by Anna King
Running his hand over his face he said tiredly, ‘All right, Amy, you’ve made your feelings quite clear, so I’ll come straight to the point. For a start I’m not married and never have been. That woman you saw me with was someone I knew many years ago. I’m not going to bore you with all the sordid details, but the crux of the matter is, she’s left me with a child she claims is mine. To be perfectly truthful, I don’t know if he is or not, but that’s beside the point. Since Heather dumped him at my door, the poor little sod hasn’t stopped crying for his mother. He’s hardly eaten a thing since he arrived and he won’t let either me or Bessie near him. Even the sight of us sends him into a state of hysteria. I’ve had the doctor in to him but there’s nothing he can do. The best advice he could offer was to find the boy’s mother… Huh!’ A snort of tired derision escaped Jimmy’s tight lips. ‘As if I haven’t tried. She said she’d be back before Christmas, I truly hope so, for the child’s sake, because if she doesn’t, then by the time she does show her face, it might be too late for the boy. When she does decide to come back, she’ll be wanting money. She sees the child as a bargaining stick, and God blast her to hell, she’s got the upper hand over me. When she does finally reappear I’ll give her anything she wants, I don’t have any other choice. In the meantime I still have the child to contend with; and that’s why I’ve come round.’
He stopped to wet his lips, hoping Amy would speak, but she remained steadfastly mute. Running his hand distractedly through his thick hair, Jimmy continued, ‘I was hoping you might come and try and talk to him. You’ve a way with people that’s very rare. If the child doesn’t take to you, then he won’t take to anyone. Please, Amy, I’m begging you.
You’re my last chance. I’m truly afraid the child will die if he carries on the way he is. Whatever his mother’s done, he shouldn’t have to suffer. Will you come?… Please, Amy. I don’t know what else to do. I’m at my wits’ end.’
Amy had listened silently to Jimmy’s story. If he had just come to try and talk her into letting him see Becky she would have remained firm. But this was different. The thought of a small child wasting away, terrified at being abandoned with strangers, tugged at her tender heart. Her body relaxing for the first time since Jimmy had entered the house, Amy murmured, ‘All right, Jimmy, I’ll try. But not to salve your conscience. I’m only agreeing to do what I can for the child’s sake.’
Letting out a loud sigh of relief Jimmy said gratefully, ‘Thanks, Amy. You don’t know how much this means to me. I’ll wait while you get your coat.’
‘Just a minute,’ Amy shot back angrily, her hackles raised once again. ‘In case you’ve forgotten, Becky’s ill in bed. I can’t just walk out and leave her. Then there’s my aunt to consider, she can’t be left either. Or are you so wrapped up in your own problems you can’t think of anyone else but yourself?’
Jimmy’s head snapped back, his face reddening, his anger now matching Amy’s. ‘Of course I haven’t forgotten. If you’d given me a minute, I was going to suggest asking your neighbour in while we were out. Furthermore, I fully intend to send Charlie to fetch Dr Barker to attend Becky as soon as he’s dropped us off home… By the way, what did your doctor say was wrong with Becky?’
The anger seeping from Amy’s face, her gaze dropped to the floor. ‘I haven’t had the doctor in. Becky said not to and that she’d be fine after a good rest. She’s only got a cold. Besides… I’ve had to have time off work to look after Becky and Auntie Maude, and… and the truth of it is, we… well, we just can’t afford to pay for a doctor.’
‘Can’t afford to pay for a doctor’s visit?’ Jimmy’s voice rose incredulously. ‘What are you saying, girl? Even if you’ve lost a couple of days’ wages – and I’ll soon sort that out – I pay Phil good money, and send half his wages through the post to Becky each week. So unless you require the services of a brain surgeon, you should have ample money to pay for…’ Jimmy halted in his tirade as he saw the startled look spring to Amy’s eyes.
In that moment the truth was clear. Neither girl had seen a penny of the money he had been sending to this address since Phil had begun working for him. Somehow, the devious bastard had managed to waylay the postman and pocket the money intended for Becky’s use. A red mist descended over Jimmy’s eyes. Through gritted teeth he ground out, ‘Where is he? Where’s that thieving, conniving brother of yours? By God he’s got some explaining to do. That’s if I don’t wring his miserable neck first.’
Her hand clutching at her throat, her mind in turmoil, Amy whispered, ‘He left for work just before you arrived, he…’ Her voice broke. Oh, he wouldn’t. Phil wouldn’t do that to them. He’d been so good lately. There had only been one week when he hadn’t been able to give Becky her full housekeeping money, but he’d made it up to her the following week, giving Becky an extra ten shillings. Yet if what Jimmy was saying was true, then Phil had been stealing from them every week since he’d started working for Jimmy.
