“I’ll be out,” Maggie snapped. “Ask Cook to leave me a little supper on a tray.”
“Thank Joan and tell her that I will be in for dinner,” Jack replied.
“I suppose your mother knows yer going,” Maggie continued, standing angrily beside him now with Olive out of the way. She felt like hitting him across the head. All that she’d gone through in Ireland with him; worrying herself half to death in case Jack was taken from her. The money she had spent bringing in the best specialist to see him. The care and devotion she had given him after the Fenians had attacked him that day.
He nodded that he had told his mother, then sat stiffly as he waited for the next tirade to begin.
“And am I to say that I’m a widow again, so that she can keep her head high in the community?”
“Sarcasm doesn’t suit you, Maggie. Yes, she does know I’m leaving and she does know why, but the story will be that I have to oversee me business interests in Ireland, but it’s up to you to say how long I’ve gone for. How long I’ll be away.”
“Then you’d better get on with it. I leave yer to yer packing. I’m off down to Lilac Cottage. I take it you’ll be taking the dogs as well?”
“Yes, and I’ll be putting Simba through the auction at Chester tomorrow. Hannah doesn’t ride him now and seeing as I bought him for her in the first place, he is now mine to sell.”
Chapter 12
“Oh, Mother, I wondered if you would come over today. I’m just putting the chicken in the oven for mine and Eddie’s dinner. I’ve followed a recipe from that book you gave me on household management. It has been a godsend. Gives you tips on adding more flavour to dishes and there are some scrumptious desserts that I intend to make. Mother, what’s the matter? Have you been crying? Come and sit on the sofa and tell me what’s happened. Eddie will be a while yet, so I don’t have to think about dinner now until he gets in.”
Hannah pulled off her pans from the top of the kitchen range and set them aside, then came over quickly to sit by Maggie.
“Has father been upsetting you? You said the other day that he had moved into the guest room and hardly ever speaks to you. Oh dear, it’s all because of me, isn’t it?”
Maggie’s tears began to fall then. She had been burning with anger when she had slammed out of Selwyn Lodge, but her walk across the fields had given her time to calm down a little and she had begun to feel sorry for herself.
She scrubbed at her face with the handkerchief that Hannah took out of her pinafore pocket, then took some deep breaths before she told the girl her tale.
“He’s decided to leave and go to Ireland. He says that our marriage isn’t working and there’s nothing left fer him here. I should have seen it coming, but I’ve been so busy with all the committee work, deciding what to do with these building plans and all the messing about with the Town Hall. I suppose when you think that your marriage is on solid ground, you start taking everything fer granted. When he came back after all those years away, I assumed we were settled for the rest of our lives.”
“But all that changed when you took my side and started helping me and Eddie, had this place done up for us and bought us all this furniture. I suppose he feels he should have had your loyalty and he’s angry because I didn’t make a good marriage with someone like Jeremy.”
“Yes, that’s true, Hannah, I have to admit it, but it’s the deceit that I can’t handle. He’s been planning this move with Fergal and his wife since your wedding. That’s what I don’t like.”
“You mean Fergal and Ivy are going with him? What’s he going to do in Ireland and why Fergal and his wife?”
“He’s starting a stud farm in Wicklow. Paddy Fearon, that’s the man who helped him buy his horses in Ireland, has been left some property, so Fergal will go to look after the horses and they’ll need a woman to run the house. He is very kindly leaving me the carriage and Lincoln and Jefferson, but now I’ll have to find a man to look after them as well. Do you know, Hannah? I don’t need this at the moment. I can get used to your father not being there, let’s face it I did without him fer years, but I’ve all these decisions to make as well. Me head feels it’s going to burst!”
Maggie was not far from tears again, so Hannah took her stepmother’s hand and squeezed it gently.
“Mother, I can help you with some of it. What do I do all day but keep this place nice for Eddie? He’ll understand if I come up to help you, he won’t mind a bit of dust or the occasional crumpled shirt.”
