The Lost Sisters: A gritty saga about friendships, family and finding a place to call home

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  ‘Police said Mrs Buchanan was dead when the two men got her home, she never stood a chance,’ Seth continued.

  ‘Mrs Buchanan?’ Simmons probed gently.

  ‘Yes, Mr Zachariah told me the other day that she weren’t married to his father, but Mr Abel gave them his name anyway.’

  The discussion continued and before long they pieced together the puzzle of Mahula Buchanan walking the heath in the bad weather; of Hortense Buchanan taking the trap out and bringing it back covered in blood; of both stable boys seeing Hortense set fire to the house in Aston Street; and of her stealing Abel’s emeralds.

  ‘What are you saying, Mr Simmons?’ Seth asked. ‘Are you saying the master’s wife killed his mistress?’

  ‘That would be my contention,’ Simmons said. ‘However, whether by accident or design, it would be impossible to prove.’ Now nodding to Jago, he gave the boy leave to impart the information regarding the blood-spattered trap.

  ‘Bloody hell!’ Seth muttered. ‘I think Mr Abel is well shot of that one!’ Then he added, ‘Do they know?’ He raised his eyes to the ceiling as he spoke.

  ‘They are not aware of the incident with the trap, but I think it’s time to enlighten them, do you all agree?’ Simmons’ eyes passed to each person sat around the table. All were in agreement and Simmons said he would inform the master.

  Abel and Zachariah sat in the parlour and listened carefully as Simmons related the discussion below stairs. Zachariah cried openly as the butler finished speaking. Abel was fuming and yelled, ‘Get two horses saddled. Zach and I will ride over to the Holyhead Road Station and pass this information to the police!’ There appeared no end to what Hortense would do in her quest for her husband’s money.

  *

  Ezzie and Edna Lucas had moored up in their usual spot at Old Limekiln wharf and trudged through the snow towards Oxford Street. Both were surprised to see the girls looking so distressed when they arrived and almost immediately the reason was explicated. Sitting by the fire in the warm living room, Orpha told them of the cottage being razed to the ground. Ezzie held Peg tight as she cried; the only home she had ever known had gone forever.

  Orpha said on a sob, ‘We have no option but to stay at the shop as we are not in a financial position to find another home; all our money is tied up in “The Choc’s Box”. There are two armchairs we can sleep in, and fortunately everything we needed for the shop had been moved before the fire had started. But Peg has lost everything; all her mementos of Rufina have been destroyed.’ Orpha’s tears escaped her dark lashes.

  Edna wrapped her arms around Orpha and held her while she let loose her emotions.

  ‘We think Hortense started the fire,’ Peg said with a sniff.

  ‘I think you’ll be safe enough here at the shop. There are lots of prying eyes in this street; if it was your mother, she won’t try anything here. I’m going to see Abel and Zachariah when we get back to Birmingham, and they can inform the police,’ Ezzie said, comforting the frightened women. ‘You just go on about your business in the shop, but keep an eye out just in case.’

  Ezzie and Edna spent the day with the girls helping out with the chocolate making in the kitchen. Lottie Spence and her two daughters were informed of the previous night’s incident when they arrived to begin their work. They were instructed to be vigilant on their comings and goings from the shop.

  Orpha decided she would not wait for the police to be informed at a later time, she was going to tell them today. Ezzie said he would accompany her to the police station and they set off, very much more aware of the people they passed in the streets. They didn’t, however, see the woman skulking to the side of a building further down the street.

  *

  Hortense had returned to Oxford Street to see who arrived, and whether the girls were amongst them. Anger burned in her when she saw the young man and her daughter leave the shop. Her plan had gone awry…

  Guessing they would return before long, Hortense decided to stay put and watch the shop. Who else could be in there? She needed to know. All the time she waited there she saw no one come or go until Orpha and the young man returned a couple of hours later. By now Hortense’s legs ached from standing but she maintained her silent vigil. Still she waited, trying to decide what to do and where to go from here.

