by Kitty Neale
‘I know you’re in there, Dottie. I can see you.’
Her mouth went dry and a racing heart made her feel quite giddy. What was he doing here? Bracing herself, Dorothy went to answer the door. ‘What do you want, Robbie?’ she asked harshly.
‘So it’s all right for you to come to my house, but I’m not welcome here?’ he said. ‘By the way, you look lovely as always,’ he added, his smile disarming her.
Dorothy flicked her head from side to side, worried who might see him standing on the doorstep. She hoped Mrs Hart wasn’t being nosy and listening in to what Robbie had said.
‘Get in, quick,’ she said, and ushered him into the hallway.
‘What do you think you’re playing at?’ she asked once the front door was shut.
Robbie slowly ambled up the hallway and into the lounge, where he sat on the sofa. ‘Now, now, Dottie, don’t be like that. I hear you came looking for me the other day so I thought I should find out why.’
Dorothy couldn’t believe how brazen Robbie could be. What if Adrian had been home and heard his brother, or if Nelly had still been staying with them? ‘You shouldn’t be here, Robbie. You could have put me in a very awkward position.’
‘Why? We’re alone, aren’t we?’
‘Yes, but you couldn’t have known that.’
Once again Robbie’s smile was unsettling. ‘Well, I’m here now,’ he said slowly, ‘and it’s good that we can talk freely.’
‘No, Robbie, you can’t stay. Adrian will be home any minute,’ Dorothy said in panic as she glanced at the mantelpiece clock to see that it was midday.
‘Dottie, we both know Adrian is at work and he won’t be home for some time yet.’
‘You’re wrong. My dad is being discharged today and Adrian is taking me to the hospital this lunchtime to pick him up. Please, Robbie, just go.’
Their eyes locked and he said, ‘Not until you tell me why you came to see me.’
She managed to pull away from his gaze. ‘I thought you might have been in need of money, and when you didn’t show up at the café I was worried.’
‘It’s nice to know you still care about me.’
Dorothy had the distinct impression he was teasing her and chose to ignore his comment.
‘Seriously, though, I mean it – thanks, Dottie,’ Robbie said, actually sounding sincere. ‘As it happens, I really do need some money. You’ve seen the state of my room and it’s hardly Buckingham Palace.’
‘Yes, and I’ve also seen the young woman you’re living with.’
‘There’s nothing going on between us. Yvonne’s father threw her out and she had nowhere to go. I found her wandering the streets and I could hardly leave her out there to fend for herself.’
‘She said you’re in love with each other,’ Dorothy snapped.
‘That’s all in her head. Come on, Dottie, you must have noticed that she’s just a kid and isn’t very bright. I think she’s got a bit of a crush on me, but you’re the only woman for me, you know that.’
As their eyes met, Dorothy’s stomach knotted again. Why, oh why, did Robbie always have this effect on her? ‘So the two of you aren’t sleeping in that double bed?’
‘Of course not, I sleep on the sofa. I can’t believe you think I’d take advantage of Yvonne. What sort of man do you think I am?’ he asked indignantly. ‘I’m doing the girl a good turn, that’s all.’
‘I’m sorry, Robbie, it’s just … well …’ Dorothy found herself at a loss for words. She’d had a bad feeling about the set-up, but maybe it was just jealousy, and jealousy was something she had no right to feel.
‘Don’t worry about it. And another thing, I didn’t turn up at the café because taking your money made me feel like a shit. Sorry, excuse my language. Don’t get me wrong, I really need it, especially with an extra mouth to feed, but it isn’t right, Dottie. I should be standing on my own two feet. It’s hard though; I’ve worn out the soles of my shoes looking for work, and still I haven’t had any luck.’
‘If I hadn’t married Adrian, you could have come back here to live, so don’t feel bad, Robbie. I’ve got a comfy roof over my head whilst you’ve been left homeless. Just wait there a minute,’ Dorothy said, and hurried into the kitchen. She returned to hold out ten pounds. ‘Here, I want you to have it, no arguments. Adrian won’t miss it, and I don’t need it.’
‘I don’t know, Dottie, it feels wrong,’ Robbie said as he shook his head.
‘Come on, that girl looked like she could do with a good meal inside her and how else are you going to manage? Please, Robbie, just take it and go before Adrian comes home.’
