James watched the cab till it disappeared, and then turned to his mother. ‘What a very interesting visit. Eleanor may not be of Albert Warrender’s blood, but he considers her his daughter nonetheless.’
‘I liked her, and admire her determination to find her siblings. She is not one to shy away from unpleasant tasks, I think. Once she found out about her parentage, she could not rest until she faced the past. That takes great strength of character, and in that way she is like Albert. When you see them together I would not have doubted that they are father and daughter, although their colouring is quite different they are alike in temperament.’
James nodded. ‘She’s an intriguing girl.’
‘Albert told me that he was frightened to tell her about the adoption in case he lost her.’
‘Well, that hasn’t happened. I would say they are very close.’
‘That was also my impression. He appears to be a kind, understanding man. A rarity these days.’
‘Don’t be misled by what you saw today. Albert Warrender is a powerful man.’ James shook his head, a look of amusement on his face. ‘He has been a Member of Parliament for some years, fighting fiercely for the underprivileged. I am informed that you upset him at your peril.’
‘Have you been checking up on him, James?’
‘Of course, Mother. I wanted to know something about the stranger who was calling on us.’ James sat down and crossed his legs. ‘But he is highly regarded, and very wealthy, I’m told.’
Augusta gave an inelegant snort. ‘Well, he would be highly regarded if he is rich. So are we. Did you find out anything else?’
‘Only gossip. It’s said that he loved his wife and stayed with her, even though she couldn’t have children.’ James pursed his lips. ‘If he had a mistress, then I couldn’t find one.’
‘That could only mean he has been discreet.’ Augusta studied her son with interest. ‘You have been thorough. So, now you’ve met him, what is your opinion?’
‘I would like to know him better before giving an opinion on such a short acquaintance. But he seems an impressive man.’
‘Indeed.’ Augusta gazed into space. ‘He has the most extraordinary eyes, amber, wouldn’t you say?’
James laughed. ‘I never noticed, Mother.’
A tentative tap on the door stopped their conversation. It opened slightly and a very worried girl looked in.
‘Ah, Margaret, I was about to send for you.’ Augusta beckoned her to come forward.
She edged into the room, visibly shaking. ‘I apologise for leaving the room without permission, madam.’ Tears filled her eyes. ‘I was so shocked when the girl told me who she was, and I didn’t know what I was doing.’
‘You need not look so frightened, Margaret,’ Augusta said gently to her nervous maid. ‘I shall not dispense with your services. You would not be easy to replace.’
‘Oh, thank you, madam.’ Maggie breathed a huge sigh of relief.
‘Your sister is a charming girl, and was dreadfully upset by your rejection, but she understands. But could you not have been a little kinder to her?’
‘I know I should have been, but I’ve always blamed her for the trouble at home, though that was wrong of me. She was just a little thing when she was taken away.’
‘Taken away?’ James asked, sharply. ‘That’s a strange way to put it. We understood that she was adopted by Mr Warrender and his wife.’
Maggie shook her head. ‘It wasn’t him that came for her. There was a woman in the carriage, but we didn’t see her. A man got out, picked up Queenie, and shoved her inside, then he handed over some money, and they drove off. My mum and dad sold her.’
‘Sold her?’ Augusta exclaimed. ‘But that is barbaric. And you say it wasn’t Mr Warrender?’
‘I don’t think so. I’d have remembered him. Queenie hung out of the carriage crying for us to help her.’ Tears began to trickle down Maggie’s face as she remembered. ‘I’ve tried hard to forget that awful day, and her turning up like this has brought it all back. But she’s obviously done all right for herself.’
‘It has turned out well for her, but it could have been very different.’ Augusta turned to her son. ‘I don’t like the sound of this, James.’
‘Neither do I, Mother. It’s hard to believe that Mr Warrender sent someone to pluck the child from her family. I would have said he was a man of integrity, but perhaps the facade of a perfect gentleman is not the truth.’
‘Well, we shall have the opportunity to find out when we visit him.’ She nodded to her maid. ‘In two weeks’ time we shall be going to stay with Mr Warrender. I would like you to accompany me, as always.’
‘Of course, madam, you’ll need your own staff. There’s no telling what the maids are like there.’
Augusta hid her amusement at her maid’s possessive attitude. ‘I’m sure they are competent, but I would prefer to have you with me.’
The train chugged along, the swaying motion easing some of the tension from Ellie. She gazed at her father who was sitting opposite her, deep in thought. Having the compartment to themselves, they could speak freely. ‘Mrs Montague is a handsome lady, do you not think so, Father?’
