Two men lurched towards us and one said, 'Give us a kiss, darlin'. Don't be shy!'
We did not respond, but to avoid the men we turned aside into an alley that ran behind a chandler's shop. It was a mistake, for as soon as we were past the shop, the two drunks stepped out in front of us from a side alley. They obviously knew the dockyards much better than we did and had seized the opportunity to cut us off.
I looked around wildly for help, but the alley was deserted and the docks were so noisy I knew no one would hear, much less come to our aid if we screamed. We were alone in a dark alley and the two men were advancing upon us.
Chapter Thirteen
'Give us your money!' said the shorter of the men, who reeked of alcohol.
'Or if you have none, then a kiss 'n' a cuddle instead!' cried his friend, who was taller.
They both laughed coarsely at that, and the tall man lunged towards Lucy and grabbed her round the waist.
'Mmm, pretty clean hair!' he exclaimed, sniffing at her blonde curls and pawing at the front of her dress with grubby hands.
I felt sick with fear, but at the same time I was furious – with the men, and with myself for bringing poor Lucy here in the first place.
'Lucy!' I cried as she was dragged away and the other man reached for me. I sidestepped away from his grasp; luckily he was so drunk that he stumbled to the ground when he tried to catch me. My attention was still fixed on Lucy, who looked as though she was about to faint. Her attacker was now pulling roughly at her clothing, and I ran forward to try and drag him away from her, but he was too strong for me and simply ignored my frantic attempts. Even though his accomplice was too drunk to be much of a threat, he staggered towards me again now, muttering oaths.
Our situation was now parlous. Lucy's clothes were ripped and she seemed too stunned to help herself. I had to save her. I looked desperately around the alley for inspiration and spotted a plank of wood lying against the wall of the shop. I grabbed it, and though it was too heavy for me to wield properly, I swung it at Lucy's attacker.
Whack! The man was felled. I turned and swung again. Bonk! The other went down too.
They were not seriously hurt – I think it was only the fact that they were drunk that caused them to fall so easily. As they started to struggle to their feet again, I ran to rescue Lucy. She had little strength left in her, but at least she was free of her attacker.
'Lucy! Come on!' I urged. 'We have to get back to Sid before they come after us. You can do it! We will be safe in a moment, dear!'
I looked around, still hoping for help from anyone with any decency who might have seen our predicament, but the alley remained deserted. We couldn't go on as the men were in our way, so I grabbed Lucy's hand and ran with her back the way we had come. We stopped near the African Lady to rest behind the nets again and catch our breath. As we stood there, I saw Lucy's blue eyes fix upon the ship and open very wide. I followed her gaze. She was staring at the ship's gangway – and in particular at a man who stood there.
'Why, it's my Mr Archer!' she exclaimed in surprise.
'Oh!' I gasped. It looked as though the gossip that Lily had heard in Whistling Sparrows was true: Mr Archer really was involved with the slave ships. I did wonder momentarily if he might be of any help in our current predicament, but I fancied he would not relish being caught on board an illicit ship after midnight. And we should not have been there either. Still, I felt I must put Lucy's feelings first after all she had been through.
'Shall I go and fetch him, Lucy?' I asked.
'Oh, heavens, no! I am not pretty like this!' she replied immediately, and I couldn't help but smile – she was still concerned about her appearance in spite of all that had happened that night.
I was glad to leave him be, if for different reasons. He stood there on the gangway, chatting quietly to the ship's captain, who was heading back on board with a small barrel of ale. They obviously knew each other well and I thought I saw Mr Archer hand over a wad of banknotes, though it was hard to be sure in the dark.
As he turned to leave, we heard him call back to the captain, 'For God's sake keep them quiet below!' and after that I could be in no doubt that he knew all about the slaves.
'Let's give him time to leave the yard,' whispered Lucy. 'No wonder he is often caught up with his business affairs if he keeps late hours like this.'
