‘Hey watch it.’ Betty told him. ‘You nearly had us over then.’
Ned just laughed and sat down next to her, planting a kiss on her nose. William took up the oars and started rowing them down the river. Wyn raised her face to the sun.
‘This is the life.’ she said. ‘I could get used to this given the chance.’
William smiled at her and blew her a kiss. ‘You never know what could happen,’ he said. ‘When we’re married who knows where we could end up.’
When William got fed up with rowing, he handed the oars over to Ned.
‘I think we should start back,’ Ned told them. ‘It’s a bit colder now and I’m getting hungry.’
‘Oh I see,’ exclaimed William. ‘It was alright while I was rowing but now it’s your turn we need to go back.’
Ned just laughed. ‘It’s not exactly interesting is it?’ he commented. ‘Things are normally more exciting when we’re around.’ He started rowing them back the way they had come.
When they had given the boat back they walked back to where the blanket and food was. When they had finished off the food, they all laid down for a snooze. It was a little while later that Wyn was suddenly woken up by screaming coming from the direction of the river. She woke William and the others up.
‘Did you hear that?’ she asked.
‘Hear what?’ asked Betty.
There was another scream.
‘What could be going on there?’ asked Wyn.
I don’t know,’ replied William, ‘but I think we should go and have a look.’
They all ran down towards the river to where the screaming was getting louder and more urgent. ‘What’s going on?’ Wyn asked a woman when they reached the river.
‘A little girl has fallen in and no-one can get to her,’ came the reply. ‘Her mother can’t swim but is still trying to go in and get her, the others with her are holding her back.’
William ran forward to see what he could do.
‘Don’t jump in,’ Wyn shouted at him, ‘you’re not a strong swimmer.’
William didn’t reply, just immediately jumped in to try and save the little girl. Wyn’s heart was in her mouth as she watched him swim towards the last place the little girl had been seen. William dived under the water but came up with nothing. He did this three more times before he came to the surface holding the unconscious body of the little girl in his arms. He managed to swim towards the bank where Ned leant over and took the child off him. Ned handed her to Betty and then turned round to help William who was having trouble staying afloat. ‘Grab my hand,’ Ned shouted, ‘come on William you can do it.’ Wyn was standing watching willing William to grab Ned’s hand. She could see he was very tired as he looked straight at her and mouthed, ‘I love you.’
‘William,’ she screamed as he sank under the water. Ned swam over to the last place he was seen and dived down to try and find him. After he’d done this a few times he had to give up and get out. Wyn was standing looking into the water with tears streaming down her face crying out William’s name. ‘Come back please come back,’ she screamed.
It was getting dark by now and Betty and Ned took hold of her hands and pulled her away. They took her back to the house where Betty explained what had happened to Mrs Davis.
‘You had better let the police know,’ she told Ned. ‘They’ll have to make a search of the river to try and find William.’
Once Ned had gone she sat Wyn down and gave her a very strong sweet cup of tea for shock. She turned to Betty, Mrs Brompton’s back so you’d better go and tell her what’s happened.’ ‘She needs to know right away,’ she said. Betty walked slowly and sadly up the stairs to the sitting room and knocked on the door. ‘Come in,’ said Mrs Brompton. Betty went in and told her what had happened.
‘Oh no,’ she exclaimed, ‘that’s terrible. How’s Wyn taking it? I know she was very fond of William.’
‘She’s in shock at the moment,’ Betty said, ‘they were going to get married one day.’
‘Oh that poor girl,’ said Mrs Brompton. ‘Try and get her to bed and I’ll come and see her later. Has anyone informed the police what happened?’
‘Ned’s there now,’ Betty replied.
‘How’s the little girl William pulled out of the water?’ asked Mrs Brompton.
‘She’s fine,’ Betty replied as she turned to leave the room.
The next day there was a knock on the front door and Ned went to answer it. There were a couple of policemen standing outside. ‘Come in Ned,’ told them, ‘I’ll tell Mrs Brompton you’re here.’ He sat them down in the reception room and went upstairs to the sitting room to tell Mrs Brompton.
‘I’ll come straight down,’ she told him. ‘Where’s Wyn,’ she asked as they descended the stairs.
‘She’s in her bedroom,’ he told her.
