The Summer Maiden

Caroline took a deep breath. She was not going to let these men witness her heartbreak. ‘I don’t know exactly. I suppose it’s me now that Mama has gone to Devonshire, but if that’s all you’re worried about I can settle some or maybe all of those debts from the sale of our things.’

‘An unauthorised sale, miss. My colleague and I are here to enforce the law.’

There was nothing Caroline could do other than stand back and watch the bailiffs at work. They stripped the house of everything that had any value, leaving nothing but an echoing shell as they carried out the last piece of furniture.

Caroline put her arms around James, who was openly weeping, and she gave him a hug. ‘It’s only furniture and stuff, Jimmy. We’re still together, that’s the most important thing.’

Max braced his shoulders, holding his head high. ‘I’ll get a job, Carrie. I’m fourteen and I’m strong. I can work in the docks or on the river like Grandpa used to, before he went to sea.’

Sadie patted him on the back. ‘Good boy, Max. It’s a setback but it’s not the end of the world. I know what it’s like to be poor, but I’m still here to tell the tale.’

‘That’s right,’ Caroline added, forcing a smile. ‘At least we’ve still got a roof over our heads. Let’s go to the kitchen and see if they’ve left the stew that Sadie made for us. I’m hungry, I don’t know about you boys.’ She gave James her hanky. ‘Chin up, Jimmy. We’ve got each other – that’s all that matters now.’

‘The kitchen maids have gone,’ Sadie said in a low voice as they made their way to the green baize door that led to the world below stairs. ‘I gave them enough money to pay for a couple of nights in temporary lodgings and food to keep them going while they look for work.’

‘I didn’t think the bailiffs would take the money we made in the sale, but they did.’

Sadie put her hand in her pocket and pulled out a silk purse. ‘Not all of it. I managed to hide this from them.’

Caroline took it from her and weighed it in her hand. ‘That’s nice and heavy. We’ll count it out when we’ve eaten.’

‘That’s if they’ve left us anything to eat.’ Sadie strode on, catching up with Max and James, who were about to open the baize door. ‘Come on, Carrie. Best foot forward.’

The kitchen, which was normally a bustling hive of activity, was deserted. The fire in the range had died down to a few feebly glowing embers but, to Caroline’s intense relief, the stew was untouched and still hot enough to make a comforting meal. There was bread in the crock and butter on the marble slab in the larder. The bailiffs had left the table and chairs, and the crockery and cutlery used by the servants was untouched, although the battery of copper pans had been taken, leaving only the old blackened saucepans and the kettle. They ate bowlfuls of stew, and mopped up the remainder with chunks of bread. Sadie managed to get the fire going again and they finished off with cups of tea, leaving Max and James to explore the house to see what else, if anything, the bailiffs had left.

‘I don’t think they can take our beds,’ Sadie said, spooning sugar into her tea.

Caroline nodded. ‘I hope not, but we don’t have much choice now. I don’t suppose we’ve got enough money to pay the rent.’ She produced the purse and tipped the contents onto the table. They began counting the coins, placing them in neat piles.

‘Four pounds ten and sevenpence ha’penny.’ Sadie shook her head. ‘That’s not nearly enough, and even if it were, we still have to eat.’

‘I suppose we could send the boys down to Devonshire,’ Caroline said thoughtfully, ‘but it would only be a temporary arrangement, and if Mama finds out what’s happened she’ll want to come home.’

‘She’s better off with Lady Alice, for the time being anyway.’ Sadie replaced the coins in the purse. ‘I suggest we pack up what’s left and move to Wapping tomorrow. I don’t see much point in remaining here, do you?’

Caroline sighed and shook her head. ‘We’ll be evicted soon anyway. I agree, we have to move on. I’ll tell the boys.’

‘Tell us what?’ Max rushed into the kitchen. ‘Never mind that now – look who I found wandering round the empty rooms!’

Caroline twisted round on her chair to see Laurence Bromley standing in the doorway, his hat clutched in his hand and an apologetic smile on his open features.

‘I’m sorry to interrupt, especially as you’ve obviously had a very bad day.’

Sadie rose to her feet. ‘Take a seat, Mr Bromley. The tea is still hot. Would you like a cup?’

