Sunlight on the Mersey

by Lyn Andrews

  ‘He was such a nice man! Oh, poor, poor Florence!’ Iris cried, shaking her head and wiping away a tear. She had grown fond of her friend’s father.

  Kate nodded. ‘I feel very sorry for them both. I liked him, he was a decent man with no side to him. And even though that doctor said there was nothing anyone could have done Ethel will never forgive herself for forgetting to make sure those pills were close to hand when he needed them.’ She sighed sadly. ‘Even now I blame myself for insisting your da go to the bank that day.’

  ‘I hope Florence doesn’t start blaming herself because of all the fuss she’s been causing lately. I wonder will she postpone the wedding now?’ Iris mused aloud.

  ‘It’s still almost two months away,’ Charlie reminded them wearily.

  ‘But Ethel might insist on the year of formal mourning – you know what she’s like. And it will have to be a much quieter affair too, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing,’ Kate added. ‘You’re taking on a lot of responsibilities, Charlie.’

  Charlie nodded slowly. ‘I’m becoming aware of that, Mam. Ethel can’t run that business, she doesn’t have a clue and I doubt she’ll have either the interest or the heart to try. She’ll need someone to look after everything in the coming weeks and months too because she’s in no fit state to cope. Edward did everything for her.’

  ‘I’ll go back with you, Charlie. Tom will see to the shop and it’s the least I can do for poor Florence,’ Iris offered.

  ‘Thanks, Iris. I’ll have to close for the next couple of days. Things are not going to be easy for anyone,’ Charlie replied grimly.

  ‘Go and get a few hours’ sleep, lad, you look terrible,’ Kate urged, thinking that you never knew what fate had in store from one minute to the next. She felt heartily sorry for Ethel Taylor: she knew how it felt to be so suddenly bereaved.

  After Charlie had gone upstairs Iris put the kettle on. ‘Mr Taylor’s death is going to affect us all in time, Mam,’ she said gravely.

  Kate frowned. ‘In what way, luv? Charlie and Florence will get married eventually. It will of course be very hard for Florence to have to get through that day without her da and they won’t be able to hold on to that rented property, but they’ll find somewhere else. You and Tom are managing well enough and I’m all right, as long as I’m careful and watch what I do.’

  ‘But if our Charlie is going to take over Mr Taylor’s business, which I’m sure he intends to do on a permanent basis, what will happen to the pawnbroker’s? He can’t be responsible for two businesses and Tom and I can’t manage both shops.’ Tom did most of the work now, she thought, leaving her free to look after her mother, but she did not remind Kate of that fact.

  Kate looked perplexed. ‘I hadn’t thought of that and I don’t think Charlie has either – yet. No one can divide their time in that way, it’s a recipe for trouble. Eventually both businesses will start to suffer. Oh, if only I didn’t have this damned condition!’ she finished exasperatedly.

  ‘Well, you have, Mam, so it’s no use getting upset about it,’ Iris said flatly, although she understood Kate’s frustration.

  ‘But if I was well enough we could easily manage the two businesses between the three of us and leave Charlie free to see to Ethel and Florence. Your grandfather started that business and your da worked in it all his life, I’d hate to have to let it go.’

  Iris nodded. ‘And I think that if they postpone the wedding, then when they do get married Charlie intends to move into Cedar Grove.’

  Kate considered this. ‘Ethel might not be very happy with that arrangement, she’s never really had much time for Charlie. It is a very big house, though, and she might find it lonely living there alone. She might decide eventually that she wants to sell the business. I presume it rightfully belongs to her now.’

  Iris nodded, wondering if Charlie had thought of that.

  ‘And she may feel she doesn’t want to go on living in that house and look for something smaller. She was talking about moving out of Liverpool. These are all decisions she has to make but not for a good while yet, she’s in no frame of mind to think clearly. She’ll be dazed and confused; I know I was.’

  Iris handed her mother a cup of tea. ‘I think I know what our Charlie will suggest when he does realise that he can’t be in two places at once. He’ll say that there’s no other option but to bring Rose home.’ Indeed the way things were looking it seemed the only possible solution to the problem but she knew her sister would be far from happy, even though she wouldn’t have to work in the greengrocer’s. Iris would do that, Tom would take over in Charlie’s shop and Rose could look after Mam.

