by Jonker, Joan
Bessie’s brain was also at work. She’s a devious one all right, this one is, and she’s angling for something. Well, I too can be devious, especially when it comes to my two mates. ‘Oh, I wouldn’t let her do it every night, not without some reward. So I’m going to give her a shilling a week for lighting the fire every night. Until the weather improves, that is.’
‘Do you think she would like another shilling a week to light my fire for me? I can afford it now I’m better off, and it would be such a relief to come home to a warm house, both for Amelia and myself.’
Bessie could hear applause in her head for her own ingenuity, but kept her face straight. ‘I couldn’t possibly answer that, Evelyn, I’d have to ask Rita first. But if you want me to, I’ll put your request to her tomorrow and see what she says. That’s all I can do, I’m afraid, I can’t speak for her.’
‘If you would put in a good word for me, I’d be really grateful, Bessie. It would make my life so much easier.’
And a shilling a week would make life a lot easier for Rita, Bessie thought. She’d share with Aggie, doing a night each, which would mean an extra tanner every week. They could spend it if they were stuck, or add it to the money she was putting by each week so the three families would have a really happy Christmas. ‘I’ll have an answer for yer when you call tomorrow night. But it would mean yer leaving yer key with them. Would that suit yer?’
‘I’ll leave the key here, so Amelia can let Mrs Wells in. I would have no objection to that. Please do your best for me, it would help enormously.’
Bessie nodded, and followed mother and daughter to the door. Once it was closed on them, she hurried back to the living room, pulled her chair nearer the fire, and let her chuckles out. Ah, well, she thought, rubbing her hands in glee, life is full of surprises. Wait until her two mates heard they were in for a tanner each, every week. Well, it would be enough to send Aggie running to the corner pub for a bottle of milk stout to celebrate.
Chapter Nineteen
Oscar Wentworth looked across the breakfast table at his wife Gwen, and sighed. ‘I have visited twelve schools in the area around Aigburth and the Dingle, all to no avail. To cover the whole of the Liverpool, into Lancashire, will take me almost a year. I’m becoming quite despondent, losing faith in ever finding Evelyn or her daughter. She just seems to have vanished off the face of the earth. I mean, neither we nor any of our acquaintances have set eyes on her. Never bumped into her in the city, never even heard her name mentioned.’
Gwen indicated to the maid that she could leave the room and they would serve themselves. She disliked holding a personal conversation in front of staff. ‘Evelyn could have married again, have you thought of that? Which means the child’s name will no longer be Sinclair.’
Oscar nodded. ‘I have thought of that, of course I have, but I can’t let such a possibility stop me from doing what is important to me, and more so to Cyril. He is blaming himself for not giving Evelyn the benefit of the doubt, at least until the child was old enough to show a likeness. And I don’t come out of it very well. As Charles’ friend, I should have thought things out more clearly, instead of jumping to conclusions.’
‘I am to blame for that, my love, I was the first to call her a liar. And don’t think I haven’t asked myself a thousand times why I didn’t believe her. We’d been friends since school, and I was almost certain she had never been out with any other man but Charles. Yet I could have been wrong about that. Maybe she wasn’t the innocent little goody-two-shoes I thought she was. We are still not certain Charles is the father, but like you and Cyril, I believe if we don’t try and solve the puzzle, it will haunt us for the rest of our lives.’
‘If I am to be honest, darling, it is not Evelyn I am interested in. I would feel guilty if it turns out she was telling the truth, but I will never really forgive her for her lack of emotion when told of Charles’ death. She was cool and remote, as though he’d meant nothing to her. She never even visited his parents to offer condolences or comfort and help them in their hour of need.’
‘I’m afraid Evelyn was always lacking in emotion, even when she was young. But that was due to her parents. They were dreadful people who never should have had a child. She didn’t know what it was to get a goodnight kiss, or be tucked up in bed and have a story read to her. I was her only real friend, but I was never allowed to visit her. When I called for her to go to school, I was never invited in. That says a lot about her parents.’
