The Doorstep Girls

by Valerie Wood

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Jamie was cock-a-hoop with delight, though he tried not to show it in front of Ruby. She’d seen his mother go out of the house and decided that it was now or never. She’d knocked on his door and been invited in.

  ‘You won’t regret it, Ruby,’ he kept saying. ‘Don’t feel bad about it. It’s nowt. Doesn’t mean owt to men nowadays if women are – you know, not pure. Unless you’re out of ’top drawer of course, and that’s different. I heard’, he bent confidentially towards her, ‘that wives of that class onny allow their husbands into their beds in order to get bairns, and when they’ve got enough –’ He made a dismissive gesture. ‘That’s it. Poor bloke’s got to look elsewhere. But we’re not in that class, Ruby, so we don’t have to worry. And in a way, we’re providing a service, you might say.’

  ‘I don’t believe you.’ Ruby was critical. ‘What about ’Queen? They say it’s a proper love affair with her and Prince Albert.’

  ‘Pah! Don’t you believe it. Anyway, I’m telling you, Ruby. When you’re wearing swanky clothes and having a good dinner every day, you’ll be glad, you’ll know that you made ’right decision.’

  ‘What if –?’ She felt her face flush. ‘What if I should get caught – with a babby?’

  He pursed his lips and shrugged. ‘I think Ma knows somebody who can look after that. It’s not summat I’ve had to deal with. It’s a woman’s concern, isn’t it?’

  Of course it is, she thought. Men can turn their backs on that. She thought of her own father, who had gone off when Freddie was just a baby. It was a worry. Her flux was erratic and she’d heard women at work saying that you didn’t get pregnant if you didn’t have regular bleeding. She gave a deep sigh. I’ll just have to deal with that if it comes along.

  ‘Right,’ Jamie said. ‘I’ll give you a shilling for ’rent as we agreed, and here’s another shilling to get yourself a bath and some decent clothes.’ His eyes appraised her. ‘You’d look good in red, Ruby. Something a bit exotic. Go down to ’Market Place. There’s a shop there that sells second-hand clothes. Rena’s, it’s called. It’s decent stuff, some of ’actresses from travelling theatres sell their clothes to her. Tell her I sent you and she’ll do you a good deal.’ He fingered her hair. ‘And buy a hairbrush.’

  She felt like a white slave as he looked her over and said, ‘So you’ll owe me two shillings, then I’ll want half of what you earn. Agreed?’

  She nodded in compliance. What else was there to do? At least the rent would be paid if the men came back, and maybe if she didn’t spend all of the shilling on clothes, she could buy some food. And she would get her wages on Saturday. A feeling of relief began to surge through her. Never mind that she was nervous and apprehensive of what was to come, she would have money in her hand and food in her belly at last.

  ‘I’ll try and get you fixed up for Saturday,’ he said. ‘But I can’t promise. I’ve got Nell to think of as well.’

  ‘Nell!’ she exclaimed. ‘Your ma? But you said – you said that she’d had enough. I thought I was to take over from her?’

  ‘Slowly, slowly,’ he said and pressed her hand confidentially. ‘I don’t want her to think she’s being pushed out.’

  ‘You mean you haven’t told her!’ she accused him. ‘You haven’t told her about your grand scheme?’

  ‘Not yet. But I will. I’ve got to find ’right time. You wouldn’t know it, but she’s got a temper on her, has Nell. But I’ll tell her,’ he assured her. ‘I’ll tell her soon.’

  ‘Tell her tonight, Jamie,’ she begged. ‘Please. If it doesn’t happen soon I might change my mind.’

  He gave her a thin smile and she saw the hardness on his handsome face. ‘And how would you pay me back, Ruby, if you did?’ He ran his long white fingers around her face and throat. ‘Tell me that?’

  Daniel held a bulging sack in his hands when he appeared at Grace’s door later in the day. ‘I’ve brought you something,’ he said. ‘A present, and one for Ruby.’

  ‘A present!’ she exclaimed. Nobody ever gave presents.

  ‘I know that Christmas has gone and I did try to get these ready in time for that, but we were busy and I wasn’t able to.’

  ‘What is it?’ she said excitedly. ‘Shall I go and get Ruby?’

  ‘I’ve just seen her go into Jamie’s house,’ he said, ‘so you can give it to her later.’ He opened the sack and pulled out a small stool and then another. ‘When I first saw you both,’ he smiled, ‘you were sitting on ’doorstep, and I thought then that what you needed was a stool to sit on. So I made you one each.’

