But through the night she had night terrors, with flashes of images that she could not understand. She saw herself on a stage and in costume with makeup on her face that was quite layered on, more than she would wear as a woman anywhere. She would be in a lavish gown and talking to another woman on stage that laughed at her.
Then it would change and she would be sitting at a very elegant dinner with fine ladies and gentlemen having conversation. She could not make any sense of these images for she had never attended such a dinner. What would a woman that worked and lived at a workhouse do in such a place? They would never allow her in the door of a fine house or establishment.
But these night terrors continued night after night, as though her mind was trying to regain control of something that she could not understand. During the day she tried very hard to regain her memory. She would wake up very early and sit in her bed with her eyes closed, forcing her mind to search for information about her past. She could not remember anything before the fall that she took inside the factory. Then at night she would take ten minutes to try to regain her memories before going to sleep, but it was not working.
Then when the day came to do laundry, she pulled the sheets off of her mattress and something fell out from underneath it. It was a folded piece of paper. She opened it and read it. It was a letter in her own hand, written to someone named Katrina who lived at Brentwood Manor. Adeline could not recollect anyone of that name or that place. But she must know because she had written the letter she knew her own hand from anything.
She tried very hard to remember who Katrina was. Why did she write this letter? There was no address on the outside for it to be sent. Was it just something that she wrote a long time ago and had it as a keepsake? She did not know and she hoped that reading it would help her to remember the very next day, but it did not. As the days went on her mind grew foggy, as though she was losing memories by the day.
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Adeline wiped the sweat from her brow with the long sleeve of her dress. The machine parts continued to come down the row. Her position in the assembly line of work was positioned in the middle of the line with people at her side very close, which made the air feel hotter.
She held the part in her hand and screwed in the bolt that needed to be added as quick as she could. Then she handed it off to the next person to her side, Ginny. Ginny would then add another bolt on the other side and hand it off to the next person down the line. Each had their own particular job on the part of the machine.
Because of the rapid pace that was required, there was no time at all for her to look up from the work, or to stretch or shake out her fingers even for a second. Standing in this position for hours and hours was quite tiring indeed, but she knew the alternative was sleeping in a barn with horses. It would just be for a few more weeks and then she would be paid the wage at the end of thirty days, to which she could then send a letter to Katrina.
That thought kept her going, working harder and harder. This is not your life Adeline, it is merely a stop in your life needed to get you somewhere.
“Adeline, I have had enough of your slow work! Come into my office!" Mr Hudson shouted at Adeline from down the aisle. She was shocked because it seemed to come out of nowhere. He was not watching her work closely. “You there fill in for her!” he said to Ginny.
“Yes, sir,” Ginny said.
“I am sorry Ginny,” Adeline whispered to her, for they both understood that he was a vile man, one that constantly picked on Adeline.
“Yes Mr Hudson!" Adeline said. “I’m coming!”
She walked down the aisle and continued until she came to the end. He pointed toward his office and then turned on his heel. She followed him through the large factory, and then into his office and he closed the door.
“What am I going to do with you girl? Your work is slow, slower than the rest. This is a tight ship that I run and you are a weak link in the chain of that assembly line.”
“I do my best sir. I do not see that I have fallen behind. I keep up with the others. Once a part is handed to me I do the work and hand it off before another is handed to me, I do not see why you think that I am slow."
He slammed his fist on the desk. “How dare you talk back to me girl! You will listen, and you will speak when I give you permission to. If you do not speed up the work I will garnish your wages. You have been here long enough that you should be doing triple the amount of output that you do now.”
“Please do not garnish my wages. My mind has not been what it normally is. Ever since I fainted I have trouble remembering things, some memories are lost complete."
“You have trouble remembering? You do not remember things."
Adeline shook her head no. Then the look in Mr Hudson's eyes changed. He narrowed his eyes at her, and a glazed came over them. Suddenly he was looking at her body up and down, allowing his eyes to leisurely take in every inch of her. She knew that look. She did not know where she knew it from but she knew that she had seen it before and it was not good. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as indeed she felt that she was in danger.
“I should get back to the floor so that I can continue to work. I do not want to fall behind."
“No. I will say when you are dismissed. If you did not want me to garnish your wages, perhaps we can reach an agreement."
“Agreement? What agreement?"
Hudson moved out from behind his desk, moving toward her. Adeline took a step back, and then another and another until her back was flesh against the wall. She shrunk, feeling very vulnerable and powerless. This man held all the power as he could fire her and she did not want that to happen. She would much rather work at the factory and earn a wage instead of living at the workhouse in paying for room and board buy scrubbing and cleaning the workhouse which was quite foul.
