Aslin nee 8ball
Governor
Governor Abbott has his own ideas about how to keep the prisoners under his supervision in line.
The permanent scars on the body are a symbol of these ideas.Governor Abbott has his own ideas about how to keep the prisoners under his supervision in line.
I believe that’s the way you like it. I write for you and your fellow readers.Another great chapter. There is no mercy in Bridewell for girls.
I hope those women have the bottoms soundly flogged.Bridewell, My Penance, My Pain. Pt 28
I had to wait in bed at the prison hospital for quite a long time before anyone came to tend to my wounded feet. The Doctor was busy ministering to those who were whipped with the cat and bleeding like Elsbeth and Phyllis Potter. He was taking especially a long time trying to stop the bleeding of the suffering Alice Baxter who screamed out each time the astringent was applied to her open wounds.
It was during that time that I noticed two of Phyllis Potters accomplices sneak into the room to speak to their leader. I happened to be lying in the next bed so I feigned a swoon and listened to their conversation. They planned another caper for this very night. They will be be let loose by Mrs Barker, the guard that had supervised my capstan session with Livia Cowerd and her friends. I am able to relay that message to Ashley Miller in the bed next to me, who is there probably for show, since her punishment was relatively mild. Since she had something stolen previously by the group she seeks revenge , and will hatch a plan to expose this group of thieves. She told me that she has a precious token given to her by Governor Abbott that she will use as bait. Within an hour Ashley is released back to our work group.
I am told that I am to stay overnight and possibly longer if I can not yet walk. I am sure Elsbeth, Phyllis, and especially Alice Baxter will remain hospitalized for multiple days. I sleep anxiously that first night, my feet are still very tender and if I don’t move much I can take the pain. My dreams alternate between dreaming about the handsome male prisoner with the kind eyes and about the capture and exposure of Phyllis Potter and her gang of thieves.
I awaken to Phyllis Potter staring at me from the next bed. “Pennyworth”, she says “you are such a stupid sott. You have a long time left to serve on your sentence. You could serve it comfortably and even have some money when you get released. Come over to Phylis’s bed and we can get to know each other better. I can always use another capable member in my gang.” I sit up abruptly, “That is never going to happen. I will never fall into your criminal ways.” Potter laughs at me, “ But you are already a criminal, Pennyworth, or you wouldn’t be spending time with us at Bridewell. Don’t hold your nose up. Don’t give me no Aires. You are no better than the rest of us. You’re a criminal through and through, you are, no better than the rest of us here.”
She is probably right, I think. I am no better than anyone else. I went to trial and was convicted just like them. I believe I did no wrong but the law says I did. Everyone here thinks they are innocent and everyone here has been found guilty. I am no different than the rest. But I do still have my dignity and I will not give up my self worth for some petty crime scheme. Nor will I give my body to another. I think I’ve proven that with the Governor and Miles Cowerd.
I turn away from her smirking face, hoping that the plan that Ashley and I devised comes to fruition and Phyllis and her cohorts will be sent far away. I pray that the governor listens to Ashley and is not part of the thievery himself. I know of at least two of the guards involved but is there anyone else involved on the supervisory level? I am not sure, but it is the only way I can see, to stop the thieves.
When I awake the next morning, unbeknownst to me, our plan is already in place and working. Ashley did get to the governor and inform him of our plan, he agreed to it and even sent some of his men to help collect evidence. Phyllis’ gang did their part by committing robberies that night both from the prisoners personal belongings, including a brooch given to Ashley by the governor and from the prison stores.
The governors men silently followed the guard Mrs Parker when she left the prison with the stolen loot. They saw the guard exchange the stolen goods for silver coins from four well dressed women on the street in a wealthy part of London. The men followed the women to one of their homes and alerted the constables. The four women were caught red handed with the stolen loot and questioned long into the night. They were taken before the magistrate the next day. The four implicated Phyllis and her gang as well as the two prison guards.
In light of the women being wealthy and of means the magistrate set a trial date in two weeks to give their barristers enough time to collect evidence.
I heard nothing about the results of the plan for two weeks, although the guards Mrs Parker and Mrs Wilson were no longer around. I did not see Phyllis again and her cohorts were all ushered away one day. It wasn’t until Ashley Miller returned to the workgroup after her stint as the governor’s bed warmer, that I found out the specifics. There were four women from the outside involved with the thievery. They all went to trial along with the guards involved. All were found guilty and given prison sentences. The governor was unhappy with the length of the sentences for the rich women but was able to get the guilty women sent to Bridewell. The two guards received 5 year sentences but the wealthy women received only nine month sentences. Ashley did not know the names of the guilty women.
Little did I know that I was in for a big surprise when the guilty women were delivered to Bridewell by the prison wagon the following Wednesday. I did not see the wagon enter Bridewell and the prisoners had to meet the governor and go through the stripping of clothing, bathing, and prison issued uniforms before they were brought to meet the other prisoners.
As the six women are led into the work room, I recognize Mrs Parker and Mrs Wilson immediately. But much to my surprise the next person to enter the room is Lyvia’s friend Agnes, followed closely by her friend Violet, and finally her friend Prudence. There is a slight delay then non other than my nemesis Lyvia Cowerd , fighting against the guards steady hold and crying out her innocence, is pushed into the room by othe guards. It is funny, I think of the conversation I had with Phyllis in the hospital about all of us being guilty….. Lyvia, you are no longer rich and influential. You are now no better than the rest of us. You were found guilty. You are a criminal, just like us, in prison for your misdeeds to society. It will be interesting to see how you and your friends learn how to handle Bridewell. ( to be continued )
Thank you. I’m happy to keep your interest.Another good chapter with surprising twist. And with brutal threatening the wounds which looks rather like next part of punishment. Bravo Aslin.