by Lena Dowling
‘I promised that I’d not complain to his superiors and I haven’t,’ Harry said, while Nellie’s mouth was full, trying to ignore the stab of conscience for the white lie.
‘Good, because if there’s a complaint it will be me who pays the price.’
‘You did nothing wrong.’
‘I never did the things they said I did that got me transported either, but that didn’t stop them.’
‘What were you transported for?’ It was something he’d been meaning to ask but it had never seemed the right time.
‘Stealing a canteen of silver cutlery and going for the mistress with one of the knives. It was all lies. When Lady Mellwood barged into me and Colleen’s room and pulled out the cutlery from under the bed, I never laid so much as a finger on her. I couldn’t have. I was too busy standing like a fool with me mouth gaping open because I couldn’t believe what me eyes were seeing.’
‘Then you should appeal.’
‘Have you been hanging off the end of Danny’s old pipe?’
‘Colleen can corroborate your story.’
‘The word of two bog Irish farmer’s daughters against a fine lady?’ Nellie shook her head.
‘Yes, I see.’
Harry swallowed hard.
Perhaps he shouldn’t have involved Tristan, but it was too late now.
‘Where did you go?’
‘To Mallard’s chambers.’
Nellie’s face relaxed then, which only made him feel worse.
Chapter 25
‘That’s more complaints from the guests whose rooms open to the back about the smoke from the smithy.’
‘Harry’s out this morning collecting rents so there will be no smoke this morning,’ Nellie said.
‘Then there’s the flies,’ Pikelet said, swatting at one circling the table.
Nellie had noticed there were more flies too, but if it meant she could stay at the Tullamore and keep Tompkins paid up front then she would put up with it.
‘As soon as we can we’ll stop renting the back rooms. Then you can move into the main part,’ she said hoping the promise of better accommodations would stay him.
Pikelet didn’t reply, swatting another fly on her nice clean table.
‘I thought you’d be pleased that Tompkins is all paid up.’
‘Aye, well. I’ll not argue with that. But this place is not what it was. Chester has ruined it. You had a home here and now what is it? Nothing but a noisy swill house by night and a smoke-belching foundry by day.’
‘Is that all it is?’
‘I don’t like the way he’s been cracking on to you if that’s what you’re asking. There’s something dubious about him. Something that doesn’t add up.’
‘It did cross me mind once or twice that maybe he was from the gentry, passing himself off, some black sheep come out here to lie low. But you’ve seen him at that forge. He didn’t learn how to shoe a horse on the grand tour.’
‘He’s not shy of a decent day’s work. I’ll give him that.’
It was the first positive thing out of Pikelet’s mouth about Harry. It was something. It gave her hope that one day soon she might be able to come clean about how serious things were between them. What Pikelet thought mattered to her. He’d been her friend when Colleen left—stopping the other girls who were jealous from taking to her and keeping her safe from customers like Tompkins. And after Danny died, it had been his muscle that had discouraged anyone who thought they might take the Tullamore from her.
Pikelet drained his tea and stood up.
‘Best I pull some more pallets apart,’ he said stomping towards the yard. ‘We’re going through the wood like nobody’s business and we know who’s to blame for that.’
Nellie sighed.
Every minute she and Harry were apart now she wished they were together. After William, she’d never even dared hope she could have something like this again. It was like a dream come true—almost. The dream would never be real until Pikelet could be happy for her.
***
‘What brings you here?’ Tristan said looking up from his work, setting down his quill.
‘I’ve been around the tenants collecting the month’s rent,’ Harry said.
‘And how did you fare?’
‘Pretty good, actually. They all paid. Even the saddler had the money ready when I called.’
‘How’s Nellie?’
‘She’s well recovered. Her ribs looked to be badly bruised, but not broken. And her recovery seems to have borne that out.’
‘That is good news.’
‘And Tompkins?’ Harry inquired cautiously, not wanting to expose it as the real reason for his visit. He wanted to ensure that the reprobate had got what he deserved.
‘He was given seven days in lock-up on bread and water.’
For a second, Harry couldn’t believe what he was hearing.
‘Seven days for attempted rape?’
‘Not for rape. For being on licensed premises without reasonable cause, and attempting to purchase alcohol while on duty.’
Fury surged through Harry’s body. The light punishment was unconscionable after what Tompkins had tried to do, and what he would have done had Nellie not had the strength and the courage to fight him off.
Tristan’s line of sight descended to where Harry had clenched his hands into fists.
‘It was the best I could do, but I’d keep my head down for a week or two if I was you. Tompkins is due out today. He’s not going to be a happy man.’
‘I’ve got too much on my plate to be going near the club.’
‘That’s probably just as well, since I’m not sure they’d let a blacksmith in.’
‘Very humorous.’
‘I’m not being funny. Commercial landowner is one thing, but I don’t think even I can get you through the door with those hands.’
Harry stared down at his thickened skin on the backs of his hands, then flipped them over, inspecting his more noticeably more calloused palms. He had been somewhat proud of them, but that was before he had perceived the disadvantage of denied access to decent cognac, the billiard table, and the journals and newspapers from home, even if they were several months old.
