Little Johanna Barker, had been at the shop for about two months.
Even though she was very young, she looked just like her mother. She had the same yellow hair, but only her fathers deep brown eyes. Though Mrs. Lovett resented Mrs. Barker, that didn't mean she would resent Johanna herself. Sometimes if she would baby-sit her when her parents were out on their daily afternoon walk or going to the market. She actually found herself to love Johanna very much. She was a good baby, barely cried, but Mrs. Lovett grew jealous of the fact, she didn't have a child of her own. Johanna, was about the closest thing she could get. As far as Mrs. Lovett could tell, Mr. and Mrs. Barker were great parents, who were going to bring up Johanna perfectly.
She longed for the fact that she could have a family just like Barkers one day.
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One afternoon, Mrs. Lovett was making a pie crust for one of her pies. Business as usual, nobody came to buy anything.
Surely Mrs. Mooney had no trouble.
Every time she went to the market, at least someone would be saying to someone else "Oh, darling, have you been to Mrs. Mooney's pie shop? Simply a delicacy." Mrs. Lovett would scowl and walk away.
She knew Mrs. Mooney had no trouble at all.
All the Barkers were out of the shop, today. They were taking young Johanna to the park and to the flower market, to buy flowers for upstairs. Mrs. Lovett, thought she would go and buy some flowers soon to brighten up her mood and the room.
Gillyflowers o' daisies? She thought, she was quite fond of them both.
She heard a knock on the door, like always. She figured it would be the Barkers back for their day out. She opened it.
It was two of them, Lucy and Johanna.
Lucy had tears streaming down her face. "Love, what's wrong, why are you crying? Where's Mr. Barker?" Mrs. Lovett asked. "Mrs. Lovett… my husband is gone…"
Gone? Where?
"What happened to him? Come in, come in" Mrs. Lovett took Johanna out of Lucy's arms and cradled her. She looked worried. Lucy sat down in the chair, she started speaking fast, her breaths becoming short.
"Well, we were at the flower market, buying some flowers. Two cops come up and start to drag him away! I call for him as he struggles. Just then a man named Judge Turpin walks up behind me and puts his hand on my shoulder."
Judge Turpin, Mrs. Lovett thought. Judge Turpin was the new judge that soon came after Judge Presley died recently.
"I ask him," she went on " 'Why did they take away my husband?' He tells me, that my Husband, Benjamin Barker, was caught stealing flowers! Flowers do you hear me, how absolutely silly is that?" she started crying more. Mrs. Lovett looked at her like she was daft.
He was gone?
"I know my Ben would never do such a thing. And now I hear that he's being banished to Australia, for some other countless false charges. Mrs. Lovett what am I to do?" she looked at her with red eyes. Mrs. Lovett was quiet. Benjamin Barker was gone? The man she knew for a short time, was gone.
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Two weeks without Benjamin Barker, had gotten to the two women.
Mrs. Lovett tried to not to show it, but she felt empty all inside. Lucy on the other hand, was completely devastated. She most of the time kept her door locked, and stopped eating, though she never really ate much of anything before. She was dead inside, and mostly kept to herself, ever since Benjamin had been sent away. The shop was quiet. The only time there was ever noise was when Mrs. Lovett would here Lucy cry at night. Mrs. Lovett felt bad that Lucy had lost her husband, of course she herself was upset, but Mrs. Lovett also felt herself happy, she was glad that Lucy didn't have Ben anymore. Mixed feelings was what it was. So Mrs. Lovett laid her down, every night on her pillow, and dreamt about her beautiful barber.
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Late one evening, like always, someone was knocking at Mrs. Lovett's door. She opened it.
There stood a short, plump, gentleman in a top hat and cane. "Good evening madam. I am Beadle Bamford, Judge Turpin's assistant. Are you, by any chance, Mrs. Lovett?" he said in an oily voice.
"Why yes sir, yes I am." she brushed flour off of her corset, from the last pie she was tending to.
"I was told a Mrs. Lucy Barker resides here. My good Lord Judge Turpin wishes to see her." he smirked.
Judge Turpin.
Mrs. Lovett had seen everyday out the windows of her shop, Judge Turpin was always standing outside with the Beadle. Turpin was always staring up at Lucy's window, holding a bouquet of flowers. Beckoning to come down.
Something about this didn't seem right.
Mrs. Lovett had a feeling that something bad was bound to happen. She didn't like the looks of the beadle, she could tell he was sneaky. If the beadle was sneaky that of course that meant the Judge was sneaky as well. Besides Lucy told her that the judge has said Benjamin Barker was caught stealing numerous things. Clearly, Mrs. Lovett knew that Benjamin, would never do such a thing. He was a lovely man, he was. But she couldn't just lie to the Beadle, and tell him 'no she doesn't live here', you'd get thrown in jail for lying or worse bedlam!
"Why o' course Beadle dear, she's right upstairs, lemme go an' get her." she tried to sound cheerful. Mrs. Lovett skittered along upstairs, the Beadle following her behind.
