Alice pretended to be asleep while Betty woke to fix breakfast. She left with Jim, and Alice was alone. She knew she was lucky to have such good people in her life, and today, she prayed she would be successful in gaining employment. She liked children. As her whole life was spent in an orphanage, she had taken care of children. Alice was feeling good about the prospect of working and being back in cleanliness again.

Her night's sleep had settled her mind. Betty was right. It was best to stay away from the duke and Edmund. In time, she would write, but for now, it was best for things to settle down, so each of them could move forward with their lives. Today she wanted to give back to Betty and wanted to clean her little homestead. Not that it needed much cleaning, Betty was a good housewife, but Alice saw that the stove could do with being spruced up.

As she scrubbed away, Alice began to daydream. She couldn't help but think about the duke. He would be in his study by now. Her lady's maid had told her how the duke had changed his morning routine so he could breakfast with her. She wondered if he had returned to his old ways.

“Poor, Edmund. I hope you are coping,” she said out loud as she sat back on her haunches and wiped her brow.

The sound of something wrapping the door made her shriek with fright. She went to the door and as she opened it; her mouth fell open. It was the duke!

"Your Grace," she bowed her head and curtsied.

"Alice, may I come in?" he asked.

She nodded and stepped out of the way as his presence filled the room. Jarvis walked in behind the duke, as the duke surveyed the place.

"Alice, I have come to return your necklace." He handed it to her and she didn't know what to do or say. Betty was right. She didn't feel the same in his presence.

"Do you know how you came to be in possession of the necklace?" he asked.

"When I was due to leave the orphanage, they gave me an envelope which contained the necklace. There was just a note to say it belonged to my mother. Apparently, she had died giving birth to me. I know nothing of my heritage. Your Grace, you do know that I did not remember anything of my past. I want you to know that I would never try to deceive you or his Lordship…"

"I know that, Alice. Your demeanor is a gentle one, and I must trust my instincts about people. You are as sincere as they come. The Earl of Bosley on the other hand…let's leave him out of this. Do you know anything else about your father?"

"No, Your Grace."

"I do. Do you want to know who you are?"

"What?" she loudly exclaimed, with Jarvis clearing his throat to remind her of her manners.

"Your Grace, pardon me but how could you know?"

"Your necklace. Jarvis found it in your reticule. He gave it to me, and I thought there was something vaguely familiar about it. I hadn't seen it on your initial arrival, Cholmosley and Jarvis had looked at your belongings. After that unfortunate incident at Almack's, I was looking at my wife's portrait. I was looking to her for guidance, for you had given me a new lease on life. And as always, the duchess supplied the answer. The symbol on your necklace was part of her family crest. Then I remembered the necklace. She had twin nieces, and she had necklaces made for them when they were born, together they created the family crest. She was very fond of them, Eliza and Cecily, were their names. Lovely young girls, but you see, there was a family fall-out. The girls' mother, and my dearly departed wife, had words and we never saw the young ladies again.

When I found your necklace, I had some investigations done and it appears that Eliza, your mother, had run off to Gretna Green with an officer and they married. He was sent to France some months later and I'm afraid, killed in battle. What happened next seems vague. Either your mother was rejected by the family for her disgrace of eloping, or she was too proud to ask for help and you know the rest."

"I have a family."

"You have a grandfather, who is still alive. Your aunt died from scarlet fever and your grandmother has long since passed. But you are a titled young woman as your grandfather is a duke. You have your mother's title of lady."

Alice couldn't believe what she was hearing, and as she was about to exclaim, Betty walked in. She looked at the gentleman and Alice.

"Betty, I'm a lady after all! The duke's wife was my grand-aunt. I have a family. I belong to someone."

Alice ran to Betty and hugged her and then ran back to the duke to hug him too. She couldn't resist hugging Jarvis who was very uncomfortable with her display of affection. The duke smiled.

"This means you can stay with me for a while until we arrange your carriage to the Duke of Lanzaby. Edmund is home and he has missed you.”