Alden took a moment to consider how to reply. If the maid seated across from him had a particularly close relationship with the brothers in question, then the honest approach might not get him the information he wanted. On the other hand, lying to someone about the circumstances their family members were facing didn’t sit particularly well with Alden. Then again, there was only so much he could really say without divulging information that might jeopardise his entire investigation if it reached the wrong ears… “Something that they may end up hanging for.” He said at last. The maid slumped back against the chair with a harsh sigh. “Those idiots! I told them to stop getting into so much trouble! Why do they never listen to me?” Alden regarded the maid silently for a moment, noting the moist sheen forming on surface of the eyes, the sharp breathing, the slight tremble of the hands… Suppressing a small sigh, he decided he needed to continue the conversation from a steadier foundation, and not just for his own sake. “What’s your name?” The maid stiffened slightly, seeming to contemplate how to answer the question. “…Benjamin Corker.” Taking careful note of the expression and tone of voice, Alden decided to act on his suspicions. “No, what’s your real name?” The maid almost didn’t seem to understand what he was asking at first, then her eyes widened. “How did you know?” “A maid would typically tie her hair up and wear it under her cap. That’s what the cap is for, after all. But you’re making your hair do a lot of work for you. Understandable if you were seeing someone, perhaps, but you’re here drinking your tea alone. There’s the way you’re treating your dress, too. It’s a work uniform, and not one for a particularly impressive position, but when I saw you across the street, I couldn’t help but feel like you were acting as though you were privileged to wear it. And despite clearly caring about your brothers, when you gave me that name you seemed almost loathe to speak it.” The maid gave him a long, searching look, but finally graced him with a tired smile. “I’m Alice Corker. Thank you for asking.” “Pleasure to meet you, Alice. I’m Alden Stowe.” “But those things you said can’t have been all there was to it. Most people would never even have the idea in the first place.” “I suppose not. Let’s just say you remind me of someone who is very important to me.” Alice hummed thoughtfully. “Your lover?” Alden couldn’t help but startle at the unexpected suggestion. Despite trying to keep his composure, he could feel his face twisting into a displeased grimace. “Absolutely not! And I’d much prefer if you refrained from making such reckless assumptions in the future!” Alice pushed back in her seat, clearly shocked by his vehemence. “My apologies. I didn’t mean to offend. I simply…” She was interrupted as a waiter from the teahouse came over to ask what Alden wished to drink and if Alice required anything further. Conscious that it would look rather strange for them to be sitting outside the teahouse without any food or drink, Alden ordered a pot of tea and a plate of madeleines for them to share. Alden took the moment of silence to regain his composure, but Alice appeared deep in thought as the waiter brought out their new refreshments. Just as Alden took his first sip of tea, the young woman spoke again. “Could it be your daughter? Is that why you reacted so poorly?” Alden swallowed rather harshly, but only because of simple surprise. The new suggestion raised none of the ire he had experienced in the wake of her earlier assumption. If anything, he found the notion a bit sweet. “Not as such. Although thinking about it, I might more of a father to her than anybody else. The former holder of that particular office has proven himself thoroughly unqualified, after all.” Alice smiled. “She’s lucky to have you.” Alden felt his cheeks heat up just a little, and cleared his throat a bit awkwardly. “So, what of your situation? If you don’t wish to speak of it, I shan’t pry any further. But if there is anything you want to say, I’m happy to listen.” Alice tapped her finger absently against the tabletop as she gathered her thoughts. “I suppose it all started back when we were running with the Rascals. Thomas was always a bit of a thinker. Far more than William or me, at any rate. And he was quick to notice that there were a lot of things a young girl could get away with that might get a young boy in trouble.” “I suppose so, though the reverse is also true.” “Well, there’s not that much difference between a boy child and a girl child, when you get right down to it. Not that’s visible on the surface, anyway. So whenever Thomas conjured up some caper that would go more smoothly with a girl involved, either me or William would put on a dress and neaten our hair so we could ‘play the Alice’.” “Frankly, that sounds very much like something a Rascal would think up.” “Doesn’t it just? But me and Bill took very differently to ‘playing the Alice’. William hated being Alice. He found the dress impractical and the tasks boring. But to me, being Alice was the most wonderful thing I’d ever known. I loved the pretty dress. I loved getting to act kind and sweet and endearing. I loved how kindly everyone treated me. I loved making sure my hair looked just right. I even spent my money buying pretty hair clasps and things. When Tom decided I should just be the Alice every time we needed her because I was better at it than Bill, I was so happy. I remember wishing that I could just keep being Alice forever…” “In that case, I suppose congratulations are in order.” Alice let out a giggle so sweet and charming it must have been thoroughly practiced, but the reaction nonetheless seemed perfectly natural to her. “I suppose so. Back in those days, I was always nagging Tom to let me grow my hair out so I could be a better Alice, but he made me keep it short for when we needed to pull a triplet switch for some scheme or other.” “Sounds like