When Lily’s eyes fluttered open she was on a narrow bed with a pillow beneath her head and a warm wool blanket over her. She gazed through half-open eyes round the darkened room which was lit by a low oil lamp, wondered vaguely where she was and then drifted off to sleep again. When she woke again it was morning, the lamp had either burned out or been turned out, and she could hear voices calling, the clatter of hooves and rattle of wheels, and all the bustle of life going on outside in Hull’s Market Place.
I must have been here all night, she thought. But where’s Daisy, and what about ’babby? Somebody must have— Her thoughts were interrupted when the door opened and Daisy came in.
‘I’ve brought you a cup o’ tea, Ma.’ She smiled. ‘Molly’s just made it. It’s that hot it’s steaming, look!’
Lily sat up. She felt refreshed after her sleep, though her body was aching. ‘I don’t know who Molly is,’ she said, ‘but she’s an angel. That’s just what I need.’
‘She works here,’ Daisy said. ‘She told me she’s general dogsbody to Mrs Walker; but she likes Mr Walker. She says he’s a proper gentleman.’
Lily blew on the tea. ‘So he is,’ she murmured. ‘I reckon I’d have died without him.’
Daisy observed her solemnly. ‘Babby died, Ma. Mr Walker said we’d to think of it as nature’s way.’
‘Aye, poor bairn,’ Lily sighed. ‘I reckoned that it would; it wasn’t ready for this world. But mebbe just as well for I don’t know what I’d have done wi’ another bairn to feed. As it is, Daisy, I still don’t know what we’ll do. We’re in a fix and no mistake.’
Daisy said nothing, not telling her mother that she had heard raised voices last night after Mr Walker had closed the shop, and he and Oliver had gone through to their parlour for supper. She had stayed in the kitchen with Molly and the cook, who had eyed each other but made no comment, at least not in her hearing. It was Mrs Walker who was doing most of the talking; her voice was shrill whereas Mr Walker’s was low and subdued, and although she could only catch occasional words she guessed that the subject under discussion was how soon she and her mother would be leaving.
‘We might have to leave today, Ma,’ she said. ‘I don’t think we’ll be allowed to stay any longer.’
Lily shook her head; her dark hair tumbled about her shoulders and Daisy thought she looked beautiful. ‘Course we can’t,’ she said. ‘Why should these folks keep us here? Mr Walker’s been very good to tek us in. He’ll need this room for his work.’ She swung her legs off the bed, clutching the teacup in her hand. ‘I feel a bit dizzy,’ she murmured. ‘I’m not sure if I can stand up.’
There was a knock on the door, and Molly entered carrying a tray. ‘I’ve brought you a bit o’ breakfast, missis,’ she said. ‘Sorry, but I don’t know your name.’ She nodded at Daisy. ‘I know this is Daisy.’
‘Lily.’ Lily gazed at the tray. It had a teapot, a sugar basin and a milk jug on it, and a plate of eggs and bacon. ‘Lily Leigh-Maddeson. I’m going back to my first husband’s name. I don’t want to hear my second’s ever again.’
Molly drew near. ‘I heard,’ she whispered, her eyes wide. ‘Is it true? That he tried to sell you?’
‘Tried!’ Lily exclaimed. ‘Well, money changed hands. But whether it’s legal I can’t say. He said it was, but I’d never heard of it afore.’ She took the tray which Molly held and drew her legs back on to the bed. ‘This is good of you.’ Her voice dropped low. ‘Does Mr Walker know I’m eating his vittles?’
‘Oh, aye. He said as I’d to bring you a good breakfast as you mebbe wouldn’t know when your next meal would be.’
‘I don’t.’ Lily was hungry, not having eaten since she and Daisy had shared the bread the previous day, and set to to demolish the breakfast, mopping up the egg yolks with a slice of bread. ‘If I’m stopping in Hull I’ll have to look for work, but if I’m going back to where I belong then it’s a long walk.’
‘I heard Mr Walker tell his wife that you weren’t fit to be moved yet.’ Molly nodded her head knowingly. ‘He said you’d had a difficult time.’
‘So I did, and I was glad of whatever it was he gave me, but that doesn’t mean that I should stay on here.’ She wiped the corner of her mouth with her finger. ‘I’d like to pay him back somehow if I can. Will he let me do summat? I could wash ’floor in here.’
‘There’s no need,’ Molly said. ‘I have my instructions on how it’s to be done. He’s very particular, is Mr Walker. He’ll come in to see you, I expect, when he’s finished his breakfast and you can ask him if you like.’ She went towards the door. ‘If you bring ’tray back when your ma’s finished, Daisy, you can fetch her some hot water for washing. You’ll want to freshen up, I expect?’
