The Leaving of Liverpool (13 page)

‘No! No!’ Emily screamed the word. If she had to feel another man touching her she’d go insane.

‘Hush. Hush Emily,’ Mrs Webster soothed. ‘It will be just a quick look and then something to make you sleep.’

Phoebe-Ann grabbed her sister’s hand and squeezed it tightly. To Emily it was like a lifeline. ‘Oh, Fee! Fee! It was . . .’ She choked on the words.

With tears pouring down her cheeks, Phoebe-Ann gathered her into her arms and held her tightly. ‘It’s all right now, Em! I’m here. Phoebe-Ann’s here!’

Emily raised her face from her sister’s shoulder. ‘Oh, Fee! It should have been you. He thought I was you. He kept calling me Phoebe-Ann.’

Phoebe-Ann felt the room spin and her stomach churned, then a sickening blackness was closing down. She heard Mrs Webster’s voice, there was a pungent smell in the room and the giddiness was fading.

‘This is no time for you to be fainting! Send Kitty for Mrs Parkinson . . . I mean Mrs Davies. Just tell her to say she’s needed urgently,’ Mrs Webster instructed Edwin. Then she turned to Richard Mercer. ‘I think you’d better go back downstairs, sir, before people start to speculate. Edwin, you’ll have to manage as best you can until Phoebe-Ann can calm herself sufficiently to help you.’

He was openly mutinous. His concern was only for Emily. ‘I’ll not leave her!’

Mrs Webster drew herself up to her full height. ‘It is not proper that you should be in the bedroom of a girl who is so obviously . . . distressed. There is nothing you can do to help her just yet.’

Emily looked up and for the first time realized what was going on around her. ‘Do as she says . . . for me?’

The pain in his eyes was real. He wanted to hold her, calm her, reassure her but it was not what she wanted. He gave a curt nod and turned away. The two men left together. Once outside the room Edwin’s anger flared again and he caught Richard Mercer’s arm. ‘It’s not going to end here! I swear it’s not!’

The older man looked down at the hand on his arm. ‘We’ll talk about it later. When her parents have been to see her and the guests have gone. I would appreciate it if you would try to keep this matter between ourselves, until Emily’s parents have been.’

‘I’ll do it for her sake and her mam’s but not for you!’ He knew his words were insolent but he didn’t care. He wanted justice for Emily.

 

Try though she may, Lily could get nothing out of young Kitty.

‘I don’t know what’s up, missus, that’s the God’s own truth. But it’s bad, I can tell you that. I haven’t seen Emily or Phoebe-Ann for over an hour. Edwin’s in a foul temper and so is Mrs Webster, an’ Cook if it comes to that.’

Lily exchanged a worried glance with Albert.

‘Get your hat and coat on, Lil. The quicker we get there the quicker we find out what’s gone on and the sooner your mind will be eased.’

‘Shall I go down the pub for the other two?’ Kitty asked, hoping to sound helpful and having heard Lily mention the whereabouts of Jack and Jimmy on her arrival.

‘No, you won’t and don’t be so hardfaced! Get yourself back: they’ll be wondering where you’ve got to,’ Lily snapped.

‘I was only tryin’ to be ’elpful, like.’

‘Off you go, girl,’ Albert directed quietly.

They walked quickly up Lonsdale Street and around the corner, Lily clinging to Albert’s arm, thankful for his support. She had a sinking feeling in her stomach and she wondered what could be so wrong that they should both have been summoned on tonight of all nights.

‘Just what have those two been up to? If our Phoebe-Ann’s been throwing tantrums she’ll feel the back of my hand and this time you won’t stop me.’

‘Lily, stop fretting and getting yourself into a state. Maybe there’s been some sort of accident. A minor one,’ he added hastily, seeing the consternation in her eyes. He could have kicked himself for saying it but he had only been trying to allay her fears. They walked the rest of the way in silence but occasionally he patted her arm, as though impressing on her the fact that he was there, giving her support. Like Lily he was certain it had something to do with Phoebe-Ann. Emily could always be relied upon to behave herself.

