The Winter Orphan

‘Lies! You can prove nothing.’

Arthur’s eyebrows rose. ‘I wonder how many more children you’ve sold, madam. How many years does your reign of tyranny stretch? How many lives have you ruined or blighted?’ He was merely guessing, using Meg’s rather vague memories of her time here and his own instinct, gained from years of experience, but the look in her eyes was enough to make him certain he knew, though he had no proof.

‘My husband will thrash you for slighting our good name!’ she blustered but Arthur had seen the fear and guilt in her eyes. It was as he’d thought, and his bold verbal attack on her had paid off. She must have many lives on her conscience.

‘He is welcome to try, madam,’ Arthur said. ‘I shall be speaking to Lady Rowntree and I think you will both find yourselves dismissed before much longer. Indeed, that may not be the limit of your woes. I shall do my utmost to see you both behind prison bars!’

Arthur left her fuming. As he went down the stairs he saw a woman of perhaps forty years standing at the bottom, clearly waiting for him.

‘I heard some of what you said to the mistress,’ Florrie told him and clutched anxiously at his arm. ‘I pray you will not believe her lies.’

‘I do not,’ Arthur said. ‘Meg believes her child lives and someone told her that it was given away.’

‘I know the child lived at birth,’ Florrie said, ‘and Bella saw the babe given to someone in a carriage but I did not – though I know it has happened in the past. And I know she sold Bella to a brute who will work her to death. He owns a forge in the village of Fornham some four miles or so hence on the Alton road, and I have heard that he makes chain and works his people hard.’

‘Your name is?’ Arthur’s brows lifted.

‘Florrie Stewart, sir. I came here when I was close to starving years ago and, though I am a skilled seamstress, I have feared to leave this place though some of the things that go on here make me sick to my stomach.’ She clutched at his arm. ‘Will you see if Bella is all right, sir? I fear she is too delicate for the work she has been set to.’

‘And you care for her?’

‘Yes, sir. I helped care for Bella since she was a baby.’

‘Rest easy, Mistress Stewart. I shall make it my business to see if the girl is safe. I am staying at the Three Pheasants Inn, which is some nine miles east of here, Mistress Stewart. I might help you to find a good position.’

‘Lady Rowntree likes my work. If she would take me into her household I would gladly go, but I was once falsely accused of theft and lost my position. Lady Rowntree knows the employer who dismissed me and I do not think she would have me in her house if she knew.’

‘Then I will help you,’ Arthur said and smiled. ‘You may trust me. You are not the first to have lost your position because of a lie. Leave this place and come to me at the inn before the end of the week if you will.’

‘Thank you, sir – but if you could help Bella? She is not strong enough to work in that awful chain-making place, and her mother was a lady.’

‘You knew the girl’s mother?’

‘Briefly, when she stayed here a short time. She told us her name was Marie but I think it may have been a name she chose for herself. Marie died in the fields one bitter night after leaving Bella on the church steps. She was beautiful and gentle, a sweet girl, and we cared for her babe as best we could despite the mistress’s spite when it was brought here by the vicar.’

‘Yes, I’m sure you did,’ Arthur said. ‘I intend to speak with Lady Rowntree concerning this place. It may be that things will change here, but I cannot guarantee it.’

Florrie curtsied and thanked him and Arthur left. He knew that, even as he went out to his carriage, Mistress Brent would be complaining to her husband. If he was a man at all he would come after Arthur and try to force an apology from him. Otherwise, the guilty couple would flee. It all depended on whether they believed Arthur’s story. If they called his bluff he might not be able to prove anything, but if they ran … A smile touched his lips. Florrie had told him what little she knew, but others would tell more if they thought it safe.

In the meantime, Arthur would visit the chain works and hear what this Karl Breck had to say. If he was willing to sell the child Bella to him, he would buy her and take her back to London – and if not? Mentally, Arthur shrugged. He could not rescue every child forced to do unsuitable work, but he would not stand by and see cruelty.

Bella emptied the clothes from the copper where they had been boiled and then left to cool. She put them through the big mangle with its wooden rollers and turned the metal handle. It was almost too hard for her to turn full circle and she was panting by the time she had finished. Now she had to rinse them all in clean water in the zinc bath and then put them through the mangle again. She had filled the bath with cold water and dumped the load of sheets and pillow covers in it, sighing as she stirred with a big wooden stick.

