Fallen Angels

by Val Wood

  ‘You’re most welcome, sir.’ Lily gave Jamie a warning glance as she took Mr Smith’s coat. He was well dressed in a silver grey frock coat and striped trousers, and had white hair and sideburns.

  ‘Yes.’ Jamie caught her look. ‘Lily will know just how to please you, but perhaps I should mek clear …’ He leaned towards him and whispered into his ear.

  ‘Is that so?’ Mr Smith gazed in astonishment at Lily, who smiled sweetly at him. ‘Well, we shall have to try to find some inducement to make her change her mind, won’t we?’ He laughed heartily and took her arm, patting it endearingly. ‘There’ll be something she’s set her heart on, I’m quite sure!’

  Jamie winked at Lily behind Mr Smith’s back. ‘I have to be off,’ he said. ‘I’m meeting another friend. I’ll be back in fifteen minutes.’

  Lily led Mr Smith into the parlour. It looked very cosy, she thought; a bright fire was burning in the grate, the curtains were partly drawn, for this room looked out on to the yard at the back of the house, and the lamps were lit, giving a warm glow. Lizzie and Alice rose from the chairs where they had been sitting, and Betty and Cherie dipped their knees as Mr Smith entered.

  ‘By Jove,’ he uttered. ‘This is jolly nice. Not at all what I expected. Now then, introduce me, won’t you, to these pretty gels?’

  Alice came forward first and dropped a slight curtsy. ‘Good evening, sir. I’m Alice. How nice to meet you. Won’t you sit down?’

  ‘I will if you’ll sit by me,’ he said, taking the chair he was offered, and Alice pulled up a stool beside him. ‘What’s happened to your face?’ he asked. ‘You’ve taken a bump by the look of it.’

  ‘That’s exactly what happened,’ Alice said. ‘I tripped over the cat and fell. I hit my face on ’kitchen table. That’s why it’s bruised. I bruise very easily,’ she said, looking up at him.

  He patted her shoulder. ‘We must be careful with you then,’ he whispered.

  ‘I’m Elizabeth.’ Lizzie came forward, extending her hand, which he grasped tightly. ‘But my friends call me Lizzie.’

  He kissed her hand. ‘Forgive me if I don’t get up, Lizzie,’ he said. ‘But now that I’m down it’ll take the two of you to get me up again.’ He leaned forward with a lascivious twinkle in his eyes. ‘But you shan’t mind that, shall you?’

  Lizzie grinned merrily. ‘Certainly won’t, will we, Alice?’

  Alice put her hand to her face as if embarrassed. ‘No we won’t, Mr Smith, not a bit.’

  ‘Call me Leo,’ he confided. ‘Never mind this Mr Smith business. I can see you’re the type of young women to keep your counsel.’

  Betty came forward holding a tray with glasses of red wine. ‘I’m Elizabeth too,’ she said. ‘But everyone calls me Betty. Won’t you take some refreshment?’

  ‘Well, well,’ he said. ‘This is a treat!’ He took a glass of wine. ‘Won’t you join me, ladies? I can’t possibly drink alone. And I shall call you Elizabeth,’ he said to Betty. ‘The name suits you very well, whereas Lizzie,’ he said, turning to Lizzie, ‘is perfect for you. It’s a merry kind of name.’

  He took a sip of wine and Betty handed glasses round to the others. ‘Now who’s this little maid?’ he said of Cherie. ‘Come here and let me look at you.’

  Cherie, who had been standing back, came forward reluctantly. ‘I’m Cherie,’ she said in a low voice, dipping her knee again.

  ‘Cherie,’ he said softly. ‘Pretty little thing. You remind me – well, never mind. You remind me of someone.’ He took a drink and lapsed into silence for a moment, and then the front door bell rang again.

  Lily excused herself and went to answer the door. A man stood there, holding his hat in his hand and looking cautiously about him.

  ‘Henry,’ he said. ‘Jamie invited me.’

  ‘Do come in.’ Lily smiled. ‘I’m Miss Lily. Jamie will be here shortly; he had to slip out. Shall I take your hat?’

  He nodded, eyeing her. ‘Have you been here long? In this house, I mean?’

  She hung his bowler on the hat stand and turned towards him. He was in his mid-thirties, she supposed; dark hair, slightly streaked with silver, not very tall but exceedingly handsome.

  ‘No,’ she said. ‘Hardly any time at all. Would you like to come through?’

  He cleared his throat. ‘Erm, yes. Erm, I’m new to this kind of thing,’ he said. ‘Don’t know the procedure.’

