The Street Orphans

by Mary Wood

  ‘I accept the objection of the defence. Furthermore I, for one, have heard enough. I see no evidence of this girl using any powers, or even thinking she has powers. I believe, as Lord Rollinson, the Earl of Harrogate, said yesterday, that it is just a myth whipped up by ignorant folk who would have us believe that someone with an affliction can hold powers that could be used to harm. I see this girl as having been harmed, rather than harming others. I am dismissing the case and ordering that Ruth Dovecote be released from prison to the wardenship of the Earl of Harrogate – immediately.’

  Shock held Ruth rigid. Shouts of ‘The witch has got away with it!’ and ‘The wrong ones have been arrested – she cursed them, so they would be so!’, and more along those lines, had her looking up at the gallery. Aye, she could see people who cared about her, but mostly what greeted her was a sea of hate. She could take no more. ‘No . . . no! I want to go to the gallows. I want to die. Please, I want to die.’ Her screams silenced everyone else’s, leaving her voice echoing back to her, thick and slurred and spraying the spittle that had foamed in her mouth. ‘I am a demon. I bring sorrow wherever I go. Please, let me die. Please.’

  The hammering of a gavel quietened her. ‘I will not have this uproar in my court. And I forbid that the defendant’s last words be included in the records. Ruth Dovecote, you are a very sick girl. You are not evil. I may have come across as thinking that, before I heard all the evidence, but now I know you are sinned against, not a sinner. And take note, all of you in the gallery who would lynch this girl: not one of you will be spared a jail sentence if you even try to harm her. This case has set a precedent and has shown that the poor should have a fair trial. You should be grateful to Miss Dovecote for that. And to Mr Cotram and his fellow lawyers, who have believed so for a long time. I, for one, hope they have more successes in the future. This case is dismissed and closed.’

  ‘All rise.’

  This, Ruth thought, was a phrase she would never forget hearing. Every day it had meant the end of her ordeal for a little while, but today it meant it was over. Letting go of the little strength that had sustained her, she slumped against the warden.

  Frederick sat staring down at Ruth. At the judge’s words, his world brightened, but with Ruth collapsing it crashed again. He couldn’t go to her. It wouldn’t be right. He had to deny that longing, for the sake of Katrina. Whether she deserved it or not, as his wife she commanded respect from him in public.

  ‘Well, well, winners all round, eh? Nice for you, Frederick; now you can do as you please with her.’

  ‘Don’t even attempt to mark me as being like you, Bellinger. My little finger has more honour in it than you have in your whole body. You have gone too far this time. You are a first-rate cad! And as I was saying before, neither I, nor any of my family, wish to have anything further to do with you.’

  ‘I think, Lord Frederick, your wife should be left to speak for herself on that subject.’

  ‘My husband speaks for me, Lord Bellinger. If I never see you again I would be all the happier. There are stronger words than “cad” that suit you; we are just too polite to use them.’

  ‘Maybe, Frederick, you will use them if you know that your wife loves me and has slept with me, and only recently invited me to her home on a pretext.’

  ‘You are not worth it. Damn you, Bellinger!’ Frederick erupted.

  ‘And I am not in love with you,’ Katrina went on. ‘You duped me. I am in love with my husband, and always will be. Even if your plotting makes it so that we are not able to stay together, I will still love him – and I will never, ever think of you other than as a vile creature. Don’t come near me ever again!’

  This shocked Frederick. Katrina had said she loved him as if she meant it. And her daring to speak whilst he was engaged in an argument . . . This wife of his was proving to be a handful that he wasn’t sure he needed or could deal with.

  At her words, Lord Bellinger had risen and left. His small laugh as he did so caused Frederick to worry. Concern crept over him and got the hairs on his arms standing up. Bellinger could cause trouble, and would enjoy doing so. No doubt he would let others know that he’d had an affair with Katrina – not so that Henrietta heard, but their peers would enjoy a snigger at Frederick’s expense. And what of Katrina? Her reputation would be in ruins. Every time they attended a function there would be whispers and innuendoes. He didn’t want that for her. He’d have to stand by her, even though it was painful to do so.

