The Cockney Sparrow

by Dilly Court

  ‘I’ve gone straight,’ Clemency said, shaking her head. ‘I don’t want to go back to stealing.’

  ‘It would only be temporary.’ Jared moved swiftly to her side. ‘There is a certain man who owes me a great deal. He has something of mine that I am determined to retrieve. But once that is done, and I have seen Izzie settled, my business will be done.’

  ‘And we’ll all be tossed out on the streets or end up in Newgate. It don’t sound good to me.’

  ‘I’ll look after you, Clemency. I’ll protect you from knaves and scoundrels and you’ll be well rewarded. All I ask is that you work with me and keep all of this strictly confidential. Izzie must never know the truth.’ His eyes were the colour of roof slates, freshly washed by an April shower and glistening in the sunlight. He held her gaze with an intensity that sent shivers down her spine. ‘Will you join us? And will you promise never to tell Izzie what has passed between us today?’

  Hypnotised by the sound of his voice, and the obvious sincerity in his words, she found that she could not refuse. ‘I promise.’

  He took her hand and held it in a firm grasp. ‘You won’t regret it.’

  She felt a tingle, something like pins and needles, running up her arm and shooting down her spine: it was with difficulty that she collected her thoughts. ‘What about the others? If I say I’ll go along with you, I wants you to promise that you won’t suddenly turn round and tell Jack and me friends to leave.’

  ‘They can stay. I give you my word on that.’

  ‘The word of a gentleman?’

  He threw back his head and laughed. ‘No, the word of one magsman to another.’

  ‘So vulgar,’ Lady Skelton said, tut-tutting. ‘Tomorrow morning, Clemency, we’ll begin your lessons, starting with elocution, grammar and deportment. I’ll leave Izzie to help you choose a new wardrobe, and show you how to do your hair.’

  ‘But what do I tell her?’ Clemency looked from one to the other. ‘How do I explain my presence in this house without making her suspicious?’

  Jared shrugged his shoulders. ‘Grandmama?’

  ‘Leave that to me, dear boy. I’ll think of something that will fit in with her desire to raise women’s status in the world. In fact, I’ll go and find her now and make my peace with the poor child.’ She rose, and turned to Clemency, her smile fading. ‘I do adore my granddaughter, and I sincerely desire her happiness. But I also want her to have the security and respect that I have never managed to achieve. Goodbye, Jared. I’ll see you both tomorrow.’ She left the room with a rustle of silk taffeta petticoats, leaving a faint trace of French perfume lingering in the air.

  Jared placed his arm around Clemency’s shoulders, but she recoiled from his touch, moving away from him. The simple pressure of his hand had sent the blood fizzing through her veins, as if she had drunk a glass of rum punch too quickly: it was as alarming as it was exciting. Until now, she had never been attracted to any man. Hardiman had put her off the male sex forever, or so she had thought. But strange things were happening to her body, and she was not in complete control of her emotions. Then she remembered Ma, lying on her sickbed at the pub. ‘Mother!’ She had said it almost without thinking.

  Jared stared at her. ‘Mother?’

  ‘Me mum is poorly, very poorly. I got to go and see her. I want to go now.’

  ‘I’m not stopping you. You can come and go as you please.’

  ‘Oh!’ She stared at him in surprise. ‘Ta, then I – I will.’

  ‘And where is your mother, Clemency? Is she in hospital?’

  ‘She’s being cared for by friends in the Crown and Anchor pub, Carter Lane.’ She hesitated. ‘You have called Hardiman off, haven’t you? I don’t want him to find Ma.’

  ‘He’d be a fool to cross me, but perhaps I’d better accompany you, just in case.’

  ‘I can take care of meself. Haven’t I done it for nineteen blooming years?’

  ‘And nearly got yourself murdered into the bargain. Clemency, I’m protecting my interests. I’m coming with you and that is that.’

  They entered through the main door of the Crown and Anchor. Jared had insisted on it, although Clemency had wanted to slip in quietly through the rear entrance. She was only too aware that their expensive clothes set them apart from the working men who frequented the pub, and the fear that Hardiman might still be in the neighbourhood was never far from her mind. She hesitated in the doorway, but Jared took her by the arm. ‘Don’t be afraid. I won’t let anyone harm you.’