  She smiled at him. ‘I’m new to it too,’ she said in a confidential whisper. ‘But don’t tell any-one!’

  ‘Really?’ His face brightened. ‘That’s a relief.’

  ‘Think of it as a sort of club,’ she advised. ‘A meeting with friends.’

  ‘Lady friends?’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ she said. ‘That is why you’re here?’

  ‘Oh, it is,’ he said fervently. ‘It most certainly is.’

  She took him through to the parlour where she introduced him to the girls and Leo. Leo looked up at him from his seat and said, ‘How de do, young feller.’ Betty gave him a glass of wine and as they stood together chattering the bell rang again.

  It was Jamie with another customer, middle-aged and dressed soberly in a dark frock coat, and Lily wondered how Jamie had managed to ensnare these obviously well-to-do gentlemen.

  As she took the newcomer towards the parlour, Lily said to Jamie, ‘Don’t go just yet, Jamie. There’s a matter I need to discuss.’ She indicated that he should go to the kitchen. ‘A matter of staff,’ she added.

  ‘Kendall, you old dog,’ Leo greeted the visitor. ‘Fancy meeting you here.’ He put up his hand and the other man shook it.

  ‘How are you, Leo?’ Kendall said. ‘All the ruffians keeping you busy?’

  ‘Yes, yes,’ Leo said. ‘Lots of villains about.’

  Lily felt her heart sink. Who were these men? Not the police, surely? Whilst Cherie introduced herself and offered a glass of wine, which Kendall refused, saying he’d have a glass of ale instead, Lily hurriedly went to the kitchen where she could hear Jamie’s voice.

  ‘I never asked you to come here,’ he was saying angrily. ‘So you can get those glad rags off and get back where you belong in ’gutter!’

  Lily opened the door in time to hear Flo yelling at Jamie using very choice ripe language. ‘Didn’t you invite them?’ Lily asked. ‘They said you’d sent them.’

  ‘I did no such thing,’ he said. ‘Pox-ridden harlots. I wouldn’t touch ’em wi’ a barge pole.’

  ‘And I ’eard you wouldn’t touch any woman unless it was wi’ ’flat of your ’and,’ Poll butted in. ‘That’s what I ’eard out on ’street.’

  ‘Get out!’ Jamie spat out at them. ‘Now!’ He glanced at Mrs Flitt. ‘Mek sure they tek those frocks off afore they go. Lily, you go back to ’customers. I’ll see these two off ’premises.’

  Lily heaved a sigh as she went back to the parlour, putting on a smile as she entered the room. All seemed to be well. Kendall, who had seemed such a sobersides, was telling a rather risqué joke to the other men, had taken off his frock coat and was unfastening his cravat. Henry seemed relaxed and had his free arm round Betty’s waist and a glass in his other hand, and Alice had given up the stool to Lizzie and was sitting on Leo’s knee.

  Lily poured more wine, whilst Cherie handed round a plate of biscuits. Kendall took several. ‘I am rather peckish,’ he said, taking a bite. ‘Not had my supper yet.’

  ‘Working late at the office, are you?’ Leo guffawed. ‘Well, I don’t need to make those excuses any more, thank God. Not now I’m a widower. I can do as I damn well please.’ He jiggled Alice on his knee. ‘I can stay all night if I want.’

  Alice smiled adoringly at him and kissed his cheek. ‘Of course you can,’ she breathed, but raised enquiring eyebrows in Lily’s direction.

  ‘Now, Leo,’ Lily said playfully. ‘Surely Jamie has told you you have to leave by four?’

  ‘Four, is it? I must have forgotten! Well, somebody will have to send for my cab. I have a regular fellow, he
knows where I live. He’ll get me home.’

  ‘Oh, but not yet,’ Lily said. ‘We’ve lots of time. The night is still young.’

  ‘Anybody else coming?’ Kendall asked. ‘Anybody we know?’

  ‘Possibly,’ Lily said, not knowing the answer to either question. ‘Jamie teks – takes care of that side of things.’

  ‘Quite right,’ Leo said. ‘You need a man for that. Don’t want any ne’er-do-wells crashing in, spoiling things. It’s very nice to come to a place like this and know there won’t be any trouble. Not a good area, of course,’ he said, taking a rather large gulp from his glass. ‘Surprised really when Jamie said the house was in Leadenhall Square. More gels come up in front of me from round here than anywhere else.’ He took another drink. ‘They’re a bad lot, some of them.’

  They heard the sound of voices and the front door crashing.

  ‘Trouble?’ Leo said, and the men were instantly alert.

