by Anna Jacobs
Silly to be jealous of a dog, Jack thought. But he was. For all the time he had spent comforting the dratted animal while she was away, it had completely ignored him today.
As Prudence rushed into the study for a second time Gerald set down his pen and asked, ‘Well, what’s happened to them?’
She tugged at his hand. ‘We’re about to find out. Why are you still sitting there? Come and join us. From the way Emmy and Jack are looking at one another, I think there’s going to be a wedding soon.’
He held her back to warn her, ‘I’m not sure we should encourage this. It won’t be easy for them, you know. All the love in the world won’t solve the problem of Mrs Staley and the children, not to mention that other man.’ But in spite of an uneasiness he could not shake off—an unusual state of mind for such an unimaginative man - he got up and followed his wife out.
Once everyone was seated in the parlour, Emmy explained what had happened to her.
Jack took over then to say, ‘We want to get married as soon as we can, sir. Will you call the banns for us?’
‘Yes, of course. But where are you going to live?’
‘Mr Rishmore usually has a cottage or two vacant.’
‘You’re not going to live with your mother, then?’
‘No, sir. That’s not possible. She can be rather,’ he hesitated over a choice of word and settled on, ‘unreasonable about some things, including Emmy. I’ll make sure she’s all right, though.’
‘Can you afford to run two households?’ Prudence worried.
‘I have Mrs Oswald’s money,’ Emmy put in. ‘We’ll manage, Mr Bradley.’
‘I’m already twenty-one, and I’m sure Mr Butterfield will give his permission for Emmy to marry, if you need it,’ Jack added.
After a moment’s hesitation over the wisdom of this, Gerald gave in. ‘Very well, then. I’ll call the banns on Sunday for the first time and in three weeks you can get married.’
Prudence smiled as she watched the engaged couple exchange loving glances.
‘Can I stay here until then?’ Emmy asked hesitantly. ‘I’ll help in the house. I won’t be a burden.’
‘Bless you, of course you can,’ Prudence said warmly. ‘It’ll be very useful to have another pair of hands over Christmas. And while you’re here we’ll make you a pretty dress to get married in, one that you can wear for best afterwards. Three weeks will soon pass.’
‘She’d better stay close to the house,’ Jack said. ‘Armistead was in Blackburn and passed us on the road back.’
‘You saw him again today?’ Gerald asked, shocked.
‘Oh, yes. And he had that groom with him, the one who does his dirty work.’
‘Oh, dear.’ Prudence looked to her husband for guidance, but he seemed at a loss for words.
After a moment or two’s silence Jack stood up. ‘I’d better get back to the mill and find out if I still have a job.’ He turned to Emmy. ‘You won’t go out on your own? Promise me?’
She shivered. ‘I promise. But when I do go out, I’m going to hold my head up proudly.’ She looked round at them all. ‘It’s taken me a long time to realise that I’m not responsible for my mother’s sins, and from now on I’m not going to let people treat me as if I’m like her.’ She intended to follow Babs’ example and stand up for herself. It wouldn’t convince everyone, but it would make her feel better, she was sure.
Gerald did not think it would be so easy to change people’s attitudes but he said nothing to Emmy, merely called after Jack, ‘May I just have a word with you?’ In his study he asked abruptly, ‘How are you going to protect Emmy after you’re married?’
Jack sighed. ‘I don’t know yet. We may have to leave Northby altogether.’
‘I hate to say this, but that might be the best thing for all concerned.’
‘I’d do it tomorrow if it weren’t for my mother. I’ll still need to keep an eye on her and the kids, you see. She can’t manage on her own, never has been able to, and she’s not always kind to them. And there’s Meg as well. What if my sister comes back and we’re not here? She nearly starved last time she was on her own. I want to try and find her, if I can. She was that unhappy after Nelly died . . .’ His voice trailed away.
Gerald Bradley clapped him on the shoulder and watched him go. A fine young man, that. He would still have a word with Eli Makepeace about Emmy’s safety, though.
