by Anna Jacobs
Mrs Fernby’s voice grew noticeably cooler. ‘We can get a magistrate to order that she be taken away from such a sordid background, under my supervision. I’ve done this before.’
‘I’ve offered to take them both to Australia. They could make a new start there, as a lot of people have done.’
‘ What? But surely that would cost a great deal of money?’
‘I have enough for the fares and what better way to spend it than on helping them?’
‘The woman doesn’t deserve it. Why, some people would consider that more like a reward and it’s wrong to reward immorality.’
‘Well, we can’t decide anything till we see what she wants.’
Peter intervened. ‘I don’t think there’s anything further we can do about it tonight and it’s getting late. Thank you for your help, Mr Fernby, Mrs Fernby. Nick and I will walk Jo back to my mother’s house.’
Once they were away from the minister’s house, Jo said, ‘I upset Mrs Fernby, didn’t I?’
It was Peter who answered. ‘Yes, you did. She’s a good woman but she has very strong views about immorality. Are you really determined to keep Moira and her daughter together?’
‘Oh, yes. It’d be terrible to tear them apart.’
Nick looked at her determined expression and didn’t argue. He was inclined to the same view.
They walked in silence until they reached Mrs T’s house, then stopped. Nick didn’t want to leave her yet, so he gestured to the low wall in front of it. ‘Let’s sit there and chat for a while. It’s a pleasant night and I’m not ready for my bed yet.’
Peter gave a big yawn and eased his shoulders to and fro. ‘Well, I’m sorry but I’m tired now. I had a busy day at work and it’ll be the same tomorrow.’
‘I’m still wide awake,’ Jo admitted.
Nick saw her glance at him as she said that and said quickly, ‘You and I could sit and chat for a bit.’
Peter took a step away from them. ‘I’ll leave you to it and I’ll tell Mam you won’t be long, Jo. If you stay on the wall, in full view of the house, it’ll be perfectly respectable to be out late together. My mother’s younger lodgers often sit out here on summer evenings with their men friends.’
When Peter had left them, Jo found herself a smooth spot on the wall and Nick sat down next to her. ‘It’s a bit of a tangle with your relatives, isn’t it?’
‘Yes. Not at all what I expected.’
‘What’s she like to talk to, this Moira?’
‘Sharp-witted, protective of her daughter. Tess is nearly as tall as me but she was dressed in very childish clothing and was wearing her hair in two plaits. I think it must be to keep her safe from men, but she won’t be able to rely on that for much longer. If I’m not mistaken she’s well on the way to having a woman’s figure.’
‘I’ve never met an immoral woman,’ he said thoughtfully. ‘I’ve seen them in the streets, of course, but that’s all.’
‘Moira’s just a woman, not a three-headed monster. In other circumstances, I’d have liked her, I think, and I respect the way she protects her daughter.’
‘Are you really going to take them back to Australia?’
‘What else can I do, Nick? They can’t settle round here, can they? My cousin Moira is too well known, from what Mrs Fernby said, even if she changes her ways. And I’ve no other close family to keep me here, after all. Kath Tayner’s branch is quite distant from mine and though she was polite, it was clear that she wasn’t really bothered about getting to know me.’
Nick gave in to temptation and reached out to take hold of her hand. When she didn’t pull away, he said quietly, ‘I’ll be sorry if you go away.’
‘Will you?’
‘Yes. I’d have liked to get to know you better.’
‘Oh.’
‘If you were staying, would you have given me a chance to do that?’
‘Yes.’
She was as straightforward about that as about everything else. He liked that about her, liked it very much. ‘No young man waiting for you back in Australia?’
‘No. I’ve met a few, even started seeing a couple of them regularly, only I got rather bored with them after a while. One of them would take me out to the park and then sit there in silence. The other had never read a book in his life unless forced to at school, and didn’t go to the cinema, even. He worked long hours in his family business and that was all he could talk about.’ After a pause, she added with huge scorn, ‘Ironmongery! Nails and hammers.’
