by Anna King
‘Oh, no, it’s fine, really,’ Rebecca protested lamely, but Jimmy had already gone to the bar. Feeling miserable and unbearably stupid, Rebecca gazed around the small room, thinking as she did so that the place was beginning to grow on her. Everyone seemed so happy and at ease and here she was with a face as long as a wet weekend in August. Taking a deep breath she picked up her drink and was about to brace herself for another sip when it was taken from her hand. Startled she glanced up into Charlie’s face.
‘Give it ’ere, girl, I ain’t fussy what I drink.’ With one single gulp the glass was miraculously empty. Rebecca could only marvel at the young man’s digestive system and silently thanked him for his sensitivity and kindness in coming to her aid. When Jimmy reappeared with a glass of lemonade and two pints of ale, his eyes immediately went to the empty glass, then lifted suspiciously to his employee, but Charlie was engrossed in conversation with the captivated Amy, seemingly unaware of his governor’s presence.
Nodding towards the empty glass, Jimmy commented wryly, ‘I see you’ve finished your drink, and in one go by the look of it. How on earth did you manage that – unless you had some help!’
Rebecca shrugged, then said airily, ‘Oh, it’s not too bad once you get the hang of it. I quite enjoyed it actually.’
Jimmy grinned mischievously. ‘In that case, I’ll get you another.’
Immediately Rebecca amended hastily, ‘No!… I mean, no thank you. I’ve had enough, really, and besides, I don’t want to arrive home drunk. Now that would give Maude something to moan about. I’d never hear the end of it.’
Hitching his chair nearer, Jimmy paused for a moment, then asked quietly, ‘Tell me about yourself, Rebecca.’
And much to Rebecca’s surprise she did just that. Normally reticent about her personal life, Rebecca found herself telling this man her life story. Because of the noise surrounding them it was necessary to move closer together, or shout her business to all and sundry. When she had finished, their faces were almost touching and somehow her thigh was now resting comfortably against Jimmy’s. Throughout her sheltered life, Rebecca had never been in such close proximity with a man before, or so intimate, and the heady feeling that was coursing through her body was equivalent to the way she would have felt if she had indeed drank all that gin.
‘You mean to tell me that you have to look after Maude day and night without recompense; and pay rent into the bargain? That’s bloody scandalous, especially as the house is owned by that fat bastard… Sorry!’ Jimmy smiled sheepishly as Rebecca flinched at the sound of the word that so aptly described the odious Richard Fisher. Spreading his hands wide, Jimmy added, ‘You see now what Bessie meant when she said how I reverted to type when I’m angry, but I’m not apologising for that. People take me as they find me, I don’t pretend to be anything other than what I am.’ Taking hold of the slender fingers, Jimmy ignored the warning voices in his head and asked, ‘And how do you find me, Rebecca Bradford? Villain or hero?’ Leaning even closer, he smiled tenderly. ‘Or hopefully a bit of both.’
The touch of his hand, and the warmth of his breath that smelt pleasantly of ale was intoxicating, making Rebecca doubly glad she hadn’t drank the remainder of her gin, else she’d be falling at this man’s feet by now. Then, out of nowhere, her mind conjured up a picture of Maude, and with the unpleasant thought Rebecca was reminded sharply of her obligations at home. Reluctant to break the enchanting spell that was gripping her, yet unable to ignore the fact that she was needed elsewhere, Rebecca drew her hand away from the warm, comforting grasp. As she relinquished contact with Jimmy’s touch, the public house suddenly jumped back into focus. For a short while Rebecca had felt as if she and Jimmy were the only people in the room, now the loud talk and high-pitched laughter once again filled the smoky atmosphere.
Smiling shyly she murmured, ‘I think you’re a very kind man… despite your occupation.’ The lines of her mouth turned up impishly. ‘And I’ll always be grateful for what you’ve done for Amy and me, but now I’m afraid I’ll have to get back home. Like it or not, I can’t leave Maude with Mrs Gates any longer.’ Her eyes sparkling with laughter, she added, ‘I like Ada too much to subject her to that ordeal for any longer than necessary.’ Pushing back her chair, Rebecca rose to her feet and called to Amy that they had to go. The young girl looked at her sister in dismay.
