A Mother's Wish

by Dilly Court

  ‘Of course I believe you, Tom,’ Effie said, placing her arm around his shoulders and giving him a hug. ‘But if he can get about on his own the old man must have been having us on all this time.’

  ‘If he’s a cripple then I’m the Prince of Wales,’ Tom said with a rueful grin. ‘What are we going to do, Effie?’

  ‘We’ve no choice but to go on to Limehouse Basin. Mr Ellerman will be waiting for us and we’ve already stayed too long. Fetch Champion and we’ll cast off right away.’ Effie climbed on board, setting Georgie down on deck while she went to the bows to stow the mooring rope. She could hear the babble of voices and shouts of laughter emanating from the open pub door, but there was no sign of Toby. She knew she ought to thank him for saving Jacob but she was anxious to be away in case anyone had sent for a constable. Life, she thought, would have been much easier if Jacob had drowned in Limehouse Cut. She was immediately ashamed of having such wicked thoughts and a shout from Tom was a welcome distraction.

  ‘Ready to go, Effie.’

  ‘All right, Tom.’ She hurried along the deck to where Georgie was absorbed in trying to pick up a large cockroach that had found its way on board. She scooped him up in her arms and made her way to the stern, sitting him down with a warning not to move as she took the tiller.

  Soundlessly, gliding over the water like a swan, the Margaret moved on towards Limehouse Basin, leaving the Prince of Wales tavern far behind. So many memories were contained within its walls, but it was only now that Effie realised how carefree she had been in those days. She had worked hard from dawn to dusk but she had not minded that, and when Owen came onto the scene her life had changed forever. If only he had lived . . .

  Jacob’s head and shoulders appeared suddenly above the cabin roof like a malevolent jack-in-the-box. ‘You think you’re very clever, don’t you? But your plan didn’t work.’ He shook his fist at her. ‘Try something like that again and I’ll see both of you clapped in jail.’

  ‘You’re mad,’ Effie said, keeping her voice down so that she did not alarm Georgie. ‘You fell overboard. It was an accident.’

  ‘It’s my word against his, and who do you think would believe scum from the workhouse?’

  ‘Why are you being like this, Father-in-law? Haven’t I looked after you these past two years or more? I’ve waited on you hand and foot and worked the barge even when I was carrying Georgie.’

  ‘You’ve been fed and had a roof over your head, haven’t you? Well now it’s all going to change. I’ve hired a man to take your place and I don’t need you any more.’

  Effie stared at him in horror as the truth began to dawn on her. ‘You planned all this, didn’t you? You wanted Tom to be arrested for attempted murder and you were going to say that I put him up to it. Why, Father-in-law? Why would you do something so wrong and so cruel?’

  ‘Use your head, girl. I never wanted my boy to marry you. He should have chosen a boatman’s daughter, a girl born to the job instead of a puny little thing like you. I could’ve snapped you in two like a twig when I was in me prime, but now I’m lame I have to depend on a slip of a girl and a lazy lout of a boy.’

  ‘You never were crippled, were you? It was all an act.’

  ‘Shut your face. I don’t have to explain myself to you. When we get to Limehouse Basin you and the boy are leaving my boat. Ellerman has found me replacements for the pair of you, but the child stays.’

  ‘What?’ Effie’s throat constricted with fear. ‘No, you can’t mean that. I won’t leave Georgie with you.’

  ‘You’ve no choice, girl. Young Georgie is Owen’s son and the Margaret will be his when he’s a man. He’ll carry on the tradition and you can go to hell.’ Jacob disappeared as quickly as he had come.

  Effie clutched the tiller, unable to let it go for fear of running the boat into the canal bank, but with her free arm she reached down to pick up Georgie who had begun to cry, frightened by the sound of his grandfather’s raised voice. ‘There, there, darling. Mama’s here and she’s never going to leave you.’

  There was no stopping until they reached Limehouse Basin and Effie’s thoughts were in a whirl. She was still getting over the shock of discovering that her father-in-law had been exaggerating his infirmity and must have planned his apparent accident down to the last detail. She needed to talk to Tom and warn him about Jacob’s plan, but he was trudging on ahead, leading Champion along the towpath. She sat Georgie on the deck beside her, keeping an eye on him while she steered the boat. His face was still sticky with honey and he was smiling up at her with such love and trust that Effie felt her heart contract. If Jacob thought he could take her son from her then he was very much mistaken. There was nothing in the world that would persuade her to abandon her precious boy to his care. Nothing.

