The Wonder sailed up the Thames into the heart of London. Collecting her things, Alice moved about the captain's cabin. She tucked her father's watch into her coat pocket, even though it had stopped working a week earlier. Ever since her father had passed away, Alice had carried the pocket watch with her everywhere, almost like a talisman.
She scanned her cabin one last time, then headed up to watch the Wonder pull alongside a pier. A slender figure in a gray cloak caught her eye. With a cry of joy, Alice darted down the gangplank.
“Mother!” Alice called as she ran toward her.
Flinging her arms around her mother, she pulled her into a tight embrace. Helen Kingsleigh returned the hug a bit more stiffly, softly patting Alice on the back.
“Well, here you are... finally,” Helen said as she stepped away.
Alice drew a breath to launch into stories of her exploits—she had so much to tell her mother—but she stopped short as an unfamiliar man approached them.
He was young and handsome. As Alice studied his simple, clean suit for a clue, she noticed the insignia stamped on a briefcase he carried. So he was from the firm, here to check up on her cargo.
“You and the Wonder have been expected a year, Miss Kingsleigh,” he said. “I'm James Harcourt. Clerk to the firm.” He held out his hand and Alice shook it, softening a bit as James nodded respectfully.
“I should like to see Lord Ascot,” Alice said as the clerk led her and her mother to a hansom cab. Pausing at the cab's door, James gazed at her solemnly. “Ah, I'm afraid Lord Ascot passed away whilst you were at sea.”
Stunned, Alice turned to her mother, who nodded sadly in confirmation. Alice bowed her head, the loss weighing on her.
“The title has passed to his son,” James continued.
“Hamish?” Alice struggled to hide her astonishment.
“Indeed, now also chairman of the board,” James said.
She clambered into the hansom, mulling over the news. Of course the title and company shares would have passed to Hamish. Yet she hoped they'd be able to work together. Perhaps the years had changed him.
Deep in thought, she was oblivious to the blue butterfly struggling to keep up with the cab.
When they pulled up to her childhood home, she followed her mother inside.
Alice stood in the front hall, a bit disappointed. While the outside remained the same, the interior was dark and cold. No fires had been lit to welcome them home and the air felt dusty.
Shivering slightly, Alice stepped toward the drawing room, planning to light a fire herself, but the sight of the room stopped her short. Half the furniture was missing. Even the sideboard table was gone, an imprint of its outline on the floor the only sign it had ever been there at all.
Her mother smiled awkwardly at Alice's confused expression and headed downstairs.
Once inside the basement kitchen, Helen plucked cups and saucers from the cupboards and set them out for tea. Alice spotted new lines on her mother's face and streaks of gray in her hair. Time seemed to be taking its toll on her.
“I hear the Ascots are marking Hamish's succession tonight,” Helen said as she sank into an armchair opposite her daughter.
“Perfect. We should go,” Alice said. She needed to establish her working relationship with Hamish, and there was no time like the present.
“Without an invitation?” Helen blinked at her daughter, her brow furrowed.
“Lady Ascot once said we would always be welcome.” Alice waved her hand nonchalantly.
“But, Alice...” her mother began.
“Besides, I have a proposition for Hamish,” Alice continued.
Helen pursed her lips. “He married last year, Alice. He seems to have gotten over your public rejection—although I would imagine the other three hundred guests might still remember it.”
“A business proposition, Mother!” Alice nearly rolled her eyes. Then she sat forward, unable to contain her excitement. “It's time we saw the world as our partner, not a pocket to be picked. When I return to China, I'll prove it's so.”
“You aim to leave so soon?” She gathered her next words carefully. “There are matters here that would benefit from your attention.”
Alice patted her mother's hand reassuringly. “After my next voyage, you won't have to worry anymore. About anything.”
“Am I permitted to worry tonight?” Helen asked. Answering her mother with only a grin, Alice set off upstairs.
The Ascot mansion perched atop a hill at the end of a long driveway. But as the hansom cab carried the Kingsleighs up the drive, Alice's eyes were drawn instead to the rambling woods lining the road. Leaning forward in excitement, she recognized the gnarled tree that marked the entrance to Underland.
“Look, Mother! The rabbit hole!” Alice said.
“Please don't start that, dear.” Helen Kingsleigh's hand floated up to her forehead, as though she had a headache.
The carriage pulled to a stop, and a footman rushed forward to open the door and help the ladies out.
“I do wish you'd worn that yellow dress,” Helen muttered to her daughter as they approached the mansion.
Alice grinned, running her hands down the traditional Chinese silk costume she'd chosen for the occasion. “If it's good enough for the Dowager Empress of China, it's good enough for the Ascots,” Alice said.
“Alice, must you be so headstrong?” Shaking her head, Helen sighed as they swept inside the mansion.
Inside, Alice strode toward the grand hall, her mother lagging self-consciously behind her. They paused in the entryway. Dressed in their finest, London's elite flittered about on the gleaming floor.
“Miss Kingsleigh?” someone called. Turning, Alice saw James Harcourt, the clerk, approaching. “What are you—”
“I've come to give my report to Lord Ascot, Mr. Harcourt,” Alice said.
James nodded and gestured for them to follow him. They wove through the crowd, and a ripple of whispers followed in their wake as guests raised their eyebrows and muttered about Alice's costume.
Under a shimmering chandelier, they found Lady Ascot, Hamish, and his wife, all smiling benevolently at their audience. Hamish's chest was puffed out in self-importance. At his side, his prim and proper wife, Alexandra, balanced their son in her arms.
