Stay with Me

by Jessica Blair

She placed a comforting hand on Lena’s arm. ‘Don’t pillory yourself,’ she said soothingly. ‘Try to be strong. I’m sure Peter will arrive at a solution. Wipe your eyes and be patient.’

  The inference that they should appear as normal as possible to meet the Sugdens was not lost on Lena. She wiped her eyes, smoothed her dress and stiffened her shoulders.

  Greta brought the carriage to a halt outside the front entrance of the Hall. In a matter of moments the door was opened by a footman.

  ‘Are Mr and Mrs Sugden at home?’ she enquired pleasantly. Her mind raced as it dawned on her that neither she nor Peter had considered the possibility that they would not be in residence. So it was with great relief that she heard the footman saying, ‘They are indeed, ma’am. Please step inside and I will see if they are receiving visitors.’ His enquiring look brought the answer, ‘Mrs Hustwick and Miss Clancy.’

  ‘Ma’am.’ He bowed then hurried across the hall, opened a door and stepped inside.

  A few moments later Charles and Marcia came hurrying out. Their greetings were effusive.

  ‘Peter not with you?’ Charles asked.

  ‘No, I’m afraid not, but he asked me to give you this letter,’ said Greta.

  Charles took it but did not open it until he and Marcia had seen the newcomers comfortably seated in the drawing-room. Then he stood with his back to the fireplace and opened the letter. He read it quickly and handed it to his wife who took it with a questioning look at him, wondering why he had made no comment. As soon as she read it she knew that his silence sought her agreement. Their exchange of glances showed the close understanding between them.

  ‘Of course you may stay for as long as it takes Peter to sort matters out. He does not say what these matters are, and we do not seek to know. You are welcome here without further explanation.’

  ‘Neither of us knows where Peter has gone nor how long he will be, but I think you should hear something of what has happened.’ Lena glanced at Greta and saw her nod of approval.

  She was pleased that Lena had taken this course as it would make for an easier relationship throughout their stay. She decided she would not interfere in the telling of the story but allow Lena, as the chief perpetrator, to explain as far as she saw fit.

  Charles and Marcia listened without interruption.

  Lena left out some of the details but the Sugdens soon had a good impression of the recent disasters and understood how Lena’s unreasonable ambition had led to the present situation. She leaned back in her chair when she finished speaking and experienced a moment of relief.

  There was a short silence as if Charles and Marcia were weighing up what their attitude should be. When Charles finally spoke he did so for them both. ‘I am pleased you thought it right to confide in us. Your trust will make for a pleasanter stay, no matter how long it lasts. You can rest assured, your story will not go beyond these four walls.’

  ‘Now, I think we had better get you settled in,’ Marcia took over.

  She led Lena and Greta upstairs and showed them the rooms they would occupy. While they were doing that two servants arrived with the luggage from the carriage.

  ‘I see you have only a little,’ Marcia observed when only one valise was brought to Lena’s room.

  ‘Peter thought it unwise to return to either of our houses and took me straight to Greta’s, so all I have is what she has kindly lent me.’ She made a gesture, indicating the clothes she stood up in.

  Marcia nodded. ‘We must put that right tomorrow. A woman in the village makes my everyday dresses. She is very good but I have never employed her on anything more elaborate - I go to York or sometimes London for those.’

  ‘I am sure whatever she produces will suit me until Peter returns and deems it wise for us to go home, but . . . I have no money.’

  Marcia dismissed the objection with a wave of her hand. ‘Charles will pay and Peter can settle with him.’

  ‘This is beyond kind,’ said Lena, a catch in her throat and tears brimming in her eyes. ‘You are too generous. I don’t deserve such sympathy.’

  ‘We have all made mistakes in our lives. There was no malice in yours. You weren’t to know those poor men would meet a storm of such ferocity. We are both only too pleased to help. Besides, what are friends for if you can’t turn to them in an hour of need?’

  Lena stepped forward and impulsively gave her a hug. ‘How can I ever thank you?’ When Marcia responded with an embrace Lena felt safe. Now she longed only for equal forgiveness from her husband, then the future could take care of itself.

