Читать книгу The Summer Maiden - Dilly Court, Dilly Court - Страница 9

The Captain’s House on Black Lion Wharf was wedged between a warehouse and a ship’s chandler. The odd assortment of buildings, some of them on wooden stilts driven into the mud, seemed to have been thrown together in a random fashion, but even before they climbed the steps to the front door, Caroline had a feeling of coming home.

Sadie took a key from her reticule and unlocked the door. ‘I still feel bad about this, Carrie. The house should be yours.’

‘No, it shouldn’t. If Papa wanted you to have it then that’s how it must be. I’m not beaten yet, Sadie. I’ll get us out of this mess, if it’s the last thing I ever do.’ Caroline followed Sadie into the oak-panelled entrance hall. The musty smell made her wrinkle her nose and a cobweb hanging from the ceiling brushed against her cheek. The floor was thick with dried mud and the carapaces of dead cockroaches.

‘I hope the rest of the house is cleaner than this,’ Sadie said crossly.

‘Hurry up there.’ Max pushed in behind them. ‘Let us in, Carrie.’

James slipped past her. ‘It’s creepy, but I think I might like living here. I want a bedroom that overlooks the river so that I can watch the boats.’

‘I expect that can be arranged.’ Caroline moved on, opening doors and peering into the empty rooms. The front parlour looked as though it might be comfortable enough, but it needed a thorough clean, and the dining room was positively filthy. Someone must have owned at least one dog, judging by the muddy paw prints on the floorboards and the smell of damp fur that lingered in the air. The dining room was situated at the back of the house and there were steep steps down to the basement kitchen.

‘I spent many a happy hour in here,’ Sadie said, smiling. ‘The smell of baking filled the whole house.’

‘It stinks now.’ James held his nose. ‘I think something died in one of the cupboards.’

Max stuck his head round the door. ‘Mr Bromley wants to know where to put the luggage, Carrie.’

She turned with a start. ‘Of course. I’m coming, Max.’ She turned to Sadie. ‘I suppose we’d best start cleaning in here. It looks so dismal and it does smell awful.’

Max opened a cupboard and a cloud of flies erupted, buzzing angrily. ‘I don’t know what it is, but it’s something that’s gone off,’ he said, grimacing.

‘Throw it out for the seagulls.’ Sadie rolled up her sleeves. ‘James, go outside and see if there’s any coal in the yard, or anything we can use to get the fire going. We’ll need lots of hot water.’

Caroline hurried from the kitchen. The house was a disappointment and it did not live up to her fond childhood memories. It was probably damp, definitely dirty and the stench from the muddy foreshore at low tide was disgusting.

She found Laurence standing in the hall amid a pile of baggage. ‘Thank you, Mr Bromley. It was kind of you to help us.’

He shook his head. ‘I’m just sorry to see you in such a sorry plight, Miss Manning.’

‘We’ll be fine,’ Caroline said with more conviction than she was feeling. ‘When the old place is cleaned up, I’m sure it will be like home.’ She glanced out of the open door. ‘I hope the carter brings the kitchen table and chairs soon, or we’ll have nothing to sit on. The beds are on another wagon.’

He stared at her, frowning. ‘My present lodgings leave a lot to be desired and I need somewhere more permanent. I’d like to accept your offer, if you’ll have me.’

‘Do you really want to live in a place like this, Mr Bromley? If you wish to take students I think the families would expect better accommodation.’

He smiled and shrugged. ‘You obviously haven’t seen some of these so-called educational establishments, Miss Manning. I don’t include my old school in this, but some children are simply unwanted and sent away with little thought as to their material comforts. Many of them remain at these places even in the holidays.’

‘That’s awful.’

‘Awful but true. Might I take a look at the rooms upstairs?’

‘Certainly. In fact, we’ll go together. I haven’t had time to inspect them.’

Caroline led the way up a narrow staircase. The rooms were in desperate need of a good clean, but when they reached her old room in the attic Caroline could not resist going out on the balcony. It was close to midday and the heat was intense. The river itself seemed to seethe and boil with the turbulence created by large and small craft, and the constant tidal surge as it met the water flowing to the sea.

‘How wonderful.’ Caroline shielded her eyes against the bright sunlight. ‘I could stand here all day just watching the traffic on the river.’

