Down Weaver's Lane (42 page)

An hour later Mr Butterfield placed a hand on his shoulder. ‘What’s wrong, Jack?’

He sighed. ‘They know where Emmy is and they’re trying to keep me from seeing her.’

‘There are other young women, you know,’ Isaac said gently. He held up one hand. ‘I know, I know. First love can be very painful. But there are other reasons for marrying, reasons that make more sense financially.’ He stared into space and dropped the first hint. ‘I myself have two daughters, both of whom will have decent dowries to bring to the young man who marries them. A thousand pounds each.’

But Jack didn’t even hear what he was saying. He thought vaguely that it was kind of Mr Butterfield to try to cheer him up when everyone knew the head clerk has his own troubles. They said his wife was up half the night sometimes, yelling and shouting. That he had to give her laudanum to calm her down.

 

Edward Dalby was relieved to get back to Manchester, but could not get the pretty maid out of his mind. The cheek of it, turning down a good offer like that! And treating him as if he’d done something wrong in making it. The annoyance festered and one evening, when he was drinking with a few of his friends, it spilled out.

Marcus Armistead laughed. ‘Why don’t you simply take matters into your own hands and kidnap the girl? Once the deed is done and she finds out how much you’re willing to pay her, she’ll soon change her tune.’

Edward was a bit startled by this suggestion. ‘That’s a bit thick, isn’t it? I mean, this is England, not the Barbary Coast. You don’t go round kidnapping girls and forcing them into your bed.’

‘Then stop moping and find yourself a more willing mistress,’ Marcus replied, thinking him a fool. ‘In the stews of Manchester there are dozens of pretty girls who’d be more than willing to accommodate you. And some of them are nearly virgins.’

The men round the table burst out laughing.

‘Go to The Golden Swan,’ one advised. ‘They’ve got the best girls in town there, willing to accommodate all a chap’s needs.’

‘Bit pricey there, what?’ another said.

‘Worth it, though. Dashed obliging girls.’

Edward sighed. ‘Trouble is, I can’t get Emmy out of my mind.’

Marcus stiffened. ‘Emmy?’

‘Yes. That’s what she’s called.’

‘Light brown hair, curly, big blue eyes, trim figure, very pretty indeed?’

‘Yes.’ He stared at Marcus. ‘You sound as if you know her.’

‘Mmm. Surname’s Carter, isn’t it?’

Edward thumped the table. ‘That’s the one! How the hell do
you
know her?’

Marcus grinned. ‘Because she used to be my mistress. Her uncle took her away from me and hid her somewhere. She didn’t go with him willingly, either.’

‘Doesn’t sound like the same girl. She started to tremble when I tried to kiss her. She definitely wasn’t making that up.’

Marcus laughed for a very long time, then shook his head. ‘She’s still at it then, egging fellows on without seeming to. That’s how she caught me. Best little actress in town, that one is.’

‘Then what the hell is she doing slaving for my mother?’

‘Who knows? Perhaps she’s trying respectability for a change. After all, it’s not every girl who can have a second try at being a virgin, is it?’ He let the laughter die down and changed the subject easily. The rest of the evening passed in drinking and then half the members of the group made a visit to The Golden Swan.

Marcus made sure to leave the whore house at the same time as Edward Dalby and walk to the cab rank with him. ‘I’ve been thinking about what you were saying. Look, Emmy’s not the sort of girl I’d like to have working for my mother. Are you sure you should leave her there? I mean, if she goes off the rails again, well, your mother could be seriously embarrassed by her behaviour.’

‘I’d never thought of that, but you’re right. I’ll write to Mother straight away. No, better still, I’ll go and see her this weekend.’ The idea caught Edward’s fancy, for he was still smarting from the way the two maids had treated him.

 

The following Saturday Edward Dalby arrived in Carbury unannounced and when Emmy opened the door she gasped in shock at the sight of him.

‘You may well gasp, young lady!’ he said, grabbing her by the wrist and dragging her into his mother’s parlour.

Mrs Dalby uttered a squeak of shock and pressed one hand to her breast when her son erupted into the room, dragging a protesting Emmy behind him.

He threw the girl to her knees on the rug and stood over her, enjoying the fear on her face. He’d teach the bitch to reject his offer like that!

‘It’s come to my attention that this young woman is no better than she ought to be,’ he announced dramatically, folding his arms.

