Fallen Angels

by Val Wood

  On their way home in the evening, Alice, cuddled in a blanket, leaned against Lily’s shoulder. ‘I’m so happy, Lily,’ she whispered. ‘This has been ’best day of my life. I feel tired, but really, really well. I think I shall get better now.’

  Lily stroked her cheek and hair, and glanced across at Lizzie who was biting her lip and Cherie whose eyes were filling with tears. ‘You will,’ she said softly. ‘All that fresh air has done you good. There’s nowt like sea air to give you energy.’

  ‘Yes.’ Alice smiled contentedly. ‘And to be in ’company of friends. I feel – I feel as if I’m wi’ folks who care for me. I’m not bothered now about having a man to look after me or my own little house, like I used to long for. It’s enough now that I’ve got good friends like you, and Lizzie and Cherie. And Betty too; wasn’t that kind of her to ask Henry to bring us?’ Her eyelids started to flicker and Lily shushed her gently and bade her sleep, telling her that they’d wake her when they arrived back in Hull.

  Dusk was falling as they arrived in Leadenhall Square and the street women were sitting on their doorsteps. Some of them wandered up to the carriage to see who was in it and one or two jeered and made remarks to Henry, who simply smiled and bade them good evening and wasn’t in the least affronted. He opened the house door for them, and then he and Betty departed with fervent thanks following in their wake.

  ‘Mrs Flitt,’ Lily called. ‘We’re back.’

  The kitchen door opened and a figure was backlit by the lamp inside. ‘Not Mrs Flitt.’ Jamie’s voice came bellowing out. ‘I thought I’d given her ’sack! Where do you think you’ve been all day?’

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  ‘We’ve been out,’ Lily replied. ‘What’s wrong wi’ that?’

  ‘What if there’d been customers? Think of ’money I’ve lost!’

  ‘It’s Sunday!’ Lily objected. ‘We never have customers on a Sunday. Not during ’day. Occasionally somebody might come of an evening, but never during ’day,’ she repeated. ‘And anyway, it’s onny seven o’clock, so what ’you on about?’ She stared at Jamie through the gloom of the hallway. ‘We’ve every right to go out if we want. It’s got nothing to do wi’ you.’

  He shook his fist at her. ‘This is my house and you run it how I say. You don’t go gallivanting out.’

  ‘Then if it’s your house you can pay my fine,’ she shouted at him in sudden anger. ‘And don’t you shake your fist at me! Don’t think you can bully me cos you can’t.’

  ‘You watch out,’ he snarled. ‘Next time ’police come you’ll go to jail and not just be fined. Just because Leo was ’magistrate you got away wi’ it this time.’

  ‘What ’you talking about, Jamie?’ She was flummoxed. ‘You sound as if you want me to be arrested and sent to jail.’

  ‘It would serve you right, Mrs High and Mighty!’ He put his face up to hers and she took a step back. ‘It was a warning, so tek care.’

  She narrowed her eyes as she gazed back at him. Something was not quite right. ‘Who told ’police to come here?’ she said. ‘They had no reason to. I run a quiet house. Look at me, Jamie.’ He had turned his head away. ‘Was it you?’

  He snorted. ‘Why’d I want to do that?’

  ‘To teach me a lesson? Because I don’t toe the line? Because I’m not frightened of you? I’ve made this hovel into a first class house and you’re getting ’benefit o’ that. Why would you bite ’hand that feeds you?’

  ‘Because you’re trying to tek over, that’s why. You let those foreign lasses go! Somebody told me that they’d seen you tek ’em to Hope House. She was with you.’ He pointed a finger at Cherie, who was standing behind Lily and shrank back next to Lizzie. Alice had slipped into Lily’s room. ‘And she doesn’t pay for her keep either, so she can clear off. I’m not running a house o’ charity. And another thing. I told that old hag of a cleaner to clear off and when I arrived she was still here.’

  ‘Mrs Flitt?’ Lily said in alarm. ‘We can’t manage without her. She cleans for us, washes ’steps, cooks for us, and she doesn’t get a penny in return!’

  ‘Well that’s as mebbe, but I’ve sacked her again and seen her off ’premises.’

  ‘But why? What’s she done?’

  ‘Gave me a load o’ lip, that’s why, and I’ll not have it. She can get back to her beggin’.’

  ‘She was beggin’ to help pay my fine,’ Lily shrieked at him. ‘What’s wrong wi’ you, Jamie? I don’t understand you.’

