The Forgotten Family Read online

  Molly just laughed, and took her back into the bedroom, where the girl began to dress her.

  ‘Ugh!’ Queenie tried to take off the knickers they’d just put on her. Even though they were nice and soft, she didn’t want them on her.

  ‘No, Eleanor.’ The large woman spoke firmly. ‘Little girls mustn’t go around without undergarments on.’

  This whole business was frightening her. Next something was put over her head and a dress on top of that. She squirmed uncomfortably with so many clothes on. When they put socks on her feet that was too much. She wanted to cry, but she wouldn’t, because that always got her a cuff round the ear.

  ‘There are shoes of different sizes, Molly, so find her something that fits.’

  Seeing they weren’t taking any notice of her, Queenie had the knickers and socks off in a second, throwing them on the floor.

  ‘Oh, dear, Nanny.’ Molly picked them up. ‘I don’t think she’s used to wearing these.’

  ‘She isn’t.’ Nanny put them back on, sighing. ‘Poor little thing is going to hate shoes.’

  ‘This pair fit. Stand up and see how they feel, Eleanor,’ said Molly kindly.

  They felt awful. How could she run in these? The dam burst, allowing the pent-up tears to flow down her face. She wailed, ‘My name’s Queenie, and I want to go home. I want ’Arry.’

  ‘There, there.’ Molly gathered the distressed child to her. ‘This ain’t right, Nanny. The mistress should’ve got a baby, not a little child who’s gonna miss her family.’

  ‘My … name’s … Queenie.’ She was sobbing in earnest now, and felt she had to keep telling them this, because they didn’t seem to listen.

  ‘I tell you what –’ Nanny sat on a chair and settled her on her lap – ‘we’ll call you Queenie when the mistress isn’t around, but when she’s here we’ll have to call you Eleanor. Will that be all right?’

  Queenie allowed Molly to mop up her tears, and made her blow her nose.

  ‘Why –’ she hiccupped – ‘can’t I go home?’

  ‘Because you live here now.’ Nanny smoothed a hand over Queenie’s hair. ‘You must promise me to be a good girl, or it will be hard for you. Your parents don’t want you back, and if the master and mistress feel they can’t keep you, then you might be sent to a home. You’ll be much better off here. Do you understand?’

  Something stirred in Queenie’s mind; a vague memory of something that was spoken of with fear in their street. Workhouse. That was bad. Even her mum was afraid of that.

  ‘Do you understand?’ Nanny repeated.

  She nodded, terrified, and clung to the woman who was showing her kindness. ‘Don’t let them do that to me.’ Looking up, her eyes wide with hurt, she asked, ‘Why don’t my mum want me?’

  ‘There are too many of you, and she can’t feed you all.’

  ‘I don’t eat much,’ she whispered, as the tears flowed again.

  Chapter Two

  ‘Wake up!’

  Queenie was being shaken gently, making her eyes snap open as she tumbled off Nanny’s lap, landing with a thud in her unaccustomed shoes. She gazed up at the woman who had brought her here, her teeth chattering with fear.

  ‘She was worn out.’ Nanny stood up, ‘so I let her sleep for a while.’

  ‘My, don’t you look pretty.’ The woman bent down and straightened the bow in Queenie’s hair. ‘I’ve brought you a present. It was mine when I was a little girl.’

  Queenie took the dolly from her. It had blonde ringlets, a bonnet, dress, shoes … Queenie lifted the skirt … and those things. It was pretty, but she didn’t want it. All she wanted to do was go home and be with her brothers and sisters. It was too quiet here. Saying nothing, she put it on the bed.

  ‘I don’t think she’s used to having toys to play with.’ Nanny turned to Queenie. ‘When someone gives you something, you must say thank you.’

  ‘Thank you.’ She didn’t know why she had to say that, but the woman with the pinny was being kind to her. Suddenly, she began to fidget, crossing her legs and looking round in panic.

  ‘Ah.’ Nanny scooped her up and hurried to a room along the corridor where there was a privy. Queenie thought it was funny having it inside the house.

