by Dilly Court
‘It serves me right.’ Ben toyed with his coffee cup. ‘I should have thought it through instead of acting on impulse, but I was so certain I could succeed.’
Minnie gazed at him with a thoughtful frown. ‘But if you’d spent so much of the investors’ money, how did you think you would have enough to buy the land?’
‘That’s a question I keep asking myself. I thought I could go back to them, and providing I bought the land cheaply, they would stump up the rest of the money. I suppose I was naïve, if not downright foolish.’
‘You’re being too hard on yourself,’ Judy said hastily. ‘In any event, the people who loaned the money must have expected you to have expenses. They might be much more reasonable than you think. After all, they must be very wealthy to have considered such an investment in the first place.’
‘I’ll visit them all in person and explain. It’s the least I can do, but first I must find somewhere else to live, and I think I know someone who might help me.’ He put his cup back on its saucer. ‘Would you mind if I go out now, Minnie? I don’t want to abuse your hospitality, but I need to see this person urgently.’
‘Of course,’ Minnie said hastily. ‘Treat our home as if it were yours, Ben.’
He turned to Judy with an eager smile. ‘Would you like to come with me? You’ll be interested in the work Sarah does in such a poor parish.’
‘I think I know who you mean.’ Minnie leaned forward, her eyes alight with interest. ‘Is it Sarah Holden, the woman who runs the soup kitchen and shelter in Limehouse? I’ve heard she does amazing work with the poor and destitute.’
Ben nodded. ‘Yes, she was a nurse at the orthopaedic hospital where I qualified. She would have made a fine doctor had it been easier for a woman to enter the profession, but she hasn’t let it stop her from doing a tremendous amount of good. She might know of cheap rooms that I can rent.’
‘I’d like to meet her,’ Judy said eagerly. ‘Where does she live?’
‘She took over a near derelict warehouse in Juniper Row some years ago, and she has a room there, but the rest of the building she’s turned into a refuge for the most needy.’
‘And this place is in Limehouse? I don’t know the area.’
‘You don’t want to either,’ Minnie said firmly. ‘It’s a rough place, Judy. I’m not sure you ought to go with Ben.’
Judy tossed her head. ‘If Sarah Holden is brave enough to live there, I’m sure I can face a visit this afternoon.’
As Ben had intimated, the old warehouse had seen more prosperous days. The narrow street was lined with similar buildings, although most of them were in a better state of repair, and many of them were connected by covered walkways high above the street. Ben rapped on the door, which looked as though someone had attempted to break it down at some point, and it had been repaired with more enthusiasm than skill. They waited, shivering as a cold wind hurled itself at them from the direction of the river, bringing with it the stench of sewage, silt and the smell of hot engine oil. Judy waited impatiently for someone to let them in, and after a couple of minutes the door opened just a crack.
‘Who’s there?’
‘Is that you, Sarah? It’s me, Ben Godfrey.’
The door opened wide and a tall, well-built woman flung her arms around Ben. She gave him a hug that almost swept him off his feet.
‘Where have you been all these months, you devil?’ Sarah’s voice was deep and gravelly, but her smile was genuine. She released Ben to give Judy a curious glance. ‘Who have you brought to see us in Juniper Row?’
‘This is Judy Begg, a good friend of mine. May we come in, Sarah? It’s a bit chilly out here.’
Sarah backed into the gloomy interior. ‘Of course. Where are my manners? But we seldom get visitors, other than those who are desperate for help. Come in, please.’
The inside of the old warehouse was only slightly less welcoming than the exterior. Judy found herself in a small, dark lobby, which led into a narrow corridor that ended in a barn-like room filled with a collection of beds and straw-filled palliasses laid end to end on the brick floor. She recognised the smell of carbolic, mingling with the odour of sickness and chamber pots filled to overflowing. A young boy was seemingly delegated to emptying these, but he moved so slowly, taking one at a time to a communal privy somewhere outside. Judy could see that it was a losing battle, and she tried not to wrinkle her nose at the stench.
