The Wages of Sin by Judith Cutler

Author:Judith Cutler
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781448303526
Publisher: Severn House Publishers
Published: 2019-09-10T16:00:00+00:00

XVI

They talk over my head. Through a strange fog I can still hear what they are saying, although I do not understand their words.

‘What if he’s got the poor mite in the family way?’

‘They say you can’t if it’s your first time. And she’s just a child.’

‘But what if?’

‘Wait and see?’

‘Too late by then.’

‘Family would take care …’

A snort.

‘Got to make sure.’

‘Pennyroyal tea …’

SEVENTEEN

‘I would need Luke to confirm it, but in my opinion this is from his lordship’s summer-weight evening suit,’ Bowman said heavily. ‘And you say, Rowsley, that you heard an altercation between a young man and a young woman?’

I nodded. ‘Yes, but on another evening entirely. I thought it was just a lover’s tiff, and decided not to intervene.’

‘A tiff it might have been. But between his lordship and a young woman?’ Mrs Arden put in. ‘Between him and Maggie? Such a relationship is not unknown.’

Harriet went so white I feared she was about to faint. But she kept herself sitting upright somehow or other. Lest others remark on her pallor, I said, ‘I think we must speak to Mrs Billings again. I know Maggie forbade us to reveal her whereabouts, but if the child she’s carrying is his lordship’s it puts an entirely different complexion on the matter. Poor child. Poor, poor child,’ I sighed.

A tap on the door silenced us all. Florrie, fresh from her ladyship’s chamber, was as white as Harriet. She curtsied, but stumbled. Bowman supported her to a chair. ‘Such a rage she’s in! I let slip about the policemen, and I thought she’d kill me.’ She raised her head high and managed a smile. ‘She might have done, except with a couple of bobbies handy down here she might have been caught a damn sight quicker than she liked.’

‘No swearing, Florrie,’ Harriet said absently. ‘Mr Bowman, I fancy that a drop of your medicinal brandy might be in order. Florrie’s had a nasty shock—’

‘Thank you, Mr Bowman, but no, if it’s all the same to you. I’ve signed the pledge. My whole family have. There’s a new Methodist chapel down Dudley way, so we started going. And I know Mr Pounceman doesn’t approve of the demon drink, so I often feel like having a noggin to spite him, but a promise is a promise, isn’t it?’

Unless it was made by an irresponsible man so he could have his way with a girl who allowed herself to believe him.

‘It is, Florrie,’ I said. ‘Now, how did you leave her ladyship?’

She laughed. ‘Quickly! To dodge a hairbrush. Nice silver one, too – I bet it got a nasty dent when it hit the door.’

‘I hope so. Now, answer me truthfully, Florrie – I know this might mean breaking a promise, but sometimes, except when it’s made to God, you have to. Hortense left here with a really bad injury, didn’t she? Do you think that might have been caused by a flying hairbrush?’

She considered. ‘Summat much heavier, I reckon.’

‘Something,’ Harriet said gently.

‘Sorry, ma’am. It’s just that I’m all het up and I forget what you’ve learned us.

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