Alice, a child of an affair, has had a hard life. Her mother died in childbirth and she has never known her father. She was raised by her aunt and uncle. Her uncle , after losing his job, became abusive. So much so that her aunt sends her away to find her father. When young Alice shows up on the steps on Downton Abbey she has no clue the new world she was going to step into. This story is set in season two just before William leaves with Mathew for the war.