by Kitty Neale
Mavis suddenly paused. She’d never have to do this again. She was going to be married, would stay at home with Mrs Pugh, and on that thought she brightened. It was going to be lovely, but she wouldn’t tell her mother yet. She’d wait until Alec had proposed, something he’d be doing later. He might not be the man in her dreams, but Mrs Pugh was right, he was kind, caring, and she had seen that in his concern for his mother.
Edith waited impatiently for Alec to come home, and when he did she said, ‘At last. Sit down, Alec, I want to talk to you.’
‘What is it, Mother? You look agitated. Are you all right?’
‘I’ve had a bit of bad news and I’m rather upset.’
‘Bad news?’ Alec repeated as he took a seat opposite.
‘Mavis is leaving us, moving out of the area.’
‘What! When?’
‘On Saturday, and, oh, Alec, I’m going to miss her so much. I know Mavis is young, but she’s become so much more than our cleaner and I’m so fond of her.’
‘I know you are. This is all a bit sudden. Do you know why she’s moving?’
‘Yes, it’s because of her mother. Lily Jackson has been having an affair with another man, and she’s going to live with him. Of course, her name is now mud around here so she’s moving to Peckham. Mavis is dreadfully upset about it. She had to give me notice this morning and the poor girl was in tears. I’m going to be lost without her, Alec. Mavis has become like a part of the family and I’ll never be able to replace her.’
‘Of course you will.’
‘No, and I don’t think I’ll even bother to try.’
‘Mother, you’ll have to. You know you can’t manage on your own.’
Edith decided that now was the time to move things forward and asked, ‘Alec, do you like Mavis?’
‘Yes, of course I do.’
‘She likes you too and I wouldn’t have to find someone else if you marry her.’
‘Marry her! Mother, don’t be silly. I hardly know the girl.’
‘Alec, I’ve seen the way you look at her.’
‘All right, I’ll admit Mavis is pretty, but she’s only sixteen.’
‘You’re only eight years older and a young wife would be perfect. Mavis is innocent, untouched and, unlike a lot of other girls nowadays, she isn’t flighty.’
‘Maybe, but without getting to know her better, I can hardly ask her to marry me.’
‘Darling, I know it’s very quick, but as she’s moving away on Saturday, there’s hardly time for courting.’
Alec abruptly stood up and shaking his head he said, ‘No, this is ridiculous. I’m going to change for dinner,’ but then he paused. ‘Anyway, Mother, what makes you think that Mavis would agree to marry me?’
Once again, as with Mavis, Edith had the lie ready. ‘Because I’ve seen the way she looks at you too. Trust me, Mavis more than likes you and if you don’t do something about it now, you’ll lose her.’
‘I think it’s you who’s more worried about losing her,’ he said, about to leave the room.
‘Alec, wait,’ Edith appealed. ‘All right, I’ll admit I dread Mavis leaving, but can’t you see how ideal the marriage would be? You said I can no longer cope on my own, and I know you’re right, that my condition will only get worse. If you marry Mavis, I’ll have someone here to look after me permanently, and, though I hate to say it, someone who can take over the burden of looking after you too.’
Alec looked shocked and bewildered as he sat down again. ‘You see me as a burden?’
‘Darling, don’t look at me like that. No, burden was the wrong word. You could never be that, but I worry so much. I know the time will come when I won’t be able to cook for you, to do anything for you, and when that time comes, what will happen? I hate the thought that it is I who would be the burden, that unless you put me into some sort of care home, you’d have to give up work to look after me.’
‘Oh, Mother.’
‘Alec, I know this has all come as a bit of a shock, but surely you can see that my suggestion is the perfect answer for all of us?’
Alec didn’t answer straightaway, but then he nodded slowly. ‘Yes, I suppose it makes sense, but I can’t do it, Mother.’
‘Why not?’
‘For all the reasons I’ve already mentioned, and not only that, despite what you say, I don’t think Mavis will want to marry me. If I ask her I’ll just make a complete fool of myself.’
‘No, you won’t, darling. Mavis will say yes, I’m sure of it.’
‘How can you be so sure?’
