by Dilly Court
‘That’s right,’ Cook said approvingly. ‘You go, Lil. Keep young Dolly safe until she’s got the ring on her finger.’
Rupert placed a protective arm around Dolly’s shoulders. ‘No one will harm Dolly. I’ll see to that, but you’re most welcome to come with us, Lil. I want Dolly to be treated like the lady she is, and we’ll call in at the vicarage on the way to London. I want us to be married in the village church with everyone welcome, and the landlord at The Plough will provide the wedding breakfast.’
Dolly broke away from him, her face ashen and her lips trembling. ‘I can’t do this to you, Rupert. Your father and sister will never forgive you, and they’ll hate me.’
‘You mustn’t think like that,’ Angel said quickly. ‘Tell her it’s not true, Captain Westwood.’
He wrapped his arms around Dolly, holding her close, and Cook uttered a sentimental sigh, which was echoed by Flossie, who hovered, quite forgotten, by the sink. Cook rounded on her. ‘Get on with them dishes, you lazy slut. This has nothing to do with you.’
Rupert held up his hand. ‘I want to thank you all, including you, young lady,’ he smiled and winked at poor Flossie, who was herself close to tears. ‘You’ve all be marvellous, and Dolly and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts.’ He held Dolly at arm’s length, giving her a gentle shake. ‘My father and Blanche will love you as I do, but it will take them time to get used to the idea that I’ve married, as they think, beneath me. It’s a stupid, outdated notion and we will prove them wrong.’
‘Well said, sir.’ Lil slapped him on the back, almost knocking him over, but he regained his balance with a good-natured grin, and Cook led a round of applause.
Angel kissed Dolly on the cheek. ‘Go and pack. Take my valise, the one that Sir Adolphus gave me. I have to go upstairs now and do Susannah’s hair so I can’t help you, but I’ll cover for you, Lil. I’ll say that you’re unwell and have to remain in bed for a few days. I don’t want to see you put out on the street.’
‘No, I should hope not.’ Lil grabbed Dolly by the hand. ‘Come on, love. I can see that you’re at sixes and sevens. I’ll give you a hand and I’ll pack a few necessities for myself.’
‘Remember me to Sergeant Baines.’ Angel left them making plans, but she could not help feeling a little envious. She tried not to think of it too often, but, although she loved the countryside, part of her missed the streets of London. She had happy memories of her childhood in Spitalfields, and she had done her best to forget her experience in the workhouse and how she came near to starvation before she met Dolly. She wished that she could accompany Dolly and Rupert on the first part of their great adventure, but that was impossible. For one thing, there was much to be done at home, and for another, she wanted to be there when Hector returned. She ran upstairs to Susannah’s room.
Later that day, finding herself alone and with little left to do, Angel decided to take the ageing greyhounds for a walk. The sudden turn of events had shaken everyone, even Humphrey, who had returned from London unexpectedly just as Rupert and Dolly, accompanied by Lil, left for the city in the Westwoods’ carriage. Humphrey had promised to say nothing to his mother or Susannah, but Angel knew that the affair would not remain a secret for long. Toby was still sleeping off the after-effects of over-indulgence the previous evening, but although he liked to pretend that he thought about nothing other than field sports, Angel knew that he had a keen intelligence and a probing mind that would one day make him a lawyer to be reckoned with. He would most certainly have something to say about his sister’s humiliation.
She left the house wearing a straw bonnet to protect her face from the blazing summer sun, and a simple cotton print frock, and she set off with Juno and Thor at her heels, heading for the wide sweep of the marshes. She had walked these paths often and knew the safest way to negotiate the boggy ground, but that afternoon there was a sudden change in the weather. Clouds began to bubble up like giant puffballs, blotting out the sun. It started to rain, slowly at first, but then it seemed as though the skies had opened, throwing a downpour at her with physical violence. The warm ground steamed, creating a thick mist, which developed so suddenly that she became disorientated. Angel knew that she had come too far to make it home before the paths became waterlogged and dangerous, and the only thing to do was to keep going in what she hoped was the right direction. The dogs kept close to her, looking up with beseeching eyes as if pleading with her to stop the constant pounding of the rain on their sleek coats. She herself was soaked to the skin, her straw bonnet hung limply around her face and, to make matters worse, she was chilled to the bone. The rain eased a little, leaving a thick white mist in its place, and Angel had to test the ground before each step. A mistake could leave her stranded and sinking into the boggy morass, and the thudding of her heart was the only sound she could hear apart from the panting of the two dogs.