“No, Hannah. I can’t expect yer to take on my problems. You’ve only been wed these last four months and it would be unfair to both you and Eddie, especially when you might be expecting a baby.”
“Oh, Mother, please don’t turn me down,” she said eagerly. “I want to help. You don’t even have to get a man in to see to the horses. I had plenty of experience with Simba. I was always cleaning out his quarters and Lincoln and Jefferson know me very well.”
“That’s something I haven’t told yer, Hannah,” Maggie said sadly. “He’s selling Simba. Says you don’t ride him anymore and Simba is his to sell. And he’s taking Fang and Rufus too.”
She waited for Hannah’s reaction. If it had been her she would have stormed over to Selwyn Lodge and brought the animals back here, but her stepdaughter had never been a firebrand; she just got on with life in her own quiet way.
“He certainly knows how to hurt, doesn’t he?” Hannah’s eyes filled with tears and Maggie pushed the handkerchief over to her. “But in a way I can’t blame him. I caused Father pain by marrying Eddie, so it’s his way of punishing me.”
“Yer know, Hannah. It never ceases to amaze me how hurtful the ones who are supposed to love yer can be. I used to be jealous of the bond you and yer father had, felt hurt at his lack of attention, though I knew that it was a different kind of love. The same with Mikey; we were so close when he was little, I couldn’t wait to see him when I got back from Miss Rosemary’s, but look what’s happened with Mikey. One letter in nearly a year. He could be dead for all I know and it hurts me that he just doesn’t bother writing. Never mind,” she said with a forced brightness. “We’ve got each other now and hopefully soon we’ll have a little babby that we all can love. Talking of which… Oh, Hannah, I’ve just had a marvellous idea! Put the kettle on will yer, and make us a cup of tea? I want to gather me thoughts fer a moment. I think I’ve got a wonderful plan.”
A little while later, Hannah nearly choked on her tea that she had started sipping when Maggie made clear her thoughts.
“You’re saying you want me and Eddie to move into Selwyn Lodge?” she gasped incredulously. “Are you sure? You don’t even know Eddie very well and you must have spent a fortune on this place here.”
“Well, I’m not forcing yer to come. You can talk it over first with Eddie. It’s the thought of me rattling around in that big house with only Olive and Joan fer company. But you’ll be needing help with the baby and your old nursery could be used again.”
“Yes, and I’d be nearer the stables to see to the horses and I’d be on hand to drive you around like I used to. But Mother, I’ve just got used to the cooking, shopping and cleaning and I have to admit I’m happy creating a pleasant home.”
“Then we’ll sack Joan and Olive,” said Maggie dryly. “You can work fer your keep by being me housekeeper as well.”
Maggie lay awake that night listening for any sounds of movement coming from her husband’s room. Should she get up and plead with him to stay? Did she want him to? It would spoil all the plans she had for the future. Was there still any love between them? Had there been any in the first place? Did she really know what love was? So many questions, and her mind couldn’t give her any answers. Perhaps she was just a selfish person and only loved herself. But that wasn’t true, she thought to herself, remembering back to when they had been on their trip to Ireland. When Jack had been lying ill in the convent’s infirmary, she had prayed that he would get better, realising then that she loved him and needed
him in her life. She had prayed that they would be together until they reached their nineties; but was that love or a need in herself that she shouldn’t be alone again? Maybe it was all her fault. She had got tied up with her ventures, her meetings and anything else that gave her satisfaction, as soon as she’d got home. She had left him to his own devices and this was her reward. But did she want to give all this up – everything she had worked hard for, to share a kitchen with Ivy over there in Wicklow? Be at Jack’s beck and call and give up the independence she had grown to love? The answer was no. It came to her loudly and strongly. If she had to give her independence up, she didn’t want to be Jack’s wife.