‘Oh, dear, this is rather difficult and Mavis would be shattered if she found out I’d told you…’ Edith left the sentence unfinished.
‘Told me what?’
‘Alec, I can’t tell you unless you promise that you’ll never mention this conversation to Mavis.’
‘All right, I promise. Now what did she tell you?’
‘It feels awful breaking her confidence, but I have your promise so Mavis need never know. I told you that Mavis was in tears when she gave notice this morning, but what I didn’t tell you was that she was crying at the thought of never seeing you again.’
‘What! No, Mother, I can’t believe that. Mavis has never given any indication that she cares a fig about me.’
‘Mavis is dreadfully shy, and she’s been made to feel worthless. As she said to me, someone like you would never be interested in her.’
‘She said that!’
‘Yes, my dear, she thinks the world of you, but, as I said, all this was told to me in confidence. Mavis has been hiding her feelings from you, and even from me, but I had my suspicions.’
‘I can hardly believe this. You really do think she wants to marry me?’
‘Yes, my dear, and think what a lovely wife she’d be.’
Alec was quiet then, deep in thought, but at last he said, ‘Yes, she would, and as you say, it would be nice to know that you have someone here all day to look after you.’
‘Does this mean you’re going to ask her to marry you?’
‘Yes, I think I will.’
‘Alec, that’s wonderful,’ Edith enthused. ‘Now then, dear, go and get changed while I see to our dinner. Mavis is coming round later and it will be the perfect opportunity to propose.’
‘What! But I’ve hardly got my head around this yet.’
‘I know, but as Mavis is moving on Saturday she must have a lot to do. This may be the last time she’ll call round in the evenings, and unless you propose now you’ll never see her again.’
‘Never see her again,’ Alec echoed, now looking less than pleased at the idea. ‘I hadn’t thought of that. All right, Mother, I’ll speak to her this evening.’
When Alec left the room, Edith struggled to her feet. She was ecstatic. Her plans had come to fruition, and though it was earlier than she’d anticipated, the timing was in fact ideal. It was getting to be more and more of a struggle to cope, but with Mavis there to care for her full time, she no longer had to worry. Of course, Mavis would still have to tell her mother, but Edith wasn’t worried about that. Lily Jackson was moving in with another man and no doubt she’d be glad to get rid of the girl.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Alec found that he had little appetite and as he washed up the dishes his nerves were jangling. Mavis was so young, so beautiful, and he could hardly believe that she was interested in him. He knew he wasn’t much to look at, especially after his one encounter with a girl who’d cheated on him. She had denied it, of course, but then she’d mocked him, saying he was a boring, stuffy, mummy’s boy.
In the office he often heard the girls giggling about their latest antics or boyfriends. One minute they were in love, the next minute it was over, usually because someone with better prospects came along. They were all so empty-headed, only interested in fashions, make-up and the latest music trends. They swooned over Dickie Valentine, Jimmy Young, and now someone called Tennessee Ernie Ford who’d had a hit record in March. Of course, once someon
e with another big hit came along, the country singer was out—their taste in music, along with men, fickle.
At least Mavis was different, Alec mused. She wasn’t out gallivanting at night, but instead she came round here to see his mother for reading lessons and to him that was commendable. He now knew that he’d been wrong in his original assessment of Mavis. Even though there hadn’t yet been any progress in her lessons, she wasn’t backward, but it had taken his mother’s research on word blindness to bring that to light.
When there was a knock on the door at eight o’clock it felt to Alec that his stomach turned a somersault, and nervously he said, ‘Mother, I don’t think I can do this. I’m sure you misunderstood. Mavis may like me, but I doubt she’ll want to marry me.’
‘Alec, she will, I promise you. Now then, the two of you need to be alone. Let Mavis in and take her to the living room.’
‘Oh, Mother.’
‘For goodness sake, Alec, you can’t leave Mavis standing on the step. Do get a move on.’
With reluctance, Alec went to answer the door, finding as he let Mavis in that he couldn’t speak without stammering. ‘Er…er, come in, Mavis. Let…let me take your coat and then you can go on through to the living room.’
‘Th…thanks.’
