Buying The Virgin Part 1-3 novel Chapter 94

ELIZABETH

Charlotte nods, relaxing a bit, unfolding her arms. Will regards her, chin resting on his fist.

“You don’t like the Police much, do you Charlotte?”

“Not much, no.”

“Why not? I think there’s more to it than this misunderstanding over James.”

The folded arms are back. “Because on the half dozen or so occasions I ran away from Blessingmoors, every single time, the Police caught me and took me in, and regardless of anything I tried to say to them, delivered me right back there to have the shit beaten out of me.”

Will rubs his lower lip thoughtfully. “So, why did you agree to help us at all?”

“Because Mr Haswell asked me to.”

Will looks startled. “Mr Haswell? Richard here?”

“Yes.”

“What has he to do with it?”

“I owe him.”

Richard doesn’t look up, instead, paying close attention to his lamb in mint.

Will continues. “And you pay your debts?”

“I do.”

“Do you think this pays your debt to Richard?”

“Nope. I reckon I owe him a bit more than this.”

Will pulls a document wallet from his briefcase. “So, Charlotte, about Blessingmoors, I have your file here, taken from the records on the premises at the time it was closed down….”

She looks uneasy, shuffling in her chair. Michael’s hand snakes out, taking hers.

Will continues. “I have to say that it doesn’t look too good. It says here that you were in trouble numerous times for all kinds of petty crimes…. shoplifting.”

“I’m not a thief.”

“That’s not what it says here.” Will waves the file he is holding.

“It’s still not true. How can I have been a shoplifter when they never let us out?”

“So, you’ve never stolen anything from a shop?” Will raises an eyebrow, looking sceptical.

“Well, yes, I did, but it was when I was trying to run. I was a kid. I had no money. I had to eat…”

He says nothing, simply nodding as he writes a note in the margin.

“Drugs….”

“I’ve never touched drugs.”

“Not ever?”

“Not ever.”

He leans forward. “It is known Charlotte, already, that Blessingmoors was rife with drugs. No-one’s going to hold it against you.”

“It hardly matters. Yes, they were there. And no, I never used them.”

He sighs, then scribbles in the margin.

“Assault on a warden? On several occasions?”

“Um, yes, that bit is true.” She hangs her head, looking shamefaced.

“What were the circumstances?”

“Sometimes they were trying to… you know. Other times, it…. just kind of burst out of me.”

“When you say, ‘You know’…. you are implying sexual assault?”

“Um, yes. But I always fought back, and…. I didn’t look like much then. It always ended up with one of the other girls.… or boys.… getting it instead. They’d just lock me up for a couple of weeks.”

“I also have it here, that you were reported earlier this year for assaulting a customer in ‘Francesca’s’ tea rooms in the City? Although the charges were later dropped….”

“Yes, that did happen, but….”

Richard interrupts. “On that occasion, Will, I know personally of the circumstances. Two drunken louts were trying to…press their attentions on Charlotte and my wife. Charlotte put up a spirited defence on Elizabeth’s behalf.”

Will says nothing, but pencils in another note.

“Your school records have you listed as disruptive, and a bad influence…”

Now my Master interrupts. “But Charlotte loved school. She’s told us about it herself…”

“Er, that was the school when I was with my foster family. Yes, it was great there. The school at Blessingmoors, no, I didn’t do very well.”

“Why not?” asks Richard.

“Um, bored really. They had no books to speak of, and never tried to teach us anything beyond basic reading and writing. I’d got all that by the time I was six or seven, so after that they were just trying to make me sit in a classroom, staring into space all day.”

Again, Will writes a note. “And the last thing I need to ask you about Charlotte, is that according to our records, you now co-habit with two men, Mr James Alexanders and Mr Michael Summerford?”

She flushes. “I don’t see what that has to do with anyone else?”