‘There’s a party?’ Jane tried and failed to focus on Ronnie.
‘Family party, tonight. Don’t tell me you’d forgotten?’
‘Just one more drink …’
‘We’ll be late, and then Bethan will be mad with us. Tell you what, I’ll bring some bottles. Alex has gone to get a taxi, Jenny’s coming.’ He took her arm and helped her to her feet. ‘This your coat and handbag?’
She nodded, fighting back the tide of nausea that threatened to engulf her as the room swayed.
‘Then let’s go.’
Alexander had asked the taxi driver to drive the gas-powered vehicle across the Tumble and park it in front of the Hart. It was just as well. Jane’s legs were going out from under her before Jenny and Ronnie even got her to the door. Jenny breathed a sigh of relief when she saw the enormous gas balloon, looking for all the world like an enormous carbuncle on the roof of the waiting car. Even with Ronnie’s help she felt she couldn’t have hauled Jane another yard.
Alexander climbed in first, dragging Jane behind him. After a moment’s hesitation Jenny sat beside her.
‘You coming, Ronnie?’
‘With all that crumpet sitting neglected and lonely in there? No chance,’ he winked. ‘See you later, Jane. Hope you’re soon feeling better.’
Concerned in case Jane passed out, Jenny and Alexander watched her anxiously. They had no time to look out of the window, and that’s how they missed Haydn walking down the hill.
Indignant and furious at what he’d already decided was his wife’s blatant neglect of their child, and him, Haydn walked through the bars of the White Hart, until he finally ended up in the back room. He stared at the crowd of women sitting around the centre table in amazement, then he heard someone call his name.
‘Don’t you recognise me?’
‘Ronnie, you look a damned sight better than when I last saw you.’ Haydn turned away and continued to scan the room. ‘I was hoping to find Jane here.’
‘She left a couple of minutes ago.’
‘But I walked down the hill. I couldn’t have missed her.’
‘She took a taxi with Jenny and Alex. Look, as you’re here have a drink with me.’
‘Who’s Alex?’
‘Your father’s lodger. Between me and you, I think he’s sweet on Jenny,’ he added, seeing a jealous light in Haydn’s eye.
‘Eddie’s only just been killed.’
‘A year and a half ago,’ Ronnie reminded him as tactfully as he knew how. ‘What are you having?’
‘Some other time. I’ve only got a seventy-two-hour pass and I was hoping to spend some of it with my wife.’
‘It is … it’s Haydn … Haydn Powell!’
Haydn screwed his face into a pained expression before turning to face the women. Ronnie had never seen such a change in a man within the space of a few seconds. Haydn beamed, as though he’d only come home to see his fans.
A crowd of girls pushed their way through the bar towards him, as they groped in their handbags for pencils and paper.
‘Visiting your wife?’ Judy asked snidely as he backed towards their table, signing autographs.
‘That’s right.’
‘We weren’t sure you’d want to.’ She folded over the newspaper she’d shown Jane.
Haydn recognised the Daily Mirror. He’d already seen the latest photograph of himself and the Simmonds girls splashed over the front page. It had been lying on an empty chair, and that was when he began to wonder.
‘Oh boy, have you had a skinful,’ Bethan said as Alexander and Jenny carried Jane through the door. ‘Here Alex, I’ll take over and get her upstairs.’
‘I’ll help,’ Phyllis offered.
‘Can I do anything?’ Jenny hovered in the passage hoping Phyllis would say no, so she could leave. She hadn’t been alone with Alexander since he’d fallen from her window, and she had no intention of talking to him now if she could help it.
‘You can start by telling us how much she’s had,’ Bethan called down the stairs.
‘About six sherries. Unfortunately she drank them in about half an hour.’
‘Could be worse.’
‘Put the kettle on and make some coffee, will you please, Jenny?’ Phyllis asked as she ran up after Bethan.
‘She’ll soon sleep off six sherries,’ Bethan declared as Phyllis slipped off Jane’s shoes. ‘It’s probably worse because she drank them quickly on an empty stomach.’
