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

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  ‘You got a shaving rash?’ she asked at last.

  Simmons shook his head and said nothing as he lapsed back into thought of that kiss. It was only a fatherly peck, he told himself, but his heart fluttered at the memory. His love for the mistress of the house was growing day by day and he found himself seeking any excuse to see her. He had to be careful; she might think he was stalking her and take offence.

  Simmons was finding it extremely difficult to keep his secret. Yes, the staff knew how he felt about Orpha and they all knew it could never be, but day after day he yearned to hold the girl in his arms. He spent his life wishing it could be possible; wishing she felt the same for him. He agonised over the decision to leave or stay. If he left he would not see her at all and that would be pure torture. On the other hand, it was torture to see her every day and be unable to reveal his feelings for her.

  Sitting by the fire, his mood darkened and his tea went cold.

  *

  Simmons spent the afternoon packing his meagre possessions into a carpet bag. Now he could leave at a moment’s notice. He considered ways of broaching the subject of Ashley’s behaviour with Orpha. There would be no easy way to do this, he would just have to take a deep breath and plunge in. He dreaded the thought of her shedding tears over this man, knowing he would be unable to comfort her in the way he would want.

  Pushing his hands through his hair, he sighed audibly into the quiet of his room. There was no way to avoid this imbroglio. Standing, he checked his look in the mirror and strode from the bedroom.

  Ashley Rochester had not joined the family for dinner that evening, Simmons noted, and he was glad of it. He also noted Orpha was not eating and her face was pale. Was she ill? Had something or someone upset her? He watched with concern as she pushed her plate away the food untouched. Something had happened, nothing put Orpha off her food!

  Chapter 50

  Abel requested Orpha meet him in the study after breakfast, he had something he wanted to discuss with her. Unable to face her food, Orpha said she would take a walk in the gardens while waiting for her father to finish eating.

  ‘Ma’am,’ Orpha heard Simmons’ voice as she strolled the gravel path, ‘may I have a moment of your time?’

  ‘Of course, Simmons, what is it?’ Orpha smiled at the butler approaching her. He was tall and straight-backed… and handsome. She had noticed this before and flushed at the thoughts running wild in her mind.

  ‘Ma’am, there is only one way to say this, so I will say it outright.’ The butler saw her tense. ‘It appears Mr Rochester has been lying to you regarding his warehouses. They have stood empty for many years, so the locals say. In fact they have not been used since Mr Rochester senior died.’

  Simmons was building himself up to informing her of Ashley’s activities in Birmingham also, but as he drew a breath to do so, she turned to go indoors and his courage failed him.

  Orpha said, ‘Thank you, Simmons, I suspected as much.’ She didn’t ask where he’d got the information, she really didn’t care.

  ‘I’m sorry, Miss Orpha, both for his lying to you and for my having to be the one to tell you.’ Simmons watched Orpha’s green eyes sparkle with tears in the sunshine.

  ‘I’m sorry too, Simmons. Everything was going so well until Ashley came into my life and now…’ Orpha let the sentence trail off. Taking a deep breath, she touched the butler’s sleeve and walked into the house to meet with her father.

  ‘Ah there you are,’ Abel said as she entered the study. Sitting together, Abel showed his daughter the letter he’d received from his wife. Surprise showed on her face as she passed the letter back to her father.

  ‘She’s interfering again it seems,’ Orpha said.

  Abel nodded, ‘Orpha, you do know when you marry everything you own will pass to Ashley?’ Seeing her downcast eyes and her head nod, he resumed, ‘Not only that, but when I’m gone my emeralds will be shared between Zachariah, Peg and yourself, which means yours will belong to Ashley.’

  Abel’s sad green eyes met Orpha’s shocked green eyes. ‘Yes,’ he went on, ‘you will be completely beholden to him. Are you really prepared to give up everything you’ve worked for just like that?’ Abel snapped his fingers.

  Threatened tears now ran freely down Orpha’s cheeks as Abel continued. ‘If you are determined to marry this man then his money worries will be over. However, you will be working your shops and factories to line his pockets… and unless he dies before you, you will never see a penny of it!’

