The Five Shilling Children

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  Prudence entered Lilith’s room and saw Nathaniel holding his wife’s hand and weeping. Moving to him she placed a hand on his shoulder.

  ‘She’s gone, Prudence,’ Nathaniel sobbed as he looked up at her.

  ‘I’m so very sorry,’ Prudence returned but, in her mind added, that it was not sooner!

  *

  Across town Arthur and May Johnson were holed up in a derelict house behind the cattle market. Once through the orphanage gate they had run until they could not have taken another step. Finding the dilapidated property, they hid there for the night. Scared and alone the pair had held onto each other as they waited for dawn to break.

  May spoke as the cold grey daylight filtered through the window frames devoid of glass. ‘What are we going to do now?’

  ‘Somehow we need to find Adam and Polly,’ her brother returned.

  ‘How?’

  ‘I don’t know, May.’ Arthur sighed feeling defeated even before they had begun their search.

  ‘Adam said they’d visit when they could,’ May reminded him.

  ‘That’s it! May, you are a genius! All we have to do is go to the orphanage early every morning and pound to a penny we’ll run into Adam and Polly eventually!’ Arthur beamed at his good idea.

  ‘Arthur, I’m cold and hungry,’ May muttered.

  ‘Oh blimey, we didn’t think this through very well, did we? I just wanted to get you away before Old Reedy sold you on, cos I might never have found you. Do you want to go back?’

  ‘No! I’d rather be here with you,’ May answered.

  Arthur smiled at his sister and wondered why life was being so cruel to them. ‘Right, first we’ll go to Reed’s and wait a little while, maybe Adam and Polly will visit today. If not, we might see the others and we can pass on a message that we can be found here. Then we’ll go and try to find something to eat. What do you reckon?’

  ‘It sounds like a good plan to me,’ May said her mood lifting at the thought of food.

  Keeping a low profile by sticking to the side streets, the siblings set off for Reed’s.

  At that moment Rodney, Matt and Joe were standing in Una Reed’s office. The previous night when Rodney had re-entered the house after helping the Johnsons escape, he was stunned to find Una waiting for him. Matt and Joe had stood by helplessly. ‘To bed all of you, I will deal with this in the morning!’

  Now it was the morning and the three boys stood shoulder to shoulder in more ways than one. They would not give up any information regardless of what Old Reedy threatened.

  ‘Would you care to tell me what you thought you were doing last night?’

  The boys remained tight lipped.

  ‘Aiding the Johnsons in running away it seems,’ Una went on, ‘may I ask why?’

  Still the lads said nothing.

  ‘Athos, Porthos and Aramis.’ Una sighed. Seeing the puzzled look between Matt and Rodney then the smile on Joe’s face she added, ‘Explain please if you would, Mr Blunt.’

  Joe turned to his friends. ‘They were the three musketeers in the book written by Alexandre Dumas in 1844 and—’

  ‘That will do – thank you,’ Una interrupted. ‘Now let me point something out here and now. The three musketeers you are not! What you have done – twice now I believe – was very wrong. You have subjected the Fitches and the Johnsons to a life on the streets where they could die of starvation!’

  ‘At least they’m free of this place,’ Rodney muttered.

  ‘Do you have something to say, Mr Dukes?’ Una asked stiffly. Rodney shook his head. ‘By rights I should inform the police of your behaviour…’

  ‘They can’t do nothing!’ Rodney spat.

  ‘They can arrest you for aiding and abetting a runaway,’ Una said grasping at straws.

  ‘If that’s yer thinking, you’d best do it. But then there would be nobody here but you and the staff.’ Matt spoke for the first time.

  ‘For your information, Mr Rodden,’ Una glared at Matt, ‘Miss Ashby is at this moment inducting new children into this place as Rodney so succinctly put it!’

  ‘What you gonna do with us then?’ Rodney asked.

  ‘I warn you, I want no more of this! Now get out of my office!’ Una’s voice was like iron.

  The boys donned jackets and trooped outside laughing. Joe held his arm up. ‘One for all and all for one!’

  ‘What the—?’ Rodney questioned.

