Part Three
Gertrude could only stare at the private parcel that she held in her hand. There was no return address given, but as her name was written on it, the contents must have been meant for her, even the messenger boy who delivered it had been given verbal instructions for it to be left in her hands only. After feeling around the outside of the envelope and giving it a quick shake, she was sure that there was nothing of a suspicious nature contained in the thin package, so why did there seem to be such secrecy about it? Typically, Gertrude's clientele would simply come in and meet up with any woman that was available for them, and if they were seeking audience with a particular lady in question, they would come in and confirm a time for her availability. This also certainly couldn't be any news from one of the doctors about one of her girls. She was very careful and made sure that her girls and her clientele alike were free of any gdiseases. Now of course, that didn't mean that it always worked perfectly, but still, when a doctor delivered such news, it would always contain their identity and without this much secrecy. Opening the envelope and pulling out the contents, Gertrude's jaw dropped at the sight of such a substantial amount of money. As she began to look over just how much there was, her mind began to swarm with questions. Was this someone attempting to buy out her business? Perhaps it was a wealthy and puritanical parishioner of a church that was offering her money in exchange for her shutting down her
"salacious" business. Looking into the envelope, she discovered a folded letter. Reading the letter, her skeptical pout slowly straightened.
Nellie was sitting with Cora and Addie in the main parlour when Gertrude entered, letter in hand. The three were giggling girlishly about Cora's rather, insecure, latest client. "I swear, it felt like bloody ages. He was a sweet enough man, but really! I probably would've started laughing if I hadn't taken such pity on the poor thing. In the end, I just 'ad to help 'im out, otherwise nothin' would've never 'appened. Then the poor dear just wouldn't stop apologizing for his incompetence." The others howled with laughter whilst Cora unsuccessfully attempted to hide a huge grin behind her hand. Pointing to Nellie, she smirked and stated, "Nellie, love, if ya learn anythin' from bein' 'ere, let it be 'ow to fake it to make the embarrassing parts end faster… if ya catch me drift." She gave the girl a playful wink and Nellie burst until she was reduced to snorts of laughter.
Gertrude rolled her eyes and walked up to the trio. "I'm sorry to break up the fun, but Eleanor, I have a very important job for you. I have received notice that a highly esteemed client is interested in meeting with you. Well, he didn't ask for you specifically, of course. However, he did request the company of someone younger, attractive, agreeable, and tenacious. He has very graciously offered a great deal of money in exchange for your time and I'm sure that you can understand what this means for everyone here. He has also requested that you be alone for your meeting with him, meaning that neither Cora nor Adelaide will be with you. I know that you've come to be reliant on them but remember that you are nearly a woman now. I am sure that you've had enough experience to be able to handle the situation on your own. Moreover, a few of the girls here have worked with this client in the past as have some from other brothels, and he is a very respectable man, so I'm quite sure that you will do well."
Nellie turned to the others who simply shrugged in indication that they were unfamiliar with the man in question. Nellie simply nodded in accordance and together they began to make the arrangements. After all, her other clients had been decent enough to take some precaution and be gentle with her considering her inexperience and juvenescence. There had even been a young man only one year older than herself, whose friends had dared him to enter the brothel and to set himself up with one of the ladies. As soon as he'd been introduced to her, he had looked away as they both came to an uncomfortable standstill. She had asked if he wished for her do anything, he had quietly asked for her to disrobe, but the moment that she was down to her underthings, he had turned beet red and begged her to stop. So, instead, they had spent the time simply talking and learning about each other. Given that these were the kinds of clients that she had met with thus far, it surely couldn't be of much concern.
Nellie found herself apprehensively pacing around in what was probably the largest and most ornate of every room in the house. Three days had passed, and she was nervously anticipating the arrival of this private and distinguished client, wondering why she had been made to wait in this particular room and why her aunt had given her such an elegant dress that would only be removed soon enough. She picked up the hand mirror beside the bed, fixing her hair in order to appear more presentable, at her aunt's request. She began to turn Ben's locket around in her hand before grasping it tightly in one fist. The sounds of muffled voices began to reach her, she let out the breath that she wasn't even aware she'd been holding and smoothed down her dress, ready to receive the mysterious customer. After some incomprehensible conversation between who sounded like Gertrude and this stranger, the door opened to reveal a man who looked to be in his forties. The girl couldn't help but notice that this man would her oldest client to date. She had grown accustomed to the men that she met with being approximately her age, or in their early thirties at the most. She couldn't assure herself as to whether this man's mature age was better or worse for the situation that she was in. His slightly wavy brown hair just barely reached his shoulders, and his light brown eyes bore into her own darker ones. There was no warmth in them, however, they were callous and foreboding, and she felt her whole body shiver just looking into them.