  ‘Oh Father!’ Orpha cried. ‘Everything is going wrong!’

  ‘You have to make a decision, darling, one way or the other,’ Abel said as he hugged his sobbing daughter.

  *

  Sitting on the train travelling back to Wolverhampton, Ashley knew he was slipping back into his old life, but it was easy money. Staring out of the windows, he saw nothing of the buildings as they flashed past. He was careful about the women he visited, it wouldn’t do for Orpha to find out how he earned his income. Besides, once they were married, he’d have no need to see the women again. His old life would be gone and forgotten.

  It was exhausting work pleasing these old dowagers, but he dare not let his performance slip; that was a sure way to find himself replaced by another and his reputation in tatters. Besides which, the knowledge would be spread all over town before he could blink an eye. He needed the money at the moment and his ‘older ladies’ provided that. Telling each she was the only one for him, he was amazed how readily they believed him. If he were to boil it down, it was sordid work, but he chose not to think of it that way. When he looked into pale eyes in wrinkled faces, he saw only money. Their appetites were small, hence there being so many to visit and not one knew about the others. He was doing these ladies a service, making them feel wanted in their old age. They were happy with his visits and he was happy with their money.

  Ashley whistled a cab, waiting by the station. He needed a drink and a good cheap dinner, and he knew exactly where to find both. Climbing into the carriage, he called for the cabbie to take him to the Foresters’ Arms in Green Lane.

  Very much later he stepped from the public house a little worse for wear. He wove his way down Derry Street which crossed Green Lane and by the light of the moon he was singing loudly.

  As he neared the end of the street, a woman’s voice called out. ‘Shut that bloody row up! Folks here are trying to sleep!’

  Stopping where the woman stood in her front garden, Ashley leaned his hand on the gate. ‘I’ll have you know, mad… madam…’ he slurred, ‘I am celeb… celebramating my himminent marriage!’

  ‘Then celebrate it a bit quieter or bugger off home!’

  ‘How dare you!’ Ashley tittered. ‘Do you know who I am?’

  ‘I don’t care who you are! I do care that you are disturbing my sleep!’ the woman spat indignantly.

  ‘I…’ Ashley went on haughtily, ‘I, madam, am Ashley Rochester, soon to be the owner of “The Choc’s Box”!’

  The woman glared at him in the light from her window and laughed, ‘Oh I doubt that, young man.’

  ‘Whatever do you mean?’ Ashley asked as he swayed in an effort to stay on his feet.

  ‘I mean what I say!’ the woman rasped. ‘Now, if you don’t get your carcass off my gate, I’ll be calling for a constable!’ She made to move his hand from her gate and shock took her breath away. The little finger of his left hand was webbed to the next one right down to the first knuckle – as her son’s had been!

  Ashley snorted as he balanced himself up and took off down the street humming quietly to himself. All he had to do now was find his way home.

  Back inside her house, Hortense was shaking as she made herself some hot tea.

  Sitting comfortably her mind was cast back to a time before she married Abel Buchanan.

  After the death of her mother Hortense had been given the post of maid in the Rochester household. Mr Rochester had taken an instant liking to her.

  She frowne
d now as she recalled how he had promised to divorce his wife and marry her. Being young and impressionable, she had believed him. She saw herself becoming mistress in his house, and so the affair had begun. Her world had been turned upside down when she discovered she was pregnant. Mrs Rochester had sent her packing, thinking she had given herself to some young man in the town. Mr Rochester had watched her go with no remorse for what he’d done.

  Living in a home for unmarried mothers, she had given birth to a baby boy whose two fingers on his left hand were fused together.

  Once the child was born she had registered him under the name of Ashley Rochester. She had taken him along with his birth certificate back to the Rochester house. Leaving him with the cook, she had run hell for leather away from the place.

  Smiling to herself now, she wondered how Mr Rochester senior had explained the child to his wife. Whether the baby remained there and been raised by the family was anyone’s guess, but it seemed he had retained his name.