‘I’ll buy some gloves.’
‘You’ll need to make sure that they’re good ones. And you and Nellie—how are things going there?’
Harry smiled thinking of her. The only blight on things was always having to sneak out to the stables for some privacy, tiptoeing around Pike’s feelings.
‘As if I need to ask. I can tell from your grin.’
‘I thought I might drop by the house this weekend and speak to Emily.’
‘Things have progressed, then. Can you narrow it down when you’ll look in? I wouldn’t want to miss the entertainment.’
‘You think she’ll take it that badly?’
‘Like I said—bring chainmail.’
Chapter 26
‘Nellie?’
Harry could tell the moment Nellie looked up at him something was wrong.
Even if he hadn’t been able to tell from her distraught expression, he’d have known from the state of the kitchen. It was well past the time Nellie would usually have had it tidied up, and the table was a mess of pots and pans and dishes from breakfast. Nellie sat listlessly in the middle of it all with Jammy on her lap.
‘What is it?’
‘Tompkins.’
A bolt of fear surged through him.
‘What did he do? Did he hurt you? My God, Nellie,’ he said kneeling down beside her.
She looked down at him and he saw her eyes were red from crying.
‘Him and a couple of his men took Pikelet away.’
‘Did they touch you?’
‘Nellie shook her head.’
Nellie was so upset, he hid his relief. But Pike was big enough to look after himself.
‘What did Pike do?’
‘Nothing, of course. They searched his room behind the stables, then they came out waving
a piece of paper saying it was a bill of exchange that Pikelet took from Tompkins’ desk. But they put it there, they must have. It was a stitch-up. Pikelet would never steal.’
‘If he is innocent, the truth will come out.’
Nellie’s glare pierced him with anger. ‘And of course no innocent person ever goes to prison.’
‘Nellie, just listen—’
‘No you listen. Listen to yourself.’ She stood up, clutching Jammy to her chest. ‘They said something else too. That Tompkins has been in lock-up on account of me. But you told me that you never complained.’
Harry rose to his feet. ‘I told you I’d been to see Tristan. It was Tristan who took the matter up with the Governor.’
‘And he did that off his own bat?’
Harry was silent.
Nellie turned and walked out of the kitchen, towards the stairs.
He moved to follow her, but uncharacteristically Jammy snarled then barked.
After Nellie left, Harry paced the room. He should never have kept his conversation with Tristan from her.
He could intercede now on Pike’s behalf, but that would mean claiming his title and admitting to yet another thing he had kept from Nellie.
If Pike was innocent, as Nellie had said, then there had to be another way he could intervene to free him without dredging up his past and the whole sordid scandal involving Selina and his half-brother.
***
The walk that would normally have taken her ten minutes she had done in half the time. She had left Jammy in the yard at the Tullamore and without him slowing her down, her anger gave her a burst of furious energy, pushing her up the hill.
Harry had lied to her. Not straight out but it didn’t matter. He had led her to believe he had left well alone when he had gone and engineered the opposite.
She had thought Harry cared about her, that they’d had a future together. She had even let herself dream of living near Colleen, both of them raising their families together. But she had no future with a man she couldn’t trust. And because she’d put her trust where she shouldn’t have, now Pikelet was suffering for it.
At the garrison, she raised the fist-sized rock she had picked up along the way, bashing at the door until she’d made a satisfying dent.
She wasn’t about to waste her knuckles on Tompkins, not when she had played right into his hands.
But what else could she do?
She couldn’t let Pike moulder in prison for something that had nothing to do with him and everything to do with Tompkins wanting her.
‘I had nothing to do with that complaint. That was all Harry Chester,’ she said, after she’d been let in and she found Tompkins in the garrison courtyard, supervising the loading of a cart full of barrels. ‘So you can let Pikelet go.’
‘You think I’d do this over a few days of stale bread and a wooden mattress? How little you think of me. You broke our agreement.’
‘We never had any agreement. That was just you spouting off about how you wanted things to be.’
‘Be that as it may, there is something you want from me and something I want from you.’
‘What do you want?’ she said. As if she had to ask. But Tompkins was holding all the cards.
‘For a start, you can have a drink with me.’
Tompkins opened his jacket and pulled out a flask. He unscrewed the cap to take a mouthful then handed it to her.
She followed suit. The rum was excellent. Smooth. Far better than what she’d been selling at the Tullamore.
‘Nice to see you’ve been getting us the best,’ she said bitterly.
‘All that could change if we were partners. Best quality spirit at discounted rates.’
‘I’ll never marry you.’
‘Marry you?’ Tompkins laughed. ‘You flatter yourself. All I want is a willing mistress.’
‘Then you’ll let Pike go?’
‘I have a cottage in Clarence Street. I bought it with you in mind and I think you’ll agree it’s quite pretty.’ He ran a finger down the side of her cheek. Nellie wanted to heave at his touch but she gritted her teeth. She had to, for Pikelet.
