The Constant Heart (53 page)

The
Ellie May
was due to sail on the morning tide, and Rosina came to the uncomfortable decision that Caddie and Pip would have to sail without her. For once there was something more important to her than earning money, and this was the day she had set aside for her visit to Naked Boy Yard.

She found Septimus sprawled in his chair, and for a horrible moment she thought that he was dead. His face was pale and unshaven and his mouth hung open, his chin resting on his chest. His clothes were dirty and he smelled almost as bad as the hold of the
Ellie May
. She approached him nervously and felt for a pulse in his neck, jumping backwards in alarm as he emitted an explosive snort that shook his whole body. He opened his eyes. 'Two ladies, come to visit me?'

With her fright turning to anger, Rosina shook him by the shoulders. 'Wake up, you drunken beast. It's me, Rosina May.'

'Who is the other girl, then?'

She went to the washstand, where she found a jug filled with cold water. It looked as though it had been there for some time: there was a skim of slime on the surface and tiny things swimming around like squiggling punctuation marks. She tipped the contents over his head. Spluttering and coughing, he shook the water from his eyes. 'I'm drowning.'

'You're drunk.'

He peered at her through narrowed eyes. 'It is Miss May, isn't it?'

'At least you can just see one of me now. I need to talk to you urgently about Walter Brown. Do you remember him? He's in Newgate awaiting trial.'

He pressed his fingers into his temples. 'The name is familiar. May I have a moment to compose my thoughts?'

'No,' Rosina said firmly. He had closed his eyes and she was afraid that he was going to sink back into a drunken stupor. She hooked her hand through his arm, in an abortive effort to raise him to his feet. 'Get up, man. I'm taking you to a coffee house. Maybe I can get some sense out of you if you sober up a bit.'

Somehow, although she never knew quite how she managed it, Rosina got him out of the lodging house and along the street to an insalubrious-looking café, where she plied him with black coffee. It took some of her hard-earned pennies, but she considered it an investment. Having eaten two slices of toast and drunk several cups of coffee, he seemed relatively sober.

'Now, Septimus,' she said, leaning her elbows on the table and fixing him with a hard stare, 'can you remember going to see Walter in Newgate?'

He leaned back in his chair, taking a black cheroot from his breast pocket and lighting it. After a couple of puffs, he nodded his head. 'Ah, that's better. Yes, of course I remember seeing Mr Brown. He was a little suspicious at first, that is until I showed him the gold locket, and then he became more forthcoming.'

'And? What then? Is he well? How did he look to you?'

Septimus drew on the cheroot and blew a stream of smoke into the air above her head. 'He looked like a man who has spent several weeks in hell. But I will be defending him at his trial in two weeks' time.'

'Two weeks? His trial is in two weeks?'

'Yes, didn't I mention it before? Fortunately for Mr Brown the case against him is for the theft of the diamond ring. It would appear that Captain Barnum has not so far produced enough evidence to warrant a charge of piracy.'

Rosina leapt to her feet. 'Septimus, you are impossible. How could you not tell me something so important? Have you gathered any evidence that will clear him? Have you spoken to Sukey – I mean, Susan Barnum? Or been in touch with Mr Roland Rivers?'

'No, but I will. All in good time, dear lady.'

She threw up her hands in disgust. 'I trusted you, and you pickled yourself in brandy. How could you?'

'Very easily.

'Well, no more. You are not to touch a drop until Walter is free. Do you understand me?'

'I do, but I can't promise anything. You see, brandy is my friend. It comforts me when I am sad and lonely.'

'You won't have time to be sad and lonely. I will make sure of that.' Rosina picked up his hat and thrust it into his hands. 'Come with me. We'll make a start on the case together. I will keep you company today, not Mistress Brandy.'

'Where are we going?' Septimus demanded as she dragged him by the hand out of the café and through the narrow streets until they came to a cab stand. 'Eastcheap, cabby,' she said, climbing into the waiting hansom cab. 'Come along, Septimus. We're going to Roland's place of business.'

He clambered in and sat down beside her. 'My head aches, Miss May. This is not a good idea.'

'Never mind your head. We'll stop at the chemist's shop later and get you some seltzer, but first I want to find out if Roland is still in Rotterdam. If he is then we will send him a telegraph, asking him to come home for the trial. He need not fear a breach of promise suit now. At least, I hope that I have sorted the matter with Sukey, even if she did find it hard to take.'

'Breach of promise? You are making my head spin.'

She smiled. 'Never mind; that doesn't concern you. We must gather all the witnesses we can to speak up for Walter. I will help you, Septimus. All you have to do is to keep off the drink.'

As they entered the imposing portals of Rivers and Son, Importers and Exporters, Rosina realised that they must present a strange picture. She was dressed in her yellow gown and wearing a second-hand straw bonnet that she had purchased in a dolly shop near Etheredge's Wharf. She had also bought a pair of black lace mittens, to disguise her calloused hands; the moth holes were not too noticeable, unless someone took a close look at them. She had taken Septimus to a barber's shop and he was clean shaven now, with his hair brushed tidily back from his high forehead. She could do little about his clothes, but she had to admit that he carried himself like a gentleman and spoke like one too: in fact, when he was sober she could see that Septimus Sumption might actually be a good lawyer. On making enquiries of a slightly supercilious clerk, she discovered that Roland was still abroad and not expected back in the near future. She had to be content with that, and they made their way next to the telegraph office in Lower Thames Street where she sent an urgent message to Roland, begging him to come home and stand witness.

