by Diane Allen
In the stable yard, bats were emerging from their hiding places, screeching as they caught insects on the wing. Will paused to watch them. Tomorrow he knew he’d have to answer to the police, and no doubt Gerald Frankland would want to talk to him again. Yet the prospect of these encounters no longer troubled him. For tonight, he was going to bed clean, well fed and thinking of that fleeting glance of Nancy.
7
Alice sat on the rough granite trough at the base of the drinking fountain, her hand idly playing with the water as it trickled cold and clear into the sparkling pool. The church clock was striking one o’clock, its huge bell announcing the hour to the people of Dent as it had done for centuries. Where was he? There she was, all dressed up in her Sunday best, and he was keeping her waiting. Jack always had been one for doing things in his own time. She kicked her heels against the fountain and adjusted her hat for the fifth or sixth time, fidgeting with her cotton gloves as she sighed and gazed up the road in the direction of Jack’s home.
‘Have you been forgotten, Alice, or has he thought better of it?’ Uriah Woodhead shouted across at his young employee as he stood on the Moon’s step, wiping his hands on his apron.
‘Looks that way, Mr Woodhead.’ Alice sighed and crossed her arms on her lap. ‘It’s typical of Jack. Him and my brother would forget their heads if they weren’t screwed on.’
‘He’ll turn up soon, lass. He’ll have forgotten the time, if I have to bet on it.’ Uriah smiled and disappeared into the dark interior of the pub where there were customers waiting to be served.
Alice still wasn’t sure why she was spending her precious afternoon off sitting on the fountain’s edge waiting for her brother’s best friend. She cast her mind back to the previous Friday when Jack had come into the Moon with her brother. The pair of them often came in for a pint or two on a Friday night, so it hadn’t struck her as anything out of the ordinary. But on this occasion Jack had downed several pints, and then – in front of her jeering brother and all the Moon’s regulars – he had turned to her, stuttering and blushing, and asked her to join him for a stroll the following Sunday. There was no way she could have said no, not in front of all those people. How could he have put her in such an embarrassing position? Why couldn’t he have asked discreetly? As for Will, she could have hit him for six when he offered to be chaperone – the whole pub had laughed at that. She tugged her hat down around her head, brushing her burning red cheeks in an effort to get rid of her blushing. And after all that, here she was, sitting outside the church like a stood-up wallflower. Knowing Jack Alderson, the whole thing was probably a joke at her expense. More than likely Will had put him up to it. She wished she hadn’t kept asking after Jack every Sunday, but since the fire up at Stone House she’d been worried about them both.
Having decided she’d waited long enough and might as well go on a walk by herself, Alice was about to set off along the churchyard path when Jack came racing up in his horse and trap, the wheels nearly sparking on the cobbles in his haste not to be too late.
‘Whoa there, whoa, Patsy.’ Jack jumped out of the trap and ran towards her, his jacket flapping and his cap falling to the ground. Pausing to scoop up his cap, he rushed to where Alice stood.
‘I’m sorry, Alice. I’m sorry I’m late. I was grooming Patsy, and before I knew it, it was one o’clock already.’ Walking back to the horse, he patted it lovingly on its withers, then smiled apologetically at a glowering Alice.
‘That’s just typical, Jack Alderson – a horse taking the place of me. I’ve a good mind not to bother walking out with you.’ She stuck her chin out and turned to pretend to show interest in the red roses that were growing on the churchyard wall.
‘By ’eck, you are bonny when you’re in a mood.’ Jack couldn’t stop himself, though he immediately regretted even thinking it let alone saying it out loud.
Alice turned sharply. ‘Jack Alderson, you stand me up and then you accuse me of being in a mood. What sort of a date is this?’ She started walking over the cobbles pretending to be heading back into the Moon. ‘You can think again if you think I’m walking with you.’
‘But, Alice, I’ve made us a picnic. I thought we could go in the trap up along the high road and picnic by Nellie’s Bridge, and then perhaps call off at the manor to see Will.’ Jack held tight to the reins of the impatient horse while beckoning Alice to join him.
Alice stopped in her tracks; she loved going along the high road. It was the old drover road where two dales met, and the views up there were magnificent: on a good clear day you could even see the Irish Sea. She turned round and looked at the fretting face of Jack.
