The Cockney Angel (46 page)

‘Alice is your sister and you are their sworn enemy. I am Billy Angel’s daughter; they would not touch me. It’s against their code.’

‘Their code? Irene, they are gangsters – evil men without a conscience.’ He turned away from her, and now it was his turn to pace the room with long agitated strides.

‘You must not stop me,’ she cried in desperation. ‘Hear me out, please. If you still disagree then I promise you that I won’t go ahead.’

‘Very well,’ he said at last. ‘Tell me your plan, but don’t expect me to condone some wild scheme that would endanger your life.’

An hour later, having persuaded Edward to allow her one last chance to draw the Sykes brothers out into the open, Irene gained access to the gaming house in Blue Boar Court and was shown up the rickety staircase by a reluctant Blackie. Warning her that Vic was not in
the
best of moods he left her to announce herself, and with knees shaking Irene entered the gaming room. It was dark, with just a single oil lamp set on one of the card tables where Vic sat with his back to her. She could tell by the clink of coins that he was counting the previous night’s takings. She cleared her throat as she approached his chair. ‘Mr Sykes, I want a word with you, sir.’

He spun round with a savage expletive and his hand went automatically to the cudgel at his side. ‘What the bloody hell d’you think you’re doing creeping up on a fellow like that?’

Somehow, with an inner strength she had not previously known she possessed, Irene maintained her calm. ‘Do you know me, Mr Sykes?’

He peered at her beneath lowered brows. ‘We don’t get many of your sort paying social calls. Who are you and what d’you want with me? Be quick, because I ain’t a patient man and I’m busy.’

‘I’m Irene Angel, Billy’s daughter. You put my pa behind bars, and I’ve come to tell you that me and me brother are going to put you and Wally out of business.’

He glared at her for a moment as if he couldn’t believe his ears, and then he threw back his head and guffawed with laughter. ‘That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in years.’
The
smile died on his lips and he thumped the table with his cudgel, sending silver and copper coins showering to the ground. ‘Get out of here, girl, afore I smash that pretty skull in with me stick. It would be a shame to spoil that fine bonnet.’

Irene’s heart was thudding against her ribs and she clasped her hands tightly behind her back so that he wouldn’t see how they shook. ‘I’m going, but don’t say I didn’t warn you. Our establishment is doing well – far better than yours by the look of those paltry takings. And don’t even think of sending your men round to break the place up, because we’re prepared for that. If you want a fight then you’ll get one. Jim and me ain’t afraid of you. You’re finished, Vic Sykes.’

She left him gaping open-mouthed and she walked from the room with her head held high. He was not to know that her knees were trembling and her hands sweating. Somehow she managed to reach the door, and she let herself out just as Vic leapt to his feet, sending his chair crashing to the ground. His shouts followed her as she raced down the stairs. Barging past Blackie, she wrenched the door open and fled out into the court. She ran and did not stop until she collapsed into Edward’s arms. He lifted her off her feet and threw her into a waiting hackney carriage. ‘The corner
of
Old Fish Street Hill and Five Foot Lane, cabby,’ he shouted, leaping in after her and slamming the door. He enveloped her in his arms, holding her so close that she could feel his heart beating against her breast. ‘Never put me through anything like that again,’ he breathed into her hair. ‘I must have been out of my mind to let you take such a risk.’

Irene nestled against his shoulder, inhaling the now achingly familiar scent of the man she adored. ‘It is done,’ she said simply. ‘Now all you have to do is to set the trap.’

‘Are you so sure that they will attack your brother’s establishment?’

‘I am. I know the way they work. They will want to teach us a lesson that we won’t forget. They’ll turn up with their gang and smash everything in sight.’

‘My men will be waiting for them, my darling, but I want you safely out of the way. You must go and stay with your sister in Love Lane. I insist upon that.’

Irene was about to argue. She wanted desperately to be there when the Sykes brothers were arrested, but she could see that his suggestion made sense. ‘All right,’ she said reluctantly. ‘I will go to Emmie’s, but first I have to put Jim in the picture. He knows nothing of my plans.’

‘My God!’ Edward drew away from her,
staring
into her face with wonder. ‘You were taking a terrible risk. I thought that your father was the only gambler in your family, but I can see that I was mistaken.’

