The Castlefield Collector

by The Castlefield Collector (Watch for the Talleyman) (retail) (epub)

  Maisie was holding out her arms and Dolly wrapped her own about her frail body, tears rolling freely down her cheeks. ‘I wish you and Cyril all the happiness in the world. I’m almost sorry he isn’t my dad as he’s a grand chap.’

  ‘If I might intrude on this touching little scene may I remind you that nothing has changed. You’re still a bastard, Dolly, and always will be.’

  Maisie jerked as if she’d been slapped. ‘You should wash your mouth out with soap and water, Aggie. Where you learn such filthy words I wouldn’t care to imagine.’

  ‘And don’t think,’ Aggie continued, her arms folded atop her blossoming stomach, lips pressed tightly together and looking as if she’d been sucking a lemon, ‘that having the master of the mill for a father will gain you anything. He’s a hard man is Mr Barker, he’ll stand no nonsense from spongers.’

  Dolly got quietly to her feet. ‘Is that what you expect me to be, Aggie – a sponger? I suppose you would go and ask him for money. Well, don’t judge me by your standards.’ Turning to her mother, she said, ‘I’ll go and see him at the hospital for you, Mam, to find out how he is. But I want you to know that I’m entirely content now that I know the truth, I want nothing from him and I never will.’

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Sitting by the hospital bed, Dolly kept her thoughtful gaze on the patient lying within it. This near stranger, the gaffer himself, was her father and she felt nothing for him. No, that wasn’t quite right. She felt a burning resentment that for all these years he’d ignored her existence, not only that but forced her mother to keep it a secret, one that had driven a huge wedge between them. Dolly hated the idea that she’d been lied to and not told who her true father was. Something inside her shifted and changed as a result of this new information. When he’d grown tired of his affair with Maisie he’d clearly ignored her, which made Dolly angry on her mother’s behalf. It meant that he’d rejected them both.

  A nurse approached, lifted the patient’s limp wrist to check his pulse. ‘Oh dear, is he asleep again? He’s doing quite a bit of sleeping bless him. Are you his daughter?’

  ‘No, I am,’ said Evie Barker, marching in.

  Dolly swung about to find her standing behind her chair, a frosty glaze in her pale blue eyes. Dolly jumped to her feet. ‘Oh, I was told no visitors were expected this evening. I used to work for your father at the mill.’ Her heart was pounding, as here was the woman who had stolen her husband yet this wasn’t the moment to confront her on that issue, not with Nathan Barker lying sick beside them. But she didn’t look in the least embarrassed, merely offered a wintry smile.

  Addressing Dolly in cool, distant tones, she said, ‘I know who you are. I seem to remember that we met years ago, during that strike. I’m sure I would have managed to extricate myself from those ruffians, but thank you for your assistance. Might I ask why you’re here?’

  ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to intrude.’

  ‘Leave us, Evie.’ The voice from the man in bed took them both by surprise.

  ‘Pops, you’re awake.’ Evie leaned over the bed and kissed the air inches from her father’s brow.

  The nurse too was startled and rushing to his side began taking his pulse, attempting to stick a thermometer under his tongue and warning him not to get too excited. Nathan was having none of it and spat the thing out. ‘You can get out as well.’

  ‘You really must keep very calm, Mr Barker.’

  ‘I will if you go away. I certainly don’t want any damned fuss just because I had a funny turn.’ The doctor had carefully explained to him that he’d suffered a mild stroke in addition to the heart attack; that it would take some time for him to recover and he was fortunate to have any movement at all, despite a useless left arm and legs which refused to do his bidding. His speech was slightly slurred but not incomprehensible. ‘Leave now, I wish to have a few words in private with this young woman.’

  Evie let out a sigh of exasperation. ‘I shall wait outside in the lobby. Call, if you need me, Pops.’ Then firing a furious glance at Dolly, she followed the nurse out of the room.

