by Joan Jonker
‘Ye’re tickling me nose, sunshine.’
‘Better than tickling yer fancy, queen! Now hand yer money over, or else.’
‘It’ll have to be or else, ’cos I haven’t got no money. And you’ll have no job if Tilly Mint or Tilly Flop come out and find yer acting daft. I only wanted to see yer to say we’ll have our break from a quarter past ten this morning. That’s an extra fifteen minutes.’
‘How come, queen? Has someone died and we’re having a little service for them, out of respect, I mean? If I’d known I’d have picked a few flowers out of the garden when Pete had his back turned.’
‘I thought I had a good imagination, sunshine, but you beat me hollow. No, Mr Charles is calling at ten, Jessie is to open the door to him in her new outfit, and then the ladies will be entertaining for at least an hour. Which means we can take it easy. That’s not to say the jobs don’t get done properly, ’cos I’ll be checking. It just means working a bit faster so we have a longer break.’
A door opposite to where they were standing opened, and out came Victoria. ‘Is this all you have to do with your time, gossip?’
‘I was just passing on your orders, Miss Victoria,’ Agnes told her with the innocence of a baby. ‘But we all know what’s expected of us now, so I’ll get back to me kitchen and the dirty dishes. Jessie, I’ll see you when yer’ve finished in Miss Abbie’s room.’ Chuckling silently, the housekeeper walked down the stairs behind Victoria. With a bit of luck Mr Charles might propose today, and wouldn’t that be the best news ever? Not for Mr Charles, like, but that was his worry.
‘Do I look all right, Aggie?’ Jessie’s emotions were very mixed. She was happy and proud, but also terrified. ‘I hope I don’t say nothing wrong.’
‘All yer have to do, sunshine, is open the door, smile, give a little bob, and say “Good morning, Mr Charles.” If he has a hat, you take it from him and lay it on the table in the middle of the hall. Then you walk in front of him to the drawing room, open the door and announce him. When he’s in the room, you close the door quietly and come along here to tell me how yer got on. And when they ring for refreshments, you can help me serve those. Yer might as well get the wear out of the uniform while yer can, sunshine.’
‘I’ve never met this Mr Charles, is he kind?’
‘Yes, he’s very friendly, so you’ve no problems. Now turn around so I can get a good look at yer.’ The flawless beauty of this fresh-faced young girl never failed to strike Agnes. And the innocence in her eyes added to the beauty. ‘Yer look grand, sunshine, I bet yer mam would be proud of yer.’
‘Ooh, there’s the bell, Aggie, are yer sure I look all right?’
‘Yer look lovely, just don’t forget to smile.’ Agnes patted her bottom. ‘You’ll be fine.’
Kitty was on her hands and knees on the landing polishing the spindles of the staircase, when the bell rang. With a smile on her face, she sat back on her heels and waited for Jessie’s big moment. She watched the girl walk towards the front door, and she looked so pretty, the cleaner couldn’t have felt more proud if she’d been her own daughter.
‘Good morning, Mr Charles.’ Jessie kept the smile on her face and did a little bob, even though her whole body was shaking with nerves. ‘Can I take your hat?’
Charles Chisholm was speechless for a few seconds. He’d never seen anyone so lovely in his life. ‘Well, well, who do we have here?’ He held on to his hat and stood in front of Jessie to bar her way.
‘My name’s Jessie, sir, and I’m a junior maid.’ The girl’s face reddened and she stared down at her shoes. ‘Can I take your hat, now, please?’
Charles put a finger under her chin and raised her face. ‘You are a very pretty girl, why haven’t I seen you before? I’ll have to come more often if you are to open the door to me.’
Kitty, hidden away on the landing, looked on with mounting horror. Jessie’s head was being propped up by Charles’s finger, and she was forced to look him in the face. Kitty could almost smell the young girl’s fear and embarrassment. If he doesn’t stop, the cleaner thought, I’m going to tell Aggie and I don’t care whether Miss Victoria likes it or not.
‘How old are you, Jessie?’ Charles asked, his face getting closer. ‘You’re quite the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen in a long time.’
That does it, thought Kitty, the poor girl looks terrified. Someone’s got to put a stop to it before he goes too far. These rich people think they can do what they like with servants. He won’t see me if I slip down the stairs, he’s got his back to me and is too interested in Jessie to hear me. With her hands holding up her skirt, the cleaner tip-toed down the stairs and headed for the kitchen.
‘Mother is looking for a new junior, Jessie.’ Charles had a liking for young girls, and this beauty was like a rose-bud waiting to burst into full bloom. Young and innocent, the perfect combination. ‘Would you like to come and work in my home? I’d make sure you were well looked after.’ His face was within inches of hers when he felt himself being pulled around and away from the now crying girl.
‘No, she wouldn’t, Mr Charles, she’s quite happy where she is.’ Agnes nodded to Jessie. ‘Go into the kitchen, sunshine and I’ll make yer a cup of tea when I’ve shown Mr Charles into the drawing room.’
Charles had the grace to blush. ‘I can see myself in, Agnes, you don’t have to bother.’
The housekeeper flashed him a dark look but didn’t answer. She strode to the drawing room and threw open the door. ‘Mr Charles to see you, Miss Victoria.’
With a sickly sweet smile, Victoria crossed the floor and held out both hands. ‘Charles, darling, how lovely to see you.’ She leaned forward for a peck on the cheek, then looked past him to the housekeeper. ‘Agnes, I thought I left instructions for Jessie to open the door. Why did you take it upon yourself to disobey?’
‘Oh, I didn’t disobey, Miss Victoria,’ Agnes said breezily. ‘But I’ll leave it to Mr Charles to explain what happened while I see to yer refreshments.’
Chapter Seventeen
Robert stepped from the building in Dale Street and walked towards his parked car. He’d been to see his solicitor, George Mellor, and had gone through the most harrowing and embarrassing two hours of his life which had left him completely drained. George had been his solicitor for over ten years now, and they were on friendly terms. But that didn’t make answering personal questions any easier. Such as having to admit it was seventeen years since he and Edwina had lived together as man and wife. That had him squirming in his chair. But as the solicitor had said, many questions had to be asked, and the truth had to be told if he was petitioning for a divorce.
Robert lowered himself into the driving seat, but didn’t start the engine. He needed a few quiet minutes to sort things out in his mind before facing Edwina, and where better than the solitude of his car where there would be no interruptions? He wasn’t looking forward to the task ahead, and thought a stiff whisky wouldn’t go amiss. But while that would give him Dutch courage, it wouldn’t leave him with a clear head.
The familiar clip-clop of a horse’s hooves had Robert turning to gaze out of the window. And the sight of a horse pulling a heavily laden cart took him back over the years. He’d come a long way since the days of his horse and cart, but he’d been a damn sight happier then than he was now. Sitting on the front seat of the cart, with Jeff next to him, and furniture piled high at the back, they might not have appreciated it then, but life was good. Not much money, but a firm friendship that had never wavered, and lots of laughter. It would all have been so different if he’d had a loving wife standing beside him through the years, proud of his achievements and proud of their children. He envied Jeff, who had a wonderful, happy marriage. A loving wife to go home to every night, and children who adored him.
Robert sighed and switched the engine on. It was too late to go back to the office, the staff would be on their lunch hour, so he’d go straight home and ask Agnes to make him a bite to eat before facing the inevitable show-down wi
th his wife. There’d be ranting and raving, he knew that, but nothing would make him change his mind. He’d made his decision and would stand firm on it. And there was something to keep him going through the storm. The safe, warm haven of Maureen’s arms.
‘Hello, Mr Robert.’ There was surprise in the housekeeper’s voice when Robert walked into her kitchen. ‘I wasn’t expecting you.’
‘I couldn’t tell you because I didn’t know myself what was happening. I completed my business earlier than I thought, and as I wanted to have a word with my wife, I decided to throw myself on your mercy for some lunch.’
‘Miss Edwina and Miss Victoria are in the dining room now, if yer want to eat with them. There’s enough food for yer.’
‘No, a sandwich out here would be fine, if I won’t be in your way. I’ll be having a hot meal later this evening.’
‘What’ll it be then? Cheese, beef or ham?’
‘How about one of each? They say variety is the spice of life, and I could certainly do with some spice in my life.’
Agnes bustled to the larder and came out with a plate in each hand. One was bearing a piece of beef, the other ham. ‘Mr Charles was here earlier, to see Miss Victoria.’
‘That should have pleased her. It was probably about the confounded dinner party she insists upon having. I think she’s set her sights on Charles and I don’t know who to feel most sorry for, him or her.’
After the little episode with Charles Chisholm this morning, which left young Jessie crying her eyes out and refusing to leave the kitchen until he’d gone, Agnes thought him and Miss Victoria deserved each other. But there was no point in repeating it to Mr Robert, he had enough to contend with. Unless his daughter tried to make trouble for poor Jessie, that was. If she was daft enough to do that, then the whole sorry tale would come out, putting her boyfriend in a very bad light. ‘I’d say it was much of a muchness, Mr Robert. Six of one and half-a-dozen of the other. Then again, there’s not many of us what don’t have faults.’ Under her breath she muttered, ‘It’s just that some are bleedin’ worse than others.’
‘Have Kitty and Pete had their lunch break?’
‘Yeah, ages ago. It’s nearly time for their afternoon cuppa, when we’ll all be entertained by Kitty. She’s a bloody hero, Mr Robert, honest.’ As she talked, the housekeeper was cutting and buttering bread. ‘As yer well know, her and Alf have got sweet Fanny Adams, but yer never hear a complaint out of her. She’s always got a smile on her face, and can turn anything into a joke. She can’t half sing, too, she’s got a smashing voice. Pete reckons she’s good enough to be on the stage.’
‘We’ll have to have a party one night, then, and she can be the star. A real knees-up jars-out, Agnes – remember those days?’
‘I certainly do!’ The housekeeper put a plate of sandwiches in front of him. ‘Yer could have the time of yer life on just one bottle of milk stout. Mind you, my mother used to say yer don’t need drink to enjoy yerself.’
‘When I get my life sorted out, we’ll have an old-fashioned party. Kitty can bring Alf, Pete his wife, and Tilly your mate from next door can come. Nigel and Abbie can invite their friends, and I have a friend of my own who would be delighted to come.’ Robert looked up at the housekeeper and pulled a face. ‘Wishful thinking at the moment, Agnes, but it will happen some time in the future. Can you put up with me until then?’
She nodded. ‘Of course I can. What a daft bleedin’ question to ask! Now get that tea down yer before it goes stiff. What time is Miss Edwina expecting yer?’
‘She’s not expecting me, Agnes, nor is she expecting the news I bring. But I’ve made up my mind that my life has to change, I need more out of it than I’m getting. So I have decided on a course of action which will suit me, but will make my wife very angry. What it is, you will find out in the next day or two.’
‘Yer don’t have to tell me yer business, Mr Robert, I don’t expect that. As long as I know ye’re happy, that’s good enough for me.’
‘I consider you a very dear friend, Agnes, and you have a right to know what is happening in the house and to the members of the family. You haven’t always been well treated or appreciated by certain members, I’m sad to say, but I have always held you in high regard. And I don’t need to tell you that Nigel and Abbie love you dearly.’
‘They’re the children I never had, Mr Robert, but that’s all I’m saying, ’cos otherwise I’ll be crying buckets again.’
Robert wiped his mouth on the napkin Agnes had placed by the side of his plate. ‘When I’ve spoken with my wife, I’ll go upstairs to wash and change. Then I’m off to see a very dear friend.’ He pushed back his chair. ‘I presume my wife and daughter will be in the drawing room now?’
Agnes nodded. ‘Ring if yer want me.’
Robert stood outside the drawing room, straightened his tie and took a deep breath. The sooner this was over, the better. He could hear the voice of his daughter and, by the tone, she sounded excited. Probably because of the visit by Charles Chisholm. He knocked and opened the door. ‘Good afternoon, ladies. I wonder if you would be kind enough to leave me alone with your mother, Victoria. I wish to speak with her.’
‘Why can’t you say what you’ve got to say in front of me?’ Victoria’s eyes were hard under her raised brows, and she spoke to her father as though he was someone beneath her. ‘Surely I can hear what you have to say?’
‘Don’t you dare take that attitude towards me! How dare you!’ Robert’s anger was overriding his nerves. ‘I asked you to leave the room, now I am telling you! I wish to speak to your mother in private, so please leave us alone – now!’
‘I prefer her to stay,’ Edwina said icily. ‘I have no wish to be alone in the room with you.’
Robert gazed from one woman to the other. They are both quite mad, he thought. Like mother, like daughter. ‘If this is your wish, I will make what I have to say as brief as possible.’ He stood in front of the fireplace, his feet apart, his thumb hooked in the pocket of his waistcoat. ‘I am tired of living a lie, married to a woman who is my wife in name only. So I have been to see my solicitor this morning and asked him to start divorce proceedings.’