She stifled a gurgle of laughter. ‘It’s in us all, Edward. Jim has gambled everything on the success or failure of the gaming house, and Emmie took a chance by marrying a much older man. Luckily it has turned out well, but if it had not then she would have ruined her life. As for me, I know now where my heart truly lies. I would never gamble on love.’

His answer was to sweep her into a fervent embrace, and Irene gave herself up wholeheartedly to this newfound delight.

That evening, Irene stood by one of the tall windows in Emmie’s drawing room, staring out into the empty street. A misty twilight had descended upon the city although it would not be completely dark for another half-hour at least. The lamplighter was on his rounds and Irene watched the gas flames wriggle into life inside the glass shades. Everything looked so absurdly normal, and yet only a couple of miles away a drama was about to be played out and a battle to be fought against one of the most notorious gangs in London. It seemed so unfair that she, who had planned and instigated the whole thing, was forced to play a subordinate
part
. Edward and Jim had been as one in their decision to banish her to the safety of Love Lane. In fact they seemed to relish the prospect of a fight. Although Jim had been shocked at first when he discovered that she had been planning to entrap the Sykes brothers, he had rapidly come round to her way of thinking and had applauded her courage. He had slapped Edward on the back, and as they settled down to discuss tactics Irene had found herself excluded from their male domain.

‘Renie!’

Emmie’s shrill voice caused Irene to turn her head. ‘What’s the matter?’

‘You were miles away. I asked you to draw the curtains. Come and sit down. You’re making me nervous.’

‘Leave her be,’ Clara said softly. ‘If it helps her to watch the street, then please allow her to do so.’

‘How can you be so calm, Ma?’ Irene demanded, turning her head to give her mother a searching look. ‘Everything depends on what happens tonight. Once the Sykes brothers are in custody and safely out of the way, the witnesses won’t be afraid to testify on Pa’s behalf. If all goes well he might soon be released from jail.’

‘I know, ducks, but it don’t do to dwell on what might be. It’s what I pray for every night,
but
I’ll only believe my Billy is a free man when he walks through that door.’

Emmie looked up from the baby’s dress that she was embroidering and she frowned. ‘I hope everything is all right, Renie. You know what a vicious lot the Sykes brother are. They won’t give up without a fight.’

‘I’m well aware of that, but Inspector Kent and his constables are fully prepared,’ Irene said, hoping that she sounded more confident than she was feeling.

Clara shook her head. ‘They’ve managed to evade arrest for a very long time. Let’s hope your man knows what he’s doing.’

Irene turned back to the window. She did not want them to see the fear that she knew must show in her face. Her fingers were drumming relentlessly on the windowsill as if of their own volition. Waiting was the worst part. She was regretting her meek acquiescence when she was ordered to wait in safety with Ma and Emmie. She might not have been able to do much, but at least she would have known what was happening. She stiffened as she saw a hackney carriage turn into the street. She held her breath, watching silently and praying that it would be Edward come to tell her that everything was all right. The vehicle drew to a halt outside the house and she leaned forward, pressing her forehead against the glass in order
to
get a better view. But her hopes were dashed when the occupants alighted and Josiah walked up the steps to the front door, followed by Ephraim. ‘Oh, damnation! I thought for a moment it might be Edward.’

‘Is it Josiah?’ Emmie cried anxiously. ‘He knows nothing of all this. I’d better be the one to tell him. I’m afraid he will be very displeased if any of his business acquaintances have been caught up in the police raid.’

Irene spun round to face her. ‘If that’s all he has to worry about then he should be thankful. Edward and Jim are in the thick of things. You ought to spare a thought for your brother.’

‘Of course I worry for Jim, but you seem very keen on that copper all of a sudden. You’ve changed your tune, Renie.’

‘Now, now, girls,’ Clara reprimanded in much the same tone that she had used when they were children. ‘Don’t quarrel. Emmie, keep calm; I’d advise you to keep your mouth shut until we know exactly what has gone on tonight. We don’t know for certain that the Sykes gang have even shown up, and it would be a shame to worry Josiah unnecessarily.’

‘I hate keeping things from him,’ Emmie said, pouting. ‘It’s just fortunate that he and Ephraim were out when Renie arrived, but how do I explain her presence to him if I don’t tell him what is going on?’

‘You’ll think of something,’ Clara said with a knowing wink. ‘I’m sure you can twist him round your little finger if you put your mind to it.’ She beckoned to Irene. ‘Come away from the window and sit down. Try to look as though you’re just paying a social call.’

