by Dilly Court
‘He’s gone,’ he said simply. ‘Poor Father, it was all too much for him to bear. He couldn’t face the disgrace of bankruptcy and what it would do to Charlotte. If only I’d been a better son I might have done something to prevent this terrible thing happening.’
Lily’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘Don’t say that, Gabriel. It wasn’t your fault.’
‘Of course it weren’t,’ Prissy said firmly. ‘Mr Everard was a grown man and he and the missis lived like lords even though they hadn’t the means. If Mr Everard chose to take his own life then it was his decision and his alone.’
A scream from the top of the staircase made them all look up in horror as Charlotte swayed and made a grab for the banister rail. ‘Tell me it isn’t true.’
Lily and Gabriel exchanged agonised glances. He was the first to speak. ‘I’m afraid it is only too true. I am so sorry.’
‘Catch her, Gabriel,’ Lily cried as her mother crumpled slowly to the floor in a flutter of silk and Brussels lace.
Gabriel leapt forward as Charlotte tumbled head over heels, bumping painfully off each tread until he caught her in his arms just before she hit the stone floor.
‘Is she dead?’ The girl Lily had seen dancing in the rain had entered the house unnoticed. Silly Sally came to a halt in front of Gabriel. She cocked her head on one side, eyeing Charlotte’s limp form without any apparent emotion other than curiosity. ‘I saw a dead cat the other day. It looked all limp and floppy, just like her.’ She reached out to finger the material of Charlotte’s elegant peignoir. ‘It’s lovely. Is she a bride? Did she marry you, sir?’
‘Get her out of here,’ Lily cried, unable to bear it any longer. ‘Please, go away, girl.’
Prissy moved swiftly to take Sally by the hand. ‘She’s not dead, love. The lady took a tumble and she’s not very well. You go home, there’s a good girl.’
Sally smiled happily. ‘I’m glad the lady ain’t dead. Things smell something awful when they go off. I’d like her dress if she don’t need it no longer.’
Gabriel jerked his head in the direction of the doorway. ‘Take her home, Prissy. Maybe one of the neighbours knows where we could get hold of a doctor.’
‘Don’t worry, guv. I’ll fetch a pill-pusher even if I has to drag him by the hair.’
‘I know where the doctor lives,’ Sally said dreamily. ‘I’ll take you there, missis. Come on. Don’t dilly-dally.’ Without waiting for an answer, she dragged Prissy outside into the rain.
‘Help me get Charlotte into bed,’ Gabriel said gently. ‘She’ll be all right, Lily. I don’t think she hurt herself when she fell, but we’ll get the doctor to look her over anyway.’
Lily followed him upstairs as he carried Charlotte back to her room.
Ever resourceful, Prissy returned twenty minutes later with a doctor who tut-tutted over Charlotte’s hysterical condition. There were no bones broken, he said after a cursory examination, just bruising from the fall which would fade in time. He prescribed arnica for the bruises and laudanum to sedate the patient, and having charged a fee of half a crown for his professional services he departed.
Drugged and semi-comatose, Charlotte lay in her bed staring at the ceiling, but Lily knew it was just a shell of a woman lying there like a corpse. Charlotte’s heart and soul were somewhere else, searching for the man she loved more than life itself. Lily had never before witnessed such heartbreak and she felt completely helpless in the face of her mother’s agonising grief. She wished she could take some of the pain on herself, but she knew that this was a journey her mother must make alone.
Gabriel was also suffering and Lily wanted to help him but did not quite know how. She managed to catch him alone the next day after he had returned from the prison with his father’s few possessions. Prissy had gone out to the market to buy food and Charlotte was sleeping, sedated by laudanum. ‘You look tired,’ Lily said, pouring tea into Gabriel’s cup. ‘When are they releasing your father’s body for burial? I need to know so that I can prepare Ma well in advance.’
Gabriel stared down at his fingers as they tapped nervously on the scrubbed pine tabletop. ‘It’s not that easy, Lily. Father’s suicide has made it difficult for me to find a clergyman who would be willing to perform the ceremony, let alone allow him to be buried in the churchyard. Even then the interment must take place at night, between nine and midnight.’
