A Wanton Tale (3 page)

‘Take heart. You might have struck gold now Duchess.’ Whispered Freddie.

T
here was an air of calm in the mornings at Betsy’s house of ill repute, the girls enjoyed the quietness and peace which was much needed by all. They would have a lie in, then take turns to go down to Betsy’s wash room around half past ten, long after the Hales had left for town. The rules were strict, they had to be ready for business by midday, some clients came early. Betsy was always present. Today, she would greet Alice who would be brought by her mother as planned.

‘Put the blue dress on Alice, your Sunday best, I’ve polished your boots and have made you a bundle, give your hair a good brush too and don’t forget you address her as Mrs. Hale, not Betsy.’ Said Lottie to her daughter. In some ways, the girl was wary of the move to the new house, in others she was pleased to be going off to a job in service.

Five year old Jessie looked on with interest, she was too young to remember the departure of her older sisters who went away to work. She didn’t even know them, Vicky and Rebecca never came back. Rachel, who was eleven, was out looking for wood for the fire and Ruby, who was a year younger, was trying to understand what was happening. She could sense urgency in her mother’s voice and couldn’t help notice that she seemed on edge.

Lottie was desperate for money and had made her decision. At the same time she couldn’t help being fearful for Alice. She had knowingly sold her daughter into whoredom. ‘But needs must.’ She shrugged.

When Lottie’s husband Charlie heard that Alice was going to work at the Hale’s house, he was reticent. ‘The Hales are notorious.’

‘She will be fine, take no notice of alehouse gossip.’ Replied Lottie dismissively. Charlie Boyle was just relieved to get one of them off his hands, ‘One less mouth to feed.’ Said Charlie with relief in his voice.

What Charlie did not know was that his devious wife had hoodwinked him and would never tell him that a fiver had changed hands. He had gone to seek work at the docks early that morning in reasonably fine fettle. ‘She’s not far away in Duke Street and will come and visit her old Pa, might bring us a bob or two, an’ all.’ Thought Charlie.

Lottie had wasted no time breaking into her five pound note, it was a surprise to Charlie to see meat on the table the previous night and a bottle of gin to wash it down.

It hadn’t even dawned on Charlie to ask where the money had come from for the food. He knew that Lottie had a few schemes and chisels of her own. There was a ‘criminal club’ of children nearby who would steal from the doors and windows of shops. The more ambitious robbed clothes from shops in Church Street. One boy or girl would watch the shop from the other side of the street, while the second nimbly unbuttoned a coat from its display dummy outside the shop. It would be stripped off in seconds and the thief would have long sprinted off with the speed of a hare before the unfortunate shopkeeper had noticed.

Lottie was occasionally offered such stolen items from the thieving children. She would offer very little in return but they were pleased to take just pennies to get them off their hands.

She would then sell them in the George Tavern at the Pier Head with no trouble at all and could make herself a small profit. The sufferers from such thefts were generally the struggling traders of the town shops, but Lottie didn’t care.

‘Where are you going Alice, can I come too?’ Asked Ruby pleadingly.

‘Be quiet we are wasting time.’ Said the mother as she quickly led Alice out the front door into the April drizzle. Despite her wish to move on in life, Alice had a sense of foreboding. She was daunted by the thought of working in a house to someone else’s standards. She was inexperienced as not much housework had ever been done in her mother’s house. She dragged her heels all the way there, her heart was heavy but she didn’t quite know why she was feeling that way. It was just a feeling. Nevertheless, she went like a lamb to the slaughter.

It took them less than half an hour to get there, they had cut through the side streets and soon they were in Betsy’s cosy parlour. ‘For the time being Alice will take over Mary’s duties.’ She went on to explain the routine of the house and outlined the jobs which needed to be done, the list seemed endless.

‘You will soon settle in Dearie.’ She gave Lottie a knowing look and scrutinised the girl as though she was making a purchase from a shop.

‘Kiss your Ma goodbye and make us a nice cuppa tea.’ Lottie wasn’t disappointed not to be offered refreshments and soon left her daughter to the mercy of this predator.

Careful not to frighten her off, she embarked on a tale of elaborate lies. For the time being she would not reveal that the girls in the house were selling their bodies.

