Prologue
Dear Alice and Margaret,
Things are going exceptionally well here in France, but I miss you both greatly. I do have some exciting news, though. I've finally found a suitable father for you both! He is an exceptional man of high class, and knows how to run a household well. In addition, he has a daughter your age, Margaret! I'm terribly sorry that you both couldn't attend the wedding, and I missed you both terribly during the ceremony. It will be wonderful to see you both when I get home, and I can't wait for you to meet Andrew and Iracebeth!
Love forever,
Helen Kingsleigh Crim
"Oh, Margaret! We're getting a new father!" little Alice exclaimed, jumping around in her joy. Her older sister smiled at the seven-year-old's excitement, and folded the letter that she had just finished reading aloud. "When do you think they'll get here? I can't wait to meet Irece… Irici… What was her name, again?" the little blond stopped spinning and wobbled a bit, looking at her sister expectantly.
"Iracebeth," She responded, "And Ascott said that they'd arrive within the next few days."
"Marvelous!" Alice cheered as she resumed her spinning.
"Alice! Alice! Alice!" A small boy with orange hair came bounding into the room. He didn't see the blonde's crazy movements, and the two ended up colliding into each other, landing in a heap on the floor.
"My goodness, Hamish! What is it?" Margaret asked as she rushed to help the two up. Hamish and his father, Ascott, were servants in the Kingsleigh household, though Hamish served as a playmate and friend to Alice more than anything else.
"Father told me to give this letter to you!" He replied excitedly, holding up a now-crumpled envelope. Margaret took the item from him, and, after everyone was untangled, opened it to read to the two other children.
Dear Kingsleigh house,
I regret to inform you that Helen Kinsleigh Crim has fallen extremely ill with pneumonia during our travels throughout Europe. We have stopped our journey in upper England to fetch a doctor, though she is not expected to live through the night. I regret to be the bearer of bad news before we have even met, and I hope that this will not taint our relationship in the future.
Many condolences,
Andrew Crim
Margaret dropped the paper and took a step back from it, as though it was something contagious. She slowly looked up to the shocked little faces of the two children, and saw tears welling up in Alice's eyes. Suddenly, the seven-year-old turned and ran down the hall. "Alice, wait!" her older sister called as she dashed after her.
Alice fled through the house and out the front door, but came to a skidding stop on the front porch. There, in the pathway that led up the house, was a frightening-looking carriage of an ugly maroon color. As Margaret came panting up behind Alice, a tall, thin man with greasy black hair stepped out, followed by a pale girl with stark-red hair and the largest head either of the two children had ever seen…