‘That’s terrible,’ Lily said with feeling. ‘Everard was a good man at heart.’
‘I know, Lily. My father was just weak and foolish with money. But the laws regarding suicides are very clear. Even if there was anything left after his creditors took their share, his estate would be forfeit. All his paintings, everything, will go. Charlotte won’t inherit a penny.’
Lily laid her hand over his. ‘I am so sorry, Gabriel.’
‘It’s all come as a bit of a shock.’
She squeezed his fingers gently. ‘If there’s anything I can do to help …’
‘Look after Charlotte. She meant a lot to my father. I don’t think I ever realised quite what they were to each other until it was too late.’
Lost in her world of suffering, Charlotte remained in bed for several days, refusing to eat or take anything other than sips of water laced with laudanum. Lily was at a loss as to how best to help her mother and she was afraid that Ma would simply pine away. She nursed her devotedly, spending long hours sitting by her mother’s bedside in case she awakened and found herself alone and abandoned to her grief. She relied more and more on Prissy, who had taken over the housekeeping duties and had proved to be an excellent plain cook. She made the small house as comfortable as was possible with limited means, making forays into the street markets and auction houses and returning with the odd chair or rug.
Every evening there was a hot meal ready and waiting for Gabriel when he returned tired and dispirited having failed to make any headway with arrangements for his father’s funeral. After supper, he would retire to the attic room where he had set up his easel. Lily understood that he drew comfort and solace from his art and that working on his portrait of her was a way of escaping from the problems that beset him. She was not allowed to see the painting, but she sat for him when required and at other times she left him to his own devices.
On the morning of the fourth day, when Charlotte still refused to rouse herself from her stupor, Lily realised that she must do something more than just sympathise with Ma. On her own she was powerless to prevent her mother from simply wasting away, but she hoped and prayed that the family would rally round their mother in her hour of need. Lily put on her cloak and bonnet and let herself out of the house. As usual, Silly Sally was loitering on the corner of the street. She made a beeline for Lily. ‘Going for a walk, miss? Can I come with you?’
‘No, Sally. I’m going to Pelican Stairs to see my family. Perhaps another day.’ In no mood to be charitable, Lily hurried on.
Luke let her in, almost crushing the life out of her in a fond embrace. ‘It’s good to see you, Lil. I’ve been meaning to come to Keppel Street with my manuscript. Everard said he would present it to some of his literary friends.’
Lily could not bring herself to give him the sad news and she changed the subject. ‘Are things all right between you and Matt?’
Luke pulled a face. ‘He gave me a wigging but they were short-handed at the fire station so he took me back into the fold. He’d do the same for you if you’d meet him halfway.’ He stepped aside, ushering her into the narrow passage. ‘Come into the parlour and have a warm by the fire.’
Lily smiled in spite of everything. It was good to find Luke back with the family, particularly after his falling out with Matt which could have ended in a permanent rift. If only she could be reinstated so easily. ‘Where is everyone?’
He moved closer to the fire, warming his hands. ‘Grandpa’s in his room. Aggie’s in the kitchen as usual and Nell has gone to church with Eugene. Mark’s paying court to Flossie and I dunno where Matt and Molly are.’
Lily jumped at the sound of Matt’s voice. He emerged from the kitchen, followed by Aggie who pushed past him to rush over and hug her. ‘Take no notice of him, ducks. You will stay and eat with us, won’t you? I’ve roasted a couple of fowls and there’s plenty to go round.’
Lily kissed Aggie’s leathery cheek. ‘There’s something important I have to tell the family.’
‘So we’re part of your family now, are we?’ Matt glowered at her. ‘Very convenient when you want something, Lily. I thought you were living in luxury with that woman and her lover.’
Lily flinched at the harsh tone in her brother’s voice. ‘There’s something you should know, but I wanted to Nell to be here and Grandpa too.’
