The key should have been on the lintel but it wasn’t; someone had taken it, but it wasn’t in the door. She turned the handle. The door resisted her pull. She hauled more forcefully and it came open in stages, scraping its underside on some pebbles and refusing to budge further. The gap was big enough for her to get through. The cold and fear sent shivers down to her feet. ‘Belle!’ The sound echoed round and round, causing more tremors. Her toes felt their way through the darkness, towards the pit in the centre of the house where the ice was kept. Placing her hands on the low brick wall that circled it she tried to peer down into the pit, the cold bouncing back at her. ‘Belle, Bel-le-elle!’ There was no response. Erin straightened slowly and took a step backwards…
‘Boo!’
The woman almost fell over into the chasm as three shrieking figures danced around her, laughing roisterously at her shock. ‘You demons!’ she yelled on recovery, supporting herself with the wall. ‘Get outside, all of yese! Go on, out!’ She shoved the three children into the daylight, face livid. ‘Whose idea was this? Rosanna, was it yours?’
The little girl’s smile petered out. ‘It was only a joke, Aunt Erin.’
‘Well, it was a stupid, stupid joke! You’re a very silly girl! I could’ve fallen down the pit an’ so could you. Ye know very well ’tis out of bounds.’
Nick squinted through the sunshine at the half-hysterical woman. ‘We weren’t doing any harm, Aunt Erin.’
‘Ye took Belle with ye! She could’ve toppled over the edge an’ been killed an’ you would’ve been responsible for her death. You’re very naughty children, both of you!’
‘But Belle wanted to come,’ attempted Rosanna.
‘Don’t you dare talk back to your aunt! As if Belle would’ve known about this place unless you planted the idea in her head. How did ye manage to get in anyway? The door’s so stiff.’ Nick said they had just pulled it. ‘Well, ye could’ve locked yourself in, stupid boy! Now get back to that house, I’m going to have ye thrashed. I’m sick o’ these tricks ye’re forever playin’.’
‘But it was…’
‘Nicholas!’ Erin’s voice cracked. ‘Go back to the house this minute an’ wait for me to come to you – not you, my girl!’ Belle had been about to go with them. Erin snatched her arm and almost pulled her off her feet. ‘I’m going to put a stop to this!’
‘It’s not fair,’ grumbled Rosanna as she and her brother wandered back up the garden path. ‘It was Belle who wanted to see it.’
Nick returned a dull nod. ‘But it’s no use saying that to Aunt Erin, she won’t believe that Belle can do any wrong.’
‘Should we tell Mother?’ Rosanna was taking small steps, the later to arrive for her punishment.
Nick shook his head. ‘She’ll listen to Aunt Erin, grownups always stick by each other.’ At Rosanna’s complaint of unfairness he turned back to see Erin gripping Belle by the arms, reprobation spilling from her lips. ‘I think Belle’s getting hers now.’
‘The minute we go in I’m going to take those shoes from you, Belle Teale!’ Erin was saying angrily. ‘An’ ye’ll only get them back when ye learn that ye can’t play the same games as Rosie and Nick.’
‘But I can!’
‘No, ye must get it into your head that if ye try to do as they do ye’ll be hurt. I want ye to promise me that ye’ll never come to the ice-house again. ’Tis a very dangerous place. Ye only have to cockle over that low wall an’ ye’ll be down to the bottom.’
‘All right – but please don’t take my shoes, Mother!’
Erin yielded at the woebegone face. ‘If ye do as you’re told I won’t have to.’
The fun of the afternoon was completely spoilt. ‘Aren’t I allowed to play with my cousins at all then?’ Belle’s voice was plaintive.
‘No, Belle, they’re far too high-spirited for you…’ Erin softened at her daughter’s look of dejection. ‘But I tell ye what ye can do with them. If ye promise to be a good girl, Miss Piggott says ye can take lessons with Rosie and Nick. Would ye like that?’ It appeared from Erin’s tone that she assumed this to be a treat. Belle’s eyes held no opinion, but she nodded dutifully. Erin was beginning to calm down. ‘But only if you’re a very good and obedient daughter an’ swear to me that ye won’t let Rosie tempt ye into doing naughty things.’
