Cinderella Sister (18 page)

‘I would supply all the material you need, Lily. Is that the only reason?’

‘No, it isn’t, Gabriel. I have to find work so that I can contribute to the housekeeping. Nell is looking for a place to rent where we can be more comfortable.’

‘There’s more to it than that, I think.’

‘It’s hard to explain, and I doubt if you’d understand.’

‘I think I do,’ Gabriel said gently. ‘But I can’t bear to see a gift like yours wasted.’

‘Maybe one day, when we are more settled, I could take you up on your offer.’

‘Then we must hope that day comes soon, Lily. Perhaps I’ll see you down in the docks when I go sketching?’

‘It’s possible,’ she said, attempting a smile. He would never know how much it cost her to turn down such a generous offer, but she realised now that she had lived in a dream world for far too long.

He took her hand and raised it to his lips. ‘Merry Christmas, Lily.’

‘Merry Christmas, Gabriel.’

She stood there for some time after his footsteps had died away. Had she been wrong in refusing to see Ma? Her heart was telling her that she should have gone with Gabriel, but a small voice in her head insisted that she had been right to say no. The others would never have forgiven an act which they must consider to be treachery. She went to kneel by the bed she now shared with Molly and reached underneath for her paintbox. Opening it, she tucked Gabriel’s calling card
inside, heaving a despondent sigh at the sight of the small china pans now sparkling white having given up the last of their rainbow hues. Without the means to buy more paint she would have to limit her artistic output to sketching from now on. She tucked the box back in its hiding place and rose slowly to her feet.

In these dreary surroundings it didn’t feel a bit like Christmas. She gazed sadly at the two iron bedsteads and the truckle bed where Aggie laid her head at night. They might not have lived like toffs in the dockmaster’s house, but it had held all her childhood memories, both happy and sad. All that was left of their old home were their beds, the deal kitchen table, six bentwood kitchen chairs and the dresser containing what was left of Ma’s prized dinner service. The two rocking chairs placed opposite each other in the window were from the old kitchen, and on the floor was a scattering of rag rugs, painstakingly made by Aggie, but they did little to disguise the fact that the floorboards were well worn and uneven. Despite Lily’s attempts to scrub them clean, the dirt was ingrained. Nell had made an attempt to conceal the fact that the plaster was crumbling in large patches from the walls by hanging some of the pictures taken from their old home. The result was oddly depressing as most of the images were monochrome seascapes or sepia tints of sailing ships, reminders of Grandpa’s early days as a seafarer. The paper chains, over which she and Molly had taken so much trouble, hung limply against the wallpaper with its much faded and almost indistinguishable pattern of cabbage roses. There was not much of a festive air
about the place they were forced to call home. Deprived of light and colour, Lily felt sad and depressed and she had an urgent desire to escape to the place where she had always found inspiration and solace – the river.

Snatching her bonnet and shawl from the row of wooden pegs behind the door, she hurried downstairs and out into the alley, praying that the reporters had gone far away and that she would not bump into Nell and Aggie on their way home from market. It was a relief to find that there was no one waiting for her and she was able to merge with the crowds unnoticed. She threaded her way between horse-drawn vehicles to the far side of the street and almost without thinking she found herself heading towards Bell Wharf Stairs. Whether by subconscious design or sheer instinct, she was making her way back to the scene of the shipwreck that had brought Armand into their lives. Nell never mentioned his name, but Molly often called out to him in her sleep. Lily had to tickle her feet in order to make Molly turn onto her side and lapse once more into deep and rhythmic breathing.

She found a quiet spot out of the bitter winter wind and she sat dangling her legs over the wooden parapet. She gazed up into the azure sky where wisps of white cloud floated like angels’ wings. The sun was a pale golden globe suspended in a sea of blue, and its rays bounced off the ripples on the water as the unstoppable Thames made its way to the sea. It might be Christmas Eve but the river traffic was as busy as ever with wherries, lighters and barges plying their business in between the larger seagoing craft. A schooner was tied up
alongside Bell Wharf and the cranes were swaying and dipping like wading birds feeding off the mud in the river bed. Their chains rattled and clanked; the scrape of metal against metal merging with the shouts of stevedores, seamen, ships’ chandlers and agents. It was a symphony of noise accompanied by the deep bass of barrels rolling over cobblestones and waves slapping against wooden hulls. Seagulls mewed their mournful cries overhead and pigeons flapped their wings as they circled above her, keeping an eye out for food waste from the vessel’s galley.

