The Orphans of Ardwick Read online

  Caroline lay on her back, the bedclothes a tousled mess around her. Though the drug had done its job and she was snoring quietly, still her features appeared ill at ease. Her brow was home to a small frown and her eyelids flickered restlessly. Skirting the bed, Pip made for the chair, slipped her hand inside the familiar pocket and took out the key. She dropped it safely into her own. After taking a moment to brace herself, she tiptoed towards her target.

  She slipped out and unrolled the picture and smoothed it as best she could. Then, eyes wide with fear, tongue poking from her mouth in concentration, she carefully laid it on top of the woman’s chest.

  ‘I knew it … Knew it was you all along.’

  Chapter 22

  PIP HAD HALF turned away when Caroline’s breathy voice rendered her immobile. A cry caught in her throat. Inch by inch, her gaze swivelled towards the bed.

  However, Caroline’s face was the same, eyes firmly closed. Confusion swiftly followed by sheer relief rushed through Pip – the woman had been talking in her sleep. Clearly, her dreams were just as haunted as her waking hours.

  For a heart-stopping moment, there, she’d thought … But no, no, all was well. ‘Thank you, Lord, thank you,’ Pip mouthed with feeling.

  Part one of the plan was complete. Grateful tears sprang to her eyes but she blinked them back and nodded. It wasn’t over yet. Her stare never leaving Caroline’s face, she lowered herself to the ground, lay flat on her stomach and shuffled beneath the bed.

  Here, she allowed herself a moment’s respite. Her cheek cushioned by the thick carpet, she closed her eyes and gulped in air. There was nothing for her to do now but wait.

  Finally – how long later, she couldn’t say; it felt like hours but in reality couldn’t have been more than ten or fifteen minutes – Caroline stirred above her. Biting down on her thumb to stem a frightened whimper, Pip held her breath. She heard the woman draw herself up into a sitting position, heard the crinkle of paper as it was lifted. Then silence.

  For an agonising moment, nothing happened. Blind to the proceedings above her, confused as to what was happening, the charged seconds seemed to last an eternity. Just as Pip’s panic was about to spill over, Caroline let out a blood-curdling scream that bounced from wall to wall, ceiling to floor; Pip almost leapt from her skin. Then jump she did for real – into action.

  Caroline had sprung from the bed and was rushing for Josephine’s room; scrambling out from her hiding place, Pip snatched the picture from the floor where Caroline had tossed it in terror and ran to the door. She poked out her head and scanned the landing. Josephine’s door was wide open and the high-pitched, manic tone intermingled with her mistress’s soothing one spilled through. But the speakers were out of eyeshot, by the fire – quick as lightning, Pip darted past and down the stairs.

  Her legs threatened to give way at each step but somehow she managed to make it to the hallway. Flinging open the study door, she raced inside. Her hands shook so much, she couldn’t manipulate the lock and she nearly screamed in frustration when suddenly a soft click announced its surrender. Wrenching open the drawer, she drew aside the leather folds, returned the picture to the top of the pile, neatly fastened the carrier back in place and secured everything with the key. As quickly as she’d arrived, she was out again, clicking shut the door behind her and bolting back upstairs.

  Midway, the voices reached her ears; by this time, Caroline’s shouts had given way to teary babbling. Working now on instinct alone, Pip skittered next door and returned the key to Philip’s jacket pocket. As she emerged from the room and turned for Josephine’s, a door opened behind her and she whipped around to find the master peering blearily along the landing.

  ‘What in God’s name …?’

  ‘I … don’t know, sir, am just for returning to my duties,’ she said over her shoulder as she hurried for Josephine’s room, and Albert followed.

  ‘Pip— Oh, Father, thank goodness!’ said Josephine at the sight of them. Gesturing to Caroline, she shook her head helplessly. ‘I cannot get any sense from her.’

  The master strode forward. Taking his daughter-in-law’s shoulders, he shook her, though not harshly. However, his voice held an impatient edge: ‘What is the meaning of this nonsense that has torn me from my slumber? Caroline, answer me.’

  ‘She’s here. In there. I looked up … There she was!’

  ‘Who do you speak of?’

  Caroline opened her mouth, then closed it again. Her bloodshot eyes screamed contrition. ‘Hardman,’ she squeaked out.