At the mill the first person Jack met crossing the yard was Mr Rishmore, who stopped and scowled at him. ‘Don’t expect to be paid for the days you’ve been away, young man!’
‘No, sir, I don’t. I’m really sorry. It was very urgent business that took me away.’
Samuel’s scowl did not lessen. ‘Business to do with that young woman, I gather? Did you find her?’
‘Yes, sir. And brought her back to stay with Parson until we can be wed.’
‘You’re a fool then. You could have had one of Butterfield’s daughters and a thousand pounds into the bargain.’
Jack gaped at him because this had never even occurred to him. He didn’t need to think about it, though. ‘I wouldn’t have been happy with Lal or Dinah - and I couldn’t have made them happy, either, sir. It’s always been Emmy for me. I just didn’t think we could work things out.’
Once, Samuel would still have believed Staley was making the wrong decision and tried to talk him out of it, but since his own daughter had run away, he had begun to wonder if some differences could not be bridged by marriage; if indeed money was not the most important thing, as he had always believed before.
As for young Armistead, he was not proving a steady business partner like his father and had tried to push Samuel into some rash decisions, one of which had been distinctly unethical. Samuel was considering severing all connection with him. Nor did Marcus seem to be regretting the disappearance of his wife. He refused to speak Jane’s name and had not made much effort to find her after the first week or two. Once, when Samuel had insisted on discussing what they would do if she returned, Marcus had said frostily that he would not have her back under his roof now or let her near their son.
But what had upset Samuel most of all was the information given him by Eli Makepeace that Marcus Armistead had a bad reputation where women were concerned. When Samuel had pressed for more details, Eli had said a friend who was an officer of the law in Manchester had told him Marcus was part-owner of a house of ill repute there. Samuel still felt appalled every time he thought of this. A gentleman simply did not get involved in immoral dealings. And when Eli had hesitated, then added that Armistead was also known to beat women, Samuel had been speechless with shock. Had he beaten Jane? Was that why she had left him?
His son-in-law had not once travelled down to Cheltenham to see his little son, so Samuel and Margaret were making plans for a trip there in the spring. His father had not believed in taking holidays, but Samuel found the idea of seeing another part of the country appealing and was studying guide books to find out what sights he might profitably see in the south while he was down there. His wife said she only wanted to see her grandson, but they could not spend all the hours of the day imposing on Eleanor Armistead.
He realised he had been standing lost in thought and that Jack was looking at him in puzzlement. ‘You’d better see if there’s a cottage free, then,’ he said gruffly and strode off towards his office.
Jack was surprised and relieved for he had not been at all sure Mr Rishmore would allow them to rent from him for all his brave words to Mr Bradley. He crossed the yard more slowly than his employer, reluctant to go indoors again after his days of freedom. After a last longing glance up at the sky, he pushed the heavy door open and went inside.
Isaac Butterfield looked up from the side office and smiled at the sight of his assistant’s happy face. ‘You found her?’
‘Yes.’ Jack explained yet again what had transpired.
‘So Armistead is still making things difficult for her,’ Isaac muttered. ‘The man must have lost his reason
to pursue her like this when she’s made it plain she doesn’t want him. Thank goodness she escaped from him last time. We must make sure he doesn’t capture her again.’
In the corridor Samuel, who had been coming to ask Isaac something, stood like someone carved from stone. Marcus was the man who had kidnapped that young woman? He stretched out his hand to push the door open, then let it fall again. He did not intend to discuss this in front of Jack. He would ask Isaac to stay behind after work and question him then.
He went back into his office, but could not settle. After fidgeting for a while, he got up and left the mill without telling anyone where he was going. He needed to find out the truth of all this.
Eli Makepeace looked up in surprise as Mr Rishmore strode unannounced into the small building that was used as lock-up, police station and magistrate’s court. From the millowner’s expression something was very wrong.
‘We need to talk in private,’ Samuel declared. As soon as Eli had closed the door of his office he said, ‘I need to know - was my son-in-law the one responsible for kidnapping Emmy Carter?’