Eddie walked along the lane that lead to Lilac Cottage, past the near ruin of Ashlea and the hovel that they called Thistledown. He was tired and looking forward to seeing Hannah. He had been working on the roof of a property on the promenade and the wind had kept buffeting as he had tried to knock the nails in the slates. Eddie whistled tunelessly to himself as he neared his home. What a shock his wife had given him yesterday after he had walked in and Maggie was on her way out. She had smiled at his greeting and turned down his offer that she should eat with them, saying mysteriously that they should have some time to themselves. He had laughed and replied that was all he lived on earth for. Aye, it was true, he thought to himself. These last few months had been a dream come true. Hannah was everything a man could ask for in a wife.
Her time at the college had been well spent. How she managed to be so clever with her housekeeping money and turn out well cooked meals of quality was beyond him. She kept the cottage like a little palace and was never too tired to delight him in bed. His life was like being in a bubble; a bubble they shared when they shut the cottage door on the world; but it was about to be popped. Hannah had a hankering to live back at Selwyn Lodge again.
“So come on then, what’s Maggie being all mysterious about?” he had asked, after taking Hannah in his arms and burying himself deep into her lusciousness. “You’re looking happy anyway, or is it because I’ve come home?”
“Go and wash your hands and I’ll serve up dinner, then I’ll tell you. I think you’ll be pleased with the plan.”
“But we can’t live at Selwyn Lodge,” Eddie had cried, with his fork midway to his mouth holding a piece of succulent chicken. “Yer father would make me life a misery and Hannah, we’re so happy here.”
“Father is moving out. He’s moving to Ireland and taking Fergal with him, so Mother will have problems driving the carriage herself.”
“You mean you want me to be a coachman? Hannah, I couldn’t do it, I’m no good with horses, I’ve no experience fer a start.”
“No, silly. I would see to the horses and drive Mother. You would continue working for Jimmy Pearson, but we would move up into a better world.”
“There’s nothing wrong with living in this one, Hannah. I don’t want our children growing up like you did, like one of those plants that you have in your conservatory.”
“Rubbish, there’s nothing wrong with the way I was brought up. At least I had a decent education, the fruits of it you can see.”
“So you’re saying that I was dragged up,” he had said, feeling dangerously close to them having their first row.
“I’m not saying that, Eddie, but let’s face it, bringing up children over a pub’ is not how I would choose to bring up mine.”
“I’ll have yer know me mother was from a very good family in Formby. She was educated just like you, it wasn’t her fault that dad wouldn’t move from the pub’.”
“Eddie, Eddie, let’s not get caught up in trivial argument. I would like to go back if you will come with me, but not if it means you’ll be unhappy in the place.”
They had agreed then that they would both give the matter much thought, but not until the next morning as Eddie felt the need to carry Hannah quickly to their bed.
She was there waiting to greet him as he walked up their path. Her face flushed with baking and a little bit of flour on her pretty nose. Oh, she was so beautiful, he sighed to himself, his spirits uplifting at the very sight of Hannah. He would follow her to the ends of the earth if that was what she wanted him to do.
“Have you come to a decision, Eddie?” she asked him eagerly, in the measured tones she had been taught at college that always gave him a thrill.
“I’ll tell yer in a minute, come here and give me a hug.”
He clung to her far longer than he usually did, when he came home from work. It was if he wanted her back in the bubble, where they couldn’t be disturbed.
“I’ve got some things that worry me, but without them I would say yes. Though, you’ve worked so hard on this place, Hannah, do yer really want to leave all this?”
“Well, I have my reservations as well, Eddie, but I can see the advantages for both of us, especially in the winter months. Remember only a month ago we were blocked in with snow.”
“Hmm, I remember. I didn’t have to go to work and we were snug as a bug in a rug.”
“Yes, but when we have a growing family we’ll need to feed them, take them to school and back again; we can’t just spend our time in bed.”
“Sounds just perfect to me, Hannah, but you want me to be serious, don’t yer? Well, yes I’ll give it a go. But what are we going to do about you know what? We’ll have the servants and Maggie listening and I know how you cry out in bed.”
“The servants don’t live in, Eddie, and I’ll just have to learn to be quiet. It is a small price to pay, curtailing our lovemaking. Anyway, I think I’m expecting as you know, so it’s not as if we’ll be doing it every day.”
