by Dilly Court
'Ada says she had a baby and it was taken from her. Is that all a fantasy?'
Harcourt moved slowly round his desk to sit in the padded leather chair. 'Ada has the mind of a child and the body of a woman. Mary was ailing for a long time, and not in the best position to keep an eye on the girl. It's true, Ada did bear a child, but there was no question of her being capable of raising it herself. It were found a good home, and Ada was told that it were stillborn. We thought that were the kindest thing to do in the circumstances.'
'Kind?' Eloise stared at him in disbelief. 'You think that was kind? That poor young woman is constantly looking for her baby; she is brokenhearted and suffers terribly. You weren't being kind, you were just saving face. I thought you were different, but I can see that you are just as bad as Hilda and Joan. You only think of your good name and of making money. Well, I'm ashamed to be related to you, even by marriage, and I can't wait to leave this house for good. And I will be taking my children with me. Neither you nor anyone else is going to stop me.' Choking back angry tears, Eloise raced from the room.
She did not join the family for supper that evening, but Mabel took pity on her and smuggled some food from the kitchen. As Eloise ate hungrily, Mabel stood watching her with tears in her eyes. 'I shall miss you and the little ones. It won't seem the same here without you.' Eloise swallowed a mouthful of cold ham and pickle. 'I shall miss you too, Mabel.'
'But how will you get on, ma'am?' Mabel asked anxiously. 'How will you even get to the station?'
'I'll walk,' Eloise said firmly. 'I'll put the children in the little cart that Ted made for them and I'll walk every step to Scarborough if I have to. Who knows, we might meet a kind carter or a farmer on the way there who will give us a lift, but go to the station I will.'
Mabel wiped her eyes on her apron. 'Ada will go into a decline, I know she will. She'll be heartbroken, poor thing.'
'I know, and I feel terrible about it, but I cannot take her with me. Even if I could, Miss Joan would never allow it.'
'They say below stairs that Miss Joan is Ada's mother, but it's only servants' gossip. I don't suppose it's true.'
Eloise bit into a hunk of bread and butter which rendered her temporarily speechless and saved her from answering. She might heartily disapprove of the Cribbs' treatment of Ada, but she had to respect their right to keep the sad truth to themselves. 'That was so good,' she said at last. 'Thank you, Mabel. I'll always remember your kindness to me, and Ted's too.'
Impulsively, Mabel rushed over to throw her arms around Eloise's neck. 'I will really, really miss you.' She drew away hastily, and burying her face in her apron she ran from the room.
When she was certain that both children were fast asleep, Eloise went upstairs to see Ada. She had intended to break the news of her departure gently and to assure Ada that she would write to her and send her picture postcards from London. She had known that it was going to be difficult, but she was unprepared for the sight that met her eyes when she entered the room. Ada was lying on the bed with both hands tied to the brass head rail and with her ankles strapped together by a length of cord. Her face was swollen and blotchy from crying and her lips were cracked and bleeding as if she had bitten them. Eloise rushed over to her and began untying the cords that bound her. 'Ada, who did this to you?'
'Miss Joan,' Ada whispered hoarsely. 'She beat me and tied me up so that I couldn't come and find you. She said you were going away and I would never see you again.' She collapsed against Eloise's shoulder, and her whole body was racked with sobs.
Eloise rocked her in her arms and stroked Ada's hair. 'There, there, don't cry, dear. You know I wouldn't go away without telling you.'
'But you are leaving, she said so.'
'I have to go, Ada. I cannot stay here.'
'I want to come too.'
'If it were possible I would take you, but I cannot.'
Ada pulled away from her. 'You don't want me. You're just like her. Miss Joan don't want me neither. No one wants me.'
'Please, Ada, don't think that. You mustn't think that ever. It's just that I've very little money and I don't know how I'm going to manage even with my own children.'
'But you're taking them,' Ada cried fiercely. 'You won't leave them, so why can't you take me? I'm a good girl. I can help you look after Joss and Beth. Take me with you, I'm begging you on my knees. Take me with you, please.'
