Emily

by Valerie Wood

  ‘Mr Linton! How good to see you.’ Mary Edwards took him through to her sitting room at the back of the shop and it was just as he remembered it, with a bright fire burning and a kettle humming on the bars. ‘Do you have any news?’ she asked anxiously. ‘Mr Francis has written to you through the naval office, but you may not have received his letter.’

  ‘Indeed I haven’t,’ Philip replied, ‘and I regret I have been remiss in not writing to him or to you, but events seemed to take over. But perhaps you realized that I took the same ship as Emily out to Australia?’

  ‘Indeed? How fortuitous!’ said Mary. ‘The Navy Office would only say in reply to Mr Francis’s query, that you had gone abroad and they would send on the correspondence.’

  There was an appeal in her voice as she asked, ‘And what news? Did Emily withstand the journey? Is she well? We cannot contemplate the conditions these poor people have to suffer.’

  He shook his head. ‘I couldn’t begin to tell you of the privations, Mrs Edwards, nor would I want to, though I am told that conditions are better than they once were.’ He took a deep breath. ‘But, thank God, transportation is coming to an end. There will be no more convicts going to New South Wales at any rate, and I managed to make Emily’s journey a little more comfortable than it would have been.’

  ‘At no cost to herself, Mr Linton?’ He heard the hidden query beneath her words.

  ‘None, I assure you, Mrs Edwards.’

  Her face cleared. ‘Forgive me. It isn’t as if I distrust you. It’s just that there are some very wicked people in this world which makes one question innocent motives.’

  ‘I do understand; but I promise you I only have Emily’s well-being at heart. And so,’ he enquired, ‘what of the villain? Has he been found? Is he to be brought to account?’

  ‘He has been found. He is back at his house in Hessle. But he will not answer enquiries, neither will he let Mr Francis see his daughter and he – Mr Francis – is extremely worried about her. Even Mrs Purnell has not seen either of them, though I rather think she has washed her hands of her son altogether. That is what I have heard. I have also heard that he is in debt. He is spending Deborah’s allowance as fast as his own.’

  ‘Can Mr Francis not stop the allowance?’

  ‘I don’t think so. I believe it was written into the marriage contract. The only way it could be stopped is if Deborah could leave him and the marriage be annulled. But’, she sighed, ‘as no-one gets the chance to see her there is little hope of that.’

  ‘What a worry for Mr Francis,’ Philip murmured. ‘So it seems that Emily’s case is at stalemate too.’

  She nodded. ‘Mr Francis has been quite ill with the worry of it, I am very anxious about him.’ She looked down and linked her fingers in her lap. ‘There is something more. Mrs Francis has left. She has gone to live with her sister in Hampshire and says she is not coming back.’

  ‘Not even to see her daughter?’

  ‘No. There was never anything much between them. Mrs Francis cannot cope with any kind of illness. She hasn’t seen her son in years.’ Her eyes clouded. ‘And she has had every opportunity.’

  ‘I will think of what to do, Mrs Edwards. The matter has to be resolved.’

  He rode out to the village of Hessle that evening to ascertain the whereabouts of the property and to enquire if there was anyone at home. On finding the house he discovered several carriages in the drive, lights flickering in all the rooms and the sound of music and laughter. He dismounted and handed the reins to one of several grooms waiting by the door and mounted the steps.

  ‘Do you have an invitation, sir?’ A footman barred his way.

  ‘I’ve just got in from abroad,’ Philip said in a jovial manner. ‘I didn’t realize I needed one.’ He put his hand into his pocket and brought out a guinea, which he slipped into the fellow’s hand. He winked. ‘Purnell’s going to be surprised to see me!’

  The footman slid the money into his pocket and invited him in. ‘I’m sure he’ll be delighted, sir.’

  He wandered around the various rooms. Card games were being played in the library and a hard drinking session was obvious in the smoking room. He opened another door and found Hugo with his arms around a woman.

  ‘Linton! What the devil! How did you get here?’ Hugo’s face was flushed, either with drink or lechery or possibly both, Philip assumed, for the lady was hastily adjusting her dress.

  ‘I thought I’d pop up to see you,’ Philip said heartily. ‘I’d heard there was a party and as I’ve just got back from abroad –. Nice place,’ he added, looking around at the sumptuous furnishings. ‘Must have cost you a fortune!’

