Touch the Silence

by Gloria Cook

  ‘It’ll be all right, Jonny. No one’s going to hurt you.’

  ‘Sorry about all this, Harvey. Look, there’s no need for any fisticuffs.’ Ashley shrugged his well-clad shoulders. ‘Come along, darling. God, how I’ve missed you.’

  Ursula struggled to her feet and Tristan stepped back from her, as if she was something tainted. Facing him now was more nerve-wracking than when she had faced Alec’s bitterness. ‘I’m truly sorry about this, Tristan. I wanted my baby, you see, and I’m still in love with Bruce. I couldn’t bear to leave Jonny behind, try to understand. You must forget all about me, make a new start for yourself and Jonny. Will you let me write to him?’

  ‘I don’t know. Perhaps it would be better if you go out of his life for good.’

  ‘Afraid you’ve got no say in the matter, old boy.’ Ashley whipped back his coat and pulled a small pistol out of the waistband pocket.

  ‘Bruce, what are you doing?’ Ursula demanded nervously.

  ‘I promised you we’d take the boy with us this time, Ursula, and I’m going to keep my word. You know the drill, Harvey. Put the boy down. Hands up. Move slowly over to the fireplace. Don’t be fool enough to try anything, I’m quite nifty with a gun.’

  ‘Why did you stay with me so long?’ Tristan hurled the question at Ursula, keeping a firm grip on Jonathan. ‘Why lie to me all these weeks? That man’s corrupted you.’

  ‘I did want us to try again, Tristan. I only decided to go with Bruce a few days ago.’

  ‘And are you going to let that scum take my son away from me?’

  Ursula glanced at her lover. Torn between her love for him and her desire to keep her son, and the terrible hurt she would cause her husband, she hung her head. Feeling dizzy and in pain, she said to Bruce Ashley, ‘We should go. I can’t stand up much longer.’

  Tristan backed away with Jonathan. ‘I’ll never let you take him.’

  ‘You should have let the Hun finish you off, Harvey, then Ursula could have claimed everything you had,’ Ashley jeered.

  ‘That’s where you’re wrong, Ashley.’ Tristan’s voice was saturated with hate and hostility. ‘I changed my will in Jonathan’s favour in the trenches, everything in my name would have been put in trust for him, and my brother Alec his guardian. Neither you or her would have got your hands on a single penny.’

  Ashley had made a bead form on Tristan’s forehead. ‘Put the boy down.’

  ‘Bruce, for heaven’s sake, lower the gun,’ Ursula cried. ‘You could hurt Jonny, and I don’t want Tristan to be hurt. He doesn’t deserve this.’

  ‘If you’re so concerned for your son, Harvey, you won’t put him at any risk, will you?’ Ashley brought his other hand up to steady the gun. ‘Well, what’s it to be?’

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  After despatching Sara to alert Alec of Ursula and Jonathan’s disappearance, Emilia followed Tristan. She realized now that part of Ursula’s speech in the boxroom had been a goodbye. She was puzzled by a horse-cab waiting near the gate of Ford House.

  ‘Are you delivering something?’ she asked the driver.

  ‘No, miss, I’m waiting for the people inside. If you’ve come to see them off, tell them to get a move on, will you?

  ‘Is it a lady and a boy?’

  ‘And a gentleman. Tell them I haven’t got all day to waste.’ A gentleman too? Emilia felt the cold fingers of apprehension. There could only be one gentleman Ursula would go away with. Bruce Ashley must be inside and the couple were about to act out their original plan. Ursula had been playing Tristan for a fool all these weeks. Tristan must be in there too. What was happening? She climbed over the wall and stole up to the same window Tristan had looked through. What she saw made her leap back against the wall. Tristan, in the act of lowering Jonny down from his arms, was being threatened by a stranger – Bruce Ashley – with a gun.

  The cab driver was staring at her. ‘Hey, miss, if there’s something strange going on, I’ll be off.’

  ‘Shush!’ Emilia hissed, waving her hands frantically at him. ‘Please, I need your help.’

  ‘Don’t know what’s going on, but I’m not getting involved.’ The cab driver lashed his whip above his pony’s back. Emilia prayed he would change his mind and get help. All she could do now was slip away to a safe distance and wait for Alec.

  The front door of the house was thrust open and an unfamiliar voice boomed out. ‘Hold fast!’ The stranger pointed his gun at her. ‘Cabbie! Come back! We’re ready to go.’

  The cab driver did not stop.