She was becoming exhausted and losing hope when she saw the faint grey outline of habitation not far ahead. The ground beneath her feet felt firmer and she quickened her pace until she came to a fence that separated the marsh from the market gardens. Her spirits soared as she recognised the cottage on the far side of the plot filled with lavender. The scent of it made her dizzy with anticipation as she opened the gate and let herself into the neatly kept area gardened by Jack Wicks. It felt like coming home and she hurried down the path to the back door.
‘Mrs Wicks, are you there? It’s me, Angel Winter. Can I come in?’
A moment later the door opened. ‘Angel, is it really you?’ Sally Wicks stared at her in disbelief. ‘Come in, my dear. You’re soaked to the skin and that pretty bonnet is all but ruined.’
An invitation had never sounded more tempting and Angel almost fell over the threshold. ‘But what about the dogs, Mrs Wicks? They’re very wet.’
‘Bring them in too, poor creatures. Stumpy is getting old so he won’t bother them. He tries to get about like he used to, but he’s a bit arthriticky, poor old man.’
The kitchen was just as Angel remembered it from all those years ago. A fire burned in the range, which was most welcome even though it was midsummer, and Angel’s clothes began to steam as she sat close to the hearth, sipping a cup of hot, sweet tea. Sally’s hair was a little greyer and her hips were slightly wider, but her brown eyes still shone with kindness and her smile of welcome was genuine. She pulled up a chair and sat down beside Angel.
‘We heard that you’d had a stroke of good fortune, my dear. It was the talk of the flower girls that you and Dolly had been adopted by a rich gentleman and taken to live in his mansion.’
‘Good heavens,’ Angel said, chuckling. ‘That’s unbelievable. It’s not entirely true, but it’s close enough. How on earth did they find out?’
‘A girl called Maisie, who shared a room with you at Mother Jolly’s, started the rumour.’ Sally reached out to finger the material of Angel’s print gown. ‘That cost a bob or two; you must have fallen on your feet.’
Angel could see that Sally would not be satisfied until she knew everything and she described, as briefly as possible, all the events that led up to the present day. Sally listened with rapt attention, uttering oohs and aahs at suitable intervals.
‘So that’s the whole story,’ Angel said, taking the opportunity to drink the remainder of her tea, which by now was tepid.
‘Who would have thought that such a thing could happen? Marrying a handsome young man who will inherit a fortune sounds like a fairy tale for young Dolly, but what about you, dear? Will you have a happy ending with your young man?’
Startled, Angel covered her confusion by getting up to put her cup on the table. ‘I haven’t got a young man, Mrs Wicks.’
‘Call me Sally, dear. We don’t have to stand on ceremony here.’ Sally cocked her head on one side, eyeing Angel curiously. ‘I didn’t mean to offend you, but the way you spoke of Captain Devane made me think there might be something between the two of you.’
Angel shook her head. ‘I’m very fond of
Hector, but I doubt if he’s ever thought of me as a woman. I’m still a little girl to him.’ Her cheeks burned and it was not just the heat from the fire that brought the colour to her face.
‘I’m sorry, my dear. I won’t pry into your affairs. It’s none of my business, but I’d like to see you happy. You’ve had more than your share of ill fortune.’
Angel glanced out of the window as a ray of sunshine filtered through the small panes. ‘It’s stopped raining. I ought to start back for Grantley. It’s a long walk and they’ll be wondering what’s happened to me.’
‘Won’t you stay for supper, dear? I know that Jack and Danny would love to see you. They’ll be home any minute now.’
‘I’d like to see Jack. He was very kind to me and it was because of the mistletoe that I met Sir Adolphus. I might not have had the courage to approach him if I hadn’t been desperate to earn a few pennies.’
