The Beggar Maid

by Dilly Court

  She looked into his eyes. ‘I promise,’ she murmured.

  He released her hands and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close so that she could feel his heart beating in time with her own. She laid her head on his shoulders and breathed in the scent of him, which she knew she would carry in her memory for the rest of her life even if they were to part now and never meet again.

  The sound of the doorbell made them move apart and seconds later Gideon burst into the room. ‘He got away,’ he said breathlessly. ‘The workmen held Chapman captive until the police arrived. They arrested him but he gave them the slip.’

  ‘He’s desperate to get hold of Vi’s baby,’ Charity said urgently. ‘He said he’d found a couple whose baby had died and they were prepared to pay him good money for . . .’ she could not finish the sentence and she sat down suddenly as her knees gave way beneath her. ‘He’ll be looking for Vi.’

  Gideon sat down beside her. ‘She should be safe at Bligh Park.’

  ‘He’s clever in his own way.’ Charity knotted her fingers together in attempt to stop her hands shaking. ‘He found me here and he must know that you own a country estate.’

  ‘The police will be on the lookout for him, my love,’ Harry said, frowning.

  She shook her head. ‘He’ll be on his way there now. He’ll find Violet and take her baby. We have to stop him.’

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  HARRY LEAPT TO his feet. ‘I’ll go to the police station and tell them all we know. They won’t let him get away.’

  Charity shook her head. ‘Bert is too cunning to be caught. He’ll bide his time and hide in the shadows until he thinks he’s safe. He’s a violent man and he’ll stop at nothing to get what he wants.’ She stood up, shaken but determined. ‘I’m going to catch the next train to Dorset. I have to warn Vi and get her to a place of safety.’

  ‘You’re putting yourself in danger, and I won’t allow that.’ Harry seized her by the shoulders. ‘Let me do as I said and inform the police.’

  ‘Do what you like, but I’m going to Sutton Pomeroy. You can stay here and sort out your title and all that’s important to you, but I’m going.’

  ‘That’s not my main reason for delaying.’ Harry let his hands fall to his sides. ‘I’ve paid off all my gambling debts but one, and this person would be delighted to see me ruined. I’ve pinned him down to a meeting this evening when I’ll settle with him and then I’m a free man.’

  Gideon rose to his feet. ‘We don’t know for certain that Chapman will head for Bligh Park, Charity. Even then he won’t know where to find Violet and her baby.’

  She spun round to face him. ‘You don’t know him like I do. I suffered at his hands when I was at the bookshop. I didn’t dare go into the back yard at night in case he attacked me. He’s a brute and he’d have taken pleasure in torturing me if Bosun hadn’t found me in time.’

  ‘I can’t leave until tomorrow morning at the earliest,’ Harry said with a worried frown. ‘If you’ll just wait until then . . .’

  ‘Damn your title and the bloody Official Roll or whatever it’s called and this person who’s playing some devious game with you. I’m leaving now and you can’t stop me.’ She ran to the door and wrenched it open.

  ‘Charity, wait.’ Harry followed her into the entrance hall. ‘This is ridiculous. I’ll go to the police station right away and tell them everything. Leave it to them.’

  She headed for the stairs. ‘Leave me alone, Harry. I’m going to get my things. If you want to help you can find a cab to take me to Waterloo.’

  ‘I’ll go with her,’ Gideon said hastily. ‘You do what you have to do, and I’ll see that no harm comes to her.’

  Charity paused with one foot on the bottom stair tread. ‘Perhaps we could take Violet and her baby to the rectory. They’d be safe there.’

  ‘I’m sure that Father would be only too happy to give them shelter.’

  ‘I would come with you if I could, but I’ll join you tomorrow,’ Harry said firmly. ‘You do understand, don’t you, Charity?’

  She gave him a searching look. ‘You aren’t playing the tables again, are you?’

  ‘I gave you my word and I’ve kept it. You have to trust me.’

  ‘I’ll go and hail a cab,’ Gideon said hurriedly. ‘Perhaps you could get a message to the rector, Harry. You could say that I’ve been called away on an urgent family matter.’

  ‘Of course.’ Harry slapped him on the shoulder. ‘It’s the least I can do.’

