Connie’s Courage

by Groves, Annie

  ‘You are thinking of America?

  Harry shook his head. ‘I was thinking more of Australia or New Zealand. But in all honesty, Connie, I do not care where we live, just so long as we live there together.

  ‘No, Harry. I …

  She gazed up at him as he took her back into his arms.

  ‘Harry! she began to protest, and then stopped as he cupped her face and kissed her. Just as she had so longed for him to do, for such a very, very long time.

  ‘I can’t believe the difference in Christopher, and it’s all down to you!

  Harry shook his head in bemused disbelief as he watched his son playing happily with the other children under Connie’s lovingly firm gaze.

  ‘I didn’t have to do very much, Connie told him drily. ‘All the poor little scrap needed was a bit of love, and to know that he wasn’t going to be kicked or smacked every time he came near an adult. He must have had such a hard life with Rosa and Gerald. I get little ones coming here who haven’t a piece of clothing to call their own, and who are so hungry it breaks your heart, but they are still loved, and well-loved, too. But Christopher … Are you really sure he isn’t yours?’ Connie asked him quietly.

  They had no secrets from one another now, other than the most intimate special secret of one another’s bodies.

  ‘As sure as I can be!’ heanswered Connie grimly.

  He must never know that, Harry. Don’t let him grow up feeling that he doesn’t have anybody of his own. Ellie, John, and I, all know what that feels like and I would never wish it on another child! Lyddy and Georgie have me, even if Georgie isn’t mine. After all, he’s never known anyone else but me.’

  ‘It’s just as well the Headmaster’s house at school is a good size,’ Harry commented, grinning as Connie pretended to look severe and then blushed delightfully.

  ‘Oh, so you’re after Mr Dodd’s job now, are you?’ Connie teased him. Does the Headmaster know that you aim to take his place?’

  As a matter of fact, he does! And what’s more it was his idea,’ Harry told her, enjoying watching her expression change. ‘And,’ he told her, getting up out of his own chair and coming over to her to take hold of her hands and pull her to her feet, ‘I’ve got some even better news for you.

  ‘What?

  ‘Mr Dodd thinks that the school governors will allow you to use the empty house adjoining the Headmaster’s for the nursery.

  ‘What! Oh, Harry, are you sure? Is he serious?’

  ‘Don’t get too excited, it’s nothing like as grand as this place, he warned her. ‘It will need a fair bit of work doing on it. There is a garden, although it’s very overgrown. Still, I reckon that Frank will probably be prepared to give Davie a hand getting it straight. When Connie stiffened he demanded quietly, ‘What is it? What’s wrong?

  ‘You haven’t said anything to your family about us, yet, have you? Only you did promise that you wouldn’t. Not, not until I’ve got everything sorted out here.

  ‘No, I haven’t said anything, Harry told her tersely, a frown replacing his normal smile. ‘But you know how I feel about that, Connie. And it isn’t just my family. What about your own? Your sister didn’t seem too pleased to see me here the last time she called. I’ll bet a guinea to a penny she thinks I’m not good enough for you.

  ‘No, Harry, Ellie doesn’t think that at all,’ Connie assured him truthfully.

  ‘No? Then why did Gideon come over on that trumped-up excuse of wanting to check the roof timbers? Harry asked her grimly.

  Connie’s face flushed guiltily. The truth was that Ellie and Gideon were concerned, as Ellie had worriedly put it, that Harry might have dishonourable intentions toward Connie!

  I’ve learned my lesson in that department, thank you, Ellie,’ Connie had told her sister quietly.

  But he is forever calling here and it is plain that he is on very intimate terms with you, Connie. Only last week when Iris and I called, I could have sworn that prior to us entering the parlour, he had been embracing you,’ Ellie had announced primly.

  And since that had in fact been the case, Connie had not been able to come up with a very satisfactory denial. However she knew if she told Harry the truth, he would insist on making his intentions toward her very plain. And she was not prepared to allow him to do that until she felt confident that Bill Connolly had no idea who she really was.

