The Workhouse Girl (27 page)

‘
GREY DIDN'T TAKE
anything from the house. He never left my sight.'

‘And would you be prepared to swear that in court?'

‘Of course I would.'

‘I believe that Tobias is innocent, and because of that I've taken an enormous risk.' Moorcroft closed the parlour door. ‘I don't want anyone to hear this but you, Sarah.'

‘I won't tell anyone, sir.'

‘I've used my own money to pay the debt and have Tobias released, but if George Fitch does press charges I'm afraid he could find himself back in prison.'

Sarah stared at him in horror. ‘This can't be happening. Why would Mr Fitch be so cruel to his own nephew?'

‘Where money and property are concerned people become greedy and ruthless. I know George only too well.'

‘Why are you doing all this, sir? It doesn't make sense for you to risk your reputation to save someone you barely know.'

‘I was more than fond of Elsie.' His pale cheeks flooded with colour and he turned his head away. ‘I told you that we were close for a while, but I did not tell you the whole truth. In fact, I was desperately in love with her, but I'm afraid I abandoned her in her hour of need.'

‘You told me that she had been jilted by her lover.'

‘That part was true. She was in love with someone else, but, as I said before, he was only interested in her money. When he discovered that she was with child and had been disowned by her family he left and was never seen again.'

‘Poor Elsie. It's all so sad.'

‘I begged her to marry me, but she refused. I should have pursued her and pleaded with her, but I was piqued to think that she had given her heart to someone else and I was ambitious. If I'm to be brutally honest I would have to say that I was embarrassed by her unconventional way of living, and I doubted whether she was a proper wife for an aspiring lawyer.'

‘Were you the father of her child, Mr Moorcroft?'

‘She denied it, and I'm ashamed to say that I was somewhat relieved. I'll never discover the truth now.'

‘That's very sad, sir.'

‘If I'd had a son or a daughter I might not have grown into such a selfish, self-centred old bachelor.'

‘I don't think you're being fair to yourself.'

‘Do you not?' He smiled. ‘Anyway, to answer your question, I can see a lot of Elsie in Tobias and that's why I feel compelled to do everything in my power to help him. I know how easy it is for men to slip into a life of crime, especially when they become involved with ruthless villains like Trigg.'

Sarah thought for a moment, but she was still puzzled. ‘I can understand that, but you're risking everything. It doesn't seem fair.'

A slow smile eased the lines of worry from his brow. ‘Elsie must have been very fond of you, Sarah. She was not the sort of person to bother with people she didn't like, but she took you in and raised you as if you were the child she had lost.'

Sarah recalled the backbreaking work she had been obliged to do, chopping wood for the fire and hefting buckets of water from the stream. She would not describe the living conditions in the cabin as being those provided by a kindly parent, unless sleeping on bare boards and surviving on vegetable soup was now considered to be the ideal method of child rearing. But Moorcroft obviously wanted to believe well of Elsie and she nodded her head. ‘Elsie was good to me in her own way, sir. And Tobias saved my life.'

‘It's obvious that he has a fondness for you, and I'm sure it's mutual.'

‘I'd do anything for him, sir.'

‘Anything? Even if it places you outside the law?'

‘Yes, sir. Anything.'

‘Then come with me now, Sarah. I'll explain everything on the way.'

‘But what will I tell Mrs Arbuthnot?'

His frown deepened. ‘The poor lady has been through so much recently. Let me talk to her and I'll do my utmost to explain matters and put her mind at ease. Do you trust me, Sarah?'

She nodded vigorously. ‘Of course I do, sir.'

‘Then get your bonnet and shawl and wait for me outside in the street. I've sent the sugar baker to find me a cab.'

Minutes later they were on their way to Whitecross Street. ‘I've told Mrs Arbuthnot all she needs to know.' Moorcroft examined his pocket watch with a satisfied nod. ‘We'll be in good time, even allowing for the traffic.'

‘What are we going to do, sir?'

‘I've arranged to meet Tobias in a tavern close to the prison. My clerk, Joliffe, has been instructed to provide everything he needs.'

