Chapter Fifteen
For the next two weeks, every time Lucy came for a lesson, Emily examined her closely, looking for any physical signs of abuse. But, thankfully, she saw nothing. After each lesson was over, she tried to engage Letta in conversation about Lucy’s life at home, but the servant girl was maddeningly vague in her responses. Emily understood her young friend’s predicament, but she didn’t like it. If there was abuse, she was certain that Letta, living under the same roof with the Ingersolls, would have to know about it. But by mid-June, Emily began to believe her suspicions were unfounded.
Then, Lucy came to class with a bruised eye.
“Lucy, what happened to you?”
Looking embarrassed, she gingerly touched her cheek. “Mother says I’m so clumsy. I walked into a door.”
Later, while the girls were having cookies with Henrietta, Emily pulled Letta into the parlor and closed the door.
“Letta, you must tell me how Lucy got that bruise.”
“I was told she walked into a door.”
“Who told you that?”
“Mrs. Ingersoll.”
“Did you see it happen?”
“No.”
Emily took Letta by the shoulders. “Letta, for God’s sake, tell me the truth. Do you believe that’s what happened?”
Letta began to weep. “No … I… don’t ...”
“What’s going on in that house?”
Through convulsive sobs, she said, “It’s Mr. Ingersoll. He’s a brute to Lucy and to Mrs. Ingersoll. He’s never done anything in my presence, but I’ve heard things …”
“Like what?”
She fell into Emily’s arms. “I’ve heard the sounds of someone being slapped … punched … Oh, God it’s terrible. I put the pillow over my head, but I can still hear the sounds.”
“Letta, I’m going to ask you a question and I want you to answer me truthfully. To your knowledge, has Mr. Ingersoll ever sexually abused Lucy?”
Letta bit her lip. “I hear things …”
“What sort of things do you hear?”
“Sometimes, in the middle of the night … I hear doors opening and closing.”
An ashen-faced Emily sat down hard. “Oh, my God. Oh, my God …”
Letta dropped to her knees and took Emily’s two hands in hers. “Emily, you must never tell anyone I said such things.”
Emily squeezed the distraught girl’s hands. “Don’t worry. I would never get you in trouble with the Ingersolls.”
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know.”
A despondent Letta stood up and wiped the tears from her eyes. “I’d better take Lucy home.”
Tears welled up in Emily’s eyes. “I can’t bear the thought of that poor girl spending another night in that horror house.”
“Neither can I, but what choice do I have?”
“None,” Emily said dully.
After the last of the students had left, Emily sat at the kitchen staring into the fireplace.
Henrietta sat down next to her. “Emily, what is it? You look so worried. Is it the baby?”
Emily automatically patted her stomach. With an expected due date less than a month away, she was growing bigger and bigger by the day. “No, it’s not the baby.” She started to cry. “Henrietta, Ingersoll is molesting his daughter.”
The older woman dropped a plate of cookies. “Oh, no … no ...”
“What am I going to do, Henrietta?”
“You heard what Gaylord said. Who could you go to?”
“I think I’ve found a place.” She opened the newspaper on the table and flipped through it until she found the classified section.
“Here’s a place I might go—The Society for the Relief of Orphan and Destitute Children. It’s located on Greenwich Avenue.”
She stood up and pulled her shawl around her.
“Where are you going?” Henrietta asked in alarm.
“I’m going to tell them what’s going on.”
“Emily,” Henrietta pleaded, “at least wait until Michael gets home.”
“There’s no time to waste. I’ve got to get that child out of that house as soon as I can.”
Before Henrietta could say anything more, Emily was out the door.
The building in which The Society for the Relief of Orphan and Destitute Children was housed was impressive. In a previous incarnation, it might have been a proud merchant bank.
An elderly woman was seated at a desk in the foyer. “May I help you?” she asked with a kindly smile.
“Yes, I want to report a case of child abuse.”
The woman nodded knowingly. “I understand. We get these referrals every day. What’s going on in those terrible neighborhoods like the Five Points is a disgrace to this city. But, that’s what we’re here for—to do our part in saving the children from abuse and neglect.”
She opened a notebook. “What is the address where the child abuse has taken place?”
“Gramercy Park.”
The woman dropped her pencil. “Did you say … Gramercy Park?”
“I did.”
The woman looked puzzled. “Does this involve a servant or a tradesman?”
“No. It involves the master of the house.”
The woman pursed her lips. “Wait right here.” She jumped up and hurried down the hallway.
A minute later she came back accompanied by an anxious middle-aged clergyman who directed her into a small office.
“Please be seated, Mrs. …?”
