The Southerly Curse (Before the Poet's Trap) by Gallimore Sylvie;

Author:Gallimore, Sylvie;
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
Published: 2019-06-13T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 33

Sending Freda Away

Dorothia arrived back in Weston-Under-Wetherley before the young earl and she decided that it was time she put pen to paper and inform him of Freda’s whereabouts. She started the letter several times but could not manage to complete it. The thought that Adam might release Freda and little George from the workhouse and bring them to the manor did not sit well with her. Adam had already taken on a half-sister, would he claim George as kin as well? The likely hood seemed pretty strong. Would that mean that this ragamuffin might take preference over any wife Adam might take, that also seemed a possibility. Adam did seem prone to gathering ragamuffins to his bosom, he had already almost made a son out of Robbie, the young chimney sweep boy bought by his father. Did she want to marry Adam and spend her days in the company of ruffians and ill-bred children? She thought not and decided to keep the information that she knew of Freda’s whereabouts to herself. Furthermore, she decided to do something about making it more difficult for Adam to trace them. It was an idea she had already formulated but was not sure if she would have the courage to put into practice.

Dorothia wrote to her newly married sister in Hamble and asked her help. Very soon, she received a reply to her missive telling her that Everline had found a position for Freda in a large house nearby where she herself lived, and if Dorothia could find some way of getting Freda to her, she would take the young woman to meet her new employer herself. A small room went with the job and George could also be found odd jobs to do about the place. Most of the working people in this part of Hampshire were involved with fishing or ferrying others about, so there was always a call for hardworking women, especially ones with laundry experience. Because Everline was the vicar’s wife and had vouched for Freda, finding employment had not been too difficult.

Dorothia had not told her sister the whole truth, she had made out that Freda was an old friend of hers that had been led astray, she did not want anyone, not even her sister, to share her secret.

Bathsheba was particularly thrilled when Dorothia asked if maybe she could go to the workhouse in her place.

“It is wonderful, child, that you are showing such an interest in the poor of the land,” she said smiling proudly at her daughter.

The next time Dorothia returned to the workhouse, it was to buy Freda and George’s freedom and send them on their way to Hamble-Le-Rice.

As usual, Dorothia turned up with a bundle of warm blankets to distribute amongst the inmates. She was extremely anxious to get in and out of the building as quickly as possible and took a very short time locating Freda and George.

Freda jumped to her feet as she saw her protector come towards her, little George was already looking a lot healthier and was starting to fill out.

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