by Val Wood
‘I’m coming, I’m coming.’ Mrs Flitt hurried to the door. ‘Shut that racket.’
A small boy stood on the step, unable to reach the door bell. He touched his cap. ‘Message for Miss Lily,’ he piped. ‘I’ve been give a penny for coming!’
Mrs Flitt grabbed the note from him and shooed him away. She took it through to Lily who was sitting in the kitchen cradling a cup and gazing into space. She opened the envelope, scanned the contents and in a tearful voice said, ‘It’s from Rena.’ She began to read it aloud.
‘“Dear Lily, we have a most beautiful boy! He arrived at a quarter past two this morning giving us a vociferous greeting. Lizzie is feeling well and already in love with her son, Ethan, as I am too. She says to be sure to tell Cherie and Alice and Mrs Flitt, and that you must all come to visit as soon as possible. Your humbled and overjoyed friend, Rena.”’
She got up from her chair and, taking the letter with her, went into her room and gazed down at the peaceful Alice. How lovely she is. Her skin seemed smoother, the pox marks already fading. ‘Lizzie has a son, Alice,’ she murmured, and couldn’t contain the sob in her voice. ‘I promised I’d come and tell you as soon as I heard.’
They scraped together enough money for a coffin and burial at the new General Cemetery on Spring Bank just outside the town. All other burial sites within the town were closed due to overcrowding and unsanitary conditions.
‘It’s a disgrace,’ Mrs Flitt grumbled as they walked behind the cart which held the coffin. ‘Every churchyard full and nowhere for a decent body to lay his head.’
It was a long walk for Mrs Flitt, hobbling along beside Lily, Cherie, a pregnant Betty, and Henry. A huge bouquet of flowers had arrived that morning, sent without a name attached, but Lily knew that it was from Leo. They were the only flowers and Lily placed them in the cart with the coffin. The cemetery was laid out like a park with trees and pathways between beds of flowers. Mr Walker was there, and Dr Fulton. Jamie was absent, but he had called at the house the morning after Alice’s death, and muttered that he wouldn’t be attending the funeral.
Lily wasn’t surprised to hear that, but later that day on answering the door bell was astounded to see Jamie’s mother Nell on the step, calling to offer her condolences.
‘Jamie won’t attend ’burial, that I know,’ she’d said. ‘My son seems to be a hard-hearted unfeeling man.’ She had turned her head away as she’d spoken. ‘And that’s my fault. You see, he’s hurt inside; has been since he was a bairn and I left him alone to work out on ’streets. There was allus a man coming between us and at first he didn’t understand that that was how I made my living. Eventually he did understand, and it was then that he decided that he’d choose my customers.’ She sighed. ‘He was looking for a better type, and I believe he was trying to rid us of the sort of man who might have been his father.’
‘But he hates women,’ Lily said. ‘I’m sure of it, or he wouldn’t do what he does. He would have seen me go to jail and not turned a hair.’
‘Yes,’ Nell had agreed, and turned soulful eyes to her. ‘He would. That’s why – that’s why I paid your fine. I knew that Jamie wouldn’t and that you couldn’t afford to.’
‘You paid it!’ Lily was amazed. ‘But why? You’re out of this business.’
Nell nodded. ‘I had a lucky escape; but I still blame myself for ’way that Jamie behaves. He’s my son and it’s my fault,’ she repeated, ‘and I can’t let anybody else suffer for it.’
Lily and Mrs Flitt walked back together after the burial. Cherie had been given a ride in the carriage hired for the return with Betty and Henry and intended to visit Lizzie and her baby; Dr Fulton and Mr Walker had gone off together with their heads bent in serious conversation.
‘You should have gone in ’carriage with Betty like she wanted us to,’ Lily told the old woman. ‘It’s a long walk back for you.’
‘It’s no further for me than for you,’ Mrs Flitt said wryly. ‘It’s exactly ’same distance.’
But I wanted to be alone to think, Lily pondered. I want to think about my future; if I’ve got one. I shan’t stop at Leadenhall Square. Not now. Not with Alice gone and Lizzie gone, and Cherie – well, I have a feeling that Rena will take her. She’ll be able to look after baby Ethan whilst Lizzie and Rena build up their new business. But what about Mrs Flitt? I can’t just abandon her.
