Fallen Women

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  ‘I need to think on this, Richard. It has come as quite a shock.’ Ann stood, indicating she wished her fiancé to leave.

  ‘I understand. I’m booked in at the Albert Hotel. I will call again tomorrow for your answer, and please God it is yes.’ Richard made to kiss Ann, but she quickly moved away.

  Maisie, Patsy and Mary rushed away from the door for fear of being caught eavesdropping.

  Moments later Ann came through, followed by Richard, who nodded to the girls before exiting the shop. Ann looked at her five friends in turn and she guessed by the look on their faces they knew exactly what was going on.

  Later, when the shop had closed, all the girls sat in the living room, listening intently as Ann retold the events of earlier.

  ‘What you gonna do now?’ Ella asked.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Ann said, shaking her head. ‘How can I marry Richard now? It would surely cause a rift between him and his parents and I can’t be the cause of that.’

  ‘It would, to be sure,’ Mary said.

  ‘Shut up, Mary!’ Patsy snapped. ‘Can’t yer see she’s upset enough without you adding to it!’

  ‘What does yer heart tell you?’ Maisie asked.

  ‘I love him, Maisie, with all my being, but I cannot for the life of me see a way out of this without someone being hurt.’

  ‘Why not take some time to think about it,’ Eve said quietly, ‘that short time won’t make much difference, but you have to be sure the decision you come to is the right one.’

  The girls all nodded their agreement with Eve’s wise words.

  ‘I suppose you’re right. I need to consider this long and hard.’

  ‘Jesus! Gladys will be distraught if there ain’t to be a wedding, so she will. She was lookin’ forward to having a new frock and bonnet!’ Mary muttered.

  Despite herself, Ann burst out laughing both at the words and the open disbelief of the others that Mary had spoken them. For now, the morose mood was broken, but Ann knew she would get little sleep that night; she had far too much to think on.

  Forty-Five

  Ann had slept fitfully and after breakfast the next morning she told the girls she was calling the wedding off.

  ‘Why?’ Maisie asked in disbelief.

  ‘Richard’s parents are set against this marriage! They are determined to see him marry well – not to someone like me,’ Ann said on a sob.

  ‘Bugger his parents!’ Patsy retorted. ‘If he loves you, and it’s plain he does, it won’t matter what they say!’

  ‘He stands to lose everything, Patsy, and I cannot be the one who causes that.’ Having had no sleep, tiredness and stress took its toll and Ann burst into tears.

  Mary rushed to her friend and wrapped her in her arms. ‘Ah now, Ann, don’t you be taking on so, it will work out somehow.

  ‘When will Richard be calling in?’ Maisie asked.

  ‘Today sometime,’ Ella said.

  Maisie sighed loudly, then rushed out, saying she had an errand to run.

  Overnight Maisie Bancroft had made a decision, and walking briskly to the Albert Hotel, she hoped it would not make matters worse for Ann.

  Ignoring the haughty look from the tall man at the reception, Maisie asked to see Lord Wyndham. It was urgent, she said. The man remembered her from her previous visit and graciously inclined his head.

  ‘The viscount is at this moment having breakfast in the dining room. If you will be kind enough to wait, I will inform him that you wish to speak with him.’

  ‘Thank you very much,’ Maisie said with a smile.

  Five minutes later, the two sat at a corner table in the dining room with coffee ordered.

  ‘Ann told us everything. I know I’m saying something as I shouldn’t but – Ann is all set to call the wedding off,’ Maisie said once the drinks were served.

  Richard pressed his fingertips to his eyes and dragged them down to cover his mouth, where he left them. The news had devastated him.

  ‘I take it yer folks know about Ann’s work?’ Maisie went on.

  With another nod, Richard’s face became a mask of misery.

  ‘Right, I have an idea. I ain’t sure it will work, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.’

  ‘I’m willing to try anything, Maisie. I can’t lose Ann now – I just can’t!’

  ‘All right. Now, this is my plan.’ Maisie spent the next half an hour laying out her idea.

  ‘It’s worth a try,’ Richard said eventually.

  ‘Well, it’s up to you now. Play yer part and we will hopefully see a good outcome,’ Maisie said.

  ‘Thank you, you have no idea how grateful I am,’ Richard said with a small smile.