  ‘Bloody hell Rodney you have to learn to read! It’s what the musketeers say when faced with a challenge, so put up your swords and say it with me,’ Joe explained enthusiastically.

  Una watched from her office window and sighed. She should have kept her mouth shut and just caned the lot of them but their howls would most certainly have upset the new children coming in more than they were already. Now those boys were playing at being musketeers – God only knew what they would come up with next!

  Turning away from the window she did not see the Johnson children scurry past the gate. Una left her office to help Ruth Ashby with the new intake.

  Arthur had caught a glimpse of Una as she moved from her window and he prayed they had gone unnoticed. He saw the three boys messing about and laughing. Giving a short whistle he and May then moved to the designated meeting place.

  ‘Arthur!’ Joe gasped. ‘We thought it was Adam.’

  Quickly relating a message to be passed to the Fitches, Arthur said they had to leave to find some food. After a hurried goodbye he and May ran down the street and away from the orphanage.

  Hearing the bell Joe said, ‘Come musketeers, the Queen hails us!’

  Laughing at their friend, Rodney and Matt followed Joe indoors for class.

  27

  James and Peter Fitch walked into the house both stunned to learn that Polly and Adam were half-siblings to them. Their mother had been unfaithful to their father and the two dark haired children were the result.

  Minnie had known in an instant that they had overheard the conversation, the looks on their faces were testament to the fact. She had felt wretched at the disappointment she saw there.

  All four had talked and yelled for what seemed like hours. The boys were trying to understand what had made their mother cheat on their father. Gerald was ranting and raving about Minnie being a whore, and she was giving as good as she got. Now in the early dawn, Minnie could take no more.

  ‘Gerald, you need to get out right now! You two,’ she said to her sons, ‘if you want to go with him, I’ll understand. Now you know the all of it, you can make your own minds up.’ Minnie didn’t want her boys to leave but she had to be fair in giving them the opportunity to go if they so wished.

  ‘I’m staying here, Mum,’ Peter answered. No matter what, he was always the first to forgive.

  ‘Me an’ all,’ James agreed.

  Still holding the knife Minnie waved it at her husband. ‘You have yer answer, Gerald, now get out and don’t ever come back!’

  Gerald stood and took a step towards her. ‘You give me that knife and stop this bloody nonsense!’

  ‘You’ve made our lives miserable for too long,’ Minnie said as she raised the weapon and saw him stop in his tracks, ‘and I’ll kill you before I’ll let you back into this family!’

  Suddenly all hell was let loose. In the same moment that Gerald shot forward and punched Minnie, James grabbed the knife from her hand. He stared in horror as the blade slipped between his father’s ribs, the momentum of Gerald’s lunge towards his wife pushing the knife in deeper.

  There was deathly quiet as each stared at the other as Gerald slid to the floor, the knife’s handle visible in his side. Mother and sons watched in fascinated horror as the blood pooled around the stricken man. They heard him gurgle for help, then the gasps as he tried desperately to hold onto life. They saw him pale as he realised it was all in vain.

  Gerald Fitch closed his eyes and let out his final breath.

  ‘Mum – Mum!’ James was in a blind panic. ‘Oh God! I’ve killed him…!’<
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  ‘Stop it!’ Minnie reprimanded him with a stinging blow to his cheek. ‘It was an accident.’

  ‘Nobody will believe that,’ James blubbered rubbing his sore face.

  ‘No-one will know. He froze to death out on the heath. We have a death certificate to prove it – remember?’ Minnie said instantly taking control of the situation.

  ‘But the neighbours will have seen and heard him, Mum!’ Peter’s shock was evident by his pallid complexion.

  ‘Not a word will be said so don’t you worry about that. Now, James, find that old bit of carpet out of the privy. Peter go and borrow that cart again – and don’t say why.’

  The boys stared at their mother’s calm demeanour and the way she gave instructions. ‘Now boys, let’s get going – we’ve a hole to fill!’

  *

  Over at Horseley Fields Nathaniel Bellamy was also about to organise a funeral but not quite in the same manner.

  Bridget had fetched Dr Shepherd who now said, ‘I’m very sorry Nathaniel. I’m not sure why Lilith has passed but I will request a post mortem to determine the cause.’

