The Castlefield Collector

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

‘Is there was some problem I can help you with, Mrs Entwistle?’ Clara politely enquired.

  ‘I think the reverse is the case, Mrs Barker. I’m the one who can help you. Did you know that Dolly Clayton, my half-sister, is actually your husband’s bastard?’

  Clara Barker’s face went bright pink and then ash pale. For a second, Aggie thought she might be about to faint. Perhaps she should have put it a bit more tactfully but anger and resentment were still hot in her. Why should Dolly, a bastard in anyone’s eyes, treat her with such utter contempt? It made Aggie sick to think of how callously she’d refused to help. ‘I’m sorry to be so blunt, Mrs Barker, but there’s no easy way of saying these things and I thought you’d a right to know.’

  ‘I’m most grateful for your consideration.’

  Her tone of voice caused Aggie to cast the woman a piercing glance. Was she being sarcastic? Aggie settled the baby more comfortably on her lap, feeling she very much had the upper hand as the poor wronged sister. ‘She’s been a cuckoo in our nest for as long as I can remember, and you know that she was responsible for the death of my father, Calvin Tomkins. What’s more, she clobbered Nifty Jack on the head, nearly doing for him an’ all, when he’d been generous enough to offer her employment as his housekeeper. She then pinched the man I’d hoped to marry.’

  ‘That’s quite a story,’ said Clara, after a slight pause.

  Aggie didn’t worry over twisting the truth, not mentioning that she’d already chosen Harold as the better provider, or so she had believed. ‘Now things aren’t working out between them, which is hardly surprising since Sam discovered Dolly spent several months living as a prossy with a woman called Cabbage Lil. And she’s probably had an affair with another man. I thought you should know that she seems to be trying to wheedle her way into your husband’s good books. Who knows what she’s got her eyes on?’

  ‘Well,’ said Clara. ‘She does seem to have quite a history.’ A moment of tense silence and then Clara got swiftly to her feet. ‘Thank you for taking the trouble to tell me this, Aggie, before it becomes common gossip! I am not unaware of my husband’s peccadillo’s, although he has always been most discreet. Men will be men, as they say. I didn’t realise, however, that Dolly was…’

  Leaving the sentence unfinished, Clara was ringing the bell for the maid to show her out. When her visitor was gone she stood unmoving for some time, sunk in deep thought.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Nathan was not a good patient. His frustration at still being tied to a wheelchair with no date set for his return to the mill, or ‘back in harness’ as he termed it, was making him increasingly grumpy and bad tempered, more demanding than usual. But then neither Clara, nor his long-suffering servants would have expected anything different. He kept loudly proclaiming that he really had no time to be ill, that he had work to do, then would promptly fall asleep.

  He would declare himself ravenous and then refuse to eat whatever was cooked and set before him, demanding something else entirely. He would have no truck with invalid food: milk sops, as he called them. When presented with cook’s special beef tea he fed it to the dog. ‘Now bring me roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, if you please.’

  Clara bore all of this with her usual saint-like patience. But he dreaded her reaction when finally he revealed the existence of an illegitimate daughter. He was, as always, direct to the point of callousness, sparing her feelings not one jot, almost making himself out to be a hero for keeping the facts from her for so long. Clara said nothing, which puzzled him.

  He looked at his wife keenly. ‘You don’t seem too shocked or surprised by what I’ve just told you.’

  She might have responded by saying that she’d already been informed by Dolly’s malicious sister, or that her sensibilities had long ago been blunted by his casual disregard of her feelings, but it was easier to make no comment whatsoever.

  ‘I wouldn’t have mentioned it had Maisie, that’s the girl’s mother, not let the cat out of the bag. Then the lass herself came to see me and asked me straight out.’

  When Clara still said nothing, he expanded the tale by saying how he’d guessed Dolly was his daughter some time ago, when he’d come across her once in the boiler room. ‘She’s the spitting image of my dear Mama. You’d never believe the resemblance if you hadn’t seen her with your own eyes. Not that I ever expect you to see her, Clara, and won’t insist that you receive her. I’ve no intention of doing anything daft, like accept her as a daughter in place of Evie.’