  The frown slipped slowly from Albert’s face. He and his daughter shared a pitying glance.

  ‘She’s in there still. See for yourself.’

  ‘Caroline, dear …’ He took her elbow and turned her towards a chair.

  ‘No, you must, you must. Why won’t you go and, and see, and …?’

  ‘Come, sit down—’

  ‘No!’ Pulling herself from the master’s hold, Caroline swung back, a hand outstretched to them as though warding them off. ‘You don’t believe me, do you? No one believes me. She’s there, you’d see it, if only you’d go and look!’

  From her position by the wardrobe, Pip watched in fascinated horror. Caroline’s eyes were wild and desperate and spittle had formed at the corners of her mouth. She appeared possessed, was barely recognisable as the woman who had taunted, threatened and bullied since the day the boys and herself had arrived here. A shell of her former self, eaten away with her own guilt, her own evil doing. She deserved nothing less.

  ‘Stop this.’

  ‘I saw her face, I tell you. I saw!’

  ‘Caroline—’

  ‘Fine! Fine! Wait here, you’ll see.’ She rushed from the room. Seconds later, she staggered back in. Gripping the hair at her temples, she swung her head from side to side in denial. ‘It cannot be, it, it … It was there, it was, I—!’

  ‘Enough. You neither saw, heard nor felt a thing,’ Albert snapped, his patience burnt. ‘Not today, not yesterday, nor any other! Do you understand? You must cease this madness at once.’

  ‘Her there.’ As though she’d just become aware of Pip’s presence, Caroline struck the air with her finger. ‘It’s her doing, all of it, her and her gutter-dog friends. I know it!’

  The unexpected turn of the woman’s attention to her caught Pip off guard. She could only watch in disbelief as Caroline snatched up a pair of scissors from Josephine’s sewing basket and, holding them above her head like a dagger, ran at her.

  It took a moment for Pip to realise that the scream filling her ears was her own.

  ‘Die!’

  Her pleas were lost in Albert and Josephine’s shouts. As Caroline loomed, Pip instinctively stuck out a hand to protect her face. A searing pain ripped through her palm. Blood gushed forth, spattering the nightdress of her attacker who, unperturbed, drew back her arm once more.

  The room swayed drunkenly – Pip groped the air to ward off the onslaught. Mercifully, it never came. Albert caught Caroline around the waist in a bear grip and hauled her, kicking and shouting, to the floor. He prised the weapon from her fingers and passed it to a tearful Josephine hovering nearby, who rushed with the scissors from the room.

  ‘Let me go!’ Caroline’s cries were beast-like. The intense hatred pouring from her eyes stole the breath from Pip. ‘She must pay, she must!’

  ‘Calm yourself at once! Mother of God, what is wrong with you?’

  ‘Her! Her! She’s what’s wrong, her there, it’s her doing!’

  Suddenly, taking them all by surprise, Simon burst into the room. ‘Pip! Oh, my God, what … You, you bitch, yer!’ he roared and made to lunge at Caroline, but Cook’s voice from the landing held him back.

  ‘Shift aside, lad. I’ll deal with this.’ Face an angry puce, she marched into the room swiftly followed by Josephine. She flicked her eyes to Pip and her colour darkened. She stooped, gripped Caroline’s arms and pulled her to her feet. ‘Shurrup!’ she yelled into her face when the woman began p
rotesting loudly, shaking her none too gently. ‘That’s a-bloody-nuff of that! Just what d’you think you’re about, maiming my lass, there? By, you don’t get to touch none of them, none! Lady or no, I’ve a good mind to—!’

  ‘What on God’s earth is the meaning of this?’

  All eyes turned, to see Philip standing aghast in the doorway. He took in the scene slowly, incredulously. When his gaze settled on the bloodstained clothing and carpet, his face paled. ‘What have you done, Caroline?’ he whispered.

  ‘Stabbed my lass, that’s what—’

  ‘All right, Mabel.’ Albert’s quiet command had the desired effect; folding her arms with a sniff, she fell silent. ‘There has been an incident,’ he continued grimly. ‘Your wife attacked the child Pip with scissors. You must have that seen to, lass,’ he added to her, his look deep with remorse. He turned back to his son. ‘Take Caroline to your room. I’ll instruct the housemaid to add laudanum to some tea and bring it up directly.’ He glanced to his daughter-in-law, now standing limply, head and arms hanging loose, her energy spent. ‘See me in the study once you have her settled. We need to talk.’