  Prudence, who was standing at the foot of the bed dabbing away her forced tears, sucked in a breath. If the doctor did that – she would be undone! It would surely be discovered there was Belladonna in the woman’s system.

  ‘No!’ Nathaniel snapped and Prudence heaved a sigh of relief. ‘I don’t want her – disturbed.’

  That was too close for comfort! Prudence thought.

  The sound of Cora shouting at the maid had Nathaniel look to Prudence for help.

  ‘I’ll see to her,’ Prudence said quietly and left the room. Evidently the brat had been informed of her mother’s demise. Already feeling like the mistress of the house, Prudence Kenton thought it was time to rid herself of this bad-tempered child. Cora Bellamy would be going away to school – very soon indeed!

  ‘Nathaniel, I have to request a post mortem to determine the cause of death. I cannot issue a certificate until that time which means you will not be able to lay Lilith to rest,’ Dr Shepherd said gently.

  ‘Very well,’ Nathaniel agreed reluctantly.

  A few moments later Prudence saw the doctor descend the stairs. After seeing him out, Bridget shook her head and tutted loudly.

  Prudence was at a loss as to why the maid clicked her teeth. Did she know? No, of course not – how could she? However, Prudence decided that the maid was yet another to be rid of – as soon as the mistress’s funeral was over and done with. Bridget Swanson had a very high opinion of herself and it was time she was brought down a peg or two. Being sacked might just do the trick.

  *

  In Bank Street Gerald Fitch’s body, minus the knife, was rolled in the old piece of carpet and loaded onto the cart.

  ‘I’ll have to clean up the mess when I get back,’ Minnie said looking at the blood on the floor.

  ‘You and James get off, I’ll see to this then I’ll come and help,’ Peter said snatching the bucket from beneath the sink.

  Minnie nodded before grabbing a cart handle. With James still in a daze, they dragged it away down the street.

  Peter filled the bucket from the standpipe and with a cloth and the last of the washing soda, he began to wash away the blood from the cracked tile floor. The knife was thoroughly cleaned also and put back where it lived. Satisfied, Peter emptied the bucket down the communal drain and swilled it round until it was sparkling clean. Drying his hands on his trousers he inspected the floor for any signs of blood. He could see none. He had worked like an automaton, the gravity of the situation hardly registering in his frantic mind.

  Dashing through the back door, Peter ran as fast as he could to catch up with his mother and brother. By the time he reached them they were pushing the earth back into the hole. He saw the cart was empty, but blood had seeped through onto the wood. There was no mistaking it this time – their father was well and truly dead. Grabbing a handful of snow still in a pile from the thaw, Peter picked up a handful of dirt and rubbed them both on the blood spot. Again and again he repeated the process until the cart merely looked old and grubby.

  ‘Good lad, clever idea that,’ Minnie said nodding at Peter’s handiwork. ‘Right, let’s get this cart back.’

  Suddenly James began to shake and he burst into tears. Minnie threw her arms around him speaking quietly as she did so. ‘It’s all right, son, you cry it out. It don’t do no good to hold onto it.’

  ‘Mum, what am I going to do?’ James managed between sobs.

  ‘Nothing, bab. There’ll be no questions asked and there’s nothing left in the way of evidence – right, Peter?’

  ‘True, I scrubbed it all away, Mum,’ the boy said as he laid a hand on his brother’s shoulder.

  ‘There you go then. It was an accident, James, and you have to come to terms with that. It would never have happened if your father hadn’t punched me,’ Minnie said as she rubbed her aching jaw.

  James nodded and drew his sleeve beneath his nose.

  ‘Come on, let’s get out of the cold,’ Minnie urged.

  In the house at last, Minnie inspected the floor and nodded her approval. Peter took the cart back to its owner and James lit a fire with the last of the sticks and coal.

  They were just sitting down with a cup of hot water when a ‘yoohoo’ sounded and Flo’ Spittle walked in bearing a gift of cake.

  ‘I guessed it wouldn’t be long before we saw you,’ Minnie said.

  ‘I’ve brought the boys summat to eat,’ Flo’ said handing over the cake.

  Giving their thanks they tucked into the still warm treat.

