The River Maid

‘The devil he was! But on the other hand I’d like to meet the man who could get the better of my cousin.’ Raven’s smile faded. ‘What are you trying to tell me?’

‘I’m not supposed to say anything,’ Essie said slowly.

‘But you’re dying to tell me, so out with it.’

‘Lady Alice wants you to leave the country as soon as possible and you’re not to try to see her.’

‘That wasn’t what you were going to say. You’re hiding something. What is it?’

Essie noted his set expression and the hard lines of his jaw and she knew that he was not about to give up until he knew the truth. ‘Sir Henry was making a nuisance of himself, if you know what I mean. He wants to marry Lady Alice and she isn’t interested, but he saw the document you sent her.’

Raven stood up abruptly, pushing back the chair so that it almost toppled over. ‘I’ll soon sort him out.’

‘No, you mustn’t,’ Essie cried anxiously. ‘I shouldn’t have told you about him. Lady Alice will be furious with me, and you’ll only get yourself into trouble. She doesn’t think he’ll let on that you’re here.’ She clutched Raven’s arm and she could feel his muscles tensed beneath the sleeve of his well-cut jacket. ‘Please sit down. I’ll go and fetch some water and make a pot of tea.’

His grim laughter echoed round the small kitchen. ‘Tea – the panacea for all ills.’

‘I think Lady Alice can take care of herself,’ Essie said firmly. ‘She was clear about one thing, and that was for you to keep away from Hill Street. You’ve only got another day and then you’ll be on your way back to Australia.’

‘I came home to make things better for my family and I don’t intend to leave Alice in a fix. She’s risked a lot helping me and I’m going to sort out Bearwood for once and all.’ He stood up and made for the back door, pushing past Essie as he stepped outside into the back yard.

Essie hurried after him. ‘Please stop. You’ll only make more trouble this way.’

He shook off her restraining hand. ‘Don’t interfere, Essie. You’ve done your bit, now go indoors and look after your father.’

Essie knew that nothing she could say or do would prevent him from seeking out Sir Henry Bearwood, and she wished with all her heart that she had said nothing. Lady Alice must have known that this was how Raven would react, and now Raven was heading for trouble. Essie clenched her hands at her sides, inwardly fuming at her own stupidity. Nothing good could come of this. She toyed with the idea of rushing over to Hill Street to warn Lady Alice, but that was not the answer. She bent down to pick up the bucket and headed out of the yard to the pump. A cup of tea would not solve her problems, but making it would give her something to do.

Time seemed to have stood still as Essie waited for Raven to return. She occupied herself as best she could with household chores. She made her father a simple supper of bread and cheese, but the ale he had drunk combined with a dose of laudanum sent him to sleep soon afterwards and Essie was left to wait and worry on her own. Outside the business of the street went on as usual with the constant sound of raised voices, hurried footsteps and the ever-present background noise of the river traffic. Hoots, sirens, bells and the grinding of cranes still at work unloading vessels moored alongside the wharfs went on all day and for most of the night.

The light faded and Essie paced the floor, accompanied by the rhythmic snores emanating from her father’s slack lips. He had drunk a copious amount of ale and had taken a hefty dose of laudanum before falling into a stupor. She lit a candle and placed it in the window, but still there was no word from Raven. In an attempt to calm her nerves she opened the front door and stood on the step, but retreated quickly. Late at night it was not a good idea to loiter in the street and she went to sit in the kitchen and wait.

The candle had burned down and Essie was about to go to her room when she heard a scrabbling sound on the front door. ‘Who’s there?’ she demanded nervously.

Chapter Five

Essie wrenched the door open and stepped aside as Raven practically fell into the room supported on either side by Lady Alice and Sadie.

‘What happened?’ Essie demanded, closing the door and bolting it. There did not seem to be anyone following them, but she was taking no chances. ‘What happened?’ She picked up the candlestick and in its flickering light she saw a dark stain that look suspiciously like blood on Raven’s jacket. ‘Take him through to the kitchen,’ she said, glancing anxiously at her father, who had slept through everything so far; disturbing him was the last thing she wanted.

‘I’m all right,’ Raven whispered. ‘I can make it on my own.’

‘Stop talking and save your strength.’ Lady Alice steered him towards the kitchen, but Sadie appeared to be flagging and Essie took her place. Together they managed to get him onto a chair at the table and, combining their efforts, they relieved him of his jacket.

