Authors: Paula Marie Kenny
‘Don’t struggle, just relax and breathe it all in! Come on, be a good girl and do as I say.’ Hissed Betsy.
Florrie tried to understand what was happening to her, she was completely overwhelmed. She was still trying to push the suffocating cotton away from her, breathing desperately. As she panicked she breathed in more of the strong, sickly vapour.
She felt strangely light-headed and her arms and legs were going numb. The world around her started to spin. She heard Betsy’s voice again.
‘Nice deep breaths.’
Florrie could feel the liquid from the pad running down her throat and wetting her chest through the cotton of her dress.
‘Yes, you’re such a good girl! You must feel all sleepy.’ Said Betsy quietly.
Florrie felt dazed, drifting in and out of consciousness, then she couldn’t see nor hear anything.
She felt a knee being pushed into her from behind and lost her balance. Despite her already clouded vision, she noticed herself falling backwards. Her arms had become strangely heavy and were uselessly dangling next to her body. She was aware that someone was forcing her to lie down on a handcart.
They were still being watched by Sophie. She recognised Betsy, the woman who was chasing her in New Brighton. With fear in her heart she abruptly left to find Jim.
Florrie started to regain consciousness, after what felt like days of a dreamless sleep. She was covered in a sheet, being wheeled along the cobble stones. Her mind was veiled in a grey mist. She must have stirred, alerting the couple that she was coming to. Again, the drug soaked cloth was held to her mouth until she lost consciousness.
When she finally opened her eyes, the light felt painfully bright. After a few moments of adjusting, she was able to determine that she was in a bedroom. The gas lights had been turned up high so that Maurice could get a good look at her. Florrie was now naked on a bed, her body was limp and lifeless. Her head was swimming from the effects of the chloroform.
Then, she could hear people murmuring on the other side of the door. She quickly fell back and closed her eyes, hoping that they’d leave her alone once they saw that she was still asleep.
The hinges creaked as the door opened, then she heard heavy footsteps as a man approached the bed. She felt the touch of his hand on her tummy, she didn’t flinch or call out. He stroked her hair and the angle of her jaw, then his hands traced down the curves of her body, lightly touching her. In the blur of the moment she noticed he had piercing blue eyes, she would never forget them. She felt the mattress dip as he sat on the bed beside her. He reached over to touch her intimately and she closed her eyes tightly. The effects of the drug were beginning to wear off but Florrie was too scared to move.
Suddenly, his touch was withdrawn and the bed creaked as he got up again. She dared to open her eyes, his upper body was naked. His body was broad and powerful. He took off his trousers and underwear.
As he approached the bed, she closed her eyes again. He lay beside her and began touching her again. Then, he rolled on top of her, his weight was overwhelming, forcing the breath from her lungs. She was completely trapped and immobilised.
At that moment she could hear the front door being kicked, then shouting, the Hales had left it slightly open. Florrie recognised Jim’s voice but it sounded distant and distorted.
The man trying to rape her flinched and hesitated, clearly unnerved by the commotion. Florrie was becoming fully awake, her throat was dry and sore, her head was banging.
The noise of an altercation downstairs reached a crescendo. There was the sound of breaking glass and the shouts of another girl. She then heard the loud voices of another man and a woman. She became aware of someone running upstairs calling her name.
The man attacking her swore loudly and jumped off the bed. Grabbing his clothes, he began to dress.
Florrie looked down at her nakedness, then saw her clothes across the arm of a chair. The metallic taste left in her mouth made her feel sick.
The man quickly wrenched open the door to escape just as Sophie was about to open it. He pushed her out of the way but not before she had an opportunity to recognise him. He was the man who had touched her in the fairground.
Later she was to identify him, with an even greater degree of certainty. He was younger but he was most definitely her Uncle Maurice.
There was no doubt in her mind, it was him.
A
s Sophie began to guide Florrie down the stairs, Freddie was still grappling with Jim in an attempt to throw him out of the house.
Sophie shouted to Jim, ‘Hold him Jim. I’ll take Florrie outside and shout for help.’
Betsy appeared at the parlour door, apparently stuffing money into a handbag. Just the mention of the police was enough to frighten her.