The man remained as silent as the grave as he explored the room, toying around with the numerous tchotchkes that littered the tables and the display cabinet. When he returned to the door, closing it and locking it behind him, Nellie felt her pulse accelerate and her stomach churn. She could discern his wanting their meeting to be clandestine, especially if he truly was as eminent as her Aunt Gertrude had made him out to be; her other clients had just always asked out of respect for her comfort beforehand. He slowly approached her, using his fingers to lift her chin up to make her gaze meet his own. "You're certainly not the kind that I typically look for, but I have heard that your type is rather passionate. I must ask, how old are you, dear little girl?"
Nellie continued to look at the older man, her mouth opening and closing but unable to form words. What did he mean by her 'type'? Young? Female? Her position? "Erm, I-I-I…" The gentleman furrowed his brows at her, crossing his arms until she cried out, "I'm nearly six..." Then hearing her shouting tone, "Nearly sixteen sir." She didn't know what was coming over her. She hadn't been this nervous since she had begun working as the other women did. She was used to this by now, she was stronger, or at least, she should be. Her mind was trying to tell her something though, as if she should stay wary and on alert, she chose to trust this intuition.
The man gave her a revolting smile that betrayed any innocence, "A young lady then, how wonderful. Shall we begin, my dear child?" He began to circle around her as if he were scrutinizing her, a predator stalking its prey, all along slowly pulling at the cravat from around his neck. He threw this along with his long red satin lied coat onto the bed. He sat down on the bed and patted the spot next to him, wordlessly extending her an invitation to sit beside him. Her brain was yelling at her so loudly that she was shocked that the man could not hear it as well. She wished that her feet were as heavy as lead, but they didn't seem to hear her mind either, as she reluctantly made her way over to him, leaving space between them. The man's smile quickly turned into a deep frown as he seized her elbow. "Come closer, surely you must be used to this routine by now." Nellie gave the older man a sideways glance, but mainly kept her eyes fixed on the door. Maybe if she closed her eyes and tried hard enough, either Cora or Addie would get her desperate plea for rescue from this intimidating man. She seemed to have no such luck, however, there was no sound on the other side of the door, and the man was speaking again. "Do you know what you are? You are a whore, a prostitute, a harlot. This time is mine to do with as I wish. As a prostitute, it is your obligation to do as I say and to ensure that I that I am satisfied. Mark me, if you refuse to do as I say or leave me disappointed, I will go directly to the madam and demand my money back. Now, do you hear me, girl?"
Nellie glowered at the gentleman, she knew precisely where and what she was, and didn't need this louse to remind her. She had known this man for approximately five minutes and could confidently fathom what kind of man he was already, and she didn't approve of him in the least. She could sprint for the door, clamouring for anyone to release her, but knowing that this would only make matters worse; she softened her features and cautiously moved closer to him. The man gave her the same vulgar smile and clenched her fists her chin in his hand, sinking his nails into her cheeks. "That's a good girl, now, you just do as I say."
Before she could utter a word, he wasted no time in taking what he wanted as he seized her shoulders and shoved her onto the bed. He placed his body over hers and, lowering his mouth to her ear, covered her mouth with one hand. "Scream, cry, make any noise, and I will leave you and that woman with nothing whatsoever. Nod if you comprehend what I am saying, whore." Nellie nodded vigorously and the man gave her a smirk. The teenager took a breath attempting to relieve her sense of dread; this did nothing to help when the man tore at her dress and his hand attacked her under her dress. She let out a piercing shriek at the swift and ruthless contact with her sex, tears pricking her eyes. However, her shock at the man's unheralded assault didn't compare to the sharp sting on her cheek that followed her outburst. "You fucking, doltish tart! Didn't I tell you to hold your tongue? I have methods of keeping wayward cunts like you silent, would you like to know how? Who knows, an obviously brazen girl like you may even delight in it." Nellie bared her teeth and turned her head away from him. 'Right then, where were we, little girl?" He straddled her and forced her wrists over her head, her mind finding it's thunderous voice again, but forcibly sinking her teeth into her lower lip to keep herself quiet.
