Bow Belles

by Bow Belles (retail) (epub)

  Alex couldn’t have! Not his Kate! Not his precious, darling Kate. Moving on legs that seemed to have turned to stone, he lumbered over to his daughter, his hand brushing against the gun. In a daze, he picked it up, his mind working furiously. If he could shoot Alex in the arm or leg, just inflict a flesh wound, it might be enough to stop him from his murderous act, then maybe he would have time to go for help. That man outside… He could call to the man outside. But if he did, then Alex would be on him in an instant. There wasn’t time… There wasn’t any time. He couldn’t hear Florrie any more. The awful choking sounds had stopped. He would be next… and then Kate. No! No, he mustn’t let Alex hurt Kate. Turning away from the thought that his son had probably already hurt his daughter in the worst possible way a man could hurt a woman, he raised the gun.

  ‘Alex! Alex, stop it! Stop it now, or – or I swear I’ll shoot you!’

  William’s quivering words cut through the red mist in Alex’s mind. Raising his hands from Florrie’s throat, he listened for any sign of life, then clenched his teeth in frustration. The bitch was still breathing; but only just. Just a bit more pressure would finish her off. But first he had better get the gun away from that doddering old fool. The way his hands were shaking, the stupid bastard was going to knock off the safety catch if he wasn’t careful. Getting to his feet, Alex advanced on the terrified man.

  ‘Give me the gun, Dad. Come on, come on,’ he growled impatiently. ‘I haven’t got all night. Just give me the gun and get back to bed. This is no concern of yours. I’m doing you a favour. You never wanted her back, so don’t start acting like the concerned husband, it’s too late. Besides, you haven’t the guts to pull the trigger, you sad, pathetic man.’

  When William stood firm, Alex moved forward at a rush, only to come to an abrupt stop as the gun recoiled, the bullet catching him squarely in the chest. His mouth slackened, his eyes widened. The old fool had shot him! That bumbling, incompetent, bastard had actually shot him! When he tried to speak, he choked on his own blood. He was still silently cursing as the last breath left his body.

  * * *

  The guard was returning with his supper wrapped in newspaper when the cart driven at breakneck speed roared past him, stopping in a loud flurry of hooves and the horse’s startled neighing at such unaccustomed handling. He was about to shout in protest when he realised where the two men, led by the tall red-headed one, were headed. He knew the younger one by sight, and vaguely recognised the elder man from the party the previous night. Before he could call out, the red-haired man put his shoulder to the front door, knocking it from its hinges, and within seconds both men had disappeared inside.

  What the devil was going on? All thoughts of his supper vanished as he raced over the road to the house, and the women who had been left in his care.

  * * *

  ‘Kate… Kate!’ John raced up the stairs, followed closely by Dermot. On the landing, they stopped at the scene before them.

  ‘I—I didn’t mean to… I didn’t mean to kill him! The gun went off. I only wanted to stop him. I never meant to k—kill him. H—He was my son. H—He was my son!’ All the strength left his legs, and with a soft moan William slumped to the floor, clutching his chest.

  Stepping over him, John cautiously entered the room, his heart thumping with fear. Florrie was sitting on the bed, stroking Kate’s forehead.

  ‘It’s all right, John,’ she said hoarsely. ‘Kate’s all right. He didn’t hurt her.’ The lie came easily to her parched lips. When the gun had gone off she had crawled, inch by painful inch, towards the bed, her only thought to cover her daughter’s shame in an effort to conceal what had happened.

  Seeing the look of anguish on John’s face, she strove to put him at ease, even though she was racked with painful uncertainty. Every word brought with it agonising pain, but she must allay John’s fears. He must never for a moment imagine… ‘He tried to—to… but I stopped him in time. She’s all right. He—He must have hit her, knocked her out, so she couldn’t c—call for help.’

  Lifting Kate’s cherished head on to her shoulder, she laid her cheek against the soft hair. ‘She’s all right. She’s all right!’