‘It will dawn on her eventually, she looks quite astute and soon she will be on her back.’ Thought Betsy cynically.

Something about the house made Alice feel uncomfortable. Her instincts were telling her to run out of the door but she hated her neglectful mother and knew that she never wanted to go back home. Her enormous blue eyes took in her surroundings which was a far cry from where she had come from. Alice decided that she would make the best of it.

Betsy was a daunting figure to the twelve year old and she meekly followed her to the back kitchen. She outlined her mundane duties. There was always a kettle of hot water on the range and soon they were drinking tea in the parlour.

‘Thank you Mrs. Hale, that was nice.’ Alice had broken the uncomfortable silence. She found Betsy’s gaze penetrating as she was admiring her flaxen hair. Alice had never before drunk tea from china cups, soon she began to relax, Betsy made her feel most welcome.

‘I’ll show you around the house now Alice.’ The first room she showed her was the kitchen.

‘Why is there a bed in here Mrs. Hale?’ It was the room between the parlour and the back kitchen, Alice thought it was strange.

Betsy was ready with her answers, she had it all rehearsed what she was going to tell the young girl. She often bought herbs and concoctions from nearby China Town. She lifted a fancy Oriental jar from a shelf in the kitchen over the bed.

‘Smell this love, do you know what it is?’ Betsy then thrust the pot right under her nose. Inside was a pungent mixture of exotic herbs which made the girl sneeze. Betsy then cackled, ‘These are very special remedies, they came all the way from China and heal sick people and my young nieces have the gift of healing. That’s why people come here to get relief from aches and pains and all manner of ailments Dearie!’ She continued, her expression was serious and convincing. ‘You might sometimes hear them crying out in pain when they are having their joints rubbed!’ Betsy’s thick gold bracelets rattled as she placed the jar back on the shelf. She then took hold of the girl’s hand and guided her up the stairs.

The first floor was silent apart from the creaking of wood as they stepped on some of the floor boards. They could hear gentle laughter coming from the second floor where the door had been left slightly ajar. As they ascended the bare wooden stairs Alice caught a whiff of cheap perfume, the atmosphere was oppressive. She was feeling nervous about meeting Betsy’s nieces and wondered what on earth they were doing in the bedrooms at this time of day. There was something odd about this place and it was giving her a sense of foreboding.

Lily’s sharp ears could hear them coming as she whispered to her friends, ‘Don’t forget, nieces.’ As she winked at Lou and Ellen trying hard to stifle a titter.

‘These are my lovely nieces Alice, this is Lily, Lou and Ellen.’ Said Betsy as she pointed a bony finger towards each of the girls. All three of them were now staring at the youngster who by now was feeling her stomach churn over with nerves. The three girls to whom she was being introduced were barely seventeen. To Alice they seemed like much older women, elaborately dressed with painted faces and garish jewellery. She could barely speak as she cleared her throat and was just about able to utter, ‘Hello.’ Lily’s face softened and broke into a smile as she picked up a pile of clothes from a basket.

‘When they come back from the Chinese laundry they’re all yours, you can iron the lot!’ She said jocularly.

‘Now girls, make Alice welcome and show her the washroom.’ Said Betsy.

‘We will Aunty, then we’re going to the shops. Promise we’ll be back soon.’ Said Lily. Alice imagined they were heading for town and would be going into the lovely shops that she had longed to enter. Alice, who had no money and shabby clothes, looked on wistfully as they left. Her expression hadn’t gone unnoticed by Betsy.

‘Soon you will be one of them Dearie, you will have money.’ She thought. Her bargain with Alice’s mother had been a good day’s work!

Betsy gave Alice a sickly smile and with a swish of her taffeta skirts left the large attic bedroom. The room now looked rather cramped with the addition of another bed. Alice was slightly bewildered as she took in every detail of the furnishings and the large over filled wardrobe. There was so much in it that the doors wouldn’t shut. Alice’s curious blue eyes hadn’t failed to notice another rather large bedroom on the first floor as she passed by the open door on the landing. ‘Why are Betsy’s nieces all sleeping on top of each other in the
attic
when there’s a nice room downstairs?’ Alice knew there was something not right. ‘And if they are her nieces they certainly don’t look related and the girls are clearly not sisters.’

