by Lyn Andrews
Emily cast a consoling look at Miss Nesta as she closed the door. Miss Nesta was full of surprises for a lady from such a sheltered background. The whole episode would keep the family amused for weeks, she thought.
Chapter Fifteen
DESPITE JAKE’S OFFER TO ‘stand by her’, Phoebe-Ann decided she’d tell her family alone. Jake had promised to buy her a ring, an expensive ring, in New York and she hoped that she could make them understand that Jake had changed. Also things may not deteriorate into a full-scale row if he wasn’t beside her. She’d manage better on her own, she told him.
Before he’d sailed they’d gone to look for rooms, but she’d been disappointed with the ones offered until Alice’s mother unwittingly provided the solution by telling her that old Mrs Garner had gone to live with her daughter and that, if anyone got in quick, they would have a good little house. ‘Got its own privy an’ wash house,’ Mrs Wainwright had told a very bored Alice but a very interested Phoebe-Ann.
Phoebe-Ann hadn’t even bothered to go and see the house, instead Jake had given her the money and she’d gone straight to the landlord and, by lunch time that day, number fourteen Florist Street was hers and Jake’s.
Her spirits had lifted when she’d gone to see it and planned how she could transform it. It wouldn’t cost a fortune, she told Jake. A lick of paint, and Great Homer Street market was a wonderful place to pick up things cheap and nice pieces of second-hand furniture could be had from pawn shops. By the end of the day she was in high spirits as she kissed him goodbye at the landing stage.
‘Oh, it will be wonderful, Jake.’
He held her close, unable to believe his luck. He’d gone along with all her proposals for the house and his admiration of her had increased, as had his pride. He’d be someone to be reckoned with. A nice place of his own, all done up and kept spick and span and a smart wife to boot. Of course they’d all jeer at him going ‘posh’ but to hell with them! For the first time in his life he’d have respect. People would look at him when he came home from sea or when he took Phoebe-Ann out and they’d nudge each other and say ‘There’s Mr Malone with his wife. Nice, respectable couple they are.’ Yes, Phoebe-Ann had given him much more than just her love.
‘Just wait until they all see the ring I’m going to get you Phoebe-Ann. It will make your eyes stand out.’
‘’Ere! Lover-boy! Get yer skates on or the Chief will ’ave yer guts fer garters!’ Vinny Malone shouted as the usual crowd of last-minute drinkers rushed out of the Stile House and towards the waiting liner whose stentorian whistle blasts fortunately drowned out the rest of Vinny’s remarks.
‘Bye, Jake! Take care!’ Phoebe-Ann called after him.
‘You’ve put me ma in a right black mood,’ Vinny complained as they made their way up the crew gangway.
‘Tough shit! We’ve just been an’ put down the rent on a house an’ we’re goin’ to get married when I get back. So, tell ’er to stuff that in her bleedin’ old pipe and smoke it!’
‘Jesus! She’ll murder yez!’
‘Aye, an’ you an’ all ’cos you’re goin’ to be me best man and just because I’m givin’ you that honour, you can lend me the money for the ring. In fact, you can all chip in, seein’ as you’re so lucky gettin’ a girl with a bit of class for a sister-in-law. That rent money nearly cleaned me out but she was set on it.’
‘What rent money?’ Peader asked, catching the last of Jake’s words.
‘’E’s goin’ to marry that judy from Lonsdale Street. Wants me to be best man. Wants us all to lend him a few bob towards the ring, she’s just cleaned ’im out.’
‘You bleedin’ eejit! She’ll bleed yer dry if yer let ’er! I’ve met ’er sort before!’
Jake lunged at him. ‘Don’t you talk about Phoebe-Ann like that!’
‘Oh, for God’s sake don’t you lot start before you’re even on board! Get below before I have to dock your pay!’ the Master-at-Arms yelled at them.
‘Don’t expect us all ter come round callin’ on yer. You’ll be lucky if me ma lets us go to the weddin’!’ Franny stated.
Jake aimed a blow at him. ‘Listen to Mammy’s baby! Shit-scared of his own shadow!’ he jeered.
Franny Malone lashed out at him but Peader and Vinny pulled them apart. ‘We’ll none of us ’ave any bloody money if you two don’t pack it in!’