Lily closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the familiar smells of her childhood that some might find distasteful, but to her the odour of river mud, engine oil and smoke evoked memories of home. She opened her eyes, blinking against the bright sunlight as she heard someone calling her name. Had she drifted off to sleep in those brief moments? Momentarily dazzled, she could just make out the silhouette of a tall man standing a little way from her, hat in hand.

‘Lily,
ma chérie
.’

‘Armand?’ She clambered to her feet, hardly able to believe her eyes. ‘Is it really you?’

He came slowly towards her and it was only then that she saw that he was limping and leaning heavily on a cane. He dropped his top hat and stick on the ground and took her hands in his, holding her at arm’s length. ‘My little Lily. Never had I thought that you would be waiting here for me on the shore.’

‘But I wasn’t,’ Lily breathed. ‘I didn’t know you were coming. How could I?’

Armand drew her too him and kissed her first on one cheek and then the other. ‘I hope you don’t think me too bold,
ma chérie
, but I feel for you as my little sister – the sweet girl who rescued me from the fire.’

Torn between tears and laughter, Lily could have wished that he had addressed her as anything but his little sister, but her pleasure was undiminished. He was here and he was holding her hands, looking at her with such tenderness that her heart swelled with joy. ‘It is so good to see you, Armand. And you are able to walk again.’

He released her hands and bent down to retrieve his hat and stick. He smiled ruefully. ‘My leg, it is getting better, Lily, but yet I could not run a mile.’

‘But what are you doing here, Armand? Tomorrow is Christmas Day and you are far away from home. Have you come on business?’

‘I came partly on business but mainly to see you and your family again. I owe you all a debt of gratitude for looking after me, and also an apology for the way my father treated you.’

‘That wasn’t your fault, Armand.’

He frowned. ‘I don’t know what I could have done in the circumstances, but I have felt very bad for the way my father behaved. I would like to visit your home and make my apologies in person to your grandfather and all your family.’

Lily bit her lip. She would not have minded for herself, but she knew that Nell would be mortified if Armand were to find them living in such altered
circumstances. ‘That’s a bit difficult at the moment,’ she murmured. ‘We had to leave the dockmaster’s house.’

‘
Mon Dieu!
I did not think it would come to that. I had hoped that Matt would be able to come to some arrangement with the manager of the dock company. I am so sorry, Lily.’

She raised her eyes to meet his troubled gaze. ‘You really mustn’t blame yourself, Armand.’

‘But I do, Lily, and I know that my papa was unhelpful to say the least. I would like to come to your place of living now so that I may offer some assistance to your family. I do feel in some way responsible for your misfortune.’

Lily didn’t know how to respond. She was certain that Nell would want to see Armand but she was not so sure about Matt. Molly still thought she was in love with him, but Lily suspected that the main attraction was Armand’s wealth and position.

‘You hesitate, Lily. Is there some reason why I should not pay my respects to your so excellent family?’

‘I’m not sure how my brothers would react, but I know Nell would be very pleased to see you again, and Molly too.’

‘Your brothers and grandfather, they blame me for what happened. Is that not so?’

‘They’ve never said as much.’

‘So it is even more important that I speak to them and put matters to rights. They not only saved my life, but Matt’s report on the cause of the fire exonerated the ship’s company from blame and we were able to
collect the insurance monies. I want to help your family, Lily. It is a debt of honour.’

In the face of such persistence, Lily could hardly refuse, but when they arrived in Cock Hill she realised that they were attracting curious stares from passers-by. Casting a sideways look at Armand she could see that they must appear to be an ill-matched couple. In this part of London it was unusual to see a gentleman dressed in the height of fashion and with no expense spared, especially when accompanied by a girl in a shabby linsey-woolsey skirt over a red flannel petticoat, with a much-darned woollen shawl wrapped around her shoulders and a bonnet on her head that had also seen better days. As they made their way along the narrow passage that led to their rooms Lily was even more conscious of their surroundings. She dreaded to think what Armand might be feeling as she led him up the stairs to the narrow landing. Aggie’s strident tones could be heard through the closed door of the living room. Nell’s responses were muffled, but loudest of all was Grandpa’s querulous voice demanding to know why his midday meal was not ready.

