The Penmaker's Wife

by Steve Robinson

  ‘It was Georgina’s wish,’ Stanley said. Then the light in his eyes seemed to intensify as he added, ‘But more than that, it has over these past few years since Georgina died become my solemn desire to see that neither of you want for anything again.’ He laughed to himself. ‘And I’m afraid Alexander would be quite lost now without William by his side. You know how inseparable they’ve become.’

  Angelica felt suddenly light on her feet. What had she done to deserve such kindness indeed? They continued slowly into the room, smiling at one another without further discourse. It was Effie who broke the silence. She was standing beside the desk where Stanley had set out a piece of black felt cloth, on which sat several of Hampton and Moore’s finest-quality fountain pens.

  ‘The workmanship really is quite exquisite,’ she said. She went to pick one of the pens up, but she stopped herself. ‘May I?’

  ‘Of course,’ Stanley said, ‘but these pens are merely there to whet your appetites.’ He went to the corner of the room and knelt before a black-and-gold-painted safe, which he unlocked with a key and opened. From it, he removed a felt roll case that he set down on the table. Then he unfurled it. ‘There!’ he said, withdrawing a gold pen that shone with such brilliance that no amount of shade could diminish it. He held it up. ‘This tool of the mind, which has taken a great many hours of skilled labour to produce, shall very soon be in the hands of Lord Calthorpe – and who knows what important documents it may come to sign.’

  His face was beaming as he spoke, and it was easy for Angelica to see the passion that burned in his eyes as he took in the pen’s fine tracery. At the end of the barrel was set as large a diamond as it could accommodate, and both Angelica and Effie gasped at the sight of it.

  ‘I must confess,’ Stanley said as he removed the cap, which made a precise click as he did so, ‘the diamond was Alfred’s idea. I’m more for the metals, but he says there’s good profit to be made through the inclusion of precious stones when the commission is rich enough to call for such things, even if the jewellery trade as a whole is in decline.’

  Angelica watched Stanley slide the cap back on to the barrel with another click and set the pen carefully down on the felt again. ‘It appears that you and Mr Moore are creating quite a legacy for your children,’ she said. ‘I trust Mr Moore’s children will also follow in their father’s footsteps?’

  ‘Sadly that cannot be the case,’ Stanley said, turning to her with a grave expression. ‘Alfred’s wife, Dorothy, died during the birth of their first child, and Alfred, the poor fellow, has never recovered. His love for Dorothy was so great that he refuses to remarry, despite all good intentions to encourage him to do so.’

  ‘And did the child also perish?’

  ‘No, the child somehow managed to survive the ordeal. Alfred has a daughter, Louisa, a year younger than Alexander. But, of course, a pen factory is no business for a woman. The man needs a son and heir, but will he listen?’

  Angelica wanted to question why the management of such a factory was no place for a woman. After all, was a woman’s mind really so different from a man’s that it should not be considered equal to the task? And yet here was a factory, like so many in Birmingham and elsewhere in the country, owned and managed by men, employing women to carry out all the unskilled tasks, such as pulling levers on press machines, while the men were given the skilled work – the engraving and delicate turning of the lathes – which were clearly deemed too complicated for a woman’s mind to comprehend.

  Stanley edged closer to her, and in a lower voice said, ‘I do not share my business partner’s sentimentality. A man must have a wife. As much as I loved Georgina, I hope to remarry.’

  Their eyes met again, and there was such intent in his expression that Angelica could not fail to comprehend his meaning.

  ‘It has always been my desire to father a house full of children,’ he continued. ‘Poor Georgina was unable to fulfil that desire, although I am blessed with Alexander, of course.’

  ‘Of course,’ Angelica agreed, still looking into his eyes, trying to be sure of his intentions. ‘He’s a fine boy.’

  Angelica was aware then that Effie was standing close beside her. She reached across and picked up Lord Calthorpe’s pen, brushing Angelica’s arm with hers as she did so. It broke the spell Stanley seemed to have over Angelica, as his eyes were instantly drawn to the pen.