  Grace took one of them from him. It was three-legged, like a milking stool, and he apologized. ‘It’s elm,’ he said. ‘But there wasn’t enough wood to make two square stools with four legs, and as I wanted you both to have the same I decided to make them round with three.’

  ‘They’re beautiful,’ Grace said softly, overwhelmed by the gift. ‘Oh, Daniel, what a craftsman you are and you’re giving it up!’

  The stools were honed and polished, and finished with such care and symmetry that she couldn’t believe that one of them was for her.

  Daniel threw the still almost-full sack into a corner. ‘Those are just a few things when I was learning ’craft. Nothing of value. As I say, you can use them for firewood.’ Then he said he had to go. ‘I’m going to confront Ma and Da now,’ he said. ‘Wish me luck.’

  ‘I do,’ she said. ‘Thank you, Daniel. Will we see you before Friday? Are you definitely sailing?’

  He tightened his lips. ‘Yes, I’ve been to sign this morning. Now there’s no going back. Listen out for ’storm across at our house,’ he added, as if trying to make light of what was to happen next. ‘It’ll be heard out at sea.’

  As Daniel entered his own door, Grace’s father arrived home, jubilant with the news that he had obtained temporary work at the joiner’s workshop. ‘Master there said that he’s waiting for one of his regular men to come back. I guess that must be Hanson. But I can have ’job until he does, and if he doesn’t return within two weeks then it’s mine full-time.’

  Grace heaved a sigh of relief. ‘Thank goodness,’ she began, and stopped as a shrill ear-piercing shriek erupted from the Hansons’ house. ‘Daniel’s just told them he’s leaving!’

  A man gave a great roar, and they guessed that it was Mr Hanson berating both his wife and Daniel. They heard another voice which they assumed was Daniel’s, and then a crash as something hit the house wall.

  ‘That’s ’cooking pot,’ Bob Sheppard grinned. ‘It’ll be ’kettle next, then a boot!’

  ‘How do you know?’ Grace asked, alarmed at the thought of violence.

  ‘Never you mind,’ her father said. ‘I just do!’

  Grace’s mother arrived home in the midst of the row. ‘What’s going on across ’road?’ she asked. ‘Missus got her dander up?’

  ‘Daniel’s given up his apprenticeship,’ Grace told her. ‘He’s going to sea. He sails on Friday.’

  ‘Poor lad!’ Her mother tutted and was visibly cross. ‘He’d not have done that if he’d been mine! I’d have worked day and night to keep him in a craft.’ She shook her head. ‘Some folks haven’t ’sense they were born with.’

  ‘Ma! Da! Why didn’t you put me to a trade? I could have been a weaver or a spinner by now.’

  ‘No you couldn’t.’ Her mother sat down and took off her boots, and turned them over to look at the worn soles. ‘When ’cotton mill first opened, they brought weavers and spinners in from Lancashire and ’West Riding. There’d never been a cotton mill in Hull before so nobody had any experience. But they wanted labourers, women and bairns, and that’s why when you were old enough you went there.’

  ‘Besides,’ her father interrupted, ‘spinning and weaving is a family tradition, they’re brought up to it in Lancashire, same as coal-mining in ’West Riding. Cotton was new to Hull.’

  As he spoke another crash erupted from across the court.

  ‘That’s a ch
air,’ her mother reckoned. ‘Table’ll go over next.’

  But the next sound was that of the door crashing and Grace looked out of the window to see Daniel marching towards the alleyway.

  ‘Don’t think of going after him,’ her mother cautioned, as Grace picked up her shawl. ‘He’ll need to be by himself until his temper dies down.’

  ‘Daniel hasn’t got a temper,’ Grace objected. ‘He’s very steady.’

  ‘He’s just had a row with his parents, mebbe ’first ever. They’ll all have said things that have been bottled up for months,’ her mother reasoned. ‘Go to him after a bit when he might want to talk.’ She looked directly at Grace. ‘Is he special to you, bairn?’

  ‘Why yes! Of course he is,’ Grace replied and sounded surprised at the question. ‘He’s my friend!’

  Edward shuffled a pile of papers around his desk. It was almost six o’clock and time for him and Martin to be going home. Martin put his head around the door. ‘Aren’t you ready? I want to be off.’

