The Five Shilling Children

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  ‘Thanks. I’m Polly’s mother and I’m looking to take her—’ Minnie began.

  ‘That little love,’ Doreen interrupted, ‘she’s a sweetheart but I’m sorry to say we don’t know where she’s gone. Seems the governess took her and Miss Cora – the master’s daughter – out for a walk one day and afore she knew it, Polly took to her heels wi’ a young lad.’

  ‘Adam! I’ll bet that would have been her brother,’ Minnie said on a quiet breath by way of an explanation.

  Over tea and scones, Minnie related how her husband had sold her children to Reed’s and she’d had no way of stopping him. She said how the man was no longer around and although she had no idea how she would take care of them, she wanted her babies back. Minnie told them her other two boys were searching the streets for Polly and Adam also. Tearfully she said she didn’t know what else to do now and this was the last place she could look.

  ‘How was our Polly treated here?’ Minnie asked as she mopped up her tears with her shawl.

  ‘The master and mistress looked after her well, but that governess – she’s a nasty piece!’ Doreen scowled.

  ‘Why, what happened?’ Minnie demanded to know.

  ‘Too quick to smack – Miss Cora as well as your little wench.’ Doreen shook her head.

  ‘I’ll give her what for, smacking my daughter!’ Minnie was on her feet, her sorrow instantly replaced by anger.

  ‘Now then, sit yer down and don’t get yer knickers in a flap,’ Doreen urged. Then in a whisper added, ‘We have a feeling that Prudence Kenton is gonna get what’s coming to her.’

  *

  ‘I suggest you have a bit of dinner with us while you wait for Mr Bellamy and that one to come back,’ Doreen said. ‘How does thick beef broth sound?’

  ‘Bostin’!’ Minnie said and her stomach rumbled as if in agreement.

  ‘Right. Bridget cut some bread while I dish up,’ Doreen said.

  ‘So, tell me about this Prudence Kenton,’ Minnie said when she had finished her lunch.

  ‘Thinks she’s a cut-above does that one!’ Bridget said.

  Doreen nodded before adding, ‘She was governess to Cora, Mr and Mrs Bellamy’s daughter. Then when the girl went off to finishing school, she made herself into housekeeper.’

  ‘I know the sort – all corsets and bluster!’ Minnie said which caused Bridget to giggle behind her hand.

  ‘Ar well,’ Doreen went on, ‘Prudence, to my way of thinking, saw herself as mistress in this house long before Mrs Bellamy passed.’

  ‘Why?’ Minnie asked.

  ‘Strutting around the place like Lady Muck! Telling me what I should and shouldn’t do,’ Bridget answered.

  ‘What a cheek!’ Minnie agreed.

  ‘Like I said to Mrs Jellicoe here, I answer to the master – not to her!’ Bridget said frostily.

  ‘How often did she smack my little ’un, that’s what I want to know.’

  ‘Once is too often. Your Pollyanna was a sweetheart and d’aint deserve being shouted at all the time,’ Doreen said sadly.

  Minnie flushed as she recalled the times in the past when she’d done exactly that. She determined there and then she’d try never to yell at any of her children in the future.

  A short while later voices sounded in the hallway.

  ‘They’m back!’ Bridget whispered.

  ‘You’d best inform her ladyshit she has a visitor then,’ Doreen said firmly.

  Bridget did as she was bid and a few moments later Prudence followed the maid into the kitchen.

  ‘I believe you wanted to see me,’ she said as she folded her black gloves and pushed them into her drawstring bag. Looking austere dressed all in black, Prudence folded back the net veil revealing her piercing eyes.

  ‘Yes. Firstly, I want to know where my Polly is at,’ Minnie answered.

  ‘Your Polly?’

  ‘My daughter. It’s my understanding you lost her!’ Minnie spat the words hardly able to contain the anger building inside her.

  ‘Pollyanna Fitch ran away from me!’ Prudence’s voice was like a rasp on metal. ‘I have no idea where she is now. So, if you’ll excuse me, I have just returned from a funeral and I’m in mourning.’

  Bridget snorted and Prudence’s eyes shot to her as if in reprimand.