‘I’ll go and see her when I’ve finished with the police.’ She walked into the reception room and the two policemen stood. ‘Please sit down,’ she said ‘I presume you have some news for me.’
‘We’ve found the body,’ one of them told her. ‘He had been swept a little way down river and was found by a couple walking their dog. It gave them a bit of a shock I can tell you.’ ‘Where is he now?’ asked Mrs Brompton.
‘He’s with the coroner who will let you know when he can be buried,’ the policeman replied. ‘Thank you for coming to tell me,’ Mrs Brompton told them, ‘I won’t keep you.’ She left the room and told Ned to see them out. She then ran back up the stairs to her bedroom and sat on the bed with tears running down her face. Is nothing good ever going to happen in this house she thought. How much more bad luck is there going to be. She knew she had to pull herself together and be strong to go and speak to Wyn. She stood up, straightened her back and took a deep breath then walked up the stairs to Wyn’s bedroom. She took another deep breath before she walked in the door. Wyn was lying on her bed just staring at the ceiling. She turned and looked at her as she walked into the room.
‘Have they found him?’ she asked ‘is he coming back to me?’
Mrs Brompton sat down on the bed next to her. ‘Yes they have found him,’ she told Wyn ‘but I’m afraid he’s not coming back to you.’
Wyn looked at her with pain in her eyes, ‘he’s dead isn’t he?’ she asked.
‘I’m so sorry,’ replied Mrs Brompton, ‘he was swept down the river, he didn’t have a chance.’
Wyn just nodded, lay back down and turned her head to the side. Mrs Brompton patted her hand and left the room.
CHAPTER TWENTY
It was a few days later when the coroner told them that William’s body could be released. Mrs Brompton had decided that she would make all the arrangements for his funeral in gratitude for all the help he had always happily given her. She got Ned to drive her to the Funeral Directors and arranged for them to pick William up from the mortuary. She chose a pine coffin with a blue satin interior and brass handles. The funeral was to be held the following week. Mrs Brompton was letting the house be used for the funeral wake and anyone who wanted to attend would be welcomed.
‘Do you know if William had any family?’ Mrs Brompton asked Ned.
‘I don’t think he did,’ Ned replied. ‘He never talked about anyone but I think Wyn would know better than me. I’ll get Betty to ask her, she seems to be the only one who can get through to her at the moment.’
When they got back to the house Ned went to find Betty who was in the kitchen making up a tray to try and tempt Wyn to eat.
‘How is she?’ he asked her.
‘She’s still not eating,’ Betty told him ‘but I’ll keep trying.’
‘Mrs Brompton wants you to ask her if William had any family who need to know what’s happened.’
‘I’ll ask her,’ Betty said, ‘how did the funeral arrangements go?’
‘The funeral is to be held next Wednesday Ned told her, ‘Mrs Brompton has chosen a very nice coffin for him.’
‘I’ll tell Wyn nearer the time,’ Betty
told him, ‘I don’t think she’s up to hearing about it yet but I’ll ask her about his family.’ Betty took the tray up to Wyn’s bedroom and walked in the door to find Wyn sitting up in bed. ‘Oh you look better,’ said Betty.
‘I’ve decided I can’t just stay in bed and mope,’ replied Wyn, ‘all I’m doing is thinking about all the good times I had with William which makes me feel too sad. I need to be working so I’m going to get up and carry on as normal.’
‘Mrs Brompton wants to know if William had any family,’ Betty said, ‘do you know of any?’ ‘He didn’t have any,’ replied Wyn, ‘he told me he was an orphan with no family at all. That’s why he thought me and him were so special,’ she added with a sob.
Betty went to put an arm around her but Wyn pushed her away, straightened her shoulders and got out of bed. Betty decided Wyn was strong enough to be told about the funeral so said ‘Mrs Brompton has arranged the funeral for next Wednesday. Ned says she has chosen a really nice coffin for him and the wake can be held here.’
‘That’s good,’ Wyn replied, ‘I’m glad he’ll have a good send off, he would like that. I’ve got a lovely black dress I can wear so I can look nice for him.’