Alec found his eyebrows rising. Mavis looked pink-cheeked and sounded equally nervous, but, as she had no idea that he was going to propose, he didn’t know why. ‘Are you all right?’
‘Yes…yes, I’m fine.’
‘That’s good,’ Alec said as he took her coat to hang up in the downstairs closet. ‘As I said, go on through.’
Mavis was perched on the edge of the sofa when Alec walked in, her eyes avoiding his as she said, ‘Where…where’s your mother?’
‘In the kitchen, but I want to speak to you alone, Mavis.’
‘You do?’
‘My mother tells me that you’re moving out of the area.’
‘Yes, that’s right.’
‘She’s going to miss you, and…and I will too.’
At last Mavis’s eyes briefly met his, her cheeks still pink as she asked, ‘You…you will?’
Mavis looked so nervous, so vulnerable, that it suddenly infused Alec with courage. ‘Yes, very much, and I don’t want you to go.’
‘I don’t want to go either, but I haven’t any choice.’
Her words opened the opportunity that Alec needed and he moved swiftly to kneel in front of her. ‘But you have, Mavis. You could stay here…marry me.’
Mavis’s answer was equally swift. ‘Yes, all right.’
Alec had expected surprise, shock—certainly not an immediate answer. He sat back on his heels, stunned. ‘You…you’ll marry me?’
‘Yes, Alec.’
Her beautiful, large blue eyes suddenly filled with moisture and Alec scrambled to sit beside her on the sofa. He hadn’t expected tears of happiness, and he wonderingly pulled Mavis into his arms. ‘Oh, Mavis, I can’t believe you said yes.’
She was stiff, rigid in his embrace, and Alec was at first puzzled, but then remembering how innocent she was, how untouched, he gently said, ‘It’s wonderful to hold you. May…may I kiss you too?’
Mavis seemed to relax a little and as she drew back Alec saw that her eyes were closed, her lips comically pursed. He smiled, feeling a surge of happiness and satisfaction. It was obvious that Mavis had never been kissed; he would be the first to do even that, and briefly he laid his lips on hers. Yes, he’d kissed a girl before, held one, but that was all. He too was a virgin, but now that Mavis had agreed to be his wife that was going to change. Alec felt a stirring in his loins.
For a moment Alec was tempted to drag her into his arms again, but somehow held back. Mavis was so young, so skittish, and he didn’t want to frighten her off. Until she was officially his wife, he would have to be gentle, but God, he could hardly wait for their wedding night.
‘Come on,’ he said. ‘Let’s go and tell Mother.’
Mavis nodded, her face still pink as they went into the kitchen where Alec saw his mother smiling with anticipation. ‘We have something to tell you,’ he said as though she’d been unaware he had just proposed. ‘It might come as a bit of a surprise, but Mavis has just agreed to marry me.’
‘How lovely!’ she cried. ‘Have you decided on a date?’
Perplexed, Alec shook his head. ‘Well, no, not yet, but soon I hope.’
‘Mavis is moving on Saturday, and it can’t be arranged before then, even at a registry office.’
‘Oh, no, that means I’ll still have to go to Peckham.’
‘I know my dear, and with you so far away, I doubt you’ll be able to see much of each other. Perhaps just weekends.’
‘Mother, there must be something we can do.’
‘The only thing I can think of is that Mavis stays here with us until the wedding can be arranged. However, it isn’t really appropriate and her mother might not agree.’
‘God, her mother! She might not even agree to the marriage.’
‘Of course she will, Alec, why wouldn’t she? In fact, why don’t you take Mavis home now and you can officially ask for her daughter’s hand in marriage? You can also tell Mrs Jackson that Mavis can remain with us until the service is arranged, but assure her that nothing untoward will happen and that I will personally see to that.’
‘Yes, yes, all right,’ Alec said. His mother seemed to have a ready answer for everything and he wondered now if she had worked just about everything out in advance. It wouldn’t surprise him, and maybe he should feel annoyed at her interference, yet when he glanced at Mavis he couldn’t feel anything but happiness. He hadn’t planned on marriage yet, but now this lovely girl was going to be his wife, and along with that he wouldn’t have to worry about his mother’s illness any more. Mavis would look after his mother, and she would no longer have to worry about being a burden as her illness progressed.