you were involved in no shortage of schemes and capers.” Alice sighed. “Far too many. It was only a matter of time before things went bad. First Bill’s temper got us thrown out of the rascals, then Tom’s scheming got us on the bad side of the lawmen. In the end, we had to stow away on a ship and flee to Éire. Tom and Bill were all set on continuing on the same way they used to, but I was done with it. In the end, I got myself a job in a pub as Alice Corker and kept my nose well clean of their lawbreaking. We still kept in touch, and I let them use my room to lay low a few times when they got in trouble, but that was that.” “Then how come you’re all back in London?” “Because those idiots got in too deep all over again, of course. Someone caught them cheating at cards, and the argument turned into a fight. Nobody died, but it was near enough a thing, and if the law had caught up with them they’d be doing hard labour for years and years. They came to me begging to pull them out of it.” “And you did?” Alice huffed. “They’re still my brothers, you know. I made them swear to the gods this was the last time, then I took just about all my savings and bought them passage back to London on a smuggler’s vessel. Figured nobody would recognize them back in London with new names and Éire accents and a few more years to their age.” “That doesn’t explain why you’re here.” Alice laughed humourlessly. “Because I can’t leave well enough alone, is why. They hadn’t been here two months before Bill got sentenced to a year in the mines. Tom sent me a letter about it. I came back here as soon as I could afford passage to try and keep an eye on them. Not that it seems to have helped.” “I’m sorry to hear that.” “Not half as sorry as I. Those idiots just can’t leave well enough alone. No matter how many times I tell them, they just…” Alice blinked away the tears starting to form in the corners of her eyes. “Isn’t there something that can be done, Mr. Stowe? They’re as stubborn a pair of jackasses as ever walked this earth, but they’re family. Isn’t there some way to keep them from the gallows?” Alden considered the matter briefly. “There might be something that can be done. I might not look it, but I suppose I’m actually quite well connected as of late. I might be able to give your brothers a chance at saving their own skin, so long as they cooperate. I can’t promise anything, tough. I’ll have to discuss the matter with… with my superiors.” “Anything you can do, Mr. Stowe, anything at all, I’d be forever in your debt.” “I’ll certainly try. It will take me time to arrange it, however. Where can I find you?” “I live and work at the Albright townhouse, just a few minutes walk down the road from here. Officially I’m part of the household staff, but in all honesty I’m mostly just Lord Albright’s lover.” “I… I see. Is that not a troubling position for you?” “No, no. Not at all. Lord Albright is a very sweet man, and his personal interests happen to align very well with my circumstances. True, he is far fonder of certain parts of me than I am, but we get along very well. He even asked me to be the fourth to his marriage, bless his soul.” “Then why are you his mistress? Wouldn’t accepting his proposal just make matters easier?” Alice sighed sadly. “Being Alice Corker is all well and good if all I need to do is hold a job and live a quiet life, but do you really think I could get married to a viscount and his wife and husband without so much as a register of my birth? I’d have to marry him as Benjamin Corker, and Benjamin Corker still has a warrant out for his arrest. Besides, I don’t think I could stomach the notion of being someone’s husband, even just as a legal matter.” “I see. I suppose I hadn’t thought that far…” “I’m sure that girl you’re so fond of has her own share of problems. The one you said I reminded you of. No matter how kind some folk might be to someone like me or her, the world simply wasn’t made with us in mind.” Alden fell into a deep silence as he considered the matter, a troubled frown on his face. It took a good few minutes before he finally huffed out a discontented sigh. “I see. You’ve certainly given me a lot to consider, Alice. Thank you. I’ll be in touch as soon as I have something to report regarding your brothers.” Alden didn’t even bother stopping by at home. He simply hailed the first empty cab he could find and made his way directly to the Baines residence. When he got to Lucille’s office, he found her sitting behind her desk in a thick, soft dressing gown, her hair wrapped up in a towel to keep it from dripping. She raised a curious eyebrow as Alden entered the room. “I didn’t expect to see you so soon, Alden. And still in your finery, at that. Did you take that much of a liking to it?” “Hardly. I simply haven’t found the time to head home and get changed. Quite frankly, the corsetry has very much outstayed its welcome.” “It does that. I never sweat so much as when I have some sort of mechanical undergarments pushing my anatomy about. But tell me, Alden, what could possibly have brought you here in such a hurry you couldn’t even stop to change?” “I found one of the Corker triplets.” “…Of course you did. Why would I ever have expected it to take you more than a day or two to find a person in hiding amongst the vast sprawl of London. So, where is he?” “Before I tell you, I’d like to know what exactly is the nature of the outstanding arrest warrant against the Corkers.” “They are wanted for attempted fraud against the Royal Bank. They very nearly made off with fifteen hundred pounds of the Crown’s money.” “That’s it? Just fraud? Nothing violent?” “They tried to defraud the Crown, Alden, and for a small fortune at that. It’s a good twenty years in prison at the least if they’re caught.” “In that case, I want a promise before I tell you anything, Lucille.” “What sort of promise?” “I want you to promise that this particular Corker will not get into any trouble over this. I can assure you that