A Mother's Trust (8 page)

‘Who is this you talk about? I can’t afford to pay a servant.’

‘It’s Dolly Fowler. You know, Ethel’s girl.’

Maria curled her lip. ‘I know Ethel. She’s a nasty woman.’

‘And she’s thrown poor Dolly out of the house. She beat her black and blue and put the poor girl in hospital.’

‘I heard that the girl is a simpleton anyway, and I don’t need another sickly person to look after. Besides which, I don’t want Ethel Fowler banging on my door and causing trouble.’

‘She won’t do that, Nonna. She doesn’t want anything to do with Dolly.’

‘And I told you, one invalid in the house is quite enough.’

‘Dolly is getting better all the time and she’s in desperate need of somewhere to stay.’

‘I don’t know. We’ll be going to Italy soon. What will we do with her then?’

‘She can stay here with me and Ma. She can help me with the séances until Ma is well enough to take over again.’ Phoebe could see that her grandmother was weakening and she gave her a hug. ‘You are a generous woman, Nonna. You wouldn’t want to see a young girl put in the workhouse for want of a charitable deed, would you?’

Maria shook her head. ‘You could charm the birds from the trees when you put your mind to it. You remind me so much of my poor Paulo. If only he had kept away from the high mob he would be here today. He loved his mamma. He wouldn’t see me put upon by others.’

‘So you’ll give Dolly a chance then, Nonna?’

‘Did I say so? I don’t remember agreeing with you.’

Phoebe kissed her grandmother’s leathery cheek. ‘But you will, dear Nonna. You will do this for me and I’ll love you forever and ever.’

Pink in the face and smiling, Maria pushed her away. ‘You bad girl. When did I ever deny you anything?’

Phoebe blew her a kiss. ‘Thank you, Nonna. You’re an angel.’

‘I hope that isn’t one of your predictions, cara. I’m not ready to join my ancestors in heaven just yet.’ She picked up the ladle she had dropped when Phoebe hugged her. ‘Now go and get your mamma. I want her sitting at the table with the family or she gets no food tonight.’

‘Yes, Nonna. I’m going now.’

Annie had reluctantly agreed to come downstairs for supper, but she ate little and said even less although Gino did his best to draw her into conversation. As usual, Julio and Lorenzo ate in silence, wolfing their food with evident enjoyment even though it was the same meal that their mother placed on the table every evening. Thrift was the keyword in the Giamatti family, and as Fabio was always telling them, it was through these strict economies that they could afford to winter in Italy. When they had finished eating, he left the room and returned moments later to proudly display a new fowling piece that he had purchased in one of the most reputable gunsmiths in London.

‘That doesn’t look like it was cheap, Papa,’ Lorenzo
said
, winking at his brother. ‘Not much economy there, I don’t think.’

‘It will save money,’ Fabio replied calmly. ‘We will eat well when we return home in two weeks’ time.’ He passed the weapon to Lorenzo for his approval. ‘You boys can use my old guns and we will go up into the mountains and shoot game birds for the table.’ He glanced at his wife, grinning. ‘That is if Maria has not forgotten how to cook such delicacies.’

She tossed her head. ‘I’m the best cook in the whole of Lombardy and you know it, Fabio. We work hard here so that we can live like kings at home. I can’t wait to get on that boat which will take us away from this fog-bound island.’ She rose from the table and began collecting the dirty crockery. ‘Come, Phoebe, you can help.’ She shot a withering look at Annie. ‘I suppose you’re too tired now to do anything useful.’

Annie smiled weakly. ‘I’ll do what I can, Mamma.’

Fabio took his gun from Julio and polished the stock with his sleeve. ‘I must put you to bed, my little one. We will have a fine time hunting, you and I.’

Julio pushed back his chair, grinning. ‘I’m going outside for a game of morra. Are you coming with me, Gino? As I recall you won last time.’

‘I can beat you whenever I choose,’ Gino said, puffing out his chest. He stood up, leaning over to catch Phoebe by the hand as she started to clear the table. ‘You don’t mind, do you, cara?’

She smiled. ‘Of course not, Gino. Go ahead and beat my uncles.’

‘You don’t ask her, Gino,’ Lorenzo said lazily. ‘You
tell
the little woman what you intend to do, or you just do it and let her find out the hard way.’

Julio slipped his arm around Gino’s shoulders. ‘You have to start married life on the right foot, amico.’

‘You would know all about that, of course, Julio,’ Phoebe said lightly. ‘Having been a bachelor for all your twenty-eight years, you are the expert.’

