The Wives’ Revenge

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  Very carefully Violet removed the blanket and untied the restraints. Kath and Violet lifted Primrose as gently as they could while Martha and Mary slid the door from off the bed. The ailing girl moaned in pain before she opened her screwed up good eye and looked at each of them in turn; with a wink, Primrose had thanked them the only way she could.

  Grabbing the door, the others left the room and Annie stayed with the injured girl. Talking quietly to her, she cut away Primrose’s underclothes carefully and bathed her gently with a soft cloth and warm water. Deciding against moving her again to get her into a nightgown, Annie let her lie naked beneath the bedclothes. A cup of tea was brought in by Violet and Annie helped Primrose sip.

  ‘’hank you, Annie,’ she whispered before falling into a deep exhausted sleep knowing she was safe at last.

  Returning to the kitchen and a cup of hot tea, Annie looked at the women around her table.

  ‘Primrose will stay here with me and Charlie…’ she said, ‘now what’s to be done about Frank Woolley?’

  Sat once again in a meeting but at Annie’s house this time, the ‘Wives’ set about contriving yet another plan. Frank Woolley needed to pay somehow for his brutality.

  Twenty-One

  Leaving Primrose in Annie’s care, they elected to go home and think about what, if anything, should be done about Frank Woolley.

  As Violet, wrapped up against the cold, sat on a bench in the garden at Gittins Manor looking over the well-kept lawns, she silently mused on what had happened since Spencer had bought the factory.

  Spencer had decided that he, with help from his father, would grow the nail-making business in his new factory. The Woolley’s Nails sign had been replaced by one now stating the factory belonged to Gittins’ Nails. Keeping the name had been agreed between father and son, but each to be in charge of a factory. Working together, they felt, would be more lucrative than Spencer trying to set up in another trade.

  Spencer had grown up around nail-making, learning from his father how to run the business as he got older. All the women who had once worked for Woolley were now at the Gittins’ factories. Spencer and Joshua had met with the accountant and were assured the business could stand setting on new workers, thus bringing much-needed employment to the town. Gittins’ was fast gaining a reputation for being the best nail-makers in the country.

  The canal people had also played their part, having spread the message far and wide for people to buy their nails only from Gittins’. And Joshua had kept his word to Joyce, ensuring she, as well as all the other workers, got a small raise in earnings. As far as that side of things had gone, everything had worked out well. Then her thoughts turned to Primrose.

  She saw the girl again in her mind’s eye, lying on the bed unable to move or even speak properly. Her husband had beaten her to within an inch of her life. She was wondering what the ‘Wives’ would do about the situation when a voice shattered her thoughts.

  ‘Violet! Enjoying the weather I see!’

  Joshua Gittins shivered as he strode over to where she sat on a bench in the garden. He planted a kiss on her cheek. She had been so deep in thought she had not heard him arrive. She smiled at her father-in-law and it occurred to her how much she grown to like this man.

  ‘Hello, Joshua, got no work to do?’ she said, laughing, knowing only too well his factory was working to full capacity.

  Rolling his eyes, he flapped his hands up and down before sitting beside her on the bench.

  ‘So,’ Violet added, feeling a tad uncomfortable at this unexpected visit from her father-in-law, ‘what can I do for you?’

  ‘Just thought I’d see how things are with you, my dear,’ he said, not looking at her.

  ‘Come on now, Joshua, you don’t just drop in on people unannounced, it’s not your style.’ Violet gave him a wide smile, and kept her mind guarded, as he only now looked at her. Why had he come to visit her? What did he want? Holding tight to her patience, Violet felt sure he’d let her know before long and got up and headed indoors to the welcoming fire which was more conducive to a tête-a-tête.

  After tea and cake, Violet’s patience was rewarded when Joshua said, ‘You know, I questioned the match at first…’ Seeing her puzzled look, he went on quickly, ‘Between you and Spencer, but I see now that I was wrong to do that. You make a perfect couple and I look forward to what the future will bring.’

  Dread filled her as she waited for his next words so she continued to look into the flames in the grate. What was it he was alluding to? Was he asking in his own inimitable way when they would be starting a family? This was something she and Spencer had not as yet discussed. Or was it something to do with business?

