Erin’s Child

by Erin's Child (retail) (epub)

  He was very uneasy. ‘Belle, your mother would never forgive me if she thought it was me who’d turned you away from your education. You mustn’t even contemplate giving it all up.’

  ‘But this is important.’

  ‘It is, but dammit you’re a thousand times more important than any o’ those people in that jungle. I’d drown the lot o’ them if I thought you intended to waste your life on them. You must go to that university. If ye’re truly intent on helping them, well… they’ll still be there when ye get back. Oh, God,’ he put a hand to his head. ‘This bloody family o’ mine… ye realise what this holiday was for, don’t ye?’

  ‘To get Rosie away from Tim,’ she answered.

  ‘Aye, I thought you might be in on that from the looks on both your faces.’

  ‘I’m not in on anything.’

  ‘Good! And listen, don’t think I’m taking ye to see these places so’s ye can choose yourself a fancy-man like your cousin did…’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous, Gramps. I’m not interested in men.’

  ‘Thank God for that.’ He asked if her mother knew about Tim and Rosie. Belle said not as far as she was aware. ‘I’d be obliged if ye kept it to yourself. I told Rosie her father wouldn’t get to hear of it.’

  ‘He won’t hear from me. You’ll take me then?’

  ‘If you promise – Jaze, I seem to be forever extracting promises; I hope to God they’ll be kept…’

  ‘They will by me,’ she replied. ‘You want me to promise I’ll go to university?’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘Well, that’s painless enough. I promise.’

  ‘Must say that sounded most sincere.’

  ‘All right, pass me that penknife and I’ll write it in blood. Look, it’s of no consequence to me if I go or not. If you’d like me to go then very well I’ll go. All right? But I warn you it won’t make the slightest difference to my eventual proposals.’

  Patrick had much more to say on the subject but was foiled by Abigail’s return. Instead of interrogating Belle he settled back into his chair. ‘What a long face, Abi. Looks as if your last evening was a failure.’

  ‘Oh no, sir, I had a wonderful evening,’ she replied, still wan-looking. ‘Really marvellous.’

  ‘Sure, I’ll have to have an evening like that meself some time; ye look as if ye really enjoyed it. Ah well.’ He slapped his knee and taking a last puff at the cigar stubbed it out. ‘I expect everyone will want to get to their beds. We’ve an early start tomorrow. Make sure ye get these lasses up in time.’

  Abigail waited while Belle performed her goodnights and limped off to her room. ‘Was there something ye wanted, Abi?’ asked Patrick at her awkward stance.

  ‘Well… yes, sir, I’d like to ask a favour if you can spare a minute.’

  ‘Sure, I’m clean short o’ favours, girl… Abi, I’m only joshing ye, for God’s sake don’t cry.’ The face had grown longer.

  ‘Oh, I’m ever so sorry, sir…’

  ‘Sounds bad. Come sit down, Abi. I’m not sleepy anyway.’ Jazers, if it isn’t one o’ them ’tis another, he thought despairingly.

  ‘It’s a very big favour, sir.’ She remained standing.

  ‘They always are. I can always say no, can’t I?’

  Urged on by his kind expression she finally plucked up courage. ‘I want to get married, sir.’

  ‘Sorry but I’m not available, colleen.’

  Oh, he was outrageous at times was the master. ‘I mean to Gerry, sir – that’s the gentleman I’ve been seeing so much of.’

  A sound of amusement. ‘But, Abi, we’ve only been here a week.’

  ‘I know, sir, but him an’ me… well, we seemed to hit it off right away. I was dreading leavin’ him, honest. Anyroad, tonight he asked if I’d stay an’ marry him.’

  ‘But…’ He spread his hands. ‘God, you’re a fast one, Abi. Oh no, no, I didn’t mean it like that.’ Her face had reached proportions of misery hitherto unplumbed.

  ‘You’re not angry, are you, sir? I mean, if you really won’t release me from me duties… I’d go back… only…’

  ‘My dear child, I wouldn’t dream o’ dragging ye from the man ye love.’ He rose to touch her cheek. ‘If ye want to marry him then go ahead an’ do it an’ may ye both be very happy.’

