Mermaids Singing Read online

  Above stairs, Sir Desmond had become even more demanding than before, raging at the painful condition that kept him chairbound, and was not resolving as quickly as the doctors had predicted. His shouting and roaring could be heard from the nursery suite. But if Sir Desmond was not too happy, then her ladyship was positively blooming, and Kitty knew instinctively that this was entirely due to Captain Edward. The whole household had fallen under his spell; he had charmed them all with his easygoing ways and abundant good nature. Unlike Mr Rackham, whose brooding presence sent shivers down Kitty’s spine and seemed to cast a dark shadow over Lady Mableton. Miss Iris, on the other hand, changed completely and became all giggly and skittish when Mr Rackham was present. She had taken to wearing daringly low-cut dresses and Jane was required to spend at least an hour each evening helping her to dress and put up her hair. Kitty heard all this from George, her one ally below stairs, but she could see for herself that Miss Iris was a clinging ivy and Mr Rackham the tree trunk. Kitty had also seen the look in Mr Rackham’s eyes when they rested on Lady Mableton, and she sensed danger.

  Quarter day, when the servants were paid, coincided with Kitty’s half-day off and she set out once again to visit Betty and Polly in Tanner’s Passage. She carried a small wicker basket packed with a pot of Miss Lane’s rose and glycerine hand salve, a present for Betty, and a paper poke with two ounces of pink and white coconut ice for Polly. In her pocket a purse jingled with coins that she had set aside for Maggie and the children. Although Kitty longed to see them, she realised with a heavy heart that to visit Sugar Yard would be asking for trouble. She would, she had decided, leave the purse with Betty and ask her to make sure that Maggie got it when Sid was at work in the fish market.

  Kitty walked a good part of the way, stepping out in her new boots that made walking a pleasure, and she caught the horse-drawn omnibus in the Strand. She could smell the city stench even before she stepped onto the pavement. The heat reflected off the paving stones, unrelieved by even the slightest breeze. Kitty could feel the sweat trickling down between her shoulder blades as she walked briskly towards the river and Tanner’s Passage. The door to number seven was open – probably, she thought as she stepped inside, to let a bit of air into the stuffy house. She could hear voices coming from the kitchen; unmistakably there was Betty’s high-pitched chatter and the deeper tones of a man. Thinking it must be one of Betty’s gentlemen lodgers, Kitty entered the room, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the gloom.

  ‘Kitty,’ cried Betty. ‘What a lovely surprise and what good luck you came today of all days. Look who’s here.’

  ‘Kitty! I don’t believe it.’

  ‘Jem?’ Dropping her basket on the table, Kitty gasped in amazement, but the breath was knocked from her body as Jem leapt forward and, wrapping his arms around her, gave her a hug that lifted her clean off her feet.

  ‘Little Kitty, you’ve grown up.’ Jem held her at arm’s length, his lean, deeply tanned face split into the familiar grin.

  ‘What about you?’ Kitty gasped, looking him up and down in amazement. ‘You must be at least a foot taller. I hardly recognised you. I can’t believe you’re really here.’

  ‘I’m here, right enough, safe and sound and glad to be home.’ Jem hooked one arm around Kitty’s shoulders and the other around his mother.

  ‘He walked in that door as large as life and twice as cocky,’ Betty said, wiping her eyes on her apron. ‘Gave me quite a turn. I might have fainted if I’d been the fainting sort.’

  ‘And how is my Polly?’ demanded Jem. ‘How has she been, Ma?’

  ‘Same as ever, love. Poll never complains, poor little soul.’

  ‘I must see her,’ Jem said, heading for the door.

  ‘Take it gently, Jem,’ Betty cried, hurrying after him. ‘I don’t want her getting a shock.’

  But Jem had bounded on ahead, taking the stairs two at a time. Betty clambered up after him, puffing and panting with the effort, with Kitty following close behind. By the time they reached the sitting room, Jem was seated on the sofa and cradling Polly in his arms.

  He looked up with a watery grin. ‘I missed you all so much, but I’m home now for a bit of leave and I want to hear everything that’s been going on since I went away. But first,’ Jem gave Polly another hug and laid her back against the cushions as he got to his feet, ‘but first I’ve got presents for each one of you.’ He dashed from the room and they heard his feet pounding down the stairs. He returned more slowly, hefting his wooden sea chest. Setting it on the floor he threw himself down on his knees to open it. ‘There’s a fine woollen shawl for you, Ma.’