 

Nothing could have prepared them for the shock they both felt when Richard Mercer ushered them into his study and told them quietly and with sorrow in his voice what had happened. For the first time in his life Albert Davies felt a white-hot rage surge through him. Emily! Poor modest, hard-working, self-effacing little Emily! Before he could speak Richard Mercer was ushering them towards the door and he realized Lily was clinging to his arm and that she was shaking. Looking down he saw the tears coursing down her cheeks. ‘Oh, Lily, love! What’s to do? What’s to be said, love?’

She shook her head. There was nothing either he or anyone else could do or say that would restore to her poor girl that which had been brutally torn from her. Her virginity, her innocence, her trust. In her heart of hearts she wished that her poor Emily was dead. Better dead than . . . this.

Before she went into the room, she made an effort to control herself, to steel herself for what was in store for her, the thing that all mothers dread. Albert handed her his handkerchief and she wiped her face and straightened her shoulders.

‘Will I come in with you, love?’

‘No. Not yet. It’s her mam she wants, no hurt intended.’

He squeezed her hand. ‘None taken.’ As he turned to open the door he was full of admiration for her. ‘I’ll wait here. In case she needs me,’ he said flatly to Richard Mercer who nodded and walked down the landing.

As soon as she saw her mother Emily stretched out her arms. Instantly Lily held her tightly. ‘Oh, Em! My poor little Emily! It’s all right now, your mam’s here and I’m taking you home. Do you feel up to it, love?’ Her words were a hoarse whisper as she fought to control her own sobs.

Emily nodded and Lily gently brushed away the strands of brown hair that hung about her daughter’s bruised face. ‘You’ll never have to come back here. I promise you. Either of you! Albert can go and fetch our Phoebe-Ann. She’s coming home right now.’

Beneath the heart-scalding pity she felt for Emily a slow anger had started to burn. Anger that would gain strength until it would consume her, cloud her vision and her judgement.

I
T WAS NEARLY THREE O’CLOCK in the morning when Edwin, unable to control himself any longer, knocked loudly on the door of Richard Mercer’s study. He had inwardly seethed with anger for the rest of the evening and while the guests had departed. It had been left to Mrs Webster to tell Olivia that her brother had attacked Emily. Mr Mercer and the housekeeper had decided not to tell her the full extent of the attack. When Dr Coleman had heavily sedated James Mercer and seen to Emily, she had been driven home with Lily, Albert and Phoebe-Ann in a taxi cab.

Edwin had left Mrs Webster to clear up, aided grudgingly by Kitty and Cook. An air of dreadful foreboding hung over the house and there would be little sleep for anyone, he mused grimly. Kitty was the exception. She had been deliberately kept in the dark about the whole affair. ‘Give that one the hint of the truth and she’ll have it around the whole of Toxteth Park by morning!’ had been Cook’s prediction. She had also commented acidly that Kitty’s ma had a mouth like a parish oven.

When he heard the summons, Edwin went in. The fact that his master looked old and haggard went unheeded. ‘I’ve got to say it! What’s going to happen to him?’

‘I know what you think should happen and my first reaction was something along the same lines. I never wish to experience another night like this.’

‘No doubt Emily would agree with you,’ he shot back.

‘I’m aware of that,’ came the curt reply. ‘I have to face the fact that my son . . . is not himself and probably never will be.’

‘He’s mad. Why don’t you say it? Only a madman could have done . . . that!’

Richard Mercer ignored the outburst, but the word made him shudder. He had refused to even let himself think it. When Dr Coleman had told him that the best place for James was a mental hospital he had felt physically sick. ‘He will be institutionalized.’

‘Locked up.’

The older man nodded. ‘I . . . I would be very grateful if you could see your way clear to keeping all this to yourself. I have my reputation, my business . . . I am a Justice of the Peace, as you know.’ He pushed a sealed envelope across the desk.

