The Wives’ Revenge

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  Violet stopped and turned to face him. ‘Why?’ she asked. She had never expected to meet a man who would not make her feel angry or frightened, but this young man made her feel neither. She was curious that this was a new feeling for her.

  A grin spread over his face showing his even white teeth. ‘Because I like you.’

  ‘You don’t even know me, Mr Gittins!’ She said as she stepped forward once more. A blush rose to her cheeks at the pleasure she felt at his words.

  ‘Ah, Miss Clancy, that’s where you are wrong. You see I made it my business to know everything about you.’

  Not everything! Violet kept the thought to herself saying instead, ‘Now why would you do that I ask myself?’ Her voice maintained its hardness, but with a hint of sarcasm lacing through it. There was no point at all in encouraging this young man, she knew it could never be that a relationship between them could exist. If it should be that they became sweethearts and he found out about her being abused by Sligo, he would hate her. Then her terrible secret might become common knowledge! No, there was no way she could risk that happening, so it would be best not to encourage him.

  ‘Miss Violet Clancy,’ he went on, ‘you intrigue me. I have thought of you a lot since our last meeting. You have haunted my dreams.’ He gave a small sonorous laugh.

  Stopping again to look at him, Violet said sternly, ‘Mr Gittins, I don’t know what you want from me, but whatever it is – you can’t have it!’

  ‘Miss Clancy!’ he feigned shock and hurt and she couldn’t prevent the corners of her mouth lifting slightly in a tiny smile. ‘God forbid you should think this to be anything untoward! I should merely like to become a friend to you and your family in the first instance and then...’

  ‘Why?’ she asked again. Her mind was questioning his motives.

  Lowering his eyes, Spencer Gittins fumbled with the horse’s rein in his hand. ‘Miss Clancy,’ he said quietly, ‘I would like to visit you and ask your mother’s permission for us to step out at some time in the future.’

  Oh Lord! Spencer Gittins wanted to court her!

  ‘I know we don’t know each other as such and I would be more than willing for you to bring along a chaperone. I would never wish to cause you any upset or fear.’

  His eyes met hers once more and Violet felt the blush rise in her cheeks.

  ‘Mr Gittins, I’m afraid that won’t be possible.’ Turning away from the disappointment she saw in his eyes, she walked briskly up Portway Lane and headed for home. She did not look back.

  Once in the kitchen, Violet could not turn her mind from the handsome young man she’d spoken with on the heath. She had gone out to ponder Primrose’s predicament and come home with one of her own.

  Settled with tea before a raging fire in the hearth, Kath said, ‘You want to tell me about it?’ Looking up sharply, Violet’s mouth dropped open. ‘Violet, you’re my daughter and I know when something is troubling you. Get it off your chest, wench, maybe I can help.’

  Violet told her mother of the meeting on the heath, of the words spoken between Spencer Gittins and herself.

  ‘Why,’ her mother asked, ‘would you not want to be courted by this young man? Don’t you like him?’ Seeing the flush rise to her daughter’s face, Kath went on, ‘Ah, I see that you do!’

  ‘Mum… how can I after… after…’

  ‘After John Sligo?’ Kath’s face screwed up as she remembered. ‘Yes, I can see why now, but, Violet, someday someone will want you for who you are; they won’t care a jot about your past, they will love you, and you need to give them a chance.’

  ‘Mum… I couldn’t… you know…’ Embarrassment flooded through her.

  ‘One day, all that will be forgotten, sweetheart. The man you love and marry will help you forget, I promise.’ Kath held Violet in her arms, kissing her hair, ‘Take your time, find the right man, you’ll know when you do.’ With that she climbed the stairs to bed, and Violet sat before the fire.

  I think I have found the right man, her mind said, and I think it’s Spencer Gittins!

  *

  Violet heard voices in the living room as she entered the tiny kitchen the following day.

  ‘Oh Kath, I’m so sorry but he was at me, questions coming so fast I didn’t know what to say!’ Joyce simpered.

  Kath replied, ‘It’s all right, Joyce, I don’t think Violet knows he was asking you about her.’

  Hearing her name, she stood and listened behind the slightly open door.

