by S G Read
‘He got off a shot then?’
‘Yes, killed a blade of grass, I can show you if you like?’
‘That won’t be necessary.’ He answered and started going through the highwayman’s saddle bags, when he pulled out Lady Dymonds jewels he whistled softly. ‘I know a lady who will be pleased to get these back. You have done Exeter a great service in ridding us of him. Can I help you with your business?’
‘You may well be able to. I am looking for the workhouse in Mill road, looking for Ruth Fearon who I want to act as nurse to the children in my orphanage.’
‘Which one is that? There are a few about.’ The thief taker asked.
‘The one in Lamerton.’
‘Well if you go out the way you came in and turn left at the first crossroads you are in Mill road, the workhouse is about a mile down on the left.’
‘Thank you thief taker.’
‘The name is Philip Melhuish, friends call me Pip.’
‘Thank you Pip, until the next time but I hope it will be without the dead body.’
‘Saved me hanging him.’ Pip answered as Andrew rode away.
Andrew rode to the work house and was let in by the man on the gate. A man in a uniform walked out to see him.
‘How can I help you?’
‘I am here to see Ruth Fearon.’
‘I will send her out.’
A few seconds later a woman in rags walked out. They were clean rags but still rags. She had obviously seen hard times. She curtsied before speaking.
‘Can I help you good sir?’
‘I have a job offer for you; Mary Hodgson said you were the one to employ.’
‘Mary. So you know I have two children?’
‘I do. My name is Andrew McDay and I run the workhouse orphanage at Lamerton. I need a nurse, you will be well paid and you will have a roof over your head and the children will be taught.’
‘Then I am your woman sir.’
‘Good, can you come today?’
‘I can sir.’ Ruth answered.
‘Then I will find a cart to take you, your children and your belongings in. I will be back in half an hour.’
Andrew left them and went off to find transport. An hour after arriving in Exeter he was on his way back with his new nurse and her children. He had planned a game of cards while he was here to earn some money as it was his skill to play them well and it did not matter that his hands were now all calloused but he chose to go back with the family, mainly to make sure nothing happened on the way. This time his pistol was at hand. He dragged the tree out of the way when they came to it, with the help of the driver and they drove on getting back to the orphanage in the middle of the afternoon.
Lady Dymonds came when she was told of the dead highwayman and the recovery of her jewels. She walked in to where he lay, still in his clothes but unmasked.
‘Open his eyes!’ She ordered.
‘I beg your pardon Lady Dymonds.’ The thief taker replied.
‘Open his eyes I want to see his eyes.’ She repeated earnestly.
‘You heard her ladyship.’ He cried passing on the grisly task on to his hireling.
The man opened the highwayman’s eyelids.
‘I knew it.’ Lady Dymonds declared. ‘This is not the highwayman who robbed me. This one has brown eyes, the one who robbed me had blue eyes and I thought I recognised them. It escapes me at present but it will come to me and then they will hang!’ She turned and stormed out.
The thief taker mopped his brow with his kerchief. ‘What colour was that man McDay’s eyes?’
‘They were brown as well.’ The hireling replied.
‘Thank the lord for that otherwise I would have let the real one go.’
‘Are you saying he weren’t a robber?’ The hireling asked, confused.
‘No he was a robber but he either killed the other highwayman and we will find their body, blue eyes and all or they were in it together and there is still one to hang.’
Unaware of the goings on in Exeter Andrew helped unload Ruth’s belongings, such as they were. The children’s clothes were marginally better than the children in the orphanage but at least they owned what they wore. He carried her trunk upstairs and stood it in one corner. This was soon to be the children’s sleeping area but for now it was theirs. He would have to discuss putting up a wall between the children’s area and the one where Ruth and her family were going to sleep in. The five babies were in a room of their own to make sure the last beadle could not here their crying.
None of the beds had arrived yet so temporary beds were improvised.
‘When they have finished washing the clothes there will be hot water to wash the children and any clothes you want washed can go on the pile in the corner, that is orphanage washing.’
‘Thank you sir.’
‘If you are going to stay you can either call me Mr. McDay forcing me to call you Mrs. Fearon or you can call me Andrew and I you Ruth.’
‘It will take some getting used to Andrew.’ Ruth answered. ‘I have been bowing and scraping for so long now, after my husband passed away.’
‘I will remind you when you slip up. A teacher will be arriving soon and there is a cottage across the road available but I did not know whether you would prefer to be near the little ones at night.’
‘Some one should be with them. Who is looking after them at the moment?’
‘Number seven is.’ Andrew answered. ‘She has just given us another mouth to feed.’
‘How old is she?’
‘She is in her last year here.’
‘Not sixteen yet then?’
‘No. The last beadle punished her slightly differently than using a whip, oh and so did the man with the whip.’
‘What happens to her when she reaches sixteen?’
‘Hard to say at the moment, I am making changes where I can but I can not go against my employer’s wishes. I hope to have somewhere for her to go but she will be able to read and write if I have my way.’