Through misty eyes she could feel tears threatening to fall once more, but she pushed them back, loath to allow them to reveal both themselves or any amount of vulnerability to this revolting bastard. Nellie began thrashing underneath his form, liberating her legs enough to propel them against his abdomen. She chuckled as he released one wrist to attend to the pain, and hastily propelled him away from her with all of her strength. He stumbled to the floor and, dazed by this young girl's sudden force, began to push himself up by his elbows. Nellie rushed for the hand mirror and in the turmoil of all that was happening, brought the glass side of the mirror down onto his face. He fell to his knees, his hands covering his bleeding face. Profanities erupted from his mouth as Nellie backed away, looking around her before spotting the window. She hurtled to it and threw it open, looking down to the ground below. She swallowed, knowing that jumping from this height could leave her with very severe injuries, that is, if it didn't kill her. Looking over, she did notice that there was a slight ledge that she could climb out onto, but even that was a tremendous risk. Pulling her head back into the room, Nellie turned to see the man lifting his head and coming to from the pain, running his hands over the streaks of blood. Knowing that she could not be in the same room as this man prompted her final decision. She ran for the window again, pulling off her boots and stepping out of her dress so that the layers would not get in her way, and slunk out in only her slip, corset, bloomers and stockings.
She grasped onto the edge and cautiously crept, her hands clinging to the top ledge of the window and feet securely stepping on the lower. She took some deep shuddering breaths and squeezed her eyes shut; opening them again, she kept them firmly between looking next to her and to her feet. She wouldn't look down, doing so would only leave her more petrified than she already was. Knowing that she was clinging to the ledge of the third floor of a brothel was terrifying enough. She turned her head at the sounds of raucous banging on the door and a woman's, Cora's, booming yell. "Nellie? I 'eard ya scream and some shoutin', jus' open the door, dear, I'm goin' to get Addie. It's going to be all right, love." Nellie continued to creep along the wall, silently whispering positive affirmations to keep her attention on her task. She finally reached the edge and, finally reaching a window with a slight balcony, took a short break to compose herself.
She climbed over the edge of the balcony but before she could lower herself to drop onto the next balcony, and then to the ground, a loud scream reached her ears. She lifted her head to see another one of the women staring at her, her mouth covered by her hands. Nellie looked at her with upturned brows and a frown, her mouth forming a silent "Please" before the woman screamed out, "The lil' one's on the ledge! Oh God please, someone down there 'ear me, someone save 'er!" Nellie felt a slight sense of guilt, the woman was only trying to help, she didn't understand that Nellie was saving herself. Nellie shook her head and grabbing the edge, lowered herself, hearing a loud "Nooooo!" before landing on the second-floor balcony. She let out a long sigh, realizing that there was only one small drop left between her current situation and freedom. She quickly jumped from the ledge and though somewhat disgusted, was far more grateful to fall into a large heap of rubbish.
Looking up, she was greeted by Addie's panic-stricken face, her hands covering her mouth. She moved her hands to her heart, lifting her face to the sky as if speaking a prayer, before facing Nellie with a spark in her eyes. "Don'cha dare to frighten me like that ever again, Nellie, bloody 'ell! Do ya even understand how dangerously daft that was?", even from such a distance, Nellie could see Addie's nostrils flaring and eyes burning out of pique. "Now, ya just stay right there, Cora's gone to get Gert. We'll all sit down an…" Nellie only tossed her head from side to side; looking around her, she cautiously backed away towards the street.
