by Sam Michaels
‘Hey.’ She heard a shout, and turned round to see George jogging towards her.
‘I thought I’d find you here,’ George said when she caught up with her.
‘You know me,’ Molly answered, trying to sound cheerier than she felt.
‘Yes, I do, and I still know something is wrong. I’m sorry to keep harping on about it, but I don’t like to think of you upset.’
‘Let’s sit down,’ Molly said, leading George towards a bench. It was about time she told her friend the truth. A white fluffy cloud momentarily covered the sun, and Molly shivered as she began to relay the details of what had happened with Billy.
‘The filthy bastard! I’ll kill him!’ George seethed.
‘That’s not the worst of it,’ Molly said, fighting to hold back the sobs that had caught in her throat. ‘I’m pregnant.’
George’s head snapped around, and she stared wide-eyed at Molly. ‘You have got to be fucking kidding me!’
‘I wish I was. I thought it would be safe ’cos it was my first time, but it wasn’t, and now me mum said I’ve got to get rid of it or marry Billy! What am I gonna do, George? I’m too scared to have a backstreet job done on me, but I can’t face marrying Billy.’
Molly buried her face in her hands as she cried, and George put a comforting arm across her shoulders, saying, ‘I can’t believe your mum expects you to marry him after he forced you into it.’
‘She… she doesn’t know.’
‘What! Why not?’
‘I daren’t tell her, George. She’s like a bloomin’ lioness when it comes to protecting her kids. She always took the brunt of me dad’s temper to keep him away from us, so Gawd knows what she’d try to do to Billy Wilcox. He’s mad, a nutter, and I don’t want her going near him.’
‘He deserves to have his fucking balls chopped off.’
‘I know, but George, you won’t tell her, will you? Promise me you won’t tell her.’
‘I’ll keep schtum, but there’s no way you can marry the bastard.’
‘As I said, me mum’s insisting, and it’s either that or a backstreet butcher.’
‘I ain’t having this. I’m gonna sort Billy Wilcox out once and for all.’
‘No! No, George. I don’t want you going near him either. You don’t know what he’s capable of and if anything happened to you I’d never forgive myself.’
‘Nothing is going to happen to me.’
‘You can’t be sure of that. It’s not just him. He’s got muscle around him too and you wouldn’t stand a chance. Please, George, I’m begging you to butt out of this. If anything happened to you I’d have it on my conscience for the rest of my life. Anyway, maybe it won’t be so bad being married to him. His mum is all right, and if we live with her Billy won’t treat me badly with her around.’
George hung her head, then at last said, ‘It’s your life, Molly, you’ve got to make your own choices, and live with them, but he’d better treat you right.’
Molly felt sick with relief. She’d managed to talk George out of going up against Billy, and as long as her mother was kept in the dark, she’d be safe from him too. She didn’t want to marry him, but it seemed she had no other options. Her fate was sealed.
*
Fanny knocked nervously on the Wilcox’s front door, and Jane opened it with a friendly smile, though Fanny thought after hearing what she had to say, that smile would soon be wiped off her pretty face.
‘Hello, I wasn’t expecting you,’ Jane said.
‘I know and I’m sorry to turn up unexpectedly, but can I have a word please, Mrs Wilcox?’
‘Yes, come in. Go through to the lounge, I’ll bring us some tea.’
Fanny walked into the opulent front room, and her heart sank. Billy was sat in an armchair and didn’t look pleased at her intrusion.
‘What are you doing here?’ he asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.
‘I think you know,’ Fanny answered. She was scared, but for Molly’s sake she was determined to hold her ground.
‘No, actually, I have no idea, so why don’t you enlighten me?’
‘Let’s wait for your mother,’ she answered firmly, her shoulders back and her head held high.
Billy aggressively folded his newspaper, then threw it to one side. She flinched when he jumped to his feet. All of Fanny’s instincts were screaming at her to run, but she remained where she was and before she knew it, Billy was towering over her.
With his face close to her own, he sniggered, ‘She begged me for it.’
