The Girl in the Ragged Shawl

by Cathy Sharp

  ‘I pray that it is enough to send her packing,’ Ruth said and nodded. ‘Will you take a drop of tea with me, Molly – or something stronger?’

  ‘I’ll have a drop of gin if yer ’ave any,’ Molly said. ‘You’ve found yerself a good place ’ere, Ruth.’

  ‘Well, I must be going,’ Miss Ross said. She had been listening to them intently, but now prepared to leave. ‘I shall call again next week, Ruth. Goodbye, Molly. It was nice to meet you – please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you.’

  Molly looked at Ruth as she went out. ‘Sweet on Mr Stoneham, is she?’

  ‘I don’t know, and I wouldn’t discuss it if I did,’ Ruth told her. ‘She’s a lovely lady and she helps us with the poor souls that come here to rest.’

  ‘God bless her for that,’ Molly said and drank her gin straight down. ‘Tell Mr Stoneham I’ll be back, and next time I’ll give him all the information he needs to bring that witch down – and her brother with her.’

  ‘What do you intend to do?’ Toby asked when they met at Arthur’s club early that afternoon. ‘Demand that the girls are given to you – or let the handover take place and catch them in the act later and have the brothel closed down?’

  ‘I am not intending to close the brothel,’ Arthur said. ‘It would cause an outcry and the owners will have powerful friends who would find some way out of it. No, I shall go into the workhouse and ask to see the girls and then tell Mistress Simpkins that work has been found for them. It is her response to my request that will show me whether this story is true, for so far we only have Molly’s word.’

  ‘The word of a whore and few would believe her,’ Toby said and nodded grimly. ‘I would have liked to catch them in the act of subduing the girls, but I daresay you are right. These places have their supporters and we should likely be told the girls were willing participants.’

  ‘Exactly! It has happened before when some such attempt at rescue has been made. Only in a few cases has the prosecution been successful – and that is the lower end of the scale, where no one of influence is concerned. Some of these houses have rich men as their backers – men of our own class, Toby.’

  ‘It is the suppliers that are the worst,’ Toby said, frowning. ‘Women like this Joan Simpkins who sell innocent girls for profit for themselves for I believe women who choose to enter such a house of their own volition may do so if they wish.’

  ‘Yes, I agree. I have asked Major Cartwright to accompany us. He is one of the doubters and supports Master Simpkins. I have tried to convince him that everything is not right in that place, but he refuses to believe me. It is his opinion that unless the poor are kept in their place we shall have anarchy.’

  ‘God save us from the Major Cartwrights of this world,’ Toby said and rolled his eyes. ‘So what do you hope to prove?’

  ‘I am hoping that, robbed of the chance of profit, our Miss Simpkins will show her true colours.’

  Toby nodded and looked thoughtful. ‘Your plan may well save the girls, but I am not sure we shall pry our quarry from her nest. I believe that we should follow them to the whorehouse and then pounce.’

  ‘And all that would prove is that the man who bought them runs a brothel but not that Joan Simpkins knew of it,’ Arthur said. ‘I’ve enough evidence to convict her six times over in my own mind, but the Board must be convinced, worthy men that they are, and a court of law must convict.’

  ‘I had difficulty in convincing my father that there was a white slave trade in England. He is a true gentleman and would not believe it possible that young children were being abducted, sometimes from the streets where they live. I argued with him for three hours before he would accept that there might be something in it. For months he would not speak in the House, but then at last I persuaded him and you know there has been much publicity because of it.’ Toby smiled oddly. ‘My father is honest, as straight and clean-living as any man, and yet he was so horrified when I told him that children the age of my brother’s son and daughter were being used so despicably that his mind refused to admit it for months.’

  ‘Your father is one of the few men I would completely trust,’ Arthur said. ‘He has done what he can to help us since you convinced him.’

