The Beggar Maid

by Dilly Court

  Bert shot a malevolent look at Charity. ‘I’ll make you pay for this, you bitch.’

  ‘Don’t worry, miss,’ the sergeant said, grinning. ‘He’ll be going away for a long time.’ He gave Bert a none too gentle shove, sending him into the arms of one of the constables who slapped handcuffs on him with obvious satisfaction. Bert was led away still proclaiming his innocence.

  ‘I’ve never come across such a slippery customer,’ the sergeant said, mopping his brow. ‘The streets of London will be safer when he’s locked up.’

  Harry shook his hand. ‘Might I suggest that you and your men take some refreshment at the village inn before you set off for London? At my expense, of course.’

  ‘Thank you, sir. But with a character like Chapman I think it best to get him on the train as soon as we can. I want to see him locked in the guard’s van with two of my most able constables.’

  ‘I quite understand.’ Harry turned to Charity with a tender smile. ‘Let’s get you home. I think we’ve all had enough excitement to last a lifetime.’

  Charity shook her head. ‘I must go and tell the girls first, and the cottage needs some repairs before we can live in it again.’

  ‘Come inside, all of you,’ Gideon said firmly. ‘We all need some sustenance after that experience.’ He took his father by the arm. ‘I was never so proud of you as I was today, Father.’

  ‘I had a powerful ally.’ Philip smiled and cast his eyes heavenward.

  ‘Tea is what you need, sir,’ Mrs Simms said, seizing Jennet by the arm. ‘If you’ll make yourselves comfortable in the drawing room we’ll bring refreshments.’ She hustled Jennet back into the house, and was met in the doorway by Dorrie and Violet. Dorrie flew at Charity and clung to her like a burr.

  ‘Has he gone? Has the bad man been taken away?’

  ‘He won’t trouble any of us again,’ Charity said gently. ‘Everything will be all right.’

  Violet shook her head. ‘For us maybe, but not for Ma. I’ll have to go home and help her look after the young ’uns.’

  Dorrie uttered a muffled shriek. ‘You mustn’t leave me, Violet.’

  Violet rocked Alice in her arms as the baby opened her eyes and began to whimper. ‘What choice do I have? You can stay with Charity.’

  Charity turned to Harry, who had remained at her side, holding her hand. ‘What can we do?’

  He gave Violet an encouraging smile. ‘You mustn’t worry. We’ll think of something.’

  Gideon paused in the doorway. ‘In the meantime Violet and Dorrie are more than welcome to stay here until the repairs are carried out at the cottage.’ He lowered his voice. ‘It would give Mrs Simms something to think about other than fussing over Father’s health. It drives him mad but he’s too soft-hearted to tell her so.’

  ‘Thank you, sir.’ Violet bobbed a curtsey. ‘You’re very kind.’

  He shook his head. ‘Not at all. You would be doing me a favour, Violet. I have to return to London as soon as possible and I know that Father enjoys your company.’

  Dorrie stared hard at Violet. ‘You’re blushing, Vi.’ She turned her attention to Gideon. ‘You should marry her, sir. Vi can cook a lovely rabbit stew and she’s already got a baby, and I could be Alice’s sister. You’d have a family ready and waiting for you.’

  Violet stared at her in horror. ‘Hush, Dorrie. You don’t say such things to a gent like the reverend.’ She rocked Alice in her arms in a desperate attempt to silence the baby’s howls.

  Gideon threw back his head and laughed. ‘Thank you for the suggestion, Dorrie. I’ll give it my earnest consideration.’ He held his hand out to Violet. ‘Come indoors and allow Mrs Simms and Jennet to make much of the baby. Have you thought about having her christened?’ He led Violet into the house and Alice immediately stopped crying.

  ‘See,’ Dorrie said triumphantly. ‘They was made to go together, just like you two.’ She skipped on ahead, leaving Charity and Harry to follow.

  ‘She’s right,’ Harry said, smiling. ‘We were destined to meet and fall in love. I’m never going to let you out of my sight again, Charity Crosse.’

  ‘Your mother won’t approve. She hates me, Harry.’

  ‘Nonsense. Give her time and she’ll grow to love you as I do.’

  ‘Over my dead body.’ Myrtle Barton paced the floor, wringing her hands. ‘I won’t allow it, Harry. You can’t marry a girl from the slums. A pretty face won’t help when she’s ostracised by society. You’ll bring the family name into disrepute.’

  Harry threw back his head and laughed. ‘That’s rich coming from you, Mama. Did you consider the Bligh name when you left my father for Sir Philip?’

  ‘That was different.’ Myrtle stopped, facing him angrily. ‘I fell in love with Philip. My marriage to your father was arranged by our families. There was no love lost between us.’

  ‘And yet he never remarried, Mama. And he never said a word against you that I recall.’