I got the feeling that even in her fragile state, poor Lucy knew that Mr Archer could not be up to any good on the African Lady, but we did not discuss the matter; we had more pressing concerns. As soon as we were sure that he was safely gone, we joined hands and made a dash for the main gates. It was an immense relief to reach the other side and to see Sid jumping down from our carriage to help us inside.
'In the name of goodness, Miss Sophia! What have the pair of you been up to in there?' he asked, seeing Lucy's ripped clothes and anxious face.
I have never felt so ashamed. I felt awful for bringing my dear friend to this place . . . And yet something within me had changed after the horrendous suffering I had witnessed – I knew it was important for me to have seen it with my own eyes.
'We were looking on a ship, Sid, to see how terrible it is for the slaves they bring over by sea. But then we were attacked. And Lady Lucy got the worst of it, to my deep regret,' I explained.
'Well, don't ever ask me to do this again. And this time, I mean it!' said Sid furiously, closing the door of the coach.
I tucked a blanket around Lucy to cover her ripped clothing.
'I wonder what my Mr Archer was doing there, Sophie,' she murmured.
'Try not to think of it tonight, dear,' I said, knowing how sad she would be when it dawned on her that Mr Archer was not the wonderful man she'd believed him to be. Not for the first time, I felt lucky to have met Marcus at the wedding. He was truly concerned about the slave trade. He was changing my life.
Back at Musgrove House, Lucy and I took off our shoes and crept upstairs as silently as we could. I was very relieved when Lucy was safely tucked up in bed in the guest room. We both slept in very late the next day, but luckily the Devonshires' salon was blamed for our exhaustion.
Lucy was very sweet about the whole dockyard incident, and I knew she would be discreet. But even though she was concerned about Mr Archer's dealings at the docks, her feelings towards him had not changed. Perhaps when she blocked out the horror of her attack she also conveniently erased her memory of Mr Archer talking to the captain of the African Lady.
I was appalled to think of the danger we had faced, but my mind was quite skewed by my new knowledge of slavery, and all I could think of was how important it was to go on the anti-slavery march.
Lucy and I hugged each other goodbye with extra feeling when she and Lady Lennox took their leave. Once they were gone, I lay on my chaise, reading a lovely letter from my mother – who sounded quite jolly, thank goodness.
There was a knock at my door. It was Hawkes with a note, and I immediately recognized Marcus's writing. As soon as he'd left I ripped open the envelope.
18th June 1803
My dear Miss Musgrove,
I hope this finds you well. Everyone at the meeting was most impressed that a young lady of your exceptional background should be willing to support our cause. Thank you for coming, dear heart!
I cannot think of anyone closer to my dreams of the perfect lady than you. I am no poet, but I wish I were in order to do justice to my feelings for you.
I have need to speak to you privately and most urgently. I know it is hard for you to escape from your chaperone, but could you meet me in Hyde Park, by the fountain, at midnight tomorrow? I know this is a very short distance from your house – I have your safety and well-being at the forefront of my mind. Please reply to the following address if this suits and I will check there for mail:
The Clock Tower Hotel
Clerkenwell
London
I trust you can help me – your spirit is so pure. We were fated to meet, I am sure of it.
Marcus Stevens
x
I was so excited. Why did Marcus want to see me again so quickly? It was very romantic – meeting by the fountain after dark! I couldn't wait to find out what he wanted of me. I replied immediately to promise that I would be there – and the die for our secret rendezvous was cast!
I could hardly eat dinner the following evening. Thank goodness for Dinky, who often sits at my feet under the table, retrieving scraps – a habit which has taken two inches from my hips and added two to his, poor dear! When Papa and Mrs Willow had retired for the night, I dressed myself warmly and waited until a quarter to midnight before creeping downstairs, slipping quietly out of the house and setting off for the park. I was incredibly excited, though a little nervous too after my experience at the docks.
