by Dilly Court
The quality of the air changed suddenly, becoming fresher with the tang of salt, and Essie could see a faint glimmer of light ahead. A waft of cool air grew in intensity and the sound of waves crashing against rocks grew louder as the passage opened out into a cave. There was just enough headroom to enable the men to stand upright, and, for a moment there was silence, and then Oscar hallooed as if he were on the hunting field.
‘This is amazing. I’d almost forgotten the secret passage, Robbie. We had some larks down here.’
‘That was a long time ago,’ Sir Robert said primly. ‘We’ve grown up since then, Oscar.’
‘You might have done, but Raven and Freddie must have been using it to store contraband,’ Oscar said slyly. ‘Pity they didn’t let me in on the secret. I could have done with the money.’
Alice turned on him, her eyes glinting in a shaft of moonlight. ‘Shut up, Oscar. You don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘Be fair, Alice,’ Oscar said plaintively. ‘They were caught in the act. Smuggling is still a crime.’
‘Freddie got himself mixed up with a local gang.’ Alice faced him angrily. ‘Someone informed the revenue men and they were caught red-handed. Freddie was implicated simply because he happened to be on the beach at the time, and Raven had nothing to do with it, although he took the blame.’
‘We know the story, Alice,’ Sir Robert said calmly. ‘I can’t condone their behaviour. Raven should have let Freddie take his punishment. As it is I think they both got off lightly.’
‘I think, sir, you do not know what you’re talking about.’ Falco’s tone was measured but Essie knew him well enough to be wary. One wrong word from Sir Robert could bring a storm of abuse on his head.
‘Falco is right,’ Essie said quickly. ‘You have no idea what being transported to the other side of the world means.’
‘That’s enough, Essie. This isn’t the time or the place to discuss such matters.’ Alice reached out to lay a hand on Essie’s arm, but she brushed it away.
‘No, let me speak. I’ve listened to your small talk all evening and I’m surprised at you, Alice. We know what life was like in the goldfields at Ballarat, and we saw how ill Freddie was in that tumbledown monastery.’ Essie was too angry to worry about offending these people who knew nothing, but thought they knew everything. ‘If you don’t think that transportation and exile are hardships, Sir Robert, you are living in a very different world.’
‘I’m glad to say that is true,’ Sir Robert said stiffly. ‘You should keep your opinions to yourself, Miss Chapman.’
‘That’s your answer to everything, isn’t it? You people, with your big houses and fleets of servants, have no idea how the rest of us live. I doubt if you’ve ever been so hungry that your stomach aches and you barely have the energy to move. Have you ever been to the East End and seen the poor souls they call creepers dying in shop doorways for lack of food and warmth? Have you seen small children barefoot even in midwinter, their skin covered in scabs and their limbs bowed with rickets?’
‘How dare you talk to us in that manner?’ Lady Lawson said angrily. ‘Robert, say something.’
Sir Robert turned his back on Essie. ‘Oscar, take your sister back into the house. You go, too, Alice. I don’t know where you found this girl, and why you foisted her on us, I can’t imagine.’
‘I beg your pardon?’ Essie said angrily. ‘Don’t talk about me as if I weren’t here. You are the one with no manners, sir.’
‘And you are the type of person who ends up in court, having wheedled your way into the good books of a well-meaning wealthy person with intent to walk off with their valuables.’
‘That’s enough, Robert,’ Alice cried angrily. ‘How dare you insult Essie in that manner?’
‘I can stand up for myself, thank you, Alice.’ Essie glared at Sir Robert, her eyes narrowed. ‘You think you’re so far above everyone that you can say what you like.’
Falco stepped forward. ‘That’s where you’re mistaken, my friend. No one speaks to a lady like that in my presence.’ He took a mighty swing and knocked Sir Robert to the ground with one blow of his fist. ‘Take on someone your own size next time.’
Lady Lawson uttered a feeble groan and collapsed onto the wet sand in a dead faint, and Essie stared at Sir Robert’s inert body, at a loss for words.
Alice covered her mouth with her hands, and for a moment Essie thought she was crying, but she realised suddenly that Alice was laughing. Oscar leaned against the wall of the cave, chuckling. ‘You deserved that, Rob.’