  There was a small silence, which stretched out so long Dolly had no notion how to fill it. The anger that burned deep inside her had not properly subsided and now she felt awkward and nervous, anxious not to say the wrong thing that might upset him. He was seriously ill, after all, and she’d no idea how he would react to the news that she was his illegitimate daughter. The last thing she wanted was to cause another heart attack by giving him the shock of his life. Yet despite all of this confused emotion Dolly longed to talk to him and find out more about this man who was her father, and perhaps allow him to learn more about herself. But she couldn’t seem to find the right words, fearing rejection.

  ‘Why did you come? Did you have something to say to me?’ His expression was penetrating, quietly summing up the situation. ‘Sit down as you make me tired hovering about like that.’

  ‘I’ll stand, Mr Barker, if you don’t mind. I’m not stopping long.’

  He gave a snarl as if he didn’t care to be thwarted. ‘There’s no excuse for rudeness. Sit!’ He flapped an impatient hand at the chair and Dolly sat, as it was an order she dare not disobey, although he didn’t seem to recognise that he was the one being rude.

  In truth, Dolly was quite glad of the chair, as her knees no longer felt strong enough to support her. ‘I don’t know where to start.’

  His thin lips twisted into a wry smile, the expression in the grey-blue eyes coolly assessing. ‘For pity’s sake Dolly, get on with it. We’ve known each other a long time?’

  She took a deep breath. ‘All right then, here goes. Are you my father?’

  ‘Yes, I am. Not that I was aware you would know I was until these last few years, since that time in the boiler room when you had your dinner stolen, do you remember?’

  She was stunned. Dolly had expected him to be shocked by her question. ‘You’re right, Mam never told me about you until now. I assume you didn’t allow me to know?’

  ‘It would not have been a good thing for you to know. She was wary of causing trouble in case I sacked all those blasted sons of hers. Doesn’t say much for my reputation, does it, that my own mistress was afraid of me?’ He paused for a moment to catch his breath. ‘She was a sweet girl, your mother, but cautious and far too loyal to that damned husband of hers. I thought her lovely.’

  ‘But you never loved her.’

  Another silence and a sigh followed by a sad shake of the head. ‘I’ll admit she was one among many, not exactly a love match. We met at the chapel, cared for each other and had fun. You must understand that I never meant her any harm. I didn’t get the feeling that she was the flighty sort. She was no seductive vamp just a decent, honest woman. I reckon she was in need of love during a difficult period of her life.’

  Dolly’s cheeks fired bright red. It didn’t seem decent to hear such things about her mother and yet she was avid to know and understand. ‘She loved you.’

  He sighed. ‘I dare say she did. She read too much into our relationship, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Happen that’s why she kept my existence a secret all these years because of her love for you. I always wondered why I was different from the rest of my family. I felt like the cuckoo in the nest and when our Aggie blurted it all out after that accident at the mill when Calvin died, everything became clear. But Mam still wouldn’t say who my father was. She made up all sorts of lies rather than tell me the truth. I resented that. Now I forgive her.’

  ‘I’m sure you do.’ He gave a small laugh that invoked a cough and it was some moments before he could speak again as he spluttered into a coughing fit.

  Dolly was on her feet in a second, all concern. ‘Hush now, I’m tiring you out.’

  The door flew open and Evie marched in followed by a flustered nurse. ‘I think you’d best go. I don’t want him upset.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  Nathan Barker lifted one hand, striving to catch his breath yet anxious
to attract Dolly’s attention. ‘You’ll come again tomorrow?’

  ‘I’m not sure that it would be best if—’

  ‘There are still things I want to say.’

  And despite the blazing fury on Evie’s face, Dolly agreed to his request. ‘All right, I’ll pop in for ten minutes before the end of visiting time.’

  Back home she assured Maisie that he was making a good recovery. ‘There’s no need for you to worry about him as he’ll be fine.’

  ‘I feared he was about to peg out. Did you two get on all right or did it feel a bit queer?’ her mother anxiously enquired.

  Eager to keep her happy, Dolly agreed that they had got along tolerably well although she’d felt a bit odd at first. ‘He’s asked me to call again tomorrow.’