Fanny held her breath. She knew he was trying to bait her, but then Jane walked into the room and Billy sprang backwards. Fanny detested him and hated the idea of her daughter having to marry him. But it was better that than bearing a bastard child.
‘Sit down, Fanny,’ Jane offered, and handed her a cup of tea in a fine china cup. If Fanny hadn’t been so distressed, she may have appreciated the quality tea service and fine décor of the room, but instead, she was trying to stop herself from shaking and causing the cup and saucer to rattle.
‘So, what can I do for you?’ Jane asked.
Fanny’s eyes flitted apprehensively to Billy then back to Jane. He was glaring menacingly at her, and she could feel his eyes boring into her. She wanted to say she’d made a terrible mistake by coming round, and run for the door, but that wouldn’t have helped Molly.
‘It’s about my daughter, Molly… and Billy.’
‘Oh, what about them?’ Jane asked, glancing briefly at her son.
‘This is a bit delicate, so I’ll just come straight out with it. She’s in the family way. Your Billy has got my daughter pregnant, so I’ll be expecting him to do the decent thing.’
Jane gasped, and Billy closed his eyes. The news must have come as a shock to him.
‘Is this true, Billy?’ Jane asked.
‘I doubt it. It could have been anyone so what makes you think I’m the father?’
‘Don’t try to insinuate that my daughter is a tart. You’re the only man who has touched her, so you know full well that it’s you,’ Fanny said firmly, though she was sure she was trembling.
‘Yeah, well, it’s her word against mine.’
‘Is it true, Billy?’ Jane asked again.
The room was in silence as Billy paced towards the window to stand with his back to them. The atmosphere felt explosive, and Fanny feared it was about to ignite.
‘Well, is it?’ Jane asked again. ‘Did you lay with Molly Mipple?’
‘Yes,’ Billy snapped, and spun round, ‘but that doesn’t mean it was me who got her pregnant. She’s probably been with half the blokes in Battersea.’
‘How dare you,’ Fanny said, leaping to her feet. It was bad enough that he was denying the child, but suggesting she slept around added insult to injury.
Jane jumped up too and held her hand on Fanny’s arm. ‘Please, let me deal with this,’ she said and faced her son. ‘Billy. I don’t want to hear you saying such vile things, especially about the girl who is potentially carrying your child.’
‘There’s nothing potential about it!’ Fanny added with derision.
‘I ain’t having this. You can’t stitch me up for getting her pregnant. It was only the once, and she weren’t no virgin,’ he shouted, then stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.
Fanny finally felt as though she could breathe again and slumped back onto a chair.
‘I’m sorry about Billy, but it’s probably the shock. I’ll wait for him to calm down, then I’ll speak to him. In the meantime…’ Jane grabbed her purse from her handbag by the side of the sofa. ‘Take this,’ she said, and handed Fanny some coins.
‘I don’t want your money, Mrs Wilcox. I want your son to do the right thing by my Molly. You know what her life will be like as an unmarried mother. Believe you me, and I say this with the greatest respect, I don’t want to see Molly married to Billy any more than he wants to marry her, but would you see your first grandchild born a bastard?’
Fanny did trust Mrs Wilcox, though the same couldn’t be said for her son.
‘Come back this evening and bring Molly. Try not worry, we’ll get this sorted.’
Fanny left and headed for home. If she hadn’t been so angry with Molly, she may have felt sorry for the girl. At least there was one small consolation in marrying Billy – as his wife, Molly would never be poor.
38
Two months had passed since Molly had told George she was pregnant, and though she tried to hide it, George could see her friend’s stomach beginning to swell. Not that Molly would have to keep it a secret for much longer. Much to George’s dismay, Molly was due to marry Billy next month. George had tried to talk Molly out of it, and from what she’d heard Billy wasn’t keen on the union either. But Molly had refused to listen. She’d been adamant that she’d made her bed and would have to lie in it. As far as George was concerned, Fanny Mipple and Jane bloody Wilcox had a lot to answer for. If they hadn’t pushed for this marriage, it wouldn’t be happening.
