The Cockney Angel (31 page)

‘Hello.’ Her high-pitched voice echoed off the smoke-blackened ceiling and the glasses behind the bar tinkled a response. ‘Is anyone about?’

She heard a door open at the far end of the room and she spun round to see Vic Sykes, the younger of the brothers, standing in the doorway, staring at her. ‘Who the devil are you and what do you want here?’

Irene took a deep breath. Her legs were shaking but she forced her dry lips into a grin and approached him with an attempt at a confident swagger. ‘Am I speaking to Mr Vic Sykes?’ she asked, feigning ignorance.

‘Never mind that. Answer my question, boy. Who are you?’

‘I’m Jim Angel, Billy’s son.’

Vic’s scowl lightened to a frown. ‘So you
are
. I reckon I saw you here one night with the old codger. How is your dad?’

‘Bearing up, mister, but he shouldn’t be in jail.’

‘That ain’t how the beak saw it, young ’un. Your dad got caught and that was his fault, not mine.’

‘I got a sick mother to support, mister. We’ve lost the shop because we couldn’t pay the rent. I know you could get my pa out of prison if it suited you. I’ve heard that Vic and Wally Sykes can do anything.’

He perched on the edge of the billiard table, eyeing her thoughtfully. ‘How old are you, boy?’

‘Fourteen, mister. I don’t expect something for nothing. I’m stronger than I look and I’m prepared to work for you to pay off the favour.’

‘You look younger and you sound like a girl. Come back when your voice has broken and you got a bit more flesh and muscle on your bones. Maybe I can find you work then.’

‘You got friends in high places, so they say,’ Irene said, determined not to be put off so easily. ‘My pa needs a good mouthpiece to get him off the hook.’

‘Lawyers cost money, kid. Why would I want to fork out for a tuppeny-ha’penny gambler like Billy?’

‘I thought you was his friend,’ Irene said angrily. ‘Some mate you are.’

Vic moved with panther-like swiftness and he grabbed her round the throat. ‘Cheeky little bastard, ain’t you? Well, listen to me, boy. If you want to live to see your dad released from Newgate you’d best keep out of my way. And you can tell Billy from me that he’d best serve his time and keep his trap shut or it’ll be the worse for him and his family. Got it?’

His fingers tightened on her windpipe and Irene struggled to breathe. Her eyes were watering and she could only nod her head in response. He released her with a violent shove that sent her crashing into one of the tables. It tipped over and she fell to the ground in a shower of gaming chips.

‘Get out of here,’ Vic snarled. ‘I won’t be so gentle next time.’

Although she was bruised and slightly dazed from the fall, Irene’s first thought was for her disguise, and her hands flew to straighten the cap that had slipped over one eye and was in danger of coming off to reveal her long hair. She scrambled to her feet and staggered from the room to the sound of Vic’s derisive laughter. Spots of light danced before her eyes as she made her way down the stairs to the passage below.

Blackie eyed her with contempt. ‘Give you
a
good hiding, did he? Don’t say I didn’t warn you, boy.’ He strode to the door and opened it. ‘Get out while you can. You know what will happen if you cross the Sykes brothers. Take my advice and keep well out of their way.’

Irene stumbled out of the building. She had known all about the Sykes brothers’ reputation for violence. Pa had always seemed to get on well with them, but Vic’s vicious treatment had shaken her to the core. She made her way to Cheapside but as she crossed the busy thoroughfare her mind was elsewhere, and she only narrowly avoided being run down by a brewer’s dray, to the obvious annoyance of the driver who swore at her and shook his fist. She was too shocked to retaliate but she managed to get to the far side without further mishap.

She had set so much store on the old adage
honour amongst thieves
; it had not occurred to her that the Sykes brothers would abandon her father so completely. Unable to think clearly, she found herself walking in the direction of Robin Hood Court. It was only then that she realised how much she wanted to see Alice and to apologise for the humiliating scene at the Drapers’ Company ball. Irene cared little for Kent’s feelings, but she knew how devoted his sister was to him, and she would not upset Alice for all the tea in China. It hurt her pride
to
acknowledge it, but Irene was beginning to think that Kent might have been right in his estimation of the Sykes brothers; in fact she was slowly coming round to his way of thinking, but she would have died rather than tell him so.

She found Alice in her customary place on the sofa, reading a copy of
Pride and Prejudice
. Her eyes rounded in surprise as she gazed at Irene’s clothes. ‘Oh, my goodness. Is it really you, Irene?’