Oscar sighed. ‘From what little I’ve heard, she is treating her daughter as she was treated. That’s why I must try and find her. Charles would expect no less from me.’ He wiped his mouth on a damask napkin then laid it on his plate. ‘I’ll call and see Cyril, then try the next three schools on my list. I keep telling myself that one day I’ll walk into the office of a headmistress and be told that, yes, they do have an Amelia Sinclair attending their school.’ He walked to the other end of the long dining table and kissed his wife’s brow. ‘How lucky I am to have you, my darling. A wonderful wife and mother.’
‘I wish you well today, love, and please don’t give up hope. Patience and endurance will pay off in the end. And give my love to Cyril.’
Cyril Lister-Sinclair was lost in reverie when the knock came on his office door. He quickly gathered himself together and called, ‘Come in.’ He smiled when he saw Oscar, and waved his friend to a seat facing his across the desk. ‘I was lost in thought when you knocked. It happens very often these days.’
‘You should get out more, old man, you’re too young to live the life of a hermit. Why don’t you and Matilda come to us for dinner one night, we would be delighted to have you.’
Cyril tapped his fingers on the desk. ‘It is very kind of you, my boy, but I wouldn’t be very good company, I’m afraid. And, as you know, my wife goes out very little. If she needs a new dress or whatever, she gets a taxi to her favourite shop, has the driver wait for her, and when she’s bought what she wants, it’s straight back home again. Actually she spends most of the day on the chaise-longue, fast asleep. Nothing seems to interest her any more, and I’m at a loss to know how to change her for she refuses to hold a sensible conversation. Her maid is the only one who can get through to her. I don’t know what I’d do if it weren’t for her.’
‘If Matilda refuses to visit friends, it shouldn’t stop you. It’s not as though she needs you, there are enough staff to attend to her.’
Cyril shook his head. ‘No, I would never go out socially without her. I come down to the office each week day because I need to keep an eye on my business affairs so she is without my company on those days. I know Matilda is not the easiest woman to get along with, has no interest in business or politics and subsequently no real conversation. Also, she can be quite childish and demanding. But I fell in love with her the moment I set eyes on her at a mutual friend’s house, and I still love her.’
There was affection in Oscar’s eyes as he gazed at the man who had always made him welcome whenever he’d called for Charles. Cyril was like a second father to him, and Oscar loved him dearly. ‘I’m afraid I’ve had no success with the schools so far, Cyril, but I’ve got another three to visit today so I’m keeping my fingers crossed. If I’m not successful I shall just carry on until I’ve covered every school across the city. It is possible, however, as Gwen pointed out his morning, that Evelyn may have remarried, and then the child will no longer have the name Sinclair.’
‘I’ve been considering all the possibilities too,’ Cyril told him. ‘In fact, the matter is seldom far from my thoughts. The easiest and most sure way of finding them is to go to the police or put a notice in the local evening paper so that, if she didn’t see it herself, it would at least be seen by a neighbour. But either way could have its drawbacks. The notice might send Evelyn into hiding and then we would never find her or the girl. Although I toyed with the idea of a private detective at one time, I agree with you now that it is not the right way.’ He sighed and swivelled his chair. ‘If w
e make a song and dance about it, the whole thing would become public knowledge and perhaps alienate Evelyn completely. If she was telling the truth, she has just cause to hate us. Or, I should say, hate me, it is I who turned her out of the house. She would have no cause to hate you or Gwen.’
‘If she is a fair-minded person then she will understand the reasons why you acted as you did. Any father who had just lost a son would have found it very difficult to believe her story.’ Oscar was saying this after years of heart-searching. ‘At the time, I would have found it hard to believe it of Charles. But on reflection, he knew he was shortly to be shipped abroad and perhaps lost his head for a while. Who are we to say we would have acted differently? None of us is a saint.’
‘That is very true, war changes people. So the sooner we find Evelyn and the girl, the sooner my heart will be at rest and we can put the whole sordid affair behind us. I wish you well today, Oscar, but if it isn’t to be the day we must continue to be patient.’