Edwin’s eyes narrowed and he drew in his breath sharply. ‘You’re bribing me to keep my mouth shut! I’d sooner starve than betray Emily like that! Keep your money and keep your job! I won’t work in this house for another day!’

Richard Mercer leaned back in his chair wearily and passed a hand over his eyes. It was what he had expected but he had had to try. ‘I understand you, Leeson, and, had you accepted, part of me would have despised you. I’m not insensitive to your outrage and your anger, but think of Emily. Think about how she and her family would feel if this got to court. Oh, the newspapers would have a field-day and even though they can’t print her name, it wouldn’t be long before someone found it out.’

Edwin twisted his hands in frustration. He was right. ‘Work is hard to find these days.’

‘I’ll manage.’

‘I don’t blame you, but think about it. Your aunt is getting on in years and she relies on you.’

‘I won’t stay in this house!’

‘I’m not asking you to.’

‘Then what?’

‘I’ll give you employment within the Company. You’re honest, diligent, efficient and loyal. Will you sail as a steward or a waiter on the
Mauretania
?’

Edwin was taken aback. It was something he hadn’t expected.

‘Think about it. Think hard. There is nothing either you or I can do to punish my son and little we can do for Emily either, except provide for her. It’s work. Not highly paid work but I believe the tips can be good. You could provide for your aunt and you would not be under this roof, nor in contact with either me or Miss Olivia, who is as devastated as I am.’

‘I’ll think about it,’ he said grudgingly, thinking that it had obviously been thought out carefully.

‘Good.’ The word was uttered with a sigh of relief. ‘And there will be no gossip?’

Edwin looked down at him and realized that he despised this man. A young girl had been brutally attacked in his house and by his insane son and all he cared about was his reputation. His name and position. ‘There will be no gossip as you call it, but not on account of you or Miss Olivia but because I won’t heap all that on Emily’s head. She’s suffered enough.’

‘Will you stay until I can find a replacement?’

‘Only until the
Mauretania
docks,’ he replied, not caring how condescending was his tone, how mocking was his attitude. As far as he was concerned Richard Mercer was in his debt; it was not the other way around.

 

Emily had fallen into a deep sleep, aided by the medicine Dr Coleman had given her. Phoebe-Ann had slept in her mother’s bed while Albert had tossed restlessly on the sofa. Lily had sat beside her daughter through the long hours of the night, her mind tortured by the fearful, dark images of James Mercer and her poor Emily. Images that wouldn’t be banished no matter how hard she tried, and all the while her tears flowed freely.

Jack and Jimmy had been told and it had been left to Albert to talk them out of storming round to Upper Huskisson Street and beating James Mercer to a pulp.

‘What good will that do? Apart from making you feel better? If I thought it would help Emily, I’d come with you and help you, but it won’t. Neither will it help your mam for you’d be locked up by the scuffers and thrown into Walton Jail . . .’

‘It would be worth it just to make that bastard pay!’ Jimmy growled.

‘It wouldn’t. He’s not in his right mind. What kind of satisfaction is there in beating a man who has lost his reason? Who can’t understand what he has done? Let it be for your mam’s sake. Aye, and Emily’s.’

So they had remained at home nursing their anger and frustration.

 

At first, when she woke from her drugged sleep, Emily looked around the familiar room with surprise. She didn’t remember coming home and why was Mam sitting in a chair beside the bed, her head on her chest, fast asleep? She tried to sit up and she groaned. She felt as though she’d been beaten all over. Then she remembered.

The scream woke Lily with a jerk. ‘Emily! Emily, stop it, love! It’s all right, your mam’s here. You’re at home. Safe and sound.’

‘Oh, Mam! Mam! Why me?’ Then she remembered that he’d thought she was Phoebe-Ann.

‘I don’t know, Emily. I don’t know. Who can tell what was going on in his twisted mind? Don’t think about it any more. Promise me?’

‘I can’t help it,’ she sobbed.

Never had Lily felt so helpless. She fought down her frustration. ‘I’ll make you a cup of tea and a bite to eat. You lie down now and rest.’