Lilly threw her head back and laughed. ‘You’ll ’ave to get used to that, queen,’ she told her. ‘An’ after all, when yer think what we charge ’em for their drinks who can blame ’em for wantin’ a little feel o’ yer titties, eh? Now come along; there are still customers requiring a little bit of attention. The night is young an’ so are you, so go an’ circulate.’
And so, stifling a yawn, Abi plastered a smile on her face and set off through the tables until she caught the eye of yet another gentleman. It looked set to be another very long night but she was getting used to it now.
Chapter Eighteen
It was the middle of Emmy’s second week away from home when a letter arrived for her and she instantly recognised her mother’s handwriting on the envelope.
‘It’s from Mama,’ she told Imogen over breakfast, but she didn’t attempt to open it. She would save it for later when Imogen went for her nap. She hadn’t been too well for the last couple of days and Emmy was beginning to realise just how debilitating her aunt’s condition was. Sometimes she could barely hold a cup without shaking and she was as pale as lint and clearly in pain, although to give her credit she wasn’t one for complaining. On her bad days she would simply retreat to her room, leaving Emmy to do as she pleased. This morning was one of those days and Emmy could see the tremor in her aunt’s hands as she picked at her food.
‘Shall I read the newspaper to you after you’ve finished your meal?’ Emmy offered, but Imogen shook her head as she pushed her plate away.
‘Thank you but no, I think I might go and have a little lie-down. I didn’t have too good a night so we’ll read the paper after lunch.’ With that she rose from the table and limped from the room leaning heavily on her stick. Emmy would have offered to help her up the stairs but she knew that if she did she would only get her head bitten off so she simply folded her hands in her lap and left her aunt to it.
As soon as she had gone, Emmy took the letter from her pocket and hastily opened it.
Dear Emerald,
I trust you are well and your aunt is satisfied with your services. I’m afraid I have yet more bad news for you. Abi has run away from home and is working somewhere in London. She wrote to me to assure me that she is safe and well but has left no forwarding address so I have no means of getting in touch with her. I can’t believe she would be so selfish, worrying me like this when I already have so much to contend with! And then on top of that Hetty has informed me that the new owners have now moved into Astley House. I was tempted to go and introduce myself to them but felt too ashamed, given my present circumstances. How I hate to think of them living in what I shall always think of as ‘our home’!
However, on a slightly happier note, when I rose one morning last week Hetty gave me an envelope that had been left on the doorstep and when I opened it, I found it contained ten one-pound notes. At first, I assumed it was from you but then I realised that it would have come in an addressed envelope with a London postmark rather than a plain one, so I have no idea who might have sent it. Needless to say, it will come in very handy. Hetty’s brother has also managed to sell a few more of our trinkets for a very good price so thankfully we are comfortable for the time being, although of course any amount is always welcome.
Emmy smiled at the last sentence. What her mother was really saying was that she would expect a portion of her wages each month and Emmy would see that she got them.
There is still no sign of your errant father, damn and blast him to hell. Can you believe I had yet two more of my invitations to tea returned this week from women who I considered to be friends?
Please, if you should happen to come across Abigail, do be sure to find out where she is living and tell Imogen that when I can afford it, I might journey to see her at some point.
I remain,
Your mother
There was no kiss or ‘with love from’ at the bottom of the letter and Emmy didn’t really expect it. But it was a shock to know that Abi had run away; how could she be so stupid? And to come to London of all places! Her first instinct was to put her bonnet on and go out searching for her, but then common sense took over and she realised how futile that would be.London was such a huge place that looking for one person there would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. And who could have left the money on her mother’s doorstep? It was no doubt an acquaintance who sympathised with the position she was in. The only good thing was she had given Abi her aunt’s address before she herself left for London so for now all she could do was pray that Abi would write to her.
With a sigh she rose from the table, wishing that she could speak to Jake and tell him about Abi running away; he was always so sensible. But there would be no chance of seeing him until Sunday, so somehow she would just have to be patient and hope that wherever her little sister was, she was safe. Meanwhile she would go and see if there was anything she could do to help in the kitchen. Anything was better than just sitting about worrying.
That evening Abi got ready to go into the club as usual. It was a week night so she wasn’t expecting it to be too busy. She was getting better at staving off the men when they wanted to go to her room now. In truth, she hadn’t yet met anyone who had made her even half want to, although she did enjoy the attention that was being showered on her. Just as Lilly had predicted she was already proving to be a great favourite with the customers, no doubt because of her pretty face, her comely figure and her age. One middle-aged gentleman in particular had taken a great shine to her and the night before had presented her with a beautiful gold chain bracelet.
Maria had chuckled when Abi had shown it to her the night before as they went to their rooms after the club closed.
‘Just play yer cards right, kid, an’ that could be the first o’ many,’ she told her. ‘That old duffer is as rich as Croesus. I’ve known some o’ the girls have diamonds given an’ others have ended up in their own places, paid for by the men.’
‘What? You mean like kept women?’
Maria nodded. ‘Absolutely. Most of ’em are married, o’ course, but that don’t stop ’em havin’ a mistress on the side.’
Abi thought of the rumours that had circulated back at home about her Uncle Bernard having a woman but she didn’t mention it to Maria. It seemed that men were men wherever they lived. She wasn’t at all averse to being flattered and spoilt but she had no intention of becoming a kept woman for any man.
The smell of expensive cigar smoke and perfume met her as she entered the club and Abi was surprised to see that there were quite a few customers there already. The majority of them were trying their luck at the card tables at the other end of the long room, but some eyed her appreciatively as she made her way amongst the tables before she decided who she would approach. Eventually Abi made for an elderly gentleman with a large handlebar moustache who was watching her hopefully. When she reached his table, she flashed him a dazzling smile. The gas lights mounted at intervals on the walls brought out the copper highlights in her gleaming brunette hair, and as he gazed into her lovely green eyes she knew that he would be like putty in her hands. He was easily old enough to be her grandfather but so long as she only had to drink with him, she didn’t care about that. She had learnt quickly that a fool and his money were soon parted and she intended to play him for every penny she could.
She had been seated with her most recent admirer for about an hour or so when there was a slight commotion at the entrance and seconds later a crowd of rowdy young men appeared laughing and slapping each other on their backs. Abi glanced up curiously from the crystal goblet of champagne she was drinking and her face broke into a smile as she recognised Jasper at the bar.
‘Do please excuse me, my cousin has just arrived,’ she told her companion and before he could respond she rose and left him sitting there looking none too pleased.
‘Jasper, I was wondering when you were going to come and see me,’ she told him delightedly as she approached him and his friends who were now ordering drinks at the bar.
‘How’s it going?’ he asked, thinking how pretty she looked. Tonight she was wearing a beautiful ivory satin gown trimmed with pearls about the neckline that showed off her creamy skin and the colour of her hair to perfection.
She opened her mouth to reply but his friend, who was standing beside him, turned and looked at her and she was temporarily struck dumb as their eyes met. Suddenly she felt as if they might have been the only two people in the room. He was easily the handsomest young man she had ever laid eyes on and her heart gave a lurch.
