by Kitty Neale
Derek pictured the scene, feeling sick to his stomach, but then shook his head in denial. ‘That doesn’t sound like Pearl.’
‘I was shocked too. She looks such an innocent, but she ain’t, mate, and if you must know, I wasn’t the first either.’
‘You … you mean …?’
‘Yeah, believe me, she was no virgin.’
Derek found himself gawking. ‘Are you sure?’
‘I’ve had enough women to know.’
Yeah, Derek thought, that was true enough. With his looks, Kevin had never been short of women. Everyone was right then: Pearl was a tart. He felt a wave of disgust. ‘Christ, I could do with a drink.’
‘Come on, I’ll buy you a pint,’ Kevin said. ‘I could do with one too, and you should think yourself lucky. At least you ain’t stuck with marrying her.’
‘Yeah, I’m beginning to think you’re right,’ Derek said, deciding that Kevin was welcome to her, yet even as this thought crossed his mind he knew it would still take him a long time to get over Pearl Button.
Chapter Twenty-Six
When Pearl saw a solicitor, there had been no swift solution. He had written to the orphanage and was now awaiting their reply. He also advised that without a birth certificate, the only way forward was to swear an affidavit. When asking what this meant, he explained that it was a sworn oath, in his presence, that she was the person she claimed to be. It sounded a daft procedure to Pearl, but one that she complied with.
It was now the eve of Christmas and Pearl was on her way to work, something she dreaded every day. As she scuttled out of Bessie’s door and into the market, she kept her head low, but as usual there were murmurs as soon as the costermongers saw her. She glanced up from under her lashes, saw Derek turn his back as she passed, the man beside him doing the same. Derek would never forgive her – Dolly’s story had seen to that – but she missed him and his gran.
To keep Kevin safe she had gone along with Dolly’s lies, but it didn’t seem possible that only a short time ago she had felt a part of this community. Now she was an outcast. A costermonger hawked, the globule landing in front of Pearl’s feet, and as she began to run, her stomach heaved.
‘Yeah, that’s it, do a runner, and keep going until you’re out of Battersea,’ the man shouted.
‘Yeah, you tell her, Billy,’ a woman customer cried.
Still fleeing, Pearl flung open the door of the café, almost falling inside. She didn’t stop until she reached the kitchen, her breath coming in gasps as she pulled up in front of Dolly.
‘Huh, judging by the state of you, I can see that the locals haven’t stopped giving you a hard time.’
‘Some of them are still spitting at me.’
Unsympathetic, Dolly shrugged her shoulders. ‘As soon as they find another bit of gossip to titillate them, they’ll lay off. In the meantime you’ll just have to put up with it. Now I suggest you get on with the spuds.’
Pearl hung her coat up, after which she started to peel the potatoes. She had learned how to cook vegetables competently now and, glad to be out of the way, had no wish to return to the dining room. However, despite trying to please Dolly, she’d been unable to make any grounds. Her future mother-in-law continued to pretend that everything was fine when anyone else was in hearing range, but alone she dropped the act and made her feelings plain. Pearl knew she’d have to try harder, but despite always being polite and working hard, nothing she said or did seemed to please Dolly.
‘Come on, Pearl, get a move on, and when you’ve finished the spuds, get on with the carrots.’
Pearl increased her efforts, surprised when Dolly spoke again, this time pleasantly. ‘It’ll be nice to have a couple of days off, and I’ll expect you for Christmas dinner tomorrow. In fact, if you come over at about eleven you can give me a hand.‘
‘I … I won’t be joining you for dinner.’
‘Do what?’
‘I can’t leave Bessie. She’s poorly.’
‘If you’re angling to bring her along, you can forget it. I can’t stand the woman. Now as I said, I’ll expect you at eleven.’
Pearl stomach quaked, dreading a confrontation but, worried about Bessie, she had no choice. ‘I’m sorry, but I really can’t come. Bessie’s in bed and needs looking after. I can’t leave her on her own.’
‘She’s on her own now, ain’t she?’
‘A neighbour is keeping an eye on her, but can’t do it on Christmas Day.’