  Peter turned up the collar of his coat, pulled the brim of his hat down and kept his head low as he walked at a quick pace through the side-streets of Hull. Coming within sight of the office he slowed his steps. Hostility emanated from the crowd assembled round the front door. Two men, urged on by the rest, hammered on it with clenched fists. Peter knew that if he was seen there would be little hope of his escaping unscathed. He slipped down an alley and quickly made his way to the back of the premises. He tried the door and was thankful to find it locked. His staff had either not come to work today or had locked themselves in. He hoped it was the latter because he needed to see them. He took his keys from his pocket and let himself in.

  Alarmed by the noise in the passage, Alan, Jos and Dan came out of their rooms, ready to confront intruders, but breathed easily when they saw Peter.

  ‘Mr Hustwick!’ Alan gasped.

  ‘All of you, upstairs, quick!’ Peter was on the stairs even as he issued the order.

  Entering his office, he swung round to greet the others with, ‘Has it been worse than this?’

  ‘Bad after you left yesterday. Did you encounter any trouble, sir?’

  ‘No. I got Mrs Hustwick away safely.’

  ‘Good. What do you want us to do now?’

  ‘As you have no doubt guessed, the loss of the three ships means the firm is virtually finished. Besides, I don’t think Mrs Hustwick or I will be tolerated in Hull any longer. I have some plans in mind but don’t want to reveal them now in case they don’t materialise. But I wish to assure you, I will do all I can to see you three are not left without work.’

  Their murmurs of thanks momentarily interrupted him.

  ‘I will be out of Hull today but here is what I want you to do. Get word to everyone who lost someone in the wrecks to attend a meeting - ask permission to use or hire the recreation room in the Sailors’ Home at eleven o’clock in three days’ time. Get word to Captain Goss to attend, together with a list of the relatives of his crew.’

  ‘Can we tell them why?’

  The banging on the door increased then and the shouts outside grew louder. Jos and Dan flinched at the noise.

  Peter ignored it and carried on. ‘You can’t tell them anything because I don’t know if my plan is achievable yet. Just tell them I will be there - that should bring them, if only to bay for my blood. It is sure to be a hostile meeting so I would like you three to act as my bodyguard, and bring another three men with you if you can.’

  ‘We will,’ said Alan, an announcement that brought agreement from Jos and Dan.

  ‘Good. I’ll meet you here at ten-thirty in three days’ time. I’ll go now. Give me half an hour then you can make an announcement to the crowd outside.’

  Three days later, when Peter approached the office, he was gratified to find that there were no loiterers to be seen. He took this as a sign that Alan had successfully carried out his instructions. The first evidence of that was when he went inside and was instantly introduced to the three burly men his manager had brought in for reinforcements.

  ‘Just stay close to me and don’t take any action unless the situation gets really ugly. No doubt there’ll be plenty of abuse and criticism thrown my way when we arrive, but I hope what I have to say will quell any outright violence. You are not there to antagonise the crowd. Understood?’

  They all accepted Peter’s instructions.

  ‘Right. Let’s go.’

 
; The protective wall of six formed a circle round him and matched his quick determined stride that only slowed when the Sailors’ Home came in sight and they saw black-clad people streaming towards the building. They were close to it when someone spotted Peter.

  ‘There he is!’ a shout went up. Immediately Peter’s name was bandied from tongue to tongue, and soon foul abuse was directed not only at him but at Lena. Entry into the building was impossible. Peter found their way blocked.

  ‘Let us through,’ he called.

  Hostility hung in the air.

  ‘Allow Mr Hustwick to get in,’ shouted Alan.

  That brought a further tirade from the crowd.

  Alan was not to be deterred. ‘If you want to hear what Mr Hustwick has to say, let him through. He cannot address you out here. There are people already inside and what he has to say needs to be heard by everyone.’ He paused and, detecting something of a response, pressed on. ‘Please make way there. Let Mr Hustwick say what he has to say - it is only right for him to do so, and you should respect his desire to speak to you all.’

