A Poor Girl's Peril (#4, the Winds of Misery Victorian Romance) (A Family Saga Novel)

by Dorothy Green

  Then she turned toward him and he saw her face. She looked exactly like Adeline.

  “Miss Simmons! Miss Simmons! Wait!” he shouted, not knowing if it were her. But he had to try, it looked so much like her.

  He was close enough to her that this woman saw that he was shouting directly at her. Her brow furrowed, and she turned away from him looking panicked. He caught up to her and grabbed her arm turning her toward him.

  “Miss Simmons. It's you. It is you. God bless, we thought you had perished. Where have you been?”

  William was beside himself. He felt such relief, Adeline was alive. All was not lost.

  “I am sorry sir. I believe you mistake me for someone else. My name is Miss Blakefield.” She said.

  William was confused. Her voice sounded exactly the way Adeline's voice had sounded for he had heard it many times especially during her days as an actress performing on stage.

  “Adeline, it is me William Dawson. Do you not remember me?”

  “How do you know my first name, sir?”

  “Because I know your name. We are acquainted for many years now. It is me, William Dawson of Linwood Manor. Adeline, you are not making sense.”

  “My name is Adeline, sir, but not Simmons. As I said before. Now if you will excuse me, you are frightening me.” She turned and took a step away. But William would not let her go. He pulled her and stepped in front of her.

  “Adeline, what is the meaning of this? If you do not want to see me and despise me I understand that. But what of your other relations? Katrina is beside herself with grief. She thought you were lost in the fire as we all did. You should at least have the decency to let her know that you are alive and well. Doing what, I do not know. What are you doing on this side of town? Where have you been living? I do not understand why you dismiss me so. Do you not know what I have been through thinking you had perished?”

  “Sir I must beg you to let go of my arm. You are terrifying me and if you do not I will scream. I do not know who you are. Though you have a familiar face we have not met. I do not know of what you speak about perished. I think you mistake me for someone else. Perhaps I look like the person you seek, but I am not she”

  “Adeline... but it's you. It is you. I do not understand. Help me to understand. You are mad at me? Is this some sort of character role that you are performing? Pray tell me, but I will not let you go.”

  “Who be this gentleman here?” A woman was suddenly at their side.

  “I do not know. He mistakes me for someone else. Excuse me sir, I'm off with my friend here. I hope that you find who you are looking for. But it is not me.”

  At the sight of her friend, William let her arm go. He stood there in shock as Adeline turned her back to him and continued walking. Was she right? Was this just a woman that happened to look like Adeline? Though she had aged slightly and looked to be leading a rough life, it still looks like her. She even admitted her name was Adeline, but had a different surname. Was his mind playing tricks on him again? Was it so that he wanted her to be alive so badly that any woman that resembled her slightly he thought was she. No, it had to be her.

  William took a step to go after her, but as he looked for her he realised that she was lost in the crowd. Where did she go? He ran in the direction that she had stepped in, but could not find her.

  He walked around the area, blocks and blocks at a time, searching every woman's face. Not finding her, he started to believe that he had seen a ghost. How could he be sure? How could he ever know?

  That night, as the sound of fireworks and bonfires raged, he sat down at his desk to write a letter.

  To Captain and Mrs Katrina Byers.

  I have news, though I am not sure if it is no use at all or my imagination. Today when walking through the crowds near my factory I came across a woman who looked exactly like Adeline. I followed her and found her to be named Adeline, but she said that she was not Miss Simmons. She did not recognize me. I do not know if this was on purpose, perhaps she hates me, she would have the right to. Or if it was something else. Did I imagine this, friends? I do not know. But her face, it was her, it was Adeline. I would stake my life on it. Therefore I am going to hire a party to look for her in that area. I pray tell me if she has been writing you Katrina and you saw fit to not tell me. I would understand that and would not interfere, but at least I would know that she is alive and well and that is something to be said for my health. Please write in return.

  Your friend always, William Dawson.

  He poured drying powder on to the wet ink and waited for it to dry before folding it and sealing it with his Wax Seal. He would send it with a servant in the morning to the post to send to Brentwood Manor. Then he would be out himself on foot to go look for Adeline again. Something was amiss, and he needed to know what that would be. Was she truly alive?

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  “Who be that gentleman?” Patty asked Adeline.

  “I do not know. He claimed to know me but I do not know him.”

  “He seemed a very fine gent. One of generous means. Why would you not continue to talk to him? A man like that, has great wealth.”

  “In truth, he frightens me. He was quite aggressive, saying that he knew me, but I do not know him. I do not know what game he was about. I wanted to be away from him as quickly as possible. For how can someone like me know someone like that? I do not. Bonfire night brings out the worst in people and I will not be caught up in some dangerous game of wealthy men who are preying on poor women. I will wind up washed ashore on the river banks of the River Thames I will. No thank you. Now let's continue walking, I want to be far from him.”

  “All right, we will go to Spitalfields we will. Very large bonfire, and entertainment to be had. Will be fun, you will see.”