Emmie jumped and yelped as she pricked her finger on the needle. ‘I can hear footsteps on the stairs. Sit down for God’s sake, Renie.’

Reluctantly, Irene left the window and went to sit on the sofa beside her mother. She folded her hands in her lap and attempted a smile as the door opened and Josiah entered the room.

Abandoning her embroidery, Emmie leapt to her feet. ‘Josiah, my love, we have a visitor.’

He kissed her on the cheek, eyeing Irene over the top of his wife’s head. ‘So I see.’

‘I came to see Emmie and Ma,’ Irene said lamely. She could tell from his expression that Josiah was not exactly delighted to see her, but she widened her smile until her cheeks ached with the effort.

‘Did you have an interesting time at the Company of Drapers?’ Emmie asked breathlessly. ‘Have you eaten, my dear? Would you like me to ask Cook to prepare supper for you?’

Josiah’s expression softened and he patted her cheek. ‘Don’t fuss, poppet. Ephraim and I dined before we went to the meeting. I have some work to do in my study, so I’ll say
goodbye
now, Irene. I daresay you will be gone before I have done.’ He dropped a kiss on Emmie’s forehead, and with a curt nod to Clara he left the room.

‘I’ve had warmer welcomes,’ Irene said with a wry smile. ‘He still doesn’t approve of me, and it’s all Erasmus’s fault.’

Emmie sank down on her chair and automatically reached for her sewing. ‘You don’t know, then?’

Momentarily diverted, Irene shot her a curious glance. ‘What don’t I know?’

Emmie and Clara exchanged amused looks. ‘You’d best tell her,’ Clara said, chuckling.

‘Erasmus was caught with his hand in the till. Apparently he had huge gambling debts and he had got some young servant girl into trouble. Of course Josiah was furious with him. He paid off the girl and sent Ras to Lancashire where he will learn the cotton trade from the mill floor. Josiah said it would either make or break him, but I almost felt sorry for Ras.’

‘Don’t waste your sympathy,’ Irene said with feeling. ‘He deserves everything he gets.’ She turned back to her vigil at the window, but as the minutes ticked by she found herself growing more and more restless. A gentle snore from the sofa made her glance round, and she saw that Ma had dozed off with her chin resting on her chest and her lace cap wobbling
precariously
over one eye. Emmie looked up from her embroidery and raised her finger to her lips, smiling. ‘She always drops off at this time in the evening,’ she whispered.

‘She should be in bed,’ Irene said, frowning.

Emmie shook her head. ‘Let her sleep. She won’t go to her room until she knows the outcome. We must just sit it out until someone brings us the news, good or bad.’

‘You may be able to sit here patiently, but I can’t,’ Irene said in a stage whisper. ‘Are my things still in the room upstairs?’

‘I don’t think anything has been touched. Why?’

Irene crossed the floor to kneel by her side. ‘I can’t stand it any longer. I have to do something, Emmie. If Ma wakes or if Josiah should wonder where I have gone, I want you to say that I am lying down with a headache.’

Emmie’s eyes widened. ‘You were told to stay here, Renie. You mustn’t go out alone in the dark, it’s too dangerous.’

‘I will be invisible. I will melt into the shadows and no one will notice me.’

‘I can’t let you do this, Renie. What would Josiah say?’

Irene grasped her sister’s hand and raised it to her cheek. ‘He’ll thank you for your part in this if it means that his way is clear to becoming an alderman. You know that his
chances
will be increased greatly if Pa is released from jail, and that can only happen if Vic and Wally Sykes are behind bars.’

Emmie’s lips trembled and her eyes filled with tears. ‘I don’t know what to say. I’m your elder sister and a married woman. I should forbid you to do anything foolish.’

Irene leapt to her feet. ‘But you won’t, and even if you did I would not obey you. I am going, Emmie, and that is that.’

Chapter Twenty-three

THE HOUSE IN
Five Foot Lane was being watched by both the police and the Sykes gang. Irene might have found it funny had she not been so anxious. She made her way along the service alley at the back of the terrace, which was used by tradesmen, dustmen and night soil collectors, but she found that the back gate was locked and she was forced to climb over the brick wall. In her boy’s garb it was not too difficult a feat to scramble up the rough bricks, but she scraped her knees on the jagged stones cemented into the top of the wall. She leapt to the ground, landing safely on all fours.