‘Bella! Bella, come and help me!’ The scream came from the kitchen and Bella rushed in to discover her mistress bent almost double and writhing with pain. She saw that there was a puddle on the tiled floor and where Annie had pulled up her skirts she could see red stains on the cream flannel petticoats.

‘My baby!’ Annie gasped and clutched at her stomach again. ‘It’s coming early. Oh, I knew it would happen after what he did last night …’ Tears rolled down her cheeks and she clutched at Bella’s arm. ‘He won’t leave me alone. He won’t see I need rest!’ She gave a sob of utter despair.

‘Let me help you to bed,’ Bella said. ‘The beds are newly made and the old sheets are soaking.’

‘I need the midwife,’ Annie moaned. ‘Help me upstairs, Bella – and then run to Fornham for the midwife.’

Bella nodded, looking at her with big, scared eyes. She had not been frightened of the mistress at the workhouse even though she was beaten regularly, but the thought of Annie giving birth terrified her.

Annie leaned on Bella heavily as she helped her upstairs. Once in the bedroom, Bella was kept busy covering the clean sheets with old towels and a torn sheet, but by the time it was done, Annie was panting and grimacing like an animal, her teeth bared as she tried to control her pain.

‘Go now and get the midwife,’ she gasped.

Bella hesitated for a moment. She’d seen women give birth at the workhouse and she sensed that the babe was coming soon, but Annie gestured angrily at her to go and so she ran. She rushed down the stairs and across the fields at the back of the house towards the village, running as swiftly as her legs would take her. Annie was in terrible pain and Bella was afraid she might die alone with no one to help her.

She ran and ran as fast as she could, her chest heaving as she gasped for breath. It seemed a lot further than it had the day her master brought her to his house and gave her to the mistress. She was gasping and there was pain in her chest by the time she reached the village of Fornham, which was just one street and a huddle of houses to either side, two shops and a larger house that belong to the doctor. She’d run so fast that she was out of breath and it was a few moments before she was able to tell the first person she saw what was needed. The woman looked at her down her long nose when she heard who her employer was.

‘Jenny Midwife lives in that cottage at the end of the street,’ she said coldly. ‘But you’ll not find her there – she’s at Mr Tucker’s farm. His wife is having her baby and she’s gone there to nurse her.’

Bella felt the panic rise. ‘If no one comes to Annie’s aid she will die – please, ma’am, will you come?’

‘Me? Come to that house?’ The woman’s eyebrows arched in horror. ‘No, indeed I shall not – fetch Annie’s husband to her or someone else.’

Bella looked at her in disgust and ran off. She met three women coming from the village shop but they all shook their heads when she begged them to come to Annie. In despair, Bella ran to the workshop and called for her master. When he came out to her, he looked furious, as if she had committed a sin by asking for him.

‘The midwife is away and no one will come,’ Bella said. ‘Annie is bad and I fear she may die!’

‘Get back there and see to her,’ Karl said and cuffed her ear. ‘You’re not a babe. You should’ve stayed with her and ’elped her.’

Bella knew that any excuse would fall on deaf ears. He went back into the cavernous interior of the dark workshop and Bella began to run back to the cottage. She was terrified of what she would find because she knew that without the midwife it would all fall on her shoulders. She had seen babes born but she did not know what to do for the mother and she feared that Annie might not survive. The babe was coming early and that meant something was wrong. Without proper help, there was little hope for either Annie or her child.

‘Where is the midwife?’ Annie gasped as Bella returned to the bedroom. ‘Is she coming?’

‘She was at a farm,’ Bella said. ‘I know not where – and no one else would come.’ She moved closer to the bed. ‘I will help you, mistress. I have water on the range. I will fetch it.’

Annie gave a little scream and half rose from the bed. ‘No, don’t leave me. I can’t be alone – it hurts so much. Neither of the others was like this!’

She screamed again loudly and clutched at Bella’s arm. ‘It is tearing me apart!’

Bella bent over her, stroking the damp hair from her forehead. ‘What can I do to help you, mistress?’