this particular triplet had nothing to do with the murder of doctor Rawleigh and was, at worst, a reluctant accomplice to the fraud attempt, if that.” “…Give me a moment.” Lucille left the room, and Alden waited patiently for her return. A rather long wait, it turned out, since Lucille didn’t return until almost an hour later, now wearing an eastern dress similar to the one she had worn when Alden first met her. “I sent a telegram to my contact in the records department of the police headquarters. It seems that only two of the Corker brothers were confirmed to be involved with the bank fraud, but a warrant was issued for all three since no identification could be made.” “I am not at all surprised.” “You’re certain that this Corker you encountered had nothing to do with the fraud?” “I’m fairly confident.” Lucille huffed. “Fine. I promise I will do whatever I can to keep him out of trouble. Will that suffice?” “I’ll hold you to that. Her name is Alice Corker, and she lives at the Albright townhouse in Westminster. Officially, she works there as a junior maid, but in actuality she is the lover of Viscount Albright.” Lucille gave Alden a long, thoughtful look. “You know, after you surprised me and the prince earlier today, I asked some people to drop by your store and look into a few things.” Alden shot her a warning glare, and Lucille held up her hands disarmingly. “I’m not going to do anything, and besides the prince I’m not planning on telling anyone. Nor will the people I sent to look into things. I don’t care if some men decide they’d rather be women.” Alden did feel somewhat reassured, but he didn’t exactly feel satisfied. “You ought to care.” “How so?” “Because someone has to! I may only have met the two, but where there’s two, there’s a hundred! How many people are out there right now trying to awkwardly fit into a world that simply doesn’t allow for their existence?” Lucille remained calm throughout Alden’s outburst, though Alden could see faint smile tugging at her lips. “You really have come to care quite deeply for this ‘Tiffany’, haven’t you?” “Again, someone has to! Gods know her useless excuse of a father isn’t performing acceptably on that front.” “Believe me, I’m no fonder of Baron Dawkins than you are. The man is not subtle about his views on the marriage reforms. But that’s not why we’re here, is it? Tell me about the Corker… sister.” Alden took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Outbursts like these weren’t like him, after all. But even the mere thought of Baron Dawkins was enough to make him agitated these days. Now was hardly the time, however. “Alice Corker claims to have tried her best for many years to keep her brothers out of trouble, and I believe her. If she’s pulling the wool over my eyes, then she’s the finest liar I’ve ever met. She tried to distance herself from them when they fled to Éire, but she clearly cares too deeply about their safety to follow through with it. When things got too hot for William and Thomas in Éire, she paid for their passage back to England. But the moment William got sentenced to the mines as Kieran Tully, she came running after them to try in vain to keep them on the right side of the law.” “If she cares that much, why would she tell you all this?” “Because I promised I’d do everything in my power to try and keep her brothers away from the gallows.” Lucille grew silent for a moment as she considered that statement. “That’s a rather tall order, Alden. If what we suspect is true then being accessory to murder is the least of their sins. It could be argued they’re guilty of treason.” “I know.” “So why are you trying to protect them?” “Because their sister asked me to.” “And she reminds you of your ‘Tiffany’?” “That may have something to do with it, yes.” Lucille sighed. “You really are a very simple man sometimes, Alden.” Alden grinned. “But of course. I’m naught but a humble tincturer, after all.” Lucille leaned forward just enough to punch Alden in the shoulder. “I’ll discuss the matter with my patron, Alden, but that’s all I can do. If he says the Corker brothers are gonna swing for what they’ve done, there’s nothing I can do.” “That’s all I ask. Thank you, Lucille.” It was getting quite late by the time Alden finally got back home, and he was rather surprised to find Tiffany waiting for him by the stairs to his apartment. ”Alden! Welcome back. How was your lunch?” “Blessedly undramatic. Exhausting, perhaps, but not without its utility.” “I’m glad. You seemed rather nervous last night.” “I suppose I was. Thank you for worrying about me. How is your work progressing?” “Fairly well. The mice are properly situated in their enclosures, and I should be ready to start testing my first new tincture in just a few days.” “Think you can spare some time tomorrow morning? I need your help identifying an unknown substance.” “Of course, Alden. Whenever you need me for anything, just say the word.” Alden hesitated for a moment. After all, he already felt bad for inadvertently making Lucille pry into Tiffany’s personal matters, and what he was about to suggest was tantamount to asking Tiffany to reveal her secrets to yet another person. But even so… “I met a young woman today who could probably benefit from your specialist knowledge. Would it be all right if…” But tiffany interrupted him before he could even complete his question. “You met someone who needs counter-androgenic treatments? I’d love to help, of course! Please tell her to come see me at her earliest convenience!” Tiffany was practically glowing with enthusiasm and eagerness to help. With a soft smile, Alden stepped forward and enveloped her in a hug. “Ah… Alden?” “You’re a good girl, Tiffany. You’re as sharp as a tack and as kind as you are clever. I couldn’t be more proud of you.” Tiffany didn’t answer. She just wrapped her arms around Alden and buried her face in his chest. Alden didn’t say anything as he felt her tears starting to soak through the silk of his shirt.