Consequences
Page 42
‘I’m glad we’ve got that out of the way,’ Clarence said.
‘So am I,’ Algie agreed. ‘Same again?’
‘Same again, thanks.’
On his return from the bar with two fresh pints of foaming beer, Algie sat down.
‘Did you know that at the auctioning off of Benjamin Sampson’s house I made a bid?’ Clarence remarked.
‘Holly Hall House? No, I didn’t know. But why would you do that?’
‘A while ago, Benjamin Sampson came to my office hoping to borrow money. My advice to him was to sell his house. He asked what it might be worth, and I suggested that the land it stood on would be valuable. Which gave me an idea. Anyway, my bid was accepted. To be honest, I got it for far less than I had expected.’
‘But why buy that house, Clarence? What use is it to you? It’s not just for sentimental reasons you’ve bought it, surely? Or is it revenge?’
‘Neither. It occupies four acres. Prime residential building land. My plan is to demolish the house and build several fine houses there.’
‘That sounds like an ambitious plan.’
‘I have it all mapped out. I’m going to start my own construction company. I have the capital, and the architectural and surveying expertise. I just need a partner who can help me run the construction side of things. It crossed my mind that if we could settle our differences you might consider joining me, Algie. I know you to be an astute businessman, that you are careful, that you have integrity.’
‘Nice of you to say so, Clarence, and I appreciate the thought, but I don’t have the sort of money available to sink into a project like that. Besides, I have my own bike building business to occupy me.’
‘You wouldn’t need to sink a penny into it. I have the capital, as I said. I’ve costed it all out and there’s a fortune to be made. And this is just the beginning. Help me run it, and the two of us could take equal drawings from the business. As to your own bike building concern, you could employ a manager to run it. You would still have control.’
‘I don’t know what to say, Clarence,’ Algie replied, astonished by the proposal, and wondering whether guilt over Clarence’s admitted desire to hurt him had prompted it. ‘You’ve taken me by surprise. It sounds very tempting, but like I say, I prefer to stand or fall by my own efforts, doing what I know. I haven’t a clue about building and construction. Besides which, how can you be sure we’d get on as business partners?’
‘I don’t, frankly. But I suspect we would. Think about it anyway.’
‘Hmm…I’ll talk to Marigold. I’ll see what her opinion is. She’s very shrewd on matters of business, believe it or not.’
‘Well, there’s no rush to decide. But you and I are about to become brothers-in-law, Algie…’ He smiled. ‘I think we’ve made a fine start, considering where we were.’
‘I think we might have, Clarence. But there’s still one topic we haven’t touched on – one that’s important to me.’
‘Very well, spit it out.’
‘Christina,’ Algie said, venturing into new territory. ‘Just because you’re about to marry Aurelia, and Christina is a part of the deal, I’d hate you to think that I’m prepared to let go of all responsibility for her, because I’m not. She’s my daughter, and she has two half-sisters at my house. I would still like her to be part of our lives, part of my family. Marigold agrees. So we would like to have her from time to time, and I believe Aurelia would not be averse.’
‘Of course, Algie. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t come to a mutually convenient arrangement. It’s not as if we live a long way from each other in any case. Just around the corner in fact – a quarter of a mile at most.’
‘So we’re agreed on that,’ Algie said. ‘I must say though, Clarence, it’s a giant step you’re taking, marrying a divorced woman, taking on her two children, neither your own. I hope I can be frank and say that I hope you’ll be able to treat them as your own.’
‘I admire your forthrightness, Algie, in saying as much,’ he replied with a smile. ‘But my own son, George, will grow up regarding Aurelia’s son Benjie and your daughter Christina as his own siblings. We shall be a close-knit family, and who’s to say we shan’t have more children together? Anyway, rest assured they will be treated as my own, and enjoy the same devotion and diligence.’
‘I just wanted to mention it, Clarence.’
‘Quite right that you should. Anyway, you have my word on the matter.’
‘Thank you.’ He lifted his tankard and took a long quaff of beer. ‘Can I be frank on another matter, Clarence? Related, of course.’
‘Please.’
‘This marriage is very close on the heels of Harriet’s passing. Aren’t you concerned that you’re rushing headlong into it, a bit soon?’
‘I know a lot of people will think so, Algie, but I understand that Aurelia has explained everything to you.’
