by Mary Wood
‘I wouldn’t think so. They’ve gone along nicely for years. I’d not think as owt could upset that apple cart.’
Megan didn’t say anything else, but she sensed that things weren’t right and felt guilty with it. She’d always cottoned on to the fact that Hattie might be in trouble, but she’d been so caught up with the excitement of what was in the offing for her that she’d not taken any notice of the alarm bells when Hattie had hugged her.
‘We needed some good news, didn’t we, lass?’ Issy said. ‘It all seems doom and gloom sometimes, especially with Jack as he is. I wonder if he’s ever going to come out of his sadness. He’s just not the same bloke any more.’
Issy sighed. Megan didn’t comment; instead she just nodded. She’d put aside her niggling worry about Hattie and didn’t want to give thought to Jack’s sadness. Not now, not now that she was going. Her heart had been soothed of late, as Jack’d taken to sitting in the parlour with her as she worked, on the nights when Bert was on lates. He’d talked and talked to her. Oh, aye, it’d been about Cissy and the times they’d had, but his need to be with her for comfort gladdened her. Talking to Issy now – of how upset and wrapped up in Cissy’s memory he was – would cast a sadness over her, just when she didn’t want to be saddened. She didn’t want anything to bring her down from her feelings of excitement and anticipation. In fact she wanted to be alone for a while – alone with her thoughts, her hopes and her dreams. She wanted to hold her locket and talk to her granny and granddad, and try to imagine what her mam was like and wonder who her dad had been. And to quell the feelings of unsettledness that Issy had set up in her with her talk of Jack’s sadness and her memories – like the one of hearing the saying ‘To catch a dream’ before.
Hattie sat in the back of the car. Sally always liked to travel in the front, and today Hattie was glad of that. She was glad, too, that neither Megan nor Issy had mentioned Arthur, and that the excitement of the moment had not allowed them time to speak of him. She tried to relax, but it was hard. Her mind gave her no peace.
Arthur hadn’t been in touch this good while. She’d assumed he was still abroad, where she thought he’d been for the last four months. The last letter she’d received from him had been from Italy a month ago, and yet just last week she’d seen his picture in the paper under the heading ‘WAR HERO LORD ARTHUR GREYSTONE GRACES SOCIETY ONCE MORE’.
A lord! Arthur had never, in all the years she’d known him, told her that he was a lord. In fact he’d lied to her about his name, calling himself Captain Naraday. Her heart throbbed painfully inside her chest as she remembered the picture. There was Arthur, gazing down lovingly at the beautiful woman in his arms. She knew the piece describing who she was by heart:
Lady Greystone stood lovingly by her husband throughout the dark days when he hid himself away because of the horrific injuries he sustained in the Great War, and throughout his many painful operations. She is now richly rewarded for her sacrifice, as his devotion to her is plain for everyone to see. Society is once more graced with Lord Greystone’s charming presence. Lady Greystone wore . . .
Bloody ‘stood lovingly by her husband’ – huh! And who bloody cares what she wore. Why? Why all the lies? Why all the hope? Because there had been times when Arthur had given her hope – hope that she would one day be his wife. You bloody fool, Hattie Frampton! She wiped away a tear as she silently admonished herself.
A letter had arrived for her while she’d been out. Recognizing Arthur’s writing, Hattie went straight up to her room, ignoring Daisy’s fussing over her – she and Phyllis had been doing that ever since the day the newspaper picture had shattered her dreams:
My dearest Hattie,
This is a letter I never wanted to write and never thought I would write.
I can do nothing more than be truthful with you, my dear, but our relationship has to end. I know this will come as a blow to you, and I can assure you I am equally saddened.
My life suddenly changed. Nothing was planned. Matilda, my wife, attended a dinner party, not knowing I was to be a guest also. Because of my trips abroad and being with you, it had been over two years since we had been in each other’s company. We had conducted our marriage by letter only.
Seeing me as I am now, Matilda is able to cope with my injuries and we have found much happiness.