‘Oh, Becky, must we? I’m having such a nice time, can’t we stay a bit longer, please?’
Gathering up her bag and gloves, Rebecca replied firmly, ‘I’m sorry, love. I don’t want to go either, but we have to get back home. Mrs Gates and Maude will be worrying about us.’
At the mention of the woman Amy called aunt, the young girl sighed, but she didn’t offer any further argument. Like Rebecca, Amy had been transported into a different world this past hour, but now it was time to go back to the real one.
The journey home in Jimmy’s carriage was a much pleasanter one than the original. This time the three people aboard chattered and laughed like old friends, and when Charlie shouted down cheerfully, ‘’Ere we are, girls, ’ome sweet ’ome,’ Amy’s face fell and Rebecca’s stomach tightened as she realised that her time with the engaging Jimmy Jackson was now over.
As Charlie helped her down from the cab, Rebecca bravely pasted a watery smile to her lips as she thanked him, while inside, the knowledge that she would probably never see Jimmy again was creating a sensation of disappointment so keen it was physically painful. She put her hand to her stomach absentmindedly, a gesture that was not lost on the watching Jimmy.
Are you all right, Rebecca?’ he asked in concern, fearing the unaccustomed gin had upset the young woman’s system.
Aware she was holding her stomach, Rebecca quickly removed her hand saying brightly, ‘Yes, just hungry that’s all. I haven’t had anything to eat since last night. I was too nervous to have any breakfast.’
Jimmy leant forward to say his goodbyes. Apart from the court hearing, the day had turned out very pleasurable, much better than he had anticipated. But all good things… as the saying went. There really was no point in continuing the short acquaintance any further. His mind formed the words, ‘Goodbye, ladies, it was nice meeting you.’ Instead, when he opened his mouth to speak he heard himself saying, ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t think, or I would have taken you both for a meal.’ Now that he thought of it, he was suddenly reminded of how hungry he himself was. With the thought of food came the image of Fontaines, a French restaurant in the West End he frequented on special occasions.
As the notion entered his mind, he dismissed it hurriedly. Oh, no! He wasn’t going down that road. Besides, it wouldn’t be fair on Rebecca to let her think he was interested in her. Even if he was, nothing could ever come of it, and she was too decent a person to toy with. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to take both girls out for a meal nearby, just to sort of round off the day. After that he would bid them goodbye, and that would be an end to it. Leaning further out of the carriage window, he said, ‘If you can get someone to stay with Maude, maybe you’d let me make amends and take you both out to dinner tonight. Nothing fancy, just a bite to eat at a restaurant round here.’
Rebecca stood stock still on the cold pavement, a ripple of excitement gripping her body. She should say no, she really should. A man like Jimmy Jackson was out of her league. She wasn’t so naive as not to know the type of women a man like Jimmy normally cavorted with, but Amy would be with them, and it would be lovely to be taken out to a restaurant. It would also be very selfish of her to deny Amy the unexpected treat. Hypocrite! her inner voice shouted back at her. Swallowing hard, and conscious of Amy’s imploring look, Rebecca answered, ‘Thank you, Jimmy, that would be lovely.’
As Charlie clambered up into the driver’s seat, Jimmy called out, ‘I’ll call around eight.’
*
After waving off the carriage, the two girls walked sedately into the house. Once inside, however, Amy let out a squeal of joy. ‘He’s taking us out to dinner, Becky, and to a
restaurant… Ooh, Becky, isn’t it wonderful?’ Jumping around the room, Amy continued to chatter away happily, and Rebecca, for once, didn’t try to dampen her younger sister’s mood. How could she, when she herself felt fit to burst?
‘There you both are. I was beginning to think Jimmy had kidnapped the pair of you and sold you into slavery.’ Phil appeared at the bottom of the stairs. ‘I sent Ada off over an hour ago, and that one upstairs is nearly out of her mind with curiosity.’
