‘Of course you can’t go back to such a monster!’ said Mr Rivers. ‘You can stay here until you’re fully grown, can’t she, Sarah?’
But Miss Smith was looking very grave. ‘Not if she has a living parent who lays claim to her. I’m afraid it’s the law. I have to be very particular on this point. I have tried to save girls from unfortunate families before, and the authorities have threatened to close the home down altogether if I persist.’
‘Then the law is ridiculous! It can’t possibly be right to return this child to a woman who clearly terrifies her. I can’t believe this of you, Sarah! You of all people! The champion of waifs and strays!’
‘Please don’t shout at me, Edward. I agree it would be terrible to let Clover go, but I cannot change the law. There’s nothing else I can do.’
‘Then let her run away now, before she comes!’ said Mr Rivers.
But it was too late. There was such a banging at the front door that we heard it even up in Miss Smith’s office.
‘Open up, open up! You’ve stolen our girl away from us!’
Mildred was already here.
21
‘IT’S HER! MILDRED! Oh please, let me hide from her!’ I cried.
‘For pity’s sake, Sarah, can’t you see the child is terrified of this woman?’ said Mr Rivers. ‘Don’t let her into the house!’
But we heard the front door opening and Miss Ainsley remonstrating. But even formidable little Miss Ainsley was no match for Mildred. We heard her shouting and then thundering up the stairs.
‘Sarah! She’ll be up here in an instant!’ said Mr Rivers, seizing hold of me protectively.
‘Calm down, Edward.’ Miss Smith was whiter than usual, but her manner was unruffled. ‘Why don’t you take Clover into my private study while I conduct the interview with this lady?’
‘I had better stay to protect you,’ Mr Rivers offered, very pale too.
‘Nonsense. I am used to dealing with agitated women,’ said Miss Smith. ‘You look after the child. Only come out of the study if I call for you. Take your things with you, Clover.’
I grabbed my pillowcase and Mr Rivers took my hand. We went through the door behind Miss Smith’s desk, into her writing chamber beyond. There was only one chair. Mr Rivers sat down heavily and I leaned against the wall, trembling.
We heard the door to Miss Smith’s office opening.
‘I’m so sorry, Miss Smith, but this . . . person insists on seeing you!’ It was Sissy’s voice, sounding outraged.
‘Yes, I blooming well do insist!’ said Mildred. ‘You’re the lady in charge of this girls’ prison, are you?’
‘How do you do?’ said Miss Smith coolly. ‘I am Miss Smith and this is my refuge for destitute girls. It is certainly not a prison. It is a private home. Now how exactly can I help you, Miss . . .?’
‘It’s Mrs to you, Mrs Moon. I’m a good, God-fearing woman and I made sure Mr Moon and I were decently wed. I’ve come about my eldest, Clover,’ said Mildred.
‘She’s not my mother!’ I mouthed at Mr Rivers, and he patted me reassuringly.
‘Clover Moon?’ Miss Smith repeated vaguely, as if she hadn’t heard my name before.
‘Don’t try and pull the wool over my eyes! I know she’s here. I seen the letter she wrote to that horrid little cripple doll-maker. It’s all his fault. He lured her away from her own family, filling her up with all kinds of fancy nonsense. I always knew he was up to no good. Heaven knows what he’s done to that poor innocent girl, the evil little monster!’
‘How dare she!’ I whispered.
‘I’m afraid I have no acquaintance with the gentleman,’ said Miss Smith.
‘He needs locking up! He stole her away and brought her here, and now she’s writing to him telling him she loves him, and she’s only eleven years old! I knew it! I’ve been backwards and forwards to his shop, trying to get the truth out of him, but when I tackled him he just came out with a whole pack of lies. But this time I barged past him into his workshop and there was this letter on his desk, all squiggly writing that makes your eyes cross, but I saw this little picture, a green leaf thing, and it suddenly clicked. She’d drawn a clover leaf, like some secret signature – I knew it had to be from her. I got the letter-reader down the market to spell it all out for me, and I was that incensed I had to come straight here to collect her. Don’t sit there all po-faced looking down your nose at me, Madam Muck. You give the girl back, or I’ll fetch a policeman and have you arrested for abduction!’
‘I don’t abduct little girls, Mrs Moon,’ said Miss Smith, her tone icier now. ‘They come here of their own free will. I give them shelter and food and education until they’re ready to make their own way in the world. Meanwhile this is their home.’