‘Break free from him Freddie! Let’s make ourselves scarce, we’ll go the back way.’
The sound of a police whistle and loud voices outside made Freddie find the strength to free himself from Jim.
‘Run like fuck!’ Said Freddie as he dragged Betsy by the arm. Her slight frame almost lifted from the floor as he swept her away. They ran in no particular direction, they just wanted to be as far from the house as they could get. Betsy was soon out of breath and began to cough, they were relieved to see the Vines Public House.
‘Keep going you old crow. We will hide out in the Vines.’ Encouraged Freddie.
‘Hide out and have a last drink before we’re carried off in irons you soft bastard.’ Gasped Betsy.
They finally made it and she took a seat in the corner. Betsy gave Freddie some money from her purse, he then went to the bar. She sat staring wildly into space, her eyes were glazed. Freddie came over with two glasses of brandy. She pushed her glass away, unusually, she didn’t want any.
‘I’m poorly Freddie.’ Said Betsy in a subdued tone, her breathing was still laboured after running.
‘This is no time for you to be ill, you selfish old cow, what’s the matter with you now?’
‘Feels like I’ve got cauliflowers under my arms, in me neck, down below and the headaches.’ She pulled off her lace, fingerless gloves. ‘And look at this here rash.’ She was pointing to the small round spots on the palms of her hands.
‘Cauliflowers in your head more like, now drink it.’ He lifted the glass of brandy and handed it to her.
She took a sip. ‘That’s better.’ But she didn’t feel better at all, she only said it because it was what he wanted to hear.
Life was usually better after a drop of brandy, but this time, it didn’t work. Betsy was worried about her health, this fiasco with Maurice and the girl had made her feel worse.
Maurice had left in haste, now hidden in the shadows of the city night. He had pushed his way passed Jim and Freddie whilst still fastening his buttons. Jim had tried to hold him but couldn’t contain both men.
Maurice ran up the street in a blind panic, as he frantically flagged down a cab. The driver was familiar with the Hale’s establishment, he had picked up many a gentleman from there before.
‘Gentlemen?’ He thought cynically. ‘Look at the state of this one, he hasn’t even combed his hair.’ It struck the coachman as unusual for a gentleman to be out without wearing his top hat. Maurice had been in a blind panic to get away and had dropped it in the street.
‘You look as though you have left somewhere in a hurry sir!’ Maurice was now in a cold sweat.
‘Mind your own bloody business man and take me to Princes Park!’ Bawled Maurice. The coachman smirked then took off in the direction of South Liverpool. He sat grim faced for the entire journey back to his home. He was feeling sore at parting with a hundred quid for a pleasure he hadn’t had. He was furious with the Hales. ‘How could they let that happen? Scoundrels!’ He thought.
‘Had he been swindled?’ His mind was racing, he thought that it was a trick to extort money for the same girl over and over.
‘The little slum dwelling brat is more than likely in on it too. I wouldn’t put it passed her mother to be behind it, it was a trick, like mother like daughter.’ Thought Maurice gloomily.
When he had heard the police whistle back at Betsy’s house it had filled him full of dread and fear, he was afraid of the law. He would high tail it to Cheshire for a few weeks and keep a low profile. As soon as he arrived home, he instructed Bowers to pack his case, he announced that he was going on an unexpected trip
‘Your top hat sir?’
‘I left it behind in the cab, so fetch one of my other hats, as far as any callers are concerned, I have gone to America.’ He snapped.
‘There is no passage until next week.’ Said Bowers snootily.
‘Lie then lie, lie lie!’ Roared Maurice in a tear.
His butler nodded, guessing that Maurice was in trouble, again. Bowers could see that he was flustered and sweaty prompting him to set about the task of running a bath.
After a quick bath and a sandwich he was ready to go. He was relieved to arrive at Lime Street Station. He would deny the whole incident if there were any repercussions. Pulling his hat over his eyes, he hid himself in the dark corner of the First Class compartment of the train. He turned his face to the window. Maurice was planning to make an appearance at The Black Swan Inn, Lower Withington. As soon as he arrived he ordered an expensive meal and a bottle of fine red wine to make sure that he would be remembered. If questioned he would swear he had been there all day and his alibi would be collaborated by his toadying cronies who would do almost anything for free ale. ‘House, House, drinks all round on the House!’ Bellowed Maurice.
