Chapter Text
Daisy was crying. Eggsy went over to her cot and picked her up. “ungy” she hiccuped.
“I know sweetie, I know.” Eggsy said, rocking her. He went to the cupboard and looked at the last bit of bread. Stale but no mold. He took the last bit of milk and sniffed, not gone south, he was relieved to smell. He dipped the bread into the milk to soften it up and gave it to his girl. He needed to find them some food today, he thought, as his own stomach growled.
He poured out a little water and washed their faces. “Now Daisy, can you be good for Mrs Poodle today, while I try to find some work?” Eggsy picked up her doll that he had sewn from scraps and Daisy hugged it tight.
“Uh-huh.” Daisy said.
“My good girl.” Eggsy said as he put her on the bed. He got them both in their clothes and carried her down to the bar, where Mrs Poodle was in the kitchen.
“Mrs. Poodle, ma’am can you watch Daisy for just a little bit?” Eggsy asked, as he put Daisy in the laundry basket.
“Of course, dear.” Mrs Poodle said. She wiped her hands clean. Eggsy sighed in relief when she slipped Daisy a biscuit. Mrs Poodle came over to Eggsy. “Son. I’m sorry but Mr Poodle is getting antsy. You need to pay some rent this week. We kept you on after Dean and your Mum passed, out of respect for my man and Dean being mates, but two big ships have come home and going to be lots of boys looking for a place to stay in London. Boys will full pockets from war. You need to get us the 10 quid you owe us, or Mr Poodle is going to kick you out.”
“10 quid, how am I supposed to get that in just a couple of days?” Eggsy asked.
“I’m sorry, I really am. I’ll mind yer girl for you.” Mrs Poodle said. She slipped Eggsy some bread and cheese.
Eggsy went down to the docks. If a couple of warships had come in, might be some money in hauling. Only 3 hours of helping out and all he managed was two pounds and he needed that to pay for some food for he and Daisy. He passed the alleys where he heard moans. He had thought about it, but it were a lot more dangerous a job for a bloke than the girls if you didn’t know the right people and corners.
He went to the market and bought some basic food for he and Daisy. “Anyone looking for any help?” He asked around, but nobody had much. If Eggsy could kick Napoleon in the crotch he would. War was great at making certain people rich, but it sure wasn’t his people.
He was talking with the butcher, who thought maybe he’d need some help next week. “Could you maybe pay me in advance?” Eggsy asked desperate.
“Sorry lad.” Eggsy knew he truly was. “Navy still looking for men. Always looking for men.”
“Yeah and I die by cannon ball and what happens to my girl?” Eggsy said. “Ain’t letting her go to an orphanage, no matter what.” Eggsy knew what those places were like.
“Maid left her lady’s paper, maybe there is something in there?” The butcher gave Eggsy the paper. “Was going to wrap some scraps for dogs in it, but might do you some more good. Stop by Monday next, might be able to pay you a few quid for some help then.”
“Thanks.” Eggsy said, rolling up the paper. He made his way to a small park and sat on a bench. He pressed his hands to his eyes, frustrated, weary, hungry. He had no idea what they were going to do. He sighed and looked around. Pretty day at least, warm, sunny.
He picked up the paper and glanced through it. It was gossip, rich folk, peerage gossip.
Lord A seen dancing twice with a Miss G.
Captain F making a splash in society.
Blah, blah, blah. Who gave a shite?
He quickly moved past the reports of war and to the page that said positions available. All of them were for lady’s companions, nannies, tutors. He could maybe tutor, his dad had taught him to read and do sums, but fuck if he knew latin or greek, or history beyond what was written on the walls of the bar they lived above.
Useless.
He skimmed the last few positions and his eye snapped back.
Male Companion Required
Eggsy stared, didn’t often see that written. But maybe…
Retired Commodore of His Majesty’s British Navy seeks live in companion
Decent reading voice, good manners, respectable character
Room, Board, and Quarterly stipend will be provided
Inquiries send a letter with references to...
Eggsy looked at the ad, it couldn’t be this easy could it? Mrs Poodle would give him a reference, a couple people in the market would too, and he could forge a letter or two if need be. He bet it was some old bloke long retired before the mess with the French even began. Ancient geezer, all alone, just needing someone around; would have been use to company if he were in the Navy long enough to be a Commodore. Probably just needed someone to read to him, eyesight long faded. Bet he was hard of hearing too, wouldn’t even notice Daisy, hiding in the room provided.
Eggsy hurried back to the pub, burst into the kitchen. “Mrs Poodle, I need a piece of paper.” He said as he came through the door. He froze as he saw Mr. Poodle.