Phoebe-Ann watched until the tugs had the Mauretania well out into the river, then she turned away to make her way home. Some of her enthusiasm had waned, she thought, as she got off the tram and began to walk up towards Lonsdale Street. Then she brightened when she thought of the house in Florist Street. That would show Mam that she really did mean to get married and that she didn’t care whether they approved of Jake or not.
In a way she was glad that everyone was at home when she walked in.
Emily smiled at her. ‘You’ve been up to something, Fee. You’ve got that look on your face.’
‘I’ve got something to tell you all.’
Albert and Jack stopped mid-conversation. Jimmy put down the Echo and Lily wiped her hands on her apron.
‘What is it? Out with it?’
‘Our Emily’s not the only one who’s getting married. I am.’
‘What!’ Lily was so surprised she dropped the spoon into the teapot along with the tea.
‘And I’ve got a house of my own, in Florist Street.’
‘Just hold on a minute, miss! Start at the beginning. Just who are you going to marry?’
Phoebe-Ann looked around at the curious faces and prayed for courage. She took a deep breath. ‘Jake Malone.’
The silence was deafening.
‘Well, say something?’ she pleaded.
Lily sat down. ‘I didn’t hear that right, did I? Someone tell me I must have misunderstood?’
‘No, Mam, you didn’t.’
Something inside Lily snapped. ‘Phoebe-Ann, you can’t mean that you’ve been going around with the . . . that blackguard? How long has this been going on?’
Phoebe-Ann held her ground. ‘I love him, Mam, and he’s not like . . .’
The rest of her words were cut off by Lily’s hysterical laughter. ‘You love him! You love that drunken, worthless, useless sot! No-one but that old battleaxe of a mother could love him! Have you seen the state of them? Never sober! Have you seen the state of the house and her!’
‘Yes, Mam, I have and I hate her but you’re wrong about Jake.’
‘Phoebe-Ann, you’re not serious? They’re hooligans and villains of the first order! They’ve got the whole of Mona Street terrified of them!’ Jack yelled.
‘You won’t even let me explain about Jake!’
‘You’re right! He doesn’t need any explaining, the whole bloody neighbourhood can “explain” about Jake Malone!’ Jimmy cried. ‘You’re not going to disgrace us all by marrying the likes of him!’ Jimmy’s fist crashed down on the table, making the cups clatter.
‘I am! I am going to marry him!’
‘Your da would disown you and so will I if you go on with this!’ Lily cried.
‘Why can’t you give us a chance? Jake isn’t like the rest of them!’
‘I don’t want to hear his name again!’ Lily yelled at her.
‘I didn’t expect you to be happy about it but at least . . .’
‘Happy! I’d be happier if you were dead rather than married to him!’ Lily interrupted.
‘Phoebe-Ann, don’t you think you should give this thing more thought? It’s a big step marriage, to anyone, but someone like him, you can’t really know him.’ Albert’s voice was the calmest and Phoebe-Ann turned to him.
‘I do know him! I’ve been seeing him for ages and I have thought about it.’
‘Dear God in heaven! Why didn’t someone tell me? Why hasn’t someone seen them together and warned me weeks ago?’ Lily groaned, before jumping to her feet, sparks of anger glittering in her eyes. ‘Oh, I can see it all now! You’ve been up to your tricks again, haven’t you? You’ve been lyi
ng to me! You haven’t been at Alice Wainwright’s, you’ve been out with him! You’ve been parading around the town hanging on the arm of Jake Malone! Oh, God help us all!’ Lily burst into tears. Her worst fears had been realized. She’d always prayed that Phoebe-Ann would never let her pretty, naive little head be turned by some useless ‘no mark’. Now it had happened. Phoebe-Ann was so trusting she’d believe anything. She’d obviously got carried away by her daydreams and the fact that her sister had got engaged. Jake Malone! Satan himself couldn’t be much worse than any of the Malones!
Albert rushed to comfort her.
‘You listen to me our Phoebe-Ann! If I see you with him I’ll break every bone in his body, I swear I will!’ Jack yelled. He had no intention of becoming the butt of numerous jokes or pitying glances from the regulars of the Grecian.
‘And I’ll help him!’ Jimmy added and for the same reasons.