‘I only have her version…’
‘Well, here’s mine, just in case it differs. Whilst I loved Harriet – indeed, I also fell in love with your adorable sister Kate along the way, you may recall – I was never able to purge Aurelia from my system. She’s always been there, even when I was distracted later by other women. I have always been in love with her, which is why it hurt so much when I discovered you and she had been engrossed in an affair. But even that didn’t shake my regard for her.’
‘Not even the fact that she’s seen as a fallen woman now, divorced for adultery and having a child out of wedlock? That’s what puzzles me, Clarence.’
‘Well, if it hadn’t been you it would have been somebody else, because I know how dreadfully unhappy she was with Benjamin. Marriage to him was the ultimate folly. Even after she married him we stayed close for a while.’
‘So I believe.’
‘Can I say something in complete confidence, Algie? It might explain my motives and how I feel, better than anything. But I mean in strict confidence, never to be mentioned to Marigold, and indeed not to Aurelia either – nor anybody else for that matter.’
‘You have my word, Clarence.’
‘You see, I have often wondered whether little Benjie is actually my son.’
Algie was suddenly wide-eyed with astonishment. ‘Phew!’ he exclaimed. ‘Is it possible?’
‘Look, I have no proof of it, and Aurelia has never so much as hinted at it. But yes, it is possible…To my way of thinking, that possibility alone would make it right that I ask her to be my wife, irrespective of her recent past, and especially since we both became available at about the same time. And tomorrow she will be. It’s where we both belong, Algie – together. And I know now that you don’t begrudge it us.’
‘On that basis alone, Clarence, I never will…I swear.’
* * *
Chapter 39
If weddings could be chronicled according to rush and commotion, it seemed there never had been such a rush and commotion as that to make sure the marriage of Aurelia Sampson, née Osborne, to Clarence Froggatt was arranged in time for Christmas. Sorting out a dress suitable for a civil ceremony was a rather intense affair too, and Aurelia had to choose one from the limited selection of dresses now in her possession. With the help and advice of Marigold, however, she eventually picked a formal day dress in aquamarine with a scalloped hem, revealing a paler ribbed skirt beneath, and long, tight sleeves. The bodice was lace yoked with a high neck. As to a bridal bouquet, Marigold herself contrived to make one.
As well as proof of her divorce, Aurelia needed her birth certificate, and only after a frantic search did she find it, afraid she might have left it behind in the palaver of leaving Holly Hall House. Meanwhile, Clarence had organised the notice of marriage, subsequently obtained the marriage licence, and booked the registrar and registry office. Then there was the question of a gold ring, which he and Aurelia chose together two days prior to the wedding.
Come the day, Marigold, as loyal and supportive as ever, was on hand to help her half-sister.
‘What
time is it?’ Aurelia asked, by this time looking a worthy bride.
‘Five and twenty past by that clock on the mantelshelf.’
‘Jones will be here any minute. Anyway, I’m ready now.’ She craned her neck, trying to catch a glimpse of herself in the inadequate mirror in her bedroom. ‘How do I look?’
Marigold rolled her eyes with envy. ‘Beautiful…Why can’t I ever look as beautiful?’
Aurelia laughed happily. ‘Oh, but you do, Marigold. Others see it, even if you don’t.’
At that they heard the carriage roll up outside amid the clatter of hooves on the street cobbles.
‘He’s here already,’ Marigold said excitedly as she peered out of the window. ‘Mind you don’t trip as you go down the stairs.’
* * *
On Clarence’s arm, Aurelia walked into the austere dimness of the registry office, a Victorian edifice in the Gothic style, forlorn and blackened on the outside by the Black Country’s relentless smoke. Inside, the air smelt stale and damp. Bland, cream-coloured paint was flaking from the walls in mouldy patches. Weak winter sunlight strove to shine through the soot-besmirched panes of one arched, leaded window. The setting was not as romantic as Clarence would have liked for his bride, but it would serve its purpose adequately.
Marigold followed on Algie’s arm, content to be there to support her half-sister, feeling relieved with the sense that Aurelia was now off her hands, as if she alone had been responsible for her well-being.
As bride and groom stood before the registrar expectantly, Clarence was looking entirely pleased with himself, and undeniably handsome in a black suit. He turned to his intended and bestowed on her a broad smile. She returned the smile, and as tears misted her beautiful eyes it seemed to him that her face was lovelier today than he had ever seen it; so bright, so perfect, and yet endowed with an expression of serenity. What doubts, fears, emotions and elation might be hidden beneath the calmness of that unfathomable, serene face? Was she wondering, as he was wondering, at the mystifying fortunes and hazards that had contrived to finally bring her to him?