Lily thanked her and said that she would. She finished eating, after asking Daisy if she’d like some of the bacon.
‘I’ve had mine,’ the girl answered. ‘Just ’same as yours. Eggs weren’t as fresh as ours, Ma,’ she whispered. ‘And ’bacon was salty.’
Lily agreed, but added, ‘I’ve never had my breakfast in bed afore, Daisy; that was a real treat. Now that we’re fed we’re ready for whatever ’day throws at us.’ She handed her the tray. ‘Fetch me that hot water, there’s a good lass, and I’ll have a wash. Then I’ll thank Mr Walker and we’ll be off.’
‘What do you think you and your daughter will do?’ Charles Walker asked. ‘When you’re ready to leave, I mean. I could go with you to the workhouse and plead your case if you’d like me to.’ He gazed anxiously at her and she wondered why he would feel at all responsible for someone he didn’t know. He had a pleasant face, she mused, though worried-looking, and she wondered if that was on her account or if he always had a troubled countenance. His eyes were deep brown and his forehead was wide where his hair was receding.
‘The only difficulty with applying at the workhouse,’ he continued, ‘is – well, there are two really: one, you are not from the area, and two, the building is very overcrowded. There’s to be a new workhouse built on Anlaby Road which will accommodate more residents.’
Lily felt tears spring to her eyes. What a dilemma. She didn’t want them to have to go to the workhouse, where they’d certainly be separated; Daisy would be sent out to work in one of the mills as a pauper worker, whilst she would probably have to pick oakum, unless she could get a job outside.
‘If I could find work I could perhaps afford a room,’ she began. ‘I’m a good housekeeper, or I could work in an inn, I’ve done that afore. I don’t suppose …’ She hesitated. Dare she ask this question when he had been so good to them already? ‘I couldn’t ask if you’d let Daisy stop wi’ you for a bit? Just until I found work? I don’t mean for nothing. She’d work for her keep. She could scrub floors or run errands. She’s a good girl.’ She gazed at him imploringly. ‘She wouldn’t be any bother.’
He had opened his mouth to speak when the shop door bell jangled and they heard voices. ‘One moment,’ he said quietly. ‘I’ll just see who this is.’
He went out of the room and as the door swung open she heard a woman’s voice. Daisy slipped in. ‘It’s Mrs Walker,’ she whispered. ‘She’s in ’shop wi’ two men. She looks a bit fierce.’
‘Does she?’ her mother whispered back. ‘Is it summat to do wi’ us, do you think?’
Daisy nodded. ‘She wants us to leave. I heard her telling Mr Walker. They were arguing about it this morning; he says you should stay a bit longer.’
The door opened again and Martha Walker entered. She was thin-faced and bony and dressed in outdoor clothes: a long black coat with a grey shawl over it and a dark grey bonnet which covered most of her light brown hair.
‘I’m Mrs Walker,’ she announced. ‘I’ve made arrangements for you. There’s transport waiting to take you elsewhere. You’ll be looked after until such time as you’ve recovered from your ordeal.’
Lily rose from the bed where she had been sitting. ‘That’s very—’ she began. Kind, she had been going to say, but there was something in the woman’s demeanour which suggested that kindness was probably not one of her traits. ‘Thoughtful,’ she said. ‘Most thoughtful, Mrs Walker,’ she added. ‘I’m very grateful to you and Mr Walker.’
Mrs Walker sniffed as if to say And so you should be, but she pursed her lips and then said, ‘It’ll be most appropriate, I’m sure you’ll agree, and the only option open to you under ’circumstances. I understand you were turned away from ’workhouse yesterday?’
Lily nodded and swallowed. ‘Yes.’ What has she in mind? she thought. Where is she sending us? Mr Walker can’t know about it or he wouldn’t have asked me what we were going to do.
‘Well, this place won’t turn you away. I’ve been personally to ascertain that there’s a place for you, and there is,’ she said with a hint of triumph in her voice. ‘So I’ve booked it.’
‘And Daisy?’ Lily asked quietly. ‘Will they take Daisy?’
Mrs Walker turned to look at Daisy. ‘Oh, no! They’ll only take women who are … well, who are – like you. Anyway, if you’re ready, ’men are waiting outside to take you.’
‘I can’t go without Daisy,’ Lily said in alarm. ‘Wherever this place is, surely she’ll be able to come? It’ll not be for long, onny a day or two. I’ll get work as soon as I’m able.’