Eli stared at the town’s most influential citizen, chewed one corner of his lip and wondered how much he dared say.
As if he had read the other man’s mind, Samuel added, ‘I want to know the full truth and I think you’re the best one to tell me.’ He grimaced. ‘You should have said something sooner, man.’
‘It’s just that I have no real proof, sir.’ In measured tones, Eli went through the information he had gathered.
Samuel’s expression became increasingly grim as the facts, deductions and theories were laid before him. ‘The housemaid was absolutely certain sure that Marcus had beaten my daughter?’
Eli nodded, feeling sorry for the millowner. He himself had seen Jane Rishmore on her wedding day and had never forgotten how unhappy she’d looked.
‘If even half of this is true, I’ll never forgive myself for forcing her to marry such a monster,’ Samuel said in a voice that cracked as he spoke. He covered his eyes with his right hand for a moment as guilt flooded through him. It seemed to him now that he had deliberately looked the other way about this, ignoring his wife’s hints that ‘poor, dear Jane has a lot to put up with’, ignoring even the evidence of his own eyes. He would regret this until the day he died. ‘If only I could find Jane,’ he muttered at last, his voice thick with emotion. ‘What if she’s in want? She could come back and live with us. I’d protect her.’
‘Better not try to find her yet, sir,’ Eli said gently. ‘The law would be on the husband’s side unless anything were proven.’
‘But surely we can . . .’
‘At the moment we can prove nothing. As I’ve pointed out, these are mostly my deductions and suppositions. I believe them to be true, but they wouldn’t hold up in court. And if we said anything, we’d alert Armistead to the fact that we suspect him, whereas if we keep our suspicions to ourselves, he may grow careless. You can be sure I’ll be ready for that. In the meantime you must act normally with him.’
‘Act normally with him! How can I, now?’
‘You have to, for Emmy Carter’s sake.’
Samuel stared down at his tightly clasped hands for so long that Eli wondered if he was all right.
When he looked up, he said slowly, ‘Eli, I’m truly grateful for your honesty today.’
‘It was more than time we had a chat, sir. I’m worried about Emmy Carter coming back to Northby. If Armistead is still obsessed with her, she’s in great danger and Jack Staley can’t be with her every hour of the day.’
After work Jack made his way home with the greatest reluctance. His mother glared at him. ‘You’re back then.’
‘Yes.’
When he didn’t say anything else, Netta smirked. ‘I knew you wouldn’t find her. She’ll have getten hersen another protector by now.’
‘I did find her, and brought her back to stay with Parson.’
She began to clatter some dishes around, muttering, ‘Well, at least you haven’t brought her here, that’s one relief.’
Shad, Ginny and Joe, who were sitting at the table, stopped eating to stare from their mother to their elder brother.
Jack glanced at them and saw that Ginny, who was always soft-hearted, had an anxious look on her face while Joey was huddled close to his sister. Shad winked at Jack, an expression of sympathy on his face. He never said much, but didn’t miss much, either, and the look he cast at their mother was distinctly unfriendly.
Jack took a deep breath. Might as well get it over. ‘I’m happy to tell you all that Emmy and I are getting wed as soon as the banns have been called and you’re all invited to the wedding.’
A plate smashed to the ground. ‘No! You can’t do it!’ his mother exclaimed shrilly, heedless of the shards of pottery around her. ‘If you bring her back here, I’ll walk out of the door and throw myself in the river.’
Anger rose in Jack as he suddenly remembered old quarrels between his mother and father. She had used such stupid threats then until in the end his father had laughed at them - and her. ‘Go and do it, then,’ he snapped. ‘I shan’t stop you!’
She put one hand up to her throat, opened her mouth then closed it again.
‘Can we really come to the wedding?’ Shad asked.
Jack turned to him. ‘Of course you can, lad. In fact, I want you all there.’
Netta found her voice. ‘They’ll not!’
‘How will you stop them, Mam?’
‘I’ll tear up their clothes afore I’ll let them.’
