An Unbreakable Bond

by Mary Wood

  ‘It’s all right, love. I’m happy for you. I know as you’ve never forgot me, so don’t go feeling guilty. It were my fault we’ve not kept in touch, and you’re still like a sister to me an’ all. You thinking on Ciss in that way won’t bother me. I’m just glad your life’s going so well, and I’ve never forgot Cissy’s kindness in lending me that half a crown that time. Tell her I have it for her, and with some interest on it an’ all.’

  Hattie had reached out and taken Megan’s hand as best she could. Megan let it lay in hers, wanting to ask and yet not wanting to know how she’d been so hurt, and how badly injured her hands really were.

  ‘Now, I’ve sommat to tell you,’ Hattie said. ‘I’m for giving up this game – well, that is, in part. I mean, I’m not going to sell meself to all and sundry, but I will still be Arthur’s . . . mistress, sort of.’

  ‘Oh, Hattie, that’s good news. I can’t stand to think of you doing what you’ve been doing. But are you sure you want – well, thou knows . . .’

  ‘Aye, Arthur’s a good man, but I’ll not come to him on his terms, and he knows that. Anyroad, he’s helping me. Not just with money, though I need that, as me own stash isn’t enough for what I’m planning. No, he’s helping me with all the legal stuff and with the police—’

  ‘The police! Are you in trouble, Hattie?’

  ‘No. Well, not as such. Not with the police, that is, but what I am involved in could go either way. I mean, it’s very dangerous and I could be killed.’

  ‘Hattie! No! Oh, Hattie. Oh God!’

  ‘I’m sorry, love. I wasn’t for wanting to shock or hurt you, but I had to see you before I do what it is I have to do.’

  ‘Whatever it is, don’t do it. Please don’t do it. Look, I’ve got some money saved and it sounds like you have an’ all. Let’s find a place, a little house. You, me, Ciss and Daisy.’

  ‘It wouldn’t work, love. Me and the lassies would be hounded down till we were found, then punished – or even murdered – as an example to others not to try to get out. I have to do this thing. I have to. It’s me only way. Now listen: I need to tell you what I want you to do if owt happens to me. Me stash is with me solicitor. Eeh, that sounds grand! Me solicitor!’ She giggled and, though it sounded good, the fear and pain inside Megan wouldn’t allow her to join in.

  ‘He’s Arthur’s solicitor, really,’ Hattie continued, ‘but he’s acting for me in the business I mean to set up. I’ve been at saving for a long time – holding back what I could whenever I could, and stashing it away. Then, when I met Arthur . . . well, he always paid me over the odds. He’s always wanted to get me off the game. He thinks a lot of me, Megan, and he’s willing to put in a lot more money an’ all.’

  ‘What business are you talking of, Hattie?’

  ‘I mean to buy a house – a good-sized one – in an area where it’s pretty decent, but won’t have neighbours as such. I don’t want any young ’uns living around it, or folk who might poke their nose into me business. I’ve seen just the place. It’s at the end of a cul-de-sac. Houses line one side of the road leading down to it and there’s the canal on the other. The houses used to be homes, but they’re used as offices for solicitors and suchlike now. It’s ideal for me purpose, because it’s still in the city, but it’s not a thoroughfare or place as police go on their beat.’

  Still mystified, Megan waited, listening with rising confusion. She had so many questions and fears, but they were all tangled in her brain. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to know of this business venture of Hattie’s, her part in it all, or the thing Hattie had to do that could get her killed.

  ‘I can see as I’ve put you in a stew, with me going from one thing to another, Megan. Look, me business is going to be a home for the lassies: a safe place, a clean place, a place where gentlemen come to them and they don’t have to walk the streets. They’ll have regular meals and medical treatment. That quack I told you of who helped me, do you remember? Back when I first left being in service? Well, it turned out he were a trained doctor, but had been struck off. Sommat to do with a married female patient. Well, he’s good, so I’ll be taking him on to look after the lassies. Lassies will pay me a percentage to have all this provided for them, plus a bit on top, as’ll be me profit. Mind, I won’t have any visitors meself – only Arthur, and sometimes I’ll be staying here with him. And it isn’t like I’m going to be a pimp or owt, as I won’t be selling the girls or enticing others to be prostitutes. I’ll just be providing proper conditions for them as are already doing it. Them as have no other choices.’