  Physically he may not recognise her – he hadn’t known her that well – but if he were to hear her name …

  Just thinking about him was enough to have her heart thumping anxiously. In two days’ time his men would be coming for his money. Harry was adamant that she was not to pay it, but Connie was terrified of the consequences if she didn’t.

  I wish you would let me tell Frank about this,’ he had told her during one of their more heated discussions, he may not still be in the police but he has friends there.’

  Harry, you don’t understand. Bill Connolly is not afraid of the police. He’s a horribly cruel and violent man who enjoys frightening and hurting others.

  ‘I can’t compel you to report him to the police, Connie, Harry had acknowledged.

  ‘No, you cannot, Connie had agreed. ‘Perhaps he will change his mind and not send his men round? she had offered hopefully.

  And there, for now, the matter had been left, neither of them willing to change their stance, but neither of them either wanting to deepen their quarrel over it.

  ‘Mavis keeps asking me if you have said yet when you might have time to visit her and the twins, Harry said now.

  ‘I should like to see them Harry but …

  But she was afraid that somehow Mavis would guess how things stood between Connie and her brother.

  ‘I don’t like deceiving people like this, Connie. I love you and I want the whole world to know it, never mind those closest to us. Mr Dodd is all set to retire at the end of this term, and then the Board of Governors have already told me that they wish me to take over from him.

  ‘I very much want us to be married before school re-starts at the end of the summer holiday. That way we can move straight into the Headmaster’s house with our children, and you can run the nursery in the house next door.

  ‘You think I can be your wife, a mother to our children, a Headmaster’s wife with all that that involves, and still run the nursery?’ Connie demanded mock-indignantly.

  I think you can do anything you wish to do, Connie. You have such strength my love, such courage.’

  ‘Courage? Me?’

  Yes, Connie,’ Harry told her gently.

  She didn’t feel very courageous on Thursday, already dreading Friday and the visit she knew it would bring.

  They were up in the nursery, the children having gone home, leaving just Christopher, Georgie and, of course, her own precious Lyddy. And Connie couldn’t help smiling indulgently when Harry picked Lyddy up.

  ‘Did you really name her Harriet because of me?’ he asked Connie softly. ‘Yes.’

  Still holding Lydia, he leaned across and kissed Connie lightly on the tip of her pretty nose.

  It’s time these three were tucked up in bed,’ Connie began, and then frowned as there was a sudden commotion on the stairs and the door to the nursery burst open. The open door revealed three men, one of whom, Connie realised with a sickening surge of shocked fear, was Bill Connolly himself.

  It’s insurance money day,’ one of the men told Connie, giving her an ugly leer.

  ‘But I don’t have it yet. You told me tomorrow evening, Connie stammered shakily. ‘I was going to go to the bank in the morning.

  ‘Oh, yer was, was yer … Don’t give us that, he derided her.

  ‘Stop wastin’ our time, unless you’re wantin’ us to look for it ourselves.

  ‘No! I am telling the truth. I haven’t got any money here, Connie protested. And it was the truth. On Gideon’s insistence, she banked her takings as soon as her customers paid her, and never kept more than a few guineas in the house.

  It had been he
r intention to withdraw the money she had to pay over to the men in the morning, never imagining that they would arrive a day earlier than they had said.

  She could feel Bill Connolly looking at her, and she wanted to turn and run.

  ‘Get the money, and get it now, he told her curtly.

  Just the sound of his voice made her shudder with loathing and dread. But it seemed that he had not recognised her! She supposed that she must look very different now, dressed as befitted a widow and a respectable businesswoman, to the girl he had last seen, with her hair hanging down and her face swollen with the tears she had cried.

  She remembered that, whenever she had seen him when she had been with Kieron, he had always ignored her as a mark of his dislike and disapproval of her.

  His menacing attitude though, was making her feel too anxious to be relieved that he had not recognised her. Christopher had come to stand next to her and Georgie, never the easiest of children, suddenly started to wail loudly.

  Shut that brat up,’ Bill Connolly snarled. Automatically, Connie bent down to pick Georgie up, keeping Christopher close to her as she did so.