‘Our Clover’s got a home back with me and her pa and her little brothers and sisters. They all miss her so. They’ve wept buckets since she was taken away, and her pa’s not himself at all. It’s come so hard, especially since our second eldest died of the fever. Oh, how I miss that poor mite! And it was the last straw when our Clover got snatched away,’ said Mildred, and she started sobbing.
‘She didn’t shed a single tear for Megs!’ I whispered. ‘She’s just play-acting.’
‘I can see how grieved you are,’ said Miss Smith dryly.
‘My heart’s fair torn apart!’ Mildred declared. ‘It shows what a motherly soul I am because them two girls aren’t even mine by birth. But when I married their father I took them on without a word of protest and I’ve been a loving parent ever since.’
‘You say you have your own children too, Mrs Moon?’
‘Six fine sturdy little dears, fair and handsome. There’s a new little one now, young Sammy, and dear Lord, he’s got a right pair of lungs, that one, bawling night and day. That’s why I have to get our Clover back, see. She’s got a knack with the young ’uns. I need her at home to look after them. I’m fair worn out with trying. I might look strong but I’m weakened with childbirth. You’ve no idea how it takes it out of you, you being a single lady. My insides feel like they’re fair dropping out of me at times,’ Mildred whined.
‘But surely Clover would be out at school all day?’ Miss Smith enquired.
‘School? We don’t bother with no schooling! What’s the point? That doll-maker learned her all that rubbish and look what it did to her. She gave herself airs and looked down on us all – especially me, her own mother! She needs to be taken down a peg or too, that one. Knocked into shape,’ said Mildred, her voice hardening.
‘Knocked into shape?’ Miss Smith repeated quietly.
‘Well, in a manner of speaking.’ Mildred suddenly sounded cautious. ‘I don’t mean I’d really give her a caning. Well, only if she said something very bad. That girl’s got a wicked tongue on her. She needs to be a bit more respectful to me seeing as I’m her mother. Spare the rod and spoil the child, that’s what they say, don’t they? And that one’s spoiled, I’m telling you.’
‘You’re telling me a great deal, Mrs Moon,’ said Miss Smith. ‘It makes me want to do the right thing. But I’m afraid I cannot help you in your quest. I believe a child called Clover Moon might have spent a night or two here. I will check the record book. However, I’m afraid she did not settle. I cannot tell you where she is now.’
‘Oh, Miss Smith is brilliant,’ Mr Rivers whispered in my ear. ‘Note how wonderfully evasive she’s being, so she doesn’t have to tell a downright lie!’
But Mildred was no fool.
‘You can mouth off at me in that niminy-piminy way, but I know you’re up to something. I reckon our Clover’s here, hidden away. Maybe you’re in league with that doll-maker and set about procuring young girls and starting them on the path to ruin,’ said Mildred.
‘I find your suggestion offensive, madam,’ said Miss Smith. ‘Kindly leave these premises immediately or I will call a constable. There’s a police station two minutes away, in the Strand.’
‘Is that the case?’ said Mildred. ‘Well, I’ll sa
ve you the trouble. I’ll go myself. I’ll bring a constable back here, and get him to search the house from top to bottom and drag my daughter out, do you hear me?’
Miss Smith didn’t reply.
‘Do you hear me?’ Mildred repeated, and she thumped something hard.
‘Oh my Lord, is she hitting Miss Smith?’ Mr Rivers gasped, and he leaped up and ran to the door.
I ran too, but when we reached her office Mildred was gone. We heard her thundering downstairs, still yelling. Miss Smith was sitting very still behind her desk, her hands clasped.
‘Did that female demon hurt you?’ asked Mr Rivers, taking Miss Smith by the shoulders and peering anxiously into her face.
‘No, no. She hit the table, not me,’ Miss Smith said, sounding stunned.
‘I’m so sorry, Miss Smith,’ I said, starting to cry.
‘My poor lamb, it’s not your fault.’ She reached out and put her arm round me. ‘But what are we going to do? I dare say she’ll be back with a constable in tow – and then the law is on her side.’
‘Can’t Clover stay hiding in your private chamber?’ asked Mr Rivers.