‘I’m afraid it is, Alice.’

‘I thought that girls dressing as boys only happened in penny novelettes.’

‘It was the only way I could get out of the house. I’ve been imprisoned in that wretched place just like one of the unfortunate females in popular novels.’

‘Then do sit down and tell me all about it,’ Alice said, setting her book aside. ‘You know how I love stories, and this one will be true to life and not from the pages of a book. I’m so happy to see you, but I was afraid that you might not want to visit this dull place again.’

‘It wasn’t that, Alice.’ Irene pulled up a chair and sat down. ‘I wanted to see you, but it’s been difficult, and I wasn’t certain that you would want me to call again after what I did to your brother at the drapers’ ball.’

‘What did you do? Edward never tells me anything.’

Irene had gone too far to stop now. She could have played down her part in the unfortunate scene, but the truth lay heavily on her conscience and admitting her folly to Alice was the nearest she could get to apologising to the man who had become the bane of her life. Taking a deep breath, she launched into a detailed description of the events that had led up to her abandoning Kent in the middle of the dance floor. Alice listened wide-eyed and enthralled, as if Irene was reading a chapter from one of her favourite novels. ‘My goodness,’ she exclaimed as Irene came to an abrupt halt. ‘Poor Edward. He must have been so embarrassed.’

Irene hung her head. ‘I know and I’m truly sorry, but it seemed to me that he had deserted you when you needed him the most.’

‘Gladys was with me all evening. She put me to bed like a child and then waited until Edward returned home. I’m never left alone for long.’

‘I don’t know what came over me,’ Irene said humbly.

‘You mustn’t be too hard on yourself. You have suffered abominably at the hands of others and you needed someone to blame. I am just sorry that it was my brother.’

Irene reached out to grasp her hand. ‘I’m sorry too. I’ve had plenty of time to mull it over while I’ve been locked up in my sister’s house. I know that Edward – I mean, Inspector Kent – was just doing his job, and it was very wrong of me to say those things in public. I can’t believe that I slapped him; it was an awful thing to do.’

‘Perhaps he understands more than you think,’ Alice said gently. ‘He has never breathed a word of it to me, and I expect he has forgotten all about it by now.’

Somehow this did not please Irene as much as she might have expected. She did not relish the idea that Kent could put her out of his mind so easily, when he was constantly in hers. ‘It’s very warm in here,’ she said, in an attempt to change the subject.

‘You are still upset. Think no more about it, my dear. Edward is not a vengeful man and I am sure he would understand why you acted as you did if you were to tell him everything, just as you have explained it to me now.’

Irene shook her head. ‘No. I think not. We are on opposite sides of the law, Alice. My father is a convicted felon and I can’t forgive your brother for putting him in jail. I’m sorry if this causes you pain, but it is a fact.’

‘Please don’t say that, Irene. Edward and I have few friends other than dear Gladys and Danny. People round here are wary of having
anything
to do with a police officer or his family.’

‘I’m truly sorry, but I can understand why, and it makes it difficult for us to remain friends.’

‘Don’t let the law come between us. You bring life into this dull house and I truly value your friendship. If there is any way that I can help you, then I will. Perhaps I could speak to Edward—’

‘No,’ Irene said emphatically. ‘No, please don’t. Thank you for the thought, but I must manage alone.’

‘What will you do?’

‘I don’t know, but I will have to return to Love Lane and hope to sneak into the house unseen or Josiah will have my guts for garters … begging your pardon, Alice.’

‘No need to worry on my account,’ Alice said with an irrepressible chuckle. ‘I was raised on a farm where I heard far worse language than that. I’m not a delicate flower, Irene. I used to be a real tomboy until the accident that left me crippled. In fact I can see a lot of myself in you, and that cheers me immensely. I know that things are bad for you at the moment, but sharing your troubles is a great adventure for me. I’m beginning to feel alive for the first time in years. Don’t abandon me now that I’ve found a true friend.’

Irene felt tears burning the backs of her eyes and she went down on her knees in front of Alice, taking her small hands in hers and squeezing them gently. ‘I am your friend, and I’m grateful to you for not judging the way I have dealt with your brother. I know you love him, as I loved my brother before he ran away to sea.’

‘Perhaps he will return one day.’

‘He could be dead for all I know.’

‘You must not lose hope. He might turn up on your doorstep having made his fortune abroad. It happens.’

‘Only in books, I’m afraid.’ Irene rose to her feet. ‘I must go, Alice.’

