War in the Valleys

by Francesca Capaldi

  ‘We’ll be going now,’ said Harries. ‘And you can forget this conversation ever took place.’

  Hywel showed them out. When he returned Enid said, ‘Of all the nasty, malicious snakes in this village, that Olwen Jones would take some beating. As bad as Esther Williams she is, worse, for at least she did see Idris walking out when she reported him, even if he wasn’t guilty. But Olwen must have completely made it up. But why?’

  ‘To keep me right away from Violet.’

  Enid sat back down and picked up the sewing. ‘Would she go that far?’

  ‘I rather feel she would. I do admire Violet, I can’t deny it, but I’ve only tried to be a friend to her. We met up a couple of times, just for company like, but Olwen found out about one of the times, from Rose Pritchard.’

  ‘There’s another snake to add to the list. And her a thief. Wouldn’t be surprised if she was the one who broke into poor Mr Schenck’s place.’

  Hywel picked up his cap. ‘Let’s just get out of here. I need that fresh air and to do some digging.’

  ‘Aye, mun, get the anger out of your system,’ said Idris. ‘For Olwen has surely shown her true colours now, even to the police. Let’s go via the gardens and tell Anwen, for she did take little Sara there. Come on.’

  Halfway down Edward Street the men spotted Elizabeth walking up to the pavement from the allotment.

  ‘Good afternoon!’ She waved to them and caught them up. She was wearing her usual gardening garb. ‘How are you?’

  ‘We’re just heading off to the far allotment,’ said Hywel. ‘What are you doing here this time of the day? I thought you were working in Rhymney.’

  ‘I was. But the man whose job I was doing has been given a medical discharge, having been shot in the knee. Since it’s a sitting job it’s perfect for him to return to.’

  ‘I’m sorry to hear that,’ said Idris. ‘I had the impression you were enjoying it.’

  ‘I was. But at least I won’t have my mother complaining about it every day.’ She sighed. ‘I’m off to the Alexandra Street allotment, since Mary Jones reckons they need some help there.’

  ‘Anwen’s in the gardens, so we’re just popping along to, um, tell her about… well, Sergeant Harries called by.’ He gave her an outline of what had occurred, though didn’t let on about Olwen Jones.

  ‘Why, that is frightful. Who would do such a thing? I’ll pop into the gardens with you, just to say hello. I haven’t seen Anwen in a while.’

  They reached the Workmen’s Institute and crossed over to enter via the top gate.

  ‘Oh look, Violet’s there too,’ said Elizabeth. ‘And her mother-in-law, by the looks of it.’

  Hywel regarded Idris who looked as cross as he felt. He wished Elizabeth had not accompanied them; hopefully she’d move on quickly, for this would not be pleasant.

  * * *

  ‘All I’m saying is, I hope Miss Elizabeth doesn’t think she can barge into our lives again, now she’ll be free in the day once more.’ There, Violet had said it. With any luck, Anwen wouldn’t be so keen to invite her to everything from now on.

  ‘I don’t know who she thinks she is, Miss High-and-Mighty from the Big House, bossing us about but wanting to be our friend,’ said Olwen.

  ‘I think that’s unfair,’ said Anwen.

  ‘Bringing me her gifts at Christmas as if we were friends.’ Violet remembered the jams, which, although delicious, had highlighted her shame that she could not afford to give anything back.

  ‘The classes shouldn’t mix,’ said Olwen. ‘It’s a recipe for disaster. Now I’m to do working at the Big House, I don’t intend to hobnob with the manager’s family.’ She looked at Anwen pointedly.

  Violet was aware of Anwen turning her head away, maybe dismayed about her friend being criticised. She wondered briefly how Olwen and Enid would get on, working so closely together.

  Anwen turned back to say, ‘Um, I don’t think—’

  ‘I’m afraid I agree with Olwen—’ Violet interrupted.

  Anwen nudged her and she turned around, still talking.

  ‘Oh.’ Violet came to an abrupt halt.

  Elizabeth was standing there with Hywel and Idris, looking bewildered and more than a little hurt. ‘I need to be going now.’ She scooted down the path, breaking into a run until she reached the bottom gate.