‘Thank you. That would be nice.’ He pulled up a chair and sat down next to Caroline. ‘I hope I’m not intruding.’

‘Not at all. I dare say it will soon be public knowledge that the Manning family are all but bankrupt.’ Caroline turned her head away. She was close to tears, and sympathy was almost harder to take than the brutal treatment from the bailiffs and the triumphant taunts of the tradesmen.

‘I am truly sorry. If there’s anything I can do to help, please say so.’

‘It’s good to see you here, sir,’ Max said earnestly. ‘Have you found a new position?’

‘I still have to find a suitable premises so that I can tutor two or three boys to begin with.’

James clattered into the kitchen, puffing and panting. ‘I’ve run all the way from the top of the house,’ he said breathlessly. ‘It’s creepy up there without the servants, but they’ve left us our beds and I still have my cricket bat. I was afraid they’d take it.’

‘At least that’s something.’ Caroline had her emotions under control and she turned to Laurence with a faint smile. ‘It was good of you to come but, as you see, we can’t afford to hire you as the boys’ tutor.’

‘But we could offer you a room free from rent in return for tuition,’ Sadie said hastily. ‘We’re moving to my house in Wapping tomorrow. It’s large enough for all of us and, if you were agreeable, you could live rent free in return for tutoring the boys. You could take on more students, if you so wished. I’m sure there’s room.’

Laurence glanced from one to the other. ‘Don’t think I’m prying, but what would Mrs Manning have to say about such an arrangement? I take it that she is not at home.’

‘Mama went to the country for her health and it’s Sadie’s house. She has the final say.’ Caroline sent a warning glance to Sadie. She did not want to admit that her mother was so overcome with grief that she was finding it almost impossible to cope, very much like the poor Queen, who was still in deep mourning for her beloved Albert.

‘What do you say, Mr Bromley?’ Sadie asked eagerly.

He hesitated, stirring his tea and staring into the swirling liquid. ‘It’s a generous offer, but I’m not sure whether it would be proper for me to take lodgings in a house occupied by two single ladies.’

‘But we’d be there, too, sir.’ Max straddled a chair as if he were riding a pony. ‘It would be fun, Mr Bromley. Jimmy and I would be very good students.’

A smile replaced Laurence’s frown, making him look quite boyish. ‘I know you would. You were always top of the class, but …’

‘Why don’t you come with us tomorrow and take a look at the premises?’ Caroline suggested shyly. She could see that Sadie was keen on the arrangement and it would solve at least one of their problems, even if it created another. But perhaps things were different in Wapping – maybe the locals would turn a blind eye to the fact of their unconventional arrangement – and it would be only until Mama returned to London. If she were in residence then it would be perfectly respectable, but for now it seemed best to leave her in ignorance of the situation. The knowledge that she had lost all her worldly goods as well as her beloved husband might be too much for her to bear.

‘Please say yes, sir.’ James tugged at his tutor’s sleeve. ‘I’d like to live by the river and I really don’t want to go away to school. I miss my family and some of the other boys are very mean.’

Laurence patted his hand. ‘I know that, James. Bullying is despicable in all its forms, but still exists, despite our efforts to stamp it out.’

‘Does that mean you’re considering Aunt Sadie’s proposition, sir?’ Max asked urgently.

‘Let me consider your aunt’s generous offer overnight,’ Laurence said, smiling. ‘I could offer my services in helping with your move tomorrow, and that would give me a chance to view the accommodation and consider whether or not it’s suitable.’

‘Are you sure about this, Sadie?’ Caroline asked urgently as the door closed on Bromley. ‘We don’t know anything about this man.’

Sadie shrugged and a smile curved her lips. ‘I know all I need to know. The boys like him and I can’t see Essie sending Jimmy to a ragged school, and Max would have to find a job. What sort of future would either of the boys have in that case?’

‘But we’ll be talked about.’

‘Carrie, dear, the gossips will be chattering their heads off anyway. What choice do we have?’

‘He might refuse.’

‘He might. And what would we do then?’

Chapter Four (#uce918d8c-7229-5881-9f9b-c52cb8d7830c)

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.