by Hazel Aitken
The pair were hustled out of the room and Hannah tried to shrivel, willing herself to invisibility as the quartet passed close by. Sairin, her buttercup yellow hair gleaming in the gaslight, gazed around her and her mouth opened in a round ‘O’ as she caught a glimpse of Hannah behind the outsize potted fern.
“Han…” began the child and too late Hannah placed a finger to her lips. The three women turned their heads in her direction and seemed like a frozen tableau. Martha Phipps stared in disbelief, the other two in anger and surprise.
Acting on impulse, Hannah pushed the table and sent the potted fern over spilling soil and debris onto the carpet where some sank into the thick pile. Then she ran.
Along the corridor and to the head of the curved staircase, aware of a kerfuffle behind her as the women debated what to do in the situation.
As she rounded the bend in the wide wooden staircase that was carpeted in rich dark red, she witnessed a scene, initially pleasing to the eye, that might have been taking place in one of the great houses of England: a blazing log fire, gleaming chandeliers, elegant furniture, stylishly dressed people and pre-pubescent girls circulating with trays of amber coloured wine.
On closer inspection, although Hannah was too distressed to notice at first, the women and older girls wore gowns that exposed their breasts, their skirts slit to reveal black stockings and lace garters, and several were seated on the laps of their clients, teasing with their lips and hands.
What she did notice was that Dr Marcus Lisle stood on the outside of a group and was apparently deep in conversation with a girl dressed frothily in pink silk and lace. Did she pause? She could not recall, so great was the shock, but her entrance caused a disturbance which alerted him to her presence. Then he was striding across the room, a warning in his eyes.
“Well, well,” he was saying, “this one looks ripe for the plucking. I could fancy spending time with her. Could that be arranged?” He was looking beyond her and turning she saw Marnie, motionless on the bottom stair, her face devoid of expression until a false brightness came into play.
She stepped forward extending a well-manicured hand, blue silk swishing around her small feet which were encased in dainty satin shoes trimmed with blue bows. “How delightful, a new face. May I enquire who introduced you to Brookwood, sir?”
Hannah’s heart beat uncomfortably as Marcus Lisle took the extended hand and smiled into cold grey eyes. "I believe you are acquainted with Mr Jasper Meredith…?
Marnie appeared to relax. “Of course, so you will be aware that we cater for all tastes, whatever they may be. We have some very pleasing and refined young women to entertain and amuse our gentlemen.” She arched an eyebrow and appraised him. “Perhaps Sophie or Blanche…”
The doctor inclined his head towards Hannah. “I have made my choice. The moment this young woman dashed downstairs, her hair in disarray and her dress slipping from her white shoulders, I thought, ‘It shall be this one.’”
“Quite so, then. I see you are a man of impulse,” she said teasingly. “Follow me, please.” She glanced at Hannah who was pale as tallow despite her desperation. “May I suggest this young lady attends to her toilette and I will send for wine, sir?”
“I am a man in a hurry. Business to attend to and so on.” As they followed Marnie back upstairs, he sent a glance in Hannah’s direction. Unsure of herself and of him, she bent her head and refused to meet his gaze and concentrated on making sure she did not trip over the too-long lilac gown.
“Here we are, the green room, but I insist you take a complimentary drink. It will be with you in a minute or two.”
They were shown into an apartment that was as fresh as a spring day. Dominated by a bed that was draped in willow-green voile the room held white painted furniture and on its walls hung delicate watercolours depicting scenes from nature, trees and fields and small birds in flight.
“Take off your dress, Hannah,” ordered Marcus Lisle and she stared at him in horror. “For God’s sake girl, she’s coming back. She may suspect something and we have to allay her suspicions. Explanations later. Come here, let me help you.” His fingers unfastened the small cloth covered buttons that ran from neck to waist and he was untying the sash when there was a light tap upon the door and both Marnie and the child dressed in bucolic fashion entered, the latter holding a tray on which resided long stemmed crystal glasses whilst Marnie held aloft a decanter filled with straw coloured liquid.
