The Girl From Pit Lane

by Gracie Hart

  ‘You mean I’ll be sharing a room with everyone else, that I’ll have to dress and do my ablutions in front of everyone!’ Mary-Anne exclaimed.

  ‘That you will, but don’t be worrying … no one will take a bit of notice, because everyone’s the same. You’ve got to think of the life you are going to, a new one full of hope. If I could have afforded us to be in a better class, I’d have booked it, but as it was it cost me twelve guineas, which includes the bread, potatoes and ships biscuits that they’ll give us to live on, so we can’t complain. And to be sure, we will have the trip of a lifetime together.’ John looked at the worry on her face. ‘It’ll be fine, my love, and when we reach New York, I’ll introduce you to my brother and his family. He’s got a job for me already, building, and he says we can live with him until we find somewhere we can afford.’

  Mary-Anne listened to all the plans that John had made for their lives together and realised just how much trust she was placing in the man next to her side. Had she done right? Should she have gone with him? She could be safe and sound next to the kitchen fire of number one Pit Lane with baby Victoria on her knee and Eliza making their supper. Instead she was going to be tossed to within an inch of her life on the great waves of the Atlantic for at least thirty-five days with a man she now realised that could be telling her anything.

  Deep down inside she felt an unease at the thought of her baby being brought up with Eliza. She should have stayed, not been selfish and abandoned her one commitment in life. She breathed in deeply, closed her eyes and pictured her daughter content and asleep in her home-made cot. It wasn’t too late to go home, she thought, as they coursed along the quayside.

  John came to a halt as they reached the ship called the Speedwell. It was thronged with sailors loading supplies and passengers going up and down the gangway, with cases, hatboxes and their worldly belongings. Sailors were getting ready the sails and singing a shanty as they hauled on the huge ropes that unfurled them.

  ‘Well, this is us. This is what we will be on for over the next month. If you’ve decided different, now is the time to tell me. I’d have to leave you here, mind, because I’m away with you or without you.’ John had sensed her trepidation as he’d told her about their voyage and he could see fear in her eyes. ‘I’ve something here in my pocket that might change your mind; I thought if we travelled as a married couple, you would feel better about the journey. We can always get wed properly once we are in New York.’ John reached into his pocket and pulled a thin band of gold from within it. ‘It was my mother’s, she’d have wanted you to have it, God rest her soul.’ He reached out for Mary-Anne’s left hand and slipped the wedding ring onto her finger. ‘Now, in my eyes, you are Mrs Vasey, who I love with all my heart and I’m hoping that you will join me aboard this good ship to our new life, so that we can make it legally binding.’ John watched as Mary-Anne looked at the ring on her finger and then looked at the crowd and the ship awaiting them. He held his breath and just hoped that had swayed her enough after a moment or two of doubt.

  ‘You are asking me to marry you? Here, now, with this ring on my finger?’ Mary-Anne looked at John.

  ‘That I am, lass. I promised your Eliza that I would do right by you and as soon as we dock in New York, I’ll see to it that we get wed properly.’

  ‘You are not saying it just to get me on this ship are you? You do mean it?’ Mary-Anne’s eyes filled with tears.

  ‘Why would I come back for you and buy a ticket for your passage if I didn’t love you and want to marry you? Now, Mrs Vasey, give me your arm and let us get ourselves settled as the respectable couple we are. Sure, you’d think I’d asked you to shoot yourself, with that look on your face.’ John laughed and noticed a smile spreading amongst the tears and doubt.

  ‘I didn’t expect you to propose so soon. And should we really act as man and wife? Surely it’s sinful.’ Mary-Anne looked at John and smiled.

  ‘What other folk don’t know won’t harm them and you are travelling as Mrs John Vasey on your ticket, so no one will know otherwise.’ John showed Mary-Anne her boarding ticket and smiled. ‘You see, I knew you’d come with me. Besides, we can get to know one another a little better, with you lying down by my side of a night.’

  ‘You take an awful lot for granted, John Vasey. But doesn’t this ring look bonny on my finger? I’ll come with you, aye, and I’ll marry you, but on one condition, that you let me return in the next five years for my daughter.’ Mary-Anne thought about the baby she’d left behind and tried to reassure herself that she would one day return – not just for her, but also to seek revenge on Edmund Ellershaw for the misery he had brought to her and her family.