  Look Mrs Smith has just told you that she doesn’t have the money. Why don’t you come back tomorrow?’

  Because we’re here today, and we’re here today because a little bird has told us as how you’re planning to do the dirty on us,’ Bill Connolly announced savagely. Is that true?’ he demanded, crossing the floor and grabbing hold of Connie’s arm in a painful grip.

  Immediately she cried out in fear.

  Let go of her!’ she heard Harry demanding sharply, behind her.

  In her spare arm, Georgie began to scream frantically, whilst Christopher kicked out at Bill Connolly’s leg.

  Giving a savage oath, he released her and made a grab for Christopher shaking him violently. Why you little varmint.’

  Put him down. You’re hurting him,’ Connie demanded, her own fear forgotten as she tried to go to Christopher’s aid.

  The money now … Otherwise I’m going to give this brat something to really cry about.’

  Connie went completely still, and she knew that Harry, who was standing next to her holding Lyddy, had done the same.

  ‘No, please. You mustn’t hurt him,’ Connie heard herself begging frantically. ‘I’ve got a few guineas, and I promise you if you come back tomorrow I’ll have the money. Just, please, put him down!

  ‘The money, Bill Connolly repeated, as he deliberately bent Christopher’s arm.

  Christopher had started to scream; a thin, piercing, shocking sound.

  There was a sound from the open doorway. A low, dangerous roar of almost inhuman fury, as suddenly out of nowhere, Davie appeared and flung himself against Bill Connolly’s back. He wrapped his arms around Bill Connolly’s neck, and wrenched at it, ignoring the attempts of Connolly’s men to drag him off.

  ‘Connie, hold Lyddy.

  Quickly Connie grabbed hold of her daughter as Harry handed her over, somehow managing to hold both her and Georgie.

  With Harry standing between her and the men she couldn’t see what was happening, but she could hear it!

  ‘Get him off me! she could hear Bill Connolly choking as he tried to break free from Davie.

  She heard too the small thud as he dropped Christopher onto the floor before Harry quickly snatched him up.

  Then she heard the grotesque, tearing, snapping sound of Bill Connolly’s neck being broken, as Davie refused to release his powerful hold, even though Bill Connolly’s thugs were thumping Davie and trying to tear his fingers from Bill’s flesh and drag him away.

  Christopher, Davie’s friend,’ Davie was sobbing angrily, as he choked the last breath of life from Bill’s lungs. You not hurt my friend …’

  Connie could see the glint of light on the raised knife held in the hand of one of Davie’s assailants.

  Frantically she pushed past Harry, just in time to see Davie fall to the floor, the knife hilt deep in his back.

  For a second there was total silence and then one of the thugs burst out to the other, It’s too late for that, Bill’s dead, and now you’ve killed him, an all. I’m gettin’ out of here.’

  The two men turned and fled through the still open door.

  ‘Oh Davie!’ Quickly putting the children down, Connie ran over to him and sat down beside him, cradling his head in her arms.

  ‘Harry, go and get, Nora,’ she begged, adding, ‘he’s still alive, but there isn’t much time … and … and take the little ones.’

  Harry, who had been about to telephone the police, looked from her white, set face to the telephone, and then stepped away from it, heading for the stairs instead.

  Left alone with Davie, Connie stroked his hair and whispered to him as though he were one of her charges, which in many ways she felt as though he was.

  ‘Oh Davie, Davie, you were so brave … and he’s hurt you so badly … but you saved poor little Christopher.

  The pain-filled eyes gazed up into her own, and he tried to say something, but it was blood and not words that bubbled from his mouth.

  Biting her lip, Connie wiped it away with the hem of her skirt.

  In the few minutes it had taken Harry to bring Nora, Davie’s life had started to ebb away.

  Sobbing noisily, Nora sat down beside him as Connie was doing.

  ‘Hold his hand, Nora. And talk to him, Connie whispered to her. ‘He can hear you.

  ‘Oh Davie, Davie, Nora sobbed. ‘Oh, my poor little brother.