Over the next few days Wyn tried to carry out her normal duties but she really wasn’t feeling very well. At least once a day she had to run to the water closet to be very ill. She just put it down to her not eating much and the grief she was feeling over losing William. She saw Betty looking at her very strangely a few times but didn’t think much else about it. She was also very tired and had to sit down for a nap regularly during the day. I’ll be alright when the funeral is over she told herself. It didn’t even cross her mind it could be anything else.
It was finally the day of the funeral and it was pouring with rain. Wyn thought it was the right kind of weather for a day like today, the weather was as bad as she felt. She was dressed in her best black dress with a black hat, black gloves and black shoes. Betty and Mrs Brompton were dressed exactly the same. Wyn looked at them and thought, I’m not sure William would like all this black, he liked light and life but it’s too late now. They were all standing outside the front door when the hearse with the coffin arrived. It was being pulled by two grey horses with black plumes on their head. Wyn cried out, ‘William!’ when she saw the coffin and rushed towards it. She laid her head down on the coffin where William’s head would be with tears streaming down her face. Betty had meant to stay strong for her but this was too much for her and she couldn’t help a sob escaping. She went over to Wyn and pulled her away.
‘Come on,’ she told her, ‘it’s time to go.’ The hearse moved off slowly with an undertaker dressed in a long black coat and black top hat, walking in front of it. They all followed behind with Betty and Ned helping Wyn walk as she was so distressed. There was a short service before they were all standing around the grave for the burial where the vicar said a few words. Before the coffin was buried Wyn threw a single red rose onto the coffin and suddenly collapsed on the ground in a dead faint. ‘Wyn!’ Betty shouted and ran towards her. ‘Help me get her up,’ she said to Ned. ‘Put her on the bench here.’ Ned put her down on the bench and Betty held the smelling salts that Mrs Brompton handed to her under her nose. Wyn started coming round, ‘Are you alright?’ Betty anxiously asked her.
‘I’m alright,’ Wyn told her, ‘I don’t know what happened.’
‘I’ve got a good idea,’ Betty told her, ‘but we’ll talk about that later.’
She looked at Mrs Brompton who looked back at her knowingly.
Once the funeral was over they all went back to the house where Mrs Davis had prepared a light refreshment for them.
‘I don’t want anything,’ Wyn said, ‘I just want to go and lie down on my bed and be by myself for a bit.’
Betty helped her up the stairs and into her room. ‘I’ll be back to see you later,’ she said. Wyn just turned her head to the wall and closed her eyes. She felt overwhelmingly sad and tired and desperately wanted to feel William’s arms around her but knew that would never happen again. Oh William she thought, why did it have to be you saving that little girl, I miss you so much and really need you here with me. She fell into a deep sleep and didn’t wake up until a few hours later when Betty walked into the room with cup of tea and a plate of dry biscuits. ‘Oh you’re awake,’ Betty exclaimed. ‘Drink your tea and eat the biscuits before you get up. It’ll make you feel better.’
Wyn did as she was told and had a sip of tea. ‘I don’t want any biscuits,’ she said.
‘I think you’ll feel a lot better if you eat them,’ Betty replied.
Wyn tried to get up but a wave of nausea came over her and she lay back down. ‘What’s wrong with me?’ she asked.
‘Do you really have no idea?’ Betty asked giving her a knowing look.
Wyn looked at her and suddenly a thought came into her mind. ‘No!’ she exclaimed, ‘I can’t be,’ she gave a broad smile, ‘I’m having William’s baby aren’t I?’
Betty nodded her head in agreement. Wyn put her hand on her stomach with a look of wonder on her face.
‘William is going to have a son.’
‘Or a daughter,’ Betty put in.
‘No, It’ll be a son I know it,’ Wyn told her.
‘What are you going to do?’ asked Betty.
‘I don’t know yet but I’ll think of something,’ Wyn told her.
‘Maybe Mrs Brompton can help you,’ said Betty. ‘I think she already suspects so she might have some idea of what you can do. Now finish your tea and biscuits and come downstairs.’
When Wyn had finished and had gingerly got up they both went down the stairs to Mrs Brompton’s sitting room, knocked on the door and went in. Mrs Brompton had been sitting quietly reading but put her book down when Wyn and Betty walked in the room.