‘Nothing, I need the midwife,’ Annie moaned and screamed again.

Neither of them heard the knock at the door or the voice that called out, nor did they hear the footsteps on the stairs as Annie screamed and screamed. She was panting wildly, her eyes fearful as the pain ripped at her.

‘Where is the midwife?’ a man’s voice asked suddenly and Bella whirled to see a man in clothes that fitted him like a second skin. She had never seen one in her life but she thought he must be a gentleman.

‘She is away helping a farmer’s wife and no one else would come,’ Bella said, a sob in her voice. ‘I think Annie will die.’

‘We cannot have that,’ the man said and smiled at her. ‘Are you Bella?’

‘Yes, sir.’

‘Then take care of your mistress while I fetch the doctor. I shall be as quick as I can …’

Bella wanted to beg him to stay but he was out of the door and mounting his horse. She watched Annie writhing in pain, terrified that the gentleman would not return in time and her mistress would die. Going nervously towards the bed, she stroked Annie’s sweat-stained brow.

‘The gentleman has gone for the doctor, Mistress. He won’t be long … he promised he would be back soon.’

Annie stared at her wildly, her body tossing as she arched with pain. Unable to do more than comfort her with words, Bella stayed by her side, reassuring her as best she could, until after what seemed ages, she heard the sound of voices downstairs and then the gentleman brought the doctor into the room.

‘Fetch up the boiling water, girl,’ the doctor said, ‘and then you can help me. Now I shall examine you, young lady and we shall see if this child is willing to be born …’ he said, bending over Annie.

Annie looked at him with frightened eyes as he felt her stomach and then nodded. But for all his brusqueness the doctor’s touch was gentle and reassuring. She was panting again. He told her to count and to breathe steadily, and then he reached towards her dilated opening. ‘I will try to be gentle …’

For answer, Annie screamed as the doctor turned the child. He was working for some moments and she screamed several times, tossing her head wildly in her agony.

‘I am so sorry but … ah yes, now baby is facing the right way. I think we shall do much better now, Annie …’

Annie screamed and began to writhe and push as she felt movement inside her. Her child was suddenly in a hurry to be born; pain caught her, making her pant and push, and then the child’s head emerged and with a whoosh and a rush of blood and slime, the large body of a male child came slithering into the world. The doctor tied the birth cord securely and then cut it with the silver penknife he’d earlier taken from his pocket. He picked up the babe and showed him to his mother and then gave him to Bella. After washing his hands and pocketing his knife, he looked at Bella, motioning for her to change the water in the bowl.

‘Wash him, child, and then give him to his mother. In a moment you can do what is necessary to make her comfortable but just now she needs to rest and enjoy the babe.’

‘Yes, sir,’ Bella jumped to obey. She was stunned by what she had seen and watched as the doctor cleared away all the bloody towels and wiped some of the worst from the mother before covering her. She poured fresh warm water into the empty bowl and gently cleansed the babe of mucus and blood, wrapped him in a large clean white towel and took him to his mother. Annie lay still, just looking up at the doctor, clearly shocked and exhausted by the birth. Then, as he was about to turn away, she caught his arm.

‘Thank you, sir. My husband will pay you.’

‘Mr Stoneham has already paid me; had it not been for him I confess I should have been loath to set foot in this house again.’

Annie looked away in shame, for she knew her husband’s reputation. ‘See the doctor out, Bella – and ask the gentleman to step up here please. I wish to thank him.’

Bella did as she was told. In the kitchen the stranger asked the doctor if all was well and they spoke together in hushed voices for a moment. After the doctor had left, the gentleman turned to Bella.

‘Is your mistress comfortable? Has she all she needs?’

‘She asked that you would step up to her room so that she might thank you, sir.’

‘Very well …’ He followed her back to the room above, where Annie was looking down at the child that had caused her so much agony.

‘I am glad to see you safely through your ordeal, ma’am.’

‘Thanks to you, sir,’ Annie said looking up at him in wonder. ‘It was good of you to fetch the doctor for I know well he did not wish to come. May I know your name, sir?’

He smiled at her as she kissed her child and nursed it to her breast. ‘I am Arthur Stoneham and I came here to see how Bella was faring …’ He glanced at the girl. ‘Does your master treat you well, child?’