  Davie opened his eyes and Connie could see a look of exultation in them.

  ‘Mam,’ he whispered joyfully.

  ‘Nora, he’s gone, Connie told her gently.

  ‘Oh, I can’t believe it. What on earth happened? I’d gone up to have a nap, and he’d said he was coming up to see Christopher; something about showing him some stones he’d found in the garden. He just doted on that boy.

  ‘He saved Christopher’s life, Nora, Connie told her emotionally, as Harry helped Nora to her feet, and then told Connie, ‘I’ve just telephoned Frank. The police will be here soon, but Frank is having a word with someone he knows first. Why don’t you and Nora go and get the children sorted out, Connie, and leave me down here to deal with Davie and all of this.’

  Half in shock, she looked at him, But I’m the one who is the nurse.’

  And I’m the one who is the man,’ he pointed out. ‘Besides, Davie’s won’t be the first body I’ve sat a while with, and it will be best if I’m the one who speaks to the police.’

  A look passed between them. Of strength and love on Harry’s part, and gratitude and love on Connie’s.

  Unsteadily she got up, and then helped Nora to her feet.

  ‘Harry, I’m so afraid of what might happen,’ Connie whispered.

  ‘Don’t be, there’s no need. Not now. Not any more!’

  EPILOGUE

  ‘Eeh, Connie but you make a bonnie bride.

  Connie smiled lovingly at Nora. It was just three hours since she and Harry had been married and the wedding breakfast was almost over. Soon she and Harry would be leaving for their honeymoon – children and all!

  Gideon had loaned them the Lake District house, and Ellie had offered to have the children, but Connie had firmly refused. ‘We’re a family now and where Harry and I go, so do our sons and daughter.

  ‘Connie, I know it’s wrong of me to say this, him being me brother an all. But part of me can’t help feeling glad that Davie has gone – not for me own sake, but for his, Nora amended quickly.

  ‘Nora, you don’t have to explain that to me, Connie assured her. ‘And besides, whilst we live, a part of Davie will always live on. We will never forget what he did for Christopher.

  As she spoke, Connie looked across to where Christopher was sitting with Georgie and Lyddy, all of them vying excitedly and happily for Harry s attention, whilst Mavis looked on affectionately, her twins beside her. Thanks to Frank and his friends, the whole affair of Bill Connolly’s and Davie’s
deaths had been dealt with quietly and discreetly.

  The special, extra time Connie had convinced Harry to give to Christopher, had resulted in a much closer bond between the two of them, and had helped Christopher to recover from the terrible scenes he had endured.

  She, too, had given him a special role to play, explaining to him that he was her eldest son, which meant that he had a very important part to play in their family life.

  ‘Connie, I have never seen you so happy.’

  She turned to smile at her sister.

  ‘I never thought I would be so happy,’ she admitted, as Nora went to join Harry and the children.

  ‘Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure all this is real, Ellie. Having loved him for so long … sometimes … I know I don’t deserve to have so much!’

  Connie, that is nonsense, and don’t let me ever hear you say it again,’ Ellie insisted firmly, taking hold of her and giving her a small, loving shake.

  ‘What are you two talking about?’ Harry demanded, coming over to join them.

  Connie’s courage,’ Ellie told him with a smile. ‘And how much she deserves to be happy and loved.’

  ‘Indeed she does. And I intend to make it my business to make sure that she always is.’

  About the Author

  CONNIE’S COURAGE

  Annie Groves lives in the North-West and has done so all of her life. Like her first saga, Ellie Pride, Connie’s Courage takes place in the tumultuous years leading up to, during, and after the First World War. Annie has drawn upon her own family’s history, picked up from listening to her grandmother’s stories when she was a child, for inspiration.

  Visit www.AuthorTracker.com for exclusive information on your favorite HarperCollins author.

  By the same author

  Ellie Pride

  I would like to thank the following for their invaluable help:

  Lynne Drew, who makes time for all her authors. Maxine Hitchcock, my editor, for her unfailing patience and support and encouragement during a very difficult year for me.