Running away

Chapter 5

"Ah! Dylan go buy some bread, will you lad?" Catherine shoved some pence into his hand and he hurried off to another vendor. Cathlin clung to my trousers as she spied everyone and everything. "What time is it now?" I pulled out the pocket watch I found in Derek's trousers and spied the time. "15 to seven. I must be on my way. I will catch you later my lady." I bowed and walked away, towards the area with carriages going everywhere. I ran in front of a horse as I swiftly crossed the street. The man cursed at me as he hurried to settle down the horse I had somehow startled. I grabbed the card from my tailcoat and reread the address. 

"It should be somewhere around here." I walked as I looked at the numbers lining the building. "205, 206, 20- AHA! By god I've found it!" I quickly walked up the stone stairs and stepped into the building. It seemed rather busy as I hurried to the front desk. "Name, date of appointment and how you came to have one with Mr. Carter." He glanced up at me, grimaced and looked back down, writing hurriedly. I stuck my tongue out at him then cleared my throat. "Milton Tilly, here to fill in the position of secretary. Recommended by John Diggle." He nodded before motioning to the stairs.

"Floor five, second door on the right. Williams will show you to the door if needed, not really since it says Will Carter in big bold letters." He used will three different times with different meanings in one sentence. How did the bloody hell he do that? I shook my head and headed up the marble staircase. 

I reached about four and a half when I stumbled into the wall. My feet felt like lead and my legs were starting to burn tremendously. "Mr. Tilly I presume?" I nodded and he pointed at a red door.  He gave me an encouraging smile and I nodded back. I knocked on the door and a deep voice replied.

"Mr. Tilly?" I nodded and stood straighter. "Have a seat," I say in one of the hard guest chairs. "What is your previous work experience?" I froze. "I have none, sir." He nodded and wrote something down before nodding at the door. "That will be all. You are dismissed." His dark eyes flickered at me for the first time and I felt afraid so I nodded and walked solemnly to the door.

*

I may not have gotten that job but I did get one helping some fishermen. "Darling. You're home!" I was engulfed in a hug and then my legs were attacked. I felt like I was coming home to my wife and kids. Bleh.

Nothing against people like that (although it is considered a crime) in fact I had a great aunt, don't tell anyone, that used to frolic with one of her slaves. My Aunt had said this when she was drunk once, even though women aren't supposed to drink she indulged herself once in a while.

"I didn't get the job with Mr. Carter but I got hired to work with a fisherman until the end of the season. So two weeks of work then another job." Catherine took off my tailcoat and ushered me to the table. On it was a pot and some bread. "Pigtail soup darling. Go and have some. Cathlin let the poor child sit." I laughed at Cathlin as she let go so I could sit.

She climbed into my lap and messed with my pocket watch. "Did she eat?" Catherine nodded and took her off of my lap. "Eat and get some rest. You have to get up around five tomorrow to make it there for your job. I have to give this pumpkin a bath. Dylan! Bath time!" She walked out of the room.

I ate in silence and calculated in my head the total money I needed by the end of the month. I already gave John the pound for living here. I need another shilling by the end of the month. I get paid 3 shillings at the end of the season. I have to buy Cathlin another dress because her old one it tattered which is about five shillings for a good one. That means I need 3 more shillings before the month is out. 

"Mrs. Diggle!" I walked out of the small dining area and through a hallway. I approached the door that had giggles erupting from it. I opened the door to see a young dark-skinned woman rubbing her hands through Dylan's hair and Catherine was tickling Cathlin. Suds covered part of the floor as she splashed some water onto it. I laughed as Dylan pouted when the young woman pinched his cheeks. 

"Milton! I forgot! This is Darla. Darla dear, this is Milton. He is to be staying with us for quite some time. Darla is our part-time housekeeper." She nodded to me and I gave her a kind smile. "Yes, well I am to head up in a bit and was wondering if Cathlin will be done by then." She nodded as Cathlin giggled again. I smiled and bowed in Darla's direction. "Nice to meet you, Darla." She smiled at me. I was slightly surprised to see she had all of her teeth and they were straight white.

"Mama always said to keep them pearly whites white." I cleared my throat and nodded. "Likewise to you, sir." Dylan covered her face in suds and she started to tickle him. I walked away and headed up the stairs. I walked into mine, Dylan's and Cathlin's room and shut the door. I was tired. 

When I left Will's workplace I walked around for a while before I stopped to help an old woman cross the street and she told me that the fishermen needed help down by the docks. I went there and asked around until a captain hired me saying I was to load and unload his ship for the next two weeks and I would get 10 shillings if I did a good job. 

Of course, some of the men took pity on me as I was smaller than they were and said he barely gives out three shillings every two weeks. I was hauling cargo out of the ship for at least three hours when they told me to head home. My back was killing me as were my legs. I took off my trousers and button-up shirt, leaving me in my chemise and corset. 

I grabbed my pocket watch and checked the time. "If I pass out now then I will get seven hours of sleep if I am lucky." I wound it up and placed it on my bedside table for getting under the covers, thinking. "I wonder how Derek is holding up. Probably seducing the blasted Jades before running behind mommy to scare them away when needed be." I giggled at the thought of his antics. 

"He was always stupid like that." My smile slowly dropped as a thought passed my mind. 'What if his antics finally got him in trouble? What if his parents found out he helped me escape? What if?' "Milton." I sat up, clutching the blanket up to my chest, and saw Dylan and Cathlin holding hands with Catherine. "Yes?" Catherine looked sad all of a sudden. "I am sorry but these children are not going to get hurt." Dylan laughed suddenly and Cathlin started crying. Men pushed past them and into the room before a blonde stepped out from behind them. 

"Hello, wife."