by Joan Jonker
‘I could say I’ll make sure Kitty keeps her job, and that she’s treated properly,’ Nigel said. ‘But that would mean I accept you’re leaving here on Saturday, and I’m not going to do that. Not without a fight. You’re the only mother Abbie and I have known for the last ten years, and we’re not going to lose you if we can help it. What do you say, Abbie?’
His sister sniffed up before agreeing. ‘I’ll do anything to keep Agnes here, Nigel, but I feel so helpless. What can we do?’
‘I’m going to have a word with Dad – I can’t see him just accepting this. You stay and keep Agnes company, help her peel the potatoes.’
Nigel turned after closing the kitchen door behind him to find himself face to face with his mother. ‘Well?’ Edwina said. ‘Is she staying on?’
Nigel closed his eyes. After all the trouble and heartache this woman had caused, she was still on her high horse. No remorse, no sadness. ‘She? Who is “she”, Mother?’
Edwina tutted. ‘Really, Nigel, you know who I mean. Is she leaving or staying?’
‘Why don’t you go and ask her, if you are so interested?’ She was standing directly in front of him, barring his way, so he side-stepped round her. ‘Now, excuse me.’
He rapped on the study door and walked in, to find his father sitting with his head in his hands. ‘I’m sorry to interrupt, Dad, I know you must be feeling dreadful. As, indeed, do Abbie and myself. But I feel I can’t just sit and do nothing, not when so much is at stake. I can’t get it through my head that Agnes is leaving because she got the blame for something she didn’t even do. It’s totally unbelievable! Surely there’s something we can do to stop this farce?’
‘Sit down, son.’ Robert pointed to the chair on the opposite side of the desk. ‘I’ve been doing some serious thinking, and I have come up with a decision that will affect the whole family. It is something I have thought about many times over the last ten years, but always pushed it to the back of my mind. So while Agnes has nothing to do with the decision I’ve made, what happened here today brought it to a head. You might hate me for what I am going to do, and that would make me very sad. But I can no longer live in a house where there is no warmth, no laughter and certainly, heaven forbid, no dancing: where two of the inhabitants of the house live in a totally unreal world. I’m in my mid-forties, still a relatively young man, and I want some happiness in what life I have left. For that reason, I have decided to divorce your mother.’ Robert searched his son’s face for signs of anger or dislike, but there were none. ‘I’m sorry, son, I really am, but I can’t carry on living an empty, cold life. I am only human, and I need affection and love. Both of these I have been starved of for far too long. There are many things you don’t know, but now is not the time to tell. One day, perhaps, then you’ll understand.’
‘I know, Dad,’ Nigel said quietly. ‘I don’t blame you, and will stand beside you all the way. Mother has asked for it in more ways than one. Perhaps I shouldn’t say it about the woman who brought me into the world, but it is the truth. She is impossible to live with, and impossible to love. Unfortunately, Victoria is the same.’
Robert breathed a sigh of relief. ‘I have been sitting here, my mind in a whirl, dreading what your reaction would be. I’d be broken-hearted if you and Abbie turned against me, because I do love you both very much.’
‘Dad, I understand, and I know Abbie will, too! No man should be expected to put up with what you have. I’m surprised you didn’t do it years ago.’
‘I don’t want you to mention this to Abbie, or anyone, until I’ve been to see my solicitor tomorrow. When I’ve been made aware of the ins and outs, I’ll tell your mother before anyone else. I owe her that much.’
‘Would this make a difference to Agnes leaving? Oh, I do hope so, Dad, because over the years she’s really cared for me and Abbie. If she hadn’t been here, there’d have been no one to run to when we were in trouble. No one to bandage our cuts, heal our wounds or listen to our worries. No one to hug us and kiss us goodnight. We owe a lot to her, Dad, and neither of us will ever forget that.’
‘I’ll have a good talk to Agnes tonight. Not about the divorce, that wouldn’t be fair on your mother, but I think I can tell her enough to stop her from leaving. You can rest assured that I will do anything to keep her here, where she is loved and needed.’
‘Will you be telling Mother tomorrow night?’