It was a cool evening and I shivered as I sat on a bench by the fountain. My heart was beating at a great pace – at first with excitement, but as time wore on, with fear. There was no sign of Marcus and I began to imagine the two drunken thugs from the docks, lurking in the bushes, ready to attack me.
I stood up and began to pace about, not knowing which way to turn. The streetlamp above me flickered in the breeze, sending the shadows dancing around me. And then I heard a rustling in the bushes, and I was frozen to the spot with fear.
But just as I was thinking of running for home, Marcus appeared out of the shadows, looking amazingly handsome in his naval-style greatcoat. I was struck by the fact that he always wore light breeches and leather over-boots, with a smart white shirt and patterned waistcoat. I liked his choices well; he was not a dandy, but was very stylish nonetheless, and it did not escape me that his clothes looked so fine because they adorned a well-toned body. I assumed that he was so fit from his boxing.
'My dearest Miss Musgrove – Sophia! Do forgive my tardiness, please! You are the truest as well as the most beautiful of ladies. Thank you for coming.' He took my cold hands in his and pulled me towards him in the moonlight.
I longed for his kiss, but he merely brushed his lips across mine, saying, 'I must not. It is wrong of me before we are committed to each other.' Instead he held me close and I felt perfectly protected.
'What did you want to discuss with me, Mr Stevens? It seemed so urgent,' I said.
'I hardly like to trouble you with it,' he replied, going on to explain that with a period of activism for the anti-slavery cause looming, the group needed to produce some information booklets about the slave trade to hand out to Londoners.
'That's a good idea,' I said. 'People need to be educated about its horrors. Until recently I, for one, knew nothing of it.'
'But you see, Sophia, we need some very valuable information for these pamphlets – information to which you might have access!' he declared. His face was close to mine and I could see his eyes shining with passion. I'm sure it was for the cause, but I hoped a little of it might have been for me too.
'I have this information?' I responded, failing to follow his thinking, as I was rather distracted by his striking good looks and the wonderful smell of gentleman's soap and mint.
'Yes, my darling. This information will almost certainly be among your father's private papers – we can use some of that information to our advantage. We really believe it can help to bring an end to this cruel practice much more quickly,' he explained.
'Oh, I see,' I muttered, although all I really saw was his handsome face before me.
'You would play a key part in bringing an end to the slave trade,' he continued. 'Think of it, Sophia! The movement would be for ever in your debt! And such an achievement would bind us together for ever,' he said.
I shivered, partly with the cold, but also partly with the thrill of excitement that ran through me at his words. Ever thoughtful, he took off his overcoat and wrapped it around me, holding it in place protectively.
A million thoughts were running through my head. I was elated by Marcus's tenderness for me, but I was also surprised by his request. Perhaps I had thought that our meeting was to be of a romantic nature, but of course, a principled man like Marcus would never let romance get in the way of his fight against social ills. That was what I loved about him.
'Mr Stevens, what are these papers you speak of ?' I asked.
He seemed pleased that I was considering his request. 'They are called: The Cost of the Abolition of the Slave Trade, and Addington's View on Slavery. They have been distributed among only six major politicians. Your papa is one of them,' he explained.
'How do you know of these documents?'
'There are those in the upper echelons of government who spill the beans to us after a pint or two of ale, Sophia,' he told me.
'I would like to help, Mr Stevens – Marcus, but I have much to consider,' I said. 'It is, after all, theft, isn't it?'
'The thing about growing up, Sophia, is understanding that though an act may seem wrong, if it achieves much good then it can be justified. But I quite see how hard this is for you,' he said. 'Of course, you must think it over, but I would be so proud of you. And just think what a great cause you would be furthering and how much needless suffering you would help to avert!'
'I will think about it very hard. I would like to help, of course,' I promised.
'I knew you would understand. You are quite the most wonderful young lady. Special – no, unique !' he said.
I smiled. 'I didn't do brave things until I met you,' I told him.
He took my hand and pressed it to his lips. 'I must not keep you out in the cold. Let me walk with you to the pavement. I would hate any harm to come to you. You mean so much to me,' he said, and we set off through the silent park.
