Page 53 of Doxy for the Ton
“Shall we leave you alone, Lily darlin’?” Mrs. Briggs asked. “Or perhaps you’d like to take your rest. Your bedchamber’s empty—Mary’s out working.”
Lily nodded, then shuffled toward the door, her gaze fixed on Mimi. Understanding her fear, Mimi retreated toward the fireplace, enabling the other woman to exit the parlor without passing too close. Lily sidled toward the doorway, then fled, clattering up the stairs.
“Forgive her,” Mrs. Briggs said. “She’s frightened of strangers. She wouldn’t speak a word to me for a full day after she arrived.”
“What happened to her?” Mimi asked.
“Her husband was killed. Fell into the river drunk—served him right, the way he’d knocked her about. She took to the streets to support her little ’un, but her landlord threw her out when she couldn’t pay the rent. Mary found her on the street after one of her customers had beaten her in front of Sam.”
“Sam?”
“That’s her boy, poor mite. Hardly been in the world three years and he’s seen more than most of us would hope to see in a lifetime. Ah—there’s Anna with the tea.”
A young woman entered, carrying a tray.
“Mimi!” she cried, a smile illuminating her features. “We’ve not seen you for a bit. We were gettin’ worried, especially after what happened to Bessie.”
“Bessie?” Mimi asked, recalling the flame-haired young woman from her last visit.
“She went out four days ago,” Mrs. Briggs said. “Never came home.”
“She might return in time,” Mimi said.
Anna let out a sob, and Mrs. Briggs shook her head. “No, darlin’,” she said. “Poor Bessie was found face down in the street the next night.”
“Dear Lord!” Mimi said. “How can I live with myself knowing what’s happening here?” She fished inside her reticule and pulled out a handful of coins. Then she shook her head and tipped out the entire contents. “Take it,” she said. “Take all of it.”
“No,” Mrs. Briggs said. “We cannot take all your money—only what you can afford.”
“What I can afford?” Mimi said. “How can I indulge in the life I have now when I know that so many others are suffering?”
“Because you’ve earned it, darlin’.”
Mimi shook her head. “I came there by sheer luck.”
“Luck—and the lack of it—is something that we must all reconcile ourselves with, darlin’,” Mrs. Briggs said. “You’ve had your share of bad luck, like the rest of us. Don’t wallow in the bottom of the ditch merely because you feel guilty for being given a chance in life. And don’t feel guilty for the life you lead merely because others have less than you.”
“But how can I stand it when I see the women here?”
“None of us resent you for having more than us,” Mrs. Briggs said. “If anyone does, that reflects poorly ontheircharacter rather than yours. You do more than enough for us.”
“I can never do enough for you, Mrs. Briggs,” Mimi said. “But if you’ll not accept my money, then I’ll help in other ways.”
Mrs. Briggs took her hand and patted it. “I know you will. And I’m sure Anna has plenty for you to do in the kitchen. Isn’t that right, Anna?”
“Aye, that’s right, Mrs. Briggs,” Anna said. “Mrs. Pickersgill sent over a bit of scrag end for a stew. You can help with that if you like—and there’s a pile of mending needing doin’.”
“Tea first,” Mrs. Briggs said. “Then perhaps a spot of cake. But you’ll only get yer cake if you get to the bottom of that pile of mending. Handing over yer coins doesn’t exempt you from hard work.” Her eyes sparkled with affection as she poured the tea then handed a cup to Mimi. “Anna, will Ethel and Jinny be joining us, or are they out?”
“Ethel’s out, but Jinny’s been inside all day—she tripped over on the street and hasn’t yet recovered. She’s been doin’ the laundry.”
“Tell her to join us, Anna darlin’. She’ll scrub those hands of hers raw if she’s not careful.”
Anna exited the parlor, then returned with a thin woman—barely older than a girl—with pale-blonde hair and a swollen lip. She limped into the parlor and smiled at Mimi before pouring a cup of tea for herself.
Tripped over on the street.
That was the doxy’s phrase for having been beaten by a customer. Mimi didn’t know what was worse—Jinny’s injuries, or her acceptance of them.
