The Beggar Maid (32 page)

Bert lay motionless. ‘Call the bloody dog off.'

‘Here, boy.' Jackson beckoned to Bosun and with wagging tail the dog came to heel.

‘I'll do for that creature. A poisoned lump of meat will sort him out.' Bert shuffled to a sitting position, leaning against the wall.

‘Come near any of us and you'll feel the full force of this.' Jackson raised the whip and was about to strike when Gideon caught him by the arm.

‘Don't sink to his level.' He turned to Bert. ‘Get up and go on your way or I'll have you arrested for breaking and entering.'

Bert scrambled to his feet. He shot a malevolent glance in Charity's direction. ‘She's the one to blame for all this, and I'll get even with her if it's the last thing I do.'

‘Touch her and I'll slit your gizzard,' Jackson said grimly.

Bert adjusted his clothing with a defiant scowl. ‘I ain't afraid of you, old man. You just got one over on me, cully, but that ain't gonna happen again. You'd best watch out for yourself.' He turned to glare at Gideon. ‘You too, vicar. I owes you one and your dog collar ain't going to save you.'

Gideon took a step towards him, hands fisted at his sides. ‘I'm not afraid of your threats, Mr Chapman. You're the one who's going to end up in front of the magistrate. I'd advise you to go now and keep well away from here in future.'

Bert snatched up his cap, which had come off in the skirmish. ‘As for that little trollop standing there, looking as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth, I could tell you things about her that would make you change your mind.' He stalked off and Jackson followed, brandishing the whip.

Charity hurried to Gideon's side. ‘I must get Violet away from here,' she said urgently. ‘We must find a place where I can get work.'

‘One thing at a time,' he said thoughtfully. ‘I think I might have a solution, but I can't say at the moment.' He took her hand in his, looking into her eyes. ‘Will you trust me, Charity?'

‘Of course, but I don't see what you can do.'

‘I have an idea, but I don't want to say anything in case it doesn't come off. Go indoors and don't let anyone in, except Jackson, of course. I'll return tomorrow when I hope I'll have some good news for you.' He squeezed her fingers, smiling. ‘Don't look so worried. Everything will be all right, I promise.'

She watched him walk away, and even though she could not share his optimism, she returned to the kitchen with a smile on her face. ‘Jackson has seen Bert off, and Gideon has promised to help us.' She went to kneel beside Violet, who was sitting in Mrs Diment's chair sipping a glass of water. ‘Are you all right, Vi?'

‘I think so.'

Mrs Diment sank down on a chair at the table. ‘What a to-do. I'm sure I don't know what will happen next.'

Charity rose to her feet and slipped her arm around Dorrie's shoulders. ‘Bert won't return tonight. We'll make sure everything is locked and I'll get Jackson to board up the broken window.'

‘We can't lock ourselves in forever.' Mrs Diment shook her head. ‘What a state of affairs.'

‘No, of course not.' Charity made an attempt to appear confident. ‘Tomorrow morning, as soon as the auction house opens, I'll collect the money. Jackson and Bosun will accompany me, and I don't think Bert will risk another set-to in public, but if he should turn up again I won't hesitate to summon the police.'

Charity returned to Nevill's Court with what was left of the five guineas after the auction house had taken their commission. Jackson and Bosun followed close behind her, but there had been no sign of Bert. She entered the kitchen holding up her reticule, shaking it so that the coins jingled. ‘It's all here,' she said triumphantly. She came to a halt, looking from one to the other. Mrs Diment, Violet and Dorrie had on their bonnets and shawls, and there was baggage piled up by the door.

Gideon rose from his seat at the table. ‘I take it that all went well.'

Jackson tipped his cap. ‘Aye, sir. No sign of the wretch.'

‘What's going on?' Charity demanded. ‘Where are we going?'

Mrs Diment beamed at her. ‘I'm going home. Gideon is going to take us to Bligh Park.'

Charity turned on him, frowning. ‘But I told you that I wouldn't impose on Daniel.'

‘Nor will you. I quite understand your position, and last evening I sent a telegram to my father. I received a reply by return.'

‘I still don't understand.'

‘I'm taking Mrs Diment to Bligh Park and then we'll go on to the rectory at Sutton Pomeroy.'