‘Shows how stupid they were. I’d have made a lot more effort than that. You’re the most interesting woman I’ve met in a long time.’
‘That’s one of the nicest compliments I’ve ever had. I find you interesting, too, Nick.’
Silence, and they both gasped in unison as they saw a shooting star whiz across the sky.
‘It’s supposed to be lucky to see one,’ he said.
‘Is it? I wouldn’t mind a bit of good luck if I have to take Moira and Tess away.’ Jo smiled ruefully. ‘I’ve only just arrived, and I spent the journey putting up with my stepmother’s fussing. I could have strangled her sometimes, the way she goes on and on about things that are unimportant. I wonder what my cousins would be like as travelling companions. They couldn’t be worse than she was, that’s for sure.’
‘I hope you never find out what they’re like. I don’t wish them ill, but you’ll be risking your own reputation if you get involved with Moira. Can’t you just give them some money and send them to Australia on their own? Most people in the valley are good sorts. You’d easily make friends if you stayed here.’
‘I might have done that if things were different. But I don’t think Moira is very well, and what if she died and left Tess on her own in a strange country? That could be dangerous for such a young woman. I can’t reconcile it with my conscience to run that risk. If you’d seen Moira, heard her cough, a really bad hacking sound that went on and on – well, you’d understand.’
‘Could it be serious?’
‘Yes. I think it could. She’s so thin, even though I’m sure she can afford decent food. From the way she looked at me, as if afraid I’d say something, I’m fairly certain she knows that she won’t make old bones. She seems to be trying to hide it from the girl. I’m not sure she’s succeeded, though.’
‘I can see why you’re worried, then.’ He admired her concern for her relatives at the same time as wishing she wasn’t planning to get involved.
She spoke slowly and softly, as if expressing her thoughts aloud, ‘Life doesn’t always let you do what you want, does it, Nick? And it can take people you love away from you suddenly. I’ve lost both my mother and father now. I can’t just abandon Tess.’
‘No, I suppose not.’ He didn’t speak for a while, but he kept hold of her hand and was glad when she didn’t pull away.
In the distance, the town hall clock struck ten and she sighed. ‘I think I’d better go into the house now. I’m sure I saw a curtain move. Mrs T is probably keeping an eye on us. I think I’ll enjoy being old more than I’m enjoying being young, because I’ll be able to do what I want without people scolding me.’
‘I suppose so.’
She started to pull her hand away but he held on tightly. ‘Please remember, whatever happens, that if you need my help, you mustn’t be afraid to ask me. Whether I approve of what you’re doing or not, I’ll always be on your side.’
‘Thank you. I’d never be afraid of asking you anything, Nick.’
‘And Jo – please don’t go away without telling me what you’re doing and saying goodbye properly.’
‘All right.’
‘Promise.’ He raised her hand to his lips.
Her voice came out choked and her hand trembled slightly as she reacted to his touch. ‘I promise.’
He stood up. He wanted to kiss her, wanted it desperately, but there would probably be someone watching them from inside the house. ‘Better go inside now or Mrs T will be coming out to chase
me away.’
He watched her disappear through the front door, then murmured softly, ‘Please keep that promise, Jo Melling.’
As he walked home, he prayed desperately that fate or whatever you called it would step in on his side for a change and let him get to know Jo.
Only a few paces further on, he stopped and faced up to it: he wanted to do more than merely get to know her. He was already sure that he wanted to court her.
How could he feel like that so quickly?
Perhaps because she was right for him. He smiled and nodded.
Mrs T was waiting for Jo in the hall. ‘Come down to the kitchen and I’ll make you a cup of cocoa while you tell me how it went.’
Another repetition, Jo thought with a sigh, but did as she was told.
When she’d finished describing her visit to Moira, Mrs T didn’t say anything, but sat staring into space. Then she surprised Jo.
