A Place to Call Home

by Evie Grace

  ‘You’ll need something to splint it with. I can recommend a ready-made splint and this bandage.’ Tabby pointed to the largest one on the counter. ‘It is a goodly length and provides much comfort. When you apply it, make it tight, but not so constricting that it stops the flow of blood, or her leg will turn bad and drop off.’

  ‘How much will all this cost?’ Rose asked, looking at the brown bottle that Mr Miskin had brought with him.

  ‘How much do you have?’ he asked.

  She showed him how much she had, counting it out on to the counter.

  He gave her a gentle smile.

  ‘Let’s call it exactly that amount,’ he said, placing her purchases in a paper bag. ‘I liked your father. He did much to help people and I’m happy to help you in return. Life must be much harder with both your parents gone.’

  ‘It isn’t easy,’ she admitted. ‘I’m very grateful to you.’ She glanced towards Tabby, but she had turned her back and was busying herself, putting the remaining bandages away.

  ‘Tell me. How did Minnie come across her injury?’

  ‘It was an accident,’ she said quickly. Too quickly, perhaps, because she noticed the shadow of doubt cross his face. ‘She fell down the stairs.’

  ‘She will have to start being more careful in future. Ah, one moment. I have a sample of a new tonic. You look as if you could do with it. Have one teaspoonful daily.’ Mr Miskin took another bottle from underneath the counter. ‘Go on – it won’t poison you.’

  She thanked him again and smiled as she slipped the bottle into the bag. She would give it to Minnie to build up her strength.

  ‘Good day, Mr Miskin.’

  ‘Good day,’ he said.

  On the way back to Willow Place, she found Mrs Hamilton standing in the middle of the street, leaning on her stick. It was too late to divert, Rose realised, her heart sinking at the idea of having to stop and pass the time of day with her.

  ‘Miss Cheevers, how are you?’ she said, wrapping her long cream shawl around her shoulders.

  ‘Fair to middling,’ Rose said, noticing the old woman’s fingerless black gloves and the small crop of white whiskers that sprouted from her chin. She had to be the oldest person she knew – Ma had said she was well into her eighties. ‘Are you well, Mrs Hamilton?’

  ‘I’ve heard that there have been many changes at Willow Place, thanks to the Kingsleys,’ Mrs Hamilton said, ignoring her question.

  ‘It’s just gossip,’ Rose said, not wanting to share how bad things really were.

  ‘You can tell me the truth.’

  The hairs on the back of Rose’s neck stood on end as Mrs Hamilton’s white eyes seemed to stare into her soul, but she wouldn’t budge. They would all suffer if Aunt Temperance thought she had been going round revealing the family’s business.

  ‘There is nothing to tell,’ she said firmly.

  ‘You are wise to protect your interests by keeping your mouth shut on private matters – besmirching another’s good character is not to be done lightly – but the Kingsleys don’t deserve anyone’s regard over what they’ve done around here. They have put the tannery workers out of their homes, closed the school so that the likes of Baxter are back on the streets, and who knows what else.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Hamilton. I have medicine for my sister, and my aunt won’t take kindly to me lingering in the street.’

  ‘Medicine? She is unwell?’

  ‘She is a little under the weather.’

  ‘Oh dear. Well, I wish her all the best.’

  ‘Good day,’ Rose said, hurrying back home, her heart a little lighter now that she had medicine for Minnie and news that would restore Arthur’s spirits.

  ‘You took your time,’ Aunt Temperance said when she arrived back at the house. ‘Where’s my change?’

  ‘There isn’t any, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Oh? Let’s see what you’ve wasted my money on.’

  Rose followed her aunt into the kitchen where she was made to turn the contents of the bag out on the table. Her aunt’s eyes lit up when she saw the bottle of medicine.

  ‘Ah, sleeping drops. They’ll come in handy.’

  ‘They are to take Minnie’s pain away,’ Rose said sharply. Her aunt had no trouble sleeping, especially when she had been on the gin, she thought, watching her take the bottle and slip it into her pocket.

  ‘And a tonic?’ Aunt Temperance read the label. ‘A weekly dose of cod liver oil and malt is more than adequate for a child’s constitution. This is completely unnecessary.’

