Free The Workhouse Girl by Dilly Court Page B

eat.’
    Betty howled even louder and Sarah was close to tears herself. She disengaged her hand from Betty’s clutch and took off her new cape. She wrapped it around Betty’s shoulders. ‘It ain’t fair that I get all the good times and you get none. You go with them and enjoy yourself.’
    â€˜Really, my dear, that’s not necessary,’ Mrs Arbuthnot said hastily. ‘I’m sure you’ve been looking forward to the outing just as much as anyone, if not more.’
    Taking off her bonnet, Sarah placed it on Betty’s head and tied the ribbons beneath her chin. ‘I was very nearly born in the theatre, ma’am. I seen more actors, dancers and singers than I’ve had hot dinners, so it don’t seem right that I should go and poor Betty should not.’
    Mrs Arbuthnot opened her mouth to speak but her husband held a finger to his lips. ‘Sarah has a point, my love. It’s a noble gesture and I applaud the generosity of spirit shown by such a young child.’
    Nettie put her head round the door. ‘Come on, Sarah. The others have left and we need to run to catch them up.’
    â€˜I’m staying here, Nettie. You take Betty with you. She’s never seen a show and it is Christmas.’
    â€˜What? Me take the simpleton?’
    Mr Arbuthnot’s brows drew together in a frown. ‘Sarah has made a kind gesture, Nettie. I’m sure you would not want to upset the mistress and me.’
    â€˜I don’t mind staying behind,’ Sarah said earnestly. ‘You can tell me all about it when you come home. I’d like that.’
    â€˜All right, but I think you’re nuts. C’mon then, stupid.’ Nettie stomped out of the room, dragging Betty by the hand.
    Mrs Arbuthnot gave Sarah a hug. ‘You are a dear, sweet child. That was a very nice thing to do.’
    Sarah heard the front door close and was already regretting her decision. She had to bite back tears as she waited for Mrs Arbuthnot to wrap the fruit and nuts intended for Betty in a table napkin.
    â€˜There you are, my dear.’ Mrs Arbuthnot pressed the bundle into her hands. ‘You may take this down to the kitchen and make yourself a cup of hot chocolate as a special treat.’
    Sarah bobbed a curtsey. ‘Thank you, ma’am.’ She retreated below stairs and settled herself in Cook’s rocking chair by the range. Sending Betty in her place had been the right thing to do, but she could not help wishing that she was seated in the gallery, watching the show and clapping madly at the end of each act. She wiped her eyes and took a bite from the apple, which was sweet and delicious. She ate it down to the core and tossed what remained into the fire. She was just deciding whether to peel the orange or save it for later and share it with Nettie when the sound of a bell jangling made her jump. She looked up and saw that it was the front door. Perhaps it was carol singers, she thought with a frisson of excitement. They would certainly liven up a dull evening. She leapt off the chair, placed the napkin and its contents on the table and ran upstairs, but as she stopped to check her appearance in the hall mirror she realised that she was still wearing her best frock. She hesitated, but the caller was obviously growing impatient as they hammered on the knocker.
    Composing herself, Sarah went to open the door, but it was not carol singers who were standing on the steps. The mere sight of workhouse master Trigg was enough to make Sarah open her mouth to scream, but he clamped his hand over her face and lifted her off her feet before she could make a sound. She felt herself spiralling helplessly into a black pit of oblivion.

Chapter Five
    SARAH OPENED HER eyes to almost total darkness. One moment she had been safe at home and now she was in a conveyance of some kind, hurtling through the city streets at an alarming speed. Then, in a terrifying flash, she remembered