Alice was puzzled but intrigued. There was nice wallpaper on the walls, all green leaf patterns, pretty knick knacks were placed here and there as well as cut glass perfume bottles. She sat on the bed and suddenly felt a deep sense of foreboding. It was a far cry from the slum dwelling from where she had hailed but somehow she didn’t feel that it was a good place. There were no luxuries or pretty ornaments in her Ma’s house, not even pictures on the wall. Her eyes were drawn to a jewellery box, the lid was slightly open, it was bulging with faux gems.

She stood up and walked over to the box, it was on top of a mahogany chest of drawers. Her eyes lit up with amazement when she opened the box, she had never seen such beautiful things in her life. She felt a pang of excitement as she reached in to grab a string of crystal beads. A shaft of afternoon sun from the skylight made the beads sparkle, Alice felt compelled to try them on. Throwing the necklace over her head she caught sight of herself in the large, bevelled looking glass, she liked what she saw. She delved further into the box and found earrings, assorted ornate hair clips, chokers, more beads and bracelets. This sparkling array of jewellery was new and wonderful to Alice. She wanted to play with them and longed to dress up in some of the fine clothes that were there.

All she owned were the clothes that she stood in and she wanted better. Her trance like stare at her own reflection was soon interrupted by the appearance of Betsy. She hadn’t even heard her coming up the stairs. Alice nearly jumped out of her skin.

‘Oh I am sorry Mrs. Hale, I was only trying them on.’ She was rooted to the spot, her face drained of colour, she was petrified of being accused of stealing. Alice was most surprised by her reaction.

‘Don’t you worry Alice, I am glad to see that you like nice things, that necklace looks lovely on you and soon you will have new clothes.’ She then added, ‘That blue dress on you is, well, a bit dreary.’ She looked Alice up and down as she spoke, then her tone changed. ‘Now take those beads off and make yourself useful, it’s getting chilly out there and we need to get these fires on. Then start on the ironing when the girls get back.’

When the girls returned, Alice was shocked by what she heard them talking about. She had brought a small scuttle of coal up the attic room. She was about to start on the last tiny fire in the house when she heard the girls giggling as they came up the stairs. Lily’s voice carried and was becoming louder as she approached the attic room door. They were clearly not expecting Alice to be there.

‘The cheeky cow, did you hear what me sister said in the middle of St John’s Market? In front of all and sundry, the bitch. She asked me if I was ‘gay.’ No I am not, said I and she said, yes you are.’

Alice had stopped what she was doing, her tiny frame crouched down by the fire had gone unnoticed by the girls. Lily continued. ‘I asked her, what do you mean by gay? She said well girls who come out regular at night dressed up, and get their living by it. You let men fuck you don’t you?’ After this had been said they then spotted Alice.

‘We’ve got company Lily.’ Said Ellen, Alice felt so small and vulnerable as the three older women were gazing down at her.

‘What does let men fuck you mean?’

They looked at one another and began to roar with laughter. Alice felt stupid. ‘Why are they laughing? Why is that funny?’ The young girl was totally bewildered. The scene was then interrupted by the rough smoker’s cough of ‘Aunty’ Betsy now standing behind them. Without make up, her skin was tawny looking and her expression was evil.

‘Get yourself looking presentable and be sharp about it Lily, be down in ten minutes flat, I won’t be made a fool of by any tardiness do you hear, you three should have been back here long before now.’ Her sharp shrilly voice almost rang a note from the cut glass dressing table set of trinket bowls. An oppressive, heavy quietness descended on the attic room. They soon stopped laughing, they didn’t have much to laugh about.

Betsy slammed the door behind her and Ellen invited Alice to sit down on one of the easy chairs. ‘Do you like dressing up Alice?’

‘Would like to, got nothing to dress up in.’ She answered quietly as she looked longingly at the box of jewellery on the chest of drawers. Alice was mesmerised as she watched Lily get dressed up. She had a lace trimmed corset which the other two girls helped her into, silk stockings, a frothy low cut red dress and a feather boa.

‘Pass me some jewellery Alice, you choose, I want earrings, a necklace, a hair slide, rings and oh, bracelets for each wrist.’ Alice eagerly reached for the box and chose some pieces, to her, they were a joy to behold. She was beginning to feel at ease by the time Lily had quietly left.