Just as she reached the corner of the brothel, the front door was flung open, and her aunt came shooting out. "Eleanor, I insist that you come inside so that we may all discuss this together. You need not worry about that client upstairs, I've shown him out, so to speak." Nellie looked at her small, trembling hands, unsure of the cause of their shaking in the first place. Was it the abiding fear of the man's attack on her? Was it out of trepidation over how her aunt would react to what she had done to the wealthy client? Nellie's voice shook as she faintly asked if the man had told Gertrude what he had done to her. Gertrude watched as Nellie refused to look at her hardened eyes, so she let out a deep sigh and made them soften. "There was no need for him to reveal all, I believe that I got the gist. Specifically, from the blood dripping down his face and the glass embedded in his skin. He will not be permitted to return to this establishment in the future. From what I had heard, he was represented as far more reputable than his actual behavior towards you." Nellie remained silent, not looking her aunt in the eyes. "I do hope that you will come back so that all of us ladies can speak properly. If not, I can understand, but you will have nowhere to go. This may not be the ideal place, but you have a roof over your head, a bed to sleep in, and proper food to eat. I know that my caregiving hasn't been without its flaws, but the others and I have been trying to look out for you. You are no longer a young child. This may not be your home, but you do have a place here. If you do choose to go elsewhere, know that there may not always be a room here for you. The choice is yours to make, but I do hope that you'll make the right one for you." With these words, she placed a hand on Nellie's cheek, but was quick to retract it when she sensed the girl's body go taut. She gave her niece a slow nod before lowering her head, turning on her heels and strolling back into the house. Nellie couldn't be sure if what she saw next actually had happened or not, but she could swear that she saw her aunt shaking slightly and extracting a handkerchief when she thought that she was out of the girl's field of vision.
Cora and Addie ran out with her bag and wrapped their arms around Nellie, having found it impossible not to eavesdrop on her and Gertrude's conversation. Finding solace in their safeguarding brought Nellie back to that shameful night when she had first arrived at the brothel, and as she closed her eyes, they enveloped her more tightly. Cora continued to hold her as Addie watched her 'family'. "Will ya come in and talk to us, love?" Nellie pulled herself away from Cora's embrace and looked at the ground, a couple of fresh tears trickling down her cheeks.
Addie wiped Nellie's tears away with the pads of her thumbs and pulled her 'sister' into her arms. "We understand, Nell." She looked at Cora and shook her head. "I just knew that somethin' was gonna 'appen, didn't I say, Cor? Told Gert that somethin' felt wrong wiv' that man, gave me the collywobbles jus' lookin' into them eyes of 'ia alone, 'e did. Please, will ya reconsider, Nell?" Nellie reached out for Cora and the 'family' shared one last embrace.
Two hours later and Nellie found herself standing at the front entrance to her home, her true home, with her carpet bag in hand. She thanked the coachman and a bona fide grin spread over her face for the first time in years. The man tipped his hat to her, and she gave him a small curtsy, making a smile appear on his countenance as well. As she watched him guide the horses and carriage away, she felt that there was more that she should've done to show her gratitude for his giving her a ride. It had been nearly impossible to get any coach to stop for her, most had given her a incredulous glare as the inappropriately clad girl attempted to get their attention. She knew that she looked slovenly, her hair completely unkempt, her underclothes soiled, but none of that mattered to her at the moment. She brushed as much filth off of her as she could and attempted to tame her frizzy corkscrews. She threw the door open and sprinted the entire way up to her hers and her father's flat. She grabbed the doorknob, but quickly realising that it was locked, commenced to bang her fists against the door whilst shouting, "Papa, I'm 'ome! Oh, please open the door, Papa!" The door opened but the man standing there was not her father, but an elderly man with a cane and a middle-aged woman standing behind him. Both of them looked down at the girl with wide eyes, both of their brows quickly knitting together and lips changing from o's to crooked frowns as they took in her appearance. In better circumstances, Nellie might have found how perfectly their expressions reflected each other amusing.
Nellie glanced at them with a raised brow, who are these strangers and where was her father? The woman came up to the door and gave Nellie a slight smile. "Was that you just now, calling for your papa?"
The door to the flat across the hall burst open the Davis's old neighbour and friend, Mrs. Williams, whose mouth fell at the sight of the teenager. "My God, Nellie, is that you? Look at'cha, I 'asn't seen ya since you was just a lil' one…"
She continued to gush over how much Nellie had grown and looked like her mother, until the girl spoke up. "Mrs. Williams, s'not that I'm not glad to see you also, but I need to know if you've seen my father? I went to our flat, but there are two strangers livin' there instead."
