by Anne Brear
She sucked in a breath. He was threatening Sophia too? “Just leave me alone.”
The man studied his dirty fingernails. “Perhaps my boss could be persuaded.”
As quickly as the anger came, it now left her and her hands shook. “I’m not interested in anything Ellerton has to say.”
“A foolish mistake.”
“Stay away from me.” She spun away and forced herself to stride down the road with her head high, although her insides felt as if they’d turned to water. The baby kicked hard against her ribs and she bit her top lip to stop crying out. She concentrated on getting home to Sophia and didn’t look back. The sooner they left York the better.
By the morning of the wedding, everyone in number ten was a bundle of nerves. The house was packed up and looked bare, unloved. The furniture they were taking to the cottage had already left two days ago. After the wedding they were all going to the train station.
The women were in and out of each other’s homes as they prepared for the ceremony, many were upset that there wasn’t to be a celebration afterwards in the lane as usual when someone marries. Although, some remarked on the horse already bolting whenever they looked at Aurora’s wide girth.
Out the front of the church, Aurora ignored the fussing of Sophia and Lily and Dilys. In her mind this wasn’t her wedding day, the magical day she’d dreamed of with Reid. This was a simple occasion were she legalized her baby’s future. Nothing more. Nothing less.
“Aurrie!” Peggy rushed towards her, with Nancy following behind. “We couldn’t miss your special day.”
“Thank you for coming.” Aurora squeezed Peggy’s hand and noticing Nancy hesitancy she gave her a welcome smile. “Thank you, both of you.”
“I hope you’ll be happy, Aurrie,” Nancy murmured.
“Course she will.” Peggy laughed. “She’s caught herself a handsome chap and she’s getting away from this place.”
Nancy stepped closer. “Where will you go?”
“To the country,” Aurora hedged, not wanting any information to get back to Merv Ellerton. Nancy flushed and turned as Sophia came and introduced herself to them.
Peggy leaned closer. “She’s sorry, Aurrie, Nancy I mean. Merv can charm the birds out of the trees, you know that. She never meant to tell him anything. She’s been in the doldrums ever since. Especially since the new girl, who took your place, is a right trollop. A real nasty piece of work and forever getting us in trouble over nothing.”
“I’m sorry to hear it, but I don’t want to think of that place or Ellerton today.” She glanced over at Sophia and Nancy, who were deep in conversation.
“No, of course not.” Peggy nudged her. “You’ve got better things to think about now. Imagine, a nice place out in the country. You’re set, you are.”
“Yes. I’m very lucky.” Aurora wished Tom would hurry up and arrive. Her nerves couldn’t take much more.
Five minutes late, Tom hurtled out of a hansom that had come straight from the train station and dashed to Aurora’s side where she stood waiting by the church door with the others. Sophia ushered everyone inside to join the neighbors who’d gone in a few minutes before.
“So, Miss Pettigrew, are you ready to become a Sinclair?” Tom grinned, looking handsome in his stiff uniform.
She reached up and brushed a smut of coal off his shoulder. “How was your journey from London?”
“Slept like a baby all the way.”
“Will you be in a lot of trouble for missing your ship?”
“Don’t worry about that. It is a small hiccup. I sail on tonight’s tide. A day won’t make much difference.”
“But Tom, it is serious.”
“What can they do, shoot me?”
Her eyes widened. “Well, yes.”
“I don’t think so. Father went to school with most of my superior officers. They all wished they could have attended his funeral, but the troubles in Africa prevented it. I’ll get told off, but I’ll win them around ... Besides, I’m a Sinclair with relations in many high places. Now enough of all that.” The laughter left his eyes for a moment and he took her gloved hand. “Are you sure, Aurora?”
“Are you, Tom? I’m not losing my freedom as you are. It’s this marriage or pretended widowhood for me, but for you…”
“I’m doing what I want to. I promise you. I never want you to feel guilty about me. Assure me you won’t.”
She nodded and kissed his cheek. “You’re a good man, Tom Sinclair.”