‘Well, if you’ve gone to all that trouble, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to come with you. It’s only this once, mind.’ She pulled up her skirts, giving Jack a glimpse of her ankle while he held her hand as she mounted the trap. She could see him hide his blushes as he got Patsy underway with a quick swish of the whip in the air. Alice held on tight to the wooden seat as it rattled out of the cobbled streets of Dent and joined the narrow track that led up to the fellside. They were silent on the way up the winding track, the horse taking its time and Jack watching Alice’s face as she took in the spectacular views unfolding with every turn of the trap’s wheel.
‘I thought you’d like it up here,’ said Jack. ‘You can see for miles and it’s so quiet apart from sheep and skylarks.’
Alice sat gazing around her, holding on to her hat as the mountain breezes played with it, until finally she gave up and untied it, placing it on her lap, letting her blonde hair blow free across her face.
‘I love it up here, Jack – it’s so wild and free, and look, you can see the sea.’ She pointed at a distant glitter of shining blue between the rolling dales. ‘How I wish I could go to the sea. I’ve never been. My father always promised to take me, but we never got to go.’ Her voice trailed off, remembering happier times.
‘I love the smell of the peat,’ said Jack. ‘And the way when you breathe in the fresh air, it makes you feel good. I often come up here if I’ve something on my mind. It helps me to settle.’
He stopped the horse and trap and the young couple sat for a while, the warmth of the summer’s sun on their faces, gazing out at the beautiful sprawling countryside that was their home. Above them the skylarks hovered and sang as they rode the moorland breezes. Below them in the valley, fields of mown grass lay drying in the sunshine, making hay for the winter months ahead. The tranquillity and the warm, pleasant breeze made them feel at ease, content in their own company. The horse chomped on its bit, impatient and wondering why its journey had been interrupted for no apparent reason.
‘Do you know, Jack, it’s my birthday. I’m seventeen today, but you’re the only one who knows, ’cos our Will has forgotten and I’ve not told anybody else. Last year’s birthday seems a million years ago. So much has changed. I miss my mum and dad, and sometimes I feel so alone.’ Alice sniffed into her handkerchief and stifled the tears that she could feel welling up. ‘There now, I’m even spoiling this beautiful day out with you because I’m feeling sorry for myself.’ She sniffed again and swallowed hard, regaining her dignity and pretending not to care.
‘Now, Alice, you know we are all fond of you. You’ve been through the worst twelve months that anyone could have gone through. And as for your birthday, Will hasn’t forgotten that it’s today. That’s why I’ve picked you up in the horse and trap – we have a surprise waiting for you. Nay, now I’ve said too much. I promised Will I wouldn’t let the cat out of the bag, so stop snivelling and let’s be off. Besides, Patsy’s had enough of this standing around. She’s a bit like thee: no patience. Why I want to spend my time with the pair of you, I don’t know!’
‘Jack Alderson, are you likening me to a horse? And what’s this surprise? Oh, go on, Jack, tell me, please tell me. I thought you had all forgotten!’ Alice was bouncing in her seat with excitement. She had thought that it was going to be just another day. Lately they had all seemed to run into
one another, and even she had been taken by surprise when she realized that it was Midsummer Day and her birthday.
‘I’m not saying another word; you’ll just have to wait. But I can say it’s something I’ve never seen either, so we’re both in for a surprise today.’ Jack flicked the reins and the horse began making its way along the fellside and down the green pathway to the local beauty spot of Nellie’s Bridge. In the face of Alice’s constant quizzing, he urged the horse to make speed, worried that he might not be able to hold on to the secret until they reached their destination.
Soon they came to the green leafy glades of the riverside, the smell of drying hay drifting in the breeze and the drone of summer bumblebees filling the air as they went about their business of collecting pollen for honey. The meadowsweet, red campion and other hedgerow flowers swayed in the gentle valley breeze and Alice sat back and enjoyed the steady pace of the faithful horse and its driver. She felt content for a change, and she’d made up her mind not to let anything spoil her perfect day. The anger she’d felt towards Jack for being late had given way to anticipation and excitement about what lay in store.