  Howling in rage, the stranger seized Emilia’s arm. He was livid in attitude and colour and was visibly shaking. Like a cornered rat, he was dangerous. In fear for her life, her thoughts turned to Alec, her baby and all she held dear. ‘You must be Bruce Ashley.’

  ‘The boy saw you and mentioned you were out here. You, Mrs Emilia Harvey, will be sorry you sent the cabbie away.’

  ‘I didn’t. He knew something was wrong and left. Look, whatever’s going on, it needn’t get more out of hand.’

  ‘Shut up! Let me think. Inside!’

  The instant Bruce Ashley had dashed out of the parlour, Tristan had pulled out the heavy sideboard and placed Jonathan behind it, then he had dragged two of the packing trunks in front of it to barricade Jonathan in. ‘Stay hidden, Jonny, what ever happens,’ he ordered.

  To Ursula, who had sunk down on the settee and had both hands on her back, he hissed, ‘The man’s mad. If you value your own and Jonny’s safety, take shelter and don’t make a sound.’

  ‘What are you going to do?’ she asked, anxious and fearful, as he stalked out of the room. ‘Tristan, be careful for all our sakes.’ Left alone with Jonathan, she was about to try to still his fears, but she became doubled over in pain.

  Tristan crept along the passage and squeezed himself in behind the open front door. A cowardly, desperate man with a gun was dangerous, and Tristan wasn’t going to allow the hostage situation to continue. He heard sounds, assumed Ashley was pushing Emilia through the doorway.

  As Tristan had hoped, Ashley lacked a soldier’s perception, and without checking if the passage was clear, he pushed Emilia along in front of him. The moment she was past the door, Tristan shoved it hard and there was a satisfying clunk as it collided with the gun in Ashley’s outstretched hand. Ashley yelled in shock and pain as the gun was knocked out of his hand. Tristan immediately swung the door back, ready to make a grab for the gun and smash a fist into Ashley’s body.

  Ashley was sent staggering back over the front steps.

  Tristan picked up the gun, bolted outside and tossed the weapon far away where it landed in a flower border.

  Stunned by the sudden scuffles, it took a moment before Emilia registered what was happening. She saw Tristan clutch Ashley by the collars, yank him to his feet and disappear from her sight with him.

  Tristan drove Ashley back against the wall of the house. ‘Now it’s just you and I, man to man, although no one could describe you as a man.’ Tristan’s hands crept up and formed a circle around the other man’s neck.

  ‘Steady on, H—Harvey…’ Ashley gagged and choked, his eyes swollen in fear, his body sagging over buckling knees. ‘I meant you no harm. The—the gun’s not loaded. Ch—check it and see. No one was going to get hurt. Just a precaution. Let me go!’

  Tristan’s face was a hideous red and purple. He began to squeeze his hands on his captive’s neck. Everything became strangely grey and then dark. There were sounds, voices, but they were distorted. He felt tugging on his arms, his waist, his shirt, as if hands were reaching out from the quagmires of mud and slime he’d left behind in another time and land and were trying to drag him down to hell. He didn’t care. The only sense he had was the burning desire to kill this despicable coward who, for the second time, had sought to destroy his life, leech his soul and leave him utterly abandoned.

  A heavy crack on the head sent Tristan into blackness.

  When he came round a moment or two later, h
e was sprawled on the floor and Emilia was supporting him by the shoulders, rubbing his temple, which was sore and painful. ‘I’m sorry, Tris. I had to do something or you would have killed him, and he’s not worth hanging for.’ For minutes, it seemed, Emilia, joined by Ursula, had begged Tristan, in vain, to let Ashley go. Emilia had struck Tristan with a two-handed blow.

  Tristan’s head cleared and he saw Ashley in a heap, where he had slid down the wall after his hands had fallen away. Ursula was on her knees close beside Ashley, and he was gingerly holding his bruised throat. His face was horribly discoloured and streaming with tears. Ursula took out his pocket handkerchief, but he pushed it away. His voice emerged as a raw rasp. ‘You tried to murder me, Harvey. I’ll get the law on you.’

  ‘You threatened us with a gun. Loaded or not, the law would put you away for a long time,’ Emilia snapped back. ‘I’m going to take Tristan and Jonny to the farm. My husband will see to it that you and Ursula leave here, for good this time.’

  ‘I’m afraid I can’t go.’ Ursula groaned and leaned against the wall. ‘I’m unwell and I’m getting pains. I think my labour’s started.’

