The River Maid

by Dilly Court

  Essie glanced around and spotted a table laden with decanters and crystal glasses. This seemed to be the right time for a tot of something stronger than tea, and she picked one at random, pulled out the stopper and sniffed. Pa only drank brandy on special occasions, but this was purely medicinal and she poured a small measure into a goblet and pressed it into Lady Alice’s cold hand. ‘Sip this, ma’am. It will make you feel better.’

  ‘Thank you, Essie. I’ll be fine in a moment. He caught me unawares, and unfortunately he saw the paper from the solicitor’s office.’ Lady Alice sipped the brandy and colour flooded her thin cheeks. ‘I don’t know how much he read, but it was enough to alert him to the fact that Raven is in the country. If only I’d had the sense to set light to it and turn it to ash.’

  ‘He had no right to read your private correspondence, my lady. He’s no gentleman.’

  A faint smile curved Lady Alice’s lips. ‘Sir Henry is one of the richest men in England, so he behaves as he pleases and gets away with it, or at least that’s what he thinks.’

  ‘But you don’t like him.’

  ‘I used to find him amusing and he can be very charming, but I enjoy my life. I don’t need a man to make it complete, but Henry isn’t the sort of man to take no for an answer.’

  ‘My pa has his faults, but he would kill any man who took advantage of me.’

  ‘My father died several years ago, and my only male relatives are Raven and Freddie. I can take care of myself, or so I thought, but Henry Bearwood is another matter.’

  ‘Do you want me to tell Raven, my lady? He’ll come to your aid, I know he will.’

  A smile flitted across Lady Alice’s face and she swallowed another mouthful of brandy. ‘I can normally handle Sir Henry, but this is a different matter altogether. You must go now and warn Raven to be extra careful. You mustn’t come here again unless it’s absolutely vital. I don’t think Henry would stoop so low as to have my movements watched, but he’s a very determined man.’

  ‘He must love you very much,’ Essie said thoughtfully.

  ‘He loves my pedigree more than he loves me. His family fortune was made in the sugar trade and that means it was founded on the misery of others. I abhor slavery, as any sane person must.’

  ‘Surely he doesn’t have slaves now.’

  ‘Of course not, but Henry has a reputation with women, and I don’t intend to be one of his conquests. The fact is that he’s reached the age of thirty-five, he’s decided to settle down and he wants a son and heir to carry on the family name. That is where I come in, or at least that’s what he wants.’

  ‘But you don’t?’

  Lady Alice shook her head, holding out her empty glass. ‘I do not. Anyway, I shouldn’t be telling you all this. Pour me another drink and go home. Warn Raven that Sir Henry knows that he plans to appeal, although I doubt if Henry will do anything about it. Tell Raven I said bon voyage. I won’t see him again until he returns a free man, and I hope still to be a free woman.’

  Essie added another small measure of brandy to the glass and placed it on a table by the sofa. ‘Will you be all right?’

  ‘Of course. I’m used to looking after myself, Essie. Get along home and thank you for everything you’ve done.’

  Essie arrived home to find Raven and her father seated in the front parlour sharing a jug of ale. Raven looked up and smiled. ‘How did my cousin take the news?’

  Baffled, Essie stared at him. ‘What news?’

  ‘I don’t suppose she would have shared it with you, come to that. Did she give you a message for me?’

  ‘She said to say bon voyage, whatever that means. She won’t be coming here and I’m not to return to Hill Street.’

  ‘Such goings-on,’ Jacob said crossly. ‘You should know your place, Esther. It’s here in White’s Rents with the rest of us. I need you to help me on the river, so don’t get ideas above your station.’

  ‘Hold on a minute, Jacob.’ Raven fixed Essie with a penetrating look. ‘Why the sudden change, Essie? Not that I think there will be any need for you to continue to work for Alice, but I can see you’re disturbed. What is it?’

  ‘Nonsense!’ Jacob reached for the jug and refilled his glass. ‘Girls like to make a fuss about things. That’s what they do, leaving it to us men to sort out the mess they make.’