‘Why am I different, Mother?’ digressed the child.
She was not to get the answer from her mother. ‘Belle! I asked for your promise.’
Belle hung her head submissively. ‘Yes, Mother, I promise.’
‘Right!’ Erin set off, dragging the child after her. ‘Now I want you to go to your room while I speak to Aunt Josie.’
Aunt Josie was mortified at Erin’s vociferous attack and stood there mutely, taking everything that the irate woman threw at her. She did not tell Sonny until they were in bed and it was too late for him to go and remonstrate with Erin. ‘Don’t blame your sister, John.’ She tried to settle him back to the mattress as he made to jump up. ‘She’s still in a right old state over Sam. It wasn’t the real Erin speaking.’
‘Nevertheless I can’t have her treating you like that, Josie. She has to learn that you’re an equal, not a servant.’ He abandoned his attempt to leave the bed and lay back.
‘I suppose I’m as much to blame there,’ she answered quietly, relaxing on feeling his own tension disperse. ‘I’ve had plenty of time to get used to this life but…’ her voice trailed away.
For that second he relived his anguish with Peggy, when she had begged him to take her away and he had been unable to. But there was nothing stopping him now – no monetary reason, that was. ‘We’ll have to move out, Jos,’ he said flatly. ‘I can’t see you unhappy here any longer.’
‘What about Rosie and Nick? We can’t just uproot them.’
‘They’ll be given a choice.’
‘You know what they’ll say, don’t you?’ He pressed his face into her shoulder and nodded his woe. They would want to stay here. She rubbed his thumb between her fingers, wrapped in indecision. ‘I wouldn’t want to think I was never going to see much of them – if that were the case I’d stay here and suffer things.’
‘We’ll see them,’ he told her. ‘We’ll buy somewhere as near as possible, then you can continue more or less as you are doing, taking them out on an afternoon and that.’
‘It all sounds very fair, but is it?’ said Josie. ‘I mean, their mother and father living in a different house however near, won’t it confuse them?’
‘They’ve got the choice.’ His tone was slightly pettish. ‘They can come and live with us if they want.’
She stiffened at the sudden dawning. ‘John, you’re…’ She broke off.
‘I’m what?’ He pulled his head away from her shoulder to look her in the face, though all he saw was shadow. ‘You mustn’t think…’
‘What were you going to say?’ he demanded.
‘You’re jealous, aren’t you?’ came the gentle prompting. ‘Jealous of your parents.’
For a moment he resisted. Then he collapsed against her. ‘Oh, Jos! You really know me, don’t you. Aye, I’m bloody jealous… but who have I got to blame? Just me. They’re bound to be closest to the people who’re around them all the time and I’ve been away so much… I’m sorry.’
‘For what?’
‘Sorry that my shortcomings as a father are going to make you suffer. I know how much you want to be a mother to them – are a mother to them… but if we don’t make a move now things’ll just get worse for us.’
She clasped him to her lovingly, her voice confident. ‘No, they’ll get better.’
‘I wish I was so sure.’
‘Ah, well, that’s because you don’t know what I know.’ Her voice had become sly.
‘Oh aye? And what little secret is this then?’
A pause. Suddenly it was hard to phrase. ‘I was sick this morning… and yesterday… and the day before.’ It took but a second to sink in. ‘Oh, Josie!’ He hugged her and they rolled
around the bed in gleeful fashion, gasping their gladness and congratulating one another.
Once the celebration had died down he said firmly, ‘Well, if we’re not going to move out there’s one thing I do know. This child is going to be in no doubt who its parents are.’
* * *
Sonny didn’t know why the announcement to his parents should make him feel so embarrassed, him already the father of two children – but then he hadn’t actually sired them. It seemed funny just to blurt it out in the normal conversation. However, he was given some help by his observant mother at the dinner table the following day.
Patrick was slicing an apple onto his plate. ‘I must say, Josie, that married life certainly seems to agree with you. I’ve never seen cheeks that pink since your mother-in-law sat on the stove.’ Thomasin censured him laughingly. ‘Don’t you think she’s blooming, Tommy?’