  ‘You can come back for your Victoria, once we have a roof over our heads and some money in the bank and that won’t take long. There’s enough work out there to make men millionaires and other ways to make money besides. Come, let’s be away, and get a good bunk together in our floating home.’ John pulled on her hand and grinned.

  Mary-Anne looked around her at the people not thinking twice about boarding the ship, eager to make a new life for themselves. She looked down at the ring of gold on her finger before lifting her carpetbag up. ‘To a new life,’ she said as she walked up the gangplank. But deep down she thought about her daughter left behind and her beloved devoted sister.

  ‘Too right, Mrs Vasey, one with no worries,’ John said as she climbed on board. ‘This is just the beginning … who knows where it will end.’

  Mary-Anne stood on the deck and looked around her. She was going to America with the man she loved. Her thoughts veered between regret and the excitement of her new life in front of her. She’d not be sorry to see the back of her little world with the filth and poverty upon the streets of Leeds. No, she’d no regrets. America and John were calling her, and that was where she was bound, whether she could return or not time would tell. She fought tears back as John kissed her on her cheek and breathed in deeply. She had to go, even though deep down her heart was breaking.

  Thirty Six

  Eliza looked down at baby Victoria. She was a contented child now, only waking for her feeds, and it was as if she had sensed that her mother had secretly despised her being born, despite the love she had tried to give her.

  ‘Well, your mother will have sailed by now. We’ll not be seeing her for a while. We are truly on our own, young lady.’ Eliza sighed. She had laid awake of a night, staring up at the crack that ran along her bedroom ceiling, wondering if she had done right by offering to bring up her sister’s child.

  Now that she was on her own, she was frightened. She’d no man to support her and even the neighbours wanted to have nothing to do with her. She managed to smile as she noticed the baby’s lips turn upwards and into a cupid’s bow as she dreamt. Her skin had turned into beautiful blushed ivory and she looked the picture of health; truly there was not a bonnier baby for miles around, Eliza thought as she watched her sleep. She left her asleep and went to wash her bottle out, glancing at the calendar that hung on the wall next to the sink.

  It was finally Tuesday, the seventh of September – the day Queen Victoria was due to visit Leeds, the day all those months ago that Tom, John, Mary-Anne and herself were going to go into Leeds and see her declare the town hall open. That seemed a lifetime ago now; so much had happened. She looked up at the clock. It was early, only six thirty in the morning. If she re-filled the bottle and wrapped baby Victoria up, she could walk into Leeds and maybe catch a glimpse of the royal party she had set her heart on seeing for so long.

  She looked out of the window; the day promised to keep fine by the looks of it. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky, even though there was a hint of the coming autumn with a smell of mustiness in the air, she thought as she opened the back kitchen door and breathed in deeply. She could also call and see Ma Fletcher, see what she had and tell her that she’d be down to see her the following week and explain that Mary-Anne had gone to make a new life with John Vasey in America. She’d show her the
baby and tell her that she was entrusted with its care until Mary-Anne returned.

  Yes, that’s what she’d do. It was time to introduce the baby out into the world and what better time than for her to see her namesake Victoria, the queen of England, whom she would never get to see again, unless she was extremely lucky. Eliza looked around her and for the first time in near a fortnight she felt happy. She’d wrap baby Victoria up and go to watch the parade as she had wanted to do. It was time the outside world knew of her birth and on what better day could she announce it.

  ‘Well, look at this’en. Is she yours, Eliza?’ Ma Fletcher pulled back the shawl that baby Victoria was tightly wrapped in.

  ‘No, she’s our Mary-Anne’s, but she couldn’t take her with her. John and Mary-Anne have gone to America and want to get settled there before she’s sent for.’ Eliza held the child tight; the crowds of people buffeted her as they crowded up Briggate awaiting the arrival of the queen.

  ‘So, it’s Mary-Anne’s, is it? I thought she was in the family way last time I saw her, and the time before that she was as sick as a dog. The smell never usually bothers her, so I thought then what the story was. She’s buggered off to America, has she, and left you holding the baby? A fine thing for her to do. That John Vasey wants to keep it in his pocket, until he can look after the consequences.’

