“My family moved to Liverpool to work in your father’s shipping company. He was a stoker and she was typist on the third floor of the office.”
“What was her name?”
“Maggie Picton. She retired three years ago.”
“Oh.” Isabel stared at the two coal coloured carthorses that were rigged up to the highly polished black carriage. “The horses... are they yours?”
“As much as I would love to say they were mine, they’re not.”Edward felt his panic abating while his eyes devoured Isabel’s beauty. “They’re your father’s, I’m just lucky enough to care for them.”
“They’re my father’s? Really? Shows you how much I know.”
“You don’t ride?”
Isabel scoffed, “Never.”
“I thought all girls like horses.”
Isabel took a sideward step to keep a safe distance from one of the horses as it took an interest in her purse. “They scare me... plus they smell.”
“Smell... you want to smell some of the dockers, Ma’am.”
“I would rather not. Thank you very much.” Isabel eyes locked on to Edward’s. “Tell me... are you married?”
“Me? No.”
Isabel sauntered to the side of the carriage so her eyes were level with Edward’s bent knee. “And why not?”
“Should I be?”
“You’re twenty...”
Edward peered down towards Isabel, but quickly snapped his head back at the hint of her cleavage. “Fi... five. I’m twenty five.”
“Twenty five. Shouldn’t you have at least one child by now? I mean, that’s how you commoners behave, is it not? Father tells me you lot breed like rabbits.”
“Rabbits? Maybe some do.”
“You seem offended? I do speak too much sometimes.”
Edward did his best to sound convincing. “No... I would have one child, maybe. If I had been lucky to have found love, that is.”
“Why haven’t you found the right woman?”
“You do like asking questions.”
Isabel shrugged her shoulders. “I’m intrigued... and truth be told, filling time.”
“As a young man, I thought I had found someone. But she immigrated with her parents to America.”
“America? Lucky woman. I always wanted to go. Father has visited for business on several occasions. In fact he’s promised to take me on his next crossing.”
Edward breathed a sigh. “I wish I went with her. In many ways it’s my biggest regret.” He then hung his head while his mind dragged up memories he had tried to forget. “But I didn’t have the money at the time.”
“It must be terrible being poor.”
“It’s not so bad. It would be nice to be rich...of course. But God blessed us with what we have. So I think it’s best to smile our way through each day the best we can.”
Isabel witnessed Edward’s wide smile causing her to chuckle. “You do have a nice set of teeth.”
“Really?”
“One must not be well acquainted with sugar.”
“Sugar... I’d be lucky. I can count using the fingers on one hand how many times I’ve tasted it.”
Isabel scoffed, “Keep away from it. It’s more addictive than bad men.”
“Excuse me?”
“I really have to stop talking to strangers.”
“You asked about my love life... can I be bold enough to ask you about yours?”
“I...” Isabel turned as her father stepped out from the door of the shipping office. She then faced Edward and smiled. “We will talk again sometime. Goodbye... Mr Eddie.”
Chapter 2
Edward licked his lips in anticipation as he walked along the dark streets towards his much loved Golden Hind inn. As always, a group of children were sat on the doorstep playing ollies. Edward brushed the children aside with his dirt covered boots before stepping over the threshold of doorway. He entered a room thick with the smell of ale and tobacco and soon spotted his flat cap wearing friend. “Duffy the docker.”
“Edward the horse fucker... What’s took yeh?”
Edward slapped Duffy on the back of his well worn donkey jacket. “Half cabbaged already, Pal?”
“Of course I’m cabbaged. You had me waiting like a wife.”
“Anyway, you’ll never guess who I was talking to, Duffy.”
“Queen Victoria?”
“Near enough.”
Edward signalled towards the barman for a pint before sitting on a stool next to Duffy. “The boss’s daughter.”
“The foreman’s? Nothing special about her... right little wench, she is. Passes herself around like a tray of hot cakes.”
