A Lady of High Regard (15 page)

“Jasper Barrill? Who is that—your landlord?”

The woman was taken aback for a moment. She looked to her friends and then back to Mia. “He is.”

Mia considered this for a moment. “And is this Jasper Barrill the same man who threatens to steal children and takes liberties with some of you?”

All of the women looked at the table, rather than each other or Mia. It was clear they were embarrassed and worried about her learning the truth. “Please hear me out,” Mia begged. “You aren’t to blame for the things that have happened to you. This man or the men involved have done wrong. They have no right to expect physical favors. They have no right to threaten your life or the lives of your children. You must fight back now or you will never be free.”

“What do you really hope to gain in this?” another woman asked. “What do you care? I bet you live in a big house with no threat of this problem. Why worry about us?”

“She’s right,” the dark-haired woman said. “Why should we trust you? We’ve seen the rich try to reform our neighborhoods. It sometimes helps for a little while and then they get tired of the problem and leave us in worse shape than when they started.”

“The problem you face is one that women everywhere must recognize and challenge,” Mia said. “Women will always suffer and be taken advantage of in the absence of male protection, if we do not work to see the laws changed. Mrs. Hale at
Godey’s Lady’s Book
wants to see the laws rewritten in order to benefit your situation, but she cannot convince Congress there is a problem when no one will honestly speak of it. So decide for yourselves if this is something you wish to put an end to, but don’t make it a matter of the rich versus the poor. This is in the best interest of all women.”

For several minutes nobody spoke. The seamen’s wives seemed to be considering Mia’s words, while Mia tried to figure out what to say next. She didn’t want to offend the women, but they needed to understand that if they allowed themselves to continue to be bullied and forced into these hideous situations, nothing would ever change.

“Jasper Barrill came to me just last night,” a tiny redheaded woman began. “He . . . well . . . he did things to me.” She began to weep and the woman beside her pulled her into an embrace. “I told him to stop,” she sobbed against the older woman’s shoulder. “I fought him, but he was too strong.”

“There, there, deary. ’Twasn’t your fault,” Nancy Lucas soothed.

“No, he was wrong to do that,” Mia said softly. She couldn’t begin to imagine what the woman had gone through. She felt her chest tighten and tears well in her own eyes as the woman continued to cry.

“He’s done it to me too,” a woman at the far end of the table finally admitted. “Jasper Barrill collects my rents, and he came to me about two weeks ago. Said my husband owed him for last month’s rent and for a gambling debt. I couldn’t dispute it—couldn’t pay it either. I gave him what money I had—it was all we had for food. He said it wasn’t enough. Then he started touching me.” She shook her head. “My kids were sleeping in the next room and I didn’t know what to do.”

“He took my boy,” a heavyset woman began. “Told me it was the only way I could pay him back for what my husband owed. Little Malcolm ain’t but eight years old. But with four other little ones and no man to say otherwise, what could I do? I need a roof for the others. I doubt the police will care that I want my boy back, but you’re welcome to try as far as I’m concerned.”

Mia had heard more than she could bear. “Who is this Mr. Barrill?” She was met with silence and blank stares. It was as if everyone had suddenly realized they’d said too much.

“He collects the rents for several of the buildings down by the river,” Mrs. Smith finally answered.

Mia nodded. “Can you tell me where he lives?”

Mrs. Smith looked around the room, then said, “He has an office on Water Street not far from Elfreth’s Alley.” She gave the exact address, then sat back as if a great weight had been lifted from her shoulders.

“Thank you. I know it was difficult to come here today and share these matters. I want very much to see things made right. I promise you I will not stop until Mr. Barrill answers for what he’s done.” For the first time that night, Mia saw some hope in the expressions of the women. It was as if they were silently putting their faith in her, and Mia was determined not to let them down.

Mia finished handing out the supplies she’d brought and thanked the women again. They quickly left the church with their gifts and hurried down the street toward their homes. Mia gathered her things together, thinking about the meeting and about the man who was causing so much trouble. She wasn’t sure what her next move should be. She could send Mrs. Hale a letter, and would, but that would take more time than Mia wanted to spend.

