The Dollmaker's Daughters (18 page)

‘What’s happened to you, Ruby? You robbed a bank or worse?’

‘Nothing like that.’

Billy frowned but was prevented from questioning her by Pamela popping her head out of the treatment room and calling his name. She spotted Ruby and gave her a cheery wave.

‘I’ll speak to you in a minute,’ Billy said, ominously, as he got to his feet.

‘Can’t stop now,’ Pamela called, smiling. ‘I’m due for a break soon. Do wait.’

Ruby sank back onto the hard wooden seat. At least Pamela didn’t seem to think the worst, not like everyone else, even Billy. Pamela had been so kind and helpful while Billy was really bad; she had been unfailingly patient when she had shown Ruby how to deal with Billy’s burns. She had been fun too. Pamela’s abundant good nature and bubbling sense of humour made her a joy to be with and Ruby knew that, for some strange reason, Pamela had taken a liking to her.
Maybe it was because they laughed at the same things, evading the wrath of old fish-face, for instance. Maybe it was simply that Pamela was a thoroughly nice person with no side to her who seemed oblivious of the difference in their social standing. Ruby sat studying her hands, clenched in her lap; Pamela might behave differently towards her if she knew how she felt about Adam. Everything was so complicated – everything was going terribly wrong.

‘Hello, Ruby. How nice to see you again.’

Startled, Ruby looked up into the smiling face of Adam Fairfax.

Adam looked and sounded really pleased to see her but then, Ruby thought, being a proper gent, he’s probably like this with everyone. Hoping that he hadn’t noticed her blushes, Ruby returned his smile. ‘Hello, Dr Fairfax.’

‘Now that’s not fair,’ Adam said, sitting down beside her. ‘I can’t call you Ruby if you won’t call me Adam.’

‘Adam,’ Ruby repeated, savouring the sound like a mouthful of Fry’s Chocolate Crème.

‘I must say you look spiffing. Is that a new hat, by any chance?’

Ruby nodded. If he asked her how she had come by her new clothes she would be really stuck, but Adam was chatting away as if totally unaware that this type of outfit was normally well beyond her means.

‘I’ve spoken to Matron about you, Ruby.’

Ruby jumped. ‘Pardon?’

Adam smiled. ‘She’s willing to see you, that’s if you still want to become a nurse.’

‘Yes – of course, I do.’

‘I wasn’t sure. I mean, you look so prosperous,
I thought that you must have found yourself a new position.’

‘I – well, yes.’

‘But you still want to study nursing?’

‘Oh, yes. I really do, it’s just that I’ve been taken on by a gentleman with a sick wife. He wants me to nurse her but he says as how I can train to be a proper nurse in me spare time.’

Adam slapped his hands on his knees. ‘Excellent. Although I think Matron might not like the idea of you studying in your spare time. However, we’ll deal with that particular problem when we come to it. The first thing is to get you an interview with Miss Luckes.’

‘Dr Fairfax, you’re wanted on the ward round.’ A ward sister came bustling over to them, bristling with efficiency.

‘Coming, Sister.’ Jumping to his feet, Adam gave Ruby an encouraging smile. ‘I have to go, Ruby, but if you give Pam your new address I’ll let you know when Matron can see you.’

Drowning in his smile, Ruby nodded, unable to speak. She watched him stride away into the depths of the hospital followed by a group of nurses fluttering after him like grey moths. Allowing herself to dream, Ruby imagined herself standing at Adam’s side, helping him in his life’s work of treating the sick and saving lives. The real world came crashing back as Billy erupted from the treatment room and came storming
towards her, his face dark with suspicion.

‘What’s going on, Ruby?’

‘Don’t bully the poor girl,’ Pamela said, coming up behind him. ‘Ruby’s been an absolute brick, looking after you when you were sick and helpless.’

Pushing a lock of hair back off his forehead with a bandaged hand, Billy grinned sheepishly. ‘I know that, but something’s up. I wouldn’t be surprised if Rosetta walked in here dressed up to the nines, but not Ruby.’

‘I’d say that was Ruby’s business.’

‘Stop talking about me like I wasn’t here,’ Ruby said, jumping to her feet. ‘As it happens, I’ve come up in the world. I’ve been taken on to look after a poor lady sick with consumption.’

‘She must be rich,’ Billy said, staring pointedly at Ruby’s clothes and scowling. ‘Who is this old girl anyway?’

‘You don’t know her.’