‘That’s easy,’ Aggie said. ‘I’ll go and fetch the old devil. He’s probably supping his secret supply of ale. I knew no good would come of living next door to a pub.’
‘And Nell’s just walked past the window with Eugene,’ Luke added. ‘I think there’s going to be an engagement there one day.’
Lily stared at him in astonishment. ‘No, I can’t believe it. Not the schoolmaster?’
‘Who knows where the heart will lead us?’ Luke mused. ‘I’ve written a poem about young love. D’you want to hear it, Lily?’
‘No she doesn’t and neither do I.’ Matt threw himself down on a chair by the fire. ‘I blame you for encouraging him in this folly, Lily. He was a reasonably sensible fellow until you introduced him to those wasters who gather in Keppel Street like maggots on a rotting carcase.’
‘That’s not fair,’ Luke protested. ‘Lily had nothing to do with it. I went to see Ma of my own accord.’
‘Can’t we have one day without fighting?’ Nell stood in the doorway, frowning. ‘It’s Sunday, the Lord’s day. Surely we can get on with each other for just a few hours?’
Matt shifted uncomfortably in his seat, and had the grace to look slightly abashed. ‘I suppose so. Tell us why you’ve graced our humble abode with your presence then, Lily.’
‘Matt, that’s not what I meant and you know it.’ Nell turned a serious face to Lily. ‘I am pleased to see you, but I can tell by your face that there’s something wrong. You didn’t come here just for the pleasure of being scolded by Matt. What is it?’ She took off her bonnet and moved aside to let Grandpa and Aggie into the room, closely followed by Eugene.
‘Yes, spit it out, girl,’ Grandpa said, hobbling over to Lily and giving her a peck on the cheek. ‘I don’t hold with family feuds, so I’m glad to see you.’
‘And I too.’ Aggie glared at Matt as if daring him to argue.
Eugene said nothing, but he smiled at Lily and she was struck by the genuine warmth in his expression. She glanced at Luke and he gave her an encouraging nod. ‘Say what you came to say, Lil, and then we can eat. I’m starving.’
She took a deep breath. ‘There’s no easy way to put this. Everard got into debt and couldn’t pay his creditors. He was arrested and taken to the debtors’ jail where he hanged himself. Ma won’t eat or rouse herself from her bed. I think she wants to die too and I’m scared.’
‘That’s terrible news,’ Nell said, shaking her head. ‘I’m truly sorry, but I don’t see what we can do about it.’
Lily looked from one to the other with a sinking heart. She saw very little compassion in their faces. ‘She’s just given up. I’m afraid she’ll just fade away and die.’
‘Serve her right,’ Grandpa said tersely. ‘She never gave a thought to her children when she ran off with the artist chap. She was living in style while we were turned out of our home and living in two rooms. Let her stew in her own juice, I say.’
‘Shut up, old man,’ Aggie said angrily. ‘She weren’t all bad, and she’s still their ma. Let Nell make up her own mind.’
‘Don’t speak to Grandpa like that.’ Matt turned on Aggie, scowling angrily. ‘Get back to the kitchen if you can’t keep a civil tongue in your head.’
Aggie’s bottom lip trembled and she recoiled as if he had slapped her across the face. ‘Is this all the thanks I get for raising you and your brothers and sisters? I’m part of this family too, or will you put throw me out like you did your sister?’
‘Stop, stop,’ Nell cried passionately. ‘This is all wrong.’
Eugene laid his hand on her arm. ‘Don’t distress yourself, Nell. I’m sure this can all be sorted out if we take it calmly and don’t lose our tempers.’ He cast a warning look at Matt, who threw up his hands in disgust.
‘I’m the head of this household, schoolmaster. Not you.’
‘No,’ Grandpa bellowed. ‘I’m the head of the house, and I say shut up. Shut your trap, Matt Larkin, and let someone else speak for a change.’
Matt stared at his grandfather in amazement. ‘Grandpa – I …’
Grandpa Larkin held us his hand for silence. ‘I say let Nell go and see her mother. This is woman’s work and she’s the one with the most common sense in this sorry family.’
