by Linda Sole
Emily smiled and waved them off. Her sister-in-law was such a pretty girl and so happy to have Daniel home. Tears stung Emily’s eyes. It was lovely to see Alice so excited and she sensed that Daniel was all right. He had changed in small ways but he wasn’t crippled either in mind or body. No one could ask for more than that after what he’d been through.
Three
‘I love your hair,’ Emily cried as she kissed her sister’s cheek. ‘It really suits you.’
‘Do you think so?’ Frances pulled a wry face. ‘Marcus isn’t too keen. He liked it long but I suppose it will grow again.’ She looked at Emily’s hair, which was still long, though caught up in a shining swirl at the nape of her neck.
‘It would be a pity not to keep it short now,’ Emily said. ‘You really do look wonderful, Frances – more sophisticated. I have been thinking that I might have mine cut when I get time.’
‘Well, perhaps I shall keep it shorter than I used to have it.’ Frances put a hand to her hair. ‘Marcus hasn’t said that he doesn’t like it. I just sense he doesn’t.’ She shook her head. ‘I’m being silly! How are you, Emily? Still busy, I expect?’
‘Yes, as a rule,’ Emily replied. ‘The home takes up a lot of my time, but I take Robert for walks in the park most days. I don’t neglect him.’
‘Of course you don’t,’ Frances said. ‘If Amelia says that she is wrong.’
‘She doesn’t exactly say it but I know she thinks it.’ Emily pulled a wry face.
‘That’s like me,’ Frances cried with a laugh. ‘She probably doesn’t at all – and Marcus probably likes my hair.’
‘I am sure he does.’ Emily watched as Frances fiddled with her rings. ‘Is anything wrong – really wrong?’
‘No …’ Frances stood up and went to the window, looking out at the two small boys playing with the puppy. Robert was toddling after his older cousin, gamely trying to keep up. ‘At least … Marcus is a little odd since he came home. He seems on edge and …’ She turned to face Emily. ‘I think he drinks too much whisky.’
‘Oh, I see.’ Emily sat in silence for a moment. ‘Give him time to settle, love. He has been living on his nerves for years. Those flyboys went through hell, you know. Sometimes it catches up with the men afterwards.’ She hesitated, then, ‘He doesn’t have nightmares, does he?’
‘No, nothing like that. It’s just the drinking – and he is restless. Sometimes, I don’t think he wants to be home with us. He goes out in the evenings, and I think it is to drink with other men.’
‘Is everything all right between you – you know what I mean?’
‘Oh yes!’ Frances blushed. ‘I thought at first he might have met someone … but that side of it is fine.’
Emily laughed. ‘Then I shouldn’t worry too much if I were you. It’s just that he is getting used to civilian life again.’
‘Yes, I suppose so.’ Frances smiled. ‘You’ve seen Daniel and Alice? At least they are happy.’
‘Alice is glowing,’ Emily agreed. Her gaze narrowed as she studied her sister’s face. ‘There’s something else, isn’t there?’
‘Yes,’ Frances admitted it on a sigh. ‘It’s Sam Danby.’
‘Your father-in-law?’
‘Yes …’ Frances caught her breath. She hesitated for a moment and then, suddenly, it all poured out. The way Sam looked at her, the way he lost no excuse to touch her and how it made her feel.
‘I can’t stand being near him,’ Frances said. ‘I’ve tried being cool and distant but it doesn’t work. He has started hinting now. I want it to stop but I don’t know what to do.’
‘Why don’t you tell Marcus?’
‘It’s difficult. They aren’t the best of friends anyway and it would make things worse. They might have an awful row. I should feel awful if it caused a split in the family.’
‘But it may be the only way – unless you could talk to his wife?’
‘Tell Rosalind?’ Frances was horrified. ‘I couldn’t do that, Emily. She doesn’t like me much as it is.’
‘Of course she does,’ Emily said but Frances shook her head. ‘How do you know that?’
‘I just know it,’ Frances said. ‘I suppose all this sounds silly to you, but I find it upsetting.’
‘No, I don’t think it is silly,’ Emily said, ‘but I do think you should talk to Marcus – or Mrs Danby. Or simply tell Mr Danby that if he doesn’t behave you will refuse to let him see his grandson.’