  Tristan’s expression was blank. He saw her distress, but felt nothing.

  Bruce Ashley seemed to have nothing to say, and Emilia went to her. ‘Alec should be here any moment. We’ll get you back to the farm, Ursula, and send for the district nurse. You must go, Ashley. Where are you staying? We’ll send word to you after the birth. In due course, arrangements will be made for Ursula and your child to join you.’

  ‘Ahhh!’ Ursula suddenly yelled out. ‘There’s no time to get to the farm. The baby’s coming soon.’

  ‘What’s happening?’ The small, nervous voice came from Jonny, who crept out of his hiding place.

  Tristan scrambled to his feet and took Jonny’s hand. ‘There’s nothing to worry about, son. There was a quarrel, a silly grownups’ quarrel, but it’s all over now. Mummy’s poorly. Run inside and fetch her coat, there’s a good boy.’ When Jonathan had left, he glanced at Emilia. ‘I suppose she’d better be taken upstairs. First, I’ll make sure the gun’s safe, then I’ll send this… person on his way.’

  Ashley clambered to his feet. Still holding his throat, he stared down at Ursula. ‘No need to do anything on my account, Harvey. I’m off and I’m never coming back.’

  ‘Bruce!’ Ursula wailed, reaching out to him.

  ‘Sorry, old girl.’ Ashley skirted round her, now talking in jolly lounge-lizard style, although he was obviously scared. ‘I gave it a fair go. Too many complications for me. Not used to so much drama. All this has made me see just how much responsibility I’d have taken on. I wouldn’t have made much of a father anyway, not cut out for that sort of thing. When Harvey’s not trying to polish off a lover, I’m sure he’s a decent sort – you always said yourself that he was. He’ll set you and your baby up in some nice little cottage or something, I’m sure. So all’s not lost, eh? You go ahead, Harvey, and get the gun. It’ll show you I’m harmless and I’ll say cheerio.’

  ‘Bruce! Bruce!’

  Emilia had to prevent Ursula from struggling after him. ‘I’m sorry, he’s gone.’

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Ben arrived at Ford Farm an hour later. Tristan was watching over Jonathan, after coaxing him to sleep.

  ‘How are you, Tris?’ Ben whispered. ‘Edwin arrived at Tremore and told me what happened. Julian was there, and he brought me over. He’s downstairs. Is there anything we can do?’

  Tristan was perched on the edge of a chair, rocking himself, his arms wrapped round his body. He kept his sight on his son. ‘Have you heard how things are at the house?’

  ‘Tilda says Emilia’s still there. Alec too.’ Ben tried looking up under Tristan’s face.

  Tristan refused to budge. ‘I couldn’t stay, not after all her lies. She wanted to take everything away from me again.’ ‘Tris, look at me.’ Ben put a hand on him.

  ‘Can’t.’ There was a tremble in Tristan’s voice. He sounded younger than Jonathan. ‘Best leave me. I’ll be fine…’

  ‘I’ll ask Tilda to bring you up a brandy. Have you eaten? Look, I’ll ask Julian to drive me to the house. You stay up here with Jonny, he’s going to need you. I’m so sorry, Tris. You didn’t deserve this.’

  When Ben reached the door, Tristan looked up. ‘Ben, I tried to kill Bruce Ashley with my bare hands. I hated him, but I never thought I was capable of such a terrible thing.’

  ‘It’s understandable, Tris. Don’t fret about it. We all do things we’d never thought possible.’

  ‘Did you say you’re going to the house? Yes, see how Ursula is. She’ll have to go away. I never want to see her again.’

  * * *

  Emilia had been encouraging Ursula throughout her labour, holding her hand, sponging her face.

  The district nurse, Gertrude Roberts, a competent, middle-aged spinster, was shaking her head at the lack of progress. She passed her hand over Ursula’s stomach. ‘Come along, Mrs Harvey, you’re not trying at all. That was a strong contraction and you’ve wasted it. If you’d only push, we’d soon have this baby out.’

  She passed Emilia a worried look and lowered her voice. ‘Do you think your husband would fetch Dr Holloway? I think it’s the wisest course.’

  ‘Yes, I’ll ask him.’ Emilia tried to relinquish Ursula’s hand, but hers was being held in a desperate grip. ‘Ursula, listen to me, I need to step out of the room, just for a minute. I promise I’ll come straight back.’

  ‘No, no.’ Ursula rolled her head.

