Bow Belles

by Bow Belles (retail) (epub)

  ‘Kate!’

  Her father’s querulous voice broke into her reminiscing. He pulled her to the corner of the bed, and with a pained expression, he said wearily, ‘Listen to me, Kate. I know… I know how the doctor and your mother feel about each other. No, don’t pull away.’ He was luxuriating in his role of martyrdom. ‘What I have to say needs saying. You were never one to bury your head in the sand, so please don’t start now. Like I said, I know how things stand and, Kate… I don’t mind. Five… no, two years ago, I would have, but things change, life changes us all sooner or later. Your mother and I were drifting apart before… well, before all this happened. Even though she’s back, nothing’s changed. At least not as far as we’re concerned. The only reason she came back was for you and the children… and yes, to see if I was all right. Because, for all our differences, we still care for each other. Oh, not in the same way we did twenty years ago, but we’ve shared a life together, and nothing can completely wipe those years away. But now the feelings we have are more in the way of friendship, and at my age true friendship means a great deal. It lasts, you see. Not like love, that can be riddled with jealousy and dislike. Friendship is a much more enduring quality, and equally hard to come by. If you and John can be friends as well as lovers, then you’ll have a long and happy marriage.’ When Kate didn’t answer, he gently lifted her trembling chin. ‘Look at me, Kate. Look and see the truth. Don’t be too hard on your mother, or the doctor. They were thrown together by fate; they never planned to hurt anyone, and they’re not planning to hurt me. They are as much a victim as I. If you have to blame anyone for what’s happened, then you don’t have far to look, do you?’

  It was a masterful performance, setting himself into the part of a wronged man showing clemency towards his errant wife. But Kate, not fooled by her father’s self-indulgence, felt a momentary measure of shame for his inherent weakness. As to the supposed friendship that now existed between her parents… Well, she had certainly seen no sign of it. Yet if it gave her father comfort to think otherwise, then so be it. She stared deep into his dark eyes, and saw the anguished heartbreak that belied all he had said. Gripping his fleshy hands she gave a reassuring squeeze, a spasm of guilt racking her for her previous uncharitable thoughts. For even though his words had been delivered as a ruse to elicit sympathy from her, they had nevertheless contained a ring of truth. Even at her age, she still wished things could be as before, although she knew it wasn’t possible now.

  Too much had happened during the past two years. Both her parents had changed, and the changes wrought now only served to drive a deeper wedge between them.

  The sound of low laughter rose from downstairs, making her frown. She wasn’t being fair. Like her father had said, what had happened was the fault of only one man. And he wouldn’t be showing his face again, not after the doctor had sent the police down to the docks with a warning to Alex to keep away from his family and the Kellys or face the consequences of a criminal investigation.

  That had been merely a bluff on the part of the police. For although they believed Kate’s story of the threats against the Kelly family, unless something actually happened to any of them, there was nothing they could do, and there still wasn’t any evidence of Alex’s involvement in the attack on his stepmother. William had steadfastly refused to lay charges against his son, stubbornly resisting all persuasion from the police while pleading with Kate and Alice to keep quiet about that night.

  Maybe if he’d know what had happened between Alex and Kate, he might not have been so forgiving, but Kate had wanted that part of the sordid affair kept quiet. Only Bridie, and Florrie knew the true extent of Alex’s evil intentions, and that was how it was going to stay. In the face of his distress, Kate had reluctantly agreed to keep silent, and Alice, always one to accept the line of least resistance, had followed suit. With her mother back home, and the presence of an influential man like Dr Peakes-Brown on their side, the younger girl imagined she was safe from her brother’s threats. Kate envied her sister’s easy acceptance that everything was all right now. With Alex still walking the streets, they would all have to watch their backs. Despite John’s assurances that he could look after himself and his grandparents, Kate was still worried.

