An hour later four women trudged through the gate of Reed’s Orphanage for the very last time.
Mabel Elliot had cooked enough food to last a few days and Dilys Linton had washed and dried the children’s clothes and bedding. Cook and maid had fulfilled their duties before vacating the premises, and now they marched alongside Ruth and Celia to their new lives.
Una stared out of the window as the women disappeared from view, then she walked slowly out of the office. The feeling of eldritch in the house wrapped around her threatening to suffocate as Una walked from room to room. It was in the kitchen that she found her charges, all thoroughly enjoying the food the cook had laid out on the huge scrubbed table.
‘Cack, cack and bloody cack!’ Una slipped into the local vernacular smacking her long black skirt with clenched fists.
*
‘Here lads, would you like to earn a tanner apiece?’
James and Peter Fitch had been walking along the street when the voice had called out.
‘Yes, what do you want?’ James’ eyes lit up at the prospect of being paid sixpence each for doing the woman a favour.
‘Help us carry these bags along to Park Street,’ the woman answered.
James and Peter grabbed the bags and strode forth with gusto. They listened intently to the conversation going on behind them as they walked, and occasionally exchanged a glance of mirth at the one who slurred drunkenly.
‘Where are you from?’ James asked no longer able to contain his curiosity.
‘We were the staff at the orphanage until half an hour ago,’ Celia Brock answered.
Peter stopped and placed the bags on the ground. ‘Do you know Polly and Adam Fitch then?’
‘Yes, we knew them,’ Mabel answered, ‘such lovely kiddies.’
‘They ain’t dead, are they?’ Peter’s words were filled with angst.
‘No lad, they’re just lost,’ Dilys answered. ‘Why do you ask?’
‘Cos they’re our brother and sister!’ James gasped.
‘Come along let’s get going and we can discuss this as we go,’ Celia said in her firm school mistress voice.
As they walked, she explained to the boys about Polly having been sold on by Una and Adam running away to find her. She related how the children’s friends had also absconded and the whole tale ended with the staff walking out too. Unfortunately, she could shed no light on the whereabouts of the children now.
Arriving at their destination, the Fitch brothers gave their thanks for payment of a service rendered as well as the information gained on their siblings.
‘Here lad, now you know where we live, do me another favour – when you find your kin, come and let me know,’ Mabel said pressing a further two pennies into Peter’s hand.
‘Will do missus and thanks,’ Peter said as he knuckled his forehead.
‘Blimey what are the odds of that – meeting up with those women who knew our kids?’ James asked as he pocketed his money.
‘Especially in a town as big as this,’ Peter added.
‘Coincidence?’ James asked.
‘I don’t believe in that, brother – I think we were meant to help those ladies. I think someone is watching over us and helping us in our quest to find Adam and Polly.’
‘Like that of our mum looking for Polly and Adam at that house?’ Peter queried.
‘Yes, I believe that was inevitable an’ all; although she didn’t find out much in the end other than our Pol’ was being smacked,’ James answered.
‘So now where do we look for our family?’ Peter asked.
‘Buggered if I know!’ James said as they crossed beneath the railway bridge on Lower Walsall Street.
‘We could scour the heath,’ Peter suggested.
‘It ain’t likely they’ll be there, it’s like a wilderness.’ James was doing his best to dissuade his brother from what he saw as a waste of good energy on a fruitless search.
‘Don’t be a sissy; at least then we can tell Mum we looked,’ Peter cajoled.
With a sigh, James nodded and the boys strode forward on their quest albeit having little hope of succeeding.
39
Constable Philby watched as the body of Prudence Kenton was pulled from the canal and taken away on the horse-drawn coroner’s wagon. The police had been alerted by a man going down to fish there; quite what he’d expected to catch was anyone’s business. It was now Philby’s unenviable task to inform Mr Bellamy his housekeeper and governess had drowned. What he couldn’t fathom was what the woman was doing on the tow path in the first place. Where was she going? Did she know they were on to her for the murder of Lilith Bellamy and she was on the run? Had she fallen or was it a suicide?