‘I hope you don’t think I’m being impertinent,’ Laurence began cautiously, ‘but I know that the late Mr Manning owned a shipping company. Might I ask what happened?’

Caroline turned to face him. There was nothing to be gained by keeping the truth from him: it would be public knowledge soon. ‘When my father died he left nothing but debts. We have only one remaining vessel and that is so overdue that I’m beginning to fear the worst.’

‘I’m so sorry. This must be very painful for you.’

‘It is, of course, I loved my father very much, but it’s even harder for my mother. He was her whole life and she’s gone to the country to recover.’

‘But hopefully matters will improve when your ship returns to port?’

‘Yes, but it will be too late to save our home. All I can do is hope and pray that Uncle George returns safely.’

‘Once again, I am very sorry to hear about your problems, but I have enough money saved to pay rent, and it would make me feel better if you will accept it. If you will allow me the use of two rooms – one for myself, and the other for use as a schoolroom – I would still be prepared to tutor your brothers free of charge until you are in a position to pay for their education.’

‘But you need a proper income, Mr Bromley. Unless, of course, you are a gentleman of means.’

His laughter echoed round the empty attic. ‘If I were a man of independent means I would not have spent ten years trying to force knowledge into the heads of boys, most of whom were only interested in kicking a ball around a field or riding to hounds. I could advertise for day students and see how that goes, but that would be up to you and Miss Dixon.’

‘I can’t see any objection,’ Caroline said thoughtfully. ‘I’ll check with Sadie, but in the meantime we’d better try to make this old house habitable again.’ She was about to leave the room when she paused, sniffing the air. ‘I can smell tobacco smoke. I used to believe in ghosts, but I’m not so sure now. Maybe the carter has arrived, although I didn’t hear anyone call out.’ She descended the stairs as quickly as her long skirts would allow, and was met by Max in the entrance hall.

‘You’re in a hurry, Carrie,’ he said, chuckling. ‘Where’s the fire?’

‘I thought perhaps the carter was here.’

‘No, not yet. I’ve been looking out of the window and I’d have seen his van.’

‘It’s just that I thought I smelled pipe smoke.’

‘Maybe it was the captain’s ghost.’ Max nodded and winked. ‘Aunt Sadie told me about the old man who haunts the house. When you smell smoke he’s here and he’s happy, but if he doesn’t approve of what’s going on he goes round slamming doors and rattling windows.’

‘I know the story, but don’t tell Jimmy or he’ll be awake all night.’

‘Don’t worry about him – he’s tougher than you think. Anyway, Jim knows all about the captain. We’re planning to sit up all night and see if he materialises.’

‘Never mind that now. I need you to give a hand to clean this place up before our furniture arrives.’ Caroline reached for a broom that someone had left propped up against the wall and she thrust it into her brother’s hand. ‘You start sweeping and I’ll fetch a dustpan and brush. The floors need a good scrub but we’ll have to wait for Sadie to get the fire going so that we can heat some water.’

Max tossed the broom from one hand to the other. ‘I think I’d rather be at school than doing housework.’

‘I’ve got news for you, young man.’ Laurence descended the stairs with a purposeful look on his face. ‘You are at school and this is your first lesson.’ He took the broom from Max. ‘This is how you sweep a floor. I’ll make a start and you can take over.’

Caroline flashed him a grateful smile. ‘Thank you, Mr Bromley.’

He paused, leaning on the broom handle. ‘I think you could call me Laurence, as we’re going to be living in the same house.’

‘Really?’ Max looked from one to the other. ‘Are you really moving in with us, sir?’

Laurence nodded and resumed the task of sweeping up the debris left by the last tenants. ‘I am indeed, and we begin lessons as soon as we’ve got this place ship-shape.’