“That’s down to you, Aurrie. Without you, I am a rebel and a waster, and don’t let anyone tell you different.” He grinned again and kissed her hand. “Let’s go get married.”
Noah walked her down the aisle and she fought tears, wishing it was her father instead. Anthony Murphy stood as best man to Tom and they were grinning like schoolboys as she joined them at the altar. To prevent gossip reaching his mother, Tom had told no one, not even his closest friends that he was getting married. Aurora hoped Julia would never find out, and prayed that Tom didn’t let it slip one day in the future.
Afterwards, Aurora couldn’t quite remember the ceremony. It was if her mind had closed down, all she felt was the cool gold band going onto her finger and that she was declared Mrs Sinclair.
They left the church to pealing of the bells and the calls of good wishes from some of the women, for only a few were going with them to the station. As Tom assisted her into the hansom cab, she looked across the road and saw the man, her silent shadow, watching. He tipped his black hat to her and smiled. When he walked away she took it as a sign the watching ordeal was over. Safely married, Ellerton obviously thought her as no longer a threat, and despite what he’d done, she was glad to have the whole sorry episode finished.
“Aurrie, are you all right?” Tom asked sitting in beside her. “Your face is a little pale.”
“I’m fine.” She gave a brief smile and put the man and Ellerton from her mind.
On the platform, Aurora walked with Tom to the first class carriage and stood with him, knowing this would be the last time she’d see him for a long while. “Thank you again, Tom.”
“Nonsense. I had to give my niece or nephew a good start in life didn’t I?” He looked around at the milling crowds, for once his face serious, and then he gazed back at her. “You’ll write to me often, won’t you, Aurrie. Let me know how you’re getting on and everything. Your letters will be important to me out there.”
“Of course. I’ll write every week.” She gripped his hands. “You’ll not be too reckless, promise me.”
He leaned down and kissed her softly on the lips. “I am as I am, Aurrie, you know that.”
“I do, that’s what worries me.”
“Don’t worry over me.” He stared straight into her eyes. “If you need anything get in contact with my solicitors in London. You have their address?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t lose it. They have the deeds to the farm cottage. It’s all yours. Also, there is the account which money will be deposited in for you each month.”
“Oh, Tom…It’s too much.”
“No, it is what you deserve. It’s your due. You’d have a lot more if Mother hadn’t interfered and well…”
She knew what he was thinking and her heart thumped because of it. If Julia hadn’t interfered she’d be married to Reid not Tom by now.
He handed her a small box. “Give this to the baby.”
She opened the box to find a small silver pendant in the shape of horse nestled on a bed of white silk. “It’s beautiful.”
“Teach the baby to ride when it is old enough.” He peeked in at the box. “Tell him or her of the rides we used to go on.”
“I will. Thank you.”
“Live a good life, Aurrie.”
“I will, Tom, thanks to you, but please don’t make this a final goodbye. I want you to visit us one day. Promise me you will.” She flung her arms around his neck and kissed him passionately, not as a lover, but as a woman sending
a man to war. It was a kiss of luck, of hope, a memory to take with him.
The train whistle blew and they sprang apart. Tom hugged her to him one last time and then abruptly turned away and went up the step into the train. Aurora watched the train pull slowly away, but Tom didn’t lean out of the window and wave.
Sad at heart, she felt the presence of another and wasn’t surprised that Sophia stood beside her. “It’s time to go, Aurrie. Our train departs in two minutes.”
“I’m coming.” Taking a deep breath, she forced a smile and went to join the others, who waited on the next platform. Dilys and Jean along with Mrs Murphy and Anthony had come to see them off.
“Now then, you’ll not be forgetting us?” Dilys said hugging Sophia and then Aurora. “My Jean can read and write so we’ll be expecting letters, mind.”
“Yes, of course.” Aurora adjusted her blue hat and veil, which Dilys threatened to knock off with her exuberant hug. She tugged down the light blue jacket that matched the skirt and turned to Mrs Murphy and Anthony. “Thank you both for your friendship. It has meant a great deal to me. Please come and see us if you can.”
