‘Why?’ Polly asked wiping her nose on her coat sleeve.
‘I don’t know, maybe it suits him to let someone else take the reins. Anyway, we could do a lot worse, at least we’ll eat and stay warm.’
Polly nodded. As they walked, Adam related his attempts at following Digit’s instructions on how to pick pockets and how terrible he was at it. His heart warmed as he watched his sister laugh; it was something he hadn’t seen for a long time.
23
True to his word, Nathaniel Bellamy had reported Pollyanna’s disappearance to the police, and as he suspected they were not particularly interested in having to search for her. She was now just another ragamuffin living on the streets and they had far more important things to do.
She’ll be long gone now but I’ll instruct my officers to keep a look out while they’re on patrol, the sergeant had told him.
Nathaniel sat at his wife’s bedside before setting out for work and explained the situation to her.
‘I suppose Prudence was right when she said we were doing the wrong thing, but at least we tried to give an unfortunate child a good home,’ Lilith mumbled.
‘Don’t you fret now, my love; you need to rest and regain your strength. The doctor will be here later to see you.’
Kissing his wife’s forehead, Nathaniel left the room.
Prudence Kenton was waiting in the hall to see him out. ‘Lilith is very tired again this morning, do what you can for her,’ he said as he buttoned up his black coat and took his hat and cane from Bridget the maid. His nod gave the girl leave to return to the kitchen.
‘Of course, sir,’ Prudence said.
‘Thank you, Prudence, I’ll see you tonight.’
I’ll be waiting, she thought as she saw him climb into the cab which waited for him every morning.
Closing the door, Prudence ascended the stairs to Cora’s room. It was time to be a governess again. She prayed it would not be too much longer and then she would be hiring someone else to fill that role. In fact, once she was mistress of this house, then young Cora Bellamy would be packed off to finishing school.
During the afternoon the doctor called to see Lilith. ‘I don’t understand it,’ he said to Prudence as she walked him to the front door. ‘She should be showing signs of getting well by now.’
‘Some days are better than others,’ Prudence replied.
‘I think maybe it’s time for her to be admitted to the hospital,’ the doctor mumbled as he dropped his top hat onto his head and tapped it into place.
The colour drained from Prudence’s face as she digested his words. ‘Dr Shepherd, Mr Bellamy will never allow it. Besides I’m perfectly capable of administering her medicine as you well know.’
‘I realise that Miss Kenton and I cast no aspersions on your capability as Mrs Bellamy’s nurse and carer. However, no matter what you or I do, it is evident her health is not improving.’ The doctor shook his head.
‘But the new medicine you have prescribed, surely that will work,’ Prudence said feeling agitated.
‘It should. We’ll try it for a few weeks and see what happens. If there is little or no change in Mrs Bellamy’s condition, then I will have no alternative but to admit her to the hospital. Good day, Miss Kenton.’
‘Thank you, Dr Shepherd, good day to you too,’ Prudence said as the gruff little man left the house complaining about the weather.
Closing the door, Prudence’s mind worked quickly. She only had a few more weeks before her hope of becoming Nathaniel’s wife would be lost forever. In fact, she could well find herself behind bars should it be discovered she was sometimes adding Belladonna to Lilith’s medicine and at others using a mustard spoon for a pure drop of poison. Therefore, it was time to up the dose. She had to see Lilith taken to her grave rather than to the hospital.
*
A young constable by the name of Jonas Philby plodded towards the cross-roads of Walsall Street, Duke Street and St James’ Street. With one arm behind his back he was swinging his truncheon thinking about the sergeant’s instruction to watch for a young girl who’d run away from the Bellamy family.
Constable Philby had aspirations of rising up through the ranks and eventually becoming an inspector. If he could crack this case and find the missing child, he felt sure it would go a long way to aiding his ambition. Maybe he could visit the family to glean more information which in turn might reveal a lead as to where the little girl might be.