I will never have the love I had with you ever again, but we could never have had a compatible life, my dear. You would not have been happy in the circles in which I and my friends move, and you know I was not happy with the lifestyle you chose to continue with.
Harry will come to see you in the next few days and inform you of the arrangements I have made for you. I trust you will not ever let the press, or my wife, know of our liaison. My friends in the North never knew of our relationship, other than to know that I did use your services, but they will not let this be known publicly. They have many things in their own lives that they would not want made public. I say all this not because I looked on our liaison in any other way than as a loving and wonderful experience, but I know you will want me to be happy, and I could not retain that happiness if my wife found out about you.
I will always love and miss you, my dearest Hattie.
Yours, Arthur
The tears dripped onto each beautifully written word – part of the enjoyment she’d felt at receiving his letters had been to gaze at his writing. Oh, Arthur . . . Arthur.
The anger she thought she’d feel didn’t visit her, but a deep sense of loss bruised her heart. He was right. She knew that. Oh, but the pain of losing him. How was she to bear it? And describing what they’d had as a liaison! But then he was top-drawer – she’d always known that, even if she hadn’t known just how top-drawer he was! To think that she’d been saving the fact that she was giving up the game as a surprise to tell him when he came home. Mind, it wouldn’t have made any difference, she was sure of that now.
Thank God she’d insisted on keeping her business, because it was likely this was always going to happen, and then where would she have been? At least she was a woman of her own means. Aye, and it was a good thing she hadn’t yet gone ahead with her plans to sell to Mavis. But best of all, she had plans for the future. They would help. She’d throw everything into making her own and Megan’s business succeed, though she’d always give Megan the lead, as it was her dream. She’d not take that from her, but she’d work hard and give herself no time to dwell.
It was funny how things had turned out. Herself and Megan back together again! They needed one another and always would. That was something. In this new venture she had all the business knowledge, the contacts and the money to back the business, and Megan had all the talent and knowledge of how to succeed in the clothes business. They’d do all right. She’d be all right. Oh God! Oh, Arthur . . . Arthur . . .
32
Jack’s Dilemmas
The sound of himself whistling a tune surprised Jack. And now he thought about it, he realized he’d been doing so for a good while. The realization made him feel better. Something in him had changed. He thought of Cissy, as he had done every minute of the two years he’d been without her, but the memory didn’t bring the usual dull ache. Instead his thoughts went to how she used to make him laugh and how she’d always see a way out of things or a different road they could travel. Nothing ever got her down.
‘Uncle Jack. Uncle Jack!’
He looked round. He knew it was young Billy, but couldn’t see him.
‘I’m here.’ Billy emerged from behind the big oak tree that stood on the back lawn of the house.
‘What’re you up to, lad? How many times have I told you not to come that way? You’re trespassing. You’re to come over field and down through stables. That’s if you come at all, which you shouldn’t.’
‘It’s quicker this way, and Mrs Harvey didn’t see me. She were at daydreaming. I saw her through the window. Anyroad, I haven’t got nowt to do, and I wanted to know if I can be on with helping you some?’
‘I were, but she had that thing . . . she had Bella with her. And I threw a stone at a cat and it hit Bella, and Sarah went mad at me.’
‘Aye, she would. She’d not have Bella hurt, nor any animals. Thou knows that and should’ve thought on, and if me little Bella is hurt, I’ll be mad at you an’ all. And be at giving you a clout.’
‘She’s not, Uncle Jack, honest. It only skimmed her and she gave me that ug— That smile as she gives.’
Jack felt a familiar worry: young Billy was taking against Bella. He’d nearly used the term Megan said Bert had used when talking of her. He’d have to watch him. ‘I’m finished here now, so I haven’t owt for you. Look at the car. You can see your face in it, but I’d have been glad of your help to get it like that, lad. I could’ve used some of your elbow grease instead of all of mine.’
‘What’s elbow grease?’
‘Ha, never mind now. I’ll show you some next time. Now get along with you. I’m to take Mrs Harvey out shortly and I don’t want you hanging around here.’
