‘God, you men! I’m sorry to disillusion you, Uncle, but we don’t all consider ourselves as brood mares. Personally I can think of nothing more repugnant than carrying another person round inside my body.’ She gave a sound of disgust; her uncle had a knack of winnowing people’s innermost thoughts. ‘Damn! I never even told Brian that. Don’t you go repeating it.’ She frowned as a piece of paper appeared under the door, and limped over to inspect it. After reading the note her lips tightened and she flung open the door in time to catch Fred pelting up the staircase. ‘In here, Frederick – now!’ With trepidation on his face, the boy came into the room. Belle flourished the letter at him. ‘I suppose you are the author of this?’ When he didn’t answer she upbraided him further. ‘Don’t you know it’s the depth of cowardice to leave a letter of this nature unsigned? And even more cowardly not to own up when confronted. I shall ask you again – did you write it?’ Fred nodded, shamefaced. ‘Right! Well, it’s going to come as a shock to you, Freddie, but I’ve been called much worse things than bumface. If I say you are going home then you are going home.’
The boy looked hopefully at Dick who looked away. Then he turned back to Belle and said. ‘All right, if you say I have to … but I hate you.’
Belle opened her mouth to respond, but at that point Thomasin reentered.
‘Belle, we could hear you shouting in the bedroom!’ she told her grand-daughter. ‘Win had the good manners not to mention it but I could see she was upset that you thought chastising your uncle more important than seeing her baby. You’d better go up and show some consideration.’
Belle tutted. ‘Right, Frederick, you can come with me. You’re not to be trusted.’
Dickie curled his lip in a sneer. ‘If you’re worried about me kidnapping him, forget it.’ He marched out into the garden and lit a cigar.
‘I’ll keep my eye on him,’ Thomasin told Belle who then left. The boy remained standing, head lowered in an attitude of dejection. ‘Come and sit by me, Freddie,’ said the old woman kindly, holding out her hand. Fred allowed himself to be led to the sofa. ‘Your Aunt Belle’s only doing it for your own good, you know, love.’
‘How can it be for my good when I want to be with me dad?’
‘Well …’ Thomasin looked awkwardly at her son in the garden. ‘She just doesn’t want you to be hurt.’
Freddie beseeched her. ‘But I hurt already. I hurt inside.’ Thomasin gathered up his hand. ‘I know… but your dad’s in a lot of trouble. God forbid, but he might even be put in prison … you couldn’t be with him then, could you?’
‘But I’d go and visit him,’ said the boy earnestly.
‘It wouldn’t be the same as having a father there all the time though, would it?’
‘Me mam’d still be there.’
‘But that’d just be like living with your Aunt Belle and that was the reason she wanted to find a new home for you in the first place, Freddie, so that you’d have a mother and a father and be a proper family … but now things are different.’
‘Can’t you talk to her?’ he begged.
‘I don’t know that she’d listen to me, Freddie.’
The boy leaned on his knees and looked deeply thoughtful. ‘You see, Nan, me dad needs somebody to look after him.’ Thomasin smiled at the childish air of wisdom. ‘He hasn’t got any children, you know. I don’t know what he’ll do if he can’t have me. I mean, you need children to look after you when you get old, don’t you?’
Thomasin nodded in concord. ‘I’ll talk to your Aunt Belle, love, see what I can do. But don’t get your hopes up. Now, you sit there while I go and have a word with your dad. Ooh, give us a shove out of this sofa, I’m like an old wreck.’ With his help, she managed to rise. ‘Don’t move one inch or you’ll have me shot.’ She limped out into the garden and joined Dickie. ‘By, that lad of yours he’s like a little owd fella.’
Dickie gave a snort. ‘Lad of mine? Belle’s got other plans for him.’
‘He tells me you need looking after.’
‘Aye, he could be right.’ He turned to his mother. ‘How’s business?’ She said that the adverse publicity of the trial had affected the takings slightly. He commiserated, but said that he had actually meant the situation at Peasholme.
‘Oh, it’s lovely. I’ve got a dozen kids running amok, a baby going wah-wah-bloody-wah all night long, a cat … well, I believe the polite word is defaecating, all over the place – thank God it can’t fly – and two coppers watching every time I go to the closet.’