  ‘I had to take him to the infirmary and show him what can happen to these wretched children and then a nun told him the unvarnished truth. I can tell you, Arthur, he broke down and wept. I had never seen my father weep before – even when my mother died he bore it with dignity, but when he heard of how the child had been abused and saw her filthy, diseased and deranged, despite all the good nuns had done to help her, he was broken. I was almost sorry I had shown him the child – but now he is as determined to see this foul practice stamped out as we are.’

  ‘Yes, I know. He told me when he gave me money for a refuge. He wants a house for children similar to the one I have for my ladies – so the next house will be for mothers and children.’

  ‘Yes, I think—’ Toby was about to continue when he saw the man standing outside the workhouse gates. ‘I believe that must be Major Cartwright – my God, Arthur. No wonder you said that these worthy men drive you mad. I believe you shall have your work cut out this afternoon.’

  ‘Yes, so no more such remarks, Toby. We want the good major on our side if we are to stamp this filthy trade into the ground.’

  Joan looked at the three men confronting her and clenched her hands at her sides. Fury was building inside her as she realised that she had no alternative but to release the three girls to Mr Stoneham. His paperwork was in order and signed by a prospective employer and by two members of the Board.

  ‘I can assure you that the girls in question have already been found proper employment,’ she said through gritted teeth. Reason told her she must give in with a good grace, but her rage was at boiling point and she could hardly contain it. If Drake did not get the girls he’d paid for, he would demand the return of his money – and he might not trust her in future.

  ‘Can you give me the names of their prospective employers?’ Arthur asked and she squirmed beneath that stern yet mocking gaze. Joan did not know how such a man could be so damned interfering and high-minded. He looked as if he were a red-blooded male, one who ought to enjoy the services of a whore as much as the next man, but he was so damned righteous! What harm did it do to earn a little from the sale of a few workhouse brats? They would only end up in the whorehouse once they left here anyway, because for girls such as these there was only a life of servitude or a brothel, and most of them preferred life on their backs to their knees.

  ‘I really must protest,’ she said drawing herself up, a picture of outrage. ‘Major Cartwright, I appeal to you. Do I have the authority to release female inmates to suitable employers or not?’

  ‘Naturally, you have the right, and you may charge the cost of whatever clothing you have provided whilst they were in your care – but no more. I’ve been informed that you sold these girls to a person not fit to have charge of them and that he will be here at four – which is in just ten minutes. I think we do not have long to wait for the proof either way, gentlemen.’

  ‘You can’t question him!’ Joan blurted out hastily and realised immediately that she’d made a mistake. ‘I mean, what does it look like? How does it make me appear? As if I am not to be trusted.’

  ‘And are you to be trusted, madam?’ Mr Stoneham asked, looking at her in such a way that she wished the ground might open and let her through. ‘I believe we shall know in just a few minutes.’

  Joan stared at him, her mind seeking desperately for a way of escape. If they insisted on waiting and confronting Drake it would be the end of a lucrative deal for her. He would deny all knowledge and was unlikely to trust her enough to buy from her again.

  She could hear the black marble clock on her mantelshelf ticking as the minutes passed. And then the solution occurred to her. She looked at the faces of the three men, reading her fate in their stony glances. Drake would either bluster or lie a
bout his business or cut and run – either would seal her fate. She heard his footsteps outside the door and then the door opened and Drake entered; he was five minutes early and eager to see the girls she’d promised.

  ‘Where are they?’ The question died on his lips as Joan gave a little sigh and fainted, crumpling dramatically into a heap. Drake’s eyes travelled to the expectant faces of the men and knew that he was trapped. He turned and ran, down the long passage way and into the courtyard. Halfway to the gate he felt a heavy force hit him in the back and then next second he was brought down in a rugby tackle that had him winded.

  Hauled to his feet he looked into the angry face of a man he knew as Arthur Stoneham. There was no point in lying, because this man had confronted him before this and was well aware of the business he’d grown rich from.

  ‘I’ve no need to ask what you expected to find here this afternoon,’ Arthur said. ‘Don’t trouble to deny it, Drake Arnham. I know that you intended to take three young girls from this place this afternoon and imprison them in a house of prostitution where they would be used and abused until you threw them out.’