  Hugo slapped the woman on the rear. ‘Off you go, darling, I’ll see you later.’ He waited until she had gone out of the door. ‘You should get yourself a rich wife, Linton. That’s where all of this has come from.’

  Philip raised his eyebrows. ‘Really! I must take a leaf out of your book. I’m looking forward to meeting your wife. I haven’t yet had that pleasure.’

  ‘Er – she’s indisposed at the moment. She won’t be joining us tonight.’

  Philip expressed his disappointment. ‘Will she rest with so much going on?’ There were great shouts of laughter, the crash of piano chords and the splintering of glass.

  ‘Yes, she’s at the top of the house, won’t hear a thing. She prefers it up there,’ he added. ‘It’s much quieter.’

  ‘I’ve heard the most extraordinary rumours since I came back, Purnell!’ Philip accepted a glass of wine and watched as Hugo spilt some over the carpet as he attempted to pour himself more. ‘I heard from someone that – well, in very bad taste of course – but this fellow said that since no-one ever sees your wife, everyone thinks that –’. He dropped his voice to a whisper. ‘They’re saying that she’s either dead or in an asylum.’

  ‘They’re saying that, are they? Well it isn’t true!’ He shook a finger at Philip. ‘She just doesn’t go out, that’s all. She is a bit –!’ He put a finger to his forehead and wiggled it. ‘You know! I didn’t know when I married her, of course, but seeing as we are married then I’ll have to put up with it. I’ll look after her.’

  ‘And spend her money!’ Philip gave an enforced shout of laughter.

  ‘That’s it!’ Hugo roared. ‘I knew you’d understand, old fellow.’ He slapped Philip on the shoulder. ‘I need the money!’ He took another drink and drained his glass. ‘God knows how I need the money. Do you know,’ he poured himself more wine, ‘that my mother, my very own mother, has cut off my allowance at the bank. Says I have to wait until she’s dead.’ He lifted up the bottle and shook it to get out the last drop. ‘I hope I don’t have to wait long!’

  Philip cringed, then said, ‘Can I go up and see your wife? I could scotch the rumours for you.’

  Hugo looked at him through bleary eyes. ‘I’d never get up the stairs, old fellow, and I don’t know where Alice is.’

  ‘Alice?’

  ‘Alice who looks after her.’ He gave a loud hiccup and grinned. ‘And me as well.’

  ‘I’ll go up on my own then, shall I? I’ll tell Alice you sent me.’

  Hugo had slumped into a chair and closed his eyes and didn’t answer. Philip opened another bottle of wine which was standing on a table and refilled Hugo’s glass, placing the bottle beside him, then slipped out of the room and up the stairs. He passed several rooms where he could hear peals of laughter and went up again on to another floor. He listened at several doors, but couldn’t hear anything and came to one at the end of the corridor. He put his ear to it and heard the murmur of voices, one petulant and the other impatient. He knocked softly.

  The voices stopped then he heard the pattering of feet across the room. ‘Get back,’ he heard someone say. ‘You mustn’t go near the door.’

  The door opened a crack and a pair of eyes looked out at him. ‘Yes?’

  ‘Alice?’ he said softly. ‘Hugo sent me up.’

  The door opened a little wider and Alice�
�s face looked into his. Behind her he could see another slighter figure hovering. ‘He said would you like to join him downstairs.’

  Her face brightened, then she said, ‘But what about her? She’ll kick up a fuss. Unless I give her another dose?’

  ‘No. No, don’t do that. I’ll stay and talk to her until you come back. There’s no rush,’ he grinned. ‘Go and enjoy yourself.’

  She slid out of the door and locked it, putting the key in her pocket.

  ‘Shall I have the key?’ he asked brightly. ‘I could go in and talk to her.’

  ‘Not likely,’ she said. ‘If she gets out there’ll be no catching her. I know that madam!’ She looked at him keenly. ‘I don’t think I know you, sir.’

  ‘I’m an old friend from a long way back,’ Philip lied. ‘I’ve been abroad.’

  ‘Ah!’ She nodded and moved away down the corridor. ‘Come and fetch me if she makes a row.’