Walking up St James Street he asked a passer-by which house belonged to Mr Bellamy. The sergeant had mentioned the name of the family and the street they lived in but nothing more. Thanking the lady, the policeman walked on.
Locating the house, he tapped on the door with his truncheon. Bridget answered and bid him enter saying the master was out but she would fetch the governess. Philby glanced around as he waited then saw a woman sweep down the staircase followed by the maid. Invited into the parlour he was asked to take a seat.
Prudence was terrified the policeman had come to question her about her mistress’ illness or her purchases of Belladonna.
‘How can I help you, Constable?’ she asked on a croak.
‘I believe a young girl has gone missing from this address, Miss, and I wondered if you could tell me more about it,’ Philby said his helmet now lying in his lap.
Prudence relaxed but only a little. So, he was only here about Pollyanna. She watched him take out a small notebook and pencil from his top pocket.
The constable listened and made notes as Prudence explained about the child coming from Reed’s Orphanage and then the incident on the towpath.
‘Fitch, you say?’
‘Yes, Pollyanna Fitch,’ Prudence confirmed.
‘Well thank you, Miss, I think that’s all I need to know,’ Philby said as he stood and replaced his book and pencil back in his pocket. Donning his helmet, he smiled. ‘I’ll leave you in peace then.’
Prudence saw him out and heaved a great sigh of relief. The quicker Lilith Bellamy died, the happier Prudence would be, for then she could dispose of the poison she had hidden away. Returning to the playroom, Prudence had no idea that Bridget had heard every word.
Constable Philby walked briskly down the street towards Reed’s Orphanage. His excitement mounted; it was his first case and although his sergeant would berate him for stepping away from his regular beat, he felt sure he was onto something. He now knew that the Fitch child had gone to the Bellamys from the orphanage, but where had she come from before that?
*
Prudence Kenton decided it was wiser not to drip the poison into the new bottle of medicine but to deliver it directly from the spoon. She could not risk the bottle being contaminated for fear of being discovered at a later date. Besides it would work all the faster.
‘What’s that?’ Lilith asked as Prudence lifted her head gently.
‘Some new medication from the doctor. It will taste nasty but it will help,’ Prudence whispered. Then in her mind she added, Oh yes it will help you – towards your grave!
Lilith swallowed and grimaced.
‘There now, try and get some rest and I’ll bring you a cup of tea later.’
‘You’re so kind to me, Prudence, thank you.’
Hearing a noise from the playroom Prudence answered, ‘I should go and see to Miss Cora, it sounds like her dolls are falling out again.’
Lilith smiled and closed her eyes.
Leaving quietly, Prudence strode quickly to see what all the noise was about. She found Cora throwing her toys around.
‘Stop that at once!’ Prudence snapped.
‘I’m bored now that Polly’s gone. I have no-one to talk to!’ Cora shouted back.
It took two strides and only a second for Prudence to slap the girl’s face hard.
‘To annoy you mean! Behave yourself otherwise you will be gone too! You are a spoilt little ingrate and I for one have had quite enough of your tantrums! Now find something to do – quietly!’ Prudence glared at the child da
ring her to argue.
Cora fled to her bedroom and Prudence heard the door slam.
Something must be done about that child and sooner rather than later. It was time to suggest to Nathaniel he should consider sending her away to school.
Knowing this would put her position of governess in jeopardy, she began to construct a plan. Once Cora was gone, Prudence could then take over as housekeeper. She would convince Nathaniel he would be lost without her to take care of his ailing wife.
Hearing no noise from Cora’s room she thought, Yes madam, your days are numbered in this house!
24
Minnie sat with her boys trying to come to terms with the fact that she had almost buried her husband alive.
‘He was stiff, Mum,’ James said still feeling the shock of it all.
‘The cold obviously, but I blame that doctor. If he’d been sober, he would have realised that bugger was still breathing!’
‘I honestly thought he’d gone,’ Peter said.
‘We all did, lad,’ Minnie concurred. ‘Can you imagine if we’d filled in the grave?’ She shuddered at the thought. ‘Well, we’re back to locking the doors again.’