  With this explanation, it all became clearer to Megan. ‘It sounds good, love. Well, that is, if it’s what you want. I’d be more glad if you said you were opening a tea shop, though. But is . . . ? I mean, is there sommat stopping you taking up Arthur’s offer? Wouldn’t that be better for you?’

  ‘No. Why do you ask that, Megan? I’d have thought you’d have known.’

  This surprised her. Hattie sounded upset and Megan couldn’t think what she’d said to cause her to be. ‘I didn’t mean . . .’

  ‘I know. But, well, I never planned it like it’s happened. I’m no different to you, Megan.’

  There it was again: the bitterness.

  ‘I’ve just not had the chances. I don’t want the life I lead, but . . . well, an arrangement like that wouldn’t sit right with me. I always thought that when I went to a man, it’d be as his wife, and that’s still what I want. Thou knows – someone like Harry. Someone of me own class. I’d come here gladly and live in servants’ quarters as Harry’s wife.’

  ‘You mean, you love Harry?’

  ‘No, that’s just it. I love Arthur. I do, despite everything. He’s good; he’s kind. The man inside the broken body is everything I’ve ever wanted, but when I found him, he was everything I couldn’t have. Not proper, like. Not someone who could take me to be his wife and let me live a decent life, like we were brought up to do.’

  ‘I don’t know what to say, Hattie. I carry a guilt at how things have turned out. You’d never take me up on ways I thought we could have got by.’

  ‘Don’t, Megan. You’re the best thing in me life, and’ll always be. I know you’d have given up everything for me, but I couldn’t have bettered meself at your expense. I would have dragged you down. I’m sorry. Me moaning about how me life’s turned out isn’t fair on you. I could have had chances. You tried to give me some. I could’ve set up in a cottage or sommat with you.’

  They dropped into a silence that wasn’t comfortable. It was as if they were at odds with each other – something Megan had never known to happen before. She tried to think of a way to break it. Thinking some encouragement might help, even if it wasn’t what she’d choose for Hattie, she said, ‘This house you’re getting will change things for you, love. I know it isn’t life as you’d really want it, but it sounds like the next best thing, and I’ll be able to visit you regular.’

  ‘Aye, you will. I’ll have me own private rooms an’ all. You should see it, Megan! It’s grand. I’ll have a good life there, I know I will, and don’t worry over other things I’ve said. I’ll be happy. I’ve long since learned to be happy with me lot. I don’t know what prompted me to bring all that stuff out. It must be being with you. We were always able to say what were in our hearts. I’ve missed that, Megan.’ She smiled her lovely kind smile, and Megan gently took Hattie in her arms and held her. It felt good as she told her, ‘We’ll never be separated again, Hattie. Never! I’ll come to see you as often as I can, I promise.’

  ‘I can’t wait, Megan.’ As Hattie said this, her body trembled.

  Megan drew back. ‘Are you all right now, love?’

  ‘Aye, it’s this other business. I’ve to get that out of the way first. Every time I think on it, me body shudders.’

  Megan had been dreading this moment, hearing about the other business Hattie had mentioned, and this didn’t lessen as she listened to what Hattie said. ‘I need to tell you what I want you to do. If anyth
ing happens to me, Megan, I want you to go to me solicitor. Me money as I’ve left with him is to be yours. You’re to use it how you want, though I’d like you to see as Daisy and Phyllis are all right. Arthur’ll help you sort it all out.’

  ‘No, Hattie! I couldn’t. I don’t want your money. I want everything to be right for you.’

  ‘I know, love, and I hope it will be. But if the worst happens, I’d be happy knowing you and Daisy and Phyllis are looked after.’

  ‘Oh, Hattie, I can’t bear it. I can’t think on you being in so much danger. Do you have to do this thing as you’re talking of? Isn’t there any other way?’

  ‘No, there’s no other way, and when I tell you of it you’ll understand, like Arthur does. He knows that I couldn’t live with meself if I did nothing . . .’

  13

  The Devil’s Work is Done

  The fear and agony in Susan’s face planted a seed of uncertainty in Hattie. Was Susan thinking of stopping the plan from going ahead? She tried to reassure her by saying, ‘It’ll be all right, love, I promise. I’ll not let owt happen to Sally. Sergeant Jackson’ll have a dozen police in plain clothes around and about. None of them local, so they’ll not be known to Bobby Blackstaff and his cronies.’