“Hey, muggsy. Got me rent?” Eggsy didn’t like how close the man was to Daisy. He moved around the kitchen.
“Got a pound for you today.” Eggsy handed over the money he had.
“Well, best get the rest to me soon.” Poodle gave his wife a smack on the rump and went back out to the bar.
Mrs Poodle looked at Eggsy. “Here lad, I’ll get you a sheet and quill.” Eggsy took Daisy and his bag up to his room and carefully composed a note. He wrote slowly, carefully, knowing he only had the one sheet and couldn’t mess up. It took a painstaking hour but he had it done, he folded it quickly so as to not worry over what he wrote. Now to drop it off at the location listed. He looked at Daisy playing on the floor and the sun shining through the window.
“Daisy want to go for a walk and to the park?” Eggsy asked. She cheered and broke into the little stomp she did when happy. “Dus.”
“Yes darling, we can go see the ducks.” Eggsy said. He grabbed a shawl that had been his mum’s and held Daisy’s hand carefully down the steps. She started to pull towards the park. “No sweetie, first have to take this to a person.”
“Dus.” Daisy said.
“Soon. Just have to find this address.” They started walking but Daisy got tired. Eggsy quickly tied his mum’s shawl across his shoulders and slid Daisy into it, to make carrying her easy. They were walking along and a small group of men in naval uniforms walked by.
Eggsy ignored the way they made fun of him, called him a wet nurse. And one who said far worse. Daisy had fallen asleep and was getting heavy. He hoped he was close. A couple blocks later he was standing in front of a very posh building.
A small sign said it was the right place. Kingsman Club. He adjusted Daisy and knocked.
An older man answered. He looked at Eggsy worn out from the walk, Daisy limp on his shoulder. “Son?”
Eggsy swayed a little, realized how maybe carrying Daisy that much with that little food had been a bad idea. He tried to focus and held out the letter. “Sir, dropping this letter off. Job of companion. But uh, don’t think I’m right for it. In fact, why don’t you forget I stopped by.” Eggsy began to pull the letter back and felt dizzy. He leaned heavily on the door.
The man opened the door to the private club a little more. “Come along son.” He said quietly. Eggsy was just too tired not to follow. He was lead through halls filled with paintings of ships, maps, soft carpets. Eventually they made their way to a bright kitchen, where the old man pushed him into a chair.
“Come the lad needs some water.” He called and a kitchen girl hurried a glass over. Eggsy drank it down. “Perhaps some soup as well.” The man suggested.
“Ain’t got no money.” Eggsy said.
“That matters not.”
“It does to me.” Eggsy said, spirit restored a little.
“Very well, you may help with dishes after lunch.” The man said. “Now you were applying for the companion job?”
“Was thinking bout it yeah, but looks of this place, I ain’t gonna be a good fit.”
“Do you have references? Have you had a job like this before?”
“Landlady and a couple people down at the market by the port can vouch for me. No, but how hard can it be to read war reports to some retired out bloke, too old to move about?” Eggsy looked at the sleeping Daisy in his arms. “It comes with a room yeah? I can do just about whatever is required for that space.” Eggsy looked at the old man. “Anything.” He emphasized.
“Give me your letter son and enjoy a small repast.” A bell rang and the man stood. He held out his hand and Eggsy handed over his letter, realizing just how cheap the paper looked. The man left with a nod to the kitchen girl.
“You impressed Andrew, he almost smiled.” The girl said as she put a bowl in front of Eggsy. “Oh, she’s just precious innit she?”
“Yeah, she’s my heart.” Eggsy said. “Thanks for this yeah? I’ll help out after I’m done.”
The girl smiled and went back to the stove.
Eggsy moaned at the taste of the soup. “Oh god, this has vegetables in it.” He began to slurp it down fast. It was the best food he had in months.
She laughed. “Only the best for these gentleman.”
“How are they?” He asked.
“Good, all navy, lowest ranked member is a Captain. But never lay a hand on any of’ the workers, all real polite like. Gentleman by titles, gentleman by deed.” She said. “Pay me 20 pounds a quarter they do. Ain’t none o’ my friends getting half so much at other places like this and they have to deal with wandering hands.”
Eggsy breathed out in relief as he finished his soup. Maybe, maybe he wouldn’t try to duck out the back. He carefully unwrapped Daisy and lay her on the kitchen bench. “Let me help.” He said standing.
The girl tried to protest, but Eggsy started scrubbing pots.
The old man came back to the two laughing and working. “Son.”
Eggsy straightened his spine and looked at the man. “Sir.”