“I think you know what kind of arrangement I am talking about." He put his hand on her arm and began to rub it up and down. Then quickly he pushed his face into her neck and pressed his lips against her skin. She felt her skin crawl with disgust. She was not going to have this no matter what and in a rash reaction she picked up her knee and kicked the man right in his manly parts.
Hudson doubled over, grabbing himself while he shouted every curse word available. Adeline took this time to run out of his office and back out onto the floor. She was not going to stay to apologise or to give him another chance to assault her. Tears ran down her face as she made her way back to the floor. As soon as she was in the safety of everyone's eyes she stopped and tried to catch her breath though the toxic fumes made it very hard to do so.
After catching her breath, Adeline took her spot back in the assembly line and begin to work. But a few moments later, Hudson appeared on the floor. She thought that she would escape before he was healed because it was only minutes before the bell would ring to dismiss them for the day.
“Arthur!” he shouted to one of the workers who worked directly beneath him and helped manage factory. He shouted his name over and over while he walked directly toward Adeline. Her heart beat faster and faster, looking at him as he focused on her with death in his eyes.
“Yes Mr Hudson, sir.”
“You see this woman here Adeline. When the bell rings you will go with her to the workhouse. She has been fired for misconduct from the factory. And because of that she will be kicked out of the workhouse as well. Make sure you go with her escort her to the workhouse and see that this is done."
“Fired? But I did nothing to...” Adeline said.
“Do not talk back girl. I have had enough of you.”
The bell rang and all were dismissed. Arthur stood next to her ready to escort her.
Ginny was at her side. “Come Adeline, I will walk with you. What happened? This must be worked out."
“Let's go, miss, you heard the master." Arthur nudged her forward.
Together, Adeline and Ginny walked out of the factory and down t
he street toward the workhouse.
“Twas not my fault; he threw himself at me and I defended myself. For that I am fired." Adeline said.
“No, that is not right. Though I have heard many stories exactly like that one from young pretty girls like you that work in the factory. They have all been fired, and those that have not are the ones that gave in to his demands. Good for you for not doing that, he is such a snake. It will all be all right. Perhaps they will keep you on at the workhouse for a few days so that you can figure out something."
“I hope that you are right. I am quite panicked and concerned. Do you think I will get my wages? It is only a few days before I complete my first month at the factory. I have no money until then."
“That is yet to be seen Adeline. Come, let's go inside." She said.
“Hurry up and gather your things you rotten child!” the woman shouted at her.
“My wages? It is not the end of the month and I have not been paid my wages.”
The woman laughed. “And you will not be paid those wages. Those wages go to the workhouse for housing and feeding you. You think that comes free? Now hurry.”
“But just a few pence please. I have earned it.”
“You have one minute to get your things and change out of that uniform or we will throw you onto the street naked without your things. What it be then, Miss?”
Adeline fought back tears as she quickly walked down the aisle of beds with Ginny at her side to gather her things.
“This ain’t right, Miss Adeline. That rat threw himself upon you and should be he that punished. It not be you who is in fault here.”
“I know. Where shall I go now?
“My poor child,” Ginny said.
“Thank you for your friendship, Ginny,” Adeline changed out of her uniform and put on her brown dress.
“If I had any say in anything deary, I would see that your place is here in this workhouse for as long as you like, but that is not up to me.”
“I know, but thank you for thinking it. But I am without roof over my head once more? I do not know where to go.”
“I know of a place, but you must keep this information to yourself. It is a place I have heard of and might be a place to go.”
“Hurry up girl!” the woman shouted.
Adeline grabbed the letter from under her mattress and folded it into her boots. “I am listening.”
“It is but a name, a Mrs Hannah Wilcox in the Whitechapel borough. She is said to run a workhouse that be only women. You must find out where she be and beg for a place there. It might take days of begging but I have heard good things for those that get a place there, not a slum like this, and with wages too in a textile factory. You need not stay forever like this prison, folks there can leave as they please. Until you can get yourself sorted out.”
“Thank you Ginny. I am grateful for this news of course.”
“I wish me could do more love,” Ginny pulled her in for a long embrace.
“Now if you don’t come here right this minute your friend there will be on the street too!” the woman shouted.
“Coming! Coming.” Adeline pulled away from Ginny and walked toward the doorway.
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William Dawson could not relieve his mind of the thoughts that plagued him greatly, the thought of fire. Knowing Adeline could have perished in such a horrid way had made him feel the most anger and rage that had ever inhabited his body.
For he was a man of genteel demeanor and those that came upon him thought he was a very agreeable man with an agreeable temper that often held any emotion that other men might feel the need to explode. Therefore it would have astonished his nearest relations to see him the current manner he displayed.
William rode hard and fast down the cobblestone streets of Mayfair. His horse raced along with him on horseback as though they themselves ran from a raging fire. But William knew that he could not outrun the true fire in his heart, though it did not stop him from trying.