“What happens if Michael comes home? He’s not going to be in the Army forever and he might not be happy that we’re living there.”
“Oh, Mikey will be in India for years yet. According to Mother there’s skirmishes all over the place. She reads the broadsheets avidly to see if she can get any news.”
“Well, I think you’ve nearly won me over. There’s just me family now. How is Maggie going to like Maddy and Ted dropping in? Not to mention Uncle Johnny, who I believe was a suitor of hers.”
“You’ve hardly seen your mother since our wedding. Only that one time when you went to the village after work. You said she heaped a load of profanities upon your head. I can’t see her having the nerve to drop in at Selwyn Lodge.”
“Oh, Hannah, I do love you. You do me heart good just to listen. I take it with your ‘profanities’, yer mean me mother was heapin’ curses on me head.”
Sam tied his horse up to the railing outside Piper’s Cottage. He was in the middle of his milk round but he had called in to see Annie, as one of their youngsters was ill. As soon as she heard his footsteps on the path she was standing in the doorway, cradling little Joe.
“How is he, did yer get the doctor, Annie?” The tot was flushed and his eyes were puffy and red.
“I did as yer said Sam, but he thinks Joe’s only teething. He’s probably right, says it’s the back ones that are coming through.”
“Thank God fer that then. You’d think we’d know all about teething with having the other three.”
“I’ve give him a hard biscuit to chew on, and I went up to the chemist too and got him a bottle of something to calm him. You’ll never guess who I saw up there. Maggie Haines, of all people. I’ve not seen her to talk to fer years!”
“Is the kettle on, Annie? I’ll come in and have a drink. It’s so hot today that I’m worried the milk will go off.”
“The kettle’s just boiled, so take Joe and I’ll go and make yer a brew. Anyway me and Maggie got talking and you’ll never guess what she said.”
“She said she’ll do up Thistledown and Ashlea for us all and we can get to know her daughter and go to Lilac Cottage for afternoon tea.”
Annie looked at Sam puzzled. How did he know what she and Maggie had been talking about?
“No, she never said that, but Lilac Cottage was mentioned. Her daughter and husband are moving into
Selwyn Lodge and Lilac Cottage will be up fer rent!”
“And so..?”
“Don’t yer see? We could move into Lilac Cottage. I passed it by on the day of Mam’s funeral and they’ve done it up beautifully. They’ve added on, so we’d have more space and there’s enough land at the side for a stable as well. You know, I could grow me own vegetables and I know there’s an orchard, because me and Ernie used to scrump there when we were kids. Oh, Sam, all me dreams would come true if we could move into Lilac Cottage. Will yer go to see Mr. Arlington as soon as you’ve finished? Sam, will yer do that? Maggie said the tenancy would have to be through you.”
Katie lay asleep on her new bed that she had bought soon after Ruthie’s funeral. It had been bought with a Bounty voucher, a cheque enabling a person to purchase an item, then regular payments being made whilst having the use of it. She and Ernie had gone by train to Chester to the designated furniture shop that dealt with these vouchers from the Sheldon Company. Ernie had ordered a new bed too, as he had taken over Lenny’s room when the poor lad had died. Now their mam had gone, they were free to do whatever they liked and they had nothing against her old enemy, Maggie Haines. In fact, if truth was told, many people in the village relied on Maggie’s Bounty vouchers. They made a difference giving presents at Christmas time, buying a gift for a happy couple on their wedding day, renewing clapped-out furniture, furnishings and bedding and kitting the children out with brand new clothes whenever necessary.
The old palliasses they used to sleep on had been thrown in the garden, ready for burning. The rickety chairs would be next to go, when they had paid for their vouchers by at least a third. Katie had already seen an upholstered moquette settee and a colourful rug. All they had to wait for was a visit from the agent so they could start paying rent for the property.
Katie had been on a night shift at the hospital. It was easy to sleep down at Thistledown Cottage because there was no one to disturb her there. Ernie was up at the farmhouse helping old Briggs, who still had one or two acres of meadow that he’d not sold on.
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