‘Yes …’ Frances looked struck. ‘I suppose I could do that if I have to. It’s not something I’d do unless it got too bad – but it might be the way out of this mess. He adores Charlie. I hadn’t thought of that, Emily. Thank you.’
Emily wished she hadn’t said anything. Sam Danby was a hard man. If Frances tried to stop him seeing his grandson she might be treading on dangerous ground.
‘Would you like me to tell Marcus for you?’
‘Oh, no,’ Frances said. ‘I can hear a car outside. That must be Marcus. Let’s forget about it now. I’ll think it over and decide what is best another time.’
Frances went to the door with Emily. It was gone nine and her sister wanted to get back to the farm, because she was afraid of keeping Henry up late. He had to be up early in the mornings and, as she had told Frances earlier, Emily was worried about him.
Frances watched as her sister got into the smart saloon car that Lord Vane had given her, feeling a pang of envy. Emily seemed so independent, so calm and self-assured. If she still felt grief over her lover’s death, she didn’t let it show. Frances wished that she could be more like Emily, or that her life was less complicated.
She was still feeling vaguely envious of her sister as she returned to the sitting room. Marcus was at the sideboard, helping himself to yet another drink. She wondered how many he’d had that evening, noticing that his hand trembled a little as he raised the glass to his lips.
‘Do you think you should drink that, Marcus?’ she asked. ‘I should have thought you’d had more than enough already.’
‘Should you indeed?’ His eyes slanted round to look at her. ‘What the hell do you know about it?’
‘You drink far too much,’ Frances said. She knew he was angry but somehow she couldn’t stop the words. ‘You’re not the same when you drink too much.’
‘Damn you!’ Marcus glared at her. ‘Who asked for your opinion? I shall drink when I like and as much as I like – and if you disapprove you can go to hell!’
‘Marcus!’ Frances stared at him with hurt eyes. What had happened to the man she loved? He would never have spoken to her like that when they were first married. He seemed like a stranger – a man she did not know and did not like much. ‘Please don’t speak to me like that. I am your wife.’
Marcus lifted his glass to salute her, a sardonic expression in his eyes. ‘Wives are for f … …’ he sneered. ‘Not for giving one a lecture. So shut up and go to bed if you don’t like what I’m doing.’
‘You’re drunk,’ Frances said. ‘I refuse to be spoken to in that way, Marcus. I am going to bed now, alone. You can apologize in the morning.’ She turned and left him, walking from the room with as much dignity as she could muster.
Upstairs, Frances turned the key in her bedroom door. She was upset and angry. It was the first time Marcus had ever been rude or abusive towards her and she didn’t like it. He reminded her vividly of his father when he was drunk.
She shuddered as she undressed and crawled into bed. She hoped Marcus wouldn’t try to get into her room, because nothing would make her unlock that door tonight!
Emily sighed as she closed the farm accounts. It had taken her ages to struggle through them, but at least now they were done Henry would have something to fight those ridiculous tax demands with, because the farm had lost money for years. She stretched her shoulders, feeling sad that after all his hard work, her elder brother was practically bankrupt. It was surely only a matter of time before the bank called in their loans. They would lose the land, and Henry
would be lucky if he could manage to hold on to his home. She would have to try and help him if it came to that, Emily thought.
She went to the window of the back parlour and looked out into the long garden. Mary was feeding the hens that roamed free, scattering the scraps under an apple tree at the far end of the garden. Robert was helping her by chasing them whenever he got near enough, and having a wonderful time. It was a peaceful scene, but she knew well enough that her sister-in-law was worrying herself over Henry’s health more than the state of his finances. His cough seemed much worse now and she had noticed him rubbing at his chest, but he was still refusing to visit the doctor.
‘Have you finished?’ a voice said from behind her and she turned to see Daniel standing in the doorway. ‘What’s the verdict – is it as bad as Henry feared?’
‘It couldn’t be much worse,’ Emily said. ‘I doubt he will be able to hold on to this house once the bank calls in its loan – but I shall help Henry and Mary if they will let me. I have a few thousand that Simon left me. I don’t need it, because Vane makes me an allowance for my work at the convalescent home.’