‘If Mrs Moon makes enough fuss they’ll search the premises,’ said Miss Smith. ‘They’ve done that before. And then they’ll close the home down, and where will all the other girls go?’
‘I’ll go,’ I said.
‘I’m trying so hard to think of somewhere safe to recommend,’ said Miss Smith – and then, to my shock and horror, she started to cry too. ‘I can’t let you simply wander the streets, child. I know all too well the kind of danger you’d be in.’
I knew too. I thought of the boys who’d pushed me into the mire and stolen my purse, the men who’d leered and said crude things. The only man who had ever protected me was dear Mr Dolly, but I couldn’t go to him now because Mildred would find me there.
Where could I go? Could I get some kind of work so that I had a roof over my head and food every day? What could I do?
Then it came to me. I looked at Mr Rivers. He seemed in a helpless daze, looking from Miss Smith to me. I doubted he’d think of it himself. I couldn’t waste time hinting. I had to come out with it straight away.
‘I know where I can go,’ I said. ‘I’ll come and live at your house, Mr Rivers.’
They both stared at me.
‘Clover, Mr Rivers has children of his own. He can’t possibly adopt you, dear,’ Miss Smith said gently.
‘No, no, I don’t want to be his daughter! I’ll be his servant,’ I declared.
‘But you’re still a child,’ he said, stunned.
‘I’m eleven. I could even be twelve – Pa was never clear about my birthday.’
‘You’re still much too little to cook and clean – and I have cooks and maids already,’ said Mr Rivers.
‘I’ll look after your children! You said yourself I was like a little nursemaid with all the young ’uns in our alley. And I’m brilliant with the little ones here, aren’t I, Miss Smith?’
‘Yes, you are,’ she said. ‘Clover has a way with even the most troubled of our little girls, and she’s teaching them to read.’
‘That’s wonderful, but you see I already have a nurse for the children, Clover,’ Mr Rivers said gently. ‘I couldn’t possibly replace her. She’s been with our family for many years. I’m very sorry.’
I took a deep breath. I couldn’t give up on my only chance. All my life I’d been waiting for my good luck to start. Perhaps I had to make it happen.
‘I dare say your nurse could do with some willing help,’ I said. ‘And if she’s been with your family for years, then perhaps she’s getting elderly now and would like a rest occasionally. I’ll not need a proper wage, just my keep. And you can’t say you can’t afford it – I’ve seen you happily paying a fortune for a china doll for your daughter.’
‘Clover, that’s enough!’ said Miss Smith.
But Mr Rivers started laughing. ‘My, you’re one determined girl, Miss Clover Moon. Very well, I’ll take you under my wing for now and try you out as a little nurserymaid.’
‘Oh, bless you, Mr Rivers! I promise you won’t regret it! I can go with him, can’t I, Miss Smith?’
‘Well, if Mr Rivers is certain,’ she said. ‘It’s all very irregular, but given the circumstances it can’t be helped. I shall stay in touch with you, Clover. I still feel responsible – and I’ve grown very fond of you in the brief time you’ve been here.’
‘And I’m very fond of you, dear Miss Smith,’ I said, and I dared to give her a bashful hug.
‘Well. So that’s settled.’ Mr Rivers shook his head a little as if he couldn’t quite believe it had all happened.
‘If you’ve finished your business with Miss Smith could we go now, Mr Rivers? Immediately? Before Mildred gets back with the constable?’
‘Yes, of course,’ said Mr Rivers, jumping up. ‘We certainly don’t want to encounter Mildred.’
I realized there was no time for any goodbyes, not even to my special nursery children.
‘Could you tell the girls – especially Jane and Pammy – that I’ll miss them dreadfully and try to come back and see them one day,’ I implored Miss Smith. Then I scrabbled in my pillowcase, unwound Anne Boleyn from her shawl and brought her out into the open. She looked so fresh and pretty that I had a sharp pain in my chest – but I knew what I had to do.
‘Please can you let the little ones play with her occasionally so long as they’re very careful?’ I said.
‘That’s very generous of you, dear. I’ll make sure they look after her,’ said Miss Smith. ‘Take care, Clover. You’d better make haste now.’
Mr Rivers picked up his portfolio. I clutched my pillowcase and took hold of his other hand, steering him towards the door. We went along the landing and down the stairs. Mary-Ann was standing at the door of the dormitory. She looked astonished when she saw me with Mr Rivers. I waved at her and she waved back.
