Workhouse Angel by Holly Green

Author:Holly Green
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ebury Publishing

Fifteen

When James returned from the office on the day after his meeting with Lizzie Findlay, he was greeted in the hallway by Flossie, in a state of agitation.

‘Mistress has had a visitor, and it left her in a right state.’

‘A visitor? Who?’

‘A lady, sir. A Mrs McBride.’

James felt a cold hand grab his stomach. ‘McBride? Dammit! Is my mother in bed?’

‘No, sir. She’s in the drawing room. She’s rallied now, but after the lady left she was taken quite faint.’

James turned to the door of the drawing room. ‘Thank you, Flossie. I’ll see what has happened. Leave it to me.’

Mrs Brackenridge was reclining on a chaise longue and appeared quite calm, but James saw the hectic flush on her cheekbones that always meant she was in pain. He crossed quickly to where she lay and knelt down beside her.

‘How are you, Mama? Can I get you some of your drops?’

‘Thank you, dear. There’s no need. Flossie fetched them for me a few minutes ago. I shall be well directly.’

‘Flossie says you have had a visitor, Mrs McBride.’

A faint ironic smile touched his mother’s lips. ‘Aren’t I the favoured one? Marguerite McBride is very choosy about whom she visits, and I have been off her “at home” list ever since that time we met at the milliner’s, when May recognised her little girl.’

‘What did she want?’

‘Ostensibly, to wish me a speedy recovery. She said she had heard from Laura Pearson that I was unwell and wondered of there was anything she could do to help.’

‘But really …?’

‘After a few minutes, she got to the point. She asked if I remembered Angelina. Of course, I said I did – but only vaguely. After all, it was some time ago. Then she said that it had come to her notice that you were making enquiries about her whereabouts; that you had even accosted the girl who used to be her nursemaid in the street and interrogated her. Of course, I made out that I knew nothing about it, that you never discussed your work with me.’

‘That’s good! Was that the end of it?’

‘Oh no, far from it. She cast off any pretence that this was a social call at that point. She said that she understood that you had even been to see an old business rival of her husband’s and that she and her husband resented anyone interfering in their affairs. She said I should warn you that there might be “unpleasant consequences” if you continued and I should remind you of what happened to the business rival in question when he crossed Mr McBride. What did happen to him, James?’

James drew a deep breath and sighed it out. ‘His warehouse burnt down and as a consequence he went bankrupt.’

‘Oh dear!’

He took hold of her hand. ‘Don’t let it worry you, Mama. It’s only an idle threat, intended to intimidate me into keeping my nose out of McBride’s affairs. Setting fire to a warehouse down on the docks might be blamed on

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