  Kate sighed heavily as she finished her tea. ‘We’ll have to let Rose know about Mr Taylor. I’ll get Charlie to telephone Gwen and ask her to tell Rose the sad news but I don’t think we should mention any of these … problems to her just yet. It’s very early days.’

  Iris accompanied her brother when he returned to Cedar Grove later that morning. She was determined that beside trying to comfort her friend she would also think of the practical things, like contacting relatives and preparing a meal and trying to get Florence and her mother to eat. Charlie was going to spend the night if Ethel had no objections for he felt that they shouldn’t be alone and would need someone to deal with any problems that might arise.

  Both women were still very tearful and a little dazed and Charlie was very considerate with both his fiancée and her mother.

  ‘Charlie, I … I still can’t believe he … he’s … gone!’ Florence said as she clung to her fiancé.

  ‘I know, luv. It will be a while before it really sinks in. I speak from experience. But I’ll be here to help you through it all. You know you can always rely on me,’ he comforted her. He meant it for he had now realised that he did indeed love her. What had started out as ambition and affection had deepened into love and as he held her he vowed that he would always take care of both Florence and her mother. He owed it to the memory of a man he had come to feel great affection for as well as respect and admiration.

  ‘I don’t know how we would have managed without you and I just can’t bear even to think about the … future.’

  ‘Then don’t, Florence. You’ll need time to get over everything and then … well, we’ll just take things as they come,’ Charlie said firmly.

  Florence confided to Iris that she felt as if she were walking through a blanket of mist and that nothing seemed real.

  ‘It’s probably whatever the doctor gave you to make you sleep, Florence. It will wear off gradually but … but I remember how unreal everything seemed when Da was killed. It all seems to get a bit better after … after the funeral. I know that sounds improbable but things gradually do get back to something like normal, although they never really are again. Something – someone – is always missing. I still miss my da terribly.’

  Florence sniffed and held tightly to her hand. ‘I … I … feel I made things worse, Iris. I was fussing so much … bothering him with trivial things …’

  ‘Now stop that at once, Florence! You were just getting a bit overwrought, that’s all. You wanted everything to be perfect – is that so wrong? The doctor said there was absolutely nothing anyone could have done. It was just his time to … go.’

  ‘I … I can’t even think about the wedding now. It … it’s all so … unimportant,’ Florence sobbed.

  Iris put her arms around her friend. ‘You’ll be able to think more clearly in a few weeks and it’s not unimportant, Florence. Your wedding day is the beginning of the rest of your life – yours and Charlie’s – and it’s what your da wanted for you; a happy life,’ she said soothingly.

  After some coaxing she managed to get both Florence and her mother to eat a little. Ethel had agreed that it would be best if Charlie stayed. There seemed to be so many things she didn’t feel up to coping with; she just couldn’t shake off this terrible sense of loss and guilt and the sedative had left her with a splitting headache. Before she left Iris persuaded t
he older woman to go and lie down, impressing upon her the fact that Charlie would look after everything – including Florence.

  ‘It’s a really horrible time, Mrs Taylor, I know. I remember how I felt. Try and rest, it might help,’ she urged.

  Florence was loath to see her leave but she gently reminded her friend that she had to keep her eye on her mother and that Tom would be looking for his evening meal after a long day in the shop. ‘I’ll come up for a couple of hours tomorrow, I promise, and Charlie will look after you, you know that.’

  ‘I know. I don’t know what I’d do without him, Iris, and I’ve been neglecting him lately too.’ Florence wiped her eyes again.

  ‘It’s what fiancés and husbands are for, Florence, to depend on in times like this. Try to get some sleep tonight, you’re exhausted,’ she urged as she went out into the hall.

  Charlie was standing staring at the telephone, his forehead creased in a frown.

  ‘Have you phoned Gwen?’ Iris asked.

  He nodded. ‘She’s not there.’

  ‘Who’s not there? Gwen?’

  ‘No. Our Rose.’

  ‘Of course she’s not there, Charlie. She’ll be up at Plas Idris,’ Iris reminded him a little impatiently.

  ‘She’s not. She’s on her way home to Liverpool. Gwen said someone from Plas Idris drove her to Denbigh for the bus this morning and that she’ll be staying a few days.’