‘As I recall it was Danny who took you back to St Giles with the mistletoe.’
‘I’m not sure he enjoyed the experience,’ Angel said, laughing. ‘He didn’t think much of me.’
Sally jumped to her feet at the sound of the door opening. ‘Well, we’ll see if he’s changed his mind. That’ll be them now.’
Stumpy raised himself from his blanket by the fire and staggered over to meet his master as Jack Wicks strode into the room bringing with him a gust of fresh air. Thor and Juno had been asleep but they jumped up and went over to him. Jack bent down to make a fuss of Stumpy.
‘What have we here?’ He patted the two greyhounds on their heads and his leathery skin creased into a broad grin as he caught sight of Angel. ‘Why, if it isn’t my little friend, all grown up.’ He pushed his cap to the back of his balding head. ‘Aren’t you a fine young lady now?’ He turned to his son as Danny walked into the kitchen. ‘Look who’s here, Dan, my boy. You remember Angel, don’t you?’
Angel stood up and held out her hand. ‘Mr Wicks, it’s good to see you again.’ She shot a wary glance at Danny. ‘And you too, of course.’
Danny Wicks came to a halt, staring at her. He was no longer the callow youth who had treated her with such disdain. He had matured into a good-looking fellow; tall and broad-shouldered, his face and arms tanned nut brown by exposure to the elements. He had inherited his father’s even features and firm chin, and a look of his mother about the eyes. Altogether he was a personable young man and Angel found her prejudices melting in the warmth of his wide smile.
‘It’s good to see you again, Angel. I’m afraid I wasn’t very nice to you when we last met.’
She nodded. ‘I’m surprised you remember.’
‘What’s this I hear, Danny?’ his mother said sternly. ‘I can’t believe you were unkind to a little girl.’
‘I could have been nicer, Ma. But that was then. I’m grown up now and I apologise for my young self, Angel Winter.’ He held out his hand and Angel took it in a warm clasp.
‘It was a long time ago, Danny. I expect I was a bit of a pest.’
Jack took off his hat and threw it with an expert twist of his wrist so that it landed on a peg at the back of the door. ‘We heard of your good fortune, Angel. If anyone deserved a stroke of good luck it’s you.’
‘I’ve just been telling Sally that selling mistletoe changed my life.’ Angel turned to Danny with a smile. ‘That was your doing, even if you didn’t know it at the time.’
‘Well, I’m glad I’m good for something.’ Danny shrugged off his jacket. ‘What’s for supper, Ma? I’m starving.’
He sounded so much like Toby that Angel wanted to laugh, but she managed to keep a straight face. ‘I mustn’t intrude,’ she said hastily. ‘I’d love to stay and talk but I should start back over the marsh in case it rains again. I know the pathways well, but it’s a different matter when the mist comes down.’ Thor and Juno took their cue from her and went to stand by the back door, wagging their tails.
‘Are you sure you won’t stay for supper?’ Sally lifted the lid on a saucepan and a savoury aroma wafted round the kitchen. ‘There’s plenty here.’
‘Maybe another time, if you’ll have me.’ Angel made a move towards the doorway. ‘By the way, Jack, I was very impressed by the amount of lavender you have grown.’
He was at her side in an instant. ‘Let me show you round my plot. It’s not huge, but I’m hoping to rent the one next to it when the present tenant retires. I can sell lavender all year round, green in summer and dried in winter.’
‘I make small muslin bags and stuff them with the flower heads,’ Sally said proudly. ‘They fetch a good price on Jack’s stall. If I could make more I could supply shops, but I do quite well as it is.’
‘Yes, I remember you telling me that all those years ago.’ Angel kissed Sally on the cheek. ‘It’s been lovely to see you, and I’ll come again soon, if that’s all right?’
‘Yes, dear, please do, and you must stay longer next time.’
Jack opened the back door and stepped outside. Angel followed him with Danny close behind. A quick walk round the perimeter of the lavender beds revealed the extent of Jack’s planting, and the scent filled her nostrils, bringing back some of the happier memories of Covent Garden.
‘You’ve done so well,’ she said admiringly. ‘The plants look very healthy.’
