‘Trouble?’ Josh said when Charlotte turned to face him.
‘Yes, oh yes. Morven’s in terrible trouble, Josh. I have to help her. She has no one else …’ She saw him frown. She ran into his arms, throwing herself onto his knees with her arms around his neck as she rested her face against his cheek. He felt her lashes brush his skin, delicate as a butterfly wing. He realised she was struggling to blink away tears and he drew her away to look down into her face.
‘Please don’t be angry, Josh. I must help Morven. She has no one else to turn to.’
‘What about that boyfriend of hers?’
‘Donnie? I could throttle Donnie,’ she said. ‘He has used all their savings to pay a deposit on his motorbike and now he’s struggling to make the payments. He had promised Morven he would pay back some of her money by the end of term but he can’t. Her landlord asks for a term’s rent in advance. She hasn’t got it so she has to move out. I’ve told her she can come here until she can get another place to stay.’ Her arms tightened, almost childlike in their urgency. ‘It – it means we shall not be able to spend nights together here until Morven finds other digs.’
‘Surely it will not be for long, sweetheart?’
‘Any time is too long,’ she said, then her eyes widened as though she couldn’t believe she had said such a thing. Josh chuckled and held her closer. She drew a deep breath. ‘There’s more than just digs …’
‘Mmm, I thought there might be from what I overheard.’ Josh nodded.
‘I should have talked to her, Josh. I should have given her help and – and advice, then she wouldn’t be in such a mess. They’re so young, both of them, and Donnie has no sense of responsibility. He says the baby will have to be brought up in a home, as he was.’
‘My God! He can’t mean that? His own child? He’ll have to sell his motorbike and marry the girl. He’ll have to support them …’
‘That’s what Morven told him but he doesn’t want to think about it. She’s afraid the headmistress at her school will find out too, and ask her to leave her job.’
‘When is the baby due?’
‘August.’
‘She can’t hide her condition until the end of June, can she?’
‘I don’t know. She’s quite stocky and she’s been wearing shapeless clothes for a while – probably from the minute she knew, hoping no one will notice much difference, except to think she has put on weight. Oh, Josh, I don’t know. I should have passed on Libby’s advice and sent her to the family planning clinic …’
‘Libby’s advice?’ Josh sat up straighter, his grip tightening. He looked into her face, his brows twin dark arches above his startled eyes. ‘Exactly what sort of advice did young Libby give you, Charlotte?’ he demanded.
‘Oh, er, well it was supposed to be confidential,’ Charlotte stammered in confusion, her cheeks growing hotter by the second. ‘G-girl talk … you know.’
‘No, I don’t know.’ Josh’s mouth tightened. ‘You tell me.’ Charlotte looked at him. He seemed tense and angry and he was waiting for an answer.
‘Ages ago Libby said she was sure we were meant for each other and she wanted to know why we … why we didn’t get married. She wasn’t interfering, Josh. She wanted us to be as happy as she and Billy are. I told her about Mother saying marriage was disgusting and had to be endured, not something to enjoy. I said our friendship was very precious and I’d rather keep things as they are than risk losing you. She insisted that Mother had talked complete rubbish and if that’s all that stopped me from considering marriage I should find out what was involved, then make my own mind up. I w-was horrified. I thought I’d get a baby. Libby explained about caps for women and things I’d never heard about so …’
‘You mean Libby knows we – we …?’
‘No! Of course not, Josh. We’ve never mentioned things like that again. She explained how to avoid having babies. I-I thought about it a lot. I had to know if – if we got married whether … well, whether I would hate it as my mother did. In my own heart I was sure anything which brought us closer had to be good, b-but I needed to know …’
‘I see,’ Josh said.
‘Oh, Josh, please don’t be angry. It’s the most wonderful thing that ever happened to me and I’d never have had the courage to find out without Libby’s advice.’
‘What do you mean “it’s the most wonderful thing”, Charlotte? Having sex?’ Josh was tense.
‘Not just sex,’ Charlotte said. ‘I have no fears of marriage now – at least not so long as it was with you. I don’t know how it would be with other men. Perhaps my mother was right about …’
‘Damn your mother, Charlotte. Are you saying you’ve no objections to getting married? Now you know there’s nothing to “endure”? You’re convinced it’s all right?’