  ‘I’m going to put the kettle on.’ Essie curbed her tongue with difficulty. Sometimes Pa was impossible to deal with, and this was one of them. She went into the kitchen and slipped off her shawl, placing it on the back of a chair before taking off her bonnet. She was hot and thirsty after walking the length of Fore Street and Lady Alice’s predicament was still fresh in her mind. She picked up a bucket and opened the back door, intent on visiting the communal pump, when Raven emerged from the parlour. He took in the situation with a single glance.

  ‘Give that to me and I’ll fetch the water for you.’

  ‘No, certainly not. You mustn’t be seen outside. You know that.’

  He pulled up a chair and sat down at the table. ‘All right. Now tell me what’s happened to upset you? Have the servants been difficult? I can’t imagine that Alice would have said anything untoward.’

  Essie was silent for a moment, wondering how much to tell him. ‘Do you know Sir Henry Bearwood?’

  ‘He’s not the sort of man I’d associate with normally, but how do you know him?’

  ‘I don’t. It’s just that he was trying to take advantage of Lady Alice and she was having none of it.’

  ‘The devil he was! But on the other hand I’d like to meet the man who could get the better of my cousin.’ Raven’s smile faded. ‘What are you trying to tell me?’

  ‘I’m not supposed to say anything,’ Essie said slowly.

  ‘But you’re dying to tell me, so out with it.’

  ‘Lady Alice wants you to leave the country as soon as possible and you’re not to try to see her.’

  ‘That wasn’t what you were going to say. You’re hiding something. What is it?’

  Essie noted his set expression and the hard lines of his jaw and she knew that he was not about to give up until he knew the truth. ‘Sir Henry was making a nuisance of himself, if you know what I mean. He wants to marry Lady Alice and she isn’t interested, but he saw the document you sent her.’

  Raven stood up abruptly, pushing back the chair so that it almost toppled over. ‘I’ll soon sort him out.’

  ‘No, you mustn’t,’ Essie cried anxiously. ‘I shouldn’t have told you about him. Lady Alice will be furious with me, and you’ll only get yourself into trouble. She doesn’t think he’ll let on that you’re here.’ She clutched Raven’s arm and she could feel his muscles tensed beneath the sleeve of his well-cut jacket. ‘Please sit down. I’ll go and fetch some water and make a pot of tea.’

  His grim laughter echoed round the small kitchen. ‘Tea – the panacea for all ills.’

  ‘I think Lady Alice can take care of herself,’ Essie said firmly. ‘She was clear about one thing, and that was for you to keep away from Hill Street. You’ve only got another day and then you’ll be on your way back to Australia.’

  ‘I came home to make things better for my family and I don’t intend to leave Alice in a fix. She’s risked a lot helping me and I’m going to sort out Bearwood for once and all.’ He stood up and made for the back door, pushing past Essie as he stepped outside into the back yard.

  Essie hurried after him. ‘Please stop. You’ll only make more trouble this way.’

  He shook off her restraining hand. ‘Don’t interfere, Essie. You’ve done your bit, now go indoors and look after your father.’

  Essie knew that nothing she could say or do would prevent him from seeking out Sir Henry Bearwood, and she wished with all her heart that she had said nothing. Lady Alice must have known that this was how Raven would react, and now Raven was heading for trouble. Essie clenched her hands at her sides, inwardly fuming at her own stupidity. Nothing good could come of this. She toyed with the ide
a of rushing over to Hill Street to warn Lady Alice, but that was not the answer. She bent down to pick up the bucket and headed out of the yard to the pump. A cup of tea would not solve her problems, but making it would give her something to do.

  Time seemed to have stood still as Essie waited for Raven to return. She occupied herself as best she could with household chores. She made her father a simple supper of bread and cheese, but the ale he had drunk combined with a dose of laudanum sent him to sleep soon afterwards and Essie was left to wait and worry on her own. Outside the business of the street went on as usual with the constant sound of raised voices, hurried footsteps and the ever-present background noise of the river traffic. Hoots, sirens, bells and the grinding of cranes still at work unloading vessels moored alongside the wharfs went on all day and for most of the night.

  The light faded and Essie paced the floor, accompanied by the rhythmic snores emanating from her father’s slack lips. He had drunk a copious amount of ale and had taken a hefty dose of laudanum before falling into a stupor. She lit a candle and placed it in the window, but still there was no word from Raven. In an attempt to calm her nerves she opened the front door and stood on the step, but retreated quickly. Late at night it was not a good idea to loiter in the street and she went to sit in the kitchen and wait.