His piggish eyes landed on Helen Kingsleigh and the oddly dressed woman with her. That tiresome clerk, Harcourt, was leading them toward him. Blinking in shock, Hamish realized that the figure in the garish tunic was none other than Alice herself.
Lady Ascot noticed the two interlopers as well. “Helen! What a surprise!” She reached forward and clasped Helen's arm before turning to her daughter. “And is that Alice? My, the sea and salt air have done wonders for you. When you left, you were so pale and peaked.”
“Thank you,” Alice said. Only Lady Ascot could find a way to combine an insult with a compliment.
Finally having collected himself, Hamish cleared his throat. “Alice! Welcome home. Only a year late.” He rocked on his feet. “We were afraid you may never come back with our ship!”
“My ship,” Alice said, correcting him. “Hello, Hamish.”
Next to them, Alexandra sniffed loudly. “It is proper to refer to my husband as Lord Ascot. It is why we are having this little soiree, after all,” she said, her words clipped.
“Miss Kingsleigh,” Hamish said formally. “This is my wife, the new Lady Ascot.”
Alice and Alexandra eyed each other.
“So, Hamish tells me you've traveled the world these last three years,” Alexandra drawled.
“Yes, I have just returned,” Alice replied.
“Well, then! How was it?” Alexandra said.
“The world?” Alice asked.
“Yes!” Alexandra said brightly.
Alice couldn't help teasing her. “Highly enjoyable. You should visit it sometime.”
Behind her, James covered his mouth to muffle his laugh as Alexandra's face registered her astonishment.
“I've come to give my report, Lord Ascot,” Alice continued smoothly.
“Ah, of course,” Hamish said. “If you would follow me, Miss Kingsleigh.” After nodding to his mother and wife, he guided Alice down a hall.
Hamish led Alice to the mansion's smoking room. “Gentlemen,” Hamish said, addressing the room. “Might I introduce Miss Alice Kingsleigh. Miss Kingsleigh—the board.”
Despite Alice's polite smile, none of the men's expressions changed. Undaunted, she plunged forward with her planned speech. “Gentlemen, we must move quickly! The profits of my voyage—”
“Scarcely outweigh the costs,” Hamish interjected.
Alice glanced at him. “Further expeditions to Ta-Kiang or Wuchang—” she began.
“There will be no ‘further expeditions,’” Hamish interrupted once more.
“What?” Alice was flabbergasted.
“The risks are not worth the reward,” Hamish proclaimed.
Alice stared at him. “But... what am I to do?”
“There's a position in our clerking office,” Hamish offered. “You'll start in files, but, in time—”
Alice felt her face burning, anger rising inside her. “This isn't about China at all, is it? It's because three years ago I turned you down when you asked me to marry you!” She couldn't believe Hamish would be so stupid, so pigheaded!
“I'm sorry, Miss Kingsleigh,” Hamish said, sounding completely unremorseful. “But that is all we can do for you. No other company is in the business of hiring female clerks, let alone ship's captains!”
Several of the board members chuckled, while others harrumphed at the thought. Only James, who had slipped into the room behind Alice, stood by quietly, wishing there were something he could do.
Alice ignored the laughter and pounded her hand on a nearby cigar table. Whatever it took, she would make herself heard. “I have voting rights and ten percent of the company! Your father set those shares aside for me—”
“Correction,” Hamish proclaimed. “He gave them to your mother, who sold them to me last year, while you were gone. Along with the bond on the house.”
Alice's anger seeped out like air from a deflating balloon. “Her... house?”
“Secured by your father against the ship he bought,” Hamish confirmed.
“The Wonder ?” Alice's words came out strangled.
“Yes. Sign it over and you'll redeem the house, receive a salary and a pension.” His tone might have been bored, but his eyes were fixed intently on her.
“Give up the Wonder ?” Alice was aghast.
“Otherwise we cannot help you,” Hamish said, tapping a slip of paper that had been laid out on a table.
With a new rush of rage, Alice realized it must be a prepared contract for the Wonder . Helen Kingsleigh cautiously entered the room at that moment and glanced around.
“Or your mother.” Hamish's words sent a chill through Alice. She spotted Helen's thin shoulders from the corner of her eye, but she spun away, needing time to think.
Shoving open the door, Alice stalked out of the room. Helen raced after her, but Alice didn't stop until Helen reached out and grabbed hold of her sleeve.
Alice turned on her, unable to contain her aggravation. Now they had no say in the company, no control in their fate. “How could you sell our shares?”
“I had no choice, Alice! With your sister on her mission and you at sea for an extra year... What was I to do?” Helen's voice climbed higher and people started to turn toward them.
Taking a deep breath, Helen pulled Alice into a hallway, firmly shutting the door behind them for privacy.
“I did it for you, Alice!” her mother said fervently. “So you can make a decent start in life. So that you won't be alone.”
Alice faced her mother. “Ten minutes ago I was a sea captain.” Her voice was tinged with bitterness. Her next voyage abroad could have secured them both a comfortable living.
“A sea captain is no job for a lady!” Helen countered.
“Good!” Alice exclaimed. “All the better! On the ocean I am free, as father was. Or would you rather have me be a clerk?”
“I'm talking about marriage, Alice,” Helen said impatiently. “Time is against you, and you are being careless with it!”
Alice rolled her eyes, her anger returning. Why was her mother so closed-minded?
“I'm only trying to help you,” her mother said softly.
“Well, don't,” Alice snapped. “Because the last thing I want in life is to end up like you.”
Alice spun on her heel and stalked off, her words hanging in the air behind her. She didn't turn back, so she didn't see her mother lift her hand to her mouth, tears filling her eyes.