by Dilly Court
‘It’s a long story,’ Essie said casually. ‘But, as you say, I’m still very much alive and I’m looking for Ben.’
‘Poor boy, broke his heart when he thought you was drowned. Dunno what he’ll think when he sees you dressed up like a toff.’
‘Where is he?’ Essie asked urgently. ‘I want to see him.’
‘I’m sure you do, but I sent the boy downriver and he won’t be back for an hour or more.’ Diggory made a move towards her but Essie backed away.
‘I’ll find him. There’s no need for you to say anything.’ She walked away with Sadie at her side.
‘I don’t trust him,’ Sadie whispered.
‘Quite right. Neither do I. We’ll take a room at the White Hart, just for tonight, and tomorrow morning I’ll visit Lady Alice’s man of business. We need a home of our own, Sadie, and that will be at the top of my list.’
They walked on in silence. It had been a long day. Essie was tired and her legs were aching, as were her arms. The valise was heavy, weighed down by the gold nuggets, and getting it to a place of safety was her main concern.
They arrived at the pub without incident and the landlady, Mrs Steptow, showed them to a room beneath the eaves.
‘We don’t let rooms as a rule,’ she said, eyeing Essie curiously. ‘But my husband knows your pa quite well. He’s a regular, or he was until he took up with Annie Ginger. She worked for us for a while, but a fondness for a nip or two got the better of her, and my old man had to let her go.’
‘Yes, I met her for the first time today,’ Essie dropped the valise onto the only bed in the room, creating a dent in the flock-filled mattress.
‘Heavens above! Have you got bricks in that bag?’ Mrs Steptow said, chuckling.
‘I’ve got all my worldly goods packed in it, including my flat iron. I never could abide wearing a creased gown.’ Essie tried to sound casual. The last thing she wanted was to arouse the woman’s curiosity.
Mrs Steptow handed her a key. ‘Well, love, whatever you got in there will be safe. You can lock the door and no one will bother you up here. It’s just the one night, is it, for you and your little sister?’
Essie nodded, sending a warning look to Sadie. ‘Yes, at the moment, anyway. We might need the room for a little longer. It all depends on how quickly I can find somewhere permanent.’
‘Throw you out, did she? That sounds like Annie Ginger. She’d not be one to share her good fortune. I pity your pa, and that’s the truth. Give me a shout if you need anything, my dear. And you’re welcome to share our supper, if you’re hungry. I’ll send my daughter up with a tray when it’s ready. You don’t want to mix with the sorts we get in the bar – they’re not fit company for two young ladies.’ She left the room, closing the door behind her.
‘I wish I was your sister, Essie.’ Sadie slumped down on the bed. ‘I can’t walk another step today.’
‘There’s no need for you to go out again, but if you don’t mind being on your own for an hour or so I’ll go back to the wharf and look for Ben. I don’t want him to hear of my return from someone else.’ Essie opened the valise and unpacked her nightgown. ‘We’ll be busy tomorrow, and I hope that Mr Gilfoyle can find us somewhere to live. Wouldn’t it be lovely to have a house of our own?’ She turned to find Sadie curled up on the end of the bed, sound asleep.
Essie pulled the coverlet over Sadie before stowing the valise in a cupboard. She let herself quietly out of the room and left the pub by the back stairs. Daylight was fading fast and she quickened her pace. Several times she was accosted by drunken men, offering her money for her favours, but she managed to evade them and arrived back at Duke’s Wharf to find that Tyce’s lighter was already at its moorings, and there was no sign of Diggory or Ben. She made her way to the wharfinger’s office in the hope of catching Riley before he went home for his supper, but the door was locked and it was unusually quiet. Essie walked on, hoping that she might meet Ben on the way to his lodgings, but there was no sign of him. Darkness was rapidly claiming the city and flickering gaslights shimmered on the surface of the river, playing with the ripples like mischievous fireflies.
Essie had spent most of her life in Limehouse and was accustomed to being out alone in the dark, but she sensed that she was being followed and she hurried towards the next set of steps that would take her back onto the relatively safe area of Fore Street. Her heart was racing and she fought down a feeling of panic as the footsteps drew near and, at last, unable to bear it any longer, she stopped and spun round.