He stared at her, aghast, realising this was the sort of threat she would carry out. She had once ripped up one of Meg’s bodices because she said it was indecent. ‘Right then, we’d better settle a few matters. Is there food for me?’
His mother nodded sullenly.
‘Then serve it. And afterwards, leave washing the dishes. I’ve other things to tell you. I’m not having any more of these stupid threats of yours. You drove Meg away, always nagging her. You’re not doing that to these three or to my Emmy.’ Jack sat down and folded his arms.
The others finished their meal in silence. His mother pushed her food around her plate, then shoved it away from her and muttered something.
Afterwards Ginny stood up to clear the table, glancing anxiously towards her mother who was now weeping silently.
Jack said gently, ‘Sit down again, Ginny love.’
His mother stood up. He’d seen that trick before, too. ‘You as well!’ he roared. ‘Or I’ll bloody well tie you down.’ He sounded just like his father. He knew now why Jem had shouted a lot, by hell he did.
‘Emmy’s in trouble. Bad trouble. A rich man wants to use her like her mother and has already tried to kidnap her. Only she doesn’t want him, she wants to marry me, and that’s what we’re going to do.’
‘Let him have her, Jack. You can’t afford to get on the wrong side of someone with money,’ Netta begged.
He was sickened by her selfishness. ‘How can you say that?’
She stared back at him defiantly. ‘Because I’m thinking of you.’
‘Well, I’m looking forward to the wedding,’ Shad said. ‘And if Mam lays a finger on any of my clothes, I’ll rip hers up for her in return.’
Ginny gave Jack a shy smile. ‘Your Emmy’s lovely. I’ve seen her in town.’ She looked nervously at her mother, then, in response to a nudge from Shad, said in a rush, ‘I’d like to come to the wedding.’
Joey looked from one to the other, bewildered by the anger that was crackling between Jack and their mother.
Shad continued to talk quietly. ‘I’m right glad for you too, Jack lad. And with what me an’ Ginny earn, you won’t have to give Mam much. If you can pay the rent here, I reckon we could manage the rest all right.’
With a sob, Netta rushed upstairs.
Jack looked at his brother gratefully. ‘Thanks for your support, lad.’ He smiled at them all. ‘An’ Mam can do as she pleases, but I want you three to come a
nd meet Emmy properly after church on Sunday.’
‘Is she as nice as she looks?’ Ginny ventured.
‘She’s the kindest, prettiest lass in the world,’ he said, a besotted smile on his face at the mere thought of his darling.
After Jack’s return, Isaac thought long and hard, before deciding that he must see his niece. It was more than time she knew the truth about her parentage.
He was admitted to the Parsonage and was allowed to see Emmy on her own. ‘Are you all right, my dear?’
‘Yes.’ Her face looked soft and happy. ‘You know that Jack and I are going to be married?’ She indicated that he should sit beside her on the sofa.
‘He told me. I’m pleased for you.’
Her joyful expression clouded a little. ‘We have to hope that Marcus Armistead will stop pursuing me.’
‘He cannot be so stupid as to continue now that people know about him.’
She was not sure of that, but she did not intend to let fear of Marcus stop her marrying the man she loved. ‘What did you want to see me about?’
‘Your father.’
She stiffened and drew away from him. ‘I don’t want to know about him.’
‘It’s more than time. Please listen to me. You remember the man who came to your mother’s funeral?’
‘Mr Reynolds, the lawyer?’
‘Yes. Well, he’s also your uncle.’
She stared at him in shock. ‘Why did he not say?’
Isaac shrugged. ‘The Reynolds wanted nothing more to do with you and your mother after your father’s death.’ As she opened her mouth, looking angry now, he held up one hand. ‘Let me finish. Your mother was married to your father, though she did not marry him for several months after they ran away together, which upset both families. I believe he married her because she was expecting his child - and of course that child was you. So your name is really Emmeline Reynolds and—’
‘No! I want nothing to do with them. Nor will I ever take their name.’