October arrived with bright sunshine lighting the countryside in a blaze of red, gold and orange, but for once Ellie was blind to the beauty around her. James had returned to London over a week ago, and she missed him. It was surprising how quickly she had become used to his company. But it was more than that. This month was the anniversary of her mother’s death; losing her still hurt so much, and she knew her father was still grieving. Outwardly you would never know, but she only had to look into his eyes to see the pain.
Turning her horse for home, she urged him into a gallop. Even her early morning ride hadn’t managed to ease her gloom. It was two weeks since they had put the announcement in the newspapers, but, as far as she knew, no one had come forward with information about Harry. Her father had paid for it to be included every day for a month. In another two weeks the notice would be withdrawn, and that would be the end, unless she could persuade her father to extend the period. He had gone to a lot of trouble and expense, and she would hesitate to ask more of him, but she would if she had to.
‘Where are you, Harry?’ she cried out as she bent over the horse’s neck, her words disappearing on the wind.
Suddenly, the face of a young boy flashed across her memory.
She brought her horse to an abrupt halt, making Silver snort in annoyance at having her gallop interrupted. The picture had been so vivid that tears were streaming down her face. ‘He looks like me,’ she sobbed, struggling to hold on to the vision. ‘He has the same blue eyes and colour hair. He’s more like me than any of the others. We’ve got to find him! I now know how special he was to me.’
Digging in her heels, they started for home again. She had to talk to her father. He was at breakfast when she rushed in, eyes wide and arms outstretched, making him surge to his feet. ‘What’s the matter, Eleanor?’
‘I’ve remembered Harry!’ She gulped, collapsing into a chair, and as her father sat beside her, she clasped his hand. ‘I was thinking of him and it was as if some memory buried deep in my mind surfaced. I saw a fleeting image of a young boy, his colouring just like mine, and he was laughing. He was always laughing.’ She gazed at her father, pleading, ‘I loved him so much. We must find him.’
‘I don’t know what else we can do.’ Albert sighed. ‘In a way I’m sorry you have discovered your affection for this brother, because our chances of tracing him are very slim.’
Ellie nodded, knowing this was true. ‘Has no one come forward?’
‘A few, but …’ He placed a finger on her lips to stop her saying anything. ‘But Joshua has investigated everyone, and they were all people hoping to make some money.’
‘Frauds, you mean?’
‘Yes, and there will be plenty of them. That’s why Josh insisted that the newspaper send everything to him first. Neither of us wanted people turning up here and upsetting you.’
‘Uncle Josh will let us know at once if there is even a glimmer of hope, won’t he?’ She was fond of her father’s friend, and had given him the title of uncle many years ago when she had been unable to say Hargreaves.
‘He will.’ Albert squeezed her hand, and then sat back. ‘He has invited us to stay with him in London for a few days. We could do some exploring, go to the theatre, and maybe see an opera. Would you enjoy that?’
‘That would be lovely.’ Ellie liked the idea. Remembering Harry had shaken her badly, and it would be good to be in bustling London, doing different things. ‘Perhaps we could visit James and his mother while we are there?’
‘I’m sure that can be arranged,’ he said. ‘We’ll go in two days’ time.’
It was four days before they managed to get away, and much to Ellie’s delight, her father had left Ted in charge of the estate. Her brother was being given more and more responsibility and he was thriving on it. He was showing a great interest in one of Uncle Henry’s maids, Dorothy, and there were signs that he was ready to settle down. They were clearly fond of each other, and it showed that Ted had really put the past behind him. Her thoughts turned to Harry. Even if her father gave up the search, she knew she never would. If it took her the rest of her life, she would discover what had happened to him.
‘Eleanor!’ her father called. ‘We are leaving for the opera in fifteen minutes.’
His summons shook her out of her reverie. She had been staring out of the window without seeing a thing, her desire to find the last member of her family wiping everything else from her mind.
‘I’ll be right down, Father.’ Leaping into action she fumbled with the front fastening of her gown, making a mess of it and having to start again. It was time she had a personal maid, as her father suggested, but she had resisted the idea, declaring that she was quite capable of dressing herself.
After a final glance in the mirror to check that the pale blue gown was hanging correctly, she grabbed her purse and hurried for the stairs. Her father and Uncle Joshua were at the bottom waiting for her. Lifting her skirt, she made her way down as quickly as possible. There was only one way to move in clothes like this, and that was with great care. She hated dressing up, and cursed silently under her breath at the restriction.