‘At least you laughed, Uncle Jack. You haven’t been doing that this good while.’
‘Aye, I know, lad. I’ll tell you what, when I go fishing next week on me days off, I’ll take you with me. How will that be, eh? Keep you out of your mam’s hair for a day.’
Billy ran off, shouting back, ‘Ta, Uncle Jack! Ta ever so much.’
Jack shook his head. ‘Young ’uns!’
His thoughts turned to Megan – thoughts that Billy had triggered. Megan had been a godsend to him, and she’d been a comfort to Ma. She’d always been there to listen to him. He was going to miss her. He wondered when it was she’d be going. Something in him didn’t want her to go. She was a good friend, and lately he’d noticed her beauty. He’d been shocked a few times at the picture Megan made as she’d sat with the light from the window behind her. Funny how he’d never noticed that before. Except . . . well, there was a moment like that on his wedding day. Fancy that coming to his mind after all these years. It wasn’t a comfortable memory, happening as it did on that day of all days. He remembered how he’d had a shock when he’d turned and caught her eye. It was as if she’d felt it, too. Eeh, Megan, lass, it’s a shame as you’re wasted on that Bert Armitage. By, it’ll be a good day when you get away from him, no matter how much I don’t want you to go.
He had a few minutes to spare before he had to take the car around to the front of the house. He leaned back on the car door, and his thoughts turned to Laura Harvey. He realized that this change in him, which he’d thought was sudden, had been creeping up for a while. Because although she’d been up to her tricks again lately, they hadn’t been unwelcome. He’d even liked being in her company, though there was a niggling fear at the back of his mind as he remembered how she used to mock him. He wasn’t going to forget it was all a game to her, and that she wouldn’t really be interested in the likes of him.
‘Jack. Jack!’
For the second time he was surprised to hear his name being called, only this time the call held fear and urgency.
‘Henry! What’s to do, man?’
‘Gary’s been thrown off Diamond. He’s in the lane.’
‘Aw, no. Is he hurt bad?’
‘He were out cold. Young Billy came screaming into the stables, and I sent him running for the doctor.’
‘Reet, get up to the house and tell Hamilton. I’ll get to Gary. I’ll lift him into the stables, as they’re nearest.’
By the time Jack reached him, Gary had regained consciousness.
‘All right, lad. I’m here. Can you stand? Doctor’s on his way. I’m to get you back to stable.’
‘Me leg’s badly hurt, Jack, and I’m still at seeing stars. I’ll kill that lad, when I get me hands on him. He’s turning out to be a right one. Takes after his dad, if you ask me.’
‘Who, Billy? Were this his doing?’
‘Aye. He came out of bush screaming and yelling, right in me path. He proper spooked Diamond. And just afore I hit the ground, I heard him laughing his head off. I tell you, he isn’t right in his head. He’ll have done this because I caught him in the orchard scrumping the apples and clipped his ear. He said then as’d he’d get me back, or he’d tell his dad and he’d be for getting me. Sommat needs to be done about him, Jack. He’s been at scaring me little lad an’ all.’
‘I’ll see to it. Don’t be saying owt to Bert, otherwise Megan’ll most likely cop it. And punishment as lad’ll get at Bert’s hand will be far worse than what his deed deserves.’
‘But . . .’
‘I know. You could’ve been killed. But you’ve not; you’re still here to be at your moaning.’
‘You’re a cheeky bugger, Jack. Ouch! Be careful, I reckon as I’ve broke sommat.’
‘You will if I drop you, lad. Ha, I’ve never met such a softy!’
‘Eeh, give over, you’re on with giving me some stick, and me the injured one. But, thou knows, Jack, I’ll say this – it’s good to hear you funning again. Are you at feeling better?’
‘Aye, I am of a sudden. I feel I’m able to get on with me life some. Funny, that. It were a sudden feeling, like me sorrow were lifted from me and I can think about Ciss now without wanting to break me heart. By, lad, what’ve you been eating? You’re like a ton o’ bricks!’