‘That's your home, Gideon,' Charity said slowly. ‘Why would you take us there?'

‘My father lives on his own apart from his housekeeper and a maidservant. I sent him a message to say that I was bringing three friends to stay for a while.'

Charity shook her head. ‘But what happens then? What would we do in the country?'

‘I think it's a good idea,' Violet said eagerly. ‘We'd be safe there.'

‘I'd like to see a cow,' Dorrie added, grinning. ‘I ain't never been to the country.'

‘You'd be near to Bligh Park, dear. It's walking distance from the rectory.' Mrs Diment glanced round the room with a misty expression softening her features. ‘I'll miss my kitchen, and I suppose I'll have to put up with Polly Trevett bossing me around, but it will be lovely to be back home again.'

Gideon met Charity's worried gaze with a smile. ‘My father loves company, and he'll be delighted to have someone to talk to after dinner. He is a great reader so you'll have a lot in common.'

The notion that she might share an interest with someone of the rector's education and standing came as something of a revelation to Charity, but ghosts from the past continued to haunt her. She was still the same girl who had begged and occasionally stolen in order to make a living.

Dorrie rushed up to her and grabbed her hand. ‘Oh, please say yes. I don't want to stay here with the spooks and that horrible man making faces through the window.'

Charity turned to Jackson who had been standing behind her with Bosun sitting patiently at his side. ‘What do you say, Jackson?'

He shrugged his shoulders. ‘Seems to me that I'd best stay here and keep an eye on the house.' He patted Bosun's head. ‘I got a sister living in Hoxton. She'll make sure we don't starve, and I can always earn a penny or two as a rat catcher. Sir Hedley wouldn't thank me for leaving the place to be broke into and vandalised.'

‘Are you sure?' Charity gave him a searching look.

He nodded. ‘Yes, miss. Quite sure.'

‘Then Daniel must be told and it's up to him to see that you get paid for your trouble.'

Jackson tipped his cap. ‘I'd be grateful for that, miss. Now, if you don't need me no more I think I'll go out and see if there's an egg in the hen house. I quite fancy a boiled egg for my dinner.' He left through the back door with Bosun at his heels.

‘Well,' Mrs Diment said, shrugging. ‘He always was a cantankerous old curmudgeon, and he'll be better off on his own. He'll think he's the king of the castle if he has the whole house to hisself.'

‘Are we agreed then?' Gideon looked to Charity for an answer. ‘If we go now we can catch the midday train from Waterloo.'

She glanced at the eager faces surrounding her and she knew that she was beaten. It made sense to leave London, for a while at least, and Violet's health and that of her unborn child were her main concern. ‘Are you coming with us?' she asked warily.

‘Of course. I checked with the rector and I'm due for some time off, besides which I haven't seen my father since Christmas, so it's a long overdue visit. I'll go to find a hackney and we'll be on our way.'

It was almost dark by the time they reached Sutton Pomeroy, having stopped briefly on the way to drop Mrs Diment off at Bligh Park. The carriage that Gideon had hired at the station drew to a halt outside the rectory and he alighted first, holding out his hand to help Charity from the vehicle. She surveyed the scene with mounting optimism. The mellow red brick of the Georgian house seemed to glow in the fading light and the trees that surrounded it melted into purple shadows. An oil lamp had been placed in the window closest to the front door, and its welcoming beam illuminated the gravel path leading up through a garden heady with the scent of hyacinths and narcissi. Even before Charity opened the gate in the picket fence the front door was flung open and an elderly gentleman came out to greet them. Gideon paid the driver and hurried to meet his father, throwing his arms around him in a fond embrace. ‘It's good to see you, Father.'

‘And you, my boy.' The Reverend Philip Raines peered over his son's shoulder. ‘And these are the young ladies you told me about.'

Gideon released him, turning to hold his hand out to Charity. ‘May I introduce Miss Charity Crosse?'

Charity bobbed a curtsey. It did not seem appropriate to shake the hand of a distinguished gentleman of advanced years. ‘How do you do, sir?'

‘How do you do, Miss Crosse. Welcome to Sutton Pomeroy.'

Violet and Dorrie had hung back, but Gideon drew them forward. ‘Miss Violet Chapman and Miss Dorrie – I don't know your last name, Dorrie.'

