Originally hired by Mrs. Greene as an attendant for her children, Esther occupies the murky space between “family babysitter” and “personal assistant” when we meet her in September 1893. It’s a thankless role: when she’s not running after Alice’s younger siblings, Esther often accompanies Alice on trips outside the house (to the annoyance of her young charge), and performs many menial tasks around the house for Mrs. Greene. (She is also lovingly, if condescendingly, called “Nurse” by the Greene children.) On her days off, Esther can be found at her humble apartment checking up on her aging mother.

While her constant presence can be grating, Esther has increasingly become Alice’s confidante and accomplice over the years–especially in Alice’s many schemes to navigate around her family’s watchful eye. Seemingly minor at first, Esther’s role in Alice’s clandestine friendship with Helen will become more significant as the story unfolds–culminating with a surprise discovery that will shape its ultimate conclusion.

As with many of The 1890s crew, Esther goes back a long way; she first appears in 2011 as “Madame Estelle”, governess to Alison and secret lover to Alison’s father. She was subsequently renamed “Miss Estelle” by 2012, and “Esther Tyndall/Miss Esther” by 2014; her final name change to “Esther Norris/Nurse” occurred about 2018, as her role changed from governess to chaperone/babysitter of the Greene family. Perhaps reflecting her diminished role in this world, Esther appears more frequently in the earlier years of my sketchbook (2011-2015), before becoming more sporadic between 2016-2020, with a four-year absence between 2021 and 2025. Nonetheless, in this world Esther has always been defined by her relationship with Alice–usually assuming the role of a counselor or mother figure.

By 2018, Esther’s subplot involving Alice’s father disappeared. It was subsequently replaced with a different subplot, tying Esther (however tangentially) to the world inhabited by Lou and his cronies.

While her full name is Esther Norris, “Nurse” is the most common name Esther goes by in the novel (as she’s usually chaperoning Alice around); I even call her “Nurse” sometimes in my notes. However, her full name becomes an important detail towards the end of the story.

Songs whose lyrics and/or melody call to mind scenes involving Esther; character development and beliefs; or general moods and themes from over the years.

Alice

Helen

Ivy