Robbie grabbed the notes and jumped up from the sofa, then quickly planted a kiss on Dorothy’s cheek. ‘Thanks, Dottie, you’re a lifesaver,’ he said before walking up the hallway to the front door. ‘My brother is a very lucky man.’
Dorothy stood in the hallway, but as the door closed her legs felt wobbly. She sat on the stairs, third one up, cupping her face with her hands. From what Robbie had said, she was sure he still loved her. A sob escaped her lips. She loved him too, but they could never be together. She had married Adrian and there was no way she would ever leave him. Once again Dorothy knew that she had made her bed and would have to lie in it, but it was with the wrong man.
She rose to her feet, fighting tears, her heart aching for what might have been.
It was gone two-thirty that afternoon when Adrian pulled in to the kerb.
‘It’s all right, Bill, we’re home now,’ he said to pacify the man who was mumbling incoherently in the back seat of the car.
‘Come on, Dad,’ Dottie urged. ‘I’ll help you out of the car.’
‘Hold on a minute, love,’ Adrian cautioned. ‘I’ll go and open the front door first and then give your dad a hand.’
‘Hello, Adrian. It’s good to see Mr Butler coming home,’ Mrs Hart said, appearing from next door as he put his key in the lock. ‘It must be such a weight off Dottie’s mind. I took the liberty of baking a sponge cake. Here you are …’
‘Err, would you mind holding on to it for a minute, Mrs Hart? Just until we get Bill in. He’s a bit testy in the car.’
‘Of course not. Go on, don’t let me keep you.’
With the door now open, Adrian went back to the car and held Bill on one side, while Dorothy took the other. They slowly walked the old man into the house, with Mrs Hart following behind with the cake.
Adrian left Dorothy to settle Bill in his sitting room and walked into the kitchen to find Mrs Hart putting the cake in the larder. ‘That’s very kind of you. Thanks, Mrs Hart. I’ll enjoy a slice with a cup of tea later and I’m sure Dottie and Bill will too.’
‘You’re welcome, it’s my pleasure. I don’t find the need to bake much these days, not since my Cyril passed on. I know you and your brother have always been fond of my sponge cakes, and it’s nice for me to have an excuse to do some baking. Talking of your brother, I saw him when he was round here earlier. Such a polite young man.’
‘I’m sorry, did you say Robbie was here earlier?’ Adrian asked, confused.
‘Yes, that’s right, but he said it was just a flying visit.’
For a moment, Adrian felt like he had been smacked between the eyes. ‘I’m sorry, Mrs Hart. If you’ll excuse me I have to help Dottie,’ he said as he ushered the woman up the hallway and out of the front door.
Thankfully she didn’t seem offended, and when he had closed the door behind her, Adrian leaned against it, still trying to digest what she’d said. Why hadn’t Dorothy told him? What was she hiding? Was she secretly seeing Robbie behind his back? His mind raced with so many questions, but if he asked Dorothy would he believe any answers that she gave him?
For the first time since he’d married her, Adrian wondered if he could trust his wife.
Once Dorothy was satisfied her dad had settled in his sitting room, she walked into the kitchen to see Adrian sat at the kitchen table. He was unsmiling and looked serious as he said, ‘Sit down, Dot
tie. We need to talk.’
‘What is it? What’s wrong?’ Dorothy asked worriedly.
‘Why didn’t you tell me that Robbie was here this morning? It’s only thanks to Mrs Hart that I found out.’
‘I … I … I forgot to mention it, what with my dad and everything,’ she answered and hoped her feeble excuse would be believed.
‘What did he want?’ Adrian flatly asked.
‘Nothing – well, nothing much.’ She fumbled for an answer. ‘Some things from his room.’
‘What things?’
‘I don’t know, he didn’t say.’
‘What did he take?’
‘He didn’t take anything. I told him to come back when you’re home,’ she said, trying to maintain eye contact to make her lies more convincing, although she felt sure that Adrian could see straight through them. It made her feel awful and she wished she’d just told him the truth. It was too late now and she was on a downward slide of deception.
‘How long was he here?’
‘Only for about ten minutes.’
‘Yes, that ties in with what Mrs Hart said.’