Dolly’s face suffused with colour, but before she could say anything, Gertie came out of the washing-up room.
‘I’ve finished all the breakfast dishes, Dolly. Can I have a break now?’
‘Yes, of course you can. Get yourself a cup of tea and fetch one for me and Pearl while you’re at it.’
Gertie hurried out, almost colliding with Kevin as he pushed through the doors. He swaggered up to Pearl, flinging an arm around her shoulders. ‘Hello, love. Did you hear from the solicitor this morning?’
‘There was nothing in the post.’
‘Sod it. Well, that’s that. We won’t hear now until the New Year.’
‘If this goes on much longer, she’ll be huge by the time you get married.’ Dolly snapped.
Pearl looked down at her stomach, seeing the tiny mound. Kevin followed her gaze, a small frown creasing his forehead. ‘I hope not, Mum.’
‘Let’s hope he gets a move on then. Now if you don’t mind, Pearl’s got work to do.’
‘All right, I’m off out.’ He gave Pearl another swift hug, ignoring his mother’s scowl as he left by the back door.
Pearl, though, couldn’t ignore Dolly’s attitude. The woman hated Kevin to show her any affection and once again Pearl was filled with dread at the thought of living in the same flat as Dolly. If Kevin would find a job, they could move away, but he avoided the subject of work. Maybe she should talk to him again – but not in Dolly’s hearing.
When the new administrator started work at the orphanage, she faced a pile of work on her desk, but was gradually ploughing through it. Today, in answer to a letter, she had to search the records. She had found a thin file on Pearl Button, but there was little to read. It was odd that the child had never been placed into foster care, and there’d been no applications to adopt. If she’d been mentally deficient it would have been understandable, these children always difficult to place, but looking at the sparse reports on Pearl’s educational progress, this didn’t seem to be the case.
In an endeavour to find out more about the girl, she had questioned members of staff, finding two who remembered her. Pearl Button had been described as nervous and quiet, but neither said she lacked intelligence.
The administrator picked up the letter from the solicitor again. It seemed that Pearl Button wanted to marry and he was enquiring if there were any relatives on record. There were none.
With a sigh she picked up her pen. There wasn’t much she could tell the man. Pearl Button’s records said that she’d been abandoned, the date, but that was all. The sparse letter completed, she blotted it, and after addressing the envelope she put it on one side for the post.
With a vast amount of paperwork in front of her, the administrator now put the girl’s file to one side and tackled her next problem.
As Kevin drove along Falcon Road he was remembering how he’d been against the marriage at first, but it had been the thought of having Pearl in his bed every night that changed his mind. Now though, she was showing, her stomach starting to swell, and he doubted he’d fancy her for much longer. Christ, he hoped they’d hear from the solicitor soon, but when they married he’d see that his lifestyle didn’t change. Unlike his father, he’d show his wife who was the boss from the start. His face darkened, realising there’d be little chance of that whilst they lived with his mother. She still treated him like a child, and ruled with a rod of iron. Not only that, if he showed Pearl any affection his mother acted like a jealous girlfriend, and it sickened him. He wanted away from her, to be the man of his o
wn house, but without money it was impossible.
Once again he dreamed of one big job, one that would net him thousands instead of hundreds. The last two he’d done with Nobby and Dick hadn’t been bad, but by the time they fenced the gear through Vince and split the cash three ways, they’d each been left with peanuts. His lips tightened in anger. That bastard Vince had the borough sewn up. He didn’t take the risks, leaving others to do that, but he was making a mint.
If he could find a job, and a good one, there was no way he’d fence the goods through Vince. It would solve his problems if he could find a cash haul, but needed an easy target. Small shops were useless, their takings hardly worth the risk, and of course robbing a bank would be impossible. His mind turned. If only he could find somewhere that held a lot of cash on premises, yet had little security. Huh, fat chance of that!
Fighting to suppress his frustration, Kevin’s hands tightened on the steering wheel. He badly needed a trip to Soho, but his mother was keeping him short of money. He knew why. The cow. She was punishing him for getting Pearl pregnant.