  There were some calls of support for what he had said. Gradually people stood back to allow Peter and his bodyguard through.

  Those inside the building had no idea what had happened outside and as soon as Peter appeared in the hall he was howled at, spat upon and threatened with the worst possible fates. People were jumping to their feet. Men, shaking their fists, eyes blazing with hatred and anger, would have torn him apart if it had not been for the presence of his bodyguard. Women with babes in their arms and young children clinging to their skirts did not hold back on the abuse they hurled at Peter’s wife, even though she was not there. Others made no effort to subdue the tears that ran down their careworn faces, reflecting the devastation that had shattered their lives. This sight, more than anything else, tore at Peter’s heart.

  When he climbed on to the platform, rotten vegetables and small bags of flour were thrown, but he stood his ground.

  Alan came forward and thundered over the catcalls, ‘Let Mr Hustwick say what he has to say! The people outside agreed to let him in because he couldn’t address them and leave you out. He wants everyone to hear his news.’

  The people who were still filtering in from outside added their voices to Alan’s and gradually the noise abated somewhat, though there were still those who wanted to broadcast their opinion of the Hustwicks.

  Peter held up his arms. ‘Hear me out! Please!’

  ‘Why should we?’

  ‘Murderer - you and your bitch wife!’

  ‘Let me speak,’ yelled Peter.

  But the abuse rose again and came thick and fast. He realised that some hot-heads were bent on causing a riot and was about to send his men to sort them out when Captain Goss jumped on to the platform. For one moment Peter thought the captain was going to attack him and was aware that two of his bodyguard had started to make a protective move, but Captain Goss turned to face the packed hall.

  ‘I say we let Mr Hustwick speak!’ he yelled, and repeated this when the crowd responded to his appearance. Silence gradually descended. He turned to Peter. ‘Say what you have to say,’ he ordered curtly.

  Peter moved to the front of the platform. He waited until a dropped pin could have been heard. He sensed an air of curious expectancy among the crowd and decided there and then that his best ploy was not to make excuses but to hit them hard with what he had to say. ‘I am going to pay compensation to all those who lost someone on my three vessels!’

  This completely unexpected announcement brought general incredulity. The silence deepened.

  ‘I sincerely regret what happened. I cannot bring back your loved ones and friends, but I will ease your circumstances; I have arranged it with my bank. My manager, Alan Frampton, will see you are all paid. He has a list of the crew members of the William Hustwick and the Lena and will require a responsible member of each family to report to him at Hustwick’s office in two days from now. He will issue notes to your entitlement which you will present at my bank.’ He turned to Captain Goss. ‘Captain, will you present him with a list of your crew also? And see me when this meeting is over?’

  ‘Aye, aye, sir.’

  Murmuring broke out around the hall. Now, instead of vilifying him, they were praising Peter. People crowded on to the platform, wanting to shake hands with him or offer him thanks.

  When this eventually died down, Captain Goss approached him. ‘You wanted a word, sir?’

  ‘Yes, Captain. First, I wish to thank you for your intervention. Things were beginning to look ugly there.’

  ‘A few loud mouths, sir. But I should apologise to you and your wife for what I said to her.’

  ‘Understandable at the time, Captain.’

  ‘I should have curbed my tongue.’

  ‘I’ll give her your apologies. Now there’s one more thing, Captain. You will be reimbursed for the loss of your ship.’

  Captain Goss stared at him in disbelief. ‘But . . .’

  ‘No buts, Captain. I have made my decision. My manager will arrange that with the bank after I have cleared up several other matters. It may take a week or so.’

  ‘Sir, I’ll build another and sail for you again!’

  Peter gave him a wan smile. ‘That won’t be possible, Captain. I shan’t be here.’

  ‘But your firm can rise again from this tragedy.’

  Peter shook his head. ‘I don’t think so. Too much damage has been done, not only the loss of my ships but in the trade we had built up; that will be gone now and with it all confidence in us, not only among the firms and traders with whom we worked but also the residents of Hull. No, I’ll not stay.’

  Captain Goss held out his hand. ‘Then wherever you go, and whatever you do, may God be with you.’