  ‘Just tell me what he was asking, Joyce.’

  ‘Well… he wanted to know all about your Violet, her name, where her lived, who her lived with…’ Joyce pulled in a breath, ‘…had her got a financee?’

  Kath laughed, ‘Fiancé, Joyce, the word is fiancé.’

  ‘I don’t give a bugger what the word is, he wanted to know had her got one!’

  ‘What did you tell him?’

  ‘Well,’ Joyce continued, ‘I told him she hadn’t. Said we three lived here together on account of you helping me with money a while back and I was paying you back. I made no mention of the Wednesbury Wives, Kath, honest! I wouldn’t, you know that!’

  ‘Rest easy, Joyce, I know you wouldn’t. So tell me more about young Spencer Gittins.’

  So that was who they were discussing! Joyce had been asked all about Violet. The question now was, just how much had she told him?

  Determined to find out, she waited, hardly daring to breathe, in her hiding place behind the kitchen door.

  ‘Well,’ Joyce resumed, ‘he said as he wanted your permission to court young Violet and I told him he had to see you about that.’

  ‘Quite right,’ Kath said.

  ‘Ar, and then he asked why her weren’t married already.’

  Violet listened eagerly for the answer, moving closer to the doorway.

  ‘And what did you say to that?’ Kath asked gently.

  ‘Well he was insistent… why weren’t her married? Had anyone asked for her hand? Had her refused anybody? I was flummoxed I can tell you! I got to the state I was meeting myself coming back! Then it just sort of came out…’

  ‘What did?’ asked Kath feeling concerned.

  ‘Well you know… about John Sligo! Oh God, Kath, I’m real sorry. I could have bit me own tongue off!’

  Joyce had told him! Spencer Gittins now knew Violet had been violated and was soiled goods! A sob escaped her lips and tears rolled down her face.

  Kath had heard Violet come into the kitchen but she had not entered the living room. She had kept her counsel, after all the girl had a right to hear what was being said, but as she heard the sob she knew Violet would now need the comfort of her mother more than ever.

  Pushing the door open Kath rushed to her sobbing daughter.

  Joyce followed close on Kath’s heels and wailing sorrow at seeing Violet’s distress. ‘Bloody hell!’ she cried, ‘my mouth opens and both my clodhoppers wade in!’

  Despite her misery, Violet gave a little laugh at the expression. ‘Joyce,’ she said through her tears, ‘it’s all right, he would have found out sooner or later, I don’t doubt. I know how persistent he can be.’

  ‘Oh cocker,’ Joyce wailed again, ‘I ain’t half sorry!’

  ‘It was never meant to be,’ Violet said, accepting the inevitable along with a cup of tea from her mother. ‘I only pray he keeps the knowledge to himself!’

  Twelve

  Watching Violet set off for the market, Kath sat with her tea by the fire allowing her thoughts to roam.

  John Sligo had died, by her hand. She felt guilt and shame at what she’d done, even though it was an accident and several years ago now. She knew it would haunt her for the rest of her life. He had ruined her daughter’s chance of a husband and a normal life. He had spoiled any possibility of Kath having grandchildren. The hatred of her deceased husband swelled in her again, shutting out her previous feelings.

  Lost in anger and misery, Kath wasn’t sure she’d heard a knock on the door until
it came again. She rose and opened the door to be faced with a very handsome young man.

  ‘Mrs. Clancy?’ he asked confidently. Kath nodded her response, and he went on, ‘Forgive my visit to your home. My name is Spencer Gittins. Ah, I see you have heard of me.’

  Enlightenment showed on Kath’s face as she saw the genuine smile cross his face.

  ‘Come in Mr Gittins,’ she said, stepping back to allow him entry. ‘Please, take a seat and have some tea.’

  Sitting at the table, he cast a glance around the tiny kitchen. ‘This is lovely, so warm and cosy.’ There was no condescension in his tone and Kath found herself warming to the polite young man.

  ‘So Mr Gittins, may I ask the reason for your visit?’

  Replacing his cup carefully on its saucer, he looked her straight in the eye. Good breeding, she thought… confident too.