  ‘I think we should retire to the parlour to discuss this further,’ Prudence said as she turned towards the doorway. She didn’t want to say any more in front of the cook and maid.

  ‘I ain’t got the time to retire anywhere – I’m too busy searching for my girl. Now answer my question. What do you know about where she might be?’ Minnie snapped.

  Prudence’s eyes roamed over the cook and maid who sat quietly listening. Clearly Mrs Fitch was happy for them to be privy to the conversation despite her own reservations about it. Pulling out a kitchen chair from the table she sat trying to maintain her decorum.

  Prudence sighed audibly and nodded towards the teapot. Bridget scrambled for a cup and saucer and set the kettle to boil on the range before retaking her seat.

  ‘Pollyanna came here from Reed’s Orphanage, against my advice I might add. She was unhappy here from the start and wanted to return to her brother who was still in residence at Reed’s.’

  Minnie nodded as she listened to what the woman was saying.

  ‘She became spiteful with Cora – taking things that didn’t belong to her…’ Prudence went on.

  Bridget’s elbows leaned on the table as she shoved her weight forward so there was nothing between her skirt and the chair as she listened avidly.

  ‘My girl is no thief!’ Minnie said with a voice like gravel.

  ‘Mrs Fitch, Cora told me Polly was stealing her things,’ Prudence said indignantly.

  ‘I see. So, it never occurred to you it might be spite on Cora’s part?’ Minnie asked pointedly.

  ‘I know Cora has a temper but—’ Prudence began again.

  ‘So have I!’ Minnie snapped. ‘You shouldn’t be allowed anywhere near kiddies! You ain’t fit to look after them!’

  ‘How dare you speak to me in such a manner, especially today after having to lay Mrs Bellamy to rest!’ Prudence dabbed her nose with her handkerchief for emphasis.

  ‘Why didn’t you search for her? Why didn’t you find me and tell me what was going on?’ Minnie asked feeling exasperated.

  ‘The police were informed Mrs Fitch so I considered it best to leave the search for Pollyanna to them,’ Prudence said haughtily.

  ‘I bet you did!’ Minnie was beside herself with anger at the flippant way Kenton was reacting. Her girl was missing from this woman’s so-called care and she didn’t appear to give a tinker’s cuss!

  Minnie’s eyes moved to Doreen as she nudged Bridget and tilted her head towards the kettle. Bridget huffed but stood to make the tea.

  ‘Ladies, thank you for your hospitality. I’m leaving now before I do something I’ll regret,’ Minnie said as she got to her feet. Turning to Prudence her voice held a warning. ‘When I find my Polly, and if she tells me you hurt her in any way, I’ll hunt you down and make you rue the day you were born!’

  Turning on her heel, Minnie stomped away closely followed by Bridget who would see her out.

  A little while later Minnie wandered home mulling over what she’d learned at the Bellamy household.

  James and Peter were waiting for her when she arrived and as she sat by the empty fireplace, Minnie wondered how to explain these latest events to them.

  Taking a deep breath, she spoke quietly. ‘Boys sit down – I have summat to tell you.’

  *

  Prudence Kenton went to her room leaving cook and maid with open mouths. She was under no illusions they would be discussing her the moment she left the kitchen.

  Sitting on her bed Prudence glanced around. Everything had gone wrong; nothing had turned out the way she had planned. Yes, Lilith Bellamy had gone – poisoned by Prudence’s hand, but the police had found the phial. How had they known it was there? The interferin
g doctor had pushed for a post mortem which in turn had shown up the poison in Lilith’s system. Nathaniel Bellamy was drowning in his own grief and was ignoring her. Now Mrs Fitch had turned up on the doorstep looking for her little girl. Lord, what a mess!

  Prudence stifled a sob as she dragged her old cardboard suitcase out from beneath the bed. Suddenly in a panic she began to pack her things feeling it would be to her advantage to leave now – and quietly. After all, it wouldn’t take the police long to discover who had murdered Lilith Bellamy.

  Looking at the case on the bed, a single tear rolled down her cheek. One suitcase – not much to show for a lifetime. Most women of her age had a house and family of their own – a husband who worked hard and loved their wives. All she had was a few clothes and her savings. Now she had to decide where to go, and reckoned the further the better in order to avoid being arrested.