‘He’s bleeding to death,’ Sadie cried, collapsing onto another chair. ‘I can’t stand the sight of blood. I’ve come over faint.’

‘Make yourself useful,’ Essie said sharply. ‘There’s a bowl in the cupboard – fill it with water from the kettle and pass me that towel.’

Sadie jumped to her feet, seemingly forgetting that she was about to faint and obeyed Essie’s instructions without another word.

‘It’s just a scratch. Stop fussing.’ Raven tried to get up but sank back on the chair, his face pale beneath his tan.

‘Stop talking,’ Lady Alice said firmly. ‘I’m going to ease your shirt off, Raven. I need to take a look at that wound.’

‘So you’re a nurse now, are you?’ Raven’s lips curved in a wry smile, but he winced as she peeled the blood-soaked cotton away from the gaping hole in his left shoulder.

Essie could see by Lady’s Alice’s expression that she was revolted by the sight of blood, and she stepped forward. ‘I’ve dealt with a good number of injuries. Maybe I can help.’ Essie held the candle closer so that she could examine the wound. ‘He was shot?’ She turned to Lady Alice, eyebrows raised.

‘It’s all right, Essie. I’ll deal with this. It wouldn’t have happened if Raven hadn’t come barging into my house,’ Lady Alice said bitterly. ‘I was dealing with Henry. He’d been drinking and was getting amorous, but Raven had to act like a hero.’

‘He was drunk,’ Raven murmured.

‘I had taken Papa’s duelling pistol from its case, although I had no intention of shooting Bearwood. I just wanted to show him that I meant what I said. Henry tried to take it from me and it went off. Papa always said it had a hair trigger and that proves it.’ Lady Alice took the cloth and bathed the wound, ignoring Raven’s protests. ‘Bearwood was about to leave when you came bursting in like a knight of old, and you took the bullet, which otherwise would have merely made a hole in the door. It serves you right for interfering.’ She frowned anxiously. ‘It’s bleeding faster. What should I do?’

Essie folded the towel and pressed it on the injured shoulder. ‘We have to stop the blood flowing by pressing on the wound.’

‘I am going to faint now,’ Sadie said weakly and collapsed onto the floor.

‘We should fetch a doctor.’ Lady Alice stood back, clasping her blood-stained hands together. ‘Is he going to die?’

‘Not if I can help it.’ Essie jerked her head in the direction of the cupboard. ‘There’s an old sheet that we can tear into strips. We need to bind the wound as tightly as we can.’

Lady Alice stepped over Sadie’s prostrate figure and returned seconds later with the neatly folded sheet. ‘Trust you to complicate things, Raven. Henry would have gone peacefully. Now he’ll tell everyone that you’re in London, if he hasn’t done so already.’

‘I have to get on board ship for all our sakes.’ Raven’s head lolled to one side and his eyes closed.

‘He’s passed out. That’s good because we can bandage his shoulder without him struggling.’ Essie took the strips of cloth from Lady Alice and proceeded to wind them round Raven’s torso. ‘I’m not very good at this, but it will have to do until we can get him to a doctor.’

‘He has to be on the Santa Gabriella tonight.’ Lady Alice sank down on the nearest chair. ‘Sir Henry might notify the authorities and the police will be looking for Raven.’

Sadie scrambled to her feet. ‘What happened?’

‘You fainted,’ Essie said tersely. ‘Sit down and take deep breaths. You’ll be fine and we need your help.’

‘What do you propose?’ Lady Alice demanded warily. ‘We don’t want to involve anyone else.’

‘It’ll be low tide. If we can get Raven down the steps to the foreshore I can row him out to the ship. I’ve done it before and it should be slack water now, so the current will take me downstream. We just have to get him to my boat.’

‘How do we do that without being seen?’ Lady Alice demanded.

‘There are plenty of drunken men staggering around the streets of Limehouse every night,’ Essie said drily. ‘And we haven’t much choice. Help me get his jacket on and we’d better set off as soon as he regains consciousness.’

Raven was weak from loss of blood but he was able to walk, albeit slowly, and Sadie danced on ahead clearing the way and poking fun at Raven, telling the other drunks that he was her dad who had been boozing in the pub all day, and they were taking him home. Essie had been wary about drawing attention to themselves, but oddly enough it seemed to work, and Sadie was in her element. Negotiating the steep, slippery steps proved to be more difficult and it was a considerable drop to the stony foreshore. As they hesitated on the wharf Essie was beginning to think that their efforts had been in vain when she spotted Ben walking towards them. At first she was inclined to hide behind Raven, but she could see the outline of the ship anchored in Limehouse Reach, and she knew it was only a matter of time before the vessel sailed. She left Lady Alice and Sadie supporting Raven, who was drifting in and out of consciousness, and she hurried to meet Ben.