Emmy scrambled to her feet and retired behind the sofa. ‘It’s not true, Mrs Dalby! I don’t know why he’s saying this.’

‘Edward dear, do you have to be so violent? You’ve given me palpitations now. Emmy, go and fetch me some of my cordial and then bring us some tea. Edward, sit down and let us talk about this quietly. I’m sure you’re mistaken.’

‘No, you don’t.’ He moved to prevent Emmy leaving the room. ‘She’s going nowhere, Mother, until I throw her out of your house.’

Emmy was getting angry in her turn. ‘Why are you saying this? It’s not true. You don’t know anything about me.’

He laughed. ‘Oh, don’t I? Well, does the name Marcus Armistead mean anything to you?’

She froze, staring at him as that hated name echoed in her head. She couldn’t believe Marcus had managed to track her down and was still trying to ruin her.

Her expression convinced him that Marcus had been telling the truth and his anger flared even higher. ‘You see, Mother! She does know him.’

‘He—’

‘Be quiet, you slut! To think that
my mother
employed a creature like you in her house.’

Mrs Dalby stared at him in horror. ‘Edward dear, how can you be sure? I promise you, Emmy has done nothing but work hard and cheerfully, and I simply can’t believe—’

‘I know because she used to be his mistress. Her uncle took her away from him and put her back to work with you.’

His mother stared at him then looked at Emmy, her expression uncertain.

‘It isn’t true,’ Emmy said, loudly and emphatically. ‘Marcus Armistead tried to kidnap me and I hit him over the head when I escaped. Since then he’s been pursuing me to get his revenge.’

‘Marcus Armistead?
’ Edward laughed loudly. ‘I rather think if my friend had kidnapped you, you’d have stayed kidnapped. He’s a very smart fellow, not to mention a respected member of Manchester trading circles and a gentleman of property. And you, young woman, are leaving this house immediately.’ When his mother would have spoken he held up one hand. ‘No, Mother. Father is no longer here to protect you and it’s my duty to keep an eye on things.’

‘But it’s nearly dark and she can’t—’

‘She’ll be quite at home on the streets at night, believe me.’ Besides, he intended to follow Emmy and make his offer again, rather more forcibly this time. She might be a bit more grateful and if she wasn’t, he might just take Marcus’s advice.

‘He’s lying to you,’ Emmy said to her mistress, tears of mingled anger and shame streaming down her face that she should be treated like this. ‘But if you believe him, I’ll go back to Parson Bradley’s house. I beg you to let me stay here till morning, though, ma’am. I’m not at home on the streets, whatever your son says.’

But Edward was furious at being contradicted in front of his mother and annoyed that Emmy had stopped cringing away from him. He wanted her afraid and grateful. So he grabbed her shoulder and frog-marched her out of the room, saying loudly, ‘Out, you!’

After a moment’s shock she began to struggle and scream, ‘Help! Help!’ feeling sure he meant no good.

Babs erupted out of the kitchen followed by Cook, to watch open-mouthed as Edward tried to force the still screaming Emmy up the stairs.

Mrs Dalby tottered to the door. ‘My cordial!’ she gasped.

‘What’s he doing to Emmy?’ Babs demanded, ignoring her mistress’s request.

‘Taking her to pack her bags, throwing her out. It appears she’s - well, not a good girl.’

‘Emmy Carter? I don’t believe it. And I’m not leaving him alone with her, either, not if you dismiss me for it. Your son, ma’am, tried to creep into her bedroom last time he was here - against her wishes. This is just to get his own back on her for refusing.’ Babs ran up the stairs before her astonished mistress could stop her.

Cook went back into the kitchen to pour out a glass of her mistress’s ‘cordial’ which consisted of brandy and raspberry vinegar.

When she took it into the parlour, Mrs Dalby asked hesitantly, ‘Do
you
think Carter is respectable?’

‘Yes.’

‘But Edward seems so
sure
.’

‘Well, me an’ Babs know her a bit better than he does.’

 

Upstairs Babs arrived in time to see Edward Dalby making free with Emmy’s breasts while her friend struggled desperately to get away from him. Babs grabbed his arm and dragged him away, shouting, ‘How dare you? Who do you think you are?’

‘I’m your employer, that’s who, so if you want to keep your job, go away and mind your own business.’

Babs stood between them, hands on hips. ‘No, you’re not! Your mother’s my employer. And if she’s going to allow her son to make free with us maids, I’m leaving anyway.’