  Walking slowly to where Alex lay sprawled in a pool of blood, John turned him over with the tip of his boot, his face tight with fury at being cheated of his own brand of revenge.

  By the door, William continued to sob quietly.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  It was some hours later. The police had been and gone, promising to return in a few hours. Alex’s body had been taken away in an ambulance to the morgue at the London Hospital. William had also been taken away, struck down by a crippling stroke that had left him bereft of speech and mobility. Downstairs in the sitting-room, an anxious John paced the floor, his tortured mind beset by what might have happened to his beloved Kate at the hands of that worthless piece of trash. Seated by the cold grate, Dermot watched his grandson, much relieved that William Browning had killed his son before John had reached the house, otherwise John would at that minute be languishing in a police cell charged with murder. He could hear footsteps and low voices over his head, and wondered what was going on upstairs.

  * * *

  ‘Try and rest, Kate. A good sleep will do you more good than any medicine.’ Robert looked down at Kate, who continued to shake her head stubbornly.

  ‘No, I don’t want to sleep. I want to find out what happened to me. Everything’s so groggy. It’s as if I’m here but I’m not here. Oh, I know that doesn’t make sense, but it’s how I feel, and I ache… I ache all over.’

  Florrie stumbled to her side, her face drawn with worry. ‘Where does it hurt, love? Exactly where does it hurt?’

  Kate shook her head slowly, and winced. ‘All over… I hurt all over, but especially my head. My head hurts badly… so badly.’ Her voice faded, her eyelids fluttering in the effort to remain conscious. ‘What do you remember?’ Robert probed kindly. ‘Or don’t you recall what happened this evening? It would be understandable in the circumstances. You’ve taken a heavy blow to the head, and in my opinion you are suffering some concussion. That would account for your disoriented state.’

  Angrily Kate glowered at him, still fighting to keep awake. ‘Of course I remember! Amnesia isn’t a family trait! Oh, Mum, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that to sound nasty!’ Widening her eyes in an effort to ward off sleep, she added, ‘I was on the bed with mum, and I heard a noise. We both thought it was dad out of bed, so I went to see what he wanted. Someone grabbed me and forced me into my own room and threw me down on the bed. I tried to fight, but he was too strong. Then I must have hit my head somehow, because I don’t remember anything after that.’ Her words were becoming jumbled and she knew she was losing her fight to remain conscious. With one last desperate attempt to keep awake, she stretched her eyes even wider. There was something she had to know, had to know now before sleep overtook her. Licking her lips, she whispered to Florrie, ‘It was Alex, wasn’t it?’ Before her startled mother could reply, Kate gave a long sigh and slipped into sleep.

  Robert and Florrie exchanged glances over her bed.

  ‘It’s lucky you put the sleeping powder in her cocoa, else she would never have taken it.’

  Robert looked at Florrie, his eyes dark with sympathy at her plight. It wasn’t simply luck that had brought him here so quickly.

  For months he had been spending more and more time at the hospital in order to be at hand should Florrie need him. The man he had employed to watch the house had reached the hospital as quickly as he could and alerted the doctor to the commotion at the house in Fairview Road. He had also had the foresight to keep on the hansom cab he had travelled in to take the doctor back to the house. Stopping only long enough to summon an ambulance to the address in Bow, Robert had clambered into the cab, and with the promise of a double fare, the cabbie had made the journey in record time.

  Robert had known that a man like Alex wouldn’t be warned off so easily, and would attempt to har
m Florrie at the first opportunity. Now it was clear that his premonition had proved correct.

  Rubbing his hand over his chin, he thought carefully before saying, ‘Do you want me to examine her, Florrie? I know you say you interrupted your stepson before he could… but maybe I should make sure? I won’t get another opportunity once Kate wakens, though that won’t be for a considerable time. I laced the sleeping-draught with morphine. It will help to dispel any pain she may experience later on.’ His eyes held his unspoken doubts concerning Florrie’s assurances that nothing had happened to her daughter.