  ‘There’s nowt wrong wi’ me,’ he snarled. ‘It’s you lot o’ whores – dissipated harlots that bring men down—’

  Lily interrupted him. ‘I think you’d better get off home. You’ve been drinking or tekking summat, haven’t you? We’re here providing you with a living, in case you’ve forgotten,’ she added, lowering her voice. She’d seen the wildness in his eyes and the way his wet mouth trembled. ‘Go home and we’ll talk tomorrow. If you’re still in ’same state o’ mind then we’ll all leave.’

  An expression of panic crossed his face and his eyes switched from Lily to Lizzie and Cherie. ‘Where’s Alice,’ he barked. ‘Is she working?’

  ‘She’s gone to bed,’ Lily said. ‘She’s got a cold and I’ve told you we don’t work on Sundays.’

  She walked to the door and held it open for him. ‘Good night,’ she said calmly. ‘See you tomorrow.’

  He walked out of the door and half stumbled down the steps. Lily closed the door and locked it.

  ‘He’s been on ’poppy,’ Lizzie said. ‘I bet he got a supply when those foreign girls came over.’

  ‘What? Raw opium, do you mean?’ Lily was alarmed. A dose of laudanum was safe enough if you were not well – so she’d heard, anyway. It wasn’t the kind of medication that had ever been available to her. But the raw stuff was different.

  Lizzie nodded. ‘I’ve seen him chewing on it. He offered me some once. To buy,’ she added cynically. ‘He’d never give it away.’

  They went into the kitchen and Cherie swung the kettle over the low fire. ‘This’ll tek ages to boil,’ she said. ‘Why didn’t he put some coal on to keep it in?’

  ‘I’m bothered about Mrs Flitt,’ Lily said. ‘I wonder where she’s gone.’

  There came a soft tapping on the back door and they all smiled. ‘Who’s there?’ Lizzie called out. ‘Friend or foe?’

  ‘It’s me!’ Mrs Flitt’s croaky voice rasped. ‘Has he gone?’

  ‘What if he hadn’t?’ Lily laughed as Mrs Flitt came shuffling in. ‘What if Jamie had still been here?’

  ‘I’d have thought o’ summat,’ she said. ‘I’d have told him I’d come back for my belongings.’

  ‘You haven’t got any belongings, Mrs Flitt,’ Cherie said, standing back whilst Mrs Flitt picked up the poker to riddle the fire.

  ‘Nor I have,’ she said. ‘But Jamie doesn’t know that. Anyway, he doesn’t get rid o’ me just like that.’ She lifted her head and looked at them in turn. ‘If you lot weren’t here I’d have stopped away. But I know you need me, just like I need you,’ she added croakily. ‘And besides, I’ve got attached to me cupboard. It’s ’best place I’ve ever had in me life.’

  She busied herself warming the teapot and getting out cups and putting them on the table, whilst they divested themselves of shawls and boots, and then she muttered, ‘It were me that upset Jamie. He saw me beggin’ in ’Market Place. I told him a few home truths and he didn’t like that. Told me to clear off out o’ his house an’ o’ course I took no notice. When he came in today I was sweeping ’stairs and he took me by surprise. I’d no time to hide but by a stroke o’ luck I had ’broom in my hand otherwise he might’ve belted me one.’

  ‘Surely he wouldn’t,’ Lily said, remembering how he’d waved his fist in front of her face.

  ‘He doesn’t know what he’s doing when he’s on ’poppy,’ Mrs Flitt said, and Lizzie gave a knowing glance. ‘I reckon he came by just to check if I was still here.’

  ‘And found we’d all gone out,’
Lily murmured. ‘Perhaps he thought we’d all gone for good.’

  ‘Which I shall have tomorrow,’ Lizzie said, her face creasing into a grin. Then her jubilance faded when she saw Cherie’s stricken expression. ‘I’m sorry, Cherie. But what else can I do?’

  ‘So soon?’ Cherie groaned. ‘I didn’t think you’d be going yet.’

  ‘But she can’t stay here,’ Lily intervened. ‘How can she? Jamie would turn her out anyway if he found out, but in any case it wouldn’t be right, would it? She’s onny got a few weeks before her babby’s due.’

  ‘And if Kendall or somebody like him should notice …’ Lizzie let the statement hang in the air; but she looked vulnerable, frightened even, at the thought of it.