‘Sorry, I should have told you, but it just slipped my mind.’
‘So he hasn’t been round here before today?’ Adrian asked.
‘No, well, not since Christmas Eve and, as you know, I wasn’t in then. He spoke to Nelly,’ she said, relieved that she could at least answer that question truthfully. Trying to change the subject, she asked, ‘Did I see Mrs Hart with a cake?’
‘Yes, it’s in the larder, but Dottie, if there’s anything you want to tell me, now would be a good time.’
Dottie wanted to tell him, she really did, but it would mean telling him everything. If not in reality, she’d been unfaithful to Adrian in her mind, and that was almost as bad. How could she admit that she was still in love with his brother? It would break his heart and Adrian didn’t deserve that. ‘No, there’s nothing,’ she said, and stood up to leave the table.
‘No, Dottie, sit down. Maybe I’m just being paranoid, but I need peace of mind. Have you been seeing Robbie behind my back?’
She looked into Adrian’s eyes and could see his pain – this man who had always shown her nothing but love and kindness. She couldn’t stand it any longer and blurted out the truth. She told Adrian about the money she’d given Robbie, and her reasons for helping him, but that was as far as she went. She couldn’t hurt Adrian, couldn’t confess her feelings for Robbie, and now sat nervously waiting for his reaction.
Without so much as a glance at her, Adrian stood up and walked into the lounge. His silence felt worse than if he had screamed and shouted at her. But of course, he wouldn’t do that – angry outbursts weren’t in Adrian’s nature.
Dottie followed and, seeing that he had sat down, she knelt on the floor in front of him. ‘Adrian, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. Please, say something, anything. Tell me how much you hate me, throw me out, but please don’t give me the silent treatment.’
Adrian looked into Dorothy’s eyes, his own watery. ‘Dottie, I could never hate you. You’re my wife, I love you, and I’d never throw you out. This is your home, our home. I can understand why you helped Robbie. You’re kind, caring, and I know how persuasive my brother can be, but he had no right to come to you for money. I want you to promise me that in future, if Rob asks you for more money, you just send him to see me.’
‘All right,’ Dorothy agreed. She felt so much better for telling Adrian the truth, and was quite overwhelmed at how understanding he was. She placed her head in his lap, and as Adrian stroked her hair she wished she could give him the love he deserved, but her heart still belonged to Robbie and she feared it always would.
Chapter 36
The following week, Malcolm sat in the bar, looking at the glass of dark ale in front of him. He’d managed to finish early and had been to a jewellery shop, and though he hadn’t been in a pub since he’d met Nelly, he was now taking the time to celebrate his purchase.
His eyes savoured the smooth-looking liquid with the creamy, frothy head. He was going to enjoy this pint and make the most of it. The overtime he’d been doing had paid off, and he was pleased that he’d managed to find the perfect engagement ring for Nelly. It was going to be a surprise for her birthday. She’d be having the plaster removed soon, and then he was going to take her to a nice restaurant where he planned to go down on bended knee to propose. The thought of it made him nervous. He was pretty sure that Nelly liked him, but would she agree to marriage? Well, he thought, if he didn’t ask, he’d never know.
He picked up his glass and supped the ale. Nelly was worth giving up a drink for and he got a warm feeling inside when he thought about her. Malcolm grinned. His little pudding on legs, as he liked to call her.
The door opened and Malcolm saw Robbie Ferguson walking in. Nelly had mentioned that Robbie was back in town but it was the first time he’d seen him, and as Robbie owed him a fiver, now was his chance to get it back.
‘Oi, Rob, over here,’ Malcolm called.
‘Hello, Malcolm. How are you?’ Robbie asked.
His breezy manner peeved Malcolm but he faked a pleasant smile before answering, ‘I’m all right and if you’re on the way to the bar, mine’s a pint.’
Robbie nodded and sauntered off, returning a few minutes later with two beers. ‘So how’s tricks? Are you still working for my brother?’
‘Yes, I am, and as it happens I’ve been doing a few extra hours lately to earn a bit more money. Talking of which, you still owe me a fiver.’
Robbie shifted in his seat. ‘You’ve got a good memory.’
‘I suppose you thought that after all this time I’d have forgotten about it, but I ain’t and I want it back.’