‘I’m glad it’s you,’ she said breathlessly. ‘We’re in desperate need of help.’

He took in the scene with a single glance. ‘Who are these people?’

Essie could see that he was not going to be fobbed off with fairy tales and she gave him a brief outline of the events since she had brought Raven ashore.

‘Well, I’ll be damned. What have you got yourself into, Essie? You could end up in jail for this.’

‘I know that, Ben. I didn’t choose to be involved and I wouldn’t have been if Pa hadn’t had the accident. Anyway, it’s too late now and I simply have to get Raven on board the Santa Gabriella.’

‘What about the woman and the kid? Are they going, too?’

‘No, but we must move quickly. Will you carry him down the steps? It’s our only chance.’

He hesitated, as if weighing up the consequences of such an action, and then he nodded. ‘All right. I’d offer to row him out to the ship, but I’m working.’

‘I just need to get him into my boat. I can manage after that.’

‘I’ll have words with your pa, Essie. I saw him walking to the Grapes earlier today and he wasn’t even limping. I reckon he’s fit enough to return to work, but it suits him to loaf around the house, drinking ale.’ He walked off and Essie hurried after him.

‘I’ve got you, cully.’ Ben hoisted Raven over his shoulders like a sack of coal and descended the steep steps, disappearing into the darkness.

‘I’ll see he gets safely on board,’ Essie said hastily. ‘You’d best go home.’

‘I’m coming with you.’ Lady Alice hitched up her skirts and made her way down the steep stone stairs until all that could be seen of her was the tip of the ostrich feathers waving from the crown of her bonnet. Essie followed with a reckless disregard for safety and Sadie was close behind. It was very dark on this unlit part of the foreshore and the river looked eerily calm and menacing. Ben helped Raven into the boat and steadied it as Lady Alice climbed in to sit beside him, followed less elegantly by Sadie, who landed in a heap.

‘You ought to go home, my lady,’ Essie said urgently. ‘I’ll make sure he reaches the ship safely.’

Lady Alice’s face was a pale oval, her eyes dark shadows in the dim light. ‘No, I won’t rest until I know that he’s being looked after properly. I want to see the captain and pay him well.’

‘And I got to stick with her ladyship. I ain’t staying here on me own and that’s for certain,’ Sadie added, although there was a tremor in her voice and she sounded close to tears.

‘You’d best get going,’ Ben said urgently. ‘The tide is on the turn and if you delay the ship might sail without him.’

Essie reached up to kiss him on the cheek. ‘Thank you, Ben. I’m very grateful.’

‘I’ll call round when I finish, just to make sure you’re all right.’

‘I will be. Don’t worry about me.’

‘Let’s get this boat into the water.’ Ben untied the painter and Essie helped him drag the boat to the water’s edge. ‘Get in and I’ll give you a push.’

Essie bundled up her skirts and leaped on board, settling quickly and taking up the oars as she had done on countless occasions when she was with her father. She began to row, heading into Limehouse Reach and using every last ounce of strength in an attempt to reach the Santa Gabriella, but the small, overloaded craft was low in the water and the wake created by a passing paddle steamer spilled over the gunwales, leaving them ankle-deep and in imminent danger of sinking. Essie hailed the Gabriella and a rope ladder was flung over the side, but getting Raven on board was no mean feat. He managed to haul himself painfully step by step until willing hands reached out to drag him on board. Lady Alice followed but Sadie cowered in the rapidly sinking boat, refusing to move.

‘I can’t swim. I’ll fall in and get drowned,’ she moaned, covering her face with her hands.

‘We’ll both drown if we stay here,’ Essie said urgently. ‘I can’t bail out fast enough so you’d better grab the ladder and jump for it.’

Sadie dropped her hands, gazing at Essie in horror. ‘I can’t.’

‘Yes, you can, and if you don’t go now it’ll be too late.’ Essie reached out to grasp the ladder. ‘Hold on to me. We’ll go together.’

Sadie clutched her round the waist and Essie took a deep breath. ‘Now!’ she cried, clinging onto the rope with both hands as the boat sank beneath them. Shouts from above encouraged her to hold tight and they were hauled up the side of the ship, inch by inch until they were dragged over the side. Essie landed on the deck with Sadie falling on top of her.