‘All right?’ Charlotte frowned. ‘It’s much more than “all right” for me. Is that all it means to you, Josh?’
‘I’ll tell you what it means for me, Charlotte. It means I want to marry you and make sure you’re mine and that you never, ever try finding out with any other man. You’ve always been so against being tied by marriage vows. I thought I’d have to settle for what we have.’
‘Oh Josh, you banished all my stupid worries the first night we spent together.’
‘Let me get this straight, Charlotte, if I ask you to marry me now, tonight? Would you say yes?’
‘Of course I would, so long as you promise not to keep searching for a woman who would bear your children.’
‘Oh my ….’ Josh shook his head in disbelief, and expelled a long sigh. ‘I’ve known for a long time there was only one woman I want for my wife, but I thought it was an impossible dream when I discovered the real identity of a student called Lottie Laine.’
‘I’m sorry about the deception.’ Charlotte said, but there was a little smile curving her lips as she looked into Josh’s eyes.
‘Well so long as you make sure there are no more deceptions …’ Josh warned with mock severity. ‘Shall we go and buy an engagement ring before we set off for Darlonachie tomorrow morning?’
‘All right,’ Charlotte smiled, ‘if that’s your wish, my lord and master.’
‘It is my wish. In fact it’s my command,’ Josh grinned. ‘We’ll not tell anyone. I can’t wait to see the faces of my mother, and Libby, when they first notice a ring.’
‘I feel excited already,’ Charlotte chuckled.
‘They’ll want to know about a wedding date?’
‘I suppose so, but Josh …’ Charlotte frowned. ‘I’d prefer a quiet wedding. Just your family, if you don’t mind.’
‘I don’t care what kind of a wedding it is, so long as you’re my wife at the end of it. At least if we’re engaged Morven and her boyfriend will realise you’ll not be here much longer and they’ll have to make plans.’
‘She’s very independent, or at least she tries to be. Her grandmother has had more influence that she realises. She’s scared of getting into debt, but Donnie has had no one to influence him. He has as good a job as Morven and I have. We manage to save a bit each month but he seems to have no self-control.’ She sighed. ‘I wish Morven hadn’t got pregnant though. That changes everything. Donnie will have to keep them both. It will be a bad start to their life together.’
‘You can’t take on the troubles of the world, Charlotte,’ Josh said.
‘I know, but remember I’ve suffered the humiliation of being put out of my flat without warning. A very kind man helped me.’ she smiled up at him. ‘The best man in the whole world …’ Josh’s arms tightened.
‘When you look at me like that I’m glad you went to that clinic.’ He lifted her up and carried her through to the bedroom. ‘We’d better seize the opportunity while we can,’ he growled softly. ‘We shall be in Darlonachie tomorrow for Easter, and Morven will be here when we return. How am I to survive?’
‘I’m sure you will, dearest Josh.’
‘Maybe, but let’s set the wedding date. How about
the first week of the summer holidays, the beginning of July? I shall count the days like a child waiting for Christmas.’
‘Mmm, I’m willing …’ Charlotte looked up at him, her eyes already dark with desire, her lips parting to meet his own.
The following morning Josh telephoned his mother to say they would be later than expected, then he took Charlotte into the city to search for the engagement ring he wanted her to have. They chose two diamonds, set in a twist of gold.
‘Just like two lovers intertwined,’ Josh whispered, bringing the ready blush to Charlotte’s cheeks as she glanced at the sales assistant.
Much later as they approached Darlonachie Josh reminded her of their plan to surprise his mother and Libby, the two who had been most impatient to see them married.
‘I can’t stop looking at it and thinking how lucky I am to have you, Josh,’ Charlotte smiled. ‘I’m sure they’ll see me.’
When they arrived at the cottage Fraser and Peter were working in the garden and Mimi and Lachie were supposed to be helping them sow pea seeds, but Lachie was more intent on chasing Mimi with a big worm.
‘They sound happy anyway,’ Josh chuckled as Mimi shrieked and ran towards them for protection from a grinning Lachie. Polly hurried to the door to see what all the noise was about.