The older woman held onto her dress and began to wring the fabric in her wrinkled hands. Her mouth repeatedly opened and closed as she would strive and fail to produce the right words, so she pulled Nellie into a tight embrace instead. "Oh, darlin', your father tried, 'e truly did. After ya left, 'e stopped drinkin' then and there for a time. He implored them that worked above 'im at the factory to take 'im back, which fortunately, they did. Oh, 'ow your father would come to me and sweet Mr. Williams, ceaselessly talkin' about 'ow he would be goin' to bring ya back 'ome soon. The man was so proud and we was both 'appy for the both of ya to be back together again. Things was all right for a while and 'e were finally makin' some good money, when the factory began to cut down on their workers, and your father was one of 'em. Mr. Williams and m'self was wiv' 'im, tryin' to keep 'im in good spirits. Well, 'e was jus' getting more out of sorts and gutted, so Mr. Williams suggested that 'e go out for some air, clear 'is 'ead. When 'e didn't return after a while, we went lookin' for 'im and, darling, I didn't want to 'ave to be the one to tell ya this. Must've been that 'e weren't payin' much mind to where 'e was walking. There was some sayin' that some animal spooked a 'orse and the coachman was findin' it troublesome to control the beast and it went gallopin' from around the corner and-." The older woman had no need to say another word as the girl seemed to collapse into her arms, not caring about who could see as she bawled, while Mrs. Williams quietly held her against her bosom until Nellie had become somewhat more placid. "Now, 'how's about ya come on in and I'll 'eat ya up a nice cuppa tea? I won't be 'earing no from ya either." Nellie looked at her neighbour and gave her a small but grateful smile. Then without Mrs. Williams taking her arms from around Nellie, all four stepped into the elderly woman's flat.
Mrs. Williams and the two kind strangers -an elderly man and his own daughter as it turned out- remained with the orphaned teen until they were more assured that they had calmed her. After the pair left, Mrs. Williams disappeared into her bedroom and returned minutes later with a long nightdress, instructing Nellie to wear it so that she may look seemlier. "You're just a tiny slip of a thing, so this will be a bit big on ya, but at least it will cover ya up better, and it's cleaner than those underthings you're wearin' now. I'll show ya to the tin tub, and you can clean yourself up a bit." They smiled at each other and after gathering some things together, Mrs. Williams left Nellie to clean and dress herself.
Nellie assisted as Mrs. Williams flitted around the kitchen getting dinner prepared. "Nellie, sweetie, I want ya stayin' 'ere, at least for the night." Nellie shook her head, thanking her but noting that she didn't wish to put the elderly woman out. "Put me out? You just shush now. You're not bein' an inconvenience in the least. I won't 'ave ya goin' anywhere at this time, it ain't safe for ya to be out there in the growin' dark. Plus, it gets lonely 'round here at times with me 'usband gone, may the lovely man rest in peace. I'd be more than 'appy for your company." Nellie wrapped her arms around Mrs. Williams' waist, endlessly thanking the woman for her hospitality, and the pair spent the night eating and discussing where Nellie had been for the last few years. By the time she had finished, Mrs. Williams was holding the girl against her again, shushing Nellie's wails whilst feeling her own heartache for the grief-stricken teen. Their remaining time was spent entertaining themselves with cheerful melodies from Mrs. Williams' piano before Nellie made herself comfortable on the settee for the night.
Nellie woke with a start, to find herself no longer on the settee, but in a rather comfortable bed. Looking around, she also found her boots one of her dresses draped over the foot of the bed along with the clothes that she had arrived in, freshly washed. She had just dressed and fixed up her hair when her nose suddenly picked up the savory scent of something rather familiar to her. Her stomach immediately responded to the smell and her legs were quick to follow. Mrs. Williams chuckled as the teenager ran up to the turnovers and complimentarily inhaled their scent. She blushed slightly when she noticed the woman watching her, but the woman only shook her shoulder lightly and nodded. "Don'cha be embarrassed, dearie, it does me good to know that ya like the smell." As they sat down to eat, Nellie said a quick apology for sleeping so late. "How absurd, ya didn't sleep in at all. I'm always awake rather early these days, keeps me busy."
