Free A Mother's Shame by Rosie Goodwin Page B

second then went on, ‘I clung onto the back o’ the coach fer dear life an’ luckily me old man didn’t spot me. Then when it stopped at some big gates I realised it was goin’ to go through ’em so I jumped off an’ hid in the bushes.’
    ‘And where were these gates?’ she asked anxiously.
    ‘They were the gates leadin’ to Hatter’s Hall, missus.’
    Helena suppressed a shudder at the thought of her daughter being confined in such a place, and her worst fears were confirmed. How could Charles have done such a wicked thing? But she forced herself to say calmly, ‘Are you quite sure, my dear?’
    He nodded vigorously. ‘Oh aye. An’ when the coach went in I legged it back ’ere in case me da spotted me.’
    ‘You have done very well,’ she told him, pressing a number of coins into his hand. ‘Now there is just one more thing I need you to do for me. I want you to promise me faithfully that you will not speak of this to anyone.’
    ‘Yes, missus.’ Steven was staring down at the coins in his hand in wonder. The mistress had given him a whole shilling and already he was wondering how he was going to spend it.
    ‘Very well, off you go then. And thank you, dear.’
    He made a slight bow before turning and skipping from the room like a spring lamb.
    Once left alone, Helena gave way to her emotions and tears trickled down her cheeks. Her poor girl. She would become as mad as the other afflicted souls who were incarcerated in that dreadful place if she left her there for long. But what could she do about it, and where else could Isabelle go? As she paced restlessly up and down the fine Turkish carpet, her mind sought a solution – and finally it came to her. Without wasting another second, she hurried to her little writing table and began to pen a letter.
    Once the letter was sealed, Helena pushed it deep into the pocket of her billowing skirts. On the hall table was a silver tray where Charles placed the mail that he wished to be posted. Normally she would have added hers, but today she had no wish for him to know who she was writing to, so for the second time that day she went to the stable-block again in search of young Steven.
    Cook was kneading dough at the table and again her mouth dropped open as the mistress appeared.
    ‘Don’t mind me, I have no wish to disturb you,’ Helena told her as she wafted past.
    ‘I wonder what’s goin’ on?’ Cook said musingly to no one in particular when Helena had disappeared into the swirling snow, then shrugging she continued with what she was doing. Something was afoot; she could sense it, what with Miss Isabelle disappearing and the mistress in and out of the kitchen. But then no doubt she’d discover what it was all in good time.
    Helena found Steven sitting on a haybale in the stables whittling away at a piece of wood. At sight of her he jumped up and she smiled at him kindly before saying, ‘I wonder if you would like to earn another shilling to go with the one you already have, Steven?’
    His eyes sparkled greedily as he nodded. ‘Yes, missus, I would that.’
    ‘Then I have another errand for you, but once again I would prefer it if you told no one about it.’
    ‘I can do that all right, missus.’
    Helena glanced towards the door. ‘Do you think you could make it to the village? I have a letter that needs to be posted as a matter of urgency. I hear that Mrs Everitt who owns the post office is indisposed but I believe that her niece has arrived to keep the shop open for her until she is better.’
    Again Steven nodded, so now she withdrew the letter from her pocket and handed it to him with some money. ‘You will find there is more than enough to cover the cost of postage, and you may keep the change.’
    ‘Thanks, missus. I’ll go right now.’ And whilst I’m there I’ll treat meself to a twist of aniseed balls, the lad thought to himself, his mouth already watering at the thought.
    Seconds later he had shot away and Helena stood there for