  Below, the witness box was now empty. Ruth had been carried back downstairs. Looking to his left, he saw Amy, her head in her hands; and, glancing down again, Mrs Bottomless – or Nora, as she’d asked him to call her – was taking a similar stance. So much despair around him but, with Katrina by his side, he didn’t feel he could help any of them. Her words changed that.

  ‘Frederick, you must go to Ruth. I will look after Amy and Mrs Bottomless. Instruct your man to give me a hand. Is that him over there?’

  ‘It is. Katrina, I’m sorry I couldn’t protect you.’

  ‘I don’t deserve you to. We will talk it all through, but it isn’t our lives, my love, that are the important ones at the moment. I suggest you get Ruth to Dr Parker, who has been our family doctor for a long time. He has a small cottage hospital. Here, I’ll write his address down. He’ll take care of Ruth – tell him to charge it to Daddy’s account. I’ll forewarn Daddy.’

  ‘Thank you. I – I wish—’

  ‘Later. Just do what you have to do, and do it with my backing and love.’

  Frederick couldn’t find a way of answering this, but her words and Katrina’s concern for Ruth’s welfare chipped a little off the hard crust that had formed around the place where his feelings for her lay. Maybe we could sort something out? I hope so, as what I really wish for can never happen. Maybe it will, for Haydon Green. Funny how he said what he did – and with such emotion. Oh God, life is complicated.

  29

  Frederick

  Facing a Devastating Settling of Scores

  Life should be good, Frederick thought, as he sat in the office above the factory floor and watched the looms churning out rolls and rolls of linen. The conditions for the workers had improved, although urging his father-in-law to take on workers from the workhouse had backfired. It did seem, on the face of it, that they just didn’t want to work, but he had a feeling that wasn’t the real truth. Some, he knew, feared being released from the institutional life they had become used to, while others had an apathy they couldn’t surmount. There should be something in between for them, a sort of rehabilitation programme. Oh, I don’t know – there’s so much needs doing! Well, maybe now I will have more time to do it, but first I have to tackle the Katrina problem. I must sort that out tonight, I must!

  Feeling tired, and wanting to bathe and go to bed rather than talk, he was rather sorry Katrina had stayed on at her parents’ home with him. But as he couldn’t take leave from the office for a few days and he’d had so much time away already, Katrina had said that putting miles between them now would be disastrous. He agreed, but although it had been two days since the end of the trial, they had done nothing other than be polite towards each other. For himself, he hadn’t even been able to think things through. Her unfaithfulness – and on their wedding night – had devastated him. Why did Katrina affect him so much? Just knowing she was in the next room gave him feelings he didn’t understand and confused him, and he couldn’t square those emotions with how he felt for Ruth.

  Knocking on Katrina’s door, he felt as if he was back at school and had been summoned to the headmaster. His legs wobbled and the nerves in his stomach jangled. It beggared belief that she could make him feel like this. She was his wife in an arranged marriage, and there was no love involved – at least, not on his side, not now. Strange that she had declared her love for him.

  When she opened the door, Katrina was alone. He’d rather hoped her maid would be with her, as she had brought Annie along on this trip. Annie would have
caused some distraction or other to get over the first few minutes. ‘Katrina, I think—’

  ‘That it is time? Yes, but what took you so long? I have been waiting for you.’

  ‘I know, I am sorry. I had feelings to sort out. I am still confused. Why did you do it?’

  ‘Frederick, I could try to justify myself, but would it do any good? You must justify it, if such a thing is possible. You must look inside yourself and, with the feelings you have, ask if you would not have done the same, in the same circumstances? The difference is that the one you might have done it with would never put you in that position, while the one I mistakenly believed I loved would, and did. He plotted and schemed, he drugged you and came to me when I was waiting for you. I was already expectant of what would happen and longing for it to happen.’

  ‘So you are saying it could have been anyone?’

  ‘No! No, that is not what I am saying. I thought myself in love with Bellinger. Ugh, the very idea repulses me now. I shudder to think of it. How could I have fallen for his words of love, for Bellinger saying that he had wanted to offer for me?’