  The days passed pleasantly enough in the company of the Sugdens and Greta, but were not without their anxieties for Lena when still Peter did not appear at Weaver Hall. Her companions did all they could to ease her troubled mind but their concern deepened when, after ten days, Lena voiced the worry that was beginning to haunt her. ‘I don’t think Peter is going to return. He probably never intended to.’

  ‘You mustn’t say that!’ Greta sharply told her.

  ‘Nor even think it,’ added Marcia.

  ‘But what else can I think?’ wailed Lena, her face creased with anxiety. ‘He should have been back by now.’

  ‘Lena,’ said Greta sternly, ‘we do not know where Peter was going nor what he intended to do there. You must have faith in him. He will be back, I’m sure of it.’

  ‘But what if something has happened to him? If he went to Hull, he’d be in danger. The mob there was in an ugly mood.’

  ‘He wouldn’t put himself needlessly at risk,’ said Marcia. ‘Whatever he was planning must be taking longer than expected, that’s all.’

  ‘Be patient,’ advised Greta.

  The next two days were not easy for Lena but she kept her unease hidden. The result was that enormous relief swept over her when Peter, accompanied by Charles, finally strode into the drawing-room of Weaver Hall.

  ‘Peter!’ Lena leaped from her chair and flung herself at him. He just had time to open his arms to her. ‘Oh, Peter, Peter! Where have you been?’

  He hugged her but she did not find the comfort she had once felt in his embrace. ‘All in good time. I’ve a lot to tell you.’ He eased her away from him.

  Marcia looked askance at her husband.

  ‘Saw him riding up the carriage way,’ Charles explained. ‘You’d have thought the devil was after him.’

  ‘We’ve been so worried,’ put in Greta, ‘and are so glad to have you safely back, Peter.’

  ‘I’m pleased to be here.’

  ‘Where have you been?’ Lena repeated.

  He gave a wan smile. ‘I’d like to get out of these clothes, if I may? I’ve had a long ride.’

  ‘Of course,’ said Charles. ‘I’ll take you to your room.’

  ‘I’ll come wit
h you,’ offered Lena.

  ‘No,’ replied her husband. ‘What I have to say, I want to say to you all.’

  Disappointment flooded through her. Seeing it, Marcia said the first thing that came into her head. ‘By the time you’ve changed, Peter, tea will be waiting for you.’ Her remark seemed to take the sting out of the situation and put their eagerness to hear what he had to say in perspective.

  ‘Thank you,’ he said, and hurried to the door with Charles.

  ‘He didn’t want to be with me,’ cried Lena, tears of hurt and desperation filling her eyes as she turned to Greta.

  ‘You’re reading him wrong,’ she said, springing to her cousin’s defence. ‘He said he has had a long ride; he just didn’t want to get into an explanation of what he has been doing until he felt more refreshed.’

  ‘I believe he’s decided he’s had enough of me.’

  ‘Don’t talk like that,’ snapped Greta.

  ‘But I destroyed his firm. Peter’s lost everything, and I am the cause. He can’t possibly want me any longer.’

  ‘If that had been the case, he wouldn’t have asked me to bring you here and instructed us to await his return.’

  Lena gave a slight shrug of her shoulders as if she wanted to believe Greta but couldn’t bring herself to do so. She paced the room, ignoring Greta’s instructions to sit down and relax. She gave way a little when Marcia returned but could not contain herself until Charles arrived with Peter a few minutes later. Lena looked expectantly at her husband but he raised a hand to stem any questions. At that point tea appeared. As soon as it was served and the maids had gone, Lena could hold back no longer. Her eyes fixed hard on him, revealing her keen disappointment that he had not come to sit beside her.

  ‘Peter, what have you to tell us?’ she demanded.

  He met her gaze without revealing anything. ‘There is much to tell and it concerns all of you. Since I left here, I have made several visits to Hull.’

  ‘Hull? But wasn’t that dangerous?’she asked.

  ‘It was. Families don’t take kindly to losing loved ones, especially under such circumstances.’