The PC sighed loudly and began to walk towards Horseley Fields – let’s get this over with.
Given admittance by the maid, Philby was shown to Mr Bellamy’s study. Still in mourning for his deceased wife, the gentleman was not yet at his work.
‘Constable Philby, please come in and take a seat. What can I help you with?’ Nathaniel asked.
‘I’m afraid I have some bad news for you, sir. Miss Prudence Kenton’s body was dragged from the canal a short while ago. I’m sorry for your loss.’ The constable waited for his words to sink in and saw the shock turn to sadness on Nathaniel’s face.
‘How…? What was she doing by the canal?’
‘We don’t know, sir. It’s looking very much like suicide,’ the constable answered gravely.
‘But why?’ Nathaniel was finding it difficult to understand why Prudence would have been there in the first place.
‘She was under suspicion of poisoning your wife, sir; we were about to arrest her any day now but…’ Philby’s words trailed off as he shook his head.
‘Good grief!’ Nathaniel said in barely more than a whisper.
‘I’m very sorry to have to ask, Mr Bellamy, but she will need to be buried.’ Philby’s eyes lowered to his helmet sitting on his knee.
‘Of course, Constable, I’ll see to it. Thank you for being so compassionate,’ Nathaniel said as he rose to see the PC out.
Meanwhile in the kitchen, Bridget Swanson’s grey eyes glittered as she told Doreen how she had pressed her ear to the parlour door after giving the handsome young constable entrance.
‘That’s what he said, I tell yer true!’ Bridget said to the disbelieving Doreen Jellicoe.
‘What, drowned? Well slap my arse and call me fatty!’ the cook muttered as she dropped onto a chair.
Hearing voices Doreen said, ‘Right, you’d best get yourself into the hall and see him out.’ She shook her head but a gentle smile graced her lips as she watched Bridget pat her hair into place. Smoothing down her pristine white apron, the maid nodded once to ensure her cap was secure then skipped up the two small steps leading to the hallway.
Meeting the master and constable as they stepped from the parlour, Bridget moved towards the front door in readiness to see the policeman out.
‘Ah Bridget, Constable Philby has just informed me that Miss Kenton has had an accident down by the canal. I’m afraid she was drowned,’ Nathaniel Bellamy said quietly.
‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ Bridget responded although she didn’t feel that way at all. In fact, she was rather pleased the woman was gone from this house.
‘I thought you should know, sir, she had a visitor yesterday. Mrs Fitch, Pollyanna’s mother, came calling looking for her little wen… girl.’ Bridget corrected herself as the constable cast her an interested glance.
‘And how is this relevant?’ Nathaniel asked.
‘I thought the constable might need to know sir.’
‘Thank you, Miss…?’
‘Swanson, but you can call me Bridget,’ the maid answered forwardly.
‘If you need me further, Constable, please don’t hesitate to call. Good day to you,’ Nathaniel called over his shoulder as he walked back to his study feeling the need for a stiff drink.
The maid and the policeman gave each other a l
ittle wave as they parted company.
Back in the kitchen Doreen enquired, ‘Has he gone then?’
‘Yes.’
‘And?’
‘And he asked me to supper and the music hall tonight,’ Bridget said with a little laugh.
‘Damn my eyes! You forward little madam!’ The cook’s surprise was evident.
Bridget burst out laughing.
*
Over in Bank Street, the constable banging on Minnie Fitch’s front door was being addressed by the neighbour Flo’ Spittle.
‘She ain’t in.’
‘I gathered,’ the bobby answered sarcastically.
‘Can I give her a message when she comes back?’ Flo’ asked, simply dying to know what was going on.
‘You could tell her I was looking for her,’ the constable said with a small grin. He could see the woman was wound tighter than a spring at having the constabulary visit the street.
‘Oh my gawd! It ain’t the kiddies, is it?’ Polly and Adam – nothing’s happened to them has it?’ Flo’ began to wail her hands cradling her face.