  ‘Be careful not to drop it,’ Stanley said, with more alarm in his voice than seemed necessary.

  Paying Stanley no attention, Effie studied the pen in closer detail. ‘Isn’t it beautiful, Angelica?’ she said. ‘You shall have a fine Hampton and Moore fountain pen for your next governess position. It will be my parting gift to you.’

  ‘Thank you, Effie. You’re too kind, as ever.’

  ‘But what’s this?’ Stanley said, his face suddenly frowning. ‘Do I take it that you mean to leave Priory House?’

  Angelica glanced at Effie before answering, trying to gauge whether her interruption and mention of their earlier conversation had been deliberate. Effie was still looking at the pen, giving nothing away. Angelica supposed she had heard Stanley talk of marriage and of children. Was Effie jealous? If so, of whom? Surely Effie had no designs on Stanley Hampton. Or did she? It made no matter. The question was a timely one. Angelica’s answer was sure to test her understanding of Stanley’s meaning when he had spoken of remarrying. If his affections were now set on her, how could he let her leave Priory House, and just how far was he prepared to go in order to keep her there?

  ‘I have no one else to govern at Priory House,’ she said. ‘I was waiting for the right moment to tell you, but I suppose this is as good a time as any.’

  ‘You can’t leave,’ Stanley said, sounding quite perturbed.

  ‘What else is there for me? I’ve enjoyed your hospitality long enough. I fear I shall now only become more and more of a burden to you.’

  ‘A burden? My dear Angelica, you could never be that.’

  ‘But I should have no purpose.’

  ‘What about our card games? Stay, I implore you. If only for that.’

  Angelica looked away. ‘It’s not enough, Stanley.’

  Stanley drew a deep breath and held it, as if considering what to do about the matter. A moment later he took the pen from Effie and said, ‘Effie, would you mind stepping outside the room for a moment?’

  Effie’s lips parted, but she didn’t speak. She looked momentarily lost for words. A few seconds later she gave an awkward smile and said, ‘Of course.’ Then she left the room.

  ‘Angelica,’ Stanley said as soon as the door had closed. His eyes were back on hers. The intensity that had been there previously now returned. ‘What if there were a greater reason for you to remain at Priory House than trifling card games?’

  ‘But I am a governess without a charge,’ Angelica said. ‘What possible reason could there be?’

  Stanley sighed. ‘Please don’t tease me, Angelica. I think you know what’s in my heart. It has been there this past year or more. Don’t you see it?’

  Angelica began to feel light-headed. She saw it clearly enough, but she needed to hear him say it. ‘Do speak plainly, Stanley. What greater reason?’

  Stanley turned away. He leaned on the desk as though in need of support. When he turned back to her, his face was lined with anguish, as if the answer to his next question might destroy him.

  ‘Will you marry me, Angelica? Will you continue to live at Priory House as my wife?’

  Angelica and Effie did not remain long at the pen factory. The carriage met them outside the main gate where they had arrived, and after saying their goodbyes to Stanley, who for business reasons was unable to return with them, they were soon sitting opposite one another, heading back to Priory House. Effie had barely said a word since Angelica and Stanley had left his office to break the news of their engagement. Stanley was beaming with joy as he rushed over to her, eager to tell someone, anyone, that he and Angelica were to be married, b
ut it was clear at once that Effie did not share his joy. She smiled unconvincingly as Stanley told her, and her smile wavered to nothing as she turned to Angelica and gave her congratulations.

  For reasons Angelica could by now gather, she was not surprised at Effie’s reaction. Effie was indeed jealous of one of them, and the disappointment Angelica read in her eyes told her that it was in all probability Stanley she was jealous of. She thought it just as well that Stanley’s business affairs would keep him in town for the remainder of the afternoon, because she felt there was a pressing conversation to be had with Effie, if only Effie would talk to her, and it was a conversation in much need of privacy.