  ‘No, you go on.’ Edward lifted his head and frowned as if in concentration. ‘I’ve things to clear up here. I’ll get a hansom when I’m ready.’

  He had dressed soberly that morning and put on a heavy dark overcoat and a grey scarf. The weather was dank and cold and he shivered as he stepped outside. He hunched his shoulders and as he came out of the mill gates he looked about for a hansom cab. One came along quite soon and he hailed it.

  ‘Where to, sir?’

  ‘I don’t know the name of the road,’ he said. ‘But it’s somewhere behind the dock, on the north side. Somewhere near New George Street, I think. I’ll know it when I see it.’

  ‘Very good, sir.’ The cabby raised his whip. ‘Just give me a shout when we’re there.’

  He was so unfamiliar with the area that he didn’t recognize any landmarks. They passed crowded inns with lanterns swinging outside and the sound of laughter within, and it crossed his mind that people were not so downtrodden, as the ‘do-gooders’ would have you believe, that they couldn’t enjoy a glass of ale and merriment.

  He peered out of the cab window into the gloom. It was raining quite hard now and he was beginning to think that perhaps he would turn around and go home, except that he would change hansoms rather than take the risk of the driver knowing who he was, when he saw the youth he was seeking scurrying along the road.

  ‘Stop here a moment,’ he called up to the cabby. ‘I’ll just ask directions.’ He jumped out and called after the youth. ‘Hey! You there! Just a moment.’ He hurried after him out of the hearing of the driver and hailed him again.

  Jamie turned around and recognized the man immediately. He had a good memory for faces and he remembered this one who had pretended that he had lost his way. ‘Good evening, sir. Can I be of assistance?’

  ‘Erm, yes. That is, perhaps.’ Edward pulled his scarf up around his chin. ‘We have met previously, and er, you said that you might be able to arrange erm, a meeting with a certain woman.’

  ‘Did I, sir?’ Jamie wrinkled his brow as if trying to recollect. ‘A woman? Yes, well, I do know a very agreeable woman, very accommodating, you might say. And discreet,’ he added. ‘No names or anything like that.’

  ‘Mmm. Mmm.’ Edward shuffled nervously. ‘Well, I’d erm, I’d like to make her acquaintance. But I’d need to know if she’s – well, if she’s –’ He let the question hang in the air. ‘I’m getting married soon, you see, and I must be sure that everything is all right.’

  ‘If she’s clean, you mean, sir? Not diseased?’

  ‘That’s it!’ Edward was relieved that he didn’t have to explain further. ‘That’s it exactly. I must be sure.’

  ‘Of course you must, sir.’ Jamie’s voice was smooth and as comforting as butter. ‘Can’t be too careful. The lady I had in mind is very experienced, sir, but very particular and quite sound in health.’ He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. ‘But, I’m wondering, seeing as you’re to be married and would want to be entirely sure, because of your dear lady wife – I do happen to know of a young virgin. Beautiful, she is and quite untried.’

  ‘A virgin!’ Edward breathed. ‘Oh, yes indeed.’

  ‘I’d have to persuade her.’ Jamie’s fingers tapped his lips thoughtfully. ‘She’s down on her luck just at ’moment and this would be a last resort. But, yes, I’m sure that I can induce her,’ he said valiantly. ‘For a gentleman such as yourself. It’ll cost, though,’ he added warningly and named a figure, twice what he would ask for Nell.

  ‘Yes. Yes! Do you want me to pay something on account?’

  ‘Certainly not, sir. Why, you might never see me again! Saturday? Would that be suitable? It’ll give me time to persuade her.’

  They agreed the day, a time and place and Edward hurried back to his waiting hansom and asked the driver to take him to the Market Place, where he knew he would be able to get another cab.

  ‘Wasn’t he able to help you, sir?’ the cabby asked.

  ‘No. No, he wasn’t.’ Edward climbed into the hansom. ‘I’ve decided to leave it for the time being.’

  ‘Oh, dear,’ the driver murmured as he drove off. ‘That’s a wonder. I thought Jamie knew everywhere and everybody around here!’

  ‘This fellow wants a virgin, Ma, and Ruby is willing. At least, she’s not willing but she’s got no other option.’

  ‘That’s my patch!’ his mother objected. She’d screamed and shouted at him when he’d told her that Ruby was joining their team. ‘I’ll not have anybody else tekking over from me.’

