A Woman of Influence (8 page)

Becky was deeply moved. "Where is he now, Alice?" she asked gently.

The girl wiped her tears away with her sleeve and said, "I do not know, ma'am. Some say he is in jail, and others say he was sent to Botany Bay. I don't rightly know what has happened to him, ma'am."

"And have you no parents? No other family?"

The girl replied quickly, "No, ma'am, they died when I was little."

Becky's heart went out to her, and she struggled to control her voice when she asked, "Does that mean you are alone, except for the boy?"

"Yes, ma'am," the girl replied.

They were interrupted by a knock on the door. The housekeeper came in to say Mr Thomson the apothecary had arrived to see Tom, and Alice went with her.

Later, after Mr Thomson had prescribed some medication for the boy, and he was put to bed in the room Mrs Bates found for them, Alice returned and Becky sent her with one of her older servants to inform the hop farmer that she would not be able to return to work in his fields. When Alice looked surprised, not understanding her instructions, Becky explained, "Tell him your boy is sick and needs looking after. Make sure you get all the wages due to you, mind. When you return, Mrs Bates will find you some work to do."

The girl thanked her, uncomprehending, as if in a dream; she was still unable to believe what was happening to her.

Becky had not yet decided what she would do about Alice; she wanted to know more and speak with Catherine before deciding how to proceed. However, of one thing she was quite certain--she was determined that the girl was not going to return to the hop fields.

When Becky joined the others, they were enjoying the soft sunshine on the terrace. They were eager for information, and this time she had more to tell them.

Although she did not intend to reveal any of Alice's secrets, she was able at least to satisfy their curiosity to the extent that they accepted her judgment, that the girl could not be turned over to the police, nor could she be permitted to return to her hazardous, itinerant way of life--roaming the countryside looking for work and sleeping rough in barns and outhouses.

"It is only a matter of time before she will either be picked up by the police and thrown into prison or meet some even more dreadful fate," said Becky.

Anna agreed with her. "It is quite astonishing that she has survived this far; she seems so young."

"She certainly does, but she is also surprisingly strong and stubbornly independent," said Becky, and Catherine pointed out that many young women were compelled to do the same when they were either deserted or widowed.

"There is no help for them, except the workhouse or the streets. Many, especially if they have a child to support, try to keep body and soul together by working in the fields or factories, where they are often exploited; it really is a cruel and depressing world," said Catherine.

Later, when Becky and Jonathan met to discuss the matter of Mr Tate's American estate, he was not at all surprised when she raised the question of Alice Grey. In truth, he had been expecting it.

"Jonathan, before we even begin to discuss the subject of my husband's money, I wonder if I might ask your advice on another matter?" she asked, and Jonathan was quite agreeable.

"Of course, please ask, and if there is any way I can help, I should be happy to do so."

Becky smiled; quite clearly he was still as kind and obliging as ever.

"I wonder, is there some means by which we can discover what has become of a young man who was accused of stealing from his employer? Alice Grey's husband was taken away by the police some two or three years ago; she says she has had no information about him."

Jonathan looked disbelieving. "I find that very hard to believe, Becky," he said. "Even felons have some rights. In fact, those who were transported to Australia were usually allowed to take their wives and children with them, unless they had committed a capital offence, of course," he explained, and Becky looked confused as he went on.

"In the case you speak of, I would point out that stealing from one's employer is a serious offence, but it is no longer a capital crime; I am quite certain his wife would have been told what his punishment was."

"She claims he was innocent."

"Of course, and it is possible there has been some miscarriage of justice. It is not unusual to hear of such cases, but nevertheless, I would still be confident that Alice Grey knows what became of her husband."

"Is there some way we could discover officially what sentence was imposed upon him?" Becky asked.

"If you could persuade Alice to give you some details--his full name, place of residence, the assizes at which he was tried, the date of the case--yes, we could attempt to find out. Anne-Marie's husband, Colin Elliott, has some useful contacts in the Home Office; I am sure he would be happy to try."

Becky thanked him and promised to do her best to get all relevant information to him before long.

As to the disposition of the moneys from Mr Tate's bequest, Becky indicated that she was perfectly content to leave all administrative matters in Jonathan's capable hands, if she could be permitted to use some of the proceeds on a few pet projects.

"May I ask what projects you have in mind?" he asked, and Becky replied with some alacrity. "I should very much like to donate some of it to the Hunsford parish school," she said. "Catherine has said nothing to me, but I do know she needs more materials and would like to hire more staff in the New Year. It would make a great difference to the work she is doing, and I should like very much to help."

Seeing that he appeared not to have any objection, she continued, "Then, there is the home for destitute women, which the church used to run until the money in Lady Catherine's benevolent fund ran out last year. Mr Jamison tells me it is likely to be closed, and there will be only the poorhouse for the women after years of work. They are mostly widows and older women with no children to support them. I should like to take it over."

Jonathan was silent, contemplating her proposition for a while. He could see she was very keen, but when he spoke, his words were measured and cautious. "I cannot see any difficulty with the school--it's an established institution, to which you can donate without any reservation. The home for destitute women, though it is a worthy enterprise, might require a good deal more work and planning before we know how much it is going to cost. I suggest we talk to the parson, Mr Jamison, and discover if he has any facts and figures for us. We may also need to see the local council."

That he was willing to accommodate her wishes and had not instantly turned down her requests seemed to bode well for their association, Becky thought. There were a few more matters to be discussed; none of them resulted in any controversy, and they were soon done.