  Well, Violet thought, it was unfortunate that Elizabeth had heard her opinion, but it would perhaps give her something to think about. And hopefully it would put her off seeking her company again.

  ‘Was that necessary?’

  Hywel’s eyes were so ablaze with fury that Violet felt afraid. It seemed an overreaction for what she had said.

  ‘I’m sorry that she overheard, but she did rather intrude on our lives before.’ She said this with as much confidence as she could muster, hoping they’d see that her opinion was reasonable. After all, she had mentioned this to Hywel. ‘I do wonder what she wants with us and whether she’s spying for her father.’

  Hywel pointed a forefinger at her. ‘You are turning out as bad as her.’ The finger’s position moved towards Olwen.

  Violet felt sick. Whatever had brought this on? She looked down to where the children were still playing, glad they were out of earshot.

  ‘Says the man who can’t keep his hands to himself,’ growled Olwen.

  ‘You’re a wicked, vile piece of work—’

  ‘Hywel!’ exclaimed Violet. ‘That’s not necessary. She’s only trying to—’

  ‘Yes, Uncle Hywel, I do think you’re taking this too far, even though it’s unfortunate Elizabeth overheard,’ said Anwen.

  ‘Taking it too far?’ said Idris. ‘I’d say he’s only just beginning. And I’m with him on this one.’

  Violet had the feeling there was something more here than her harsh words.

  Olwen waved them away. ‘Men, you’re all alike. No doubt sticking up for Miss Meredith because she’s young and pretty, even if she does look ridiculous in those clothes.’

  Did Hywel perhaps have feelings for the manager’s daughter, Violet wondered. She couldn’t see anything coming of that, but even the thought that he might admire another woman was like a punch in the gut.

  ‘I had a visit from the police,’ Hywel started.

  ‘That doesn’t surprise me,’ said Olwen, though Violet noticed her face pale a little. ‘You’re a wrong’un, and no mistake.’

  ‘Why don’t you just shut up and listen?’

  ‘Idris, don’t be so rude!’ Anwen admonished.

  Hywel carried on. ‘Apparently someone who overlooks Schenck’s back yard reported seeing me in the early hours on the night they were broken into.’

  He hadn’t said Olwen, but that’s who he was implying it was. It was like when Esther had reported seeing Idris near Cadoc Beadle’s. Violet had only recently told her mother-in-law that story. And yesterday, after the incident in the grocer’s, Olwen had gone out for a walk by herself, which she seldom did. Violet stood and walked backwards, away from her.

  ‘Was that you, Olwen?’

  ‘You know it was, for I told you I’d seen him.’

  ‘No you didn’t!’

  Anwen rose, cuddling the baby to her. ‘Either way, you are the one who’s been allowing this awful woman to stay,’ she confronted her friend.

  Olwen pulled a sad face, no doubt meant to provoke sympathy. ‘What a thing to say, and my son not ten months dead. I’ve put myself out, yes, left the comfort of my own home to look after my daughter-in-law and the little ones.’

  ‘I think you’re happy for her to stay, Violet,’ said Hywel. ‘That way, you have an excuse not to try and get over your tragedy and get on with the rest of your life.’

  Violet’s head was spinning. Was she using Olwen as an excuse? She could have insisted she leave months ago, yet it had never seemed the right time and the woman had always had convincing arguments. Not knowing what else to do, she ran down to the children, taking their hands.

  ‘We’ve got to
go now as it looks like it could rain.’

  The cloud was only light, but she needed to be home, away from Hywel’s accusing presence. She hurried to the bottom gate, not hearing what was said next. If only she could lock the doors against Olwen, but she knew she couldn’t. She felt she was looking after her mother-in-law as much as the other way round. It was her punishment for her wicked thoughts regarding Hywel. It was all her own fault.

  * * *

  It wasn’t long after Violet got home that she heard the back door bang shut with some force. The children’s train set had already been set up in the front room to keep them out of the way. She headed now to the scullery, shaking with anger but also nerves. Confrontation was something she always endeavoured to avoid, but at least putting a room between her and the children should keep them from hearing what was about to ensue.

  As soon as she opened the door, Olwen launched in with, ‘Well thank you very much for running off like that.’

  Violet shut the door before she replied. ‘Please keep your voice down, for I would rather the children were not upset.’