  ‘Prove it!’ Drake raised his head defiantly and laughed as he saw the answer in the other man’s eyes. ‘I came here to buy some old clothes and that’s all.’

  ‘You run a brothel and the world knows it,’ Arthur Stoneham snarled. ‘If there were real justice in this country you would have been thrown in prison long ago and the key to your cell would be at the bottom of the river.’

  ‘I own a house that may be used by whores,’ Drake leered at him mockingly, ‘who live there and carry on their trade. But all I receive is rent each month – and you can prove no more than that. I may suspect what they do, but I am not their keeper and I do not interfere with the lives of others.’

  ‘Yes, I am aware of all the excuses that your fancy lawyers come up with for you,’ Arthur said. ‘I also know that you have influential clients who would help you avoid punishment.’

  ‘You may as well let me go then.’ Drake grinned in triumph. ‘All the women that live in my house are over eighteen and able to choose for themselves whether they live there or leave – just ask them.’

  As Arthur hesitated, Toby joined him. ‘He knows we can’t prove anything much against him, Arthur. The girls are safe; let it go at that.’

  ‘So that he can come back another day and take three others in their places?’ Arthur said but stood back, jerking his head. ‘Go on then, before I give you the thrashing you deserve.’

  ‘Self-righteous prig,’ Drake Arnham said and spat on the ground. ‘Watch yer back or one of these dark nights yer might find a knife in it.’

  Arthur made a lunge at him, but Toby held him back and Arnham walked off, laughing. ‘Take no notice of idle threats, Arthur. He’ll think twice about coming here again. Either he won’t trust her or he won’t dare to risk it.’

  Arthur looked at his friend. ‘I wish we could be sure of that, Toby. Has she recovered from her supposed faint?’

  ‘You think she feigned it?’ Arthur nodded, and Toby scowled. ‘Cartwright was fussing over her and calling her his dear lady and she was weeping into his shoulder. I don’t think you’ve finished her yet, my friend.’

  ‘We’ll see about that.’ Arthur turned and walked purposefully towards the warden’s office. When he entered, Miss Simpkins was sitting on a chair sipping a glass of water and Major Cartwright was indeed fussing over her. ‘That man is a known brothel-keeper, madam – what have you to say to me now?’

  ‘I have told Major Cartwright that I had no idea of his terrible intentions. He said he needed three girls to work in the kitchens of a nobleman’s house. It seemed a wonderful opportunity for them.’

  ‘Madam, you lie,’ Arthur said, his anger at being unable to stamp out a vile trade making him careless.

  ‘Mr Stoneham!’ the major said sharply. ‘You are distressing this lady. I do not think your case proven. Even if that villain is who you say he is – this poor lady can have had no knowledge of it. You saw how overcome she was by the horror of being accused of such vileness.’

  ‘Indeed, I was, sir,’ Joan simpered at him. ‘I promise you that I shall make certain to obtain sufficient references before I hand over any of my girls again.’

  ‘If I had my way you would have no further say in the lives of these poor unfortunate women,’ Arthur said. ‘Had I the final say, you would be packing your bags this instant.’

  ‘No, no, sir, I think you wrong Miss Simpkins,’ Major Cartwright said pompously. ‘These people have to be dealt with firmly – firmly but within the law. It is not Miss Simpkins’ fault if she was deceived by that rogue.’ He smiled at her and she held his handkerchief to her lips and smothered a sob. ‘You will learn from this, dear lady. In future you must consult with others and make sure that you hand your girls over to respectable citizens – now, will you promise me to do that?’

  ‘Oh yes, sir, I promise faithfully. I will leave nothing to chance – and consult with my brother and with you, sir, if it would not trouble you too much.’

  ‘I should be only too delighted to advise you,’ he said and looked very pleased with his solution. He turned to Arthur, who was fit to burst but managed to hold his tongue. ‘I am sure you must agree that this has all been unfortunate – and since no harm has been done and the girls are safe, we should give Mistress Simpkins a chance to prove herself worthy of our trust.’