  Betty draped the soft grey shawl proudly around her shoulders, even though the temperature in the room resembled that of an oven on baking day. ‘It’s wonderful, Jem,’ she said, with a wobbly smile. ‘Just beautiful.’

  ‘And for you, Poll, a dolly all the way from New Zealand.’ Jem brought out a rag doll with yellow woollen hair and an embroidered smile.

  Polly hugged it to her, making crooning noises.

  Jem laughed and patted her cheek. ‘Good girl, that’s the ticket.’ He sat back on his haunches and regarded Kitty with a wry grin. ‘Now for you, Kitty. I didn’t forget my promise to bring you some boots, but I see that you’re well fitted out there now. So it’s just as well I didn’t know your shoe size and bought you these fancy silk slippers instead.’ With a flourish, Jem handed Kitty a pair of scarlet satin slippers, embroidered in silk with dragons and oriental flowers that sparkled with glass beads.

  Betty let out a gasp of admiration and Kitty took them in her hands, staring at them wide-eyed. ‘Jem, I don’t know what to say. I never seen anything so beautiful in my whole life.’

  ‘That’s a girl,’ Jem said, flushing beneath his tan. ‘Well then, Ma, how about a nice cup of tea? And then you can both tell me what’s been going on. I can see that things have changed in your quarter, Kitty. I’m not sure about your hair – I liked it best when it hung down your back in curls – but you still look pretty as a peach. Things must be better nowadays in Sugar Yard.’

  ‘I nearly forgot,’ Kitty said, jumping to her feet. ‘I brought you a present too, Betty, and some sweeties for Poll.’

  Jem glanced from Kitty to his mother, frowning. ‘Is there something you ain’t telling me?’

  ‘I’ll get the tea,’ Betty said, casting an anxious glance at Kitty. ‘You’d best tell all, ducks. If you don’t, then I will.’

  By the time Kitty had finished telling Jem everything that had happened since the day that Sid tried to rape her, his expression had darkened to one of disgust and fury.

  ‘If I’d been here I’d have killed him,’ Jem said, jumping to his feet and going to stand by the window, staring down into Tanner’s Passage. ‘Say the word, Kitty, and I’ll go round there this minute.’

  ‘No, don’t,’ Kitty cried, clasping Polly’s hand as she began to cry. ‘Don’t speak of it again. You’re upsetting Poll, and anyway, it was a long time ago now. I’m settled in a good position in Dover Street. I ain’t complaining.’

  ‘A good position,’ Jem said, turning his head to stare at her hair. ‘And they did that to you? I thought life at sea was tough when I first joined up but I can see it’s a lot harder on land.’

  ‘Things is better now, Jem. I’m a nursery maid, not a skivvy.’ Touching her hair, Kitty felt the colour rush to her cheeks. Her curls had grown back but her hair was still unfashionably short.

  ‘I liked your hair the way it was.’ Jem’s jaw stuck out in a stubborn line and it might have ended in an argument if Betty had not returned at that precise moment.

  ‘Well now, Jem,’ Betty said, setting the tray down on the fruitwood table. ‘Let’s have a cup of tea and you can tell us all about your voyage.’

  Jem looked as though he would argue, but seeing that Polly was doing her best to attract his attention, he went to sit by her, taking hold of her hand and stroking it. ‘I’ll tell you some tales, Poll. I’ve seen sights that would ma
ke your eyes pop out of your head.’

  Polly gurgled appreciatively.

  ‘I’ve seen whales bigger than a London omnibus,’ Jem continued, giving her a cuddle, ‘and fish that fly in the air. I’ve seen mountains taller than St Paul’s and I’ve heard mermaids singing.’

  ‘Don’t go filling her head with a lot of nonsense, Jem,’ Betty said, handing him a cup of tea. ‘She mustn’t get overexcited.’

  ‘You’re set on the life at sea then?’ Kitty put in quickly as Jem opened his mouth to protest. ‘You think you’ll stick at it?’

  ‘I’m a deck apprentice now,’ Jem replied, puffing himself up proudly. ‘Captain Madison is putting me in for my third mate’s ticket next year.’

  ‘Jasper Madison was a good friend to your dear father,’ Betty said, glancing up at the picture of the Belvedere. ‘But I could wish you’d chosen a different profession, son.’