“No, not Jezzer. I mean the big boss. Albert Crompton’s daughter.”
“Mr Crompton’s daughter..?” Duffy shook his head disbelievingly. “Whatever. Why would she talk to a bottom feeder like you?”
“Bottom feeder? I should take you outside and give you a once over with my fists. ”
“Sorry... I guess I’ve had a pint too many. My tongue quickly marches while my brain crawls like a drunkard in the night. ”
“Better slow down before you go home, then. You don’t want to get a load of abuse from Marg.”
Duffy slipped his hand inside his jacket, and then lifted out a tin of tobacco. “Margret knows to keep out of my way when I get home after a skin full.”
“I thought you told me you stopped roughing her up since your first child.”
Duffy picked up his clay pipe from the damp surface of the bar. “I’ve not laid an angry hand on her for a good while.” He then stuffed the fresh tobacco into his clay pipe. “I just mean rough her good in proper between the bed sheets.”
“Christ, Duffy. To think you recently became a lay preacher.”
“We’re all water boilers.”
“Here we go, another Duffy-ism.”
With the pipe between his lips, Duffy struck a match. “When we come to the boil, we have to let off steam.” He then drew on the pipe while he ignited the tobacco. “If not, the pressure becomes too much, and we explode.”
“You must be under a lot of pressure then, because you’ve been in more scraps than Napoleon.”
“Married with children.”
“The kids are outside.”
Duffy dragged back on his pipe. “Hopefully they’ll get cold and go home” He then exhaled a thick cloud. “So? Crompton’s daughter. What did she say to you..?”
“Erm... well.”
“If you say she just asked you to open the door... I’ll never share a pint with you again.”
Edward couldn’t hide his excitement. He leaned towards Duffy who sat in a cloud of smoke. “She talked to me for a good five minutes.”
“Fuck off. Your mouth spews more manure than one of your horses.”
“It’s the truth. Hey, she’s a right little minx too.”
“Minx?” Duffy pulled the pipe from his mouth then sipped on his pint of ale. “I suppose you took her to the bushes and rattled her under the full moon until daybreak.”
“I didn’t... I like my job. Very much doubt that Mr Crompton would take too kindly to finding me on top of his daughter. ”
“So? Go on... what did she have to say in these five minutes of yours?”
“She says I have a nice set of teeth.”
“Well...”Duffy inspected Edward’s teeth while his friend smiled. “Well... They’re better than rest of your face.”
“She asked me if I was married too.”
“Did she?”
“I’m not lying. Plus, listen to this.” Edwards glanced about to the bar to make sure none of the dwellers were eavesdropping. “She calls me Eddie. No one calls me Eddie.”
“I call you Eddie. Doesn’t mean I want you to bend me over the bar and pull down your breaches.”
“Bloody hell Duffy. I mean, no lass calls me Eddie. It’s always Edward. Mr Picton or...”
“Bloody Idiot.”
“Yes, that too.”
Duffy struck a match then relit the tobacco which had burned itself out. “What she like then?” Coz, if her father is anything to go by, she would be fat, bald and tighter than a Jew’s pocket.”
“She’s well fed, alright. But not fat. Just... you can just tell she’s always first to the dinner table.”
“Nice. So got a bosom, then?”
“Too right.” Edward cupped his hands down by his waist. “Packs a good and proper arse n’all.”
“Anyway, keep dreaming. The only thing you’ll be riding, Son... is those damn horses of yours.”
“I know... but I’ve got a dirty imagination to keep me company.”
“Aye, at least it gives you someone else to think about. I mean. You’ve been boring me to death about bloody Katherine, since she jumped ship to America... seven years ago.”
Edward crossed his arms on the bar, and then sunk his head. “I know... I know.”
“Has she still not replied to your letter?”
“Not received a letter in two years and a hundred and fourteen days. Not that I’m counting.”
Duffy expelled thick smoke through his nostrils as if he was a mystical dragon. “Definitely married... probably dropped a kid or two now.”