Eloise crept through the deserted kitchen carrying her suitcase and valise. Ada followed close behind her with Joss clutching her hand and Beth cradled in the crook of her arm. The first grey light of dawn filtered through the windows and Eloise knew they must hurry or the scullery maid would find them when she came downstairs to light the fire in the range. She glanced over her shoulder at Ada, who looked like a walking scarecrow in her odd assortment of clothes. The skirt that she wore over her nightgown must have been made for her many years ago and barely came down to her ankles. Her straw bonnet and cloak were those borrowed from one of the maids and were green-tinged with age but serviceable, and on her feet she wore a pair of boots that had belonged to one of the under-grooms and discarded because they were past repair.
If matters had not been so dire, Eloise might have chuckled at the sight of the gangling young woman in her outlandish garb, but fashion was not uppermost in her mind at this moment. She led them through the scullery and was about to open the door to the stable yard when the sound of footsteps coming from the kitchen made her freeze to the spot. She held her breath, raising her finger to her lips as a warning to Ada to keep the children quiet. But it was Mabel who came hurrying through the door, and in her hands she clutched a package wrapped in brown paper. 'It's only me,' she said breathlessly. 'Norah the scullery maid's been took sick. Cook thinks it might be the measles, and I had to get up extra early to do Norah's chores.' She thrust the parcel into Eloise's hand. 'Here's summat for the journey. It's just a bit of bread and cheese, but it will keep you going for a while.' Without waiting to be thanked, she pushed past Eloise and opened the door to the stable yard. The cobblestones were bathed in the pale green light of early dawn but the shadows were deep and dark as the small party made their way across to the stable block. Eloise stifled a cry of fright as a figure emerged from the doorway but Mabel turned to her with an encouraging smile. 'It's only our Ted. I told him what you planned, ma'am. He's got the cart all ready for you and he'll walk you part of the way.'
Seeing Ted, Joss uttered a cry of pleasure and broke away from Ada's grasp to run to his friend. Ted swung him up in his arms. 'Hello there, young fellow.'
Eloise glanced nervously over her shoulder. The shadows seemed to be filled with menace and she could have sworn she saw a movement out of the corner of her eye, but she told herself it was just an agitation of her nerves, and she was imagining things. 'Ted, I can't thank you and Mabel enough for helping us, but we must get away before we're seen.'
'Too late,' Ted muttered, staring over her shoulder in the direction of the house. 'It's the master.'
Eloise spun round to see Harcourt striding towards them and her heart sank, but she was not about to give in. 'Put Beth in the cart, Ada. We're leaving no matter what Mr Cribb says.'
Harcourt came hurrying towards them. 'Hold on a moment, lass. This is not right. Not right at all.'
'You won't stop us, Mr Cribb. I'm leaving and I'm taking my children with me and Ada too.'
'I'm going with Eloise,' Ada whimpered, cowering behind her. 'Please let me go, mister.'
Harcourt shook his head. 'I cannot allow it, lass. You belong here with your mother.' He seized Ada by the hand, dragging her to his side. 'It's for your own good, Ada.'
'Please let her come with me,' Eloise pleaded. 'I will look after her, I promise.'
'I don't doubt you'd try, but I can't allow it. This is Ada's home and she must stay. I cannot stop you from going, Eloise, nor will I see your children taken from you.' Harcourt took a small leather pouch from his pocket and pressed it into her hand. 'There is enough bras
s there to keep you and the little ones for a while at least. I won't see my grandchildren starve, but you must realise that if you leave now, you can never return to Cribb's Hall. Our Hilda will take it very much to heart and she'll never forgive you for taking young Joss away from her.'
Eloise took the pouch and tucked it away in her skirt pocket. 'Thank you. I am truly grateful to you, but nothing would induce me to return to this place.'
'Don't leave me,' Ada sobbed. 'Don't go.'
'I must, Ada. I'm so sorry, my dear.' Eloise turned away, hiding her own tears of grief on leaving the poor creature to the mercies of the Cribb family. 'Ted, if you'll put Joss in the cart perhaps I can balance the suitcase on one end, and the valise will hang on the handle. Obviously you cannot come with us, even part of the way.'
Ted cast an anxious glance at Harcourt. 'Can I go with them just a bit of the way, master?'
'I won't hear of it,' Harcourt said grimly. 'Put Jester in harness, Ted, and bring out the dog cart. You must drive them to the station.'