It took more than a few days to get the Captain’s House habitable, but everyone did their bit, even James, who was delegated to keep the fire going in the range. Despite his initial reluctance to take on such menial tasks, he made a good attempt at chopping kindling in the back yard, and kept the scuttle filled with coal. Sadie took over the kitchen with a determination to revive her culinary skills that was impressive, and soon the house was filled with the aroma of baking bread and savoury stews. When she was satisfied that the rooms were spotlessly clean Caroline spent her time making them as homelike as possible, but the money Sadie had saved from the sale in Finsbury Circus was dwindling away at an alarming rate. She scoured the second-hand shops and used what little money they had to purchase a sofa, even though it had seen better days. The upholstery was worn and threadbare and the horsehair stuffing protruded in places, but a couple of well-placed stitches soon put that right. She bought two armchairs in a similar state, but despite the sagging seats they were surprisingly comfortable. A rag rug added a touch of colour to the front parlour and a fly-spotted mirror hung over the mantelshelf made the room look slightly larger. Curtains had been left in all the rooms, mainly, she discovered, because they were lacy with moth holes, but they would have to do. Altogether, Caroline was satisfied that she could do no more.

Laurence’s rent money was used for the purchase of food, candles and coal, but by the end of the first week it was becoming even more apparent that they were in desperate need of an outside income. Despite the fact that Caroline checked every day, there was still no news of her uncle’s ship, and the office remained closed, but she refused to believe that anything untoward had happened to him or his vessel. The loss of her father had left a raw place in her heart, and, although she kept a cheerful face for her brothers’ sake, she was still very much in the first stages of grief.

The city simmered in the summer heat, but there was always a breeze this close to the river, and Caroline was beginning to understand why her parents loved the restless spirit of the Thames with its ever-changing moods and colours. In the evenings, when peace descended upon the house, Caroline often chose to sit on the balcony, enjoying the sunset. The scent of tobacco smoke wafted around her, but even though she had started to believe in him, she was not scared of the old captain, and she often spoke out loud, telling him how grateful she was for the shelter his house afforded them. She was certain that he understood, but it was a feeling rather than anything tangible. Even so, she was sure that he appreciated their efforts to take care of his old home. Whether he was real or imagined, she felt that he understood and sympathised with the recent tragedy in her family, and that gave her the courage to take each day as it came.

She spent more and more evenings in her favourite place, and at low tide she could see her brothers exploring the foreshore, searching for anything of value that had popped out of the thick black mud and might fetch a few pennies in the market. They looked for all the world like the other mudlarks who spent their waking hours searching for anything the ebb tide might have uncovered. There were scuffles when territories were breached, but Max and James had learned how to defend themselves in a hard school, and it was a relief to know that they could hold their own in the harsh outside world.

Sadie and Laurence seemed to be getting on very well – so well, in fact, that Caroline felt that she was witnessing a burgeoning romance. Her aunt and the schoolmaster were ideally suited, and nothing would make her happier than to see Sadie married with children of her own, but that thought only served to make Caroline feel lonely and the loss of her old life even more painful. She was no longer Miss Manning of Finsbury Circus, the daughter of a shipping magnate, with servants at her beck and call. She was, in reality, homeless and living on the charity of a woman who, although much loved, was not related to her by blood. As the days went by the uncertainty as to the fate of her uncle and his ship hung over the household in a black nimbus cloud. Money was tight and there was only one answer …

Caroline went downstairs and found Sadie and Laurence in the parlour, seated on either side of the empty grate.

‘I must find work.’ Caroline said with a determined set to her jaw.

Sadie put down her teacup. ‘What do you mean, Carrie?’

‘It’s quite simple. We are desperate for money and we can’t live off the rent that Laurence pays us.’

Laurence leaned forward in his chair. ‘I’ve put an advertisement in The Times, Caroline. I can take day boys, or even a couple of boarders. Sadie and I were discussing it before you joined us.’

‘But that won’t keep all of us, and you can’t be expected to pay us rent and teach my brothers for nothing.’

‘They’re bright boys,’ Laurence said, smiling. ‘I’m sure I could get both of them into Oxford or Cambridge.’

‘Even so, you can’t support all of us.’

Sadie’s smooth brow creased into a frown. ‘If we’re to become a school of sorts I would be happy to look after the pupils. Mrs Cooper’s teaching is coming back to me gradually and I’m getting the hang of that black-leaded beast of a range.’

‘But that leaves me with no place in this house,’ Caroline said sadly. ‘I was brought up to be a lady, even though my parents came from humble backgrounds, but I’m not like Cordelia Bearwood.’