  ‘Let’s see how it turns out first, shall we?’ Maisie grinned as she stood to leave. ‘Good luck.’

  Immediately Maisie had left, Richard donned his coat and hat and strode round to the stables at the back of the hotel. Climbing onto his horse, he carefully traversed the heaths and highways, guiding the mare safely all the way to the rolling hills of south Shropshire.

  It was his turn to make an unexpected visit to his parents.

  Lady Felicity Wyndham received her son in the drawing room. ‘Richard, how lovely to see you!’

  ‘Hello, Mother,’ he said, kissing her cheek.

  As he took a seat, Felicity’s smile turned to a frown. ‘Now what’s all this nonsense your father tells me about you being engaged to a – modiste?’

  ‘It’s not nonsense, Mother. It is, in fact, quite true.’ Richard braced himself for the inevitable onslaught of reasons why his marriage to Ann would not work.

  ‘Oh, my dear boy, it simply will not do! Now, I’ve found you a perfect match. She is the daughter of a well-to-do family; the father owns countless businesses, I believe. She’s not of noble birth, but I feel sure she would make you an admirable wife.’ Felicity spoke as she yanked the bell pull, summoning a maid. ‘Ah, Jenny, tea for two please,’ she said as the maid appeared, then disappeared just as quickly.

  ‘Mother, before you go on, I wish to ask a favour,’ Richard said.

  ‘Of course, dear,’ Felicity smiled as she retook her seat.

  ‘Come and meet Ann, then you will see she is the girl for me.’

  ‘Richard, that’s quite out of the question! I do not need to meet her to know she is most definitely not the girl you will marry!’ Felicity slipped a handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed daintily at her nose.

  ‘How can you know that without having met her?’

  ‘I know, Richard. Trust me, I’m your mother and I know what is best for you.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Mother, but in this you do not. I will marry Ann with or without your blessing – or indeed your approval.’ Richard knew it would be a battle of wills and his mother would be a tough opponent, but he was adamant he would not concede.

  It was then that his father stomped into the room trailing dirt across the carpet from his riding boots. Ignoring Felicity’s glare of disgust, he asked, ‘Son, have you come to your senses yet?’

  ‘Jeffrey, he wants us to meet this Ann—’ Felicity began.

  Cutting across her words Jeffrey boomed, ‘Most certainly not! Whatever can you be thinking, Richard?’

  ‘I can see we will not reach an accord regarding this matter, so I shall take my leave.’ Richard stood, kissed his mother once more and walked from the room.

  Trotting north to his own estate, Richard thought, That went exactly as expected – now what?

  Richard spent the night feeling miserable beyond belief. Maisie’s idea of Ann and his parents meeting was not about to come to fruition. Maisie had been so sure that if the Wyndhams got to know Ann they would fall in love with her too. Richard had agreed to endeavour to arrange a rendezvous, although he didn’t hold out much hope that it would take place. He had been proved correct in his thinking; his parents had dismissed the idea out of hand.

  He was still in the same position. He could either forsake Ann to please his parents or he could marry her
and risk the wrath of his mother and father. In his mind there was no question – he would marry Ann Felton, and damn the consequences.

  By dawn, having had no sleep, Richard was up and dressed. Informing the maid he would be away again for a while, he strode out to the stables. It was then he heard the crunch of carriage wheels on the gravel driveway. Walking to the front of the house, he saw his mother helped from her carriage by the driver.

  ‘Mother! It’s very early for you to be calling,’ Richard said as he kissed her cheek.

  ‘Yes, I agree. Get in the carriage,’ Felicity ordered.

  ‘Why? What’s going on?’ Richard asked.

  ‘I have decided we are going to see your intended. However, not a word to your father regarding this!’

  Felicity climbed back into the carriage, followed by her son, a huge grin on his face. Passing him a blanket, she wrapped another around her legs.

  ‘When you are ready, Jameson,’ Felicity called.

  ‘Right you are, madam, bloody getting me up at this time in the morning,’ the driver muttered as he tucked his own blanket around him.

  Felicity smiled as she heard his grumbles.

  ‘Come on, you lazy mares,’ he spoke gently and lovingly to the two horses as he flicked the reins. The carriage turned in the driveway and rolled out onto the street.

