by Dilly Court
Breathless and almost swamped by her mother’s passionate words and heady perfume, Lily was temporarily speechless. She looked mutely to Gabriel for help and he gently disengaged Charlotte’s clutching hand and led her back to her seat. ‘Perhaps I was wrong in reuniting you two,’ he said softly. ‘But I think it may prove to be a good thing in the end. I’ll take Lily home now, Cara.’
‘Yes, take her away. I’m quite exhausted with all this emotional turmoil,’ Charlotte murmured, leaning her head on Everard’s shoulder. ‘Perhaps we will meet again in the fullness of time, Lily.’
Everard stroked her hair back from her forehead. ‘There, there, sweetheart. You’ve been a brave darling and I’m sure that Lily will want to see her mama again very soon.’ He stared at Lily with eyebrows raised as if willing her to answer in the affirmative.
‘Yes, perhaps – I don’t know.’ Lily stumbled blindly towards the door. ‘I must go now.’
‘You’re not walking home and that’s for certain,’ Gabriel said, barring her way. ‘I’ll send for the carriage and see you safely home. Perhaps I could explain to Matt …’
‘No,’ Lily cried hotly. ‘You’ve done enough today, Gabriel. I don’t know whether to thank you or to blame you, but you must keep away from my brothers for your own sake if not mine.’
She ran from the room, racing headlong down the staircase with Gabriel following close on her heels. He caught up with her at the foot of the stairs and swung her round to face him. ‘I’m not letting you walk out into a snowstorm; it would be madness.’ He glanced down at her shabby boots, exposed as she held up her skirts to avoid tripping over them. ‘If I’d known what state your footwear was in I’d never have let you come this far.’ He pressed her down onto a hall chair. ‘Sit there and wait for me. I’m going to order the carriage and send Prissy to fetch your cloak.’ Giving her a stern look, he strode off towards the stairs leading down to the basement kitchen.
Lily stared down at her boots and wriggled her toes. She could see one of her big toes peeking out through the leather upper where it had come apart from the sole. Her extremities were tingling painfully as the feeling returned to her frozen feet and fingers and the chilblains on her legs were burning fiercely. She knew she ought to refuse Gabriel’s offer but the thought of walking several miles in such inclement weather was daunting and she was light-headed with hunger. It was a long time since breakfast and she had only eaten a slice of toast with a scraping of butter. She found herself thinking dreamily of the old days in the dockmaster’s house when they had hot porridge for breakfast with molten pools of brown sugar to be spooned into her eager mouth. She could still taste Aggie’s oxtail soup and the rich brawn made from a pig’s head; boiled beef and carrots and scrag-end of lamb stew with caper sauce. All that good food had faded into memories since Aggie had lost the use of a kitchen range. Lily’s stomach rumbled and she dragged her thoughts back to the present. The fact that Gabriel intended to see her home presented a problem. She decided to ask him to drop her at the top of the hill so that her brothers would not see them together. There was still the matter of thinking up a good excuse for her absence, but she would deal with that later. She stood up as Gabriel reappeared, holding her cloak. ‘It’s still a bit damp,’ he said cheerfully. ‘But we’ll soon have you home and dry.’
Everard’s carriage was old and the squabs were worn and shabby, but it was better than walking through the snow that had formed drifts against walls and in doorways, piling up around the bases of lamp posts and making it impossible to see where the pavements ended and the roads began. The trampling of horses’ hooves and the constant traffic of carts, carriages, wagons and drays had made the roads passable but progress was slow, and dusk was falling by the time they reached Cock Hill.
‘Set me down now, please,’ Lily said, peering anxiously out of the window as familiar landmarks came into view.
Gabriel shook his head. ‘I’m seeing you to the door, Lily.’
‘No, you don’t understand,’ Lily said urgently. ‘If Matt sees me with you I’ll have to tell him everything and he’ll be furious.’
‘He’ll be even more upset if you fall and break a bone or two.’
‘I can manage. Please stop here.’ She had seen light pouring from the open doors of the fire station and that must mean they were either on a shout or had just returned from one. She attempted to open the door, intending to leap out onto the road, but Gabriel caught her round her waist and drew her back onto the seat.
‘Are you mad? You’ll kill yourself, you silly girl.’