  The candle had burned down and Essie was about to go to her room when she heard a scrabbling sound on the front door. ‘Who’s there?’ she demanded nervously.

  Chapter Five

  Essie wrenched the door open and stepped aside as Raven practically fell into the room supported on either side by Lady Alice and Sadie.

  ‘What happened?’ Essie demanded, closing the door and bolting it. There did not seem to be anyone following them, but she was taking no chances. ‘What happened?’ She picked up the candlestick and in its flickering light she saw a dark stain that look suspiciously like blood on Raven’s jacket. ‘Take him through to the kitchen,’ she said, glancing anxiously at her father, who had slept through everything so far; disturbing him was the last thing she wanted.

  ‘I’m all right,’ Raven whispered. ‘I can make it on my own.’

  ‘Stop talking and save your strength.’ Lady Alice steered him towards the kitchen, but Sadie appeared to be flagging and Essie took her place. Together they managed to get him onto a chair at the table and, combining their efforts, they relieved him of his jacket.

  ‘He’s bleeding to death,’ Sadie cried, collapsing onto another chair. ‘I can’t stand the sight of blood. I’ve come over faint.’

  ‘Make yourself useful,’ Essie said sharply. ‘There’s a bowl in the cupboard – fill it with water from the kettle and pass me that towel.’

  Sadie jumped to her feet, seemingly forgetting that she was about to faint and obeyed Essie’s instructions without another word.

  ‘It’s just a scratch. Stop fussing.’ Raven tried to get up but sank back on the chair, his face pale beneath his tan.

  ‘Stop talking,’ Lady Alice said firmly. ‘I’m going to ease your shirt off, Raven. I need to take a look at that wound.’

  ‘So you’re a nurse now, are you?’ Raven’s lips curved in a wry smile, but he winced as she peeled the blood-soaked cotton away from the gaping hole in his left shoulder.

  Essie could see by Lady’s Alice’s expression that she was revolted by the sight of blood, and she stepped forward. ‘I’ve dealt with a good number of injuries. Maybe I can help.’ Essie held the candle closer so that she could examine the wound. ‘He was shot?’ She turned to Lady Alice, eyebrows raised.

  ‘It’s all right, Essie. I’ll deal with this. It wouldn’t have happened if Raven hadn’t come barging into my house,’ Lady Alice said bitterly. ‘I was dealing with Henry. He’d been drinking and was getting amorous, but Raven had to act like a hero.’

  ‘He was drunk,’ Raven murmured.

  ‘I had taken Papa’s duelling pistol from its case, although I had no intention of shooting Bearwood. I just wanted to show him that I meant what I said. Henry tried to take it from me and it went off. Papa always said it had a hair trigger and that proves it.’ Lady Alice took the cloth and bathed the wound, ignoring Raven’s protests. ‘Bearwood was about to leave when you came bursting in like a knight of old, and you took the bullet, which otherwise would have merely made a hole in the door. It serves you right for interfering.’ She frowned anxiously. ‘It’s bleeding faster. What should I do?’

  Essie folded the towel and pressed it on the injured shoulder. ‘We have to stop the blood flowing by pressing on the wound.’

  ‘I am going to faint now,’ Sadie said weakly and collapsed onto the floor.

  ‘We should fetch a doctor.’ Lady Alice stood back, clasping her blood-stained hands together. ‘Is he going to die?’

  ‘Not if I can help it.’ Essie jerked her head in the direction of the cupboard. ‘There’s an old sheet that we can tear into strips. We need to bind the wound as tightly as we can.’

  Lady Alice stepped over Sadie’s prostrate figure and returned seconds later with the neatly folded sheet. ‘Trust you to complicate things, Raven. Henry would have gone peacefully. Now he’ll tell everyone that you’re in London, if he hasn’t done so already.’

  ‘I have to get on board ship for all our sakes.’ Raven’s head lolled to one side and his eyes closed.

  ‘He’s passed out. That’s good because we can bandage his shoulder without him struggling.’ Essie took the strips of cloth from Lady Alice and proceeded to wind them round Raven’s torso. ‘I’m not very good at this, but it will have to do until we can get him to a doctor.’

