by Val Wood
‘A single room, sir?’
‘What? Oh! Yes! But a double bed if you please.’
‘I’ll have to charge extra.’ The landlord looked solemnly at him.
‘It doesn’t matter,’ he replied.
The landlord grinned. ‘Quite right, sir. I allus say there’s nothing like a bit o’ comfort when you’re away from home.’
James Drew didn’t answer this remark but after inspecting the room gave the landlord a deposit, asked him to be sure that the fire was kept in and the bed well aired, and stepped out into the High Street. He walked past the Corn Exchange and into the wide thoroughfare of Lowgate. He hurried through shabby streets and past crowded courts, keeping his head averted from the women lounging in inn doorways, and on towards Leadenhall Square. He was in pursuit, not of a grain merchant, but of a different establishment where he knew, from previous visits, that he would be made more than welcome.
It was a square of ill repute. He had, on the first occasion, followed a young woman who had smiled at him and provocatively lifted her skirts to show her ankles. Like a man sleepwalking he had followed her, down narrow streets and alleyways until he was completely disorientated and quite lost. Then the girl had entered an alley and looked back at him over her shoulder. ‘I’m lost,’ he said. ‘Can you help me to find my way?’
‘Course I can,’ she’d said. Her voice was low and guttural. ‘Come down here wi’ me and I’ll put you right.’
He had followed her down the alley, and around the corner she had leaned against the wall and lifted her skirts revealing grimy naked legs and a young rounded body, and the man he thought he was had disappeared, leaving behind what he now knew to be his real self, a debauched and sinful monster in human shape.
The girl had finally cried out and tried to push him away but a violent lust was up and wouldn’t be satisfied, and not until they were disturbed by others coming down the alley had he desisted. ‘That’ll cost you,’ the girl had panted. ‘You’ve had more than my regulars have.’
Breathing heavily he had turned out his pocketbook and given her what she asked. ‘Can I see you again?’ he’d pleaded.
She’d agreed, for a price. ‘But not here,’ she’d said slyly. ‘If you carry on like that, I want a bed to lie on.’
Over the years she had been replaced by other women, each giving more than the last, and he expecting more each time; he had also on occasions suffered infections from these women, which dulled his ardour and caused him pain. He silently vowed he would resist temptation, but his lascivious nature did not remain dampened for long and at last he found a brothel with ‘clean’ women, where he could indulge himself all day and sometimes all night, staggering back to his hostelry debauched and dissipated. His conscience only rose up in admonishment as he rode home to his patient wife, who, he was sure, if she knew, would forgive him his lustful sins as she forgave him all of his others.
He knocked on the door of the house in the corner of the square and a girl opened it. ‘Hello, Mr Brown,’ she smiled. ‘Long time since we last saw you!’
He had given that name on his first visit, but had discovered subsequently that all the customers were given the same name. What he didn’t know was that the ladies of the establishment had their own way of knowing who was who. Consequently he was Mr Country Brown; there was Mr Beverley Brown, Mr Hessle Brown, Mr Magistrate Brown, Mr Black Brown and Mr Toff Brown. Others were given names according to their physical attributes, Mr Fat Belly Brown, Mr Big Brown and Mr Nothing Much Brown. Each Mr Brown was convinced that he was anonymous and incognito.
‘So pleased to see you again.’ Madame Emerald floated towards him. She had thick red hair and was dressed in diaphanous blue which revealed her ample bosom. Around her neck she wore a huge emerald on a gold chain and she smelt of heavy exotic spice.
‘I have someone here who would suit you perfectly, Mr Brown,’ she whispered. ‘She has such stamina!’ She gave him a knowing smile and clutched his arm with strong fingers. ‘Not quite as unquenchable as you,’ she purred. ‘But if she tires, don’t worry, there are others who can take her place.’
He felt powerful and mighty at her words, like Hercules or Atlas, and he couldn’t wait to climb the stairs, to fecundate and impregnate his chosen partner with his virility, and he closed his mind to the bible’s disapproval of wasteful seed and consigned to oblivion the truth that these women were there only for his pleasure and not conception.
It was dusk as he left the house with the promise that he would return the next day. His legs were weak and his back ached and he cursed his aging body. I’ll have supper and an early night, he promised himself, and perhaps I won’t go back tomorrow, but will go home, calling first at the Corn Exchange to chat with some of the merchants.