Her son hugged himself and heaved a groan. ‘What the hell am I going to do, Mam?’
‘Are you a murderer?’
His eyes reproached. ‘How can you ask me that?’
‘You keep telling me half-stories, I don’t know what to believe …’ Then she patted his arm. ‘No, son. You’ve done some rum things but if I thought you were capable of that, I wouldn’t be standing here.’ She laughed at herself. ‘What am I talking about, of course I would.’
He told her the truth about his past. When he had done, she said, ‘Then there’s only one thing you can do unless you want to keep running for the rest of your life.’
Dickie shook his head. ‘No, I have to get back to America, Mam – yes, I know I promised, but ye wouldn’t have me stay here and risk execution would ye?’
‘Where’s Freddie?’
Dickie and his mother turned at Belle’s loud query. Thomasin leaned on her stick and stared into the room. ‘He was in there.’
‘Well, he isn’t now!’ Belle lurched off, searching the house from top to bottom, but Freddie wasn’t in it. ‘Freddie!’ She cupped her hands and bawled down the garden. ‘I know you’re out there! You think I’ll get fed-up of waiting and go home on my own but I’ll wait all night if I have to!’
Her grandmother winced at the noise. ‘Belle, do leave off.’ She limped inside, where a family conference took place. It was decided that Dickie would stay here for a week – hopefully less if the police grew tired of waiting. Dusty would go back to Peasholme, for the ‘roadsweeper’ had probably counted them as they went in: if Dickie’s wife didn’t come out the man would twig he was here.
‘I’ll have to cancel the holiday,’ sighed Sonny. I can’t go to Ireland and leave you to cope, Mam.’
‘It’ll do no good depriving your family of their holiday,’ said Thomasin. ‘You don’t go until the third of August, it could all have died down by then. Josie deserves a rest after what she’s been through – you both do.’ She turned to Dickie. ‘And listen, I’m trusting you not to try sneaking past that policeman on the gate. You stay in the house till we tell you different. Belle, it doesn’t look as if that lad is going to come out of hiding and we can’t stop much longer. Leave him here, he’ll come to no harm.’
Reluctantly, Belle gave way but with bad grace. Still in poor humour she made ready to depart. ‘Right, does anybody want to go to the lavatory before we leave?’ Realising what she had said, she was forced to relax her cross features. ‘Sorry, I’m so used to talking to children.’
‘I do want to go as a matter of fact,’ laughed her grandmother. ‘You lot can wait in the car and give these two a few minutes on their own. Goodbye, love. See you soon.’ She kissed Dickie and led the exodus.
After much tearful leave-taking Dusty joined them outside.
Dickie watched the car disappear down the lane. When he looked round Fred was standing there smiling at him.
* * *
Before the weekend was over everyone, including Dickie, was realising what a mistake it had been to think he could hide here. Sonny had paid regular visits in order to relieve the pressure on his son – he knew what a bored Dickie could be like – but as his intervention meant Dickie having to pose for the portrait, this hardly eased the monotony. Only Freddie seemed content with the situation.
‘It’s nice this, isn’t it?’ he confided while the two of them sat waiting for Nick who was working late at the store. ‘Just us two men.’
&nbs
p; ‘I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be,’ answered Dick with glum features, wondering what his wife was doing. His mind roved to female company of any sort, in particular the maid, Jane. Mentally, he stripped and fondled her …
‘I wonder how me cat’s getting on.’
Dick was annoyed at having his concentration broken. ‘I was just getting to the best part then.’ The boy asked what he meant. ‘Never mind, just go fetch the bloody cards.’
‘Can we have a game of chess instead?’
Dickie said he did not know how to play, to which Fred answered that he would teach him. They positioned themselves, one on either side of Nick’s burr-walnut gamestable, but hardly had the pieces been set out than Dickie announced it was too boring and told the boy he preferred cards. He lost every game; not through chivalry, but because his mind dwelled on other things. When he chased Fred off to bed he had decided that he was not going to spend another celibate night.
Alas, the boy did not conform to his plan. ‘Bloody hell, are you awake again!’ exclaimed Dickie two hours later at the pair of brown eyes that peeked over the bedclothes. Fred said he got lonely on his own. ‘Well I’m here now, so just shut your eyes.’ Dickie stripped off and climbed into bed. He lay there for twenty minutes or so until he guessed that the boy must be unconscious, then slipped out of bed.