George felt sweat dripping down her back. She’d arrived early at the gymnasium and had been jumping rope for fifteen minutes. She threw her rope down and surveyed her growing business. The large upper room was perfect for the fight club and the shop downstairs had a back room attached where the women held their craft-making sessions. When she’d first viewed the premises, she’d known it was exactly what she was looking for, but the landlord had turned her away. It wasn’t until Jane used her Wilcox name that he’d changed his mind and couldn’t hand over the keys quick enough.
It was the same when George went to purchase the gym equipment. The bloke in the warehouse had laughed at her request for boxing gloves, but Jane’s influence had him almost begging for George’s custom. Now she regretted accepting the woman’s help in spite of the benefits. She should have known better than to work with Billy’s mother.
Molly’s voice drifted up the stairs as she heard her call, ‘Are you up there, George?’
‘Yes,’ she answered, ‘I’ll be down in a minute.’
She returned the skipping rope to the equipment cupboard and grabbed a towel to wipe her face. It wasn’t quite nine in the morning, but already the balmy August weather was making the gym hot and leaving her feeling sticky. The Maids of Battersea were in for a torturous training session today!
Molly came upstairs, and George was grateful to see she was carrying a large jug of water.
‘I thought you might need this.’
‘I said I’d come down.’
‘I know, but Ethel is downstairs, and I wanted a word with you, in private.’
George poured herself a much-needed glass of water and sat on a long wooden bench that ran the length of the room.
‘It’s about me and this place. You know I love it, but I’ve been talking to Mrs Wilcox, and she doesn’t think Billy will want me working, not when we’re married, and especially not once the baby is born.’
George still couldn’t believe that Molly was going to marry the man who blackmailed her into having sex. How could she? It only made sense if Molly hadn’t told the truth; maybe she’d lied and cried rape as she was too ashamed to admit that she’d willingly slept with Billy. Now it seemed she wouldn’t be working in the club, but she’d been expecting this and said, ‘Fine, suit yourself.’
‘Don’t be like that, George,’ Molly said, sounding hurt.
‘Listen to yourself. You and Mrs Wilcox are all for promoting the Maids when it suits you, but you’re just like all the fucking women who come here – weak!’
‘Be reasonable! I’m having a baby, George. I can’t be a working woman. And as for Mrs Wilcox, you should be grateful. If it wasn’t for her the Maids would still be in the church hall and selling on the market. Thanks to her you’ve got a proper gym, and a bloody smart shop downstairs!’
Apart from her gran, Molly was the only other person who could talk frankly to George without her getting narked. Most people watched what they said around her, but not Molly.
‘I was doing just fine by myself! Yes, she and that fancy newspaper have boosted numbers, and yes, she’s kitted out this place, but thanks to her interference I’m running more of a bloody fitness club than a boxing club! I don’t need her, and I don’t need you. If you want to walk out on this, then fucking well go!’ George threw her glass across the room. ‘Now go on, fuck off!’
Molly looked horrified as it smashed against the wall, but she held her ground and said, ‘No, George. I won’t go like this. There’s things we need to arrange.’
Ethel poked her head round the door, looking tentative. ‘Is everything all right?’ she asked.
‘Yes, Ethel, it’s fine. Go back downstairs and stay there like I told you to,’ Molly answered impatiently.
Ethel quietly closed the door behind her.
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to worry Ethel,’ George said, calmer now. She was quick to anger, but quick to calm down too. She felt guilty for raising her voice and smashing the glass. After all, Ethel had the mind of a child and had witnessed enough violence in her life.
‘Funnily enough, Ethel is one of the things we’ll have to discuss. You won’t be able to keep an eye on her in the shop while you hold your lessons up here.’
‘Don’t worry about Ethel, she’ll be fine. I’ll get her an assistant,’ George said with a wry smile, and both women laughed. ‘I’ll miss you,’ she added.
George now felt awful for even considering that Molly had lied to her about Billy forcing her to have sex. Molly didn’t have a bad bone in her body, and George knew what Billy was capable of.