‘It’s worse than you think. Haydn arrived a couple of hours ago,’ said Phyllis.
‘Where is he?’
‘He went down the Hart to find her. He was none too pleased when he discovered Jane was working, and even less pleased when I told him she was probably in the Hart. I dread to think how he’ll react when he sees her in this state.’
‘Oh well, there’s nothing like hitting a man right between the eyes.’
‘That’s what I’m afraid of.’
‘Don’t worry. If you can put up with me a bit longer, I’ll talk him out of his mood. Here, give me a hand to undress her and get her into bed.’
Ignoring Alexander, Jenny lifted the kettle from the stove and went into the washhouse.
‘You’re looking well,’ he ventured when she returned.
‘I am, thank you,’ she replied stiffly.
‘I’ve been wanting to talk to you.’
‘Not enough to climb up to my bedroom window again, I hope?’
‘I’m sorry about that.’
‘Not as sorry as I am. Have you any idea how much it cost to repair that down-pipe?’
‘Send me the bill and I’ll pay it.’
‘If you’re feeling generous I’d like the gossips silenced as well.’
‘One good thing came out of it. I talked to Evan. He doesn’t mind us going out together.’
‘And because my father-in-law has no objections, you’ve already decided we can carry on where we left off?’
‘Jenny, I’m sorry I embarrassed you. Please, couldn’t we at least talk?’
She hesitated.
‘Perhaps we could go to the cinema one night this week, or the theatre, or the New Inn? Anywhere you want. I promise I won’t mention engagements or marriage, not unless you bring up the subject.’
‘No,’ she answered slowly. ‘Between work and supervising the shop I really don’t have time for much else.’
‘Just an outing …’ The front door opened and Evan walked in, black and grimy from the pit, in sharp contrast to the immaculately uniformed Haydn who followed close behind him.
‘Jenny?’ Evan greeted her in surprise. ‘How nice to see you. I hope you’re staying for tea.’
‘I’m afraid I can’t. Some of the girls are coming round, but thank you for asking. I only called in with Jane. Haydn, you’re looking well. It’s good to see you home.’
‘Is Jane here?’ Haydn asked as she picked up her coat.
‘Upstairs. But I wouldn’t go up right now if I were you. Phyllis and Bethan are with her.’
‘What’s the matter with her?’ He walked down the passage to see Jenny out. ‘Is she ill?’
‘Not exactly.’
‘What do you mean, not exactly?’ he demanded angrily.
‘She’s had a bit too much to drink.’
‘Are you telling me my wife is drunk!’
‘It’s hard on all the women in munitions. Having to work long hours in foul conditions, and it’s worse for Jane. Every break-time at least one girl taunts her with photographs of you and those two blonde floozies …’
‘Thank you for bringing her home.’ Haydn opened the door.
Jenny would have liked to say more, but the ghost of their old courtship and Eddie stood between them. She looked up, and saw Alexander standing in the passageway behind Haydn. ‘Goodbye, Haydn. If I don’t see you again, have a good leave.’
‘Wait!’ Alexander called out. Grabbing his coat he ran after her. Haydn watched them go, then closed the door as Phyllis walked down the stairs.
/>
‘How drunk is she?’ he enquired acidly.
‘She only had a couple of sherries; the trouble is they were on an empty stomach.’
‘And how often has this happened before?’
‘This is the first time,’ Phyllis countered indignantly.
He waited until she reached the bottom of the stairs before running up them and along the landing to his old bedroom. Bethan was pulling the eiderdown over Jane. She smiled and put her finger to her lips.
‘If she’s plastered she’s not going to hear anything,’ he asserted.
‘She’s only had a couple, Haydn.’
‘I get my first leave for nine months, and I come home to find my baby with Phyllis, my wife not only working but drunk -’
‘You sound like a pompous, self-righteous schoolmarm. ‘
‘I have a right to.’
