Caroline nodded. ‘All right, but you must stand here.’
‘I don’t know what to do.’
She patted her brother’s curly head. ‘Just make sure they go straight to the dining room and don’t allow anyone to go upstairs or into any of the other rooms.’
James glanced at the crowds. ‘I’ll try, Carrie.’
‘Good boy. I’ll be back as soon as I can.’ Caroline hurried towards the dining room, threading her way through the lines of people, some of whom were pushing and shoving as if expecting to snatch a bargain. She found Sadie besieged by customers eager to purchase an ornament, a vase or silk cushion. Others had armfuls of Esther’s best porcelain dinner service, and a large lady in purple had two silver candelabras clutched to her ample bosom. Sadie appeared to be arguing with a gentleman whose raised voice and flushed cheeks indicated a state of extreme agitation.
‘But that is an outrageous price. I could go to the potteries and purchase an item like this for half the price.’
‘Then I suggest you buy a ticket at the railway station and travel north, sir.’ Sadie snatched the vase from him, holding it high above her head. ‘Any offers over one guinea for this eighteenth-century Sèvres vase?’
Caroline stepped aside as the bidding began and the vase finally sold for double the asking price. ‘Well done, Sadie.’
Sadie smiled and turned back to the customers who were clamouring for her attention. Caroline began taking money and soon her apron pocket was filled with coins, including several golden guineas, and finally all the items she had chosen were sold. But the crowd refused to disperse and within minutes they were swarming over the house like a colony of worker ants. Caroline raced up the stairs after them and, having persuaded them to go back down, she positioned herself at the bottom of the staircase, refusing to allow anyone to pass. The mood seemed to change and frustrated buyers began to vent their anger on anyone who would listen. James was in tears and Max was threatening to punch the next person who accosted him. Sadie had her hands full in the dining room and Caroline was beginning to panic. She was about to rush outside and look for a constable to restore the peace when a group of tradesmen burst into the house, led by two burly officials.
‘What is the meaning of this?’ Caroline demanded. She managed to keep her voice steady even though her knees were trembling.
The tallest and broadest of the two leaders stepped forward. ‘This is an illegal sale.’
Caroline tossed her head. ‘I don’t know what you mean. This is private property, so kindly leave.’
He waved a sheet of paper under her nose. ‘This is a court order, miss, and these gentlemen are owed a great deal of money. I want to see Mr Manning.’
‘My father is dead.’ Caroline’s voice broke on a sob.
‘I can’t help that, miss. Who is in charge of the household?’
Caroline took a deep breath. She was not going to let these men witness her heartbreak. ‘I don’t know exactly. I suppose it’s me now that Mama has gone to Devonshire, but if that’s all you’re worried about I can settle some or maybe all of those debts from the sale of our things.’
‘An unauthorised sale, miss. My colleague and I are here to enforce the law.’
There was nothing Caroline could do other than stand back and watch the bailiffs at work. They stripped the house of everything that had any value, leaving nothing but an echoing shell as they carried out the last piece of furniture.
Caroline put her arms around James, who was openly weeping, and she gave him a hug. ‘It’s only furniture and stuff, Jimmy. We’re still together, that’s the most important thing.’
Max braced his shoulders, holding his head high. ‘I’ll get a job, Carrie. I’m fourteen and I’m strong. I can work in the docks or on the river like Grandpa used to, before he went to sea.’
Sadie patted him on the back. ‘Good boy, Max. It’s a setback but it’s not the end of the world. I know what it’s like to be poor, but I’m still here to tell the tale.’
‘That’s right,’ Caroline added, forcing a smile. ‘At least we’ve still got a roof over our heads. Let’s go to the kitchen and see if they’ve left the stew that Sadie made for us. I’m hungry, I don’t know about you boys.’ She gave James her hanky. ‘Chin up, Jimmy. We’ve got each other – that’s all that matters now.’
‘The kitchen maids have gone,’ Sadie said in a low voice as they made their way to the green baize door that led to the world below stairs. ‘I gave them enough money to pay for a couple of nights in temporary lodgings and food to keep them going while they look for work.’
‘I didn’t think the bailiffs would take the money we made in the sale, but they did.’
Sadie put her hand in her pocket and pulled out a silk purse. ‘Not all of it. I managed to hide this from them.’
Caroline took it from her and weighed it in her hand. ‘That’s nice and heavy. We’ll count it out when we’ve eaten.’
‘That’s if they’ve left us anything to eat.’ Sadie strode on, catching up with Max and James, who were about to open the baize door. ‘Come on, Carrie. Best foot forward.’
The kitchen, which was normally a bustling hive of activity, was deserted. The fire in the range had died down to a few feebly glowing embers but, to Caroline’s intense relief, the stew was untouched and still hot enough to make a comforting meal. There was bread in the crock and butter on the marble slab in the larder. The bailiffs had left the table and chairs, and the crockery and cutlery used by the servants was untouched, although the battery of copper pans had been taken, leaving only the old blackened saucepans and the kettle. They ate bowlfuls of stew, and mopped up the remainder with chunks of bread. Sadie managed to get the fire going again and they finished off with cups of tea, leaving Max and James to explore the house to see what else, if anything, the bailiffs had left.
‘I don’t think they can take our beds,’ Sadie said, spooning sugar into her tea.
Caroline nodded. ‘I hope not, but we don’t have much choice now. I don’t suppose we’ve got enough money to pay the rent.’ She produced the purse and tipped the contents onto the table. They began counting the coins, placing them in neat piles.
‘Four pounds ten and sevenpence ha’penny.’ Sadie shook her head. ‘That’s not nearly enough, and even if it were, we still have to eat.’
‘I suppose we could send the boys down to Devonshire,’ Caroline said thoughtfully, ‘but it would only be a temporary arrangement, and if Mama finds out what’s happened she’ll want to come home.’
‘She’s better off with Lady Alice, for the time being anyway.’ Sadie replaced the coins in the purse. ‘I suggest we pack up what’s left and move to Wapping tomorrow. I don’t see much point in remaining here, do you?’
Caroline sighed and shook her head. ‘We’ll be evicted soon anyway. I agree, we have to move on. I’ll tell the boys.’
‘Tell us what?’ Max rushed into the kitchen. ‘Never mind that now – look who I found wandering round the empty rooms!’
Caroline twisted round on her chair to see Laurence Bromley standing in the doorway, his hat clutched in his hand and an apologetic smile on his open features.
‘I’m sorry to interrupt, especially as you’ve obviously had a very bad day.’
Sadie rose to her feet. ‘Take a seat, Mr Bromley. The tea is still hot. Would you like a cup?’
‘Thank you. That would be nice.’ He pulled up a chair and sat down next to Caroline. ‘I hope I’m not intruding.’
‘Not at all. I dare say it will soon be public knowledge that the Manning family are all but bankrupt.’