Read Online The Ledbury Lamplighters by Kerry Tombs - Free Book Online Page B

Ravenscroft said hesitantly. As his eyes adjusted to the scene, he noticed that the table was covered with dirty plates and old newspapers. The room had the air of decay and dampness about it.
    â€˜You’ve found her,’ replied the hostile voice.
    â€˜Mrs Joshua Leewood,’ corrected Ravenscroft. He had expected Leewood’s wife to have been much younger in years.
    â€˜Joshua is my son,’ coughed the old woman, drawing her shawl tightly around her shoulders and giving Ravenscroft a cold stare.
    â€˜I was given to understand that your son’s family lived here,’ said Ravenscroft, taking out a handkerchief from his overcoat pocket and bringing it to his nose in an attempt to block out the foul smell that was being emitted from the kitchen sink.
    â€˜His wife left two years ago, ran off with a tinker, after babby had died of the pox.’
    â€˜I’m sorry.’
    â€˜Nothing to be sorry about; he were better out of it.’
    â€˜What happened to the other children?’
    â€˜Don’t know where they went. Somewhere in Ledbury,’ replied the old woman, descending into a set of more prolonged coughs.
    Something cold brushed against Ravenscroft’s leg. He looked down quickly and was relieved to find it was only a black and white cat of a hungry, bedraggled appearance. ‘Where is your son, Mrs Leewood?’ asked Ravenscroft, recovering his composure but nevertheless anxious to keep his distance from the figure in the armchair.
    The old woman laughed. ‘You of all people should know that!’
    â€˜Hereford gaol?’
    Leewood’s mother said nothing as she turned her face away towards the empty hearth. Ravenscroft looked down once more at the cat, who hissed loudly at him. ‘I understand that your son protested his innocence when he was sent down?’ he said, finally breaking the silence.
    â€˜What do you want to know for? You going to help him then?’ sneered the woman.
    â€˜No. I cannot change what has happened in the past.’
    â€˜Thought as much,’ muttered the old woman, before resuming her coughing.
    â€˜You have heard that Mr Nathaniel Montacute is dead? He was the magistrate who sentenced your son.’
    â€˜I know who he was.’ Ravenscroft thought he could detect a mixture of resignation and bitterness in her voice.
    An old clock on the mantelpiece chimed twelve, and he counted the strikes to himself. Neither he nor the old woman spoke.
    The cat hissed loudly again at Ravenscroft, before crossing over to the door.
    â€˜Did your son ever say anything about Mr Montacute?’
    â€˜How do I know!’
    The cat began to scratch the door in an angry fashion.
    â€˜Cat!’ shouted the old woman.
    Ravenscroft opened the door, and the animal gave him a venomous look before it quit the room. ‘Do you visit your son in prison?’ he said, returning to the table.
    â€˜How can I afford the fare to Hereford?’ laughed the old woman.
    â€˜Does your son write to you?’ asked Ravenscroft, knowing that his line of questioning was going nowhere.
    â€˜Can’t read nor write, nor can Joshua,’ coughed the woman.
    â€˜Should your son return in the near future—’ began Ravenscroft.
    â€˜My son is still in gaol, where he has no cause to be!’ shouted out the old woman, before being convulsed by a fit of coughing.
    â€˜Can I get you anything?’ he offered, knowing that he could do little to relieve her suffering.
    The woman made an angry gesture with her arm, indicating that Ravenscroft should leave.
    â€˜Perhaps I could ask Doctor Andrews to call upon you?’
    â€˜How do you expect me to be able to pay for some old quack?’ growled the old woman.
    â€˜I’ll pay for Doctor Andrews to call on you, and to give you something for that cough.’
    â€˜Nothing can cure me once the fluck has taken hold. Save your money – and get out!’
    â€˜I’m