Page 35 of The Cheapside Runners
“My trials are nearly over, as you can see.”
“Do you care to speak to my charges?”
“You know the story as well as I.”
Mrs Black sighed. “Another victim of unfortunate choices.”
“Not unfortunate!” she stated emphatically. “Bad choices! Stupid Choices!Do not mince my words!” Then she coughed ferociously again.
“Yes, bad choices. This is Mrs Stacy. She fell in love with the handsome and charismatic Captain Stacy and eloped. Unfortunately, she did not realise the best way to become charming and charismatic is like any other accomplishment—youpractise. Captain Stacy practised a great deal, before and after marriage.”
“Aye, that he did… that he did. Brought me the pox, too. He is dead of course, and nobody rues his loss, especially me.”
All the charges were looking decidedly green.
“Her family disowned her,” Mrs Black said quietly. “Her father took her shame as an excuse to gamble her dowry away.”
“Aye, that he did. Right handsome dowry it was, too. He is dead as well, and good riddance.”
Mrs Black continued in almost a whisper. “Has the madness started?”
“It has,” she said, then her hand reached out to grab Mrs Black’s, which startled her companions no end.
“Hush, ladies. Be easy. It does not pass that way,” Mrs Black said softly.
Mrs Stacy said, “I am ready, child. Might you say some words as you promised?”
“You are certain?”
“I am.”
Mrs Black sighed, and a tear rolled down her cheek unnoticed. “I wish I could do more. Should I get a priest?”
“I have had enough attention from men for one lifetime, thank you very much.”
They clasped hands a moment longer, and Mrs Black spoke in a raspy whisper.
“Miss Red, our hostess does not have long to live. Might you have a prayer for her? From the Bible, mind you, not your usual.”
“Of course, Mrs Black,” she said, and then taking her at her word, she fell to her knees beside the sickbed, took both of the sick woman’s hands, and quietly spoke from Psalm 23 and 2 Timothy with tears rolling down her face.
“Bless you, child. Bless you. You have done me a great kindness.Now go!Mark my words and listen to Mrs Black if you do not wish to repeat my mistakes.”
They all shuffled out of the house after giving a very respectful curtsey, mostly because they had no idea what to do. They gathered back near the fountain a quarter-hour later, with most still with tears in their eyes that they had to wipe with their sleeves, since they lacked handkerchiefs.
Mrs Black said, “She told me some time ago that if she could savejust oneof my charges from a similar fate, she could meet her maker with a glad heart. Who knows, perhaps it will be one of you.”
Mary thought she showed admirable restraint in not looking at Kitty or Lydia, though for all she knew, Miss White or Miss Violet could have been at just as much risk.
Miss White asked, “Will you see her again?”
Mrs Black looked pensive for a moment then finally shook her head.
“I doubt it. As I mentioned, I pay these poor souls to allow us to learn from their fates. It is a Devil’s bargain—their dignityfor food and medicine. Mrs Stacy has survived on my pay alone for the past year, but she is using greater and greater doses of Laudanum. I will be very surprised if she survives the night.”
“Suicide is a sin!” Mary stated in horror.
Mrs Black looked at her critically. “So isjudgement, according to Mathew and James! It is neither your place nor mine to judge, Miss Red.”