‘Come on, Alec, run along now, and, Mavis, I can’t tell you how happy this has made me.’
Mavis looked reluctant to leave, her voice hesitant as she said, ‘Maybe it would be better if I spoke to my mother first.’
‘No, my dear, it’s only proper that Alec speaks to her, and, anyway, I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about. Your mother will be as pleased as I am.’
Alec hoped she was right, but then she usually was about most things. They both said goodbye, but Alec found himself increasingly nervous as they walked to Cullen Street.
He reached out to take Mavis’s hand, clutching it tightly, finding his equally gripped in return. She was nervous too, but surely they had nothing to worry about?
Mavis was feeling sick inside as she walked home with Alec. She had agreed to marry him, but deep down there were still doubts. She should be happy, but instead felt lost and alone. Alec had reached out to take her hand and she had found herself clutching his as though her life depended on it. She had smiled at him and he had smiled back as he held her hand a little tighter. It was then that it hit Mavis. She would be dependent on this man. He would be her husband; she would be living with him, sleeping in the same bed as him, and the thought made her blush. What would it be like? She shivered as they turned into Cullen Street. But the thought of sleeping with Alec evaporated when she saw Tommy Wilson walking towards them.
Tommy frowned as he drew closer, his eyes on their clutched hands. ‘Hello, Mavis.’
‘Hello, Tommy. Th…this is Alec,’ and then she found herself blurting out, ‘We’re getting married.’
‘What! Married! Bloody hell, the grapevine missed out on that one. I didn’t even hear that you were courting. What is it? A shotgun wedding?’
Alec stiffened, answering for her. ‘It most certainly isn’t,’ he snapped. ‘Come on, Mavis, let’s go.’
‘Yes, run along, Mavis,’ Tommy mocked, his voice a copy of Alec’s haughty tone.
‘Tommy, don’t be nasty,’ Mavis appealed.
He had the grace to look shamefaced. ‘Yeah, sorry, it’s just that
it’s come as a bit of a shock, that’s all.’
Mavis didn’t get the chance to answer as Alec urged her swiftly along the street, muttering, ‘Damn cheek. I don’t know who he thinks he is, but it’s obviously sour grapes.’
‘Sour grapes?’
‘Yes, he’s jealous that you’re going to marry me.’
‘No, no, you’re wrong,’ Mavis protested. ‘Tommy isn’t interested in me.’
‘If you say so,’ was Alec’s terse reply.
They had reached the front door, Mavis saying nothing more as they walked inside. Alec was wrong, of course, the idea of Tommy being jealous was ridiculous. Unlike Alec, Tommy saw her as an idiot; he used to call her Dumbo, and probably thought that Alec must be out of his mind to marry her.
Alec stood in front of her mother now, tense about asking permission to marry her daughter but, as he spoke, Mavis found that she was still thinking about Tommy Wilson.
It was only when her mother yelled that Mavis came to her senses, shocked by the expression on her face.
Lily stared at Alec in horror. ‘Marry my daughter! Are you out of your mind? No, I won’t allow it.’
‘But, Mum, why not?’ Mavis asked.
‘’Cos you’re only sixteen, you silly cow. That’s far too young to get married.’
‘Hold on, Lily, let’s hear them out,’ Pete urged. ‘Alec didn’t say right now and he’s probably talking about getting engaged. Is that right, lad?’
‘No, I’m afraid not. We want to get married as soon as it can be arranged.’
‘What! My God, don’t tell me you’ve got my daughter up the spout!’
‘No, of course not,’ he spluttered.
‘Well, that’s something,’ Lily said, but then her eyes flared with anger again. ‘You’ve been lying to me, Mavis. I thought you were going round to Ellington Avenue to see Mrs Pugh, but all this time you must have been sneaking out to see him.’
‘That isn’t true. I was going to see Mrs Pugh, but…but Alec was there too and…and well…’ Mavis trailed off.
‘All right, you don’t have to paint a picture. Anyway, it doesn’t make any difference. You ain’t marrying him and that’s that. You’re coming to Peckham with us.’