‘Where you going, Dad?’
Dick sagged. ‘I’m just going to get a drink of water.’
‘Will you fetch me one?’
With great deliberation, Dickie strode over to a table, lifted a jug and poured some water in a glass. ‘Here, get that down ye then get to sleep.’ Fred put the glass to his lips, then handed it back, saying that his father could have one first. ‘Freddie, I’m gonna get mad in a minute – just get it down ye!’
Freddie did so, then handed the glass back. Dick replaced it on the table, ripped off his trousers and got back into bed. After another half an hour he felt sure that Fred was asleep and when no voice interrupted his exit this time he heaved a sigh of relief and stepped onto the landing.
The maid’s room was in the roof at the top of a short flight of stairs. Her fascination for the handsome man had doubled since she had discovered he was a fugitive and she had made it very plain he would be welcome here. Dickie entered as quietly as he could. She was all warm and sticky from sleep as he groped under the covers and let himself in, stifling her cry with his hand. When she realised who it was, she wrapped her arms round his neck and Dickie ran his hands under the nightgown. The folds of her breasts were damp with perspiration. He massaged her body hungrily, sinking his face into her neck and breasts … when from the corner of his eye he saw a small figure standing beside the bed. ‘What the f …?’ Jane let out a little shriek.
‘I was lonely,’ announced Fred.
Dick let his head sag to the maid’s bosom, whilst she tried ftandcally to push him off.
‘What’re you in her bed for? Don’t you like sleeping with me?’
Dickie lifted his face again. ‘Look, Fred, I’ll be back in a minute.’
‘No sir, you’ll have to go with him!’ pleaded Jane. ‘The mistress’ll hear us talking and I’ll get the sack.’ When Dickie whispered in her ear that he would take the boy back to bed and see her in a moment, she beseeched him, ‘No, sir, better not. It’s late and I might oversleep tomorrow.’
With disgruntled face, Dickie got out of bed and grabbed the boy by the neck. Back in their room he growled his anger and told Freddie that if there was a recurrence then he would be sent back to York immediately.
The next night he waited for Freddie to go to sleep, then sneaked along to the maid’s room. He was nearly to the door when he saw that someone else had beaten him to it.
Nick almost jumped out of his skin before realising that his uncle had been up to the same purpose. He gave a smile of one caught in the act and made signals to suggest that they both go down for a drink instead. In the drawing room he poured two whiskies, handed one to his uncle and went to sit by the fire. ‘Sorry for spoiling it for you, Uncle.’
‘Likewise.’ Dickie took a seat nearby and sipped his drink. ‘Though for the life of me I can’t think why ye want to be sniffing round her with a nice little wife like you’ve got.’
‘I could throw that one at you,’ retorted Nick. ‘In my case, Win’s not long given birth if you’d forgotten.’
‘Oh aye.’ Dick scratched his head. ‘I’m a bit ignorant in that area. Must be hard.’
‘It was till you disturbed me,’ quipped Nick. His uncle said it shouldn’t be long before Win was back on form. ‘It’ll be a while before I am.’ Nick looked sheepish. ‘I just can’t stand the stink of milk, even the thought of it makes me go soft. I was like it all the time she was feeding Johnny. Thank the Lord she could only manage it for a couple of months.’
‘So her upstairs, she sees you’re all right, does she?’
‘Win doesn’t allow her to have followers. Someone has to keep her happy – but we could come to some arrangement.’
‘Ah, no, I don’t want to tread on your toes. I’ll stick with Freddie – though I’m not used to having such an intellectual bedfellow. Ye’ve never heard the likes of him. Tonight he wanted to know what God was doing before He made me.’
‘You’d tell him God was making the cockroaches and forgot to wash out the mould, then.’
‘Eh, that’s nasty. Just ’cause I spoilt your bit of humpy. Go on up, if ye want. I won’t rat on ye.’