  ‘There, didn’t I say he was a special person? That’s why I had to keep my promise to him. I might never have told you had Cyril not insisted I do right for you. Did he ask about me? Did he explain how we couldn’t stay together because of his wife and my children and that he had to give me up? Did he explain how I was the love of his life?’

  Dolly looked at her mother, her heart was filled with pity and love. ‘Yes Mam, he did.’

  * * *

  Not entirely sure how she felt about having this man as a father let alone Evie as a half-sister, Dolly called to see Nathan Barker the next day, as he’d requested. Her disappointment in her so-called father was acute. There was pain in her heart, her throat constricting with emotion and it instantly became clear that he was only truly concerned about himself and the mill. Even his attitude to his family was one of casual dismissal, complaining about his situation and expressing a need for his daughter to work at the mill for him.

  ‘I’m going to be below par for a long while. They’re sending me to a convalescent home, which Evie is not likely to agree to. It’s a pity you couldn’t help either.’

  ‘Are you planning to tell her about me?’

  Nathan shook his head. ‘I’ll maybe get around to it eventually, once I’m on the mend and can summon up the strength.’

  ‘Don’t, as she won’t like it.’

  ‘You’re probably right. What happened between your mother and me, I decided for selfish reasons that our affair must end. I couldn’t abandon Clara and Evie, and how could Maisie leave Calvin and risk losing your brothers? I think not. We did what seemed right at the time. Maisie decided for equally good reasons to keep you a secret. It was, at first, awkward for us, but we’re not strangers, still good friends. I don’t know about you, Dolly, but to me it’s as if there’s an invisible cord binding us together.’

  Emotion welled up in her, tightening her throat and for a moment Dolly couldn’t speak. She hadn’t expected this, or to feel vulnerable. It was true that she’d always felt as if a part of her was missing. She had wanted to go on being angry with him, which was far easier, but couldn’t. The prospect of accepting this man as her father would at least feel appropriate for her mam. But she was determined to stick to her own life. ‘You need to understand that my mother and I are much closer now that she has told me the truth. But I want nothing from you at all. I’ve only come to make that absolutely clear. I’m not asking for a job, as I have one of my own now. Nor do I require any compensation for the years in which you ignored the fact that I existed. I accept that you are my father but I can manage perfectly well on my own.’

  ‘Good for you, dear,’ he quietly said, giving her a smile.

  She gave her head a little shake. ‘You imagine I could now meekly set aside all those lost years: the fact that you left me in the hands of a neglectful, cruel stepfather. That you watched my mother, the woman you once professed to be fond of, even if you didn’t truly love her, reach the point of near starvation at times and did nothing to help? You even let Harold sack me when Calvin died, and still you did nothing. I don’t see how you and I could be friends. I’m not sure I want to see you again. Ever!’

  * * *

  Her disappointment in her so-called father was acute, and there was no respite for Dolly even at home – no one to open her heart to and help her to make some difficult decisions. Thankfully, relations with Maisie had improved but, having satisfied herself that she’d finally cleansed her soul and told the truth, Maisie devoted her attention entirely to her new husband. She and Cyril were inseparable, utterly besotted, like a pair of lovebirds, and, not wishing to intrude, Dolly couldn’t help feeling neglected and left out, very much on the fringes.

  As for Sam, he rarely spoke a civil word to her. They lived like strangers in the same house. Dolly had come to bitterly regret her weakness in allowing him to move back in. On several occasions she’d tried to talk to him, to point out in a sensible, calm fashion how hopeless their situation was, that it was time for them to call it a day, that he should leave and start a new life on his own somewhere. But he absolutely refused to do so.

  ‘I like it here, Dolly. Give us a chance. Have you made more of those scones for tea? Grand!’

  If only she could talk to Matt, he would surely help her. But he never had called again. He’d taken what he wanted and left her too. She tried not to think of the day of the picnic, or a terrible pain would fill her heart. Only when she lay alone in her bed, did she allow herself to conjure up his face and think of him.

  One night Sam came to her room, easily gaining entrance because she’d carelessly forgotten to wedge the chair under the door handle. Dolly told him to leave at once but he refused.