‘I have an appointment tomorrow night, so I won’t be coming home for dinner. If my solicitor can see me in the morning, then I’ll come straight home and speak with your mother, and Victoria. It’s an unpleasant task, and one I’m not looking forward to. So the sooner I get it over with, the sooner the weight is lifted from my shoulders.’
‘Abbie and I are going to Seaforth tomorrow night. We’re going to visit Grandma and Granda, then Abbie’s seeing Milly and I’m taking Bobby for his second driving lesson. So Abbie will be the last one to know the news.’
‘A day or two won’t make any difference. If I can persuade Agnes to change her mind, that should make your sister happy. Then I’ll pick the right moment to sit and have a talk to her.’
‘Will I see you in the office tomorrow?’
‘I’ll go in at the usual time, and ring the solicitor from there. If he can see me in the morning, all well and good. I’ll come straight home from his office and face the music. I don’t think your mother will take the news calmly, so I could be here for a while. If that happens, I won’t have time to go back to the office because, as I said, I have an appointment. Now, if you’ll coax Abbie to go up to her room, I’d like to have a chat with Agnes. If all goes as I’m hoping it will, I’ll let you both know tonight. That should ease your minds and enable you to have a good night’s sleep.’ As Nigel was turning the knob on the door, Robert added, ‘Thank you for being so understanding. It’s nice to know I have someone to talk to, man to man.’
‘I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to grow up, Dad. But I have now, and I’ll always be here for you.’
‘Yer’ve no need to keep coming in to see if I’m all right, Mr Robert. Yer’ve got more to do with yer time than worry about me.’
‘I’m not the only one worrying about you, Agnes Weatherby, my two children are worrying themselves sick. And after we’ve had a little chat, I want to be able to climb those stairs to tell them this is your home now, and for the rest of your life.’
‘Ah, we’re not going through all that again, Mr Robert, are we? Every time we talk, I’m reminded about leaving, and then I’m reduced to bleedin’ tears.’
‘Well, we’ll have no more bleedin’ tears tonight, if you don’t mind. I just want to ask you a question or two, and that’s not enough to cry over, surely?’
‘Oh, go on, then, what d’yer want to know?’
‘Serious, Agnes?’
‘Serious, Mr Robert.’
‘My first question is simple. If you didn’t have to take any orders from my wife or Victoria, would you stay on?’
‘That’s a bloody stupid question, if yer’ll excuse me language. How can I stay on and not take orders from the boss?’
‘Say she, or they, weren’t the boss any more, then you wouldn’t need to take orders from them, would you?’
‘Either I’m not thinking straight, or you’re not making sense, Mr Robert. They’re yer wife and daughter, and I’m only the ruddy housekeeper! If I don’t have to take orders from them, what do I do? Tell them to sling their flaming hook?’
‘Do you trust me, Agnes?’
‘Of course I do! Except when ye’re talking in bleedin’ riddles.’
‘I can’t tell you too much tonight, but if I said that in the not too distant future, you would not have to take orders from my wife, or Victoria, would you believe me?’
The housekeeper caught his eyes. ‘I haven’t caused no trouble with you and Miss Edwina, have I? That wasn’t my intention, to come between man and wife, and if I have I’m very sorry.’
‘Anything I do, Agnes, has not
been brought about by you, and that’s the truth. Do you think I have a happy life? Do you think my wife is loving and caring towards me?’
That brought a quick response. ‘No, I bleedin’ well don’t! She’s got a man in a million and doesn’t know she’s born. Ye’re too good for her, she doesn’t deserve yer. I might be talking out of turn, but yer did ask me and I’m not telling no lies.’
‘Then all I’ll say, Agnes, is don’t look for another post. Because come Saturday morning, you aren’t going anywhere.’ Robert lowered his head to smile into her face. ‘This is yer bleedin’ home, all right? Understand?’
‘No, I don’t bleedin’ understand, Mr Robert. But I’ll tell yer something for nothing. Wild horses wouldn’t drag me out of that door on Saturday, now. I’ll be staying out of bloody curiosity. So put that in yer ruddy pipe and smoke it.’
‘You drive a hard bargain, Agnes Weatherby. But I ask you to be patient with me. I may have some news of importance tomorrow, or at the latest, on Friday. In the meanwhile, if you hear any screaming and shouting, or things being thrown around, take no notice. It will be my wife taking revenge on me for putting her in her place, at long last.’