  Thankfully, as soon as the carriage pulled away and the busy sounds of the street veiled their words, Effie spoke out at last, releasing the questions she had kept bottled up since news of the engagement broke.

  ‘Why?’ Effie asked, her eyes imploring Angelica to give her an answer she could understand. ‘Earlier today, you said you had a poor opinion of men, and yet here you are, this very same day, engaged to be married!’

  ‘I’m sure today has been very confusing for you,’ Angelica said, trying to sound sympathetic. ‘It’s been equally confusing for me.’

  ‘Do you love him?’

  Angelica sat forward and took Effie’s hands in hers. ‘No,’ she said with sincerity, ‘but I do love my son, and how could I refuse the man who holds my son’s future in the balance? Marrying Stanley will ensure William’s future absolutely. I will no longer have to worry whether Stanley’s charity will one day end at his whim. And what if he were to marry someone else? How would his new wife feel about William and me? How long would it be before her influence sent us back to the lives we had once known? And what of our friendship then?’ She gave Effie’s hands a gentle squeeze. ‘Marrying Stanley also means that I shall remain at Priory House, where I’ll forever be closer to you. Isn’t that what you want?’

  A tremulous sigh escaped Effie’s lips. She nodded. ‘Yes,’ she said, sounding almost breathless. ‘I want that very much.’

  ‘Well then, isn’t it for the best that I marry Stanley? For William’s sake, and for ours?’

  Angelica let go of Effie’s hands. She reached up to brush her cheek, and as she did so, Effie held her hand there and leaned affectionately into it.

  ‘I love you, Angelica,’ she said. ‘You must know it by now. I don’t know why I feel the way I do about you. If I had been born a man, I would have asked you to marry me as soon as I met you.’

  ‘Love?’ Angelica said, surprised to hear that Effie’s affections for her ran so deep. ‘I’m afraid I’m not a woman anyone should fall in love with. We should both pity Stanley.’ She shook her head and sat back again. ‘I am not a good woman, Effie. In fact, I would go so far as to say that I’m a monster.’

  Effie sat back with her, confusion creasing her brow. ‘Why would you say such a thing?’

  ‘Because it’s true, Effie. I lied to Georgina about my reasons for leaving London, and I lied to you.’

  ‘How do you mean?’

  Angelica gazed out of the carriage window at the grey town buildings that sped past them, wondering whether it was wise to go on, but she was curious enough about Effie’s proclamation of love for her to test it. ‘The true reason I left London and brought William here is because I killed a man.’

  Effie gasped and put a hand to her mouth.

  ‘If I had not left I would otherwise have been found out and hanged for it long before now. I had fallen in with people I would have done well to steer clear of. There was a man called Reginald Price. One day he forced himself on me. He was quite brutal. William discovered us and the man began to beat him. I could take his brutality, but I could not stand by and watch him beat my son. I thought he was going to kill William and I panicked. I grabbed the first thing that came to hand. It was the knife Reggie carried, in a sheath on his belt. I pulled it out, and without thinking of the consequences I drove it deep into his back.’

  Effie winced. She shook her head, as though unable to believe what she was hearing. Then her features softened again, turning to sympathy. ‘What else could you have done?’ she said. ‘He might have killed you both.’

  ‘Perhaps. But I’m afraid that’s only the half of it. Price had a friend called Tom Blanchard. He must have seen what happened because he knew what I’d done. I expect he’d gone to meet with his friend that evening. When William and I left Price’s house, Blanchard followed us home and waited for us to leave again. He had the most deplorable plans for us, too, threatening to turn me over to the authorities if I didn’t obey him.’

  ‘What plans?’

  ‘Prostitution,’ Angelica said. ‘I’m sorry to say it wouldn’t have been for the first time, either.’

  ‘It wouldn’t?’

  ‘No. When little William was born I knew I wanted more for him than the life I’d brought him into. I couldn’t rely on my husband to provide well enough for the two of us, let alone for our child as well. We needed more money. I gave William the best I had to offer.’

  ‘Yourself?’

