The Gilded Lily (49 page)

‘It’s probably like that in the Whit, if we could only get in there to place our bets,’ Wycliffe said, and the rest laughed.

‘Tell you what, as it’s your birthday, we’ll set it up for you, shall we, Allsop? Find you some fighting bitches for tonight?’ Wolfenden said.

‘Have you seen those notices for the Savage Maids?’ Sedley said. ‘They’re the sort we need.’

Jay was suddenly alert.

‘I’d pay for a roistering with one of them,’ Wolfenden said. ‘They’d give us a run for our money all right.’

‘I’m in,’ said Allsop. ‘Not so old yet I can’t sow my oats.’

‘You can keep them. Probably riddled with the pox, anyway,’ Sedley said.

‘What do I care? Too late for me!’ Wolfenden held up his hands in a shrug. Another burst of laughter.

‘How much?’ Jay said, breaking into their laughter.

They all turned to look at him.

‘You’re not serious,’ said Wycliffe.

‘If I can bring you the Savage Sisters, what would you pay?’

‘Oh what sport! I don’t know. What are they worth?’ Wolfenden picked up the dead bird by its neck and tossed it back into the ring, where one of the fighting cocks attacked it
in a frenzy of squawking and tattered wings.

‘There’s a fifty-pound price on their heads, so better that,’ Jay said.

‘Leave off, Jay.’ Wycliffe tugged at his arm.

‘’Tis too much for two whores,’ Wolfenden said. ‘Do I get to keep them afterwards?’

‘You can do what the hell you like with them once you’ve paid for them.’

‘No. Not even a savage maid’s worth that. Come on, Allsop, let’s collect my winnings.’ Wolfenden and Allsop elbowed their way into the crowd.

‘What are you thinking, playing a prank like that? You could never get him those girls,’ Wycliffe said. ‘You’ll make me look a fool.’

‘I never jest, you should know that,’ Jay said.

Wycliffe turned away looking sulky and walked off across the ice, back towards the Pelican. He glanced over his shoulder. He wants me to follow him, thought Jay, but he stayed where he was. It
did not suit him to bend to anyone’s whim; he preferred to be in control.

A few moments later Wolfenden emerged from the fray and took hold of Jay by the arm, hissing, ‘It’s a deal. If by some miracle you can find the Savage Sisters and bring them to
Allsop’s tonight, I’ll give you the fifty pounds. It will be worth it just to see his face.’

‘Sixty. Or I might just as meet hand them over to the law.’

‘Watch out, here he comes.’ Allsop’s burly figure approached.

‘Shake?’ Jay said.

Wolfenden held out his gloved hand, and Jay shook it. But he withdrew his hastily. A thin smear of chicken blood ran across it.

‘We can still turn round and go home, you know,’ Corey said.

Sadie and Corey hovered outside the gate to Whitgift’s in the dusk, cold to the bone despite the shawls hooded over their faces.

Sadie shook her head. ‘No, if I’m not ready now I’ll never be ready. I’m not running away from my own sister. I’ve got to face her, tell her I don’t give a
bent ha’penny for her no more.’ She moved to embrace Corey, but Corey stepped back.

‘Don’t go smudging your face now.’

‘Thanks for helping me get ready, Corey. Sorry I kept you up all night.’

‘That yellow gown was worth all the stitching. It fits you perfect, now.’

‘What time is it? I’m sick of waiting. I just want to get it over. I’ll see Ella, then I’m going home, home to Westmorland. I don’t care if she don’t come
with me, or if they catch me, or if I drop down dead on the way. It’s London strangles me, anyways.’

St Martin’s bells pealed the quarter.

‘It’s time,’ Corey said. ‘They’ll be opening any minute. Sorry I can’t come in with you, got to get back for the littlies, and my mam’s home tonight,
it’s her night off. Don’t forget, your bag’s round the back in the dairy. You can get it from there without my mam seeing. Are you frit?’

Sadie nodded.

‘Don’t worry. Carriages have to stop at the gate and announce their names, then if they’re on the list they let them through, otherwise they have to go and ask in the office.
But the night-watchmen change and they open the gate to let the early watch out. That’s your best chance for getting in,’ Corey said, ‘to just walk in right behind a carriage,
then act like you own the place. I’ll wait here awhile, and whistle to you if I see anyone from Whitgift’s coming.’