‘I second that.’ Oscar got to his feet and stretched his tall frame. ‘I won’t share a pot of tea with you this morning, Cyril. I want to visit two of the schools on my list before lunch. Then I’ll call to see my father and spend some time in the office with him so I can keep abreast of business affairs. Later, I will visit the third school on my list.’
‘You shouldn’t let my problems interfere with your work or home life, Oscar,’ Cyril told him. ‘I don’t want to poach you from your family business.’
‘Not at all! My father has an excellent staff, plus my brother, and his office runs like clockwork.’ Oscar looked at his friend. ‘It must be a while since you and Father met. Why don’t I pick you up in the morning and take you to see him? I know he would be delighted, he never fails to ask about you. And the two of you could talk shop for an hour, after which I’d be free to run us down to the club for some lunch.’ He could see Cyril was uncertain, and waved a hand. ‘No excuses, old man, I’m sure your excellent secretary can rearrange your diary to enable you absent for a few hours. In fact, I will have a word with the very efficient Miss Williams on my way out, and tell her you are not to be allowed to change your mind under any circumstances. I shall also ask her to have a pot of tea sent in now. After all, what is the point in being your own boss if you can’t do as you wish?’ He leaned across the desk and shook the older man’s hand. ‘I will see you at eleven-forty-five tomorrow.’
The following day was Wednesday. As Oscar and his father Richard, with Cyril walking between them, strolled down Castle Street towards their club, little did they know that about thirty yards from them, Evelyn was letting herself into Philip’s apartment. Had they seen her, they would have hurried towards her, filled with relief. Had she seen them, she would have fled in the opposite direction, afraid of the consequences. But they didn’t see each other, and a golden opportunity was lost.
Evelyn went straight to the kitchen to make a pot of tea to go with the delicious sandwiches and cakes Annie would have left ready for them. She had never met the cleaner, deliberately keeping away when the woman would be at the apartment. The fewer people who knew of her business the better. Evelyn lived in fear of being caught out, and losing the man she had fallen deeply in love with. He was the only person who could bring her to life, appreciate all the emotions that come with being in love. The very thought of him sent a shiver down her spine as she carried a tray through to the lounge. Hearing his key in the door, she put down the tray and ran to meet him in the hall. They had spent the morning together in the office, but even though their relationship had moved on away from work, Evelyn still insisted they remain businesslike in front of their colleagues. Not that Philip was as strict about it as she was, for if he couldn’t resist a kiss then she was well and truly kissed. He derived great pleasure from seeing her blush with embarrassment in case anyone walked into the office. He would be quite happy for everyone to know of their relationship, for he was deeply in love with her and very proud. He couldn’t understand why she wanted to keep it secret for the time being, but went along with it. After all, she’d said that after Christmas she would discuss the subject of marriage, and he could wait that long.
Philip cupped her face. ‘Now, when we are married, that is the sort of welcome I’ll expect every night when I come home from the office.’ And to bring a blush to her cheeks, he added, ‘I would expect you to be wearing less than you are now, though.’
‘You are incorrigible, Philip, I really don’t know what I’m going to do with you. And I am a fool for allowing you to make me blush.’
‘Do I have a power over you, my lovely Evelyn? Do I really?’
‘Of course you do, my love, and well you know it.’
‘Oh, I am not so sure, my darling.’ They were still standing in the hall, their arms around each other. ‘I would like to test this power you say I have over you. Would you permit me to try?’
Evelyn tutted. ‘You are like a child who is over-indulged by his parents. But if it makes you happy, then you may.’
‘Good!’ Philip moved out of her arms and cupped one of her elbows. He proceeded to walk her towards the bedroom. ‘Well, so far my magic seems to be working.’
Inside the bedroom, Evelyn stared at him in bewilderment. ‘What are you up to, Philip? Remember, we don’t have much time.’
‘Sshh! Don’t break the spell! Just slip your coat off, my lovely, and lie on the bed like the Sleeping Beauty. I will waken you with a kiss.’
