THE DEPRIVED... Chapter 3... Part 34.

A continuation of my book.

“There now, girlie. You see how nice I can be.” said Mr. Rather, seating Beth in a chair and pouring out some turtle soup and then cutting off a slice of dainty cake with cream. “Come now, girlie. Drink and eat up. I mean you no harm. We’ll call this just a social visit so that we get to know each other.”
As Mr. Rather said that, the hooter blasted for the workers to return to their work places.  Beth began to rise.
“Oh no, girlie. You don’t have to go to work. You may take the afternoon off with me. Stay here in the office and have your meal. After that we can just have a little chat.” sweetened Mr. Rather.
Beth sat in the chair, her mind reeling as she tried to think up her excuses. How could she leave the office without upsetting him and keep the job.
“I need to go and see to myself, Mr. Rather. I did intend to do that during my dinner break.”
“See to yourself?” questioned Mr. Rather. “What do you mean?”
Beth gave a sweet smile.
“I’m a woman, Sir. We women have to keep ourselves clean for a time each month. Surely you know that?”
Mr. Rather knitted brows, touching the growth on his nose as he tried to figure out exactly what Beth meant.
“Oh.” he said, at last reasoning out what she meant. “Oh, I see! Well girlie, I shall give you the time you need but after that we will spend time together. Do you agree?”
Beth could do no more than nod her head in agreement and knowing that while she could get away with an excuse for so long, she would be losing her job when the time came for her to surrender to his demands.
“Then be on your way and give me just a kiss as you go.”
Beth rose and Mr. Rather leaned into her, the growth on his nose looming redder and larger. Beth simply closed her eyes and puckered. The feel of his lips on hers made her feel sick and she fought the urge to spew up over this man who now smiled broadly.
“Remember, girlie. I’ll be watching you and will have you when you’re ready.”
Beth hurried out of the office, the taste of him on her lips and tears clouding her eyes.
Stanbridge watched Beth leave the office and smiled when she saw the tears.
“Hurry up, girl! Get to your workplace!” she snarled.

The afternoon was a blur. As Beth worked, her mind searched through a thousand ways in which she could escape from Mr. Rather’s intentions. She knew she would have a few days respite but if she did not come up with a good reason for not agreeing to the man’s needs then she was back on the streets. By the time the hooter blasted at seven o’clock, Beth had no answers and knew that Fanny might be able to think of something.

Upstairs, in the house, the girls were all setting out to visit the Greyfriars Hall which had a showing of songs and dancing. Beth and Fanny had begged off the chance to go with them and it was when the girls had giggled their way downstairs that Beth told Fanny about the demands Mr. Rather had made of her.
“I don’t know what to do!” Beth sobbed. “I had to kiss the beast otherwise I would have lost the job and a place to stay.” she cried.
Fanny hugged her.
“Let’s be telling Nat of this. He has the mind for these things and will needle his bonce till something comes up.” she said.
“No, Fanny!” cried Beth. “You cannot tell him that I was made to kiss Mr. Rather!”
Fanny could see the frantic look on Beth’s face and immediately promised she would say nothing to Nat.
“But it aint right as to keeping secrets. Nat is of an understanding nature, that you know by now. You has to say something to him, Beth. What’s in telling him as to you losing your job? What’s the explaining then?”
Beth stopped crying, not knowing what to do.
“What’s in telling Nat if you lose your job and that beast starts in smearing your name. I heard he’s gone and done it before to a girl and the girl died by throwing herself into the wood-cutting machine.”
“I will tell him Fanny but not tonight. I can’t see him tonight. Please tell Nat I have a headache and I will see him tomorrow night.”
Fanny left, going downstairs to meet Nat and, with her leaving, Beth threw herself down on the bed and began to sob, crying until she could cry no more and with the exhaustion came sleep.