  Charity hurried to her room, returning minutes later with a hastily packed valise. ‘I’m ready. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait too long for a train.’

  Harry thrust a leather purse into her hand. ‘You’ll need this. I’ll be with you as soon as possible.’ He turned to Gideon with a grateful smile. ‘You’re a good friend. I know you’ll look after her.’

  Dusk was falling by the time they reached the cottage. Charity could barely wait for the driver to rein in his horse before she leapt from the trap. She ran to the front door and finding it unlocked she went inside. She could have cried with relief when she saw Violet sitting by the range, suckling her baby, while Dorrie busied herself tidying away the remains of their evening meal. She gave a cry of delight and threw her arms around Charity. ‘You came home.’

  ‘Of course I did.’ Charity smiled down at her. ‘I’m glad to see that you’ve been looking after Violet and the baby.’

  ‘I’ve done everything Vi asked,’ Dorrie said proudly. ‘But we missed you.’

  ‘And I missed you.’ Charity turned her head to give Violet a questioning look. ‘Are you all right, Vi?’

  Violet smiled dreamily. ‘Of course I am. I couldn’t be better. We’ve been managing very well without Mrs Diment, haven’t we, Dorrie?’

  Dorrie released Charity and did a twirl. ‘I’m learning to cook, and I’ve been a great help.’

  Violet smiled and shifted the baby to her other breast. ‘We’ve muddled along together.’

  Charity jumped at the sound of the door opening. She knew it was Gideon even before she looked round but her nerves were on edge. Violet moved her shawl to cover her naked breast. ‘We wasn’t expecting visitors,’ she said, blushing.

  Gideon drew Charity aside. ‘You haven’t told them then?’

  ‘What’s going on?’ Violet demanded, looking from one to the other. ‘You’re as edgy as a cat, Charity. There’s something you’re not telling us.’

  ‘There’s no easy way to say this, Vi.’ Charity went to sit beside her. She gave a brief account of the happenings in London, trying not to frighten them too much, and failing.

  Dorrie buried her face in her hands and tears trickled out between her fingers. ‘I don’t want to leave. This is our home.’

  Violet was deathly pale. ‘You say he wants to sell my baby?’

  ‘I’m sorry, but it’s true,’ Charity said, rocking Dorrie as if she were the baby. ‘It’s only for a few days. The police have been informed and they’ll be on the lookout for him. He’s already a wanted man, and when they catch him he’ll go to prison.’

  ‘What will Ma and the nippers do?’ Violet’s eyes brimmed with tears. ‘They’ll end up in the workhouse for sure.’

  Gideon cleared his throat. ‘Might I suggest that you pack the things you’ll need for a short visit to the rectory? The driver is waiting outside and we ought to be on our way.’

  Charity lifted Dorrie to her feet. ‘You can help me. We’ll go upstairs and you can decide what you want to take with you. It’ll be lovely seeing Mrs Simms and Jennet again.’

  Violet hoisted the baby over her shoulder and patted her tiny back, which resulted in a satisfactory burp. ‘You’re right, Charity. I know me dad. He won’t stop at nothing when he sees a way of making money. Not that he’d ever spend it on us – it’d go on beer and baccy.’ She rose to her feet and handed the sleepy baby to Charity. ‘I’ll sort out what we need. You can get to know my Alice.’ Violet shooed Dorrie up the stairs.
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  ‘That was easier than I thought,’ Charity murmured, cradling the baby in her arms. ‘I do hope that your father won’t mind, Gideon.’

  ‘Don’t worry about that. My father is the most generous, kind-hearted man I’ve ever known.’

  ‘And his son comes a close second,’ Charity said, smiling. She held out her hand. ‘Thank you for this, Gideon. I’m truly grateful.’ He held it briefly and he was smiling but there was regret in his eyes and she knew she had touched on a painful subject. ‘I wish things were different, but you must understand how it is,’ she added.

  ‘Of course I do, and I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t envy Harry his good fortune, but I’ll always be your friend and his.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said softly. ‘That means a lot to me.’ She held Alice close. ‘How could anyone think of selling this child? It doesn’t bear thinking about.’ She looked up, putting her finger on her lips to hush Dorrie as she came bounding down the stairs with a carpet bag in her hand. ‘Don’t wake her.’