  Angelica nodded. ‘I knew a woman whose husband had encouraged her into prostitution to help make ends meet. She introduced me to Reggie Price, who found regular work for me and several other women. He saw to it that none of our clients got out of hand, and if they did, he dealt with them. Before I knew it, I’d become so caught up in that world that it was impossible to walk away from it. I tried, the evening before I left London, but Reggie wouldn’t hear of it. Apparently I was his best girl, you see. That’s why he turned on me, and then on William. I should have left William with his father, but as I’ve said, he was always so busy with his work.’

  ‘You did what you had to do,’ Effie said, ‘for both your sakes.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose so,’ Angelica said. ‘Imagine my horror when I learned that Tom Blanchard had similar ideas, only his were far worse. He wanted to keep me locked in a pretty room in a nice little house, sending client after client in to see me. He meant to put William to work when he was older, too, selling our flesh to be abused by whoever would pay him. It was not the new life I had imagined for us – who could want the kind of life Tom Blanchard had to offer?’

  ‘What did you do?’

  ‘Blanchard was also cruel to William. His type are rarely kind to children. He began to hit him, and I knew it would only get worse. I would have run from him, but he had only to tell the authorities what I’d done in London.’

  ‘Did you kill him, too?’

  ‘Yes. Just moments before my first client was due to arrive I encouraged him to the upstairs room, where I was to allow this man who was coming to do with me whatever he wished. With William in the room below, I steeled my nerves and cut Tom Blanchard’s throat with a piece of glass I’d taken from the washhouse in the yard.’

  Effie gasped again.

  ‘You see,’ Angelica said, ‘I’m a monster, and I’m sorry I lied to you before, but how could I have told you all this when we first met? You would not have wished to know me then.’

  ‘Why are you telling me this now?’

  ‘Because I care about you.’

  ‘You do?’

  ‘Yes,’ Angelica said, sitting forward again.

  ‘I don’t think you’re a monster,’ Effie said. ‘What choice did you have? You had to do something, if not for yourself then for William. I think you’re a very brave woman.’

  Angelica smiled. ‘You’re so sweet, Effie, but I doubt the magistrate would be so accommodating. Can I trust you not to tell anyone?’

  ‘On my life.’

  ‘Good,’ Angelica said. She placed her hands on Effie’s knees. ‘I’ve also told you this so you can better understand why my experience of men has not been a good one. I want you to believe me when I say that, while I have agreed to marry Stanley, men are of no physical interest to me – none at all. Do you understand?’

  Effie nodded. Then, as Angelica held Effie’s gaze, she leaned a
cross the narrow divide between them and kissed her softly on the lips. Effie did not pull away. She returned the kiss as fully as it had been given, and in that moment Angelica knew that Effie understood her very well.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Two days after Stanley and Angelica were engaged to be married, Angelica was out in the grounds at Priory House, cutting flowers for her room. It was something she enjoyed doing for herself when the mood took her, even though it was usually the duty of one of the servants. It was another warm day, as fine as it had been all week, the air filled with birdsong and the gentle whisper of the wind. She wore an apron over her light summer dress so as not to spoil it, and a wide bonnet on her head to keep the sun from her eyes. Over her arm she carried a large wicker trug, which was already half full with roses of all colours.

  She was walking alongside one of the flower borders that ran around the grounds by the perimeter wall, quietly humming a tune to herself as pleasant thoughts drifted in and out of her mind – of living at Priory House, not as governess, but as its mistress. She wondered what changes she would make, if any; Missus Redmond and Mr Rutherford, the butler, ran a tight enough ship between them, but she liked the thought that Priory House and all its servants would ultimately soon be hers to control. Even Stanley for that matter.

  She hovered her secateurs over the stem of another rose that took her fancy and clipped it into her trug. Then, as she moved on again, movement caught her eye. She was close to the main gates now, which stood open as they usually did during the day. She ventured closer, peering ahead, and after a while she saw the movement again. Someone was there. At first, she thought it must be the gardener, perhaps tidying the clematis, but it was not.