The Midwife's Tale(103)
The return to normalcy also gave me the chance to plan Anne Goodwin’s escape from York. I knew that Rebecca would not rest until she had protected herself from Anne, so she would never be safe in the city. For Anne’s sake, I wanted to wait until the siege ended, so I sent a few shillings to Samuel Short to ensure her comfort. A week later, word came that Prince Rupert’s forces would soon arrive at York, and the city rejoiced to see the rebels breaking camp. As the rebels fled and Rupert’s men came into sight, the Lord Mayor ordered the city’s church bells be rung to celebrate the city’s miraculous deliverance. I did not know how long our reprieve would last, so I hastened to the Castle. When I arrived, the gate was wide open as the garrison celebrated the end of the siege. A guard took me straight to Samuel’s tower, and Tree met me at the door.
“Hello, lady,” he said brightly, and to my surprise and pleasure he threw his arms around my legs, gave me a hug, and began to chatter on about the doings in the Castle. “There’s a pregnant lady in one of the other towers,” he said. “They’ll execute her after she has the child. If you’re her midwife, you can visit me and Samuel all the time!”
“I’m not her midwife,” I said, forcing a smile. “But I’ll tell Samuel that you can visit me as often as you want.” And I’ll wash you every time you do, I thought.
“Welcome, Lady Hodgson,” a voice called out, and Samuel Short appeared at the top of the stairs that led to the cells. “I’ve only got one guest of yours now, and she is doing well. You can go down to see her on your own. Since she’s staying voluntarily, I stopped locking the door.” He thought for a moment. “Perhaps I’ll start renting out the rest of the rooms as well,” he said with an impish grin. “I could advertise the healing properties of the Ouse. You could invite your friends from the countryside! What do you say?”
“With the end of the siege, business would be quite brisk,” I said. “I’ll summon my relatives from Hereford. They’d much prefer this to one of the inns. It has a lovely view of the moat and river.”
“Excellent news! We’ll be rich!”
“I am rich, Samuel.”
“True enough,” he said with a laugh. “But then we’d both be rich. I could be knighted, perhaps even become a lord!”
When I reached Anne’s cell, I found that it now held many of the comforts Esther had left behind. Anne sat on the bed, reading a cheap pamphlet. I glanced at the title and saw that it detailed the horrid murder of Thomas Penrose by his rebellious apprentice and a whore. I supposed that description of the crime came nearer the truth than the one about Stephen Cooper’s murder.
Anne rose when I entered and curtsied deeply. “My lady, thank you again for arranging my stay here.”
I could not help laughing. “Any time you would like to stay in a prison cell, I think I will be able to find you a spot.” Her smile gladdened my heart, and I knew that all would be well with her. “Anne,” I said, “I think now is the time for you to leave.”
“But what about the Hookes? They can’t have given up already, can they?”
“No, they haven’t. But I don’t mean that you should leave the Castle. You still need to leave York. London would be best, and I have purchased a seat on a carriage leaving this afternoon. It is unlikely the Hookes would follow you so far, and they would have a devil of a time finding you if they did. They say it is growing by the thousands every year. I have already sent letters on your behalf to my friends in the city. They will see that you find a good position.” I gave her a packet with the names of my London friends, and a few coins to help her until she found a position.
“What of my family?” she asked. “Surely I will see them again, won’t I?”
“They will meet us at the carriage to bid you farewell, but you must remember that your life here is over, and your new one lies in London. Gather your belongings, for we must leave immediately. If the King’s men lose their advantage, the rebels may renew their siege of the city.”
Anne nodded and began to put her meager possessions in a canvas bag. She followed me to Coneystreet, where a southbound carriage prepared for its departure. Her seat had cost me a pretty penny, but after all she had suffered, it seemed the least I could do for her. As we approached the inn, I could see Margaret and Daniel Goodwin peering anxiously into the crowd in search of Anne’s face. The smiles that lit up their faces when they caught sight of her will stay with me for the rest of my days. I saw joy and love, of course, but also a trace of sadness, for they knew that they might never see their daughter again. I stood back while they embraced, and when they started to cry, I swallowed my own tears. To say farewell to one’s child is a terrible thing. All too soon, the driver shouted for his passengers. Anne clambered aboard and found a seat by the window. As the carriage pulled into the street and started toward the Ouse Bridge, Anne spied me and raised her hand in thanks and farewell. I looked for Margaret and Daniel in the crowd but could not find them. After the carriage turned out of sight, I went home.