‘You’re just in time for tea,’ she greeted them. ‘I was making some for Fraser and Peter. They’ve worked hard all afternoon but these two rascals havena earned any.’
‘Oh Gran! You promised to make us one of your buns with the chocolate icing,’ Lachie said, giving his grandmother his most beguiling smile, while Mimi beamed at her.
‘Oh, all right then. You’d better give Fraser and Peter a shout. I’m sure Charlotte must be ready for a cup of tea after her journey.’
‘What about me?’ Josh demanded, sounding like an older edition of Lachie instead of a man of thirty-eight. Polly put her hands on her hips and regarded him. She shook her head. ‘Men are always wee laddies at heart,’ she told Charlotte.
Charlotte was helping her pass round the cups of tea when Polly gave an unexpected yelp of surprise and delight.
‘That’s a ring you’re wearing, lassie! An engagement ring … Well I never.’ She sat down with a thump and bounced up again, coming round the corner of the table to take Charlotte’s hand and have a closer look at the two sparkling diamonds, then she hugged her warmly.
‘This is the surprise I’ve been wanting …’
‘It isna a surprise at all,’ Lachie interrupted over a mouthful of scone. ‘We knew – Mimi and Peter and me. We saw them kissing and cuddling.’ Charlotte and Josh turned to him, eyes widening with shock as their minds flicked over a dozen possible scenarios. Mimi kicked him under the table.
‘You weren’t supposed to tell,’ she hissed.
‘Well, it’s true.’ Lachie said.
‘When was this then, Lachie?’ Josh asked, recovering his composure and winking at Charlotte, noting her cheeks were hot with confusion.
‘We were helping Peter with the fencing on the other side of the wood and Charlotte walked over from Home Farm with wee Joe in his pram. I thought you were going to eat her,’ he added.
‘That’s enough from you, young man, or there’ll be no chocolate buns,’ Polly warned but her eyes were twinkling as she looked at her youngest son. ‘But I’ll agree it’s long overdue, Josh.’ She was remembering the familiar way he had stroked Charlotte’s hip and Josh knew what was in her mind. He grinned.
‘I know. We shall not waste any time now though. Before you ask, we’re having a quiet wedding at the beginning of July, but I have a few changes to make before then.’
‘Aye, I suppose you will have,’ Polly nodded. ‘You’ll be needing a proper house for one thing, and maybe a garden.’
‘Something like that,’ he nodded.
‘He never did tell us what he was doing until he had it all worked out in his head,’ she said to Charlotte and changed the subject, or so she believed. ‘Mr Glenys has lost his wife. I hear he’s giving up his wee farm and moving in with his sister. She lives on the other side o’ Dumfries. I wonder who’ll get Lintysmill, or if it will be to sell again,’ she mused.
‘Why are you so interested in Lintysmill, Gran?’ Fraser asked, passing his cup and saucer for a refill.
‘Because nobody ever heard who the good Samaritan was who bought it and let the Glenys stay on, for one thing, and for another the land joins Throstlebrae at the bottom. I wondered whether your father would be interested. He always says land is the best investment a man could have, in his opinion, that is.’
‘That’s because he’s a farmer,’ Fraser grinned. ‘He’s prejudiced.’
‘Aye, he was always determined to be a farmer, a bit like Peter here. Libby will be pleased you’re engaged,’ Polly added, turning back to Charlotte and the subject which was uppermost in her mind.
The summer term was a busy one but for Charlotte the weeks seemed to fly past. She wished she had kept the piano and a few other things from her old home as Josh had wanted her to when she had sold everything to pay the debts her mother had left. Instead she stayed after school to practise the songs for the end of term concert on their piano. Morven was still living in the flat with her, and the girl’s unhappy plight was the only thing which dimmed Charlotte’s happiness. Donnie had refused to give up his motorbike. He clung to it like a small boy with a favourite teddy. Morven loved him and made the excuse he had never owned anything of his own before, but she wished he had not chosen a motorbike, or such a powerful one. He seemed unable to make any serious plans for their future.