  ‘I think we’d better take the children with us now,’ Toby said before Arthur could trust himself to speak. ‘Miss Ross is expecting them, and we do not want to take up too much of your time, Major.’

  ‘No, no, quite, quite,’ the major said, smiling at Miss Simpkins.

  Arthur bit back the angry words he could have let fly, knowing that for the moment he was beaten. He had saved three young girls from an unhappy fate, but it was a drop in the ocean. Yet for the moment there was no more he could do.

  ‘Perhaps you will send for them?’ he said looking coldly at her.

  She inclined her head, picked up a bell and rang it and the door opened. Three girls were shepherded in by an old woman who looked sourly at them.

  ‘You three – you have been found positions with a Miss Ross. These gentlemen have come to take you to her.’

  The anger in Joan Simpkins’ face was unmistakable. She’d been thwarted and she did not like it, but she also knew that she’d been lucky to keep her place here. Had she not conveniently fainted at the right moment, thereby warning Drake to say nothing more, he might have blurted out the damning truth, which would have condemned them both. She’d got away with it this time, thanks to Major Cartwright, but she knew that she was being closely watched and it would be dangerous to try anything else again for a while.

  CHAPTER 18

  Eliza entered the kitchen to see Miss Richards standing before the mantelshelf with her cash box in her hand. It was open, and she was staring at it in dismay. She turned to Eliza as she heard her pick up some dishes to start setting the table and the doubts were in her face.

  ‘Eliza, have you taken anything from this box?’

  Eliza felt a chill at her nape. ‘No, Miss Edith. I-I’ve never opened it. I only take what money you give me for the shopping.’

  ‘I was sure I had three pounds in change and there is only one shilling and two florins.’ Miss Edith shook her head. ‘Yet how could you have had the key? No, no, forgive me, Eliza. I must have taken the money myself but I cannot think when …’

  She sighed and went to a cupboard on the wall. Eliza turned away, because she knew there was another secret place where her employer kept money hidden, though she’d never seen it and did not know exactly how it was secreted.

  ‘No! It cannot be – all my savings have gone!’ Eliza whirled round as she heard the cry of distress. Miss Edith had taken down some jars of bottled fruit in the corner cupboard and behind them was a wooden panel which she’d lifted out, revealing a small secret shelf. In her hand she had a velvet purse
with drawstrings and Eliza could see that it was flat and empty. Miss Edith shook it in a vain attempt to find the lost money. ‘I had twenty gold sovereigns and two five-pound pieces,’ she gasped, her face as white as a new-washed sheet. ‘My life savings gone … all of it!’ She raised her eyes to look at Eliza accusingly. ‘I knew you stole from that market stall but I did not think you would steal from me. How could you – how could you take so much? Have I not given you all you could need?’

  ‘I did not know it was there,’ Eliza said the words seeming to stick in her throat and choke her so that they came out as a whisper. ‘I would never take your money. You have been so kind to me …’

  Tears stung behind her eyes because the accusation cut her to the quick. How could Miss Edith think that she would betray her trust like this? Eliza would be frightened of having one gold sovereign, let alone a fortune such as Miss Edith was describing. She would never dare or wish to touch her employer’s money.

  ‘You cannot have spent it. Please tell me you have it hidden in your room,’ Miss Edith’s voice rose hysterically. The loss of her savings had distressed her so much that she was incapable of coherent thought and she looked at Eliza accusingly. ‘Without this money we shall not manage the winter for I cannot buy what I need to carry on and there are expenses to pay of which you can know nothing. I gave you all I could afford, Eliza – how could you steal from me?’

  ‘No, no, I did not!’ Eliza said and she felt sick as Miss Edith moved towards her with the speed of lightning. She raised her hand and struck Eliza once across the cheek, her own face pale with distress. Eliza jerked back but made no attempt to save herself from her employer’s anger, though the tears dripped silently down her cheeks. ‘I’m so sorry …’ She was offering sympathy not regret for she had done nothing, but her words seemed to make Miss Edith even angrier.