  This pulled Frederick up. That bastard! Bellinger had had no such intention of offering for Katrina, and had laughed at Frederick for having to offer for her, for the sake of saving his family name. That man was capable of anything. Christ, it hurt, though, that Bellinger had taken his wife, spoilt their first union. Christ! His body folded; his legs wouldn’t hold him. Sinking onto the end of her bed, he could only stare at her. Tears streamed down his face, and he could do nothing to stop them.

  ‘Frederick, darling, don’t. I’m so sorry. I love you, my darling, and I’ll never hurt you again, never. Please believe me.’

  Her endearments and pleas for forgiveness increased his crying. He had so much to cry about. So much.

  Being in her arms helped. He found comfort in Katrina’s loving of him. His thoughts went to Ruth. She was being cared for at last, and all at his bidding; and, yes, he had to admit, if such a thing had happened to him, he would have taken Ruth, even though he’d just wed another. Understanding entered him at this, but still the rawness persisted.

  ‘Darling, as this is hurting you so much, is there a chance you do love me? Would it matter so much if I was what I was meant to be – a wife of convenience?’

  The time had come for Frederick to be as truthful as Katrina was being. ‘Is it possible to love two women?’ Her silence frightened him. ‘I’m confused, Katrina, very confused. I love Ruth, you know that. She is not my mistress – I was truthful about that – nor will she ever be, but I love her. She has a special place in me. But well, yes, I am in love with you, too . . . It’s madness! Madness!’

  Still she remained quiet. She hadn’t moved away. Her arms encircled him just as lovingly, as he continued, ‘I know it is terrible for you to come to terms with. I am having that difficulty with what you did, but the question is: can we do it? Can you live knowing I have this love for another? Can I live, knowing you once felt a love for another that went to its limits? I don’t know.’

  ‘I am willing to try. Are you, Frederick? Yes, I knew you loved Ruth. And, yes, I believed you when you said you weren’t taking her as your mistress, but hearing you in such despair over it all hurts me. Knowing you love me helps. It is a sandy foundation we have, one that’s soft and likely to slip. We will have to keep shoring it up, but I am willing to build on that, if you will help me.’

  ‘Oh, Katrina, I just don’t know. You are a good person. You don’t deserve me. Let’s leave it a while. Let’s carry on as we are, showing a united front, being polite, but that’s all. I am not ready for anything else.’

  Coming out of her arms, Frederick stood. He had to get away from the close proximity of her. If he took Katrina now, it would be a vile act, feeling as he did. It would be a long, long time before he coupled with her again, if ever. Why did that decision hurt so much? He didn’t know. He just knew it had to be so.

  The door closing behind Frederick put a final stamp on all Katrina’s hopes. Her determination hadn’t been enough. But no, I won’t give in – I won’t. Annie knocking at her door stopped the tears that threatened. ‘What is it, Annie? I am ready for dinner. I just need a few moments and I will be down.’

  ‘Your ma is home, and she wants you to attend her in her sitting room. She has Miss Marcia with her, M’Lady. She said there’s nowt to worry over, and that she has delayed dinner and has asked for another place to be set.’

  ‘What?’ Katrina’s astonishment stopped the smile she usually gave when Annie related anything her mother had said, because trying to imagine her mother saying anything in the accent Annie had was very amusing. But this news didn’t allow any room for humour. ‘No! I didn’t want this. Oh, never mind. Thank you, Annie. Go off and have a break. I won’t be needing you until I am ready to retire.’

  ‘Ta, M’Lady.’

  The other source of amusement about Annie happened then as she attempted to curtsy, which was a funny action with crossed feet and a wobble that made her look as though she would topple over. Whether she would ever perfect the curtsy, Katrina didn’t know, nor could she give her attention to it at this moment in time. What was Mother thinking of, bringing Marcia here! She has caused enough trouble and is likely to cause even more, if she is given the chance.

  ‘Mama! What are you doing home?’

  ‘I’m here too, Katrina.’

  ‘Yes, I know. But why, I can’t imagine. It is good to see you, Mama, but you, Marcia, I had hoped not to see for a very long time.’