‘It’s you,’ she gasped. ‘I might have known it. Leave me alone, Diggory Tyce.’
He lunged forward, seizing her in a hold that almost crushed the breath from her lungs. ‘You’ve played fast and loose with me for years, and it’s time you was taught a lesson.’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about. Let me go, or I’ll scream.’
‘There’s no one to hear you, so scream away. I like it when women shriek their silly heads off.’ Diggory pinned her to him with one muscular arm, ripping her blouse open with his free hand. ‘I’ve waited a long time for this, Essie Chapman.’
Essie opened her mouth to cry for help but he clamped his lips over hers, his tongue probing hers until she thought she was going to choke. She kicked out with her feet, but he thrust her against the brick wall. The taste and smell of him revolted her and every move she made seemed to excite him even more. She fought with all her might, but she was no match for a man of his size and strength. His weight pressing her against the wall made it hard to breathe and she was in danger of losing consciousness when he was dragged away from her with such violence that she crumpled to the ground. In the darkness she could make out the shape of the two men in a grim struggle. Fists flew and booted feet kicked out, accompanied by loud grunts and groans as blows hit home. Essie scrambled to her feet, holding her torn blouse together with a trembling hand. Her first instinct was to run for safety, but the man who had come to her aid was not getting it all his own way, and she looked round for a weapon of some sort that would bring an end to the uneven conflict. Tyce seemed to be winning, but even as Essie bent down to seize a broken pick handle, he was floored by a punch that knocked him senseless. Essie backed away, brandishing the stick.
‘Don’t come any nearer.’
‘Essie? I heard that brute call you by name. Is that really you?’
The weapon slipped from her nerveless fingers. ‘George?’ Suddenly she was in an embrace that took her back to her childhood and tears flowed down her cheeks. ‘It is you. I’d know you anywhere, even after all these years. I can’t believe it.’
He held her at arm’s length. ‘It’s too dark to see you properly, Essie, but you look and sound just like Ma.’ He glanced down at Diggory’s inert form sprawled on the ground. ‘He’ll come round in a minute or two. Let’s get you away from here and you can tell me what you’re doing wandering around the docks on your own at this time of night.’
Unprotesting, Essie allowed him to lead her up the steps to Fore Street. She came to a halt beneath a street lamp, gazing up at the brother she had not seen for so many years. ‘It’s a miracle,’ she said slowly. ‘You saved me, George. You appeared from nowhere.’
‘Not exactly,’ he said smiling. ‘I’ve been working on the dock since I came ashore two months ago.’
‘Why didn’t you go home?’
‘You know the answer to that as well as I do, but I hung around hoping to see you.’
‘But you came to my rescue.’
‘I saw Tyce manhandling a young woman, and I wasn’t going to stand by and do nothing. Then he spoke your name and I saw red.’ He took her by the arm. ‘Come on, Essie. We can’t stand about here. Where are you staying?’
‘I booked a room at the White Hart.’ Essie’s hand flew to her mouth. ‘And I left Sadie there on her own. She’ll think I’ve met with an accident.’
‘You could call Tyce an accident, I suppose. I know that man of old. He’s a bad ’un and always
has been.’
‘I didn’t encourage him, George.’
‘Of course not. I never thought you had for a second.’ George quickened his pace. ‘Who’s this Sadie, then?’
‘Oh, George, I’ve got so much to tell you – I don’t know where to begin.’
‘Start at the beginning then. I’ve always found that’s best.’
Essie squeezed his arm. ‘No, for once you can answer me a few questions. Where have you been all this time, and why didn’t you try to contact me?’
‘I went to sea, Essie. It’s as simple as that. After that set-to with Pa I went down to the dock and got into conversation with the mate on a ship bound for New Zealand. He took me on board and the captain signed me up as ship’s boy.’
‘Did you come back to London often?’
‘Now and again, but I couldn’t bring myself to visit the house. I missed you, of course, but I thought it best to keep away. I’ll never forgive the old man for the way he treated Ma, but you’d be too young to remember it.’
‘I always hoped you’d come back, but I didn’t think it would be like this.’