‘Pa will kill me,’ Essie murmured.

When she opened her eyes she was lying on a narrow wooden bunk in a tiny cabin. A lantern hung from the ceiling and it swayed to and fro with the movement of the ship.

‘Are you all right, miss?’ Sadie jumped to her feet and leaned over Essie, peering into her face. ‘You fainted dead away.’

Essie raised herself on her elbow. ‘What’s happening? Are they going to put us ashore?’ She looked down at her bare arm and realised that beneath the coarse blanket she was stark naked. Sadie was wrapped in what looked like a sheet. ‘Where are my clothes?’

Sadie sank back on the chair, which appeared to be the only other item of furniture in the cabin. ‘I undressed you, miss. Our duds were soaked and they’ve taken them away to dry.’

‘But we must get off this vessel at the first opportunity,’ Essie said urgently. She sat up, wrapping the coarse blanket around her. ‘I have to go home and look after Pa. Where is Lady Alice? What does she say to all this?’

Sadie shook her head. ‘I dunno, miss. I was put in here with you and I’ve been sitting here for ages, waiting for you to wake up, and I’m frozen.’

‘Give me your sheet.’ Essie swung her legs over the side of the bunk. ‘You can have the blanket.’

Reluctantly, Sadie unwrapped the cotton sheet and handed it to Essie, snatching the blanket to cover her bare flesh. ‘What are you going to do?’

‘I’m going to find someone who can give me some answers. You’d better wait here.’ Essie opened the door and stepped outside into a narrow passage. She could feel the engine pulsating beneath the deck as her bare feet padded along the corridor to the next cabin. She knocked on the door.

‘Who’s there?’

Essie breathed a sigh of relief as she recognised Lady Alice’s cultured tones. ‘It’s me, my lady. Essie Chapman.’

The door opened and Lady Alice stood aside to let her in. She was wearing a man’s velvet dressing robe and her long blonde hair hung loosely about her shoulders. ‘Are you all right, Essie? I was afraid you had injured yourself.’

‘I’ve got a sore head, but that’s all. I want my clothes and I must get home before Pa wakes up.’

‘I’m going to find the captain and order him to put us ashore, but first I need to make certain that Raven is being cared for. You can come with me because I don’t want to wander round this ship on my own and in a state of undress. It’s highly improper.’

The sudden desire to laugh took Essie by surprise. They were in a dire situation, having aided a felon to escape the law, very nearly drowning in the attempt, and now they were on a ship, bound for heaven knows where. It was utterly ridiculous, but she could see the funny side even if they were in serious trouble. ‘I’m sorry, my lady. I know I shouldn’t find it amusing.’

Lady Alice stared at her, frowning. ‘No, it most certainly isn’t the least bit comical. Raven might die from blood loss, and I’ve put myself beyond the law by helping him to escape. I don’t know what I was thinking.’

‘You said you wanted to pay the captain to look after him, my lady. Did you lose the money when my boat sank?’

A slow smile curved Lady Alice’s lips. ‘I had it concealed around my waist.’ She moved to the bunk and drew back the coverlet to reveal two large leather pouches. ‘These are filled with gold. If I’d gone overboard I would have sunk to the bottom of the river.’

‘Were you going to give it all to the captain?’

‘Don’t be so naïve, Esther. Of course not – I’ll treat him generously, but this is for Freddie. He sent word some time ago that he’s ill and in desperate need, and this will help him in more ways than one. He’ll be able to hire a good lawyer to plead his case and he’ll be able to live well until he’s free to return home.’

‘But it’s Raven’s money, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, it’s a small part of his fortune. His solicitor, Watkin Gilfoyle, has invested the rest and no doubt taken a large fee for representing Raven and Freddie, but then he’s the best solicitor in London.’

‘And will he continue to plead their case, even though they’re absent?’

‘Of course he will. That’s what he’s paid for. Anyway, I’m going to find the captain. I want a word with that gentleman.’ Lady Alice opened the door and, wrapping the robe more tightly around her slender figure, she marched along the passage, knocked and entered a cabin at the far end without waiting for a response.

Essie hurried after her. Wearing nothing but a thin sheet made her feel vulnerable and extremely uncomfortable, but she forgot her own problems when she saw Raven prostrate on a bunk with a strange man standing over him.

‘How is he, Capitano Falco?’ Lady Alice asked anxiously.