  She shot him a glance beneath her lashes. A few weeks ago she would have laughed if a man had said that to her, but now she found it comforting. She had to remind herself that most men were cheats and liars; most of them wanted one thing, and when they’d got it they vanished like morning mist. Hadn’t her father done just that? And she had seen how Hardiman used and abused Ma, not to mention the vile Mickey Connor. Where once she would have answered back with a smart remark, she merely nodded, and attempted a smile. But her heart was beating erratically, and she couldn’t help looking round at the men sitting at the tables, and wondering if it was one of these rough-looking coves who had betrayed her to Hardiman.

  Jared steered her towards the bar where Ned had just served a costermonger with a tankard of ale. He was wiping the counter when he looked up and saw them. A multitude of expressions flickered across his open countenance, from pleasure and relief to anger, and then suspicion as he glared at Jared. ‘Clemmie! I’ve been out of me head with worry about you. I went to the theatre this morning, and no one seemed to know where you were. They said there’d been a fight last night, and you and your mates were in the thick of it. The police had been asking questions.’

  ‘I’ll explain, but can we go somewhere more private?’ Clemency glanced anxiously over her shoulder, but none of the other customers seemed to be particularly interested in anything other than drinking and chatting amongst themselves.

  Ned hesitated with his hand on the hatch. He jerked his head in Jared’s direction. ‘Is he the bloke that had you thrown out on the street? The one you went off to seek his help?’

  ‘This is Mr Jared Stone,’ she said, trying not to sound impatient, which was difficult when the two of them were eyeing each other like dogs with hackles raised ready for a fight. ‘I’ll explain everything. Can we go through to the parlour?’

  Reluctantly, Ned lifted the hatch. ‘Come through.’

  They followed him through to the back room. ‘I’d like to see Ma first, and then we’ll talk. I’ll go upstairs now, if that’s all right with you?’

  Ned shook his head. ‘You won’t find her there.’

  ‘What?’ A vision of Ma laid out in a coffin flashed through her mind. Clemency swayed on her feet.

  ‘For God’s sake, man!’ Jared exclaimed, slipping his arm around her waist. ‘How bloody tactless can you be?’

  ‘Who asked you to stick your nose into our business?’ With an aggressive out-thrust of his jaw, Ned pushed Jared away and he took Clemency by the hand. ‘Come with me, girl.’

  ‘Ned, if this is a joke …’ Clemency allowed him to lead her into the kitchen, where she stopped short in amazement. ‘Ma?’

  Edith looked up from the table where she was rolling out pastry. She dropped the rolling pin, and hurried across the floor to give Clemency a floury hug. ‘Clemmie, love! We was all so worried about you. Where’ve you been?’

  ‘You were so sick, Ma. I thought you was dying.’

  Edith chuckled. ‘I’m a tough old bird, ducks. I can’t say I’m completely back to me old self, but I’m getting there.’

  ‘We didn’t ask her to help – she insisted.’ Ned selected a jam tart from a plate and popped it into his mouth. ‘She’s a wonderful cook,’ he added, licking his lips. ‘Even better than Mum, and that’s saying something.’

  Edith’s pale face flushed bright pink and she giggled. ‘You’re just saying that, Ned. You’re such a tease.’

  Clemency stared at her mother. She looked so
different from the sickly creature that she had been less than two days ago; the change seemed almost miraculous. ‘Are you sure you’re strong enough to be on your feet, Ma?’

  Edith went back to cutting out pastry shapes. ‘Keeping busy makes me feel better, and stops me brooding on what’s happened. And I got to repay Ned and Nell’s kindness to me somehow.’

  ‘Where is Nell? I’d like to see her.’

  ‘Mum and Annie have gone to market.’ Ned went to take another tart and received a rap across the knuckles from Edith. ‘Ouch,’ he said, rubbing his hand. ‘That hurt.’

  ‘Them’s for the customers, me lad. I was famous for me pastry when I worked at the Pig and Whistle in Wapping. That was where I met Clemmie’s dad. The bugger what run off and left us.’

  Ned nodded sympathetically. ‘Seems like it’s a common story in the licensed trade – my dad did exactly the same to us.’

  ‘Have you never heard from your old man since?’ Clemency asked, momentarily forgetting her own problems.

  ‘No. Not a word. Good riddance, I say.’

  Jared cleared his throat. She looked up to see him leaning against the doorpost with a bored expression on his face. ‘We should get going, Clemency. We have things to do.’

  ‘Oh, no! Can’t we stay a bit longer?’

  ‘Who are you to tell her what to do?’ Ned demanded.