Julio tossed a crust of bread at her. ‘You are not too old to put over my knee.’

‘Children, that’s enough.’ Maria picked up a pile of plates and headed for the scullery. ‘You are supposed to be her uncles, not her brothers. It’s about time you boys grew up into men and had families of your own. And you, Gino,’ she jerked her head in his direction. ‘Try to persuade my little Phoebe to come to Italy with us. I would like to see you both married in the church by the lake this year, while the leaves are still on the trees.’

Holding her hand to her forehead, Annie moved towards the door. ‘All this talk makes me dizzy. I’m going to lie down, Phoebe. You can help Nonna with the dishes, can’t you?’

‘Yes, Ma. Of course.’ Phoebe shot a wary glance at her grandmother, hoping that she would not make a fuss, but Maria merely shrugged her shoulders and cast her eyes heavenwards.

With a conspiratorial wink in Phoebe’s direction, Gino took Julio by the arm. ‘Come then, amico. I challenge you and Lorenzo to a game of morra. Let’s see who’s the better player.’

A diversion had been created and Phoebe seized the
opportunity
to hurry her mother from the room. ‘Go to bed, Ma. I’ll bring you up a cup of tea later, but now I’d best help Nonna and keep her happy.’

Annie gave her a weary smile. ‘You’re a good girl, Phoebe. I don’t know what I’d have done without you these past weeks.’ She made her way towards the staircase, moving slowly as if each step was an effort. Phoebe felt the hairs on the back of her neck prickle. It was surely not right for a woman to be as tired and listless so early in pregnancy. She shivered, but the feeling passed quickly and a sharp summons from her grandmother brought her back to the present. She must keep up the charade for another two weeks, and then she could concentrate on caring for her mother without fear of revealing her condition to the family. But for now her most pressing problem was how to break the news to Nonna that Dolly was to be allowed out of hospital the following day, and she had promised to collect her.

Next morning, Phoebe conducted a table tipping session for the wives of two of the ice cream sellers. The bereaved sisters wanted to be certain that their dear departed mother, having suffered a long and painful last illness, was well and happy on the other side. They confessed that their husbands had no knowledge of what they proposed to do and that they would disapprove strongly of such a heathen practice. Phoebe assured them that what happened in the darkened room was as safe as the confessional in church. When the table began to rock, seemingly of its own accord, their anxious questions were answered by mysterious
taps
on the floor. Phoebe had no idea how this process worked, but the fact was that it did, and her clients left in a much happier frame of mind than when they had arrived. Satisfied that she had done her best for them, she pocketed the money, intending to use it for the cab fare when she brought Dolly home from the hospital.

The moment she left the house she was assailed by doubts. Phoebe was well aware that Ethel Fowler had no intention of taking care of her daughter, but she felt that she had to make certain. She did not want to fall foul of the law and give the cunning Fowler family the opportunity to say that Dolly had been kidnapped. They were an unscrupulous lot, and might demand money by way of compensation. She could not allow that to happen, but it was with a degree of trepidation that she returned to Bleeding Heart Yard. She had no idea if she would find Ethel at home, but as luck would have it she caught her just as she was about to leave the house.

‘What d’you want?’ Ethel demanded, glaring at her with narrowed eyes. ‘If you’ve come to ask me to take that ungrateful wretch back you’re in for a disappointment.’

Phoebe drew back a pace. The smell of sour spirits mixed with unwashed body odour was almost overpowering. Ethel’s eyes were bloodshot and the hair escaping from beneath a grubby mobcap was matted, with lice clinging to several of the grey strands. Phoebe shook her head. ‘Not exactly, Mrs Fowler. But she is going to be discharged from hospital today and I
thought
you should know. She is your daughter after all.’

‘She’s a grown woman now and not my responsibility. The stupid little cow refused the best offer she’s ever likely to get so I’ve washed me hands of her. She can go out and earn her own living.’

‘So you don’t care what happens to her?’

Ethel moved a step closer, her lips drawn back in a snarl, exposing decayed and broken teeth which put Phoebe in mind of a row of tumbledown cottages. ‘That’s right, missy. I don’t care. She lost me a small fortune and I don’t care if I never sets eyes on her again.’

‘And that’s your last word, is it?’

‘Me very last, so sling yer hook.’