‘He gave me to Annie – and I like helping her. It’s better than the workhouse,’ Bella said truthfully.

Arthur nodded, watching the mother and child for a few moments as they settled and got to know one another, the child snuffling as it latched on to its mother and nuzzled her, seeking warmth and the sustenance instinct told it was to be found here.

‘Leave them together for a while and follow me downstairs, child. I would speak with you, Bella – and you should make a cup of something hot for your mistress.’

Annie was looking at her son with tears on her cheeks. She had suffered but now she had the son that Karl had longed for. ‘Thank you, Mr Stoneham – I believe you saved both me and my baby for if you had not fetched the doctor we might both have died.’

‘I did what I was able, ma’am,’ Arthur said.

Bella followed Arthur downstairs. When they reached the kitchen she filled the kettle once more. The gentleman was looking about him.

‘Where do you sleep, Bella?’

‘In the attic, sir. It is warm and I have a bed.’

‘And are you fed adequately?’

‘Annie makes the best pies and cakes I’ve ever tasted, sir.’

‘Then you are content to stay here?’

Bella hesitated. She did not dislike the work she did and her mistress was kind enough despite the occasional sharpness of her tongue and a small slap if she was tired and angry.

‘It’s all right, sir.’ Bella did not know what else to say. ‘It’s better than the workhouse. I hated it there and the food is much better here.’

Mr Stoneham hesitated, and then he nodded. ‘Very well, I shall not try to buy your bond if you are content here. Now, please tell me what you know of the babe that was sold at the workhouse.’

‘I saw the babe born, sir – and they thought the woman they called Jane would die, but the babe was healthy and then Jane recovered and asked about her child. They told her she was dead, but I’d seen the mistress take her away and the child was crying loudly. Later, I saw the mistress give the babe to someone in a carriage but I saw not who it was.’

‘And you were certain it was Jane’s babe she gave?’

‘Yes, sir. I know it was Jane’s child for there were no others in the house that night nor for some weeks after.’

‘Good – then I may ask you to sign your name to a paper for me another day. Will you do that?’

‘Yes, sir – though I can write no more than my name.’

‘That will be fine, Bella.’ He put his hand in his pocket and brought out a florin. ‘This is for you – I would give you more but you might be accused of stealing it.’

‘I’ve never had a coin before but I’ve seen one of these – Florrie had one from the lady she works for and she bought some plums for us all and shared them.’

Arthur nodded. ‘Is there anything more you can tell me, child?’

‘I’m not sure, sir.’ Bella looked puzzled. ‘Well, there was the boy that disappeared …’

Arthur’s brow furrowed. ‘A boy disappeared?’

‘Yes, sir – a few months back, in the autumn last year. He tried to run away and the master caught him and brought him back. He said he would be whipped and told us it was a warning to us all, but we never saw him again.’

‘What was the boy’s name?’

‘It was a bit like yours, sir – Arthur Meaks. But he was not meek, sir. He was always in trouble and being punished, and then he was gone.’

‘Did no one tell you where he’d gone?’

‘The mistress said he’d been sent to work for a master but I do not know where, for I never saw him again after the master dragged him away – and when I asked Florrie, she was upset and said it was best not to speak of it.’

‘Thank you,’ Arthur said. ‘You have helped me, Bella – and if ever you need my help, you may send word to me here.’

He handed her a small white card with some letters printed on it. The writing meant nothing to Bella but she tucked it inside her bodice with her precious florin. Other people knew how to read and something told her that one day she might want to contact this man again.

‘Thank you, sir.’ She hesitated but then did not ask for help, because where could she go if he took her away from here? Bella did not want to return to the workhouse and there was nowhere else for her to go. Here her master generally ignored her and Annie was sometimes kind; she thought there might be far worse places than the one she already had and so she held her thoughts inside.

‘Goodbye, Bella,’ Mr Stoneham said. ‘I will come to see you another day and if there is something you wish to tell me you may do so then.’

Bella watched as he left the kitchen and then set about gathering another kettle and some clean linen. Annie would want to wash and she would need a cup of tea.

CHAPTER 5

‘He will expose us and then what shall we do?’ Mistress Brent cried and glared at her husband. ‘We shall be cast into prison and it is all your fault for selling those babies!’