  Florrie turned away, in two minds. Kate obviously didn’t remember anything of the attack… Maybe she had been in time? Maybe Alex had only been taunting her? Or maybe it was the concussion that was causing Kate a temporary loss of memory?

  But she would never know unless she allowed Robert to carry out the intimate examination. Swallowing her objections, she whispered through her bruised larynx. ‘Very well, Robert. You have my permission to carry out your examination.’ Walking over to the window, she stared out, not wishing to witness her daughter’s invasion of privacy. It seemed to be hours before Robert spoke and, when he did, Florrie’s relief was overwhelming.

  ‘It’s all right, my dear. You needn’t worry any longer.

  Whatever Alex’s intentions were, you arrived in time to stop him from carrying them out.’

  At hearing those blessed words, Florrie slumped forward. Tears of happiness stung her eyes, and in a voice barely audible she croaked, ‘Thank God! Oh, thank God!’ Holding out her hands to Robert, she gave a watery smile. Then her tears began to flow in earnest as she realised just how near Alex had come to destroying not only Kate’s life, but hers too. For if anything had happened to her daughter, she would never have been able to forgive herself.

  Holding her sobbing body close, Robert leant his chin on her fair head, his eyes sombre. He was gladdened to his very heart that Kate was unhurt and could go to her husband as unsullied as the day she was born. In the short time he had known John Kelly, Robert had taken his measure, finding him to be a strong, capable man who would take good care of Kate. Their future looked bright, but what of his own future… What did it hold for him and this woman he loved so dearly?

  ‘And what about you, Florrie?’ Robert asked quietly. ‘Considering William’s condition when he was taken to hospital, I doubt he will ever be well enough to return home. If he does, he’ll require round-the-clock care. How would you cope? You would have to give up your job to look after him. What would you do for money? You will have to think very carefully before coming to a decision. Because, once you do, it will be for life. A life that could turn you into an old woman before your time.’

  Florrie gulped at the prospect of being imprisoned with William for the rest of his days. Yet she owed him her life, and Kate’s, and even if she didn’t love him any more, she still felt responsible for him. She couldn’t turn her back on him, she wasn’t made that way. Struggling to retain her emotions, she asked, ‘What else can I do? Unless you have any suggestions?’

  Standing back a pace, Robert took her hands. ‘I could keep him at the hospital in a private room.’ His voice cracked momentarily as he braced himself for a sharp rebuke for his suggestion. When none was forthcoming, he added hopefully. ‘He would have the best possible care, and you and the children could still visit him daily, while being free to continue your life in whatever way you choose.’

  Florrie’s lips began to tremble as the trauma of the night finally began to take hold. ‘Let’s wait and see how he is before I have to make any decisions, Robert. But whatever I decide, I’ll decide on my own. All that matters to me now is the welfare of Kate and the children. There will be time later to think of myself. But, whatever I decide, I won’t be living here. This house holds too many bad memories, and I can’t wait to get away from it.’

  Robert made to speak again, then decided against it. He couldn’t expect her to make such a decision straight away; especially after all she’d just been through. Yet she hadn’t rejected the idea outright, so maybe there was still hope for them. It was a slim hope, but it was all he had. Silently they left the sleeping Kate and made their way downstairs to where John and Dermot were waiting anxiously.

  * * *

  Kate and John were married quietly and without fuss on 6 January 1900. It had taken all Florrie’s persuasive powers to get Kate to agree to go ahead with the wedding, but she had managed it. On the same day, Alex Browning was buried, also without fuss and without anyone to mourn his passing.

  Before setting off for their honeymoon, an overnight stay at a hotel in Southend, which was all Kate would agree to out of concern for her father, she took her mother aside, and, with anguish, she asked simply, ‘Did Alex try to rape me, Mum?’

  Florrie had been expecting the question for the past few days and she was ready for it. Keeping her voice steady, she replied firmly, ‘That was obviously his intention, but fortunately I arrived in time to stop him.’