Gary laughed out loud, and Jack joined him. It felt good to be having a joke with Gary again, though Gary was right to be worried over Billy. He’d definitely to do something about the lad. He’d talk to Megan and perhaps find time himself to pay Billy a bit more attention – take him fishing regularly and spend some time talking to him. Provide him with another way of looking at things to what he saw and heard at home.
Laura had been deep in thought. She’d decided recently that it was time Jack came out of his morose mood and had renewed her attempts to seduce him. The signs so far were encouraging.
These last couple of years had been a real trial to her, though she’d had some relief from her frustration. Apart from throwing herself into her work, she’d amused herself with Daniel, Charles’s younger brother. He was far too young for her, of course, but it had been fun – the thrill of contrived meetings, teaching him to become a skilful lover, and all without Charles and Daphne having an inkling of what was going on! – and Daniel’s mastering of the art of satisfying her had served to help keep her yearnings at bay. But it was over with Daniel now. He’d written her a sweet letter telling her about a girl he’d met and how wonderful she was. She’d written back saying she would never forget their encounter, and that she hoped he would always keep it in his heart as a beautiful shared secret, and not let it become sordid in his mind and a source of embarrassment whenever they met. That had put it to bed nicely, she thought.
She sighed heavily. It had worked well, Jack being her chauffeur. There were ample opportunities for her to have exactly what she wanted, with no chance of anyone on the estate or from the village finding out – or, for that matter, Charles. She didn’t mind Daphne knowing, and it’d be quite fun to have someone to talk to. She’d missed that, during her tryst with Daniel.
The trouble was that since his wife’s death, Jack had built an even thicker barrier around himself. Damn it, all I need is an opportunity to present itself. A chance happening . . . something! Anything that will pull Jack out of his depression and get him thinking like a man again!
She impatiently lit a cigarette and inhaled deeply. She’d another few minutes before she needed to leave for the meeting with her works and estate managers. To her annoyance, the hot smoke caused her to erupt into a coughing fit. She stubbed the cigarette out and struggled to catch her breath. The linctus Dr Cragshaw had given her was having no effect. She half-thought about asking him to prescribe her something else, but knew all he’d tell her was that she’d have to give up smoking. He’d already talked about her seeing a specialist, which had worried her. She lay back in the chair, and her breathing calmed. She le
t the niggling worry over her health drift out of her thoughts and turned her mind back to her quest for Jack.
A knock at the door made her jump. Hamilton, at her bidding, entered the room.
Now what? If he’d come complaining about the kitchen staff again, she’d go mad. Oh God, her life was so boring. She needed something to happen. Anything! Even if it was the completion of the Byron Electric Company deal, though at least the wrangling going on at the moment gave some respite from the boredom. Thank God she was going away with Daphne to her holiday cottage in Scarborough soon.
‘I’m sorry to disturb you, Ma’am.’
‘What is it, Hamilton?’
‘Henry Fairweather’s in the kitchen, Ma’am, he’s come up from the stables.’
For a moment she couldn’t take in what Hamilton had said: Diamond, rearing up and throwing Ardbuckle off his back! It didn’t seem possible. Diamond was a gentle creature.
‘Where is Ardbuckle now?’
‘Fellam has carried him into the stable, Ma’am.’
‘Thank you, Hamilton.’ She was already standing and reaching for her cardigan. Throwing it around her shoulders, she ran towards the stables, calling out to Jack.
Gary tried to sit up when he heard her voice. ‘Oh, no! That’s Mrs Harvey, Jack. Now I’m for it. Ouch!’
‘It’s all right, Gary. Lie still; she’ll not blame you. Now just leave this to me, and mind, don’t be mentioning owt about young Billy. Just say as horse stumbled, eh?’
‘Aye, I will, but lad—’
‘Shush now, she’s here.’
‘What happened, Fellam? Is Diamond all right?’
‘I haven’t had time to look at him yet, Ma’am. It seems he stumbled on a loose cobble or sommat. Gary’s not sure.’
‘Well, where is Diamond now? Has someone seen to him?’