  ‘Katrina, don’t. Marcia wants to say she is sorry.’

  ‘It is not enough. The damage you have done, Marcia, cannot be undone by a word. You—’

  ‘I know what I did and I am very sorry. I was eaten up by jealousy. I won’t cause any more harm, because I am over Frederick now. You can have him. I have realized who my true love is – and he doesn’t need to buy me. He loves me, too. He has all the wealth he needs, and he has given up his intended for me.’

  ‘Not . . . Good God, please don’t say—’

  ‘Lord Bellinger? Why not? What he had with you is nothing to him. It was merely a victory over Frederick, whom he despises and always has. He has accomplished that now, and has no need to do anything else.’

  ‘Mama?’

  ‘Marcia has made me see that you were very much at fault. I cannot think as Eleonore does about these matters. Marriage is sacrosanct. You could have screamed until someone came, instead of giving in to Lord Bellinger. You made his quest easy for him. I am not happy with him, not at all. He has caused a great deal of unhappiness, but I believe he is genuine in his love for Marcia. Why else would he risk a scandal by giving up Henrietta?’

  ‘Oh no, you are wrong, so wrong. Poor Henrietta, poor you, Marcia – you stupid girl. What is it with you? You don’t love him, you don’t; it is impossible! How . . . ?’

  ‘Huh, so all that is good is for you alone? Well, it isn’t. Lord Bellinger sought me out. He said he was sick of your games and the way you try to discredit him at every turn. Yes, he did that on your wedding night, but it wasn’t because he felt any attraction towards you. And it was as Mama says: you could have stopped it. Come off your pedestal, Katrina. You have built it too high, and that is why you are tumbling. It is nothing to do with me.’

  ‘Nothing? Good God, you listen at my bedroom door, and you plot and scheme against me. Why, why? I can’t help being the eldest. I too think it unfair that Daddy plans to divide everything, but I have no say in it. And it is all done now. You cannot change it . . . My God – that’s it! You think that by partnering Bellinger, together you can break us, and together you can get Daddy’s empire. You do, I know you do. You know about the clause that says that if my marriage breaks down, then all Frederick is entitled to as my husband reverts to the estate. But how do you plan on getting rid of me? Because whatever you do, I am still the eldest.’

  ‘Katrina, stop this. You talk as if Marcia is the devil. You should
be pleased for her, not ranting on about the greatest poppycock I have ever heard in my life! Marcia has a handsome settlement, and Daddy reallocated some of the shares in the business to her. In any case, Lord Bellinger has more than enough money for them and huge business interests, so why should they want what you have? You are being ridiculous. Yes, Marcia did wrong, but she is sorry. She has a love of her own, and her infatuation for your husband has gone. Try to accept that, and for goodness’ sake try and behave in the manner in which you were brought up. You are a disgrace.’

  ‘Mama, I – I— Oh, Mama.’

  ‘Oh dear, here come the tears. Leave her, Mama. Katrina can see that all of her spoilt-brat tactics have failed and she is going to be left with nothing. Because surely Lord Frederick will not want her now.’

  ‘I do, actually.’

  The door between this room and the adjoining withdrawing room burst open and Frederick came through it. Katrina stood still, as if turned into a statue. He must have heard everything. She hadn’t known he was downstairs. She held her breath.

  ‘I love Katrina, and I am remaining her husband. I know she loves me, too, and that we have some things to work through, but we will surmount them.’

  ‘What? Even when Lord Bellinger claims his chi—’ Marcia’s blank look of horror at her own words spoke of her never having meant to utter them.

  ‘What were you going to say, Marcia? Because if Bellinger has any plans to cause my wife harm, by spreading gossip about the paternity of our child or about his – his conquest, then he had better take care. He isn’t the only one who holds a good hand. I have some trump cards up my sleeve, which I could pull out and ruin him with. However, I am appalled that we are even having this conversation and that you, Mother-in-law, could be party to it against one of your own daughters. Have you lost all the decorum and training of your youth? Because it seems to me that you have failed to pass any of it on to your youngest daughter. We will leave at once. Please have some food prepared for us to take with us.’