“As discussed. In some cases, there are grandparents in the house as well so it’s multi-generational.” Stella noted.
“This is excellent Stella. We should speak to these families. See if they are interested. Start a list and then a waiting list to be added to the next house.”
Stella nodded in agreement.
“I’ll get my hat and gloves,” Caroline told her.
Coming downstairs, Caroline pulled on her gloves and secured her hat with the pearl and ruby hatpin, her only ornamental touch as she was in mourning.
The cab ride to Spitalfields was not far but it seemed like another world. The roads were sticky with slime and it looked dark and uneasy with the buildings pressed together and on top of each other. Stella had given the driver the address they sought, but the farther they traveled into the slum, the more it seemed like they were entering a place of desolation.
The stench of feces and other fluids was overwhelming, and the children wore rags while the women looked dazed, with blank stares upon their faces as the cab passed them by.
“My god,” Caroline uttered. “This place is god forsaken.”
Stella agreed. “That’s why what we are doing is so important.” Stella leaned across and took Caroline’s hand in hers. “What you’ve envisioned. It’s wonderful.”
Caroline shook her head. “I’ll barely make a dent. Not even a dent. A slight scratch on the surface.”
“It’s a start Caroline,” Stella told her. “It’s a start.”
When the cab came to a halt, the two women exited the carriage. The horse appeared to shift and neigh and Stella looked up at the driver.
“You’ll stay? We won’t be but 10 minutes,” she assured him.
He said nothing as the women entered the building to try and find the family Stella knew from the workhouse.
???
Val rubbed his forehead as Felix sat across from him in the small office.
“Don’t you think it’s interesting that Irene was seeing Simon Eastoft and Nell Lewis knew all about him from Irene. Yet I would bet a month’s salary that Simon Eastoft is absolutely not our man.”
“Looking at the old man we met, I would definitely not bet against you,” Felix agreed. “What are you thinking?”
“Someone knows all about Mr. Eastoft. He knows his occupation. They used his identity, and that identity helped him enter parties and balls to give him access to a life I’m sure he was not born into,” Val surmised.
“Who would do that?”
“Exactly. And who would masquerade as a solicitor and in the meantime offer to paint a young lady,” Val queried.
“You’re right. That’s odd.”
“You suspect someone else?” Felix wondered.
“I do.”
“Who?”
Val smiled. “Someone hiding in plain sight. Come. Let’s get some lunch.”
???
Caroline and Stella exited the squalor living arrangements after spending twenty minutes with the family.
The family was excited about the Housing project and wanted to be considered. They met all the requirements for the project that Caroline had drafted and they appeared to be their first candidate.
“Wonderful news!” Stella said as they came down the shabby stairs and into the street. “They will be our first family!”