Rosa's Island

by Val Wood

  ‘I’m so glad for you, Maggie, and for Fred.’ And so sorry for Delia, she considered, who has no-one to love her or think well of her baby. ‘And of course you must take great care of yourself.’

  ‘I know. ’Doctor says I’m in good health and very strong and even though I’m old for a first babby, he says if I rest a bit each day, I’ll be all right.

  ‘I’m scared though, Rosa,’ she confessed. ‘I remember when Ma had Matthew, she nearly died, and then she went on to have Delia. I wish she was here,’ she said, suddenly tearful. ‘She’d tell me what to do.’

  ‘She would have been so glad for you,’ Rosa said, and added, ‘So what kind of things do you need? I mean, perhaps I can get them for you?’

  ‘Oh, bless you, that’s all arranged. I’ve got lying-in sheets and a crib, and ordered a layette, though I haven’t collected it, it’s supposed to be unlucky to do that before ’babby is born. And ’midwife has been to see me already.’

  ‘A midwife! Of course!’ Rosa pondered. She hadn’t thought about a midwife and she doubted if Delia had either. But then Delia hadn’t discussed her forthcoming confinement at all. And of course she wouldn’t. She couldn’t discuss it with her brothers or her father. So there’s only me, and she has never liked me. But there, she thought. We will both have to forget our differences and plan for the future.

  She had tea with Maggie and then set off back on the long road to Sunk Island. As she reached the village of Ottringham a waggon was coming towards her. As it drew near she saw that Fred was driving. She greeted him and gave him her congratulations.

  He beamed. ‘Aye, it’s grand news. Best yet. So! What news from Sunk Island? Or have you given it all to Maggie?’

  She hesitated. Should she give Fred the news of Delia, so that he could tell Maggie at a suitable time? She decided that she would, she had always found him to be a responsive man. He drew into the side of the road when she said she wanted to talk to him, and she slipped down from the saddle and with the horse held on a long rein, she climbed onto the waggon seat next to Fred.

  ‘It’s not good news,’ she began. ‘And I didn’t tell Maggie because she’s so happy and I didn’t want to spoil things for her, but—’ She told him as plainly as possible of Delia and her trouble, and that she was at home, on Sunk Island.

  Fred’s expression hardened. ‘And this man won’t marry her?’

  ‘Can’t.’ Rosa’s voice was low. ‘He’s married already.’

  ‘She’s been consorting wi’ a married man?’ he said heatedly. ‘Did she know he was married?’

  ‘I don’t know,’ Rosa confessed.

  ‘Well, if she did, I’ve no sympathy for her! None at all and I’m not sure that I want my wife to be in her company!’

  Rosa was taken aback. She had not expected sympathy for Delia, but some compassion at least.

  ‘Shameful behaviour such as this reflects on everybody, Rosa.’ He was quite emphatic. ‘It brings disgrace on ’whole family.’

  ‘That’s what her father said,’ Rosa answered. ‘He won’t talk to her, won’t let her eat at ’same table with him.’

  ‘But he’s let her stop? He hasn’t turned her out? There’s many a father wouldn’t have her in the house. But then, he’s a good church-going man is Mr Drew.’

  ‘He said at first that she had to leave, but Jim persuaded him to let her stay,’ she explained. ‘He said that he’d reminded him that none of us is perfect.’

  ‘Well, that’s true,’ Fred admitted. ‘But it doesn’t alter ’fact that what she’s done is wrong.’

  ‘And what about the man?’ Rosa asked. ‘Hasn’t he done wrong too?’

  ‘Well, yes, of course he has, and if it was my daughter I’d search him out and give him a beating.’ Then he became thoughtful. ‘It’s funny, you know, but when you’re about to be a father your ideas change. If I have a daughter and she goes astray—’

  ‘Yes,’ Rosa said. ‘What would you do?’

  He was silent for a moment. ‘I don’t know. I really don’t. I’d need to be sure that I’d allus been honourable and just, in order to cast ’first stone. And I know that I haven’t allus been.’

  He gave a deep sigh, then said, ‘I’ll not tell Maggie yet. Like you say, she’s very happy right now and I don’t want to spoil that. But in a week or two I’ll bring her over to visit and Delia can tell her for herself. It’s her disgrace so she can impart it.’