Indeed he rode so fast that the gentry turned to look at him as they strolled along, for his stride was very urgent. Parasols were set aside by women so that they could get a better look at the gentleman that travelled with such vigor to dare disturb the peace of their borough.
William pulled the reins on his horse for a quick stop, the horse jerked to a halt in front of a very fine home. William jumped off his mount and held the bit of the horse, as a man servant came out of the Davis house to hold his horse for him.
“Who is that vicious man in front of the Davis House?” a stoutly elegantly-dressed elder woman said to her husband from across the street. For it was not too long ago that William owned that very house across the street from the Davis House, but he had long since sold it for another home a few blocks away.
“I will take your horse, sir,” the servant said.
“Thank you.”
Surely the Davis would know more than he, for they were a prosperous family and had many visitors calling upon them throughout the week, often bringing news with them. They had been acquianted with Adeline and the Douvains, for he did have dinner several times at the Davis house when Adeline and Katrina performed. Therefore if anyone in London of his acquiantance knew about the fire, it would be this family. Were they in mourning? Wilameena had been a friend of Adeline’s and would be distraught of the news as well.
The maid opened the door and William stepped in. He removed his hat and held it against his chest. “William Dawson to call upon the Davis’ – Andrew or Robert, even dear Willameena. I just need to speak with one of the family. Please, it is urgent.”
“I am sorry sir, the family has gone for the summer. Gone to cooler air they have,” The maid said apologetically.
“Gone? Damn. For the entire summer? Where?”
“They have gone to Brighton sir, the heat be too hot this season. The house here is on minimal staff, most of them went with the family sir.”
“How long have they been gone?”
“Almost two months complete sir.”
William realized that they were gone already by the time that the fire happened at the theater, so it was possible that they knew nothing of the thing. He decided that he would send word by letter anyway.
“Thank you ma'am. I will send a letter straight away to them. Please alert them, that I called upon them on this day. The name again is William Dawson, we are quite acquainted.”
“Yes sir, of course. Word will be sent on the next round when we send them any letters that have come for them here, for Mr Davis has ordered that all correspondence be sent to him at the end of every week.”
“Then I will have a letter sent here tomorrow, if that be agreeable, to accompany the pile that you send with them at the end of the week.”
“Yes of course sir, that will be fitting.”
“I will have my manservant to send it over tomorrow by noon.”
“Yes sir, I will make sure that I am the one to receive it specifically as I am the one that sends the pile of papers to Mr Davis at the end of the week. He has granted me that much trust,” She said proudly putting her chin in the air.
“Good, then I will entrust my words to you, honest lady.” William said stroking her ego just a bit to make sure that his letter was handled with importance. She gave him a smile, feeling very pleased with herself.
William nodded to her and then walked out, donning his hat upon his head. He took the reins of his horse from the servant and climbed the step to mount his horse and then proceeded to ride down the street, though with less urgency. For he had no other plan of action, except to return home and mourn the loss of the woman that he once considered very special to his heart, and to drown himself in deep regret, of what could have been.
One week later
“Sir? Will you be leaving the house today, sir?” Herald asked Mr Dawson, for he had been drunk for an entire week and had not left his London home at all. This was not accust
omed to his character, therefore his servants were right to be concerned.
“Tomorrow, I leave back to Linwood. Make the arrangements, I want to leave at first light. I will be closing up the house for many months to come. Unless my sisters want to visit London, which is unlikely during the summer. They prefer the northern temperatures. See to it that everything is done,” William said.
“Yes sir, but of course. Would you like the morning meal brought to you, or will you be dining in the breakfast room?” Herald asked for he had not seen his master eat in quite some time. Though he had constantly been nudging him by leaving food outside his door, William did not have an appetite.
“Yes indeed, I will be eating this morning. I also want the strongest black coffee in place of tea. I will be down to the breakfast room after I have dressed. I have business to attend to in the East End.”
“Of course sir, I will have the carriage ready.”
“Thank you.” William dismissed his servant and poured water into the wash basin and washed his face. He had been drunk for too long, and had passed out at his writing desk the night before. Now it was time for him to leave London, for it was only making him want to drink more. He could not bear to be in the city any longer, it only reminded him that Adeline had perished in the fire. No, if he was not wanting to turn into a complete drunkard, he needed to just leave the city immediately. Therefore he was going to spend this day getting his affairs in order before leaving the next day to the countryside and back to Linwood estate, even though that place also had memories of Adeline. But once he was there he could visit his relations in the country, perhaps get a hunting party together to go on one of their hunting outings where they stayed in various small cottages throughout the countryside that he owned. It would be a good holiday from the district thoughts of Adeline.
A Poor Girl's Peril (#4, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel) Page 5