  For as long as he lived, they would wait in fear of retribution. Even after she was married, she would be constantly on guard, always waiting for the moment when she would one day turn a corner and come face to face with the man who had nearly wrecked their lives. The thought of her impending wedding brought her head up sharply. How could she leave here with things as they were? Her mother was putting a brave face on the surface, but Kate knew just how desperately she would miss her when she went.

  ‘What is it, Kate? You seem miles away.’

  Her father’s voice once again snapped her out of her day-dreams. Nipping the corner of her lip, she said quietly, ‘I can’t leave you both, not yet. It?s all happened too quickly. First the engagement, then the wedding. Why, I’ve hardly had time to catch my breath. Look, I’ll talk to John. We can put off the wedding until later next year. We…’

  ‘NO!’ The word was filled with urgency. ‘You’ll stand by the arrangements and get married next week as planned.’

  ‘But, Dad…’

  ‘No buts, Kate,’ William said firmly, for once putting someone else’s welfare before his own. He gently took her downcast face in his hands. ‘Don’t you understand, love? I want you out of this house. I want you safely married and away from here. This is one thing your mother and I agree on. John’s a good man, and a strong one. He’ll take care of you better than I ever could, and I’ll sleep a lot easier at night knowing he’s by your side.’ Feeling the tears that came so easily these days beginning to blur his eyes, William made a brave try at jocularity. ‘Now, then, do I get this cup of tea, or am I to die of thirst?’

  Sliding from the edge of the bed, Kate looked out of the window, where the man was standing directly across the street. Alex’s spy had long since been replaced by two men sent to watch the house. One stood guard during the day, another taking his place at night, their services paid for by the doctor. And while their presence brought a certain degree of security to the occupants of the house, they also served to remind them all of the reason why the men were there.

  Robert was standing by the front door ready to leave as Kate came down the stairs. ‘I’ll bid you goodbye for now, Kate,’ Robert said cheerfully. ‘Though you’ll be seeing me again in a few hours. I only stopped off on my way home to see your father, though I’m glad I did. Your mother has kindly invited me to join the New Year celebrations with you all… That is, if you’ve no objections?’ he added as her face suddenly tightened.

  Ashamed of her feelings towards this man to whom she owed so much, Kate attempted a smile. ‘Of course not, Doctor. And maybe you’ll bring this Nellie person I’ve heard so much about. I’d love to meet her, and I’m sure mum would like to see her again.’

  A look of relief passed over both Robert’s and Florrie’s faces at Kate’s friendliness. ‘Well now, that’s very thoughtful of you. I’m sure Mrs Palmer would be delighted to meet you all.’ Robert tactfully refrained from saying that Nellie had already been invited. It would be better if the young woman imagined it was her idea to bring yet another part of his life into hers. Calling out goodbye to the children sitting around the blazing fire and receiving a hearty reply from them all, Robert took his leave.

  When the door closed after him, Kate followed Florrie into the scullery, her mind still on the conversation she’d had with her father. Where would it all end? she wondered. Her father had never been strong emotionally, and the events of that terrible night had left him a broken, sad and deeply worried man. Even though he was only fifty-four, he seemed twenty years older, while her mother still looked young for her age in spite of the scars marring her face. Careful not to let her observations show, Kate studied her profile carefully. At first she had been horrified, but after only a short while she had become accus
tomed to the scars.

  ‘Is something wrong, Kate?’

  Kate jumped guiltily, her face colouring slightly as she realised her mother was watching her. ‘No, I was just wondering what we’re going to do with all this food!’

  She managed a light-hearted laugh, indicating the trestles bearing mountains of sandwiches, cakes and savouries. ‘There’s enough here to feed an army! How many people are you expecting, for goodness’ sake?’