  ‘I don’t think so,’ Lily said placidly. ‘We’ve been having problems with ’kitchen staff and Jamie’s seeing them off ’premises.’

  ‘Ah!’ Leo said. ‘My wife had the same problem. Very difficult to get reliable help.’

  Jamie came into the room. He straightened his cravat. ‘Sorry, gentlemen. Just a little domestic problem. Is everything all right? Got all you need?’

  ‘We will have!’ Kendall drank the last of his ale and handed the glass to Lizzie, who had come towards him. She put the glass on the table and raised her eyebrows enquiringly, putting her hand on his arm.

  He nodded and she led him towards the door, closing it behind them.

  ‘You know what you need, Jamie,’ Leo bellowed. ‘You need a piano! That’s it. That’s what you should have, and then we could have a sing-song.’

  ‘But who would play?’ Alice asked. ‘None of us can play.’

  ‘I can play,’ Henry said. ‘I can bash out a tune or two. My guardian insisted I learn to play.’

  ‘There you are then,’ Leo said. ‘What about it, eh?’

  ‘Mmm,’ Jamie murmured. ‘We’ll see.’

  ‘Oh, come on!’ Leo urged. ‘They don’t cost all that much. Tell you what. I’ll buy you one.’ He jiggled Alice on his knee again. ‘And then you can sing to me. Dum-de-dum-dum-dum!’

  ‘You are so nice, Leo,’ Alice said sweetly. ‘How generous you are. I’ve never known anyone so generous.’

  ‘Well, I’ve nothing to spend my money on, no wife, and no family. Might as well give some pleasure, eh?’ He patted her cheek and whispered into her ear.

  Alice smiled and got up from his knee. ‘Come and help Leo up, Jamie,’ she said. ‘I’ve said I’ll show him round ’rest of ’house.’

  ‘So is that how it’s done?’ Henry whispered to Betty, as Alice, with Leo hobbling after her, went out of the door and into the hall. ‘Just slip away like that?’

  She gazed enquiringly at him, her lips parted. ‘What do you mean, Henry?’

  ‘Well, you know.’ He looked embarrassed. ‘If you want to go upstairs!’

  Betty lowered her lashes. ‘Would you like to go upstairs?’

  ‘Erm … I suppose so.’

  ‘Is that why you’ve come?’ she asked. ‘You don’t have to. We can just stay here and talk if you like.’

  ‘I’d like to talk to you,’ he murmured, looking about him at Cherie, Lily and Jamie who were standing together. ‘But not here where the others might hear. I’d like to ask you things, sort of – privately.’

  ‘We can do that,’ she said softly. ‘Would you like to come to my room?’

  ‘I think I would. I’ve not done this sort of thing before.’

  ‘What sort of thing?’ she asked innocently.

  ‘Well, come to a …’ He took a handkerchief from his pocket and wiped his brow. ‘A house like this, you know … to meet women.’

  ‘I understand,’ she said softly. ‘Would you like to tell me about it?’

  He nodded. Taking his arm, she led him out of the room.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  Alice came quietly down the stairs. ‘Lily,’ she said softly, ‘Leo’s asleep. Should I leave him for a bit, do you think? He’s flat out!’

  ‘When Jamie comes back I’ll ask him to order a cab; but on the other hand,’ Lily mused, ‘Leo did say he didn’t have to go home early. Perhaps when he wakes up he’ll stay and have another glass of wine and a spot of supper.’

  ‘The longer he stays the more he’ll have to pay, is that it?’ Alice asked. ‘I must say that’s ’easiest night’s work I’ve ever done.’ She was quite unruffled, with not a hair out of place. She sighed. ‘If they were onny all like Leo.’

  They heard the sound of voices coming from Lizzie’s room and moved into the parlour as Lizzie and Kendall appeared at the top of the stairs. Lizzie’s face and neck were flushed and Kendall was whistling softly, fastening up his cravat as he hurried down.

  Lizzie handed him into his coat. ‘It’s a pity you have to leave so early,’ she murmured.

  He nodded. ‘I’ll try to get away from the office a little earlier another time.’ He stared down at her, his face as tight-drawn and arrogant as it was when he’d first arrived. ‘Great romp, though, Lizzie. You’re a good sport!’

  She put her chin up and surveyed him, her bottom lip pouting. She nodded. ‘Yeh, great fun. Come again.’

  ‘I will,’ he said carelessly. ‘As soon as I can get away.’ He looked round for Lily. ‘Have to be off,’ he said, and Lily came towards him.

  ‘I’ll see you out,’ she said. ‘Do you need a cab?’

