Chapter 25: Chapter 26: Grandmother

Rose didn't flinch. "Hello, Grace," she said, kindness in her voice before looking down at Alice. "Juliette was Grace's maid."

"Juliette." Grace leaned forward, reaching for Rose's hand, which she took between her strong, dark ones. "I'm afraid. Please, don't leave me alone again. Not until we've made it safely away."

Alice looked back and forth between the women as Rose's face crumpled, tears rising in her eyes. Curiosity warred with empathy as Rose gently squeezed Grace's hands.

"Why?" Alice turned her full attention to Grace. "Why are you afraid?"

"Papa," Grace wailed barely above a whisper, voice sounding more like a girl's than an old woman's. "He'll kill him if he catches us together." Alice glanced at Rose who freed one of her hands to wipe the tears tracking down her cheeks. She shook her head at Alice who tsked in frustration and went back to her broken grandmother.