Sissy was downstairs comforting Miss Ainsley, who was still quivering from the aftereffects of Mildred.
‘Goodbye, Miss Ainsley. Thank you for everything you’ve taught me. And goodbye, dearest Sissy. Make a special fuss of Jane and Pammy, won’t you,’ I said in a rush, and then we were out in the alleyway.
‘Oh my goodness,’ I said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.
I still had hold of Mr Rivers’s hand. It didn’t seem quite appropriate given that I was now his servant, but I hung on to it all the same.
‘Well, Miss Moon, we’d better go to the cab stand on the Strand,’ said Mr Rivers.
‘Do you live far away, Mr Rivers?’
‘In London, but several miles away, and we’re both too burdened to walk,’ he said. ‘And I don’t know about you, but my legs are still wobbly with shock. Your stepmother sounds a most terrifying creature. I’m rather glad I didn’t actually clap eyes on her.’
We came out of the alleyway into the bright bustle of the Strand – and there, shouting at the crossing sweeper to clear a path for her, was Mildred herself, with a burly constable beside her.
‘It’s her!’ I breathed. ‘Oh my stars, that big woman with the red face. It’s Mildred.’
‘Hide behind me!’ said Mr Rivers.
I did so, while delving into my pillowcase. I brought out the blue shawl and wrapped it quickly round my head, hiding my long black hair. Mildred suddenly darted across the wide street, the policeman behind her. She walked right up to me and I felt my head spin and my feet falter – but she carried on, striding towards the alleyway.
She hadn’t recognized me! She’d seen a girl in a clean blue dress with a shawl about her head, holding the hand of a gentleman. I’d lived with her since I was three years old, but a different dress and shawl had rendered me invisible. I wasn’t any kind of daughter to her. I was just a pair of hands and a punch bag.
I hung on to Mr Rivers and he squeezed my hand tightly.
‘Well done, Clover. Quick thinking! And thank goodness too! She looks even worse than I’d imag
ined. But you’re free of her now. I’ve rescued you,’ he said proudly, as if it were all his idea.
I’d had to badger him into rescuing me, but it didn’t matter now.
‘I feel safe with you, Mr Rivers. And I promise you, I’ll be the best nurserymaid in the world,’ I said.
We crossed the road and Mr Rivers found a cab. As we were getting in I saw a flare of vivid purple, a flash of red boot.
‘Oh goodness, is that Thelma?’ I cried.
‘Thelma?’ Mr Rivers looked anxiously at her. ‘Is she your . . . sister?’
‘A special friend,’ I said, waving to her.
‘Well, strike me pink, it’s young Clover!’ said Thelma. She looked at Mr Rivers. ‘Who’s this gent, then? You sure you know what you’re doing, Clover girl?’
‘Quite sure, Thelma, I promise,’ I said.
‘Because you’re much too young for a Lord Handsome,’ she said.
‘Oh no, this gentleman is my employer,’ I said grandly.
‘Well, good for you, girl. Glad things have worked out. Take care now. And you, Mr Toff, take good care of this little kid, right?’
‘Certainly,’ said Mr Rivers, startled.
Thelma nodded and set off, hips swaying, boots tip-tapping.
Mr Rivers raised his eyebrows. ‘She’s another young lady I won’t forget in a hurry!’ he said. ‘Right. Let’s be on our way before we have any further encounters!’
He told the cabbie to take us to the Lion House in Melchester Road.
The Lion House? ‘Oh, Mr Rivers, do you live in the zoological gardens?’ I asked hopefully.
He laughed at the idea. ‘I’m afraid I don’t, Miss Moon, much as I’d like to. No, it’s simply the name of my perfectly ordinary house.’
I was disappointed, but I liked the idea of living in a road instead of an alley, and ‘Melchester’ had a lovely gentle sound. I murmured it again and again as we bowled along street after street. I was a little afraid we might be heading towards Hoxton, but Mr Rivers assured me we were going in entirely the opposite direction.
We proceeded westwards and I stared out at all these amazing streets that I hadn’t even known existed. We passed the gates to a park, and then turned right and I saw the street sign. This was Melchester Road! And, oh my goodness, the houses were all as grand as palaces – great four-storey red-brick beauties with gables and arches and enormous windows. These houses were the very opposite of ordinary!