A dry chuckle escaped Sadie’s lips. ‘I would hope not. Lovely as she is, Cordelia has been spoiled to death by her doting parents.’

‘Just wait and see what response I get from my advertisement,’ Laurence said softly. ‘I’m grateful for the opportunity to start my school, and, if I’m successful, I hope one day to have my own establishment.’

‘And you will, Laurence. I’m sure of it.’ Sadie’s pale blue eyes glowed with pride and a delicate flush coloured her cheeks.

Caroline stared at her aunt as if seeing her for the first time. The ever-practical, reliable friend of her childhood had been transformed into a radiant young woman. Was it possible to fall in love so quickly? Caroline could not answer that question, but it seemed to have happened before her eyes and she could only be glad that Sadie had at last found someone worthy of her.

‘I think I’ll go to my room and read for a while,’ Caroline said, yawning. ‘Do you mind seeing to the boys, Sadie?’

‘Of course not,’ Sadie said smiling happily. ‘If Laurence goes ahead with fee-paying boarders I’ll need the practice mothering small boys. I think it would be a wonderful thing to do.’

Laurence rose to his feet. ‘I wouldn’t do anything that you didn’t feel was right, Caroline.’

‘I think it’s a splendid idea. You two could manage it beautifully.’ She escaped from the room, but instead of going upstairs she let herself out through the front door and negotiated the steps down to the wharf.

Despite the noxious odours from the factory chimneys and the gasworks, it was a beautiful evening – the sort of warm, feathery dusk that seemed to wrap itself around a body like a silk shawl. The sun was a fiery golden ball plummeting below the horizon, leaving the sky streaked with blood-red and purple bruise-like clouds. The river boiled like molten copper and the smelly mud had a silvery sheen. It was a night for lovers, but that thought made her feel even lonelier than before.

A shriek from the foreshore made her turn with a start and, looking down from the wharf, she could see her brothers being attacked by a gang of ragged youths. She made for the nearest watermen’s stairs and raced down them, risking a fall, but her feet barely touched the slimy treads, and she landed on the shingle with a dull thud.

‘Stop that,’ she cried angrily. ‘Leave those boys alone, you bullies.’ More fearful for her brothers than for herself, she raced over the stones and broken spars, waving her fists at the youths, who turned to stare at her. But their surprised expressions were replaced by surly grins and the tallest of them advanced on Caroline with his ham-like fists raised.

‘Leave us be, lady. You’ll come off worst.’

Max took a running jump and landed on the boy’s back. ‘Run for it, Carrie.’

She stood her ground. ‘I will not. I’m not afraid of you big louts. Leave my brothers alone.’

James had his arms pinned behind his back and his captor was laughing wildly. ‘Shall I break his arms, Crusher?’

The tall youth shook his head. ‘Nah. Let’s have some fun with the toffs first. Let’s show ’em how us Wapping boys treat them as venture into these parts.’

‘Why don’t you take on someone your own size?’ A cultured voice rang out behind them, causing the gang to take several steps backwards as a tall figure emerged from the shadow of the wharf. ‘Let the boys go and if you touch the young lady you’ll have me to deal with.’

Caroline leaped forward to grab James by the hand, dragging him free from the boy who had momentarily released his grip.

The leader of the gang shook Max off as if he were an annoying insect, but his attitude changed subtly. ‘We was only larking around, guv.’

‘Get away from here before I thrash each one of you.’ The man grabbed Max by the collar and marched him across the muddy foreshore to join Caroline and James. ‘Are you hurt, young lady?’

Caroline shook her head. ‘No, sir. I don’t know how to thank you …’

‘No need for that. Just keep away from here. This isn’t a playground.’

His patronising tone annoyed Caroline, despite her intense feeling of relief. Even in the fading light it was obvious that their rescuer was a gentleman. His frock coat was well cut and his checked trousers gave him a slightly dandified appearance. He was clean-shaven, but the brim of his silky top hat cast a shadow on his upper face and she could not see his eyes.

‘My brothers are new to this area of London, sir,’ Caroline said with as much dignity as she could muster, considering the fact that her slippers were sinking into the cold mud and her silk skirts were wet and probably ruined.