‘Oh my goodness,’ Essie said urgently. ‘I can see a lantern bobbing up and down along the beach. Someone’s coming.’
Chapter Sixteen
It had not been difficult to convince the revenue officers that the party was simply a drunken spree enjoyed by the rich and privileged, which ended in an argument getting out of hand. Essie could see that the revenue men were accustomed to such behaviour amongst the gentry. They had taken Alice’s word for the fact she and her guests had left the great house and negotiated the steep cliff path to the beach, and the officers left the cave without further investigation. It was as well that both Sir Robert and Lady Lawson were unconscious for most of the short interview, and Oscar was so eager to corroborate Alice’s account of events that Essie wondered if he had something to hide. Falco had said little throughout, and Essie had chosen to remain silent.
Sir Robert was groggy and bad-tempered when he came round and Lady Lawson was tearful, but they managed to get back to the study without mishap and everyone retired to bed except Oscar and Falco, who had opted to finish off a bottle of brandy before turning in.
Next morning the atmosphere at breakfast was frigid and the Lawsons left as soon as the meal was over, taking a hungover Oscar with them. Alice and Essie saw them off, but the goodbyes were brief.
‘I’m worried,’ Alice said as they re-entered the house. ‘Robert is a magistrate and I’m afraid he might decide to press charges against Falco.’
‘He didn’t mention it at breakfast.’ Essie eyed her anxiously. ‘After all, if he admits that he knows of the secret tunnel he’ll place himself in a difficult position.’
‘That’s true, but I think it best if you and Falco return to London today. We’ve set things straight here, and I know I can leave Havers to run the estate and Mrs Wills is absolutely trustworthy. Now that Smeaton is gone everything should go back to normal, although I’ll make sure I visit more often than I did before.’
‘You’re right, Alice,’ Essie said reluctantly. ‘I should go home. I’ve written to tell Pa that I’m safe and well, so it won’t be too much of a shock when I turn up, and I need to take my gold to a bullion dealer.’
‘No. Don’t do that.’ Alice shook her head emphatically. ‘You must stay in Hill Street until matters are settled. You know where to find Watkin Gilfoyle, Raven’s solicitor. He’s absolutely reliable and you can trust him to handle your affairs. He’ll see that you get the best price for your gold, and he’ll give you advice on making investments. He has contacts in the City and he’ll make sure you aren’t cheated.’
‘But what about my pa?’
‘Go and see him by all means, but it might be sensible to keep your finances to yourself. From what you’ve told me I don’t think your father is a man of business, and he might expect you to hand over a large part of your fortune to him. In my opinion that would be a huge mistake.’
‘You’re right,’ Essie said slowly. ‘Pa would expect me to keep him in beer for the rest of his life.’
‘It’s your money, Essie, but you won’t have it for long if you allow others to take it off you for their own selfish needs. Anyway, Tully will take you and Falco to the station and he can come back for me. I’ll return to Daumerle today and I’ll come to London when I’m satisfied that everything is running smoothly.’
‘What about Sir Robert and his wife?’
‘Don’t worry about them. I’ll let them cool down for twenty-four hours
and then I’ll ride over to Atherton Hall and make my apologies.’
‘Will he be prepared to forget about last night, do you think?’
‘Robert has had his eye on one of my hunters for a long time, and I think if I offered it to him at a good price he would be prepared to forgive almost anything. As to Prissy, she’ll do what Robbie tells her, and she’ll soon forget. She’s a bit silly at times but she has a good heart. Now you’d best go upstairs and pack and I’ll tell Falco he’s to take you to London.’
‘But what about the Santa Gabriella? Surely Falco will want to return to his ship?’
‘Leave him to me,’ Alice said smugly. ‘You’ll be in London by this evening, I promise you.’
‘There’s only one problem with your plan,’ Essie said, slowly. ‘I can’t just turn up at your house in Hill Street. The last time we were there, Sadie and I were servants. Fielding will have us thrown out.’
‘You’re right, of course. I hadn’t thought of that. Perhaps you ought to go home, but remember what I said, and take the gold to Gilfoyle at the first opportunity. You can trust him absolutely.’
