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June 1881
Miss Madeline Archer was forced to eat her snack of fresh carrots in the solitude of a dirty kitchen corner deep in the cellar of her family home, Ivy Glenn Manor, where no one could see her. Her self-elected solitude was necessary to keep ridicule for a most disadvantageous genetic defect—large rabbit-like teeth. It was trait that first befell Sir Archibald Archer, family patriarch of the noble Archer family, some two hundred years ago. It was regularly passed on every few generations to Archer males, who eventually did themselves harm at the ridicule they endured daily from their peers. Never did such an affliction hinder the appearance of an Archer woman, known throughout the country and in Town some of the most beautiful women to ever grace England, until Madeline Archer, third daughter of Sir Reginald Archer and Lady Josephine Archer was born. Fifteen years ago, the child sprouted ungodly large baby teeth that, upon falling out, were replaced by even larger adult teeth. Nibbling on carrots in the presence of others, or even laughing and smiling with the joyous spirit of a child, only gave acquaintances and certain family members opening to call young Madeline horrid nicknames, among those: Chipmunk, Archy Weasel Bottom, Beaver Nibbler, and the ungodly Rabbit.
Such nicknames were abhorred and unavoidable, and often made the child cry. Madeline did try her best to avoid such taunts and cruelty by avoiding the very occasions that called for them. She didn’t want to hurt person and cause great harm, as cousins before her had done, and felt that the best plan of action was to stay away from those who were particularly cruel. Avoidance came at a cost and had taken away most things young girls her age should enjoy. Never were there carriage rides where she wasn’t asked to pull the buggy herself, nor long walks in the park where someone didn’t ask her to fall a tree with her teeth, and heaven forbid she eat a carrot or a nut in front of anyone, the taunts were endless. Some of the worst remarks came from her own sister! And more than once had a cheeky little boy or girl trapped her with their butterfly net and exclaim that they caught a wild rabbit, or worse, mistook her for their pony like that brat Elizabeth Marsh, who was Emily Archer’s best friend.
Oh, I’m so sorry my dear Miss Madeline!—She sneered the autumn of Madeline’s eleventh birthday.—I swear from the side you look just like my pony Babs!
Then there was Horrace Hunnicutt, a retched little boy with a gap between his teeth that he liked to shoot water out of at the most inappropriate times, he had said: Madeline, your teeth are monstrously large—however do you keep them clean? A horse brush?
And Benjamin Daring: I bet she could bite this piece of wood clean in half!
Or her own sister, Emily: Have you seen her eat carrots? That is a jolly fun show!
Not only was she teased in private by her peers, but in public as well, and sometimes under the watchful eye of adults. Just last week James Holder drew a picture of her with teeth that touched the hem of her skirt. He showed the entire class; even the governess snickered a bit before crumpling the parchment and punishing James by asking him to sit on a stool in the corner of the room. Later that evening at the Marsh Ball, a new drawing circulated—some of the adults laughed and pointed at her, their red faces inebriated with too much wine and biscuits. More than once Madeline had over heard a woman of the ton commenting on how she would never be married—not to any decent man.
Alexander Black, her only and dearest friend, always made an effort to tell her to ignore what old biddies had to say. She would marry and she would marry well, become a princess no doubt. Madeline appreciated his kind words and gallant behavior as he was constantly sacrificing himself to defend her honor. Alexander knew what it was like to be teased and tormented. Not a particularly handsome young man, he was a gangly and odd shaped with large hands and feet, a rail thin body, which was always draped in clothes that were too big, oily skin, and oily hair. His face was spotted and he was a somewhat clumsy dancer. He always said that he was no prince charming, but was okay with that. The two had become instant friends, bonding instantly, and although she was nearly four years younger, they were equals and defended one another. It was Alexander who finally captured the drawing and put it in the fire before taking Madeline’s hand and leading her to the gardens were they watched the fish in the Marsh’s large pond. Madeline never feared reticule as long as Alexander was by her side. Because he was older, he was sent to Eton a few years before Madeline was to attend Mrs. Rothright’s Finishing School for Girls, and she was left to face hordes of cruel taunts alone. She had never forgiven him for going to Eton. Now, in just a few days time he would leave for Cambridge for an even longer period of time—she wasn’t going to forgive him for that either. The moment he was gone, the teasing would start, and Madeline would find herself fin more dark corners and closets than she cared for.
Biting down into one of the carrots in her palm, Madeline closed her eyes and savored the slightly sweet taste of the vegetable. It was a shame that she enjoyed eating them so much; the solitude of the kitchens or closets left her lonely and with a dismal disposition and also quite dirty much to her mother’s dismay. She was shocked that she hadn’t been banned from eating carrots all together. Her mother found her quite hopeless and liked to say such things. Madeline knew that she would not grow to be any great beauty like her sister Emily, but did everyone in the country—and town—need to remind her of this on a daily basis? She was certain that she would be quite happy if left alone.