‘Then I suggest you take them home and don’t venture out after sunset. This is a rough area.’ He tipped his hat and marched off in the direction of the stone steps.

‘Are you going to let him talk to you like that?’ Max demanded crossly. ‘That fellow treated you like an idiot, Carrie.’

‘Maybe I was a fool for bringing you boys here,’ Caroline said ruefully. ‘I’ve no idea who that person is, but he did us a favour, and we should follow him as quickly as possible. Those louts might return if they think he’s gone.’

James dashed his hand across his eyes. ‘I was scared, Carrie. I don’t think I like it here.’

She tightened her grasp on his hand and started walking towards the stone steps. ‘We’ll get used to it, Jimmy. We just need to learn how to cope with living in such a different place. After all, our parents once lived here and they survived.’ She held her free hand out to Max. ‘We’re in this together, and we just have to make the best of it.’

‘I could have thrashed the one called Crusher.’ Despite his brave words, Max held her hand as they crossed the mud, making their way to the steps.

Later, when her brothers were in bed, Caroline sat on the window seat in her bedchamber, sipping a mug of cocoa as she gazed out into the moonlit night. Lights from passing river traffic bobbed and danced above the water like tiny fireflies, and the streetlamps cast golden pools on the cobblestones, but the deep shadows held menace and fights broke out as drunks spilled out of the pubs. Blood mingled with the detritus in the gutters and the sound of police whistles and the thunder of booted feet added to the cacophony of hooters from steamships. Caroline finished her cocoa and drew the curtains before climbing into bed. She might never know the identity of the gentleman who had come to their aid, but one thing was certain – tomorrow she would start looking for paid employment. Her life of luxury and leisure had ended and it was time she started earning her living.

Next morning, at breakfast, Laurence was allowing his tea to get cold while he studied a copy of The Times. With his steel-rimmed reading spectacles perched on the end of his nose he looked every inch a scholar, but his brow was wrinkled in a frown and he did not seem too happy. Caroline had finished her slice of toast, thinly spread with butter, and was sipping her tea in an attempt to make it last until she could have a proper look at the newspaper. She had been attempting to read the ‘Positions Vacant’ column over Laurence’s shoulder, but it was almost impossible as he kept moving his head and obscuring her view.

‘Where are those boys?’ Sadie demanded as she filled the sink with water from the kettle. ‘Max should be helping with the washing up. It’s his turn today.’

‘They’re not used to rising early when they’re on holiday,’ Caroline said hastily. She had not mentioned the scuffle on the foreshore the previous evening, and she did not intend to tell Laurence or Sadie. The boys, she hoped, had learned their lesson.

‘But they’re not on holiday,’ Sadie said firmly. ‘They’ll be starting their lessons again as soon as Laurence has unpacked his books.’

Laurence looked up at the mention of his name, peering at Sadie over the rim of his spectacles. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t hear what you said.’

‘I was speaking about the boys beginning their studies with you,’ Sadie said patiently. ‘The sooner the better, in my opinion.’ She refilled the kettle from the pump at the sink and replaced it on the hob. ‘Is there anything of interest in the paper?’

Laurence shook his head. ‘No, not today, but there’s always tomorrow.’

‘Might I borrow the newspaper?’ Caroline asked, holding out her hand. ‘I like to keep abreast with what’s going on in the world.’

Laurence handed it to her with a gentle smile, but Sadie chortled with laughter.

‘That’s the first I’ve heard of it, Carrie. Don’t take too long because I want you to go to market and buy some vegetables and a beef bone. I’m afraid it will be soup again for supper.’

‘Yes, of course. I’ll go as soon as I’ve got the boys out of bed.’ Caroline left the kitchen without giving Sadie a chance to think of anything else that she might want, and hurried upstairs to wake her brothers. When she was satisfied that they intended to get up and dress themselves, she took the newspaper to her room and sat down to study the ‘Positions Vacant’ column. Her attention was caught by the name ‘Colville’, which she had often heard spoken when her parents were discussing business matters over breakfast or dinner – Colville Shipping Company, her father’s bitter rival, was part of the reason for Manning and Chapman’s dire financial straits. She memorised the advertisement and the address, selected a straw bonnet adorned with scarlet rosebuds and ribbons, slipped on her lace shawl and prepared for battle.