  Adeline walked along with Patty, making their way through the crowd. She enjoyed being out and about on Bonfire Night, for the celebration gave her much joy. But it was a dangerous night where men acted irrationally, more than usual. It also did not help that they drank for hours, making them act like animals. But she did not want to miss it. Her life held few distinguishable joys, and a celebration in the streets was not something she was going to miss.

  But as she walked, the words of the gentleman haunted her. How did he know her first name was Adeline? He had called her Simmons, which was familiar to her but she did not know why. His face too was quite familiar, but perhaps she had just seen him on the streets, as many businessmen did come to the area to conduct their business.

  Then she stopped walking. Patty was looking at a man juggling colorful items, but Adeline was not looking. She had just realized something. The man had mentioned the name Katrina. It was a name that had haunted her because of the letter she had with her. It was a letter that did not make sense, but was written in her own hand. Perhaps he did know her? Perhaps he knew something about her past, and this Katrina person. She turned back around, looking in the direction of the gentleman, but they had already walked too far. He would not be there. But could she trust it? Katrina was quite a common name. No, she did not want to speak with him. In fact if she ever saw him again she would hide from him. He had frightened her, the look in his eyes was one of desperation. It wasn't the same hunger she saw in men's eyes who had lust on their mind, that this was something else altogether. A desperation that made her feel terrified. He must be up to no good, and she would have no part of it.

  “You know who that gentleman be reminding me of? It hit me mind just now,” Patty said.

  “The gentleman that came the other day to the factory. The handsome gent that do own it,” Patty said.

  “Oh, yes it did look like him. Maybe that it why I looked familiar to him, because he saw me in his factory that day,” Adeline said, suddenly remembering the man’s face from that day. That had to be it.

  A few days later, Adeline had spent some time reading the letter over and over again hoping that she would see som
e clue that she had not seen before. She had saved up enough coin to buy passage on the regulator that could take her to this Brentwood Manor, wherever it may be, for she did not know what county it was in. But a Manor or an estate usually was well known by the post and she knew that she could ask. But if she left, she would be giving up her place in the brick house, and leaving London. If she did not find the place, or whoever lived there was not willing to speak to her, then she would have lost her place of work and place of living. It was a risky chance to take and she did not know if she could take it, but it was a thought always on her mind especially after the run-in with the gentleman.

  On one of these occasions of reading the letter, she was folding it and putting it back into her hiding space in her room that she shared with Patty, when Patty walked in the door. Adeline stood up immediately, moving away from the spot. Patty eyed her nervously.

  “What you be up to?”

  “Nothing, I was just cleaning under the bed. How are you today? Where have you been? It is Sunday?” Adeline asked for on Sunday so usually took a walk together but when she awoke that morning Patty was gone.

  “I had went down to breakfast early, try to get more than one serving, when a woman came in to ask for a volunteer to help clean the home of Mrs Wilcox. I volunteered to go. That is where I be, helping clean her home. Right fancy it is.”

  “Oh, I see. Good for you, anything to earn extra wages.”

  “Yes, that is what I think.” Patti said, but she had not moved from the door yet which Adeline thought was quite strange, but Patty was strange to begin with.

  “Well I am to go downstairs, to wash up for dinner. Will you join me?” Adeline said.

  “Later. I want to change out of my clothes. A bit of privacy please.”

  “Yes, of course.” Adeline said moving toward the door. Patty was very stiff in her movements as she took sideways steps into the room as though not wanting to show her back to Adeline, but Adeline was used to Patty being strange.

  She went downstairs and washed up, and then made her way to the dining hall. They served corn cakes, soup, and baked sweet potato. Adeline was very glad for the good food that Brick House served. It was nothing like the cornmeal slop that she ate at the first workhouse. She didn't understand why the Brickhouse of Miss Wilcox had such great care of the women who live there, but who was she to complain. It was possibly the best place in London as far as a workhouse went.

  A few days later she and Patty went on another Sunday outing, this time by the docks.

  “Let us take this way back,” Patty said to Adeline pulling on her arm guiding her toward a few buildings away from the waterfront that they had been walking along the Thames River.

  “That way? But this is the way we came,” Adeline said pointing back in the opposite direction.

  “I know a shortcut. There is a sweet shop, down at the corner. You brought your coin with you, didn't you?”

  “Yes I did. But that is because I am in need of a new dress, mine have holes in them, and it is time.”

  “There is a better dress shop by the sweet whop, I will show you,” Patty said not taking no for an answer as she grabbed her arm harder and pulled Adeline down a labyrinth of buildings. They walked underneath a brick arch that spanned from one building to another leading down a tunnel alleyway. It suddenly became darker, as the buildings blocked out all of the sunlight. Adeline did not like taking this way. There were too many desperate souls lurking about in these parts and they often hid in the alleyway, ready to pounce on any passerby.

  “Patty, let's go back. I do not like the looks of this. It is too quiet, there is no-one milling about.”

  “It is a shortcut. You will see. As soon as we turned down at that corner there we emerge on to the cobblestone main thoroughfare. Don't be a chicken, Adeline, it is right there.” Patty said dragging her along.

  “Oh, all right then.” Adeline said wanting to just get out of there as quick as possible, and the turn up ahead was closer than turning around and heading back. She walked faster.

