Three Round Towers (13 page)

Silence had returned to the wharf, the only sound was the mewling of gulls overhead; we were the only ones left and I shivered with fear that Billy had succumbed to his broken head or been shot in the fighting.

I clutched at Wilf's sleeve as we crept into the building where the men had been held. It was dark as night in there. As my eyes adjusted I saw the remains of rope bindings and chains. Further in I could see a shape under what looked like a blanket. Wilf stopped me. ‘I'll go and look Esther, you stay put.' His voice sounded unnaturally loud in the gloomy place.

I ignored him and moved towards the shape on the floor, I tugged gently at the cloth, wanting to look but terrified of what I might see. It was Billy. He seemed to be unconscious – I looked more closely and saw one eye opening a slit. Was he winking at me?

‘Esther?' The shape moved. ‘Esther, is that you? Am I glad to see thee lass.'

In a matter of seconds the cloth flew upwards and I was engulfed by Billy.

‘Billy, are you well, are you wounded? What happened to thee?' I was clutching at his thin hands and he cried out.

‘Ow, let go Esther, I'm fine. Let go, you be 'urting me more'n they did!'

Wilf threw the blanket aside and looked at Billy long and hard before saying, ‘Well, you don't seem to be hurtin' too much lad. Come on, we'll get you back to the horse and make our way home to Lewes. We've 'ad enough excitement for one day.'

We edged our way carefully back to Ida, sidetracking whenever we saw groups of men, be they navy, army or others. Wilf and I resumed our places and Billy sank deep into the cart and promptly fell asleep. There didn't seem to be any sign of a head wound but I hadn't had time to look properly.

We jogged on in silence for a while and as dusk fell around us it grew cold. Wilf put his jacket round me and we huddled close for warmth. Finally he spoke, quietly.

‘There'll be a right to-do when the justices hear about this: reprisals – more soldiers and meaner press gangs. Billy will have a care not to be recaptured. They will seek him out.'

‘Nah, they won't do that – they thinks I be mazed,' came a small voice from the cart.

Startled, I turned, ‘what d'you mean Billy?'

I got bashed on me 'ead and when I came round I pretended I was gone silly. They were goner let me go once the ship's quack had said I was no use to 'em. I just got to play loony whenever they turn up. Mebbe I'll do a turn round about town now and again so everyone do think I be oft me 'ead.

I heard Wilf chuckle as he pulled Ida up – he turned and said in the sternest voice, ‘D'you mean to say we put ourselves to all that danger and they were just going to let you go?'

‘I didna know you was goin' to come chasin' after me. But I was right glad to see you – if only to get a lift home.'

Wilf and I looked at each other, speechless, before collapsing in laughter while Billy looked on, bemused.

It was well after dark before we got back. Wilf dropped me and Billy at the stable before he headed out to his own home. He said, ‘It were good to meet you Esther, I'll look out for you next time I come up to South Farm.'

I was sorry to see him go. It had been wonderful to be lifted out of the cart again, it made me feel warm and fluttery all at once. I had never felt like that before.

Billy rushed in to see Cilla and I asked her to tell Cecilia we were all safe before I too rushed up to see Beth asleep in her cot. I collapsed onto my bed, exhausted but happy.

The following morning I rose early and despite being tired and not a little grubby I went straight to Cecilia and told her of our escapade to the coast and the successful gathering of Billy back to South Farm. She was amazed at our achievement until I reminded her that it was the smugglers who had brought about the release of probably thirty or so men and there had been bloodshed. Somehow, my story grew in the telling and it wasn't long before we were both laughing at Billy's clever ruse to escape and avoid future dealings with the press gang. We talked of Cilla's delight at the return of Billy before she went on to say in all seriousness, ‘You are so lucky Esther, to have the freedom to just get up and go and be part of real life. That is one of the reasons I wanted to leave my mother's household: I felt trapped by values and ridiculous social constraints just because I was a girl and high born. My poor mother despairs of me, I fear I am a great disappointment to the family.'

I had never considered myself lucky compared to the daughter of an Earl before and thought that Cecilia was seeing my freedom and adventure in a rosy light rather than the reality of fear, danger and, for some as we learned later, death. However, I didn't want to spoil her enjoyment of our story so I said nothing.