‘I'm sorry, sir. I don't understand.'

‘Tobias must leave the country. I don't know why George couldn't settle matters in a civilised manner, but he seems determined to ruin his nephew. Whatever lies behind the false accusations the only answer is for Tobias to live abroad until we can prove his innocence and that isn't going to be easy. I've told George that I can no longer represent him, and that hasn't gone down well.'

‘How can I help?'

‘The moment a warrant for Tobias's re-arrest is issued the police will be on the lookout for him. It won't be safe to book passage on any ship leaving London, but a fishing boat leaving an Essex harbour is unlikely to excite much attention. Do I make myself clear?'

Sarah nodded slowly. ‘You want me to take him to . . .'

Moorcroft laid his finger on her lips. ‘Don't mention names of places or people you might contact. I'm still a man of the law and the less I know the better. But I hear that Belgium is a nice place with friendly people, or even France.'

‘I have no money, Mr Moorcroft. How will we pay our way?'

‘Joliffe will take care of that, but I'm not suggesting that you should go abroad. Just ensure that the person we're talking about finds a safe passage out of the country, and then you'll be free to return to London, if you so wish.'

‘I don't know what I'll do, sir. I have to earn my living and Mrs Arbuthnot can't afford to keep me or pay my wages. It's going to be very hard for her to manage on her own.'

‘I might be able to help the good lady.'

‘Would you, sir?'

‘I admire the way she's coped with everything, and she has spirit. I'm a lonely old bachelor, Sarah. I would benefit enormously from some feminine company. It will be my pleasure to see that Mrs Arbuthnot wants for nothing.'

There was little left to say and Sarah was becoming increasingly nervous as the cab rattled over the cobblestones on its tortuous way to Whitecross Street. The cabby drew his horse to a halt outside the Green Man and Still public house, and having paid the fare Moorcroft ushered Sarah into the taproom. Through a haze of tobacco smoke she spotted Grey seated at a table in the company of a bald-headed man.

‘There's Joliffe,' Moorcroft said, edging his way towards them. He pulled up a chair and motioned Sarah to take a seat. ‘Is it all arranged?'

Joliffe nodded vigorously. ‘Yes, sir. We've discussed everything.'

Grey reached out to grasp Sarah's hand. ‘If you don't want to be mixed up in this I'll quite understand.'

She squeezed his fingers, forcing her lips into a smile. ‘I'll do anything to help. It's just not fair that you're being treated like this.'

‘You've handed over the monies, Joliffe?' Moorcroft said in a low voice.

‘Yes, sir.'

‘And you've arranged the necessary transport?'

‘I have, sir. The person is known to me and will take them to their destination, no questions asked. Discretion guaranteed.'

‘You've done well,' Grey murmured. ‘Thank you.'

‘My pleasure, sir.' Joliffe rose to his feet. ‘The carriage is waiting in Fore Street, close to Three Dagger Court. I suggest that you make haste as my contact informs me that the former client has already taken the matter further.'

Moorcroft frowned. ‘As I feared. Then there's no time to lose. You'd best be on your way.'

‘I agree.' Grey leapt to his feet. ‘Are you sure about this, Sarah?'

‘Of course,' she said firmly. ‘Let's go.'

‘Joliffe and I will leave first,' Moorcroft said, glancing over his shoulder. ‘Good luck and rest assured that I'll do my best to sort matters out while you're away.'

‘I'm more than grateful.' Grey shook his hand.

Moorcroft turned to Sarah. ‘When you return to London go straight to Elbow Lane. I will contact you there but don't on any account come to my chambers.'

‘No, sir. I'll do as you say. But could I ask you a favour?'

‘Of course, but be quick. You really should be on your way.'

‘Would you be kind enough to send a message to Nettie Bean at the Olympic Theatre, letting her know that I'm all right and I'll be in touch as soon as I'm able.'

He nodded. ‘I'll see that it's done.'

She watched him walk away with a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach. Now they were well and truly on their own. She turned to Grey. ‘What are we going to do?'

He slipped his arm around her waist. ‘Just try to look natural. There's no need to be scared. I won't let any harm come to you, nipper. We're old mates, aren't we?'

