The River Maid. Dilly Court
which led Essie to suspect that they were not the first female passengers he had entertained on the Santa Gabriella. If he had produced a gown or two it would not have come as a surprise.
Essie jumped at the sound of someone tapping on the door. ‘Come in.’
The maid who had supplied the bath water entered the room, this time carrying a bundle of garments. She dropped them on Sadie’s bed. ‘Capitano Falco.’ She stood, arms akimbo, eyeing Essie curiously.
‘Capitano Falco?’ Essie repeated dazedly.
‘Sì, Capitano Falco.’ The maid nodded, pointing at the clothes and then at Essie.
‘For me?’ Essie studied the young woman’s face, liking what she saw. Olive-skinned and dark-eyed with glossy black hair and plump cheeks, the maid was handsome rather than beautiful, and she was obviously curious. ‘Grazie,’ Essie said, recalling the word from her attempts to converse with the crew of the Santa Gabriella.
A wide smile almost split the young woman’s face in two. ‘Prego.’
Essie seized the opportunity to introduce herself. ‘I am Essie,’ she said, indicating herself with a hand gesture. ‘Essie.’
‘Filomena.’
Essie smiled and held out her hand. ‘Buon giorno, Filomena.’
‘Buon giorno, Essie.’
They shook hands solemnly and then, as if by mutual consent, they broke down in giggles. Filomena was still laughing as she left the room, and Essie let the towel fall to the floor as she stood up to examine the clothes. No doubt the captain had conjured them up from somewhere; she had complete confidence in his ability to handle any situation, having seen him as master of the ship and its crew. But Captain Falco aside, the thought of wearing clean clothes was almost too much to bear without shouting for joy. There were two cotton print gowns, both well-worn and faded from many washes, but spotlessly clean. One was smaller and that would be suitable for Sadie, and the other, when slipped over Essie’s head, was a near-perfect fit. Essie could not help wondering if Captain Falco had chosen the dresses himself and she felt the blood rush to her cheeks. It was one thing for a man to be gallant and charming as the captain was, when in a good mood, but quite another for a gentleman to gauge a woman’s size by merely looking at her. However, the dress was cool and comfortable, and for that she could only be grateful. What it looked like was another matter, as there was no mirror in the room, but that was the least of her worries. What to do next was more important.
Essie had just tied the sash about her waist when Sadie burst into the room, pink-cheeked and smiling.
‘Oh, my,’ she said, coming to a sudden halt. ‘You do look pretty, Essie. That dress really suits you.’ Her eyes lit up as she spotted the garment left on her bed. ‘And there’s one for me, too. I ain’t had a new frock since I started working in Hill Street.’ She allowed the towel to drop to the floor, exposing her skinny body still dripping wetly after her bath, which Essie was certain must have been cold and scummy. Such details did not seem to bother Sadie and she slipped the simple shift over her head. ‘Ain’t this just the prettiest thing you ever did see?’
Essie nodded wordlessly. The summery garment suited Sadie’s childish form, and with her damp golden hair curling wildly around her shoulders she looked like a water sprite who had risen from the deep to dance and twirl in the sunlight. For the first time Essie saw a hint of beauty yet to make its stamp on a young face and figure, and more importantly, Sadie was happy and excited. Essie gave her a hug. ‘You look very nice.’
‘I feel good,’ Sadie said, beaming. ‘I almost forgot – Lady Alice wants you.’
Essie left Sadie combing the tangles from her hair, and she went knock on Lady Alice’s door, entering when she heard a muffled response. ‘You wanted me, my lady?’
‘Look at me. Who does he think I am?’ Lady Alice stood stiffly to attention, holding her arms out like a scarecrow. ‘This is the ugliest gown I have ever seen and the material is cheap. I wouldn’t dress a servant in this.’ She looked Essie up and down. ‘Your gown isn’t much better, but then you’re a—’ she broke off, blushing. ‘I mean, you don’t have a position to keep up.’
‘It’s all right,’ Essie said, shrugging. ‘You don’t have to explain, but it’s not too bad. At least it’s clean and tidy.’
Lady Alice held out the skimpy skirt. ‘It’s a peasant’s dress. I expect Captain Falco thinks it’s funny – well, it isn’t. I won’t leave this room looking like a serving wench.’
‘I dare say these garments were hard to come by.’ Essie eyed Lady Alice critically. ‘Our own clothes should be ready soon. They’ll dry quickly in this heat and you’ve sent for a dressmaker, so it’s just a matter of time and you’ll feel like yourself again.’
‘Stop being sensible, Esther.’ Lady Alice threw up her hands. ‘I can’t face Falco looking like this, and I’m hungry. I need food, so you’ll have to go downstairs and order something to be sent to my room. I intend to remain here until my clothes are dry.’
‘Of course I’ll do that, but first I need to know what is to become of me. I’m here by accident, as are you, I suppose. But I want to return to London. My pa will be frantic with worry.’
‘Neither of us intended to travel to Italy, but now I’m here I want to make sure that Freddie is all right. At least I’ll see that he gets the money that Raven intended him to have.’
‘Where does that leave me, my lady? I haven’t a penny to my name.’
Lady Alice sat down suddenly. She reached for her hairbrush and began using it with a faraway expression on her face. ‘I should be in my home in Devonshire, walking my dogs on the cliff top and meeting up with old friends. Dinner parties, soirées, card games, dancing and listening to beautiful music with like-minded people. Instead of which I am here in a poky little room with a bath full of disgusting dirty water, and I’m wearing a gown that is unfit for the lowest menial in my employ.’
Essie’s patience was stretched to its limit. ‘Yes, my lady, but that doesn’t answer my question. If you intend to remain in Italy will you pay my passage home, and Sadie’s, too? Assuming that there is a ship in the harbour that might be sailing for England.’
‘You can’t abandon me,’ Lady Alice protested. ‘I cannot travel in the company of gentlemen without a female companion.’
‘But Raven is your cousin. Isn’t that respectable enough?’
‘No, it is not. You must see this through with me, and Sadie is my maid, so naturally she will remain with me.’ Lady Alice narrowed her eyes, gazing speculatively at Essie. ‘I will make it worth your while, but only if you promise not to leave me in the lurch.’
Essie thought quickly. She did not relish the thought of travelling home on her own, and it was not every day that a girl from Limehouse was given the opportunity to see a bit of the world. ‘All right,’ she said slowly. ‘But I need to send a message to my father, letting him know that I am safe.’
‘I’m sure Raven could organise that. Do I have your word that you won’t abandon me?’
‘I promise to stay with you until we return home.’
Lady Alice uttered a sigh of relief. ‘Thank you. Now, please, do as I asked and fetch me something to eat or I might faint from lack of nourishment.’
Essie collected Sadie on her way downstairs and they found Raven and Falco seated at one of the large pine tables, which was spread with a selection of foreign-looking cheeses, sliced sausage, bowls of glistening black olives and crusty loaves. Green and black grapes spilled over the side of a terracotta platter, which was filled with oranges, lemons and purple figs.
‘Come and join us,’ Raven said, raising a glass of red wine to them. ‘Where is my cousin?’
‘Lady