Lies and Misdemeanours

“I am coming dearie, keep your hair on,” Mabel grumbled around a wide yawn.

Hetty stood at the window and studied the road while she tried to decide what to do. If they went out onto the main road and walked in the direction they needed to go, they would have to pass the jail. It would be right under the noses of the jailers, and the most audacious thing she could do. Unfortunately, she had no choice now because she wasn’t familiar with the town enough to know if there was an alternative back route through the alleyways that meant they could stay out of sight.

The thought that she would be able to see Simon and Charlie again, in the flesh, with her own eyes, was more than enough to give her the strength and determination she needed to get through the next few hours. She turned to face the room, and Mabel, with renewed determination.

“Right, we are going to get out of here once and for all today,” she declared as she marched across the room, yanked open the door, and waved Mabel toward the hallway. “Let’s go.”

Mabel stared at her. “What’s come over you today?”

“I am not going to be cowed by Cedric Meldrew,” Hetty snapped. “That’s all.”

Before she could say anything else though, Mabel yanked her back into the room, then closed and locked the door.

“Let’s do something about that mop of yours before we go outside, shall we?” Mabel declared pointedly. “If you leave with your hair as it is, you will be spotted as soon as you appear in the doorway.”

Hetty opened her mouth to speak only to be shoved down into the rickety looking chair before the cold fireplace. She watched as Mabel scooped up a handful of ash out of the grate and dutifully leaned forward in the chair when Mabel ordered her to. Before Hetty could object, the old woman rubbed her soot laden hands through Hetty’s silken hair, rendering it absolutely filthy, and a completely different colour.

She wished she had a mirror so she could see the outcome for herself, but had to rely on Mabel’s satisfied nod instead.

“Pin it up and cover it with your shawl.” She waited only until Hetty did as instructed before she turned to the door. “Come on then, let’s go.”

Stunned, Hetty pushed cautiously at her hair and tried not to sneeze when a dust cloud appeared in front of her face. She hurried after her friend, positive that she now had a dirty face to go with her grubby hair, but was unwilling to stop in the tavern long enough to check.

As she stepped out onto the main street, the town had already begun to come to life. Dawn had only just started to chase the night away, and cast the buildings and empty streets into shadows of different hues.

Although it was still a little difficult to see, there was enough light to guide them without a lantern.

Hetty heaved a sigh of relief at being able to get on their way again, and hurried in the direction of Hemsley.

“Oh, Good Lord,” Mabel whispered as they turned the corner into the main street, and spotted the gallows still outside the jail.

They shared a look before they ducked their heads and hurried past the macabre structure.

“Keep going,” Mabel urged as they walked past the jail, and headed deeper into town.

“What do we do?” Hetty whispered as they turned the corner at the end of the road and saw a group of jailers walking toward them.

“Keep walking,” Mabel sighed. “We have got to go in that direction. We can’t go all the way around or we will get lost.”

“We have to pass them,” Hetty whispered.

“We can’t turn around and hurry away. That will look suspicious,” Mabel chided.

“’Ere, where are you two going?” One of the jailers suddenly called.

Hetty froze in mid-step, and turned wide eyes on the group of men as they walked toward her. She shared a look with Mabel, who suddenly looked wary.

“We are off to work,” Mabel replied. “We are going to be late if we don’t get a move on.”

Lost for words, Hetty nodded and ducked her head to move past them only for one of the jailers to block her path.

“Where do you work?” The man demanded suspiciously. He ducked his head so he could see Hetty’s face.

Hetty looked up at him and frowned. She didn’t know the town, so didn’t know any of the tavern names. Her mind raced. She looked askance at Mabel, but daren’t speak. It took all of her strength to keep her face as blank as possible while she waited to see what they were going to do.

“We work for the Sunderland’s across town. I am their housekeeper. This here is Dotty, their scullery maid. If we don’t go now we are going to get our wages docked,” Mabel warned darkly.

She grabbed Hetty’s elbow and shoved her roughly around the group of men. “Unless you are going to arrest us for going to work, you need to get out of our way and let us get on with it.”