  ‘There’s no danger these days, Ma. Not on a steam ship with powerful engines like the Mairangi. I’ll be first mate before I’m twenty and I’ll take care of you and Polly – Kitty too.’

  ‘Thanks, Jem,’ Kitty said, a bit annoyed at his assumption that she needed looking after. ‘But there’s no need for you to worry about me. I can take care of myself. I’m a nanny now and I’m doing very nicely, thank you.’

  ‘Well!’ Jem said, his sun-bleached eyebrows knotting over the top of his nose. ‘I don’t know about that.’

  ‘I do,’ Kitty said, with a stubborn lift of her chin. ‘I got my own life all planned.’

  ‘I always thought that one day you and me would be a pair, Kitty.’

  Betty clapped her hands. ‘I can’t think of anything that would make me happier than to see you two married.’

  ‘I’m only just fifteen,’ Kitty said, shaking her head. ‘And even if I was older, I wouldn’t be thinking of getting married, not to anyone. I’ve seen how it works out and I can’t say I’m keen on the idea.’

  Jem’s frown darkened into a scowl, but his irrepressible sense of humour bubbled to the surface, and he shrugged his shoulders, grinning. ‘We’ll talk about it another time. Right now, I’m just glad to be home and I’m starving hungry.’

  ‘Oh Lord, and I’ve nothing in the house to eat,’ cried Betty, throwing up her hands.

  ‘Not to worry, Ma,’ Jem said, jingling the coins in his pocket. ‘I’m going to treat us all to pie and mash or jellied eels, whichever you prefer. And then I’ll take Kitty back to Dover Street in style, in a hansom cab.’

  *

  As the cab drew to a halt, Jem leapt out to help Kitty down. ‘Wait here, cabby,’ he said. ‘I’ll need you for the return trip.’

  ‘Don’t walk me to the door, Jem,’ Kitty said, taking a quick look down the area steps, half expecting to see Olive or Dora peering up at her through the window of the servants’ hall.

  ‘I’ll see you safely inside. Young girls like you shouldn’t be out at night in London, not even up West.’

  ‘We’re not allowed followers, you’d best get back in the cab quick before they see you.’ Seeing that Jem’s mouth had set in a determined line, and his jaw was sticking out in a way that meant an argument would follow for certain, Kitty reached up and kissed his cheek. ‘I expect you’ll have gone back to sea before I get my next half-day off, so ta for the lovely slippers, and I’ll write to you often.’

  Kitty made a move towards the doorway but Jem sidestepped, blocking her way. ‘Hold on a bit, Kitty. I’ve three weeks ashore and I don’t mean to waste them. We’re still friends, ain’t we?’

  ‘Of course, but—’

  ‘Then tell me when you take the nipper out walking, and I might just happen to be strolling along the street at that particular time of day. They can’t object to that.’

  ‘I ain’t got all day, young sir,’ called the cabby.

  ‘Just coming, mate. Well, Kitty?’

  The door below them opened and Dora poked her head outside, her face alive with curiosity.

  ‘We leave the house each afternoon at three, now go away for pity’s sake,’ Kitty said, running down the steps and brushing past Dora.

  Dora was apparently not in the mood to be ignored. ‘I’ll tell Mrs Brewster that you’ve got a fella and that’ll put paid to your airs and graces, Nanny Cox.’

  Turning on her, Kitty saw Dora’s face contorted into a spiteful sneer. She tossed her head. ‘And you’ll look pretty daft when I tell her it was my brother what saw me home.’

  Grabbing Kitty by the wrist, Dora’s fingers knotted into a claw. ‘You think you’re better than us now, but you ain’t. I’ll get you one day.’

  Drawing herself up to her full height, Kitty looked Dora in the eye. ‘I’m not a scared kid any more. You don’t frighten me.’

  ‘Brother, my eye.’ Dora spat the words at her.

  Grinning to herself, Kitty ran up the back stairs to the nursery. Well, it was partly true, she thought. Jem might have dreamed silly dreams about love and romance in the long months at sea, but they were more like brother and sister than a lot of folk who were true blood kin. All the same, it was a cheering thought that she might see him again before he sailed away to the other side of the world. Jem had certainly changed a lot during his year away, and any girl would be proud to step out with such a fine-looking fellow. Safe in her room, Kitty took a last, loving look at the satin slippers and sighed, knowing that she would never be able to wear them while she lived in this house. Unless she wanted to find them cut to ribbons, she would have to hide them carefully under the mattress, away from the prying eyes of Dora and Olive.

