THE DEPRIVED...Chapter 2... Part 7.

A continuation of my book.

Goldie stood at the door and watched as Mary hurried down the stairs and began to make her way out into the street. Laughing loudly, she closed the door and started to undress.
Downstairs, Danny leaned against the bar and seeing Mary hurry down the stairs he called to her.
“Here you are, Mary. You did very well and there’s more to be made.”
Saying that, he handed her two silver shillings.
“I have to get home.” she said as she took the money and hurried out through the door.
Danny smiled and lifted his glass to his lips.

 

“I’m so sorry.” said Mary as she came into the room.
Beth ran to her, putting her arms round her mother’s waist and hugged her.
“Where were you Mammy? Me and Sam were so worried about you. We didn’t sleep at all, did we Sam?”
“I’m so sorry.” Mary cried again. “Sorry to you Beth and to you Sam.”
Sam did not look up. His brows were drawn, his mouth bitter.
“Look how much I earned last night!” said Mary, trying to smile as she showed the children the two shillings and six pennies.
“And I can earn more if I try.”
“What do you have to do for that?”
Sam had suddenly stood up, his question soured by his expression.
Mary stared at him. He had never spoken to her like that before, so strange and adult for his age.
“I just collect and clean the glasses.” she replied.
Sam turned back to look out of the window.
“Sam’s been acting very weird lately.” whispered Beth later that day as they prepared the tea.
“He’s growing into a man.” replied Mary and smiled as if she was sharing a secret.
Beth nodded a wise head though not fully understanding. Mary bit her lip, a worried frown crossing her face as she turned to look at Sam who once again sat with his face to the window. The children had fallen to sleep and Mary sat on the chair by the window, looking back at the children as they slept. Her lower lip trembled, her eyes filling with tears and than her body began to shake as she let loose the flow as she silently sobbed.

 

“I shall make that shilling up to two shillings!” cried Danny as he came into the booth where Mary sat at the table behind the curtains and saying that, Danny laid another silver shilling beside the one already on the table.
“And here’s to many more, Mary. You will be rich quite soon!”
Mary said nothing as she picked up the two coins and tucked them away into the purse she carried.
“Tonight I am expecting a certain Mr. Regus Jones. He is a very important man who is desperate to meet you.”
Danny smiled, persuasive though Mary did not return the smile, her eyes grave.
“I expect you’ll be serving me that coloured water again?” she asked, now knowing the drink had been laced with some form of drug which caused her to let go of all moral forms of decency.
Danny said nothing and merely smiled. Whatever he might have said it was too late and Mary had the ice of revenge in her heart. It was too late to cry over what had happened earlier but with Michael gone it was up to her to provide for herself and her children in any way she could.
“I will be happy to meet your Mr. Regus Jones.” she said.

Mr. Regus Jones sweated heavily, with loose lips that dribbled spit with each sentence. He was large, seeming to fill and overflow the seat as he sat down and now he stared at Mary with small blood-shot eyes that paled the blue.
“Hallo my dear woman.” he said, lifting her hand from the table and slobbering over it.
Mary smiled graciously, trying hard to hide her feelings and not to laugh at this large man who easily filled the blue frockcoat and the undone buttons to a waistcoat which lost out to a bulging stomach. Goldie had already brought in the two glasses of drink, sitting them on the table before bobbing a curtsy and leaving. Mr. Jones drank his drink down in one swift gulp, dribbling much of it down his chin to spoil the waistcoat. Mary followed suit in draining her glass and looked at the man expectantly. It would seem he was as nervous as she was and pulling the curtain back he demanded more drinks in a loud voice.
The night seemed to drag along with Mr. Jones trying to hold a conversation between times of flatulence and the need to burp loudly. Mary coaxed him to drink, slyly pouring most of her drink into his glass when he visited the outside cesspit at quickening intervals.
“Goldie!” Mary called.
Goldie’s head popped around the curtain.
“I think Mr. Jones is ready for bed.” said Mary with a tight smile.
Goldie and Mary each took an arm and heaved the lumbering man to his feet and spread his arms around their shoulders as they helped him from the booth and up the stairs.
“It’s alright, Goldie. I’ll see to him now.” said Mary, closing the bedroom door.
Mr. Jones snored loudly, spread out and taking up all the bed. Mary began to undress him, struggling to lift his body as he continued to snore. At last she had his whale of pink blubbery flesh laying on the bed and pulled over a blanket to cover the monstrosity. Going through his clothing Mary found his purse and took out two silver shillings. Though there was a money belt which hid some seven sovereigns, Mary only took enough to cover her expenses. Going back downstairs Mary sat at a table near the bar and ignored those who tried to talk to her and refused offers to dance. Henry brought over a drink and she sipped at it slowly.

 

Mary was not aware of the small pale face which peered at her through the tavern window. She did not see the dark eyes burning like heated coals as they concerned themselves with her every move before moving away.
Sam walked away through the coming dusk.