‘Philip! I have made a pot of tea and our lunch is set out on the tray …’
He put a hand over her mouth. ‘I am using my magic powers on you now, my beauty. The tea can wait, my desire cannot. It is two whole days since I held you in my arms and made love to you. Two whole days and nights of longing for you. Even my parents noticed I was preoccupied and asked if I was sickening for a cold. Having you so close to me in the office, and be unable to touch you, it is agony.’ While he was talking, Philip slipped the coat off her shoulders, then scooped her up in his arms and laid her gently on the bed. ‘I will disrobe in the bathroom, my darling, please be ready for me when I return.’
Even if she’d had the willpower to resist him, Evelyn didn’t want to. Her own body was crying out. She undressed quickly and slid between the sheets. She was eager to have him hold her and thrill her with his love making, but remained clear enough in the head to remember she had to be back in the office for two o’clock. Philip wouldn’t remember because he didn’t care. If they were late, they were late, that was all there was to it. After all, there was no one above him to tick him off. But Evelyn wanted to keep her job as a safety net, and couldn’t afford to ruffle feathers or cause gossip.
Philip lifted the sheet and gazed lovingly at her naked body. ‘You are so beautiful, my darling Evelyn, I could spend my life making love to you.’ He ran a hand over her breasts, tummy and thighs, and smiled with pleasure when he heard her gasp. Then he climbed into bed and lay on top of her. ‘This, my darling, is as close to heaven as it gets. I want to marry you, to have you all to myself forever, please don’t keep me waiting long.’
She put a finger to his lips. ‘Make love to me, my darling.’
On Tuesday it had been Rita’s first night to have Milly for an hour, and also light Bessie’s and Mrs Sinclair’s fires. Everything had gone to plan. When Bessie’s fire had caught, Milly had taken Rita next door and let her in with the key. She’d stayed with Rita until the fire was well and truly lit. She hadn’t told anyone that the night before her mother had sat her down and given her a good talking to. She’d been given strict instructions that under no circumstances was Mrs Wells to be left on her own in the house. Amelia must stay with her the whole time, and when they left she must make sure the door was locked and that she kept hold of the key. And Milly had done as she was told, although she couldn’t understand why it was necessary, not when she could be playing catch with Jack. Anyway, Tuesday went off without a hitch, and Bessie and Mrs Sinclair were delighted to walk into rooms that were w
arm and welcoming.
Wednesday started off all right, with Aggie having a cup of tea ready for her two children, Kitty and Kenny, and Milly. She didn’t usually make tea for her children, but as this was her first night with Milly, she wanted to make a good impression. But it aroused suspicion in her two children.
‘What’s this in aid of, Mam?’ Kitty asked. ‘Are yer sickening for something?’
‘She must be,’ Kenny said. ‘Either that or she wants us to go on a message for her. I bet she wants us to go to the corner shop for a loaf or summat on tick. Well, I’m not going for nowt on tick, I feel a right lemon with the shop packed and me trying to whisper.’
Aggie gave him a light slap across the face. ‘I don’t want yer to go on no message, so there, clever clogs. And will yer remember we’ve got a visitor, and behave yerselves?’
It was then Kitty saw the light. She looked across the table at Milly, who was sitting very quietly taking it all in. ‘So, this is in your honour, eh? In that case ye’re very welcome ’cos a hot drink is just the job when it’s so cold. What do we call yer anyway, yer must have a name?’
Milly began to swing her legs under the table. ‘My name’s Amelia, but you can call me Milly as long as my mother doesn’t hear. She doesn’t like me being called that.’
Kenny huffed. ‘Pity about her, isn’t it? My proper name is Kenneth, but I don’t mind being called Kenny. That’s ’cos I’m not a snob.’
That remark would usually have earned him a thick ear, but before Aggie could reach him, Milly spoke. ‘Are you saying me and my mother are snobs? Well, perhaps you can explain to me what a snob is, ’cos I don’t know?’