Mr Walker had come into the room and overheard their conversation. ‘Daisy can stay here,’ he said firmly, not looking at his wife. ‘She can help Cook and Molly; they’ll find something for her to do.’
Mrs Walker drew in a sharp breath. ‘Well!’ she huffed. ‘I don’t see why—’
‘It’s only for a short time, my dear,’ he said placatingly. ‘And as Mrs Fowler says she hopes to find work and a room, it’s the least we can do to help someone in such a dreadful situation.’
Lily could have wept with gratitude. What a generous kind man he is. However did he come to be married to such a hard woman as this? But still, she thought apologetically, at least she’s taken the trouble to find someone else to take me in and give me shelter for a few days. She didn’t have to do that; she could have just turned us out into the street.
‘She’s very lucky there’s a place for her,’ Mrs Walker said sourly. ‘Very fortunate.’
‘Begging your pardon, ma’am,’ Lily said, ‘but what is this place?’ Suspicion was lurking. Mrs Walker wanted rid of her, that much was obvious and she didn’t blame her for that, but where was she sending her?
‘It’s a temporary place,’ Mrs Walker hedged. ‘A charitable institution.’
Lily glanced at Mr Walker, who had a resigned expression on his face and gave a little shake of his head. ‘I’m sorry that there seems to be nowhere else,’ he murmured. ‘It is the times in which we live. There is no provision for people who fall into a desperate trap through no fault of their own.’
Lily wrapped her shawl round her. ‘I’d better be off then,’ she said quietly. ‘I don’t want to detain you any longer. I’m more grateful than I can say, Mr Walker. I hope one day I can return your kindness.’ She kissed a tearful Daisy and told her to be a good girl. ‘I’ll leave her in your safe hands,’ she said, looking at the apothecary. ‘Until I come back for her, which I hope won’t be long.’
She felt dizzy again and swayed on her feet. I must have lost a lot of blood, she thought. I feel weak. ‘I’m ready. Thank you.’
Mr Walker led the way out of the room and into the shop where Oliver was standing behind the counter. Out in the street was a small waggon with two men waiting by it. They turned as the door opened and Lily felt their eyes appraise her.
‘You must drive carefully,’ Charles Walker told them. ‘This young woman is not yet recovered from childbed.’
Young woman, Lily pondered as she was helped into the waggon. I’m barely thirty and feel ancient. Married at sixteen with Ted on the way. What does life hold for me now? But I’ll think on it whilst I’m at this place and then come back for Daisy.
‘Where are we going?’ she called to the men driving the waggon. ‘Where ’you tekking me?’
The driver laughed and the other man turned to her and grinned. ‘Don’t ’you know, darling? Didn’t them good folk tell you?’
‘No, they didn’t,’ she retorted. ‘I wouldn’t be asking, would I, if they’d telled me?’
He gave her a wink. ‘Nice place,’ he said. ‘They’ll larn you to be a good girl in there. That’s what they think, anyway.’ He chortled.
She leaned towards him. ‘What do you mean? I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘Come off it,’ he said cynically. ‘You’ll rest up for a bit, then you’ll be back on ’streets again. We’ve seen it all afore, haven’t we, Jack?’ He turned to his companion, who nodded and muttered something incomprehensible.
‘Back on ’streets? But,’ she licked her dry lips, ‘I’m a married woman.’
He shrugged and appraised her again. ‘I’m not blaming you, missis. Everybody’s got to scratch a living one way or another.’
‘For God’s sake,’ she screeched. ‘Where are you tekking me? I’m not a street woman! My husband’s abandoned me. I’ve no means of getting home.’
He turned and looked fully at her. ‘Then I don’t know why you’re going to this place. We were just sent out to pick up a woman. We thought you were like ’others. It’s a home for fallen women,’ he added. ‘Hope House. A refuge. They’re shown ’error of their ways and when they’re cured they’re sent back to their friends or family. If they have any,’ he sniffed. ‘And if they’ll have ’em.’
She was aghast. I’m a respectable married woman. At least I was until that toad Billy Fowler brought me to this. What am I to do?
They had left the busy town and were now travelling through the outskirts. Lily sat pondering. Do I ask them to take me back? But then what should I do? Throw myself on the mercy of the Walkers? She won’t want me, that’s for certain, and why should she? I need a day to recover before I can try for work. Perhaps this place won’t be so bad. Mebbe they’ll give me a bed for tonight and I’ll leave tomorrow. But will they take me in if I tell them that I’m not a street woman but just fallen on hard times? Fallen! Aye, I’ve fallen right enough. That’s what I am after all. A fallen woman.