'Thank you,' Eloise murmured, taking Joss from Ted's arms. She watched him disappear into the dim recesses of the stables and then she turned to Harcourt with an attempt at a smile. 'You at least have shown me kindness, Mr Cribb. I won't forget that.'
'Nay, lass. I had a duty to our Ronnie's wife and I fear I have let you both down. It's the least I can do for you.' He hooked his arm around Ada's shoulders. 'Stop struggling, Ada. You cannot go with them and there's an end to it. Come inside and Mabel will take you up to your room.'
Eloise gave Mabel a hug. 'Goodbye, dear Mabel. You have been a true friend to me and I will never forget you.'
'G-goodbye, ma'am,' Mabel said, gulping back tears. 'I shan't forget you either.'
'I'll need you to help me,' Harcourt said, attempting to control the wildly struggling Ada. 'We must get her back indoors before the rest of the household stirs.'
With great difficulty, for Ada was putting up a valiant fight for freedom, they half dragged, half carried her across the yard to the scullery. Beth had begun to cry and Joss was whimpering against Eloise's shoulder and it took her all her time to pacify them. After what seemed like hours, but was only minutes, Ted brought the dog cart out of the stables and he tossed the luggage in the back. As soon as Eloise and the children were settled on the driver's seat, he leapt nimbly up beside them and took the reins. 'To the station then, ma'am?'
'To the station, Ted,' Eloise said, sighing with relief. Inside the house she could hear voices, and bleary-eyed grooms were stumbling out of their sleeping quarters to hold their heads under the pump in the yard. Ted flicked the reins and Jester sprang forward, eager to be off. Eloise could have shouted for joy. She was escaping from Cribb's Hall and she had her children clutched to her breast. Her only sadness was on leaving Ada, but she prayed silently that now Harcourt was fully aware of her plight, he would do something to improve her lot. Eloise might hate her mother-in-law and Joan with a passion, but she had a sneaking liking and a certain amount of respect for her father-in-law. Had things been different, she knew that she could have grown quite fond of Harcourt Cribb.
A blood red sun was slowly edging its way above the horizon and they were heading into its fiery light as Ted expertly handled Jester, driving the dog cart down the drive and out through the wrought-iron gates. To Eloise it was like escaping the mouth of hell and she knew that whatever the future held, it was not going to be quite as awful as the months she had spent in Cribb's Hall.
'Are you all right, ma'am?' Ted asked anxiously.
'I'm perfectly fine,' Eloise replied, smiling. 'I'm just sad that I had to leave poor Ada behind.'
Ted glanced over his shoulder. 'Look round, ma'am. I think Miss Ada had other ideas.'
Eloise twisted in her seat and saw the ungainly figure of Ada with her arms flailing like a windmill and her long legs gangling like those of a newborn colt, racing after them with her bonnet hanging off and her cloak flying out around her.
'Stop, Ted,' Eloise cried, tugging at his arm. 'For pity's sake stop.'
Ted drew Jester to a halt and he sprang down to help Ada, who had fallen headlong and was sprawling lengthwise in the mud. She was limping as he helped her to the vehicle and bundled her somewhat unceremoniously onto the back seat.
'Ada, are you hurt?' Eloise asked anxiously. 'What happened? How did you get away?'
Breathless and muddy, but smiling broadly, Ada brushed the mud off her face. 'I twisted me ankle, but I don't care. I run away, I did. I run away and I'm coming with you, Ellie.'
'Are you sure this is what you really want? Things won't be easy.'
Ada nodded emphatically. 'I'm coming with you. We'll find my baby.'
Eloise exchanged worried glances with Ted as he climbed up beside her. 'Perhaps we ought to take her back.'
He shook his head. 'I wouldn't send my worst enemy to live with the mistress and Miss Joan. The master is all right, but I don't know how he puts up with those old witches.'
'Then drive on, Ted. The sooner we get on the train to London, the better.'
'I'm right sorry, ma'am,' the man in the ticket office said, peering at Eloise through the thick lenses of his spectacles which made his eyes look huge, like those of a goldfish in a glass bowl. 'The London train went half an hour ago and there won't be another until midday.'