  Dorrie grinned. ‘She’d sleep through a thunderstorm when she’s got a full belly. Ain’t she just a little pearl?’

  Gideon glanced anxiously out of the window. ‘It’s time we were on our way. There won’t be room for all of us in the trap, but I’ll come back for you, Charity. Will you be all right here on your own?’

  The memory of her last encounter with Bert and the night spent in the dank cellar was still fresh in her mind. Charity shook her head. ‘I’ll walk to Bligh Park. Harry will have sent them a telegram telling them I’m on my way, so they’ll be expecting me.’

  ‘It’s almost dark. Please wait until I return.’

  ‘I know a short cut through the fields. Even if Bert had discovered the whereabouts of the cottage he’d be lost in the countryside.’

  Gideon did not look convinced. ‘You’d be safer here. Lock the doors and make sure all the windows are closed and I’ll return within the hour.’

  Charity could see that he was not going to give in easily, and she nodded. ‘All right, but please go now. I’ll douse the fire and make everything secure, but please hurry.’

  They had gone and she was alone. Charity had always felt safe in the cottage but the atmosphere had changed subtly and she was on edge. Every creak of the timbers and every small noise made her stop in her tracks and cock her head on one side, listening for the sound of footsteps on the gravel path. She went round locking doors and securing windows. She drew the curtains and instead of dousing the flames she added a few more lumps of coal to the fire. Having tidied up, she had nothing to do other than sit and wait. The minutes ticked by and she wondered if they had reached the rectory. She was tempted to leave the cottage and follow her original plan to walk across the fields and through the spinney, but she knew that Gideon would worry if he returned and found her gone. She would have to wait for his return.

  An hour passed and she was growing impatient. Soon it would be too late to go to Bligh Park. She knew that they kept country hours and that Parkin would lock the doors soon after ten o’clock, and everyone would retire to bed. Daniel would wait up if he was at home, but if he wanted to keep out of his mother’s way he might be sleeping in the camp at the excavation site. The thought of hammering on the door and arousing Wilmot, or disturbing him from a pleasant evening with his wife, was not encouraging. She rose from her chair and began to pace the floor, wondering what could be keeping Gideon. Perhaps the horse had lost a shoe or there had been an accident on the road. Travelling by night was always a hazard, especially in the narrow country lanes where it was impossible for two vehicles to pass each other. Her imagination was running riot when she heard the crunch of a footstep on the path outside. Without thinking she ran to open the door.

  ‘So this is the right place.’ Bert loomed up in front of her with a triumphant grin. ‘I enquired at the railway station and the porter told me where the young ladies were living. I thought you’d hotfoot it here to warn my girl. Where is she?’

  Charity slammed the door in his face and shot the bolts with trembling hands. She leaned against it until the vibration of his booted feet kicking the panels made her move away.

  ‘Open up or I’ll break the door down.’

  ‘I’m expecting someone at any moment. Go away, Bert Chapman. Your daughter isn’t here.’

  ‘You little bitch; you can’t help interfering, can you?’ Another mighty kick on the door sent splinters of wood onto the flagstones but the panels did not give way. Charity thought about escaping through the back door but decided against it. Gideon would arrive at any moment. On his own he would be no match for Bert’s brawn, but the driver of the pony and trap was a big fellow who could probably outmatch Bert in height and muscle. She breathed a sigh of relief when Bert abandoned his attempt to break down the door, but then he turned his attention to the windows. He shook the casements until the handles rattled, but they remained firmly in place, and the lattice panes were too small for him to put his hand through even if he managed to break one of them. She could hear his heavy tread as he stomped round to the back of the house.

  There was a sudden silence and she held her breath. Perhaps he had gone away after all. She had told him that Violet and the baby were not here and maybe he had taken her at her word. She sat very still, hardly daring to move. The minutes ticked by and still there was no sign of Gideon, but all was quiet outside. Then, just as she was beginning to think that Bert had given up, the sound of splintering wood and breaking glass from upstairs was followed by a string of expletives. He came thundering down the stairs. ‘You was telling the truth. Where’ve they gone? Violet and the babe – where are they?’ He crossed the floor and grabbed her by the hair. ‘I should have done for you when I had the chance.’

