Richard Ellison was tall and dark complexioned. He wore his hair in a single long braid that hung down his back. His countenance portrayed intelligence, solemnity, and a hint of obduracy, but there was enough kindness in his eyes to make him likable.
“You wanted to see me?” he asked.
Percy stepped forward and held out his hand. “Yes, Mr Ellison. My name is Percy Hudson, and this is Mrs Gladys Hornsby. Gladys, would you like to tell Mr Ellison why we have come?”
“My husband and I are redecorating our home, Mr Ellison, and I came to London to purchase some new furniture. Mr Samson was kind enough to show me the chairs you made, and I would like to purchase them all.”
Nell couldn’t control her excitement and she jumped up and down, clapping her hands. “Oh, Ricky, luv, isn’t this wonderful?”
Richard put his hand on her head and smiled down at her before answering, “I am pleased to hear that, Mrs Hornsby, but I fail to see why you had to come and see me. Mr Samson will be the one you will be dealing with.”
“Yes, of course. But, you see, I wondered if I could also commission you to make one, or perhaps two, settees to match the chairs? Mr Samson agreed to let me deal directly with you so you wouldn’t have to pay his commission.”
“I am sorry, Mrs Hornsby, but I promised Nell and the children that as soon as the chairs sold, we could move out of this neighbourhood. I don’t know where I will find a place, but I hope it is somewhere that has good water and smells a lot sweeter.”
Gladys thought about all the families she had talked Lord Sorenson and his benevolent friends into bringing out of Old Nichol and she had an idea. “Mr Ellison, Richard, if I may, what if I could find you a place in the country where the water and the air are fresher than any you have dreamt of? Would you be interested in moving there?”
“And how would I make a living? The money I will make on the chairs will not last forever. Right now, I work on the docks now and again, and that keeps food on the table.”
“My husband has a large estate, and he is need of good carpenter to keep things repaired. He has a few cottages on his property, and I’m sure you would find one of them to suit you. There are also some large sheds that I’m sure a man of your talents could convert into a shop. You could work on pieces like my settees when you weren’t busy mending. You could make a lot of money with your work, Richard. Have you any idea how envious our friends will be when they see my chairs?”
She paused and gazed at Mr Ellison thoughtfully. “What do you say?”
“Well, we shall have to think about it, Mrs Hornsby. I don’t have any more of that walnut wood I used for the chairs, but I think if I made the settees in the same style as the chairs and used oak instead, the contrast would be striking. Nell, where are your manners? Liz luv, help your ma get the tea.”
Percy hadn’t said a word, but he was shocked at Gladys’s offer. She was hiring a man and offering him a house for his family without discussing it with James. James wasn’t going like it and he couldn’t blame him. He decided to intercept on James’s behalf. “Excuse me, but I wonder if I could have a word, Gladys? In private.”
Richard didn’t look pleased, but he took the children into the kitchen.
“Gladys, what on earth do you think you are doing?”
“I know it seems a bit crazy, Percy, but it’s not just that I want the settees. If you saw that man’s work, you would understand that he should be famous. I can’t see him living in such a place when he has so much talent. James will agree, I’m sure. I shall wait until the chairs are home before I tell him.”
“You are not being fair to this family unless you talk to James first. You have no right to promise them anything.” Gladys realized that she hadn’t thought about what James would say, and she had to admit that Percy was right.
“What will I do?” she asked.
“Leave it up to me. After all, I am a lawyer and I’m sure I can settle this to everyone’s satisfaction.”
As they were having their tea, Percy explained that Gladys was obliged to have James’s approval before they settled the matter. He suggested that Gladys would return home and if James agreed, Gladys would send word to him and he would come and tell Richard.
“We’ll keep our fingers crossed, mum,” Nell said as they were saying goodbye.
Gladys only stayed in London long enough to have the chairs shipped and to buy some drapery material. When she arrived home, she told James that she had bought twelve chairs but waited until they were delivered before she told him of her plan.