“Was your meeting successful?” white-haired Pastor Brunswick asked as he met Mia in the hallway.

“Yes, I believe it was. It seems these women are all being oppressed by one man in particular—a Jasper Barrill. Do you know of him?”

The pastor considered the name for a moment. “No, I can’t say as I’m familiar with him or the name.”

“Well, we need to figure out exactly who he is and what he has planned. He must be stopped—after all, his deeds are despicable. He’s taking liberties with these women physically, as well as stealing their children when he feels they should pay for their husbands’ debts. Some of the debts can’t even be proven to be real, but because the men are gone, there’s little to be done.”

“It’s a sad situation. What will you do now, and what would you like me to do?”

She thought for a moment. “I’m going to jot a note right now to Mrs. Hale at
Godey’s Lady’s Book.
If you’re willing, perhaps you could deliver it to her for me. I promised my family I wouldn’t work for her anymore, but this is something she needs to know about. She’s been a strong advocate for this cause, and my continued service in the matter is known only to you.”

“I must say that I am uncomfortable with your participation.”

“I honored my mother and father by resigning the position at
Godey’s.
They knew nothing of this cause I’m fighting. I needn’t be connected to
Godey’s
to recognize the injustice and desire to make a positive change. You preached that we were to love our neighbor and that our neighbor is every man or woman. I feel God wants me to help these women. I don’t feel it’s something I can walk away from now. I know too that by involving Mrs. Hale, we will have the backing of more powerful people. You’ll see, Pastor Brunswick—this will all work out.”

“I will take the letter as you’ve asked, and I will continue to pray. Please promise me that you will not take unnecessary chances.”

“Unnecessary chances? Me?” Mia questioned. “Of course not.”
The chances I plan to take are all very necessary,
she thought.

She borrowed a piece of paper from the secretary and quickly wrote a letter to Mrs. Hale, then folded it and handed it to Pastor Brunswick.

“Thank you so much for your help. I will see you Sunday at church,” Mia said as she headed for the door. Already her mind was running wild with what she might do next.

“I am a respectable woman,” she said as she walked to her carriage. “I am a fairly well educated woman. I should be able to approach this Barrill man and at least reason with him to put aside his activities. If he fears the information and proof that we might already have against him, then maybe he will cease and give us time to prove our case to the police.” Mia knew from comments made by the women that the police never seemed to believe their stories. Mia was determined to get the proof needed and hoped that someone in authority would see the truth of their plight.

Mr. Ferguson was sick today, so Jason was her driver. She smiled at the young man and motioned to him. He quickly helped her into the small carriage, but Mia wasn’t ready to dismiss him.

“Jason, I need a favor.”

“But of course, Miss Stanley. What is it?”

“I want you to take me down Water Street.” She told him the address and watched his eyes widen. “I know it’s not the typical area where I should go. However, there is a man there whom I need to speak with. It’s broad daylight and I have you for my protection, so there should be little to fear.”

“If Mr. Ferguson finds out . . . well, I could be put off the job.”

“I’d never let that happen. Your position is secure. Fear not.”

He was clearly reluctant, but at last agreed and climbed up onto the driver’s seat. “Very well.”

Mia felt a sense of panic and exhilaration all at once. It had to be the hand of God that had allowed for Jason to drive her today. It had to also be God who had seen fit to give the women strength to speak about their circumstances. So it would also be God who would protect Mia and give her the strength to stand up to this Mr. Barrill.
Still, a little prayer can’t hurt,
she thought and quickly whispered one.

The trip to Barrill’s office was fairly quick. Traffic on the river seemed light, and the freighters and wagons that usually congested Water Street were gone on their deliveries by the time Mia’s carriage made its way there. Some workers were still unloading and the ever-busy ferries were transporting people across the river, but otherwise it seemed surprisingly calm.