“I haven’t been out in the countryside since I left Ireland forty years ago.” Mary Murphy patted Aurora’s cheek. “Take care of yourself now.” She leaned in closer so the others wouldn’t hear. “I wish I could be with you on your important day, but you’re strong and have had good food all your life. You’ll have no worries with that baby’s birth.”
“I hope so, and I wish you could be there with me, too.”
“God keep you safe, lass.” She crossed herself.
“And you, too, Mrs Murphy.” Aurora then smiled at Anthony and squeezed his arm in farewell. “Take care of your mother.”
He slipped off his flat hat and bowed. “You know I will, Aurrie. Take care.”
“And you. Thank you for all your kindness.” She kissed his cheek and leaving him blushing like a girl, boarded the train behind the others.
Once they found their seats, Sophia linked her arm through Aurora’s. “We start another journey of our lives, Aurrie.”
“Yes. I wonder where this one will take us?”
Three hours later, and two train changes, one at Leeds station, which made Aurora dreadfully nervous in case she spotted someone she knew, they crammed into a hired carriage and made their way up the step sides of the Calder Valley away from the centre of Hebden Bridge. As they climbed, Aurora gazed at the silver ribbon of the river below and the formal lines of the canal which ran beside it.
“Where is the cottage then?” Lily asked, breastfeeding Will in the corner of the carriage, her body and the baby hidden by a large blanket.
Aurora peeked out of the small window. “Along Keighley Road the note says. The cottage is called Briar Rose Farm.”
“I can’t believe I’m going to be living on a farm.” Lily’s eyes widened in excitement. “Imagine having fresh eggs laid at your door.”
“I hope all our furniture and bits and pieces are there,” Sophia said.
“Tell us again what animals are there, Aurrie,” Lily persisted.
“Well, I’m not sure. All Tom said was that the family who ran the farm had left last month to go to Australia because their grown up children emigrated there. One of the laborers was looking after the place until Tom’s agent could advertise for a new farmer. Instead, Tom gave the farm to me.”
“I’m pleased we have a laborer.” Noah shifted in his seat next to Lily. “I’m going to need some help. It’s been years since I worked with animals.”
“Tom said it is only a small concern, Noah.” Aurora glanced out the window again as the carriage slowed. “I doubt we’d have more than a few chickens, maybe a pig or something. I do hope there will be enough room for us all in the cottage.” She frowned as the carriage turned in between two black iron gates and trundled down a gravel drive. As the carriage swung around the bend in the drive Aurora stared at the house coming into view. “Good Lord, I think the driver is lost.”
When the horses halted, Noah helped Aurora down so she could speak to the driver. They had stopped in front of a large two-story house built in gray stone. A low stonewall went off on either side of the house and before it was a neat garden. Aurora looked up at the driver. “Briar Rose Farm is where we need to be.”
“And this is it, Madam.”
Aurora swung round to peer at the house again. “There must be some mistake. It’s a farm cottage with a few acres.”
“This is Briar Rose Farm.”
As she went to argue again a tall young man came through a gate in the wall and walked towards them. “I thought I heard something. Welcome.” He held out his hand to Noah. “I’m Jed Bromley. You must be Mr Middleton? And you must be Mrs Sinclair?” He shook Aurora’s hand as well.
“This is Briar Rose Farm?”
“Yes, Mrs Sinclair.” Jed gave her a quizzical look as though she was a little slow in the head.
“Tom, my-my husband, told me the farm was small, with a cottage and a few acres.”
“We have thirty four acres, Mrs Sinclair. There is a cottage, where I live down the back, but this is the main house.”
Sophia and Lily climbed down from the carriage and stood staring at the house. Sophia gazed up at the windows above. “If Tom thinks as this as a cottage I’d hate to wonder what he sees as a house.”
“I know.” Aurora agreed, none too pleased, glaring at the offending house, which compared to Sinclair Hall was indeed small, but even so, it wasn’t the mere cottage she was expecting.
“How on earth will we heat it and keep it clean?” Lily whispered, half afraid.