  Charity cleared her throat nervously. ‘I should go to my room. You ought to discuss this in private.’

  ‘No.’ Harry’s tone did not invite argument. ‘I am going to marry you, and my mother will have to get used to the idea.’

  Wilmot moved swiftly to Myrtle’s side. ‘You can’t speak to your mother like that, Harry. You’re the one who’s dragged the family name through the mire. Marry the girl if you want to bed a slut, but give up your claim to the land and title. Allow your brother to inherit and accept an allowance from the estate, which you can fritter away at the gaming tables while your wife peddles books in the market or sells her body in order to make ends meet.’

  Harry made a move towards Wilmot but Charity placed herself between them. ‘That’s enough,’ she said angrily. ‘You are a disgusting man, Wilmot. You were quick enough to proposition me when I was destitute and yet you accuse me of being a wanton.’

  ‘He did what?’ Harry and his mother spoke in unison.

  ‘It’s true,’ Charity said hastily. ‘He’ll deny it, of course, but it is true.’

  Myrtle turned on her husband in a fury of flailing hands and bared teeth. ‘You brute. You utter cad.’

  He grasped her by the wrists. ‘It was before I fell in love with you, my darling. I admit that I offered the girl a home, but she misunderstood my meaning. What can you expect from a child of the gutter?’

  Harry seized him by the shoulders, twisted him round and pinned him against the oak panelling. ‘If you ever go near Charity again I won’t be responsible for my actions.’ He released him, wiping his hands together as he faced his mother. ‘You married a scoundrel, Mother. I hope you’ll find some happiness with him, but I want you both out of this house by tomorrow morning at the latest, and that’s being generous.’

  ‘You’re throwing your own mother out of her rightful home?’ Myrtle’s lovely eyes welled with tears and her perfectly shaped mouth drooped at the corners. ‘How can you speak to me like that?’

  ‘Don’t try that with me,’ he retorted angrily. ‘I’m no longer a child, and I can see through your ruses. I love you, Mama, but I love Charity even more and she will be my wife, if she’ll have me after all this.’ He held his hand out to Charity. ‘You’ve seen the worst of the Bligh family; do you think you could bring yourself to make an honest man of me?’

  She slipped her hand into his. ‘I do,’ she said simply.

  ‘Bah!’ Myrtle flew at Wilmot, beating him once again with her fists. ‘This is all your fault. You brought me to this. I was happy in my Devonshire home but it wasn’t enough for you. You wanted the Bligh Park estate as well.’

  Wilmot brushed her off as if she were an irritating insect. ‘Spare me the histrionics, my dear. You are as avaricious and grasping as I am. We’ll do very well together, but I know when I’m beaten.’ He marched her towards the doorway. ‘We’ll leave tonight. I won’t stay where I’m not welcome.’

  Safe in the circle of Harry’s arms Charity could hear her future in-laws arguing all the way up the stairs until the
sound of their voices faded away. She looked up at him with a question in her eyes. ‘Did you mean that? Do you really want to marry a beggar maid?’

  ‘More than anything else in the world.’

  She slid her arms around his neck and closed her eyes as he claimed her mouth with a kiss that made her heart sing with joy.

  Daniel burst into the dining room, coming to a halt with a broad grin on his face as he saw Charity and his brother seated side by side, gazing into each other’s eyes. The table was laid and set for three. ‘Wonderful,’ he said enthusiastically. ‘I’m in time for dinner, and you two have obviously resolved your differences as I knew you would.’

  ‘Come and sit down, Dan.’ Harry raised Charity’s hand to his lips. ‘You can be the first to congratulate us.’

  Daniel slapped him on the back. ‘I’d have been the first to give you a good hard kick if you hadn’t proposed to the girl.’ He leaned over and kissed Charity on the cheek. ‘I couldn’t have wished for a lovelier sister-in-law, or a more courageous one. You’re a lucky dog, Harry.’ He sat down and shook out a starched white napkin. ‘I noticed that Wilmot’s carriage had gone from the coach house, so I take it they’ve left.’

  ‘I told him to go in no uncertain terms, but I hope he makes her happy nonetheless,’ Harry said seriously. ‘She’s still our mother no matter what she’s done in the past.’

  ‘Mama is a survivor,’ Daniel said, helping himself to a bread roll. ‘She’ll bounce back and lead Wilmot a terrible dance, which is exactly what he deserves. I’ll go and see her when I’ve sorted out my trip to Egypt.’ His smile faded. ‘You will fund me, won’t you, Harry? I mean I know the money belongs to you, but you wouldn’t begrudge a little of it to your brother, would you?’

  Harry flicked a piece of bread roll at him. ‘It will be worth it to get a bit of peace and quiet, old chap.’