  Kate gazed at her mother for a long, soul-searching, minute, then lowered her head and shuddered at the thought of what might have happened. Gripping her hands, her throat tight with suppressed emotion, she said. ‘Thank you, Mum. Thank you for everything.’

  They had set off for the short honeymoon from Bridie’s house. Now, some hours later, Florrie, the children, Bridie and Dermot stood solemnly as Billy reverently laid a small posy of flowers on the mound of the grave. His voice thick with tears, he said tremulously, ‘Goodbye, Spud. I’m going to miss you. But don’t worry, Jesus will look after you now, and maybe he’ll let you come back and play with me sometime.’ The adults present also experienced a lump in their throats at the child’s hopeful words.

  Now it was time to depart, and Florrie was loath to leave her friends. The idea of going back to that dismal house filled her with dread. Even the company of her children couldn’t dispel the empty loneliness she had been feeling since seeing Kate off with her new husband. Careful to conceal her emotions, she stood by the open doorway with Bridie as Dermot loaded the children into the cart, ready to take them back home.

  ‘It says something of a man when a dog has more folk at its graveside than himself!’

  Fastening the buttons on her gloves, Florrie replied grimly, ‘It’s no more than he deserved. In fact I would say it was a fitting end for him.’

  Walking down the path, Bridie asked gently, ‘I didn’t like to ask earlier, what with the wedding an’ all, but has there been any more news of your husband, lass?’

  Avoiding looking at her, Florrie reported, ‘There’s been no improvement since the stroke. He seems to have given up on life. He can’t forgive himself for what he did, even if it was an accident. Yet, for all that, he could live for years – if you can call it living.’

  ‘An’ what about yourself, lass? Are you still set on moving? ’Cos if you are, I hope you’ll not go too far. I’d miss you an’ the children, but o’ course you have to do what you thinks best.’

  Seated up at the front of the cart beside Dermot, Florrie looked down. ‘I haven’t found anywhere yet, there hasn’t been time. But it will probably be in the same area where the rent is the same as I’m paying now, so don’t worry. You’ll still be seeing plenty of us, I promise!’

  Dermot took the reins and clicked his tongue at the somnolent horse who began to trot with undisguised reluctance. ‘Begod, sure an’ this auld boy’s next stop’ll be the knacker’s yard, if he’s not careful!’ He chuckled gaily, trying to bring a smile to the face of the woman beside him. And, when she turned, her lips curved into a line of laughter, his heart lightened. Clicking his tongue once more, he urged the horse into a canter while wondering what life now held in store for the family who had become so dear to him.

  * * *

  Kate stood by the window of the small hotel room, watching the crashing waves sweeping over the promenade. The turbulent force of nature struck a chord in her heart as she recalled the past two tumultuous years.
But those troubled times were behind her for ever. Shivering at the coldness of the room, she pulled her red dressing-gown closer, wishing John would hurry back from the mysterious errand he had gone out on. Rubbing her hands together for warmth, she felt the slim band of gold nestling beneath the garnet engagement ring, and was immediately comforted.

  It was as if the simple piece of jewellery acted as a wall of protection: it somehow made her feel complete. A slow smile spread across her face as she whispered, ‘Hello, Mrs Kelly’, though she wouldn’t really be Mrs Kelly until… A soft flush spread over her cheeks at the thought of what the night held in store, but she wasn’t afraid. Oh, no, never afraid. She would never be afraid again, not while John was by her side. And now that Alex was… She shook her head abruptly, determined not to let thoughts of him intrude upon this special day. She still felt a modicum of guilt at going away while her father was in hospital, but, as her mother had pointed out, it was only for one night, and William wouldn’t even notice she had gone.

  Before she could start brooding about her father, the door burst open to reveal a very cold and wet John. Seemingly oblivious of his sodden clothes, he grinned broadly while brandishing a large bunch of flowers in his dripping hand. ‘Bloody hell! Oops, sorry, darling, a slip of the tongue. Mind you, I’ve every right to swear! I must have walked the entire length of Southend to find these.’