After the Hales had fled, Sophie went into the kitchen to get a glass of water for Florrie. She was sitting in the parlour with Jim, she needed time to recover from her ordeal.
She sipped a glass of water and could slowly feel the effects of the drug leaving her. She could see Sophie more clearly, Florrie held onto Jim’s hand.
Both were now looking at Sophie. ‘Who are you?’ Florrie asked.
Sophie didn’t answer, she was distracted by the sound of curious people who were gathering outside, they had heard the police whistle.
Jim got up, he wanted to explain to the crowd but Sophie stopped him. ‘Let me speak to them, I will calm the situation, we do not want the police here. They will not do any good at this time.’
Jim nodded, there were many questions yet to be answered. Sophie went to the door. To her dismay, she saw that there was a policeman already on the doorstep. She looked at him full in the face and told him that her friend had suffered a bad turn.
‘Has she been drinking too much brandy then?’ Asked the policeman.
‘Certainly not but she is feeling a little better now, I can assure you constable that everything is fine, I am very sorry for the misunderstanding.’
The crowd started to dissolve but the policeman looked sceptical.
‘Are you sure you are telling me the truth Miss? Someone said that they had heard a young woman shouting for the police? Furthermore, this house has come to our attention before.’ Sophie told him that they were mistaken and assured him that all was well. Reluctantly, the policeman walked off to continue his beat.
Now back in the house Sophie could answer Florrie.
‘Do you remember me Jim? I came to rescue Rachel and Ruby from Circus Street, you were there with them on the doorstep but you wouldn’t come with me. Larry sent me to rescue your sisters. He also sent me to help you and Florrie today. I also think that there is another, deeper, reason for me being here. I am now sure that I recognise the man who attacked Florrie.
At the mention of Larry’s name and searching his memory, Jim began to understand. He did, vaguely, remember Sophie.
‘Jim was there for you Florrie and I came to save you too. You won’t understand, either of you. I was brought here by the wizard for reasons that I don’t yet fully understand. But I am beginning to fathom it out. I hate the men who do bad things to young girls. That is why I came.’
Sophie could hear Larry calling her.
‘Jim will take care of you now Florrie, I must go but you should leave this place quickly.’ She left the house, Jim and Florrie were alone.
As Sophie began her journey back to the safety of Larry’s presence she had time to reflect. She had recognised the man who had tried to violate Florrie, a girl the same age as herself. That was shocking enough but she recognised that this man was her father’s brother, Uncle Maurice. It was him, without a shadow of a doubt.
She now realised that it was a slightly older Uncle Maurice who had put his hand up her dress when she had arrived in 1900. At this time he was only about forty, the uncle she knew was seventy. He hadn’t aged much apart from a few lines on his face, he also had a lot of grey hair. His features were unmistakable as were his piercing blue eyes. He wasn’t unlike her father to look at. This awful man was, without doubt, her father’s brother.
This was the uncle who had touched her at a family wedding. When she told her parents they didn’t believe her.
Sophie had never liked him. She dreaded him coming to the house. There had been other occasions when he had made unwelcome advances towards her. She could remember one evening when he lifted up her nightdress and sat her on his knee. She felt uncomfortable when he put his hands under her clothes. He had offered her sweets, saying creepily, ‘Remember. Don’t tell anyone.’ Sophie’s recollection of him made her shudder, she knew it was wrong.
Now Sophie was beginning to understand why Larry had brought her here.
Florrie was gradually coming round from the effects of the chloroform, but was still traumatised by the assault. It was time to leave. They didn’t want to spend another second in this evil house. Jim had bad feelings of its terrible history. He had an idea that his sister Alice had been there. ‘What terrible fate did she suffer under this roof?’ He wondered. But now wasn’t the time to think of anything other than getting Florrie safely home.
There was an unpleasant smell in the house. The atmosphere was still heavy with a sour smell of essence of limes, the toilet water worn by the man. Jim felt nauseous at the thought of what nearly happened to Florrie. He would never let anything like this this happen to her again. He wanted to protect her, always. Jim realised that he was in love with Florrie.