Eloise had somehow imagined that the train would be there waiting for them to leap on board, and now she was terrified that Joan and Hilda might come in hot pursuit. 'Is there another train southbound before then?'
'The Hull train is due any moment, ma'am.'
At least Hull was in the right direction and they could wait there in safety for the London train. 'Two single third class tickets for Hull, please.' Eloise glanced over her shoulder to where Ada was standing with Beth in her arms, watching Joss who was bouncing on the suitcase at her feet.
'Third class, ma'am?'
'Third class,' Eloise said firmly. She had not had a chance to count the money in the pouch, but she must save every penny she had. She might have escaped from Cribb's Hall, but she knew that only a complete fool would be complacent. From now on, life was going to be hard and the future was uncertain. She pushed all such thoughts to the back of her mind as she paid for the tickets, thanked the man politely and went over to pick up her luggage, refusing the help of a porter as that would mean sparing some money for a tip.
The platform was crowded and they had to fight their way into an overfull third class compartment. They managed to get seats but these were little more than wooden benches with slatted backs, and had obviously been designed for utility rather than comfort. Ada's odd and dishevelled appearance was drawing curious looks from their fellow passengers and a certain amount of sniggering at her expense, mainly from children. Eloise glared at them, but her attention was soon diverted by concern for Beth, who did not seem to be her usual sunny self. She had been sleepy and uninterested in taking her milk that morning, but Eloise had put this down to their early start and their hasty departure from Cribb's Hall. After sleeping fitfully during the cart ride to the station, Beth was now awake and crotchety; her cheeks were flushed and she was abnormally hot. Eloise recalled Mabel's words with a stab of fear. Norah, the scullery maid, was one of Nancy's sisters, and if she had gone down with the dreaded measles it was just possible that Nancy might have passed it on to Beth, who was obviously running a temperature, and seemed to be getting worse by the minute.
Ada was sitting opposite Eloise, doing her best to keep Joss amused, but even she noticed that something was wrong, and when Beth had a mild convulsion, Ada began to scream. 'Is she going to die? My baby died. Beth is going to die too.'
'Hush,' Eloise cried, close to tears herself. 'You're not helping, Ada.'
A woman who had been sitting on the opposite seat leaned over to feel Beth's forehead. 'She's proper poorly, lass. I know, because I lost three babies to fever. You don't want to take chances.'
By this time, Eloise was completely terrified a
nd close to panicking. 'What should I do?'
'Where are you bound, lass?'
'To Hull and then on to London.'
'I doubt she'll make it if you stay on the train. Driffield is the next station. Get off there and ask the station master to direct you to the doctor's surgery. I wouldn't take risks if I was you.'
By the time the train stopped at Driffield, Ada was hysterical and Joss was sobbing with sheer fright. Helped by some of the other passengers, Eloise managed to get them all onto the platform, as well as her luggage. Clouds of steam enveloped them in a thick, damp mist as the train pulled out of the station and Eloise watched it leave with a heavy heart. She had pinned all her hopes on reaching London by nightfall. In her haste to escape from Cribb's Hall she had formed no definite plans, but she had vaguely thought that she would return to Myrtle Street and seek shelter with the Higgins family for a day or two until she could find lodgings and suitable employment. The chugging sound of the engine and the clatter of its wheels as they ran over the points grew fainter as the train disappeared into the distance. Eloise had never felt so lost and alone in her whole life as she attempted to quieten Joss. Ada was clinging to her mantle like a frightened child and Beth was lying in Eloise's arms, deathly pale now and terrifyingly still.
'Can someone help me?' Eloise cried out in desperation, and to her intense relief the door to the station master's office opened and a gentleman in a frock coat emerged. He placed a top hat on his head and strode towards them. He looked rather fierce but Eloise was too desperate to worry about offending a railway official. 'Please, sir, I need help. My child is ill and we have had to leave the train before we reached our destination.'
His stern expression softened into a look of concern. 'The doctor's house is not far from the station. If you'll wait here for a moment I'll summon a porter to carry your luggage and he will take you there.'
'Thank you,' Eloise murmured. 'You're very kind.'
He tipped his hat, looking slightly embarrassed. He turned away to summon help in a booming voice, and almost immediately an old man wearing a porter's uniform came through the ticket office pushing a trolley. 'Yes, master?'