‘Do you enjoy working there?’ Daniel said. ‘Alice said you had been through a tough time, but she wouldn’t tell me the details – other than that Simon was dead. She said you would tell me if you wanted me to know.’ He raised his brows at her.
‘I was a fool to marry him,’ Emily told him with a wry smile. ‘You were right, Dan. You said that I should wait, get to know him properly – and I ought to have listened to you. The marriage was a sham from the beginning. Besides, there was someone else … I fell in love with him when it was too late, but we had a little time together before he was killed. He was a fireman and he went back into a burning building for someone – and it collapsed on top of him …’
‘That’s rotten luck,’ Daniel said, looking at her affectionately. ‘I’m sorry, Emily. I can’t tell you it will be all right one day, because it wouldn’t help even if I did. I suppose it helps having a child …’
‘Yes, it does …’ Emily took a deep breath. ‘I haven’t told anyone else the truth, Dan, not even Frances or Alice – but Robert is Terry’s son. Vane thinks he is Simon’s but that isn’t possible.’
‘Emily …’ Her brother stared at her in dismay. ‘That’s a bit dangerous, isn’t it? What if he finds out?’
‘You won’t tell him and I shan’t …’ Emily said, but there was a niggling doubt at the back of her mind. Amelia had guessed the truth and she just might use it if she was angry enough.
‘But that means living a lie,’ Daniel said, gazing at her uncertainly. ‘It’s a bit of a mess, Emily. You shouldn’t have lied to Vane about a thing like that … it isn’t right or fair.’
‘I didn’t lie to him. He assumed that the child was Simon’s and I didn’t tell him otherwise.’
‘It’s the same thing,’ Daniel said. ‘And it’s not like you, Emily. I wouldn’t have expected you to do something like that …’
‘Oh, don’t look at me like that,’ Emily said, stung by his words. She already felt guilty enough without his censure. ‘I know I ought to have told him, but he was just recovering from a heart attack – and Amelia begged me not to disappoint him. He had just lost his only son and I hadn’t got the heart to hurt him like that.’
‘I see …’ Daniel nodded but she could tell that he wasn’t convinced. ‘Well, it doesn’t seem like a good idea to me – but you know your own business best.’
‘I can’t tell him now. He adores Robert,’ Emily said. ‘Besides, what harm can it do?’
‘I don’t know,’ Daniel said. ‘As long as you can live with it I suppose it’s your affair.’
Emily was uncomfortably aware that he was right, but she was upset that he seemed to think it was all her fault. He hadn’t been there – he hadn’t seen the pleading look in Amelia’s eyes or the delight in Vane’s. And she’d been particularly vulnerable at the time, unable to face telling Vane that she was carrying her lover’s child.
‘Anyway, let’s forget it,’ Daniel said as she was silent. ‘I’m worried about Henry. He’s ill but he won’t admit it.’
‘Yes, I know,’ Emily agreed. ‘Mary begged him to go to the doctor this morning, but he said he was too busy.’
‘I think it will finish him when the farm goes,’ Daniel said. ‘You and Frances will lose out, Connor too.’
‘It doesn’t matter about me, and Frances is all right,’ Emily said. ‘Connor is still at school but when he leaves I’ll do what I can for him.’
‘You can’t help us all, Emily,’ Daniel said with a wry grin. ‘Besides, all that lad wants is to work on the land. He could do better for himself if he stopped on at school, went to college and earned a degree, as Frances wants him to – but he hates school and I doubt if he will stay past the end of the summer term. He would have left at fourteen if Frances had allowed it.’
‘We’ll see what happens when it comes to it,’ Emily said. ‘Actually, I do have quite a bit of money going spare, Daniel. Not enough to save the farm – but I could help you out with the garage you want.’
‘No, thanks,’ Daniel said swiftly. ‘I can manage for the time being. Cley owes me two thousand and I intend getting my money.’
‘Cley isn’t like you or Henry,’ Emily said with a frown. ‘I don’t trust him these days – and he will wriggle out of paying you if he can.’
Daniel coughed and swore beneath his breath. ‘I would have thrashed it out of him once – but I don’t think I could do it now.’
‘You will get better,’ Emily said, looking at him anxiously. ‘Alice said the hospital told her there were no lasting effects of the rotten experiences you’ve had, Dan – or was that just for her sake?’
