The Passions of Bronwyn
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PROLOGUE
She was known to all her family as Aunt Wyn. She seemed incredibly old when I was a child. Her skin was like parchment, wrinkled but soft, and she wore small Dickensian spectacles. On her head she wore a small hat and underneath it her hair was grey. She always wore it drawn back and pinned into a bun. I only ever saw her wearing a long black dress with a starched pinafore over the skirt. Under her skirt she wore buttoned boots. She was very thin, quite tall and walked with a decided stoop. She was the kindest, gentlest person I knew. I used to visit her with my mother and it was like going through a time warp, turning the pages right back into the nineteenth century. The living room was smallish and she sat right up close to the biggest coal fire you ever saw so the room was always very hot. She would sit upright, almost like she was holding court. She was also terribly deaf so we had to shout to make ourselves heard. As a child my overwhelming impression was of intense heat and noise but I looked forward to going to visit her. We all presumed she was just a maiden aunt but I have since found out that she was my Great Grandmother.
CHAPTER ONE
Her story starts in the small Welsh coastal town of Penarth. Her name was Bronwyn Williams and she lived with her mother, Violet Williams and father Leonard Williams. She had a half-brother, Henry, brother, Robert and two sisters, Gwyneth and Elizabeth who were both younger than her. Henry’s mother had died when he was very young but he had never accepted his stepmother and half-brother and sisters. He had turned into a nasty bully who treated his half siblings like slaves. He was older and bigger than them and attacked them whenever he thought he could get away with it. They were a poor family but because their father was a fisherman, they always had fish to eat. They grew vegetables in the tiny plot of land that the house stood on. It was a busy town so there was work for all of them on the docks, although they didn’t earn very much money as they still had to attend the local school and could only work when the school day ended. Wyn was the best one at gutting the fish so she was given the best fish her father caught to gut in the shed at home. Every Sunday they all went to the local church as their mother and father were very religious.
After Church the children were free to do what they wanted. They would go down to the docks and watch the boats come in. There was a lot of coalmining done around the area and the coal was transported by boat. There was always a lot of shouting and men rushing about and Wyn, Elizabeth and Robert enjoyed watching all the activity. It was always a peaceful time for them because Henry would go off on his own. None of them knew what he was doing but at least it gave them a break from him. The bullying was getting much worse. He would hit and pinch them until they had bruises on their bodies but he was clever enough to only do it where nobody could see it. He had also started touching Wyn in places she shouldn’t have been touched. She would tell him not to touch her but he would just laugh and say try and stop me then and she would try very hard but he was too strong for her.
One day Wyn came home to find her mother crying. She ran over to where her mother was sitting and asked her what was wrong. Her mother told her that Henry had been taken by the police and her father was very upset. It seemed that Henry had been caught stealing from the big house on the hill. There were three policemen upstairs searching Henry and Robert’s room. Henry had a box of things he had collected over the years. There were different coloured stones and pebbles he had picked up off the beach so they knew it belonged to him. In there they found small bits of jewellery and silver ornaments. Henry was taken away and Wyn, Elizabeth and Robert hoped they would not see him for a long time.
Henry was found guilty of theft and was sent to Cardiff Prison for four years. He managed to avoid a longer sentence and transportation as he was only 14 years old and it was the first time he had been caught. He left court with his usual swagger pretending to everyone that time in prison didn’t scare him. He especially didn’t want his half-brother and sisters to know. He needed to know they were all scared of him, it made him feel he was a real man.
During this time life went on peacefully. They were still very poor but always seemed to have enough food to eat. Leonard missed Henry but started giving more attention to the other children. Life for all of them was tough but good. It was summer time and the weather was warm. Since the railway had come to Penarth there were always a lot of day trippers coming to the seaside. There had also been a lot of Hotels built and they loved just watching the holidaymakers coming and going. There always seemed to be something going on to watch.
They lived in a beautiful area, miles of countryside set with corn fields, pasture land, tall hedges and winding lanes. There was purple heather on the hills and gleaming in the distance, was the dark blue brilliance of the sea. During one of their walks in the hills after school they met a strange little boy with bare feet who was very dirty. His name was Bert and he lived with his granddad in a hut on the other side of the hill. He started meeting them whenever they went up the hill. They would explore the countryside and got very good at recognising the calls of the birds. After running around the hills all day they would visit Bert’s granddad and he would give them a drink of milk from his own cow and tell them stories about his life when he was a small boy. He became a coal miner when he was about 14 years old. Life down the mines was very hard and after breathing in the coal dust for so many years, he had a cough that never stopped.