  ‘You’ve all been busy this morning I see,’ Flo’ commented, her arms crossed beneath her bosom.

  Minnie simply nodded.

  ‘I thought as I heard Gerald shouting and balling in the early hours—’ Flo’ began.

  ‘You must be mistaken,’ Minnie countered. ‘He froze to death at the back of the tavern and we buried him out on the heath.’

  The boys kept their eyes on the flames dancing in the hearth and both had trouble swallowing the delicious cake.

  ‘Right – my mistake then,’ Flo’ said as she turned to leave. ‘Your kitchen floor looks clean for a change.’

  ‘I washed it, so Mum could have a rest,’ Peter chimed in quickly to give his mum a break from the constant quizzing.

  ‘Not much of a rest dragging that cart with a roll of carpet on it,’ Flo’ said knowingly.

  ‘Ah well, it’s good riddance to bad rubbish,’ Minnie said her eyes focused on her neighbour.

  ‘I have to agree with that, Minnie,’ Flo’ said with a knowing smile.

  ‘Was there owt else, Flo’?’ Minnie asked.

  ‘No, just to say everybody was sorry to hear about Gerald dying the other day.’

  ‘We appreciate it,’ Minnie said as Flo’ turned and left.

  ‘What was all that about?’ James asked as he licked his fingers free of cake crumbs.

  ‘It was her way of saying they all know but no-one will say a word,’ Minnie said feeling grateful for having such good neighbours.

  ‘But someone might…’ James said feeling scared once more.

  ‘They won’t. I have enough on every one of ’em to get ’em hung ten times over!’ Minnie said with a grin.

  28

  Polly had spent a warm peaceful night on her mattress wrapped in her blankets while the others slept on the floor downstairs by the glow of the fire.

  Rising early, all were pleased the snow had all but disappeared but the air still held a damp chill.

  Echo shared the food for their breakfast giving Polly the bigger portion. As they ate, it was Flash who spoke. ‘I’m off to the wharf again today to see what’s going begging. Digit, stay away from the market for a while, we don’t want you getting caught.’ Glancing at the food cupboard he went on, ‘Echo, I’ll give you some money – go and buy something for us to eat.’

  ‘And us? What do you want us to do?’ Adam asked.
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  ‘See what you can scavenge. It might be better if Digit coal picks for a couple of days,’ Flash answered pleased that Adam was deferring to him.

  ‘Right. Polly are you ready?’ Adam asked and his sister nodded.

  ‘…Ready? Don’t get cold, Polly,’ Echo said ignoring the grins of the others.

  ‘I won’t. I’ll see you later, Echo.’

  The lad beamed his pleasure as Polly waved to him as they left.

  ‘We going to the market, Ad’?’ she asked as they avoided the puddles in the street.

  ‘Later. I thought we’d visit the orphanage first.’

  ‘Ooh good! I do miss seeing May.’ Polly was enthusiastic and her pace increased.

  Suddenly Adam grabbed her arm and dragged her off the street to hide behind the vicarage. ‘There’s a copper coming,’ he whispered.

  They watched as the policeman strolled past their hiding place and Adam saw him turn the corner into Cleveland Road. ‘He’s gone.’

  Walking swiftly away they made good time to Reed’s. Adam was surprised that only Joe, Matt and Rodney were ambling about the gardens.

  ‘Where’s May?’ Polly asked.

  Adam shook his head a feeling of dread coming over him. The short whistle alerted the others and they made for the meeting place.

  Joe quickly related the tale of Arthur and May’s escape and said where they could be found.

  ‘Best get off quick cos Old Reedy’s watching us closely,’ Joe mumbled.

  Thanks and goodbyes said, the Fitches took to their heels.

  Polly gagged as they walked up Bilston Street, the smell from the abattoir turning her stomach. Her hand shot up to cover her mouth and nose as they hurried on. Moving between the buildings of the cattle market they heard the bellow of the cows and the bleating of sheep.

  Coming to a couple of old ramshackle cottages they halted.

  ‘Why have we stopped?’ Polly asked.

  ‘We don’t know who’s about,’ Adam answered. Then he gave the signal – a short, sharp whistle and was rewarded by seeing Arthur’s head come through the windowless frame.