‘Hmm?’ He looked up. ‘Oh, yes, very charming.’
‘She told me she has been a widow these last eighteen months.’
‘Oh, in that case then I doubt she will be short of suitors. She will be what they call a “good catch”.’ Ellie’s tone was teasing. ‘As you will be. By this time next year you will be pursued by many unattached females.’
‘I have no intention of being caught.’ His mouth twitched.
‘Mother always said that she’d had to fight off hoards of women trying to snare you.’ Ellie grinned. It was good to talk about the happy times.
He laughed freely for the first time in quite a while. ‘It was the other way round. Mary had them queuing at her door. I had to be ruthless to get past them.’
It suddenly occurred to Ellie that her father might remarry one day. Would she find it easy to accept another woman in her mother’s place, or her father’s affections? Her frown deepened as a vague memory prodded at her of her father bending down and removing her shoes so she could run barefoot through the grass.
‘Why the creased brow, Eleanor?’
‘Oh, it’s nothing. I was trying to remember something, but it’s gone now.’ She changed the subject. ‘I didn’t know you were planning a celebration for my birthday.’
‘Your mother made me promise that we would mark the occasion of your eighteenth birthday with a celebration.’
Ellie nodded, quite overcome that even in such poor health, her mother had thought about this special birthday. ‘We’ll make it a happy time.’
‘Indeed we shall. You may invite anyone you like.’
‘Could we ask Pearl, Dave, Jack and Mr Rogers?’
‘I will see that they all receive invitations.’
The next day, Ellie was summoned to her father’s study, her excitement rising when she found Mr Steadman there. But apprehension quickly set in when she saw their grave expressions. If one of her family had been found, then it didn’t look like good news. She braced herself. ‘Which one is it?’ she blurted out, unable to control herself.
‘I have traced a Thomas Bonner, Miss Warrender, but …’ Mr Steadman hesitated, glancing at Albert.
‘Sit down, Eleanor.’ Her father waited until she had done so, hands clasped tightly in her lap.
‘Is he dead?’ she asked.
‘No, he is alive and in Pentonville.’
‘Gaol?’ She’d heard about that place. ‘What has he done?’
‘Robbery with violence.’ Her father didn’t soften the words, knowing she would not want the truth hidden from her. ‘It seems he is a persistent offender, and this time a shopkeeper was seriously injured when he tried to stop the robbery.’
She glanced from one man to the other, horrified by this news. ‘Is the shopkeeper going to recover?’
‘Yes, miss. Tommy Bonner has been lucky. He’s serving ten years in gaol, but he could so easily have faced the hangman’s noose.’
Ellie shuddered. ‘That’s horrific. How long ago did this happen?’
‘I want to see him, Father.’
‘No.’ The refusal was firm. ‘I will not have my daughter going into such a place.’
‘But—’
Her protest was cut off. ‘I have been accommodating so far, but this is something I will not agree to. I’ll visit him, and this is the only concession I will make. By the sound of him, this is one brother you would do well to cross from your list.’
She knew from his tone and stance – standing straight with feet slightly apart and mouth set in a straight line – that no amount of begging would make him change his mind. He did not often taken such a firm stand against something she wanted to do, but when he did, then she knew better than to pursue the subject.
When she nodded, he softened slightly. ‘I’ll see him and assess the situation.’
‘Will you tell him about me?’
‘That will depend on what kind of a man he is. If his character is such that reform seems impossible, then that will be the end of it, Eleanor. I will not allow you anywhere near him. Is that understood? You must trust me.’
‘I do, Father,’ she said. ‘That leaves only Harry and Bert. Is there any news of them?’
‘Nothing definite, miss, but I’m still working on it. I have asked Mr Warrender if I can widen the search. He has given me permission to do that, so I’ll see what I can find out.’
After Maggie’s rejection, and finding out that Tommy was a criminal, Ellie was desperate to trace the remaining brothers.
Watching Eleanor walk from the room, Albert’s heart was heavy. There was an air of distraction and confusion about her, almost as if she had lost her way, not knowing who she was any more. This was more than a search for her forgotten family, it was a search for a part of her life.
‘Tommy sounds like a bad one, sir. If you like I’ll visit him in Pentonville for you.’
Albert shook his head. ‘That won’t be necessary, Mr Steadman. Thank you all the same, but it won’t be the first time I’ve been inside a gaol. And I’ve promised my daughter I’ll talk to him. I hope we have better luck with the last two. That’s if you can find them.’
‘I’ll do my best, sir, even if it’s only a gravestone.’