‘Do you think I’ll get away with it?’

‘You look as fine as any lady I’ve ever seen.’

Corey pointed to the sign of the Gilded Lily. ‘See that sign? Window above’s where she lodges. Shop’s beneath, under the lily and fan. I asked the lad. Just keep to the right,
away from the—’

As if to finish Corey’s warning, the dogs began to bark. The barking set off all the others in the vicinity. Someone was shouting, but it was impossible to hear them over the yapping and
snarling. In the yard there was a commotion, the gates swung briefly open and a heavy dark figure in a long cape rode past her and into the alleyway beyond.

‘It’s the day man leaving,’ hissed Corey. ‘Go on.’

‘Oh Corey, thank you.’ She threw her arms round Corey’s neck.

‘Get away with you. And have a care, we know what those dogs are like.’

‘Don’t fret, they’re tethered.’

A few moments later a boxwagon arrived and Sadie walked tall through the gate after it. She stopped to raise a hand briefly to Corey.

‘God speed.’ She heard the call to her retreating back.

The dogs barked and bounced on the ends of their tethers but the choke of their collars soon reduced the sound to snaps and growls.

She strolled past a carriage, parked outside the warehouse, her eyes fixed on the sign ahead. It was strange – there were no other women in the yard, and Corey had said it was always
thronging.

A lad ran to catch up with her, ‘Sorry, miss, but the Lily here is closed tonight. It’s open at the Frost Fair though, right on Freezeland Street. Is that your carriage?’ He
pointed to a carriage parked in the street outside.

Her throat was tight with fear, but he was smiling and he did not seem to think there was anything amiss.

‘Oh, yes. Yes, it is. Thanking you.’ She hesitated, nervous that her north country voice might betray her.

‘Pardon me, miss, but I think you’d best go back to it then. ’Tain’t safe to be out on the streets alone.’

He lifted his cap and went off whistling. She turned to go. So Ella wasn’t here after all. Or was she? She caught sight of a hulk of a man sitting on the mount block nearby. He wore a
leather coat and cotton sleeves like a butcher might wear. He was staring at the dogs who were whining through the bars of a pen near the gate. Sadie knew a guard when she saw one. Just as Corey
had said, he looked like a man put there to deter the likes of her.

Checking the boy had gone, she nipped to the side, behind the boxwagon and tethered horse. It whickered and turned its head, but then continued to pull hay from the rack on the wall. As she
crouched there, the door to the Gilded Lily opened and a little dark-haired girl came out carrying a tray laden with bottles. The big man turned and she saw his eyes follow her as she tottered past
towards the building opposite. The girl paused by the door trying to press the latch with her elbow until one of the bottles fell off and smattered on the cobbles. The big man lumbered over to her
and plucked open the latch whereupon she staggered through. The man stooped to pick up the bits of broken glass, but Sadie did not wait to see any more. She hared across the yard and in through the
open door.

At first Sadie could not see anyone for there was only a stub of a candle lit, but then she heard footsteps on the stairs. She caught her breath.

Ella was thin as a rail, chalk white, her mouth a red slash. She was dressed in the green gown laced until her waist was a mere handspan wide. Ella stopped, her hands to her face.

‘Who—? How did you get in here?’ Ella asked before she had got to the bottom of the stairs.

‘I’ve come to—’

Ella leapt down and took hold of Sadie’s arm, agitated. ‘Is there still a man outside?’

‘Yes, but he went to help the girl—’

‘Oh Lord. Just look at you! I’m so glad to see you, I was near mad with worry. But you mustn’t stay. You must get away from here. Go now, Sadie, before anyone sees
you.’

Sadie opened her mouth to speak but Ella was propelling her towards the door. ‘Go for God’s sake – Jay Whitgift read the notices, he’s after claiming the reward, and if
he finds you he’ll take you too. Please, Sadie. You’ve got to get out of here, and don’t come back.’

‘But, Ella –’ Sadie stepped back, but did not turn to go. Ella gave her a push. ‘I’m serious. I’ve told you. Get out. Anywhere. Anywhere but here! Afore
it’s too late.’

‘I only came—’

‘You stupid girl, what’s the matter with you?’ Ella’s face was stark white and gaunt, her eyes red-rimmed. There was desperation in her voice. ‘Just go, can’t
you.’