“My best dry sherry,” she said, placing the decanter on a low round table and indicating that the girl place the tray beside it. She smiled slowly but only her lips moved, her eyes did not leave Marcus Lisle’s face as if she sought for an answer to something that was troubling her. Hannah glanced at the child who chewed her lip and gazed at a painting of a wood warbler perched upon a twig.
“Thank you, you may leave us now.” He felt in his pocket and withdrew a shining coin which he pressed into the little girl’s hand. As if reluctant to leave, Marnie turned slowly before retreating and pushed the child in front of her. With swift strides Marcus Lisle was at the door and turned the key in the lock. He placed a finger to his lips and returned to Hannah’s side.
“We are suspects. I am sure someone will be outside that door,” he whispered. “Just as I am sure the so-called sherry wine will have been tampered with.” Even as he spoke, he poured some of it into the glasses then crossed to the window and opening it tipped away their contents.
“Appearances, Hannah,” he whispered, and then said loudly, “Off with it then. Come here, girl.” He was pulling her dress down and she stood in her chemise and pulled off her boots. Then he said quietly, “Listen to me. I am not alone. I gained entry posing as a client. Outside, having walked the last few hundred yards are about six of us, including two constables.” Then loudly: “My, but you’re a beauty. Come here, do as I say. No teasing now, I am in a hurry.” His mouth was against her ear and he whispered, “Time for you to protest. Go on, play your part.”
“No,” she shouted. “Leave me alone. I’m not what you think. I was brought here against my will. I need to escape.” He gave her a thumbs up sign and encouraged, she continued, “Whoever you are sir, please listen to me.”
“Not likely.” He was speaking in strident tones and was most convincing to any listener, she was sure. He almost convinced her. She now whispered, “There’s a young girl in the white room, almost certainly been violated. Molly Tinsley may be in the other wing. What do you propose?”
“Some of the others will be creeping to the outer door of this wing. When I leave in about twenty minutes’ time, they will rush in. Others may try to enter by the main door. After that, who knows? The law has no teeth but we should be able to rescue Molly and any other young girls. Jasper Meredith and his cronies will not want adverse publicity…Time to act a part, Hannah, go on, give a little shriek!”
She obeyed and in spite of the situation was almost enjoying herself. “Oh, no,” she cried, “I’ve never…I’m not taking that off. Sir, you can’t…”
“I most certainly can.” He pulled her towards the bed and they sat on the edge of it looking into one another’s eyes. “You are remarkable, Hannah. Did anyone ever tell you that? A woman of character and one after my own heart.”
“Is that part of the act?” she whispered and in answer he lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it.
“That would be telling.” His voice was soft, his lips tender and his smile warming. “So, here we are, the reformer and the discreet Miss Morley, what shall we talk about? I know, that anomaly, Miss Phipps, but before that, you’d better give a scream or something.”
Hannah opened her mouth and screamed convincingly before saying, “Get off, you brute. You’re no gentleman.” In an effort to control his mirth, Marcus Lisle stuffed the pale green bedspread into his mouth and Hannah clapped a hand over hers to prevent giggles from escaping. “Miss Phipps,” she said at last. “What about her? She says she is innocent. She believed she was rescuing girls
at risk and thought Brookwood was a place where they might be trained as domestic servants. But it doesn’t explain why she took Sairin to her sister’s home and not into the safety of the workhouse.”
“I’m not sure it is safe. Some inmates come and go, many have criminal contacts. My feeling is the attention of Jasper Meredith soothed her lack of self-worth. She has the hall marks of a woman out of touch with her own emotions, living by a set of rules because they make her feel safe.”
“At some other time, I’ll tell you what she said about her father. It explains a lot. Is it time for me to scream again?”
“It’s time for me to leave. You lie on the bed. Take off your chemise but I suggest you keep on your drawers and stockings. I have to say you look tantalising in dark stockings and not much else.”
“Very well, doctor, but mine are thick woollen ones, not a tart’s smooth silk.”
“Oh, Hannah, there is nobody like you. Bye for now and take care, sweetheart.”