  ‘But what if they get away with her? I’d not bear it, Hattie, and what if they don’t find Janey?’

  Susan’s thin, drawn face was tinged with yellow, the colour of failing health, and her eyes held desolation. Hattie’s worry over her deepened. Susan was always being sick and constantly complained of pain in her stomach. The little flesh she had on her bones sagged as if the life had already left it, and the simplest of chores took it out of her. She’d stopped going to the factory weeks ago, living on the parish relief and whatever she would take from Hattie. Thank God that had been more lately, as Hattie had convinced her the money was for Sally. No matter what, she knew Susan wouldn’t allow Sally to go without. But now she needed to see that Susan got some attention, so she told her, ‘I’m getting me doctor friend to come and have a look at you, when this is done, Sue. Now don’t protest. I know you’re a proud woman, but you need help, and who else can you take it from, if not from your mates, eh?’

  A weak smile creased Susan’s cheeks. ‘Aye, and you’ve been a good mate to me, Hattie. I’d have not got through it without you. I can’t believe what they did to you, and you standing it all so as to help get that lot caught and get me Janey back. But I’m feared over Sally. I keep thinking on what it’ll do to her. She’s bound to get a big fright when they come to take her. It don’t seem right to put her through it, no matter what it might mean.’

  ‘They won’t frighten her – not if I know owt, they won’t. It won’t serve their purpose to. They wouldn’t want to deal with a screaming young ’un and the attention that would attract. No, I think they’ll get her to go willingly. Doreen can put on a kind and gentle side when she wants to, and she has a knack of making people like her. I’ve seen her with new girls as Bobby’s brought into the game. They’re all taken in by her, until they get to know what she’s really like. Anyroad, the police will follow her, so Sally will be protected all the time, and if all goes to plan they’ll catch the lot of them.’

  ‘And Janey? They’ll make them tell where Janey is, won’t they?’

  ‘Aye, of course they will. It’s hoped they’ll be able to uncover the whole bloody show Bobby Blackstaff and his lot run: selling young ’uns to gentry, taking money for protection, prostitution and God knows what else. And while we’re on mentioning His name, pray to Him they all get their just deserts and swing from the end of a rope for what they’ve done.’

  Hattie hoped her words about Janey would bring some comfort to Susan, but internally she admitted to herself that she didn’t think the youngster would be found. Not alive anyroad, although she hoped with all her heart that she would; it didn’t bear thinking about what might happen if Bobby Blackstaff didn’t get caught or if he didn’t get the death penalty, as he’d know she was the one who had planned it all.

  Ten minutes passed before Hattie spotted Doreen walking towards her and Sally. A sick feeling entered her as she took a deep breath to speak, but there was no going back on her words now. ‘Look, Sally, love, I’m going to leave you for a mo. I’ve to pick sommat up from me mate’s house. She just lives around the corner. She’s got some medicine that might help me with me hands.’

  ‘But me mam says you’re never to leave me alone, Aunty Hattie. She’ll not have it, thou knows. Why can’t I come with you?’

  ‘It’s not a place for young ’uns. Me mate’s man don’t like anyone round.’

  She willed Sally to accept her lie, but another protest came: ‘No, no, don’t leave me. I don’t like it on me own.’

  Oh God, now what? There was nothing else for it but to involve Doreen. Fear of what this would mean trembled through Hattie. She’d wanted Doreen to come across Sally on her own and to persuade her to go with her, not to have to hand her over. Now, Sally might never forgive her, but there was no choice. ‘Look, lass, I need sommat for the pain I’m in. Oh, look, there’s Doreen, another of me mates. I’ll ask her to watch you for me. How would that be, eh?’

  ‘I don’t want her to watch me. I want to go with you!’

  ‘My, what’s this? A cross little girl? Are you cold, love?’

  ‘Hello, Doreen. This is Sally, the little girl I told you of. I look after her when her ma needs a rest. She’s a good ’un really, but she don’t want me to leave her and I need to go and get some stuff for me hands. I’ll not be a mo. Can you watch out for her?’