The next time they met up with Bert he told them he was leaving Penarth because his grandfather had died and he had to go and live in the city with an older cousin he had never met. He felt very sad about going and told them he would miss them very much. He had never lived in a city and didn’t want to go. As he turned to go he gave Wyn a four leaf clover he had found.
‘Keep this and you’ll have good luck,’ he told her and he started walking away. Wyn ran over to him with tears in her eyes and kissed him on the cheek.
‘Bye,’ she said, ‘hope it will be alright in the city.’
As Bert got to the brow of the hill he turned and waved. That was the last time they saw him.
Then came the day that none of them were looking forward to, Henry came home. He was bigger and meaner and although his father was overjoyed to see him, the other children were not so happy. They knew their lives would no longer be happy and carefree. The beatings and abuse started again straight away. They tried to keep out of his way but in a small house it was not possible. They started staying away from home until they knew their parents would be there. Their mother would fuss over Henry giving him the best food because she said he had lost a lot of weight in prison and needed feeding up. She would ask the other children why they stayed away but never listened long enough to let them explain. They were so unhappy, Wyn more than any of them as she was the one Henry would pick on most. She tried to keep him away from her younger sister and brother and most of the time succeeded. It was getting much worse for her and she was very scared about how it would end. She couldn’t tell anyone about the times Henry would trap her alone and touch her in her private places. He would fondle her budding breasts and put his hand up her skirt. She would feel a hard lump as he pressed himself against her. She was scared because she knew that what he was doing was wrong and she knew it was just a matter of time before something very bad happened. Sometimes she would go into the shed to start gutting the fish and he would be in there with the front of his trousers open. He would jump, stop whatever he was doing and smack her round the face for disturbing him.
It was a few weeks later when Wyn was woken up by footsteps coming along the rotten floorboards of the landing. She woke up her sleeping sisters Elizabeth and Gwyneth. Wyn told them to get down by the side of the bed as she knew he couldn’t get to them there. They lay there shaking with fear but just as the footsteps got to their bedroom door, a voice came from downstairs.
‘Who’s moving around up there?’ asked their father.
‘It’s just me,’ Henry replied, ‘I thought I heard something.’
‘Well get back to bed,’ their Father said.
The footsteps stopped and then went back slowly towards the boy’s room. That was close Wyn thought; it’s getting harder to stop him. She looked down at her sisters and told them that it was safe to get back into bed.
The next day Wyn was outside in the shed gutting the fish their father had been out catching when Henry walked in. He went up behind her and without saying a word he pulled her skirt up, unbuttoned himself and roughly pushed his already erect member inside her. Wyn felt a tearing pain and shouted, ‘stop it, you’re hurting me.’ She screamed but he just said, ‘stop screaming, there’s no-one here to help you, they’re all out working.’ Wyn was very scared but still threatened to tell their father but Henry just started thrusting harder into her. He was breathing heavy and was moaning loudly. Wyn just gritted her teeth until he finished.
‘If you tell Father,’ he said, ‘I’ll just do it to Elizabeth, it’s up to you.’
Wyn knew she couldn’t let it happen to one of her sisters as she had always felt very protective of them. Henry just laughed, wiped himself on a rag and then walked out. From then on whenever he could, he would force her to submit to him. It went on for a long time and she started feeling guilty because her body had started responding to him and she felt stirrings of pleasure when he pushed harder and harder into her.
One day she was out in the shed gutting the fish and, as usual Henry came up behind her and was just unbuttoning himself when her father, Leonard, walked into the shed.
‘Henry!’ he yelled, ‘what are you doing you filthy bastard, get off your sister.’
He turned to Wyn and told her to run back to the house and go up to her bedroom.
‘I’ll come and see you shortly,’ he told her.
Henry slowly re-buttoned himself and turned round and just smirked at his father. Leonard hit him with all the strength he could muster. Henry fell to the ground and sat there dazed with blood pouring from his nose. Leonard sat on a bench and looked at his son.
‘How did you turn out to be so bad?’ he asked. ‘What am I going to do with you? You can’t stay here with your sisters; you obviously can’t keep your hands off them. Henry just looked back at him and didn’t reply. Leonard sighed, sat and thought for a while and then got up, locked Henry in the shed and went down to the dock. The previous night in the local Inn, he had been talking to the captain of a ship that was sailing to the West Indies the following day and the captain had mentioned that he was looking for crew. The ship was still there so Leonard asked to see the captain then told him all about Henry and how bad his behaviour had become.