She was in fact pondering in silence along similar lines, at the mysteries of fate, at how events tragically and yet sometimes magically affect our lives. After everything she had endured, after all the despair and heart-searching, she now considered herself to be the most fortunate of women, because fate had finally smiled on her.
Five years ago she had married Benjamin Sampson. Five years ago she might have been marrying Clarence instead, had she not been so naïve, so easily beguiled. Yet due to a series of perplexing episodes she was about to become his wife after all, having consented to trust herself to him for the rest of their uncertain lives.
‘I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, Clarence George…’ So spoke Clarence at the behest of the registrar – a sombre man in a black jacket and striped trousers.
Every few seconds Clarence would turn to look at Aurelia. It had been years since his first notion of marriage to this young woman had occurred to him, but now he was on the threshold of achieving his dream, and he pondered how fortunate he was to have retained her respect and admiration in spite of all she had experienced since. He had found her irresistible from the day they met. And yet he sensed, with a mixture of awe and wonder, that this woman, whose beauty made him tremble, was as much a stranger to him today as when he first met her and fell in love with her. For this was just the beginning of a different life together, new to them both, as yet unexplored; totally new territory.
Aurelia looked up at him, for it was her turn to make her declaration, and she gave him another of her devastating smiles.
‘I do solemnly declare that I know not of any lawful impediment why I, Aurelia Felicity, may not be joined in matrimony to Clarence George.’
His eyes told all; he looked happy…and a little overcome. She turned round to flash a smile at her witnesses standing behind them, Algie and Marigold. Both were smiling back their encouragement, their reassurance of support.
Clarence was speaking again. ‘I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, Clarence George, do take thee, Aurelia Felicity, to be my lawful wedded wife.’
Aurelia watched his lips as he spoke the words. She used to enjoy kissing those lips as a girl of eighteen. Would she enjoy them as much tonight when they would share their marriage bed? The thought made her heart pound, with a mixture of anticipation and apprehension. She was glad that the affair with Algie Stokes was now irrevocably behind her, but that affair had taught her much about the pleasure and intimacy two people in love can share. To her, it was strange how and why people fell in love, and with whom. It was a mystery as to what prompted emotions intense enough to drive those infected to sheer recklessness, as she had been driven.
When Aurelia had called upon those persons present to witness that she take this man to be her lawful wedded husband, she gave her slender hand and felt Clarence’s gold ring slide down her third finger. Again, she looked up at him adoringly, all the tenderness from their past flooding back.
‘You are now husband and wife,’ the registrar declared at last. ‘May I be the first to congratulate you.’
Bride and groom smiled happily at each other once more. Her right hand searched for his left hand at her side and found it, and she gave it a squeeze. The registrar sportingly invited him to kiss his bride, so she tilted her head ready to receive his kiss.
The simple ceremony over, they passed out of the registry office arm in arm into the bright but cold December sunshine, both thankful that the ceremony was over, that their marriage had been finally achieved. The two men, groom and witness, shook hands cordially, their amity for all time restored, while Aurelia embraced Marigold with sisterly zeal.
Both women noticed how many people had stopped out of curiosity to see the new bride and groom. The groom had decided he could not let this occasion pass without some photographic evidence, so had engaged a photographer. With his bride he posed, then drafted his witnesses to appear alongside them.
A phaeton was waiting. He handed his bride inside and they sat close together in the rear seat. Opposite them sat the witnesses. Before long the coachman was driving them past crystal glassworks and their towering cones, towards Kingswinford’s rural tranquillity…and The Larches.
* * *
About the Author
Nancy Carson lives in Staffordshire and is a keen student of local history. All her novels are based around real events, and focus on the lives of the people of the Black Country.
By the same author:
A Country Girl
Poppy’s Dilemma
The Dressmaker’s Daughter
The factory Girl
A Family Affair
Daisy’s Betrayal
Rags to Riches
When Marigold Bingham meets Algie Stokes she thinks her dreams will finally come true, only for her life to spiral out of control.
Out now!
When charming Lawson Maddox asks Daisy Drake to become his wife she jumps at the chance to better herself. But as soon as the honeymoon’s over he shows his true colours, and Daisy’s life descends into chaos.
Out now!
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