‘We’ll make up for lost time. I’m going to stay ashore now. I saved a bit of money while I was away on long trips and I was careful not to squander it when I did go ashore. I thought I’d buy myself a business of some sort, although I haven’t quite worked out what it will be.’
They came to a halt outside the White Hart and he took her hands in his. ‘I’d best let you get some rest. You look exhausted, girl.’ He stared at her, frowning. ‘Did he hurt you? If so I’ll go back and finish him off.’
She shook her head. ‘No, George, you came in the nick of time. I was never so glad to see anyone in my whole life, and now I know it’s you that makes it even better. I can’t believe you’re really here.’
‘The same goes for you.’ He held her at arm’s length. ‘Who’d have thought that skinny little child would grow up into a beautiful young woman?’
‘I loved you dearly and it broke my heart when you left.’
‘We’ll make up for it, Essie love. Go inside and get some sleep. We’ll spend the day together tomorrow, and you can tell me all about yourself. I’ll come and call for you, first thing in the morning.’
‘I have got such a lot to tell you.’
He grinned, looking suddenly boyish. ‘Tell me one thing. Why are you staying at an inn when you’ve got a home down the road, such as it is? Did the old man throw you out, too?’
‘No, but it’s a long story, George. I’ve been away for months and when I got home I found that Pa has remarried, and she’s not the sort of stepmother I’d wish on anyone.’
George nodded, giving her a sympathetic smile. ‘I can imagine the type.’ He leaned over to kiss Essie on the cheek. ‘Good night, poppet. Sleep tight.’
‘Don’t let the bed bugs bite,’ Essie finished the sentence with a chuckle. ‘Good night, dear brother. I can’t tell you how happy I am to see you again.’
Essie was awakened by the sound of someone tapping on the bedroom door. She sat up in bed, still drugged with sleep. ‘Who is it?’
‘It’s Mrs Steptow, miss. There’s a gentleman downstairs who says he’s your brother.’
Essie leaped out of bed. ‘Thank you, Mrs Steptow. Would you be kind enough to ask him to wait? I’ll be down in a second or two.’
‘Yes, miss.’ Mrs Steptow did not sound too pleased, but Essie was too excited to care. She leaned over to shake Sadie by the shoulder.
‘Wake up. There’s someone I want you to meet. I’ve got a feeling that it’s going to be a wonderful day.’
Chapter Seventeen
George took them to a coffee shop for breakfast and he listened in silence while Essie recounted the adventures that she and Sadie had shared with Lady Alice and Raven.
‘My time at sea sounds quite tame compared with what you two have been through,’ he said admiringly. ‘I can’t believe that my little sister has grown up to be such an enterprising and brave young woman.’
‘I had Sadie with me all the time,’ Essie insisted. ‘She’s part of the family now, George.’
He smiled and nodded. ‘Of course, and you’re more than welcome to join us, young Sadie.’ His expression darkened. ‘But I don’t know how I’m going to provide for you both. I’ve been living in cheap lodgings since I came ashore, and I don’t earn enough to rent a decent house in a better area. Limehouse isn’t the best of places.’
Essie hefted her valise onto the table. ‘I have the answer, George.’
‘What have you got in there? It seems to weigh a ton.’
Essie glanced round nervously, but at this early hour there were few customers and they were chatting to each other over steaming cups of coffee, too involved in their own affairs to bother about anyone else. ‘I told you about poor Beasley,’ Essie said in a low voice. ‘Well, this is his legacy. He gave it to me before he died, the poor man, and I’m taking it to Lady Alice’s solicitor in Lincoln’s Inn. The sooner I get there the better.’
‘Are you saying what I think you’re saying?’
‘Gold,’ Essie whispered. ‘A large nugget, worth a fortune, and a smaller one that I found in the creek at Ballarat.’
George stared at her, disbelief written on his even features. ‘You’re joking.’
‘I’m not going to show you now, but you’ll see it soon enough, if you’ll come with us to the solicitor.’
George downed the last of his coffee. ‘I most certainly will.’
Watkin Gilfoyle held the larger gold nugget in both hands, and let out a low whistle between his teeth. ‘This must be worth a fortune, Miss Chapman. You’re a rich young woman.’
