The Beggar Maid

by Dilly Court

  Charity faced him angrily. ‘You are a despicable person. You brought this about with your plotting and scheming.’

  ‘You’ve been listening to Harry’s idiotic ranting. You shouldn’t believe everything that he tells you, my dear,’ Wilmot said, curling his lip. ‘A man who refuses to use his father’s name is not my idea of a devoted son. Harry has left the country and I’ll make certain he never returns. All this belongs to Dan now.’ He encompassed the estate with a sweep of his hands. ‘And you are dismissed. Your services are no longer needed.’

  ‘That’s a bit harsh, Wilmot.’ Daniel bent down to retrieve his father’s spectacles, which had fallen from his pocket. He wiped the mud off the lenses, and handed them to Charity. ‘You can stay on at Nevill’s Court until you find yourself another position.’

  ‘I wouldn’t be so generous,’ Wilmot said angrily. ‘She’s a troublemaker, Dan. Get rid of her and close the house in London until everything is settled. You can’t afford to pay the servants.’

  Charity felt a surge of pity for Daniel. He looked young and defenceless in the face of Wilmot’s determined attempt to gain control of the situation. ‘Leave him alone. Haven’t you done enough harm? You might not have struck the lethal blow, but you are responsible for Sir Hedley’s death.’

  He raised his hand and caught her a stinging blow across the cheek. She would have fallen to the ground if Daniel had not caught her. ‘That was uncalled for, Wilmot,’ he said angrily. ‘If anyone is to blame it’s me. I goaded the old man and he suffered a seizure. I killed my own father.’

  ‘Don’t talk rubbish, boy. Take her back to the house and send her on her way.’ Wilmot’s voice was harsh with suppressed anger, but he seemed to realise that he had gone too far and he forced his lips into a smile. ‘You’ll see things in a better light when you’ve had time to think, Daniel. This is a heaven-sent opportunity to go through the old pile of bricks and mortar with a fine-tooth comb. By the end of the week we could be travelling back to Devon with the Bligh treasure and you’ll be a wealthy man.’

  ‘Don’t listen to him, Dan.’ Clutching her hand to her sore cheek, Charity backed away from them. ‘You may not have liked Sir Hedley but you should have some respect for the dead.’

  ‘You’re going too fast, Wilmot,’ Daniel said slowly. ‘Charity’s right. Whether I like it or not he was my father. I’m going back to the house to make sure that he receives the treatment he deserves.’ He walked off with his shoulders bent as if he were carrying a heavy load.

  Charity made to follow him but Wilmot caught her by the sleeve. ‘Leave the boy alone, you little trollop. You’ll go back to London today and be out of the house in Nevill’s Court by the end of the week. I can’t say fairer than that, but if you try to cross me or make any attempt to stir things up with Dan, I’ll make you very sorry, and that’s a promise.’

  She pulled free from his grasp. ‘I’m not afraid of you.’ She walked off without giving him the opportunity to retaliate.

  A blood-red sun was struggling over the horizon as she followed Daniel across the rutted field, but she did not make any attempt to catch up with him. She sensed the turmoil in his breast and she knew that he needed time to get over the shock of what had just happened. She hesitated when she reached the lane that separated the parkland from the farm, and the salt-laden breeze coming off the sea seemed to beckon her like a siren. There was just a chance that she might catch Harry before he set sail for the Continent. She lifted up her skirts and ran.

  She arrived in the village just as the last boat was leaving the harbour. She came to a halt, panting and breathless, but there were only a few small crabbers in the sheltered waters of the cove, and the gigs that took the pilots out to larger ships were hauled up on the beach. The scent of pipe tobacco made her turn to see an old man seated on an upturned lobster pot, mending a net. She went up to him, clearing her throat to attract his attention. ‘Excuse me, sir.’

  He looked up, squinting through a haze of blue smoke that curled up from the pipe clenched between his teeth. ‘Yes, maidy. What can I do for you?’

  ‘Do you know Harry Elliott? You might know him better as Harry Bligh?’

  He nodded his head. ‘Aye, I’ve known Master Harry since he were a boy.’

  ‘Did you happen to see him today?’