  Iris was startled to hear this. ‘Someone from the big house drove her to Denbigh! Oh, Lord, what’s happened now? Didn’t you ask Gwen why she’s coming home?’

  ‘All she said was: “Rose will tell you all about it herself.” Well, at least she can make herself useful by seeing to Mam.’

  Iris nodded slowly, wondering why her sister had suddenly decided to come home for Rose enjoyed her job and loved living in Tregarron. She prayed there was nothing sinister behind her sister’s decision.

  When she arrived home it was to find Rose sitting with Kate in the kitchen. As she’d gone through the shop Tom had informed her of this fact. She had asked him if her sister looked upset and he had shrugged and said far from it.

  ‘Oh, Iris, I’m so sorry to hear about poor Mr Taylor. How are Florence and Mrs Taylor coping? Mam said you’d gone up there. I’ve only just arrived.’ Rose got up and hugged Iris as she spoke.

  ‘Mrs Taylor has gone to lie down and I’ve managed to get them both to eat something but they’re both terribly upset and shocked.’

  ‘I take it our Charlie is staying?’ Kate asked distractedly. She was still getting over the surprise of seeing her youngest daughter walk into the kitchen unannounced and wondering what had happened at Tregarron to bring Rose home.

  Iris nodded. ‘This is a surprise, Rose. Charlie phoned Gwen to tell her about Edward Taylor and she said you’d left. It all sounds very sudden and mysterious. What’s wrong?’

  Rose smiled and sat down again. ‘There’s nothing wrong. I’ve come home for a few days. I … I’ve some news but it doesn’t seem like the right time to tell you it, what with Mr Taylor …’

  ‘This ‘news’ must be very important to bring you all the way to Liverpool without a word of warning, Rose,’ Kate demanded. ‘Never mind Mr Taylor’s death, why have you come home?’

  ‘To ask your permission Mam, to … to get married, as I’m under age.’

  Both Kate and Iris stared at her dumbfounded but Iris regained her wits first.

  ‘Married! Rose, you’ve never mentioned anyone, who on earth are you going to marry?’ she cried.

  Rose blushed and twisted her hands together nervously. ‘David. He asked me yesterday afternoon and I agreed.’

  ‘David Rhys-Pritchard! You’re going to be Mrs Rhys-Pritchard and live in that grand house!’ Iris shrieked, unable to contain herself.

  Kate passed a hand over her eyes as her heart sank. As soon as Rose had mentioned marriage she had known it would be to him. ‘Rose! Rose, do you really understand what you’ve done?’ she pleaded.

  ‘Yes. I love him, Mam, and he loves me,’ Rose answered quietly.

  Kate groaned. ‘I tried to warn you. You’re a servant, luv, you … we’re not of his class. We don’t belong in his world; we don’t know how to behave in it. Oh, Rose, how can it possibly work? I want you to be happy, luv, but you won’t be.’ Kate was close to tears, envisaging a future where her daughter would be rejected, ostracised and maybe openly sneered at for her lack of breeding, manners and accomplishments.

  ‘I will be happy, Mam! It will work! I firmly believe that! David doesn’t care about my background. At first I told him I couldn’t marry him and he … he thought it was because he is crippled but I don’t care about that. I love him; I’ll take care of him. We’ll be happy! There will be no announcements in the papers, no engagement party, a very quiet wedding—’

  ‘What about his sisters?’ Kate interrupted. ‘You can be sure they’ll have something to say about it. That Miss Olivia for one won’t take kindly to having you as a sister-in-law – and then there are the other servants. They won’t accept you as their mistress, Rose, you’ve worked there long enough to know the way things are in those big houses. Oh, Rose!’ Kate finished in despair.

  Tears pricked Rose’s eyes and she felt a tiny doubt enter her mind. Suppose Mam was right? What if Nora and Nancy and the others wouldn’t accept her? What if Olivia refused to continue to supervise the household? She firmly quashed it and squared her slim shoulders determinedly. She loved David; they would be happy, despite everything. ‘I’ll cope, Mam. I can learn. We intend to live very quietly and we won’t be entertaining. David is certain Olivia will be happy to continue to oversee the household and I think that will be for the best, and he will inform the staff himself. Oh, I was so miserable Mam, when I realised I loved him but that I’d have to leave … him. I’d decided to come home, I couldn’t go on working there, but I was at my wits’ end. I just didn’t know how I was going to face the future without him. We’ll be happy, Mam, I know we will.’

