possibly … that you might maybe … perhaps you would like to …” he stammered nervously.

“Yes,” she said, cutting him off. “My answer is ‘yes’.” She hoped that his question was asking her to a dance, or to a play or to dinner even.

“Yes?” he repeated. “To me?”

Was he really so surprised? “Yes,” Ebony confirmed.

He smiled widely, looking triumphant. “The next time I see you I shall have Celeste with me … what does she look like?” he asked. “Just so I know.”

“The exact opposite of me. She looks like our mother. Bright blue eyes, light blonde hair and she’s quite small for her age,” Ebony described.

“Alright,” Henry nodded. “I’ll bid you farewell, Miss Seaver, Miss Winterberry.” He bowed his head like a gentleman and then departed her dressing room.

Ebony collapsed into her chair and let out a breath. “I can’t believe it,” she said simply.

“You will have a sister and now a suitor, my dear,” Ellen said mischievously. “He’s very shy isn’t he? But he has a good heart.”

“He does,” Ebony agreed, nodding. “It still bewilders me as to why he would do so much for me. It is such a big ask.”

“You can’t?” Ellen scoffed. “The man is clearly besotted with you. One can see it in his eyes. You’ve heard of his family, yes?” Ellen asked.

Ebony couldn’t agree with ‘besotted’. “He’s not besotted with me,” she argued. “But no, I haven’t. Should I have?”

“The Alcotts are one of the richest families in London. Henry’s father is the Earl of Ethridge and they’ve amassed a hefty fortune over the years. Henry is not the heir however, so you won’t become the lady of the house unfortunately but you’ll have more money than God.” Ellen came to stand behind her so that she could fix her hair ready to go on stage.

“Ellen!” Ebony exclaimed. “I’m surprised at you. There is more to this life then just money and titles and clothes. I learnt that the hard way. I’d rather have a shilling to my name and Celeste’s hand in mine than all the money in the world.” She finished dusting her cheek and then stood up to finish getting dressed.

“I suppose you are right,” Ellen said. “Fear not, Ebony. Both Freddie and Celeste will be out of Vernon’s hands in no time. Mark my words, Ebony, we’ll see them soon.”

Ebony truly hoped so. ‘Ebbie will see you soon, Little Monkey’ she silently thought.

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Here's a shorter chapter to tide you over for a while! I have exams all next week and I have to study. I'm the kind of girl that makes flash cards for everything and then reads and rereads. I got all distinctions last semester so hopefully it will be the same this semester :) BUT - after exams I have a month off before my next lot of classes starts, I only have to take two so I'll have three days off sweeeet :D

Hope you liked this one. Not sure when the next one will be up so be patient :)

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