  Then she was pushed hard. Her back hit against the wall.

  “What do we have here?” A raspy voice said.

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  chapter

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  Two men pushed Adeline and Patty against the wall. Adeline screamed, but quickly a dirty and filthy hand placed over her mouth. She stared straight into the face of the man that held her. His face was black with soot and his teeth were black and broken. His sour and pungent breath hit her face. His green eyes held an expressive frightening look in them. She wiggled, trying to run away.

  “No you don't,” He said as he held up a knife, and pointed it at her neck. Adeline stopped moving altogether, freezing in complete panic. All she could do was stare directly into the man's eyes and hoped that he did not have plans to violate or kill her.

  “Alright then, hand over your possessions.” The other man that held Patty said.

  “I ain't got nothing sir. Search me if you like, I may have a pence in my pocket and nothing more. You are welcome to it sir. Please do not heard us.” She said calmly.

  The man began to rifle through the pockets in her skirt. While the man that held Adeline looked at her and nodded. Adeline slowly reached into her pockets and pulled out everything. This included a cloth that she wrapped to shillings in to buy her a dress, new shoes, and a bonnet. She handed it over to the man.

  “That be it? Where be your coin purse?” He said patting her down.

  “What? That is all I have on me sir,” Adeline said.

  “No. You lie. Where it be”” he screamed.

  “I swear to you, that is all that I have.”

  He grabbed the shilling and handed it to the other man. They looked at each other. Then they looked at Patty.

  “She ain't got nothing on her. I checked.” The man said.

  “Two shillings then? That be it?” the broken tooth man said to the other.

  “Let's get out of here,” The other man said letting Patty go and taking steps away from them.

  But the broken tooth man wasn't satisfied. He held the knife up to Adeline again, and looked at her body up and down.

  “No. I was promised more coin than that. And if I can't get coins and I'm going to get something else. This one is very pretty.” He licked his lips, Adeline felt complete disgust and chills rising up and down her back.

  Bravely, Patty pushed the man away from Adeline. “No.You won't be doing that.” She put her hands on her hips and stepped in front of Adeline.

  The man snarled at her.

  “Let's go! You heard her. Let's get out of here!” the other man grabbed the broken tooth man and dragged him. Broken tooth man reluctantly left, running away.

  Adeline breathe a sigh of relief. Tears flowed down her cheeks.

  “Are you all right Adeline?”

  “I think so. Just a little frightened. Let's get out of here Patty, let's go back the way we came.” Adeline grabbed Patty's hand and ran back towards the entrance that they had used. She did not want to follow in the direction where the men went. It wasn't until they emerged back onto the Main Street where there were plenty of pedestrians did Adeline finally stop and catch her breath.

  “I am sorry Adeline. I really am. Did he hurt you?”

  “What do you have to be sorry for ,Patty? That was not your fault. It is those men.” Adeline said.

  Patty looked very frightened, with more fear in her eyes than Adeline had ever seen.

  “Yes, you are right. But it was my idea to take the shortcut. And for that I am sorry. Come let's go sit by the water to get you some air.”

  “Yes. That is a good idea.”

  “Good thing you did not have your coin purse on you.” Patty said as she walked beside her.

  “No. I never do. I only take as much with me as I think that I will need. It stopped me from spending it, or from losing it. In this case it stopped me from being robbed of everything I have saved up.”

>   “And you have saved a lot?” Patty asked.

  “I don't want to be stuck in the workhouse wherever Patty. I want to save in order to get passage out of London, go live somewhere in the countryside. Try to reclaim my memories and my past.”

  “Yes, I understand.” Patty said.

  A few moments later, face at along the brick wall dangling their legs over the path below that was the waterfront. Adeline watched as small children dredged in the mud, looking for items to sell. It made her sad for the water was quite dirty and some say even toxic. But everyone was desperate in London, the poor had nothing. Dead rats lay in the mud, being lapped by the water that came up onto the shore. Adeline took a deep breath of the watery air, watching the tall sails of the ships that were coming in. It took an hour complete before the anxiety of the attack left her and only then were they able to make their way back to the brick house they called home. Adeline insisted on only taking very wide streets with lots of people.

  But that night, Adeline was not able to get any rest. She continued to have night terrors. She saw the broken tooth man in front of her, attacking her. Then his face would change. It would change into a very plump face of a wealthy man. And the word ash continued to echo in her mind for some reason. He was trying to kiss her and touch her. Adeline sat up straight in her bed, sweating.

  This was the same man that often appeared in her nightmares, but she had no idea who the man was. One thing was for sure; he brought complete terror and red in her heart every time she saw him in her sleep. Who was this man and why did he torment her so?

  Adeline tried to go back to sleep but could not. It did not make for a very productive work day the next day, as she was very tired and still filled with distress.

  The fact that she had lost two shillings of her savings only made her feel worse. She would not be getting a new dress, or boots or a bonnet, and would continue to wear the ones that she already had that were torn in various places and stained. Again she was sewing the tears that she had sewed time and again, for she was too scared to walk about with any more coin in her pocket than a few pence.