‘Mum, we ought to go back and check.’ It was Peter, the ever-sensible one who spoke.
‘No!’ Minnie was horrified at the suggestion. ‘We heard him – he moaned!’
‘That could have been gas,’ James said.
‘James, he sat up for God’s sake!’ Minnie retorted.
‘Gas. We’ve all heard of it happening. I think Peter is right, cos if he is – dead, we should bury him.’
‘I suppose you’re right,’ Minnie said with a sigh. ‘We’ll go tomorrow cos I can’t face it today.’
‘What about school?’ Peter asked.
‘You’ll have to miss it cos I ain’t going on my own!’
Minnie didn’t sleep at all that night and every little sound had her jumping at shadows. By the morning she was bone weary.
Wrapping up against the cold, mother and sons set out to retrace their steps of the previous day. Coming to the heath they walked close together and before long they saw the handcart where they’d left it.
Slowly they approached the place where they had dug the earth out.
‘I can’t look in there!’ Minnie said and turned to walk away.
‘Mum, stay there with James. I’ll do it,’ Peter said as he grabbed her arm.
Minnie nodded, ‘Just be careful.’
Peter gathered his courage and strode forward. He looked into the hole and breathed a sigh of relief. ‘It’s empty!’ he called and bent to retrieve their shovel. Throwing it onto the cart he grabbed the handles and pulled.
Travelling home all three felt better for having revisited the site. At least now they knew Gerald was still alive. However, where he was now was another matter entirely.
*
Gerald had woken up having no idea why he was wrapped in a sheet lying out on the heath. Scrambling out of the hole he stared around him – was that a grave he’d been in? How had this come about? The last thing he remembered was drinking in the tavern and he’d expected to sleep on the hay in the yard.
His limbs shook uncontrollably with cold and his fingers and toes were numb. Willing his legs to work he stumbled away; he needed to get warm as soon as possible.
Staggering along he wondered again how he had ended up out on the heath. He had no money and knew the only place he could go now was back to Minnie. Surely she would take pity on him if he explained to her the circumstances in which he found himself.
With Bank Street in sight he tripped in his eagerness to be out of the cold wind. Righting himself he ploughed on. Reaching the house at last he banged on the door. There was no answer so he went into the privy to wait, at least he was out of the freezing blast of air that cut across the yard.
A short while later as he rubbed his limbs in an effort to keep the blood flowing, Gerald heard voices and a door slam. Minnie was home. Now he could warm himself by her fire and be fed a morsel if there was anything to be had.
Stepping out into the icy morning he crossed to the back door and knocked. ‘Minnie, it’s me, open up. I’m dying of cold out here!’
‘I don’t give a bugger!’ Minnie’s voice carried on the silence.
‘You don’t understand, Minnie, I’ve been out on the heath all night and I’m perished,’ Gerald croaked.
‘Go away, Gerald, cos you ain’t wanted here.’
Dithering now, he tried stamping his feet but pain shot up his legs. ‘I’ve got frostbite, Minnie, I could die!’
‘Then do it somewhere else!’
How could this woman be so heartless? She was deliberately leaving him outside where he would most certainly freeze if she didn’t help. Too cold to stand there any longer, Gerald wandered away, his teeth chattering as he went.
Breathing on the window pane Minnie rubbed a tiny circle in the ice and watched her husband leave. Part of her felt guilty at the sight of him blue with cold hobbling down the street. Then she thought of Polly and Adam and her guilt melted away. She couldn’t believe Gerald had survived the night out there, and thinking again about the shock she’d felt seeing him move when she thought him dead, she shivered.
Looking at her boys sat almost on top of the small fire in the hearth, she passed them the last of the bread and the toasting fork.
‘Where will Dad go, d’ya think?’ James asked as he toasted his bread.
‘I don’t care as long as it’s away from here,’ Minnie answered scathingly. Swinging the kettle on the fire crane, she lifted it to pour her boys a cup of hot water.