‘You have been quick to take your share of the money,’ her husband grunted. He raised a knotted fist to her, clenching it in her face. ‘Stop your complaining, woman. This man can know nothing, for who would tell him? Only a child who is probably half dead by now. The new parents will not speak for they are equally guilty in this – and this business with that interfering fool will all go away.’

‘But what if they come here and search?’ she said and whimpered as he struck the side of her head. Her eyes were large and accusing as she looked at him. ‘I have sold children but you have done much worse and I will not hang for you.’

‘Be quiet, you fool!’ He rounded on her and struck her several times about the face and head, making her shriek and cower in fear. ‘Whatever I have done, you played your part and do not forget it. If they hang me you will hang too – for I’ll make certain you’re implicated in it all.’

Mistress Brent stared after him with resentful eyes as he left the room. When they’d first come here she’d thought it would be a good life, but he’d made it all go bad. She hated him and yet she feared to leave him. Walter was a violent man and he would never let her go because what she knew could hang him. She went to the little washstand in the corner of her room and bathed her face in cold water. There would be a bruise, which she would struggle to cover with powder and rouge.

She was frightened of the man who had come to investigate them, but even more terrified of her husband. If he thought she had betrayed him, he would not hesitate to kill her as he had those others … It crossed her mind that she might throw herself on Mr Stoneham’s mercy, confess her part and tell all in return for indemnity, but she could not bring herself to do it. Even if she was not imprisoned, she would never again find herself in a position of trust and plenty. She would be poor and homeless and the thought of ending her days in a workhouse like this terrified her.

No, she must remain silent as Walter bid her. Perhaps this Mr Stoneham would become bored and return to wherever he had come from …

Toby Rattan was waiting for Arthur when he returned to the inn later that day. Arthur greeted his closest friend warmly and shook his hand. The younger son of a lord, Toby had helped him with his charitable work many times and he had a feeling he was going to need his assistance before he was finished here.

‘It was good of you to come straight down, Toby.’

‘I came as soon as I got your note.’ Toby arched his brows wickedly. ‘How is it that you manage to get into a scrape whenever I am not with you?’

‘It must be fate,’ Arthur said, and laughed. ‘Would you believe it – I come fresh from having overseen a child delivered to the local chain-maker’s wife.’

‘Good grief!’ Toby looked thunderstruck. ‘You never cease to amaze me. Now tell me what is behind all this and what you were doing in that poor woman’s bedchamber in the first place.’

‘I went in search of a workhouse child I’d been told had been sold to the chain-maker.’

‘Ah, I might have known it would have something to do with a workhouse!’ Toby nodded in perfect understanding. ‘Pray tell me more. It was damned boring in London without you so I may as well give you a hand. What is going on down here?’

‘You stupid little wretch!’ Mistress Brent struck the child in a fury, sending her sprawling to the floor. She stood over the trembling girl and glared at her. ‘Get up and stop looking at me as if I were a two-headed monster. If you do not obey the rules, you will be punished.’

Florrie watched as Sophie scrambled to her feet and stood trembling before the mistress, expecting another blow and all because she had dared to ask for a second piece of bread at breakfast.

‘Get out of my sight or I will thrash you!’ Mistress Brent said, and the small child ran down the corridor and out of sight.

Florrie hesitated and then stepped forward. ‘That was not necessary, mistress. The child was given only a scrap of bread for her breakfast and she was hungry.’

‘She is a greedy glutton – and you had best mind your tongue, Florrie, or I may rescind your privileges.’

‘You do not own me,’ Florrie said and raised her eyes to meet those of her furious mistress. She was not sure where the courage to defy Norma Brent had come from, but she was no longer afraid of her. ‘I could find work elsewhere, as you well know. I stayed here because it suited me – but you sent Bella away and now you mistreat Sophie. You should be more careful, Mistress Brent. Inquiries are being made concerning you and the master – and some of us know things that you would not wish spoken of!’

‘How dare you threaten me!’ Mistress Brent raised her hand as if to strike Florrie, her eyes glittering with fury. ‘You would find it hard to live outside these walls, Florrie – and if you wish to leave you owe money for your keep.’