“Bunny?”
Alexander’s soft voice perked Madeline’s ears. She craned her neck to see which direction her friend was coming from and then tucked her legs to her chest, dropping her skirt around her stocking-covered feet. She hoped that he wouldn’t see her, because she sometimes liked to be left alone from him as well. Mostly because he confused her with the things he said and the way he looked at her. Two years ago, Alexander gave her the nickname Bunny. The name was not given in jest or to be cruel like the others, and it was completely unrelated to her teeth, so he claimed. He noticed that just before she sneezed her nose wrinkled up just like his little bunny Max. She remembered the way he had laughed and pushed himself up on his elbows to gaze up at her.
“My little Bunny,” he had said with a soft smile. Madeline had allowed the nickname because it was one that wasn’t particularly painful. In fact, she blushed whenever he said it.
“Come, Bunny—I saw you come down here. You can’t hide from me forever!”
In two days it wouldn’t matter, she thought miserably. When he went off to Eton two years ago, she told herself that she could endure the teasing for a short time, soon he would return and would duel anyone who called her horrid names. But he had only been back for a fortnight and was already leaving again to make a home at University. Who would be at her side to make her laugh, to dry her tears, and to promise her that the future would hold only positive things? She had asked him these things as tears traveled down her cheeks and neck. The thought of being separate from him for four years was unbearable. He had drawn her into his arms where they sat in the grass field surrounded by momentary sunlight and warm breeze. She touched her face to his shoulder and breathed in his scent, which she feared she would soon forget.
“In a few months you will leave this place to start finishing school,” he had said. “I certainly wouldn’t have been able to follow you to finishing school. This is a time when we would be separated regardless, Madeline. Spend your time thinking of the future—when we are both educated, you in the fine ways of ladyhood, we can look back at these times and laugh.”
“You may laugh,” she said. “I will never laugh again. I shall miss you more than you’ll know, Alex.”
He held her tighter and she felt his lips against her shoulder as he whispered, “And I you, Bunny,”
Madeline watched as Alexander moved around the kitchen and pressed herself to her dark corner and prayed that he wouldn’t see the top of her head or the white hem of her blue walking gown. He paused a few feet away and sighed heavily.
“Madeline, please,” he begged. “It won’t always be this bad—you still have much growing to do. And I can assure you that there is less hope for me—I am four years older than you. Most of my growing is done now and I will be this way forever. I will go to University and when I finish and come home you will be the bell of the ball!”
That was unlikely, Madeline thought before taking another bite of her carrot. It crunched loudly.
“I hear you, Bunny,” his affectionate voice was just over her head. Looking up to into his startling blue eyes, Madeline felt new tears forming. His expression shifted to something unreadable to her; he hoisted her up and pulled her into his arms. “Come out from the corner like a good girl.” He murmured smoothing down her hair.
“Why?” She whispered. “I shall spend the next three years here—I should make my self comfortable shall I not?”
He set her back from him and took her carrots away, wrapped them in his handkerchief and then stuffed the bundle into the inside pocket of his blue jacket “You intend to hide yourself away? Good, I think that will work nicely as I don’t wish to return for your hand and find myself having to fight off your many suitors.”
“Alex, please don’t jest, I will never marry.”
“Would I jest?” He gasped and took her hand. “Come, let us walk and spend much time together.”
“Oh, why bother?” she cried. “Give me my carrots and leave me to my solitude—you should prepare yourself for University.”
“Mother is taking care of my packing,” he said while drawing the handkerchief from his pocket and wiggling it above her. He laughed when even a little hop on her part wouldn’t allow her to reach the bundle dangling overhead. “Come… if you are a good girl, I shall feed you a carrot, but if you are bad, I will eat them myself!”
She smiled and followed him to the door that led out of the kitchen. “You don’t like carrots, Alex.”
“Nay, but I like you.”
Madeline smiled brightly and then remembered that she should not smile so big and clapped her hand over her mouth. Alexander stopped short and locked his fingers around her wrist; he pulled her hand down and grasped her chin between his fingers, forcing her to meet his eyes.
“You will never hide smiles from me, Madeline Archer—are my words understood?”
Another smile spread across her lips and she nodded and accepted his arm. As he walked her out into the sun light, she gazed up at him and smiled again. “I shall miss you Alexander.”
His eyes danced with delight and he nodded. “And I you, Bunny.”
He opened his handkerchief for a piece of carrot and winked before feeding it to her. With a sigh of delight, Madeline sank her teeth into the carrot and held his arm a little tighter.