  ‘I’m sure it won’t be too long until we hear the patter of tiny feet.’

  There it was! Her question had been answered.

  As he watched her closely, Violet said, ‘Oh Joshua, there’s plenty of time for that; besides, I want to support Spencer in his new venture at the factory.’

  ‘Ar, you’re right there, wench,’ he said, beaming with pride.

  Was that the sole reason for his visit, or was there something more? Violet waited, sipping her second cup of tea.

  Clearing his throat, he spoke again, ‘I heard about young Primrose Woolley being carried on a board through the streets of the town…’

  So that was it!

  ‘Indeed,’ was all Violet said in answer.

  ‘Ar well, erm…’ Searching for the words to ask his questions, she decided to make him work for the answers she wasn’t entirely sure she would give. ‘I was wonderin’ if you might know why that was.’

  ‘Yes.’ Violet deliberately kept her answers clipped. Either Joshua would cease his questioning or, more likely, he would persist.

  ‘I was also wonderin’ if you might tell me what it was all about.’ Again he avoided eye contact, keeping his eyes trained on the fire, and Violet knew he was feeling uncomfortable.

  ‘No,’ Violet said flatly.

  ‘Oh!’ Joshua said as he snapped his head round to look at her, he was surprised that she had refused to divulge the information he so obviously wanted. ‘And why would that be?’ He looked at her expecting a favourable answer.

  Violet remembered her mother’s words: ‘…be wary of Joshua… he’s wily…’

  ‘Because I don’t gossip.’ Her tone took on a slight air of exasperation.

  ‘But I heard you were one of them carrying the wench on the board!’

  Looking at him, she said, ‘You heard correctly.’

  ‘Well…’ he said incredulously, ‘I thought you might…’

  ‘Might what Joshua?’ Violet’s question hit him like a slap. ‘Might tell you my business? Might tittle-tattle? Might pass on gossip?’ The change in the tone of her voice now evident, she forged on. ‘No, Joshua! Whoever you heard from obviously only gave you half a story. I suggest you return to them for the full account of events. Oh, and be sure to tell them my husband will hear of their touting my business all over the town!’

  With open mouth, her father-in-law stared at her before throwing back his head and laughing loudly, slapping his hands on his knees he rocked his upper body back and forth. ‘By God, wench,’ he said at last, ‘I am right proud of you. Spencer was right to choose you as his wife and I am glad you chose him as your husband.’

  Despite her earlier indignation, Violet smiled, and was surprised at his next words.

  ‘You are just like your mother. Speaking of Kath, how is she?’

  Sliding a sideways glance at him, Violet said, ‘Mother’s fine, thank you for asking.’

  ‘She never remarried did she? You know… after her husband drowned. I remember the gossip was all over the town,’ Joshua said as he gave her a quick glance. ‘I would have thought she would have, handsome woman like Kath.’

  ‘Clearly, being married twice was enough for her,’ Violet answered. ‘But then if you wish to know the reason, maybe you should ask her yourself.’

  ‘Erm�
�’ he began again. ‘I was wonderin’…’

  She laughed and said, ‘Stop wondering, Joshua, and go and visit her, she would be pleased to see you and… she bakes the finest bread in Wednesbury!’

  ‘Ar well…’ Flustered now, he stood to leave, ‘Maybe I will, I like a bit of good home-made bread.’

  With a wave he was gone. Sitting alone once more, Violet pondered their conversation, and smiling to herself she came to the conclusion that her father-in-law was carrying a candle for her mother!

  *

  Over their meal in the evening, Violet told Spencer of Joshua’s visit. They both laughed as they speculated the scenario of his father and her mother coming together as a couple. Now that would be very strange indeed!

  ‘So,’ he asked her eventually, ‘what on earth were you doing carrying Primrose on a board across the heath?’

  She knew it would come and she was prepared. ‘She had not visited any of us for a while, Spencer, and we were worried about her! Annie and I went to visit and found Frank drunk out of his mind. Primrose was upstairs in her bed and… Oh Spencer, he’d battered her beyond belief!’

  ‘Oh my God!’ Spencer rushed over and knelt before his wife, holding her hands as her tears welled.