  Donning her hat and coat, Prudence grabbed her suitcase and slipped quietly down the stairs and out through the front door. As darkness began to descend Prudence Kenton was making for a train to Liverpool where she could obtain a passage on a ship headed to the other side of the world.

  37

  Whilst Minnie Fitch was discovering what she could about her offspring, they were trudging across the heath in search of shelter.

  Hearing the chug of the steam train, Polly and May stopped and turned to watch its passing. They winced when the great iron wheels squealed as the engine slowed and they saw the plumes of steam puff skyward. The girls waved as the carriages full of people appeared to fly past, then they ran to catch up with the boys.

  Echo made them giggle as he pretended to pull the whistle cord and called out, ‘Woo-woo.’

  ‘Ad’ I’m cold,’ Polly whined.

  ‘I know, but I’m sure we can find somewhere to settle – just be patient,’ her brother answered.

  Echo wrapped a blanket around Polly’s shoulders and another around May.

  ‘Thanks, Echo, you’re a gem,’ Polly said with a warm smile.

  The lad beamed at the praise given by the young girl he had come to love like a sister.

  Following along the railway line they eventually came to an area known as Priestfield where three cottages stood side by side. Long forgotten for many a year they were in sad disrepair but were ideal for the little band looking for a home.

  Having checked them all they decided the centre one would be the best. It was drier and warmer; the chimney was still in one piece and the doors remained on their hinges. Two-up, two-down they agreed once it was cleaned out it would make a good place to stay without attracting too much attention.

  Whoever had the cottage previously must have left in a hurry for they had left behind all their worldly goods. Crockery, cutlery, the odd pot and pan, besom, dustpan and brush, fire irons – all were in their rightful places.

  The other cottages were in a dreadful state, with windows broken and shattered crocks strewn on the floor. It was strange how the centre building had been left untouched by vandals.

  ‘Maybe the owners died here,’ Joe said nonchalantly.

  ‘What difference would that make?’ Rodney asked as he kicked up the dust.

  ‘Make?’ Echo repeated following the girls into the sitting room from the kitchen.

  ‘Folk are superstitious,’ Arthur informed them, ‘it would make sense. Nobody would want to disturb the place for fear of being haunted.’

  ‘Well, to be respectful we should clean up and keep everything as it is. If we look after the place maybe the ghosts will leave us be,’ Adam said.

  The others agreed albeit feeling a little spooked by the idea of the place being haunted. Matt and Rodney began the search for firewood and Echo grabbed the broom and swept the floors. The girls made a start on the bedrooms and Arthur cleaned and packed the cupboards with what little foodstuff they had.

  Adam announced he would head for the market on a much-needed scavenger hunt. The food they had wouldn’t last long and he knew without sustenance they could fall ill and die.

  Having finished the sweeping, Echo put his strength into getting the standpipe working again. Adam watched the flurry of activity for a moment and marvelled at how well they had come together in the face of adversity. With a smile he set off at a brisk pace intent on finding something with which to make a meal for them all.

  Adam shivered as he stepped smartly past the Union Workhouse realising there but for the grace of God… On towards the market place he wondered how his mother was faring living with that swine of a husband. He missed his mum and his brothers; as for his father – he could rot in hell, for all Adam cared.

  Dragging his thoughts back he focused on how to feed his merry band of followers.

  Adam fared well at the market and collected enough discarded vegetables to make a good wholesome broth.

  Later that evening as they sat around a crackling fire, Joe told them tales of exotic lands, stories he’d read about before ending up at Reed’s orphanage. The others sat entranced as he wove an intricate web of mystery and suspense around King Leonidas and the three hundred Spartan warriors holding the pass at Thermopylae against the Persian King Xerxes. He enacted the cut and thrust of sword fighting and spear throwing until every last Greek warrior lay dead. The end of his narrative was met with applause fit to raise the rafters.

  ‘So the moral of the story is – don’t give up, fight for those you hold dearest,’ Joe finished.

  ‘Like us – our new family,’ Polly said.