  Iris had finally regained her composure. ‘You really do love him, Rose? You’re not just … dazzled … by that big house and all their lands and money?’ She was finding it hard to accept that her sister would be entering a world that was so totally different to her own.

  ‘Iris, I’m not dazzled! I wouldn’t care if he lived in a cottage and didn’t have a penny to bless himself with. I love him and I’ll take care of him for the rest of his life even if all the staff leave and I have to do the cooking and cleaning myself! All we want is a quiet life, time to be together, to … share things. He’s suffered so much in his life; he’s lost his parents—’

  ‘It’s not just pity is it, Rose?’ Kate demanded.

  ‘No, Mam, it’s not! At first I did feel sorry for him, but then as I got to know him and we grew … closer, I knew I loved him for himself, not for who he is or what he has, and that’s exactly how he feels about me. He doesn’t care where I come from or what I do. He loves me.’

  Kate sighed heavily. She’d never heard Rose speak so eloquently, sincerely or with such a depth of feeling.

  ‘Mam, please do I have your permission?’ Rose pressed quietly, glancing at Iris for support.

  ‘Mam, if she loves him and is happy to devote her life to him, happy to embrace that kind of life, then …’ Iris urged.

  Kate at last nodded slowly but her heart was still heavy. ‘You have my permission, Rose, but I give it with grave reservations.’

  Rose smiled and her happiness transformed her. Iris smiled too: it was obvious that Rose truly loved David Rhys-Pritchard and she could see that love had increased her sister’s confidence and maturity. Watching them both, Kate could not deny that her youngest daughter had grown into a quiet, poised and beautiful young woman. Rose would never be of the same class as her future husband and she might find it very difficult to adjust to his world, but she would not disgrace him.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  THE FOLLOWING MORNING ROSE took herself off into town,
saying she had some things to purchase, while Iris prepared to visit Florence again. She hoped she would find her friend a little more composed. Kate had spent a restless night worrying about Rose’s future, but had reluctantly come to the conclusion that she must let Rose live her own life and hope things would work out well and not prove to be the biggest mistake Rose had ever made.

  It had been agreed that when Rose had finished in town she would call at Cedar Grove to see Florence and to telephone both David and Gwen to inform them of when she intended to return.

  Rose had never ventured through the doors of Hendersons, Cripps the Bon Marché or De Jong et Cie, Liverpool’s most exclusive and expensive stores, she’d only ever stood gazing into their windows, so it was with great trepidation that she now nodded her thanks to the uniformed commissionaire who held open the door of the Bon Marché for her. David had told her to inform them that she was his fiancée and stressed that she must buy whatever she needed, the family had an account to which her purchases would be added.

  As she stood looking hesitantly around she was approached by the floor walker, a middle-aged gentlemen attired in a morning suit, to whom she rather timidly explained her position. She was immediately escorted to the second floor and handed over to the manageress of the Ladies’ Haute Couture Department.

  ‘I’m looking for something suitable for a quiet, country wedding – my wedding,’ she replied upon being asked what she had in mind.

  She was ushered into a dressing room which contained two delicate-looking chairs and a long mirror on an elaborate gilt stand. Within a few minutes half a dozen outfits were brought for her approval. She selected a pale blue fine wool crêpe dress with a matching coat, the collar and cuffs of which were trimmed with pale beige fur and as she stared at herself in the long mirror she thought that she’d never envisaged coming to buy her wedding outfit on her own. Somehow she’d always thought that Iris and her mam would have accompanied her and that the dress would be long and white but that had all been in her daydreams years ago. This was the reality and it was what she wanted, what she had chosen. She was about to enter a world where she would need more confidence, to rely more upon herself and to appear well dressed at all times. The outfit was simple, elegant and expensive, she thought, and as a small matching pale blue cloche was placed on her head she nodded slowly. It suited her perfectly and she was certain David would like it. She chose a further three wool day dresses, a heather-coloured tailored costume and a well-cut coat in black and white herringbone tweed. As she signed for her purchases she tried not to think of the enormous amount of money she had spent, but resolved to buy her shoes, gloves and stockings out of what she had managed to save. She did not wish David or Olivia to think she was being extravagant, although the accessories would not be purchased here.