‘It’s the cottage down the cove end with glass in the windows. The key’s under a log of firewood around the back. If I find you there this evening, then I might see fit to remember how it was I asked Pike to hold that bill of exchange and how it’s all been a mistake.’
‘And if I don’t?’
‘I hear Botany Bay is nice this time of year.’
Nellie turned to go.
‘What’s your decision?’
She forced a smile.
‘Come to the cottage tonight and you’ll find out.’
***
‘Nell girl. I was hoping it wouldn’t be you.’ Pike voice was cracked and strained when the guards finally let her in to see him.
She rushed to the empty chair and sat down opposite the table they had Pike chained to, determined to make every second of the five minutes she had been given count.
Nellie recognised the voice but she could barely make him out in the stone-walled room. But even the gloom wasn’t enough to hide the bruises on Pikes face. A nasty cut gaped over his good eye, which mercifully was still open, but he sat hunched, nursing more pain in places she couldn’t see.
‘What sort of welcome do you call that?’ she said, keeping her voice light for Pikelet’s sake, even though she wanted to cry.
‘You don’t belong in a filthy place like this.’
‘Neither do you. I’m going to do everything I can to get you out.’
‘I need you to promise me something.’ Pikelet reached across the table for her—but the guard stepped up, a wooden baton raised.
‘No touching.’
Pikelet slumped back in his chair, defeated, the chain jangling echoing in the dank room, a tiny window high above the only thing letting in any light. She couldn’t bear to see him that way. Pikelet was a strong, proud man. His strength was all he had.
‘I’ll do anything, you know that.’
‘You’ll look after Jammy for me.’
‘Of course.’
‘And there’s something else. You have to promise me that you’ll not go near Tompkins.’
‘I can’t promise that, because I’ve already been.’
‘Ah, shite Nell. Don’t do it.’
‘Don’t do what?’
‘Don’t take me for a fool. This has been brewing for years.’
‘Since my first night on colonial soil. And every other night after when you were there outside the door listening, waiting to rush in and save me. How many times did you pull him off me when things cut up?’
‘Which is why you can’t give in to what he wants. It’s a first offence. I’m strong. They’ll put me on a work gang. I’ll be out before you know it.’
‘They’ll have you breaking rocks for the roads.’
‘It’s better that way.’
‘Time’s up.’
‘I’ve got five minutes.’
‘There’s another visitor.’
‘Then make them wait.’
‘Says he’s Pike’s lawyer.’
Nellie’s heart leapt. Perhaps it was Rowley with good news.
She gave up her seat then, calling her goodbyes all the way out, but in the corridor it wasn’t Rowley but Tristan Mallard she passed, being led down the corridor by another guard.
‘Nellie—I’m sorry this is a terrible business.’
‘Can you help him?’
Tristan’s look told her everything before he even spoke.
‘They have hard evidence and the word of a senior ranking officer. How is Mr Pike doing?’
‘Why don’t you go in and see for yourself.’
Tristan grasped her arm. ‘Don’t be too hard on Harry. He was only thinking of you.’
‘I hate to see what would have happened if he’d been thinking of someone else.’
‘Tompkins needs to be stopped.’
‘But by someone actuall
y able to stop him.’
An odd look came over Tristan’s face, but before she could work out what it meant, the guard pushed him forwards and the guard behind her dug her in the back with his baton.
‘Move along.’
Chapter 27
‘Nellie! Thank God. I was worried—’
‘You were worried about what?’ The walk to the garrison and then to the barracks where Pike was being held had done nothing to quell her anger. Her eyes burned with fury.
‘I’ve instructed Tristan,’ he said, anxious to show he’d done something to help.
‘I saw Mr Mallard at the barracks. He says there’s a very strong case against Pikelet because he was found with the evidence.’
‘How is Pike?’ hoping the man hadn’t been treated too harshly.
‘How do you bleedin’ well think he is? Beside himself. Not that he’s letting on.’
Nellie turned and walked through the door and into the passage.
‘Nellie, talk to me.’
No answer.
‘Nellie, wait. There’s no need for this.’ He followed her up the stairs but Nellie didn’t stop until she reached her room, where she wrenched open the wardrobe, pulled out a drawstring bag fashioned from a sack and began stuffing it.
‘What are you doing?’
She ignored him, moving on to the chest, emptying one drawer after and another.
‘Nellie.’
‘I’m leaving.’
‘Please stop.’ He placed a hand on her shoulder but she whirled around. Knocking backwards against the chest of drawers. There was a clatter as if something had fallen to the floor. Her eyes were wild with anger.
‘Can’t you see I’m busy.’
‘Where will you go?’
‘I don’t see that’s any of your business.’
‘You’ve been drinking. I can smell it on your breath.’
‘Happen I’ve had reason.’
‘Nellie, please. I can fix this.’
‘And how can you do that?’
‘I can see the Governor, tell him what really happened.’
‘Because Pike’s innocent and when you tell the Governor that, he’s just going to see reason, is he?’
‘Nellie, wait.’