“When I lived in Dover,” she explained, “I talked my father-in-law, Andrew, and some of his wealthy friends, who were raising money for the poor people in Ireland, into doing something for England’s poor as well. They brought many families out of the slums and found them jobs and homes. Lord Sorenson even hired a few families. Although the Ellisons do not live in Old Nichol, they live right beside it, and I think they should have a better home. Besides, James, Richard Ellison is an excellent carpenter and craftsman, and I’m sure he would be more of a help than a burden.”
James was also taken with the chairs, and he knew that his lone handyman was finding it difficult to keep up with the repairs needed on the estate and could use some help, so he agreed.
Richard Ellison and his family arrived before the month was out and were overjoyed with their new surroundings. Liz Ellison soon made friends with Dolly and Blossom, and they convinced her to join them in the church choir.
Gladys was very pleased with herself. She experienced the same satisfying feeling of accomplishment that she had felt years ago when she talked her father-in-law into bringing other poor families from Old Nichol and finding them jobs and places to live.
Among the social invitations Gladys and James received was one inviting them to a ball hosted by Lord and Lady Nichols. The Nichols estate was halfway between Dover and Sandwich, so Gladys and James were invited to stay for the weekend.
They arrived in time for tea then retired to their rooms to dress for the ball. Gladys wore her best gown, and when James took her arm and they came down the stairs, she received many admiring glances from the male guests, except for one: Lord Cedric Sorenson.
Cedric still blamed Gladys for his dear friend, Andrew Pickwick’s, sinful behaviour. Andrew had confessed to his Lordship that he had persuaded Richard Ledingham, the Duc de Artois, to seduce Andrew’s estranged wife, Rose, in order to obtain a divorce and marry his daughter-in-law, Gladys. Lord Cedric thought the act despicable and had suggested that Gladys had taken advantage of her beauty and seduced him. He continued to blame her even though Andrew swore Gladys knew nothing of his plans.
“I say, what is she doing here?” he asked Lady Sorenson as soon as he saw her.
“She is married to James Hornsby now, Cedric. As mistress of Four Oaks, she has just as much right to be here as you or I. Now please do your best to be polite, or I shall insist we leave.” She took his arm and pulled him toward Gladys and James. “Gladys, my dear. It is so good to see you, and how are you, James?”
James replied that he was fine and shook hands with Cedric.
“Hello, Madeline, and how are you, Cedric?” Gladys asked. She didn’t know why, but she deliberately omitted the titles of Lady and Lord.
Cedric didn’t answer but Lady Madeline smiled. They talked about the children and Gladys invited Lady Madeline to bring the children to Four Oaks for a visit. Finally, she took Lady Madeline aside and said, “He still doesn’t believe that I knew nothing about Andrew’s devious plans, does he?”
“No, my dear, but now that we are all staying here it would be a good idea if you had a talk with him. I shall see if I can arrange it.” The following day all the guests were invited to take part in a fox hunt. Gladys never liked the idea of so many dogs chasing one poor little fox, so she declined. She was taking tea in the garden when Cedric came in and sat
down beside her.
“Would you like some tea, Your Lordship?” she asked.
“That would be nice, thank you.” He answered brusquely. Gladys poured the tea,then she waited for him to speak. He took his time.
“This, as you probably know, was not my idea. I see no reason why we should be cordial to each other, but, for some reason, Madeline is fond of you and she thinks we can be friends.”
Gladys’s answer surprised him. “That’s ridiculous!”
Shocked, Cedric sat straight in his chair, turned to look at her, and said, “I beg your pardon?”
“I said that is ridiculous! How can we be friends? You, Sir Cedric, seem to think I am a wanton woman, and I cannot help but think you are a stubborn ass!”
In spite of himself, Cedric had to laugh. “I say, Gladys, that is going a little too far, wouldn’t you say?”