They began to eat when Nellie suddenly exclaimed, "Cor! These cheese turnovers are delightful, Mrs. Williams. They taste just as good as me…" She cut herself off and swallowed the large lump that she suddenly felt in her throat. "M'sorry Mrs. Williams, I, I'm not so 'ungry after all." She put the turnover back on the plate and sat there, staring at the lonely pastry. She waited until she thought that the elderly woman was looking elsewhere, then brought the back of her hand up to wipe away the few tears that had escaped.
Mrs. Williams patted the girl's hand as she lowered it back onto the table. "There's nothing to be ashamed of, darling, ya should miss 'em, your parents was always lovely people." Nellie nodded her head solemnly. "Nellie, you know that you're perfectly fine to stay 'ere for as long as ya need, like I said, I gets awfully lonely around 'ere by meself. It would be nice to 'ave ya 'ere." The girl smiled at the older woman and smiled, but turned down the offer, saying that she was sure she'd be all right. "If you insist, dearie, but know that you're more than welcome to come back any time that you want to." Nellie rose from the table, coming around to hug her neighbour, relishing the warmth that it brought her. Mrs. Williams brought her hands up to the girl's cheeks, studying her countenance. "Do ya 'ave anywhere to stay, darlin'? I'd 'ate to think of ya out on the streets somewhere, and I don't want it either. If you don't 'ave anywhere to go, then you will stay 'ere, and I won't 'ear any more of it." The girl's eyes widened as the thought suddenly hit her. She didn't want to be a nuisance to her kindly neighbour, but she truly had nowhere else that she could go. She remained silent as she tried to think of an excuse, some sort of lie to… wait. There might be one place that she could go, one person that she could turn to. Seeing as he had never responded to any of her letters, however, maybe he hated her. Maybe he thought that she had jilted his friendship and had thrown away all the letters she had ever written to him. She knew that she had to try, though, so she simply gave the woman a nod before the woman insisted that she eat the remainder of her breakfast so that she would have something in her stomach. After eating and helping to clean up their breakfast plates, they stood together at Mrs. Williams' door, the older woman placing her hands on Nellie's cheeks and placing a light peck on her forehead. "I meant it when I said for ya to come back anytime, especially if your plans don't work out. Please, I just need ya to take good care of yourself, for this old woman's well-being at least." They both laughed and Nellie found warmth in the elderly woman's sympathetic affection once more before leaving to hopefully find some comfort from an old friend.
Nellie shuddered as the wind blew around her, a part of her wished that she had taken a cape, but Mrs. Williams had been generous enough towards her as it was. She opened the bag, wondering if there was anything that she could slip on to keep her warm. When she came across a large shawl with a short note attached reading, "For the cold nights", a smile played on her face. She stroked the material and snuggled into it after wrapping it around her small frame. She wondered how long she had been walking and searching when her stomach began to growl in protest. Hearing a clock chime threefold, she couldn't be too shocked, she hadn't eaten a bite since early that morning. Spotting a modest little bakery, she stepped in and dropped the coins that Mrs. William's had kindly offered if she became hungry on her way onto the counter. The woman gave her a couple of the coconut macaroons she'd been eyeing, mouth slightly opening upon seeing the girl devour them as if they'd been her first bites of food in several days. She gave Nellie a small smile and wave as the girl dashed back out onto the streets,
After spending some more time searching, Nellie finally came upon a street that looked familiar. Grinning from ear to ear, she slowly made her way down the street until she was standing directly in front of the house that she had only been to maybe three times, but still felt so familiar. It was still as lovely on the outside as she recalled. It wasn't a very large building, at least not as large as it had seemed when she was a child, but still seemed like it could comfortably house a few small families. She inhaled deeply and summoned up the courage to give the door a few sharp strikes. The door opened to reveal a young woman who Nellie had no recollection of ever having met before, possibly a relative? "Erm, 'ello missus, I were jus' wonderin' if you'd know whether the Barker's was 'ome at the moment?"