It was cold and the wind whistled through gaps in the brickwork above their heads. Shapeless mounds lying on the beds huddled beneath coarse woollen blankets. The only sign that these shapes were human was the occasional grunt, snort or moan.
‘You get used to it,’ Sarah said as if she could read Judy’s thoughts. ‘These people can’t afford to pay a doctor, and it’s doubtful whether the charity hospitals would take most of them in. This is the best they can expect.’
‘You’re doing a splendid job,’ Ben said earnestly.
‘I wish I could help more people.’ Sarah’s grey eyes darkened and her generous lips pulled down at the corners. ‘There is so much suffering out there. I can only help a few.’
‘Would you like me to look at any of your patients?’ Ben asked tentatively. ‘Free of charge, of course.’
‘You know the answer to that.’ A chuckle escaped Sarah’s lips and she slapped Ben on the back. ‘Thank you, Doctor. But first, tell me what prompted this visit? You haven’t come to this part of Limehouse for the good of your health.’
‘Ah, there you have me. I’ve made a mess of things, Sarah. I thought I was cleverer than I am, and I’ve landed myself in financial difficulties. I gave up my position at the London so that I could organise the building of a new hospital on the Essex coast, but I was outbid for the land, and now I can’t repay the investors the full amount. I need somewhere cheap to live while I try to sort myself out.’
Sarah eyed him thoughtfully. ‘That’s a shame, Ben. You’re a very good doctor and I’d be more than happy to have you here to help me, but I couldn’t pay you anything. We depend upon charity and there are many other worthy causes vying for funds. Having said that, there’s plenty of room here, and you’re more than welcome to stay; that is if you don’t expect any sort of luxury.’
‘That would be wonderful.’ He grasped her hand and held it to his heart. ‘It might be just what I need. At the moment I feel as if I’ve let everyone down, including myself. Perhaps a little real hardship will make me feel that I’m paying for my misdeeds.’
‘I think that’s a bit strong,’ Judy protested. ‘You made a mistake; you didn’t set out to swindle the investors. There’s a difference, Ben.’
‘Yes, there is.’ Sarah withdrew her hand gently. ‘Stop feeling sorry for yourself and do something useful, and you can start right away.’ She pointed to a bed at the far end of the room. ‘I think that old fellow is slipping away. Perhaps you’d take a look at him and see if there’s anything more we can do for him.’
Ben nodded and shrugged off his greatcoat, handing it to Judy. ‘Yes, of course. Can you lend me a stethoscope? I left my medical bag at the Marshalls’ house.’
‘Yes, of course.’ Sarah produced a stethoscope from the pocket of her voluminous apron. ‘His name is Bert Huggins, and he worked on the docks for most of his life.’
Ben nodded and hurried off, picking his way through the beds and bodies lying on the floor until he reached the old man’s bedside.
‘I do my best,’ Sarah said sadly. ‘But there’s very little I can do to alleviate the problems these people have, and poverty is the main cause.’
As her eyes grew accustomed to the dim light, Judy could see a small family huddled around a gaunt-faced woman, who had a baby at her breast, but the infant was clearly unsatisfied and mewling like a kitten. The other children were stick thin, dirty and hollow-eyed. Their very stillness was unnerving, especially when Judy compared them to the youngsters in Little Creek – dirty they might be, but they were bright-eyed and energetic, and none of them we
nt hungry.
‘How do you manage without funds?’ Judy asked anxiously. ‘How do you feed all these people?’
‘We rely on charity, as I said. Maybe Ben could use his talents to help our cause. These are forgotten people and no one cares whether they live or die. I do what I can, but it’s never enough.’
‘What happened to that family?’ Judy asked in a whisper. ‘Why can’t she stop her baby from crying?’
‘I found them crouched under a railway arch early this morning. The poor woman hasn’t got enough milk to feed the infant. I’ve given them some gruel, but they’re so close to starvation that they can only take a little at a time.’
‘Will they be all right? Will the baby die?’
‘I can’t answer that one, Judy. I’ll do what I can, but it might be too late for the youngest child. Very few children survive up to the age of five in this area. They either die of malnutrition or one of the many childhood diseases.’