‘Right? What about Jane’s rights? She’s worked hard since you left her here. She’s often stopped off for a drink on the way home with the girls, and this is the first time I’ve seen her like this. There has to be a reason for it. Do you know what it is?’
He thought back to the photograph in the Mirror, but he wasn’t in the mood to excuse Jane’s behaviour.
‘You’ve no idea of the strain the women who’ve been left behind are under.’
‘That’s all I’ve been hearing since I’ve got home. Do you think it’s so damned easy at the front?’
‘At least you know what’s going on. We have to rely on censored letters, what little news the War Office deigns to release, and rumour. And believe you me, the rumours fly thick and fast from one end of town to the other. They’ve had every man who’s ever left Pontypridd killed ten times over. And while we’re coping with that, we still have to fight the war here. Contend with severe rationing of just about every essential, bring up children on our own, look after evacuees as well as answering the call for women workers to fill the places of the men.’
‘Jane had no business working. I can support her and the baby and support them a lot better than -’
‘It’s not a question of money or support,’ Bethan said carefully, realising that his anger was bordering on the irrational.
‘Don’t tell me: you women “want to do your bit”,’ he sneered.
‘Without munitions the soldiers can’t fight. If they don’t fight, we’ll end up being invaded like France.’
‘There’s plenty of single girls who can work. Jane has a baby. They wouldn’t have taken her if she hadn’t volunteered. And you can’t tell me she didn’t volunteer to spite me.’
‘We’re all working. Diana’s running Wyn’s businesses and helping Alma out until the baby’s born. And as soon as Alma’s baby is born she’ll go back to work. With Charlie posted missing, she has no option but to provide for her child.’
‘That’s different, Charlie could be dead.’
‘Just as a stray bullet could have got you while you were travelling round the front. Do you think Jane never worried about that happening? For pity’s sake, Haydn, get down off your high horse. Andrew’s in a prison camp, he has enough money to provide for me and the children and he’ll be coming back when all this is over, but that hasn’t stopped me from taking on a full-time job as district nurse and opening my house to evacuees.’
‘That’s different, you’re needed.’
‘So is Jane in munitions.’
‘After farming my baby out?’
‘Megan and Phyllis are looking after my own and Diana’s children as well as yours. That’s their way of fighting this war. You make me mad, turning up here without any warning after nine months away, and expecting to find Jane sitting around waiting for you.’
‘I certainly didn’t expect to find her drunk.’
‘And you never got drunk on tour?’
‘That was different.’
‘Why – because you’re a man? Grow up,’ she snapped irritably as she folded Jane’s dress on to a chair. ‘You said you’ve only got a few days’ leave. If you don’t use the next couple of hours to calm down and get to know your daughter, you’ll mess up whatever’s left of it. I’ve seen enough marriages go to pieces already in this war, without wanting to watch yours disintegrate as well.’
Chapter Twenty-two
‘There’s a letter for you, Wyn.’ Diana handed it to him as he walked through the door.
‘Thank you.’ He looked at it, knowing it was from Erik even before he turned it over.
‘Hungry?’
‘Starving. Where’s Megan and Dad?’
‘She’s helping him shave. Don’t you remember? Tonight’s the night Myrtle’s bringing Uncle Huw to tea. I wonder if he’ll still want me to call him uncle when he’s my brother-in-law?’
‘Have either you or Megan had the courage to tell Dad what he’s in for?’
‘We thought we’d leave it to you men.’
‘Cowards.’
‘That’s us. Do you want a sandwich or can you wait another half-hour?’
‘I can wait.’
‘Is it from Erik?’ she asked as he opened the envelope.
‘Yes.’
‘You must miss him.’
‘Do you miss Ronnie?’ he asked, watching her carefully.
‘I saw him on Saturday at Rachel’s birthday party,’ she said, refusing to meet his steady gaze.
‘Alone?’
‘For a few minutes in the kitchen. I was heating the babies’ bottles.’
‘I don’t need to know every little detail, Diana.’
‘But I need to tell you. I haven’t changed my mind since we talked about him, Wyn. I made you a promise and I intend to keep it.’