The woman bit her lip and shook her head. "I'm so sorry, dear, but the Barker's left some few years back. I know that they moved to another part of the city, but I couldn't tell you where, I'm very sorry indeed." At this moment, her eyes lit up and she pointed a finger at her. "Your name wouldn't be Nellie, would it?" She ushered Nellie inside and closed the door behind her. "Sit yourself down, dear, I have some things for you. You look rather chilled; would you like a cup of tea or something else to warm your bones?" Nellie sat down but declined the woman's drink offering. She fought back tears as memories of her old friend flooded her mind and a sense of hopelessness pervaded her body. Somehow, she knew that this woman was going to bring her the letters that she had sent Ben over the last few years without any responses. Well, at the very least, she now knew that his lack of reaching out wasn't due to him feeling any resentment towards her. It could have been possible that Ben had written back after some time, but his letters had been discarded after her father's passing. She held onto his locket, now feeling only culpability for having thought that her childhood best friend had grown bored or disdainful of her.
The woman returned with a small stack in her hands. "Was Benjamin a friend of yours?" Nellie quietly nodded and the woman frowned, "Well, I'm sorry that he never had a chance to read them. I never looked at them of course, but when I received the first, I sent a letter back saying that they had left. I thought of throwing them away after you sent the third, but it didn't seem right, and I thought that you might come looking after him when you got nothing back, so, if you'd like them back. I know that I keep repeating myself by apologizing, and if I had known where exactly they had moved to, I certainly would have sent your letters to him." Nellie smiled and thanked the woman, hiding the letters in her bag before standing to leave. "Are you sure that you won't have any tea? It's starting to get dark, and it will only get colder. I wouldn't want you freezing on your way home." Nellie thought it best not to mention that she had nowhere to go, so she simply shook her head and thanked the woman again as she held the door open for the teen. "You go straight home now, wouldn't want to worry your family being out like this." Nellie nodded and walked away, making her way down another street when she noticed that the woman had stopped watching her walk away.
The sky was quickly getting darker as another few hours passed, and Nellie found herself utterly lost on the busy London streets. She was confident that if she went back home, Mrs. Williams would be enthusiastic about letting the girl stay with her, but she had been kind enough to allow Nellie to stay the night before and to leave her some clothes to wear. She didn't wish to put the kind, elderly woman into an uncomfortable position. She also had no desire to or intention of returning to the brothel. Aunt Gertrude had said that if anyone left, they also gave up their room as well. Nellie had certainly gotten used to how the male clientele acted with her over time, but there had been something about that man that had left her feeling circumspect from the moment she laid eyes on him. She came to the decision that she would have better chances of risking the streets than by going back there, as long as she was resourceful and determined enough. She had always taken some pride in her ability to face a challenge, and she knew that she could face this one for a fair amount of time. The teen frowned when she heard another familiar rumbling sound, clearly, a few bites of a cheese turnover and a couple of macaroons weren't enough to sustain a person over the course of an entire day. Realising that nightfall was very quickly approaching, she quickened her pace to find the closest marketplace, hoping that there may still be a food stand open. Having spent the snack change that Mrs. Williams had given her on the macaroons, there may even be a stand in the process of closing so that the proprietor may not notice if she snuck something from their cart.
Making her way into a loud and open area, Nellie could still overhear the shouts of some venders attempting to sell their final commodities for the day. Inconspicuously weaving her way around the customers and those that were closing their stalls for the night, Nellie licked her lips voraciously at the sight of a fruit and vegetable stand. The owner seemed to be just beginning to pack up his goods, if she acted quickly enough, she might be able to pinch a few of his apples and pears. She made her way closer to the stand and crouched down as soon as she was immediately in front of it. She didn't dare to blink as she surveyed the man, innocently whistling as he moved back and forth between grabbing handfuls of his fruits and vegetables and packing them up into small crates to be sold the next day. As soon as his back was turned, she reached up and grabbed two Cornish Gilliflower apples and three pears. Throwing them into her bag, she waited until he had walked away again, before sneaking away into a dark space to hide and enjoy her dinner. Once again, Nellie had no premonition of the fate that would come from another attempt such as this in the future.