Jason pulled the wagon up to a small brick building. The address clearly matched what she’d been given, but there was no sign to suggest that Jasper Barrill could be found inside.

“Wait here,” Mia told Jason as he helped her from the carriage.

“Shouldn’t I go with you?”

She shook her head. “If I’m not back in ten minutes, come and inquire. What I have to say to Mr. Barrill is best said in private.”

Mia straightened her skirts and jacket, then drew a deep breath to steady her nerves before marching toward the office. She knocked lightly on the glass and opened the door to the dimly lit room.

“Well, well,” a deep voice called from the right side of the room. A man stepped forward and eyed her intently. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”

The man was tall and broad-shouldered. He had dark hair and a mustache and she supposed some might think him rather dashing. His clothes suggested that he used a tailor of some skill, and the cut of his hair made it clear that he cared about his appearance.

“I am here to see Mr. Barrill,” Mia finally said.

“Well, you are seeing him, my dear lady. Why don’t you have a seat and tell me what this is all about? If you’re here to rent a room, I have quite a few options.”

Mia watched him carefully as he made his way to a large desk. Taking his place behind it, he waved to the chairs in front. “Please.”

She took a seat, not because she wanted to accept his direction, but because her knees were shaking so badly she thought she might well collapse. “I’m afraid,” she said in as stern a voice as she could muster, “that my business here today is anything but pleasant.”

“Oh, but surely I will be the judge of that. It isn’t often I get a lady of your quality or beauty asking to see me.”

“No, I suppose it isn’t. After all, you are much more imposing on the women whose husbands are gone to sea.”

He frowned and his eyes narrowed. “Just what are you implying?”

“I am here on behalf of the women married to seamen. Their plight has come to the attention of many in power. Even now there are publications that are working on stories related to this situation. The unspeakable things that have happened to these women and their children are most appalling.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“How strange—for it was your name that continued to be mentioned. These women claim that they are being charged double for rent and that they are being forced to pay debts left by their husbands, even if it means taking food out of the mouths of their children.”

“There is nothing wrong with a man expecting to be paid what is due him. As for the double rent, perhaps they are mistaken and the rent has simply been raised to meet with the demands of the times.”

“And what of taking a child from his mother in payment for a debt that she had no part in making?”

He pushed back from the desk and tried to appear nonchalant. “I’m afraid you have been given false information. There are many disgruntled people in this world, and apparently a few of them have your ear. Unfortunately, they are lying to you about the situation.”

“Are they also lying about you imposing yourself upon them? Taking unspeakable liberties with those who cannot defend themselves against you?”

Barrill seemed momentarily silenced by her statement. His jaw clenched and unclenched several times before he finally spoke. “Miss . . . ?”

“My name is unimportant at this juncture. What is important is the truth.”

“Yes, well the truth of the matter isn’t the dramatic story you want to make it. The truth is that many of these women find themselves in bad situations once their men go to sea. They have little or no money and often they must resort to prostitution in order to survive. Now, it isn’t something I approve of, but it is one of the cold hard facts of life in the dock district. Of course, they can’t admit to such actions. It would never meet with public approval. They can’t even admit it to one another, because of their pride.”

“So you’re telling me that they make up stories and lie about their situation because of pride?”

“I’m afraid so,” he said with a heavy sigh. “You see, you live in a world that doesn’t have to worry about such things. But here, I see these things all the time.”

“And apparently take advantage of them.”

He shrugged. “What I do or don’t do is really none of your concern. I’m shocked to see a lady of quality even discuss such a matter. Perhaps you aren’t what you appear.”

“And I might say the same thing,” Mia countered, getting to her feet. “I will also say this.” She paused and took a stance that she hoped showed her determination and strength. “I want it stopped. I expect to hear that nothing more has happened to these women. I expect the next time I or any of my colleagues speak to one of these ladies, we will hear only that their miseries are behind them. Otherwise, I am certain it will not bode well for you, Mr. Barrill.”