Unchaining Alice

Chapter 24

Alice couldn’t help but smile at the stereotypical woman. She had to be Catherine, James’ grandmother.

Sebastian and Emilia both just laughed as they headed into the house. Catherine then greeted the rest of her grandchildren and their families, particularly fussing over the newborns wrapped tightly in the woollen blankets she had kindly knitted for them. Of course, as twins were not expected, Kitty had reused the blanket that was once Will’s. Catherine exclaimed in delight as she saw the twins. “Twins run in our family, you know! I was a twin! Although my sister and I never got along. She was a horrible woman … oh well!” she giggled and cooed at the babies. “Come inside and get out of the cold all of you!” She ushered everyone inside but paused when her hazel eyes fell on Alice.

Alice was prepared for something horrid. She was a French revolutionary after all and had only recently been released from prison after a murder accusation. What if she wasn’t allowed in the house? What if she was made to sleep in the barn with the horses that were now being locked in there by the drivers?

Catherine clapped her hands over her mouth as she squealed. “Aren’t you beautiful?” she exclaimed as she quickly pulled the surprised Alice into a tight embrace. Alice was not expecting that. “Oh, it must take a wonderful woman to make my grandson want to settle down,” she laughed as she pulled back so that she could look at her. Alice thought Catherine very pretty for an older woman. Lines crinkled her face and her hair had turned completely silver but she could tell that Catherine would once have been the toast of the town. “Oh, you mustn’t be frightened, dear. We are a large brood, but we are kind, I promise you.”

James chuckled. “Grandmamma, this is Alice. Alice, this is my grandmother, Catherine,” he introduced.

“Thank you for inviting me ‘ere, Madame,” Alice said formally. She felt the need to curtsey but couldn’t considering she was still in Catherine’s arms.

“Oh, hear that accent, James?” Catherine beamed. “Simply gorgeous! My darling, you may call me ‘Catherine’ or ‘Grandmamma’, we are not strangers here. We are family. You and my precious Jamesie are going to be married in a few days, after all!” She motioned for them to go inside and Alice was grateful.

She could not believe how suddenly at home she felt. She felt like she belonged. Why should she be surprised? Had the Alcotts not been welcoming her into their home for months? All she had been doing was stepping on eggshells around them, refusing their money and hospitality out of sheer pride. But they were family, the only family she’d known in a long time. They’d been treating her as such for a long while, it was time for her to do the same.

The smells of fresh baked pie, homemade casserole and pine needles hit her as she walked over the threshold into the warm home. Alice couldn’t help but smile when she saw how the family had gathered in the sitting room. Several miss-matched chairs and settees were occupied by the woman and children and the men stood around behind their wives conversing as well. Alice didn’t recognise several of the people inside so she knew that they had to be the family from Nottinghamshire. James’ aunt and uncle, she recalled.

As they walked in, all eyes were suddenly on her. Alice’s insecurities immediately returned.

“Family, this is my fiancée, Alice Devereaux, Alice, this is the rest of my family,” he gestured to the faces that she did not know.

Immediately a woman who could only be Sebastian’s sister jumped up from her seat to receive Alice. She was younger that Sebastian and Emilia but she still had a look of wisdom in her eyes. “You are very welcome here, Alice,” she said kindly. “My name is Jane … I’m James’ favourite aunt.”