  ‘We couldn’t just leave her there, so Annie stayed while I fetched the others.’

  Violet’s tears fell as she told her husband how they carried Primrose through the streets on a lavatory door as that was all they could think of and that she was now staying with Annie and Charlie.

  ‘But what if Frank comes for her?’ Spencer asked.

  ‘I don’t think that’s likely to happen, he’s wallowing so deep in self-pity he won’t give another thought to his poor wife.’

  ‘Very well, but if any of you ladies need my help, you have only to ask.’ Squeezing her hand, Spencer once again took his seat at the table. ‘So…’ he picked up, ‘my father could be interested in courting your mother?’

  Smiling again, Violet said, ‘If I’m reading the signs correctly, yes. There could even be a wedding!’

  She rushed to her husband, patting his back gently as he choked on his food.

  Twenty-Two

  Geordie and Martha Slater sat in their kitchen when all the kids were in bed and Martha told her husband the story of Primrose.

  ‘Eeh lass,’ he said as she finished, ‘Ah’d heard summat of it from the lads, ya nah, about you lot carryin’ her over to Annie’s place.’

  ‘Ar cocker,’ Martha said, ‘news travels fast in this town, as well you know.’

  ‘So, what’s gonna happen now then?’

  ‘That’s the question we have to decide on.’ Even Martha, usually so full of ideas, was at a loss.

  ‘D’ya not think ya should ask the wench herself?’ Wise words from a wise man.

  ‘You know, I think that might be for the best. You are a clever man sometimes, Geordie Slater,’ Martha gave him a wide grin.

  Smiling back, he gave her a kiss before he said, ‘Ah’m away to my bed, pet.’

  Watching him go, Martha thought how lucky they all were, even Kath now she was rid of John Sligo! Without looking at her knitting needles clacking away in the silence of her living room, her thoughts returned to Primrose. How long before she could tell them how she felt? How long before they would have an answer regarding Frank Woolley? With a big sigh, Martha put her knitting aside and climbed the stairs to bed.

  *

  It was the following week when Annie called in to see Kath and Violet, who had ventured out in the freezing cold to visit her mother. The usual tea provided, they sat in the warm kitchen to chat.

  ‘I think young Primrose might be ready to talk with us,’ Annie said, ‘although she isn’t well enough to get out of bed yet.’

  ‘Then we’ll come to her,’ Violet said and they set out immediately.

  Taking a walk down Hobbins Street, they collected the others and made their way to Annie’s house.

  Gathering around Primrose’s bed, Violet smiled at her, ‘How are you feeling, Prim?’

  ‘Ever so much better thanks to you all and especially to Annie for looking after me.’ Her speech was still a little odd, due to the remaining swelling and one or two broken teeth but at least the bruising was going down.

  ‘That’s good to hear.’ Violet pressed, ‘Prim, we need to ask you something.’ Nodding carefully, Primrose watched as Violet prepared herself to ask the question. ‘We need to know what you want to do about Frank.’

  Primrose tried to sit up, prompting Annie to rush forward and prop more pillows behind the girl who was still far from well.

  ‘Ladies, you have done so much for me already, I can’t ask any more of you.’

  Mary’s sudden anger spilled over when she said vehemently, ‘Stop pervar… perv…’

  ‘Prevaricating,’ Violet said respectfully.

  ‘Ar that,’ said Mary, giving her a nod, ‘just tell us what you want doin’, wench!’

  Primrose’s tears fell as she sobbed, ‘Look at what he did to me! He did this because I couldn’t have his children… I’m glad I couldn’t! I could never have love for a child gotten from rape!’

  Seeing Violet flinch then physically stiffen, Primrose apologised, ‘I’m sorry, Violet…’ Not knowing of Violet’s terrible time with John Sligo, Primrose thought she had offended her friend in some way.

  Violet moved to hold the girl’s hand saying, ‘It’s all right, Primrose, just tell us what you want.’

  ‘Come on, wench,’ Martha encouraged, ‘tell us then you can leave everything to us while you get better.’

  ‘Well,’ Primrose said, composing herself, ‘he’ll do this again… not to me because I’m not going back there even if it means the workhouse! But if he takes up with another woman… we can’t let that happen, please, don’t let him do it to anyone else… please!’