  Seeing the young man and the older woman leave the shop after lunch she followed discreetly behind. She needed to know who they were and what the connection was to her two daughters. As she walked, she thought about the cottage fire. With her frustration mounting, Hortense stamped through the snow-covered streets until she reached the wharf. So, the lad was a ‘cut-rat’! Watching, she saw the young man help the woman aboard a boat –‘The Sunshine’ – and that must be his mother.

  Walking back to the town, Hortense made a mental list of what she would need to carry out the next part of her plan. The added complication of the two people on the boat vexed her, but she would deal with that first, then she could return her attention to being rid of the Buchanan family.

  Later that day, Hortense bought what she needed and set out once again for the wharf.

  ‘There ain’t no one aboard, mate,’ a voice called out, seeing a figure standing in front of ‘The Sunshine’.

  ‘Ar, I know,’ the figure called back, climbing aboard, ‘I been asked to do a job on her.’

  ‘Fair enough,’ the man shouted and went back to his task on his own boat.

  The figure moved to the belly of the boat and began to move possessions around. Taking out a hammer and chisel from a tool bag, work began. Finding a suitable spot, the chisel was rammed into the side of the boat and the sound of the hammer sounded as it hit the chisel square on. Pounding away, the figure eventually smiled as a trickle of water was sighted. Moving further down the boat, the hammer sounded again. On and on until each of the four holes in the side of the boat were letting in the dirty canal water. Moving to the other side of the boat, the task was repeated. Satisfied, the figure repacked the tools and climbed back out onto the towpath. Waving to the man who had called out earlier, the figure strode away.

  Once more in her hotel room, Hortense stripped off the men’s trousers, shirt, jacket and cap and kicked them beneath the bed along with the tool bag. Dressed again in her long skirts, she went down to the dining room for an early dinner.

  Relaxing in her bedroom later, she thought about the boy and his mother finding their boat sinking on their return and her luck at finding the craft empty. She really thought she might be hanging around waiting for the pair to leave. After reporting it to the wharf master they would return to the shop. After all, they would have nowhere else to go! Being ‘cut-rats’ they would not have the means to stay in a hotel that was for sure. The serving girls would leave at the day’s end which would leave the two girls, the boy and his mother alone in the shop. Hortense smiled as she thought four birds with one stone! Everything worked out for a reason. This time she had to plan very carefully; she needed to ensure the building burned quickly and fiercely, taking the occupants with it.

  *

  Ezzie and Edna walked along the wharf on their way from the ‘Choc’s Box’ in the early evening and saw the melee by their boat. Running on, Ezzie then saw what all the commotion was about. ‘The Sunshine’ was sinking fast.

  Seeing Ezzie approach, the man who had spoken to the stranger earlier in the day explained what he’d been told. ‘The bloke said he was on her to do some jobs,’ the man nodded to the badly listing boat.

  Edna joined them, crying, ‘We always do our own jobs! This was sabotage!’ Tears rolled down her face and her shoulders heaved as she watched everything she had ever owned disappear into the cold water of the canal. Ezzie paced up and down on the towpath, dragging his hands through his hair.

  Stomping along to the wharf master, Ezzie asked that he inform the police, which the man agreed to do. He needed to get his mother out of the cold and told the master where they could be found. Leading a sobbing Edna away, Ezzie said,
‘Come on, Mum, we’ll go back to the shop. Peg and Orpha will take us in for sure.’

  A frightened Orpha heard the banging on the shop door and was relieved to see it was Ezzie and Edna. Letting them inside, she relocked the door and ushered them into the living room. Seeing Edna’s tears, she asked, ‘What’s happened? Edna, whatever is the matter?’

  ‘Our boat’s been sunk!’ Edna wailed as Orpha gasped.

  Looking at Ezzie who nodded, Orpha asked, ‘How…? Who…?’

  Ezzie shook his head as Peg gave him and Edna a cup of hot tea.

  ‘You don’t think…?’ Orpha began.

  ‘Yes! I bloody well do think!’ Edna snapped. ‘I’d lay money on it, it were your mother burned the cottage down, then went over and sunk our boat!’

  ‘But why?’ Orpha asked. ‘Why would she do that to you? You are no threat to her…’ Then Orpha dropped onto a chair and said, ‘…But we will inherit everything from Father!’

