A/N: 'Ello loves, well it seems I have plot bunnies to thank once again for this idea, I do hope you'll enjoy it and on a side note it came to my attention that I had been spelling Johanna wrong in my story 'Scars of Our Hearts' so I wanted to apologise for that now seeing as the next chapter of Scars of Our Hearts is still underway. Now enough of my ramblings, oh dear I'm turning into Lovett, please enjoy the story and let me know your thoughts.
Chapter 1.
The chilled London air nipped at Eleanor Lovett's skin through the knitted shawl over her shoulders but she hardly felt it as she clutched a bundle of blankets to her chest while her back pressed against the wall of her pie shop under the stairs that led up to the apartment she had formerly been renting to the Barkers. Her heart beat wildly in her rib cage making an unreal feeling that it would give her away raise in her stomach, she swallowed the feeling peeking down at the bundle in her arms, nestled in the blankets slept a small infant oblivious to what was going on in the dead of night.
The sound of footsteps made her hold the sleeping babe closer and look up through the slots in the stairs to see a uniformed officer open the sided door to her shop and look around in the dark before straightening and turning to face a new person as he approached.
"Where is the girl?"
Nellie shuddered as the cold drawling voice of judge Andrew Turpin pierced the night and made bile rise in her throat. The officer seemed to swallow thickly.
"She's not in the shop sir."
There was a moment of silence before the sound of footsteps drew nearer to where Nellie was hid making her press her back against the cold wall as much as she could thankful for the first time in her 20 years that the constant smog clouds were hazing over the rays of the full moon above so she was bathed in shadow. She watched as Turpin's form came closer to the stairs then stopped his eyes locked on the apartment above before they narrowed.
"And the baker?"
The officer shook his head though the judge couldn't see.
"No sign of her either sir."
Turpin sneered before turning on his heel and approached the officer.
"Check every possible hiding place in the two shops, the bake house, check under the bloody beds if you must but find them!"
The officer nodded fiercely as he watched the seething man leave before he began searching the shops again still unaware of the baker under the stairs cradling the swaddled baby girl against her chest she let out a shaky sigh through the vice grip around her lungs. Resting her head back against the wall Nellie slowly slid to the ground breathing a little easier as she heard the officer leave but she couldn't bring herself to move from her hiding spot as she looked down at the still sleeping girl in her arms feeling tears prick her eyes. In the course of only a month little Johanna Barker had become no more than an orphan after her father had been arrested on a trumped up charge and only days ago her mother swallowed a bottle of arsenic in her despair and killed herself.
A cold wind blew over the pair making Johanna whimper against the chill her brown eye fluttering open to look at the auburn haired woman holding her before she began to fuss at being out in the cold.
"Shh it's alright darlin', everythin' is gunna be fine."
She whispered softly as she got to her feet and slowly re-entered her shop looking around at the mess the officer had made in his search for her and Johanna. In her arms Johanna calmed down and was playing with the blanket around her making Nellie give a small smile as she walked to the parlor and laid her on the carpet undoing the blankets so Johanna could move about without the restraint. After lighting a fire in the fireplace Nellie sat on the floor beside the child thinking over what she was feeling, she was happy about the fact she now had a child to raise and not just any child the child of the man she had fallen hopelessly in love with the moment he showed up on her doorstep, but she was also the child of the woman that had been by his side that day and now they were both gone making a weight of sadness push on her heart.
She looked at the now slumbering Johanna and gave a shaky sigh before sitting straighter determination glowing in her eyes like the fire light. She wouldn't feel sorry and let the child suffer, no she'd be strong and raise her as mother and father in place of Benjamin and Lucy.
XxXx
3 years had passed since that cold night Nellie had hid under the stairs with baby Johanna to keep themselves out of the hands of a lecherous judge and now Johanna was 4 years old. Like any child she was full of energy so keeping her in the parlor or bedroom during the hours the shop was open was all but impossible for Nellie. Currently Nellie was standing in the bakehouse pulling a tray of fresh baked pies and replacing them with uncooked ones while Johanna sat on the stairs drawing patterns in the flour that had been tracked down over time before looking up at the baker as she shut the heavy iron door to the oven holding a tray of pies in one hand.
Johanna smiled and picked up the porcelain plate Nellie had given her as part of a tea set as she stood looking up at Nellie.