‘No wonder Mary Hodgson has time for you Andrew McDay.’ Ruth declared and squeezed his hand. ‘Now leave me to unpack what little I have and then I will go and see number seven. Hasn’t she got a name?’
‘I plan to let them have their names as soon as they can write them.’ Andrew said as he started down the stairs.
He walked across the road between the orphanage and the little cottage opposite. As he did so he saw the soap floating on the water in the stream, the same stream the little cottage would have to use for water. He stopped and watched the soapy water as it came out of the pipe and into the stream. Something had to be done about that! He walked on and up to the cottage front door. There was a porch in front and he stepped onto the first step which promptly broke under his weight causing his foot to go right through it. He managed to retain his balance and composure enough to pull it out. The second and third steps took his weight but the floor at the top did not and his foot went through again. This time he ended up sitting on the floor with one leg out of sight through the rotten floor and the other one in front of him. He extricated himself from the floor and walked on gingerly trying each board as he went. He made it to the door and opened it; it swung open with a slight squeak. Very carefully he went inside trying each board as he went but all the boards inside seemed sound as no more broke under his weight. There were no curtains on the windows, no carpets on the floor and no furniture whatsoever. There was no way he was going to make Beth Conibear sleep over here, or even live over here until it was made comfortable. As yet he had only seen her in her highwayman’s outfit without the mask but it had done the trick; he was smitten. He fully intended to get her into his bed and if it took wedlock to do it so be it! He walked from room to room making mental notes on what was required. When he walked back to the orphanage he was mentally kicking himself, while he was at the school auction he could have bought what he needed cheaper than buying new. Another thought occurred he had nothing for the children to write on when she did arri
ve, he would have to sort that.
He saw two wagons unloading washing and children immediately taking the washing through to be washed, more washing meant more money!
He looked inside to see how things were going to see Ruth’s children helping carry the washing to the tubs, Ruth was supervising and Andrew assumed the babies were either asleep or seven was looking after them. He walked back out and saddled Hopscotch himself, as Tom was also helping with the washing, the atmosphere there was so different now. He rode into Tavistock and stopped at Mrs. Oldray’s shop.
‘I need a good bed for my new teacher, curtains for the cottage opposite the orphanage and rugs if you have any.’ He announced, after waiting to be served.
‘I have a good bed I can sell you with mattress and all you need to keep you warm at night. The curtains I will come and measure but I have rugs of different sizes so I should be able to help there. When is she expected?’
‘Wednesday of next week but beware though, the front porch and the steps leading up to it are very rotten. I have yet to see Mr. Hodgson about them.’
‘I will take care but if you have been in there I feel I will see where the weak parts are.’
‘You will indeed.’ Andrew answered with a smile.
His next port of call was Bill Hodgson’s and he rode into the drive during the early evening. Bill met him at the door.
‘Come in Andrew, what can I do this time? Or is it Mrs Hodgson you want?’
‘I have a teacher coming and the steps leading up to the porch on the cottage and the porch are in need of your expert attention.’
‘Then they shall have it. When is she expected?’
‘Wednesday of next week.’
‘Then they shall be repaired by then. Will you stop for something to eat?’
Andrew looked out at the failing light. ‘Thank you for your kind offer but I think I will get back in before it is dark.’
He rode back and Tom let him through the gate in the gathering gloom. For once Andrew was glad Tom was there to rub Hopscotch down and feed him. All was quiet inside and he found the children sitting on the floor up stairs with Ruth reading them a story from one of her battered old books. She looked at him and he gave her a big smile, she would look after his children. He went downstairs and poured himself a large brandy before sitting on the floor next to the children to listen.
Chapter 4
Beth arrived mid day on Wednesday and the cottage was ready for her, although it had cost Andrew money, some from his allowance. The steps had been replaced and the floor of the porch. One or two floorboards had also been replaced. There were curtains at the windows and a large bed had pride of place in the main bedroom. There were also boards and chalk for the children to write on and a larger one on a stand for Beth to use.
Tom let her in but instructed the driver to unload her things at the cottage, pointing to ensure he understood where, as he had no intentions of walking over there to show him as his ankle was playing up. He did however walk the pretty new schoolteacher in to where Andrew was working. Beth wore a pretty dress and new bonnet and she made Andrew’s heart quicken when he saw her.
‘Welcome Beth Conibear, do you want refreshment, before I show you the cottage you will be staying in?’
‘Thank you yes; it has been a long journey by cart. How are you Mr. McDay?’
‘I am fine, in fact better since you have arrived to brighten the scene.’
‘You are so kind.’ Beth sat in the chair Andrew indicated.
He rang a bell and Ruth came in with a plateful of refreshments and a cold drink.
‘This is Ruth Fearon, she is the nurse. Ruth this is the new teacher; meet Beth Conibear.’
‘A teacher, I hope you can allow the children enough time away from their work to get a good education.’ Ruth conjectured, ‘I am pleased to meet you Beth.’
They shook hands as women do.