‘I am not a doctor, my lady. All I can say is that he is a strong man, and I have seen worse injuries. By the time we reach Brindisi he should be able to leave the ship.’ He spoke perfect English, with a strong accent that Essie found very attractive, and with his dark good looks he had the romantic appeal of a corsair.

‘But you will put us ashore as soon as possible, Capitano.’ Lady Alice gave him a direct look. ‘And we need our clothes, whether or not they are dry.’

‘Alas, I cannot put into port along the river, my lady. If what you said is true, the authorities will have been alerted and the police will be looking for him. We make our way full speed to the Channel where we will be safe.’

‘But you must allow me to go ashore,’ Lady Alice protested. ‘I will be missed and you will be accused of kidnapping me and my maid, not to mention this poor girl.’ She waved her hand in Essie’s direction. ‘Her father will be distraught.’

Falco shrugged his shoulders. ‘Perhaps you should have thought of that before you boarded my ship, my lady. I am not responsible for you or your companions. Now, please go back to your cabin. Your clothes will be returned to you when they are dry.’

For a moment Essie thought that Lady Alice was going to argue, but she merely nodded and walked out of the cabin with her head held high. ‘Come with me, Esther. I know where I’m not wanted.’ She marched out and headed for her own cabin, swaying with the movement of the ship as it met the opposition of the incoming tide.

‘What are we to do?’ Essie asked anxiously.

‘Come inside and close the door.’ Lady Alice slumped down on the bunk. ‘There must be a place where Capitano Falco could put us ashore. I refuse to accept his decision, but perhaps a little tact and a few charming smiles might do the trick.’

‘Pa won’t notice I’m missing until morning, but I’m afraid he will call a constable and report me as lost, stolen or strayed – like a pet dog.’ An irrepressible giggle bubbled to the surface and Essie covered her mouth with her hand. ‘I’m sorry – I know it isn’t funny, but our predicament is so unbelievable that any minute I think I might wake up and find it was all a dream.’

‘A nightmare, more like.’ Lady Alice ran her hand through her hair. ‘I really don’t understand you, Esther. This isn’t at all funny – I haven’t got a hairbrush or a mirror, let alone a change of clothes. When I’m dressed I’ll speak to the captain again, and this time I’ll back my demands with money. It never fails to work; everyone has a price.’

Next morning, seated in the small saloon where the captain and officers ate and took their brief moments of leisure, Lady Alice was even more downcast. Sadie seemed to be the only one of them who was enjoying the experience, and she chattered endlessly until Lady Alice silenced her with a searing glance. Sadie subsided, eyeing her mistress nervously, and Essie felt sorry for her. None of them had had a good night’s sleep, and, as there was not a spare cabin for Sadie, she had slept on the floor in Essie’s cabin. Her groans and the sound of thuds as she turned over and bumped herself on the bulkhead had kept Essie awake until the small hours, and even then she had slept fitfully. The movement of the vessel and the rhythmic throbbing of the engine created an alien environment, and she could not help worrying about Raven, whose life might hang in the balance. Captain Falco had insisted that he would be cared for by the first mate, who had a smattering of medical knowledge, but Essie had met the man at supper and she was not impressed. She had come across many seafarers during her days on the river, and the officers and crew of the Santa Gabriella were more like her idea of Barbary pirates than a disciplined bunch of professional mariners.

Lady Alice toyed with a slice of stale bread and rancid butter. ‘If this is their daily fare no wonder the crew look like rabid dogs. What possessed Raven to hire the captain’s services is beyond me.’ She pushed her plate away and sipped her coffee, pulling a face. ‘This is so strong it tastes like tar. Maybe it’s what they use to caulk the ship, but it’s filthy stuff. Just wait until I get a chance to speak to Falco. I’ll tell him what I think of him and his vessel.’

‘And what is that, my lady?’ Captain Falco strolled into the saloon and pulled up a chair. ‘You wish to speak to me?’

Essie shifted uncomfortably in her seat, wondering exactly how much he had heard of Lady Alice’s candid opinion, and Sadie shrank into a corner, eyeing the master of the ship as if she expected him to rant and rave, even though he appeared to be mildly amused. Lady Alice’s cheeks flushed rosily but she met his quizzical look with a defiant stare.

‘Yes, Capitano. I could complain about the food and this disgusting brew you call coffee, but as we will only be on board for a short while, I will refrain from doing so. However, I demand to be put ashore at the first possible opportunity. Keeping us here amounts to kidnapping and that is against the law here, as I am certain it must be in Italy.’