  Peg spoke as she banked up the fire, ‘Bloody hell, Orpha! Your mother ain’t half a spiteful bugger!’

  Orpha glanced at her sister, saying, ‘I know, but she’s your mother as well, don’t forget!’

  Peg grimaced at the thought.

  Sitting around the fire, the four discussed the events of the last few days.

  Peg questioned, ‘Do you really think it is Hortense who is disrupting our lives so drastically?’

  Edna snorted, ‘Yes, I for one, believe it is! That cow has taken everything from us!’

  Ezzie said quietly, ‘I’m out of work now too.’ All eyes turned to him, seeing the sadness on his face. ‘There’s no work to be had on the land, so where we go from here I have no idea.’

  Misery hung heavy in the room until Orpha said, ‘Tomorrow I’m going to see Father and Zachariah in Birmingham! I want you all to stay here, and for God’s sake be extra vigilant!’

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ Ezzie said.

  ‘No!’ Orpha said sternly, then more gently went on, ‘I need you here to protect everyone and the shop.’

  Ezzie nodded and silence descended as they watched the flames dance in the hearth. Fire held a different fascination for them all now.

  *

  Early the following morning Orpha alighted the train at New Street Station and ran through the snow to her father’s office in Burlington Passage. Rushing through the door, she saw the nod of the secretary telling her to go straight through to her father’s office.

  ‘Father! Oh Father!’ Abel dashed to hold his distressed daughter. Eventually stemming her tears, she explained to Abel and her brother what had happened in Wolverhampton. ‘I know it doesn’t prove it was Mother but…’

  ‘But it’s a fairly safe bet!’ Zachariah concluded.

  ‘Right!’ Abel said, ‘Looks like we’re all going to Wolverhampton!’

  Boarding the train once more, Orpha related the tale in more detail for her father and brother.

  Abel assured her, ‘I will inform the police, who will then contact the other police stations in Wednesbury and Birmingham. They will catch Hortense before she can wreak any more havoc.’ He knew he should have returned sooner and the guilt of not having done so weighed him down.

  Orpha was not convinced but was pleased to have her father and brother on side.

  Going first to the shop to ensure all was well there, Abel and Zachariah went next to the bank in the town.

  Orpha said, ‘I’m going to the cottage… I need to see if there is anything I can salvage from the fire.’ Although she was scared, she walked down Oxford Street, keeping a keen eye out as she passed the doorways of the other buildings.

  Eventually coming to the cottage, she stared at the burnt-out ruin, and despair covered her like a shroud. There was nothing left of the little house she had once shared with her sister. Turning away, she made her way back across the heath and into the town. It was then she saw a woman walk briskly up Raby Street. It was her mother, she was sure of it! Following some distance behind, Orpha kept her eye on the woman in front of her, hoping she wouldn’t be seen. Keeping close to the buildings, Orpha moved from doorway to doorway where she could hide herself if the woman turned around. The woman turned the corner into Powlett Street and Orpha ran to catch up. Peeping around the corner of a building, Orpha watched the woman walk towards and enter an hotel.

  Orpha was unsure as to what to do next. She could go to the police station in Lower Walsall Street and risk the woman leaving the hotel, or she could walk in and confront her. Not certain the woman was her mother, Orpha would look a fool if it wasn’t. On the other hand if it was her mother, then this confrontation was way overdue.

  Taking a deep breath, Orpha strode towards the hotel.

  ‘Can you tell me the room number of the lady who has just come in please?’ Orpha asked politely. Orpha received a bored shake of the head from the receptionist. ‘The lady is my mother and I was late for our arranged meeting.’ Orpha crossed her fingers behind her back in the hope the superstition would cancel out the little white lie. The receptionist relented and told her the number. Orpha strode towards the room and stopped outside. Remembering her mother’s words of years before, Orpha wondered if she really would kill her if they met again. There was only one way to find out. Taking her courage in both hands, Orpha rapped smartly on the hotel door.