  Before turning, Philip cast Pip a long look. She gazed back, eyes brimming with tears, couldn’t have broken the stare had she tried. A host of emotions filled her chest; to her surprise and confusion, she had the strongest urge to run to him, cling to him. To call him … call him …

  ‘I’m very sorry, Pip.’

  A small sob escaped her. She watched as he guided his wife to the door. Caroline allowed him to lead her away without resistance. Then they were gone.

  Philip. Father. Father!

  ‘She’ll recover sufficiently without the need of a doctor?’ asked Albert moments later, motioning to Pip as Cook led her out.

  The woman surveyed her injury. ‘Aye, I reckon. I’ll patch the love up. Appears nowt but a surface wound, glory be to God.’ Meeting the master’s eye, she gave him an Eeh, I don’t know – where will all this end? look.

  He responded with a sigh. ‘If you’re mistaken, inform me immediately and I shall send for Lawley right away.’

  ‘Aye, lad.’

  Josephine, pale faced, enveloped Pip in a hug. ‘I’ll leave you in Mabel’s capable care, dear girl. Oh, that such a thing has happened …’ She held a hand to her trembling lips.

  ‘You’ll be all right, Miss Josephine?’ The shooting pains made her suck in air sharply but right now, her concern was for her mistress. She looked dreadful, ready to fall victim to one of her episodes at any minute.

  ‘Please, don’t fret over me! I’ll be fine, just fine. Oh, Pip.’ Again, her lips quivered with emotion. ‘Go on, dear girl. Take as long as you need.’

  Simon was waiting for her by the door. Though his face was stony, his eyes couldn’t conceal his devastation. With her sound hand, she reached out and he gripped it.

  Closely followed by Cook, they headed without a word to the kitchen.

  Chapter 23

  THEY HAD TAKEN matters too far.

  Without voicing it, Pip and Simon knew it. They hadn’t intended things to spiral into the chaos it had. Frighten Caroline, yes. Scare her so out of her wits that she’d confess everything and it would all be over, that had been the plan. Instead, their antics had managed to upset the whole household and left their victim a jabbering, laudanum-soaked mess. And Pip or someone else could have quite easily been killed.

  Enough was enough. Their attempts to best Caroline had failed. It was time to accept the fact and leave things they couldn’t change as they were, for all their sakes.

  Yet as they were soon to discover, life was never that simple. Unbeknown to them, matters were already out of their hands.

  The Monday that would change the course of everyone’s lives at Bracken House had started out as might any other. People rose, washed, ate and, depending on their station in life, began work or indulged in whatever activities they chose to pass the day. Though a subdued air still hung around them following the incident with the scissors, life ran on as it must and now, four days later, the whispers both upstairs and down had for the most part ceased. Topics of interest came and went, fresh news grew old, life moved on. And Pip was glad of it. As far as she was concerned, the sooner they put the unpleasantness behind them, the better.

  She’d seen nothing of Caroline. The lady hadn’t surfaced from her room, was recuperating, according to Josephine, and so Pip hadn’t to fear a repeat performance of the recent occurrence. Though she’d brushed aside her mistress and the master’s concerns about her resuming her post right next door to her attacker, she had secretly been worried. Caroline could very well have stormed the room again at any time, and maybe done real damage should she be so inclined. The following few nights, Pip had struggled to sleep but eventually, as hours then days remained incident-free, her anxiety eased. Clearly, the laudanum was doing its job; Caroline was getting the rest her body and mind needed.

  Pip hoped her faculties would be returned to normal – well, whatever normal for her was – in due course. She just wanted to forget that the whole thing had ever happened. Being able to remove her bandage in another few days would help with that, she was sure. Thanks to Cook’s nursing skills, her hand was almost healed. She was only too aware how fortunate she’d been. Had the instrument gone in just a little deeper, severed a tendon … But it hadn’t and she’d thanked God in her prayers since. For all their sakes.