‘Sit down,’ she told them pointing to a sofa in front of her. They both sat down and Wyn said, ‘I know what’s been wrong with me over the last couple of weeks and Betty thinks you’ve already guessed. I don’t know what to do although I’m very happy that a part of William is going to live on.’
‘I’ve been thinking about this all afternoon,’ Mrs Brompton told her. ‘I think I’ve got an idea for you. When Mr Brompton and I had the children we employed a nanny, Martha Reed, who looked after them for many years. She is a very nice and compassionate woman and I’m sure, if I ask her, she will take you in and look after you until the baby is born. You will, of course, have to think about what happens after you’ve had the baby but you’ve got plenty of time for that. Would you like me to go and see Martha and make arrangements for you?’ Wyn thought for a minute then gave her a big smile, ‘Yes please’ she replied, ‘I’d like that.’ Mrs Brompton nodded and asked Betty to get Ned to bring the car around in the morning. Wyn and Betty left the room and went down to the kitchen where Mrs Davis and Ned were sitting at the table chatting. They looked up as Wyn and Betty walked into the room.
‘How are you feeling now?’ Mrs Davis asked Wyn.
‘I’m alright,’ she replied looking at Betty who gave a slight nod. ‘I’m having William’s baby.’ Wyn told them.
Mrs Davis looked shocked. ‘Oh my!’ she exclaimed.
‘It’s alright,’ Wyn told her, ‘I’m not unhappy about it.’ Ned didn’t say anything just kissed Wyn on the cheek and patted her shoulder.
‘Mrs Brompton wants you to bring the car around in the morning as she’s going to see their old nanny to try and arrange something for Wyn,’ Betty told him.
4‘Oh that’s good,’ Mrs Davis said, ‘at least you’ll be taken care of.’
‘Well you didn’t think Mrs Brompton would just throw her on the street did you?’ asked Betty.
‘No of course not,’ Mrs Davis replied, ‘I’m just happy Wyn will be alright.’ She turned to Wyn and said, ‘we’ll come and visit you a lot so you won’t be alone.’
Wyn looked at them all with tears in her eyes and just said, ‘thank you. I’ll just have to think of wha
t to do afterwards, although I’ve had an idea.’
‘What’s that?’ asked Betty.
‘I’ll tell you when I’ve thought it through properly,’ Wyn told her.
‘One thing I’ve been dying to ask you,’ said Betty with a smile, ‘where did you and William go to be alone?’
‘Really,’ exclaimed Mrs Davis, ‘that’s very personal.’
‘Don’t say you aren’t as curious as me,’ Betty said, ‘there aren’t many places in this house where two people can be alone together as I know,’ and she gave Ned a sidelong glance as she said this.
Wyn laughed and said, ‘I’ll show you one day.’
The following day when Mrs Brompton got back she rang the bell from the upstairs sitting room. When Wyn answered it Mrs Brompton asked her to sit down. ‘I’ve spoken to Martha,’ she told Wyn, ‘she is very happy to have you staying with her until you’ve had the baby and sorted yourself out afterwards, in fact she says she is looking forward to having someone to look after. She has been a bit lonely since she retired.’
‘It’s very kind of her,’ Wyn said. ‘I’ve had an idea of what to do after the baby is born but I need to write a letter before I can tell anyone about it.’
‘It’s alright,’ said Mrs Brompton, ‘you have plenty of time before you need to worry about that. I’ve told Martha that you will be staying here for a few months yet, although I am going to employ another maid to help in the house as you can’t do any of the heavy work anymore. Please go and tell Betty that there will be some girls coming to see me for the job of laundry maid tomorrow so she will have to answer the door. I’m also going to employ a butler now that my mourning period is coming to an end and I will be entertaining more, so there will be two men coming for that job too. Run along now,’ she told her, ‘I’d like you to bring me a cup of tea please.’ Wyn nodded and went down to the kitchen. While she was making the tea she told Betty what Mrs Brompton had said and that there would be girls coming for the laundry maid’s job and two men for butler.
‘I’m really going to miss you,’ Betty told her, ‘but I’ll come and visit you often. It’ll be nice to have new faces here though. After you’ve made Mrs Brompton’s tea and taken it up to her we’ve got spare time so you can show me where you and William went.’
The Passions of Bronwyn Page 16