  Another contraction came, and Nurse Roberts shouted, ‘Push! Push, Mrs Harvey!’ But Ursula closed her eyes and suffered the pain for nothing.

  ‘Oh no!’ For an instant, Nurse Roberts’s quick efficient movements solidified.

  ‘What’s wrong?’ Emilia cried, although she could see for herself. Ursula was haemorrhaging, the bedding beneath her was rapidly being stained red. ‘Alec!’

  It had been obvious that Ursula’s labour was going to be difficult, and Alec had been sitting on the top stair, ready for any urgent instructions. His nag was saddled outside. He stubbed a cigarette out between his finger and thumb and raced into the bedroom. He froze while taking in the situation.

  ‘Fetch Dr Holloway, hurry!’ Nurse Roberts shouted to him.

  ‘Right.’ Anxious too for Emilia, before he pelted down the stairs, he said, ‘Be strong, darling, I’ll be back as soon as possible.’

  With deft hands, Nurse Roberts spread out some instruments.

  ‘What are you going to do?’ Emilia asked, trying to ignore the warm coppery smell invading the air.

  ‘If the baby’s to survive I’ve got to pull it out now. Emilia, you’re not to worry. Mrs Harvey’s unconscious and won’t feel a thing. I want you to watch her and not to look this way.’ Her voice was steady, but Emilia sensed anxiety in it.

  Emilia concentrated on the mother, horribly aware of the nurse’s frantic efforts and Ursula’s growing danger. Ursula’s face grew whiter and whiter, her lips waxen. Her breathing shallow. A steady drip, drip started on the floor. Emilia prayed as she never had before.

  The sounds changed, still quick but gentler. There was a peculiar gurgle. Emilia held her breath. She couldn’t resist glancing round, keeping her eyes averted above the bed, yet unable to avoid seeing the crimson stain spreading on the sheets. Nurse Roberts had the baby in a towel and was wiping its nose and mouth. ‘Come along, come along,’ she was whispering. The baby gave a loud wail. Emilia’s heart leapt, a rush of emotion making her eyes fill with tears.

  ‘Thank God!’ Nurse Roberts blew out her relief. She saw to the umbilical cord. ‘You take the baby, Emilia. She feels a good weight. Keep her wrapped up.’

  Letting go of Ursula’s limp hand, Emilia encircled the baby in her arms, and appealed to Nurse Roberts. ‘Ursula?’

  The nurse shook her head, set to work again. ‘I’m afraid it’s only a matter of time. I can only try to make Mrs Harvey comfortable.’
>
  The baby’s cries brought Ursula to wakefulness. She was too weak to finish the smile that was forming on her bloodless lips. Her voice was barely audible. ‘What is it?’

  Ben arrived that moment at the open bedroom door. He heard Emilia say, ‘It’s a girl, Ursula. Would you like to hold her?’ He watched, horrified at the reason behind the new mother’s drained complexion and the nurse’s losing battle, as Emilia placed the baby on Ursula’s chest and brought her hands up to hold her.

  ‘My God!’ Ben hissed. ‘She’s not going to pull through, is she?’

  ‘This is no place for you.’ Nurse Roberts’s voice was brisk but not without understanding. ‘I know there are certain circumstances, but your brother should be summoned here. I know Captain Harvey for a gentle, caring man. I think he’d like to say goodbye to her.’

  ‘Right, yes, he probably would. I’ll ask Julian to fetch Tris – as if he hasn’t suffered enough.’

  Ben knocked on the door minutes later. He had been thinking about Emilia, eighteen years old, holding a baby soon to be motherless, pregnant herself, in a scene similar to what it must be like in a field hospital. ‘Can I come in now? I think someone else in the family should be there.’

  Nurse Roberts appeared in front of him. ‘There’s nothing more I can do for her now. Yes, keep Emilia company until Mr Harvey arrives with the doctor or the captain gets here.’

  Ben went to Emilia’s side. They exchanged sorrowful looks, united, for the moment at least, by tragedy. Ursula found the strength to touch her daughter’s face. She looked at Emilia and Ben. ‘You two… were to marry… funny… how things work out… promise me… you’ll look after her… promise…’

  ‘I promise.’ Emilia swallowed hard. ‘I’ll see she goes to a really good home.’

  ‘Promise me?’ It was as if the dying woman’s eyes bored into him and Ben shuddered.

  ‘I promise, Ursula. I swear.’

  ‘Take her… she’ll never know me… but if you can, tell her… that I loved her.’