By thinking on this, he almost convinced himself that that was the reason he had come to the town, as he had told his family, and not just for his bodily pleasures. But his inflamed senses knew that his needs were not yet satisfied and that he would return to the women in the house who had pleasured and tormented him, and who in turn had succumbed to his gross and rampant demands.
He had almost reached the High Street when he saw two men walking towards him. There was something about their swagger and their laughter that struck him as familiar, but before he could turn a corner away from them they had seen him, and he was confronted by two people he had hoped never to meet again.
‘Mr Drew!’ said the older one. ‘How grand to see you again. Just look who’s here, John! Who would have expected it, here in the middle of this fine town?’
James Drew nodded his greetings and reluctantly took the proffered handshakes of Seamus Byrne and his brother John.
‘So what brings you to town, Mr Drew?’ Seamus asked. ‘A spot of business?’
‘A meeting at ’Corn Exchange,’ Drew said quickly. ‘I’m thinking of changing my merchant.’
‘Ah!’ Seamus Byrne touched the side of his nose. ‘Legitimate business, eh?’
‘Of course,’ Drew replied huffily. ‘Of course legitimate.’
‘Still dealing out of Stone Creek?’ the younger man asked quietly. ‘Much shipping, is there?’ His face was pallid as if he had not seen much sun.
James Drew shuffled his feet. ‘Yes, more now that Patrington Haven is silting up.’
‘Patrington Haven is silting up?’ John Byrne queried. ‘And it was such a busy haven when I was a young fellow.’ He stared at James Drew, not taking his eyes from his face. ‘That’s a few years ago, of course.’
‘Eighteen at least.’ His brother glanced at him. ‘Eighteen since you were last in Holderness, John.’
‘How is your son – Jim, isn’t it?’ John Byrne continued. ‘We were about the same age if I remember. We had some good larks together, him and me, and—’
‘He’s all right,’ Drew interrupted. ‘We’re busy on ’farm. No time for larks now.’
‘I met your other son, Henry, a few years back,’ Seamus said casually. ‘I was working on the riverbank and saw him with a little black-haired colleen.’ He rubbed his hand over his beard. ‘Bonny child she was, put me in mind of somebody but I can’t think who!’
‘Henry’s dead,’ James Drew muttered. ‘Drowned just afore Christmas. I must go,’ he pronounced. ‘I have things to do.’
Seamus expressed his shock and gave his condolences. ‘He was a fine-looking fellow. You won’t remember Henry, John.’ He turned to his brother. ‘And neither did he remember me, for he was only a little lad in school when I first saw him. But of course we remember Jim. He was a great help to you, wasn’t he, Mr Drew? Your right-hand man wouldn’t you say, just as John was to me.’
Drew agreed that he was and again tried for departure, but Seamus Byrne delayed him by saying, ‘Is there any chance of doing business again, Mr Drew? We know of a good ship with an English master.’
‘No, I don’t think so.’ Drew looked warily from one brother to another. ‘I only deal in corn.’
‘That’s a
pity, Mr Drew,’ John Byrne said softly. ‘We’d dearly like to make up for our losses.’
‘I can’t help you, I’m afraid. It was unfortunate, but we all lost money when—’
‘When our friend disappeared?’ Seamus asked. ‘And his ship was confiscated with John and me on board.’
‘It was nothing to do with me,’ Drew said hastily. ‘He set off to warn you, but he just disappeared into thin air. Nobody saw him again. Not his wife. Nobody.’
‘And how is his pretty wife?’ John asked with a sneer in his voice. ‘Playing the grieving widow, or did she join Carlos in Spain, like he always said she would?’
‘She’s dead,’ Drew said hoarsely. ‘She waited years for him to come back.’ His voice shook. ‘Her mind went in the end. She drowned herself off Spurn peninsula some years ago.’
Seamus crossed himself, but his brother still glowered at James Drew and scoffed, ‘But they never found him? How do we know that he didn’t escape across to Holland on another ship?’
‘We don’t know,’ muttered James Drew, aware that he was sinking further into a deep pit of deception. ‘There were plenty of ships going out from Stone Creek and Patrington Haven, foreign ships too. He could have hidden on board.’