‘Me too, but we’ll still see each other all the time.’
George nodded, but bit her tongue. She wasn’t convinced that Billy would allow Molly to remain friends with her.
‘I wish you’d change your mind about coming to the wedding,’ Molly said.
‘No, sorry, Molly. I can’t stand by and watch you make the biggest mistake of your life.’
Molly’s eyes filled with tears. ‘But I’m not marrying him because I want to! I have to, you know that.’
‘Don’t start bawling again. You don’t have to marry him. I told you, I’d help you with the baby. I’d make sure the child never wants for anything.’
‘I know, but it wouldn’t be fair on the baby. It needs a father, and can you imagine the terrible life it would have being a bastard? I’m marrying Billy for the sake of the child, not my own. Anyhow, I couldn’t back out now, even if I wanted to.’
‘Of course you could!’ George said, hoping that there was a slim chance that Molly was having second thoughts.
‘No, I couldn’t. I had dinner a few weeks ago at Billy’s house. Mrs Wilcox wanted to go through some of the wedding arrangements. She was busy in the kitchen when Billy threatened me.’
George instantly saw red but hid her fury. ‘What threat?’
Molly began to cry again and through her tears, she answered, ‘I told him I wasn’t sure that I wanted to marry him, and he went potty. He said he believes the baby is his, and if I didn’t go through with the wedding, he’d take the child from me and have me thrown into an asylum.’
‘He said what?’
‘He told me he hadn’t wanted to marry me but could now see it had its advantages. I think he means about the marital bed. Oh, George, the thought of sharing a bed with him… I don’t know what I can do. He’s not taking my child. I’ll have to marry him… but I can’t stand him!’
Molly collapsed into a heap, her body racked with tears.
‘For fuck’s sake, Molly. Why didn’t you tell me any of this before?’
‘I couldn’t… I’m so ashamed.’
‘You’ve got nothing to feel ashamed about. Get up, pull yourself together, and make my excuses for my class today. Leave this to me, I’ll be back later.’
<
br /> ‘No, please, George. Leave it… just leave it.’
Determined, George ignored Molly’s pleas as she stomped out to head for Billy’s office. Molly was scared of Billy, but George wasn’t, and she planned on putting a stop to this sham of a wedding once and for all.
*
Hilda’s head shot up when the office door flew open. She was surprised to see George Garrett barge in.
‘Get your hands off me,’ George shouted at Knuckles as he tried to bar her way.
‘It’s all right, Knuckles, let her in, and get me a drink,’ Billy ordered.
As Knuckles left the room, George threw him a filthy look then walked straight up to Billy’s desk. She didn’t seem to have any fear of the man, and Hilda wondered if she realised that Billy kept a gun in his drawer.
‘I take it you’re not here to ask if you can be the best man at my forthcoming wedding?’ Billy mocked.
George leaned forward and placed her hands wide apart on Billy’s desk. She stared him straight in the eyes, and answered, ‘There isn’t going to be a wedding.’
Hilda saw his eyes darken, and his cheek begin to twitch. He was furious. She admired George’s courage, but thought the woman may have underestimated how vicious Billy could be.
His voice a menacing growl, he said, ‘I can assure you, there is.’
‘Molly’s too scared to tell you, but I’m not. The wedding is off. Molly won’t be marrying you, and the child will be raised as a Mipple. Her mind is made up, so that’s an end to this farce.’
George straightened up, her chin held high and Hilda thought she looked magnificent, like some kind of warrior, part man, and part woman. She held her breath, waiting for Billy’s reaction, but then George turned round and walked boldly out of the office.
Billy slammed his fist down on his desk, and Knuckles rushed back in. ‘Sorry, boss. I tried to stop her, but…’
Billy’s lips were set in a straight thin line. ‘I want her dead,’ he said.
‘How, boss? Do you want me to cut her throat?’
‘No… I want her and that fucking club gone. The Maids of Battersea, huh? Well, I’ll have it burnt to the ground, and give her a death like her French heroine, burnt at the stake, just like Joan of fucking Arc!’