The River Maid. Dilly Court

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      ‘Well, I’m truly grateful for the food,’ Essie said earnestly. ‘But you mustn’t risk your job for me, Sadie, dear. I’ll brave the servants’ hall later on and make myself known to everyone. I’m sure someone will tell me what I’m supposed to do about meals.’

      ‘Cook is all right, miss. But she gets a bit upset when she burns things, and then you got to watch out for flying pans, and she can’t half swear when she’s in a state. Mr Barton ain’t here at the moment, but he’s a stickler for behaviour and clean fingernails. The kitchen maids are a funny lot. Sometimes they’re friendly and at other times they’re scratching each other’s eyes out like a lot of alley cats.’

      ‘It sounds a dreadful place to work,’ Essie said thoughtfully. ‘Can’t you go home to your family?’

      ‘Ain’t got one, miss. I was raised in the Foundling Home. There’s lots of us kids around. I suppose I’m lucky to have a roof over me head and three meals a day. It could be worse.’ She backed out onto the landing and her footsteps grew fainter as she raced towards the back stairs.

      Having eaten every last scrap of food, Essie worked with renewed energy, and by late afternoon she had almost finished the pile of mending. Her back ached and her fingers were sore, having pricked them on the needle more times than she could remember, but there was a certain satisfaction in seeing the neatly patched and darned garments ready for wear. She had almost forgotten the reason for her being in Hill Street when Lady Alice breezed into the room.

      ‘I didn’t send for you, Essie, because it would arouse curiosity in the servants’ hall. I want you to be as inconspicuous as possible.’

      ‘I understand, my lady. Have you anything for me?’

      Lady Alice nodded and handed her a sealed document. ‘Give this to Raven and tell him that the money is deposited in the bank. He knows which one, and I’ve arranged another meeting with his lawyer tomorrow at eleven o’clock, but this time he has to attend without me.’

      ‘I’ll tell him that, my lady.’

      ‘Good. We’re trusting you, Essie. This is extremely important – you might say a matter of life and death – so nothing must go wrong. Do you understand?’

      ‘Yes, my lady.’

      ‘Then I’ll say no more.’ Lady Alice took a leather purse from her reticule and placed it on the table. ‘There’s enough money to pay your cab fares. I’ll expect you here after Raven’s appointment with his lawyer. It’s not safe for me to be seen with him, so you will take my place. Go now and I’ll see you tomorrow.’

      Essie walked part of the way, but it was hot and she grew weary of being jostled on the crowded pavements. Eventually she hailed a cab, alighting in Fore Street, and made her way along the wharves, hoping to bump into Ben. She owed him an explanation, but that might prove difficult without giving away her new position in Hill Street. She was deep in thought when she was accosted by Diggory Tyce. He loomed out of the shadow of a large crane.

      ‘So, you’ve returned to us, Essie Chapman. Where’ve you been all day? I believe Riley has been looking for you.’

      ‘It’s none of your business, Mr Tyce.’ Essie tried to sidestep him but Diggory Tyce was a big man and nimble for his size. He grabbed her by the arm.

      ‘Don’t try to humbug me, miss. I know there’s something going on. I saw the man you brought ashore the other night. What has that father of yours got you into now?’

      ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Essie struggled but he only tightened his grip on her arm. ‘Let me go or I’ll scream.’ She looked for a familiar face, but it was unusually quiet for the time of day.

      He leaned over so that his face was close to hers. ‘Give us a kiss, little girl. I’ve a fancy for you and now your dad is out of action there’s no one to stand up for you.’

      ‘That’s where you’re wrong.’ Ben came striding towards them, his hands clenched into fists. ‘Let her go, guvnor.’

      ‘Or what?’ Diggory demanded, grinning. ‘You depend on me for your livelihood, boy. You’re bound over to me for another year and I can make or break you, so go away and leave me to enjoy meself for a change.’

      Essie wrenched her arm free. ‘You’re a disgrace, Diggory Tyce. Leave Ben out of this, but my pa will hear of it, you may depend on that. He won’t be laid up for ever and then you’d best watch out.’

      Diggory backed away, his face contorted with rage. ‘You little slut. You toss your head and you’re all smiles when you want something, but you don’t want to give anything in return. There’s a name for girls like you.’

      Ben took a step towards him but Essie held him back. ‘No, Ben. Don’t get into bother because of me. I can take care of myself.’

      Reluctantly Ben dropped his hands to his sides. ‘I’ll see you safely home, Essie.’

      ‘No, you won’t. There’s still work to do and you work for me.’ Diggory turned on his heel and stomped away in the direction of the wharfinger’s office. ‘You’ll be sorry for this, Essie Chapman.’

      She shook her head. ‘He’s a brute. I wonder I didn’t see it before, but he’s never behaved like that until now.’

      ‘I’m sorry, Essie. I should have flattened him while I had the chance.’ Ben shoved his hands in his pockets, shoulders hunched as if he carried the weight of the world on them. ‘But he’s right. I’m bound to him until I finish my apprenticeship. Sometimes I wish I’d gone to sea or joined the army.’

      ‘Let’s walk on. I don’t want to give him the chance to tell you off for shirking.’ Essie tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. ‘If you had done any of those things it would have been my loss, Ben. I really appreciate what you did just now.’

      ‘I just made it worse.’

      ‘No, you didn’t. He might have gone further if you hadn’t intervened, and I’m grateful.’

      He came to a halt at the top of the steps leading down to the foreshore, where mudlarks were picking over the detritus left by the ebb tide. ‘Where have you been all day? Riley asked me where you were and I didn’t know what to say. Your boat is still where you left it, so I knew you weren’t working on the river.’

      ‘I can’t tell you, Ben. I went on an errand for someone, that’s all I can say, but I’m going home now.’ She backed away. ‘But first I’d better go and make peace with Riley.’ She hurried off before he had a chance to question her further. Keeping a secret from her friends was not going to be easy, and she could only hope that Raven would finish his business quickly and leave them in peace.

      Riley looked up as she entered his office, but his grim expression was not encouraging. ‘Nice of you to call in, Miss Chapman. I suppose you know that I’ve been looking for you all day?’

      ‘Yes, and I’m truly sorry, Mr Riley. I had work in a different part of the city.’

      ‘I thought you were a good girl, Essie. There’s only one sort of occupation that springs to mind.’

      ‘I don’t have to explain myself to you.’

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