‘You will come again, though? Please say you will. You can go anywhere dressed like that.’

‘I must admit that wearing men’s clothes gives me a wonderful sense of freedom. I can stride down the street without anyone giving me a second glance. I expect I could walk right past your brother without being recognised.’

‘Oh, I think he would know it was you, Miss Angel.’

The sound of Kent’s voice made Irene spin round to stare at him. ‘How long have you been standing there?’

He eyed her coolly. ‘Long enough to know
that
you enjoy parading round town in that outlandish garb. Why are you here?’

‘She came to apologise for her behaviour at the ball,’ Alice said hastily. ‘And to see me, Edward. I want Irene to be my friend. You shan’t send her away.’

‘There, there, my dear. Don’t upset yourself,’ Kent said gently. ‘I won’t throw Miss Angel out on the street, but I would like to speak to her in private, if you don’t mind.’

‘You won’t be hateful to her, will you, Edward?’

‘I won’t, if she’ll promise never to humiliate me in public again.’

Irene managed a weak smile. ‘I promise.’

‘If Edward says anything to upset you, I will be very angry,’ Alice said with spirit. ‘You will come again soon, won’t you, Irene?’

‘If your brother has no objection to your mixing with the daughter of a common criminal, then I will be glad to come and visit you as often as I can.’

‘She is free to come and go as she pleases,’ Kent said, ushering Irene from the room. ‘I’ll only be a moment, Alice, and then we’ll have something to eat.’ His smile faded as he followed Irene into the hallway. He closed the door, leaning against it with his arms folded across his chest. ‘Well, what have you to say for yourself?
What
was your real reason for calling on my sister?’

‘I wanted to see her, and I owed you an apology for my behaviour the other evening.’

‘And this is your apology?’

‘If you care to accept it.’

‘I do. As a matter of fact I think I can understand what drove you to behave as you did. I was in part to blame.’

Irene stared at him in surprise. She could tell nothing by his carefully controlled expression and his tone was certainly not conciliatory. ‘You were?’

‘I should have been plain with you from the outset. I believe that your father was foolish to allow himself to be taken in by the Sykes brothers, and now he is paying the price for that folly, but I will say that I think the sentence was too harsh. Vic and Wally have robbed, murdered and wrecked many more lives than yours, which must not go unpunished. So far they have evaded the law, but that will not continue. You have my word on it.’

‘That won’t help my father.’

‘I am afraid there’s nothing more I can do for Billy Angel.’

‘You could have spoken up for him at his trial. You said yourself that he is not a criminal.’

‘I did what I could.’

‘I won’t rest until he is released. I will make the Sykes brothers pay for what they have done to my family.’

Kent’s hand shot out and he seized her by the arm. ‘Don’t be stupid. They would slit your throat as soon as look at you. This isn’t a game, Irene. Leave the Sykes gang to the police and go back to your brother-in-law’s house where you belong. The streets of London are no place for a girl like you.’

‘Now you listen to me for a change, Inspector Kent,’ Irene cried angrily, shaking off his restraining hand. ‘I will do as I see fit, and neither you nor the City of London police force will stop me.’ She wrenched the front door open and was about to storm out but she hesitated, glancing at him over her shoulder. ‘I will continue to visit Alice, if you have no objection.’

He inclined his head, unsmiling. ‘I can’t stop you, but I don’t want my sister involved in your scheming, which I’m very much afraid will end badly for you.’

‘Why would you care what happens to me?’

He hesitated for a moment. ‘I don’t know,’ he said slowly, ‘apart from the fact that I admire your loyalty and your tenacity. You are a stubborn, maddening young woman but you have courage. I wouldn’t want to see you brought down by a pair of sewer rats like the Sykes
brothers
. Take my advice and steer clear of them. Allow the law to take its course.’

Irene left the house without dignifying his warning with a reply. There was something about Kent that both annoyed and disturbed her and she realised now that the feeling was mutual. She wanted to hate him, but she could not find it in her heart to do so. She knew that he was right to warn her of the dangers of getting involved with the Sykes gang, but she resented his interference. They had but one thing in common, and that was Alice. In the short time that she had known her, Irene realised that she had formed a deep attachment to the young woman who bore her affliction with such bravery and good humour. Irene was only too aware that her own impatient nature would not have borne up so well under such trying circumstances. She strode along in her boyish clothing, careless of the rain beating on her face and the cold wind whipping strands of hair from beneath her cap. She revelled in her last moments of freedom before she reached the house that she was forced to call home.