by Mary Wood
‘Is there no cure?’
‘No. Doctor says not a lot is known of the condition, and that they call it Mongolism because those born with it have features resembling folk as live in Mongolia, wherever that is. He says she’s physically all right as far as he can tell, but he could say nothing of her future.’
‘Well, I can. She’ll be very happy. They are, thou knows. She’ll be very much loved and cared for, and she has an adoring sister and dad, not to mention Granny and Aunty Megan. It’ll be reet. We’ll take it a step at a time, eh?’
‘Aye. One day at a time. It’s the only way to get through. I can’t believe it’s on three weeks since the funeral. It were a good turnout, weren’t it, Megan?’
She nodded. They sat in silence for a while, but then Megan saw Issy wipe away a tear.
‘Are you all right, Issy?’
‘No, lass. I’m going to be a long time getting reet, I’m afraid.’
‘I know, love.’
‘I were thinking what a hard time I had getting caught for a babby. I were on with being in my thirty-second year when Cissy were born, but I lost a few after that. Funny how Ciss suffered in that way an’ all. Thou knows, lass, maybe if Ciss had known how to stop getting caught, she’d be here today.’
‘Aye.’
They fell silent again. Megan didn’t want to tell her that Cissy had known. She’d wondered herself how it was that Cissy had got caught. She’d had a chance to ask her a couple of times, but had never done so. It was always painful to talk of such things with Cissy.
The sound of a motor-car coming towards them from the direction of the big house broke into their silence. The car was the one that had been sent to bring Issy from her home the day after Cissy had died, and belonged to Mrs Harvey’s sister.
‘Well, would you credit it? Me chauffeur’s come to pick me up again.’
They both laughed at this and it lifted their spirits a little, but Megan’s laugh was cut short by the look Mrs Harvey gave her as the car passed by. It made her feel uncomfortable, as if she’d no business sitting on the cottage step – or even existing, for that matter.
‘Thou knows, I still can’t get over them sending the chauffeur to bring Jack to fetch me. Gentry act in funny ways at times. She must think sommat of Jack, though, as he said as she’d told the doctor that she couldn’t afford to lose him, so it were important to get me over to look after young ’uns. I wonder what the real reason were. I’ve never found it in me to trust Lady High-and-Mighty. I mean, it isn’t as if Jack’s invaluable, with stables going, and he don’t know first thing about motors.’
‘Well, happen as it were a case of her knowing Jack, and she’d not know who she might get if she put out for somebody else. Besides, she owes him a chance. He’s worked for her for a good many years now.’
‘Aye, happen. Anyroad, I’m not complaining. I were struggling, thou knows, lass. I’d no job and me reputation were ruined when them as I worked for pinned some stealing on me. I haven’t ever stolen owt in me life! Anyroad, I were trying to manage on parish relief, but they give that grudgingly. Last means test as I took, they found out I had a son-in-law in work and told me I’d to put meself in his care.’
‘Oh, Issy. If Ciss and Jack’d known that . . .’
‘I know. I were on with being stubborn. I didn’t want to be a burden, but if I’d known what were going to happen, I’d have come like a shot.’
‘You couldn’t have done owt, Issy love.’
‘I could’ve looked after her. Ciss said nowt in her letters about not carrying well, though I did wonder why she kept putting off her trip to see me, which she’d been so keen to arrange. I didn’t push it because I knew I’d not be able to help with putting a word in for Jack on the estate, as they’d wanted me to. Anyroad, let’s talk of sommat else. Are you still on with your sewing, Megan? Ciss said in her letters as you use the parlour and you’ve a nice few customers. Only you’ve never said owt.’
‘I didn’t like to – not with how things are – but aye, I’ve garments waiting to be started on. Manny at the shop asked me some two weeks back to see about making frocks for his wife and her friends for a wedding as is coming up.’
‘Well, what’re you waiting for? Nowt need change along them lines. Whatever Ciss arranged with you still stands, and’ll always stand.’
‘Ta, Issy. I don’t know as I could carry on without me dream.’
‘What dream’s that then, lass?’
‘Didn’t Ciss say why I were doing it all?’