  Hortense sighed as she thought about the forthcoming marriage. It had to be stopped. It would mean losing yet another chance at getting her hands on the Buchanan fortune, but more importantly, there was no way her son could marry her daughter!

  *

  Edna was minding baby Ralph, and she smiled as she stroked his dark hair. His eyes had turned from baby blue to a vivid green. He had all the Buchanan family features.

  Orpha took Peg to see the new shop in Commercial Road. She explained her dilemma regarding the financial obstacles to her sister as they walked.

  Peg said, ‘Oh, that’s a dreadful decision to have to make.’ She’d not had that problem when she married Ezzie as she’d already given full rein to Orpha regarding the shops and now Ezzie had his own boating business. Peg asked, ‘What will you do about the situation?’ Orpha merely shook her head.

  The shop and coffee shop were full of customers and Peg was delighted for her sister it had proved such a success, but could see it only added to the girl’s burden. As they enjoyed a coffee, Peg thought how simple life had been when she thought she was Peg Meriwether; when she ran a market stall and grew her own produce; when she first met Orpha and they worked together in the cottage. Peg’s life was still simple, she had a wonderful husband, a good mother-in-law, a beautiful baby boy and a family that loved her. Orpha’s life, however, had become an entanglement of situations. She had to choose between her business she’d worked for years to build up, and the man she loved. She had their mother to take care of, but why she bothered left Peg at a loss. She wanted to open yet another factory but couldn’t, as yet, due to the prospect of losing it all to a future husband.

  Peg looked at her sister as she exchanged words with the customers, and her heart went out to her. Orpha had only a couple weeks left to make her decision. The wedding was almost upon them.

  Trudging back to Buchanan Mansion, Orpha told her sister about the warehouse debacle.

  Peg stopped and stared, saying, ‘For God’s sake Orpha! When will you come to your senses?’

  Orpha dissolved into tears once more overwhelmed by the strain of it all.

  Peg hugged her tightly. ‘Oh girl! I’m sorry. That was a bit of the old Peg coming out. But surely you can see what I’m saying?’

  Orpha wiped her tears and nodded. ‘Father said the same as you did… and I have seen a side to Ashley that I didn’t much care for… but I thought I loved him.’

  ‘Do you though? Do you love him so much that you can’t live without him? Do you love him so much that you’ve never noticed another handsome man?’ Peg prompted.

  Orpha’s mind immediately went to Simmons.

  ‘I thought so!’ Peg said, seeing the change on her sister’s face. ‘Orpha, you are not in love with his man! Yes, he saved you from being swept under a train but that is being grateful… not being in love! You can’t base a marriage on gratitude! It’s obvious he only wants you for your money!’

  ‘I know you’re right,’ Orpha said miserably. As they walked on, Orpha considered her sister’s words knowing in her heart they were true. She had already made up her mind about the sybarite, but as yet she had kept it all to herself. However, the time had come to tell him what she had decided.

  *

  Hortense Buchanan sat by her fire contemplating the crapulous young man she’d met at her garden gate. Ashley Rochester… what a dolt! If Orpha held true to her word and married him, she was in for more than one surprise. Hortense grinned at the flames dancing in the hearth. She could of course tell her daughter what she knew about young Mr Rochester… or she could stay tight-lipped and let the girl find out for herself. Decisions, decisions, Hortense thought as she cackled like a witch. Then she realised she could not allow that to happen for all she had enjoyed the thought.

  ‘What’s tickled you, Mother?’ Orpha said as she stepped into the room.

  ‘Oh I just woke myself up snoring,’ Hortense lied.

  The two women passed the afternoon in idle chat, both guarding their words carefully. As Orpha stood to leave, Hortense could hold her tongue no longer.

  ‘Oh I met your Mr Rochester the other night. He was drunk as a Lord and leaning on my gate singing his head off.’

  ‘Really?’ Orpha asked quite shocked.

  ‘Yes really. He told me who he was and… that he was to be the owner of your businesses very soon!’ Hortense smirked at her daughter.