Lily opened her mouth to argue but the carriage had slowed down and come to a halt outside the fire station. Gabriel released her. ‘I’m coming in with you and I’ll explain everything to Matt.’
The door opened and Perks put the step down, holding his hand out to assist Lily to the snowy pavement where she almost collided with Matt. His face was streaked with soot and water dripped off his uniform jacket and helmet. His expression of astonishment changed into one of anger as he saw Gabriel alight from the carriage. ‘What the hell is going on?’ he demanded. ‘Lily, I want an explanation and it had better be a good one.’
Chapter Thirteen
‘I suggest we go inside,’ Gabriel said in a low voice. ‘Your sister is frozen and her boots leak. I’m surprised you allow her to go out in such a state.’
‘Don’t take that tone with me, mister. I’ve laid men out for less.’
‘Please let me explain,’ Lily said hastily, but Matt appeared not to hear her and he took a menacing step towards Gabriel, fisting his hands. ‘I’ll have you know that my sister is a respectable girl. Who the hell are you, anyway?’
Matt’s raised voice brought Mark and Luke hurrying from the depths of the fire station. ‘What’s going on?’ Mark came to a sudden halt as he spotted Lily. His relief was patent but was swiftly replaced by anger. ‘Where’ve you been all day? Nell’s out of her mind with worry.’
‘Lily’s home safe and that’s all that matters.’ Luke moved to her side, slipping his arm around her waist. ‘Let’s get you into the warm, love.’
‘In a moment,’ Lily said, smiling. Luke was always the comforter and the most thoughtful of her brothers but she did not want to leave Gabriel to face Matt’s wrath. She turned to him with a pleading look. ‘Please, Matt. It’s really not what you think.’
With an obvious effort, he controlled his fiery temper. ‘Go on then. Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t fetch him one.’
‘It’s not Gabriel’s fault. I went to see him …’ Lily broke off. She could see that Matt was not listening to her.
‘This is ridiculous,’ Gabriel said, eyeing the brothers warily. ‘Lily has done nothing wrong and neither have I. I suggest that we go indoors and discuss this like civilised human beings? I don’t intend to get into a street brawl with men who bully their sisters.’
Matt grabbed him by the lapels, shaking him like a terrier with a rat. ‘Say that again and I’ll knock you down. You’re the wrongdoer here and I’ve got my sister’s reputation to think of.’
‘Stop this, all of you,’ Lily cried passionately as Mark stepped up to Matt’s side, patently ready for a fight. ‘I can speak for myself and it has nothing to do with Gabriel.’
‘Do you deny you’ve been with this man all day?’ Matt demanded.
‘Yes. No, I mean I went to his lodgings …’
Mark let out a loud whistle. ‘You admit that you went to a man’s lodgings? What were you thinking of, Lil?’
She glanced upwards as a movement at the window caught her eye. She could see Grandpa and Aggie peering down at them. ‘What was I thinking of?’ Lily heard her voice rise above the sound of the traffic. ‘I wanted to see Ma. There, that’s the truth of it, and I went to Gabriel because he was the only one who knew where to find her.’
‘You disobeyed me,’ Matt roared. ‘After everything that woman has done to our family you took it upon yourself to decide that it was time to forgive her.’
�
�You’re a fool, Lily,’ Mark said, shaking his head. ‘Do you know what you’ve done?’
Luke laid his hand on Matt’s shoulder. ‘Come indoors, old chap. Let’s talk this over quietly and sensibly.’
‘Shut up,’ Matt snapped. ‘This is between Lily and me.’
‘You can’t blame her for wanting to see her mother,’ Gabriel said calmly. ‘And Charlotte wanted to see Lily.’
‘Why don’t you go away and mind your own bloody business?’ Matt gave Gabriel a shove that sent him staggering back against the carriage door.
Perks cleared his throat nervously. ‘Shall I send for a constable, Mr Faulkner?’
‘I can handle this.’ Gabriel squared up to Matt. ‘Leave Lily alone and we’ll have this out man to man.’
‘Stop this.’ Lily stepped between them. ‘Gabriel has tried to help me. I wanted to see Ma again. I can’t help myself, Matt. I have to paint and draw, it’s in my heart and soul, and Ma is the only one who can truly understand how I feel.’
‘Lily what on earth is going on?’ The sound of Nell’s voice made everyone turn their heads to look at her. She hurried towards them. ‘Come inside, all of you. You’re making a dreadful scene. People will talk.’