  Sir Desmond’s condition had become chronic and his doctor advised a trip to Bath to take the waters. Kitty gleaned her knowledge from snippets of conversation that she overheard between her ladyship and Miss Lane, and the rest from George. Lady Mableton had almost fainted when it was suggested that she should accompany her husband to Bath.

  Kitty might not have believed this, but she had brought Leonie to her mama, all dressed up for a walk to the park, and she had found Miss Lane administering smelling salts and a few sharp words to Lady Mableton. Once again, Kitty had been shocked by the familiar tone that Miss Lane used when talking to her mistress. She couldn’t help wondering why her ladyship didn’t give Miss Lane a good talking to instead of taking her scolding to heart and looking as though she might burst into tears at any given moment. Kitty had been within an ace of telling Miss Lane to leave out speaking to her ladyship like she was her equal. It wasn’t right and it wasn’t fair.

  For several days, Kitty could feel the tense atmosphere above stairs and Miss Leonie was at her most fractious and demanding. Lady Mableton kept to her rooms and Captain Edward went daily to the Officers’ Club. When Kitty went down to the kitchen to collect the meals for the nursery, George told her in whispers that James and Jane had reported fierce rows amongst the family above stairs. Then all of a sudden it seemed that Sir Desmond had changed his mind and he left early one morning, accompanied only by Mr Warner.

  Immediately the atmosphere in the house seemed to change. Lady Mableton’s fragile beauty that had faded like a wilting rose under the strain of Sir Desmond’s tempestuous outbursts, bloomed once again with an almost incandescent radiance. Captain Edward curtailed his visits to his club, staying at home and, it seemed to Kitty, that he was always with Lady Mableton. Their high spirits seemed to affect everyone living in the house; even Miss Iris appeared less vinegary and more pleasant. The only person who did not seem relaxed and happy was Mr Rackham. Whenever Kitty happened to see him, she felt an inexplicable shiver of apprehension run down her spine.

  Their afternoon walk to Green Park became an established routine, with Lady Mableton and Captain Edward walking on ahead, and Kitty pushing Miss Leonie in her galloping gig, just a little way behind. She did not have to turn her head to know that Jem, who had been lounging casually in a doorway a bit further along the street, was now strolling along behind them. Once they were in the park, Lady Mableton and Captain Edwar
d walked beneath the trees, too deeply absorbed in each other to notice what was going on around them.

  Jem and Kitty played ball with Leonie, fed the ducks or sat on a park bench, keeping an eye on her while she picked daisies or chased butterflies. An hour would slip by and then two, and still Lady Mableton and Captain Edward continued to walk and talk. Keeping a careful eye on them, in case they should suddenly return, Kitty observed that they had taken to holding hands. On one occasion, as she listened to Jem telling her of yet another of his thrilling adventures at sea, Kitty saw Captain Edward draw her ladyship into the shade of a willow tree. He kissed her hand and then, with a swift movement, he drew her closer and kissed her on the lips. They pulled apart almost immediately, casting anxious glances around, and then, apparently satisfied that no one had seen them, they clasped hands, gazing at each other and smiling. Kitty turned her head away, her stomach muscles knotted in alarm. How stupid had she been not to realise that my lady and Captain Edward had been slowly and inexorably falling in love? And what terrible consequences would come from such a passion?

  ‘You haven’t heard a word that I’ve been saying,’ complained Jem. ‘What’s the matter, Kitty? You look like you’ve lost a shilling and found threepence.’

  Kitty shook her head. She couldn’t even tell Jem; it was my lady’s secret and she would guard it with her life. ‘I heard you all right.’

  ‘No you didn’t. You was miles away.’

  Kitty jumped up to catch hold of Leonie’s petticoats as she started to run towards her mother. ‘Not yet, Miss Leonie. Wait here for your mama.’

  ‘There’s something rum going on there,’ Jem said, following her gaze. ‘Ain’t they related in some way?’

  ‘That’s none of your business, Jem Scully,’ Kitty said, brushing bits of grass off her skirt. ‘And you’d better get going before they come back and catch us together.’