“Would you perhaps like to go home and change into your best clothes?” The old man suggested.
Eggsy looked down at himself. His shirt where you could see the stitches he had done at the shoulders, the waistcoat missing a button, and trousers getting thin at the knee. His boots were shined at least. “These are my best clothes.” Eggsy stuck his chin out.
“I see.”
“I think ‘e looks good Mr Andrew sir.” The kitchen girl said cheerfully.
The man smiled a little and untied his cravat. He came over to Eggsy and wrapped it around Eggsy’s neck and tied it in a quick four in hand. “There sir. The Admiral would like to see you.”
“Which one?” The girl asked. She looked at Eggsy. “There are two here, one a lot nicer than the other you get my meaning.” She said looking at the missing button.
“Never you mind. Captain Lance requires luncheon.” Mr Andrew said. The girl bobbed a curtsy. “Son, come with me. Your lass will be fine in here until after your interview.”
Eggsy went over and lay a kiss on Daisy’s cheek and said a prayer before following Andrew.
“Admiral Hart is the one who placed the ad. There have been several responses, but none has quite suited yet. They all failed the interview.” Mr Andrew said quietly as they walked up some stairs. “Be polite, but not meek. Speak simply, honestly - he can sniff out a lie quickly. Posture straight, eyes up, handshake firm.”
“Why you helping me?” Eggsy asked as they approached a door.
“Because of the way you held your daughter.”
“Sister.”
“Even so.” Mr. Andrew knocked on the door. There was a call and he opened it. “Good luck son.” He whispered and Eggsy stepped into the office.
And he had thought the rest of the place was posh. This room screamed money and authority. Eggsy was trying not to gawp too much. He looked at the man behind the desk.
“Sir. I come about the companion job.” Eggsy said. The man was intimidating. Like really intimidating.
He was in uniform, pressed to perfection, perfect posture, perfect hair, power just radiating from him. The man stood and made his way around the desk. Tall, and Eggsy didn’t think all that shoulder width came from the uniform. He wanted to bow his head, look down, but remembered what Mr. Andrew said. Eggsy squared his shoulders and looked dead at the man.
“I’m Admiral Hart.” He held out a hand and Eggsy shook it firmly, prayed he wasn’t sweating too much. “Come have a seat lad.” The admiral gestured and Eggsy took a chair. He went around his desk and picked up Eggsy’s letter and seemed to be perusing it.
“Tell me why I should even begin to consider you for this position. I’ve had Lieutenants, members of the peerage, people of exemplary education apply. And your references are your landlady and you know the butcher at the end of the dock market, you know the one who don’t never try to sell you dog meat and declare it cow.”
Eggsy closed his eyes. “Please tell me I did not write that.”
“I’m afraid so Mr Gary Unwin.” Admiral Hart replied.
“Eggsy.”
The Admiral raised a brow. “Eggsy tell me why I should hire you.”
Eggsy let out a breath. “Honestly got no idea bruv. Uh sir. You got people like that applying versus me, I know you’re gonna pick them, because why wouldn’t you, better than trash wot can’t even keep a roof over his head.” Eggsy looked at the Admiral. “Look sir, don’t reckon I’m really the one for the job, but I can read yeah, and do sums. I don’t mind doing hard work, emptied more than my fair share of pots. I can keep my mouth shut when I need to and I ain’t never hurt no one that didn’t try to hurt me first.”
“You speak plainly.” Eggsy couldn’t tell if that was a compliment or not.
“Got nothing to lose sir. Saw the ad and figured nothing else was panning out, might as well take a shot.”
“We are at war, there is plenty need for able bodied men such as yourself. Unless you feel yourself above the navy or the military? Is it too much hard work?” The man’s voice dripped with disdain.
Eggsy’s back went ramrod straight. “Been working hard since I were 12 picking up any and every odd job that brought in a few pence. Took care of my mam and her good for nothing husband when they got sick and passed, and spent the last four months barely keeping food in the belly of my little sister who don’t understand where her mama went. I’ve gone cold and hungry so she’s okay and I go join up what happens to her then? Orphanage? She’s small, not strong enough yet, be dead inside six months, and I’d probably be dead in that time too, by gun or cannon and no one would give a toss. What, you sit behind there and send boys out every day to die, even know any of their names? You lot are all the same, not giving a fig for people like me unless we can take the bullet that’s got your name on it.” Eggsy stood. “Right nice club though, food’s good and Mr Andrew’s a real gentleman.” The implication that the Admiral was not hung in the air. Eggsy sketched a mockery of a bow and without waiting for dismissal headed for the door.
“Your sister would move with you then?” The Admiral asked.