  *

  Ann had also spent another restless night and was up long before it was light. Richard had not visited as promised and she wondered if he was giving her more time to come to a decision. But this extra time was weighing heavily on her; she just needed to give him her answer – and soon. Sitting by the roaring fire which she had poked into life, she sipped her hot tea. Strange how these two simple things made life so much better.

  Giving a huge sigh, her mind returned yet again to her predicament. She loved Richard with all her heart and soul, but could she marry him and be the cause of great family upset?

  Her head and her heart held conflicting views and she was weary with the worry of it all. Deciding the best thing for now was to continue with her work, Ann carried the oil lamp up into the workroom. Lighting the gas lamps, she looked around. Various garments were in different stages of completion – where to start?

  With another sigh, Ann sat at the large table and picked up an almost finished wedding gown. As she began to sew the pearls in place, a tiny tear rolled down her cheek. Swiping it away, she admonished herself. Crying would do no good, it would not solve her problem.

  Right, she thought, let’s get this finished and I can start on the next.

  It was a couple of hours later that she was joined by the girls. Patsy threw more coal onto the fire and Mary carried in tea for them all.

  ‘Blimey, you’m up early!’ Maisie said.

  ‘I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I’d get this gown finished. I’m really pleased with it.’ Ann stood and held up the completed garment and smiled as the girls gave their approval. The dress was of the finest pale blue silk. The neckline scooped but not indecently low and the capped sleeves rested on the shoulders. It was then slipped into the cotton bag made from a sheet and laid out on a long table beneath the window.

  ‘You look dog-tired,’ Maisie said quietly, noting the red rings around Ann’s eyes.

  ‘I am, but there’s such a lot to do,’ Ann answered.

  ‘Best crack on then,’ Patsy added.

  Silence descended as the girls settled to their allotted tasks. By mid-morning Ann called a halt. ‘Time to take a break, ladies.’

  ‘Thank all the saints, I’m going blind with all these tiny stitches, so I am!’ Mary blustered.

  With a laugh, Ann said, ‘Let’s see how Ella and Eve are doing.’

  One by one they trooped down the stairs and into the shop.

  ‘Phew! It’s been busy this morning,’ Eve said as the last customer left.

  ‘For us too,’ Ann grinned.

  The doorbell tinkled and all turned to see who had entered.

  ‘Hello, Richard,’ Ann said, the others following suit. Having no idea he had been home the previous day, she surmised he had come straight from the Albert Hotel. Now the time had come to tell him she could not marry him and Ann’s heart was heavy with sorrow.

  ‘Ann, I’d like you to meet my mother, Lady Felicity Wyndham. Mother, this is Ann Felton, my bride-to-be,’ Richard said as he stood aside, allowing his mother to enter.

  A stunned silence fell as Lady Wyndham walked across to Ann. ‘Delighted to meet you, my dear,’ she said, extending a leather gloved hand.

  ‘And I, you,’ Ann’s voice held a tremble as she shook hands. ‘Please, come through and warm yourself.’

  Ann, shocked to her core, moved to the living room, followed by Lady Wyndham and Richard.

  ‘Well I never!’ Ella said.

  As the girls remained in the shop, Maisie merely grinned.

  ‘This were your doing, weren’t it?’ Patsy asked.

  Maisie nodded and raised her eyebrows.

  ‘You sly bugger!’ Mary gasped.

  ‘I thought if they could meet, then the Wyndhams couldn’t help but love our Annie,’ Maisie said, her grin spreading wider.

  ‘Did you see that coat she was wearing?’ Patsy asked. ‘All fur and good thick material. I’ll bet that cost a pretty penny. A hat and muff to match an’ all.’

  ‘Sure we could make that, so we could,’ Mary said.

  ‘I hope it goes well in there,’ Eve nodded towards the living room.

  ‘Don’t we all?’ Maisie added.

  With the tinkle of the doorbell, the girls were reminded of work and each meandered away to begin again. As they worked, their minds were firmly on Ann and how she was coping having tea with Lady Wyndham. If everything went well they could see Annie becoming the next Lady Wyndham.

  Forty-Six

  ‘Please take the seat by the fire, Lady Wyndham. Would you care for some tea?’ Ann asked, feeling way out of her depth at meeting Richard’s mother and at such short notice too.