  When she had disappeared down the stairs he again knocked softly on the door. ‘Mrs Purnell,’ he called, ‘can you hear me?’

  There was no answer, but he was sure he could hear the sound of soft breathing against the door. ‘Miss Francis.’ He tried again. ‘Miss Deborah!’

  He heard the intake of breath and then a low voice. ‘Who are you? Are you a doctor? Are you going to lock me up?’

  ‘No!’ He was horrified at the thought of her fear. ‘I’m a friend of your father. He asked me to find out if you were all right. If you were well.’

  ‘I’m not all right.’ He heard the sob in her voice. ‘Why doesn’t he come for me? Papa! I want to go home!’

  Philip rubbed his hand over his beard. What should he do? ‘Miss Francis, Mrs Purnell –.’

  ‘Don’t call me by that name!’

  This time he could hear hysteria in her voice. ‘Miss Francis, are you sure that you want to go home to your father?’

  ‘Yes, but Hugo won’t let me. He says that Papa doesn’t want me any more and I have to stay here with him for ever.’ She started to cry. ‘If I don’t, he says he’ll lock me up with all the mad people.’

  Philip swore under his breath. What a hellish fiend Purnell was. Not content with ruining one young woman’s life he was now ruining another’s.

  ‘Can you ride, Miss Francis?’ he whispered and glanced down the corridor.

  ‘Ride? Of course I can ride. What a stupid thing to ask.’ Her voice was haughty and imperious and he was glad to realize that her spirit wasn’t completely broken.

  ‘If I can get you out of here, will you ride behind me and I’ll take you to your father? You will have to trust me, even though you don’t know me.’

  There was a moment’s hesitation before she said, ‘The door is locked, how will you open it?’

  Like this, he thought for only a second and slammed his boot against the lock. The wood splintered and he kicked again, breaking the panel and pushing the door open. ‘That was easy, wasn’t it?’ He smiled reassuringly at the pale-faced young woman standing there with her hands clenched tightly together. ‘Don’t be afraid,’ he said. ‘If we can get out of the house I’ll take you to your father. He’s been very worried about you.’

  She shook her head. ‘He hasn’t,’ she whispered. ‘He hasn’t come to see me, not since we came here. Hugo and Alice said he didn’t want to see me ever again, that I had been too naughty because I spit my medicine out at them.’ She fingered her cheek. ‘Alice hit me last time I did it.’

  ‘Your father does want to see you and you haven’t been naughty,’ once more he reassured her. ‘I’ll take you to him. But I’m not sure how we can get out.’

  ‘Oh, I know,’ she said eagerly, ‘we can go through the coal cellar. I tried once before, but Alice caught me.’

  ‘Take what you need, then,’ he said swiftly. ‘A cape or coat and we’ll go. It will be a big adventure,’ he smiled and was gladdened to see a childlike expression of pleasure on her face. ‘Come along, be quick.’

  There was no need to use the coal cellar as, when they crept down the backstairs towards the kitchen, they saw the outer door wide open and one of the maids with her back to them trying to draw the fire on the range. They heard the sound of laughter coming from the servants’ dining hall and crept silently through the rear passage and out through the back door. He took Deborah down the drive and bade her wait in the bushes whilst he went back to fetch his horse. He tipped the groom and rode away, collecting Deborah from where he had left her. Crying silently, she swung up behind him.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  He took Deborah to Mary Edwards’s house. It was late and dark and he wasn’t familiar with the road to Holderness where her father lived. He could also still hear her crying as she rode behind him and he was anxious regarding her welfare and state of health.

  ‘This is a friend’s house,’ he said as he dismounted outside the florist’s shop. ‘A friend of your father’s as well as mine. She will look after you whilst I ride to fetch your father.’

  She looked at him with suspicion, but as Mary Edwards came to the door, her face honest and friendly, the distrust melted away and she became like a child who has been hurt and is looking for comfort.

  ‘Come in, my dear.’ Mary was all warmth and sympathy and led her to the fire. ‘Come and warm yourself. Don’t be afraid, everything will be all right now.’ She took off Deborah’s cloak and sat her by the fire and wrapped a shawl around her. Then she warmed a cup of milk and sprinkled nutmeg into it.

