Bridewell, My Penance, My Pain Part 6
I hear the morning bell ring and yet no one comes for me. I am delirious with pain. My pain and the cramping have increased exponentially throughout the night. Is that really the bell I hear or is it my imagination.Is it because I want out of this narrow space so badly that I am hearing things. Please, someone come for me before I die in this closet. I am not yet ready to face death.
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It is some time before she comes for me. It is Mrs Parker who opens the door and pulls me from “the closet” saying “ Well Pennyworth did you enjoy your stay.” I moan and immediately dropped to the floor, my legs too numb to hold me upright.
Mrs Parker sneers “I hope you have learned your lesson, you lying little bitch. You are tallying demerits faster than a fox running from the hounds. Keep that up and you can expect it to be a very severe four years. By the way, you have already missed breakfast and did not tidy your bed and possessions, two more demerits. The work bell is about to ring, Pennyworth. Hurry to put your work clothes on and rush to your workstation or you’ll get more demerits.”
I beg her for help but she just walks away. My legs still feel so heavy I can’t stand. I crawl on my belly to the dormitory. I am able to pull myself up onto the cot I share with Elsbeth, and I struggle to pull off my nightclothes and put on my work dress. I hear the work bell, I am late.
View attachment 1111997I have no time to comb my plastered hair or wash my tear streaked cheeks. I am now able to stand but I can barely walk as I make my way toward the workroom.
When I finally get to the workroom I am dismayed to see everyone working hard at their spinning wheels and even more dismayed to see Mrs Wilson, the day guard, and Matron Wilby standing by my vacant spinning wheel. Matron Wilby straightens as she spies me slinking into the workroom “Pennyworth so nice of you to join us. Your poor choices this morning have earned you more demerits and will have you working through your lunch break both today and the rest of the week.”
I tried to explain myself but matron Wilby spat back “ Not another word Pennyworth or I’ll beat your skinny arse raw” My heart sinks as I shut my mouth and drop onto my stool and begin to spin. “ Wilson” the matron says “ Add another demerit for her sloppy appearance and double this lazy bitches quota for the next week and double any demerits she earns. If she needs encouragement, don’t be stingy with that cane of yours.”
I work through lunch with Wilson not “sparing the rod” if I hesitate even a little bit. The cane hurts enough through my clothes that I can’t imagine what it would feel like on bare flesh. I am caught up with my daily quota by the time the others return from their lunch but my quota has been doubled which makes it almost impossible for me to meet each day. I work extra fast but there is no way I can do it.
I am dead tired, my emotions overcome me and I begin to cry. I get no sympathy only four cracks of the cane across my bent back. I cry out in pain. I hear Elsbeth snigger “ I told you, Pennyworth, cry babies get it worse in here!” I make it through the work day but I do not make my doubled work quota. Two more demerits, I don’t know what that means but it can’t be good. I eat my supper ravenously, as it has been 24 hours since I have eaten any food. I just want to crawl back onto my cot and sleep but we are told to remain in our workroom/ dining room for the matron.
She brings the news that the prison governor, Governor Barker, has been stricken ill and died this very day. A new governor, Governor Abbott, an ex sea captain has been appointed but must travel halfway around the world to get here. “Those awaiting their welcomes or farewells will have to wait until the new governor arrives. Expect those welcome and farewell punishments to change as rumor has it that the new governor believes in the benefits of severe discipline. I anticipate quite a lengthy punishment day soon after his arrival.
We are finally led back to the prison dormitory and I am first to change into my night clothing and lay on my cot. I fall asleep immediately, exhausted from last nights sleeplessness and the days ordeals. When the candles out bell rings, my bunk mate Elsbeth , plunks down next to me. Her hands are all over me, touching and squeezing everywhere. I am too tired to resist. Eventually she tires of me and my non-response, rolls to the other side, muttering “What a dead fish you are, Pennyworth.”
I sleep deeply this night but it is the next night that changed things significantly for me. I was awakened by Mrs Parker, dragged from my bed and roughly pushed down the corridor, I am relieved when we pass the “ closet” but dismayed when we start down the steps that lead to the dungeon. I begin to shake. I know this is not going to end well. I think of poor Alice Baxter toiling under the whip as she turns the capstan. Am I to take her place ? As we enter the dungeon-like room I see Matron Wilby. She straightens and orders “ Strip to your drawers, Pennyworth.”
View attachment 1111994 My stomach lurches as I see four men talking to the matron their backs to me. This can’t be. I am to be punished half naked in front of men. This isn’t right. Not in front of these men.
A cuff across the back of my head brings me back to my senses. “ Do as the matron says, you lazy cow or you’ll spend all night turning that wheel” yelled Parker. Crying I pull my night gown over my head and stand in only my drawers, my arms cross over my bare breasts.
View attachment 1111991“Hands behind your head and don’t you dare move them.” I did as I was told, not wanting to anger the Matron. My heart felt like it stopped beating and I gasped when the men turned. It was Miles Coward, the vile man I had slapped and embarrassed those many months ago. The man who held much of my dead husbands debts. The man responsible for me being in prison. I shivered as his eyes move to my naked breasts. “ Aslin Pennyworth we meet again. So nice of you to join our midnight party, in fact, I am so happy that you will be providing us entertainment. I have been looking forward, ever so much, to see you start suffering for your insolence.” I grimace as I see a wicked looking strap in his hand. He smiles, moving his piercing eyes to my face “What? Such a sad face. You don’t appear so haughty now, do you? Oh, by the way, have you met my aunt Esther? I believe you know her as Matron Wilby.” (To be continued)