  Clara, who had sat in silence throughout this long explanation, her hands neatly folded on her lap, finally lifted her gaze to his. ‘Have you told Evie that she has a half-sister?’

  Nathan shuffled with discomfort, wishing he could jump out of his chair and get back to the mill where life was much less complicated. ‘Not yet! I thought you’d be the best one to break it to her.’

  Clara decisively shook her head. ‘Oh no, I think that is your responsibility, not mine. Be gentle with her, please, as she’ll need to get used to the idea.’

  ‘She’s hard as nails, that lass, more’s the pity.’

  ‘Nonsense, she’s sensitive underneath all of that rebellious streak.’

  He regarded his wife with pity in his eyes. ‘Have you any idea what she’s up to these days, how she’s making a living? My friends have been sniggering behind their hands for months.’ He could feel himself growing hot and agitated just at the thought.

  If Clara had heard rumours she’d chosen to ignore them, as she did most things that were unpleasant or disagreeable. She really had no wish to know how her darling daughter spent her days, or more to the point, her nights. The very notion brought a chill of foreboding to her heart.

  But why did no one ever bother to tell her what was going on in her family? Why did her darling daughter largely ignore her, as if she were of no more consequence than a piece of furniture? No one ever paid her the slightest attention, or asked how she felt about anything. Even now it hadn’t crossed Nathan’s mind to apologise for his betrayal. As these thoughts raced through her mind, Clara became aware that Nathan was bluntly informing her that Evie had set herself up as a madam in a house of ill repute.

  ‘One thing I will say for our Evie, she’s very selective in who she allows through the door. Only the very best, the crème de la crème, are granted admission, apparently. They have to ring and ask for an invitation. But then that’s Evie, being a proper snob.’

  Clara was staring at him, bemused, as he continued to rant and rave about what he would like to do to the girl, while she attempted to take in the full import of his words. Even so, her first instinct was to pacify a sick husband. ‘Please stay calm, Nathan. Remember the doctor has advised no undue excitement or you’ll bring on another attack. You really mustn’t get yourself into a state.’

  Nathan wagged a furious finger at her. ‘I dare say you’ll turn a blind eye, Clara, as you generally do. If it comforts you to do so, then go ahead, but mark my words that no good will come of this business.’

  Could it be true, and if so how did she feel about it? Was she shocked, disappointed, resigned? Clara was surprised to discover that it was none of these things. She simply felt as if it was happening to someone else entirely, and really shouldn’t concern her at all. Could she, at last, be growing very slightly selfish and even independent of them both?

  ‘Are you listening to a word I’m saying, woman?’

  Clara merely smiled.

  * * *

  Evie was appalled by the news. ‘I can’t believe this. How dare he preach to me about moral behaviour when he’s misbehaved just as badly, worse if he cavorts with mill girls and expects me to accept that creature as a sister? Never!’

  Clara had kept well clear while Nathan told his sorry tale, but had come running when the furious shouts of outrage and fury from father and daughter lashing out at each other became too much for her to bear. Desperate to calm them both down, Clara attempted to act as pacifier. Sadly, to no avail, Evie s
tormed from the room and since Nathan could not charge after her, Clara had followed her daughter, and was now attempting to smooth things over.

  ‘You really shouldn’t allow this matter to bother you. It was me he betrayed, after all, not you, darling.’

  ‘Mumsie, listen to yourself. You surely aren’t taking his side?’

  ‘No, dear, but if what he tells me about you is only half true, are you in any position to criticise?’

  Evie turned on her, spitting like an alley cat. ‘I’ll have you know that I’m not the one who has ruined my life. He did that by not allowing me to marry Freddie.’

  ‘Rubbish! Absolute stuff and nonsense,’ said Clara, and felt a surge of something very like power race through her veins. ‘You’ve always been a wilful child, and entirely selfish, just like your father. You could have waited and postponed the wedding, or found another young man to marry. You could even, God forbid, have done some good work and learnt something useful about the mill and your inheritance. But no, you were always far too hedonistic, too hell-bent on having a good time and enjoying yourself, spending all our hard owned money. Perhaps I spoiled you, but was it any wonder that your father finally pulled the plug? I don’t blame him for that, not one bit. But the way you choose to make your living now is not his fault, nor mine. It’s yours! We did the best we could for you, now you are a young woman responsible for yourself.’