  Her eyes watered with pain as he dragged her head back so far that she thought her neck would snap. He thrust his face close to hers. ‘I could finish you off with a flick of me fingers, but you’re no good to me dead. You’ll tell me where they are or I’ll make you sorry you ever drew breath.’

  He released her suddenly and rushed to the door. ‘Someone’s coming. You come here and tell them you’re not at home to visitors.’ He strode over to her and grabbed her by the arm, pulling her off the chair.

  ‘Charity, it’s me, Gideon. Let me in.’

  ‘So it’s the parson you got in tow, is it?’ Bert leered at her. ‘Answer him, girl. Ask him what he done with me daughter.’

  ‘She’s safe from you.’ Charity spat the words at him. ‘I’d die before I’d let you get your hands on Vi or her baby.’

  ‘Charity, who’s with you? Are you all right?’ Gideon rattled the latch. ‘Let me in.’

  ‘I can’t,’ she shouted in desperation. ‘Bert’s here. He broke in.’

  ‘I got your woman here, parson.’ Bert dragged her to the door. ‘Tell me where you took my Violet and the babe.’

  ‘No, don’t tell him anything.’ Charity uttered a cry of pain as Bert twisted her arm behind her back.

  ‘Don’t hurt her.’ Gideon’s voice cracked with emotion. ‘Tell me what you want and I’ll see what I can do, only let her go. She can’t help you.’

  ‘I already told you, mate. Bring me daughter and her brat here and you can have this one.’

  ‘Give yourself up, Chapman. The police know you’re here. Make it easier on yourself.’

  ‘The cops ain’t here.’ Bert snorted with laughter. ‘I ain’t falling for that one. Go away, parson. Don’t come back unless you bring them as what I asked for. Miss Crosse stays with me until I have what I want.’

  ‘Have I your word that you won’t hurt her?’

  ‘I ain’t a gent so me word don’t count, but if you fail to satisfy my demand I’ll wring her pretty little neck or stick a chiv into her breadbasket. I got nothing to lose.’

  ‘I want to hear from Charity.’

  ‘Tell him you’re all right,’ Bert growled.

  ‘I’m not hurt.’ Charity raised her voice. ‘I won’t tell him where
Vi is and you mustn’t either.’ She winced and bit her lip to prevent herself crying out as Bert twisted her arm.

  ‘You got until dawn, mate. I ain’t saying no more.’ Bert pulled up a chair. ‘Sit down and don’t utter so much as a squeak.’ He snatched a couple of drying cloths from the wooden clothes horse and tore them into strips. ‘This will keep you out of mischief while I find something to eat.’ He knotted the strips together and bound her hands and feet before tying her to the chair. ‘Get out of that if you can.’

  ‘I’ll be back.’ Gideon’s voice was hoarse. ‘Don’t be afraid, Charity. We’ll have you out of there in no time.’

  ‘That’s what he thinks,’ Bert said with a satisfied grin. He lumbered over to the cupboard where they kept their supplies and took out a loaf, a slab of cheese and a dish of butter. ‘Them country folk eat well,’ he said, taking a seat at the table. ‘All I need now is a pint of ale and I’d be a happy man.’ He stabbed the loaf with the bread knife. ‘That’s what you’ll get if you misbehave.’

  She could do nothing but sit and watch him stuff food into his mouth. Eventually, when it seemed that he could not manage another mouthful, he sat back in his chair and belched. ‘I was ready for that,’ he said, grinning. ‘You led me a merry dance, girl. But now I got the upper hand.’ He stood up and grabbed the bread knife.

  Charity closed her eyes. He was going to finish her off now, but the blow never fell and she opened her eyes again to see him hacking through the material that bound her to the chair. ‘Get up them stairs,’ he said gruffly.

  She sat motionless, staring at him in horror. He seized her by the arm and dragged her to her feet. ‘Don’t worry, it ain’t your body I’m after tonight. I need some kip if I’m to pit me wits against the police in the morning.’ He gave her a shove towards the staircase. She stumbled up the stairs with Bert following so close that she could feel his hot breath on the back of her neck. When they reached the narrow landing he thrust her into the girls’ room and slammed the door. She heard the key turn in the lock.