exploring the foreshore, searching for anything of value that had popped out of the thick black mud and might fetch a few pennies in the market. They looked for all the world like the other mudlarks who spent their waking hours searching for anything the ebb tide might have uncovered. There were scuffles when territories were breached, but Max and James had learned how to defend themselves in a hard school, and it was a relief to know that they could hold their own in the harsh outside world.
Sadie and Laurence seemed to be getting on very well – so well, in fact, that Caroline felt that she was witnessing a burgeoning romance. Her aunt and the schoolmaster were ideally suited, and nothing would make her happier than to see Sadie married with children of her own, but that thought only served to make Caroline feel lonely and the loss of her old life even more painful. She was no longer Miss Manning of Finsbury Circus, the daughter of a shipping magnate, with servants at her beck and call. She was, in reality, homeless and living on the charity of a woman who, although much loved, was not related to her by blood. As the days went by the uncertainty as to the fate of her uncle and his ship hung over the household in a black nimbus cloud. Money was tight and there was only one answer …
Caroline went downstairs and found Sadie and Laurence in the parlour, seated on either side of the empty grate.
‘I must find work.’ Caroline said with a determined set to her jaw.
Sadie put down her teacup. ‘What do you mean, Carrie?’
‘It’s quite simple. We are desperate for money and we can’t live off the rent that Laurence pays us.’
Laurence leaned forward in his chair. ‘I’ve put an advertisement in The Times, Caroline. I can take day boys, or even a couple of boarders. Sadie and I were discussing it before you joined us.’
‘But that won’t keep all of us, and you can’t be expected to pay us rent and teach my brothers for nothing.’
‘They’re bright boys,’ Laurence said, smiling. ‘I’m sure I could get both of them into Oxford or Cambridge.’
‘Even so, you can’t support all of us.’
Sadie’s smooth brow creased into a frown. ‘If we’re to become a school of sorts I would be happy to look after the pupils. Mrs Cooper’s teaching is coming back to me gradually and I’m getting the hang of that black-leaded beast of a range.’
‘But that leaves me with no place in this house,’ Caroline said sadly. ‘I was brought up to be a lady, even though my parents came from humble backgrounds, but I’m not like Cordelia Bearwood.’
A dry chuckle escaped Sadie’s lips. ‘I would hope not. Lovely as she is, Cordelia has been spoiled to death by her doting parents.’
‘Just wait and see what response I get from my advertisement,’ Laurence said softly. ‘I’m grateful for the opportunity to start my school, and, if I’m successful, I hope one day to have my own establishment.’
‘And you will, Laurence. I’m sure of it.’ Sadie’s pale blue eyes glowed with pride and a delicate flush coloured her cheeks.
Caroline stared at her aunt as if seeing her for the first time. The ever-practical, reliable friend of her childhood had been transformed into a radiant young woman. Was it possible to fall in love so quickly? Caroline could not answer that question, but it seemed to have happened before her eyes and she could only be glad that Sadie had at last found someone worthy of her.
‘I think I’ll go to my room and read for a while,’ Caroline said, yawning. ‘Do you mind seeing to the boys, Sadie?’
‘Of course not,’ Sadie said smiling happily. ‘If Laurence goes ahead with fee-paying boarders I’ll need the practice mothering small boys. I think it would be a wonderful thing to do.’
Laurence rose to his feet. ‘I wouldn’t do anything that you didn’t feel was right, Caroline.’
‘I think it’s a splendid idea. You two could manage it beautifully.’ She escaped from the room, but instead of going upstairs she let herself out through the front door and negotiated the steps down to the wharf.
Despite the noxious odours from the factory chimneys and the gasworks, it was a beautiful evening – the sort of warm, feathery dusk that seemed to wrap itself around a body like a silk shawl. The sun was a fiery golden ball plummeting below the horizon, leaving the sky streaked with blood-red and purple bruise-like clouds. The river boiled like molten copper and the smelly mud had a silvery sheen. It was a night for lovers, but that thought made her feel even lonelier than before.
A shriek from the foreshore made her turn with a start and, looking down from the wharf, she could see her brothers being attacked by a gang of ragged youths. She made for the nearest watermen’s stairs and raced down them, risking a fall, but her feet barely touched the slimy treads, and she landed on the shingle with a dull thud.
‘Stop that,’ she cried angrily. ‘Leave those boys alone, you bullies.’ More fearful for her brothers than for herself, she raced over the stones and broken spars, waving her fists at the youths, who turned to stare at her. But their surprised expressions were replaced by surly grins and the tallest of them advanced on Caroline with his ham-like fists raised.
‘Leave us be, lady. You’ll come off worst.’
Max took a running jump and landed on the boy’s back. ‘Run for it, Carrie.’
She stood her ground. ‘I will not. I’m not afraid of you big louts. Leave my brothers alone.’
James had his arms pinned behind his back and his captor was laughing wildly. ‘Shall I break his arms, Crusher?’
The tall youth shook his head. ‘Nah. Let’s have some fun with the toffs first. Let’s show ’em how us Wapping boys treat them as venture into these parts.’
‘Why don’t you take on someone your own size?’ A cultured voice rang out behind them, causing the gang to take several steps backwards as a tall figure emerged from the shadow of the wharf. ‘Let the boys go and if you touch the young lady you’ll have me to deal with.’
Caroline leaped forward to grab James by the hand, dragging him free from the boy who had momentarily released his grip.
The leader of the gang shook Max off as if he were an annoying insect, but his attitude changed subtly. ‘We was only larking around, guv.’
‘Get away from here before I thrash each one of you.’ The man grabbed Max by the collar and marched him across the muddy foreshore to join Caroline and James. ‘Are you hurt, young lady?’
Caroline shook her head. ‘No, sir. I don’t know how to thank you …’
‘No need for that. Just keep away from here. This isn’t a playground.’
His patronising tone annoyed Caroline, despite her intense feeling of relief. Even in the fading light it was obvious that their rescuer was a gentleman. His frock coat was well cut and his checked trousers gave him a slightly dandified appearance. He was clean-shaven, but the brim of his silky top hat cast a shadow on his upper face and she could not see his eyes.
‘My brothers are new to this area of London, sir,’ Caroline said with as much dignity as she could muster, considering the fact that her slippers were sinking into the cold mud and her silk skirts were wet and probably ruined.
‘Then I suggest you take them home and don’t venture out after sunset. This is a rough area.’ He tipped his hat and marched off in the direction of the stone steps.
‘Are you going to let him talk to you like that?’ Max demanded crossly. ‘That fellow treated you like an idiot, Carrie.’
‘Maybe I was a fool for bringing you boys here,’ Caroline said ruefully. ‘I’ve no idea who that person is, but he did us a favour, and we should follow him as quickly as possible. Those louts might return if they think he’s gone.’
James dashed his hand across his eyes. ‘I was scared,