“No, Cedric. Not really. I had nothing to do with Andrew’s actions before he was murdered, or I certainly would have put a stop to his plans. I loved him, but only as a father-in-law. Now I’ve told you this before and yet you still choose not to believe me, so how can we be friends?”
Cedric didn’t answer for a while and Gladys could tell he was thinking, so she sat back, drank her tea, and waited. Finally, he must have made up his mind.
“Well, Gladys, first I would like you to tell me something.”
“Yes, Your Lordship?”
“Is there any more tea in that pot?”
Gladys laughed and poured him another cup.
“Now, my dear, will you still think me a stubborn ass if I say I am sorry?”
In spite of their newly-formed friendship, Gladys didn’t see the Sorensons often. She and James soon tired of social events and both agreed that they enjoyed a more casual life at home.
Chapter Nineteen
James had a weekly London newspaper delivered to Four Oaks, and one day while he was away, Gladys decided she would read the entertainment section. When she saw the name “Othello” in large print, her heart missed a beat. Then, when she read that a group of Italian players had returned from America and would be playing their last performance of Othello in London, she knew it had to be the troupe belonging to Toughie’s uncle.
She spent the next two days on edge, waiting for James to return. When he did come home, she wasted no time in showing him the notice. When he had finished reading it, she said, “James, what do you think I should do?”
“I certainly fail to see what good it would do for you to see him again. You are a respectable married woman now, and an affair would not only jeopardize your reputation but mine as well,” he replied.
“I have no intention of having an affair. I made that mistake once, and I shall not do it again. But, James, he has the right to know he has a son. I feel I cannot deny him that.”
“Well, only you can decide, Gladys. I shan’t stop you from going, but if you do, I think I should accompany you. You shall have to make up your mind soon though. The performance is in a week’s time.”
“Thank you, James. I will let you know tomorrow.”
“Well, I think I shall have one of my employees in London reserve two tickets anyway; then we shall have them if we do decide to go, and if not, I am quite sure there are people in my office who would be happy to use them.”
Gladys had a difficult time coming to a decision. She knew it was useless to hope for a reunion with Toughie; he would never betray his wife again, especially since they now had one, or perhaps more, children to consider. Finally, she decided to go and take Eddy with her, but she wouldn’t go to the theatre. Instead, she would leave Toughie a letter and allow him to decide if he wanted to see her again.
When she told James her plans and said that she would rather he didn’t go with them, he forbade her to go alone. It took another day to convince him otherwise, and he only agreed after she promised that she would not tell Eddy that Toughie was his real father.
James began to worry immediately after he gave Gladys permission to take Edward to London. He felt that if he was with her when she met the young Italian, it would prevent her from doing something irresponsible, something that would threaten the tranquil, if not happy, life he and Gladys had built together.
A few days later, Gladys and Eddy, dressed in their Sunday best, were ready to leave. Even James had to admit that Eddy was a very handsome little lad in his new sailor suit.
When Eddy learned that he was going to London on a train, he was pleased, but when he found out that Eliza wasn’t going with them, he stamped his feet and declared he wouldn’t go without her. Gladys managed to calm him down with the promise that they would go shopping in London and buy Eliza a special present.
Once on the train, Eddy kept his mother so busy answering questions as they rode past different towns and farms that she didn’t have time to think about what she would say to Toughie if she saw him.
They were both tired and hungry by the time they arrived, so they went directly to the flat to freshen up before going out to dine. Eddy was too tired to fully enjoy the sights of the city and the fish that was served with deep-fried potato wedges. He was asleep minutes after being put to bed. Gladys joined him after writing a letter to drop off at the theatre the following day.
Eddy woke up full of life, and it was all Gladys could do to persuade him to eat a little breakfast before going shopping for Eliza’s present.