 

There was a strange kind of quietness at work. Stanbridge seemed very subdued and saying nothing to the girls as they filed in to begin work at the machines and the dipping trays. Beth noted that Mr. Rather was not in his office. There was no sign of him, which was unlike him to miss the morning start. Beth wondered if he might be ill. She really hoped so and wished that he had even been too ill to ever come to work again. Somehow she felt calmer, even happy as she settled herself into the days work.
Stanbridge had been called upstairs to the Manager’s offices and was gone some time. When she came back into the workplace she seemed to be rather pleased with herself and held in her hands the keys to Mr. Rather’s office. All eyes were on her as she went to Georgina’s bench.
The big girl stopped and having listened to what Stanbridge had to say then joined her, the pair walking down the stairs and into Mr. Rather’s office. The word quickly spread round the workplace, whispers moving from one to the other as the news spread that Stanbridge was now the new Floor-Manager, while Georgina was to take her place as the supervisor.
“It seems Mr. Rather got his come-uppence early this morning on his way to work. Someone as come upon him and caused a mischief that he now lies to a hospital bed in a coma of sorts.” whispered the girl next to Beth. “Stanbridge is now in position of his job and Georgina is taken to be the new supervisor and take her place on the floor. It should be all to sweet larkings now.”
Beth continued to work, her mind running ahead of her. At first she had been relieved at the news, that some footpad had robbed Mr. Rather and caused his malady. But the more Beth thought about it, the more she felt that Mr. Rather’s attack was more than fortunate and to her benefit.
Tonight, after work, she would ask Fanny if she had told Nat about her dealings with the unfortunate Mr. Rather.

“Hand on me heart, me ducks, I had not a mention of a word to Nat about your problem!” exclaimed Fanny when Beth had asked her. “And even if I had given Nat a nod to your hardship, he aint the soul as would attack Mr. Rather. Nat aint like that. Nat’s a kind-hearted soul as is me word on him.”
Beth had to believe Fanny and sighed in relief. Had it been Nat’s
handiwork then she would never have been comfortable in his company.
“I believe you, Fanny.” she said and Fanny had kissed her cheek and laughed.
“You’re such a silly goose, Beth. And anyways, just accept the mischief that old man has to his head as a blessing and that it saves you from your own self as having a worry!”
“I don’t wish the nasty man any harm, Fanny and I’ll pray for him and his health.” replied Beth.
Here again Fanny laughed.
“It’s an easy heart you have, Beth and there’s times it aint to your cause.” she said.

Later that night as Beth sat on the bench with Nat they held hands and she gazed at him, seeing his soft look along with his gentle smile and happy nature and she knew he would never be the kind of man to have attacked Mr. Rather, no matter what kind of beast the man was.

“You’re in quiet a mood tonight, Beth.” said Nat.
“I’m sorry Nat. I was just wondering about us and wondering what the future holds. It seems that every time I think the future is to be a happy one something comes along to destroy the dreams. My father had such high hopes when he brought us away from our home in Ireland and I wish to God that he had never done so.”
“If you aint done so, Beth then we ought never to meet, aint that so?” said Nat.
“That’s true, Nat. I wasn’t thinking when I said that. Of course I wanted to meet you and have what we have.”
Beth put her head in her hands at her thoughts. Nat gently lifted her hands away from her face and held them tightly.
“Listen to me Beth.” he said. “There aint none of us as can be sure as to what lays ahead but it’s our hopes and dreams which are the blessing of us and keep us alive. It’s that which is the knowing and keeps us reaching for a better life. We must not give up the real fancies in us for a better future otherwise it’s in us to give up on life and fade away.”
Beth raised her face to look at Nat, seeing him wise and so sensible, so strong and positive. He leaned in to kiss her lips.
“I was in speaking to Fanny last night.” he said.
Beth’s heart leapt in fear, hoping Fanny had not broken her confidence.
“In speaking, I spoke to her of me thoughts on moving from the damp basement and seeking out me own digs.” said Nat.
“Oh what a good idea.” said Beth, the relief flooding out from her.
“I was also on speaking to her about the three of us, Fanny and me and you as well, all of us finding a couple of rooms we can share. If you looks on it Beth, with us three in working, our wages is giving us the afford to get some good local digs. What do you think?”
For a while Beth sat in stunned silence. She was so happy at the thought of her actually living with Nat, the man she loved so desperately and to have her best friend Fanny with them as well.
“Nothing would make me more happier, Nat.” she breathed.
“Then I’ll be looking in search of some rooms of rentage as will do to hold the three of us.” enthused Nat and he kissed Beth with such passion that she gasped for breath when he let go.