‘I was at school with Moira. Friends with her till her father ran off with someone and her mother started selling her body to make ends meet. After that, my mother told me to stay away from Moira and she didn’t come to school as often. Pity. She was a good scholar, could have become a teacher herself.’
‘She seemed sharp-witted.’
‘Mmm. She tried to get away, to manage without following her mother’s example and went off to live in London. But she met someone there who left her with a child on the way. Women can be fools about men.’ She shrugged. ‘I’m sorry for her but I won’t have her or the girl come through my door, let alone staying here.’
‘I won’t bring them. You don’t know where I could take them, do you? Just for a few days?’
‘Why would you need to do that?’
‘If they have to leave that house suddenly.’
‘From what I’ve heard, it’s Moira’s own house, so they won’t have to leave it, whether she’s, um, working there or not. Like I said, she’s not stupid. I bet she’ll have money put aside as well.’
‘Doesn’t she need a male protector to do that sort of work?’
‘She’s got one. Big Donny. Slow-witted young chap but strong. He’s always with her when she leaves the house, going to the shops or whatever, and I’ve heard he sleeps in the scullery at night. She can call him if anyone gets too rough with her.’
Jo wondered how Mrs T knew all this but didn’t interrupt.
‘In return she’s protected Big Donny from the sort of lads who hang around the streets and torment slow-witted folk.’
‘Oh.’
‘You’d better think carefully before you do anything, lass. I know you want to help her, but you’d be safest staying right away from her.’
‘She’s a relative.’
Mrs T sighed. ‘I thought you’d say that. Well, be as careful as you can.’
17
T hat same evening, Charlie Willcox sat frowning into space for so long his wife Marion eventually poked him with her knitting needle. ‘What’s going on in that head of yours? You’re plotting something. I can always tell.’
‘I can’t stop thinking about the council meeting and the notes the mayor gave us about previous attempts to deal with our pet slum, or rather about how the former council deliberately did not deal with it. That’s left me with all sorts of things to think about, and I’ve gone through them till my head aches, trying to figure out what we can do about it.’ He rubbed the side of his forehead as if to reinforce this statement.
‘Go on.’
‘It’s a good job we’ve got some new council members ready to take action. Did you know there was a small outbreak of something suspiciously like cholera a couple of years ago because of the filth in that place? And the last council would only authorise a temporary clean-up, when what is really needed is a whole series of new connections to a proper sewage system.’
‘No, I didn’t know that. I’m surprised it’s occupying your mind to such an extent, though, Charlie. You didn’t even want to get involved with the council when the mayor asked you to stand for election, and you were grumbling all the time he was nagging you and insisting you do it.’
‘Well, I’ve changed my mind. I’m glad now that I’m on the council. Very glad. We have a son and another child on the way. I don’t want Arthur or the new baby catching something that kills them off. Infections can spread, you know, and our home is very close to Backshaw Moss.’
She looked at him in horror. ‘Oh, my goodness, yes. You’re right. And yet I didn’t even know that had happened. How did I not find out?’
‘They kept it secret, threatened any workers who spoke about it, and called it a temporary blockage.’
‘Well, you and the others will have to insist the council do something about it now that we do know. Why else do we pay rates on our houses?’
He shot her a quick sideways glance. ‘I thought you’d be annoyed if I got too involved. It’ll mean me going out more often in the evenings.’
She gave him one of those soft, special smiles that few other people ever saw, then the sharp-tongued Marion returned and she followed up the smile with another poke. ‘I don’t want my children brought up in a valley run by corrupt men, and I particularly don’t want them to risk falling ill because of that horrible slum.’
‘Exactly.’
‘So if you can do anything to help, I shall be on your side. And if you need my help, you have only to ask.’
He gave her a quick hug. ‘Thank you. But I’d not dream of getting you involved, especially while you’re in that condition.’ He patted her stomach gently. ‘These are ruthless men, love. That sort of skulduggery and corruption seems to have crept up on us all.’