  ‘New family,’ Echo repeated as he snuggled closer to the girls on the old dusty sofa.

  ‘Yes, we stick together – always,’ Adam said with conviction.

  ‘Right, now sleep and tomorrow I’ll tell you the tale of the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra who took on the Roman army!’ Joe said tantalising them with his excitement.

  Electing to stay around the fireside where it was warm, each settled down to dream of being a warrior or princess in a faraway land.

  *

  Across the town, Prudence Kenton decided to be safe rather than sorry and followed the path of the canal. She didn’t want to be spotted by the police in the streets as she made her getaway. Heading towards Monmore Green railway station, it was her intention to catch a train to the bustling port of Liverpool. She picked her way carefully along the towpath in the dim light of a yellow moon. Although it was only early evening, the darkness had surrounded her quickly and she increased her pace suddenly feeling very afraid.

  The sound of running feet on the hard-packed gravel of the tow path reached her ears before she saw the figure who loomed out of the darkness and ploughed into her. Knocked sideways by the impact Prudence lost her footing and as if in slow motion she realised she was falling – into the cold dark water of the canal, her heavy valise dragging her down into its depths.

  In a blind panic she let go of her bag and fought to get to the surface and much needed air, but in the darkness, she was disorientated. She struggled against the water trying to claw her way to the top but all her eyes saw was black emptiness. In a matter of moments, Prudence Kenton had drowned.

  38

  The screams of the boy being caned by Una Reed reverberated all over the house. A new child just brought in, he had told her to ‘bugger off’ and now he was paying the price.

  Despite the early hour, Ruth Ashby was in her cups and fuelled by her over-indulgence of Mother’s Ruin, she slammed back the door to Una’s office.

  ‘Enough! For God’s sake, Una, leave the child alone!’ Waving her arm, she ushered the crying boy out of the room.

  ‘How dare you interfere?!’ Una exploded.

  ‘I dare because I’m sick to the back teeth of all this!’ Ruth yelled.

  ‘You’re drunk again. Ruth Ashby you are a disgrace, get out and sober up!’ Una shouted as she slammed the thin willow cane onto the desk.

  ‘Oh I’ll get out all right, I’m out for good. See how you manage on your own!’ Ruth turned to leave the office but was halted by Una’s questio
n.

  ‘What do you mean by that?’

  ‘Una, for an intelligent woman you can be so dim at times. I’m leaving this place. I can’t bear it any longer,’ Ruth said as she swayed gently from side to side.

  ‘What?!’ Una was shocked by the revelation and slumped onto her chair.

  Ruth smiled crapulously and lurched towards the desk upon which she placed her hands to stabilise her stance. Telling Una she was leaving the orphanage had lifted the stress and worry and now she felt light and free at last.

  ‘Over these last years, you have taken everything from me. First you had my house and my money, then you refused to allow my name on the sign of this God forsaken place. You have treated me like a servant for too long, Una, and now the worm has turned!’ Ruth banged her hand on the desk and winced at the pain shooting up her arm.

  ‘Ruth that’s not true!’ Una began but it was another voice that cut her off.

  ‘It most certainly is and I can attest to the fact,’ Celia Brock said as she entered the office.

  ‘You should be in your classroom, Celia, not here poking your nose in other peoples’ business!’ Una spat nastily.

  ‘I no longer have a classroom, Una, for I too am leaving.’ Celia stood next to her drinking partner and threaded an arm through Ruth’s in order to hold her upright.

  ‘Where will you go? Just how do you think you will live with no work and no money?’ Una smirked.

  ‘I begin my new post at the school off Colliery Road next week and Ruth has found us a house to share, so we have no worries there,’ Celia answered as she led a grinning Ruth to the door. ‘We will be gone by lunchtime.’

  ‘And just how am I to manage with only the cook and the maid?’ Una blasted at the retreating women.

  ‘Oh yes, about that – Dilys and Mabel will be joining us, both hoping to secure work elsewhere,’ Celia said as Ruth began to laugh like a crazy person.

  ‘But – they can’t – you can’t…!’ Una exclaimed. However, she knew that all their loathing for her, would not keep them there.