‘No madam, but I do need to have a word with her.’
‘I’m sure but I tell you right now, Minnie Fitch won’t be visiting no police station. So either you tell me, and I’ll tell her, or you’ll have to keep calling round until you catch her in!’ Flo’ said crossing her arms beneath her bosom.
‘Fair enough, thanks for your help.’ Constable Philby turned and walked away.
Flo’ harrumphed at being done out of a little gossip. No matter, she’d find out sooner or later.
Philby winced as he heard the door slam shut behind the retreating woman. Had he but mentioned one word, the whole neighbourhood would have known Mrs Fitch’s business before she did herself.
He sighed, then pulling out his fob watch he grinned. He was eagerly awaiting his assignation with Bridget Swanson that evening and he knew the day would drag slowly by.
‘A copper looking for me?’ Minnie asked again and Flo’ nodded.
‘Ar, he’s only just this minute gone,’ Flo’ exaggerated for he had left almost an hour previously.
‘Mum!’ James said clearly frightened.
‘Don’t worry cocka, it’ll be something and nothing,’ Minnie calmed her worried boys. Then turning to her neighbour said, ‘Ta Flo’.’
The woman took this as a dismissal and left with a sniff.
‘Mum?’ Peter asked.
Minnie shook her head. She’d been out picking coal and her boys had been on a scavenger hunt when the constable had called, and Flo’ Spittle could hardly wait to tell her.
‘I don’t know, lad, but I’m sure we’ll find out before too long.’
‘You think the coppers know about – Dad?’ James asked terrified they’d be coming for him.
‘No. How could they?’ Minnie answered with a question of her own.
‘Somebody might have told them!’ James cried.
‘They ain’t! There’s too much as goes on in this road for anybody to dob us in to the rozzers. With what I know about the folk hereabouts – like thieving, fencing stolen goods… so don’t you worry about a thing. Now, get a fire lit and stop yer fretting!’ Minnie snapped.
She began to cut into a large cabbage peeling away the rotten leaves, keeping her own worry hidden from her sons.
*
While the policeman had been about his business, Flash was very unhappy as he sat in their hide out.
Digit had tried to talk to him when he had come indoors last night, but he was in a foul mood and refused to discuss anything with his friend. With a shrug, Digit had left him alone to brood on whatever it was that was ailing him.
Still unable to comprehend how Echo could just walk out after all they’d been to each other, Flash became more and more morose. He was prone to tears and his fearless bravado had melted away. He skulked around the house and refused to eat, speak or even light the fire to ward off the cold. He just wanted Echo to come home but he had no way of knowing where the boy was. He could search for years and never find him.
He knew Digit was worried about him, but he couldn’t find the words to explain how he was feeling so he just stayed close-mouthed.
The loneliness that gripped him seemed to be squeezing the life out of him and he could do nothing to stop it. Each day when Digit went out Flash wept, calling Echo’s name into the empty room. If he wasn’t careful, his deep despair for his long-lost friend would see him under the sod.
40
Una Reed had telephoned the Servants’ Registry and acquired two willing young women to help out at her orphanage. They were not the brightest but they followed her orders to the letter, just grateful to have a job.
The children in her care were terrified of her and so gave her hardly any trouble.
She was still fuming at the way she had been treated by Ruth and Celia. They had simply walked out leaving her well and truly in the lurch, and to add insult to injury they had taken the cook and maid with them!
Sitting in her office she wondered how the four women were getting on living together in a small house. With only one of them in work there would be next to no money to buy the gin Ruth and Celia had become so fond of.
Oh she had known about their drinking habits – it would have been hard not to with them smelling of alcohol most of the time, but as it had not adversely affected their work, Una had chosen to ignore it and concentrate on more pressing matters. In hindsight, she should have taken them both to task and maybe they would still be here with her.
Since Adam and his entourage had escaped, Una had stopped locking the gate, although the front door was secured at night. If the little buggers wanted to run away – let them. She was sure they wouldn’t last long out on the streets and would come crawling back as soon as their bellies were empty.