Once outside the park, we stopped. Marcus kissed my hand again and looked at me lingeringly. And then, before I realized what was happening, he kissed me full on the lips. 'I cannot resist you!' he sighed. 'Goodnight, and sweet dreams, my love.'
'Goodnight, Mr Stevens,' I whispered, and ran back to Musgrove House. I stood in the portico and watched him disappear into the misty night. I had meant to tell him about my trip to the docks with Lucy, to prove how committed I was to the cause, but there hadn't been time.
Still, it had been the most amazing encounter. I felt dizzy from his unexpected kiss, and as I settled down in bed, I reflected that somehow, the closer I grew to Marcus the more I felt alone in my normal life. My mother was miles away from me, struggling with her health, and Mrs Willow chatted constantly about the new baby. My dear sister had gone to live with her new family, and my relationship with my father was becoming strained, to say the least. Marcus was my main friend now, along with Lucy. I didn't want to let him down, and yet it was a lot that he asked of me this time.
Chapter Fourteen
I had a restless night and was still very preoccupied with my thoughts when Lucy dropped by the following morning.
She was her usual bubbly self and looked stunning in a beautiful new gown of deepest cobalt blue, trimmed with heavy lace. 'Sophie, I must talk to you!' she said as we walked around the walled garden together while Lady Lennox and Mrs Willow took tea together in the morning room.
'What is the news?' I asked curiously.
'It's Mr Archer. I've had such an exciting letter from him. I think that he means to propose to me!'
'Oh, what makes you think so, Lucy?' I asked.
'He writes that "two loves intertwined are better than one"!' she explained. 'And he says that next time we meet, he will tell me his first name! Obviously he has marriage in mind, don't you think?'
I hesitated, trying to read Lucy's expression. I wasn't sure whether she had doubts about Mr Archer after seeing him at the docks, or whether she had entirely banished that memory. I could certainly see no sign that it was troubling her now. 'Yes, I do think so,' I agreed. 'But are you happy?' I asked cautiously.
'I think so,' she replied. 'He is away overseas on business for six weeks now, but he is writing to me almost every day. His letters are very sweet, and have been getting sweeter. Oh, I do love h
im so!' she cried.
I was fearful of spoiling Lucy's merry mood but felt I must take this opportunity to talk to her while Lady Lennox and Mrs Willow were still safely out of earshot. 'It would be very comforting to establish just what he was doing at the docks when we saw him, Luce,' I ventured.
'What? Oh, Sophie, don't give it another thought. He is a businessman. It was much more shocking that we were at the docks,' she responded cheerfully, but it was clear that she did not want me to pursue the matter further. Indeed, she changed the subject, turning to me with a concerned expression. 'Sophie, what's wrong with you, dear? You are very quiet and pale this morning. Please don't say you have been to the docks again alone?' she whispered, mindful of the gardeners' big ears. We didn't mind what Lily heard, but some of the other staff were not to be trusted.
'No, not the docks,' I replied.
'Then you have been somewhere!' she exclaimed. 'Where was it, Sophie?'
'I went to meet Mr Stevens in Hyde Park last night!' I confessed, expecting her to be mightily impressed.
'Sophie! Did he suggest such a thing? Has he no thought for your safety . . . for your reputation?' she demanded incredulously.
'He thinks of higher things, Lucy,' I tried to explain. 'He is full of concern for me, but he is different from other men.'
'He is different indeed! I'll say that much for him,' Lucy agreed, pursing her lips. 'But why did he want to meet you?' she asked.
'He has asked me to do a favour for him. To borrow some of my father's papers that relate to the slave trade,' I admitted.
'What? You call that a favour? I call it a crime. And what response have you given him?' she asked.
'I told him that I would think about it,' I replied quietly, somewhat wrong-footed by Lucy's horrified reaction.
The Secrets of Sophia Musgrove Page 9