  Draping damp tea-towels over the prepared food, Florrie joined in the pretence of normality. ‘Well now, there’s the Kellys, of course. And Robert and Nellie. I’ve also asked Robert to invite Mr Brookes, although his family will be expecting him home. Still, he might drop by for a drink. Then there’s the Misses Fletcher. They’ve no one else but each other, poor souls, and if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be able to afford a party.’ Frieda and Doreen Fletcher ran a small, but exclusive, millinery in Stoke Newington High Street, where Florrie now worked as senior assistant. It had been difficult getting a job. Many employers were reluctant to take on anyone whose appearance might give rise to speculative talk. But the Misses Fletcher had seen past the scarred face to the vibrant, strong personality that lay beneath. Besides, it was true that a liberal sprinkling of powder and rouge could camouflage a multitude of sins.

  The two women had also been responsible for letting Kate know of a vacancy in a haberdashery store, also in the High Street, which was very convenient as it enabled the two women to share the daily hour-long journey. The wage wasn’t as much as Kate had hoped for, but it was only a temporary job as far as she was concerned. Once she was married and John’s business was up and running, she planned to take over the administrative side to give him more time with his carpentry. Besides, she thought lovingly, he might be a genius with a piece of wood, but he was hopeless at figures, and equally so at charging an adequate price for his fine work.

  ‘Well, there’s nothing more to be done here,’ Florrie said. ‘We may as well start to get ourselves ready. It’s going to be a long night, and there’s bound to be plenty of people passing by that’ll drop in on the sly for a free drink and something to eat!’

  Seeing the tired look on her mother’s face, Kate impulsively hugged her tight.

  ‘Goodness, what was that for?’ Florrie laughed happily.

  ‘Nothing, Mum. I just love you, that’s all.’

  Barely an hour later they were all back downstairs waiting for the first guests. Ignoring the grumblings of William, who was unhappy about his home being invaded by what he called ‘hordes of people’, Kate and Florrie left him sitting in the armchair to have one last look round the house to ensure all was ready for the party.

  Kate was wearing a cherry-red woollen dress with fitted sleeves and a full skirt, while Florrie had chosen a royal blue high-necked blouse and a straight-fitting navy skirt for the evening.

  Florrie had been right about gate-crashers. The house was now filled to bursting as people moved in and out of the doors that stood open all down the street. Bridie, Dermot and John were the first to arrive, driven in the totter’s cart.

  And when Kate had laughingly said to John that he might we well buy them from the totter, he had grinned broadly and said, ‘Now it’s funny you should say that, because I just have! Mind you, I’ve still got to pay the old skinflint rent for the use of his stable.’ Next had come the Fletcher sisters, Frieda and Doreen, nervously sidling into the house as if expecting someone to ask them what they were doing there. Then had come the neighbours, and finally, at nine-thirty Robert and a beaming Nellie had driven up in a cab, bringing a crate of wine and two large trays of cakes and sandwiches.

  Now they were all waiting for midnight to strike. Strangers and friends stood side by side, their breaths held expectedly. Then, from all the open houses in the street, a crescendo of clocks struck the hour simultaneously and pandemonium broke out as voices rose in an off-beat rendering of ‘Auld Lang Syne’.

  ‘Happy New Year, Kate, darling,’ John said, his eyes filled with love as he bent to kiss his future bride. No sooner had their lips parted then Kate was whisked off and passed round all the men present for the customary kiss to herald in the New Year.

  John, ever vigilant, was himself being slapped heartily on the back and his hand shaken time and time again by people he’d never seen in his life and would probably never see again. Through the milling crowd he saw Kate being lifted high in the air by a burly stranger and instinctively clenched his fists, ready to storm to her rescue should the man begin to take liberties. Then she turned a smiling face towards him, and immediately he relaxed. Looking at her now, it was hard to believe that only a few short months ago he had thought she was lost to him for ever.