  ‘She’s not tekking over. When we’re set up you’ll have ’say on who goes where. This is our big chance, Nell. We could make a lot of money, and you could keep just your specials,’ he persuaded. ‘You wouldn’t have to go out if you didn’t want to. Come on,’ he said soothingly. ‘Trust me. I’ve never let you down before, have I?’

  She conceded that he hadn’t, but she didn’t trust him entirely, even if he was her own son.

  Ruby was quiet as she and Grace met up at Grace’s door on Friday morning. She had money in her skirt pocket, for she intended to go to the public baths after they had finished at the mill that evening.

  ‘What’s up?’ Grace asked. ‘Lost your tongue?’

  ‘No. I don’t feel in ’mood for chat, that’s all.’

  Grace glanced at her. ‘You’d better tell me. Get it off your chest. But not yet, let’s wait a minute to say goodbye to Daniel. He leaves this morning.’

  ‘Oh!’ Hot tears sprang to Ruby’s eyes. ‘I haven’t thanked him yet for that beautiful stool. Can I leave it at your house, Grace? I’m bothered that Ma will sell it if she’s desperate for loddy money.’

  Grace nodded, then looked up as Daniel’s door opened and he came across to them. ‘Have you made it up with your ma and da, Daniel?’ She was anxious that there was no bad feeling before he went away.

  ‘With Da, yes. He keeps saying how sorry he is.’ Daniel’s voice was strained. ‘He’s just sitting in a chair weeping and I wish he’d get angry rather than that. But Ma won’t talk to me. Yesterday she kept on and on about all she’d done for me, all ’sacrifices she’d made. But today she won’t speak at all. I’ll be glad to get away.’

  ‘We’ll miss you, Daniel.’ Ruby’s voice was choked. ‘I hope – I hope –’ She couldn’t finish what she was saying and bent her head.

  ‘Hope what, Ruby?’ Daniel lifted her chin with his finger and gave her an encouraging smile.

  ‘I hope – that you don’t find us changed when you come home again.’ Ruby swallowed hard. How to put what she really meant? ‘That we can still be friends, no matter what.’

  ‘Of course we can. Why shouldn’t we? It’ll be summer when I get back, maybe in time for your birthday, Ruby.’ He glanced at Grace. ‘But I might have gone again by ’time yours comes around, Grace.’ He sounded regretful. ‘If I get another ship, that is.’

  ‘Where are you going?’ Ruby wiped her eyes on her sleeve.

  ‘To ’Baltic,’ he
said. ‘Taking out manufactured goods and bringing in timber for ’raff yards. Your boss from ’cotton mill owns ’company I’m working for,’ he added.

  ‘Our boss?’ they chorused. ‘Who’s that?’

  ‘Joseph Rylands,’ he said. ‘He owns a shipping fleet as well as shares in ’cotton mill. I heard he brings in raw cotton on his own ships.’

  They both shook their heads. They’d neither of them ever heard of him. They knew none of the directors or shareholders, only the Newmarch brothers who were to be seen around the mill and the manager, Mr Staniland, whom they occasionally saw driving away in his chaise.

  ‘We’re onny poor ignorant workers,’ Grace said, and a note of bitterness sounded in her voice. ‘What do we know about anything?’

  ‘We’d better go,’ Ruby interrupted. ‘We’ll be late. God speed, Daniel.’ She reached up and kissed his cheek and patted his chin where his beard was growing.

  He put his arms out and hugged her. ‘Take care of yourself, Ruby. Take care of each other,’ he said, as he turned to Grace and kissed her too. ‘I’ll be thinking of both of you, every day, wondering what you’re up to.’

  ‘Oh, don’t worry about us, Daniel.’ Ruby’s tears started to fall again and she sniffed hard. ‘We’ll be all right. Won’t we, Grace?’

  Grace nodded. Ruby’s tears seemed to be excessive, she pondered. Is she weeping over Daniel going away or because of what is in front of her? Has she made a commitment to Jamie? She put an arm around Ruby’s shoulder. ‘Yes,’ she replied softly. ‘We’ll be all right. But come home safe and sound, Daniel. We’ll be waiting for you.’

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  ‘No work tomorrow, ladies!’ The women, including Ruby and Grace, who had been told to assemble before going home, agreed that the foreman needn’t have sounded so cheerful as he gave them the news that their work was being cut to two days. ‘Monday and Friday’ll be your shift. Come tomorrow for this week’s wages.’