Megan told Issy about her dream for the future, but speaking it aloud somehow made it seem silly and impossibly out of her reach.
‘Crikey! That sounds a reet good idea, love, and I’d back owt as’d get you away from that Bert Armitage, even though it’d be a scandal to some. But your own shop! That’d take some money. Can you earn that much?’
‘No, it’s not possible. It’d take at least a hundred pounds, I reckon, and I’ve been at it for near on eighteen months and I’ve only got nine pounds sixteen shillings and sixpence so far.’
‘That’s not much, lass, is it? I mean, you’ve done well, but you’re not going to get far at that rate.’
‘I know, but Manny’s wife and her friends are me only customers, and they only want frocks now and again, for dos and suchlike.’ She paused, wondering whether she should tell of Hattie, then felt cross at herself for feeling embarrassed to talk about her. She ploughed on. ‘Mind, I have had another offer, but I’m not sure how I could do it.’
‘Why’s that, love?’
‘It’s for Hattie, a friend of mine I grew up with. Well, she’s more of a sister, really.’
Megan took some time telling Issy about Hattie, wanting to justify what Hattie did and wanting Issy to see Hattie in a good light.
‘Look, I can see you’ve been at worrying about telling me of this lass, as you’ve never mentioned her afore. Nor did my Ciss, come to that. But don’t worry on account of me thinking badly of Hattie. I’ve known of her kind afore, a long time ago. It’s circumstances, like you say, as gets a lot of them into it. With Hattie, it were gentry as were to blame; and with the lass I knew, it were her own da as took her down and then killed himself in front of her, poor girl. Mind, he’d left her some money, but that were stolen from her. Like Hattie, it was a prostitute that helped her and as a result she landed up on the game. There’s a lot as goes on as shouldn’t. And this Hattie’s involvement in stopping that vile bloody racket and getting them beasts to the gallows – well, that’s to be commended. At least, with Hattie, lassies are being looked after, as long as her business isn’t enticing others into prostitution.’
‘Oh, no! Lassies were in a state when she took them on. Their health is better, they’re well looked after, and them as want to get out of the game have every chance, because they can save and better themselves. She does get new ones in, but only when they’re seen on the streets prostituting, and then it’s only those as has no other way. She won’t take lassies as are just after making money and aren’t in dire straits. She’s funny in how she looks on them as being sinful, and on the others as having no choice and in need of help.’
‘Well, there you go. It strikes me as what Hattie does is a good thing, and if she makes money from doing it – well, good luck to her. If I were you, I’d get started as soon as you can on making clothes for her lassies, and get this future of yours sorted.’
‘There’s more to it, though, Issy. How will I sort everything? I mean, without Bert finding out? I’d have to make trips to Leeds, and on a regular basis an’ all. That wouldn’t pass his notice, and even if it did, someone would soon make sure he knew.’
‘Look, don’t put hurdles where there mightn’t be any! Get yourself off to Leeds and talk to this Hattie. There might be a way round problems and, if there isn’t, well, then at least you tried. What shift’s Bert on today?’
‘He’s on days. Six-while-six for the next two weeks.’
‘Couldn’t be better
then, as it’s only just on ten and there’s a train at eleven-fifteen, if I remember reet.’
A fearful kind of excitement shot through Megan. Suddenly it wasn’t something she couldn’t do – it was a possibility! But going off to Hattie’s at a moment’s notice? That was something she’d never done before. She’d always taken time to make sure everything was in place, so she wouldn’t get caught out by Bert, and to be sure Hattie was going to be in.
‘What’s wrong? You’re not having doubts, are you?’
‘Aye, some. I’m not used to doing sommat on the spur of the moment, and I’m thinking as to whether I’ll catch her. As I told you, Hattie was planning to spend more of her time at the house that she has. What if she isn’t in Leeds?’
‘Well, leave a message with whoever’s there telling her to contact you as soon as she can to let you know when she’ll be in. You said she writes to you here, so that won’t be a problem for you. Look, lass, if you doesn’t go today – right now – you’ll never go. You’ve got money, so use some of it to further yourself. Think of your dream. Go on, lass.’
Issy wriggled her body along the step and stood up clumsily.