  ‘Oh, thank you, sir!’ She flushed. ‘I’m ever so relieved. I didn’t know what you’d say. The thing is, you see I’m not getting no younger an’ well… I never met anybody quite like Gerry. Only I’m not quite sure it’d be legal, like, me stayin’ on here.’

  ‘Oh, sure it wouldn’t take much clearing with the authorities. I’d love to help you in that region but with going so early tomorrow…’

  ‘Oh no, sir, I don’t expect nothing like that. Me an’ Gerry will sort it out.’ Her expression became anxious again. ‘D’you reckon the mistress’ll be angry when I don’t come back?’

  ‘She’ll miss your efficiency, I’m certain of that, but annoyed? Never. Mrs Feeney would say what I’m going to say now: congratulations, Abi, I’m very happy for ye. Here, will ye not sit down now you’re no longer a servant? Take a drink with me to celebrate.’

  ‘Oh, I couldn’t, sir.’

  ‘Rubbish.’ He clinked a decanter and two glasses, handing one to her. ‘Never insult a man by telling him ye won’t drink with him.’ She took it bashfully while he held up his own. ‘Health an’ long life to ye, Abi. May ye have a dozen children.’

  She giggled. ‘I don’t know about that, sir. One would be very acceptable what with me gettin’ so long in the tooth.’

  ‘Nonsense. A mere slip of a girl. Now sit down. Go on!’

  ‘Thank you, sir.’ She worked her way through the drink whilst providing Patrick with snippets of information about her Intended. He was a grand man, the master. It was a crying shame he wasn’t treated better at his time of life. She finally handed over the empty glass. ‘Ooh, I don’t know whether I should’ve had that. I’ve been drinking all night – just to celebrate o’ course, you know, sir. Well, I’d best let you get off to your bed. Thank you once again for being so understandin’. I’ve enjoyed my years working for you an’ the mistress, sir. I really shall miss you all. Oh dear, I’d best go before I start blubbering. I’ll have the young ladies off to an early start tomorrow, sir, don’t you worry. Er, I wonder would you mind sayin’ goodbye to Mrs Howgego for me?’ Patrick said naturally he would fulfil her request. ‘And…’ she didn’t know whether it would be in order to say this to one’s former employer, but decided she would anyhow. ‘Don’t you worry, sir.’ This was delivered in confidential tones. ‘Mrs Feeney’ll find what she’s looking for in the end – an’ it’ll be right under her nose. Goodbye, sir, an’ God bless you.’

  She moved swiftly from the room leaving a dumbstruck Patrick more depressed than ever.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  ‘An’ which one did ye decide on?’ asked Patrick as his wife fussed over him and their grand-daughters on their Sunday return. Hearing them in the hall she had come out to welcome them.

  ‘Both,’ came the smug reply.

  ‘God love us, the woman’ll be buying up America next.’

  ‘And I’ve got a buyer for the Goodramgate store.’ She grinned and took his hat, enquiring where Abi was. When he explained she clicked her tongue at the inconvenience of it. ‘Ah well, I suppose happiness comes before duty – just as well I hired another maid, wasn’t it?’ This had been done on her return from the Continent. ‘I’ll miss her, though.’ She ushered them through to the drawing room where Patrick remarked on the absence of a welcoming party. ‘Erin and Nick’re upstairs. I’ll shout them down in a minute – unless you want to go up and see your mother, Belle?’ Not noticing Belle’s disinclination she dragged Patrick to his favourite chair and went to pour him a whiskey. ‘Nick did really well while I was away. By the time the new shops are ready I’ll be able to put him in charge permanently. Oh, but you should’ve been at the auction, Pat! It was so nerve-racking. We’
d just begin to think it was all in the bag when this fat old plodder would tap his nose and up the price would go. Thankfully we didn’t reach our ceiling before he ran out of bids.’ Patrick slipped a query in between her babble, asking when she was going to open. ‘Oh, not for ages yet.’ She passed him the whiskey. ‘There’s a load of restoration work to do – but they’re both in spanking positions. Francis says… oh, how I go on! Poor loves, I’ve not even asked how you enjoyed Germany.’ She looked round. ‘Where did Rosie go? I thought she followed us in.’

  ‘She went up to her room,’ provided Belle.

  ‘I’ll go up and see her in a minute,’ said Thomasin.

  ‘I shouldn’t bother,’ Patrick told her. He caught Thomasin’s hesitancy. ‘’Tis all right, Belle knows about the young fella.’