  Chapter 33

  The manager at the bank having been told of Abel’s plans, said he would have to confirm these with their Birmingham branch in the first instance. Desperately wanting to use the newly installed telephone system, the manager was delighted when Abel nodded his consent. Explaining to the manager at Birmingham he had Mr Buchanan in his office at that moment who was intending to spend extremely large amounts of money, he was taken aback at the reply. ‘Mr Buchanan has wealth to a degree you would never believe. If Abel wishes you to lick his boots you had better ensure you make a good job of it!’

  ‘Well now,’ the manager gave a little cough, ‘that seems to be all in order. Please accept my apologies, sir, but it is bank policy we check to protect our clients.’

  ‘I appreciate that you do, sir, and I thank you for your help,’ Abel said as he stood to leave. Bending down, he brushed off a little snow still left on his boot. The bank manager gulped loudly as he recalled the words spoken on the telephone.

  Hailing a hansom cab, Abel and Zachariah returned to the shop, asking the cabbie to wait. Zachariah remained at the shop and Abel and Ezzie climbed into the cab and set off for the wharf.

  ‘The Sunshine’ had been dragged out of its mooring place by a tugboat and was now resting in the boatyard nearby. It had been placed in the ‘graveyard’ there. Ezzie sighed loudly as he saw his home on her side, never to grace the canals again. Abel had spoken with the wharf master who now led them to the other side of the boatyard. There on supports sat a brand new seventy-foot-long narrow boat, and… it was for sale!

  Abel urged Ezzie to look around her whilst he spoke with the master. Ezzie toured the boat with its beautiful deck and fixtures in her belly. An engine would power her and she was ready for the water. The new owner was to name her and she could be launched as soon as money exchanged hands.

  ‘My God but she’s a beauty!’ Ezzie said as he climbed down the wooden ladder.

  ‘Then it’s settled!’ Abel said, and going to the master’s office, Abel wrote out a banker’s order saying the bank had already authorised the money transfer.

  Abel felt he wanted to return Edna and Ezzie’s kindness as they had helped his daughter in her hour of need. Orpha had been saved by Ezzie out on the heath, he had been told, and they had taken her aboard to care for her as best they could. Despite having lost some of his emeralds, he was happy in the knowledge that the rest were in the bank, therefore he could easily cover this expense which was nothing compared to his daughter’s safety. Besides, he felt certain it was his wife who had caused this further suffering, so the onus was on him to rectify the situation. His hate for Hortense intensified as he thought of the h
eartbreak she was causing.

  Giving the paperwork to Ezzie, he clapped the young man’s shoulder.

  ‘What?’ Ezzie looked at the older man.

  ‘She’s yours, son,’ Abel said with a laugh. ‘Compensation for my wife’s actions… and yes, I do believe it was she who sank ‘The Sunshine’.’

  ‘Abel, I don’t know what to say!’ Ezzie gasped.

  ‘Don’t say anything, lad, just enjoy her.’ Abel then led them back to the waiting cab.

  Inside the cab, Abel asked, ‘What name will you give her, son?’

  Ezzie thought for a moment then said, ‘The Emerald… in honour of your family’s eyes!’ Both men laughed as the cab took them back to Oxford Street.

  Edna cried her thanks into the corner of her shawl as Ezzie told her of their new boat and the name which would be painted on the side as soon as possible.

  ‘Where’s Orpha?’ Abel asked after the excitement died down.

  ‘Didn’t she say she wanted to go to the cottage…’ Edna muttered.

  ‘Oh Christ!’ Abel said as all eyes looked to him.

  Rushing out of the door with Zachariah, Abel ran down the slushy street, the snow at last beginning to melt. Hailing another cab, Abel told the driver to hurry to Derry Street. Standing in front of the ruined cottage, they looked around; Orpha was nowhere to be seen.

  ‘We may have passed her on the way here, Father,’ Zachariah said, staring at the burnt-out building.

  Abel nodded, ‘You’re right, let’s get back to the shop.’

  *

  The hotel door opened and Hortense gasped, ‘what the…?’

  Orpha barged past her mother into the room and turned to face the other woman who closed the door.

  ‘Hello Mother,’ Orpha said confidently trying her best to keep her anger under control, which had flared instantly even after all of this time and the way they had parted.