When she finished her shift, Pearl was relieved to find the walk home from work trouble free, the market still buzzing with life as people rushed to do last-minute shopping. There were many unsold Christmas trees, men pursing their lips and vying for a bargain as they made their selections. It was freezing, a blustery wind blowing, but the costermongers were wrapped up warmly, their voices ringing out as they tried to sell the last of their Brussels sprouts, parsnips and carrots, each trying to shout louder than the others. Pearl would have liked to have stopped to buy a few things, but feared her reception as she hurried past.
She went straight upstairs to see Bessie, finding her huddled in bed with a scarf around her neck, and not looking much better.
‘Thank the Lord you’re back,’ she croaked. Then fishing for her hot-water bottle, she held it out. ‘I’m bleedin’ freezing and her next door hasn’t been in for hours.’
‘I’ll refill it,’ Pearl said as she looked worriedly at the old lady.
‘Make me a cup of tea while you’re at it,’ Bessie managed to choke out before a bout of coughing had her gasping for breath.
‘I think you should see the doctor again.’
‘No, I’ll be all right. Pass me them fags.’
‘I don’t think you should be smoking.’
‘Leave it out. It’s a bit late to stop now, and anyway, a good cough helps to clear me chest.’
Pearl’s eyebrows rose but, knowing it would be pointless to argue, she hurried to the kitchen. At least Bessie was showing some spirit, which was an improvement on yesterday.
If Bessie hadn’t felt so ill, there was no way she’d have stayed in bed, and even now she complained constantly about the shop being shut and her loss of trade.
Pearl looked in the cupboards. She wanted to persuade Bessie to eat something, and pulled out a tin of soup.
In no time Pearl was on her way back upstairs with the hot-water bottle tucked under her arm as she carefully balanced a tray.
Bessie refused the soup, only taking the cup of tea. ‘It’s gonna be a bleak Christmas for you. I’d planned to cook us a nice dinner and maybe stick up a few decorations, but I just ain’t been up to it.’
‘It doesn’t matter.’
‘Still, I expect you’ve been invited to Dolly Dolby’s.’
‘Yes, but I’m staying with you.’
‘There’s no need for that. At least at Dolly’s you’ll get a decent Christmas dinner.’
‘I’m staying with you,’ Pearl repeated firmly.
Bessie sighed heavily. ‘All right, and you’re a good kid. I’m gonna miss you when you get married.’
‘I’ll miss you too, but don’t worry, I’ll pop over to see you as often as I can.’
Bessie patted the back of Pearl’s hand. ‘I know you will. As I told you, we were destined to meet.’
‘Yes, but what else has your second sight shown you?’
‘Nothing,’ Bessie said, her rheumy eyes becoming veiled. ‘Now bugger off and leave me in peace.’
‘I will when you’ve had your medicine.’
The old lady’s lips tightened with annoyance, causing Pearl to smile as she poured cough mixture into a teaspoon. Unmarried, with no living family, Bessie was fiercely independent and resented having to be nursed. She put on a hard and cantankerous front, but Pearl knew this was just a veneer that hid her kind, soft nature.
Pearl held the spoon to Bessie’s lips. ‘Here, drink this and I’ll go, but I’ll be up to check on you again.’
The old woman grimaced as she swallowed the medicine. ‘Yuk.’
Pearl pulled the blankets over Bessie, saying as she left, ‘I’ll be back soon.’
Bessie just nodded, her eyes already drooping, and when Pearl went into the living room she found it freezing. She hurried to light a fire, screwing up old newspaper to place in the grate. After adding kindling, and a few nuggets of coal, she was pleased when it lit straight away.
After waiting a few minutes, Pearl piled on more coal, and then sank onto a fireside chair, holding her hands out to the warmth. The flames flickered and danced merrily, mesmerising Pearl as time ticking by.
Reluctantly Pearl finally stood up, her legs mottled and red with heat as she went to check on Bessie, finding the old woman asleep. She peeped in on her several times during the next few hours, and then just before seven a knock on the shop door had her hurrying downstairs to see who it was.
A smile lit her face. ‘Kevin,’ she cried, thrilled when he gave her a swift kiss as he stepped inside.