Pamela slipped her arm around Ruby’s shoulder. ‘I say, good for you. You deserve better than slaving away in that horrible place making cheap clothes.’

‘A rich lady who togs you out in new clobber?’ Billy shook his head. ‘Come on, girl, this stuff never come from Petticoat Lane.’

‘You got no right to question me,’ Ruby said, standing her ground. ‘I ain’t nothing to you, Billy, except a friend, so mind your own business.’

‘Never mind him,’ Pamela put in hurriedly before Billy had time to retaliate. ‘I’ve got to get back on duty before old fish-face notices I’m not actually working. Let me have your new address, Ruby, and I’ll come to call on you.’

Turning her back on Billy, Ruby whispered the address.

‘Raven Street,’ Pamela said, frowning. ‘That’s Shoreditch, isn’t it?’

‘Yes,’ Ruby said, glancing anxiously over her shoulder to see if Billy had heard. Judging by the expression on his face, he had.

‘Nurse Chadwick, get back to work.’ Sister’s voice echoed down the corridor.

‘I’m in for it now. I’ll see you soon, Ruby; we must keep in touch.’ Pamela hurried away in the direction of the treatment rooms.

Ruby turned to go but Billy barred her way. ‘That was Crowe’s address.’

‘Like I said, it’s none of your business.’ Pushing past him, Ruby hurried out of the hospital. She ran to the edge of the pavement, looking up and down Whitechapel Road, praying that a passing hansom cab would stop and save her from embarrassing explanations. But her luck was out and Billy caught up with her, grabbing her by the arm.

‘You don’t know what you’re getting into, Ruby.’

‘Look, Billy, you’ve been good to me and my
family but this don’t concern you.’ Snatching her arm free, Ruby waved frantically at the driver as a cab pulled up to drop off a fare. The London particular was creeping through the City like a thief, stealing the daylight and replacing it with a choking, smoky-green pall. Ruby leapt into the cab. ‘Raven Street, please.’

Ruby had a room of her own just down the corridor from Lily’s bedroom, linked by an electric bell so that Lily could summon her if she wanted something in the night. At first, Ruby was nervous of the bell, jumping when it rang and avoiding touching it fearing an electric shock. Gradually overcoming her fear of mighty electric power, now she could not resist switching her bedroom light on and off every time she went into her room, just for the pleasure of seeing it work. Mum still thought that gaslight was a minor miracle, and just having it in Tobacco Court made them a cut above the candlelit world of Spivey Street; Ruby couldn’t help wondering how she would cope with electricity. With the luxury of a lamp on her bedside table, Ruby was able to study her medical books at night, although by now they were so well worn and dog-eared that the pages kept falling out and she knew each chapter almost by heart.

Looking after Lily was hardly challenging; in
fact, it was so easy that Ruby wondered why Jonas had insisted on hiring her. She had not heard from Joe, and that worried her, but Jonas had given his word that no harm would come to her brother as long as she stayed in his house and looked after Lily. If this was being held hostage, then it was definitely a gilded cage and that in itself made Ruby uneasy; she suspected that Jonas was playing a deep game and that one day he would show his hand. Until then, she had to be content to live in this velvet-lined world where her duties were more those of a paid companion than a nurse.

The doctor had instructed Lily to rest as much as possible and to eat nourishing meals, but Lily was forever on the move, refusing to rest and sending her meals away virtually untouched. The only delicacy that tempted her capricious appetite was chocolate, and Jonas kept her supplied with expensive boxes of chocolates decorated with crystallised violets, rose petals and silver dragées. Her sitting room was always bright with vases of flowers filling the air with their heady perfume, but in spite of all this luxury, Ruby sensed a deep sadness in Lily that had nothing to do with her illness. Even in such a short space of time, Ruby had grown fond of Lily; in fact, it would have been difficult to find anything to dislike about her. Lily was kind, gentle and funny; she told Ruby risqué stories
about the gentlemen who frequented Jonas’s club, making her laugh until her sides ached. She made light of her illness, never complaining and insisting on performing her songs every night to entertain the punters, in spite of the fact that the fuggy atmosphere brought on severe bouts of coughing that left her weak and exhausted.

Ruby had seen very little of Jonas in her first days at Raven Street. His visits to Lily’s room were infrequent and brief and he treated her with casual affection, more like a brother than a lover and their relationship puzzled Ruby. Even from the first, she sensed that Lily was deeply in love with Jonas, and yet she slept alone in the huge four-poster bed. Sometimes Ruby caught a haunting look of sadness in Lily’s eyes when they rested on Jonas and yet they seemed to be on good terms, never quarrelling or bickering like most couples.