  ‘He has to be on the Santa Gabriella tonight.’ Lady Alice sank down on the nearest chair. ‘Sir Henry might notify the authorities and the police will be looking for Raven.’

  Sadie scrambled to her feet. ‘What happened?’

  ‘You fainted,’ Essie said tersely. ‘Sit down and take deep breaths. You’ll be fine and we need your help.’

  ‘What do you propose?’ Lady Alice demanded warily. ‘We don’t want to involve anyone else.’

  ‘It’ll be low tide. If we can get Raven down the steps to the foreshore I can row him out to the ship. I’ve done it before and it should be slack water now, so the current will take me downstream. We just have to get him to my boat.’

  ‘How do we do that without being seen?’ Lady Alice demanded.

  ‘There are plenty of drunken men staggering around the streets of Limehouse every night,’ Essie said drily. ‘And we haven’t much choice. Help me get his jacket on and we’d better set off as soon as he regains consciousness.’

  Raven was weak from loss of blood but he was able to walk, albeit slowly, and Sadie danced on ahead clearing the way and poking fun at Raven, telling the other drunks that he was her dad who had been boozing in the pub all day, and they were taking him home. Essie had been wary about drawing attention to themselves, but oddly enough it seemed to work, and Sadie was in her element. Negotiating the steep, slippery steps proved to be more difficult and it was a considerable drop to the stony foreshore. As they hesitated on the wharf Essie was beginning to think that their efforts had been in vain when she spotted Ben walking towards them. At first she was inclined to hide behind Raven, but she could see the outline of the ship anchored in Limehouse Reach, and she knew it was only a matter of time before the vessel sailed. She left Lady Alice and Sadie supporting Raven, who was drifting in and out of consciousness, and she hurried to meet Ben.

  ‘I’m glad it’s you,’ she said breathlessly. ‘We’re in desperate need of help.’

  He took in the scene with a single glance. ‘Who are these people?’

  Essie could see that he was not going to be fobbed off with fairy tales and she gave him a brief outline of the events since she had brought Raven ashore.

  ‘Well, I’ll be damned. What have you got yourself into, Essie? You could end up in jail for this.’

  ‘I know that, Ben. I didn’t choose to be involved and I wouldn’t have be
en if Pa hadn’t had the accident. Anyway, it’s too late now and I simply have to get Raven on board the Santa Gabriella.’

  ‘What about the woman and the kid? Are they going, too?’

  ‘No, but we must move quickly. Will you carry him down the steps? It’s our only chance.’

  He hesitated, as if weighing up the consequences of such an action, and then he nodded. ‘All right. I’d offer to row him out to the ship, but I’m working.’

  ‘I just need to get him into my boat. I can manage after that.’

  ‘I’ll have words with your pa, Essie. I saw him walking to the Grapes earlier today and he wasn’t even limping. I reckon he’s fit enough to return to work, but it suits him to loaf around the house, drinking ale.’ He walked off and Essie hurried after him.

  ‘I’ve got you, cully.’ Ben hoisted Raven over his shoulders like a sack of coal and descended the steep steps, disappearing into the darkness.

  ‘I’ll see he gets safely on board,’ Essie said hastily. ‘You’d best go home.’

  ‘I’m coming with you.’ Lady Alice hitched up her skirts and made her way down the steep stone stairs until all that could be seen of her was the tip of the ostrich feathers waving from the crown of her bonnet. Essie followed with a reckless disregard for safety and Sadie was close behind. It was very dark on this unlit part of the foreshore and the river looked eerily calm and menacing. Ben helped Raven into the boat and steadied it as Lady Alice climbed in to sit beside him, followed less elegantly by Sadie, who landed in a heap.

  ‘You ought to go home, my lady,’ Essie said urgently. ‘I’ll make sure he reaches the ship safely.’

  Lady Alice’s face was a pale oval, her eyes dark shadows in the dim light. ‘No, I won’t rest until I know that he’s being looked after properly. I want to see the captain and pay him well.’

  ‘And I got to stick with her ladyship. I ain’t staying here on me own and that’s for certain,’ Sadie added, although there was a tremor in her voice and she sounded close to tears.