Peter nodded his thanks then said, ‘I’m off out in a bit. I’ll see what’s going begging in the town. It’s Saturday so it will be busy, but I’ll be as quick as I can.’
‘And I’ll get over to the slag heap then at least we can have a fire in the grate,’ James added.
‘You’re good boys, you two go up the market, and I’ll pick the coal,’ Minnie told them with a smile, but beneath her brave veneer, she was still afraid Gerald would find a way to worm his way back into the house.
*
Over at Reed House, Constable Philby was sitting in Una Reed’s office. He explained he was investigating the disappearance of Polly Fitch.
‘I’m afraid I’m unable to help you, Constable,’ Una said. ‘You see it was the father who brought the Fitch children in but I have no idea where from.’
‘Children?’
‘Yes, Adam and Polly,’ Una replied.
‘I see. I was under the impression there was only a girl, by the name of Pollyanna,’ Constable Philby said as he made a quick note in his book. ‘Might I have a word with…’ he glanced at his notes, ‘… Adam?’
‘He ran away shortly after Polly was – went to her new home,’ Una corrected herself.
‘Ah.’
Una then explained she kept the doors locked at night.
‘So how did the boy escape?’ Philby asked.
‘I can only surmise either he, or one of his friends, picked the locks. Now if there’s nothing more, Constable, I am a very busy woman.’ Una stood and walked the policeman to the front door.
‘Many thanks,’ Philby said as he replaced his helmet.
Una nodded and after watching him walk away she closed the door. Blasted children! Now I have the police here asking questions!
Careful eavesdropping a short while later provided Joe and the others with the information regarding the visit from the constable. Una had been updating Ruth in the corridor leading to her office and Joe was close by.
‘Adam needs to know the coppers are looking for him and Polly!’ Rodney said as they all huddled together after lunch.
‘How? We can tell him if and when we see him, otherwise we’re stuck. None of us knows where he is.’ Joe shook his head in dismay.
‘Well one of us needs to get out of this bloody place and find him!’ Rodney was becoming agitated.
‘And then there’ll be
another for the police to chase,’ Matt said sensibly.
‘All we can do for now is watch by the hedge. Adam said they would come when they could manage.’ Arthur’s voice was quiet as he spoke further. ‘We can’t let anyone see us checking though cos Old Reedy will have that Bluebottle back here like a shot!’
May giggled at her brother’s nickname for the constable.
Feeling thoroughly useless at that moment they went back indoors as the bell sounded for afternoon class.
*
Meanwhile in the market, Adam and Polly had spotted Digit.
‘Ad’ look…’ Polly began.
‘Shush!’ Adam warned her.
Standing at the edge of the stalls they watched as Digit’s eyes peeped into a basket held over a woman’s arm. It was closely followed by his fingers before he moved quickly away.
Following him from afar they saw him stop next to a well-dressed gentleman and lady. Carefully, Digit allowed his fingertips to touch the man’s pocket for an instant. Then he pushed against the fellow and Adam heard him given an apology.
‘Sorry, mister, that woman barged into me.’
‘That’s all right, young man,’ came the reply.
Adam and Polly had watched spellbound as Digit had lifted the man’s wallet from his pocket without being detected. As the man turned away from him, Digit made good his escape and lost himself in the crowds.
‘Blimey, he’s good ain’t he?’
‘Very good, Polly, but one day he’ll get caught,’ Adam replied as they went about scavenging beneath the stalls.
‘What would happen to him then?’ Polly asked innocently.
‘He’d go to Stafford Gaol most likely,’ Adam answered as he picked up an apple and shoved it in his pocket.
‘Will we go there if we get copped?’ Polly’s face was a mask of fear.
‘No, we’d probably be taken back to Reed’s.’
‘That wouldn’t be so bad,’ Polly said thinking of her friend May.
‘For me no, but you’d have to go back to the Bellamys. That’s why we mustn’t get caught.’
The Five Shilling Children Page 15
