Black Road to Heaven

Chapter 11: Emily

“She has given me a job Sam, did you see her? She just left, she told me I could be her ‘extra pair of eyes’ and that I could work for her, and she will give me clothes and  food! I will be able to sleep there and-” I cut off suddenly, realising that this meant no more early morning visits to Sam. None of his warm bread, no more secret sharing, and no more giggling with him about things that were not funny.

Lady Freda would expect me to give her what information I had before she ate dinner, much earlier than Sam finished selling and I could not go out so early in the mornings to meet him. So although we would be working in the same street, we could hardly be friends now, could we?

Tears sprung to my eyes as I realised that by achieving my two-year dream, I was leaving behind my whole life and my only friend.

“Do not cry Emily, we can find time to see each other. Eventually everyone will get to know that you work for a Lady and then they should not be so awful to you. Also, I do not care if you come to talk to me in the day, no-one shall mind!” He said gruffly, and then playfully added, “Besides, you may need my help, you may not be the best detective in the world, but we can be the best detective duo ever!”

“Partners in crime,” I shouted, a little too loudly.

“No, you are working on behalf of a Lady! That can be no crime!” He grinned, but it was a sad grin and I knew then that he would miss me just as much as I would miss him.

“Do you know where Hycott Manor is?” I asked him quietly.

“Yes I do, t’is not far from here, but I do not know how to describe it to you. How about I finish up here in a little while and I will take you over there and show you the way?” he asked, and I nodded gratefully.

I sat on his stool for the next hour in almost total silence, watching the comings and goings of the street. At one point, I saw Lady Catherine Beaumont walk up the street with a man and two children, a girl of about my age (presumably the one from the newspaper a few weeks ago) and a boy a few years younger. Lady Catherine looked at me for a few seconds and then moved on.

***

“Be this the way Sam?” I asked him, as he was showing me the way to Hycott Manor.

He nodded but we both paused in our steps, out of breath. “Are you taking note of all of this Emily?” Sam asked me, “You will have to walk this way every day!”

“Yes, yes, I am remembering!” I said back to him. “I am tempted to sleep in a bush or something near here tonight so that I do not have to walk all of this way again in the morning.” I said.

Sam shook his head, “I would not recommend that. From Baker Street, you can hear the big clock bells chime by the hour, and that be your only way of telling the time. I would leave at about ten of the clock, that way you can walk very slowly and still be early. I will still give you breakfast as usual, and you had better scrub your hands and nails in the well, new employers check for that.”

I laughed at his big speech and he turned red and said, “There is something very strange about this though. Why did Lady Freda choose you, and why now when you have been on Baker Street for two years?”

“I have thought of that also, but I shall soon find out when I go there by morning tide.” I could not help smiling, for I was just so happy.

“Why exactly has she hired you?” He asked, clearly not prepared to leave me be.

I sighed, “I told you Sam, she said that she would like me to find out what her husband was doing with her money!”

“But that is the strange thing, how does she expect you to find out? No-one is going to discuss their private financial matters with you and it is quite clear that her husband hates you Emily, so you cannot talk to him!” he said, not unkindly.

There was a small awkward pause and then I just burst in to tears. He was right, how was I supposed to find out anything? I would have to turn down the offer, and that meant no food, no clothes, no home ... and no Lady Freda.

Sam scooped me up into an embrace and said, “I am so sorry Emily; that was a very horrible thing to say. I am sure you will make a brilliant detective.”

But I shook my head, “No, you were right, who is going to tell me anything?”

“It is okay, I can help you! We really will be partners in crime. And you are clever Emily, it is not many people who can survive on Baker Street for two years!” He said reassuringly.

I looked up at him disbelievingly. “But you have to work; you will not have time to help me. And the only reason I have survived so long is because of you!”

He looked earnest as he said, “I will make time.” I smiled at him, feeling much better and he said, “Come on, it would be wise to go back to Baker Street before it gets dark.”

We walked up the rest of the hill so we could see Hycott Manor. It was beautiful, the sun was just setting behind it and the sky was a glorious gold and red. The many windows glinted in the sunlight and the huge gates stood erect from the ground, looming over all who approached. I was glad she had asked me to come to the back of the house, the front was very intimidating; I simply could not imagine myself standing down there.

Tiny ant-sized people ran around the front of the house and I am sure I saw Lady Freda at one point but being so far away, I cannot be sure.

“Wow, it is beautiful!” I said, breath taken.

“I’ll say!” Sam agreed and then, “We really had better get back to Baker Street now, ‘tis getting dark.”

I nodded and followed him back down the hill, but I could not rid myself of the image of the beautiful Hycott Manor. My new home...