Chapter 4

"Hello?" I call out into the cold house. I shut the front door carefully due to its delicate hinges.

"Edward?" A faint voice replied. "We're in the kitchen, dear." I followed the voice towards the back room of the house. I would say kitchen but it is merely the room we keep our crockery in. No fire, no table, just a crate with a hole ridden cloth to cover up the warping wood. I walk in to find bowls and cutlery scattered everywhere with a flurry of

arms from the younger ones as they collect something only they can see from each bowl. Three sets of young eyes find mine.

"Edward!" "Ed!" "Edward, would you like some?" I am greeted by Alec, Sam and Leah. Leah holds out an empty bowl to me with an innocent expression upon her small face.

"Hello you lot." I greet them and crouch down to the crate level. "I thank you for your kind offer, Leah, but I am mighty full. You enjoy." She grins at me before reaching into the bowl and grasping nothing before moving her tiny fist to her mouth to chomp away on whatever dish she has imagined today. It is their favourite game to play, as it was mine when I was younger. I move over to the lady sat at the far end of the crate. I bend down to kiss her soft cheek.

"Hello, Mother." She smiles.

"Hello, my sweet boy."

"How have they been today?" I ask, peering a glance over at the noisy tots before looking back at her.

Her vacant eyes ghost over mine. "Hungry."

My breathing falters. Hunger. All we know is hunger. Saying to Leah a moment ago that I was full was for her benefit only. I don't think I have even been full. None of us have. Working class all our lives. We don't get the luxury of being full. My fingers work their way into my waistcoat pocket and grasp its contents. I reach over to my mother's hand and place the contents into her palm.

"I got a tip today. A good one. It should see us through until tomorrow evening, at least." She closes her fingers over the three pennies I've placed into her hand.

"Oh, Edward, no! You should be saving your money for your future. Your father and I agreed that." She protested. I got on my knees and encased her hands within mine.

"Father isn't here right now. And without some kind of income we will all starve. Please, Mother, let me help!" I plead.

She shakes her head slowly as tears stream. She reaches up a hand to find my face and I help her with a tilt of my head.

"You are such a good boy, Edward. Your Father would be so proud. Just as I am." I smile at her sadly. Not that she can see me.

"Today is Tuesday. I get my wages on Friday. We will be OK, Mother." I implore. She just smiles. "I'll head down the market, see what I can get." I say, standing up. "I'll take Emmett and Jasper with me, along with these three." I nod at the little ones still playing make believe. "Get them out of your hair for a while." She chuckles.

"Alright, Dear. I think the boys are out in the shed. Oh, and if you see Alice, could you send her my way. I fancy a catch up on the streets gossip." I laugh as I kiss her hand on my way out the back door.

"Of course, Mother." I close the rickety door behind me into the mild September afternoon. I still find it remarkable how inside the house is always colder than outside. Even in the middle of Winter. No matter how cold it gets outside the house, it is always colder inside. I cross the dirt ground of our outside clothes drying area towards the old,

wooden shed. I think it's as old as the house itself but it was our very own adventure playground when we were all younger. The elderly couple next door has their shed back on to ours and when they saw how much we used it as children they allowed us to know through to theirs since they weren't using it. Now Emmett and Jasper just use it when they don't want to get caught with cigarettes and opium. With a father whose a doctor, we were taught about the addictive nature of both. But Jasper and Emmett do like to break a rule or two every now and then.

As I approach the shed door, I hear voices speaking quite rapidly. I don't bother knocking, there isn't a thing my brothers have done that could shock me. I've walked in on them puking from drink, laughing from drugs and naked from prostitutes, to name but a few. As long as their not naked right now, I think we'll be OK. I turn the rusty handle

before pulling the shed door wide open and I come face to face with the most beautiful woman I have every seen. She has large, doe-like eyes that hold me like a vice. Her skin is unblemished and her eyes are frames by delicate, long eyelashes. But something isn't right. My eyes travel lower on her face. Past her perfectly proportioned nose towards her mouth. But I can't see her mouth as it is covered. By a piece of cloth tied around her head. What? My eyes continue down until they hit her dress. No, not dress, gown. It is amazing. Jewelled to the high heavens with her waist cinched to the diameter of side plate. Her arms were tied at the wrists in front of her with her hands resting on her lap. And she wore a ring. A familiar— My eyes snap to Emmett who was stood just behind her. He looked troubled yet I saw determination on his face.

"Emmett, what have you done?" I growl. "What is going on?" Because what I saw on her hand was a signet ring. On her right middle finger. The mark of a royal. The sign of a ruler.

He didn't hesitate. He just looked at me with strong eyes.

"We stole the Queen."