Chapter 7

Alicia’s Discussion

At Henderby Hall, Alicia was anxious to continue her discussion with Adelaide. She waited until her husband had left the room, turned towards Adelaide and leant forward with a conspiratorial air. “I need to confide in you,” she said, her voice at once breathy and tense. “Can I count on your discretion?”

“Of course,” Adelaide responded. The two had a long history of shared confidences from when Alicia had been studying at Cheltenham and Adelaide had started teaching there. As senior girl, Alicia had helped Adelaide a great deal, she acknowledged. Cheltenham girls could be as cruel to their teachers as most women were to their men but the teacher and student had formed a bond. Alicia had sensed that Adelaide had extraordinary talents in her field and had made it possible for Adelaide to fit in quickly at the College, to the benefit of all. Adelaide knew that Alicia’s help had been invaluable in the successful development of her career and the two had shared a friendship ever since. Alicia admired Adelaide’s independent spirit and her understanding. Adelaide admired Alicia’s faithfulness to her; she had been ever grateful for the loyalty Alicia had given her when she left Cheltenham. Plenty of others had not done the same.

“It concerns my reason for being late. I have just returned from a reading.”

“A reading?”

“The Tarot. I find it an infallible guide. I have been using it to chart my chance of conceiving an heir. And I have had good news. It seems I am carrying a daughter. The Ace of Cups declares it.”

Adelaide was sceptical of such arts but said nothing to discourage Alicia. “You must be so pleased. From your past confinements, I had thought Harold was not capable of it.”

“That is a point of view I share. To solve it, I have been making alternative arrangements. I keep Harold caged and only make use of him at such times as I have already bedded another. My technique is such that Harold’s sperm has no chance of fertilising but without his suspecting. He is grateful enough to be able to come! He has no idea that he will not be the father of another child of mine but two boys are more than enough! Anyway, it seems from my reading that my attempt a month ago was successful. Harold will only recall that he was released from his cage and permitted to bed me at around the right time. I will let him know the happy news soon.”

“And the true father? He will make no claim upon you? He will not try to contact Harold?”

“That is what I want to discuss with you. I think the father is unlikely to cause trouble but he is unlike my husband physically. It worries me that the child might be recognised as his by others. It might be better if the father were not to remain in the village.”

Adelaide thought she had a good idea of what was coming next as Alicia went on, “I wondered if you could find some way to have him accompany your troupe? A new life away from here might well be the making of him.”

Adelaide found Alicia’s request surprising but not disturbingly so. She assumed the father would be from Alicia’s household, perhaps a tenant or perhaps from the village. In her experience the landed gentry of the country had little sentiment when it came to the lives of those that lived on their estates. Besides, it was the natural way of things that men should fall into line with the needs of women when it came to matters as important as the succession of a land-owning line. She would, of course, help her friend, if she could. “Perhaps. Do you think he is amenable to being persuaded to join us?”