  ‘Mrs Clancy, I came to ask your permission to court Violet…’ Seeing her face harden, he rushed on, ‘with a chaperone of your choice at all times of course.’

  ‘Mr Gittins,’ Kath said quietly but meeting his eyes full on, ‘I am aware of the enquiries you have made regarding my family and – more importantly – my daughter. I gather you know what has happened to Violet in her past…’ Kath saw him take a breath to intervene and held up her hand in prevention, ‘so why would you wish to step out with her?’ Placing her hand flat on the table she gave him leave to answer.

  ‘I have met Violet twice now, as I’m sure you’re aware, nothing untoward you understand, and both times she has left me confused and bewildered. I don’t know if you believe in love at first sight, Mrs Clancy, but believe me when I say I do!’

  Leaning back in her chair, Kath gestured for him to continue.

  ‘I pestered the life out of Joyce Clews to tell me everything she knew about Violet; I would not let up until I knew it all. I fully intend to apologise to Mrs Clews for the harassment, I assure you.’

  Kath thought to herself, my dear young man, you don’t know it all, in fact you don’t know the half of it. Keeping the thought to herself, Kath listened as he continued.

  ‘I know what she suffered at the hands of John Sligo, and it’s just as well he drowned as, forgive my saying, had he not I would have killed him myself!’ Kath was shocked at the young man’s outburst, but slowly the surprise turned to a warmth towards him.

  Kath had heard Violet creep into the house and knew she was listening to every word said.

  Kath, feeling sure she knew the answer already, asked Spencer, ‘And knowing this, how does it make you feel towards Violet?’

  ‘Oh, Mrs Clancy,’ he breathed, ‘I can’t get her out of my mind. I want to take care of her, treat her like the lady she is, and I promise I would love her all her days. I’m sorry for the way she was treated by that blackguard Sligo, but I’m glad he got what was coming to him. I assure you it makes no difference to the way I feel about your daughter.’

  ‘If I didn’t know better, Mr Gittins,’ Kath said with a smile, ‘I might think that a proposal of marriage.’ Watching his reaction carefully, Kath was surprised he didn’t pall, instead his face flushed with unfettered excitement.

  ‘It is! Mrs Clancy, if Violet would have me, would you give your consent? Naturally we would wait until we knew each other better, and if at any time she wished to withdraw from the engagement I would honour that. With your consent and Violet’s agreement you would both make me the happiest man alive!’ His excitement bubbled over at the last.

  ‘My goodness, Mr Gittins, a proposal after only two meetings? Well, the decision would be Violet’s. If she agreed to your proposal, you would never mistreat her in any way otherwise you would have me to deal with, and I warn you now… you would lose out!’ Kath paused to allow her words to sink in. ‘Should Violet not accept your proposal, you will not meet with her again intentionally or accidentally. Actions speak louder than words as I know to my cost, so this is my way of ensuring my daughter is safe and happy. Do I make myself clear?’ Kath was impressed by the young man and pleased about his proposal, but her first concern was Violet.

  The young man nodded until Kath thought his head would roll off his shoulders. ‘As crystal, Mrs Clancy.’

  ‘My daughter has been hurt very badly in the past, Mr Gittins, and I could not protect her then, but be very sure I can and will protect her now.’ Kath’s voice carried a warning that left him under no illusion that she would not carry out the underlying threat.

  ‘Mrs Clancy,’ Spencer said leaning forward, ‘you have my word as a gentleman that I will protect Violet with my life.’

  Kath nodded. She had never heard words like this before and from such a young man too. Her heart softened to him even more.

  ‘I wish you luck, Mr Gittins; you have my blessing but… only on Violet’s decision. She can be very stubborn, as I’m sure you’ll find out. The decision will be made only by her, with no cajoling from you, my lad!’

  Exchanging a smile, Kath set the kettle to boil once more, wondering what Violet had made of her exchange with Spencer Gittins.

  *

  Joyce, Violet and Kath had finished their evening meal and sat by the fire when Kath said, ‘Violet, I know you heard what Spencer Gittins and I spoke of this afternoon…’ without taking her eyes away from the flames dancing in the grate, she went on, ‘and I’d like to hear what you have to say about it.’