  ‘Did he indeed?’ Orpha’s anger rose swiftly. ‘Well, I think Ashley Rochester is taking a little too much for granted!’

  Hortense chuckled overtly as Orpha stomped out of the house.

  On her way home, Orpha did not notice the buildings becoming silhouetted against the darkening sky making them look dirtier than ever. She was thinking Ashley had not visited for some time. How dare he tell a total stranger he was taking over her business!

  *

  Simmons saw her coming and held the front door open for her. He saw her anger bristling as she stamped into the hallway. ‘Ma’am, Mr Rochester is here… he’s in the parlour with the family.’

  ‘Good!’ Orpha snapped as she flung open the parlour door.

  The conversation stopped as they all looked at her. Marching up to Ashley as he stood by the fire, she jabbed a finger at him. ‘How dare you tell people you are to be the owner of my business!’

  ‘I… I…’ Ashley blanched as he searched for an explanation. He knew he’d overstepped the mark when he’d been drunk.

  ‘You what?’ Orpha challenged him. ‘You thought I wouldn’t find out? You are despicable, Ashley Rochester! You are an acquisitive bully and if you think to get your hands on my money… you best think again! Now get out of my house and don’t ever come back!’ Raising her hand, she slapped him hard across the face.

  Simmons had heard every word as he stood in the hallway. He also had the front door standing open for Ashley to leave, the broad grin on his face a testament to his feelings on the whole matter. As he closed the door on the departing Ashley, Simmons brushed his hands together in an act of finality.

  He enjoyed every word he passed to the staff downstairs as he related the incident. Rubbing his hands together, he settled to enjoy the meal Beulah set before him.

  Chapter 51

  Ashley fumed his way home in the darkness. How had Orpha discovered what he’d said? It must have been the woman he’d talked to on that gate. But how did they know each other? Did they know each other? Or had the woman gossiped and Orpha had overheard the tittle-tattle? Either way, she’d heard. Then she’d thrown him out. Now what would he do? He could leave it a few days for her to calm down and then try to talk her round. It would give him time to invent a good excuse.

  He could say the woman was lying. No, he didn’t think Orpha would believe that for a moment. He could say the woman misheard him, that he told her he was marrying the owner of the business… not that he was becoming the owner. Yes, that might work. He would say he was so excited the wedding was just a week away he had gotten drunk and wanted to tell e
veryone who he was marrying. He was so proud of her he wanted to shout it from the rooftops. Yes, he felt sure now that would work.

  In the meantime he would still have to earn himself some money, but that was no great hardship. He would continue to visit his ladies in Birmingham for a little while longer, which he’d planned to do until the wedding anyway.

  Looking around his drab room now, Ashley felt sure he could rescue the situation and be on course for his marriage once again.

  *

  Alice Danby straightened her maid’s apron and cap and took the tea tray upstairs to Orpha. The rest of the staff followed silently behind her. They were all eager to hear the conversations of the family surrounding Orpha’s outburst. Once the tea tray was delivered they all stood outside the parlour door listening intently.

  Abel asked his daughter who had told her such a thing and when she revealed it was Hortense, Abel snorted. ‘She’s being evil again, Orpha,’ he said.

  ‘Father,’ Orpha snapped, ‘Ashley did not deny he’d said it!’

  Zachariah interrupted, ‘You really didn’t give him much of a chance, Orpha.’

  ‘I know… and I realise it was hasty, but I had decided to call off the wedding in any case.’ Orpha watched her family as they took in her words. None were surprised at her decision. ‘Look,’ Orpha said, ‘you all told me he was only after my money. Peg, you and Simmons both said the same thing…’

  Beulah’s eyes slipped to the butler on hearing his name.

  Orpha continued, ‘You both said if I really loved him the money wouldn’t matter; if I couldn’t live without him… that was true love. Well, it turns out I can live without him, and my business is more important to me.’

  Abel asked, ‘Orpha, what on earth were you doing discussing this with Simmons?’

  The butler raised his eyebrows and rolled his eyes as he continued to listen at the door.