  Rain blowing in on the wind from across the Medlock had fallen steadily since before dawn. Up in Josephine’s room, despite the hour being not long past two, the lamps had been lit owing to the leaden sky beyond the window. The fire was crackling nicely, the rich aroma of fresh coffee clung to the air and Josephine’s soft humming as she worked on her embroidery was soothing, safe. When a light knock came at the door, assuming it was the master, Pip didn’t raise her head from where she stood by a side table arranging a vase of cream-coloured roses. Until the visitor spoke, that was, and she realised it wasn’t Albert after all. Heat trickled to her cheeks. She fought to control her breathing.

  Josephine returned the greeting. ‘Brother, how are you?’

  ‘Well enough, thank you.’ Philip crossed the space. Halting by the fire, he rested his elbow on the mantel. ‘I came to inform you that Alexander shall be dropping by later. I’ve informed Cook that she’s to set an extra place at table should he wish to stay for dinner.’

  ‘Wonderful. I shall look forward to it.’

  Please go, please go, Pip willed him, her hands beginning to tremble. For he’d awakened in her feelings she could neither understand nor shake. The way he’d spoken to her, gentle, almost caring, when apologising for his wife’s behaviour, the look in his eyes as they stared at one another, the burst of … something she’d experienced deep within her breast for him.

  This man, who made up half of her. Whom she’d hated upon unearthing the fact, should hate still, yet didn’t. Instead, she found herself wanting to be near him, thought about him constantly but didn’t know why. Who had hurt and used and abandoned her mother. Who was her father. The person she’d never had but whom she realised now she’d always craved, always wondered over, dreamed about. Now she’d discovered him, the prospect of losing him again made her chest hurt.

  He knew not a thing about it, wouldn’t want to, wouldn’t want her even if he did; she knew that. Nor did he deserve her. He didn’t deserve the growing feelings she harboured for him, the time she now spent obsessing about him. Still, he was in her head and in her heart and she couldn’t evict him. Nor was she sure she wanted to. Her brain ached with it all. The struggle to keep her silence grew hourly. Could she really hold this secret for ever? Doubt brought her fear and yearning in equal measure.

  ‘Are you sure you’re all right, Philip?’ Josephine murmured now, snapping Pip from her troubles.

  He stared at his sister for a moment then looked away. ‘Does he make you very happy?’

  ‘Alexander?’

  Philip nodded.

&nb
sp; ‘Happier than I would have thought possible.’ A small blush touched her cheeks. She smiled. ‘And it’s all thanks to you. After all, if he wasn’t your friend, we never would have met, would we?’

  ‘No.’

  He’d sounded almost apologetic. Glancing his way, Pip frowned slightly. Could he possibly be regretting whatever scheme he and Caroline had concocted to ensure the marriage went ahead? Why now?

  ‘You seem so much better lately. The change in you …’ He blinked, shook his head. ‘You ought to be proud of yourself.’

  ‘Oh, Philip. To hear that from you … Thank you,’ the lady finished with feeling.

  His voice held just as much depth. ‘I give you my promise: I’ll make certain he looks after you.’

  They shared a tender stare. Then Philip cleared his throat awkwardly. He inclined his head and left the room, but not before glancing at Pip. Her breath caught in her throat. Again, he moved his dark head – this time to her in brief acknowledgement – and was gone.

  Father …

  ‘Well, the clouds look to have shifted. See, the sun has emerged.’ Josephine motioned to the window, smiling, her voice revealing her doubt that this day could get any better. She sighed contentedly. Glancing beyond the curtains again, she nodded. ‘If the boys downstairs can be spared from their duties for a while, then the three of you must take yourselves to the Green. The brisk air will do you the world of good. You’re cooped up in this house far too much; children of your age need the freedom to run and laugh and frolic whenever possible, I believe.’

  Despite her inner troubles, the corners of Pip’s mouth lifted. It was as though her mistress wanted to spread the happiness she herself felt – she possessed the kindest heart to ever beat on earth, Pip was certain. The offer sounded good. Aye, really good. To feel the sun’s rays on her face and the wind through her hair was something she’d missed since leaving the streets. It made you feel alive, free. And, if she was honest, escaping Bracken House for a short while sounded lovely. Grateful as she was to be here, there was no denying the beautiful home could be stifling at times.