  Joyce jumped in, ‘Spencer Gittins came? This afternoon? Why… what did he want?’

  Kath stayed Joyce’s tongue with a raise of her hand.

  Violet blustered, ‘I… I don’t know. It was a bit of a shock hearing him ask for your permission to propose marriage…’

  Joyce slapped her hands to her mouth to prevent her further intervention in the conversation.

  ‘I… I never thought… I never dreamed…’ Violet was all of a fluster. ‘Besides, what about you? It would mean leaving you!’

  ‘Yes,’ Kath said quietly, ‘that’s what newlyweds do, they set up on their own. What I want to know is how you feel about marriage… how you feel about him?’ Kath was not so afraid of living alone now she had Joyce with her; she just wanted to see Violet happy. After all, this was an opportunity Kath had never foreseen for her daughter.

  ‘Oh I do like him!’ Violet burst out. ‘But I’m scared, Mum, because… you know what he’d want and… and I don’t think I could!’

  Tears fringed her lashes as Violet looked at her mother.

  ‘Well,’ Kath said, ‘you heard what he said about honouring your withdrawal from the engagement at any time if you chose to do that…’

  ‘Bloody hell!’ Joyce could not hold her tongue any longer. ‘He said that? Bloody hell!’

  ‘He did, Joyce,’ Kath said, giving Violet a warm smile.

  ‘Take him up on it,’ Joyce said. ‘I bloody would!’

  ‘Think about it, wench, you don’t have to decide right away, but he will be wanting an answer at some point.’ Kath’s words closed the conversation and the three of them sat silently each with their own thoughts.

  *

  The next meeting of the ‘Wives’ was called for Sunday so Joyce could join in, not having to work on the Lord’s Day.

  Primrose Woolley was still having to bear the brunt of Frank’s anger and frustration at her not conceiving him a son and heir. The ‘Wives’ needed to come up with a foolproof plan to bring down the nail-making giant and see his business in ruins.

  Kath had to admit her mind was more on Violet and the possibility of her marrying Spencer Gittins, but she listened to what was being said around the table.

  Joyce had volunteered to try and find out if anyone knew who Frank Woolley dealt with. She had laughed, saying her questions probably wouldn’t be out of place… everyone knew her as a busybody!

  The nails were made in Frank’s factory but more information on his buyers was needed. They also needed to know if he paid outworkers, people who made nails for him in their own homes, probably receiving a paltry sum for their hard labour
s hour after hour.

  The invisible grapevine in the market would answer that question, and Mary and Annie were charged with the task of setting the grapevine to work. The answer would be back within the week. It was possible suspicions would be raised, but once aware it was information for the Wednesbury Wives, it would be given with impunity.

  When everyone was satisfied with the plan of action, Martha raised the subject of the women they were helping. ‘Now,’ she said, ‘I know most of these wenches who we help out are in an imp… impy…’

  ‘Impecunious,’ Violet aided.

  ‘Ar, in an impeckoonius situation, that’s to say they don’t have much or any money…’

  Nods of understanding from the others spurred Martha on, ‘So it’s my thinking that if they are in a position to do so, they should pay a bit for us helping them out of a predicament even if it’s only a halfpenny.’

  Annie drew breath to speak but Martha beat her to it. ‘I know, but think about this. What if one of us was caught by the coppers? What if we went to jail? We’d need some money for feeding the kids. Somebody to look after them until we got out. So, if these women paid a bit towards the solving of their problems, we could have that money put by for when it’s needed.’

  ‘Bloody hell,’ Mary said, ‘you make us sound like paid-for-hire killers!’

  Titters ran round the table at her words.

  All smiles faded at Martha’s next words. ‘That’s exactly what we are. The only difference now is… we ain’t paid!’

  Thirteen

  Mary and Annie strode to the market early hoping to catch the women, from Frank Woolley’s factory across The Mount in Crankhall Lane, doing their shopping before the work day began.

  A few questions were whispered and promises of answers were given. No one asked why the information was needed, after all it was only for the grace of God they were not asking the help of the Wednesbury Wives themselves. Besides, who knew… in the future they may well find themselves in that very position.