  After she’d finished her clothes were tidied again. She jumped, spinning round in alarm, at the sound of gushing water. She looked in the toilet bowl and saw it was clean, and it had little blue flowers all over it. Where did the water go? This was strange and must be thoroughly investigated. Harry wouldn’t half laugh if he could see this. She wished her favourite brother was here with her.

  ‘I don’t suppose you’ve seen one like this, have you?’

  ‘Ours is at the bottom of the yard and stinks rotten.’ She sniffed. ‘This don’t.’

  ‘The master is very keen on having proper water closets. Now, you must be hungry. We’ll have lunch in the schoolroom, and then you’ll be taken to see the master.’ Holding Queenie by the hand, she led her to another room.

  ‘What shall I do with this?’ Molly held up Queenie’s old frock for her mistress to see.

  ‘Throw it away.’

  With a yelp of alarm, Queenie lunged, grabbing it out of the maid’s hand and clutching it protectively. ‘That’s mine!’

  ‘But you don’t need it any more,’ the woman said to the glowering child. ‘You have nice clothes now.’

  ‘Don’t want rotten clothes.’ Burying her face in the frock, she took a deep breath of the familiar smells of home.

  ‘I suggest we let her keep it for a while,’ Nanny said. ‘This must be very frightening for her, and it is something she’s familiar with.’

  ‘Very well, you know best about these things. Have your lunch and then try to persuade her to leave it up here while she comes downstairs to meet her new father.’

  Queenie sat on the frock at the table so she could leave her hands free to eat. First, Molly served them with soup, but when she picked up the dish to drink it, she was stopped.

  ‘No, you must use this.’ Nanny put a shining spoon in her hand.

  It was a messy business as Queenie struggled with the unusual implements. She didn’t know what was wrong with fingers; that’s all they used at home. But the grub wasn’t bad.

  Her frock had to be changed, even though they’d put a bib round her neck, and her face washed – again! All the time she held on tightly to her old frock, not daring to let it go.

  The woman came back. ‘Ready to go downstairs, Eleanor?’

  Nanny stooped down in front of her. ‘Leave your frock here. It will be quite safe.’

  Queenie clutched it desperately. ‘No, you’ll take it away.’

  ‘I promise you it will still be here when you come back.’ Nanny eased the garment out of her hands, then she said very softly, ‘You can trust me, Queenie.’

  Reluctantly, she put the frock on the bed next to the dolly, and then glared fiercely at everyone. ‘Don’t touch!’

  ‘We won’t,’ Molly assured her.

  ‘There’s a good girl.’ The woman held out her hand. ‘Come on, Eleanor.’

  Sticking her hands behind her back, she clumped down the stairs, scowling. ‘Can I go home soon? I don’t like it here.’

  ‘You’ll soon get used to it.’ The woman helped her down the last couple of steps.

  Queenie beat her off. ‘Don’t touch!’ She turned to the woman everyone was calling Nanny to make sure she was following them. ‘You tell her to let me alone.’

  Nanny just laid a hand on her head to guide her through the door in front of them.

  ‘This is Eleanor, my dear.’ The woman pushed her towards a man standing by the fireplace.

  When he gazed down at her, Queenie knew she was in trouble. She had learnt very early to tell when someone was angry and could lash out. But she had also learnt not to show fear. She glowered back in self-defence. ‘Don’t you hit me. My brother ’Arry will come and bleedin’ well bash you up.’

  He spun round to face the woman. ‘What have you and Henry done, Mary? I told you I was arranging for us to adopt a baby. How old is this child?’

  ‘Two and a half.’ She was unperturbed by her husband’s wrath. ‘Don’t worry, dear, she will soon settle down.’

  He shook his head, turning to study Queenie again. ‘Are you sure that’s her age? She sounds older.’

  ‘They have to grow up quickly in the slums or they don’t survive.’

  The look he gave his wife was one of disbelief. ‘Do you really believe you can take a child of this age from that environment and bring her up as our daughter?’

  ‘I’m certain we can do it.’ Mary laid a hand on her husband’s arm. ‘She seems a bright child, and will soon adapt to her new life.’

  Albert looked very doubtful as he studied the small child in front of him. ‘This is highly irregular, Mary, you know that, don’t you?’