It was a matter of just hours, before the whole district was talking about the smugglers' raid and Billy's method of escaping empressment. The other men who were released all melted into the background with some leaving for inland towns where they were less likely to be taken up again. Our part in the story was known to a few and gradually a few more until I became a figure of notoriety again. There were repercussions, as Wilf had predicted. A hardening of views against the methods used by the press gang; men became very cautious and a network of warnings established itself in and around the town. The justices, according to Farmer Elwood, huffed and puffed about the audacity of the smugglers in breaking out the men but as they were fathers and husbands and wage earners they soon realised that the cost to the town was less if the Lewes men were looking after their own families. This pragmatic view was not shared, however, by all and a large detachment of soldiers was soon seen parading along the coastline, impeding the smugglers in their efforts to bring the contraband in.

While waiting for the fuss to die down I made my visit to see Sarah, as much to take my mind off things as anything else.

The house of correction brought back terrible memories of my incarceration with Sarah and our fellow prisoners. I had been so frightened of the situation and of the women themselves but it was unwarranted. Once we got to speak to each other we found we were all women who were frightened and possibly misjudged, I certainly was. I didn't care what Sarah might or might not have done.

I borrowed a heavy cloak from Cecilia – it had deep pockets sewn into the inner lining and I took some little comforts for her. I rapped at the door and was admitted to the outer hallway where I was met by the very same guard. He had not changed and when he tried to take my gifts of cheese and bread from me I resisted by telling him that Dr Grieve was aware that they were for Sarah and not him. He scowled but allowed me in, reluctantly, and with much swearing under his breath. He was a revolting man – slovenly and ill kempt – I averted my face from the disagreeable smells that accompanied him.

Sarah was in a cell on her own; her worn clothing did little to cover her sparse frame. How she would survive a long boat trip to Australia I couldn't imagine. I pulled her to me and whispered that there was a gift in my inner pocket.

‘What is it?'

‘A bar of soap.'

‘Gor, love us, what do I want wi' a bar a soap?'

‘It's got a secret,' I whispered before telling her that I had buried a coin inside it and tied a ribbon through it so she would not lose it.

She smiled, revealing a few blackened teeth. ‘I knew you was a good-un, despite what them others thought.'

I laughed as I gave her the gift and some bread and cheese as well. It was a bit hard for her gums but she tucked in.

We spent some time talking before I left her, both of us shedding some tears. She was in good spirits despite our tears and didn't seem bothered by her upcoming trip halfway round the world. I gave her the warm jacket I was wearing under Cecilia's cloak for I would not be needing it until the autumn and by then who knew what would happen

Meeting Sarah again had unsettled me and I went to see Mrs Makepiece on my way home. I sat down and told her all that had passed between Sarah and me and about my parting gift; I had brought a bar of the soap for my friend as well.

‘Oh, that smells lovely Esther, why don't you make some more and sell it?'

‘Who would I sell it to? It's not like when my pa had the shop.'

‘I'm sure we could find some way of getting it to people who have the money to buy. I'll think on it.'

I changed the subject. ‘Cecilia's brother is coming to stay tomorrow. He is a friend of the Prince Regent and they are all to go to the races together.'

‘I heard she were a proper lady but she don't put on any airs nor graces do she?'

‘No, I can't wait to meet him. She adores him and speaks constantly about what he is doing, what he thinks and what he says. She must love Farmer Elwood very much to live such a quiet life away from the society that he moves in even though she says she doesn't like it for herself.'

‘John Elwood was once quite the man about town but when his father died he had to take care of the family fortunes and he turned gentleman farmer overnight. He's a good man is he.' She nodded to herself.

‘He asked me to tell him if Cecilia was with child. She isn't, but I feel sure she would want him to be the first to know. I pray daily that they might be blessed soon.'

‘Aye, so do I. Will you take a drop of tea with me? I had a small delivery this week and it tastes so much better when shared.'

We laughed at the few leaves of guilty pleasure drunk at the expense of the government's revenue.

‘I got a measure of salt too. The tax is so high I can't normally afford it but my tea supplier friend do know that I needed something to salt the meat.'

‘Mrs Fisher never seems short of salt.'

‘No, I don't suppose she is,' she nodded knowingly.

I decided not to comment further. Clearly, smuggling was not seen as a bad thing even amongst people who upheld the law. Who was I to judge?