  ‘Fair enough,’ Violet said, looking at each woman in turn, ‘you all heard what Primrose said?’ With nods from all that the only solution might possibly be another murder, she continued, ‘Right. Primrose, you get yourself well again, everyone else… meeting tomorrow.’

  Sitting up long into the night after Spencer had gone to bed, Violet pondered the situation of Frank Woolley. It was no secret that Primrose had been seen being carried to Annie’s on a door; after all, half the townspeople had witnessed it. It was also no secret about the state she was in. Joshua Gittins had been sniffing around hoping for titbits of information, and surely he wasn’t the only one. Whatever plan the Wednesbury Wives came up with, they had to tread very, very carefully. She shuddered as she realised Frank Woolley would have to meet his maker, ‘accidentally’!

  *

  Ideas went back and forth across Kath Clancy’s kitchen table the following day regarding Frank Woolley’s ‘accident’.

  ‘We have to be very careful on this one,’ Violet said, ‘the whole town knows about Primrose!’

  ‘Ar,’ said Mary.

  ‘True,’ from Kath.

  Joyce, having joined them as it was one of her days off from work, said excitedly, ‘We could burn the ’ouse down… with him in it!’

  Giving her a weak smile, trying not to burst her enthusiastic bubble, Violet said, ‘We can’t to do that because Primrose will most likely have to live there after he’s gone.’

  With a click of her teeth, Joyce grinned, ‘Oh ar, I forgot about that.’

  Joyce could always lighten the mood of their meetings.

  ‘Another concern is how Primrose will support herself. She could sell the house I suppose but it would make sense to stay there and find work. She’s never had to do a day’s toil, so she has no training in a trade of any sort, and we all know how scarce jobs are in this town,’ Martha put in, ‘and after all it’s the Wives who will have brought Frank to bankruptcy.’

  Violet said, ‘Spencer said we could rely on his help if we needed it.’

  ‘Bless,’ said Mary, ‘but he isn’t going to want to be a hacksessory to murder!’

/>   The ghost of a smile played on Violet’s face at Mary’s mispronunciation, but she was right, Spencer would not want to become an accessory to the disposal of Frank Woolley, not in the sense they planned.

  A few moments of silence hung in the kitchen as each remembered once more the feelings of guilt and shame around the Ray Clews debacle. Now here they were again plotting and planning. Nervous glances passed between them, knowing all were feeling the same – they wished there was another way to get rid of Woolley, but there wasn’t. Besides if they didn’t deal with the man once and for all, Primrose was right – he would do this again to some other poor woman.

  ‘Right then,’ Violet said, using her fingers to rule out ways of ridding Primrose of her abusive husband, ‘canal – out; gin pit – out; fire – out,’ giving Joyce a wry look, ‘so what’s left to us?’

  Mary muttered into her teacup, ‘If you ask me, he should bloody well hang himself and save us the bother!’

  As Mary looked around at their collective smiles, she realised she’d just provided the answer the Wednesbury Wives sought to the predicament of Frank Woolley.

  Twenty-Three

  It had been decided in their coterie that Violet should invite Joshua to dinner with Spencer, with Kath there too, to keep both men out of the way for the evening. Joshua could, if they weren’t careful, become a thorn in the side of the Wednesbury Wives, but this way they knew he wouldn’t pose a threat to their plan.

  The others, Martha Mary and Joyce, met at Annie’s house at the end of Hobbins Street before they set off shrouded in darkness through the empty streets to Frank Woolley’s house up on Church Hill. It was agreed Annie was to stay with Primrose.

  With a long rope tied around Martha’s middle, hidden by her long shawl, they walked in silence down Holyhead Road to the High Bullen. Walking up Church Steps, a small road that connected Trouse Lane with Church Hill, they kept to the shadows. With no street lighting and only the moon peeping around the clouds, they moved quietly through the dark streets. No one spoke as they trudged on, with ears and eyes straining to hear or see anyone who might be watching. But the streets were empty – it was too cold to venture out unless absolutely necessary. Turning right into the driveway of Rose Hill House, they scanned the house before stepping into the deeper shadows provided by the trees surrounding the lawns.