As much as Eve missed her sister, she was also grateful that Cait was in a situation that allowed her to secretly send funds to Eve so she and their brother wouldn’t starve. But sometimes Eve would rather be hungry just so she could have her older sister by her side.
Eve got up and wandered to peek out the window. The streets were coming alive with vendors and people on their way to work.
Where in the world was Brendan? He’d gone out last night after she’d left for the theatre and he’d not come home.
If Father were alive, they’d still have a home in Cork and horses to ride and race. But her brother had lost it all—everything because of gambling.
As a girl, when she had dreamed of her future, cleaning a fireplace had not been part of that image. No, it was of balls and elegant gentlemen. Her father may not have been titled, but he was landed gentry and wealthy, with a stable full of some of the fastest horses ever to race, and gentlemen were willing to part with good coin for the privilege of their mares mating with her father’s Arabians.
All of it was gone now. Everything, save her mother’s necklace she’d hidden from her brother along with the funds from Cait because otherwise Brendan would have sold or lost them in a game of chance. If she kept saving, soon she’d have enough to make her way to Cornwall to live near Cait, find a position, and support herself. As much as she loved her brother, he could rot in his liquor and debts without her. He’d already ruined what was left of the family’s estates, and Eve would not allow him to ruin the remainder of her life as well.
At least Cait was able to get a good position because she was well-spoken. Even as a child, Cait dreamed of going to England to have a Season and meet a Lord and thus had painstakingly done her best to mimic their English governess in word and gestures, to the point that by the time Cait was old enough for a Season, she didn’t even sound Irish.
Eve, on the other hand, took to her studies, but refused to change who she was. If a gentleman didn’t want her on account of how she spoke or where she was from, then she didn’t want him either. However, had Eve been as diligent as Cait, perhaps she would have found a respectable position within a household, or even a school when they had come to England. Instead, she had only found work in Covent Gardens. But, at least she had found honest, decent work because it could have turned out so much worse.
Just as she was about to take the ashes out the back, the front door burst open, so startling that she spilled even more onto her already filthy skirt.
“Pack yer belongin’s.”
Eve blinked at her brother.
“I said, pack yer thin’s.”
Her heart immediately started to pound. “What have ye done?”
“We need ta leave.”
“Not till ye explain.” She was tired of sneaking out of their lodgings before the sun was up. Except it was morning, and not the middle of the night for a change.
“Rent is due. I don’t have it.”
“Yet, ye had enough ta drink.” Brendan’s eyes were bloodshot, his cravat askew and his breath fetid.
“Enough!”
Eve stumbled back. She’d not seen her brother in quite this state before. Panicked. “It is so bad dis time?” Worry ate at her insides. If they left here, where would they go? Further into Seven Dials? They already lived at the edge, but given their financial state, there was no other place, short of a cell in debtor’s prison.
“Ye’ll be settled. ‘Tis me promise I give.”
A promise, indeed! One she’d heard time and time again. Assurance of riches once his luck turned, which it never did.
“Hurry, Eve, we’ve not much time.”
With a sigh, she set the bucket of ash aside.
“Wash yer face and hands, pack and we shall go.”
“I’d like ta change my clothes.”
“No time!” Brendan barked. “Now, go pack.”
This was worse than any other time, and Eve hurried from the room. After washing and trying to repair her hair, she grabbed her satchel and filled it with what little clothing she had left. All of the hats, gloves and gowns from home had been sold long ago and all she was left were sturdy wool dresses, not comfortable in the summer, but necessary in the winter.
Then she crossed the floor and pulled up the one loose board and reached inside for the jewelry and funds.
Her stomach sank, and she frantically searched every corner, but all that she’d saved was gone.
Tears spiked her eyes as she came to realize what her brother had done. He’d stolen from her. It had to have been Brendan. He was the only other person who lived here.
