breathe a word of what has happened this night or it will be the worse for both of us.’
‘Yes, sir.’ The master extended his hand displaying five gold sovereigns but the servant shook his head and backed away. Then turning about, he scuttled from the room like a thief in the night. He wondered how he was ever going to live with himself after what had passed this night. But it was too late for regrets now. What was done was done.
Once alone, the man turned and, leaning heavily against the mantelpiece, he stared down into the fire as tears trickled down his cheeks.
‘May God forgive me for what I have done this night,’ he murmured, but only the snapping of the logs on the fire answered him.
Chapter One
By the time the little row of terraced cottages in Attleborough Road where she lived came into sight, Molly was almost dropping with exhaustion. The added weight of the tapestry bag, and having to battle against the snow following a hard day’s work, had taken their toll on her and she sighed with relief at the sight of her home. But it wasn’t to her own door that she went first but to Bessie Bradley’s.
Without pausing to knock she flung open the door unceremoniously and Bessie, who was kneeling before an old tin bath in front of a roaring fire, turned startled eyes to her. Bessie was in the process of bathing one of her brood who seemed to be dotted everywhere Molly looked.
‘Bessie, come straight away,’ gasped Molly, and Bessie’s mouth dropped open at the bedraggled state of her.
‘Good God, woman, whatever’s wrong wi’ yer? Yer look like the hounds of hell are pantin’ at yer heels.’
‘Just come now.’ With no more words of explanation, Molly disappeared back into the snow, leaving the door swinging wide open to the elements. Already, Bessie was standing and drying her hands on her rough linen apron with a deep frown on her face.
‘Mary, you see to this lot fer me, I’ll be back as soon as I can,’ she told her oldest daughter as she rushed to the door, snatching up her huge old cloak and thrusting her feet into her boots. And with that she slammed it shut behind her and quickly picked her way through the thick white carpet to Molly’s cottage.
Molly was pacing the floor agitatedly when Bessie entered; she turned to her immediately and said, ‘Bessie, I don’t know what to do. There’s a young woman in the doorway of the Parish Church and she’s in a bad way.’
Seeing that her friend was deeply distressed, Bessie patted her arm comfortingly.
‘Calm down now then and tell me slowly what’s happened.’ Then, as the sorry tale was told: ‘Poor soul, happen she’s a street girl fallen on hard times.’
Molly shook her head in quick denial. ‘She weren’t a street girl, Bessie, I’d stake me life on it.’ A picture of the girl’s sweet face flashed before her eyes and again she heard the melodic ring of her voice. ‘There was somethin’ about her – some sort o’ quality that seemed to shine from her, and I’m telling yer, she had the face of an angel.’ She shook her head again. ‘That girl is class, Bessie, believe me. I couldn’t carry her nor do nothing for her, but she needs help – she’s lying there all alone. What are we to do?’
Molly’s eyes filled with tears as she thought of the plight of the poor girl, and in a second, Bessie’s mind was made up. Molly was known as a bit of a loner but she had always been good to the Bradley family, helping them through many a hard time. Now Bessie could finally do something for her in return.
‘Look,’ she said kindly, noting Molly’s pinched face, ‘you’re all in. I’ll go back to the church, see what’s happening, then I’ll run fer the doctor, eh?’
Molly stared at her, gratitude lighting her face. ‘Oh Bessie, you’re a good ’un, but mind yer wrap up warm, it’s bitter out there and no mistake.’
‘Don’t yer go worryin’ about me now. You just make yourself a strong brew and get those wet clothes off, else it’ll be you I’m fetchin’ the doctor to.’ Bessie looked at Molly’s soaking wet skirt and flinched as she saw the blood on it, as well as the melted snow. Even more reason to make haste. ‘I’ll be back before yer know it,’ she promised, and with that she quickly