‘I’d have trusted him with my life,’ Seamus said softly.
‘I’d trust nobody.’ His brother’s voice was harsh. ‘I’ve met enough villains in my life to know that.’
‘Such a young man to be so bitter, isn’t he, Mr Drew?’ Seamus locked his gaze into Drew’s. ‘Would your own son be so bitter if he had had a life of adversity?’
James Drew thought of Jim, so dour and lifeless, and knew that he would be so.
‘You see, John was arrested as I was when the ship was taken by the Customs. I managed to escape and live a life on the run. But John here has spent most of the last eighteen years in and out of English jails. Not a good place to be if you’re an Irishman, Mr Drew. You take the blame for everything that goes wrong and not a man to speak up for you.’
‘I’m sorry. I must go,’ Drew said again. ‘I hope things go better for you in ’future.’
‘You may see us again, Mr Drew.’ Seamus gave a half-smile which made Drew shudder. ‘There’s always work for an Irishman on Sunk Island. Give us a pickaxe or a spade and we’re happy. They’re still draining and embanking I expect?’
‘Yes,’ Drew said reluctantly. ‘Yes, of course.’
‘Then we look forward to meeting again soon,’ Seamus once more put out his hand to shake it. ‘May God go with you.’
‘And the Devil be not far behind.’ John Byrne had no smile on his face as he muttered the words and turned away.
‘A spot of business, eh, John!’ Seamus said as they walked down the street.
‘He was lying. He was coming from the wrong direction if he’d been to the Corn Exchange,’ his brother replied sourly. ‘The Corn Exchange is in the High Street. I don’t trust the man.’
‘Ah! He’s had an assignation!’ Seamus laughed. ‘Did you not see the flush on his face? He’s been treating some little wench to a few favours.’
‘And using our money!’
‘Or a dead man’s?’
‘We don’t know that,’ John Byrne griped. ‘Why should he be dead? More likely he escaped when he heard the Customs were looking for him.’ He clenched and cracked his knuckles. ‘I’ll find out,’ he said grimly. ‘One way or another, I’ll find out what happened to him. ’Tis a pity his wife is dead.’
‘Sure it is,’ Seamus agreed. ‘And that’s why I think he’s dead too. If ever a man was besotted with a woman, he was. If he’d gone away he’d have taken her with him.’
‘There’s still the daughter,’ John Byrne murmured. ‘Maybe we’ll have a little talk with her.’
‘She wasn’t born when he disappeared,’ Seamus objected. ‘She’ll know nothing!’
His brother gave a thin smile which creased his mouth but his eyes were cold. ‘We’ll talk to her all the same.’
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
MATTHEW WAS OUT in the fields when he saw the trap with Maggie and Fred approaching. The land was so flat and the roads so long that it wasn’t possible for anyone to arrive without them being seen from a great distance.
He waved and walked towards them. ‘No work to do, Fred?’ he joked. ‘Taking ’day off?’
‘Just that.’ Fred grinned. ‘What’s ’use of having a fine wife and not enjoying her company? Besides, she wanted to see her ma.’
‘How is she, Matthew?’ Maggie asked anxiously. ‘She’s been on my mind for a week or two.’
‘She’s all right,’ Matthew assured her. ‘She doesn’t complain anyway. Da’s gone into Hull,’ he added. ‘Says he wants a new grain merchant.’
‘Why? What’s wrong with ’one we’ve got?’
Matthew shrugged. ‘He’s just taken it into his head to go, that’s all. You know how he is. Can’t budge him once he’s made his mind up. He went off in a hurry anyway, first thing this morning.’ He moved off. ‘I’ll be up for my dinner afore long. Put ’kettle on when you get home,’ he called.
‘Is Rosa home?’ Maggie called back.
‘Aye, she is. She’s singing.’ He laughed. ‘And playing her squeeze box.’
Rosa had stoked up the fire, made porridge for Matthew’s breakfast and for Jim when he arrived, and taken Mrs Drew her breakfast in bed. Before she sat down for her own breakfast she ran upstairs again and brought down the old squeeze box. She put her thumbs through the leather loops at each side and squeezed it in and out. ‘I wish I knew how to play it,’ she’d murmured.
