She climbed out gingerly, feeling the bite of frost on her bare feet, and heaved the contents of the chamber pot over the parapet. From far, far below came an anguished howl and Alice scampered hastily back to the safety of the room and shut the window quickly behind her.

She quickly undressed and washed as much of herself as she could, shivering because the water was cold. A fresh stack of logs had been piled up beside the fireplace, and so she lit a fire and, when it was blazing, she ate her breakfast and then began to leaf through the thick plates of the fashion magazines.

But the gowns seemed so rich, so jeweled with their clasps of topaz, gold and amethyst. Surely it took all the jewels in the world to furnish a wardrobe with gowns such as these! Alice longed for a looking glass so that she could experiment with her hair. It was very long, too long, but it had a natural wave. But then all the ladies in the fashion plates had either curls or bunches of ringlets.

Alice nonetheless diligently read every item in the magazine, including an intriguing advertisement for Pear’s Celebrated Soap—

The Ladies will find it a most agreeable appendage to the Toilette, and in using they will be convinced that it will render the arms inimitably white, equal, if not superior, to the most celebrated cosmetic. One trial is sufficient to evince its agreeable and salutory effects. Sold in pots at 3 s.

Soon the shadows began to lengthen as the long winter’s night settled down over the countryside. Alice opened the window a little to air the room. A cold breeze moved the bed curtains. It carried that metallic smell of threatening snow.

Alice lit the candles and settled down to wait. Then she noticed that her rags were gone. She wondered idly what the Duke had done with them. He had not put them on the fire because there had been no trace of them among the ashes.

All at once, with a fast beating heart, she heard the chink of glass and china and all at once he was there again, smiling down at her and placing a laden tray on the table.

He had reverted to the dress of his period, having obviously unearthed some of his old wardrobe. He looked very grand in a blue silk coat with a long white quilted waistcoat edged in silver galloon. He wore his powdered wig and his handsome face was painted and patched and jewels seemed to blaze all over him.

Alice unconsciously sank into a deep curtsy and he answered with a flourish of his lace handkerchief and a deep bow.