Eggsy stopped. “Didn’t I just say she don’t got no one else?”
“Indeed. Rousing speech that by the way, I was quite moved by your desperate plight.”
Eggsy glared at the Admiral. “Oh shove off why don’t you?”
The Admiral smiled his first genuine smile of the meeting. “Mr. Unwin, I have to say that I think you are perfect for this job.”
Eggsy stared at him in shock. “Wot, really?”
“Yes. The Commodore is a stern and difficult man who would chew up a yes man in a day and I don’t have the time to clean up that mess, I’m rather busy running a blockade. You will move into the Commodore’s house here in London, there is a bed chamber and sitting room; will that be enough space for you and your sister?”
“Yes sir.” Eggsy moved back to the chair and sat down, quickly before he lost all sensation in his legs.
“It will not be a taxing job, but you will have to be available to the Commodore’s whims, though you will have one afternoon off every week and a full day every other weekend.” The Admiral looked at the young man who was trying so hard to be strong. Such fierce potential in him. “There is a cook, a maid, and a valet, so you won’t have to worry about personally attending to the Commodore. You are there to entertain and amuse, to make sure his brain doesn’t dry up. He is a troublesome man but I do feel you can handle him.”
“Can handle anything bruv.” Eggsy sounded cocky.
“That remains to be seen. Your pay will be fifty pounds a quarter.”
“Holy hell!” Eggsy yelled. He hadn’t imagined that sort of money. “When would I get my first pay?”
“Anxious to buy rum and women of ill repute?” the Admiral asked with a bit of a sneer.
“No, owe my landlady. Well really owe the husband, but he can take a walk. But she been good to me, always slipped Daisy food, gave us rags to seal cracks around the window. Owe them 9 quid and I don’t want to burden her none, not when she been good to us.”
The Admiral nodded approvingly. He pulled a box out of his desk and unlocked it. “Twenty five pounds. Pay your debt and perhaps buy a new shirt or two. The job would commence in one week, if you can be ready to move in by then.”
“Yes sir.” Eggsy stood. “Thank you sir, you won’t regret picking me.”
“That remains to be seen. Andrew will be able to give you any other information you need. Good day.”
“Right. thanks yeah.” Eggsy said as he quickly left. He made his way back to the kitchen where Daisy was awake and eating a biscuit.
“Eggsy.”
“Oh my darling.” Eggsy said and he picked her up and swung her around. She giggled and giggled, making both the kitchen girl and Mr Andrew smile at the noise.
“Well?” The girl asked.
Eggsy noticed that Mr Andrew was pretending to pay attention to the kitchen ledgers and not the conversation.
“Mr. Andrew sir, know where a guy like me can get some clothes that would be good for being companion to a Commodore?” Eggsy swung Daisy around a little more.
“Yes, son I believe I can help make some arrangements for you. And if I may offer my congratulations and best wishes for your new employment.”
“Thanks.” Eggsy said. “Really thanks. And listen don’t suppose you can give me any hints about the house or old man or anything?”
“Old man?” Andrew asked.
“Yeah the ancient Commodore that I’ll be working for. The Admiral said he were stern and troublesome.”
“I never seen him smile. Unless it was to yell at someone.” The kitchen girl chimed him.
“Hush the gossip young miss and go collect the luncheon plates from the game room.” Andrew chided. She bobbed a curtsy and left after giving Eggsy a wink.
“Commodore Ewan Gilchrist has received a great many honours in their career, each of them deserved. He retired earlier than need be to attend to issues of a familial nature. If he were to have remained in the Navy he would outrank Admiral Hart by now. A keen intellect, and yes a bit of a stern personality.”
“He gonna expect me to salute every morning?” Eggsy asked.
Andrew smiled. “No, but you might want to dust off your best manners.”
“Is my girl safe at his house?” Eggsy asked. It was all that mattered.
“Oh yes. I do not anticipate him having any interest in her. He is a bachelor through and through, never expressed an interest in a family of his own. But he has never laid a finger on woman or child. Keep her away from his library and office and all will be well.”
Eggsy breathed in relief. “Maybe after I am settled in the new place, I could stop by again? Just if I need any help or advice?”
“The Kingsman kitchen is always open to anyone in the employ of a member.” Mr. Andrew said.
“Real gentleman you are.” Eggsy said. “Ready for the park Daisy, I’ll even buy us an ice to split.”
Daisy cheered. Mr. Andrew pulled a few pence from his pocket. “A congratulatory treat.”
“Thanks, mate.” Eggsy said as he took Daisy out the back.
It felt like the sun was shining especially bright, just for them.