  Evie was staring at her mother as if she’d run mad. ‘I never thought to hear you say such things, to me of all people.’

  ‘Perhaps I should have said this sooner. I’ve indulged everybody’s whims, come to think of it. It may be that Dolly will have no wish to acknowledge you either. But no one can be thrilled to have a brothel keeper for a sister, can they?’

  What Evie’s response might have been to this damning indictment, Clara was never to discover as the chamber maid came running along the landing at precisely that moment calling for someone to fetch the doctor. Nathan was having a second heart attack.

  * * *

  Some days later Clara informed Nathan, as tactfully as she was able, but with resolute firmness, that she had hired a nurse to care for him. She was brisk and businesslike, uncharacteristically decisive, not a sign of the agreeable, complaisant doormat Nathan had come to expect.

  ‘The doctor has advised that you should either retire, or hire someone to run the mill for you, in order to reduce the risk of further attacks. You were fortunate that this was not a serious one, but they could become worse and more frequent if you don’t take care.’

  Nathan was puffing and blowing, his face going all shades of red and purple. ‘You think you can put me out to grass, do you?’

  ‘The choice is entirely yours, I am simply informing you of medical advice.’

  He gave a low growl but mindful of his condition he managed not to erupt into temper, as he once might have done.

  ‘Now I really must be on my way as Jeffrey is picking me up in half an hour and I must finish my packing.’

  ‘Packing? Jeffrey?’

  ‘Yes, Nathan, I’m leaving you, I’m afraid. Jeffrey, my old school friend and I think we might settle in Portugal. I rather liked it there. If you need anything, just ring the bell and Nurse Jocelyn will look after you.’

  She then pecked him on the cheek and smilingly departed. Nathan watched her go, looking shockingly open-mouthed.

  * * *

  Aggie wasted no time in informing her sister of what she’d done. They met just as Dolly was coming out of the house to go on her rounds, and she took great pleasure in describing all she had told Mrs Barker.

  Dolly stared at her sister, speechless for several minutes. ‘So you took it into your nasty head to further ruin my reputation by making out I’m after Nathan Barker’s money, when I’m nothing of the sort?’

  Aggie smirked. ‘Why not, as you refused to help me? If you think you can boss me about, you can think again. I’ll not have you dictate what I say to my husband.’

  Dolly carefully locked the front door and stood waiting for Aggie to move out of her path so that she could get on her way. ‘So you haven’t told Harold the truth yet? Well, don’t come running to me when he finds out you’ve lied and have Nifty Jack on your tail.’

  ‘You bastard!’ And quite out of the blue, Aggie socked Dolly with her fist, right on the chin. In seconds the two sisters were rolling about in the gutter, Aggie snatching and tearing at her hair, trying to claw her face with her nails while Dolly desperately tried to fend her off. Doors opened, lace curtains twitched and soon they had half the street as an audience, laughing and cheering them on.

  ‘Come on, Dolly girl, thump her and grab her hair!’

  ‘Nay Aggie, can’t you do better than that?’ said another.

  Dolly was dodging blows left, right and centre, and couldn’t believe what was happening. ‘For God’s sake, stop it! What are you so excited about?’

  Aggie was sitting astride Dolly’s prostrate form, holding her pinned to the ground as she stuck her face close to hers, almost nose to nose, hissing out her next words like venom from a snake. ‘You think Sam’s behaving himself, do you? You imagine he isn’t going round to that fancy palace where Evie Barker hangs out and does exactly what he pleases with her? How do you feel about your husband hanging out with prostitutes? Though since you were one yourself, it probably doesn’t trouble you.’