  ‘Thank you, tea would be welcome,’ Felicity answered and, as Ann set about the task, she watched with eagle eyes.

  Nice posture, pleasant and polite. Speaks Queen’s English – brought up well. From kitchen maid to modiste – hard working and determined. Clearly poor – but clean and tidy. Living quarters spotless.

  These thoughts came quickly through Felicity’s mind as she continued to watch Ann carefully. She deliberately kept her counsel to see how the girl would react under pressure.

  Richard was setting cups on saucers and over the table his eyes met Ann’s.

  Felicity felt her heart lurch. She instantly saw the love between these two young people and knew right then that if she were to try to keep them apart she would lose her son forever.

  ‘My son tells me you are a modiste, Ann. May I call you Ann?’ Felicity said, breaking the silence that lay heavy in the room.

  ‘Please do, Lady Wyndham, and yes, I make wedding and ball gowns and even funerary garb on occasions. I work with my friends in the workroom upstairs.’ Ann felt her hands shaking as she poured the tea.

  ‘The ladies I saw earlier, I presume? I was not aware you owned your own shop.’ Felicity’s words were not scathing or sharp, instead they were kind and gentle.

  ‘Oh, it’s not my shop, Lady Wyndham, it belongs to Richard.’ Ann’s eyes moved to his, then back to his mother’s.

  Lady Wyndham raised her eyebrows in surprise but she said nothing.

  Ann took the chair at the other side of the fireplace after passing Lady Wyndham her tea. ‘Can I offer you some cake?’

  ‘No thank you, it’s not good for the waistline. Now, tell me how you came to meet my son.’

  Ann knew the question would come and the only way to answer was truthfully. Everything had to be out in the open before any decisions could be made one way or the other.

  Richard came to sit next to her and held her hand. Ann smiled at him lovingly before taking a big breath. ‘Well, it all began…’


  For the next hour or so, Ann related the tale of meeting Richard outside the Theatre Royal. She spoke of her work as a kitchen maid, employed by Gladys and Len at the Bell Inn. She told of Victoria Beckett’s attempt on her life – twice; as well as Peter Unwin trying to murder her, thinking she was a prostitute. She explained tentatively about her friend, Floss, losing her life to this killer and how she had persuaded the girls to leave the streets. She was not comfortable having to discuss these aspects of her life, but knew she had to be truthful. She then gave her reasons for attending the assizes court and finished with Richard buying the shop and helping the girls by giving them employment.

  Lady Wyndham had listened intently throughout, throwing in the odd question here and there. She was shocked, to say the least, at the things Ann revealed, but she kept it well hidden. At last she said, ‘My dear girl, I can see you are a formidable force and when faced with seemingly insurmountable odds you refuse to concede.’

  ‘I believe in fighting for what I feel to be right and standing by those who I call friends,’ Ann answered as she stood to make more tea.

  ‘Would it be an imposition to ask to see your garments?’ Lady Wyndham asked.

  ‘I’d love to show them to you. Please come this way.’ Ann led Richard and his mother to the workroom, where she introduced Maisie, Patsy and Mary.

  Taking a recently finished white wedding dress from its cotton cover, Ann held it up for Lady Wyndham to see.

  ‘This is divine, Ann!’ the woman gushed as she made a twirling motion with her fingers. Ann turned the dress around and smiled at Richard as his mother moved in for a closer look. ‘Wonderful. Simply beautiful,’ Felicity muttered as she gently touched the pearls. Looking up she added, ‘You are all very talented, ladies.’

  ‘Thank you,’ the girls chorused, their faces showing wide smiles.

  Felicity looked at ball gowns, bridesmaids’ dresses and a mother of the bride outfit. Then, giving her thanks to the girls, returned to the living room with Ann and Richard. Retaking her seat, she watched her son as he again helped with tea making. He never takes his eyes off her, Felicity thought, he absolutely adores her. She felt a stab of envy at the way Richard and Ann laughed together. She had once enjoyed that adoration from Jeffrey, but now all he cared about was the breeding of his horses. When had the love Felicity and her husband shared faded into the background? How had she allowed it to become of so little importance in their lives? She wondered now if the same would happen to Richard and Ann were they to be joined in holy matrimony.