  Thomasin rolled her eyes. ‘Poor little soul, still mooning over him, is she?’

  ‘Well, it wasn’t an easy crossing home but yes, I think ’tis more than mal de mer that’s churning her up.’

  ‘I can’t help but think that a lot of this is my fault,’ said his wife. ‘If I’d realised how she was growing up and introduced her into the company of young men she wouldn’t have had to find her own. Well, I’m going to remedy that. I know some lovely young chaps. I’ll start inviting one or two round for tea.’ She looked at her other grand-daughter. ‘You never know, Belle, you might see something you fancy.’

  Belle found her grandmother’s forthrightness annoying sometimes. She rose. ‘I think I’ll take a leaf from Rosie’s book and have a nap. It was a tiring journey.’

  ‘Don’t you want anything to eat?’ asked Thomasin. ‘Surely you must be famished.’

  Belle said she couldn’t stomach anything at present. ‘Perhaps in an hour or so,’ and moved to the door. Directly she grasped the handle someone turned it from the other side and the door opened in on her.

  ‘I beg your pardon, miss.’ The man bowed his head and stepped aside for Belle to make her exit.

  Before the door divided her from the others she heard her grandmother explain, ‘Pat, this is the new footman. John, this is your master, Mr Feeney. I thought you might welcome some assistance, Patrick. John could act as your valet.’

  Belle was well able to imagine her grandfather’s comment: ‘Sure, I’m not having no fella help me off with my breeches’, and smiled to herself as she climbed the stairs. Once at her destination she opened the door as gently as possible in order not to wake Rosie – not out of concern but because that would mean having to speak to her.

  She needn’t have put herself out; the bedroom was empty.

  * * *

  ‘All the time I was thinking, he’ll swear I’ve walked out on him! He’ll think I’ve stopped loving him!’ Rosanna gripped two handfuls of her lover’s shirt, chattering breathlessly into his face.

  ‘I did,’ admitted Tim, hands locked in the small of her back. ‘I thought, she’s finally got sick o’ this rag-tag little bark an’ found herself a toff.’

  ‘Infidel!’ The fists that clenched his shirt banged at his chest in indignation. ‘I’ll never grow tired of you, Tim.’

  ‘I came to look for ye.’

  ‘Where? To the fields?’

  ‘And to the house.’ He laughed at her dismay. ‘I posed as a hawker. There was a wee kitchen maid answered the door. I got her talking. She told me the family had gone on holiday.’

  ‘I had no chance to let you know. I’ve been going through agonies wondering if you’d still be here when I got back.’ She smiled fondly as he said he would always be here. Then her face darkened. ‘It wasn’t just a holiday though… Grandfather found out about us.’

  He was aghast. ‘God, how? Oh… I suppose it was Belle.’

  ‘It wasn’t, actually. It was stupid old Joseph.’

  ‘The crazy bugger.’

  ‘Apparently he’d seen me coming here…’

  ‘Here?!’ interrupted Tim sharply, afraid of the wider consequences.

  ‘No, I always made certain no one saw me coming in here. I meant he saw me down Walmgate. Anyway, he let slip to Gramps. He says I’m to stop seeing you, Tim. We had the most terrible row.’

  ‘So, that’s what the holiday was for, to get you away from the Fenian.’

  She moved her head. ‘He thought a month away from you would make me forget.’

  ‘The old bastard,’ breathed Tim without thinking.

  ‘Oh, don’t call him that, Tim.’

  ‘Oh hell, Rosie, I didn’t mean…’ He cuddled her lovingly. ‘Ye know I’d never inflict hurt on you purposely.’

  ‘I know, I know.’ She returned his hug. ‘But don’t call him any name. He’s my grandfather and I love him and I know he’s only doing what he thinks is right, even if it isn’t.’

  ‘So… are ye going to do as he asks?’

  ‘Would I?’ Such idiocy, her tone implied. ‘I promised him I would, but I’m afraid I’m going to have to break it, much as it shames me. I’m promised to you, Timothy Rabb, and no one – not even Gramps – is going to keep us apart.’ A sigh. ‘We’ll just have to be extra devious, that’s all. There’ll be no saying I’m going down the garden for a walk… And there’s Joseph, I’ll have to wear some sort of disguise so he doesn’t spot me. Oh, we’ll have to be a lot more careful if we’re to keep seeing each other.’ They kissed long and passionately. ‘Mmm,’ he groaned into her mouth. ‘Careful isn’t a word I’d apply to meself right this minute.’