"I help mommy!"
Nellie smiled looking down at the little girl holding up the plate barely big enough for one pie. Taking one of the smaller pies from the tray in her hand Nellie set it gently on the plate and watched as Johanna's eyes lit up happy to be helping.
"Alright darlin' back up stairs before it gets cold."
Johanna nodded and began carefully walking up the stairs with Nellie a step behind making sure she didn't fall. Once back in the shop Johanna made her way to a man sitting alone at a table and set the plate on the surface before pushing it to him standing on tip toes to see over the edge of the table.
"Here you go sir! Nice and hot!"
The man looked at her with dark eyes as she smiled brightly but drew his eyes up as Nellie came over and put a hand on Johanna's shoulder making her look up curiously.
"You've been a big 'elp love, there's cookies and milk in the parlor, go on now."
Johanna smiled widely and hurried from the shop out of sight, once she was gone Nellie turned to look at the man at the table straightening herself as she narrowed her eyes.
"Well look what the cat drug in, what can I do for the ever 'onorable Judge Turpin?"
Turpin narrowed his eyes at her for a moment before the raked over her body making her shift her weight from one foot to the other to hide a shudder as she waited for an answer from him.
"I want the child Eleanor. I've been a patient man over the past 3 years, offering you money enough to move away from London and forget all of this, but no longer, it would be a shame if you were sent away for stealing, of course you'd be happy with that, getting to see that mongrel Barker again if he's still alive."
It took every ounce of self control Nellie had within herself not to grab the pie on the table and toss it in his face so she settled for an eye roll and disgusted look.
"I told ya that I don't want your filthy money and I ain't lettin' you 'ave that sweet little girl no matter what you threaten me with."
She nodded curtly once and turned to leave but he grabbed her wrist in an iron tight grip making her turn to look at him a dangerous look in her eyes.
"Let go of me you lecherous arse or so 'elp me I'll scream blood murder, the sheriff is just outsi-"
Her words were cut off when his grip tightened nearly breaking her small wrist as he stepped closer to her, barely a breath between them, so she could smell the awful cologne he wore.
"I suggest you remember to whom you are speaking Eleanor, now I give you one final offer, should you refuse then you will face the consequences."
Nellie narrowed her eyes puffing out her chest like a cat makes itself look bigger to scare a predator.
"You can take the offer and shove it up your own bloody arse, that little girl is all I 'ave and no amount of money will be enough, nothin' ever will be."
Turpin's face broke into a wicked smirk as he watched the fire in her eyes.
"Nothing you say, what if I promised to return Benjamin Barker to you in place for the girl?"
Nellie felt an invisible knife stab her heart and pull all the air from her lungs but she kept up her facade though her will wavered in her eyes before him. She felt a light tug on her skirts making her look down to see Johanna looking up at her with chocolate covered lips and drooping eyes. turpin released her wrist at once and watched as Nellie knelt down and lifted the child onto her hip before leering at him once more.
"My answer stays the same sir, now get out of my shop."
Without another word she walked away holding Johanna close as she mingled with the few remaining customers. Angered Turpin left the shop once again empty handed making Nellie inwardly sigh in relief as she watched him go from the corner of her eye. Later that evening Nellie was laying in bed with Johanna reading to her out of a book of fairy tales until the child was asleep. With a sigh she closed the book and set it aside before blowing out the candle she'd been reading by plunging the room into darkness and electing another sigh from her lips as she stared into the darkness feeling Johanna's breath on her shoulder as she slept.
Turning her head she kissed the head of blond curls on her shoulder humming softly as Johanna stirred.
"Nothin's gunna 'arm you darlin' not while I'm around. Demons can charm you for awhile but nothin's gunna 'arm you, not while I'm around."
Johanna settled as Nellie sang softly to her making the woman smile and push the thoughts of Turpin and his empty threats from her head thinking instead of a day she could take Johanna far away from London and away from people like turpin. She was close just a couple more years and she'd have enough to afford train tickets and a home by the sea where they could live a happy new life. With a sigh Nellie fell asleep with images of Johanna running along the shore laughing and happy dancing behimd her closed lids.
Well everyone I hoped you liked it chapter 1! Don't forget to leave thoughts, comments, or concerns in a review for me, they are what keep me writing! thank you all again!