‘You said you needed crew,’ Leonard said, ‘will you take Henry? He’s strong, fit and used to hard work. I don’t want him to end up in prison again.
‘Alright,’ the captain agreed, ‘I am desperate for crew.’
They both went back to the house to get him. Henry was still sitting in the same position in the shed.
‘You are going with the captain,’ Leonard told him. ‘You’re not to argue or make a fuss, it’s either this or the police, I leave it up to you.’
Henry gave him an evil look but agreed to go. ‘
‘Don’t worry Leonard,’ the captain said, ‘you’ll not be seeing him for a long time. What are you going to tell your wife?’
‘I’ll just say he’s been thinking about going to sea for a long time and you made him a good offer,’ Leonard told him.
With Henry gone, Leonard now knew he had to get Wyn away from Penarth before there was any chance of a scandal. The only person he could think of to help her was Father John. He knew a lot of people. Leonard walked down to the Church where Father John was in the vestry. He looked at Leonard and saw something was troubling him. He asked him if there was a problem and Leonard explained what had been happening and asked if John could help get Wyn away from Penarth. Father John told him that he did know of a family in London that might take her in.
‘She would have to be willing to work very hard and it wouldn’t be an easy life. It would be very strange for her at first.’
Leonard replied that she would be better off away from there. ‘You never know,’ he said, ‘she might even like it.’
Father John told him that he would make the arrangements. He said the train fare could come out of the poor fund and that he would let him know when she should go. Leonard thanked him and walked home with a heavy heart. Not only had he lost his eldest son but now his favourite daughter had to leave. How was he going to explain this to Violet without telling her the real reason why? When he got home Wyn was lying on her bed staring at the ceiling. Leonard walked in and told her that Henry had gone and wouldn’t ever touch her again. He also told her he had been speaking to Father John and they had decided that the best thing for her to do was get away in case anyone ever found out what had happened. ‘Where am I going?’ she cried, ‘I don’t want to leave my family. I want to stay here. Please don’t make me go. I tried to stop him but he said he would do it to Elizabeth if I told you.’ Leonard hugged her, ‘I know it wasn’t your fault, he told her, ‘you did right protecting your sister but it will be better for you if you leave. This could be a chance for you. You won’t have to gut fish for the rest of your life.’ He left Wyn and went downstairs. His wife Violet was sitting darning. She looked up as he walked in and could see by his face something bad had happened. ‘What’s wrong?’ she asked. He told her that Henry had decided to join a ship going to the West Indies. Violet looked at him in shock. ‘What’s happened?’ she asked, ‘when will he be going?’ Henry told her that the ship had already sailed. ‘It was a last minute decision. He was very happy the captain would take him. It’s a hard life but it’s what he wanted.’ Leonard then told her the hardest bit, ‘Father John has told me that he can arrange a better life for Wyn as well. He knows of a family in London who is looking for a scullery maid.’ Violet looked at him, ‘what’s going on?’ she asked. ‘Henry gone, now Wyn going. I’m not stupid, what’s been happening?’ ‘Nothing’s going on,’ Leonard replied, ‘it’s just that these things are happening at the same time. Don’t you want better lives for them both? Maybe Father John can sort something out for Gwyneth and Elizabeth when they are old enough.’ Violet gave him a strange look but said, ‘of course I want a better life for them but I’ll miss them so.’ Two weeks later Wyn found herself at Penarth station with Leonard and Father John. Her mother wasn’t there because she just couldn’t face seeing her eldest daughter leave. They had said their goodbyes earlier and Violet had now taken to her bed totally devastated at the loss of her eldest daughter. Father John had found Wyn a place in a large house in Chester Square, Belgravia. The house belonged to Charles and Hester Brompton who had made their money from a sugar plantation in Jamaica. Wyn would be working as a scullery maid. It wouldn’t be an easy life for her but at least she wouldn’t have to put up with Henry anymore. Wyn was very scared and unhappy and didn’t want to leave the only place she had ever known. The train was hot, stuffy and smelly It was the first time Wyn had ever been on a train and at first she didn’t like it, but as she got used to the motion, she started to enjoy it and was fascinated watching the different scenery going past the windows. She had only ever known the sea and hills but now she was seeing larger towns. The train journey went past very fast and they were soon coming into Paddington Station. It was very noisy with people running around and shouting and she saw a few ladies who had very painted faces and bright clothes. She had never seen ladies like that before. She nearly asked Father John who they were but something in his face stopped her. They were met by the Second Footman of the house. His name was William Taylor and he escorted them to the waiting carriage. William was only 15 and had been working in the house for two years. He looked at Wyn with a worried expression and commented, ‘you’re a skinny little thing, and I don’t think you’re going to be strong enough to be a scullery maid.’ ‘She’s stronger than she looks,’ Father John told him. Wyn said nothing; she was too terrified by all the strange noises and smells. The streets were full of shouting people and there was rubbish everywhere. After they had been travelling for about an hour they arrived at the house. William took them down the basement steps and through the kitchen door. They went into the kitchen where the cook, Mrs Davis was waiting. ‘Well, what have we got here,’ she asked. ‘This is the new scullery maid, Bronwyn Williams,’ he told her. ‘Bit skinny for the job,’ she said, ‘but I’m sure we can get her working.’ She turned to Father John and asked him if he could wait for a minute as the housekeeper wanted to see him. She turned to William and asked him to go and tell Mrs Danvers that they were there. It was about ten minutes later that Emily Danvers, the Housekeeper, came through the door. She was Father John’s sister and a kind and compassionate woman. ‘Hello John,’ she said, ‘is this the waif you have been writing to me about? Are you sure she will be able to fulfil her duties? She’s a bit young.’ Father John smiled and replied, ‘Wyn’s spent most of her life so far gutting fish so she’s stronger than she looks. I just had to get her away,’ he said, ‘she deserves a chance of a new life.’ Emily turned to Wyn and told her that it wouldn’t be an easy life. Wyn looked at her and replied, ‘I don’t care, I don’t ever want to go home. I’ll work hard I promise.’ Emily turned to Mrs Davis and said, ‘Wyn is now in your care and you are to treat her kindly.’ She then turned to Wyn and told her that she was in good hands and that she would be looked after. Emily smiled at Wyn and left the kitchen. Wyn jumped when Mrs Davis suddenly shouted, ‘Betty come here I need you.’ Betty, the kitchen maid appeared. She was an untidy, very tall and slim redhead with a mass of freckles on her face. ‘What you shouting me for?’ she asked. ‘Less of the cheek,’ Mrs Davis replied. ‘This is Wyn, the new scullery maid, show her up to your room. She will be sharing with you.’ Betty looked at Wyn and replied, ‘that room isn’t big enough to swing a cat in, how are we both going to sleep in there?’ ‘Stop your moaning,’ said Mrs Davis, ‘at least it will be warmer with two of you. Just get yourselves up there and show Wyn where the ablutions are too.’ The servants in this house were very lucky as Mr & Mrs Brompton believed in looking after their servants well and there was a water closet on the servants floor, although they still had to carry water for washing and for the old tin bath they had to bathe in in front of the fire in their room. Betty took Wyn up to the top of the house where Wyn walked into the smallest bedroom she had ever seen. There was only one bed, a wardrobe and a vanity unit to house the washing bowl and jug, in the room. The sheets were thin and threadbare but very clean. ‘I suppose Mrs Davis was right,’ said Betty, ‘it will at least be warmer with the two of us in the bed. I just hope you don’t snore.’ Wyn just stood in the doorway not saying anything. The events of the last few days were beginning to catch up with her and she had gone into a state of shock. What’s happening to me, she thought how did I end up here? Betty could see how she was feeling so got hold of her arm and pulled her into the room, laid her down on the bed and told her to sleep for a while as she wasn’t going to start work until the following day. Betty went back to the room a couple of hours later to find Wyn awake and looking more alert. ‘Come with me,’ she told her, ‘I’m to take you to Mrs Danvers because the mistress wants to see you.’ Betty took Wyn down to the kitchen where Mrs Danvers was waiting to take Wyn up to the drawing room to see Mrs Brompton. When they walked into the room Wyn saw an attractive woman with long blond hair done up in a bun. She was very slim and was wearing a fashionable day dress. She looked at Wyn and said to Mrs Danvers, ‘she is only a child, how is she going to be able to do the work of a scullery maid?’ ‘I’m told she is stronger than she looks,’ replied Mrs Danvers, ‘she is used to hard work.’ ‘Alright,’ replied Mrs Brompton, ‘I’ll leave her in your care.’ Then she turned to Wyn and said, ‘if you work hard and do as you are told you will be alright here. Go along now and do as Mrs Davis tells you.’ | | | | |