George bristled visibly. ‘I’m here to see that my sister doesn’t get fleeced.’
‘I can assure you that won’t happen while I handle her affairs,’ Gilfoyle said stiffly.
‘My brother didn’t mean any disrespect, sir.’ Essie shot a warning look at George. ‘But where we come from it’s hard to know who is honest and who would steal the shirt off your back.’
‘Quite so.’ Gilfoyle eyed them, frowning. ‘That will be my responsibility from now on, should you wish me to act on your behalf.’
Sadie shifted from one foot to the other. ‘What’s he saying, Essie?’
Essie hushed her with a finger to her lips. ‘I do, Mr Gilfoyle. I want you to handle my affairs, and most important, we need somewhere to live and we must find it quickly.’
‘I see.’ Gilfoyle looked from one to the other. ‘Does that include you, sir?’
George turned to Essie, eyebrows raised. ‘That’s up to my sister. We’ve been separated for a long time due to circumstances that I won’t go into now, but she knows that I’ve always loved her and I want to look after her to the best of my ability.’
‘You are not in employment, I take it?’ Gilfoyle scrutinised George carefully, as if putting every detail of his face to memory.
‘I recently came ashore, sir, and have been working in the docks for the last two months, but I have some money saved and I intend to go into business for myself.’
‘With the help of your sister, no doubt.’
Essie winced at the implied suggestion that her brother would take advantage of her position, but George answered before she had a chance to defend him. ‘I’ve only just found out about Essie’s stroke of good fortune, and I don’t intend to take a penny piece from her.’
‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Gilfoyle said with a hint of a smile. ‘It seems that we both have her best interests at heart, Mr Chapman.’
George nodded. ‘Most assuredly.’
‘Then we understand each other.’ Gilfoyle picked up a sheaf of papers and leafed through them. ‘Ah, here it is. I have a property for rent that might suit your requirements at present. It’s fully furnished and well within your means, Miss Chapman. It belongs to one of my clients who has entrusted me to find a good tenant, and I think you would both be well suited.’
‘
Really?’ Essie could hardly contain her excitement. ‘Where is it, Mr Gilfoyle?’
‘It’s a charming house in Curzon Street, off Park Lane. It’s only a short distance to Hyde Park and not very far from Lady Alice’s town house in Hill Street. I think you might be very comfortable there.’
‘Really?’ Essie said eagerly. ‘Is it big enough for all of us? I mean is there room for my brother as well as Sadie and myself?’
Gilfoyle nodded, smiling. ‘I think you’ll find it quite commodious, Miss Chapman. I take it that you will want to keep the servants on? The present owner died abroad, leaving everything to a niece who has an estate in Yorkshire and little or no interest in what goes on in London.’
‘I’m not sure if I can afford to pay staff, sir,’ Essie said doubtfully. ‘Will I have enough money for that?’
‘Money is the least of your worries, Miss Chapman. I will see that you are kept fully informed as to your assets, and maybe you will allow me to advise you on making investments?’
George cleared his throat noisily. ‘You’ll pardon my asking, sir, but how do we know you’ll give Essie the best advice? No offence meant.’
‘None taken, Mr Chapman. I see your dilemma, and all I can say is that Lady Alice Crozier has trusted me to handle her affairs since she came of age and inherited a fortune. Maybe you ought to have a word with her before you come to any decision.’
Essie shook her head. ‘No, sir. Thank you, but I am happy to leave everything to you. I know Lady Alice trusts you, and that’s good enough for me.’
‘Splendid. I’m sure you would like to inspect the house before you agree to take on the tenancy.’
Sadie tugged at Essie’s sleeve. ‘May we? Please.’
‘Of course.’ Essie was about to stand up, but she hesitated, eyeing Gilfoyle warily. ‘There’s only one problem, sir.’
‘What is that, Miss Chapman?’ Gilfoyle leaned forward, fixing her with a penetrating stare. ‘What can I do to assist you further?’
‘I’m a bit short of readies, sir.’ Essie glanced at George.
‘I’ll look after you,’ he said firmly. ‘I told you that I’ve got money saved.’