  Ellerman was waiting for them, pacing the wharf with a cheroot clenched between his teeth. As they approached, he took a silver watch from his waistcoat pocket, tapping his fingers on the case as if to underline the fact that they were late.

  Before Effie had a chance to explain or to warn Tom what was afoot, Jacob limped out of the cabin and leaning heavily on his cane he managed to climb ashore without too much difficulty. Effie could see the astonished expression on Tom’s face as he unhitched the horse but she was powerless to do anything until the narrowboat was secured and the unloading began. She had to keep Georgie well away from the activity on deck and she held him in her arms, watching Jacob and Ellerman who appeared to be deep in conversation.

  Moments later Ellerman and Jacob were joined by a brutish-looking man and a gaudily dressed woman with a mass of suspiciously red hair and equally unnatural scarlet lips. Effie strained her ears to hear what they were saying, but their words were lost in the general hubbub of the crowded dock basin. As soon as her path was clear, she climbed onto the wharf, holding Georgie in her arms. She saw Tom ambling towards them and she beckoned to him frantically. They must find out what devious plans Jacob had been hatching. She had not entirely believed his threats, but now she was not so certain.

  Ellerman tipped his greasy top hat as she approached. ‘Mrs Grey,’ he murmured, baring his lips in an oily smile. ‘And young Georgie too. What a fine boy he is, to be sure.’

  ‘Mr Ellerman. Good day to you, sir.’ Effie bobbed a curtsey, shooting a sideways glance at Jacob.

  ‘You won’t get anywhere by making up to Ellerman,’ Jacob snarled. ‘He knows all about you and your wicked ways.’

  ‘How can you say such a thing?’ Effie gasped.

  ‘She plays the innocent so well, don’t she?’ Jacob appealed to the man and woman who stood silently at his side. ‘You’d think that butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth, but she’s a vicious harridan and her devil of a brother tried to murder me. It’s a wonder I’m here to tell the tale.’

  ‘Who are these people?’ Effie demanded. ‘What is going on, Father-in-law? Why are you telling all these lies?’

  ‘What’s going on, Effie?’ Breathless and panting from running the last hundred yards, Tom pushed past Jacob to stand at his sister’s side. ‘What has the old bugger said?’

  Ellerman took the cheroot from his mouth and ground it beneath the heel of his boot. ‘I see what you mean, Jacob. You will be well rid of the pair of them.’

  ‘Shall us go aboard now, guv?’ The unpleasant stranger, who had been silent until now, touched his forelock with an ingratiating smile. ‘The missis would no doubt like to get settled and put the pot on for our supper.’

  ‘Yes, by all means, Salter,’ Jacob said, slanting a sly look at Effie. ‘I’ll look forward to eating proper food again after two years of pigswill.’

  ‘You take that back,’ Tom cried, fisting his hand. ‘You shan’t say things like that about my sister. Effie’s a blooming good cook and I never heard you complain when you was stuffing vittles down your ugly old throat.’

  Effie laid her hand on Tom’s shoulder. ‘Don’t, Tom. It won’t do any good.’

  ‘That’s what I’ve had to put up w
ith,’ Jacob said, casting his eyes up to heaven. ‘Please make yourselves at home, Mr and Mrs Salter. The bunk by the stove is mine, but you can choose where you will sleep. It’s cramped, but cosy.’

  ‘We’re born and bred to the canal life, guv. It was sheer misfortune what led us to lose our snug little craft. We was cheated out of it, but that’s a long story and will keep for another time.’ Salter doffed his cap to Ellerman before boarding the narrowboat.

  Mrs Salter held her arms out to Georgie. ‘Let me take you, young master. Old Sal will look after you just like a mother.’

  Effie clutched Georgie even tighter as she backed away from Sal’s outstretched hands. ‘Leave my son alone. He has a mother and you shan’t touch him.’

  ‘Come come now, Mrs Grey,’ Ellerman said, clearing his throat. ‘Don’t make a scene. You know it’s for the best. Young Georgie will be cared for by Mrs Salter as if he were her own child. She comes highly recommended and you will not be in a position to look after the young fellow.’

  ‘You won’t take my baby, Father-in-law,’ Effie cried. ‘I would die rather than give Georgie to your care.’