‘I intend to give it to you, but I need a bit of time to sort myself out. I’ve been back in London for about a month but I haven’t managed to find a job yet. I will, though, and as soon as I do, I’ll square up with you.’
‘Don’t take me for a mug,’ Malcolm growled. He wasn’t a violent man, but Robbie didn’t know that. Nelly called him her big teddy bear, but his size and stature gave a different impression. ‘You buggered off owing me that money, but now you’re back with enough in your pockets to come in here for a drink. I want the fiver you owe me and now. Or else!’
Robbie paled but blustered, ‘Honest, Malcolm, I haven’t got much money, just enough for a couple of pints and I was hoping you’d buy the next round.’
Malcolm didn’t believe him and his temper rose. ‘Don’t take the piss, Robbie. I don’t want to hurt you, you’re my guv’s brother, but if you don’t give me what I’m owed I’ll rip your head off and shove it up your backside.’
Though still pale, Robbie obviously wasn’t intimidated. ‘OK, OK, I get it. You’re a big fella, Malcolm, and I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of your fists, but it doesn’t change anything. I haven’t got your money, but I’ll tell you what I can do for you …’ Robbie said, winking at him.
Malcolm breathed heavily to calm himself, intrigued despite himself to hear what the cheeky so-and-so was going to offer. ‘Go on then, surprise me.’
‘I’ve got this smashing young, gorgeous girl. She’s a firecracker between the sheets, if you get my drift …’ Robbie said and nudged Malcolm with his elbow.
‘What’s this got to do with the fiver you owe me?’
‘If you saw her, you’d pay good money for her. If you like, I can take you to her now, and pay off my debt that way. You can have her more than once too, so how does that sound?’
Malcolm was sickened by Robbie’s offer. ‘A young girl? You dirty fucking toe-rag,’ he shouted. ‘Get out of my sight before I do something I’ll regret.’
Robbie scarpered, leaving Malcolm with a bad taste in his mouth. So that’s how he had money in his pocket to buy a drink, the dirty bastard, thought Malcolm. Robbie Ferguson was now a pimp, a dirty rotten pimp, and he wondered if his boss knew what his brother was up to.
What Rob
bie was doing played on Malcolm’s mind. He liked his boss, finding Adrian Ferguson a fair man to work for, but he had no time for his brother. He wasn’t sure what to do with what he’d found out about Robbie, but he knew someone who would point him in the right direction.
Malcom finished his pint, went home, ate his dinner and then got spruced up a bit to go to see Nelly. No sooner had he been invited in than he said, ‘Nelly, you ain’t going to believe what that Robbie Ferguson is up to now.’
‘Nothing would surprise me when it comes to that man, but go on, tell me.’
‘He’s got a bird working for him and he’s selling her for sex, you know, prostituting her.’
‘You’ve got to be kidding,’ Nelly said, her eyes wide with surprise. ‘How did you find out about it?’
‘I bumped into Robbie in the pub. The cheeky git owes me a fiver but offered me the woman for a bit of how’s your father instead of the money.’
Nelly knew Robbie was a lowlife, but this was too much. ‘I hope you told him where to stick his offer?’
‘Of course I did,’ Malcolm replied. ‘But do you think I should have a word with Adrian?’
Nelly took out a packet of fruit Spangles and sucked a sweet in thought. ‘Robbie is dragging the Ferguson name through the mud, and Adrian is going to be fuming when he finds out. He won’t thank you for telling him, so I think you should keep out of it.’
‘Yeah, maybe you’re right.’
‘Do me a favour, darlin’, pass me that knitting needle. My leg is itching like mad but I can’t get to it.’
Malcolm passed Nelly the knitting needle and took a seat next to her as she pushed the length of it down the side of her plaster, sighing with pleasure when it reached the itch.
‘Are you sure I shouldn’t have a word with the governor? I’d hate him to find out that I knew but said nothing.’
‘Yes, I’m sure. Adrian’s your boss, and though you were invited for Christmas dinner, that doesn’t make him your friend. Keep out of it, and as it will kill two birds with one stone, I’ll have a word with Dottie. I’ve been worried that she’s still got feelings for Robbie, but this should leave them dead in the water, and then it’ll be up to her if she wants to tell Adrian what his scumbag brother is up to.’