‘No, I’ve left it a bit late now; she’s up at six.’ Nick filled his cheeks with whisky and poured another. ‘James wouldn’t’ve been so generous tonight if he’d known what I was up to. He was so flattered that we’d named the baby after him, he’s finally agreed to hand over his business to me and retire. His shoe shop is the first round the corner from us in Boar Lane. I’ve been trying to persuade him for ages to come in with us and let me knock the wall through into Briggate and make it part of the store but I think he thought we’d swamp him. Anyway, this is an even better coup. I’m hoping Nan will be impressed; though I don’t hold out much hope.’
‘You mean because of me? I don’t want your business, son.’
‘No, I meant she doesn’t seem impressed at anything to do with the business these days. Quite frankly, I think she’s going batty. D’you know she’s hired a private detective to find some bloke, George Ackworth, who she sacked twenty-odd years ago, because she feels guilty. God knows what she’s going to reward him with when she finds him – probably my Chairmanship.’ He glanced at Dick. ‘Still, I’m glad to hear you’ve given up your claim to it.’
Dickie sighed. ‘I never had any intention of taking it, son. It doesn’t interest me at all. I was only keeping you on tenterhooks ’cause … well, maybe Francis was right about me. Maybe there was a bit o’ spite in it. I don’t know why. I could hardly expect ye to like me after I abandoned ye. But I’m proud o’ what you’ve done and I’m glad ye’ve made an honest living – which is more than ye would’ve done had I married your mother.’ He smiled and pointed his cigar. ‘Tell ye what, we’ve both had a rough time of it lately; let’s risk a night out tomorrow and celebrate your good news.’
Nick pondered the situation for a moment. ‘Who’s going to pay?’
‘Ah …’
Nick uttered a genuine laugh. ‘All right, my treat.’
* * *
When Sonny came round the next evening he was horrified to be told that his son and Dickie were going out as soon as it grew dark. ‘Out where?’
‘On the town to get us some women,’ grinned Dickie. His brother told him he was mad. ‘There’s no risk. We’re going to bring your car right up to the back door and smuggle me out in it – come with us, it’ll be great.’
‘I can’t!’ returned Sonny. ‘Josie’s expecting me back for ten.’ His brother said they could call on the way out and tell her. ‘Oh yes, and what am I going to say? Shan’t be in for a while, I’m just going to look for a bit of stuff. Nick,
what were you thinking of, letting him talk you into this?’ He sighed and sat down next to them on the sofa, muttering about their stupidity.
It was quiet for a time, then Dickie’s body started to shake in silent laughter. He gave a sideways glance at Nick, who laughed too though he didn’t really know what at until his uncle pointed to each of them in turn, blurting, ‘Nick, Dick and … Prick.’ He shook with amusement.
‘I’m trying to keep you out of trouble!’ exploded Sonny.
‘Look, Son, we’re going,’ came Dickie’s flat answer. ‘Come with us if ye like, but don’t ask me to stop in this bloody house one night longer without female company.’
‘For God’s sake can’t you even last a week without it?’ demanded his brother. ‘And you’ve no money!’
‘Nick’s paying.’
‘I’m ashamed of you,’ Sonny told Nick. ‘Your aunt specifically told us not to give him any mon …’
‘Oh, did she?’ Dick looked tough. ‘Wait till I see her.’ He went to the window and peered round the curtain at the detective in mufti who was still busy with his brush. ‘That bloody road’s so clean you could roll pastry on it. Go sprinkle a few cig ends round, Nick, give the poor bugger summat to sweep.’
On his way back to the sofa he collected the deck of cards and for the next hour proceeded to win himself a few shillings. With each new hand that was dealt, Sonny continued his attempts to talk his brother out of the madcap scheme, to no effect. Came ten o’ clock, Nick went upstairs to kiss his wife and tell her he was turning in for the night. ‘Check on the lad for me, will ye?’ asked Dickie, tucking the cards back into their box. ‘And fetch my black shoes from under the bed.’
In the young man’s absence, Sonny hissed, ‘I could kill you for enticing him into this, Dick.’
‘Me enticing him?’ Dickie sounded amazed. ‘Listen …’ He was about to tell his brother about last night’s incident with the maid, but decided not to break Nick’s confidence. ’Ah, never mind. Go home to your bed, Son. The less you know the better.’
Dickie (Feeney Family Sagas Book 4) Page 44