‘I’ve been thinking,’ Mrs Flitt puffed at the side of her. ‘Thinking I might move on. I’ll try for a job in a kitchen somewhere, or mebbe in an inn or hostelry, washing glasses ’n’ that or sweeping ’yard.’
‘Will you?’ Lily turned to her. ‘You’d have to live in.’
‘Aye, I know. But mebbe there’s another warm cupboard somewhere.’
If that is possible, if someone would take her on, that would mean I’d just have to fend for me and Daisy, Lily thought. Daisy wasn’t very taken with Johnny, though I think that Ted is. He’ll probably stay with his father. He needs a man to mould him. I haven’t done a very good job, though I did try to keep Johnny’s memory alive for them. But he’ll not want me now. I’ll be soiled goods in his eyes. He wouldn’t believe that I’m not. Nobody would; not living and working in that place. I’ll have a debauched reputation just like those other women in the square.
But we shouldn’t judge, she mused, reflecting on how touched she had been as Alice’s coffin had been trundled through the square. The women from the other houses, the whores and poxscarred hags, had stood silently on their steps, by their doors and windows, watching Alice’s last journey. Some had clasped their hands together as if in prayer, and many of the others had wiped their eyes. One or two had gazed searchingly at Lily and nodded to her in sympathy.
But now she looked about her with fresh eyes as she returned to the square. Mrs Flitt had gone to the market to try to beg for some bread, for they were completely out of money. Mary and Sally would be sleeping and tonight they would be out on the streets, earning money only for themselves.
Lily saw the house as it was, grimy and run down, with broken window frames and flimsy torn curtains which no matter how many times she and Mrs Flitt had washed them were still a dingy grey. What must Johnny have thought when I brought him here? I was foolish to do that. I should have just explained to him about my circumstances, instead of showing him. Perhaps then we would have stood a chance together. But I was so angry. Angry with him for leaving me for all those years, and not a word from him. But perhaps it wasn’t his fault. He’s been in another world and not one I know anything about. Do they have post boxes in those remote places? Afghanistan: I think of it as a desert land with rocks and mountains. And India; I think of dark-skinned people and spices and heat. Why should our soldiers be there, trying to take what isn’t ours?
A tear rolled down her cheek. It had been a harrowing day and she felt very sorry for herself. Why did Johnny have to go there when I needed him by my side? Why did he leave me to succumb to the likes of Billy Fowler just to put bread into our mouths? I was weak, she thought; it was a moment of exhaustion and despair. Never, never again will I be ruled by a man.
Someone whistled, a piercing, ear-blasting shriek. She turned her head. Jamie! He was the last person she wanted to see today. She turned her back on him and continued on towards the house, but he came running up to her and grabbed her arm.
‘Is it done?’
‘Is what done?’ she answered wearily. ‘If you mean Alice’s funeral, yes.’
‘Good. Then you can open up tonight.’ He rubbed his hands together. ‘I’m bringing in Olga and Angelina, Flo and Poll. We’re going to have a fresh carry-on.’
‘Not Flo and Poll,’ she objected. ‘I thought you wanted a first class house?’
‘Not bothered.’ He smirked. ‘I’ll still bring in ’gents, but Flo and Poll can tek whoever comes to ’door. Put ’em at ’back of ’house, out o’ sight, and you and Cherie, Olga and Angelina can deal wi’ ’better off customers. Don’t start,’ he warned, when he saw her expression o
f protest. ‘You still owe me what I paid for you, and your bed and board.’
‘I’m leaving,’ she snapped. ‘And so is Cherie. And I owe you nothing!’
He grabbed hold of her again. ‘You’ll get a cut across that handsome face,’ he whispered, holding her close to him. ‘And I’ve somebody in mind for Cherie. Somebody who’s willing to pay a lot of money for a virgin.’
She spat at him. ‘Vile pimp!’ she hissed. ‘You’ll not have her.’
He gave a thin smile and wiped his face. ‘You’ll pay for that,’ he muttered, ‘and so will she. I’ll tell him he can do whatever he wants as long as her pretty face isn’t touched. He’s been waiting a long time.’
She stared at him and whispered, ‘Who?’
He grinned. ‘A customer. One of ’regulars.’
Kendall, she thought. It has to be him. He’s not been satisfied since Lizzie left. I must get a message to Cherie to tell her not to come back. I’ll tell Mary that she’ll have to make other arrangements for Aaron.
‘Get inside,’ he snarled, giving her a shove. ‘Get into your finery and be prepared to tek it off. Your time o’ playing hard to get is over.’
