The Beggar Maid by Dilly Court

girl.’
    â€˜I’m all right, really I am.’ Charity felt far from well, but she did not want to make the situation worse.
    Jethro turned his back on Daniel. ‘Get back to work, girl. I’m hungry and I want my dinner,’
    â€˜Don’t do it, Charity,’ Daniel said urgently. ‘Come with me. Uncle Wilmot will take you in, or at least he’ll find you another position where you’re not treated like a slave.’
    Charity’s head ached and her limbs seemed to have turned to lead. Her first instinct had been to walk out of the door and go with Daniel, but experience warned her against putting her trust in impulsive pledges. Her grandfather had lived his life making promises he could not keep and she suspected that this might be the case now. Daniel meant well, of that she was sure, but he was an impecunious student and she was by no means certain that she would be received on a permanent basis in Doughty Street. ‘Thank you for your concern,’ she said in a low voice. ‘But you’d best go now, Daniel. I can look after myself.’
    He shot a look of pure loathing at Jethro. ‘I don’t want to leave you with this brute.’
    â€˜I’ve been called worse.’ Jethro shambled towards him.
    â€˜I’ll be back tomorrow, Charity.’ Daniel stepped outside into the street. ‘I won’t rest until I know you’re all right.’
    â€˜Good riddance.’ Jethro slammed the door and put up the
Closed
sign. ‘Get on with it, girl, or you’ll feel the back of my hand for a second time today.’
    Charity retreated to the kitchen, slamming the door behind her. Jethro had been harsh in his treatment of her but he had never lashed out with his fists as he had today. There was no one in authority to whom she could go for protection – the law would be on the side of her employer. She was a humble worker and he was entitled to chastise her as he saw fit. Men had been getting away with violence against women for centuries and there was little or nothing they could do to protect themselves. She doubted if either the doctor or Mr Barton would want to get involved. Daniel was an idealist and he was young, but she suspected that he too would realise the futility of trying to help her when he had had time to cool down. She set about preparing a meal despite her aching head and bruised body.
    When she put his food in front of Jethro that evening he kept his gaze lowered as if afraid to look her in the eye. ‘You wasn’t wearing that frock when you left here this morning,’ he said suspiciously. ‘Did you spend my money on new duds and make up the story about being mugged by a street gang?’
    â€˜I most certainly did not.’ Stung by the unfairness of this accusation, Charity forgot to be humble. ‘How dare you suggest such a thing? This dress came out of the missionary barrel at the doctor’s house.’
    He shot her a sideways glance. ‘And why would the doctor give you a new dress. Did you ask for less money in order to get on his good side? Have you been cheating me, miss?’
    â€˜You sent me all that way without the cab fare and I got caught in a thunderstorm. I was soaked to the skin and my dress and bonnet were ruined. Mrs Rose took pity on me and gave me a change of clothes, the same as she did when I first went there last winter. My name is Charity and I’m a charity case, as she pointed out.’
    â€˜So where did my money go?’
    â€˜I was set upon and robbed on my way back to the shop, as I told you. I’m not a liar, Mr Dawkins.’
    â€˜The money you lost will come out of your wages,’ he muttered. ‘And if that young fellow comes sniffing round I’ll carry out my threat to report him to the authorities at the university. You’ll keep away from young men while you’re under my roof. Do you understand?’
    â€˜I’ve no interest in Daniel