  ‘Hm! You didn’t worry about me being upset, being set upon like that.’

  This woman was infuriating, twisting it round like she was the victim. She would have to go, extra wage or not. Her nerves could stand it no longer.

  ‘How dare you tell the police that you saw Hywel on the night of the burglary! And to sneak off to the police, a week after it happened, behind my back, just because I came across him by accident in the grocer’s. Because admit it, that’s why you did it.’

  Olwen sniffed and stuck her nose in the air. ‘I might have been mistaken about the figure I saw.’

  ‘Mistaken? You couldn’t see anything down that lane in the early hours from your bedroom.’

  ‘There’s no harm in telling the police. Better to report it and it turn out not to be the case than to ignore it and let someone get away with something.’

  Violet wagged her forefinger at Olwen, stepping closer. ‘You only did it to spite Hywel, and to spite me. I don’t remember the last time you were nice about anybody, or smiled, except at the children. Even them you try to boss around. You are an evil witch who sees badness in everything.’ The last sentence came out more aggressively than Violet had intended, leaving her quite shocked at her own temper.

  Olwen backed away until she was leaning against the sink. ‘Evil, am I? More like you’re going mad. Look at the face on you.’

  Violet stepped forward once more. ‘If I’m mad I’ve been driven there by you, trying to control my life.’ She threw her hands up in desperation.

  The older woman put up her arms as if to protect her face and started screaming. ‘Keep away from me. Don’t attack me.’

  ‘What are you going on about now? Keep your voice down.’

  Olwen screamed once more, long and noisily. ‘Nooo, don’t hurt me, aghhhh.’

  Violet stepped back, bewildered. The woman had gone crazy, and no mistake.

  Despite her best efforts, the children came running in, their faces fearful.

  ‘Why’s Mamgu screaming?’ said Clarice.

  At the same time, there was a rapping on the back door and she heard their neighbour, Mr Prowse, shouting, ‘Are you all right?’

  The door suddenly opened and he and his wife flew in, in time to hear Olwen scream, ‘No, don’t hurt me, Violet, I didn’t mean no harm.’

  The neighbours looked in alarm at Violet, Mrs Prowse clutching her husband’s arm. Her stomach churned with fear. Olwen was trying to make out she was going to injure her in some way. She thought quickly.

  ‘I have no intention of doing anything to you, you silly woman. But I’ve a right to get cross when you tell lies to the police about my friends.’

  The Prowses seemed to relax, now regarding Olwen with doubt.

  ‘Yes you were! You had your hand raised to hit me.’ She broke down into sobs which in turn started Clarice and Benjy off.

  The neighbours now frowned at Violet. She went to the children, placing an arm around each. ‘Hush now, cariadon, Mamgu’s just unwell.’ She bent down. ‘Clarice, you be a big girl now and take Benjy back to the front room, all right?’

  The little girl nodded and scooped an arm round her brother to lead him back out of the scullery.

  Violet lifted her hands to demonstrate what she’d actually been doing. ‘I put them up like this in frustration, that is all.’

  Olwen pulled her mouth into an ugly pout. ‘You’re mad, you are. This is not the first time you’ve attacked me. You need help.’ Olwen ran past the neighbours and through the door into the garden. Violet went to the opening and watched as her mother-in-law escaped through the gate.

  ‘I’m so sorry about that,’ she told the neighbours. ‘I’d just found out she’d reported Mr Llewellyn, who you’ll remember used to lodge with me, to the police for being in the lane behind here the night the bookshop was broken into. He wasn’t, but she’s taken against him, see, and is trying to get him into trouble.’

  The Prowses didn’t look totally convinced by this explanation. Violet realised that it didn’t preclude her attacking Olwen for doing it.

  ‘I’m not best pleased,’ she went on, ‘but certainly didn’t attack her.’

  Mrs Prowse frowned doubtfully, but said, ‘Aye, well, she never does seem a happy soul. Can barely manage a greeting when we sees her in the garden or the street.’

  ‘Well, we’ll keep an ear out,’ said her husband, ‘just in case she starts up again.’

  Or if you start up again, is what she suspected he meant. Yet she’d never been any bother in the six years she’d lived here. It was so unfair.