  After Rosa had left that morning, Delia cleared the breakfast things, washed the dishes, built up the fire and fetched in more wood. She only half filled the basket for it was heavy if it was filled to the top. Jim had caught her carrying it one day and had told her not to, that she had to ask him or Matthew to bring it in for her. But she knew that Rosa filled it and carried it every day and she didn’t want to be beholden to her, or for Rosa to think that she was shirking.

  They hadn’t had much conversation, she and Rosa, but Delia admitted to herself that she wasn’t patronizing or condescending towards her as she had thought she might be. She didn’t care for her any more than before. She didn’t like Rosa’s efficient manner, nor the way she was so independent and would go off on her own whenever she wanted to. Delia had never been interested in the river and its moods nor in gazing at the swaying corn in the moonlight, as she had seen Rosa do. But I’m going to need her if Da lets me stop at home to have ’bairn. I can’t have it on my own so I’d better try and be nice to her, she thought.

  She prepared the midday meal for when her father, brothers and the two farm hands, Bob and Harry, came in. She set the table ready so that they could help themselves, and she would disappear out of sight when they arrived. She knew that in her father’s eyes she was a fallen woman, no longer fit to be included in his family. But she would abide by his rules. She would put up with his moralizing and hide from his sight, if only he would let her stay. For where else could she go?

  There was a knock on the back door and she stiffened. No-one was expected, so who could it be? She had not answered the door since she came home, Rosa always did that, and not all of the families on Sunk Island knew that she had returned. She peered out of a corner of the kitchen window. A man was standing there. A youngish man, not anyone she knew. Should she answer or let him go away? But what if it was someone with a message for her father? She had seen and heard his wrath on previous occasions when her mother had not been there to take a message for him.

  She smoothed her apron and hoped that her swelling waistline didn’t show too much, patted her hair and went to the door.

  ‘Good day to you, miss.’ The man took off his hat, his hair was a deep warm shade of red. ‘And a fine morning it is.’

  Nervously she agreed that it was. ‘What can I do for you?’

  He gave her a cheeky grin. ‘Well now, I’m sure there would be plenty that I could think of, but today I’m looking for Mr Drew.’

  Delia smiled back. It had been a long time since she had had a flirtatious conversation with a man. But then her smile faded, as she thought of where such conversations had brought her. ‘He’s not here. He’s out somewhere.’

  ‘Ah!’ He seemed disappointed. ‘And when will he be back?’

  She shrugged. ‘Dinner time, I expect. They’ll all be in then.’

  He meditated, then said, ‘All?’

  ‘My brothers, and ’farm hands.’

  ‘Ah, so you’re one of Mr Drew’s lovely daughters?’

  ‘I, er – yes.’ She hadn’t meant to say.

  ‘Well, I have to say that the ladies of Sunk Island are a grand sight to behold. I met Rosa not so long ago. She lives with you, I believe.’

  She frowned. Who was he? ‘Yes. Yes she does.’ She looked across the yard and saw her father and Matthew, leading two of the shire horses, coming down the track towards the house. ‘Here’s Da coming now,’ she said abruptly. ‘You’ll have to excuse me, they’ll be wanting their dinner.’

  Matthew was surprised at his father’s curt attitude towards the st
ranger. He didn’t introduce him, but merely told Matthew to see to the horses and took the Irishman, for undoubtedly that was what he was, judging by his accent, to the other side of the yard, away from the house.

  He washed his hands in the sink and could hear Delia clattering pans over the range in the middle kitchen and he called to her, ‘It’s all right, Da’s not in yet. He’s talking to somebody.’

  ‘Who is he?’ Delia kept a wary eye on the window so that she could scuttle away when her father appeared. ‘He sounds Irish.’

  Jim came bursting through the door. ‘Who’s Da talking to?’ he asked sharply.

  ‘An Irishman,’ Delia and Matthew answered simultaneously. ‘Never seen him before,’ added Matthew, and wondered at the grim expression on his brother’s face.

  Their midday meal was taken in silence, broken only occasionally by young Bob or Harry, commenting on what needed to be done that afternoon. ‘Get on and do it then,’ Mr Drew growled, ‘no use in just thinking on it.’

  ‘Thanks, Delia,’ Matthew called as he left the table and put on his coat to go out. He glanced at his father and Jim, but neither of them said a word.