  ‘It’s not …’ Eliza was about to say that it wasn’t John Vasey’s but was stopped in her tracks as there was a surge in the crowd as there was rumours that the queen was on her way.

  ‘Here, come behind my cart. You’ll be safer. Leeds is no place for a baby today. When she comes nearer, we can stand on it and watch her. They tried to move me from my pitch, but I wasn’t having any off it. I’ve moved to the side as it is. What more do they want? These bloody officials … they’ll be getting paid for today, so why shouldn’t I make a living when there’s all these folk in Leeds for once.’ Ma Fletcher pushed and made room for Eliza to join her in the relative safety that there was between her cart full of rags and the wall of the printer’s shop, while the crowds jostled for what space they could get into to watch the procession that was to sweep along Woodhouse Lane, down Upperhead Row and down Briggate, eventually reaching East Parade and the town hall.

  ‘Here, you get on the cart, lass. Pass me the baby and then we’ll both stand on it and watch. We’ll have one of the best viewing spots above the heads of this lot.’ Ma Fletcher held the baby as Eliza hoisted up her skirts and climbed onto the cart, holding her hands out for baby Victoria to be passed to her, and then the elderly woman clambered up beside her.

  ‘Bloody hell, just look at it!’ Eliza gasped, holding the baby tightly to her as the crowd jeered and made their noise. ‘Look, old Appleby at the florists has littered the street with flowers, silly old fool – they’ll only get trampled on. Just look at the flags and banners … they must be hanging from every rooftop.’

  ‘Half of this lot was here yesterday as well. The queen stopped at Woodsley House last night from what I understand. I have never seen or heard as many people in my life. Hold on to that baby, Eliza. Bless her, she’s not got a clue what’s happening around her.’ Ma Fletcher linked arms with Eliza as they stood on the cart together. Holding one another steady, Eliza keeping baby Victoria safe as she looked around at the wonderful sights of the red, white and blue of the Union Jack being waved and the crowds singing of the National Anthem. Caps and handkerchiefs were waved as the royal procession appeared from off Upperhead Row and made their way down Briggate and the crowd surged and cheered loudly as the carriages containing Queen Victoria, the Prince Consort and Princesses Helena and Alice made their way down the crowded high street. The royal carriages, decked in gold, shone and sparkled in the early autumn light, and Eliza stood entranced as if watching a fairy tale unfold.

  ‘Isn’t she beautiful? Just look at the dresses.’ Eliza gasped as the queen waved at her subjects. ‘She’s got the most beautiful mauve dress on and I wish I could see the embroidery work more clearly on her mantle. Although the dress isn’t as large as some of the ones worn in the crowd.’

  ‘You hold on to that baby. The queen’s nearly drawn level with us now and she’s bound to see us as we are a good head and shoulders above this mob below.’ Ma Fletcher yelled and waved her hanky, hoping to catch her majesty’s eye.

  ‘She’s seen us, she’s seen us! Look, and she’s waving our way!’ Eliza shouted excitedly, wishing that she hadn’t got a baby in her arms so that she could wave back. ‘Look, baby Victoria, your namesake is waving at us! You truly are special.’

  The queen smiled and waved directly at Eliza and Ma Fletcher, and the princesses and Prince Albert pointed and waved at the couple holding a baby way above the crowds, smiling in the autumn sunshine, amazed by the reception of the good folk of Leeds.

  ‘Aye, lass, she’ll be special. All babies are. I knew that they’d spot us up here. And the queen loves her babies – she’s had enough of ’em herself. You hold on to her; we’ll climb back down as the crowds follow the parade. I bet there are nearly millions of folk gathered around the town hall. They’ve erected a huge triumphal arch decorated with loyal inscriptions and flowers, the like of which I’ve never seen before or never will again in my lifetime.’

  ‘Prince Albert looked so handsome and the princesses’ dresses of green and white were beautiful.’ Eliza watched as the coach of the royal party and all the following dignitaries made their way down Briggate and then on to Wellington Street, the crowd being held back by the local force and that of the Metropolitan police in order to control them.

