The next day I sit before my mirror, lightly combing my long curls, pinning some back from my face with a white beaded clip, the rest falling and bouncing freely. My dress is a light powder pink with white floral pattern and matching fingerless lace gloves, this one actually fits unlike some of my dresses, which reveal to much breast for my liking, unlike Mrs Lovett who says it makes the customers happy, but I know she just likes the attention.
I glare at the draw of my dresser for a moment before opening it and delicately pulling out a large string of pearls that grow slightly larger going into the centre then back out to smaller balls, a small silver plated claps on the ends. In that moment as I stare at the pearls my door opens and there stands my keeper with a bright grin on her face, which drops into a sad smile at the site of the necklace. She walks over to me, resting a hand on my bare shoulder as our eyes meet in the mirror "their beautiful pet, to beautiful to be gathering dust in a draw." I shake my head softly "I…I don't…." but she leans in so her face is next to mine and says sweetly, looking me in the eye "she wanted you to wear them Love, not mourn them! Here, let me." she gently takes the string from my slightly shaking hand and secures the white gems around my neck.
I look at them in the mirror and can only see an older woman's face staring back, with chocolate hair, sky blue eyes and a weak, but firm smile, wearing them. However in a blink of an eyes she's gone and its me I see wearing the beautiful pearls, hanging perfectly "there you are dear, they suit you just lovely." I smile up at my friend as I stroke the beads and a stray tear falls "they do don't they?" she nods in agreement and says "you finish getting ready dear. We're taking Mr T the market, let him have a look at that Italian." I nod and she bends down, raps her arms around my shoulders, her cheek meeting mine and my hands touch her arms "she'd be proud of the woman you are pet, just like I am. You're a good girl." I squeeze her arms lightly as she starts to leave.
I watch her as she reaches the door and say "she'd be proud of the second mother I found in you Mrs Lovett, I know it." I can see her tear up slightly and nods as she shuts the door. I look back to the mirror and smile at the precious treasure, my mothers pearls.
As we walk around the market, Mrs Lovett explaining who we're here to see, I find myself glancing at Mr Todd often, who is examining the crowd and snarling at a few passes by, people he knew from his previous life no doubt, maybe they where even his friends, until he was falsely accused that is. When we arrive at the stage, the older man examines it as if thinking 'is this a joke?' but then as Mrs Lovett and myself stand either side of him his face turns sour and stern, his eyes wide and black with rage. I see Mrs Lovett's eyes shift from him to Beadle Bamford as he moves his coat and goes for his razor, but luckily Mrs Lovett pulls him back. That rage in his eyes dimming as he fights for restraint not to kill the beadle in front of the entire market!
As the small boy comes out on stage, trying to sell the latest concoction, we each share sceptical looks about the elixir as a few samples of the stuff are given. We are passed a bottle and I bite my bottom lip to stifle my giggle as Mr T and Mrs Lovett complain and snip about it, but it dose stink something awful, but as they do, a very overly dressed man comes out with a accent and demands to know who doubts him.
When Mr T offends Pirelli and offers him a challenge I see a glimmer in the Italians eyes, something of recognition. Suddenly I'm shouted "Hattie! Come here girl!" I look to Mr T as Mrs Lovett pushes me forward and I go obediently up to the stage, our barber helping me with a hand onto the stage. I look around nervously at the crowd and ask "what do you need Mr T?" he just hands me the mixing bowl of shaving cream and says "stair that." I give him a pointed look and he rolls his eyes "…please." I smile and start mixing, unable to block the gasps of the boy having his fingers sliced by that brute. Mr T just calmly sharpening his razor with love and care as the Italian shows off to the people, Mr T takes the cream and applies it as I stand to the side, doing my best to avoid the Beadle as he judges. Then in a few quick movements the man on Todd's chair is clean shaven and uncut, the Beadle announcing his victory.
I can only smile as Mr T demands the £5 without even looking at his opponent, but as he hit's the small by with enough force to send him into the back I take a step forward, only to have my upper arms held back and Mr Todd's gruff voice in my ear "its not our business." I bite my tongue as not to shot back and nod lightly "yes Mr Todd." and angrily walk down the stage steps, wanting to set the thing on fire with the owner inside.
When Mrs Lovett talks of the young boy we share a look, both our opinions shared on the matter, but Mr T says nothing as a gentleman, a high class gentleman, asks for the work address, Mrs Lovett more then happy to oblige as the barber walks calmly to the Beadle and threatens him in the most polite and unnoticed way, then we head home, my arm linked with my guardian as we look around the market, Mr T wearing a strange little smile on his face.
Later that evening after we get home I start making dinner, Mrs Lovett finishing up the chores. I smile as I shout through to the back "dinners ready Nellie!" she walk into the room with a smile, dusting off her skirt as she asks "what we having then?" I bring her a bowl and place it down on the table "tomato soup and rolls, then apple pie and custard for dissert" she smacks her lips and says "oh your to good to us dear!" I laugh and take a try from the side, with a bowl of rich red soup, a bread roll, a slice of pie and custard with a pint of ale "be right back, just taking this to Mr T. get started without me." she nods and picks up her roll, already ripping it apart.
I take careful steps up the stairs and knock on the door with my foot, he opens it and says "dinner?" I nod and walk passed him, placing the try on the near my table "yes, thought you'd be hungry." I turn back to him, only to find the older man staring at my neck "were did you get that?" my hand is raises as I start to play with the pearls and sigh with a sad smile "they were my mothers, she gave them to me shortly before she died." he takes a step forward and says "no, not the necklace, that scar" my hand move up the trace the ridge on my pale neck "it's…um…it's a long story." he takes a step closer and says "well shorten it, you know my story, it seems only fair." I swallow and look to my feet "I…um…I was…attacked, it was a very long time ago…before Mrs Lovett took me in." he squints his eyes and asks "took you in from where?" I fiddle with my necklace, still not meeting his eyes and answer "I was… living on the streets after my mother passed, the courts took everything we had, even me, was at the work house until I ran away." he seems to get closer as I speak "what happened when you were attacked?" I bite my lip to stifle my sob as I say "I…it was such a long tie ago." then I'm backed right against the table, his body flush against mine "Hattie, tell me!" his voice was soft and firm, but with its usual gruffness. I look up and his eyes are black again, a storm of emotion flooding them and I see the angles of his face soften as a sob escapes me and a tear falls "please Mr T, don't make me say it, don't make me remember!" he backs away and turns from me.
I wipe at my eyes and do my best to right myself as he faces the window and says "my apologies Hattie, its not my place." I nod and let out a breath of relief and turn to leave, but as I reach the door his head turns to me slightly and asks "did they catch him, the man that attacked you?" I shake my head and answer "no, because they didn't look, they don't care about people like us, besides, who's going to take my word over a priest's?" he turns to me then and asks "the priest?" I nod and answer "even men of god have sins, even liking thirteen year old little girls in ways they shouldn't, that no man should!" his eyes emit that same rage from earlier and he nods "I see, thank you for dinner Hattie" he turns back to the window and I make my way back down stairs.
As I enter the shop Mrs Lovett is half way through her pie and I smile, sitting beside her to eat my dinner as we talk and I glare at the church every now and then, Mrs Lovett trying to distract me from it, unaware of the man above doing the same thing as I, thinking the same thoughts, but he has every intention of fulfilling those images crossing his mind, of a holy mans blood painting his blade.
How ironic, a judge, trusted to bring justice upon the guilty and a priest, a man of god, sworn to help those in need, both seduced my the evils of humanity, both having signed their own death warrants by hurting innocent woman, Sweeney Todd's women!