‘I am pleased to meet you Ruth, I am sure we will be the best of friends.’ Beth answered.
When Beth was refreshed Andrew walked her over to the cottage and showed her round. When she saw the double bed in the main bedroom she turned to Andrew.
‘And where do you sleep?’ She asked suspiciously.
‘I have a room next to where I received you in the orphanage.’
‘Oh.’ She answered, a little taken aback. Many men had tried to lure her into their beds and failed but this man, were she asked to share his bed, she might well have gone along with it. ‘So I have the cottage to myself?’
‘You do. I offered two rooms to Ruth for her and her children but as she looks after the babies she decided to live upstairs in the orphanage.’
‘When I have settled in I hope to discuss the teaching arrangements with you.’
‘I will be about and willing. I have ideas on the subject but I will welcome yours as well.’
He walked back to the orphanage, happy that she was here at last. From trying to hold him up, to becoming his teacher and hopefully his future wife. She caused a reaction in him when she was wearing a dress which caused him to ache but he kept it in check and would continue to do so until they were married.
As he walked back, it started to rain but he did not hurry, he thought it might help. Tom opened the gate to let him in. He scratched his head when Andrew showed no signs of hurrying.
Andrew walked round the washroom to see how things were going. Some of the younger children were allowed to rest while the clothes were washing, something that had never happened before and Andrew thought that they could be taught in such rest times. Two boys worked each tub but as soon as the clothes were washed they all helped to carry the washing to the long tubs for rinsing.
Andrew watched and thought about it, it seemed a waste of time to him to carry the clothes like that, why not rinse them in the same tub. All it needed was cold water from the tank. The answer was simple; as soon as the vats were empty more washing was put in. To not use the long tubs would mean it would take a lot longer. He needed more half vats to wash and rinse in! He went into his office and wrote a note to Bill then called number six over.
‘Can you send someone to Mr. Hodgson the carpenter with this note six?’
‘Yes Mr McDay. I’ll send fifteen on Maggie.’
So the message was sent and soon after Beth arrived. They discussed the schooling and Andrew agreed that the work should stop at seven pm so that she could teach for an hour at least every day but she needed a school room. Andrew took her up stairs to the room the beds would soon be in.
‘If you start teaching up here for now until the beds come up here, after that you can have the room the beds are in now when it has been made habitable.’
‘I saw a lot of scratching, is that what I think it is?’
‘It is and they are the devil to get rid of but Mrs. Oldray has given me something to kill them once we have burnt the beds but I am keeping the new beds a secret until Christmas day, they will be their first present ever.’
‘Well, a flea arriving when one is wearing a bustle, is not going to be any fun.’
Andrew resisted saying, not for you but it might be for those watching.
‘If we wash them before they come up to school and sit them in their towels it should keep the fleas downstairs at least.’
‘It is worth a try Mr McDay, I will ready myself for this evening, do we have boards and chalk?’
Andrew showed her where the boards and chalks were stored; two were out and still had writing on them.
‘That must be Mrs Fearon’s children’s work.’ Andrew surmised.
‘Will I be teaching those as well?’
‘Yes.’
‘Good a good education will never do you any harm.’
Andrew looked at her but said nothing.
‘There are always the exceptions Mr McDay, mine was caused by that witch Lady Dymonds. She refused to pay me and would not give me a reference, I should have put a ball in her but when I was face to face with her my legs went to jelly. I had
to pull myself together just to get away.’
‘Well the witch should be off your back now Beth.’
‘I hope so; I intend for this to be the start of a new life! Tell me this though; Christmas is a month away, are you sure it is fair to wait so log before you rid them of those fleas?’
‘They have lived with them hand in glove for their whole lives; I do not think a month more will worry them.’
‘It might me!’ Beth replied. ‘They are working well without being forced to, how do you do that? I have heard of places like they usually have a man with a large whip to put fear into their hearts and make them work until they drop.’
‘Kindness is what is doing it now.’ Andrew answered. ‘They know they have to do the work but I have changed things so that they can do the work in less time and have time to rest apart from the few hours they spent in bed. They used to work from five in the morning until nine at night and be whipped if they slacked. And they never did catch up with the washing, the pile just grew. Now they run out of washing and that is why they and their clothes get washed.’
‘I bet that came as a surprise.’
‘It did, and it probably will the next time.’
Beth started to set things out as she wanted it, there were no chairs for the children to sit on but they would have chalk and a slate each. Andrew stayed to help her, then he collected the younger children who were not doing anything, for their first lesson. He stayed down to help move the wet clothes, getting soaked as he did so.
‘Where have the little ones gone.’ Six asked, when he saw Andrew helping.
‘They are having their first lesson with the new school teacher upstairs.’
‘She was our teacher?’ Six asked his eyes opening wide.
‘She is your teacher.’ Andrew answered seeing the new interest. ‘I can see she is going to have her hands full with you older boys but remember, to be able to read and write means you can get a good job and stay out of workhouses.’
The look on number six’s face changed. ‘What live outside and earn money?’