‘Don’t you touch me!’ She hurled a blow at him but he dodged and smacked her across the face, making her stagger. She gasped and put her hand to her smarting cheek.
‘Just to let you know who’s in charge here.’ He gave her another shove, propelling her towards the steps.
‘’Ere! Leave ’er alone!’ A shout came from the house next door where a woman stood in the doorway. She was dishevelled and slovenly and had a small dirty child standing by her side. ‘Find one o’ your own kind to beat up.’
‘She is my own kind,’ he shouted back. ‘Mind your own damned business. She belongs to me. I paid for her and she owes me.’
The woman was silenced and Lily knew that she would fully understand the situation. She too would be in thrall to some man who controlled her earnings and her life.
Wearily she sat on the bed only recently vacated by Alice. Well, she’s well out of it, she sighed. Nobody can get her now. She’s at peace. She was tempted to lay her head down on the pillow, but she thought of Alice’s consumption and disease. Can I catch it? She’d been careful about handling Alice, her clothes and her drinking cup. She hastily got up and stripped the bed.
I’ll ask Mrs Flitt to take these to the washhouse, she thought, before remembering that Mrs Flitt was banned from the house when Jamie was around, and in any case they had no money to pay to wash the bedclothes.
Lily intended to leave, no matter what Jamie said; she had nothing to pack but couldn’t leave in case Cherie or Mrs Flitt came back. But the day wore on and then the evening and she began to pace the floor. She had lit the fire in the parlour, though she doubted the room would be used for entertaining if Jamie was going to fill the house with undesirable customers. It was getting late and neither Mrs Flitt nor Cherie had returned. Lily was still wearing her grey gown and she smoothed the skirt and combed her hair, and waited.
The door bell rang, making her jump, and she hurried through the hall, hoping it was Cherie or Mrs Flitt so that she could warn them to stay away.
It was Jamie with Olga and Angelina. He glared at Lily. ‘Why haven’t you changed? I told you to get ready.’
‘I am ready,’ she snapped. ‘Ready to leave.’ I should have gone, she thought, feeling panicky, and let Mrs Flitt and Cherie manage for themselves.
Jamie shook his head. ‘I don’t think so! Where’d you go wi’out a penny to your name?’ He turned to the two young women by his side. ‘Angelina’s going to be in charge,’ he said. ‘She’s tekking over from you. Olga will look after ’gentlemen who’ve a fancy for foreign whores.’
Both women stared at Lily; then Angelina, glancing at Jamie, said loftily, ‘I’m not a whore. I was a lady of means. It’s unfortunate that I took a wrong turn.’
Olga gave a guttural laugh. ‘You were a lady’s maid, nothing more. It is unfortunate that your mistress’s husband took you to his bed. And she found out,’ she added.
‘You can’t mek me stay,’ Lily told Jamie. ‘I’m free to go if I want to.’
‘You owe me money!’ he snarled. ‘I’ll mek a charge against you. You’ve robbed me right, left and centre. I’ll bring ’police in and tell ’em you’ve robbed ’customers.’
‘You’re running a brothel,’ she shot back. ‘Why should they believe you?’
‘I didn’t know what you were up to, did I? I was onny letting rooms.’
Lily shook her head. ‘I protected you last time, Jamie. I won’t do it again.’ He looks sick, she thought. His skin was pasty and slightly yellow and his eyelids were swollen as if he was tired. He’s taken something, laudanum or something. ‘Your ma paid my court fine, did you know, Jamie? She told me she had. She knew that you wouldn’t.’
She gave a small smile of satisfaction when she saw his startled expression. Then he sneered. ‘Liar,’ he said. ‘She doesn’t know you.’
‘She does. She’s been here. We’ve had a couple of natters together – about you.’
He lunged towards her and grabbed her by the throat. Angelina and Olga hastily stepped back. ‘Don’t you dare talk about my mother! Why would she talk to scum like you or any other whore, let alone pay your fine?’
‘Perhaps because she remembers what it was like to be wi’out money or hope.’ She felt the cosntriction of his fingers, but still went on. ‘Perhaps in her heart she still remembers ’pain of belonging to the band of women who are at ’mercy of men like you. Like her son.’