“Shall I show you inside?” Jed looked from one to the other, sensing their unease. “I’ve lit some fires and removed the dustsheets.” He swallowed and led the way to the dark brown front door. This door opened into a black and white tiled square entry with a hallway disappearing down past the dark timbered staircase. “You’ve got a front room, small parlor, dining room and a little room the former family used as the master’s study. Down the hallway are the kitchen, storerooms and scullery. There’s also a large cellar.”
“Upstairs?” Aurora asked, entering the front sitting room, which was well lit from the large window overlooking the drive and another window on the far side wall. The room was wallpapered in light blue and white stripes. The carpet was patterned in a darker blue and red pattern. The furniture, aside from their own, was big and heavy, but not out of place and all very useful. A roaring fire blazed in the large fireplace with its white painted stone mantelpiece.
“Upstairs are four bedrooms, Mrs Sinclair. Plus a small landing and linen cupboard.” Jed said, placing another log on the fire. “We’ve had fine weather all month but today’s been a bit chilly. We might have rain by the week’s end.”
“I never expected such a house, Aurora,” Sophia said quietly. “It reminds me of the house I grew up in.”
“Will you show Mr Middleton and myself outside, please?” Aurora and Noah followed Jed down the hallway and into the service areas of the house. The kitchen was enormous and Aurora fought the anger swelling up in her chest. Blast Tom. She didn’t ask for any of this. He’d allowed her to believe he was giving her a small cottage, but this-this house demanded respect and no doubt afforded the family living here an image of social responsibility that she wouldn’t be able to ignore.
“At the moment the farm is down on the amount of animals we usually keep because I’m on my own.” Jed told them as they walked across a flagged yard towards the outbuildings, again all built in the same gray stone as the house. In the distance, beyond the buildings, the green fields gently sloped up and down stretching out in the direction of Wadsworth Moor.
“What animals do you keep here?” Noah asked, as they went past one long building and through a gateway into another big square yard surrounded on three sides by low outbuildings.
“We have sheep, cows, pigs, hens, and geese mainly.” Jed opened a barn door. “I’ve go
t old Bessie here.” He walked towards the mare in the stall. “She pulls the cart.” He gave her a slap on the neck and rubbed her ears. “Mr Sinclair said that I was to talk to you about what you wanted to do. The previous farmer made a good living and I’m sure it can happen again.”
“Mr Sinclair was here?” Aurora’s eyes widened in surprise. “When?”
“Er…about two weeks ago.” Jed escorted them outside again.
Aurora glanced at Noah. “He never mentioned a word to me.”
“Mr Sinclair told me you might not want to have it as a working farm.”
“We do, don’t we, Aurrie?” Noah asked, scratching his chin.
“Yes, it would be a shame to waste such land.” She sighed resignedly. “We will depend on you entirely Jed. Do you have help?”
“In the summers of past years the former master hired local lads to work about six months. But as I mentioned before, the farm isn’t full now so I’m on my own.”
“But we can buy stock and fill the yards again, can’t we, Aurrie?” Noah asked, glancing around.
“Yes. This will be a working farm again.” She looked at Jed. “Will you and Noah be enough to do the work, or do I need to employ another man.”
“Actually,” Jed rubbed the back of his neck. “My brother, Dickie, is fifteen and in need of a job. Our Ma made him stay on at school and then apprentice with the undertaker in Hebden, but he doesn’t like it and prefers working with animals.”
“Right then, he can start here. I’ll leave you to sort it out, Jed, and make sure your mother is happy about it.”
“Thank you, Mrs Sinclair.”
Aurora gazed around at the buildings. Her shock was receding and germs of ideas replaced her anger at Tom. He had said this was hers, the deeds in her name. She turned to stare at the back of the house, her mind accelerating. A solid house, land, animals, an income. A home. She nodded to herself, liking her thoughts. A home for her and Reid’s child. Security. Perhaps, her future wasn’t going to be as bleak as she imagined it to be.
Chapter Nineteen
“Are you aware we will have to entertain,” Aurora said to Sophia as they stocked the larder with goods bought that morning from Hebden Bridge market. “Did you see people lend an ear every time we spoke to someone at the market?”