One evening, Ruby was lacing Lily’s stays, helping her get ready for her nightly appearance in the club, when a sudden bout of coughing produced telltale, bright red spots of blood on Lily’s hanky.

‘It’s nothing,’ Lily gasped, scrunching up the handkerchief. ‘Just a nose bleed.’

‘You should rest. I’m sure Mr Jonas wouldn’t mind if you missed just one night.’

‘He would hardly notice,’ Lily said, lowering herself onto her dressing stool and patting rouge
onto her pale cheeks. ‘But that’s not the point. I like to pay my way, Ruby. I’m not a kept woman.’

Meeting Lily’s eyes in the dressing table mirror, Ruby shook her head, shocked. ‘I never thought you was.’

‘You must have wondered.’

‘It ain’t my place to wonder.’ Ruby snatched up a silver-backed hairbrush and began brushing Lily’s hair.

‘We’ve been together for eleven years,’ Lily said, half to herself, her long fingers toying with a powder puff. ‘My father sold me to Jonas just before my fourteenth birthday. Did you know that, Ruby?’

Ruby nodded, concentrating on pinning swathes of Lily’s blonde hair into a shining coronet on the top of her head.

‘And you weren’t shocked?’

‘I know it happens.’

‘Jonas is not a bad man at heart, you know. He was good to me, treated me like a human being and I fell in love with him.’

‘Flowers or pearls? For your hair.’

Lily smiled at Ruby’s reflection in the mirror. ‘Pearls, I think. Have I embarrassed you?’

Fixing the long string of pearls in Lily’s hair gave Ruby an excuse not to reply.

‘Well, I have and I’m sorry. Have you ever been in love, Ruby?’

Adam’s face danced before Ruby’s eyes and
the pearls slipped out of her fingers. Bending down to retrieve them, she mumbled something that could have been taken for yes or no.

‘Then you’ll know how I feel,’ Lily said, sighing deeply. ‘At first it was wonderful, but something has changed. I don’t know why, but he has lost interest in me and I’m scared, Ruby. I think he doesn’t care for me any more and I don’t know what to do about it.’

Next morning, having taken Lily’s breakfast tray into her bedroom, Ruby went into the sitting room and was buttering a slice of toast when Tucker burst unceremoniously into the room. ‘Got a letter for you, ducks.’ Tucker waved a white envelope in front of her face. ‘D’you want it or not?’

‘Don’t mess about, Tucker. Give it here.’

‘And what’s the magic word?’

‘Tucker, I’ll swing for you one day, you cheeky little beggar.’ Dropping the butter knife, Ruby jumped to her feet, but Tucker backed away grinning like a mischievous monkey.

‘What’s it worth?’

‘If you give it me now I won’t tell Miss Lily on you.’

Scowling, Tucker tossed the letter at her. ‘You would too.’

‘Thank you, Tucker,’ Ruby called as he left the room, slamming the door behind him.

Staring at the white vellum envelope, addressed to Miss Ruby Capretti in elegant copperplate writing, Ruby’s knees gave way beneath her. She knew instinctively that this was Adam’s handwriting and she ripped it open with trembling hands.

The London Hospital
,

Whitechapel

30th January, 1899

Dear Ruby
,

I hope this finds you well and enjoying your new position. I have spoken to Miss Luckes, the matron, who just happens to be a good friend of my mother, and she will be pleased to see you for an informal interview. Can you manage this afternoon at two o’clock? I’m afraid this is very short notice, but if it is inconvenient, please let me know and I will try to rearrange the meeting
.

Yours sincerely

Adam Fairfax

At ten minutes to two, Ruby was sitting outside Matron’s office, trying to control the butterflies that were whirling and fluttering in her stomach. Lily had been unwell, sending her breakfast tray away untouched, and opting to remain in bed all
day. She had raised no objections when Ruby had explained why she wanted an hour off in the afternoon, nodding her assent, closing her eyes and drifting off into a feverish sleep. Ruby had suffered a few twinges of conscience on leaving her, but even if she stayed at Lily’s bedside, there was little she could do. She had made Tucker promise to answer the bell if Lily should ring, safe in the knowledge that when it came to Lily’s well-being Tucker would do his best.

‘Miss Capretti?’ A tall woman, all starch and uniform, stood in front of her.

Ruby leapt off the hard wooden seat, standing to attention. ‘Yes, ma’am.’

‘Come into my office if you please.’