  ‘It’s what the apothecary advised.’

  ‘And this bandage – I will put it aside for an emergency.’

  ‘Let me use it to wrap my sister’s leg,’ Rose begged. ‘And if I could prevail upon you to let me give her a dose of the sleeping drops—’

  ‘She is quiet now.’ Her aunt cupped her ear. ‘I can’t hear a sound, can you?’

  Rose shook her head as she continued, ‘There are some old rags in the bottom of the linen cupboard – you can use those and the broken stick in the hallstand to splint her leg. I expect her to be up and about tomorrow.’

  Rose hesitated, thinking it would be a miracle if Minnie was ever able to walk again.

  ‘Go on then. What are you waiting for?’

  ‘The sleeping drops.’

  ‘Oh no, I will dose her when I deem it necessary.’

  Feeling uneasy, Rose went upstairs to splint Minnie’s leg, bathe her hands and face and make sure she ate a little food before attending to her chores. While she was dusting the china ladies in the parlour, she heard her aunt calling to her.

  ‘Cloth ears, there is someone at the door.’

  Wiping her hands, she headed into the hall and opened the door to find the vicar’s wife on the doorstep.

  ‘Good morning, Rose.’ Mrs Holdsworth smiled. ‘Is your aunt at home?’

  ‘I’ll ask her,’ Rose said wearily.

  ‘Oh, do come in, Mrs Holdsworth. How kind of you to call.’ Aunt Temperance appeared from the parlour and greeted her as though she was her fondest acquaintance. ‘Rose, go and make us a fresh pot of tea. Come through to the parlour. To what do we owe this pleasure?’

  Rose fetched the tea and poured it, taking her time while the two women made conversation.

  ‘They haven’t attended Sunday school or church for many months. It is not for me to offer advice, but my husband is concerned that their spiritual welfare and moral education aren’t being adequately addressed. Perhaps you have been taking them to the cathedral instead of St Mildred’s every Sunday? That’s what the Reverend Holdsworth and I had assumed, until Mrs Hamilton called on us just now.’

  ‘I don’t think it is anyone else’s business. What did that woman say?’

  ‘Oh, nothing,’ the vicar’s wife said quickly. ‘She mentioned that she had seen Rose out and about, and it reminded me that I hadn’t seen any of the children for a while. Mr Cheevers was a much-respected member of our congregation and we’ve known the family for many years. I’m enquiring after them as a friend of Mr and Mrs Cheevers.’

  ‘I should remind you that they weren’t married,’ Aunt Temperance said tersely.

  ‘I thought that you might have expressed a little understanding, considering the circumstances. It would be better for Rose and the twins—’

  ‘Better that they weren’t stained with the stigma of illegitimacy, you mean?’

  ‘We should treat them with Christian grace and kindness,’ Mrs Holdsworth said as Aunt Temperance’s teacup rattled in its saucer. ‘Are the twins at home?’

  She wanted to see them with her own eyes, Rose thought as her aunt quickly made up the excuse that Donald was helping his big brother in the yard while Minnie had retired to bed with the ague.

  ‘Where is the patient? I should really like to see her and offer some words of comfort.’

  ‘Oh no, she mustn’t be disturbed.’

  ‘On whose authority?’ The vicar’s wife raised one eyebrow with suspici
on.

  ‘Mine, of course. Mr Kingsley and I have taken on these children as our own. We take our responsibilities seriously. It hasn’t been easy for me, being unused to sharing my home with anyone except my husband. Only this morning, I sent Rose to Mr Miskin to buy medicine for Minnie. I have given her a dose of sleeping drops and she is sound asleep.’

  ‘Then your desire to leave her in peace is perfectly understandable,’ Mrs Holdsworth said. ‘Give her my best wishes for a rapid recovery. I will call again soon if I may.’

  ‘“If I may”,’ Aunt Temperance simpered sarcastically after the vicar’s wife had gone. ‘No, she may not. How dare she question how I bring up my nephews and nieces! Rose, when you’ve finished the dusting, get yourself back in the kitchen – Mr Kingsley has requested chicken and ham pie for his dinner.’

  ‘I don’t think my sister should be left on her own.’