‘Donnie is coming to get me this evening,’ Morven announced wearily one Friday in mid-June. ‘We’re going to look at a flat in the next block to where he stays. He says it’s going cheap because it’s in a poor state.’
‘I do hope it will be suitable.’
‘I doubt that, from the way he describes it,’ Morven said, ‘but it’s the first time he’s looked for a place for us.’
‘We’ll keep our fingers crossed. It may be better than you’re expecting. Remember you can have my curtains and a few other things. Josh’s mother is knitting a pram suit for the baby for the winter. Things will come all right, Morven.’
‘I pray they will.’ Morven was near to tears and she looked exhausted. ‘I don’t know what I’d have done without you, Charlotte. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. Here’s Donnie now. I’d better go. Is Josh coming round?’
‘Yes, in about half an hour.’
‘We’ll not be late. I hate riding pillion now that I feel so bulky.’
Charlotte listened for the usual roar as Donnie took off. It didn’t come so she glanced out of the window. Morven was still standing on the pavement, Donnie was astride his motorbike and it was obvious they had quarrelled. Morven climbed onto the pillion brushing away tears with the back of one hand and clinging to Donnie with the other. He zoomed away with more noise than he normally made.
Josh was pleased to have Charlotte to himself for once, although he felt sympathy and concern for Morven. She was a bright, intelligent girl and she enjoyed her work with the children. It was still light at ten o’clock in mid-June so neither Charlotte nor Josh felt concerned when Morven had not returned.
‘Perhaps it’s a nicer flat than she expected and they’re measuring up windows and things,’ Charlotte suggested. At half past eleven it was quite dark and Josh was preparing to go home. They were standing together in the hallway of the flat, locked in each other’s arms, when the shrill ring of the telephone startled them.
Charlotte reached out for the receiver, still within the circle of Josh’s arm. He felt her tense.
‘A-a crash? Hospital?’ she repeated. ‘Is she … are they …?’ the blood had drained from her face and she was glad of the support of Josh’s arm. He moved closer to listen with her.
‘Ask which hospital,’ he whispered. ‘I’ll take you. Tell them we’re coming now.’
Chapter Twel
ve
The nurse’s expression reflected Morven’s grave condition.
‘Miss MacRory is asking for you, Miss Crainby. Perhaps your presence will calm her, but time is precious. The doctors are going to operate.
Charlotte stifled a gasp of dismay. Morven was barely conscious and one eye was covered. She opened the other.
‘Charlotte …’ she breathed. ‘Thank you …’ Her words came with an effort but she seemed desperate to communicate. ‘My baby … If I die …’
‘No, no,’ Charlotte began but the nurse indicated she should listen. ‘They’re going to take it away. Don’t let them put it in a home …’
‘Don’t distress yourself, my dear,’ the nurse soothed. ‘The doctors need to operate to save your baby.’
‘Not a home … not like Donnie.’ Morven fixed her eye on Charlotte’s face. ‘Promise you’ll …?’
‘We must ask you to leave now, Miss Crainby, Mr Pringle. The doctors are waiting.’ Morven tried to protest. ‘You will see your friends in a wee while,’ the nurse soothed. She inclined her head towards Charlotte. ‘There is no time to lose. ‘I shall come back to you in a few minutes.’
Charlotte’s eyes widened when the nurse returned accompanied by a priest.
‘Morven isn’t a Catholic,’ she stammered.
‘No, my child, but I met Donnie at the school where he worked. He had no family I believe. He attended services in our church sometimes. I was here when they were brought in.’
‘I-I see.’ Charlotte murmured.
‘It was a nasty accident …’ Josh’s heart sank and he moved closer, putting a protective arm around her shoulders as the priest went on. ‘His motorbike hit a telegraph pole and somersaulted into a timber yard. I understand Donnie was killed instantly.’
‘Oh no! Poor Morven …’
‘I have to tell you …’ the nurse looked at Josh, then turned to Charlotte. ‘The doctors do not think your friend will live till morning. I’m so sorry. The doctors are doing all they can. It may be possible to save the baby but it is premature and …’
‘I-I see.’ Charlotte’s face was deathly white.
When the Heather Blooms Page 13