“Probably right.”
“Not done too bad yourself though. I mean, forget about this Lady Crompton. But you’ve climbed on a few since Kath.”
“If I ignore the fact that most of time I paid for the privilege, then yes.”
“Come, on.” Duffy climbed from his stool before padding down his pockets. “How much have you got left?”
“I’m not going down to the docks... forget it. Plus your kids are outside waiting for you.”
“We’ll leave by the back door. Come on, there’s this frog that works the corner of Canada street and Scotty road.”
“Why would I want an ugly one?”
Duffy picked up his tin of tobacco and slid it back into the inside pocket of his jacket. “Frog... as in French girl.” He then glanced towards the door. “Married to a soldier who came back from the war... Poor girl has got a few debts which we can help her pay off.”
“How do you know all this?”
“You know what I’m like. See her every weekend.”
“Your wife must really love you.”
Duffy necked the last of his pint of ale. “My father taught me well. Never marry a girl who finished her schooling... because they’ll boss you around like they own the place.”
“You never finished school either, Duffy.”
“I know.” Duffy let out a nervous laugh. “It was quite hard to find a woman who was less clever than I was.” He then coughed into his hand and quickly rediscovered his self belief. “But the likes of me are schooled on the streets. The school of life.”
“Anyway, you can visit your frog by yourself. I’m off. Got to get the carriage ready before sunrise.”
“You were made up getting that job.”
“I told you putting up with Ol’ Bill would pay off.”
“I don’t know. Getting up early to drive a carriage sounds kinda lonely to me.”
“Don’t get me wrong.” Edward walked at Duffy’s side towards the back door. “I miss the camaraderie of the docks. But the horses talk to me...” Feeling Duffy’s piercing stare caused Edward to wilt. "What are you looking at me like that for, Duff? They do... using their eyes.”
“I was going to forget about the frog, and try to persuade you for another pint instead... but I think your drunk enough, Eddie.”
“I’m off. Want us to send the kids back to Margret?”
“Yeah, tell them I’ve gone to check on Grandma... I’ll be back in an hour.”
Chapter 3
The cloudless sky stretched from horizon to horizon while the heat from the sun dried the damp cobbled yard of the stables. Edward threw the water from the bucket over the soaped up carriage but grimaced as he got caught by the splash. He then dropped the empty bucket onto the ground and took the strain of a second. But the sight of Isabel caused him to let go of the handle. “Can I help Ma’am?”
“I was walking to the gardens when I saw the stream of water... wondered if we had a burst pipe.”
“Mr Crompton told me to make sure the carriage was spick and span. But I’ll brush the water into the grid once I’m finished. Sorry for the mess.”
Isabel’s noted that the damp white shirt clung to Edward’s rugged physique. “It’s no bother.” She then glanced about to see if anyone was in earshot before walking towards Edward. “Truth be told, Eddie. I was hoping to see you again. When I caught word that you were in the yard, I just had to come and see you.”
“Really?”
“Don’t act all surprised... I would have thought you felt the same about seeing more of me.”
“Aye, you’re a nice lass. I enjoyed talking to you the other day.”
Isabel felt like jumping into the air, but managed to restrain herself to a giddy yelp. “Sorry. It’s just a nice feeling... don’t you think?”
“Feels one with pride, Ma’am.”
Isabel felt uneasy with the sheer velocity of the situation, so diverted the conversation. “So tell me... how are things in the big city? All I see of Liverpool is what I catch from the window of carriage, or that what I can see from the office. Must be more interesting that out here on the peninsula.”
“I suppose its fine.” Edward dried his hand on a strip of cloth before draping it over his shoulder. “If you don’t mind being kept awake at night by drunks or barking dogs, then woken early by the returning nightshift.”
“Oh. I might stay here then.”
“I can imagine it being rather good, if you happen to be privileged like yourself.”