‘Well, just practise with it,’ Matthew had suggested. ‘Then maybe you’ll get ’hang of it. Onny do it after I’ve gone!’ he added jokingly.
He’d looked at her from across the table. We’re alone and she doesn’t think of me any differently from the way she does of Jim or did of Henry, he thought. Yet I never think of her as my sister, even though we have lived in the same house for over ten years. He watched the way her dark lashes touched her cheekbones as she looked down, the way her mouth softly smiled as she concentrated on finding a note on the instrument. It’s hopeless, he reflected dismally. She told Da that she couldn’t marry any one of us, as she thought of us as her brothers.
She’d looked up and given him a brilliant smile as she found a right note, then gave a small frown. ‘What is it? You look sad!’
‘It’s nowt,’ he sighed and got up from the table.
She touched his bare forearm and it was as if he had been given a powerful magnetic shock. For a moment neither of them spoke, then she said huskily, ‘It’s ’first time there’s been any kind of music since Maggie’s wedding. You’re thinking of Henry, aren’t you?’ she said. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘Don’t be sorry,’ he’d said quietly. ‘Henry wouldn’t want us to mope and he liked a bit of music anyway.’ As he went out of the door, he said, ‘I’ll see you at dinner time,’ and had reflected that Henry was the last person on his mind and the only one who filled his thoughts day after day, hour after hour, was Rosa herself.
‘I’ll show you how to play it.’ Fred took the squeeze box from the side table after they had had their midday meal. Mrs Drew had joined them and was very cheerful now that Maggie had come, and wanted to know all that was happening in the town of Hedon.
‘Don’t tell Da, will you, Ma? But Fred and me went to a dance.’ Maggie’s face lit up with delight. ‘Fred bought me a new dress, pale grey muslin with sprigs of flowers on it. Mrs Winter, who lives just a few houses down from us, made it up for me.’
Mrs Drew gave a deep sigh. ‘Oh how lovely, Maggie! And where did you buy ’material? Not in Hedon?’
Maggie leaned forward towards her mother. ‘No. In Hull! I went with Mrs Winter by carrier and we did some shopping, and she helped me choose ’fabric, and then we caught ’carrier back.’ Maggie’s face was bright as she described her shopping trip and her mother exclaimed on her exciting life since she had married Fre
d.
‘Maggie!’ Fred was bent over the instrument and showing Rosa how to finger it. ‘It don’t matter whether your fayther knows or not about us going to a dance. You’re my wife now and if we want to dance, or sing in ’market square we can do! We don’t have to ask anybody’s permission.’
He looked across at her and smiled, yet he was perfectly serious.
‘I know,’ she said fervently. ‘It’s just that—’
‘Old habits,’ Rosa murmured. ‘Maggie can’t help it, Fred. She’s always been an obedient daughter.’
Fred laughed aloud. ‘Not like you, eh, Rosa? You wouldn’t be playing this forbidden instrument if you were obedient, would you?’
‘It’s different for me,’ she objected. ‘I’m not Mr Drew’s daughter.’
‘Yet you wouldn’t disobey Ma, would you?’ Matthew interrupted.
Rosa shook her head and turned to smile at Mrs Drew, who was watching her with a calm expression on her face. ‘No, but then Aunt Ellen has been like a mother to me. She probably understands me better than my own mother did,’ she added. ‘And she doesn’t hold me back but gives me my freedom.’
Mrs Drew smiled gently. ‘You would have flown from us long ago, Rosa, if I hadn’t. You’re like a wild bird that flies in for shelter and food.’
Rosa came across the room and bent and kissed her cheek. ‘And love,’ she whispered, so that no-one else could hear. ‘I come for that too.’
Mrs Drew stroked Rosa’s face with her thin fingers. ‘I know,’ she said softly. ‘I know. That’s why I wanted you here.’
‘We’re going into Hull next week,’ Fred announced. ‘I’m going to see a lawyer. Now that I’m a married man,’ he winked at Maggie, ‘I’ve got to see my wife’s provided for if owt happens to me.’
‘There’s a lawyer in Hedon that Da uses,’ Matthew said. ‘You don’t need to go into Hull.’
‘Aye, but this one in Hull, Somerville, he looked after my affairs when I was working away, so I’ll use him again. So,’ he looked around him, ‘if there’s owt anybody wants while we’re there?’
