Evenings like these were quite common. They had occurred for about a year now. And they went on for another. Soon, they were joined by a yellow haired angel; Johanna. She was the pride and joy of both the Barkers. Even Mrs. Lovett couldn't help but share in their pleasure. After all, she cared for the child too. Though, not as often as Lucy. Mrs. Lovett hadn't any children of her own, despite her wishes. When Johanna came, she was enthralled to have a young soul to care for.
Still, she kept busy with her shop, and Mr. Barker kept busy with his. Lucy would go on walks and outings with her beloved Johanna. Mrs. Lovett noticed, however, when she came back from these walks, she seemed slightly irritated. Sometimes she came home with flowers, which she promptly threw out in the street. Mrs. Lovett didn't want to pry, even though she did want to know who was bothering Lucy so. She heard several names through the grapevine. One in particular stood out; Turpin. Just thinking the name left a bitter aftertaste in her mind. He was no good. She hoped Lucy wasn't getting mixed up in a mess like that. A mess she couldn't get out of.
It was a Thursday. The Barkers were going to the market, as usual. Albert was at home, feeling sick, his bones paining him. She was bringing Albert in his lunch when the Barkers headed out the door.
"We'll be back shortly, Mrs. Lovett," said Lucy, as she wrapped Johanna tightly. "Only about an hour."
"Save us some pies, eh?" Benjamin smiled. Mrs. Lovett smiled back and winked.
"Always, my dears. Now, go on. Best mind yourselves," she teased. They walked out the door. She sat and talked to Albert while he ate. Of nothing important, really, just the weather, the gossip she had heard last week from Mrs. Mooney, and complaints about things getting expensive. Albert stayed awake, occasionally laughing. Once he had finished his plate, however, his head began to droop. Sleep was inevitable. Mrs. Lovett didn't notice his fatigue, of course, until she asked him a question he did not answer. She almost smiled, as she gently took the plate from his hands.
She left Albert asleep in the living room and went back to her work in the kitchen. My heart must be melting, she thought. She was actually starting to care for the man again. Speaking of men, where was Benjamin? He'd left with Lucy and Johanna near two hours ago. She shrugged off her worry, and went back to kneading dough.
She'd never seen a family so happy. And why shouldn't the Barkers be happy? Johanna was simply a beauty. Lucy was healthy, and sweet-spirited as ever, and Benjamin… Benjamin was still the same gentleman she'd always known. Pity she was stuck in the background of his life. As childish as it seemed, sometimes Mrs. Lovett would catch herself dreaming. What would her life be like if she had married Benjamin Barker instead of Albert Lovett? It wasn't all that inconceivable. She was only a few years younger than he. They made each other happy. They both had fair income. If the Fates had paired them together, she had no doubt they'd both be better off. Happier, even. But the future wasn't written into stone, she reminded herself. Maybe the Fates would put them together. She had to be patient.
Davey Collins came running in the front door. He was breathing hard and sweating profusely. He looked as though he'd ran several miles.
"Ma'am" he panted. "Mr. Barker. Is he..?" Collins could barely get the words out. Mrs. Lovett was sure he would pass out if he didn't rest.
"There, there, love," she said, leading him to a chair. "Rest yourself. Where you been running from, dear?" She sat across from him. He took a moment to catch his breath.
"I was in the marketplace, and I saw them! Did you know what happened?" He asked. He was speaking so fast.
"Slow down, love, or your tongue will fall right out of your mouth! What are you going on about? Who's got who?" she asked, trying to calm his spirits.
"Mr. Barker! He's been arrested!" Davey said. Mrs. Lovett jumped to her feet, gasping. This was completely unexpected.
"What? On what charge?" She asked the boy. She would be the first to admit she was in to gossip, but this! This was a scandal! Benjamin Barker wouldn't hurt a fly much less break the law.
"I don't know, ma'am. I just seen him walking with his wife. And then the constables nabbed him."
"Is that all?" Mrs. Lovett asked. "You didn't see anything else?" Davey thought for several seconds, replaying the scene in his mind.
"All I know is that as they was dragging Mr. Barker away, Judge Turpin went to talk to his wife. You don't think he's done something bad, do you? Is he gonna come back?" Davey was filled with curiosity and excitement. The kind that got people into trouble.
"I don't know, love. Why don't you run on home, though? I don't think Mr. Barker will be needing you today. Don't be mentioning this to anyone else, you hear?" She said. Davey stood and bounded towards the door.
"Yes, ma'am," he called as he ran off. Mrs. Lovett didn't expect the lad to keep his mouth shut, but she couldn't really worry about that now. Barker couldn't have done anything to warrant an arrest. She had noticed the Judge was paying extra attention to Lucy, though. Could this have something to do with her? Mrs. Lovett paced back and forth in front of the kitchen windows, nervously. The minutes ticked by. Mrs. Lovett was lost in her thoughts, waiting to hear Lucy walk in the front door.
About half an hour later, she did. She was clutching Johanna tightly, her face tear streaked. She radiated an aura of panic. Mrs. Lovett walked quickly to her side.
"There there, dear. So it's true?" she asked as she gently sat Lucy down. Lucy nodded, her hold on Johanna unrelenting, as though someone were trying to pry her child from her arms.
"They came out of nowhere. They were so…violent. They said Benjamin had killed a man. He hadn't. He couldn't. It's not even his nature!"
"I know that just as well as you do, dearie," Mrs. Lovett agreed. "What about the Judge? What did he want?"
"He said that he couldn't bear to see me walk around with a man like that. With a murderer. He told me I was free. And he even had the nerve to offer me his protection," Lucy said, angry tears springing to her eyes.
"Little sot," Mrs. Lovett mumbled. "What do we do? Is he going to have a court date? Or are they just shipping him off to Newgate?" Mrs. Lovett wrung her hands. He had a chance if there was a trial. It was a slim chance, especially since Judge Turpin had most of the control. But it would leave Barker better off than if they just shipped him out.
"I don't know," Lucy sighed in frustration. "Nellie, I'm frightened." Mrs. Lovett stopped her pacing. Though she and Lucy were the same age, she was hardly referred to as Nellie. Only in times when they were having intimate conversation or when Lucy was in great distress were they on a first name or nickname basis. Mrs. Lovett walked slowly to Lucy's side, and sat in the chair next to her.
"Don't worry, love," she crooned to a sobbing Lucy. "All we can do right now is wait. We'll hear news soon, I'm sure. And then, we'll work things out. We always do." She placed a hand on Lucy's shoulder. Lucy turned to her, her tears spilling over.
"God, I hope you're right," she whispered as she rested her head on Mrs. Lovett's shoulder in defeat. "I hope you're right," she repeated. They sat in the kitchen, Lucy distraught, and Mrs. Lovett worried sick. Once Lucy's sobs had subsided slightly, she stood.
"You want to help me make dinner? It'll keep your mind off things for a while," Mrs. Lovett suggested. Lucy shifted Johanna from one hip to the other.
"No thank you," she said quietly. "I'll be upstairs. You'll tell me if you hear any news of Benjamin?" She asked as she walked up the stairs.
"Of course, love," Mrs. Lovett said kindly. Lucy disappeared quietly up the stairs, and Mrs. Lovett turned to her counter. She knew she couldn't sit around doing nothing.