Nell nodded her head slowly. ‘Perhaps I should go with you, Lily, although I’m not sure I can do anything more than you’ve already done.’
‘You’ll have your dinner first,’ Aggie said sternly. ‘Lily looks fit to drop and you need a good meal inside you if you’re to walk all the way to Bloomsbury, Nell.’
‘We’re nearer than that,’ Lily said hastily. ‘We had to leave Keppel Street. Gabriel has rented a small house in Cock and Hoop Yard, Houndsditch.’
‘Well, it’s still a fair step,’ Aggie conceded. ‘You’ll eat before you go.’ She waddled into the kitchen, casting a warning glance at Matt as she went as if challenging him to disagree with her.
He shrugged his shoulders. ‘Go and see her, if you must, Nell. But don’t expect me to run round after that woman. Not after what she did to us.’
‘Nell must follow her conscience,’ Eugene said sternly.
‘This has nothing to do with you, schoolmaster,’ Matt growled. ‘I’d be obliged if you’d keep your nose out of our affairs.’
Lily could see a battle of wills rearing its ugly head and once again she attempted to steer the conversation to safer ground. ‘Perhaps Molly ought to come with us, Nell. Where is she, anyway?’
Nell glanced round the room as if surprised by her younger sister’s absence. ‘I don’t know where she is. Molly was here when we left for church, wasn’t she, Eugene?’
He nodded his head. ‘She was.’
‘She went out soon after you’d left,’ Luke volunteered. ‘Said she was going to see Armand.’
‘If you ask me she’s been seeing a great deal too much of the Frenchie,’ Grandpa said with a disapproving sniff.
‘What d’you mean by that?’ Matt demanded. ‘Are you suggesting that there’s something going on between them, Grandpa?’
‘I ain’t suggesting nothing. I’m telling you that flighty chit has set her cap at the Frenchie and none of you has taken the slightest bit of notice.’
‘I thought they smelt of roses,’ Luke mused. ‘You can always tell.’
Lily struggled to suppress a nervous giggle at the sight of Matt’s contemptuous expression. It seemed to her that the whole world had turned upside down. She had long given up romantic ideas concerning Armand, but she had never until now associated him with Molly. ‘You must be mistaken,’ she murmured.
‘I bloody well hope so,’ Matt said angrily. ‘He’ll have me to answer to if he’s been taking advantage of my stupid sister.’
Eugene cleared his throat. ‘Come now, Larkin. Aren’t you jumping to conclusions?’
Matt opened his mouth to respond, but Lily had just seen Molly walk past the window. ‘It’s all right, Matt,’ she said hastily. ‘She’s come home.’
‘I’ll have a few words to say to that young lady.’ Matt rose from his chair just as Molly breezed into the room.
‘Lily. What are you doing here?’ She rushed acros
s the floor to give her a hug. ‘You’re just in time to hear my good news.’ She peeled the glove off her left hand, waving it around so that the large diamond ring flashed in the firelight. ‘Look everyone, I’m engaged to be married. Isn’t that wonderful?’
‘Wonderful?’ Matt grabbed her by the wrist. ‘What sort of fellow gives a girl a ring like this without asking permission from her guardian, who in this instance is me?’
Chapter Twenty
Nell sat down suddenly as if her legs had given way beneath her. ‘Who is it, Molly?’
‘You can look as green as you like, miss,’ Molly said, tossing her head. ‘I know you fancied yourself in love with him too, but it’s me that Armand wants for his wife. Me, Molly Larkin – soon to be Madame Labrosse.’
Matt fisted his hands, and his face paled beneath his tan. ‘Over my dead body. Have you forgotten what that fellow’s father did to Lily? I’ll not allow you to marry a foreigner, especially one who hasn’t the pluck or manners to come to me first.’
‘That’s not fair,’ Nell protested. ‘Armand was just as disgusted with his father as anyone else, and he’s our landlord now. He let us have this house at a peppercorn rent, and we’d still be living above the shop in Cock Hill if it wasn’t for him.’