  Aye. I tell you what: how about me and you go over to Ma Parkin’s, Sally? She’ll have done her trays of tuffies by now, and they’ll be cooling on the wires in the window. We can buy a farthing’s worth and be back here munching it afore Hattie gets back.’

  ‘Can I, Aunty Hattie?’

  Though it worried her to agree, she nodded her assent. ‘Aye, go on with you. I’ll see you in about ten minutes.’

  Sally tucked her hand in Doreen’s and looked trustingly up at her. ‘We’ll have to hurry some, Dorween, if we’re to be back. Ta-ra, Aunty Hattie!’

  ‘It’s Dor-reen!’ Doreen laughed out loud as she shook the little hand in hers, causing Sally’s body to shake, and making her giggle. ‘You’re a cute little thing, aren’t you?’

  Sally smiled up at her.

  Doreen smiled back – a smile that would make the devil love her. But when she looked back at Hattie, the smile had a mocking twist to it. ‘Bobby’s going to be reet pleased. You’ve done well, Hattie.’

  Hattie thought she was going to retch. Instinct told her to snatch Sally and run, but there was so much at stake: so many pretty young ’uns who might be in danger in the future; and then there was always the hope of finding Janey.

  She turned and walked away as fast as she could, not daring to look either way to see if anyone was following Sally and Doreen, but praying to God they were.

  Hattie looked in disbelief at Sergeant Jackson. ‘But you said Sally’d be away in no more than a few hours! Oh God! I can’t believe she’s not home yet. Why? Why?’ She heard her own voice screeching in her ears and felt a sick fear in her belly. She clutched the back of the nearest chair.

  ‘Try to keep calm, my dear. Everything will be all right, I am sure. Let the sergeant explain.’ Arthur leaned on his crutch and put his arm around her waist. A flicker of what looked like disgust passed over the sergeant’s face, turning Hattie’s desolation into anger. She glared at him. He shuffled from foot to foot, coughed and twiddled his helmet in his hands. A disgust of her own came over her – disgust at how he’d used her. His vileness sickened her. He should be protecting people and stopping the filth that happened, not contributing to it. And he dared to stand in judgement of her!

  A sweaty anxiousness stood out on his forehead as he spoke. He’d sensed her thoughts, she could see that, and his discomfort gladdened her. His voice held a plea as he said, ‘Bobby Blackstaff di
dn’t show up, so we couldn’t make a move. He was followed to London a couple of days ago and seen outside a gentlemen’s club talking to Lord Marley – him as has a country residence not far from here.’

  Hattie’s sharp intake of breath provoked an immediate question from Arthur, his concern obvious in his voice. ‘What is it, dear? Oh, my dear, you’re shaking!’

  ‘That’s him! You remember? I told you of him. He and his friend . . .’

  ‘Lord Marley! You didn’t say it was him! You only told me—’

  Sergeant Jackson interrupted. ‘Does that gentleman have some significance in all of this?’

  ‘Yes, he does. I know of him. I know from me past experience that he likes young lassies. He used to take young ’uns into his service from the convent I were brought up in. Then he’d rape them. He were stopped at his games when Cook found out and told Lady Marley of his antics. Oh God! Do you think this could mean he’s getting young ’uns through Bobby Blackstaff?’ Her head reeled. Memories made her stomach turn over so forcibly that she felt she’d be sick.

  ‘Sit down, my dear. This is all too much for you.’

  ‘No! I must go to . . . to Sally, to Susan. Oh God! I don’t know which one to go to. Poor Susan. She’ll be out of her mind. And Sally! Sally’ll be scared and—’

  ‘You can’t go anywhere. It isn’t safe. They’ll know you didn’t return to the house. They’ll smell a rat. Our worry is that they don’t go through with it and get rid of the young ’un.’

  ‘No!’

  ‘We’ve got to see that as possible, though unlikely, before Bobby Blackstaff returns. He’ll be the one as says what goes. But it’s a risk we had to take. Getting half the gang wasn’t going to do no good. It’s got to be all of them.’

  ‘You bastard!’

  ‘Hattie!’

  ‘I’m sorry, Arthur, but he is. He stands there saying he’d sacrifice a young ’un to get them all, and yet I know, as he does, the real reason for that. I’ll not stand for it. I’ll not! Tell me where she is and I’ll go there. I’ll—’