‘No, I shall be fine once I get over this,’ Daniel said. ‘It’s the remnants of a fever I had when I was in hospital, but nothing to worry about. In a few months I shall be back to normal – but I don’t have that long to wait. I’ve told Cley I want my money now.’
Emily nodded, looking doubtful. ‘Well, I wish you good luck,’ she said. ‘But my offer still stands. If you need money come to me. I will make it a loan if you would prefer, until you are as rich as Sam Danby.’ She smiled to show that she was merely teasing. ‘Seriously, Dan. I’d like to help if I can.’
‘Thanks, love,’ Daniel said. ‘I shall remember if I’m desperate, but I had some back pay owing when I was demobbed, and that will tide us through for the moment. Alice’s father has given us some money towards the house – he promised that when we married. We’re putting down a hundred pounds and I’ll manage to pay the rest off a bit at a time. Jack Martin has offered me a gentleman’s agreement. He’s a friend of Dad’s from way back, but you might not know him?’ Emily shook her head. ‘Well, he offered and I accepted. We don’t need to go to the bank for a mortgage, because he’s the sort you can trust.’
Emily was about to say that she would lend him whatever he needed to settle his debt now, but the door opened and Mary, Henry’s wife, came in, leading Robert by the hand. She was a plump woman with dark hair, never pretty but with a smile that made you feel warm right through.
‘This young man wanted his mummy,’ she said and smiled at Emily. ‘I hope you’ve finished those books now, Emily. I’ve put the kettle on and we can all have a nice cup of tea.’
‘Yes, I’ve finished,’ Emily said and bent down to scoop Robert up in her arms. ‘And after we’ve had our tea, I think I shall take Robbie to see the calves. You would like that, wouldn’t you, my darling?’
‘Can we go now?’ Robert asked and patted his mother’s face with slightly grubby hands. ‘Want to see the bull too.’
‘Well, I’m not sure about that,’ Emily said laughing. ‘But we’ll see what Uncle Henry says later …’
‘I’m sorry, Fran darling,’ Marcus said when he came in that morning. ‘I know what I said to you last night was inexcusable – but I hope you will forgive me? I was upset about something, but I shouldn’t h
ave taken it out on you.’
He moved towards her with the intention of kissing her. Frances turned her cheek, still angry with him.
‘That was a disgusting thing you said to me last night. I am not sure I can forgive you, Marcus.’
‘I can’t remember exactly what I said.’ Marcus ran his fingers through his thick dark hair. ‘I know it must have been pretty bad for you to lock me out like that – and I do apologize. I had things on my mind, Fran …’
‘Well, let’s forget it,’ Frances said, because she didn’t want to carry on the quarrel. ‘But please don’t drink so much, Marcus. It upsets me – and it frightens me too. You’re not the same when you’ve had a lot to drink. You’re more like your father …’
‘God forbid!’ Marcus cried and there was an expression in his eyes that shocked her. ‘I’d rather be dead than turn out like him, Fran.’ He saw her startled look of surprise and laughed harshly. ‘I never did like him much – but to tell the truth I can’t stand to be near him these days. When I think of what he’s done …’
‘What has he done, Marcus?’
Marcus shook his head, his expression one of distaste. ‘You don’t want to know, Fran. Just be careful of him if he comes round when I’m not home.’
‘You don’t need to warn me about that,’ Frances said. ‘He is always giving me looks … touching me. I haven’t wanted to tell you, because I didn’t want to cause trouble between you.’
Marcus laughed again, but there was no humour in his eyes. ‘We’ve had an almighty row. I doubt if he will come round for a while – but if he upsets you again, tell me. I would rather he didn’t come, but I suppose I can’t cut him off altogether, because of Mother.’
‘Yes, all right,’ she said. ‘Are we friends again?’
‘Yes, of course. Come here, darling.’ Marcus drew her into his arms, and this time she offered her lips for his kiss. She sighed and nestled her head against his shoulder, feeling the relief flow over her. ‘I really am sorry about last night. I won’t let it happen around you again, Fran – but I can’t promise not to drink. I need it. It isn’t just what I’ve learned about Father, it’s the war … all your friends dying … the fear of waiting for the next call …’