She held on tight as the trap swayed over the rough cobbles of the path that led to the old wooden bridge and the picturesque waterfall that cascaded above it. She could make out the shape of her brother, waving frantically at them as they approached the bridge, but who was the person that stood behind him? Could it be . . . ? Surely not? There was no way that it could be Nancy! How could she be there? She never left the house.
‘Well, what do you think of that, then? What’s your brother like – he’s kept that quiet, hasn’t he, the old dog?’ Jack blushed and smiled at Alice. ‘I’ve never seen her, but seemingly he met her when he was in the bath with nothing on.’
Alice gasped. ‘What was he doing? She’s met hardly anyone, let alone our Will in the nude. By, the poor lass – it’s not a pleasant sight. I should know, I’ve filled his tin bath at home often enough.’ She covered her mouth, realizing how familiar she had been with Jack.
‘Yes, well, it was in a bath he met her . . . But shush now, they’ll hear us.’ Jack felt awkward. He was the only one who didn’t know Nancy and yet he had heard so much about her. He made a conscious effort not to stare at her when he stopped the trap and helped Alice alight to the daisy-covered field.
‘I bet this takes you by surprise, eh, Sis?’ Will bounded over and hugged his astonished sister.
‘Oh, never mind about you giving me a hug,’ said Alice, breaking free so she could run to Nancy, who was standing half hidden under a parasol at the edge of the bridge. ‘I can’t believe you are here!’ Forgetting that the Frankland family were her employers, she reached for Nancy’s free hand as she would an old friend.
‘I took a lot of persuading, Alice. I’m still very nervous – this is my first time outside in company for years. I had forgotten how wonderful fresh air smells, and how much I enjoy good company like your brother’s.’ Nancy twirled her parasol coyly and lowered her face so as not to look at the smiling Will.
‘Our Will – good company? It must be the sunshine gone to your head. He’s a big galoot! But still, it’s good to see you outside and enjoying the sun. What I want to know is, how did he manage it? I’ve been trying to tempt you out for weeks and then he flutters his baby-blue eyes and here you are.’ Alice smiled, putting one hand on her hip and hitting her brother’s shoulder playfully with the other. ‘And look at him, all dressed up like a dog’s dinner! Where did he buy that suit? I think it’s ’cos of him being around the manor so much; he has ideas above his station!’
‘Never you mind, our lass. What you don’t know won’t hurt you.’ Will smiled and called over to Jack. ‘Well, lad, did you manage to keep it to yourself, or did my devious little sister wheedle the secret out of you? And what are you doing back there, hanging about like a bad smell? Come and meet Nancy – you know you want to!’
Will was deliberately playing on his friend’s shyness in order to escape telling his sister that he had been keeping Nancy company since the day he had seen her fleetingly in the bathroom. Much to the disgust of the manor’s servants – but he really didn’t care what they thought or said.
‘Pleasure to meet you, Miss Frankland.’ Jack reached out his hand in greeting, moving slowly, trying not to look directly at the face of Nancy.
‘Please, Jack, call me Nancy. “Miss Frankland” sounds so stuffy, and as we are to picnic together I don’t want you to feel on edge with me.’ She smiled and shook Jack’s hand, looking him straight in the eye, not hiding the fact that her face was scarred.
Alice could not help noticing the change in Nancy. Today she seemed much less embarrassed by her scars; perhaps it was Will’s doing. Having him there seemed to be boosting her confidence and making her life a little more worthwhile. She smiled quietly to herself as Will took Nancy’s arm and led her to the tablecloth that had been spread out on the meadow floor with a delicious picnic upon it.
‘May I, Miss Bentham?’ Jack held out his arm for Alice and grinned, pretending that he, too, was the perfect gentleman.
‘I don’t mind if I do, Mr Alderson.’ Alice took his arm and sat next to Nancy, who was still holding the parasol, both for shade and to shield her scars from prying eyes.
‘Isn’t it a beautiful day.’ Alice leaned back after eating her way through the manor’s best pork pie and salmon sandwiches, washed down with home-made lemonade from Jack’s mother. ‘I wish every day could be like this.’
