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The woman stopped, turning fully to look at the barmaid for the first time since entering the room. She gave a slow, satisfied nod. ‘The boy is no longer your problem. Anna will see you out…’ And with that, she dragged Billy into the passageway, slamming the door behind her.

Swearing, Gladys hurried after them, yanking it back open, only to be faced with a second guard. ‘It’s time you left, Mrs,’ he stated, his voice stony. ‘Anna will take you out the back way.’ Then, dragging the door out of her grip, he slammed it in her face.

CHAPTER 21

Gladys turned on the scullery maid, snarling, ‘Where the devil are they keepin’ em?’

Anna shrank back. ‘You ain’t got no chance o’ freein’ ‘im now, or any of ‘em,’ she stuttered. ‘I ‘ave to walk you round to the gate.’

‘I ain’t leavin’ wi’out ‘im, Gladys spat, slamming her hand on the table.

‘Then you won’t be leaving at all.’ The words were whispered, but they had the same effect as a bucket of ice-cold water tossed in the barmaid’s face. Gripping the edge of the table, Gladys fought to calm down, to remember what she and Billy had come here for. The lad was safe for the moment. She was the one teetering on a knife’s edge.

She turned back to the scullery maid who was still staring at her wide-eyed and trembling.

‘Tell me where they’re keepin’ the children,’ she repeated, this time taking care to keep her voice soft and even. ‘Let me ‘elp you.’

For a moment Anna said nothing, then she sighed. ‘I thought everyone ‘ad forgotten about us,’ she murmured.

‘Not everyone,’ Gladys responded quietly. ‘I ‘ave friends who can ‘elp you, but you need to tell me where they’re bein’ ‘eld.’

The scullery maid dipped her head and fiddled with her dress while Gladys waited, fighting the urge to shake the girl. It was nigh on five minutes before she looked up.

‘I’m not sure they’ll let you leave,’ she whispered. ‘Once yer on the drive, anyone wi’ barkin’ irons’ll be able to take you down, easy as they like.’

‘The guards have pistols?’ Gladys questioned, her voice urgent.

Anna nodded. ‘All of ‘em, I reckon.’ She bit her lip, staring down at the table as though the grooves in the wood could provide her with the answers she needed.

‘Please let me ‘elp you,’ Gladys begged.

‘They’ve got em in the basement.’ The maid’s voice was barely audible. ‘It’s bigger ‘an most folk’s ‘ouses. Mrs Bridgers gives ‘em a reg’lar dose o’ poppy to keep ‘em quiet.’

‘The witch’s name is Mrs Bridgers?’

Surprisingly, Anna gave a small grin. ‘Can you imagine any bloke gettin’ into bed wi’ that…? I don’t reckon she’s ever bin leg shackled no matter what title she gives ‘erself. Any cull wot tries ‘is luck wi’ ‘er is like to see ‘is prick shrivel up.’ She paused with a shudder, adding, ‘She likes ‘urtin’ people. Kids especially.’ She looked directly at Gladys then. ‘The door to the basement is under the stairs. O’ course it’s locked.’

Gladys nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Her anger was stopping her from thinking straight, and the temptation to do something reckless was rapidly taking over all reason.

‘D’you know where she keeps the key?’ she finally managed hoarsely.

Anna shook her head. ‘On ‘er somewhere I should think. She don’t trust nobody.’

Gladys looked longingly at the door into the passageway. The temptation to go hunting for the baggage was so strong, she unconsciously took a step towards it, only turning back as Anna spoke again.

‘You don’t ‘ave to go back down the drive. There’s another way out through an ‘ole in the wall ‘bout hundred yards away from the back yard. I go out that way sometimes when they need me to ‘elp up at the big ‘ouse.’

Taking a deep breath, Gladys forced the anger down. Burstin her stay-lace wouldn’t help anyone. She realised the maid was talking about Benedict’s breach in the wall. ‘Wot about the dogs?’ asked.

Anna shrugged. ‘Don’t you worry none ‘bout them. They’re daft as brushes. Bout the worst bloody guard dogs I’ve ever met.’ She gave a small chuckle. ‘O’ course Mrs Bridgers don’t see that ‘cos they bloody ‘ate ‘er like everyone else.’

‘So, if the dogs won’t tear you to pieces, why don’t you do a runner?’ She asked, unable to understand why the girl would keep coming back.

‘They’ve got me sister down there,’ Anna said simply. ‘An’ I ain’t goin’ to leave her. Not ever.’

Impulsively, Gladys stepped forward and pulled the girl into her arms. For a second, Anna stiffened. Then with a low sob, she melted into the unexpected embrace, wrapping her arms tightly around the older woman, taking what comfort she could. When they finally parted, she sniffed and said, ‘Come on, I’ll show you the ‘ole.’

Gladys nodded, accepting the futility of trying to persuade the girl to go with her. Especially as she had no intention of going any further than the breach. Vengeance had to wait.