The door bell pealed and Jamie took his hands from her neck. He raised a finger and shook it, keeping his eyes on Lily. ‘Tell whoever’s there,’ he ordered Angelina, ‘that he’s very welcome and that there’s a woman waiting for him. I’ll show you, you slut,’ he hissed in Lily’s ear. ‘You’ll not get out of this one.’
Lily heard Angelina’s voice murmuring a welcome and saw her opening the door to admit someone. Jamie put his hand on her arm, his fingers pinching into her. Then he thrust her forward to meet her client. Her head swam and she felt dizzy. Her eyes flooded with tears as she gazed at the visitor. It was Johnny.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
‘Here you are, sir.’ Jamie pushed Lily forward. ‘A nice clean woman. Barely been touched in years.’ He pointed to the door of Lily’s room and Angelina opened it.
‘Can I take your coat, sir?’ she asked, stroking Johnny’s arm.
‘No,’ he snapped. ‘And I don’t want to be disturbed!’
‘Pay by the hour, sir,’ Jamie fawned. ‘Can I tek ’liberty of asking you to pay up front?’
Johnny withered him with a steely glance, his hand on the door. ‘No, you can’t. I’ll pay later. Isn’t this a first class establishment?’
‘Oh, it is. It is. It can be owt – anything you want. You onny have to ask.’
‘Then I’m asking you to clear off and leave us.’ Johnny scowled. ‘I’ve been abroad. Haven’t been with a woman in a long time.’
Jamie backed away, pulling Olga and Angelina with him. ‘I understand, sir. Tek your time. Tek your time.’
Johnny grabbed Lily by the arm and pulled her into the room, closing the door after them. Then he put his finger to his lips and motioned her to the other side of the room.
‘What ’you playing at, Johnny?’ Lily began.
‘I’m playing at being a customer,’ he said in a whisper. ‘I’ve been talking to your old friend.’
‘What old friend?’ she demanded. ‘I haven’t got any old friends.’
‘Yes you have.’ Johnny gazed tenderly at her. ‘Mrs Flitt.’
‘Mrs Flitt! Where is she? I’ve been waiting for her. That’s why I’m still here. I’d have gone otherwise.’
Johnny sat down on the edge of the unmade bed. ‘It’s a long story,’ he said softly. ‘I’ve been to see Daisy. Ted had told me where she was working, so I thought I’d ask her employer if I could speak to her. I didn’t th
ink she liked me much when we first met.’
‘She doesn’t know you, that’s why! You went off and left us!’ she said resentfully.
He nodded. ‘I realize that. But I spoke to Mr Walker, told him who I was and said I’d like to get to know Daisy again; mebbe even provide a home for her which you weren’t able to, due to ’nature of your work.’ He gave an embarrassed shrug as Lily glared at him. ‘And he said he knew where you were.’
He reached for Lily’s hand, but she pulled away from him. ‘And he confirmed what those harlots next door said about you; or at least what they’d heard.’
She scowled at him. ‘What? What have they said about me?’ Her eyes widened and her lips parted. ‘You’ve never been there!’
‘Yes.’ He gave a shudder. ‘I’ve seen some sights in my time abroad, poverty and disease, but nothing to match ’conditions in that house. Those women have nowt; hardly any rags to their backs. There were bairns there crying out in hunger and they’d no food to give them. Young girls, no older than our Daisy, willing to sell themselves just for a crust o’ bread.’
Our Daisy, she thought. He’s laying claim to his children. ‘It could’ve been us,’ she said softly. ‘It very nearly was.’ Then she frowned again. ‘So what did they say? That I was running a brothel?’
‘Yes. That you kept a clean house and were mekking money for your pimp.’
He kept a straight face even though she raised her fist and shouted at him. ‘He’s not my pimp! I’ve earned money for him through my girls.’ She lowered her voice, conscious that Jamie might be out in the hall. ‘They were already working as street women. I stayed because of them. To give them a safe refuge. One of them,’ she gave a sudden sob as she thought of Alice, ‘got beaten up by a man. Awful thing was that they almost expected it; it was summat that happened all ’time. I thought – I thought that if I stopped here, then they’d have a better chance.’ She sat down beside him, but not too close. ‘But I was desperate too and didn’t know where to go, and Jamie said that I owed him. He’d paid money to Billy Fowler for me and said that I couldn’t leave till I’d paid him back.’ She put her head in her hands. ‘He still says I can’t, but I was going to sneak out; I was onny waiting for Mrs Flitt and Cherie to come back so’s I could tell them.’