‘Fisher, sir. It's Dorrie Fisher.' She made an attempt to copy Charity's curtsey and almost toppled over.

‘I'm delighted to make your acquaintance,' Philip said, smiling. ‘Come inside. It's chilly out here.' He linked his arm through Gideon's and led the way into the wide entrance hall, and at once Charity was struck by the homely atmosphere in the rectory. An overcoat had been left carelessly draped over a chair and a pair of galoshes had been discarded as if the wearer had simply stepped out of them. The polished floorboards smelled of lavender and beeswax, which brought back memories of home to Charity. A vision of her grandmother making the polish in the small kitchen in Chelsea brought a smile to her lips, but it froze as she met the contemptuous gaze of a woman who stood at the foot of the stairs. ‘Who are these people, Philip?'

The rector turned to her with a benign smile. ‘These young ladies are Gideon's guests, Jane.'

‘Aunt Jane.' Gideon hurried forward to plant a kiss on her cheek. ‘I didn't know you were here.'

‘I only arrived this morning,' she said coldly. ‘Are you filling your father's house with your charity cases again, Gideon?'

Dorrie sniggered, but instantly realised her mistake and covered her mouth with her hand. ‘Sorry,' she murmured.

‘What do you find amusing, child?' Jane spun round to glare at Dorrie, who blushed to the roots of her hair.

‘I think it was the word charity,' Gideon said hastily. ‘May I introduce Miss Charity Crosse, Aunt?'

Charity met Jane Raines' hard stare without blinking. ‘How do you do, ma'am.'

Jane acknowledged her with the briefest of nods, looking her up and down with obvious distaste, but when she turned her gaze to Violet her winged eyebrows shot up to her hairline. ‘I see you're giving shelter to whores as well as street urchins, brother.'

Philip's smile faded into a frown. ‘That was uncalled for, Jane.'

‘I see no wedding ring.' Jane sniffed and turned away as if offended by the sight of Violet's swollen belly.

Violet's mouth drooped at the corners and she backed towards the door. ‘I ain't staying here to be insulted by the likes of her, the stuck-up cow.'

‘Did you hear that, Philip?' Jane clutched the newel post, closing her eyes. ‘I feel quite faint.'

Charity sent a warning glance to Violet. ‘I'm sorry if my friend offended you, Miss Raines, but we've had a long and trying day. We're all tired and we would be most grateful for something to eat and a bed for the night, but we'll leave first thing in the morning.'

‘There's no need for that,' Gideon protested. ‘I think you owe Violet an apology, Aunt Jane. She's a respectable young woman who was taken advantage of and needs our help and compassion, not condemnation.'

‘You can say what you like, Gideon. You too, Philip, so don't look daggers at me. I've heard it all before, but when you take on such people they invariably disappoint you. I refuse to sit at table with them, and I'll take my meals in my room while they're here.' She ascended the stairs with her head held high despite Gideon's protests.

‘Let her go,' Philip said wearily. ‘Jane will come round if we leave her on her own.' His tired face creased into a smile. ‘In the meantime, I apologise on my sister's behalf, and I suggest we all go into the drawing room and have a glass of sherry before supper.' He headed towards a door on the far side of the hall, motioning them to follow him.

Violet hung back. ‘I dunno. I'd rather go and stay with Mrs Diment, if it's all the same to you, sir.'

‘You mustn't take any notice of my aunt,' Gideon said with an apologetic smile. ‘It's just her way. She'll come round.'

Violet did not look convinced, and Dorrie's eyes were bright with unshed tears. Charity drew Gideon aside. ‘I know you brought us here with the kindest of intentions, but it's clear that we're upsetting your aunt and your father.'

‘You'll upset my father more if you insist on leaving now, and anyway there's nowhere to go at this time of night. Join us for supper and we'll talk again in the morning.'

Charity could see that Violet was exhausted and Dorrie was likely to burst into tears at any moment. She forced herself to smile. ‘Come along, you two. We mustn't upset Gideon's father by refusing his hospitality.' She followed Gideon into the drawing room, with Violet and Dorrie lagging several steps behind. However, they both seemed to brighten when they entered the room and saw a log fire blazing up the chimney, and their mood changed subtly when an aged maidservant brought in a tray of milk and biscuits for them to share.