‘Stop it! Stop it!’ Phoebe-Ann placed her hands over her ears and burst into tears.
Emily hadn’t said a word, she was too shocked, but now, seeing both her mother and sister in floods of tears, she moved towards Phoebe-Ann. The habit of protecting her younger sister instinctive. ‘Stop yelling, all of you!’
‘Oh, Em! You understand, don’t you?’ Phoebe-Ann pleaded.
‘No. I don’t.’
Lily threw off Albert’s comforting and restraining embrace. ‘You see, even your sister is shocked but she still protects you! Your poor sister who was raped because of your stupidity! Now you’re consorting with trash and you’re too dense to see where it will all lead or maybe you don’t care about hurting us all again!’ Lily screamed, too angry to care if her words were like blows.
‘You’ve always blamed me for that, mam, haven’t you? You’ve never forgiven me! It wasn’t my fault but you never believed me! You never believed me!’
‘Why should I when all you ever do is lie to me?’
‘I haven’t lied to you. I was at Alice’s, except when Jake was home.’
‘Don’t you dare to even speak his name in this house, Phoebe-Ann Parkinson!’ Lily was beside herself with rage and sorrow.
Phoebe-Ann broke down again while Emily looked around in despair. ‘Come upstairs with me,’ she urged her sister.
Albert was again holding his sobbing wife but she broke away from him. ‘If she’s going through with this then she’s not staying in this house for another minute! I don’t care where she goes, she can live on the streets for all I care! If she won’t give him up then she goes and what’s more she’ll be no daughter of mine!’
Phoebe-Ann tore herself away from Emily. ‘I don’t care! I don’t care what any of you say, I love him and I’m going to marry him and one day you’ll be sorry!’
‘It will be you who’ll be sorry! You’ll have a terrible life with him and don’t say I haven’t warned you!’
‘Lily, Lily love! Calm down!’ Albert cried.
‘I’m going! I’m not staying here. I hate you all!’ and wrenching open the door Phoebe-Ann ran out.
Emily cast a despairing look at her stepfather. He nodded and she ran after her sister, catching Phoebe-Ann at the back gate.
‘Fee! Fee, wait!’
‘Oh, Em! What can I do? What can I do?’ Phoebe-Ann’s cheeks were tear-stained.
‘You can give him up,’ Emily said quietly.
‘I love him! He’s not like Mam says he is! The others might be but he’s not. Oh, Em, he’s so good to me and he idolizes me!’
‘Oh, why him?’ Emily groaned.
‘I don’t know. Why do you love Edwin?’
Emily held her sister in her arms. She was shocked and upset that Phoebe-Ann had chosen to marry into the worst family in the whole neighbourhood but Phoebe-Ann was terribly upset and terribly determined. ‘Oh, Fee! What will you do?’
Phoebe-Ann tried to pull herself together. ‘I’ll go to Alice’s. Mrs Wainwright will let me stay there until Jake comes home.’
‘You really do mean it. You love him.’
‘You don’t think I’d go through all this if I didn’t, do you?’
Emily felt defeated. Utterly defeated. Phoebe-Ann had always been naive but this! To tear the family apart and for someone like Jake Malone. It was beyond belief. ‘Oh, Fee! You poor little fool.’
Phoebe-Ann wiped her eyes on the back of her hand. ‘You won’t desert me, Em, will you?’
‘You know I won’t, but please think about it, Fee! Think about all it means.’
‘I have. I know what I’m doing. I’d better go now.’ She released herself from Emily’s arms. ‘I’ll be at Alice’s if anyone . . . needs me.’
Emily watched her open the yard door and her heart was heavy. What kind of a life was Phoebe-Ann letting herself in for? She was like a pretty butterfly but she fervently prayed her glory would last longer than a day.
Phoebe-Ann turned. ‘Will you do something for me?’
‘You know I will, if I can.’
‘Will you come to my wedding and be my bridesmaid?’
Mam would be furious but she couldn’t let Phoebe-Ann be alone on what should be the happiest day in any girl’s life. She nodded. ‘Of course I will but I’ll have to keep it a secret.’