  ‘Shall I hit him, Effie?’ Tom demanded, dancing about on his toes like a bare-knuckle fighter.

  ‘Call a constable, Ellerman,’ Jacob said, curling his lip. ‘I want the young hooligan arrested for attempted murder and grievous bodily harm.’

  ‘Give us the child, missis,’ Sal urged. ‘Don’t let the boy witness such a spectacle.’

  ‘Get away from me,’ Effie screamed, rocking Georgie in her arms as he began to wail. ‘Leave us alone. You shan’t take my son from me.’

  Jacob took a step towards her, his eyes narrowed to slits. ‘The law is on my side, I think you’ll find. I’m the head of the family and George is my grandson. Any court of law would agree that I am his legal guardian. You are just a woman and one of doubtful character to boot. There isn’t a magistrate in the land who would grant custody to you.’

  Effie howled with rage as Sal attempted to snatch Georgie from her arms and she backed away, looking desperately for a means of escape.

  Ellerman laid his hand on Jacob’s shoulder. ‘We don’t want a scene, Jacob. It’s bad for business, particularly with a young child involved.’ He glanced anxiously over his shoulder at the dockers and carters who had stopped work and were advancing on them with grim-faced determination.

  ‘Very well,’ Jacob snapped. ‘Effie can come back on board and look after the baby, but the boy will never set foot on my boat again.’

  Effie stared at her father-in-law aghast as his words sank into her confused brain. ‘What do you mean? You can’t turn Tom away. He’s just a boy.’

  ‘He was old enough to try to kill me. I’m being more than generous in giving him a second chance.’ With a swift movement, Jacob caught Tom a hefty clout round the ear that sent him tumbling to the ground. ‘Get out of my sight this instant or I’ll send for a constable and have you arrested. Show your face on my boat and the same is true.’

  Tom scrambled to his feet, holding his hand to his ear. His brown eyes swam with tears and his bottom lip trembled. ‘Effie? What shall I do?’

  Effie threw her free arm around him and they clung together. Her tears mingled with his and Georgie sobbed inconsolably against her shoulder. ‘Best do as he says,’ she whispered in Tom’s good ear. ‘Go to the tavern and see if you can find Toby. He’ll look after you until I can think of a way out of this mess.’

  ‘But, Effie, you can’t live on board with those people,’ Tom said, hiccuping on a sob. ‘Come with me, please.’

  She shook her head. ‘I can’t leave Georgie, you must understand that. We’ve no money and no one is going to take all of us in. I’ll find a way, Tom. I swear on our mother’s grave that it won’t be too long before we’re together again.’

  ‘I’m counting to twenty,’ Jacob said as if he were enjoying every moment of their agony. ‘One, two . . .’

  Tom pulled away from Effie’s embrace, drawing himself up to his full height. ‘I ain’t afraid of you, old man. You couldn’t count to twenty if your breeches was on fire.’ He kissed Effie on the cheek and gave Georgie a tender hug. ‘Look after your ma, young ’un. I’ll see you again soon.’

  Effie watched her brother walk away with a rebellious shrug of his shoulders and a defiant swagger. She could only guess at what effort this show of bravado must be costing him and her heart swelled with pride. ‘Don’t worry, Tom,’ she called after him. ‘We’ll be together again before you know it.’

  ‘You’ll never see him again,’ Jacob said, smirking. ‘You will stay with me and look after my grandson until I think he is able to do without you. If you make any attempt to take the boy from me I’ll set the police on your brother and I’ll see that he hangs. Do you understand me, Effie Grey?’

  Effie blinked away her tears, meeting Jacob’s derisive grin with a toss of her head. ‘Think of your son, Father-in-law. What would Owen say if he could see the way you are treating me?’

  Jacob raised his hand as if to slap Effie’s face, but this time Ellerman intervened, catching Jacob by the wrist. ‘Hold hard there, Jacob. I wouldn’t advise you to strike a woman holding a child.’ He jerked his head in the direction of their audience of tough-looking men. ‘They might be brutes but we don’t want to antagonise them any further. I think you had better take your family problems elsewhere. The gin distillers wouldn’t take kindly to a public scandal, if you get my meaning. If you wish to continue doing business with us, then you’d better take heed, my good fellow.’