On the way back to the flat, she asked the driver to stop at the theatre for a minute. Leaving Eddy in the cab, she went to the front door. Luckily, it was open, but the only person she could find was a woman cleaning the theatre. Gladys wasn’t sure whether she should leave the letter with a cleaning woman, so she called out, “Hello, is there someone here who might be able to deliver an important letter to one of the actors?”
“Oh no, missus, there ain’t no one important what comes ’ere until ’bout six or seven. But I’ll still be ’ere if you wants to leave it with me. I’ll give it to the bloke what takes the tickets if you wants me to.”
“Are you sure you will be here when he comes to work? It’s most important that this letter be given to the man whose name is on the envelope.”
“I’ll be ’ere, missus. We cleaners ain’t ‘lowed to leave until the rest of the workers gets ’ere.”
Gladys took a pound note out of her purse and handed it to the woman who thanked her profusely and added, “You can count on me to see it gets to the right bloke, missus.”
Gladys, on the verge of giving up hope of ever seeing Toughie again, doubted the cleaning woman could be relied upon to deliver the letter.
That evening, she was in her dressing gown and about to retire when she heard someone knocking on her door. She knew better than to open the door without knowing who it was, so she called out, “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Angelo—Toughie.”
Her hand was shaking so badly that she could hardly turn the door knob.
“Oh, my darling!” Toughie exclaimed after kissing her lips, face, ears, and neck. “I thought I’d never see you again.”
He picked her up, carried her into the sitting room, and swirled her around before throwing his head back and exclaiming, “It’s a miracle, a bloody miracle.”
“Shush, Toughie, shush!”
Frowning, he set her down. “Is there someone with you?”
Gladys laughed and answered, “Yes there is, and he’s someone special whom I want you to meet.”
“Well, I can’t say I’m looking forward to sharing your company with anyone else tonight, but it seems I have no choice in the matter,” he answered rather sullenly.
Gladys couldn’t wait another minute. She grabbed him by the arm and pulled him toward the stairs. “Come on, darling, but be quiet; he’s sleeping.”
Reluctantly, Toughie followed her as she took the lamp and made her way up the stairs and into the b
edroom. She held the lamp close enough so he could see that the person in the bed was a young boy.
Glancing quickly at the child, he mumbled a polite compliment to do with his appearance and was about to take his leave when something made him turn for a second look. The resemblance was unmistakable. He looked up at Gladys beseechingly. There were tears in her eyes as she nodded.
He knelt down and gently touched the boy’s head. “My boy, my son,” he whispered.
Gladys allowed him a minute more before touching his shoulder and motioning toward the door. Once in the living room, Toughie caught her in another embrace and cried excitingly, “I have a son—we have a son.”
Then he let her go and danced around the room swinging his arms in the air, “Oh my God, I’ve never been so happy! I have a son. I have a wonderful, beautiful little boy.”
Suddenly, he stopped and said, “But I don’t even know his name. What name did you give him, Gladdy?”
“Edward.”
“Edward. Edward. Ah yes, yes, that’s a good name. Eduardo! Eduardo Matthews Rossini. You see, my love, I’ve added my mother’s maiden name.” Smiling, he added, “I like the name. Eduardo. Eduardo. My son Eduardo. It sounds amazing, don’t you think?”
“I call him Eddy.”
“I suppose you could call him that, but everyone else must call him Eduardo. Eduardo Matthews Rossini.”
Gladys started to say something, but Angelo put a finger over her mouth and added, “And you, my sweet, will have to learn to call me Angelo. Toughie was just a name people called me when they didn’t know my real name.”
Gladys resented his dominant attitude. She was relieved he was happy Eddy was his son, but she had no intention of letting him tell her what the boy’s name should be. She decided to put things straight before it was too late.
“Angelo,” she said, pronouncing his name with more emphasis than necessary. “You talk as though you have the right to decide what’s best for Eddy. You’ve never even asked what happened to me—to us—during all the time you were away. How do you think we managed? Or do you even care?”
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