‘And we can’t let it get back to the schoolmaster or the Frenchie,’ Matt said angrily. ‘What’s the matter with the women in my family? Are you all moon mad?’
Nell caught Lily by the hand. ‘Come with me. I want an explanation from you, miss. I’ve been sick with worry all day. How dare you run off without a word?’
‘I’m not ten years old any more,’ Lily cried, snatching her hand away. ‘I’m a grown woman in case you haven’t noticed. I’ve just explained to Matt and the boys that I wanted to see Ma, and Gabriel was the only one who could lead me to her. Is it a crime to want to see your own mother?’
Nell paled visibly. ‘It is in this family, Lily. How could you be such a traitor?’
‘That’s just not fair, Miss Larkin,’ Gabriel protested. ‘I’m sure that Lily is sorry for upsetting you and for not telling you that she was coming to find me, but she’s right. She’s a free woman, and she knows her own mind.’
Matt pushed him aside. ‘A free woman is she? Then take her with you, mate. I don’t want a treacherous harlot in my house.’
‘Matt,’ Lily cried, scarcely able to believe her ears. ‘Don’t say such things.’
He eyed her coldly. ‘If you want to be with Ma then you can go to her.’ He thrust her into Gabriel’s arms. ‘And you, mister, can take her with my compliments.’
‘No,’ Luke cried passionately. ‘This is all wrong. Lily’s a good girl. She’s done nothing wrong.’
‘Leave it, brother,’ Mark said, scowling. ‘We’ve still got work to do. Let everyone calm down and we’ll sort it out in the morning.’ Casting a withering glance at Lily, he retreated into the fire station.
‘Nell, say something, please,’ Lily pleaded. ‘Don’t let him throw me out on the street.’
Nell was silent for a moment and then she shook her head. ‘I think he’s right this time, Lily. You’ve disobeyed us by pursuing your silly obsession with painting, and you’ve caused trouble ever since you accused Monsieur Labrosse of molesting you. We might still be in our old home if it weren’t for you.’
‘That’s not fair, Nell. He did make improper advances to me and I never once encouraged him.’
‘You’ve deceived us once too often. Why should I believe anything you say now?’
Matt nodded in agreement. ‘You heard what your sister said, Lily. You wanted to be with Ma so you can go to her and see how you like living with people who have no respect for morals or decency.’
‘But you can’t just turn me out like this.’ Lily gazed up into his angry face with a feeling close to despair. This was not the Matt she knew and loved. The furious white-lipped man was a stranger to her. She made a move towards him but he pushed her away.
‘I’ve never struck a woman, but you’re tempting me sorely. Nell’s right, you’ve caused us too much grief to forgive you this time. You’re no longer part of our family, Lily. You’ve chosen your side and you must stick to it.’ He turned to Gabriel. ‘You shouldn’t have interfered with my family, mister. Now it’s up to you. Take her and good luck to you.’ Turning his back on them, he strode into the fire station.
Luke wrapped his arms around Lily. ‘He’ll get over it, Lil. Best do as he says for now and I’ll try to smooth things over when he’s calmed down.’ He gave her a hug and hurried after Matt. The double doors of the fire station swung shut with an ominous clang.
‘You will take care of her, Gabriel?’ Nell said urgently. ‘I can’t condone what Lily has done, but I wouldn’t want to think of her alone and homeless.’
‘This can’t be happening,’ Lily murmured. ‘You can’t all turn against me like this.’ She held her hands out to Nell in a plea for understanding and forgiveness, but her sister’s face remained cold and aloof.
‘Your wayward ways caused this rift. Perhaps you belong with Ma after all.’ Nell walked away, disappearing into the darkness of the alleyway and leaving Lily standing on the pavement with Gabriel at her side.
Perks opened the carriage door. ‘Where to, sir?’
‘Keppel Street, Perks.’ Gabriel helped Lily into the carriage. ‘Don’t worry. Cara will have forgotten your little contretemps by now. She’ll be overjoyed to see you again.’
They entered the house in Keppel Street to find Charlotte dressed in her finery and Everard immaculate in an evening suit with silk-faced collar and lapels. ‘Ah,’ he said, smiling. ‘You’ve arrived just in time; I was going to send Prissy for a cab.’ He took his top hat and opera cloak from the maid with a nod of his head. ‘Run out and tell Perks to wait. We won’t be a moment.’