  ‘It will do her good to be alone for a while to reflect on her behaviour. She has accused me of pushing her down the stairs when she is a victim of her own impulsiveness.’

  It seemed that the more her aunt told herself that story, the more she believed it. Realising that arguing with her would make no difference, Rose went back to her duties, preparing a pie for dinner.

  She made pastry, sealed the meat, fried some onions and made a gravy, then rolled out the pastry which she’d left to rest. Arranging a layer of pastry in the dish, she blind-baked it with a scattering of dried peas in the bottom then emptied out the peas, placed the pie funnel in the centre and poured the meat and gravy mixture in around it. She rolled out a circle of pastry to place on the top, brushed the edges and crimped them to stick them together before she put it back in the oven until the pastry lid turned a golden brown.

  As she put it on the rack to cool, Arthur came indoors from the tannery.

  ‘Something smells good. How’s Minnie?’

  ‘She’s sleeping.’ Rose glanced towards the door to make sure no one else was listening. ‘Arthur, I have some better news for you. I’ve seen Tabby today. She served me when I went to buy medicine.’

  ‘How did she seem?’ he said quickly.

  ‘She gave me a message for you. She’ll be on the bridge waiting for you at six on Tuesday. She’s ready to leave her family and run away with you for love. Isn’t that romantic?’

  ‘How can she still have feelings for me after what’s happened? It’s a miracle.’

  ‘It’s no miracle. You’re meant for each other.’

  ‘I’ll go and speak with her, but Rose,’ he went on sadly, ‘I can’t possibly leave you and the twins, especially now.’

  ‘I can look after Minnie, and Donald can look after himself. Arthur, you have to go. I want you to be happy.’

  ‘No, it’s too much for you.’ She could see that he was torn: his brother and sisters, or his sweetheart? It was an impossible choice.

  When Rose retired to bed that night, she found Minnie sprawled out across the coverlet with her broken leg twisted to one side. She crept into bed beside her, curving her body around her.

  ‘Goodnight,’ she whispered, but she was answered by a snore. She gave her sister a nudge, yet she still didn’t stir. How much laudanum had Aunt Temperance given her? Rose couldn’t sleep for worrying that she was trying to poison her. How could they avoid further grief? She could only come up with one answer: they had to help themselves if they were to have any hope of a better life – but how?

  Chapter Twelve

  Roly-Poly Pudding and Custard

  ‘It’s time you were up, Rose.’ Aunt Temperance opened the bedroom door the next morning. ‘I need hot water for my wash and the pisspots are overflowing. How is the invalid?’

  ‘She is about the same as yesterday,’ Rose said, grimacing.

  ‘I can speak for myself,’ Minnie said, holding the bedclothes up to her face.

  ‘You should be out of bed by now,’ their aunt said. ‘It doesn’t do the body any good to laze about.’

  ‘She’s broken her leg,’ Rose protested. ‘She can’t possibly walk until it’s mended.’

  ‘Well, she can’t lie around doing nothing. We aren’t made of money.’

  Rose couldn’t understand how Temperance could make such an assertion when the Kingsleys were living off Pa’s legacy. Was Donald right when he said that Mr Kingsley’s plan to speed up production of the cured leather was affecting the quality and making the curriers look elsewhere for their supplies?

  ‘Is there a problem with the tannery? Father used to say that leather was always bullish.’

  ‘If you must know, Arthur destroyed the hides from Argentina and cancelled the contract for further deliveries because of what happened to my dear brother, and Mr Kingsley has so far failed to reinstate the deals your father used to have with the local suppliers. He’s doing his best to negotiate, but who knows when they will come to an agreement and deliver enough hides to keep the tannery going? Until then, we expect everyone to contribute to the household – Minnie needs to do her share.’

  ‘How can she work if she can’t stand?’ Rose argued.

  ‘If she can’t manage the chores, then she’ll have to go and sit on a street corner, garnering sympathy and small change.’

  Minnie’s mouth curved into a half-smile. It was a rather unpleasant joke, but a joke all the same.

  ‘I want you to put on some rags while your sister fetches the barrow from the yard to tow you to the Buttermarket.’

  Rose’s palms grew damp. She couldn’t be serious … could she?