‘Ooh, er! Now that does sound exciting, I must say. Before I go to bed I’d better check we have plenty of lint and bandages, to dress the wounded soldiers. But I don’t want no blood spilt, mind, ’cos it’s the very devil to wash out.’
‘I’m very good at ducking, Agnes, so have no fear.’ Robert waved to her from the door, before making his way upstairs to see his children. The housekeeper appeared to have calmed down now, and in agreeing to stay on, she had lightened his burden a little. But nagging away at the back of his mind was how he would get through tomorrow, when faced with the combined fury of his wife and Victoria. He found the prospect daunting, knowing they both had vicious tongues and tempers. He also believed they were capable of using physical violence to get their own way. But no matter what they resorted to, they wouldn’t get him to change his mind, on that he was determined. And no matter what, he would get through the ordeal by reminding himself that at the end of it, he would be going to Chester. There, in Maureen’s arms, he would find the comfort and companionship his heart and mind craved.
Abbie sat at the kitchen table the next morning taking her time with her breakfast. Her father and Nigel had left for work, but she dawdled, wanting to spend as much time as she could with the housekeeper. ‘If you’d gone, Agnes, I would have gone with you.’
‘That would have been a bit awkward, sunshine, wouldn’t it? I couldn’t have taken yer in me case ’cos it’s too small.’ Agnes turned from the stove to stroke the rich dark hair. ‘So it’s just as well I’m not going, isn’t it? Besides, yer wouldn’t want to leave yer dad, or Mr Nigel, would yer?’
Abbie giggled. ‘No, I’d have had to bring them along, too!’
The housekeeper heard voices outside and put a finger to her lips. ‘Not a word.’
‘Good morning, Aggie.’ Kitty stopped in her tracks when she saw who was sitting at the table. ‘Good morning, Miss Abbie.’
‘Good morning to you, Kitty, and to you, Jessie. What’s the weather like outside?’
‘Fair to middling, Miss.’ Kitty thought for a few seconds, then said, ‘I don’t think yer’ll need yer fleecy lined ones on, it’s not that cold.’
‘That’s enough out of you, Kitty Higgins,’ Agnes said, removing Abbie’s cup and plate. ‘And it’s time you were on yer way, young lady, or yer’ll be late.’
‘There yer are,’ Kitty said, nodding her head. ‘She’s told two of us off in one go. Naggy Aggie, that’s what we’ll have to call her.’ The little woman stood on tip-toe to hang her coat on the hook behind the door. ‘Why the bleedin’ hell they had to put the hook so high up I’ll never know. Must have been a giant what done it.’
‘Watch your language, please, we have company.’ The housekeeper turned her head to hide a smile. ‘Miss Abbie isn’t used to hearing swear words.’
‘Yes, I am! I hear you swear, Agnes, and my Grandma knows a lot of swear words.’
‘Does she, queen?’ The cleaner’s pixie-like face beamed and her eyes shone. All signs of a joke to come. ‘Will yer ask her to write them down for me, queen, so I can keep up with me mate, Aggie Weatherby? Sometimes the air’s blue in this kitchen with her carry-on, and I get so embarrassed I don’t know where to put me face. Words I’ve never heard of in me life, and I couldn’t tell yer what they mean if yer paid me! I had a very sheltered upbringing, and my old mother, God rest her soul, would turn in her grave if she knew the riff-raff I was mixing with.’ Kitty glanced at the housekeeper. ‘I could have used a bigger word than mixing, but it’s slipped me mind. It was ass . . . something or other.’
Agnes was really enjoying herself. This was just what she needed after the awful day yesterday. ‘I think the word yer want is associating, sunshine.’
Kitty beamed. ‘How many letters in that, queen?’
The housekeeper counted them off on her fingers. ‘Eleven.’
‘She’s not half clever, my mate, it’s not only swear words she knows. Anyway, queen, would yer tell yer Grandma I’d be beholden to her if she’d write all the swear words down for me, so I can finish me education?’
‘Miss Abbie would be better employed going on her way and bringing her own education up-to-date. So, come on, sunshine, poppy off. If yer have to wait for a tram, yer’ll be late for yer first class.’