  ‘I’m her employer. She works for me now, and she has a great deal to learn. So, if you’ll excuse us, Mrs Skinner, I’ll take your daughter away now. But she can come back and visit you whenever she wants.’

  Edith clutched the rolling pin as if she would have liked to bop Jared on the head. ‘And what sort of work is that, may I ask? What would a toff like you want with a girl like Clemency?’

  ‘Ma, please.’ Clemency felt the blood rush to her cheeks. She shot a furtive glance at Jared, but he did not seem to have taken offence. If anything, she thought, he looked a little less severe.

  ‘I understand your concern, Mrs Skinner. But you need not worry yourself about Clemency. She is acting as paid companion to my sister, and they are both in the care of my grandmother, Lady Skelton.’

  ‘Blimey!’ Edith’s eyes opened wide in surprise, and she sat down heavily on the nearest chair.

  ‘Paid companion?’ Ned almost spat the words at him. ‘What d’you take us for, mister? Clemmie’s a good actress and she’s got the voice of an angel, but no one is going to mistake her for a lady.’

  Clemency could see by the look on Ned’s face that he was going to be difficult. Although it warmed her heart to know that he was looking out for her, his proprietorial attitude was annoying. She might expect Jack to act like a grumpy bulldog guarding a bone, but Ned was just a friend. She laid her hand on his arm. ‘It’s all right, Ned. I know what I’m doing. And we’re all there in Jared’s big house, the whole lot of us – Jack, Augustus, Ronnie and Fancy – so there’s no real harm can come to me, especially now he’s sent old Hardiman packing.’

  Edith fanned herself with her apron. ‘Thank God for that. Todd Hardiman is a bad lot, Mr Stone. He nearly done for me on more than one occasion. The brute.’

  The angry look left Jared’s face, and he smiled at Edith. ‘He won’t harm you again, Mrs Skinner. I give you my word on that. I would never have taken him on if I’d known his full history. And I promise you that I’ll take care of your daughter. You need not fear for her safety.’

  ‘I believe you.’ Edith held her arms out. ‘Clemmie, love. Give your old mum a hug before you go.’

  Hugging her, Clemency bit back tears as she felt how frail her mother had grown. She gave Ned a pleading look. ‘You will take care of her, won’t you, Ned? You won’t let her work too hard? Not until she’s fully recovered her strength.’

  ‘Edie will be fine. I wish I was as certain about you.’

  ‘Anyone would think you was me brother,’ Clemency said, smiling in spite of her worries. She kissed Edith’s hollow cheek. ‘Take care of yourself, Ma. I’ll be back to see you soon. And if you should want to join us in Finsbury Circus, I’m sure that Nancy would be grateful for a hand with the cooking. Ain’t that right, Jared?’

  ‘Yes, of course. Now we really must go.’

  She went to Ned, holding out her hand. ‘Goodbye for now. And don’t worry about me; I can take care of meself.’

  He squeezed her fingers. ‘Is it all right if I come to call on you one day? I could bring Edie too.’

  ‘I’d love that, ducks,’ Edie said enthusiastically. ‘Then I could picture you living in a swanky drum just like the nobs.’

  ‘I’d like that too.’ Clemency hesitated, looking to Jared for confirmation. ‘If that’s all right with you?’

  ‘Yes, yes. Of course it is. Good day, Mrs Skinner.’

  ‘See you both soon.’ Clemency followed Jared through the bar and out into the May sunshine. He stepped off the pavement to hail a passing hansom cab, but it did not stop. With an exclamation of annoyance, he walked a little way down the street, dodging in and out of the traffic. Clemency waited on the kerb, wondering why men had to be so impatient all the time. It was a lovely day and there did not seem to be any need for such haste. She was so deep in her own thoughts that she did not hear the footsteps coming up behind her until Hardiman was at her side.

  ‘I knew I’d find you here if I hung around long enough.’ He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. ‘You’re coming with me.’

  ‘Get off me.’

  ‘I got an even bigger score to settle with you now, miss.’ Hardiman’s lips curled into a ferocious snarl. ‘You got me the sack from me job, and I been searching for Edie for days. The old besom at the lodging house said she’d been living there, but had left in a bit of a hurry. So where is she?’ He thrust his face so close to Clemency’s that she could smell his bad breath. With a swift movement he twisted her arm behind her back, making her yelp with pain.

