Page 55 of My Gentleman Spy
Chapter Twenty-One
“Miss Hattie!”
The squeal of a young girl rang through the second floor of the dingy tenant house on PlumtreeStreet.
Annie Mayford threw herself against Hattie’sskirts.
“You came back! You cameback!”
Hattie wrapped her arms tightly around the youngster and let the tears fall. For weeks all she had thought of was the Mayfords, and how dire their situation would have become since herdeparture.
Mrs. Mayford, a middle -aged widow, struggled up from the rickety wooden bed where she spent most of her days and gave Hattie ahug.
“How are you?” askedHattie.
Mrs. Mayford nodded slowly, the effort to speak beyond her. Her ongoing battle with the fatal disease of tuberculosis sapped her energy for all but the most vital aspects of life. She ate little; and in between violent bouts of coughing up blood, sheslept.
“Are the boyshere?”
Annie let go of Hattie’s skirts and stepped back. Her face changed from one of happiness to one of outright anger. She held her hands fisted on herhips.
“Joshua and Baylee have become wicked since you left and joined the Belton Street gang. They are off with them rightnow.”
Hattie and Mrs. Mayford exchanged a look of fear. The Belton Street gang were one of the most violent criminal gangs in the rookery of St. Giles. Joshua and Baylee were both terrified of thegang.
It made no sense. She could not comprehend why the two kind young lads would have joined up with such a bunch of cutthroats andvillains.
The door to the small room which served as the Mayford family sitting room and kitchen opened and Joshua Mayford stepped across the threshold. He had a small sack in one hand and was dragging his brother Baylee behind him with theother.
At the sight of Hattie, Joshua stopped. Baylee crashed into his brother. The mute Baylee, made his displeasure known by lashing out at Joshua with his fist. Joshua in turn slapped his brotherhard.
“Get off me youdolt!”
The uncharacteristic act of violence and harsh words took Hattie by surprise. The brothers Mayford were normally very close. It went without saying that Joshua was fiercely protective of his slow minded brother, who in turn worshippedJoshua.
“Baylee. I came back. I came to see you,” saidHattie.
In the time she had known the family, she had been the only outsider Baylee had ever allowed to come near him. He trusted her. Whenever she came to visit their meagre accommodation, he welcomed her with open arms. She in return had always had an apple or two in her satchel forhim.
She held out a hand to Baylee, but he shook his head. His face was contorted with rage. Tears filled his eyes. He grunted angrily ather.
Annie came over and took her brother by thehand.
“Come take off your hat and sit with me Baylee. Let me wipe your tears. Don’t be mad at Miss Hattie. It’s not her fault she wentaway.”
Hattie looked back to Joshua, who was now busily emptying his sack of its contents. There were several apples, two scrawny carrots, and a lump of salted beef. It was the most food she had ever seen in the Mayfordhome.
“Welcome back Miss Hattie. Never thought to see you again,” saidJoshua.
He slid his cap off his head. His beautiful dark brown locks which Hattie had so often admired, had been shaved close to his head. His rough hair cut gave him a dangerous air. He stuffed the cap into the pocket of his dirty black woolen coat andsniffed.
“Nor I,” shestammered.
Her heart was beating hard in her chest. This was not the reunion she had imagined. Life in London had not stood still in the time she was gone. She cleared her throat. She neededanswers.
“Your sister tells me you and Baylee have become involved with the Belton Street gang. Is that correct? I thought you loathedthem.”
Joshua fixed her with a hard stare and then threw the sack into the corner nearest the door. He kicked the doorshut.