‘Where is the woman’s husband?’
‘As far as I can gather he was killed in an accident on the docks. It happens all too often.’ Sarah peered into Judy’s face. ‘Are you all right? You’re very pale.’
‘My father died in a street accident in Whitechapel when I was a child. This brings it all back to me.’
‘I’d offer you a cup of tea, but I gave the last of the milk to the little ones.’
‘No, thank you,’ Judy said hastily. ‘Perhaps I can do something useful while Ben is treating the sick? I can see that you’re very busy.’
‘There are chamber pots to empty in the privy at the end of the back alley. Or are you too much of a lady to do such work?’
‘I worked briefly as a ward maid at the London Hospital, which is how I met Ben. I’m more than happy to help.’
It was dark by the time they reached Sidney Square and the street lights cast a warm glow on the pavements. Men dressed in the formal attire of city clerks were arriving home in time for dinner, and scenes of well-ordered domesticity were clearly visible through windows where the housemaids had not yet drawn the curtains. It was not a particularly rich area but the contrast between this place and the poorest parts of Limehouse was quite shocking.
Minnie was in the parlour saying good night to her twin girls, who were in their spotlessly clean nightgowns, their faces pink and healthy and their eyes bright with mischief as they pleaded to be allowed to stay up for a while longer. The scene, lit by warm mellow gaslight and a roaring fire, brought tears to Judy’s eyes. This was how life should be for all children, but she could not forget the vision of the poverty-stricken family she had seen in Limehouse. She blinked and forced a smile.
‘Good night, girls. Sleep tight.’
‘And don’t let the bed bugs bite.’ Lottie, the boldest of the twins, gave Judy a cheeky grin.
‘Where did you learn that vulgar saying?’ Minnie demanded.
‘Sukey says worse than that, Mama.’ Evie eyed her sister warily. ‘Well, she does.’
‘Don’t start arguing now it’s bedtime. I’ll come upstairs and tuck you in soon,’ Minnie said, giving them each a loving hug and a kiss. ‘Papa will come up too when he gets home.’ She waited until the door closed after them before turning to Ben. ‘Well, how did it go in Limehouse? Did Sarah have any suggestions for you?’
‘I’m going to stay there for a while,’ Ben said slowly. ‘Sarah’s desperate for help.’
‘But surely she can’t afford to pay you?’ Minnie gave him a searching look. ‘How will you survive without an income, Ben?’
Judy cleared her throat in order to gain their attention. ‘I think I have an idea.’
Chapter Fourteen
At that moment the door opened and Toby strolled into the parlour. Minnie leaped to her feet to embrace her husband.
‘You’re home early, darling. The girls have only just gone to bed if you want to go upstairs and give them a good night kiss.’
Toby smiled and gave her a gentle hug. ‘Yes, I will, in a minute, but it looks as though I’ve interrupted something. What’s going on?’
‘Ben and Judy have been to Sarah Holden’s establishment in Limehouse. Ben says he’s going to work there for nothing. What do you think of that?’ Minnie resumed her seat, gazing up at her husband as she waited for his response.
‘I think it’s a splendid idea, although it’s not going to solve your money problems, Ben.’ Toby walked to the side table where a decanter and glasses were laid out in readiness. He filled four glasses and handed them round before taking a seat. ‘It’s been a long day.’ He sipped his drink, eyeing Judy curiously. ‘I believe you were about to say something when I walked in and interrupted you.’
‘I was shocked when I saw the state of the people in Sarah’s care, and I think Ben is a hero if he’s willing to give his time to help them.’
‘But even a hero has to eat, and there will be creditors wanting their money back,’ Minnie said softly. ‘You said you had an idea.’
‘Ben is obviously very good at persuading people to invest their money, so why not continue with the quest to create a new hospital?’ Judy looked at each of them, gauging their reaction. ‘It seems to me that a charitable institution in the poorest part of London would be far more appropriate. I think Ben could use his persuasive powers to convince his investors that this is a far better plan, and that their money will be put to good use.’