Their business concluded, they went out to join the others.

Luncheon was served on the terrace, and afterwards, Becky and her guests walked about the grounds enjoying the pleasing ambience of Edgewater, where sky, woods, and water combined to create a most charming prospect. Anna Bingley was especially appreciative of the opportunities afforded her to sketch and paint; she was working on a watercolour of the poplars in the spinney across the lake.

Becky was delighted to have a picture of her favourite vista.

"Thank you, Anna, that will have pride of place in my study, and it will remind me of these delightful days we have had together. I do wish I had learnt to draw; I am quite hopeless at it," she confessed ruefully.

When Catherine and Frank Burnett thanked Becky for her hospitality and prepared to return to the Dower House, Becky could not resist giving her sister a hint of the good news she had in store for her.

"I am not able to tell you much more, dear Cathy, except that Jonathan has agreed that I may use some of the money from Mr Tate's estate to assist the work of the parish school. When we have agreed on amounts and other formalities, I shall tell you everything."

Catherine was elated; she knew there was a great deal to be done at the school, and any help would be most welcome. As they parted, she embraced her sister and thanked her for her generosity.

Over the next few days, Becky, with Jonathan's assistance, made further enquiries about Alice Grey and consolidated her plans for the refuge for destitute women. Mr Jamison proved helpful, having been involved in a similar project while serving in a parish in Southampton.

"There were many widowed or incapacitated women, who had no homes or families, nor anywhere to go to but the poor house, where the conditions were so wretched, many would rather die of exposure than enter there and subject themselves to the indignities that prevailed," he explained. "Families were often broken up when husbands and wives or male and female siblings were separated, while inmates were issued with regulation drab clothing and not permitted to keep any of their own property."

Mr Jamison painted a depressing picture. "While it claimed to dispense charity, it was no better than a prison," he said.

The city parish he had served had determined, together with other neighbouring parishes, to set up a refuge for destitute women and children, in order to get them off the streets, he said. It had provided a much better alternative.

Becky's enthusiasm was infectious, and Mr Jamison was soon expressing his complete support for her scheme to take over the old home, promising whatever help he could give. It was, he said, only the question of money that worried him, because there were sufficient volunteers from the two parishes of Hunsford and Lower Apsley to help him manage the place.

As they talked and Becky asked more questions, Jonathan Bingley took notes. Becky was gratified indeed; it meant he was taking the proposal seriously, and on further discussion, it became clear to her that he was genuinely interested.

"If it is a proposition that can be supported responsibly, I should be happy to recommend it. I understand your charitable motives, Becky, and I sympathise with them entirely," he had said, raising her hopes that he would agree to let her fund the project.

As they were leaving, Becky asked if Mr Jamison had heard of or had any knowledge of a family by the name of Grey, from the Ramsgate area, specifically a little village called Blessington.

"I am keen to trace a young couple by that name," said Becky. "I do not have much to go on except the girl's name is Alice and they had a son they called Tom."

Mr Jamison, who had some knowledge of the area, having been born and raised in the Lower Stour Valley of Kent, said he had no personal recollection of such a family, but would be happy to make enquiries on her behalf.

"A fellow clergyman, Reverend Higgins, whose parish includes Blessington, which lies in the Stour Valley, is a contemporary of mine. I could write to him," he offered, and Becky was pleased indeed.

"That would be much appreciated, Mr Jamison," she said and added, with a smile, "and I have not forgotten the kneelers, I know we must have them before Christmas."

With the promise of further donations to his parish, Becky was confident Mr Jamison would do his best to uncover the information she needed.

Back at Edgewater, with Anna Bingley's help, suitable work had been found to keep Alice Grey occupied. Anna had discovered that the girl was a good seamstress, and she was put to work to organise the sewing room, laundry, and linen store, which she appeared to take over quite readily, together with all their attendant tasks.

Clearly glad to be able to work indoors, in peace and free of harassment or fear, Alice was looking better already.

Mrs Bates was applied to for some material, and soon Alice had made up clothes for her son and a plain gown in blue-grey cotton cloth for herself, which improved her general appearance no end. Indeed, as Jonathan had remarked, she was well nigh unrecognisable.

She worked industriously and well, while her son seemed to benefit also from the change in their physical circumstances. Regular meals, a clean, secure place to sleep, and the constant presence of his mother must have made a difference, for the child became noticeably quieter and less nervous, not clinging, as he used to do, to his mother's skirts.

However, he still would not speak, only making occasional sounds, which Alice seemed to understand but no one else could comprehend. The servants thought he was both deaf and dumb; Mrs Bates and Becky had cause to speak quite severely to one or two of them who had tried to tease the child. While his mother seemed to accept his condition with some resignation, Becky was deeply concerned and wished with all her heart that there was something she could do to help restore the boy's speech.

Anna and Jonathan had both suggested that if it was true that the boy had stopped speaking as a consequence of the shock of losing his father, perhaps if he could be found and returned to his family, it might help unlock the child's speech again.

"Perhaps Richard Gardiner may be able to advise you," Jonathan suggested. "He will know of innumerable similar cases--it is not uncommon among soldiers or children who have witnessed terrifying or shocking events."

Becky agreed there was a possibility, and to this end, she returned one afternoon to question Alice Grey again. Promising to keep the information confidential, Becky asked if Alice would reveal the name of her husband and whom he had worked for when he was accused of stealing.