Lily stole a look at Armand’s face but he met her anxious gaze with a smile. ‘Shall we go in? I can’t wait to see Nell and pay my respects to Monsieur Larkin.’

Lily opened the door and ushered him into the room. Nell was at the table, slicing a loaf of bread, and Aggie was stooped over the fire poking the coals beneath the soot-blackened kettle.

‘Never mind coddling your stomachs with tea,’
Grandpa said, thumping his hand on the arm of his chair. ‘I want a man’s drink with my bread and cheese, and a wally or some pickled onions would go down a treat.’

Nell opened her mouth to reply but on seeing Lily and Armand standing in the doorway she seemed to freeze.

‘Look who has come to see us,’ Lily said nervously.

Grandpa rose from his chair, glaring at Armand through narrowed eyes. ‘If that’s who I think it is, tell him he’s not welcome here.’

‘Grandpa,’ Nell cried, blushing furiously. ‘That’s no way to speak to a guest.’ She dropped the knife and hurried towards Armand, wiping her hands on her apron. ‘This is a pleasant surprise, Monsieur Labrosse.’

Lily could only guess at the self-control that her sister must be exerting to look and sound outwardly calm. ‘I was down by the river, Nell,’ she said hastily, ‘and we bumped into each other.’

Armand took Nell’s hand and raised it to his lips, looking deeply into her eyes. ‘I hope I have not inconvenienced you by arriving unannounced, Miss Nell.’

‘You can just sling your hook, mister,’ Aggie said, hurrying to Nell’s side like a bulldog protecting its mistress. ‘It’s all because of you and your pa that we’re forced to live in this midden.’

‘Aggie, that’s not true, and it was certainly uncalled for,’ Nell said sternly.

‘It has a ring of truth,’ Armand admitted. ‘You must excuse me, Miss Aggie, but I have come to offer my sincere apologies for the way in which my papa behaved. I have come to make amends for the suffering caused by his behaviour.’

‘You don’t know the half of it,’ Aggie muttered with a meaningful glance in Lily’s direction. ‘Your pa should keep his wandering hands to hisself and not go propositioning young girls.’

Nell shooed Aggie out of the way. ‘Perhaps you would like to finish slicing the loaf, Aggie. You are so much better at it than I.’ She turned to Armand with an apologetic smile. ‘You must excuse Aggie. She is very loyal to us, but she had no right to speak to you in that way.’

‘I’d every right,’ Aggie muttered beneath her breath, seizing the bread knife and attacking the loaf as if it were Monsieur Labrosse’s neck on the guillotine. ‘Perishing Frogs.’

‘Hear, hear,’ Grandpa said loudly. ‘You’ve got a lot to make up for, young man.’

‘Armand, you will stay for something to eat?’ Nell said, casting a warning look at her grandfather. ‘Grandpa and Aggie don’t mean to be rude.’

‘I know what I mean to say,’ Grandpa shouted. ‘And I say what I mean. We’re here because Labrosse senior put the hard word on me with the manager of the dock company.’

‘Perhaps I should leave,’ Armand said in a low voice. ‘I don’t want to cause any more upset, Nell.’

Lily laid her hand on his arm. ‘Please don’t go, Armand.’

‘She’s right,’ Nell said hastily. ‘Please stay and share our luncheon. It’s only bread and cheese, but …’

Armand patted Lily’s hand, but his eyes were upon Nell. ‘Bread and cheese would taste like manna from heaven in your company, but I am distressing your
esteemed grandpapa and Miss Aggie. This is not what I intended.’ He bowed to Grandpa, clicking his heels together in military fashion. ‘My apologies to you, sir. I came with the best of intentions, and I hope you will allow me to make some reparation for the actions of my papa.’

‘You can’t get my home back for me, so don’t bother,’ Grandpa said sulkily.

‘And you can’t restore a young girl’s faith in old men,’ Aggie added, brandishing the bread knife in a most alarming manner.

Lily met Armand’s anxious gaze with a shrug of her shoulders. ‘It was a misunderstanding between your pa and me – that’s all it was.’

‘I beg you to forgive him. His shame is mine and I would cut off my right arm rather than upset or offend you or any member of your family.’