  ‘Yes, but Henry has been thorough and her parents have signed a document saying they give up all claim to her. He’s a lawyer and knows what he’s doing.’ She gave her husband a pleading look. ‘We can give her a much better chance in life. They didn’t want her, Albert, but I do.’

  Albert gasped when Queenie kicked him on the shin with her new shoes to gain his attention. ‘You take me home.’

  Nanny caught hold of her. ‘You mustn’t do that, Eleanor. The master isn’t going to hurt you.’

  ‘My name’s Queenie,’ she shouted, stamping her foot in frustration, fear making her lash out at everyone near.

  ‘That’s a pretty name.’ The man didn’t look quite so angry now; he seemed sad.

  ‘It’s my proper name.’ She swiped quickly across her eyes to stop the tears falling.

  ‘I wanna go home. Go tell ’Arry. He’ll come for me.’

  ‘
Don’t you think you would rather live here in this nice house?’ He bent down, reaching out to steady her as she shook her head so fiercely she nearly toppled over. ‘Well, before you decide, why don’t you come and have a look at the garden? It’s very large, and there’s a pond with fish in it. Want to see it?’

  Now he was at her level he didn’t seem so frightening. Her natural curiosity took over. The fish sounded fun … perhaps a little look. ‘Suppose.’

  ‘Good, come on then.’ He straightened up and held out his hand.

  ‘Don’t need help. I walk on my own.’

  ‘Independent little thing, isn’t she?’ he remarked to his wife.

  Queenie clumped along beside him, relieved to see Nanny was coming with them. Once outside, she gasped in wonder. It was a blooming park! ‘Crumbs, where’s all the houses?’

  ‘This is our garden,’ the man told her.

  Her mouth dropped open. ‘This is all yours?’

  He nodded, then winced when she loudly said, ‘Bloody ’ell!’

  She stomped onto the grass, looking back at him. ‘Where’s the fish, then?’

  ‘I’ll show you in a minute.’ He frowned at Nanny. ‘Why is she walking flat-footed like that? Is there something wrong with her feet?’

  ‘No, sir, she isn’t used to wearing shoes, or … ahem … undergarments.’

  His attempt to stifle a groan wasn’t successful, making Queenie take a couple of steps back. Just to be on the safe side. He had big hands.

  ‘Come here, child.’ When she hesitated, he bent to her level again, holding out his hand. ‘I’m not going to hurt you, I want to look at your shoes.’

  Edging cautiously towards him, she stuck out one foot. ‘They’re ’orrible.’

  ‘Hmm, I can see that.’ He removed the shoe. ‘Now the other one.’

  Sticking out the other foot, she breathed a sigh of relief when they were both off. Then she sat down on the grass and whipped off the socks. Standing up again, she did a little jig, loving the feel of the grass under her bare feet.

  ‘That’s better, isn’t it?’

  She nodded, taking a closer look at him. ‘You got funny coloured eyes.’

  ‘Hmm, so I’ve been told.’ His mouth turned up in amusement at her direct remark. ‘I believe they are called amber.’

  ‘Oh.’ She had to have another look at those. ‘Mine are blue.’

  ‘Yes, I can see that, and they’re very pretty.’

  No one had ever told her that before. She shuffled a bit closer. He didn’t seem too bad because he’d taken off her shoes. Perhaps … She pointed towards her knickers. ‘I don’t like these rotten things, neither.’

  ‘You must keep those on.’

  From the tone of his voice, she knew it would be daft to disobey. Shame. Still, she’d got rid of the shoes.

  ‘Mary.’ Albert straightened up. ‘Buy her some lighter and softer shoes. And, Nanny, put shoes on her for only a short time each day until she gets used to them.’

  ‘Yes, sir.’

  ‘Does that mean you approve and we can keep her, my dear?’ Mary asked hopefully.

  ‘I don’t think we have any choice. Her family obviously don’t want her, and if she’s returned to them, they will most likely try to sell her again.’ He studied the little girl waiting impatiently for him to show her the pond. ‘She’s an appealing child, and I dread to imagine what might happen to her if we don’t keep her here.’

  His wife couldn’t hide her delight. ‘She won’t be any trouble. You will hardly know she’s here.’