‘Oh, before I forget, I’ve got a little something for you.’ Nancy untied her beautifully embroidered Dorothy bag and took out a small package. ‘You admired this so much on the first day we met, the day when I was such a beast . . .’ She handed it carefully to Alice. ‘It’s just a thank you on your birthday for helping me get my life back. Without you I’d still have been dwelling in the past instead of rediscovering the good things in life.’
Alice looked at the gift that Nancy offered her, so delicately wrapped in purple tissue paper, the perfumed smell of sweet violets rising from the wrapping. ‘Oh, no, I couldn’t, I really couldn’t accept this.’ Her eyes filled with tears as she unwrapped the gift, the sun shining on the beautiful glittering jewelled wings of the dragonfly comb that she had so admired on her first meeting with Nancy. ‘It’s too precious, and it’s from your Russian past.’
‘Exactly, Alice. Time to put the past and Russia behind me. Besides, it will look so beautiful in that long blonde hair of yours. Won’t it, Jack?’ Nancy turned and smiled at Jack, turning the scarred side of her face for him to see.
‘Yes, yes, it would, it would look good in your hair, Ali.’ Jack faltered over his words having finally realizing how badly scarred Nancy was. ‘It will suit you down to the ground.’
‘Well, if you insist. But really, I shouldn’t. It’s too fine for a farm girl like me.’
‘Nonsense! If you were nothing more than a simple farm girl, my brother would not have asked you to be my companion – believe me, he knows quality when he sees it. Especially now that your brother has asked for me to walk out with him. Gerald is thinking about giving him more responsibility at Stone House marble works – he needs a new foreman and is going to give Will a trial run. Your Will has been an inspiration these last few weeks and I’m sorry I’ve not mentioned him visiting me on the days I have been with you, but we wanted to keep it a secret.’ Nancy patted Alice’s hand in apology, but Alice withdrew it sharply.
‘You’re what, our Will? Going to be foreman at Stone House? When were you going to tell me? I’m stuck working my fingers to the bone at the Moon, and you’re planning a life without me. I thought we were going to stick together. And you walking out with Nancy – when were you going to tell me that?’ Alice tried to keep calm but she was angry with her brother: he should have been the one to tell her, not Nancy.
‘Quiet, our lass. If you’ve anything to say, tell me tonight when I pop into the Moon after seeing Nancy home. I’ll tell you all th
en, not now in front of Jack and Nancy – you’re embarrassing them both.’ Will stood up, shook the crumbs from his lap and brushed the grass from the back of his breeches. ‘Nancy, would you care for a stroll along the riverbank?’ He offered her his arm and Nancy quickly accepted, wanting to be free of the situation she had caused.
Jack and Alice watched the couple walking by the side of the river. Nancy’s long white dress seemed to have a mellow haze around it, the buttercups giving it a golden sheen. Dressed in his best bib and tucker, Will was the epitome of the aspiring young gent. They made a perfect couple. You would never guess, just by looking at Will, that he was from working-class stock.
‘I can’t believe it! What’s he playing at, going out with Lord Frankland’s sister? Has he lost his senses? My father will be turning in his grave!’ Alice removed one of her shoes and started banging the heel on the ground in an effort to let out her pent-up aggression.
‘If you’re not careful, you’ll break that heel, and then you will be in a bad mood.’ Jack put his hand on hers to spare the shoe from getting any more anger taken out on it. ‘Wait and see what he has to say to you tonight. I’m sure he will tell you all.’
‘But he’s spoilt the day.’ Alice pouted and pushed her foot into the abused shoe.
‘No, he hasn’t. You should be glad for the pair of them. Come on, sulky – I’ll beat you to the waterfall.’ Jack offered Alice his hand and smiled at her surly face as she stood up. He gave her a little shove. ‘Race you, sulky.’ And then he took off, running to the waterfall.
‘Just you wait, Jack Alderson! I’ll catch you – that was cheating.’
‘I know, but it’s stopped you sulking,’ he shouted.
Alice caught up with him, panting, her cheeks flushed. Jack took hold of her hand and they both walked onto the ancient wooden bridge. As they leaned over the railings, looking at the sparkling waterfall and dark frothy waters below, their heads were inches apart. They turned to each other and laughed. Suddenly Jack plucked up courage and gently kissed Alice on her lips, whispering, ‘Happy birthday, Alice.’