  ‘We’re still man and wife, if you haven’t noticed, and should be together.’ He put out a hand to stroke her neck and the swell of her breast.

  Dolly slapped it away. ‘I said you would have to wait till I was ready, and I’m not. I might never be.’

  ‘And you expect me to put up with this chaste existence?’

  ‘I don’t expect you to put up with anything. You asked to come back, but I didn’t invite you. The door is open for you to leave whenever you choose.’

  Sam felt a spurt of irritation, annoyed by her casual attitude. He hadn’t expected the once loving Dolly to be so unresponsive, as if she didn’t care whether he was there or not. He was beginning to think that it was all a waste of time that he’d made a bad mistake in coming back. But where else could he go? He’d had enough of Davey and his screaming kids, and it was vitally important that he didn’t appear available to Aggie. Nor did he fancy moving into a tenement room and cooking for himself. At least Dolly was a good cook so he got well fed and watered.

  He wasn’t even having much luck with the magnificent Evie. He’d visited her seedy palace on a couple of occasions and on neither visit had he been allowed through the door, let alone granted an audience with the Duchess. He certainly wasn’t prepared to pay for it with one of the other tarts. Even so, the experience had damaged his self-esteem. Surely he couldn’t be losing his charms altogether. He came closer and flung back the covers, as if he was about to climb in the bed with her.

  Dolly jerked away as if she’d been scalded. ‘Get away from me. I’ve told you, I’m not ready.’ For a long moment she thought he might be about to get in anyway, but then he snatched hold of her nightdress and yanked it up high to view her naked body. ‘Just reminding meself of what I’m missing. Not much, I’d say. There’s plenty better.’

  Dolly flew at him like an alley cat, pushing and shoving him towards the door. ‘Get out, you dirty little man! Go and find someone else and leave me alone!’ She was shouting at him, overwhelmed by the desperation that her life never would be happy, her dream of being with Matt not resolved. ‘Get out of my house now!’

  ‘Oh no,’ he said, in an infuriatingly calm voice. ‘I don’t think so, Dolly. I’m most comfortable here. Very content indeed.’

  * * *

  Following several dull weeks in a nursing home in the care of nurses he dubbed as ‘dragons’, Nathan was to be discharged into the tender care of his family to continue his recuperation at home. Although his speech had improved considerably, he was still
confined to a wheelchair, had limited movement in one arm and was still unable to move his legs. His frustration was palpable. Under strict instructions not to excite himself, he’d said nothing thus far about Dolly. Clara had come to see him only once a week, a short duty-visit with little conversation attached to it. Evie had refused to visit at all, clearly still nursing a grievance following the spat, which had led to his heart attack in the first place. But now she was ready to drive him home. In view of this coolness towards him, Nathan determined to approach the subject on his mind, with caution.

  ‘I bear you no grudge, Evie, over that little contretemps we had which set all of this off.’

  Evie said nothing as she settled him into the back seat of her motor and tucked the blanket about his knees.

  ‘But I would like to know, is it true, what you told me?’ When she did not reply, he answered his own question. ‘I dare say it is. I should have guessed. There’s already been tittle-tattle. I sensed it at the Exchange, though had not understood the reason. Well, you’ll have to give it up now, get back to work and help me with the mill.’

  Evie laughed as she climbed into the driver’s seat. ‘Not on your sweet life.’

  ‘Your life may depend upon it, let alone mine. The doctors say it might take another month, at least, before I’m fit to return to the mill, so someone needs to keep an eye on the place, to see that orders are properly fulfilled, work kept up to scratch and new shipments of cotton dealt with. A factory can’t run itself, and who better to take charge than my own daughter who will inherit it one day?’

  ‘You have employees to deal with all of that boring stuff. I’ve already told you, I’ve better things to do with my time.’

  Nathan strived to control his worsening temper. ‘As for this other business, I’ll not have you make a laughing stock of me. We’ll talk more later but mark my words, it’s got to stop. Do you understand?’