  ‘I have agreed that we keep her, but I am most upset. You should have consulted me first, but it is done now.’

  ‘I thought you would be pleased, Albert. You are always concerned about the plight of children like her, and urging Parliament for better education rights for the poor.’ Her mouth turned up at the corners. ‘You are very vocal on the subject, I am told.’

  Queenie was getting fed up with waiting and began to wander off. She’d find the fish herself, and maybe a gate. It would be easy to run now she had nothing on her feet. A large shadow loomed beside her.

  ‘The pond is this way, child.’

  She followed as they walked round bushes taller than her, and then she let out a gasp. It was big, and there was a stone thing in the middle, running with water. She took off towards it as fast as her legs would carry her.

  The man caught her. ‘Careful, water can be dangerous if you fall in.’

  He kept a firm hold on her while she knelt down and peered into the pond. The fish swimming around were a pretty colour. She cast a glance at the man beside her. ‘You eat these?’

  ‘No, they live here. This is their home.’ He watched her face intently. ‘Just as this is now your home.’

  Sitting back on her heels, the pleasure drained from her face, her eyes pleading. ‘It’s nice here, but I wanna go home. I want my brothers and sisters. I want ’Arry. He looks out for me.’

  His face turned to thunder. ‘I’ll kill Henry for allowing you to do this, Mary.’ Then he stormed off.

  Albert Warrender couldn’t remember when he’d been so angry. His wife was a kindly soul and he understood her anguish at remaining childless. It was also a great sadness to him, as well, and he had agreed that they adopt an unwanted baby – and goodness knows, there were plenty of them – but plucking a child of this age away from her family was cruel. Henry was a damned fool, but he had never been able to deny his sister anything she wanted.

  When he looked back on the ten years of marriage to Mary, he was filled with sorrow. After losing three babies, it had become clear that his wife would never be able to carry a child full term. Her health was fragile, and she suffered from long bouts of depression. Theirs was a barren marriage, but he loved her dearly and hadn’t been able to hurt her by seeking his freedom and marrying again.

  On reaching the stables he saddled the huge stallion, knowing that he needed the challenge of controlling the fractious animal. He had been a Member of Parliament for the last eight years, and he loved the work. After the loss of the third baby, Mary had been desperately ill and they had moved out of London. He’d agreed to an adoption, hoping that, and the country air, would bring the laughter back into Mary’s life, and his own, but he had never expected her to do something this outrageous.

  It was dark when he finally returned home, dusty, spent, and not much calmer. The house was quiet as he made his way up to the nursery. He hadn’t been able to banish that distressed little face from his mind. He was deeply concerned for the child and shouldn’t have taken off like that, but he trusted Nanny to take good care of the girl. She had been his nanny and was no longer young, but he had kept her as a permanent member of his household, to live her declining years in peace and security. He knew there would be little chance of that now. He must see that she had all the help she needed.

  Opening the door quietly, he stepped into the room. The bed was empty. Concern swept through him, until a slight snuffling sound made his gaze dart towards the corner of the room. Huddled on the floor was the tiny child, clutching something to her.

  ‘She doesn’t like the empty bed, sir.’

  He spun round at the sound of the voice behind him.

  ‘She’s used to sleeping with her three sisters.’ Nanny spoke softly. ‘I’ve put her back in bed four times, but she won’t stay there.’

  ‘What’s she holding?’

  ‘The frock she arrived in. She won’t let it out of her sight. It’s the only thing she’s got to remind her of home.’

  He controlled his temper, remaining outwardly calm. ‘Get two extra pillows, please.’

  While he waited for those, he picked up the sleeping child, noting that her face was wet with tears. When she whimpered, he spoke gently, his deep voice seeming to soothe her. ‘All right, little one, we aren’t going to hurt you.’

  Placing her in the bed he then tucked the two pillows either side of her. Queenie immediately turned and snuggled up to one of them.

  ‘She might stay there now.’

  ‘I never thought of that, sir. Now the bed doesn’t seem so empty to her.’

  They both remained, staring down at the little girl.

  ‘What a mess!’ Albert ran a hand through his hair. ‘I’ve got to sort this out, and see that everything is done legally.’