The Howletts were not doing as they ought to, Mrs. Howlett's health seemed to be on a decline so one day after attending church with my brother, sister and mother we went to pay them a visit.

"Mrs. Stewart come in please," who I assumed was Mr. Howlett asked us in. t

The harsh smell I had grown was noticeable unlike before where it was everywhere and there was no getting away yet now though I had only been living at the Howard household for a little while I breathed it in with difficulty. The Howletts kids went to play with Daniel outdoors and Joan stayed on my lap while mother went to Mrs. Howlett's bed, and Mr. Howlett fixed an old bread cut up into four pieces none of which were for him or Mrs. Howlett.

"My dear how are you today?" Mother touched her hand.

"Better," Mrs. Howlett opened her eyes and a big smile upon her face, "much better ain't it right dear?"

"Yes and tomorrow you'll be up and walkin'," Mr. Howlett said to her.

"How about your job? Still on strike?"

"Yes for now I still have a job but if the owner gives in they'll send us right back on the boat we came from." Mr. Howlett explained the situation which was fair to none of the hard working men involved.

"I urge him to be still, nothing will come to pass, and if so then there is always America right?"

"Yes there is always America," Mr. Howlett agreed with his wife, he was so amiable towards her he reminded me of father, always in good spirits, giving in to his wife's wisdom.

"America I had never thought about it," mother said.

"Me either."

"Oh but you two lovely ladies are homegrown English women, us, we are far from home already a little more distance for a better life would make no difference." Mrs. Howlett coughed a little.

"Does it hurt?" Mother asked her.

"Oh no, what hurts is being in bed all day, I might go for a stroll tomorrow or I will be driven mad."

"Then tomorrow I shall come by to help you do just that."

"Thank you, you are a dear friend, the only one we have but worth a thousand friends," Mrs. Howlett smiled and mother decided our visit had gone on long enough.

"We shall bother you no longer we only wanted to see how you were getting on."

"Thank you and how are you getting on with your new employer Miss Alice?"

"Really well, I am very privileged to be there Mrs. Howlett."

"Good and what is the name of your employer? I was trying to tell our neighbor but forgot the name of who you work for now."

"Mr. Howard, is what he goes by."

"Oh..." Mrs. Howlett became quiet.

"What is it?" Mother also noticed the refrain to go further.

"Nothing I am sure it is all rumors."

"Rumors? What rumors?"

"Is he not the mad earl?"

"The mad earl?"

"Yes he is an earl who goes by the name of Mr. Howard, he refuses to be called earl."

"Earl?" I could not believe my employer was an Earl, had his conduct been thus contradicting before now it only aggravated it's lunacy for an Earl should never behave like Mr. Howard did.

"Yes, he has had two or three maids pass away this year, sick apparently still in a year it is very worrisome." Mrs. Howlett went on bringing danger to each of my strange memories in the household.

"Oh people talk, it is all they do in England if you are not living life their way, is it not my dear?" Mother asked me and I nodded with a smile as to not burden her with silly stories.

"Yes mother."

"Or is there anything strange going on?" Mother made sure to ask but I had lost heart sooner.

"Everything is fine mother," I nodded first because we needed the wages, second because it might be bad luck they lost two or three maids as it seemed impossible to survive in good health for too long in London, and third I could be careful, very careful with whatever it was haunting that house.

"Forgive me I did not mean to gossip," Mrs. Howlett apologized.

"Of course not, we know that," mother was very forgiving and I had a good idea after seeing their trouble.

"May I bring you some food later on Mrs. Howlett?" I asked her.

"Oh of course, food is always welcome."

"Good then I shall get back to serve dinner and once it's done I will come by with something."

"Sounds perfect Miss Alice."

"Alright then we shall be on our way, get better my friend, may God heal you."

"Amen," Mrs. Howlett agreed and Mr. Howlett opened the door.

"Thank you for the visit Mrs. Stewart," Mr. Howlett said as we left and he called in the kids "god be with ye'!"

"With you too!" Mother said and I walked them home then alone back to the Howard household.

The wind chilled my body the minute I beheld the dark corner town home compared to the true English family houses. Once again when I looked up the curtains moved where the master's room was and this time I stayed put outside seeing if he would dare look down from it or not but I saw no one.

During dinner the master ate in complete silence as I stood in the corner watching his back for as long as it took him to finish it but I noticed he would rather not have me there at all when he turned his cheek so I could see half of his face.

"I cannot eat with you standing there," his eyebrow was raised and he looked not at me but at the floor stopping his eating.

"Yes master," I moved to the door waiting for directions.

"Oh for God's sake move, outside and close the doors," he ordered me like I should know better still I did as he asked, after the first course he opened the doors and left without a word.

I waited and waited for him to come back before I left my post and wrapped up the food to take it to the Howletts like I promised and once I had my coat on secured I went about like a fox in the night to the slums finding my way to deliver their dinner.

"Mr. Howlett," I knocked on their door and one of the little ones opened the door for me.

"Miss Alice," she said.

This night the food was plenty to go around for their family, it was a blessing in disguise that my master had no eaten the other two courses so I could bring it here tonight for them. The kids had never eaten such a dinner before as they dug in with their hands leaving food all over their faces.

"Oh what a dinner! A dinner for kings!" Mrs. Howlett exclaimed.

"For a queen dear," Mr. Howlett held his wife's hand.

"For a beautiful family" I said, if father were alive he would say exactly as Mr. Howlett did.

After toasting the most joyful tea with the Howletts, Mr. Howlett accompanied me through the slums as I went to the Howard household when a woman begging for money asked my way.

"Miss please something, anything," the woman begged me.

"Oh I oh Lord," I searched for something, anything in my pockets but I had nothing to give her, "forgive me I have nothing miss."

"Please anything will do miss," the woman grabbed my skirt.

"I know, I wish I had something," I tried to let her know and she became violent putting her hands inside my pockets.

"Liar! Give me what you have!" She screamed almost ripping the skirt and I tried to get her off but she was taller than me.

"Miss please let go!" I said and someone came to help her off me.

"Let her go miss," the man pulled her away.

"Here, you can have this, I am sorry I've got nothing else," I took off my bonnet and put it in her hand.

"Miss don't do that," the man who was helping me said but my heart would break if I walked home without giving her something.

"Oh a bonnet, yes," the woman took it and walked happily the other way.

"Thank you sir, have a goodnight," I nodded and finally made it safely back to a place I wasn't sure was safe at all and once I arrived through the back door thinking I had safely made my escapade in and out without being noticed yet someone stood waiting for me...

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Copyright: All Rights Reserved to A. Sena Gomes.