  ‘I’m sorry.’ Cherie burst into tears. ‘I wasn’t thinking straight. It’s just that we’ve been like a proper family and now everybody’s leaving. Betty’s gone, and now Lizzie, and,’ she gave a sob, ‘we don’t know what’s going to happen to Alice.’

  ‘Even in proper families people move out,’ Lily said soothingly. ‘They get a job somewhere or they get married. Look at me,’ she added. ‘My son and daughter are not here with me. We’ve all to make our own way, Cherie. Sooner or later we’re on our own having to fend for ourselves.’

  Cherie snuffled and then fished for a rag to blow her nose. ‘I know,’ she gulped. ‘But I don’t want to go upstairs with them men, and I don’t know what else to do. Jamie’s not going to let me just pour wine and offer ’customers drinks for much longer. Sooner or later he’s going to mek me go upstairs.’

  Lily climbed into Alice’s bed that night, for Alice was fast asleep in hers and she didn’t want to wake her, but she tossed and turned most of the night wondering what they would do if they had to leave Leadenhall Square. I could go back to Holderness, but what would I do about Daisy? She likes it in Hull and I suppose it’s much livelier than ’country for a young girl. If she was in service at one of the farms she wouldn’t have as much freedom as she does at the Walkers’. And what should I do about Alice? Or Cherie? And I don’t even know where my poor Ted is. She shed a few tears at the hopelessness of her situation.

  ‘Will you call and see Mary?’ she asked Lizzie the next morning. ‘Tell her I’ve got a proposition for her but if Jamie’s here I won’t be able to talk about it.’

  Lizzie was in her room, still in her night shift, putting her possessions, such as they were, into a bag. ‘I won’t go today after all,’ she murmured. ‘I’ll leave tomorrow. But I want to get it over and done with, Lily, because Cherie is going to be upset.’ She screwed up her eyes and swallowed hard. ‘Am I doing ’right thing? I feel terrible about leaving her in ’lurch.’

  ‘It’s ’right thing for you, Lizzie,’ Lily said softly. ‘You’ve to think of yourself and your babby. You’ve tekken care of Cherie, but she’s not your responsibility. Time has come for her to tek care of herself. She has to stand on her own feet. You’ll see; she’ll grow up when you’re not there to mek decisions for her.’

  Lizzie nodded. ‘I suppose so. But I still feel bad about it.’

  Lily smiled. ‘When I first met you, I thought you were so bitter and hard-hearted. You seemed angry and hostile towards everybody. And now I know you for what you really are,’ she said. ‘You’re generous and compassionate and caring.’

  A tear ran down Lizzie’s face. ‘I was angry, and I hated everybody for what I had to do just to live. But when I first saw Cherie she seemed lost and frightened like I used to be, and I knew I had to help her. That’s why I took her to Hope House, but I knew that it wasn’t ’place for me. I didn’t belong there; they were good people but I was scornful of ’em. They didn’t know what it was like to live out on ’streets. And they couldn’t begin to guess how worthless I felt, giving myself to lecherous rogues who were more corrupt than I could ever be.’

  Lily put her arms round her and hugged her. ‘It’s done with, Lizzie,’ she whispered. ‘It’s all over. You did what you did in order to survive. And you have, and ’future is rosy for you and your babby. Rena’s a good woman. She’s had a hard life too. She’ll understand and she won’t judge you.’

  She held her at arm’s length and smiled. ‘You’re a beautiful young woman. Put ’past behind you. Get your things together,’ she said briskly, ‘and go today. Now! Ask Cherie to call and see you when you’re settled in.’

  Lizzie wiped away her tears and nodded. ‘All right. I wanted to leave today but it seemed as if I was rushing off. I’ll slip in and see Alice first, and I’ll call and talk to Mary on my way to Rena’s.’

  After Lizzie had left, Cherie ran upstairs to her room. Lily could hear her crying but left her to sob out all her fears. She took Alice some hot soup to tempt her to eat, for she had refused breakfast.

  ‘I’m not hungry,’ she said, but was persuaded to take a few spoonfuls. Lily brought her an extra pillow and propped her up.

  ‘Would you like to sit in a chair by ’window?’ she asked her. ‘You could watch what’s going on out in ’street. You can have a pillow and a blanket.’

  Alice smiled wanly. ‘This is such a comfortable bed, Lily. I don’t want to get out of it. Oh, I’m sorry. It’s your bed. Where did you sleep last night?’