****************************************
Chapter Twenty-Three
She did as she was told and lay waiting for…she knew not what. If plans came to fruition, surely there would soon be noise and commotion as soon Marcus Lisle left this part of Brookwood. The party would rush in and chaos would ensue as they searched the apartments. She strained her ears to hear.
The bedroom door opened softly and Marnie tiptoed towards the bed. “Well, you deserved all you got. Now, get up, put on your dress and follow me. Quickly, there’s no time to spare.”
Hannah obeyed, pulling the lilac gown over her head and fastening a few of the buttons, then pushing her feet into her boots. The incongruity of her attire struck her again as she was hustled along the thickly carpeted corridor towards the white door that opened into the main part of Brookwood and the wide staircase that she and her companions had climbed only an hour or so earlier.
Yes, there below was the black and white tiled floor, the oil paintings and the elegant sofas against the walls. There too was a group of men, and good heavens! The Reverend James Christie was amongst them, his expression that of a man on a mission if ever she saw one. Marnie gasped and wheeled round, her iridescent blue silk catching the light, that and her movement at the top of the stairs causing the party to look upwards. There too was Elias Williams, his thin face drawn and pale. A man whom she thought to be a police constable bounded towards the stairs and Marnie bundled her back through the white door and into the corridor.
Further along she spied Miss Phipps and Sairin being jostled by the woman in green as they emerged from the yellow room and from nowhere in particular Jasper Meredith appeared. His eyebrows met his hairline when he saw Hannah tripping over the lilac silk in boots that had seen far better days, her tangled dark hair falling about her shoulders and a confident smile on her lips.
“So, Hannah Morley, what have you got to be so self-satisfied about, I wonder?”
He did not have long to wonder because seconds later Marcus Lisle, a constable and a couple of men unknown to Hannah rushed from below and surrounded him. For a moment he blustered but conceding defeat his arrogant pride crumpled, and he appeared lost and bewildered, as if unable to believe what was happening to him.
Hannah was propelled along the corridor and towards the other stairs which led to the ornately beautiful room where the soirée had been in full swing. Not now, however, for the music had fallen silent and so had the assembly. Men were trying to make an escape and the girls, wide-eyed and practically bare breasted, appeared to be enjoying the debacle, whispering together behind their hands, their cheeks crimson owing to excitement rather than to the application of a carmine salve. In the middle of it all was Mr John Gidley, his expression one of agitation, bafflement and disbelief as he accompanied a constable and two other men.
“It’s all been a terrible mistake,” Marnie was saying, a voice high-pitched with nervousness as she pushed Hannah downstairs. For a moment Hannah thought Mr Gidley might well be echoing those words. The unfortunate man did not know where to look until his gaze fell upon Hannah who was descending the stairs.
“Oh, my dear Miss Morley…” He almost fell over as he rushed towards her. “What can I say? Oh dear, oh dear.” From somewhere he produced the habitual handkerchief and mopped moisture from his sweating brow.
“I am perfectly all right and so are Sairin and Miss Phipps,” Hannah managed to say before she was pushed towards a door that led into a yard that was enclosed on one side by high hedges and on the other by outbuildings that she fancied were stables. As if to prove it, a small carriage rounded them and she was pushed inside to find Martha Phipps and Sairin already ensconced.
Sairin immediately burst into tears and cried for her Dada. Martha Phipps, even after all that had occurred, appeared shocked at Hannah’s appearance, and for herself Hannah was past caring.
“Where are we going?” the child asked on a sob.
“Back where you came from,” was Marnie’s angry reply as she slammed shut the carriage door.
*****
“It is past all imagining.” Hannah was installed in the Websters’ kitchen with a mug of tea in her hand and Eliza was listening with wide eyes and an air of disbelief. Rosa was absent, visiting a grandmother she had never before met in her life.