Ben frowned. ‘But I couldn’t promise any profit on the scheme, excellent though it may be.’
‘They’re all wealthy people, aren’t they? They would benefit from knowing that they were doing something good for those who were less fortunate. I would gladly give up my time to work with Sarah had I not responsibilities at home.’
‘I’m flattered that you think so highly of my persuasive powers, Judy,’ Ben said seriously, ‘but I can’t share your optimism. I think the investors who believed in me will turn away, especially when I can’t repay them.’
‘I think you’re wrong. If you put it to them that you will give your time for nothing in order to help the poor and desperate, how could they argue with that?’
‘Judy has a point,’ Minnie said thoughtfully. ‘What do you think, Toby?’
‘It’s certainly worth a try, considering the mess that Ben has got himself into. Sorry, old chap, I don’t mean to sound harsh, but you must expect some people to be cynical.’
‘I do,’ Ben said earnestly. ‘I mean I’d be prepared for that sort of reaction. If I could turn this situation round and something good came out of it, I would be more than happy.’
‘I know that when Daisy was in financial difficulties and she had to let Creek Manor out to Mrs Harker, it ended up with that lady raising funds to support Dr Neville’s hospital in Little Creek. I’m sure it could be done here.’ Judy turned to Minnie with a persuasive smile. ‘What do you say? Would your well-off friends want to help?’
‘I’ll certainly do what I can,’ Minnie said enthusiastically.
‘I’ll put a good word in with the powers that be,’ Toby added. ‘When we move into the house in Harley Street I’ll be in a better position to spread the word. Maybe turning the business proposition into a charity is the answer. Good luck to you, Ben.’
Judy had intended to return home the following day, but she was so touched by the scenes she had witnessed that she decided to stay on for a few more days. There was little she could do other than to give Ben moral support when he went to visit the investors who had put money into the Creek Manor scheme, and she spent most of her time in Limehouse, helping Sarah to the best of her ability.
At night, when she retired to bed exhausted but found sleep evaded her, she recalled happier days. She had tried to forget Jack, but he was rarely from her thoughts. If something amused her, she imagined him laughing with her. She could not blame him for deserting her. She knew that in his crippled state he considered himself only half a man, and although that was untrue, she realised that it was not good enough for Jack – he was a perfect
ionist. The only cure for heartache was hard work, and a worthwhile project to occupy her mind.
On the fourth day after their arrival in London, Ben returned home with good news. One of his largest investors had been persuaded to back the new charity hospital in Limehouse, and at least two others were considering his proposition. Judy was relieved and delighted. It was a thoroughly worthy cause, even though it meant that Little Creek would lose its new hospital. Minnie invited her to stay on, insisting that she would be an invaluable help when they moved house. Judy was tempted to accept, but anything could have happened at home, and it was there that she was needed most. In the end there was no choice: she missed her family and Little Creek was her home.
Judy had not expected to be met when the train chugged into Little Creek Station, but to her surprise she saw Rob Dorning standing on the platform. At first she thought that he must be waiting to board the train, but he held out his hand to take her valise.
She hesitated. ‘Did you come to meet me? Or is this just a coincidence?’
‘Dr Godfrey sent a telegram to the inn. I’ve been staying there while you were away. It’s very convenient for my purposes, and I think your mother was relieved to have someone there in case Faulkner turned up again.’
‘He hasn’t, has he?’ Judy handed her ticket to the collector as they walked through the barrier.
‘No. He hasn’t shown his face, but I have people keeping an eye on him.’
‘You employ spies?’
‘I have a lot of people working for me, and Faulkner is so well known in the area that it’s not difficult to keep tracks on him.’ Rob handed her into the chaise and took the reins from a small boy, tossing him a coin as he climbed onto the driver’s seat. ‘Walk on.’
Judy shot a wary glance at him as he handled the horse with considerable expertise. It was obviously a thoroughbred amongst carriage horses, and the chaise itself was brand spanking new. She knew very little about Rob’s past, but she sensed that he was a very private person and she did not like to pry.