His smile was infectious and she felt a surge of confidence. ‘Very old mates. We'll be all right.'

The carriage was waiting as Joliffe had said at the entrance of the aptly named Three Daggers Court, which looked as disreputable as its name. Grey made himself known to the driver whose identity was carefully concealed by a muffler wrapped around the lower half of his face. ‘Don't hang about, mate.' His fingers tightened on the handle of the horsewhip. ‘We're too close to the clink for comfort and there's a police station round the corner in Moor Lane.'

‘You've been given instructions as to the destination.'

With a grunt and a nod of assent, the driver flicked his whip and Grey practically threw Sarah into the carriage and leapt in after her. ‘It seems as though we're doomed to flee London together, kid. Only this time you're saving me.'

‘I can't believe that this is happening,' she said, clutching the seat as the carriage lurched into motion. ‘Why would your cousin treat you so badly, Grey? What could he hope to gain by having you locked up?'

‘He never liked me much, but I can only think it must have something to do with Elsie's will. She never told me what was in it and I didn't ask. I didn't think she had anything to leave apart from that leaky old hut, and why would she want me to have it anyway?'

‘Perhaps she left your grandparents' house to you.'

‘If she inherited Blackwood House, why on earth did she choose to stay in that hovel? It doesn't make sense.'

‘Maybe not, but she loved the freedom of living on the marshes where she could do as she pleased. Some people said she was a witch, but she wasn't anything of the sort. She was a healer and her medicines really worked. I'd love to carry on her work, but I know it's impossible.'

‘It wouldn't be easy, but I think you could do anything you put your mind to.' Grey settled back against the squabs, closing his eyes. ‘I haven't had much sleep since I was shut up in that place. Listening to sixty men coughing and snoring doesn't make for a restful night.' Within minutes he was sound asleep, but it took Sarah a long time to relax. She gazed out of the window as the vehicle trundled through the city streets where poverty rubbed shoulders with wealth, and virtue struggled to overcome vice. Eventually, lulled by the rhythmic pounding of the horses' hooves and the drumming of cartwheels on cobblestones, she too fell asleep.

They arrived on the outskirts of Blackwood early next morning, having stopped to change horses at an inn halfway along the route. Sarah would have given anything to curl up in a warm bed, but she was only too well aware that time was not on their side. The police might be searching for Grey and they could not afford to take chances. She had slept fitfully after that, waking every time the carriage wheels hit a pothole, and then sinking into a world of vivid dreams that turned into nightmares. It was a relief to open her eyes when the vehicle finally drew to a halt.

Grey opened his eyes and stretched. ‘Haven't slept like that for ages.'

‘You're lucky,' Sarah said crossly. ‘I'm black and blue from being tossed about in this contraption. Your cart was more comfortable.'

He was suddenly alert. ‘What happened to Boxer? You didn't leave him in the stables, did you?'

‘Of course not. He's being taken care of, but that's the least of your worries. Now we've got to hope that we catch Davey before he puts to sea.'

The driver wrenched the door open. ‘Where to now, guv?'

‘We can't just drive down the main street,' Sarah said hastily. ‘It's a small village and anything out of the ordinary would set tongues wagging.'

‘I know exactly where we are.' Grey stepped out of the carriage, looking round with a satisfied smile. ‘I used to go fishing near here when I was a boy.'

‘How does that help?' Sarah demanded. She was cold, stiff and hungry and not in the mood to listen to childhood reminiscences.

‘We'll walk from here, Sarah. It isn't far.'

‘You don't know where we're going,' she protested as he swung her to the ground.

‘That's where you're wrong. I know just the place.' He turned to the driver, who was about to climb back onto the box. ‘What do I owe you?'

‘I was paid in advance and very handsomely too. You must have a price on your head, mate. Good luck is all I can say.' He tipped his cap and drove off, leaving them in the country lane with no habitation in sight.

‘It's about a mile to the village,' Sarah said, sighing. ‘He could have taken us a bit further. I want to catch Davey before he sets sail for the fishing grounds.'