“Well, after Marcus Lisle left, I lay on the bed as instructed and the madam, that’s Marnie, came into the room and told me I deserved all that had happened and I thought, oh, yes, a kiss on the hand, a few compliments and a good laugh! But, of course, I had to pretend to be distraught. Maybe I overdid it because she lost patience and told me to get dressed and to be quick about it. As I followed her along the corridor, Mr Meredith appeared and his eyebrows disappeared into his hairline when he saw me, wearing the lilac gown, remember.”
“I can hardly believe that one of the guardians was connected to that place and that he actually picked out girls to be taken there. I suppose he made sure Rosa was placed with Mrs Wilson until she was old enough for his wicked schemes. Such appalling evil.”
“No doubt he and Martha Phipps arranged that, but despite everything I think she truly believed she was helping the girls. Fancy that? I mean, he gave her money and one would imagine she would question it, but she insists she gave it to the poor. When he knew his intrigues were on the brink of discovery, he looked like a small boy caught out in some transgression. He crumpled. Earlier he had threatened to tame me and you can imagine what that meant! By the time he realised the constables and Marcus were at his heels, he resembled a scared rabbit and wasn’t likely to tame anybody!”
“What will happen to Martha Phipps? From what you’ve told me, she’s had a miserable life so far.”
“Who knows? She won’t get a reference, that is certain.” Hannah looked troubled.
“I have some news too.” Eliza’s eyes shone and her gentle misshapen lips smiled. “Mr James Christie has been very kind to Father. He said something about making sure he was always surrounded by loving care and…” she hesitated, “that he would like to pay court to me. Me. Imagine that!”
“I can imagine it. Why wouldn’t he? The man who marries you will be very blessed. I told him you were pure gold but he knew that already.”
"Sam has news too. It would seem that Mr Lawson has greater faith in his abilities than is obvious to an observer. A friend of his in London, a partner in a large apothecary establishment with a wealthy clientele, is offering Sam further training and the chance of advancement. I think he will go. It would be a pity if he missed such a chance. What about you, Hannah?
“I shall return to the workhouse and carry on with my duties, but I rather think I shall concentrate on nursing rather than teaching. Mr Gidley has called a meeting for this afternoon and I shall voice that opinion. Oh, Eliza, you should have witnessed his confusion at Brookwood. I was being hustled out of the bordello and into a waiting carriage and he stood there, almost a puddle of perspiration, unsure as to whether to play his part in the rescue of”the poor
young ladies", as I have heard he referred to them, or whether to make a dash for the safety of the nearby shrubberies! In future, whenever I feel downhearted, I shall picture his expression of utter perplexity and the bewilderment at finding himself in such a place, and I shall feel better instantly.
“I hope you won’t ever feel downhearted, Hannah. You deserve to be happy. Really happy, I mean.” Eliza rose from her chair and gave Hannah an affectionate hug.
*****
Mr Gidley’s office was warm to the point of suffocation, the log fire blazing merrily and the man himself beaming kindly upon the assembled company. Both he and Mrs Stannard were seated behind the wide desk, temporarily cleared of papers and ledgers, and looking rather pleased with themselves, Hannah considered.
Apart from herself, there were present Elias Williams, Dr Marcus Lisle and Reverend James Christie.
“Well, well, well, we’re here to record accurately events that pertain to the workhouse,” began Mr Gidley rather pompously and not at all in his usual style. “Of course, it is shocking that one of our guardians has been involved in an evil scheme of which you are all aware. Thankfully all the poor young girls under the age of thirteen have been rescued, although some may never fully recover, psychologically that is, from their ordeal.” His face was scarlet and he mopped his brow before continuing. “For those of you who are not acquainted with the most recent developments, let me assure you that a lass named Molly Tinsley is unhurt and back in our midst. Leah Rae, known also as Leary or Rosa, is to reside with the Websters, friends of Miss Morley here, that is unless she decides to make her home with her grandmother, but of course…” he halted and looked at Mrs Stannard, “Am I being long-winded, my dear?”
Her normally pale complexion took on a roseate hue. “Mr Gidley is not himself today,” she informed the company. “Shall we tell them, John?” He nodded and patted her slim capable hand.