Letters to the front

Chapter 48 - Repercussions

Edward

****

"What do you mean she's gone?" I shouted.

My mother and father sat regarding me coolly in the lounge. The servants were stationed outside, no doubt listening to everything we were saying. "She left, Edward, she couldn't have stayed not now, this was the final straw" my father tossed the newspaper across the table, and I scanned over the article growling furiously. "This is lies! and you know it!" 

"It isn't, and you know it, you don't think we noticed her veins? Or the tiny scars? Edward we aren't fools" said my father.

"She beat it though, how did the papers get hold of this?" I demanded.

"Someone must've found out" said my mother.

"Why did you make her leave, there have been far greater scandals than this, just last month Lord Davenport's illegitimate tried to sue him, it's trivial gossip and would have died down"

"This family has never been the subject of gossip, and thanks to that girl now we are"

"That 'girl' as you call her is my fiancee" I snarled.

"She isn't, she didn't want to say goodbye, or she would have waited, wouldn't she?" said my mother. 

"I don't believe it, Alice wouldn't just leave, not unless she was forced" I said accusingly.

"Believe what you like, but that's what happened, and you are not going to try and find this girl, we can move past this, cover it up and shake it off, but we will never survive if you persue this" said my father.

"She isn't your sort of girl, Edward, she isn't even in your class, she's working class, someone like you and someone like her don't get married" my mother said.

"I cannot believe you, mother, look around, the class system is falling apart, and in this world we adapt or we die! Alice would've helped us adapt, but you got rid of her, because you couldn't stand to see me happy!"

"Enough!" shouted my father, "apologise Edward! Now!" 

"For goodness sake Father! I'm twenty-four years old! I will not be treated as a child!"

"Then stop acting like one!" he snapped. Furious, I charged out the room and slammed the door, I could hear my father calling me to come back, but I ignored him. "Erikson!" I shouted.

"Eriskson!" 

I saw a maid passing and grabbed her arm roughly, she shrieked in surprise, "have Erikson bring the Bentley round!" 

"Yes, sir" she said, scurrying away like a frightened mouse. I had no room for guilt, only pulsing anger that surged undiluted through my viens, there was only one thought on my mind, Alice. 

With brute strength, I yanked down my trunk from the top of the wardrobe and slung it open across the bed. I chucked clothes and essentials into it, then stuffed some money into my wallet, as well as bank details should I need them and even my passport. Finally, I picked up Alice's uncles address, it seemed like the best place to start, and the most logical. 

"Edward! You can't just leave!" my father said, my mother watching in horror as I dragged my trunk down the stairs, not even looking at them. 

"How do you even propose to find her? You've no guarantee she went home" my father implored.

"I don't care, I will, I have to" I said.

I threw my trunk into the boot of the car and slammed the door, "are you really going to drive all the way to Newcastle?"

"There are service stations, I'll make it"

"Edward, cease this madness"

I ignored them, not even saying goodbye as I slammed my foot onto the pedal and tore away from the house. I didn't look back. 

****

It took nearly a days driving but eventually, I made it to her uncle's farm. The place was exactly as I remembered, the neat little cottage and horses grazing peacefully in the fields. It was five o'clock, they'd all be having dinner about now. I just prayed Alice was alright. 

I stopped the car and leapt out, running up the steps and banging on the door. Alice's Aunt opened it, she looked surprised to say the least. "Edward what's going on? Where's Alice?" she asked.

"She isn't here?"

"She was staying with your family, and we assumed you two were staying down there for the time being, where is she?"

Edward limped out, and looked hopeful, "Is Ally home?"

I shook my head, and put my face in my hands; "No, no, no, no"

"What is it?"

"Where is she Edward?"

"You haven't read the evening chronicle then?" I said bleakly. 

"What? What are you talking about?" said Margret.

I handed them the copy, and they read over it. "She left, well at least my parents say she left, i'm not convinced it was her own choice, it happened a day or so ago, I assumed she'd come home"

"Edward, we haven't seen her since she left with you" Margret said.

"What has your bloody family done to my cousin?" Edward roared.

I leaned against the door frame, lack of sleep and anxiety catching up with me, leaving me exhausted. "Come in," said Tom. 

Walking through the threshold, I followed them to the lounge and collapsed into the arm chair."Where is Alice, Edward?" 

"I don't know, I thought when she left, that she'd come here..." my voice trailed off, I couldn't believe it, she could be anywhere. 

"I can't leave the farm, as much as I want too" Tom sighed.

"Father!" Edward snapped, "this is Alice were talking about!"

"And it'll do her no good if we lose the land, will it?" 

"I promise i'll find her" I said.

"Can you really do it?" Margret asked nervously.

"I will, because I can't lose her" I said.