Rebecca looked at her brother suspiciously. It wasn’t like Phil to be so amenable when he had been left with Maude.
‘We’ve been to a pub, Phil, and Jimmy’s taking Becky and me out…’ Amy, her face aglow, was holding onto Phil’s arm.
Before she could say anything else, Rebecca quickly cut in saying, ‘Go up to Maude, please, Amy, there’s a love. Tell her I’ll be up to see her in a minute.’
Amy seemed to fly up the stairs, her excited voice heard long after she disappeared from view.
Phil followed Rebecca into the kitchen, his countenance and demeanour maintaining a happy front. Bracing herself for the inquisition that was sure to start at any moment, Rebecca put the kettle on the hob then turned to face her brother.
‘All right, Phil, let’s get it over with. I’m sorry I was so long, but I’ve as much right to stay out now and then as you have… No! Hang on, I’m not sorry at all. It’s about time you took some responsibility for Maude and—’
Phil stepped back a pace, his hands held high. ‘Whoa, just a minute, did I say anything? Well, did I?’
Rebecca studied him with suspicious eyes. ‘No, you didn’t, but you normally do. In fact you always moan if I stay out longer than an hour, and seeing as shopping is the only break I get away from this place, then I think I’m entitled to a bit of fun now and then.’
Lounging on the hard kitchen chair, Phil averted his eyes from Rebecca’s angry glare, his fingers reaching out to tap a nervous tattoo on the wooden table.
‘You’re right, Becks. I have been a selfish sod, but things are going to change, I promise.’
Rebecca turned away, sighing heavily.
‘I’ve heard that one before, Phil. If I had a sovereign for every time you’ve said that, I’d be a millionairess by now.’
Jumping out of his chair, Phil, his voice bearing an element of desperation, appealed to the stiff back. ‘It’s different this time, Becks. I’ve already told Richard to stuff his job… I’ve had a better offer.’
Rebecca whirled around, her eyes wary. Phil saw the look of disbelief and smiled. Strutting around the table he stuffed both hands into his pockets and said airily, ‘As from Monday, I’m going to work for Jimmy Jackson, so what d’yer think of that, eh?’ He was about to add that Jimmy would be making sure half his wages went directly to Rebecca, but decided against it. He was feeling immeasurably proud of himself at this minute, and to inform his sister that his wages were going to be docked in her favour would somehow take away his feeling of importance.
‘When did this happen?’ Rebecca had left the stove and was now gripping the edges of the table.
‘Oh, when Jimmy came back from seeing you and Amy into his cab. We had a bit of a talk, and he offered me a job.’ He broke off and chuckled. ‘You should have seen Richard’s face, Becks. I thought he was going to have a heart attack.’ His mind carefully skirting over the true account of the heated conversation, Phil continued, ‘Anyway, I start Monday. I don’t know what I’ll be doing yet, but anything’s got to be better than working for Richard… By the way, did I hear Amy say Jimmy’s taking you both out tonight?’
Rebecca returned to the stove and lifted the boiling kettle from the hob. Then, adopting her brother’s attitude, she replied casually, ‘That’s right, but only if I can get Mrs Gates to look after Maude.’
Strutting around the small room, Phil waved his hands loftily. ‘Don’t worry about Maude. I’ll stay in tonight and keep her company. You and Amy go out and enjoy yourselves.’
Rebecca could only shake her head in bemusement at the sudden turn of events; not least the change in Phil. But how long would that last? And what about Richard? He wasn’t going to be too pleased at having one of his employees snatched out from under his nose.
‘Things are beginning to look up, aren’t they, Becks?’ Phil was hovering by her side, his sombre gaze, like that of a small child, seeming to beg for reassurance. And Rebecca, feeling a rare sense of affection towards her brother, reached out and patted his hand.
‘Yes, it certainly looks like it, Phil.’ After all, Rebecca mused silently, considering their present position, things could hardly get worse.