  ‘Thank you, miss,’ young Bob called also, and Harry said in an aside that they didn’t see much of Miss Delia even though she was living at home.

  It won’t be long, Matthew thought, before Harry puts two and two together. It would have been better if Delia had shown herself each day. Her weight increase would not have been as obvious as it will be if Harry catches sight of her now. And then it will be all around the island, especially if he tells his wife.

  Out in the yard when they were alone, Jim confronted his father. ‘You were talking to John Byrne! Why has he come back? What did he want?’

  ‘He wants some help and came to us.’ His father didn’t look at him. ‘It’s just a small job! We won’t be involved. Just storing ’goods, that’s all.’

  ‘No! Not again!’ Jim’s face had lost all its colour. Defying his father wasn’t easy. But he had to make a stand. ‘We can’t. I won’t. You can’t bully me same as when I was a lad.’

  His father looked up at him. ‘Bully you? Of course not. You must make your own mind up on such matters.’ He seemed to hesitate, and Jim felt there was a nervousness in his manner. ‘I’m not telling you that you have to help me, but I’m asking if you will. They – them two, they said they’ll go to ’law if I don’t help them with this job! They said,’ Drew took a deep breath, ‘that they’ll think up some cock and bull story about Carlos’s disappearance. They said that they’ll implicate us both if we don’t help with this job.’

  ‘How can they? They know nothing.’ Jim felt a terrible fear as his past confronted him.

  His father pursed his lips. ‘Insinuation. A whisper that Carlos didn’t disappear of his own free will.’

  Jim stared at his father. He was afraid. He would die if he was locked up.

  ‘They said . . .’ His father’s voice dropped low. ‘They said that they’ll accuse us of murder!’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  DELIA REFUSED MATTHEW’S offer to take her to Patrington to visit the doctor. ‘I can’t,’ she wailed. ‘Everybody will see me and gossip about who the father is.’

  Rosa stayed silent for a moment, then she asked, ‘Will you have ’doctor here, if he’ll come? You’ll have to see him sooner or later. I know nothing about babies. Suppose it comes early, what would we do?’

  Delia pouted and Matthew grew impatient. ‘You can’t pretend that it isn’t going to happen, Delia,’ he pointed out. ‘Rosa’s right. You’ll need some help.’

  With very little grace Delia said that she would see the doctor at home. ‘Onny make sure that Da’s not about,’ she said. ‘And who’ll pay him?’ She started to cry. ‘Da won’t and I haven’t any money.’

  Rosa hadn’t any either. Only the housekeeping money, and Mr Drew went over her housekeeping bills meticulously.

  ‘I’ll pay,’ Matthew said. ‘And I’ll ask Jim to chip in. I’ll go tomorrow to Patrington and ask him to call.’

  ‘I’ll go,’ Rosa interrupted. ‘I want to see Gran. Flo sent a message to say that Aunt Bella is ill and won’t last much longer.’

  I’ll also tell Flo about Delia, she thought. She ought to know, and perhaps she’ll write to the twins and tell them.

  She thought of Maggie, who had come with Fred just a few days earlier. Rosa hadn’t told anyone of Maggie’s forthcoming confinement, for she guessed that Maggie would want to tell her father and brothers herself, but the first person Maggie saw as she entered the house was Delia, and Delia was stretching her back after putting the kettle on the fire in the very same action that Maggie herself used. Her pregnancy was obvious, and Maggie had drawn in her breath and held onto the back of a chair.

  ‘Delia!’ Maggie gazed at her sister and then across at Rosa, who was folding sheets. ‘Delia! You’re—!’

  ‘Yes,’ Delia said rebelliously. ‘I am. And it looks as if you’re in ’same boat.’

  ‘No,’ Maggie said slowly. ‘I don’t think so! I’m carrying my husband’s child. Whose child are you carrying?’

  Delia hadn’t looked at Maggie, and she thrust her chin in the air as she’d replied, ‘Somebody else’s husband’s.’

  Maggie had lowered herself into a chair. ‘You never told me, Rosa,’ she accused. ‘Why didn’t you?’

  Rosa came and knelt beside her. ‘How could I?’ she’d said softly. ‘How could I spoil your joy?’

  Maggie had wept and then Delia, in her shame at ruining her sister’s tidings, cried also, and Maggie, after having a cup of tea, was driven home again without seeing her father or brothers. It was left to Rosa to give them the news that Maggie too was expecting a child.