Phoebe walked away, torn between feelings of relief and sorrow. She was relieved that there would be no repercussions from the Fowlers if she took Dolly home with her, but she was deeply distressed by Ethel’s uncaring attitude towards her daughter. She wondered how she was going to tell Dolly that her mother had abandoned her.

When she arrived in the ward she found her sitting on a chair beside the neatly made up bed. She was fully dressed, and apart from the bandages which covered her head she looked surprisingly alert. She smiled and flushed with pleasure when she saw Phoebe. ‘Have you brought me some ice cream?’

The nurse who had been on duty when Dolly was admitted came bustling up to them. ‘Good morning, miss. Have you come to take my patient home?’

Phoebe nodded. ‘Yes, if she wishes to come with me.’

‘I don’t want to go to Ma’s,’ Dolly said with her bottom lip trembling. ‘Don’t send me back there.’

‘No, I won’t do that.’ Phoebe held out her hand. ‘I’m taking you home with me. We’ll look after you.’

‘And can I have ice cream again?’

‘You shall have all you can eat.’ Phoebe turned to the nurse. ‘Thank you for all you’ve done for her.’

‘It’s all in a day’s work, miss.’ The nurse drew her aside. ‘But she’ll need to rest and mustn’t do anything too strenuous until she’s fully recovered. What I mean to say is that she shouldn’t be put to work for several weeks yet.’

‘I understand, and I’ll take good care of her.’

‘I’m sure you will, miss. You’ve got a kind face. I’d say she’s a lucky girl to have a friend like you.’

Phoebe took Dolly by the hand and led her out of the ward and through the maze of corridors to the main entrance.

‘Me legs is a bit like jelly, miss,’ Dolly murmured, leaning heavily on Phoebe’s arm. ‘I don’t think I can walk very far.’

Phoebe helped her to a chair by the door. ‘You won’t have to walk anywhere. I’m going outside to hail a cab.’

‘What? Me riding in one of them hansom cabs?’ Dolly’s pale blue eyes lit up and her lips curved into an excited smile. ‘I ain’t never rode in a cab afore, miss. And can I have ice cream as soon as we gets to your castle?’

Phoebe smiled. ‘Of course you can, but it’s hardly a
castle
. It’s just a house in Saffron Hill and it’s not grand.’

‘It will be a castle to me, miss.’

Outside the hospital, Phoebe was lucky enough to catch the eye of a cabby who had just dropped off a fare. She asked him to wait while she went to fetch Dolly, and she was just about to help her into the cab when a loud voice behind them made her turn with a start. She found herself looking into the irate face of Amos Snape.

‘Where d’you think you’re taking that girl?’ he demanded angrily.

Cowering, Dolly uttered a cry of distress. ‘Don’t let him take me, miss. I won’t go with him, no matter what Ma says.’

‘What has this got to do with you, Mr Snape?’ Phoebe slipped her arm around Dolly’s trembling shoulders. ‘How do you know this child?’

‘She ain’t a child,’ Snape said through gritted teeth. ‘I paid her mother good money for her and got nothing for it.’

‘How dare you speak like that in front of a young person?’ Thoroughly incensed, Phoebe faced him fearlessly. ‘You were trying to get off with my mother the last time I saw you, Mr Snape. If your intentions towards this girl are what I think, then shame on you.’

‘Mind your own bloody business, you interfering trull.’ Snape made a grab for Dolly but Phoebe stepped in between them.

‘She’s just come out of hospital. Can’t you see that she’s been injured, you stupid man?’

Snape abandoned his attempt to grab Dolly, who was now clinging to the wheel of the hansom cab as if her life depended upon it. He seized Phoebe round the neck, shaking her like a terrier with a rat. ‘I paid for her services and I’m entitled to my money’s worth. The simpleton is only good for one thing and that’s what I bought.’

She could hardly breathe. A red mist blotted out Snape’s florid face. She was within seconds of losing consciousness when suddenly the pressure was relieved and Snape went spinning onto the cobblestones.

DAZED AND GASPING
for breath, Phoebe found herself being supported by strong arms.

‘You’re Annie’s daughter.’ It was a bald statement of fact, spoken without rancour or emotion. Ned Paxman set her back on her feet, eyeing her curiously. ‘You want to keep away from the likes of him.’ He aimed a savage kick at Amos, who was kneeling on the cobblestones clutching his corpulent belly. The blow caught him on his flank and he let out a howl of pain and rage.

‘I’ll have the law on you, Paxman.’ Shaking his fist, Amos moved out of reach, shuffling on his knees through the piles of straw and horse dung that covered the cobblestones.