Chapter Ten
The Black Hat restaurant was situated in a quiet street off the busy thoroughfare of Bow. Although not up to West End standards, the small, family-run restaurant nevertheless attracted a more affluent class of customer than those of its contemporaries. Yet to Rebecca and Amy, who had never been anywhere posher than the local Lyons tea house, it seemed as if they had walked into Heaven; and the difference to the pub they had frequented earlier that day was markedly apparent.
Surrounded by women dressed in expensive clothing and men attired in morning dress, Rebecca sent up a fervent prayer of thanks that she had been blessed with the art of needlework, for without her skills, she and Amy would have looked sorely out of place amongst such finery. Displaying the air of someone who was used to being in such a place, Rebecca cast a covert eye at her sister. Amy was wearing a lilac two-piece, the bodice of which was adorned with tiny pearl buttons. At Rebecca’s insistence, Amy had fashioned her long hair into a neat bun, the effect of which had added a look of maturity to the heart-shaped face. Rebecca had chosen a dark green outfit she had only recently finished, wondering at the time if she would ever get the chance to wear it. Staring at the starched, white lace tablecloth, she reflected wryly that it was just as well this would probably be their last excursion into the outside world, for she and Amy had only two decent outfits each; and they had already worn the other ones to attend the Old Bailey hearing.
The table they had been allocated was for four people. Rebecca and Amy had been seated opposite each other, with Jimmy and a spruce-looking Charlie, wearing one of Jimmy’s old suits, on either side. Unlike the atmosphere of the pub, the restaurant was filled with the muted sounds of conversation and the tinkling of cutlery against china and glass. The choice of menu had been left to Jimmy, who had ordered roast beef dinners for them all. Conscious of her table manners, Rebecca had deftly managed the various items of cutlery without any difficulty, as had Amy. Both girls had been taught the etiquette of eating at an early age by their late mother, and although it was an art they hadn’t had to practise for many years, the early training had not been forgotten.
Their meal was delicious, and was enlivened by pleasant conversation. The four people finally laid down their spoons after finishing their dessert of chocolate gateau and cream.
‘Cor, that was ’andsome. Thanks, Guv’nor.’ Charlie gave a sigh of appreciation while patting his flat stomach, well aware of the disapproving glances that met his exuberant statement. Jimmy smiled at his young employee and shook his head in silent amusement. Trust Charlie to bring the tone of the evening down. He’d better be sure never to take the uncompromising young man anywhere up West. Yet Jimmy wasn’t put out by Charlie’s behaviour, for he too treated all people alike. Be they king or commoner, men such as Jimmy and Charlie would always be themselves; there wasn’t a fawning or ingratiating bone in either of them, which was why Jimmy liked Charlie so much – he reminded him of himself when younger. Yet there was only nine years between the two men, though sometimes Jimmy felt old enough to be Charlie’s father.
Taking hold of a bottle of champagne from a silver ice bucket, Jimmy winked at Rebecca, saying, ‘I think this will be more to your liking.’
Taking a tentative sip, Rebecca relaxed. This was lovely, much better than that awful gin.
‘Oh, yes. This is much better. In fa
ct I could get quite used to it.’ Given half the chance, she added silently.
‘Could I have some, Becky?’ Amy was looking longingly at the sparkling wine. ‘Please! Just a little taste.’
Rebecca smiled fondly. ‘All right, but just a drop. You’ve got work tomorrow, don’t forget. I don’t want to have to drag you out of bed with a sore head.’
Aware of her surroundings, Amy managed to contain her excitement as Jimmy poured a small helping of the champagne into her glass. But as she lifted it, and the bubbles of the champagne tickled her nose, Amy couldn’t suppress a giggle.
‘Ooh, that went right up my nose,’ she squealed with delight, her words and laughter drawing more attention to their table.
Biting her lip, Rebecca lowered her eyes. No wonder Amy and Charlie got on so well, they made a right pair. And who do you think you are? her inner voice mocked. The Queen of Sheba? Then Amy spoke again, and this time her words brought Rebecca’s head snapping back in fright.