  ‘In yours.’ Lily smiled. ‘This was your room before it was mine, wasn’t it? This was where you were when Jamie brought me here that first night.’

  ‘And you came to my rescue when that customer attacked me.’ Alice shook her head. ‘I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t been here to let me in. I was terrified.’

  ‘Try to forget that now,’ Lily said, reflecting that her role in life seemed to be to console others worse off than herself.

  ‘Will you let me stay here, Lily?’ Alice asked.

  ‘In my bed?’ She laughed. ‘Yes, all right, if you like.’

  ‘No. I mean …’ Alice reached for Lily’s warm hand with her cold one. ‘I mean – stay here and not go to ’hospital.’ Her large eyes gazed imploringly at Lily. ‘I’d be sent to ’workhouse hospital. I wouldn’t be allowed to go to ’Infirmary. Not with consumption. And besides, somebody has to recommend you before they’ll accept you in there. Please,’ she begged. ‘I’ll try not to be a bother, and – I don’t think it would be for long.’

  Lily gazed at her and blinked her eyes rapidly so that tears didn’t fall. ‘Of course you can stay,’ she said huskily. ‘Why shouldn’t you?’

  Mary called as Lily was changing into her grey going-out gown. Thanks to their unknown benefactor she had enough money now to pay the fine, and intended to walk down to the magistrates’ court to do so. ‘Lizzie said you wanted to see me,’ Mary said. ‘What’s up? She said she was off somewhere.’

  ‘Lizzie’s got a change of occupation,’ Lily told her. ‘She’s going to work for Rena and she’ll be living there.’

  Mary’s mouth dropped open. ‘Lucky hussy! Does that mean she’s not going to be working here?’

  ‘Yes. Are you interested? Would you like to tek her place?’

  ‘Oh, would I? Wouldn’t I just!’ Her expression brightened and became animated, but then her face fell. ‘But I’ve got a bairn. Can I bring him? He’s ever so good, hardly ever cries, and it’d mean I needn’t farm him out when I’m working.’

  Lily hesitated. Whatever would Jamie say? How could they keep a child’s presence from him? ‘How old is he?’

  ‘He’s onny nine months and he sleeps a lot. At night, I mean.’ Mary gazed pleadingly at Lily.

  ‘We wouldn’t have to let Jamie know, or ’customers for that matter. But perhaps …’

  ‘What?’ Mary said eagerly.

  ‘We could ask Cherie to keep an eye on him at night. Or Mrs Flitt. They’d like that.’ It would give Cherie someone else to think about, Lily reflected. She wouldn’t feel so abandoned if she had a child to look after.

  ‘All right,’ she said. ‘But I also wanted to ask you to bring some other girls. You’d have to share a room, for sleeping I mean,’ she added.
‘Would Sally come? But maybe not Olga.’ She wasn’t sure about the foreign girl, didn’t know if she could be trusted not to tell tales to Jamie.

  ‘Sally will come like a shot,’ she said. ‘And I know somebody else. Out of top drawer she is, fallen on hard times. A bit toffee-nosed, but she’d do fine for gents.’ She gave a frown. ‘So Lizzie’s gone, and what about Betty? Has she left as well? And Alice? Where’s she?’

  ‘Betty’s getting married.’ Lily smiled. ‘So there’s hope for you all. But Alice isn’t well, and she has to rest for a bit.’

  ‘What? Betty’s marrying one of ’customers? Crikey. She must be mad or he is!’ Mary was so astonished that she didn’t even mention Alice.

  Lily shook her head. ‘He’s very nice, as a matter of fact. No, really, he is,’ she added as she saw the disbelief on Mary’s face.

  ‘Oh well, she’s allus got a trade to come back to if it doesn’t work out,’ Mary said cynically. ‘I got married and he cleared off within six months when he found out I was expecting. So I’m not looking for any other man except to mek my living. They’re all poison as far as I’m concerned.’

  Lily felt depressed after Mary had gone. How terrible that these young women had been let down and were no longer able to trust. Would I ever trust again, she wondered, after the way Billy treated me? And what about Johnny? Was he faithful to me when he was away? Or did he fall for the exotic charms of some foreign woman when I was out of sight? She gave a deep sigh and put her shawl about her shoulders, for there was a cool breeze blowing and a few drops of rain falling; she called to Alice and Cherie that she wouldn’t be long and set off for the court with the money for the fine jangling in her skirt pocket.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT