He looked at her in some surprise. ‘That’s funny. I was going to suggest that myself.’
She put forward the same argument against it that she had given Phoebe, but he put his arm round her and said, ‘Once you were free of him, my darling, I could ask you to marry me, but it’s up to you.’
‘I’d do anything to be your wife, Hugh, but . . .’
‘Anything but that?’
‘You don’t know what Bertram’s like. He’d lie his head off and have everybody believing him. I went to see a solicitor before, and he wouldn’t even take it on.’
‘You could try again. You never know, Bertram might be wanting to marry somebody else himself by this time.’
‘He’d divorce me if he was.’
‘So your mind’s made up?’
‘I’m sorry, Hugh, dear.’ The thought of standing in a court listening to Bertram’s version of Tommy’s visit and seeing Elma sneering at her again, would be too much to bear. Besides, she would have no right to Ricky if she was no longer his father’s wife.
Only five days after her reunion with her stepmother, Cissie had another surprise. Among the mail, there was one typed envelope addressed to her personally, and when she looked at the back, she said, ‘It’s from James Latimer, Mrs Barbour’s solicitor, the one I went to about a divorce. Is this it?’
Hugh didn’t have to ask what she meant. ‘Open it and see,’ he urged.
In a moment, she said, ‘I’ve to go and see him as soon as I can. She must have left me a little something. That was really nice of her, for I never expected anything.’
‘He doesn’t say if her sister is selling the shop?’
‘He’ll likely tell me when I go, and he said as soon as I could, so I’d better go now.’
Less than an hour later, Cissie came back in a daze. ‘Her sister had died, and she left everything to me. Oh, Hugh, my head’s spinning. I can’t believe the shop’s really mine now, and the house.’
He grabbed her hand across the counter. ‘I’m pleased for you, Cissie. She must have been very fond of you.’
‘And I was fond of her, but I never dreamt . . . Mr Latimer said we’ve to carry on like we’ve been doing, but all the profits’ll come to us now.’
‘To you,’ he corrected, smiling.
‘It’s the same thing.’
‘No, it’s not, but I’m really happy for you, Cissie.’
‘Don’t let this spoil things between us. We’re in this together, and it’s as much yours as mine. Nothing’s going to be any different.’
‘As long as you don’t think I’m after you for your money.’
‘There won’t be much money. We’ll still take out the same in wages, only now we’ll have a wee something in the bank.’
Phoebe and Richard were told the good news as soon as they came on Wednesday, the congratulations going on until Phoebe gave a loud exclamation. ‘Oh! I nearly forgot, with all the excitement!’ She rummaged in her handbag then handed Cissie an envelope. ‘It’s photographs I took of Ricky.’
Cissie wept as she studied the sturdy, fair-haired boy, his head to one side and his mischievous grin showing a tooth missing. ‘Can I keep them?’ she gulped at last.
‘I took them for you,’ Phoebe assured her. ‘Isn’t he a pet? He can be a wee monkey sometimes, too – I don’t mean bad, though, just full of devilment. Now, I’m going to tell you something, so listen properly. The day after we were here, I went to Panache to try out a wee plan I had. I told Elma I wanted to take some snaps of Ricky, and after I was finished, I asked him to go and play in the garden. I could see she wasn’t pleased, but what could she say?’
Richard smiled. ‘Phoebe can get round anyone.’
She flashed him a warning glance and carried on, ‘I looked her straight in the eye and asked her to describe the man she said you’d slept with. Well, that took the feet from her and she admitted it was all a lie. She didn’t know I’d never met Tommy – if you remember, he left the night I went to Schoolhill – and she likely thought I’d recognise him from her description. But to get back to what I was telling you, she said she only did it because she’d been hoping to get Bertram to herself after he put you out, but he’d never had any time for her. Once her tongue was slackened, she told me he’d often stayed out all night, or took women home to sleep with him, and he’d treated her like dirt.’
‘Serves her right,’ Cissie muttered.
‘She said she only stays on there for Ricky’s sake, and I think she was glad to get everything off her chest at last. She’s willing to testify now that she lied before, and that two beds were used, not one.’
‘What difference will that make after all this time?’
‘You’re not listening,’ Phoebe scolded. ‘I said she was willing to testify to everything, in a court, and to tell about Bertram’s women.’
‘They wouldn’t believe her, not when she’s just a servant and he’s what he is.’
‘Oh, Cissie!’ her stepmother exclaimed, in exasperation. ‘Do you not understand what I’m getting at? You can call her and Richard as witnesses for you, and you’d get custody . . .’
‘Oh!’ Cissie’s eyes widened. ‘Do you really think so?’
‘I’m nearly sure.’
‘But Bertram said Ricky was his insurance . . .’ She broke off, looking apologetically at Richard. ‘I’m sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I told him about the will you were going to make after Ricky was born and about your cancer. You didn’t say not to, and it was out before I thought.’
‘Ah!’ Richard frowned reflectively. ‘That explains a lot. Don’t worry, Cissie. Knowing Bertram, he would probably have found out by some other means, fair or foul. He’ll be planning to get his hands on Ricky’s share.’ He thought for a few seconds, then seemed to draw himself even more erect. ‘If I guarantee that you will be given custody of the boy, will you go ahead?’
Taking no time to speculate on how Richard could promise such a thing, Cissie said, ‘Yes, I will!’
Beaming, Phoebe burst out, ‘Good for you! See a solicitor tomorrow and file for divorce on the grounds of Bertram’s cruelty and adultery.’
‘I’ll go to Mr Latimer again,’ Cissie smiled. ‘He’ll not refuse me this time.’
Hugh, who had said nothing so far, stepped forward to hug her. ‘Oh, my darling, you don’t know how pleased I am about this. We’ll be married as soon as the divorce comes through and we’ll be a ready-made family of three.’
Bertram had an unexpected visitor just before nine o’clock the following morning. Having had a late night, he was not in the best of tempers, and turned angrily when someone burst into the dining room while he was having breakfast. ‘Oh, it’s you, Father,’ he said, trying to sound pleased.
Anxious to get this over as quickly as possible, Richard wasted no time. ‘I have never made any bones about how I feel about you, Bertram. I have never trusted you, but I could hardly believe my ears when Phoebe told me what you had done to Cissie. I didn’t think that even you could sink so low. And to tell me those lies about her . . .’
‘I told the truth! Cissie did go away and leave Ricky.’
‘Not willingly! And there was no other man involved.’
‘She pretended he was her brother,’ Bertram blustered, ‘but Elma said . . .’
‘Ah, yes! Elma! You made a mistake there. You turned her head with your attentions, you led her to believe that you loved her, and then, after she had served her purpose and had given you an excuse to get rid of Cissie, you turned your back on her.’
‘I didn’t turn my back on her. I made her Ricky’s nanny.’
‘She thought you would take her as your mistress, and you were fortunate that she loved your son so much, otherwise she would have exposed you then for the scoundrel you are. But she has now admitted everything to Phoebe, and Cissie is filing for divorce.’
After his initial gasp of shock, Bertram’s wily brain got busy again. He’d be glad to wash his hands of his wife. He co
uld sack Elma – the bitch deserved it for blabbing – and marry again to provide his son with another mother – a woman who wouldn’t bat an eyelid if he siphoned off most of what his father would leave to Ricky. ‘I’m sorry, Father,’ he said, repentantly, ‘I’ve made a hash of things, haven’t I? But I promise you I’ll . . .’
‘Don’t make any promises you have no intention of keeping. Cissie is to claim custody of her son, and I have arranged that Ricky’s inheritance will be put into trust until he is twenty-one. Moreover, in case you think you can cheat the boy out of what is rightly his at some future time, I want you to – no, I insist that you leave Scotland as soon as you can.’
‘Oh, Father! That’s a bit much, isn’t it? I still have two businesses to run.’
‘From what I hear, your mill is on its last legs, and you can find a manager for the warehouse. I shall arrange that a set amount is paid into your bank every month.’
‘So you’ve got it all worked out?’ Bertram sneered. ‘Where am I supposed to go?’
‘To one of the dominions? I’ll pay your fare of course.’
With dozens of creditors breathing down his neck, and a fifteen-year-old threatening to oppose him as father of her unborn child, Bertram grabbed his chance of escape. Heaving a resigned sigh, he muttered, ‘I used to have a notion to go to Canada at one time. I suppose I could go there since you’re determined to see the back of me.’
‘I should have sent you abroad long before you married Cissie,’ his father said, grimly. ‘Now, I shall book your passage for – say in three months? That should give you time to find the right man for the warehouse, and to dispose of your mill and your house. And let me tell you now, once you have sailed, I trust that I will never see you again.’
With another sneering smile, Bertram said, ‘You’ve never liked me, have you?’
‘Not since you were old enough to manipulate your mother. One thing more, just in case you were thinking of coming home after I die, I’ll add a clause to my will stipulating that on no account are you ever to be allowed to touch one penny of Ricky’s inheritance.’
Turning smartly on his heel, Richard strode out, leaving Bertram utterly aghast. All his life, he had dreamt of being so rich he could act the playboy, get into high society and impress the elegant ladies he would meet abroad, and now he was being banished like a common criminal. His father had put the final nail in the coffin of his expectations.
Suddenly, with a shrug, he poured himself another cup of coffee. What the hell? He’d had a good innings, and his sins had caught up with him, but he would soon be setting off to a land where the poor became wealthy, where the unknown became famous. And he wouldn’t be starting off penniless. He’d have more than enough to keep up a decent lifestyle. And if this divorce case was heard before he left, he’d go down smiling.
‘Mr Latimer says there shouldn’t be any problem about the divorce,’ Cissie told Hugh, when she went home. ‘He’s going to write to Elma, to make sure she’s willing to testify, but I’m scared Bertram’ll fight it. You don’t know how persuasive he can be. He could even talk her round to not testifying at all, so I’m not building up my hopes.’
‘Don’t be so pessimistic,’ Hugh smiled. ‘He must know when he’s beaten.’
‘He wouldn’t give up, no matter what. He needs Ricky so he can get Richard’s money. I wish Richard had left all his estate to Phoebe. People might think I only want custody of Ricky because he’ll have money of his own some day.’
‘Come here, my pet,’ Hugh smiled, taking her in his arms. ‘Anybody who knows you would never think that.’
Two days later, Cissie’s mind was taken off the ifs and buts of the divorce case by the statement she received from the bank showing the balance in the account now in her name. ‘I didn’t think it would be nearly as much as this,’ she said, her face lighting up.
‘How does it feel to be a rich woman?’ Hugh teased.
‘I haven’t taken it in yet, but it’s a good feeling, and it’s not just mine, it’s ours. Maybe we could have the shop painted. What do you think?’
‘If the place is more attractive, it should attract more customers, but it’s your decision.’
‘No, I want us to make the decisions together.’
‘Right, I’ll go and see a painter after dinnertime.’
Hugh’s plans were changed, however, because Tommy turned up in the late forenoon, and when he heard of Cissie’s good fortune and learned what they were planning, he said, ‘I’ve a few days to spare. Between us, we could do it for less than a quarter of what a painter would charge, eh, Hugh?’
‘I suppose we could try.’ Hugh did not appear to be so confident of their ability.
‘I’ll get ladders from the ship, and I could maybe get some of the crew to lend a hand. The more the merrier.’
Cissie like Hugh, was not too keen on letting amateurs loose on the shop, but her brother swept all her objections aside. ‘There’s no need to spend more money than you need to. My God, Cissie, you’re the jammy one. Your own shop! I’d never have thought you’d end up like this when I saw you that night down at the . . .’ He stopped, scarlet-faced.
‘It’s all right, Tommy,’ Cissie smiled, ‘I’ve told Hugh about the night I nearly turned prostitute, and about the only man I picked up. I was jammy that night as well.’
The next few days were a nightmare to Cissie; men and ladders all over the place, customers ducking under them and having to lift tarpaulins to see what was on her counter. The smell of paint mingled with the smell of her candies and toffee, and most of her free minutes were spent making tea and washing cups, but at last it was done.
‘I think we made a damned good job of it,’ Tommy declared, surveying the pale yellow walls and the glistening white woodwork. ‘What about the place in the back next?’
‘No thanks,’ Cissie laughed. ‘I couldn’t stand the smell of paint any longer. Maybe I’ll get a new counter put in, with glass over the top to keep things from getting dusty.’
After the shop closed that night, Tommy told Cissie and Hugh that he was going to Archangel on his next trip. ‘I was there once before, and God knows how the Ruskies stand the cold up there, for I felt like my best bits were frozen so solid they’d snap off any minute. What a disaster that would have been!’
Cissie looked embarrassed at this, but Hugh roared with laughter. ‘Oh, Tommy, you’re a tonic!’
‘We were icebound for three months, and we were muffled up to the eyeballs in furs like Eskimos.’
Even Cissie laughed now, and he turned to her with his eyebrows raised. ‘Is there any chance of a bed tonight?’
‘No, Tommy,’ she replied, blushing hotly because she knew he was really asking if she and Hugh were sleeping together.
Her brother shrugged. ‘Remember what I told you. Hugh’s not made of stone any more than me, are you, my friend?’
Hugh coloured now, and Cissie stepped in before he could agree or deny. ‘Have you found yourself a girl yet?’
‘I think so. Marion’s the second mate’s sister, so she knows how long us Merchant Navy boys have to be away. I met her when I spent a week at their house in Lowestoft, and I think she fancies me, too, but I’ll have to wait and see what happens.’
‘She won’t be able to resist you,’ Cissie joked.
‘I hope not.’
He sounded so serious that she wished she hadn’t teased him, but he was smiling again in the next instant. ‘Well, there’s nothing for it but go back to the old ship.’
When Hugh had seen Tommy out, he said, ‘Why didn’t you tell him you were divorcing Bertram?’
‘You’ll likely think I’m silly, but I thought I should wait till it was all cut and dried – if it ever is.’
After kissing her goodnight, he made to go to his own room, but turned at the door. ‘If you don’t get the divorce, Cissie, remember what Tommy said. I’m not made of stone.’
She knew that. She had felt his need against her on many occasions
, but she still couldn’t let him sleep with her. Of course, once they were married she would have to. At this thought, her insides gathered into a tight knot. Maybe she should withdraw her petition for divorce? But it was the only chance she had of getting Ricky back . . . and she really did love Hugh.
Chapter Thirty
Waiting for her divorce case to be heard, Cissie became so nervous that she wondered if she would be able to go through with it after all, and only the thought of Ricky stopped her from calling the whole thing off.
Hugh, however, had seen how tense she was and, one night before they separated to go to bed, he said, ‘I’m going to strip the walls of the bedroom tomorrow night and we can decorate it ready for when Ricky comes.’
‘We shouldn’t count our chickens before they’re hatched,’ she murmured. ‘I maybe won’t get custody of him.’
‘Richard’s sure you will, and we won’t have time to do it after you’ve been to court.’
Still not altogether convinced, she took time off the next day to choose wallpaper and curtain materials, and when the walls were stripped, Hugh began on the plastering, sanding and papering while Cissie was sewing.
When the room was finished, Cissie said, ‘The carpet looks dingy against the fresh paint. I’d better get a new one.’
Hugh grinned. ‘Anybody would think we were preparing for the Prince of Wales.’
‘Do you think I’m making too much of a fuss?’
‘Not a bit of it, my dearest, and I’m looking forward to having the boy here as much as you.’
The carpet bought, she decided to buy a new bedroom suite, too – nothing was too good for her son – and when the room was ready, she tried to see it through a child’s eyes. ‘Yes, Hugh, I think he’ll like it,’ she said, after a few moments. ‘The blue in the carpet and the curtains makes it cheerier, though I thought it might look cold, and the flowers on the quilt match exactly. The wardrobe should be big enough to take all his clothes, even if he’s got a suitcaseful. I think it’s perfect.’
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