The Christmas Rose: The most heart-warming novel of 2018, from the Sunday Times bestseller

Chapter Four (#u40ff26be-dccf-51e8-9218-248f909f4da2)

The mere fact that an important man like Eugene Sheldon was asking for her opinion and treating her as an equal sent a warm, fuzzy glow rushing through her veins, which had nothing to do with the glass or two of wine she had drunk with her meal. Suddenly, from feeling like a displaced person, an alien in her own homeland, Rose felt wanted and needed.

‘I think it’s a marvellous invention,’ she said enthusiastically. ‘I’ve spent hours and hours writing letters for Laurence to sign, but if I’d had a typewriting machine I’m sure it would have saved time and a lot of effort.’

‘It’s good that you’re open to change, Rose.’ Eugene turned away as one of the clerks rushed over to him waving a piece of paper.

‘Guvnor, this has just come in – an affray in Eastcheap. It could be the gangs are tearing each other apart yet again, but there’s no one here to send.’

‘I’ll go. I enjoy a good scrap.’ Eugene grabbed his hat. ‘Come on, Miss Munday. You can see what we do first-hand, and it’s not too far from Black Raven Court. I’ll see you safely home as soon as I’ve got a story.’

A bubble of excitement swelled in Rose’s chest and she leaped to her feet, grabbed her shawl and reticule and hurried after Eugene. Standing on the edge of the pavement, he hailed a passing cab.

‘Eastcheap, cabby.’ Eugene leaped into the vehicle. ‘You’ll have to move faster than that, Munday, if you want to get to the scene of a news story in the shortest possible time.’ He reached out to grab her hand and heaved her unceremoniously onto the seat beside him as the cab lurched forward. ‘Sorry, Munday,’ he said with a rueful smile. ‘Manners fly out of the window when the matter is urgent.’

‘I understand,’ Rose said breathlessly. ‘Do you think I could train as a reporter?’

‘First things first, Munday.’

Rose clutched the seat as the cabby urged the horse to a trot and they careered along at an alarming rate, veering this way and that through the busy traffic. Rose was certain that at any moment they would overturn or be thrown from the cab, but Eugene remained calm, as if this mad ride was an everyday occurrence.

‘It’s all right, Munday,’ he said calmly. ‘The cabby knows what he’s doing. This chap has taken me on many an assignment. I always tip him handsomely, which is probably why he’s always lurking in Fleet Street.’

‘I’m not scared.’ Rose turned her head to study his profile. ‘Why are you using my surname? You called me Rose in the pub – why the sudden change?’

‘Ah, but that was pleasure, Rose. If you’re going to venture into the male domain of newspapers, you’ll have to be treated like a man. When we’re working you’ll be referred to as Munday.’

‘Oh, I see.’ Rose stared straight ahead. ‘I am grateful to you …’ she hesitated. ‘What do I call you?’

‘When we’re working you call me Guvnor.’

‘Yes, Guvnor.’

‘That’s right – you’re learning. But when we get to Eastcheap, keep out of the way. Don’t expect me to look after you. You’re just a bystander.’

‘I understand.’

‘Good. Then we’ll get along well. I think it must have been pretty rough in the goldfields, but I doubt if you’ll have experienced anything like the violence of some of the street gangs that still exist in the East End. Although what we’re heading for is probably just a brawl between rival costermongers, which won’t make the front page.’

‘I’m not scared,’ Rose repeated stoutly and, to her surprise, she realised that she was more excited than anxious.

The cab slowed down and the trap door in the roof opened suddenly.

‘We’re here, guv.’

Eugene handed the driver some coins without bothering to ask the fare, and made ready to spring out as the cab drew to a halt. Rose was left to alight on her own and she found herself at the back of a jeering, bellowing crowd. Eugene had disappeared and she experienced a moment of panic, but she was also curious and, forgetting his instructions to stay back, she pushed her way through the bodies until she had a view of the fray.