“Ranahan. Emily Ranahan.”
“I am the Reverend James Fowler, the director here. What is the nature of your complaint?”
“As I told the woman at the desk, I want to report and incident of child abuse.”
“And you claim this so-called ‘child abuse’ occurred in a residence in Gramercy Park?”
“That’s correct.” She didn’t like his use of the word “claim” or his characterizing her complaint as “so-called.” She realized Gaylord was right about these people. They would not—or could not—accept that one of their own could be a monster.
The reverend, bald except for tufts of white hair sprouting above his ears, studied her with an undisguised look of incredulity. “Do you know the name of the alleged miscreant?”
She realized his whole tone and demeanor was designed to discourage and intimidate her, but she’d come this far and there would be no turning back. “His name is Thaddeus Ingersoll.”
The clergyman started. “That’s… that’s… preposterous,” he sputtered. “Mr. Ingersoll is an upstanding member of my church. Why, he’s the chair of our Congregational Council. You must be mistaken.”
“I don’t believe I am.”
His eyes narrowed. “What sort of proof do you have?” he snapped.
“What kind of proof would you expect me to have? If I’d come here to complain about some poor drunken father in the Five Points, would you ask me for proof? No. You would investigate the claim as I expect you to do now.”
The reverent stood up. “There will be no investigation,” he said coldly. “I know Mr. Ingersoll personally. It is not possible that he could ever do what you claim. And I will not be party to a scheme to destroy the reputation of an upstanding member of this city and of my congregation. Good day, madam.”
Emily stood up. “And what about his daughter? Don’t you care about what happens to her?”
“I am not worried about his daughter because I will stake my reputation that nothing is amiss in the Ingersoll household.”
Emily pulled her shawl around her shoulders. “Reverend, I hope to God you’re right.”
An angry Michael was waiting for her when she got home. “Emily, what could you be thinking? You’re eight months pregnant. You’ve no business gallivanting all over the city on a fool’s errand.”
“It was not a fool’s errand.”
“Of course it was. You heard what Gaylord said.”
“I had to do it, Michael. Someone must stand up for Lucy.”
“And what was the outcome of your meeting?”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “It was a fool’s errand. They won’t do anything. My God, what’s going to become of her?”
Michael put his arms around her. “Emily, you tried. That’s all you can do.”
The repercussions of Emily’s visit to The Society for the Relief of Orphan and Destitute Children was swift. Within days, a nervous Letta appeared at the door.
“Come in” Henrietta said.
“I can’t. I’m here to deliver a message to Emily.”
Emily came to the door. “Letta, what is it? Come in.”
The servant girl shook her head. “I can’t ...”
Emily took her arm. “Nonsense. Henrietta has a pot of coffee on the stove.”
Letta came in and handed the note to Emily. It was short and to the point: Effective forthwith, Lucy will no longer be coming for French lessons. Mrs. Ingersoll.
“What happened, Letta?”
“Yesterday, a Reverend Fowler came to see Mr. Ingersoll. They went into the parlor. I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but Mr. Ingersoll was very loud and angry.”
Emily shook her head in astonishment. “The reverend took the time to tell Ingersoll that I made a complaint against him, but he wouldn’t take the time to investigate my charge.”
Henrietta poured a cup of coffee for Letta. “It’s just as Gaylord said.”
The next day, as they were eating dinner, she got similar notes from the parents of three more students. “The word must be spreading,” Emily said. “I’m a pariah.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Michael. My foolishness has cost me four students. And with the baby coming we could really use the money.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Michael said. “We’ll be fine.”
“What about your other student, Abigail?” Henrietta asked. “Do you think she’ll stop coming as well?”
That question was answered the next day when Delia Hainsworth personally brought Abigail. While Henrietta was feeding Abigail cookies in the kitchen, Emily took Delia into the parlor.
“Delia, I want to thank you for having the courage to stick with me.”
“Nonsense. I’ve always thought there was something wrong in that Ingersoll house. The fathers of your three students who left are all business associates of Ingersoll. He tried to pressure my husband and me, but I told him I will make my own decisions. But, as a friend, I must tell you, your actions were imprudent.”
“I know. I was warned.”
“Thaddeus Ingersoll is a powerful and well-connected man in this city. And there are many who are beholden to him. You’re new to this city, but you must understand, the only thing that counts in this city is money and power and Ingersoll has both.”
“Why is it he couldn’t pressure you?”
“My husband is in banking. He’s not part of that merchant class. Just be careful, Emily.”
“What else can he do to me? He’s taken away four of my students.”
“I don’t know. Just be careful.”