  He nodded again, exhaling a cloud of smoke as he took the pipe from his mouth. ‘Aye, maidy. He left on the Mary May. Gone fishing for bass so they say, but word has it that it’s a one way trip for Master Harry.’ He tapped the side of his nose with the stem of his pipe and grinned. ‘You ain’t one of his creditors, are you?’

  She smiled. ‘No, sir. That I’m not.’

  ‘You’d have to ask Ned Loveless, the skipper of the Mary May, as to his destination. I can’t say nothing more because that’s all I knows.’

  ‘Thank you. That’s very helpful.’ Charity could see that this was all the information she was going to get, and she made her way slowly back to the house.

  Parkin was in the kitchen, comforting a tearful Mrs Trevett. They looked up as she entered the room and Mrs Trevett’s face crumpled as tears rolled down her cheeks. ‘The master has gone, miss.’

  ‘Yes, I know and I’m very sorry.’ Charity met Parkin’s agonised look with a sympathetic smile. ‘It was very quick. He didn’t suffer.’

  Parkin helped Mrs Trevett to a chair. ‘I’d better go and see if Master Daniel has any orders for me.’

  ‘Yes, Mr Parkin. Of course you must.’ Mrs Trevett buried her face in her hands. ‘What will become of us now? This is a bad day for Bligh Park.’

  There was nothing that Charity could say that would be of comfort and she busied herself tending to the fire. She was still in a state of shock after the events at the excavation, and occupying herself with mundane tasks kept her mind focused on the immediate present. What would happen to them in the future depended on how much latitude Daniel was prepared to allow Wilmot when it came to making decisions for him. She made a cup of tea for Mrs Trevett, adding two lumps of sugar and a tot of brandy, which she found on a shelf at the back of the larder. She suspected that Parkin would benefit from the same medicine when he returned, and she put the pot to keep warm on the range.

  A bowl of bread dough had been left to prove. Charity turned to Mrs Trevett. ‘What should I do with this? I’m no cook and I’ve never made bread in my life, but I’m willing to try.’

  Mrs Trevett raised herself from her seat. ‘That’s my job, miss. I’ll see to it.’

  ‘If you’re sure.’

  ‘Heaven knows what will happen to us now the master’s gone, but I won’t allow good food to go to waste.’ Mrs Trevett rolled up her sleeves and plunged her hands into the dough. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes red and swollen, but she attacked the task as if her life depended upon it. ‘Sir Hedley was partial to a slice of fresh bread and a slab of cheese for his midday meal,’ she said, working the dough with vigour. ‘He was particularly fond of my green tomato chutney.’

  Charity could think of nothing to say that would not upset the delicate balance of Mrs Trevett’s emotions, and she was relieved when Parkin walked into the room. ‘What’s happening, Mr Parkin?’ She filled a cup with tea, added a measure of brandy, and placed it on the table. ‘You look as though you could do with something a bit stronger than just tea,’ she said softly.

  He drank greedily and two spots of colour appeared on his ashen cheeks. ‘The master is laid out in the morning parlour and Jackson has gone to fetch the doctor and the undertaker. This is a bad day for us, miss. A very bad day.’ He sat down suddenly, as if his aged bones had given way beneath him. ‘I nearly forget to say that Master Daniel wants to see you, miss. He’s in the library. Can you find your own way there?’

  ‘I’m sure I can, Mr Parkin. Is he on his own, or is Mr Barton with him?’

  ‘Mr Barton went to the stables, miss.’

  Charity hurried from the room and reached the library without losing her way. She tapped on
the door and waited for a response.

  Chapter Fifteen

  DANIEL WAS STANDING by the table, flicking through the pages of one of the rarest volumes in the library as if it were a penny dreadful. Charity only just stopped herself from scolding him for treating a priceless book in such a cavalier fashion. ‘You wanted to see me?’

  He closed the book and looked up. His expression was grave. ‘I shouldn’t have spoken to you like that, Charity. You are the innocent party in all this sordid business.’

  ‘When am I to leave?’

  ‘I’m not sure, but I’d like you to stay on for a day or two and continue your work here.’

  She stared at him in surprise. ‘Really?’

  ‘Wilmot is leaving for Devon shortly. He wants to tell Mother in person.’

  ‘Shouldn’t you be doing that, Dan?’

  ‘Perhaps, but I’d rather he did it to be honest. I can’t stand to see a woman cry.’