‘Don’t be stupid. I know this one’s been someone’s mistress before she came here.’

‘It’s not true, Babs, I promise you,’ Emmy said. ‘Marcus Armistead’s lying out of revenge.’

‘I prefer to take the word of a gentleman to that of a slut like you.’ As Edward moved towards Emmy, Babs stepped between them again, so he took a step backwards and pointed one finger at Emmy. ‘Pack your bags, you. You’re leaving here tonight. And I’m watching everything you pack to make sure you’re not stealing anything.’

‘Is your mother letting you do this?’ Babs demanded, shocked rigid. ‘Turning a decent girl out on the streets!’

‘My mother will do as I say.’

‘In that case, I’m leaving too. Here, love, let me help you pack, then you can come and help me. He can’t rape two of us at once, can he? If he tries, I’ll hit him on the head with the chamber pot.’ Suiting the action to the words, Babs picked the object up from under the bed and brandished it at him.

Spluttering with indignation, Edward retreated to the doorway. Things were not going as he’d expected.

Emmy gave Babs a grateful glance then began to throw things into her bag anyhow. She didn’t know what she’d have done without her friend’s help. When everything was packed, Babs brandished the chamber pot again and said, ‘Get out of our way, you.’ The two of them carried out the bag and a bundle, edging past him as if he was a dangerous animal, and went to Babs’ room to pack her things.

‘Where are we going to go?’ Emmy whispered.

Babs put her mouth close to her friend’s ear. ‘I’ve got an old auntie lives at the other end of the village. We can sleep there, though there’s only the floor. But at least we won’t have any unwanted bed companions.’ She was thoroughly enjoying the drama and meant exactly what she said. After fifteen years in service she had money saved and enough confidence in her own worth to defy anyone who ill treated her.

When her things were packed she stared aggressively at Edward. ‘You can either help me down with my trunk or wait for a cab driver to come and help me, but I’m not leaving Emmy alone with you, not for a second. You’re no gentleman, that’s for sure.’

‘I’ll help,’ he said sulkily. He was beginning to think he’d gone a bit overboard and wanted the two of them out of the house as quickly as possible before they could plant any doubts in his mother’s mind about what he had done. Maids were two a penny, after all. She’d soon find others.

The bumping noises brought Mrs Dalby out of the parlour. ‘What are you doing in your outdoor things, Babs?’ she asked in shock.

‘I’m leaving, ma’am. And I’d be obliged if you’d give us our wages before we go. We’ve both worked hard for you and I don’t think you’re the sort of mistress to cheat us out of our earnings.’

‘Leaving?
But why are
you
leaving? It was Emmy my son said must go.’

Babs drew herself up. ‘I’m not working anywhere that young men can make free with the maids. When I went upstairs just now he was holding Emmy prisoner and touching her breasts.’

‘She’s lying, Mother!’

‘I saw you doing it myself,’ Babs declared. ‘And Mrs Dalby knows I don’t tell lies.’

Cynthia Dalby turned bright red, gasped and put one hand to her throat.

Babs jerked one shoulder scornfully towards Edward. ‘First your son tries to force his way into poor Emmy’s bed, now he’s getting her dismissed. At night! After dark! How does he think she’ll find a room at this hour? It’s disgusting and I didn’t think it of you, Mrs Dalby, I really didn’t.’

‘But I—’

Edward interrupted his mother. ‘I was going to go with her and make sure she was safe.’

‘Safe!
With you? Hah! She’d be safer with a wild tiger than with you.’ Babs went to put an arm round Emmy. ‘Well, I’m not leaving her to his mercy, Mrs Dalby, and I’m not staying in a house where us maids aren’t safe from men like him - or from being dismissed when we’ve done nothing wrong.’

‘Babs, don’t,’ Mrs Dalby begged in a quavering voice. ‘We can talk about this in the morning.’

‘I couldn’t sleep for worrying he’d come creeping into my room.’ Babs slammed open the front door. ‘You run down to the cab stand, Emmy love, and ask old Alf if he’ll come and pick us up.’ She scowled at Edward. ‘I’ll make sure
he
doesn’t follow you.’ As Emmy left, she turned to her mistress and said coldly, ‘Our wages, if you please, ma’am.’

Cynthia Dalby tottered into the parlour, her head spinning so much from an unaccustomed second glass of her cordial that she could not think what to do. She opened her bureau and fumbled for her purse.