She looked at him anxiously. ‘Does that mean you might be in danger if you try to make real improvements?’
‘What? No. I’ll be very careful, Marion, I promise you.’
‘Make sure you are.’
‘It’s good that Reg has found out and is trying to turn things round, isn’t it? It’s the right thing to do. The honest thing. You know?’
‘Yes. But you will move cautiously at first, won’t you, Charlie? You have a tendency to dive into something feet first. Look how you bought that electrical goods shop, then had trouble turning a profit at first.’
‘The shop’s doing all right now. Better than all right. Harry Makepeace is a top-notch manager and electrician. And of course I’ll move cautiously with the slum clearance. But what I’ve been thinking of tonight is that when it comes down to it, there’s far more than bad drains involved. I drove round there and I think we need to knock down half the buildings in Backshaw Moss before they fall down and maybe kill somebody. We need to build new houses there, decent places where children can grow up healthy. Not big houses like ours, smaller ones, with rents cheap enough for decent, hard-working folk to afford.’
She stared at him in surprise. ‘I’ve never thought to hear you talk like this before.’
‘Like what?’
‘Like a man who cares about doing the right thing for his town. Successful citizens used to do that more in the old queen’s time, from what I’ve read. They called it their “civic duty”.’
He wriggled uncomfortably. ‘I’m no saint, but someone has to do it. I’m not on my own in this, you know.’
The soft look was back on her face. ‘I’d be very proud if you helped sort out that horrible slum.’
‘We’ll do it and afterwards I hope people will think of that area as part of Birch End, not call it Backshaw Moss in that horrible, scornful tone of voice.’
‘You know what? If you go on like this, you could end up as mayor, Charlie Willcox.’
He could feel himself flushing. ‘Not me. Don’t talk daft. I’ve enough on my plate. In the meantime, you concentrate on your new studio and on growing me another fine son.’
She leaned across to kiss him. ‘Just be careful, love, that’s all I ask.’
‘Wilf is coming round tomorrow morning to discuss how he’ll start.’
Charlie didn’t tell
her that someone had told him he’d only got permission to build on a room so easily because Higgerson, the main builder in the valley, wasn’t interested in working on something that was for him, a man he didn’t get on with. And since it was a small project anyway, Higgerson hadn’t interfered. There had been two or three shouting matches between the two of them after Charlie had bought this house and then complained about one thing after another. With reason. Shoddy workmanship, cutting corners, all had been evident.
That was enough serious talk. Charlie switched on the radio and they listened to a variety programme together, laughing at the jokes and humming along with the songs. He couldn’t help being aware of her staring at him now and then. Well, he’d not only surprised her, but had surprised himself, too, with how angry he felt about the mess just down the road from his home and by how much he wanted to improve things. Not just wanted to, but was determined to.
Marion went up to bed before he did, because she got tired more easily at the moment. He re-read the notes about council activities, shaking his head sadly and feeling angry all over again. He didn’t like Rathley but as their paths hadn’t often crossed, he hadn’t realised how many old houses the fellow had bought or what a bad landlord he was.
And as for Higgerson, who called himself a builder, he shouldn’t be given any more council contracts. Definitely not. And if Charlie had any say in it, he wouldn’t get them, either. The houses he built were not sound. If that man had anything to do with rebuilding that slum, he’d only be building another slum of the future – and the near future at that.
Charlie wished he had someone knowledgeable about the world to discuss the situation with. As he made himself a bedtime cup of cocoa, he stopped for a moment, spoon in hand, thinking about his older brother, who had also been his best friend. He was deeply sorry to have lost Jonah, and particularly now. Jonah had always offered such wise advice, not poured it out all over you at the drop of a hat but offered it gently just when you needed it.
Would his new brother-in-law make a good substitute when he needed someone to talk things over with? He got on well with Todd, who could surely be trusted with private information and thoughts and who must have learned a lot travelling round the world as he had after the Great War. And he was a councillor too, now, an ally if needed.