  ‘No, I’ll walk to my club and get one from there.’ He took his pocket book from an inside pocket as Lily opened the door and looked out.

  ‘It’s quiet,’ she told him. ‘Hardly anybody about.’

  ‘Good,’ he said, handing over some money. ‘This is what I agreed with Jamie. I’ve given the girl some extra; don’t let him take it from her.’

  ‘I won’t,’ she said fervently. ‘Jamie needn’t know about that.’

  He nodded. ‘Good night, then.’ He ran swiftly down the steps and Lily watched him as he marched down the street.

  What a cold fish he is to be sure, she thought. I bet he’s a pillar of society, rules his wife and family with a rod of iron and is seen in church or chapel every Sunday.

  Lizzie was lounging in a chair with her head back and her eyes closed when Lily went back into the parlour. ‘Is everything all right, Lizzie?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes.’ Lizzie sat up. ‘I’ve just asked Cherie to mek me a cup o’ coffee. Give me my strength back,’ she said half-heartedly.

  ‘Was it bad?’ Alice said anxiously.

  ‘I could tell what he was like ’minute I saw him,’ Lizzie muttered. ‘That’s why I went with him, though I rather think he wanted you.’ She looked at Alice. ‘He’s a foul-mouthed rampant goat and if he’d caught sight of your bruises he’d have added to them. That’s ’sort of whelp he is. Don’t tell Cherie,’ she added softly as Cherie brought in a tray of coffee. ‘It’s not for her ears. Where’s Betty?’ she asked aloud. ‘Not still upstairs with Henry?’

  Lily put her hand to her mouth. ‘Should I go up, do you think?’

  ‘No.’ Alice and Lizzie answered together. ‘She’ll be fine.’

  They were finishing their coffee when the door bell rang and Lily rushed to answer it. It was Jamie with two young women and three men. The men were in naval uniform and already in a state of alcoholic merriness.

  ‘Here we are,’ Jamie said. ‘These are ’girls I was expecting. Them other two had got wind that summat was happening and thought they’d turn up. And these gents are sailors. Look after ’em, Lily.’

  Jamie wasn’t putting on any style in front of these men. He obviously reckoned he didn’t need to, Lily thought. The three customers who had arrived first were residents of Hull and needed to be impressed, whereas these were visitors and would probably be sailing away the next day.

  The young women were Mary and
Sally, fairly presentable and not too obviously street women. ‘Go in ’kitchen,’ Lily told them. ‘There’s some clean clothes in there. Get changed, wash your hands and faces and brush your hair.’

  The two women stared at her and glanced at each other. ‘Those are the rules,’ Lily said. ‘This is a decent house.’

  Mary gave a cynical laugh, but took Sally’s arm and headed down the hall. ‘Been some changes,’ Lily heard her say. ‘But I couldn’t stand that Miss Emerald or her pander. Mebbe this one’ll be better.’

  Lily turned to the naval men, who were swaying and rocking on their heels. ‘Gentlemen,’ she said, ‘would you like to come through and meet the ladies?’

  ‘Where are we?’ asked one thickly. ‘Are we afloat?’

  ‘No sir. We’re ashore,’ said another.

  ‘Sun over the for’ard, then,’ said the third, grabbing Lily’s arm. ‘Show us the grog and the girls.’

  ‘Three sheets in the wind all right,’ Lily muttered. ‘Jamie, go and fetch Mr Smith’s cab and ask him to wait in case he decides to go home.’

  Lily took the three men to the parlour and introduced them to Lizzie and Alice; the other two young women appeared in their clean finery and they chatted for a time while the men gazed bleary-eyed at them all. Then she suggested that Mary, Sally and Alice take the men upstairs.

  ‘I hate this,’ she said to Lizzie as she heard the ribald drunken sound of them crashing on their way. ‘Hate it! Hate it!’

  Lizzie shrugged. ‘What else is there? We’re stuck, en’t we? What other sort o’ living is there for such as us? Such as me, anyway,’ she added. ‘At least you’ve had a better life.’

  ‘Kendall gave you extra, didn’t he?’ Lily asked her. ‘He said not to tell Jamie.’

  ‘I won’t,’ Lizzie said determinedly. ‘It’s hidden where he won’t find it. That’s ’start of my pot o’ gold. Where’s Leo? Is he still asleep in Alice’s room?’

  ‘I hope so,’ Lily said. ‘Unless ’sailors have woken him.’

  ‘I’ll go up.’ Lizzie rose quickly from her chair. ‘Don’t want to upset him, do we? We want him as a regular.’