‘You look beautiful, Eleanor.’ Joshua turned to Albert. ‘We are going to be the envy of all this evening.’
Ellie laughed at the teasing. ‘You are quite wrong. It is I who will be looked at with envy for having two such handsome gentlemen as escorts.’
Joshua roared with laughter. ‘She’s learning how to flatter with style, and is going to be a force to be reckoned with.’
‘She always has been.’ Albert held out his arm, winking at her. ‘I knew that the moment I set eyes on her.’
It was only a short ride to the Royal Opera House at Covent Garden, and Albert took great delight in watching his daughter’s animated face as she talked about La Boheme. Coming to spend a few days in London had been a good idea. Her distress had concerned him when she’d told him about remembering Harry. He had always known that the boy was special to her, but much to his relief the memories had faded. The fact that she had recalled him and not any of the others, showed just how close the bond between them had been. His heart ached for her, for he had given up any hope of finding Harry. It was sad he was the only sibling they hadn’t been able to trace.
When they arrived at the Opera House, Augusta and James were waiting for them. The sight of Augusta nearly took away Albert’s breath. She looked stunning in a gown of palest gold and a diamond necklace gracing her still slender neck. She would, no doubt, marry again, for she would be an asset to any man’s household, as well as being a charming and intelligent companion.
As they made their way to Uncle Joshua’s box, Ellie couldn’t help swivelling her head this way and that in order not to miss a thing.
‘Impressive, isn’t it?’ James said, as she rushed to look over the edge of the box into the main auditorium.
She was speechless, watching as the place filled up rapidly, an excited buzz in the air. The decor was beautiful enough with the ornate carving and sumptuous velvet curtains, but the ladies were outshining their surroundings. Ellie had never seen so many lovely gowns or jewels. She was wearing a sapphire necklace of her mother’s, but it was modest compared to some on show tonight.
With a smothered laugh of glee, she turned and pulled her father forward. ‘Look at this. There’s an absolute fortune out there. Have they come to see the opera, or to be seen?’
‘In many cases, the latter.’
‘Oh, the lights are dimming.’ Ellie sat on the chair between her father and James, eager to enjoy her first opera.
She wasn’t disappointed. Every minute had been wonderful, and her father had explained the story so she could follow it. It had been rather sad, but the glorious music was still ringing in her ears as they dined at an exclusive restaurant after the performance. Her father and Joshua were certainly making this an evening to remember. Ellie knew that she could have had many times like this if she had agreed to a season, but, as exciting as it was, she knew that within a couple of days she would be longing for the open spaces and quiet once again. All the opulence she had seen tonight could not compare to home.
The next morning Ellie’s father had left a message to say that they had gone out, but would be back for lunch. So, after breakfast, she wandered into the library to find a book to read. By the window was a huge oak desk completely covered in papers and packages tied up with tape. Right next to it was a waste bin full to the top and spilling some of its contents on to the floor. Uncle Joshua obviously just tossed discarded letters in the general direction of the bin, not caring if they went in or not. Smiling to herself, she set about picking them up, forcing them into the bin. As one piece of paper unfurled she saw the name of Bonner. Smoothing it out, she began to read, her excitement mounting. It was from Fred Bonner saying that they had seen the newspaper and would tell them where Harry was for the sum of ten guineas.
She surged to her feet, furious. Why had this letter been thrown away? Surely every lead was worth following. She wasn’t simple, she knew that the Bonners might only be trying to get money out of them, but there was always the chance they did know something. This shouldn’t have been tossed away. Her father and Uncle Joshua might not think this important, but she did.
Running up to her room she tipped out her purse. Her father hadn’t yet given her the allowance for this month, and all she had was one pound, three shillings and six pence. It would have to do.
Without stopping to think what she was doing, she was running up the road, hailing a cab.
‘What’s the rush, miss?’ a cab driver asked as he clattered to a halt beside her.
‘I must get to Whitechapel, please.’ She gave him the address.
He looked doubtful. ‘That’s a rough place. You shouldn’t be going there unaccompanied.’
‘I’m not. You will stay with me and I’ll pay you for your trouble. Now hurry.’ She climbed in.