Bobbing a curtsey, Prissy hurried past Gabriel and Lily and ran out onto the pavement, calling to Perks. A blast of cold air was quickly eliminated as she returned immediately and closed the door.
‘Fetch my mantle, Prissy,’ Charlotte called over her shoulder. ‘The one trimmed with sable. I must look my very best tonight.’ She primped in front of a wall mirror, angling her head as she examined every detail of her elaborate coiffure. Her fiery curls were interspersed with pearls and sparkling gems, feathers and hothouse gardenias. Diamond earrings glittered with each movement of her head and a solitaire diamond gleamed from a heart-shaped gold locket hung on a black velvet ribbon around her slender throat. Lily stared in awe at her mother’s magnificent gown of green watered silk with its extravagantly draped skirts emphasising her tiny waist, and a décolletage that showed off her voluptuous bosom to perfection. The candlelight softened the inevitable lines of age, and if her lips were suspiciously red and her cheeks owed some of their glow to the rouge pot, there was no denying that Charlotte Delamare Larkin was still a handsome woman.
She turned her head with a coquettish smile, having apparently forgotten everything other than the need to be admired. ‘How do I look, Lily? Do you think we could pass for sisters?’
‘I’d be flattered if anyone thought I looked like you, Ma,’ Lily said sincerely. ‘You’re so beautiful.’
Charlotte held her arms out with a delighted smile curving her lips. ‘My darling girl, of course you take after me.’ She kissed the air close to Lily’s cheek and then gently pushed her away. ‘Don’t crease my gown, dearest. This silk cost five and six a yard.’
‘And the total cost including the bill from your mama’s dressmaker would keep a poor clerk’s family for a month,’ Everard said indulgently. ‘But,’ he added hastily as Charlotte’s lips formed a moue, ‘worth every penny of it as far as I am concerned.’
Charlotte blew him a kiss. ‘You know you adore it when I receive compliments.’ Taking her fan from the gilded table beneath the mirror she unfurled it with a flourish, holding it to cover the lower part of her face so that just her eyes were seen. She fluttered her eyelashes. ‘He becomes quite jealous when I am the centre of attention, and I’m co
nstantly being asked to pose as a model for his friends. Am I not, Everard?’
‘Yes, my love. You are much in demand.’
Gabriel cleared his throat. ‘This is all very well, but neither of you has thought to ask why I have brought Lily here this evening.’
Charlotte lowered her fan, closing it with a snap. ‘I’m afraid we’re otherwise engaged this evening, Gabriel. Perhaps another time, Lily?’
‘You don’t understand, Cara,’ Gabriel said patiently. ‘Lily needs somewhere to stay. It seems that your son Matt took exception to the fact that she came to see you today.’
‘Dear Matt,’ Charlotte mused. ‘Always the hothead.’
‘He threw her out, Cara.’
‘How very like him. He, of course, takes after his father.’ She turned to Prissy who had come running downstairs with a fur-trimmed mantle draped over her arm. ‘Yes, that’s the one. Hold it up so that I may put it on.’ She made exasperated tut-tutting sounds as Prissy held the expensive garment out like a matador tormenting a bull. ‘Really, Everard, could we not afford a proper lady’s maid for me? The child has obviously been used to dressing scarecrows.’
Prissy blushed scarlet as she fumbled with the heavy garment. ‘Sorry, missis.’
‘Ma’am, you silly girl. Don’t you ever learn?’
Taking pity on Prissy’s struggles, Lily stepped forward to assist her mother into the tight-fitting garment. ‘There, you look stunning, Ma.’
‘Thank you, darling, but you must learn not to use vulgar parlance if you are going to reside in Keppel Street. We don’t use the language of the docks here.’ She swept past Lily. ‘Door, Prissy.’
Prissy ran to open it, tripping over her feet in her haste.
Everard put his top hat on at a rakish angle. ‘We’ll be off then. I take it you’ll be toddling back to your lodgings, my boy? We don’t want to cause an unnecessary scandal with an unmarried young lady all alone in the house, now do we?’
Gabriel threw back his head and laughed. ‘That’s rich, Father. Have you forgotten your own unconventional arrangements?’