‘I’m sure I can, but it’s not fair to ask Falco to come to London with me, and Pa would be sure to get the wrong idea if I turned up with a foreign sea captain in tow.’ Essie had a sudden vision of her father with his sleeves rolled up, making dire threats on Falco’s life if he refused to make an honest woman of her.
‘I don’t know,’ Alice said doubtfully. ‘It’s a long journey for you to undertake without an escort, especially with that lump of gold in your possession.’
‘I don’t think anyone would suspect that I was carrying a fortune in my luggage, and Sadie will be with me. We’ve been round the world and back again – I think I can get to London without an armed guard.’
‘All right, if you’re sure, and I dare say Falco will want to return to his ship, so perhaps it’s for the best. But I’ll send word as soon as I arrive in Hill Street and I want you and Sadie to join me there. Your life is about to change, and you can say goodbye to Limehouse.’
White’s Rents looked even shabbier than Essie remembered. The train had passed through glorious countryside on a perfect spring day with trees and hedgerows bursting into leaf and fields filled with placid cows or dotted with sheep and lively lambs, but in Limehouse the sun never managed to force its way between the tall warehouses and manufactories that lined the narrow streets. Above her, mare’s-tail clouds wafted across an azure sky, teasing the inhabitants with false promises of balmy, sun-soaked days yet to come, but at pavement level it was still winter.
It was late afternoon and washing lines straddled the street with grimy clothes dangling limply, gathering yet more dirt from the sooty air. The smell from the brewery wrapped itself around Essie like a damp cloth. A young woman came towards them, her attention focused on the toddler who clung to her skirts and the two older girls running on ahead. Essie recognised her as Marie, Saul Hoskins’ wife, but her greeting fell on deaf ears as Marie scolded the twins and the little boy began to howl. It was obvious from her bloated belly that there would soon be an addition to the family, and another mouth to feed.
Sadie covered her nose and mouth with her hand. ‘It stinks round here, Essie. I wish we’d stayed in the country.’
Essie was feeling much the same, but she managed a tight little smile. ‘It’s not so bad when you get used to it. Anyway, we won’t be here for long. Just don’t tell anyone.’ She came to a halt outside number seven and tried the handle. It turned easily and the door swung open. ‘Pa, are you there? It’s me, Essie.’ She stepped inside, coming to a sudden halt as she was faced by a large woman wearing an ill-fitting dressing robe and apparently little else. ‘Who are you?’ Essie stared at the blowsy creature whose hair was an unnatural shade of fiery copper, darker at the roots.
‘Never mind me – who the hell are you?’ The woman demanded. ‘How dare you come busting into my house without knocking?’
‘Your house?’ Essie’s voice rose an octave. ‘This is my house. Where’s my pa?’
‘Essie?’ Jacob’s bare feet slapped on the bare boards as he crossed the floor. ‘What are you doing here? Why didn’t you let me know you was coming?’
‘Who is this, Pa?’ Essie dropped her heavy valise on the doorstep. ‘What’s she doing in our house?’
‘I live here, sweetheart.’ The woman’s manner changed subtly and she stretched her full lips into a sickly grin. ‘I suppose it don’t look good, but it’s all honest and above board.’ She held out a plump left hand. ‘It’s all legal, dearie. I’m your new ma.’
‘You should’ve warned me you was coming, girl,’ Jacob said gruffly.
‘You’re married to this woman?’
‘I can’t deny it,’ Jacob said, nodding.
‘I’ve only been gone a few months, Pa. How did this happen?’
‘You left me to fend for meself. When they found the boat missing I thought you was dead and gone. I had to have someone to look after me, then Annie offered to cook me dinner one evening, and we went on from there.’ He slipped his arm around Annie’s plump shoulders. ‘It was me lucky day when she got sacked for having a little tipple or two while she was working behind the bar.’
‘Let me get this straight,’ Essie said slowly. ‘You married this woman when you were supposed to be in mourning for your only daughter.’
‘So what?’ Annie demanded, sticking out her chin. ‘You wasn’t dead and you run off and left the poor man in the lurch. Sick he was, sick and in need of loving care, which I offered.’
Sadie tugged at Essie’s sleeve. ‘Are we to stay here, or not?’
Jacob opened his mouth to speak but was silenced by a searing glance from his wife. ‘There ain’t room for two women in this house,’ Annie said, nudging him in the ribs. ‘Ain’t that so, my dear?’
‘I thought you was a goner, Essie,’ Jacob said with an apologetic smile. ‘You must see how it is with me now.’
Essie made a move towards the staircase. ‘I see exactly how it is, Pa. I’ll collect my things and we’ll leave.’
With surprising agility for a large woman, Annie barred her way. ‘You won’t find nothing of yours upstairs. I had to clear the room for me own use.’
‘You had no right to touch my things,’ Essie said angrily. ‘What have you done with my clothes?’
‘They wasn’t up to much. They barely fetched enough for a bottle of blue ruin.’
‘You sold my possessions?’ Essie could hardly believe her ears.
‘That’s wicked.’ Sadie gave Annie a shove, catching her off balance. ‘You’re a bad woman.’
Recovering her balance, Annie took a swing at Sadie, catching her a blow on the side of her head that knocked her off her feet. ‘Get out of my house.’ Annie’s voice rose to a screech. ‘Jacob, tell that girl of yours to take the brat and go.’
Essie helped Sadie to stand. ‘I wouldn’t stay here if you paid me,’ she said furiously. ‘As for you, Pa, you’re welcome to this harpy.’ She moved swiftly to the door and picked up her valise. ‘Come on, Sadie. We’re leaving.’
Jacob followed them, ignoring a tirade from Annie. ‘Don’t go like this, love.’
‘I’m sorry, Pa, but you can see how it is.’
‘Where will you go?’
‘Don’t worry about me.’ Essie stood on tiptoe to plant a kiss on her father’s whiskery cheek. ‘Take care of yourself, Pa, and don’t let her ruin your life.’ She stepped out into the street, following by Sadie.
‘I heard that,’ Annie shouted. ‘Good riddance, that’s what I say.’
‘Shut up, Annie.’ Jacob slammed the door, but Essie could still hear her stepmother berating him. As they walked away the sound of Annie’s shrill voice mingled with the general hubbub of the street.
‘Where will we go?’ Sadie asked tearfully. ‘Will we have to sleep in a doorway?’
‘Certainly not. I’ve got enough money to pay for a night’s lodging. We’ll just have to
find a respectable inn, but first I want to see an old friend.’ Essie set out purposefully, intent on finding Ben, although she was not sure what sort of welcome she would receive. The discovery that she had a stepmother had been a shock. Somehow she had never imagined her father remarrying, and his choice of bride was questionable, but for the moment she had more pressing problems to deal with. She led the way to Fore Street and Duke Shore Dock, where she hoped to catch Ben in between trips, but there was no sign of Diggory Tyce’s lighter. Essie realised that she was getting curious looks from men who, in the past, would have greeted her with a grin and a wave, and she felt like a stranger in a place she had once thought of as her home.
‘Do I look so different, Sadie? I can’t think why they’re staring at me as if I were a foreigner.’
Sadie blew her nose on a ragged scrap of handkerchief. ‘It’s the duds, Essie. We’re both used to dressing up smart like Lady Alice, and that’s what makes them stare.’
‘I’m the same person as I ever was.’ Essie wrapped her shawl a little tighter around her shoulders as a cool east wind rattled up the river, ruffling the surface, and the incoming tide grappled with the tea-coloured waters of the Thames as it surged towards the coast. ‘I wonder where Ben is. I need to speak to him.’
‘Is he your sweetheart?’ Sadie asked innocently. ‘Do you think he’s missed you?’
‘We were friends,’ Essie said firmly. ‘Just friends, although I think he wanted more of me than I was prepared to give. You’ll understand when you get a bit older.’
‘There’s a big fellow coming towards us. Looks like he knows you.’
Essie turned to see Diggory Tyce striding towards them.
‘If you’re a ghost, you’re a very solid one.’ Diggory came to a halt, looking her up and down. ‘And you’ve done all right for yourself, I see by the duds you’re wearing.’