  ‘Do you think she’ll be upset? I thought there was no love lost between your parents.’

  ‘Who knows? I’m baffled by the whole business, to tell the truth. All I know is that Harry’s gone, and I’ve been stuck with responsibilities that I never sought and don’t want.’

  Once again she experienced a wave of pity for him. ‘Why didn’t you tell Wilmot how you felt? Or if you can’t talk to him you should speak to your mother. Maybe you could persuade her to pay off Harry’s debts and then he could return and sort out the estate. You don’t have to do this, Dan. Stand up for yourself.’

  ‘That’s just it. Mother will do anything that Wilmot says.’

  Charity shook her head. ‘I can’t help you if you won’t help yourself.’

  ‘I don’t know what to do. Mother is convinced that the Bligh treasure is somewhere in the house or the grounds. I’m certain that’s why she chose to tell me that Sir Hedley is my real father.’

  ‘Maybe you can find the treasure.’

  ‘I don’t believe it exists. I just want to live my own life, Charity. I want to be an archaeologist and go to Egypt and spend my time excavating ancient tombs. I don’t care about money, and I don’t want to see my brother facing ruin.’

  ‘You told me you wanted nothing more to do with Harry.’

  ‘That was for Wilmot’s benefit, and I was angry with Harry for running away and leaving me to deal with all this.’ He glanced round at the book-filled shelves. ‘If you can find anything of value I’ll be happy to see it sold and the proceeds used to pay off my brother’s debts. I want him to come home and claim what’s rightfully his.’

  ‘All right, Dan. I’ll do anything I can to help, and there might be a way to find out where Harry is now.’

  His eyes lit with hope and he grabbed her by the hand. ‘How?’

  ‘I went to the village after you left the dig this morning. I hoped I might be in time to stop Harry leaving, but I was too late. He’d sailed on a boat called the Mary May and the skipper is a man called Ned Loveless.’

  ‘I know Loveless.’ Dan’s sombre expression was replaced with a wide grin. ‘He used to take us fishing when we were boys . . .’ He broke off, releasing her hand as Wilmot strode into the library.

  ‘What’s all this?’

  Dan hid his hand behind his back as if he were a small boy expecting to be caned for misbehaving. ‘I sent for her, Wilmot.’

  ‘You were holding her hand.’

  ‘He was saying goodbye,’ Charity said calmly. ‘I was just leaving.’

  ‘That had better be the truth. She’s trouble, Daniel.’

  ‘I’m dealing with it.’

  ‘I couldn’t find Hedley’s man, but I left word for him to report to you as soon as the fellow turns up. I’m leaving now, but I’ll be back within a few days. In the meantime you can make arrangements to dispose of the old devil, and then you can start tearing this place apart. We’ll find the Bligh Park treasure even if we have to pull the old ruin down brick by brick.’ Wilmot uttered a hollow laugh. ‘It’s in such a derelict state that I doubt if anyone will notice the difference.’

  ‘I’ll do my best, Uncle.’

  ‘I’m not your uncle, boy. I fully expect to be your stepfather by the time I return from Devon.’

  ‘My mother might have something to say to that,’ Dan said angrily. ‘I won’t allow you to bully her.’

  Charity held her breath. For a moment she thought that Wilmot had been pushed too far, but he cast a pitying glance in Daniel’s direction. ‘I know how to handle a woman, Dan, my boy. Myrtle will do exactly as I say and love me the more for being strict with her.’ His laughter echoed round the room after he had gone.

  Daniel made to follow him but Charity barred his way. ‘Let him go,’ she said in a low voice. ‘It amuses him to see you lose your temper. He’s like a cat tormenting a mouse.’

  ‘You told me to stand up to him,’ Daniel said sulkily. ‘I won’t have him say things about my mother.’

  ‘Let’s forget him for the time being. I’ve already found some books that should fetch a tidy sum, but I’m not an expert.’

  ‘Do what you can and I’ll make a start in the house, although it seems like a hopeless task. People have been looking for the Bligh Park treasure for a hundred years or more. Wilmot could raze it to the ground and still find nothing.’

  Charity ran her fingers over the tooled-leather book cover. ‘Perhaps you’d do better to look for Sir Hedley’s will. If he left everything to Harry there’s not much Wilmot could do about it.’

