‘Your poor little feet are frozen, my dear. First thing in the morning Mrs Horlock is going to rig you out from head to toe. You’d like that, wouldn’t you?’

Eileen stared at the big man kneeling in front of her. His hands were now on her shins and she suppressed an urge to scream. Cissy’s threats of Nellie Deakins had had their desired effect, though. Everyone knew about Nellie Deakins’ house. Eileen wasn’t sure until tonight what actually went on in there, but she knew that once girls passed through the doors they were never seen again.

The man’s hands were now lifting up the nightdress and caressing her thighs. She had no drawers on and tried to squeeze her skinny legs together, but the man was parting them, gently but firmly, with his fingers. Eileen closed her eyes as his moustache began tickling her legs, its wetness roaming up her shins and along her thighs. He was lifting her off the chair now and on to the rug by the fire. She closed her eyes tightly as he began to undo the little bows on the front of the nightdress. As his cold hand enveloped one of her breasts she bit down on her lip, drawing blood.

Mrs Horlock walked into the room with a tray. Taking in the scene before her, she hastily left again, leaving the tray on the table in the hall. She smiled to herself. This one was more amenable than the last, praise God.

She was humming as she passed through the green baize door into the kitchen.

Eileen lay in a dream. Every bone in her body was aching, a fire raging between her legs. As the man pulled away from her she expelled her breath in a long sigh. She closed her eyes as he lay beside her and caressed her open body. She felt numbness invade her mind.

‘There, there, my beauty, that wasn’t so bad, was it? Now you’re busted, it’ll be easier for you in the future. I’m starving. Shall I get us something to eat?’

Eileen kept her eyes closed until he called in Mrs Horlock. The housekeeper said it had been a long day for the child and she needed her rest after all the excitement. Eileen walked from the room with the woman, feeling semen and blood running down her legs. She was tucked up into a nice soft bed, a compress of rags dipped in icewater between her legs.

Mrs Horlock spoke to her softly and kissed her sweating forehead.

Eileen didn’t sleep for three days. She never said a whole sentence to anyone for six months.

Her reign with Mr Dumas lasted one year.

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

‘Briony!’ Molly’s voice was harsh.

Briony, who had been sitting on the steps outside the door rushed into the room.

‘What’s wrong, Ma?’