‘I’ll tell you what. I’ll come an’ all. It’ll give me an outing, and I can give this Hattie a once-over. Besides, I’ll be an excuse for you to use to Bert. You can say as you went with me to Leeds, as I had some things to do and didn’t feel up to going on me own. You could say as I paid train fare an’ all, so he’d have no questions.’
‘Oh, Issy, would you? Would you come?’
‘Aye, I would. Come on, shift yourself. I’ll just pop round Gertie’s and ask her and Jenny to look after babby and look out for young ’uns when they come in from their lessons.’
Megan rose and went towards her cottage. She could do this. She could really do this. And she prayed as she walked, Please, God, help me. Help me to take this step to get meself free.
30
A Path to the Future
Not two hours had passed since she’d sat on the step talking about it, and here Megan was, standing in front of Hattie’s house.
‘Well! This is sommat. I didn’t expect a place like this. I tell you, Megan, they says as we’re sitting on a fortune, and by ’eck they’re reet an’ all. Mind, I’ve sat on mine so long now that it’ll not be worth owt, but it gets you thinking, don’t it?’
Megan giggled and tucked her arm into Issy’s. ‘Aye, it does, but I wouldn’t swap with them – not even my life, I wouldn’t.’
Issy patted her hand. ‘No, lass, you’re right, neither would I.’
A young girl, who looked no older than fifteen or so, opened the door. ‘What do you want here?’
‘Is Hattie in? I’m a friend.’
The girl looked her up and down. ‘What’s your name, then?’
‘Tell Hattie as Megan’s here from Breckton. She’ll know me.’
The door shut.
‘Well! She were no more than a snip of a lass, but she had such a side to her. Surely lassies of that age aren’t working on the game, are they?’
‘No, I expect as that’s Sally. You know, the lass I told you about. Hattie wrote and said she’d found her.’
The door opened again. Hattie stood on the step looking down on them, and for the first time Megan noticed her appearance and how Hattie looked exactly as you’d expect a . . . She floundered in her thoughts. What was someone who did what Hattie did called? The answer came as a shock and had never entered her head before. Hattie was . . . a ‘madam’, and that’s exactly what she looked like, with her dark hair cut short, tightly curled to her face, and her figure squeezed into a red satin dress that showed almost all of her ample bust. Lashings of dark-red lipstick framed her even, white teeth and, as always, she wore long white gloves. For the second time that day Megan felt embarrassed.
‘Megan! Oh, Megan love, it’s wonderful to see you.’ Sweet-smelling perfume filled her nostrils as Hattie’s arms engulfed her. It felt good. The uncomfortable feelings she’d had lifted from her, and she hugged Hattie back with just as much enthusiasm, until Hattie held her at arm’s length and said, ‘Eeh, Megan, I’ve been worrying over you, and me worry hasn’t been without cause, by the look of you. You’ve took another beating, I see. Come on inside, then you can introduce me to your friend.’
As they followed Hattie into the hall, the door on the left seemed to take on huge proportions, filling Megan with fear. She hoped with all her heart it wouldn’t open to let out some man or other and a scantily dressed young woman seeing him off, as had happened on many of her visits here before. How Issy’d cope with that she couldn’t imagine, but fortunately it didn’t happen and they went through the opposite door on the right. As it closed behind them, some of the tension left her. Hattie motioned them towards the big comfy sofa. As she sat down, Megan told her, ‘I’m fine. The last time were a bit back. Things have been all right of late.’
Hattie sighed and shook her head. ‘Anyroad, that’s not all I were thinking on. How’s . . . ?’
‘Hattie, this is Issy.’
‘Issy! Well, what I haven’t heard of you wouldn’t be worth knowing of. I’m reet glad to meet you.’
A feeling of uncertainty came over Megan as she looked over at Issy. Issy’s expression was difficult to read. It wasn’t exactly disapproving, but neither was it one that said she was comfortable with where she found herself, as she nodded at Hattie and said, ‘Aye, well, I haven’t had knowledge of you afore today, so I can’t say the same, but lass here told me of you with a lot of love in her heart, so that bodes well. We came with a purpose, and that’s to try to sort Megan out.’