She knocked on Lucy's door. "Lucy love, Beadle Bamford is 'ere to see ya".
Surprisingly she opened the door, her eyes were red. Obviously crying.
"Yes 'ello love, Judge Turpin, asks you come to his party. He would love to talk to you." the Beadle smiled showing all his teeth, which were yellow, some of them missing.
"Beadle Bamford, I'm really not in the mood to go to a party, right now." she started to turn away and walk back into her room.
The beadle caught her hand.
"Oh, but you must. Judge's orders dear." She couldn't say anything more. As the Beadle lured her down the stairs, they disappeared into darkness of the night.
Mrs. Lovett walked into the room.
She saw Mr. Barker's razor's sitting on the vanity dresser. She took a hold of its case.
If Mr. Barker ever does come back one day, he shall need 'em, she thought. So she found a loose floor board. She opened it and wrapped the box of razors in a velvety cloth she found laying on the vanity. She put the box in the floor.
Rest in peace.
Johanna was sleeping still, clutching her baby doll. "Don't worry Johanna. I'll watch over you until you're mummy comes back." she sat seated on a chair next to her crib, and kept watch.
An hour passed, Lucy did not come back still. However, three people burst through the door. There stood two cops, the Beadle was there behind them.
"'Ello, what in the bloody hell is the meaning of this Beadle?" she stood up.
"We've come for the girl."
"Where's Lucy?"
The Beadle walked over to her. "My dear Mrs. Lovett. Mrs. Barker is not a fit mother, to care for such a young, precious baby. Judges orders have been to take her away from this retched place, and make sure she grows up in a respectable, enriching environment."
Lucy could be a snobby person, but she Mrs. Lovett knew she was a great mother, but she was gone?
He started to make his way over to the crib. Mrs. Lovett stepped in front of it.
"And might I ask where will she be taken care of?" She asked suspiciously.
"Why, Judge Turpin has offered to let her stay at his house. She will be quite happy there." he greasily smiled.
"No" she said.
"Excuse me?" he asked.
"You will not be taking the girl. She can grow up fine right here." she put her hand on the crib defendingly.
The beadle merely looked at the cops and said "Remove this woman from the crib immediately." The cops ran over to her and took her by the arms.
"No!" she struggled.
Beadle Bamford walked over to the crib and picked up Johanna. She immediately woke and started crying.
"No! leave her!" she felt tears coming along.
The Beadle walked out of the room, but before he said "Don't worry she will be taken care of." That was the last time she saw Johanna again.
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Without any company to have, Mrs. Lovett felt emptier than ever.
She knew something bad happened to Lucy, and only hoped Johanna would be taken care of. She didn't trust the Judge or the Beadle at all.
She one day found out what actually happened to Lucy, and was horrified to find out.
Mrs. DeVille, a lady who sold the lamb meat for her pies, happened to talk to her one day.
"'Ello Mrs. Lovett, how are we today?"
"Ohhh, could been better an' yeself?"
"Oh, did you hear the news of wot happened at Judge Turpin's house, I was there meself" she said.
"No, wot happened?" Mrs. Lovett asked curiously.
"Well, he invited some yellow haired woman, very pretty. Wot was 'er name? Eh, Lucinda? Ah well. Anyway, she got drunk, didn't know anyone at the party. Well, the judge… 'e did some things…" she went on.
"Wot things?" Mrs. Lovett looked horrified.
"Well, 'e took advantage of her 'e did… saw with me own two eyes. Everyone stood there an' laughed, I only looked sick. How in the world could you do such a thing to somebody?"
"Well, didn't anyone tell the cops?"
"Ohh Nell, 'e's the judge, he has a incredible amount o' high power. He controls everyone." Mrs. Lovett looked sick for a moment.
"Well… it was nice talkin' to ya Mrs. DeVille. I best be on me way now." she said quietly.
"Sure thing dearie, come again." Mrs. Lovett didn't want to believe it, but until she saw with her own eyes. She couldn't believe it.
She almost ran into on her way home, was what she thought was an old beggar woman. She had dirty hands and fingernails, a ripped black dress and an old brown flower hat. Not to mention, yellow hair.
"ALMS ALMS, for a desperate woman!" she said to Mrs. Lovett
"Lucy?" she said in disbelief.
"Food for the hungry, be a dear!" she begged on her knees grabbing Mrs. Lovett's dress.
Mrs. Lovett was frightened by this and ran away. A frightening sight of Lucy, she thought.
For a moment, she smiled. She realized she loved seeing Lucy like this. A crazy hag, picking spuds from a daily ash can. No one recognized who she was. Just a crazy old beggar woman.
"Not so perfect now, are you Miss Lucy?" she said to herself and smiled.
A/N: YAY LUCY IS OUTTA THE PICTURE! This took me awhile to post up. Had a malfunction with my computer, it was supposed to be posted up last night. This was a long chapter. Well im hoping you all can guess who is our mystery guest coming next chapter. Anyway hope you have enjoyed the chapter! Reviews are nice. Thanks!