  ‘I ain’t telling you nothing,’ Clemency cried, biting back tears as he bent her arm to snapping point. ‘You’d better let go of me. Jared’s just up the street.’

  ‘I know. I seen him with you, you little whore. Give yourself to him, did you? Crept into his bed and fed him lies about poor old Todd, did you?’

  ‘Jared.’ She screamed his name, although the sound was lost in the traffic noise and the cries of street sellers, costermongers and bootblacks, and the droning music from a hurdy-gurdy man with a chattering monkey on his shoulder. But, as if by telepathy, Jared stopped in his tracks. He turned round, and even at a distance Clemency saw his expression change as he strode towards them.

  Hardiman gave her arm a savage twist. ‘Say anything and it’ll be your neck what gets broken next time we meet.’ He let her go, taking a step backwards as Jared bore down on them. ‘We was just talking, Mr Stone. Just passing the time of day, so to speak.’

  Clemency leapt aside as Jared caught Hardiman by the throat. ‘I warned you what would happen if you didn’t leave her alone.’

  Hardiman’s eye bulged from his head, and his face turned purple as he gasped for air. ‘I – I never done n- nothing.’

  ‘You nearly broke me arm, you brute.’ Clemency moved to Jared’s side, enjoying Hardiman’s obvious discomfort. He had hovered over her family like a big black thundercloud for as long as she could remember. He had made Ma give her body to any man that would pay the price; he had kept her fuddled with drink and beaten her into submission. If Clemency had been a man she would have given him what for. She clenched her fists. ‘Sock him in the kisser, Jared. Beat him to a pulp.’

  He glanced at her over his shoulder, and his features relaxed into an amused smile. ‘That’s not very ladylike. But I can sympathise with your sentiments.’ He released Hardiman with a shove that sent him stumbling into the gutter. ‘Go on your way, and don’t come back. If you show your face again or come anywhere near this young woman, I’ll see that you end up at the bottom of the river. D’you understand me, Hardiman?’

  ‘Aye, guv.’ He scrambl
ed to his feet and, with a final malevolent glance in Clemency’s direction, Hardiman shuffled off towards Ludgate Hill.

  Jared eyed her with some concern. ‘Did he hurt you?’

  She rubbed her arm. ‘A bit.’

  ‘I want you to promise me that you won’t venture out on your own. And that you’ll keep away from this area in particular. I can arrange for your friends in the pub to come and visit you in Finsbury Circus, and your mother is welcome at any time. Is that understood? Will you give me your word?’

  Clemency crossed her fingers behind her back. ‘Yes, Jared.’

  ‘Good. Then we’ll go to the house in Hog Yard. The owner owes me a few favours, and we can practise the art of picking pockets undisturbed. Some of the most skilful dips and sneaks doss there.’

  ‘So that’s why you were in such a hurry.’

  He smiled. ‘This is our business, my dear. The lessons you learn from my sister and grandmother are the icing on the cake. This is what it is really all about. And not a word to Izzie.’

  In the days that followed, Clemency scarcely had time to breathe. There were lessons in elocution every morning with Lady Skelton, who was an exacting teacher and not particularly patient. She made Clemency stand in front of her with a book perched on her head to improve her deportment, while she repeated words over and over again until she had achieved the correct enunciation. Even worse, she was made to read long passages from books that were so boring she could have tossed them out of the window. Although her reading skills were improving, this was largely due to Ronnie, who coached her in the evenings after supper, when they relaxed around the kitchen table.

  Augustus had fallen into the ways of a butler as easily as if he had been born to the position, although he still pined for his errant daughter. Ronnie and Jack were not needed in the house, but they had found temporary jobs in the band that played in the Circus gardens at lunchtimes, and all day at the weekends. Clemency knew that Jack still missed being in the large orchestra, but he never grumbled. Jared had arranged an appointment for him to see Mr Chance, the senior medical officer at the City Orthopaedic Hospital, and both Jack and Fancy were convinced that he would soon be able to walk again. Clemency was not so sure, but she did not want to cast a shadow over their optimism. Fancy had proved to be a reluctant and incompetent lady’s maid, and had been swiftly relegated to work in the kitchen. She did not seem to mind the demotion, and went about her duties with a cheerful face. Although, Clemency thought, Fancy’s change of attitude could have something to do with the ring that Jack had bought for her from a market stall in Petticoat Lane. It might just be made of gilded base metal, with a lump of blue glass for a stone, but Fancy wore it with as much pride as if it had been part of the crown jewels.