As Eugene had suspected, the fight was between a group of burly costermongers who were throwing punches, kicking, shouting and swearing. It was a mêlée of fists, feet and bleeding noses, and her heart missed a beat or two as she saw Eugene wade in, accompanied by two police constables armed with truncheons. The sound of running feet preceded the arrival of their colleagues, and the ear-splitting sound of their whistles momentarily silenced the onlookers.

Rose craned her neck in order to get a better view and saw Eugene pulling two men apart and holding them at arm’s length, even though they struggled to break free. She had put him down as a bit of a dandy at first sight, but the man she saw now was a completely different person. And, as if joining in a brawl was not bad enough, Eugene was grinning broadly as if he were enjoying the fracas.

Suddenly it was over, and the police had taken control of the street. The antagonists were bundled into a Black Maria and driven away, and there was a general scramble as children and adults alike fell on the fruit and vegetables that were strewn over the cobblestones. Rose waited until Eugene had finished speaking to the police sergeant who had brought the reinforcements, then she hurried to his side.

‘Are you hurt?’

As he met her anxious gaze she could tell by the fire in his eyes and his triumphant smile that he had enjoyed the altercation.

‘Are you all right?’ she asked. ‘Your nose is bleeding, and I think you’ll have a black eye by morning.’

‘Have you got a handkerchief, Munday? I seem to have forgotten mine.’

She took a small cotton hanky from her reticule. Sadie had embroidered it with her initials and rosebuds, but within seconds it was covered in blood. ‘Maybe you should sit down, Guvnor,’ she said hastily.

He clamped the hanky to his nose. ‘I’m not a little girl, Munday. It’s just a spot or two of blood and it’ll stop soon. Come on, let’s get you back to your friend in Black Raven Court before another scrap starts.’ He nodded towards an irate costermonger, who was berating a gang of young boys for helping themselves to the apples that had fallen to the ground.

‘You can put your arm around my shoulders if you feel faint,’ Rose insisted. ‘You’re very pale.’

‘Good grief, are you my mother now, Munday?’ he said laughing. ‘I want to see you safe and then I’ve got a story to write up.’

Rose fell into step beside him and she realised with a sense of fulfilment that she was beginning to recognise landmarks as they made their way along Great Tower Street. They were closer to Black Raven Court than she had supposed, but when Eugene saw the house he was obviously unimpressed.

‘This is worse than I remembered,’ he said angrily. ‘This isn’t the sort of place for a young woman like you, Munday.’

Rose knocked on the door. ‘I was lucky to be brought here. I could have spent the night sitting on a crate in the station yard.’

‘This won’t do. There must be a way to get in touch with your fellow’s relations. They’re responsible for you in his absence.’

‘I’ll be fine, Guvnor. It would have been so much easier if those men hadn’t taken over the Captain’s House.’

‘You mentioned that place over luncheon,’ Eugene said, frowning thoughtfully. ‘You might not be able to make enquiries, but I can. Leave it to me, and—’ He broke off as the door opened.

‘Oh, it’s you.’ Flossie drew her wrap up to her neck, although Rose was uncomfortably aware that Eugene must have seen her state of undress. ‘Who’s this with you, Rosie? Have you brought your fancy man home with you?’

‘No! I have not,’ Rose protested angrily. ‘Shame on you, Flossie.’

‘A very natural mistake,’ Eugene said, bowing. ‘A pleasure to meet you, Miss er …’

‘Flossie Boxer, sir.’

Rose glared at Eugene. ‘Thank you for seeing me home, Guvnor. Hadn’t you best get back to the office?’

‘I’ll see you at half-past eight in the morning, Munday. Don’t be late.’ Eugene walked away, waving the bloodied hanky like a flag.

Flossie leaned out of the door. ‘Where’d you find a chap like that? I’d do him favours for nothing.’

Torn between laughter and annoyance, Rose shook her finger at Flossie. ‘He’s my guvnor. I’ve got a job and I can pay my way, or I will be able to when I get my wages.’

‘Some people have all the luck.’ Flossie glowered at a passing youth who whistled at her and offered a penny for her services. She retreated into the house. ‘You’d best come in, although what Cora will say when she sees you is another matter. She needs her room for business, and Regan will want his piece of you if you choose to stay here. None of us gets a free ride, so to speak.’