'Well, now,' Septimus said, holding the door open for her. 'You have done most of my work for me. I'll bid you good day.'

'Oh, no you don't.' Rosina caught him by the hand. 'I'm sorry, but I don't trust you to keep to your word once you are back in your horrible room. I have an idea where you could stay, if my friends will be so kind as to put you up until the trial.'

'No, really, I must protest.'

'If you want to get paid for your services, and to further your career, then I suggest you do as I say.'

Reluctantly, he allowed her to take him to Black Eagle Wharf. It was a long walk, but the weather was cool and dry, and Rosina did not want to waste any more of her money on a cab. She left him outside Sam's shop, while she went in to enquire about the children's health and to discuss the possibility of the Smilies taking a paying guest for the two weeks leading up to the trial. Sam said that the danger was past, and the boys were recovering nicely. He told her that he would do anything to help young Walter, who was a decent fellow, but he had to ask Gladys first. At his call, she came hurrying from the parlour to greet Rosina as if she were a long-lost daughter, demanding to be told everything that had happened to them all since they had left Black Eagle Wharf. When Rosina finally brought Septimus into the shop, she could see that he was going out of his way to be charming, and that this was having the desired effect on Gladys, whose motherly instincts were instantly aroused. She hustled him off into the kitchen to make him a pot of tea, and Rosina was left with Sam. 'He must be kept sober,' she whispered. 'Don't allow him near a brandy bottle, or Walter's case will be lost. Give him as many cigars as he wants, and I will find a way to repay you, even if I have to haul rubbish for the rest of my life.'

Sam patted her on the shoulder. 'Don't worry, Rosie. We could do with the extra money, and we'll look after the young fellow. I can see that my Glad has taken a real shine to him. Wouldn't surprise me if she didn't get him spruced up like a real gent afore the week is out.'

Rosina kissed his leathery cheek, thanked him once again and hurried out of the shop. She had not gone more than a couple of yards when she saw Harry strolling along the wharf with, of all people, Sukey leaning on his arm. Rosina dodged into a doorway, not wanting to be seen. She would have loved to rush up to Sukey and give her a hug, but she was unsure of her reception. It was enough for now to see that she was on good terms with Harry. He had promised to tell her the truth about the ring, and she could only hope that he had kept his word. As she merged into the shadows, Rosina watched them walk past her, laughing and chatting like old friends. Well, she thought, Sukey had always had a fancy for Harry: she had yearned for a rich husband, and maybe they were meant for each other. She set off for home with a lighter step and a glimmer of hope in her heart.

The
Ellie May
was late returning, and she had missed the tide. Rosina had spent two long hours pacing the stoop and scanning the river for the red-brown sails. When she saw them at last, she knew that they would have to wait until the next high tide to bring them up to the wharf to unload. She blamed herself for not accompanying them on their trip. She had been well aware that Caddie was not strong enough to cope unaided with the heavy work. It had taken the two of them to hoist and lower the mainsail, and although they had both become reasonably proficient with the tiller, there were times when only Pip had the skill required to guide them through the busy waterway or to steer the vessel alongside. They had lost a day's pay, but it would be worth it if she could secure Walter's release from prison.

Every day after that, Rosina went out on the
Ellie May
, working twice as hard as she had before, if that were possible. She had put the wheels in motion and now she knew that she had to trust Septimus to be professional, and the Smilies to keep him sober enough to do his work. She could only hope that Roland had received her message and that he would return to London in time for the trial.

On the day that Walter was due in court, Rosina put on her lamentably shabby gown and bonnet and, having told Caddie and Pip to treat it as a well-earned holiday, she took a hansom cab to the Old Bailey. She found a seat in the public gallery and sat down to wait with her heart beating a tattoo against her ribs and her palms sweating. If she had hoped that Walter's case would be heard first, she was doomed to disappointment. One after another the accused shuffled into the dock to hear the charges brought against them. The lawyers for the defence battled it out with the prosecution and the judge and jury listened with varying degrees of patience. After a recess for luncheon, Rosina's nerves were stretched as taut as violin strings. She was becoming more and more nervous as the afternoon wore on, and could have wept with relief when Walter's case was finally called. She leaned over the balcony to get a better look and her heart was wrenched at the sight of him. He was pale and even thinner than before, but he held his head up high as he promised to tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

The charge was read out, accusing him of stealing the diamond ring belonging to the Gostellow family, to which he put in a plea of not guilty. Rosina held her breath as Septimus stepped forward; she prayed silently that he was sober enough to conduct the case. He looked impressive in his wig and gown, and, thanks to Gladys, remarkably clean. His speech was not slurred and he put the facts clearly and succinctly to the jury, calling on his first witness, Mr Harry Gostellow.

Rosina's knuckles whitened as she watched Harry take the witness stand. She saw him glance upwards and it was only then that she realised that Sukey was seated in the gallery, next to her father. Rosina listened intently as Septimus outlined the facts in the case, going carefully through the events which had led up to the moment when she had thrown the ring at Harry, although he did not mention her by name. She would have been more than willing to appear as a witness, but Septimus had obviously decided that this was unnecessary. She glanced at Sukey in an attempt to read her expression, but she kept her eyes downcast, giving nothing away. Rosina dragged her attention back to Septimus, who had produced the ring and had given it to the clerk of the court to pass on to Harry for examination.