  Deborah sniffed at it, then gave a sad smile, ‘Betty Brewer used to give me this whenever I was unhappy or ill.’ She wiped a tear from her cheek. ‘I wonder if I will ever see her again?’

  ‘I’m sure that you will,’ Mary soothed. ‘She’s still housekeeper at your father’s house.’

  ‘Do you know her?’

  ‘I did,’ Mary answered. ‘A long time ago.’

  She turned to Philip. ‘Mr Linton, I think that Mrs Purnell will be better staying with me tonight. She’s chilled through and could not withstand the journey to Holderness. May I prevail on your good nature and ask if you’ll ride to Mr Francis in the morning and ask him to come for her?’

  ‘Of course. That was my intention. I will ride at first light.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I’ll ask him also if he would bring a doctor with him. I think she has been on some kind of medication or substance. The effect may wear off with who knows what effect!’

  Philip found Roger Francis the next morning with his farm beadle. He was just about to mount his horse and inspect the estate, but on Philip’s news he immediately changed his plans. He ordered the carriage to be made ready for their journey, and called for the housekeeper to prepare for the return of his daughter. He looked pale and spoke in a breathless way, and rubbed on his chest nervously.

  Philip refused a ride in the carriage and took the journey back slowly. He noted the vast landscape and tried to see it as if through Emily’s eyes. The wide sky was painted with streaks of sunlight and masses of cloud formed and reformed as it was gently buffeted by the north-east wind. He stopped for a glass of ale and bread and ham in the bustling market town of Hedon and wondered if by any chance he could be following in Emily’s footsteps, for this would have been the nearest town to Elmswell Manor, where she had once worked.

  Roger Francis was so anxious about his daughter that he hadn’t mentioned Emily, and Philip mused as he remounted and took the turnpike road towards Hull, that the question of a pardon lay in his own hands and his alone.

  Philip called at Hugo Purnell’s the following day and reminded him that he still owed him fifty guineas. ‘The fact is, Purnell, I need the money now.’

  ‘I don’t even remember borrowing money from you,’ Hugo said sullenly. ‘When was it?’

  ‘A long time ago! I consider I have been very patient.’ Philip fished in his pocket. ‘Here’s your IOU. I’ve presented it at the bank but they won’t honour it.’

  ‘I can’t pay it!’

  ‘Nonsense!’ Philip was scornfu
l. ‘You have this splendid house, beautifully furnished. You must have some money.’

  ‘It’s my wife’s money that bought the house,’ he growled, ‘and I don’t expect her allowance until the end of the month. I tell you I haven’t got a sou.’

  ‘Sell something, then.’ Philip hardened his voice. ‘Your wife’s jewellery or a piece of furniture.’

  ‘Can’t.’ Hugo slumped into a chair. ‘The furniture’s not paid for. I’m being pressed for payment and my wife doesn’t have any jewellery. Besides, she’s not here.’

  ‘Not here?’ Philip dared. ‘Where is she, then?’

  ‘God knows, I don’t. She got out of the house and has disappeared.’

  ‘What do you mean, got out of the house? Did you have her prisoner or something?’

  Hugo poured himself a whisky, but didn’t offer Philip one. ‘She’s off her head, you know. Got out the other night while I was entertaining a few friends.’ He looked up at him and frowned. ‘Weren’t you here?’

  ‘Was I invited?’

  ‘I can’t remember.’ He ran his hand over his eyes. ‘I don’t know who was here. I’ve got rid of half the staff anyway for letting her get out. And I’ve just told that bitch Alice she can go. She was supposed to be looking after her.’

  Philip had wondered at the absence of footmen and maids. A nervous kitchen maid had answered his knock on the front door. ‘Well, be that as it may, Purnell. I need the money pretty badly and although we’ve known each other a long time, I’m very much afraid that I’ll have to go to law to get it.’

  Hugo stared in astonishment. ‘You wouldn’t?’

  ‘I would. I consider I’ve waited long enough.’

  ‘But I could go to gaol if you press!’

  ‘Yes. And if I press then so will your other creditors. You’ll lose your house and your possessions. Perhaps you should speak to your father-in-law,’ he said, knowing he was rubbing salt into the wound. ‘Surely he’ll help you out?’

  ‘You’d press me for a measly fifty guineas!’