Megan held her breath, but she needn’t have worried. She supposed Hattie was used to all kinds of reactions from new folk she met, as she didn’t seem put out by this and just smiled at Issy. ‘Well, its reet good to see you both. Eeh, Megan, I hope “sort you out” means as you’re leaving that bastard and coming to stay with me?’
Megan’s giggling response held a nervous sound. She tried to cover it up by coughing whilst she shook her head. The atmosphere hadn’t eased at all, and Megan had another worry. She dreaded the moment that Hattie asked after Cissy. She’d not yet written to Hattie to let her know what had happened. The words were not something she ever wanted to write and, though she’d known she should have, she’d put it off. Now she wished with all her heart she had written.
‘Is there sommat wrong, Megan? You haven’t said yet how . . .’
‘That young ’un as answered door, were that Sally, Hattie?’
Hattie gave her a quizzical look. ‘Aye, it were.’
‘By, Hattie, you must be so happy to have her back.’
‘I am, Megan, I can’t say how much. It’s like me life’s complete. She’s on with wanting to stay, now she understands about how I tried to stop what happened, and how the plan I’d made to save her sister and others went wrong. She’s finally found some forgiveness within her and we’re on with getting on together. But it’s going to take time. She’s been through a lot, and for years she’s been told as it was all my doing by that spiteful Elsie. Thou knows, that sister of Susan’s as come and took over and Sally had to go with?’
‘Well, I didn’t meet her, but I knew she were causing you and Arthur a lot of problems with her interfering and her attitude, and I know as you were heartbroken to lose Sally to her.’
‘I were, and I were right about Elsie’s motives an’ all. She used Sally as a skivvy and didn’t feed her reet, and she filled her mind every day with how she were on with thinking as things were. She never even set Sally to her lessons! The poor lass can barely read and write. Anyroad, we’ve a long way to travel, but like I say, we’re heading in the right direction now.’
‘Can she remember . . . ?’
‘I think so. We haven’t talked about that part yet. It were so horrific for her. What he did to her and what took place after, with me being stabbed. Oh God! I feel so bad about it, Megan.’
‘You mustn’
t, love. You went through hell. Eeh, Hattie, I wished as you could get to a place where you can see that what Sally suffered weren’t your fault. It were that police officer. He took a risk with Sally, thou knows that.’
‘Maybe I will get there, if Sally does. Like I say, we’ve some way to go as yet. Now, tell me how Ciss is! Has babby been born? What did she have?’
The ominous silence suggested at what Megan couldn’t voice. ‘What’s wrong? Is Ciss not well? Oh God! No. Oh, I’m sorry. Oh, Issy, Megan . . .’
The moment she’d most dreaded was now upon them, and Megan didn’t know how it should go.
‘You knew me lass, I understand, Hattie?’
‘Aye, I did, Issy. She were a good friend to me when I most needed one. Tell me what happened. I take it as Ciss – well, is Ciss no longer with us?’
‘Oh, Hattie. I miss her. I haven’t thought reet since. I should have written.’
‘It’s all right, Megan love. Come on. Let it all out. Have a good cry. It’s the best thing. Oh, Issy, love.’
Megan recounted what had happened, her arm around Issy while she spoke. Issy sobbed throughout her telling, and Hattie sat on the other side of Issy, stroking her hair.
When she’d finished, Hattie said to Issy, ‘Ciss were a lovely lass. When I were thirteen and had just been taken down, I had nothing – not even the means of feeding meself – and Ciss sent over a half-crown for me. And that were without even having met me! That says a lot about someone, don’t it? And you have babby, and Sarah and Jack and Megan. You’ll be reet, love. You will.’
‘I know.’ Issy blew her nose, though it sounded more like she was blowing a foghorn. ‘It’s just that at the moment I can’t imagine things feeling any better. One minute I’m fine, and the next I’m like this.’
‘That’s how it will be, and it’s not a bad thing. You can’t bottle it up or you’ll be ill. I’ll go and sort a brew and some sandwiches out, eh? I bet you could do with sommat. You’ve been here all this while and I haven’t offered you even a drop of tea. I’ll not be a mo.’