There was complete silence until his words sank in, then the two women looked at each other with smirks on their faces. ‘If your intention was to frighten me, then you’ve failed miserably,’ Edwina said. ‘You can’t divorce me, you have no grounds.’
‘You must think we’re complete idiots, Father, if you expect us to fall for that.’ Victoria was on her feet, a stiffened finger pointing at Robert. ‘So you just walked into the solicitor’s office and said you wanted a divorce. What a load of poppycock! You need grounds for a divorce, and I’m quite sure Mother hasn’t committed adultery.’
Robert in turn pointed a finger at his daughter. ‘You will sit down, right now, d’you hear me? And you will take no part in this discussion at all. Open your mouth once more, and I will forcibly eject you from this room.’ Breathing heavily with temper, he faced his wife. ‘You do need grounds for divorce, yes, and I have them in abundance. Not adultery, just the opposite, in fact. A divorce can be obtained where a wife refuses her husband his conjugal rights. And since it is seventeen years since you allowed me those rights, then according to my solicitor I have ample grounds for divorcing you.’
That is when all hell broke loose. ‘You mean you discussed our private affairs with a complete stranger?’ Edwina was pummelling his chest with clenched fists and screaming, ‘How dare you! How dare you! You swine, you!’
Victoria was white with anger. She wasn’t worried about her mother now, but what a stigma divorce would be on the family. How could she look her friends in the face when they found out? So her screams were mingling with Edwina’s. ‘What sort of a father would do that to his family? Think of the disgrace! I hate you, I hate you!’
Kitty, who could hear the screams, ran to the kitchen. ‘Aggie, there’s murder going on in the drawing room, the screams are something shocking. Someone
must be getting a hiding, the racket they’re making.’
Agnes threw the dishcloth into the sink and dried her hands. ‘I don’t know what it’s about, sunshine, but I think Mr Robert was expecting a fight. He told me last night if I heard screaming and shouting, not to take any notice.’
The cleaner shook her head. ‘It sounds bad to me, queen, like the two women are tearing him to pieces. Yer know what bad buggers they are, they’d think nothing of scratching his eyes out if he upset them.’
A picture of Mr Robert flashed through the housekeeper’s mind and there was blood running down his handsome face. That was enough to send her running. ‘You wait here, Kitty, don’t follow or we’ll only make it worse.’
When Agnes burst into the drawing room, it was to see Robert making no attempt to protect himself from the blows that were being rained on him. You can carry being a gentleman too far, she thought. He could fell them in one swoop if he had a mind to. No one had heard her come in because of the racket, so she called at the top of her voice, ‘What the hell is going on here? Call yerselves ladies, do yer? That’s a laugh, I’ve seen down-and-outs behaving better than you. Now stop it this minute, yer should be ashamed of yerselves.’
Victoria turned on her. ‘Get back to the kitchen where you belong, and keep your nose out of our affairs.’
‘Listen to me, young lady. I stopped taking orders from you yesterday, so don’t waste yer breath. Mr Robert is too much of a gentleman to lay a finger on a woman, but I’d be in me element giving you a good hiding. It’s something I’ve been itching to do for ten years now, ’cos ye’re completely out of control.’ Agnes glared from mother to daughter, almost daring them to start something. But neither said a word. ‘Mr Robert, there’s a cup of tea poured out for yer in the kitchen.’
‘I’ll be along in a minute, Agnes, thank you. I just want a few more words with my wife and daughter.’ He waited until the housekeeper had left, then pointed to the two empty chairs. ‘Sit down, please, and listen. Nothing on God’s earth will make me change my mind about divorce. I intend going through with it, come what may. I believe I am entitled to a better life than I’ve had since Abbie was born. I love Nigel and Abbie very much, but unfortunately I can’t say the same about you two. Neither of you have ever done anything to deserve my love or respect. A few days ago, I offered to buy you a small house where the two of you could live in comfort. The offer is still open. I could make you take it, if I so choose, because in this country a man is head of the family and, rightly or wrongly, the law is on his side if he wishes to turf people out on to the streets. You may wish to think this over, and I will give you the time to do so. But in the meanwhile, you do not order the staff around in the way you have been doing. You ask them to do a chore for you, you do not order them. And in case you don’t know the difference, what I have just said to you is an order.’ The faces of his wife and daughter spoke volumes, but their lips stayed silent. ‘I am now going to have my cup of tea, then get washed and changed for an appointment I have this evening.’ With that he left a room where you could have heard a pin drop. But the silence didn’t last for long.