  His gaze shifted to his future mother-in-law, his eyebrows drawing together in pity and silent rage at the sight of her scarred face. How in God’s name could any man do that to a woman who, by all accounts, had been like a mother to him? If ever the devil had come back in human form, then that form was Alex Browning. If only he could have five minutes alone with the man, he, John, would make Browning wish he’d never been born. But he had promised Kate and his gran to steer clear of the docks, and, much as it went against the grain, he would stick by his word. If, on the other hand, they were to meet accidentally…

  He was rudely jerked from his reverie when a drink was forced into his hand. Smiling politely at the grinning stranger, he raised the glass of beer to his lips, determined not to let thoughts of Browning spoil his evening. The man had tried his best to come between him and Kate and had failed. This time next week she would be his wife… his wife, he repeated the words silently, savouring the feel of them. Taking another long swallow, he found himself smiling broadly. Just another week to wait before Kate became Mrs John Kelly. It would be the longest week of his life.

  It was nearly two before the house started to empty, and after helping her mother to take a very tired William back to his bed, Kate and John slipped quietly from the house.

  ‘They make a grand couple, don’t they, Florrie?’ Bridie beamed after the retreating figures. Florrie nodded, though her heart was heavy at the impending loss of her daughter. Always quick to sense a person’s mood, Bridie said kindly, ‘You’ll not be losing her, lass. You’ll still be seeing plenty of her. I know it’s hard to let a young ’un go, especially in your case, but it’s for the best.’

  The last words held a deep meaning that Florrie was quick to pick up. Out in the scullery, the two women worked side by side to clear the debris left by the guests. Darting a quick look at the solid, grey-haired figure by her side, Florrie felt a surge of gratitude to this woman who had been such a boon to Kate in her hour of need. When Kate had first told her of Bridie, Florrie had felt resentment that another woman had taken her place in her children’s affection, but now she felt she had known the motherly figure all her life. And as for her future son-in-law… Well, she couldn’t have picked a better man herself. It was as William said: Kate would be safe with John.

  Her eyebrows drew together in worry. As far as she knew, William had no inkling of Alex’s feelings towards Kate, yet he was desperately anxious to get her from the house. Maybe he imagined his daughter to be in danger of the same fate that had befallen his wife. But whatever the reason for his insistence, he was right. The sooner Kate was safely married, the better.

  ‘You’re going to miss her, aren’t you, lass?’

  Florrie turned, a sad smile playing about her lips. ‘More than you can imagine, Bridie! Much, much more than you could ever imagine. It seems I’ve only just found her, to lose her again. It will take a lot of getting used to not having her here. I only wish I could have more time with her, but that’s not possible. If I were to tell her how I feel, she’d probably postpone the wedding and that’s the last thing I want.’

  Bridie thought hard for a few minutes, then, her face brightening, she exclaimed, ‘Look, why don’t I take the children to stay with me tomorrow night? Just for the night, mind. That�
�ll give you and Kate some time to yourselves. I don’t suppose you’ve had much chance to talk properly, not with the children and your poor husband taking up all of your free time. I know you travel on the same bus every day, but I don’t suppose you get the chance for a good natter; not like youse would if you were at home on your own.’ Seeing the doubtful look mingled with excitement on Florrie’s face, Bridie pressed on. ‘If I’m interfering, you just say so. I’ve a broad back, so I have, but think about it, lass. The children will be fine with me, an’ Dermot’ll be over the moon to have them around. It’ll be a bit of a tight squeeze, mind you, but that’ll make it all the more exciting for the children… except Alice, that is,’ she ended on a laugh, imagining that young lady’s face when she was handed a blanket and told to find a space on the floor.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Florrie replied. The children have only just got used to my being back. Billy still follows me everywhere and waits by the window every night to watch for me coming home. Alice and Sally will understand, but Billy…’

  ‘Tush!’ Bridie exclaimed. ‘You leave master Billy to me. You’ll see, a night spent with the dog will outweigh the prospect of spending some time apart from his mother.’

  ‘Thank you very much.’ Florrie laughed indignantly, her heart becoming lighter at the prospect of spending an evening alone with her daughter. It was as Bridie said: they hadn’t had a lot of time together since her return. It would be good to have the place to themselves once William had gone to bed. Making up her mind, she nodded. ‘That’s very kind of you, and I must admit there’s nothing I’d like better than to have the chance of some time with Kate before the wedding. But only if Billy is happy about it.’