The Harlot's Garden by Nikki Dee.

                 The Harlot's Garden by Nikki Dee.

"I run a brothel, I sell babies and have offered protection to those you would see hanged, and you concern yourself with the way separating my boys will reflect on me."

The story is set around 1774, mainly covering Worcester and constitutes Book 1 of the Sansome Springs Trilogy. The public hanging of Matthew Morgan in Red Hill had taken place a few years prior, in 1760. Simultaneously, his young bride Susan was giving birth to his twins: Ruby and Ellie to celebrate her widowhood. Note the irony! Looking after one unwanted baby for a young lass of 17 was more than enough but a second one? Susan asked her friend Ann to drown one of the babies but she refused. It was commonplace to abandon unwanted babies although Worcester saw a thriving trade in selling babies. Destitution, abandonment and being the mother of two unwanted babies without a husband to support her seemed like a death sentence and longing for death on the gallows might have been the better option.

The tone has been set. Melancholia breeds like wildfire and we are plunged into society's problems with the battle between the rich and the poor, deep concerns that Dickens and Hardy wrote about: poverty and destitution. Ruby Morgan is the main character, strong and determined, just 14 years of age. She was raped by one of the master's boys, someone she had loved and trusted and she was subsequently, banished. There were cries of desperation as she was wrenched from her twin, sent scurrying over "treacherous" ground, caked in mud, with atmospheric effects of a howling wind, to an uncertain future and of course, you've guessed it, pregnant. Without her strength of character, her courage and determination Ruby would have proved another casualty.

A journey to the Hop Pole Inn allows Ruby to seek and find some comfort from Mary and also John before being taken on her final destination to a "rough and tough" guttersnipe of a woman who ran a successful brothel and sold babies. A profitable business for someone dragged out of the gutter by a friend called George (known to Ma Jebb as Joe). She was a formidable woman: "I'm like a pedlar but what I sell is people. I provide whores for the gentlemen." Lying and cheating is how she made her way in this world.

Before her baby was born, Ruby was set to work in the nursery with Sal who was deaf, dumb and lazy. The stench of urine permeated the stale toxic air and seven filthy babies, most of them with relentless screams almost drove Ruby to insanity. Over time she befriended Bella who could "smell a money bag a mile off." She was in charge of the brothel.

Once Ruby had her babies-twin boys-it's Ma's intention to sell both babies. However, the youngest called Richard has a twisted leg and Ma decided to keep him a bit longer in the hope that his leg will straighten. She assured Ruby that her sons would have a future and a good education living with prosperous families. What other choice did she have? None. She was then promoted to the brothel until her stint was short-lived and catastrophic when Ruby attacked an over-excited young chap who delighted in a fresh face and ripe body. Sheer panic and fear overwhelmed her so some alternatives were proposed: delivering babies, patching up thieves, buying and selling stolen goods all "under the cover of darkness," or as one might say, dodgy deals!

When Ma realised she was past her best, she wanted Ruby to succeed her, continuing to rule the kingdom and become rich through "dirty dealings." A hardened Ruby, wiser now to the corruption and inequalities in the world was delighted and in a short space of time introduced some innovative and philanthropic projects to benefit mankind, namely the lost girls and the glut of abandoned babies. She became shrewd in her business dealings but less selfish than Ma had been. A feminist at heart.

"When you're hungry, really truly hungry and desperate, you'll do anything for food. Anything!"

As a contrast, Henry Daventor, very much a self-made business man was self-important, pretentious and utterly despicable. He was desperate for an heir and his sickly wife Elizabeth had difficulty conceiving so Hugh, Henry's second cousin's orphaned son was adopted. Ironically, Elizabeth fell pregnant and unfortunately died in childbirth leaving Henry with two boys to look after. Susan Morgan became their nanny which allowed Henry the opportunity to abandon the boys and indulge himself in business ventures to expand his own empire. His claim to fame was building a canal to connect Worcester and the transportation of goods safely on the canal.

He was disappointed in how William, his son turned out: "a pathetic, whining cretin," his "wayward son "who took more interest in gambling his inheritance away at the tables and building up substantial debts. Henry refused to bail him out and attacked William, threatening him over his irresponsible behaviour.

"Become a man and impress me or go and make your own way. I won't pay for you to idle your life away."

What happens to Ruby's sons? Friction between Henry's boys coupled with intensive drinking sessions spells bad news and leads to a drunken brawl with serious and tragic consequences. Ruby practises her dirty dealings by blackmailing Henry and inevitably, a chance meeting between Tom and Richard means that Ruby has to come clean. Her biggest and best project is the most ambitious, similar to those in Vauxhall and Ranelaugh it will connect the harlot's garden with a pleasure garden for all to enjoy, to get away from "the stink of the city" allowing them to breathe fresh, clean air and be entertained with music and street theatre.

Very utilitarian. Most of the men are depicted as toffs and bounders, stereotypical of the privileged. The women of the poor may have big hearts but they are crude and coarse. It's a reminder that women are left to carry the burden whilst the men seem to have it easy. Nice and controversial. Divisions in society. Worth the read.

"The rich despised the poor but needed them to do their dirty work, the poor resented the rich but relied upon their patronage and good will."

Seems like nothing ever changes, does it?

REVIEW it by Carol Naylor.

Publisher: Word Play.    ISBN: 978-1505-340-402.

Copyright 2015. Permission must be obtained from the author before any of this article review is reproduced.