With a sigh, she moved to the window. It had begun to snow again during the night and now a thin blanket of white covered the lawns. A couple more weeks and it would be Christmas which meant spending more of her money on the kiddies in her charge. With a snort she sat again at her desk with her account book to work out how little she could spend over the holiday period.
*
Ruth Ashby was also thinking about Una and how she was faring with no staff to help out. Una Reed was not stupid, she would have hired someone almost immediately rather than undertake the work herself.
‘I’m off then,’ Celia said breaking her thoughts.
‘Good luck, not that you’ll need it,’ Ruth said with a smile.
Celia was beginning her new job at the local school off Colliery Road and with God’s good grace, Ruth knew she’d do well there.
Dilys had already found work cleaning at a big posh house near St James’ Square and she’d left early.
Mabel, as Ruth, had had no luck finding employment both fearing they were too long in the tooth to be taken on anywhere, but continued to search nevertheless.
Joining Ruth at the kitchen table Mabel poured out tea and shook her head. ‘We’ve gotta find some way of earning.’
‘I know, I was just debating whether we’d made the right decision to leave the orphanage,’ Ruth answered.
‘You ain’t thinking of going back there, surely to God!’ Mabel was aghast at the possibility.
‘Good gracious no! But I agree we need to help out regarding swelling the household coffers.’
‘How about I ask about getting a stall in the market?’ Mabel suggested. At Ruth’s frown she continued, ‘We could bake pastries and sell them. I’m a cook and you could help out. I’ll make some pies and you could stand the stall. What do you reckon?’
‘It’s worth a try,’ Ruth admitted and clinking cups the deal was sealed.
*
Whilst Ruth and Mabel walked into town to find the market inspector, James and Peter Fitch were out again looking for food. They had walked the heath searching for Adam and Polly but had found no trace. They had come across three cottages standing alone but they looked
to be derelict and empty.
Now they were trawling the market in the snow, their thin jackets providing little warmth. With their arms wrapped around their skinny bodies, they tucked their hands beneath their armpits in an effort to keep frostbite at bay.
‘I’m bloody freezing!’ James said, his breath a puff of steam on the cold air.
‘Me an’ all. Let’s hurry up and get home to Mum,’ Peter agreed.
The boys increased their pace picking up anything they could find that was remotely edible. It was a shrill whistle had them stop in their tracks.
‘What the hell…?’ James asked.
Hobnail boots sounded loud on the cobbles as two policemen chased a boy in and out of the stalls. Suddenly there was an almighty crash as the boy skidded into a pile of stacked wooden crates.
‘Gotcha!’ A young bobby yelled as he grabbed the boy and dragged him to his feet. Quick as a wink he clapped the boy in handcuffs as the older policeman joined them puffing to a halt.
‘At bloody last!’ the older said to the younger. Then to the boy, ‘You’m under arrest for thieving, lad! What’s yer name?’
‘Digit,’ came the answer.
‘Blimey, did you see how that copper caught that lad?’ Peter asked as he and his brother continued their scavenging.
‘Yeah, he’d be a boon on the rugby field!’ James answered with a grin.
‘I heard him say his name was Digit,’ Peter said with a grin.
‘I know, strange name for a fella ain’t it?’ James laughed.
*
Flash had not ventured out of doors for a while and now he paced the room waiting for Digit to return. He had no way of knowing his friend was at that moment being hauled away to the police station.
‘Come on, Digit, where are you?’ he whispered into the cold room.
Looking out of the window onto the snow laden yard Flash shivered and began pacing once more. ‘Where are you now, Echo?’ he asked aloud. He could have done with the company of the boy he had saved from receiving a sound thrashing from his mother. In his heart, Flash knew Echo was lost to him now. He had driven the boy away with his dictatorial attitude, and now more than ever he was missing the lad repeating everything he said.
The Five Shilling Children Page 23