Isabel tried to keep her sight from Edward’s broad chest. But her modesty couldn’t compete with her youthful curiosity, so her eyes examined Edward’s every quarter. “What does that mean, Eddie? What do you feel like you’re missing out on?”
“There are fancy theatres and grand galleries, handsome civic buildings which seem unnecessarily huge. I’ve always wanted to visit Lyon’s tea rooms for the fancy cakes. But I can’t imagine the likes of me would go down well amongst the fine china and Victoria sponge.”
“Why on earth not? I wouldn’t say it’s exclusive to the rich.”
“I suppose it’s not. But who could I take? It’s for couples and families. Plus I don’t know the difference between a custard cream and chocolate éclair. I’d look a right fool... or desperately sad.”
“I don’t think you have the fingers for bone china either.”
Edward laughed aloud. “I think I was built to lift pints in a pub?”
“Pubs... you’ll have to show me one day? I promise to take you to Lyon if you take me to a pub?”
“They’re not a place for women. Not unless they’re... you know.”
Isabel felt confused. “No I don’t. Enlighten me.”
“Paid to be there.”
“Ah, you mean a barmaid?”
Edward felt uncomfortable and began to sweat. “Those as well. But I meant a...”
“Cleaner?”
“I meant... a woman of the night.”
Isabel felt shocked and slapped Edward on his upper arm. “Oh...” Despite being annoyed she felt impressed by how solid his bicep felt. “Oh you dirty thing.”
“I don’t mess around with them. Haven’t the money.”
“But you would if you did?”
Edward tried to convince while rubbing his arm. “No, of course not... Honest.”
“I can tell you’re lying.”
“OK. But not in a long, long time.”
Isabel frowned with disgust. “Good Lord.” She felt surprised at the strength of her sense of betrayal. “I’m very disappointed Edward.”
“But I was single!”
“But still? No wonder you’re still single... dabbling in the shadows like a gutter dweller.” Isabel huffed, and then marched back towards the rear entrance of the
mansion. She then froze as a powerful hand grasped her shoulder. She coldly peered over her shoulder at Edward. “... you touched me?”
“I’m sorry. I...”
“How dare you touch me?”
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I was young and foolish back then. But now I’m a little wiser and don’t deal with such women. All I seek now is love. I have for a long time now. I promise.”
“Well good for you.” Isabel flashed a brief smile, before the sternness returned. “I must be going. Good day to you, Edward the Gutter Dweller.”
Chapter 4
The sun had barely broken over the horizon as the horses pulled the carriage along the shale road. Despite travelling this route countless times, the sheer grandeur of the gothic country mansion never failed to impress Edward.
Edward felt surprised to see a figure waiting on the steps of the colonnaded entrance. As the figure came into view it became clear to Edward that it was Isabel. “Shit. Now I’m in trouble.” He drew the carriage to a stop at the end of the wide phalanx of steps. “Good Morning, Ma’am. I apologise for my lateness.”
“Mr Eddie... I’ve been waiting.”
“The horses were in playful spirit this morning. It took me more than a while to calm them. It’s the joys of summer, you see.”
“It’s fine, I was a little late myself.”
Edward dismounted from the driver’s seat, and then opened the carriage door. “I was surprised to receive your telegram last night... I thought the postman had the wrong house.”
“Why would you think that?”
“Our little episode the other day had me worried that I had fallen foul of you. In fact feared for my job.”
Isabel snapped. “Don’t remind me of that sordid episode.” She decided to take a calmer tone. “Your job was never at risk.”
“But I was also surprised because Mr Crompton told me he wouldn’t need me until he gets back from his business in London.”
“Yes. Father told me to take this time to relax... A nice gesture one might think. But I know it’s because he doesn’t want me unsupervised at the office.”
“Father’s are fathers. Just wants to protect you.”
ROMANCE: CLEAN ROMANCE: Summer Splash! (Sweet Inspirational Contemporary Romance) (New Adult Clean Fantasy Short Stories) Page 102