  ‘Aye, but if they can’t dress well, then who can? She’s not exactly short of a bob or two.’ Ma Fletcher got down on her knees and gently lowered herself back down onto the cobbled streets of Briggate and held her arms out for the baby again. ‘Bless her, she’s slept through all that racket and tossing. You must know you’ve got to be good for your Aunt Eliza. How your mother could bugger off to America and leave you, I don’t know.’

  Eliza passed Victoria back into safe hands and then climbed down besides the old woman. ‘I can’t buy anything off you today as I’ve got to walk back with this one in my arms. But I’ll manage another day.’

  ‘Well, I’ve nowt worth anything to you anyway today. But I was going to suggest that my old man knocks around Woodlesford once a fortnight; it’ll not be out of his way to drop you a bag of assortments off when he’s your way. It’ll save you walking the canal with the baby.’ Ma Fletcher looked at the young lass and her ward – they were going to need all the help they could get. ‘Just sort through it and pay him for what you want and if you want tick, we can come to some arrangement, seeing Mary-Anne’s not here to help you anymore.’

  ‘That would be a real help, because I’ll have to get back to mending and re-selling clothes, just to make ends meet.’ Eliza was thankful for the old woman’s suggestion.

  ‘Aye, well, I’m always here if you want me.’ She looked at Eliza and remembered when her mother had visited her with either Mary-Anne or herself in her arms and it seemed like only yesterday.

  ‘The crowd’s thinning.’ Eliza looked around her and at the baby that was just beginning to stir.

  ‘Aye, they’ll be following her or away home. All that fuss for one woman and a second’s glance of her.’ Ma Fletcher looked around Briggate at the flags flying and the festoons and wreaths hanging from the windows. ‘Come next week it will all be back to normal. The tannery will be stinking, there will be pickpockets doing their usual rounds and they’ll be complaining on how much brass they’ve spent on her visiting our great city, for the opening of a town hall that folks are already complaining about, saying that it’s too bare.’ Ma Fletcher sighed and rearranged her cart.

  ‘I’m going to go. The baby will need a feed and I’ve a bottle to give her once I’m out of Leeds and following the canal back towards Woodlesford.’ Eliza felt in her pocket for the bottle of milk that she had placed within.

  ‘Aye, lass. Well, yo
u take care. That baby will need you and my old man will pass by shortly.’ Ma Fletcher looked at the young woman with her worries.

  ‘I will, and thank you for making my life a bit easier.’ Eliza smiled and then made her way through the dwindling crowds down to the Calls and along the canal dockside where she and Mary-Anne had walked so many times before, making her way with baby Victoria who was beginning to cry and wail in her arms.

  ‘Shush now, I’m just going to walk a bit further and then you’ll be fed.’ She pulled the shawl away from the baby and placed her finger into its mouth to quieten the demanding baby for a second or two. ‘There now, we’ll sit just here. This is where your mother and I used to sit and talk about what we hoped to buy before we entered Leeds.’ Eliza sat down on a stone slab that had been left on the side of the towpath from when the canal had been first built, and placed the angry baby on her lap to feed on the bottle of milk that she’d carried with her. ‘There now. Yes, I know it’s not warm, just for this once, but you’ll drink it if you are hungry.’ She watched as the tiny mite showed her disgust in the milk not being warm, then realising it was better than nothing as she started to suck greedily.

  ‘So this is the baby we’ve been hearing!’ Ada Simms exclaimed as she and Bert came upon Eliza and her baby at the side of the canal as they walked home from seeing the queen. ‘You’ve kept that quiet. We didn’t suspect a thing.’

  ‘Ada, watch that tongue of yours. It’s nowt to do with us.’ Bert stood by the side of his wife and looked at the young lass with the baby that they had heard but never seen.

  ‘If you will have your fun, this is what becomes of women like you.’ Ada looked down her nose at Eliza.

  ‘It’s not mine. It’s Mary-Anne’s. And she’s in my care until she returns for her from America.’ Eliza looked up at the old nosy couple and resigned herself not to argue with them. ‘She’s gone there to get married and make a life with John Vasey, leaving me to look after her baby until they are settled.’