The yard door closed and Emily leaned her forehead against it, the tears falling down her cheeks. Was it always to be thus, she wondered? Twice Phoebe-Ann had managed, unwittingly, to turn her life upside down. Firstly with what she believed had been innocent conversations with James Mercer and now by her determination to marry a man who was reviled by everyone, a determination that had torn apart a happy family. Still her heart bled for her sister and she prayed that Jake Malone had changed and that he appreciated what Phoebe-Ann was giving up for him.
Twice Emily had tried to broach the subject with Lily but each time she had been cut short by her mother’s bitter words. Phoebe-Ann had chosen between decency and a loving family and a no-good drunkard and Lily wouldn’t hear her name mentioned in the house. Even Albert had turned a deaf ear to all her pleadings for he was angry that Phoebe-Ann was causing Lily so much anguish.
She went to see Phoebe-Ann at Alice’s, taking her sister’s clothes. But it was a strained, uneasy meeting and Phoebe-Ann was immovable in her determination. On her way out Mrs Wainwright had taken her aside.
‘I’ve tried to talk to her, Emily, but it’s no use . . . ’E’s a drunkard an’ worse, they all are. But she just won’t ’ave it. Even our Alice can’t make ’er see sense. I couldn’t see her walking the streets with nowhere to go, could I? I ’ope your mam won’t hold that against me.’
‘No. I think she’s really relieved you took her in, Mrs Wainwright. She’s just praying Phoebe-Ann will change her mind.’
‘Your poor mam must be heart-scalded. Tell her I was askin’ for her an’ Phoebe-Ann’s fine here.’
She’d thanked the woman, who meant well.
All the joy Phoebe-Ann had felt before Jake had sailed had evaporated and with it all her bravado. She felt alone and friendless. Even Alice and her mother thought she was mad. Why couldn’t they just have given him a chance?
When he finally arrived home with a beautiful ring, the sight of her face told him what had happened even before he had to ask.
‘To hell with the lot of them! We don’t need them. We’re happy. Look, put this on and we’ll go and see the minister or priest or whatever he’s called. Fix up a date.’
‘I didn’t think it would be that bad, Jake. I really didn’t. It was awful. Everyone yelling and screaming at me, except our Emily, and Mam throwing me out.’
‘You’ve not changed your mind, have you?’
‘No. No, of course not.’
‘That’s my girl.’
‘It’s just that . . .’
‘What?’
‘It doesn’t seem so bad for you.’ She thought it grossly unfair that she had borne the brunt of the upset.
‘Don’t bet on it. Me ma’s already got our Seamus, Peader and Franny on her side. I’ve only got
our Vinny. He told her to sod off, that he’d do what he liked and if he wanted to be my best man and in a Proddy church, she wasn’t going to stop him.’
Phoebe-Ann sighed heavily. So, it wasn’t just her family, although she really didn’t care very much about the rest of the Malones.
‘Let’s go and see the vicar, is that what he’s called?’
She smiled. ‘Yes. You just call him Mr Laird, not Father Laird.’
‘And we won’t tell any of them when it’s to be so they can’t spoil it. Except our Vinny of course.’
‘And our Emily. She said she’d be my bridesmaid.’
‘There you are then. They’ll all come round in the end, see if they don’t.’
She didn’t care if Ma Malone never ‘came round’ but she cared deeply that her mam would.
‘Can I see Phoebe-Ann please, Mrs Wainwright?’ Rhys asked, looking imploringly at the woman. He knew he was a fool to even have come but he was so shocked and disturbed that to have done nothing to try to stop Phoebe-Ann was unthinkable. He wondered how he’d not heard of it in the stokehold but then he ignored the Malones and went out of his way to avoid Jake.
Mrs Wainwright tactfully took Alice’s arm and steered her towards the scullery on the pretext of a mountain of dirty pots and dishes that would need their combined efforts to render clean. It would also give the excuse of clattering them loudly to cover the sound of any arguments.
‘I suppose you’ve come to look down your nose at me and say I’m mad?’ Phoebe-Ann snapped, openly hostile to him.
Rhys shook his head. Until he’d seen her he’d hoped he could succeed where the others had failed, but as he took in the set lips, the jutting chin and the defiance in her eyes he knew his mission was impossible. ‘No. I came to say that . . . that I still love you Phoebe-Ann and I always will.’ He twisted his cap between his hands, fighting down the urge to take her in his arms and kiss her until all thoughts of Jake Malone were obliterated.