‘We keep them trimmed so that the stems don’t become woody,’ Jack said knowledgeably. ‘We’ve done well enough for ourselves, I’m glad to say.’ He shot a sideways glance at his son. ‘But young Dan isn’t interested in carrying on the trade. He has other ideas.’
‘Don’t start that again, Pa.’ Danny slapped his father on the back. ‘You love your plants but if we get a bad winter or a late frost it can ruin a whole crop. We need to expand and consider growing fruit and vegetables in greenhouses, like the toffs do, only on a more commercial basis.’
‘Maybe, son, but that would take money we haven’t got. It’s not something I would even consider.’
Angel could see that an argument was about to ensue, and she did not want to become embroiled in a family squabble. ‘I could stay here all day, but I really must go on my way.’ She called the dogs to her side. ‘It’s been lovely seeing you all after such a long time.’
Jack nodded and smiled. ‘You must come again, if you can, but we understand that your life is different now. You’re a young lady and you belong at the big house. I’m glad for you, Angel.’
‘Just because I live at Grantley Park doesn’t mean that I’m a different person, Jack.’
‘I think you’ll find it does make a difference,’ Jack said gently. ‘We’re plain and ordinary people, and I dare say your poor ma was a lady, who found herself in trouble. You never were a common girl, Angel.’
‘I try not to think about it.’
‘I’ll set you on the right path,’ Danny said quickly. ‘Let’s see if Stumpy can outrun your hounds.’
The suggestion was so ridiculous that it brought a smile to Angel’s face, banishing the sad thoughts about the mother she would never know. ‘All right, but I don’t want to keep you from your meal.’
‘Don’t worry about that. Ma will keep me a plateful. She won’t let me go without.’
‘Goodbye, Angel. Come again very soon and we’ll talk about the bad old days,’ Jack said, grinning. ‘See her safely home, Dan. The ground will be even more treacherous than usual after that rainstorm.’
With the dogs hobbling on ahead, Angel and Danny set off across the marsh. The sun was low in the sky and Angel had not realised how long she had spent in the cottage, but it must have been several hours as her clothes were bone dry. Her bonnet was past repair and she had not bothered to put it on, but had tied the ribbon around her belt and it hung at her waist.
‘You have changed a lot,’ Danny said gravely. ‘But for the better. You were a spiky little thing.’
‘And you thought you were so much better than me.’
‘I’ve apologised for that.’
‘Yes, you have, and I expect I wa
s a bit of a nuisance, but I’ve always loved mistletoe. It grows freely on the apple trees in our orchard.’
He shot her a sideways glance. ‘You have an orchard?’
‘No, of course I don’t. It belongs to Sir Adolphus. I just live there, Danny. I’m part of the family.’
‘Are you?’
‘Do you doubt it?’
He thought for a moment. ‘I can’t say I’ve had much to do with the nobs, but it seems to me that they look down on the rest of us. I hope they do treat you like family, but when it comes down to it I reckon they’re all the same. They stick together like burrs, and if things went wrong you might find yourself out on your ear.’
‘Even close families fall out,’ Angel countered. ‘It sounded earlier as though you’ll be leaving your father to carry on his trade without you.’
‘I don’t want to hawk mistletoe and lavender round the city streets for a living. I’ve heard that people in the Channel Islands are beginning to cultivate tomato plants in greenhouses heated by steam boilers. I don’t see why we can’t do that here.’
‘It sounds like a wonderful idea, but wouldn’t it cost a great deal of money to set up?’
‘You sound like my pa,’ Danny said ruefully. ‘I know it would, but I intend to go into it further. I’m sure it’s the way to progress.’ He took Angel by the arm as they reached a particularly soggy patch of ground. ‘A storm like the one we had earlier can do no end of damage.’
Angel allowed him to guide her to a safer path. ‘You don’t have to convince me, Danny. I can see your point, but it’s your father you have to win over, not me.’
‘I’m sorry. I get on my high horse sometimes, and I’m not a patient man.’
She laughed. ‘You don’t have to remind me of that, Danny Wicks. You were a horrible boy.’
‘And you were a suspicious little girl,’ he said, chuckling.