  ‘Of course he will,’ Charity said firmly. ‘And I, for one, will miss you. I’ll re-read Miss Edwards’ book about her trip up the Nile and think of you in all those exotic places.’

  ‘Maybe we’ll join you one day.’ Harry looked round as the door opened and Parkin ambled in carrying a soup tureen. ‘Thank you, Parkin. We’ll serve ourselves, and tomorrow we’ll have a chat about employing more staff. I can’t have you and Mrs Trevett run ragged. There’ll be a few changes made, but they’ll all be for the good.’

  ‘Thank you, sir.’ Parkin’s face split into a semblance of a grin and Charity could swear that there was a spring in his step as he left the room. She rose to her feet and began serving the savoury-smelling stew.

  ‘We must help Violet’s mother,’ she said, placing a plate in front of Harry. ‘And there’s Nevill’s Court lying empty and neglected.’

  He looked up at her, eyebrows raised. ‘You’re not thinking of filling it with little Chapmans, are you?’

  She passed a steaming plate to Daniel. ‘Not exactly, but it might be a good thing to bring them to Sutton Pomeroy. I’m sure there must be a vacant cottage on the estate and you just said you were going to employ more servants. Mrs Chapman is a hard-working woman used to working in a laundry. Maybe we can find something for Violet as well.’ She ladled stew into another plate and set it in front of Harry before serving herself.

  Daniel swallowed a mouthful of bread and butter. ‘I know almost nothing about these things,’ he said slowly. ‘But I think Gideon has rather a soft spot for Violet. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he spent a bit more time visiting his pa, or if he put in for a transfer to the parish when Mr Raines retires. The old man can’t go on forever.’

  Charity stared at him in amazement. ‘I think you might have something there. Who would have thought it?’

  ‘Stop matchmaking, you two,’ Harry said, laughing. ‘You’ll have Dan waiting for young Dorrie to grow up next.’

  ‘Now that is ridiculous.’ Daniel picked up the piece of bread roll and tossed it at his brother. ‘I’ll marry a girl who shares my love of archaeology and doesn’t mind roughing it.’ He shot a sideways glance at Harry. ‘How soon can we settle matters? We’ve just about finished the dig here and found nothing more than a tessellated pavement, which isn’t going to add to the Bligh fortune, even if it does attract the interest of academics and people who have nothing better to do than roam the country looking for antiquities. Anyway, I’ll soon be at a loose end.’

  ‘I’ll see my solicitor and he’ll advise me on the best way to handle my finances. I’m not going to fritter away the Bligh Park fortune.’ Harry reached out to hold Charity’s hand. ‘I think we should travel up to London tomorrow and spend a few days in Nevill’s Court. I have to decide what to do with the old place.’

  ‘You don’t want to live there, do you?’ Charity asked anxiously. ‘I mean, I wouldn’t mind at all and I love London, but you don’t have to give up everything for me.’

  He smiled. ‘I’ve had enough of the high life. I want to settle down and be a country squire with you at my side. We’ll raise our family here in Bligh Park and restore the old house to its former glory, but as to Nevill’s Court, I’m at a complete loss and yet I don’t want to sell it.’

  Charity laid her spoon down and faced him eagerly. ‘I had an idea for the house while I was living there. The library is filled with wonderful books, as is the one here. It seems such a waste to keep all that knowledge and learning locked away.’

  ‘Dash it, Charity.’ Daniel stopped eating to stare at her. ‘You don’t mean to open another shop, do you?’

  She laughed and shook her head. ‘No, of course not. Nor do I intend to hawk them round the streets as I did when we were desperate for money.’ She turned back to Harry with a persuasive smile. ‘I thought we could open up some of the rooms and start a free lending library so that the poor could have access to books that they could never hope to afford. We could use volunteers who would be willing to coach people who can’t read, or children who are slow at learning. Maybe wealthy benefactors will donate money to help with the running costs, and most important of all it would mean that Mrs Diment, Jackson and Bosun have a permanent home.’

  Harry raised her hand to his lips. ‘Am I going to spend the rest of my life doing good works?’

  ‘No, I don’t expect miracles,’ she said, chuckling. ‘I love you just as you are.’

  This ebook is copyright material and must not be copied, reproduced, transferred, distributed, leased, licensed or publicly performed or used in any way except as specifically permitted in writing by the publishers, as allowed under the terms and conditions under which it was purchased or as strictly permitted by applicable copyright law. Any unauthorised distribution or use of this text may be a direct infringement of the author’s and publisher’s rights and those responsible may be liable in law accordingly.

  Epub ISBN: 9781448135608

  Version 1.0

  www.randomhouse.co.uk

  Published by Arrow Books 2014

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  Copyright © Dilly Court 2014

  Dilly Court has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work

  This novel is a work of fiction. Names and characters are the product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental

  First published in Great Britain in 2014 by Century

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  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN 9781780890616

 

 

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