Sadie backed away. ‘What about you?’

‘Can’t you hear? Are you stupid?’ Ella was shouting and half crying now and waving her arms at her.

‘I’m going home. Come with me, Ella, we could—’ Sadie paused. Ella was looking behind her, frozen in mid-gesture like a statue.

‘Hide!’ she said. ‘Quick, get in the back.’

Something in the urgency of Ella’s tone prompted Sadie to run. She dragged open the storeroom door and plunged inside. It smelt of camphor and flowers. She peered through the crack in the
door and heard the bell tinkle; the single light flickered in the draught.

Footsteps on the flagged floor, the moving shadow of a lantern. ‘You say she came in here?’ someone said.

‘Aye,’ said a deep voice. Sadie’s heart sank.

‘Lutch says someone came in.’ Jay’s voice.

‘No,’ Ella said.

‘Foxall, search the back and upstairs.’

Sadie put herself behind the door, but knew it was hopeless. It was less than a minute before she felt a grip on her arm and she was pulled blinking into the light.

‘Your sister, if I’m not mistaken,’ Jay said.

‘Leave her alone,’ Ella said. ‘She’s done naught.’

Sadie wrestled to free herself, and Jay said, ‘Keep ahold of her. Lutch, give him a hand. Wolfenden’s paying me sixty pound for them. Fancies seeing them fight, he said.’

The big man brought her other arm behind her back and pinioned it with one of his. Jay leaned on the counter, his fancy pistol dangling from its finger-guard, watching her struggle.

‘No.’ Ella ran and grasped Jay by the sleeve. ‘Let Sadie go free. She’s done nothing. It was me robbed Ibbetson. She’s innocent, I swear.’

Jay snatched his hand back and pointed the gun at her. ‘Innocent is she? Is she a virgin?’

‘No,’ said Ella, backing away.

Sadie was about to protest but then she closed her mouth tight.

Jay turned his eyes on Sadie. ‘Someone tupped you?’ He was amused, his voice clearly said he did not believe it.

Sadie looked away.

‘You’re lying. She’s never lain with anyone, has she?’

Nobody said a word.

‘Even better, she’ll fetch a higher price.’ Jay turned to Ella. ‘I hope you’re right. If there’s no blood, old Wolfie might demand his money back. Lutch, take
this one to the storeroom. We’ll lock them both up there until the carriage is ready. Don’t worry, lads, you’ll get your cut, same as usual.’

Lutch took hold of Ella and pinioned her arms behind her. Sadie saw something like panic in her eyes. Ella appealed to Jay, ‘I beg you, let Sadie go. I’ll go to
Wolfenden—’

‘You?’ Jay laughed. ‘Wolfenden likes a maid. And that, I’ll warrant, you most certainly are not. Allsop’s
your
man.’ He looked to Foxy. ‘Lock
them in.’ They struggled to take Ella into the back room.

‘When you’ve finished here, send out to Wolfenden. Tell him to get his purse ready, the deal’s on.’

Lutch nodded.

‘You armed?’

‘Yup,’ said Foxy.

‘Good, because I don’t want any accidents getting them in the wagon.’

Sadie looked at Ella and saw her crumple. The sight of her bowed head brought about a nameless dread. Ella had always been the strong one, had always had an answer for everything.

They heard the scrape as the bolts were slid home. When the men had gone, they were alone in the chill dark. Their eyes were not accustomed to it so they could not see each
other’s faces.

‘Have they gone?’ whispered Sadie.

‘I think so.’

‘What will they do to us?’

‘Jay Whitgift will take us to his friends and then he’ll hand us over.’

‘To Ibbetson?’

There was a silence then. Sadie knew what this meant. After a few moments she said, ‘Give us your hand.’ She felt Ella’s cold fingers squeeze hers tight.

‘Ella?’

‘Yes?’

‘Are you afraid?’

‘Not of dying. Not of that.’

‘What then?’

‘I’m afraid of Jay Whitgift’s friends. Allsop. Wolfenden.’

‘Sorry, Ell.’

Ella dropped her hand. ‘What are you sorry for? You haven’t done anything.’

‘That I wouldn’t wear the dress afore now. I was afraid to.’

‘That. No, you soft thing. You were right. I don’t like to see you done up like that. It gives folk the wrong impression. And sooner or later someone would have found you out. It was
a stupid idea.’