  Dolly gave Aggie a hefty shove to push her off. ‘I’ve told you before that nothing happened. What will convince you that I’m innocent?’ It still bothered her that her own sister should think the worst of her in that way. As Aggie came for her again Dolly stood her ground and punched her back, bringing a roar of approval from the assembled audience.

  But Aggie was back on her feet in seconds, if a bit groggy and surprised, prodding Dolly in the chest. ‘And don’t think it’s only Evie Barker he’s got his eye on. He has women all over the place. I’d need only to crook my little finger and Sam would come running back to me like a shot.’ She tossed back her chestnut curls, which looked somewhat lank at that moment, not half so glossy and bouncy as they’d once been.

  Dolly bent to pick up her bag, which had rolled into the road, hating being the source of entertainment to half the street and itching to escape. Even so, she couldn’t let Aggie’s malice stir up any more mischief. She’d done enough. ‘Don’t flatter yourself, girl. You’ve let yourself go: put on weight, even your hair needs washing. Sam wouldn’t be attracted to you looking like that, even if you weren’t a married woman with a child.’

  This was too much and Aggie launched herself at Dolly again. Eventually, it was Edna Crawshaw who bore down upon the pair of them, like the avenging witch from the north and tore them bodily apart. ‘What’s got into you two? Looks like blue murder is going on here. If you were nobbut nippers, I’d tell you to kiss and make up but you’re grown women, so shake hands and behave yourself.’ Turning her attention to the gathered audience. ‘And you lot can get off home. Show’s over.’

  Edna made Dolly unlock the front door and packed them both inside with instructions to put on the kettle. ‘And don’t come out till your sorted.’

  * * *

  They sat, either side of the kitchen table where many of their rows had taken place in the past and carefully avoided eye contact. In the end it was Dolly who spoke first. ‘If it’s true what you say, that Sam has women all over the place, then why does he come back here every night? Why isn’t he interested in leaving?’ Dolly might have added that she wished he would go, but not for the world was she prepared to let Aggie know how bad things were between them,

  She’d tackled him about Evie once, demanding to know if he was seeing her again but he’d denied it with such a pained expression that Dolly had believed him. Each and every day she asked herself why she put up with him: his regular and prolonged trips to the pub, coming home drunk more often than not; the fact they had nothing left to say to each other, not even interested in arguing any more; his demands upon her were gone.
She’d believed that marriage was sacred, that if they both put in the necessary effort they could make it work. But Sam put no effort into anything. She was the one doing all the giving and he simply took. She almost hoped it was true that he was seeing Evie again, for that would change everything.

  Aggie was saying, ‘I expect because he feels sorry for you, I was the one he wanted to marry, not you. Potty about me, he was. You were only second choice. Still are, even now. You stole him from me.’

  ‘Oh Aggie, don’t talk daft. You’d already made up your mind to marry Harold before ever Sam looked my way. You wanted security and comfort, talked of little else. Perhaps you thought you could have them both, Harold to pay the bills and Sam for a bit on the side.’

  ‘I did not. I have my decency.’

  ‘Have you indeed? Well, you decided he wasn’t good enough for you, but what you hated most was to think that I had him. That really hurt, didn’t it? That’s the reason you showed no sympathy when I caught him kissing Evie Barker and foolishly came to you, my own sister, for support. You thought he’d betrayed me but you were wrong. He might have wanted to have his wicked way with Evie Barker but he never actually did. She refused him. Didn’t you realise that? Despite everything he’s actually stayed faithful, which is why I gave him another chance.’

  ‘Stayed faithful? Like hell he has. Whose child do you think that is?’

  The words burst out of her mouth without thought, as she indicated the pram still parked under the front window, and the innocent Noel happily sleeping through it all. Too late, Aggie realised that she’d gone too far and couldn’t take the words back.

  ‘What did you say?’

  Fear cascaded through her, as things seemed to be slipping out of her control. But if she’d foolishly said too much, was it any wonder? She’d needed to lash out at someone and who better than this bastard half-sister who’d been a thorn in her side for years, who’d basically killed her father and robbed her of the man she’d wanted for herself. Somehow, the facts had become twisted in her demented brain and Aggie no longer recognised the truth.