They were standing in a huge stone corridor between the main entrance and the prison. As they walked towards another large door, the sounds became louder, and Emily wanted to go back. But she'd promised herself. The warder opened the next door and showed the women to a room on the left. It had stone walls and no source of light except for a few candles hanging on the walls. Every few yards there was a table and two chairs.
Right Miss, you sit here, the warder said, pointing to a table in the far corner of the room. He's not a violent man like some of the others. He nodded to the tables closer to the door. We keep those tables for violent men. When they start being aggressive, we can shove them back into the prison more easily from there.
Emily looked around her. There were about ten tables in the room, and the six women she had arrived with all had a seat. A whistle blew from somewhere, and the barred door in the corner opened. The first man to come through Emily did not like the look of. When her father came through the door, she stood up to greet him and was instantly shocked. When he'd been sentenced for crimes of a financial nature three months earlier, he'd been a tall man with blonde hair and a muscular physique. Now he stooped, and his face was dirty. His hair looked as if it hadn't been washed for as long as he'd been in the terrible place.
Father, oh father, Emily cried as she held her arms out.
Sit down, Miss, the warder shouted from his seat next to the door.
You look so tired. Are you alright? she asked.
Her father looked at her blue eyes and beautiful face and smiled. Emily gasped when she noticed he had a tooth missing. I'm as well as can be expected, my dear.
It's a horrible place. I'm sorry I couldn't come earlier, it is so difficult to get here, the coach is always full. I tried and tried but.... she felt tears coming but stopped herself. She had to be strong for him.
Don't upset yourself. You are my darling daughter, and it pains me more than anything else to see you upset. He took her hands in his. The warder stood up and walked over to them. When he was confident Emily was not passing her father anything sinister, he went away again. Are you happy living with your cousins?
I would be happier living with you and ma'ma, Emily said as she looked at his long finger nails.
Of course, my dear. But we can't go back. When I close my eyes in the evening, your mother talks to me. She tells me to get out of here safely and to look after you. I miss your mother terribly but she's in heaven now, and we can't bring her back.
I wish we could, Emily said dejectedly. I feel so alone without you and her. It was so lovely when we lived in Kingston, in our house with the garden and the river. Do you remember the tree father? her face lit up momentarily. You made me a house in the tree, and we sometimes sat up there and drank tea.
Her father nodded and smiled again. Listen to me Emily, his grip increased on her hand as if that would make her listen more closely. You will be safe at your cousins. Aunt Beatrice, Helen, and James are good people. They will look after you, and help you over the next five years until I get out of here. Who knows, you may even find a husband in that time, he said trying to lighten the mood.
Emily wanted to fall in love and be as happy as her parents had been. She'd seen how beautiful their love for one another was. Emily suddenly thought about her mother and how awful it had been when she'd died. Her mother had been the cornerstone of the family. Her father had owned a very successful building company, and he'd been well respected in London. His services had been in demand by the rich and famous, and at some point, he became so busy he'd employed a firm of accountants to deal with his finances. The family were suddenly rich and had moved into a large house on the Thames, in Kingston, a well-to-do suburb of London. Despite taking advice as to the reputation of the firm of accountants and it's owner, he found himself bereft of funds very soon afterwards. When he couldn't pay his bills, he was arrested for non-payment of tax and sentenced to five years in prison.
I've brought you some apples, bread, and butter, Emily said lifting the bag onto the table. The warder came across and looked.
When it was time to go, Emily clung to her father and had to be pulled away from him. When she was outside in the fresh air, she vomited. Don't worry about it, young lady, it gets us all like that the first time, a fat lady with a dirty coat said.
Emily, Emily, Helen shrieked as she bounced into Emily's bedroom. Emily was lying under the covers thinking about her father and the awful place he was in. We're going to a party, look. Helen looked at the bed and saw Emily's face appear.
That will be nice, she said in a melancholy tone She hadn't slept and she had dark rings under her eyes.
Emily, I'm going to take you in hand. It's no good, I can't stand by and watch you torture yourself anymore. Now sit up and listen to me.