  ‘We’ll start being careful tomorrow,’ came her murmur. Then, ‘Where’s Mr Dorgan gone?’

  ‘You dare to think of another man when ye’ve got me so inflamed?’ But his eyes laughed.

  ‘I just meant that it was a lovely surprise to find you here alone.’ Her mouth brushed from side to side. ‘I expected to have to explain.’

  ‘To him – why?’

  ‘Because,’ she caught one of his lips between hers, ‘he may think I’ve run out of the Society – I’ll bet he said that to you, didn’t he?’

  ‘Well – ow, Rosanna!’ He retrieved his lower lip from her teeth and touched a finger to it. ‘You’ve drawn blood!’

  ‘Sorry.’

  ‘Then why’re ye laughing if you’re sorry? Wee cat.’

  Her tongue fluttered at his wounded flesh. ‘I’m not looking forward to facing him. How long will he be?’

  ‘He said he’d be back around four.’

  She stole a glance at the clock. It was ten past two. ‘Then I propose that we go upstairs and have a reintroductory sitting of the Brotherhood.’

  ‘Sister,’ he mouthed her eagerly, ‘your motion is seconded and carried.’

  * * *

  The question had been postponed but now as the hour of Dorgan’s return grew near it would have to be answered: how were they to keep meeting without her grandfather finding out?

  ‘He doesn’t know exactly where we’ve been meeting,’ said Rosanna. ‘I suppose he thinks it’s at your house. So once we’re here we’re pretty safe. It’s just getting here…’

  ‘Well, don’t worry about Joseph, I’ll sort him out.’

  ‘Oh, no! You know what a clown he is, whatever you say to him might make things worse. No, if I can just find an old shawl to wear and wrap it round my face, and an old dress – if you can put up with me like that?’

  He cuddled her. ‘Matters not to me what ye wear. The more pressing thing is how’re ye going to convince your family that it’s really over?’

  ‘I’ll have to look miserable – which won’t be hard when I’m away from you the whole week.’ He asked how she would get out of the house. ‘Easy. I’ll pretend I’m going to have a nap in my room then climb out of the window like I did today.’

  ‘That’s a bit risky.’

  ‘No, I’m a good climber.’

  ‘I don’t doubt it but I didn’t mean climbing out of the window, though God knows that’s risky enough. No, I mean what if any of them should visit your room an’ find you’re not there?’

  She groped f
or an answer, saying exasperatedly, ‘Oh, I’ll think of some excuse. Don’t worry so much.’

  ‘I’m as much worried for Mr Dorgan – we’re putting him at risk too, ye know. If your grandfather should get to know and follow you here it could bring attention to Mr Dorgan. Much as he likes me I think he’d put the Brotherhood before a love affair. We should find somewhere else to meet, just use this place as a last resort.’

  For a time her face was crestfallen. Then it mirrored her brainwave. ‘You could come to Leeds! I could start visiting Father and Mother more often – they’re always moaning about not seeing me. You can meet me somewhere round about – they have no idea about us, Gramps didn’t want to worry them.’ She was delighted at her cleverness.

  He thought how lovely she looked in her glee. ‘You’re sure ye can stand the danger?’

  Rosie declared that she could – not even realising herself that it was the danger which made this relationship so exciting.

  * * *

  So realistic was Rosanna’s misery when she was in her grandfather’s presence that he was convinced the romance was well and truly over. He had pampered her a lot and tried to keep her amused and though she wasn’t exactly euphoric she was now beginning to emerge from her torpor. He had thought it sensible to allow her back to her book-keeping which might serve to occupy her mind – but he kept an eagle eye out for Rabb who might well be lurking round the fields. However, that wasn’t necessary today. Rosanna had taken a train to visit her parents chaperoned by Helen the maid and wouldn’t be back until this evening. This had been partly at Sonny’s suggestion – or so both men had been led to believe, neither guessing that it had been choreographed by Rosanna. It had begun with a telephone call to her father ‘just for a chat’, during which she had confided that her conscience was troubling her over not seeing so much of him and Mother these days.