As Kevin walked into the living room he was surprised to find it empty. ‘Where’s Bessie?’
‘She’s in bed with bronchitis.’
‘So – we have the place to ourselves.’
‘Well, yes, I suppose so.’
Kevin smiled with satisfaction. He and Pearl had only been alone in his car, and in the small space it was unsatisfactory. When he called round to Bessie’s, she never left them alone, and his mother was the same. It maddened him. The silly bitches didn’t seem to realise that they were bolting the stable door after the horse had bolted. He lowered himself onto the sofa, arms outstretched. ‘Come here.’
As Pearl sat down, Kevin kissed her passionately, and as usual she melted against him. So far he had resisted revealing his preferences, deciding that he didn’t want to frighten her off, but once they were married she’d learn a thing or two. He’d dominate, show what a man he was. With Pearl he always felt in control, but that wasn’t enough. With his need to overpower, he wanted resistance, but she was always so soft and compliant.
‘Kevin, have you had any luck finding a job? I really do want to move away from here.’
‘I’m looking, but I ain’t working for peanuts.’
‘I can work too.’
‘Oh, yeah? And what about when you drop the sprog?’
‘Others manage.’
‘Look, I’ve told you I’m trying to find a job, so just shut up about it.’
‘All right. I’m sorry.’
Pleased that she didn’t nag, he smiled. ‘Come on, we’re on our own so let’s make the most of it.’ His head dipped, once again kissing her passionately, nipping her lower lip and hoping to hear a yelp of pain.
There was no resistance and his frustration mounted. He paid the girl in Soho to fight, to beg for mercy, and God, he missed it.
Pearl snuggled up to him again, but he pushed her roughly away. She was bloody useless! Her eyes widened, and on such a short fuse it was enough to set him off. He growled as he grabbed her, his teeth sinking brutally into her neck.
‘Ouch! No, don’t, you’re hurting me!’
The fear in her voice drove away the last of his common sense. She had dared to protest and he loved it. ‘Shut up and get on the floor,’ he snarled.
‘Wh … what?’
‘I said get on the floor.’ Kevin shoved Pearl off the sofa and as she landed with a thump he sw
iftly knelt over her, laughing gleefully at the shocked expression on her face. Without preamble he yanked up her skirt, his eyes feasting for a moment on the bare skin that gleamed whitely where her stocking tops ended. Then, unable to wait, he tore at her underwear.
Pearl’s hands fought to hold him off. ‘Stop it – oh, please, Kevin, stop!’
Her white face staring at him wide-eyed with fear spurred him on. He raised a hand, slapping her across the mouth. ‘Shut up – bitch!’
With another yank her knickers came apart, and as she cried out again he fumbled with his trousers. With a swift movement he thrust into her, grinning with delight at her yelp of pain.
She writhed in protest beneath him, increasing his enjoyment until he lost control. He was in a world of his own now, pounding into her without mercy, but it was quick – too quick. Disgusted, he flopped on top of her for a moment before rolling onto his side.
Pearl scrambled away, rising quickly to her feet, hands held over her mouth in horror as she stared at him. As he rose to his feet, she cried out in fear, ‘No … no, don’t come near me!’
It was the terror in her voice that suddenly brought him to his senses. He wanted Pearl as his wife, a wife he could rule, but now he may have blown it. ‘Christ, I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.’
‘That … that was like rape.’
Kevin wanted to laugh, but fought to keep his face straight. Little did she know that it had been tame compared to what he got up to in Soho.
It was play-acting there, he knew that, but by paying for it he was able to resist his urges. Urges that made him want to rape women – to hurt them – to make them see that he was a man.
At seventeen years old he’d done it, attacked a girl, but he’d nearly been caught. After that he’d been too scared to try it again, yet deep inside he knew that if he hadn’t discovered Soho, his needs would eventually have driven him to strike again.
Kevin now took a deep breath, forcing himself to look sheepish as his eyes met Pearl’s. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said again.
‘Why did you hurt me like that?’ she sobbed, tears beginning to role down her cheeks.