Giving a shrug as if to say that it was none of his business if a young lady wanted to visit such an unsavoury place, he urged the horse forward.
As soon as they arrived, Ellie saw Fred Bonner leaning on the wall outside the house, a cigarette hanging from his lips.
He stood up straight as she alighted and called to his wife. ‘Come and see who’s calling.’
‘Wait right here,’ Ellie told the driver, and lifting her skirt she marched over to Fred just as Hilda came out of the front door.
‘Where’s Harry?’ She held out the crumpled letter. ‘It says here that you know where he is.’
‘Brought the money with you?’ Fred smirked. ‘If you want to know, then you’ll have to pay.’
‘No, I won’t.’ Ellie advanced, fists clenched. ‘You’ll tell me or you’ll be sorry.’
‘You can’t do nothing to us, girl.’
‘Oh, yes I can.’ She gestured to the house, furious with Fred’s attitude. ‘I’ll offer your landlord such a high price for this hovel that he won’t be able to refuse. And then I’ll throw you out.’
‘Fred!’ Hilda looked alarmed.
‘Don’t take no notice of her. She couldn’t buy the house.’
Ellie wasn’t afraid of them. ‘I could buy the whole bloody street if I wanted to. Now, where’s Harry?’
‘Got a sharp tongue on you, ain’t you?’ Fred edged away from her.
‘Of course I have. Look who I had for parents.’ She knew they were frightened by her threat. She had to find Harry, and she’d do anything necessary, even sinking to their level. ‘I’m waiting.’
‘Then you’ll wait a long time, girl. I ain’t telling you nothing.’
‘That’s enough, Fred.’ Hilda elbowed past her husband to stand in front of Ellie. ‘The truth is Queenie; we don’t know where he is. He walked out, not understanding or able to forgive us for what we did. Nor did any of the others. They all left as soon as they could.’
‘You don’t know where he is?’ Ellie had known this was a possibility, but hearing it admitted still hurt as her hope crumbled.
Hilda shook her head, then glared at her husband. ‘I’m sorry I ever taught him to read and write. I never know what the daft bugger’s going to do. Fred’s always looking for a chance to make some money, except do an honest day’s work.’
‘Don’t be stupid, woman.’ Fred was furious. ‘Where can I get work round here? Go on tell me. More than half the bleedin’ street’s out of work.’
As Ellie listened to them arguing, it was as if her eyes were opened and she was seeing things clearly for the first time. The slum dwellings, the dirt and poverty came into sharp focus. An overwhelming sense of hopelessness seemed to invade her like a heavy weight. These people were trapped in a squalid life of want and deprivation, with no way of getting out. Each day a constant struggle to keep a roof over their heads and enough food in their bellies. And she had come from here, but had been given a chance of a better life.
Swallowing hard to control her emotions, she watched Fred storm away. Hilda stayed where she was. ‘Will you tell me the truth? Why did you sell me?’
‘We was in deep trouble. If we hadn’t got hold of some money to pay the rent, we’d have ended up in the workhouse. They’d have taken all my kids away from me, and I couldn’t let that happen. Fred met a man who knew a bloke who was looking for a little one ’cos his wife couldn’t have kids of her own. Well, you was the youngest, and –’ Hilda’s smile was sad – ‘and the prettiest little thing. He came and saw you. A real posh gent, he was, and I thought that at least one of my kids would have a better life, so I agreed. I cried for days after you’d gone, but I didn’t let no one see, of course. It would have been a sign of weakness, and you don’t last long round here if you ain’t strong. The money kept us out of the workhouse, and after that I took in extra washing to make sure we didn’t end up like that again. Fred ain’t a bad man, but this kind of life grinds you down.’
‘I understand.’ Ellie reached out and touched Hilda’s arm. ‘I’ll get some money to you, but you must keep it for food and rent.’
Hilda nodded. ‘I will.’
‘Now, I must go, but thank you for talking to me. I’ll be back as soon as I can. It might be a few days, though.’
She was about to get into the cab when Hilda called. ‘Queenie!’
She turned.
‘I did love you – all of you, but I did what I had to. We was in a terrible mess …’ Hilda shrugged helplessly. ‘How many of them have you found?’
After instructing the driver to wait, she walked back to Hilda. ‘Make me a cup of tea and I’ll tell you all about them.’