  The pair left and Violet headed to the front room to check on the children. She knelt next to them.

  ‘Why Mamgu upset?’ said Benjy.

  ‘Why were you going to hurt her?’ said Clarice.

  ‘I wasn’t. She was confused, and, as I said, not well. Now come on, dry those tears.’ She produced a handkerchief from her pocket, noting that the fabric was so thin on the seam of her skirt there that it had shredded. She dabbed their eyes in turn. ‘Now, who is riding on the train today, and where are they going?’

  The children chatted on about the journey. Violet’s head throbbed, the trauma of what had occurred today pressing against her skull. She tried to work out how to make Olwen finally leave, going through several scenarios. Perhaps she should write to Brynmore, tell him to come and collect his wife. She should have done so ages ago. What had she been thinking?

  ‘Hello?’

  The faint voice, a man’s, came from the kitchen. Her heart jumped. Had Olwen fetched the police?

  ‘I’ll just see who that is,’ she told the children, rising. ‘You stay here and continue your game.’

  She was surprised to see the doctor in the scullery, with Olwen cowering behind him.

  ‘Dr Roberts, what are you doing here? Unless it’s to treat my mother-in-law’s hysteria.’

  ‘See, I told you she swings from violent to normal. Threatening me with a fist, she was, not fifteen minutes since. The Prowses next door saw. She needs a spell in the asylum if you ask me. And those poor babbies being exposed to that temper. Good job their mamgu’s here to take care of them.’

  ‘The Prowses saw no such thing and you may ask them yourself, doctor,’ said Violet, determined to hold her temper to give no credence to Olwen’s false words. ‘They came over because she was screaming blue murder when I simply got cross.’ She explained what she’d been told by Hywel and how it was false.

  ‘False, is it? It’s not false that you’ve been like a bitch in heat for that Hywel, and that was even before my dear Charlie was gone.’

  ‘How dare you, you lying witch!’ Violet had had enough now.

  Dr Roberts put a hand up to stop the argument. ‘Mrs Jones – senior, that is – would you please leave me with Violet for a while.’

  Olwen’s frown became a victorious smile. ‘I will be with the children in the fro
nt room when you need me.’

  Dr Roberts waited until she was gone, checking through the kitchen door and then closing it.

  ‘How have you been feeling, Violet?’

  ‘I am stressed, doctor, and certainly I am still mourning Charlie, despite what she says. But I’m not mad. Driven mad, yes, by her constant nagging and spying, but that’s quite a different thing to being mad.’

  ‘It is, but when I have seen you in chapel, you do not seem your old cheerful self, even given that Charlie has not been gone a year.’

  She sighed and leaned against the sink. ‘I am grateful to Olwen for bringing more money into the home, but it comes at a price and it’s wearing me down. She is not an easy woman.’

  ‘I can imagine. But still, you seem to have grown thinner in the last months, and you’ve never been well built.’

  ‘Is it any wonder, with the food shortages? The children get the best food first.’ Though Olwen wasn’t beyond saving some nice portions for herself, and she was eating ‘luncheon’, as they called it, up at the Big House four days a week.

  ‘I’d be surprised if most people weren’t getting skinnier, for it’s hard to get fat on veggies alone, and that is certainly our staple diet at the moment. And the veggies on the allotments haven’t done so well this year, so we haven’t even got as many of those.’ Violet became aware she was rambling.

  ‘Food shortages are a worry, but I detect something more with you, Violet. You don’t look well.’

  ‘I’m tired and fed up, that’s all. Olwen is good with the children but not so good helping around the house, so even when I had the job I was doing a lot of the work here. That’s no excuse to send me to no asylum.’

  Dr Roberts huffed out a small laugh. ‘I’m not keen to send women there unless I absolutely have to. I believe there are other ways to deal with melancholia, for that’s what it seems to me you have. But let me ask you a few questions first. Perhaps we could go into the kitchen and sit down.’

  ‘But the children—’

  ‘We’ll make sure the door is firmly shut and will speak quietly.’

  Violet led the way, pulling out a chair at the table to sit there, rather than the seats by the fireplace. The door to the front room was open, so Dr Roberts stepped over to shut it.