‘I’m going, I’m going, I’m going! I don’t feel like it this morning, but needs must when the devil drives.’ As she rose from her chair, Abbie smiled at Jessie who was always very quiet when a member of the family was present. ‘Are you settling down in your job, Jessie?’
‘Oh, yes, Miss.’ A lovely smile came with a curtsy. ‘Aggie and Kitty take good care of me, and I really like it.’
Abbie looked at Kitty who had mischief written all over her. ‘Are you always so happy, Kitty?’
‘No point in being otherwise, queen, ’cos yer won’t get many friends if yer walk around with a miserable gob on yer. Take Naggy Aggie here, she hasn’t got a friend in the world, and it’s all down to the miserable clock on her. All day long I’m telling her jokes to try and make her smile, but I might as well talk to the wall.’
The housekeeper clapped her hands together before jerking her thumb towards the back door. ‘Will yer get going Miss Abbie, so I can give these two a cup of tea before they start work?’
‘I know when I’m not wanted.’ The girl picked up her briefcase and as she was passing, she kissed the housekeeper on the cheek. ‘I’ll see you tonight, Agnes.’
‘You will, sunshine, and you take care how yer go.’
It was nine o’clock and Agnes was filling the breakfast serving dishes when Victoria flounced into the kitchen. She was wearing a floor-length pink satin dressing-gown, tied at the waist, and the matching mules on her feet were adorned with feathers. ‘Agnes, Mr Charles is calling about ten o’clock, and I would like Jessie to change into her maid’s uniform to open the door to him. She would look far more efficient, don’t you think?’
‘Whatever you say, Miss Victoria.’ She’s brazen, she is, thought Agnes. The trouble she caused yesterday and now she was acting as though it had never happened. ‘Was there anything else?’
For a brief moment, Victoria was taken off-guard by the abrupt question. She’d been hoping to build up some dialogue to try and gauge the housekeeper’s mood. Something that would give an indication as to whether she still intended to leave on Saturday, or whether Abbie had been able to talk her round. But bold as she was, the stern face gazing unblinkingly at her told her clearly she didn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell of finding anything out. ‘Will you see Jessie looks presentable, then, Agnes?’
‘As you wish, Miss Victoria.’
Her lack of subservience began to grate on Victoria’s nerves. This woman was getting paid to do her bidding, and should show more respect. Tossing her head, she said, ‘Oh, a
nd keep Kitty out of the way, will you. She looks like a bag of old rags.’
That was something Agnes was not prepared to stand and take. Not about her mate, Kitty, who, as a person, made ten of this arrogant young upstart. ‘Shall I stay out of sight as well, Miss Victoria? Yer see, Mr Robert bought us all new uniforms last week, so if Kitty looks like a bag of old rags, it follows that I must look the same. Oh, my uniform isn’t black, but it would be stupid to put white on Kitty when she’s on her hands and knees scrubbing floors and cleaning up the waste left lying around by the family.’
‘I really don’t have time to stand chatting when Mr Charles will be here in an hour and I still have to dress and eat breakfast. Just make sure that both my orders are carried out to my satisfaction, Agnes.’ When she reached the door, she called over her shoulder, ‘Mr Charles will expect refreshment – make sure it is to his liking.’
The housekeeper didn’t know how she kept her mouth closed, except that it was with great difficulty. That was one young lady who deserved to be taken down a peg or two, and given a ruddy good hiding into the bargain. Agnes wasn’t that keen on Mr Charles, he had a wandering eye and was too sweet to be wholesome, but she felt sorry for him if he intended to tie himself to Miss Victoria for life. No one deserved that sort of fate.
The housekeeper carried the tray through to the dining room and spread the covered dishes out on the sideboard. There was no sign of Miss Edwina or Victoria, so she went in search of Jessie. And when told she was to wear the frilly lace cap and apron, the young girl’s pretty face lit up. ‘Can I get changed now, Aggie?’
‘No, there’s plenty of time. You finish Miss Abbie’s room, then come down. Now where will I find Kitty?’
‘Someone taking my name in vain, are they?’ Kitty came out of Nigel’s room and began to act the goat by using a feather duster as a sword. Thrusting, ducking and diving, she advanced towards the housekeeper and brandished the feather duster under her nose. ‘Yer money or yer life.’