A Dream of Desire by Nina Rowan

if you’d like to attend,” Alice continued.
    “No, but you are welcome to. I shall leave you some pin money, should you wish to make a purchase.” Her father set the paper aside and pulled the plate toward him. “I’ll be home late tonight. We’ve some accounts to set up that Mr. Vickers requires done by the end of the week.”
    The thump of footsteps came from the stairs. Alice looked up at Peter and smiled. He shoved a chair away from the table with his foot, his expression set and sullen.
    “I’ll get your breakfast, Peter.” Alice rose and fixed a plate of eggs and toast. Once upon a time, she’d have offered him cocoa but in the week he’d been back at home, she’d noticed he preferred strong coffee.
    She poured a cup and placed it in front of him, suppressing the urge to run her hand over his thick, black hair. The way her mother used to do with her. She tried to ignore the twinge of pain at the memory of what her brother had been like as a young child—happy, reckless, full of energy.
    What had gone so wrong?
    Alice still didn’t know what had happened to turn Peter into an angry young man who seemed hell-bent on getting himself into trouble. He’d run away from school and started associating with vagrants who roamed the streets picking pockets and vandalizing storefronts. Twice their father had to pick him up from the police station, and then last year Peter’s arrest had led to his being sentenced to Newhall for nine months.
    Edward Colston hadn’t attended the court hearing or tried to visit Peter while he was incarcerated. Edward also hadn’t wanted Peter to return home after his release, but Alice had pleaded with him to allow her brother one more chance.
    Edward had finally relented, but only on the condition that Peter attend the Brick Street school and find worthwhile work. Even now, Alice knew her father hoped that Peter would somehow prove to be the son he had always wanted. That Peter would straighten up, succeed in school, become a solicitor or a doctor…that he would one day become more successful than Edward was.
    What father didn’t have such hopes for his only son?
    Alice stared at her plate, wondering what hopes, if any, her father had ever had for her. She was well into spinsterhood now, so marriage wasn’t likely…not that she’d ever been in a position to accept an offer. She’d spent the past ten years taking care of her father’s household and contending with her brother’s rebelliousness. Even if she’d wanted to, she could never leave and start her own family.
    “Intend to enroll at the school today, do you?” Edward asked Peter. “You ought to be able to work as well.”
    The boy shrugged.
    “I’ve heard the tailor on Buxton Street might be seeking help,” Alice suggested.
    Peter held up one of his big, knobby-fingered hands. “You think these were meant for sewing?”
    “The printer, then, whom Papa—”
    “Bloody hell, Alice,” Peter snapped. “You need to be able to read to be a printer.”
    Anger flashed through Edward. He pushed his chair back so fast, the legs scraped against the floor. Peter cringed. Edward lifted a hand. Though Alice had never in her life seen her father strike Peter, she froze in fear.
    Taut silence stretched between the three of them. Peter didn’t raise his head. The clock ticked. Edward stared at his son, then slowly lowered his hand.
    Alice’s heartbeat throbbed in her ears. Edward picked up his cup and took another swallow of coffee, seeming to regain control of himself.
    “You will not curse in my house,” he told his son, his voice cold. He straightened his lapels, then folded the paper and tucked it beneath his arm. “I suggest you pay a visit to the union offices and enroll at Brick Street first thing this morning. Good day to you, Alice.”
    He gave Alice a stiff nod and strode to the door. A minute later the front door closed. Peter shifted and grabbed a fork. Alice opened her mouth to defend their father, then