Thomasin caught the look that passed between her son and his blushing wife and beamed. ‘Aye, I do. She looks really bonny.’ She was more tolerant of Josie these days. ‘Would I be considered premature in offering congratulations?’
Josie’s mouth fell open. ‘How did you know?’
‘Know what?’ asked Patrick innocently.
‘Eh, men!’ scoffed his wife to Erin who smiled back, then to Josie. ‘It’s the eyes that are the giveaway, dear.’ She reached across the table for Josie’s hand. ‘Oh, I’m so glad for the pair of you. Sonny, it’s absolutely lovely.’ Patrick finally grasped the situation. ‘Oh… I see! Well done!’
With his announcement forestalled, Sonny smiled around the table at his family. ‘Well, now my moment of glory’s been snatched from my lips I think the children should be acquainted with the news that they’re to have a new brother or sister.’ Rosie and Nick seemed quite pleased, he thought, though they weren’t particularly interested in babies. After the meal they were allowed to go and play while the adults discussed the new arrival.
‘Well, there didn’t seem to be any jealousy there, I’m glad to say,’ commented Thomasin. ‘Though you might just find there is when the baby actually arrives. Eh, I remember you,’ she was looking at Erin, ‘when our Dickie arrived. Your grandmother used to be forever hovering over you in case you poked his eyes out.’ Her face reflected poignant memories and her mouth twitched sadly. ‘Ah dear… if we’d known what lay in store for that little bundle. I was just thinking the other day, what sort of husband would he have made for Dusty Miller? If anyone could’ve tamed him, she could. I noticed her wholesale business was up for sale recently; brought it all rushing back… Oh, now I’ve gone adrift – what was I saying?’
‘Jealousy,’ provided Sonny. ‘But I don’t see why there should be any trouble with Rosie and Nick. They’re old enough to understand.’
‘But with Josie not being their proper mother…’ Thomasin broke off at the look on her daughter-in-law’s face. ‘Oh, I didn’t mean it like that, love! You’ve been as much a mother to those children as anyone. It’s just that I know from experience what it’s like to be a stepmother. They could view this baby as a threat because it’ll be something you and Sonny share.’
‘We share Rosie and Nick too,’ said Sonny. ‘At least we would if we were allowed to get on with it.’
Thomasin gauged from the tone of Sonny’s voice that there was going to be an argument. She donned a pained expression. ‘Don’t tell me I have to start shifting the best china.’
‘I’m not going to start a row,’ said Sonny firmly. ‘But I just think it’s high time we made it clear who Rosie and Nick’s parents are. Now, I know I’ve been away a lot and I’ve ever so much to be grateful to you for and I can’t blame the kids for being confused over whom to consult when they need permission to do something – but I won’t have them in any confusion over who their mother is.’ He included Erin with his determined mien. ‘Josie is their mother. If there are any orders to be given she will give them. She kindly consented to keep house for us because she wanted to feel useful…’
‘Oh, whoever said she wasn’t…’
‘Listen, Mam!’ warned Sonny, pointing. ‘I know how difficult it is for all you womenfolk under the one roof, but we have to get this sorted out. Josie is my wife and now she’s the mother of my children and I want her treated with respect. I’m sure that’s not impossible, is it?’ All present were quick to mouth their apologies for ever having created the impression that Josie wasn’t one of the family. Thomasin came to sit next to Josie. ‘I know I’m a bossy old bugger, Josie, but I didn’t mean to make you feel unwanted. Eh, dear… You’re our daughter. Me and Pat love you very much, don’t we, Pat? And we’re thrilled to bits about the baby. If ever you think we’re trying to take things over then all you have to do is speak your mind – after all, your husband does.’ She tossed a wry smile at her son.
Josie had been a little uncomfortable while her husband had been airing his opinion but now she was so glad that he had made a stand against his parents, for his own sake as well as hers. She swore to them that if anything was troubling her in future she would make it known.
‘Good!’ said Patrick loudly. ‘Now that’s all finished can we wet the baby’s head?’