  ‘Pa will be turning in his grave,’ she said, unable to hold her tongue.

  ‘What the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over. Nobody will recognise her.’

  Minnie dragged herself up to a sitting position and glared at their aunt with rebellion in her eyes. ‘I can’t go. I have no rags.’

  ‘I can soon remedy that.’ Aunt Temperance picked up Minnie’s skirt, pulled a pair of scissors from her pocket and cut it into pieces.

  ‘What will your friends at the cathedral think of this madness?’ Rose said.

  ‘Do you think they care? They are all too busy with their own affairs to notice, and if they do say anything, I’ll tell them to mind their own business. As Minnie was foolish enough to throw herself down the stairs, she will suffer the consequences. I challenge any lady or gentleman to resist throwing her a farthing or two at the sight of the misery in those pretty eyes.’

  ‘Please don’t. This is unnecessary and unkind.’

  ‘What was unkind was for your parents to die on us, and leave us with four extra mouths to feed and a failing business. If you won’t beg, you can sew up your skirt, and then turn your attention to the darning – Mr Kingsley has holes in his socks,’ Aunt Temperance said.

  ‘She isn’t well,’ Rose insisted.

  ‘Her arms are working – needlework doesn’t require the use of one’s legs. Don’t argue with me. If you keep going on like this, I’ll make you take your sister out and not come back until you’ve made at least a shilling.’

  Sensing that her aunt was more than ready to carry out her threat, Rose backed down.

  ‘You’ll have to do Minnie’s share of the chores as well as your own today,’ Aunt Temperance said as she left the room.

  ‘Don’t worry, I’ll be nearby all day.’ Rose knelt at the bedside so she could keep her voice low. ‘You remember what happened to the aspidistra?’

  Minnie nodded, her face streaked with dried tears.

  ‘When our aunt gives you another dose of sleeping drops, try not to swallow them. Wait until she’s gone and spit them out – use the pot.’

  ‘Why would I do that when they take the pain away?’

  ‘Because I’m afraid she’ll give you too much. Last night you were sleeping like the dead – I couldn’t rouse you. Please be careful.’

  ‘I hate that woman.’ Minnie’s eyes flashed with anger.

  ‘So do I,’ Rose said, unable to hide her feelings any longer. ‘We have to
do something.’

  ‘What can we do? I can’t walk – I’m trapped.’ Minnie winced as she shifted in the bed. ‘What if it doesn’t mend? What then?’

  ‘Mr Miskin has said that if you keep your leg in the splint I put on yesterday, it will get better. Of course you’ll walk again.’ Rose tried to reassure her, although she was far from reassured herself. What would life be like for her sister if she ended up a cripple? She would be completely dependent on her siblings. ‘You’re going to have to be braver than you’ve ever been before,’ Rose went on gently. ‘I’m going downstairs to start on the chores, but I’ll be back as often as I can. Remember what I said.’

  Minnie nodded as Rose handed her the sewing box.

  ‘I think the pain will lessen if you keep busy,’ she said.

  During the day, she kept herself occupied with the laundry and making a plan to escape Willow Place and the dreadful Kingsleys. To that end, she met with Arthur and Donald on the upper landing late that night. Arthur stood leaning against the wall looking troubled while Donald practised his bowling moves without the ball.

  ‘What is it, Rose?’ he said, pausing partway through a round-arm delivery.

  ‘We have to leave before the Kingsleys do us any further harm. This isn’t just about Minnie. Look at how thin we’ve become because we have to eat bread and porridge while they feast on beef and ham. I think they are trying to starve us to death.’

  ‘And kill us through overwork,’ Arthur said, joining the conversation.

  ‘I’ve been wondering about making our way to Overshill to throw ourselves on the mercy of our grandmother.’

  ‘Your grandmother,’ Arthur corrected her, reminding Rose that he wasn’t related to her by blood. She wondered how he felt about that. ‘Have you written to her to find out if this is possible?’ he went on.

  Rose shook her head. Although she didn’t know Mrs Carter’s full address, only that she lived on a farm in the village, she had started on a letter, but even her handwriting had appeared cowed on the page.

  ‘What if they turn you away?’