  Jacob allowed his arm to fall to his side. ‘You’re right, Ellerman, and she isn’t worth the trouble. Get on board, woman, and make yourself useful, but take this as a warning – one word out of you and Salter will toss you in the river.’

  Unable to control the tears that coursed down her cheeks, Effie climbed on board the Margaret. Georgie was sobbing quietly against her shoulder and his small fingers clutched strands of her hair as she stood on deck, staring after Tom until he disappeared into the distance. She felt a sharp pain in her chest as though her heart had cracked and broken. Tom might be thirteen, but the harsh upbringing in the workhouse had stunted his growth and he was small for his age. She felt that she had failed him and now he was all alone in a world where everyday survival was a struggle for the poor. She could only hope that he would find Toby. Effie knew little of the Romany way of life other than the tales that Toby had told her when he used to frequent the Prince of Wales tavern, but she had learned that they looked after their own and were good to their young. She prayed silently that Toby would treat Tom like a brother.

  ‘Go below, missis,’ Salter said gruffly. ‘Behave yourself and no harm will come to you or the boy. Cross me and you’ll be sorry.’

  Reluctantly, Effie did as he said. She entered the cabin to find Sal Salter sitting with her feet up. She had a clay pipe clenched in her teeth and puffs of smoke issued from her lips, curling up to the planked ceiling to merge with the steam from the kettle. ‘Put the kid down and make us a pot of tea,’ Sal said without removing the pipe from her mouth. ‘And while you’r eat it you can make us something to eat. I’m bloody starving and me old man turns nasty if he don’t get fed. There’s a fresh loaf, cheese and a pound of butter in me basket. Jacob told me that you spent his money on yourself and half starved the poor old sod.’

  ‘That’s a wicked lie,’ Effie said angrily. ‘And I’m not your servant. I thought you were supposed to be the cook.’

  ‘Well you thought wrong, ducks. I ain’t going to lift a finger. You’ll do the work and I’ll watch.’

  ‘You won’t get away with this. Mr Grey won’t pay you to sit around doing nothing.’

  ‘I’m here to look after the boy, and I know how to handle men like Jacob.’

  ‘You’ll leave my son alone,’ Effie hissed, snatching up a meat cleaver. ‘I’ll cook and I’ll clean if I must, but you lay a finger on Georgie and you’ll have me to deal with.’

 
Sal threw back her head and laughed, exposing a single tooth and an expanse of bare gums. ‘We’ll soon knock the spirit out of you, missis. Now get on with making that tea, and I have a fancy for bread and cheese with a couple of pickled onions.’

  With Georgie clinging to her skirts, Effie made the tea, cut and buttered bread and sliced cheese, all of which Sal demolished in the blink of an eye and demanded more. Effie waited grimly for Jacob to return to the cabin, expecting him to erupt with rage when he saw Sal Salter sitting in his place, stuffing his food into her greedy mouth. But when he did put in an appearance he seemed to find Sal’s antics more amusing than annoying and he slumped down on the seat beside her, placing his hand on her thigh with a throaty chuckle.

  ‘I think we’re going to get along passably well, Sal, me old duck.’

  Sal fluttered her sandy eyelashes. ‘No doubt about it, me old cock.’ She took the pipe from her mouth and offered it to him. ‘Want a puff, love?’

  Effie could hardly believe her eyes when Jacob took the pipe and sucked hard on the clay stem. ‘Good baccy, Sal. My old woman wouldn’t let me smoke in the cabin.’

  Sal nudged him in the ribs, chuckling. ‘Well she ain’t here to spoil our fun, guvner, so we can do what we likes.’

  Jacob glared at Effie as he relinquished the pipe. ‘What are you staring at, girl? Get out on deck and take the tiller. Salter has gone to fetch the old nag and we need to be on our way.’

  Effie had to resist the temptation to fling the teapot at him, but somehow she held on to her temper. ‘Is that how it’s going to be then, Father-in-law? Are you going to let her do as she pleases while I do the work?’

  ‘She ain’t so stupid as she looks,’ Sal wheezed, squinting at Effie through a pall of tobacco smoke.

  ‘You chose to stay,’ Jacob said with a humourless smile. ‘But you’ll abide by my rules. You’ll eat and sleep on deck and you’ll do everything that the Salters ask of you. And don’t think you can slip away in the dead of night because if you do I’ll have the law on you and that worthless brother of yours. The boy sleeps in here with us. Do you understand?’