‘But being in the same town as Ronnie, and not being able to see him, is quietly killing you?’ he asked, crediting her with what he’d feel if the situation were reversed.
‘Of course not.’
He might have believed her if she’d been able to look him in the eye.
‘I’ll wash and change, then I’ll see if I can help Megan smarten up my father. After all, it’s not every day a daughter gets engaged.’
‘Why can’t I stay alone with you in the same room for more than five minutes without tearing my clothes off?’
‘And mine.’ Jenny snuggled under the bedclothes, wrapping her arms and legs around Alexander so she could siphon some of his warmth into her body.
‘I think I actually prefer winter to summer.’ He clamped his hands over hers to stop her from tugging at the hairs on his chest. ‘We can spend longer together without anyone suspecting a thing, now the nights have drawn in.’
‘I let you into my flat and my bed for the first time in months, and you’re making plans for the entire winter? This puts us right back to where we were when I had to ask you to hand over my key.’
‘Sorry, I didn’t mean to push.’
‘No? You want to own me, body and soul, Alex, and I’m not prepared to give any more than I just have.’
‘It’s enough,’ he assured her swiftly.
‘If it isn’t, you’d better leave now.’
‘You know I don’t want to.’
‘And I don’t want to be plagued by a man who won’t be content until he’s changed my life. I like it exactly the way it is.’
‘I understand. What you’re saying is you’ll see me on your terms, not mine?’
‘You do understand?’
‘That I have to learn to ignore you until such time as you decide you would like to spend an hour or so in my company?’
‘You make it sound as though you are a toy that has to stay in the cupboard until I want to play with you.’
‘Isn’t that exactly how you’re treating me?’
‘No, Alex. I’m trying to put our friendship on an even footing where we both keep our independence and run our own lives without interference from the other. I don’t want to control you, only make the decisions as to how often, where and when we meet. What you have for your dinner, or who you see when you’re not with m
e, is your own affair.’
‘And if I choose to spend my time with other women?’
‘If you have the energy -’ her hand slipped down between his thighs – ‘go ahead.’
‘And you?’
‘If I have the energy, I’ll look around for another man. But before you start throwing tantrums and playing the jealous lover, I’ll play fair and give you the opportunity to tire me out.’
‘I’m not used to women behaving like this.’
‘Like men behave towards women, you mean?’
He leaned over and picked up his cigarette case from the bedside cabinet. He would have liked to contradict her, but he knew she was right. She was treating him no differently to the way he’d treated his casual girlfriends before he’d met her, and he hated the way it made him feel. Like a vulnerable pawn totally dependent on the whim of a Grand Master.
‘I’m going to have trouble adapting.’ He opened his case.
‘You know where the door is. Perhaps you’d better go now, before we start quarrelling again.’
‘That was a plea for patience and understanding, not a cue for you to throw me out.’
Taking the cigarette case from his hands she closed it and slipped it under the pillow. Caressing his back lightly, her fingers moved downwards, teasingly, tantalisingly to the soft skin on the inside of his thighs. As he tugged the sheets and blankets over both their heads, he realised that although he had lost control for the present, there were compensations.
And even Jenny would want to settle down – eventually. Possibly with him, if he managed to make her fall in love with him.
‘I still think we should have waited until Megan or Diana could have come with us.’ Huw opened the door of his house in Bonvilston Road, and stood back to allow Myrtle to walk in ahead of him.
‘You need a chaperon?’ Wearing Huw’s ring on her finger had given her a confidence she would never have believed herself capable of possessing.
‘It’s your reputation I’m thinking of.’ He helped her off with her coat and hung it together with his own on the old-fashioned, Victorian hallstand that was far too large for the narrow passageway. ‘Kitchen’s straight ahead of you, second door on the right. I did warn you the house is in a bit of a state.’
‘It just needs decorating.’ The warmth of the stove blasted welcomingly towards her as she walked into the room and looked around at the massive, age-stained oak furniture and dingy wallpaper.
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