  ‘Splendid idea. Why didn’t I think of that?’ Daniel made for the door but he came to a sudden halt, turning to Charity with a thoughtful frown. ‘I suppose I ought to see the undertaker first to make arrangements for a decent send-off for the old man. I can’t mourn for him as a son, but I’ll make sure that he’s treated with respect. It’s the least I can do.’

  By mid-afternoon Charity had found at least a dozen books that might fetch a tidy sum at auction. She was covered in dust and her head ached from staring at the various types of print; the light was fading as storm clouds rolled in from the west, making it difficult to see. She was about to go in search of Dan when the door opened and he burst in, looking very pleased with himself. He waved a document under her nose. ‘I found it at last,’ he said triumphantly. ‘Sir Hedley’s will. He’s left everything to Harry, as I knew he would. Wilmot won’t like that, and Mama won’t be best pleased, although she could hardly expect him to include me when he didn’t even know I existed, at least not until it was too late.’

  ‘It’s even more important for us to find Harry. The will should go to probate; I know that much from when Jethro passed away. Dr Marchant helped me then and now he’s gone, poor man. It seems that everyone who helps me comes to a bad end. I’m bad luck.’

  Dan slipped his arm around her shoulders. ‘Come on, Charity. That’s superstitious nonsense and you know it. Your grandfather died of drink and the doctor caught typhoid in the slums. Jethro was a sick man and Sir Hedley was getting on in years.’

  She managed a smile. ‘I suppose so, but it seems like an unlikely string of coincidences. I’m like the angel of death.’

  ‘You needn’t worry about me,’ he said, chuckling. ‘I’m only twenty and Harry is twenty-three. I think we’ll be around for some time to come.’

  ‘We need to find Harry and bring him home,’ Charity said thoughtfully. ‘And you should send the will to the probate registry in London before Wilmot gets his hands on it.’

  ‘You’re right, although I hate to admit it. I’ve always been fond of Wilmot but there’s never been any love lost between him and Harry. I’ll send Jackson back to London and he can take the will and the books you’ve earmarked for auction.’

  ‘The servants haven’t been paid for nearly a year, Dan. Perhaps you could use some of the money to look after them.’

  ‘How did you come to be so wise, kid?’

  The teasing note in his voice reminded her forcibly of Harry and her eyes filled with tears. She look
ed away. ‘The dust has made my eyes sore and I’m gasping for a cup of tea. I don’t think I can do any more today.’

  Ha laid his hand on her arm. ‘This isn’t your problem, Charity. My family has imposed on you enough.’

  ‘I would be homeless if it hadn’t been for Harry and your father,’ Charity said, dashing her hand across her eyes. ‘It’s in my best interests to help you. If we’re turned out of Nevill’s Court we won’t have anywhere to go.’

  ‘I won’t let that happen, so stop worrying.’

  ‘Perhaps I ought to take the will to London. I would make sure it went to the right place and I could take the books to an auction house. It’s not that I don’t trust Jackson, but he wouldn’t know how to set about it.’

  ‘You’re right, I suppose, although I don’t fancy being left alone in this creepy old house.’

  ‘It’s not creepy, it’s just unloved. It needs someone to take care of it and bring back the laughter. It must have been a happy home once.’

  ‘Maybe, but the sooner I find my brother the better. I’ll seek out Ned Loveless and find out where he took Harry.’

  ‘I wish I could stay and help you, but we’ll need money if we’re to go looking for him.’

  ‘Does that mean you’ll come with me? He might be anywhere.’

  ‘I have a feeling that if he’s landed in France he’ll head for the nearest casino. Harry was full of good intentions but if he’s short of funds he won’t have much choice.’

  ‘You’re a remarkable girl, Charity Crosse.’ Daniel’s eyes were filled with admiration. ‘You’re young and yet you know so much.’

  ‘It comes from begging on the streets. When you’re the lowest of the low you see the world from a different angle. I know what it’s like to be cold and hungry. I never want to suffer that again, and I wouldn’t like to see Harry made destitute because of the greed of someone like Wilmot.’

  ‘Are you in love with my brother?’

  The question, coming from nowhere, startled her and she felt herself blushing. ‘No, of course not. I’m not sure I even like him, but I’m in his debt and I hate injustice. Harry might be foolish but he’s got a good heart and to me that’s all that matters.’