Chapter Twelve
With a baby, the housekeeping and two lively children to fill her day Josie had no more time for moping. Now, eighteen months after the birth of her daughter Elizabeth, she was fully integrated with the family and blissfully happy. Sonny and the children were, too. There had been a little jealousy at first, but now Rosie and Nick had grown used to seeing their parents cuddling someone else and anyway the baby didn’t seem like a real person to them.
If Sonny’s small family was happy, others in the house were definitely less contented. Patrick was among these, his annoyance being put to voice at this moment.
‘Well, I say ’tis not right that a child of six should be cooped up in a classroom all day,’ he decreed vehemently to his wife. ‘I can see what’s happening: Erin is trying to live her life through Belle, having the child stuffed with all the education she wanted for herself.’
During the two years which had passed since the discovery of Belle’s acute intellect Erin’s daughter had not been allowed to waste her talents on playing with her less scholastic cousins but force-fed with knowledge from morn till night. Two special tutors had been engaged to teach her for so many hours per week. For the rest it was left to Miss Piggott to educate her, but the governess felt it would not be many years before her meagre achievements were insufficient to teach this gifted pupil. Certainly it would have been a joy to instruct Belle, had the child’s mother not made such heavy weather of it.
‘You can’t deny it’s done wonders for Erin,’ countered Thomasin with the thought that it was just as well the days when she and Patrick found themselves in the house at the same time were very few; they always seemed to be at odds. ‘I’ve never seen her looking as radiant since she was carrying Belle. Finding out that the child’s so clever seems to have put the purpose back in her life.’ It had also seemed to bring her to terms with Sam’s death. Shortly after being told by Miss Piggott about Belle’s intelligence Erin had summoned the courage to visit her dead husband’s grave. Thomasin’s fears for her sanity had now diminished.
‘That’s all very well for Erin,’ replied Patrick. ‘But her vitality’s purchased at the expense of her daughter. Ye can’t exactly say Belle’s looking radiant.’
Thomasin frowned. ‘I’d agree that she isn’t happy with the situation and would rather be out at play – but show me a child that knows what’s good for it. Erin’s discovered that Belle has a chance of making as near normal a life as possible, you can’t fault the lass for wanting to take every advantage of that. And Belle must know at heart that her mother is doing it for her own good.’
‘I disagree. If she did have the child’s benefit at heart she’d see that all this cramming is doing Belle no good at all. She used to be such a pleasant little thing, now it’s as if her personality is being squashed. All these f
acts an’ figures are turning her into a walking encyclopaedia. If it isn’t arithmetic ’tis music. An’ not content with teaching her to play the old harp she’s got her playin’ the fiddle, the piano – it’ll be the blasted bedstead next.’ He held up a rigid finger. ‘Another thing I notice is that the child only has to ask for something an’ she gets it…’
‘Well, you’re a fine one to talk!’ broke in his wife. ‘Look at the way you spoil all of them.’
He rammed his hands into his pockets, rotating a florin between thumb and forefinger. ‘True… but Tommy, that’s what grandparents are for.’ He eyed her speculatively. ‘Speaking of which, I notice you haven’t spent much time with them lately. Ye used to enjoy their company, or so I thought.’
‘I still do. I just haven’t had the time recently.’
‘Ye haven’t had time for a lot o’ things,’ came the soft answer.
Not wishing to become involved in deep debate she crossed the carpet to the row of decanters. ‘Would you care for a drink?’
‘Why not?’ It was always like this nowadays – she just wouldn’t talk to him about anything personal, real talking, like they used to. He watched her pour a sherry for herself and a whiskey for him. The green dress she was wearing stirred his memory. He remembered Thomasin as she was on the first day he saw her, waltzing around the cake shop, hugging a green silk dress to her diminutive frame. He had thought her a real lady and much too good for the likes of him, but he had set out to win her all the same. She hadn’t been exactly beautiful even in her youth but… what was the word?… handsome. Yes, handsome – as she still was, but in a different way altogether. Then, she had been all vibrant and auburn, laughing mouth, sparkling eyes, a carefree spirit; now, she had adopted the dignified carriage and mannerisms of a lady and only in her unguarded moments did they glimpse the old Tommy. She gave him his drink and sauntered away. Away, always away. ‘Ye don’t appear to be busy today,’ he conjectured, turning the glass in his fingers.
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