  Only Matthew seemed to be glad to hear of it. Mr Drew merely grunted and said that the event was predictable, whilst Jim seemed so preoccupied, it was as if he wasn’t really listening.

  Rosa looked across at Marsh Farm as she passed it on the way to Patrington. The roof on the barn had had some new tiles fitted and she saw that there was an empty waggon in the yard, and wondered why it was there, when usually the waggons were kept at Home Farm.

  Flo opened the door at Aunt Bella’s house and put her finger to her lips. ‘Doctor’s here,’ she whispered. ‘It doesn’t look too good for Miss Dingley. She’s sleeping a lot, we can barely wake her up to feed her.’

  Rosa wondered what her grandmother would do when Aunt Bella died. Flo, she knew, would marry her faithful Tom and leave Patrington, but Gran is getting old, she thought, will she be able to live alone?

  They were talking in the parlour when the doctor came downstairs followed by Mrs Jennings. ‘You’ll know my granddaughter, Rosa?’ she said to the doctor. ‘She lives with ’Drew family on Sunk Island.’

  ‘Yes, of course I do.’ The doctor nodded to her. ‘Mrs Drew sang your praises – said you were like a daughter to her. Well, I must be off, Mrs Jennings,’ he said. ‘I’ll look in tomorrow. There’s no more to be done, I’m afraid.’

  ‘Doctor—’ Rosa hesitated. ‘Could you call at Home Farm some time soon?’

  ‘Who’s sick? Not Mr Drew?’

  ‘No.’ She pondered. Now it would come out. ‘It’s Delia. She needs to see you.’

  ‘Delia?’ Flo said in astonishment. ‘She came home then?’

  ‘Will you come?’ Rosa asked the doctor again. ‘It’s urgent.’

  He asked what was the matter with Delia and why couldn’t she come to see him?

  Rosa looked at Flo and then at her grandmother. ‘She’s not sick,’ she said in a low voice. ‘She’s expecting a child. She doesn’t want anyone in Patrington to see her.’

  The doctor lowered his head and gazed at her solemnly and then said he would come as soon as he could, within the next few days.

  ‘Delia expecting!’ Flo exclaimed when he had gone. ‘I can’t believe it! Who’s the father? When is she to be wed?’

  Mrs Jennings tutted. ‘Dearie me. One poo
r soul on her way out to mek room for another coming. ’Good Lord knows what he’s about, I expect, even if we don’t. She doesn’t know who ’father is?’ she queried. ‘Is that it?’

  ‘She does know who he is,’ Rosa defended. ‘But she won’t say. He can’t marry her. He’s married already.’

  ‘Aye, well. Of course he is.’ Mrs Jennings sighed. ‘They allus are. Poor young lass. She’ll have a rough life from now on.’

  ‘What does Da say about it?’ Flo was aghast. ‘Is he letting her stay?’

  ‘For the moment,’ Rosa said. ‘But he won’t speak to her and she can’t eat at ’same table as him. And I don’t know what will happen when ’babby is born.’

  ‘An outcast! A pariah, that’s what she’ll be.’ Mrs Jennings nodded sagely. ‘And babby as well. But those who shut ’gates on pity must first look to see that their own hands are clean.’

  ‘Gran! What will you do when – if – anything happens to Aunt Bella?’ Rosa asked.

  ‘It’ll be when, not if,’ her grandmother said. ‘Her time’s almost run out, like it does for all of us eventually. And – well, I don’t rightly know what I’ll do. I should have planned things better, but summat will work out I expect.’

  ‘Yes.’ Rosa was thoughtful. ‘I expect it will. Gran, do you think – that is, if I can arrange it with Mr Drew, would you come and live with us at Home Farm and help with Delia’s baby?’

  The days were getting shorter and a chill wind whipped around the island, heralding the winter which was to come. On most days, if Rosa finished her chores early and whilst Delia prepared supper, she put on her cloak and walked along the river embankment.

  The onset of winter held no fears for her. She loved to watch the turbulent waters of the Humber as it lashed across the salt marsh, its foamy spray dashing against the high embankment as if trying to claim back its rightful habitat. The migratory birds were flying in from their long journey overseas, and mallard and teal were to be found hanging in many larders of the farmsteads.