I told Mrs Makepiece about Billy's near miss with the press gang and what Dr Grieve had said. She had heard the gossip around town and said she wasn't at all surprised and that her sons were merchant seamen and knew when to stay out of range. ‘They take another passage from a foreign port rather than put into Britain and get caught up in the King's navy.'

‘You must hardly ever see them,' I said.

‘True, but they are safer on the merchant boats and get plenty of excitement without being shot at by the French as an act of war rather than just in passing and I am comforted that they are together.'

Strangely, I did not mention Wilf other than that he was my companion on our great adventure. I did not tell her how young and dashing he was nor how he had picked me up several times and how my heart had fluttered at his closeness.

Accompanied by Mrs Makepiece I continued my exploration of Lewes. This time I ventured over the bridge into the village of Cliffe again. It was much noisier than my last visit and we stopped and looked along the river meadow and watched the boats that bustled to and fro. The tide was in spate and gulls screamed overhead. Mrs Makepiece discerned nothing of my memories of Becca dying in this very same river as she pointed out the little wherry's ferrying people and goods from the trading ships that had ventured upstream from Newhaven. It was all very busy with lots of shouting and calling from boat to shore and back again. There were a number of buildings that seemed to be storage places for goods that came upriver by ship. We saw grain being unloaded as well as coal and building materials. On the other side of the river wood was being loaded onto a big boat which looked very near ready to depart. The captain was in deep discussion with a uniformed official.

I asked Mrs Makepiece what was likely to be going on and she said the chap in the uniform was probably a preventative man who oversaw what came in and out so that the proper taxes could be paid and checked with what had come in at the port downstream. ‘Are there smugglers here then?' I asked in all innocence. She snorted, saying, ‘Smugglers don't come in daylight and they don't come into the port, unless they are rescuing their own. They be a bit secretive like and land their goods on the beaches or if they are shipping things out they have coves with nearby caves where goods are stashed and guarded until the time and tide be right.'

‘I thought they only brought goods in?'

‘Mostly they do, nowadays, but it wasn't long ago that they smuggled wool from the farms direct to the Frenchies and onwards. Southern wool is highly valued in Holland and such places so the smugglers make a profit both ways. Fact is Esther, smugglers deal in whatever is wanted or in short supply and they are not too bothered with the likes of law-abiding people. It don't pay to get in their way or talk too loudly and there's many a preventative man who has come to realise that, and turned a blind eye, otherwise he might find he hasn't got an eye with which to see any more!'

We hurried onwards over the hump bridge and following that gruesome warning I ventured no more questions about smugglers.

Cliffe village was a poor place; buildings were piled on top of each other with the highway running with mud and other foul-smelling slurry. The people were poorly clad and we saw scrawny urchins with misshapen limbs and open sores on their faces and skeletal bodies. It was a dirty street with very little to recommend it other than a few workmanlike buildings but even these couldn't match those of nearby Lewes. This place seemed all about work, hard labouring work. I shut my ears to the noise for it was overwhelming. Men, women and a few older children were scurrying about purposefully but for very little reward judging from their lack of decent clothing. We picked our way a few steps towards what seemed to be an open-fronted warehouse where men were naked to the waist heaving sacks of corn. There was much spillage and women and children darted in amongst the working men, scrabbling for the spoils. A man stood on a pile of sacks in the centre of the warehouse holding a lethal looking whip with a very long cord. I didn't see him hit anyone but he made full use of its threat, urging the men to greater endeavour. The corn was being loaded onto drays with two big horses to pull each one. As one pulled out of the yard, another took its place. I was quite disconcerted to see armed guards accompany each vehicle and remembered Wilf's tales of want and lawbreaking.

I watched the overseer scowl at a group of urchins as they urged each other further and further into the melee before he cracked his whip over their heads. They squealed and fled but while his attention was on them another group poked at a sack with a sharp blade. It spilled and then there was uproar as a horde of women and children charged into the centre grabbing dishfuls of the precious grain.

I couldn't bear to watch such scenes of desperation so we didn't tarry, instead turning and making our way back over the bridge. I was thankful to get away from such a dispiriting place.

Mrs Makepiece laughed at my shivers of dislike. ‘'Ee girl, you've come a long way since you turned up on my doorstep as a waif and stray. Think yourself lucky you were directed to me rather than to some goodbody down t'Cliffe.'

We walked in silence as I gave thanks to the truth in her words.