A wave of dizziness swept over Amy. Sinking down onto the bottom stair, she buried her face in her hands. She didn’t want to believe what Jimmy had said, but why would he lie? Deep down, Amy knew he was telling the truth; she also admitted to herself for the first time that her brother was not only an inveterate gambler, but now it seemed he had stooped to the level of a common thief. Even knowing how ill Becky was, he still hadn’t offered to pay for the doctor to call, protesting that he didn’t have the money to spare. And all the time he was gambling his wages away while his own sister lay ill upstairs. The very thought made Amy sick to her stomach. She thought back down the years to the times when Becky would have a go at Phil for coming home empty-handed, knowing there was barely any food in the house and the rent to be paid to Uncle Richard. Her uncle would have forgone the rent money if Becky had told him they were in difficulties, but her elder sister would rather have gone on the streets than be beholden to Richard; and Phil knew it. During all those unpleasant times, Amy had always stood up for Phil, begging Becky not to be so hard on him. But no more!
When she finally lifted her head, Jimmy’s heart lurched in pity at the devastating effect the news he’d imparted had had on her. In those few, awful moments, Amy seemed to have aged. The open, trusting eyes Jimmy had come to admire and hold in deep affection were now dimmed in sorrow.
In a dignified voice Amy said softly, ‘I’ll go and tell Becky what’s happened; about the child I mean,’ she added hastily. There was no way she could tell Becky what Phil had done, not in her present state. ‘Could you go next door and ask Mrs Gates to come in? I’m afraid I don’t have the sixpence we normally give her, but unlike my sister I’m not too proud to ask if you’ll pay her.’
Unable to look into the stricken face any longer, Jimmy turned away, his insides churning with a mixture of rage at Phil and a sadness that Amy had appeared to have lost some of her childlike innocence. She had been blessed with a rare quality that Jimmy had never encountered before. He only hoped that special gift hadn’t been destroyed for ever.
*
Lying among sweat-drenched sheets, Rebecca stirred at the sound of loud voices coming from below. Through her fevered brain she dimly registered Jimmy’s voice, but was too ill to wonder at the significance of his visit. Then all went quiet. Tossing fitfully, Rebecca wondered what was wrong with her. Apart from the odd cold, and her monthly pains, she’d never had a day’s illness in her life, until a week ago. But what had started as a mild cold had quickly developed into a raging fever, leaving her as weak as a new-born kitten. When she had no longer been able to fight off the illness that was racking every bone in her body, she had taken herself off to bed, thinking that a good, long sleep would soon have her back on her feet again. That day had turned into three, and if anything she felt worse now than she had at the first onset of what she had assumed was merely a common cold.
Minutes later Rebecca heard her door open and Ada Gates’s timid voice call her name, but she hadn’t the strength or will to answer. Before the door closed, R
ebecca had already fallen back into a deep, feverish sleep.
Chapter Fifteen
True to his word, Jimmy sent Charlie off the moment they alighted from the carriage, with strict instructions not to return until he’d located Dr Barker and taken him to attend Becky, after which he was to come back immediately to inform Jimmy and Amy of Becky’s condition.
Jimmy had barely ushered Amy into the house when an almighty din greeted them. ‘What in tarnation is going on?’ Jimmy exclaimed before striding towards the sounds of the disturbance that was coming from the kitchen, with Amy following warily behind. The sight that greeted them stopped them in their tracks.
There was Bessie, bundled up in her dressing gown, her grey hair falling in scraggly strands around her face and shoulders, and huddled up in the farthest corner of the spacious kitchen stood a shaking, crying Cissie. Beside the distraught girl stood a man who was vaguely familiar to Jimmy, his face crimson at being caught up in the catfight between the two women and looking as if he was about to make a bolt for the door at any moment.
‘What the bloody hell’s going on here? I’ve been gone less than an hour and come back to a bloody battlefield.’
Bessie spun around, her skinny arms wrapping the dressing gown tighter around her quivering body.
‘I’ll tell yer what’s going on, mate. I come down ter make meself a cuppa and what do I find, eh?’ Pointing a shaking finger at the terrified girl, she screeched, ‘That little trollop canoodling with the bleeding butcher. All over each other they were, like a bleeding couple of dogs. Another minute an’ they’d ’ave been ’aving it off on the floor… On my floor. The dirty little hussy, an’ with him an’ all. Why, he’s old enough ter be her father. And you, yer randy bugger…’ She advanced on the wide-eyed man, her finger wagging accusingly in his startled face. ‘Yer should be ashamed of yerself. Mucking about with a girl half yer age, an’ yer poor wife hardly cold in her grave. But then that’s men fer yer. Get their leg over a dead cat if there was nothing else available.’
Jimmy stood dumbfounded, unable to believe the scene being played out before his eyes, while Amy, cringing with embarrassment, silently backed from the room. She had hardly stepped back into the hallway when Jimmy’s voice, sounding like the wrath of God, thundered, ‘I couldn’t give a damn if they were having it off on the bleeding table, as long as they gave it a good scrub down afterwards. Now get yourself back to bed where I left you, Bessie, or by God, I’ll…’
‘You’ll what, Jimmy, lad?’ Bessie glared at him defiantly. ‘Yer gonna sack me if I don’t do as I’m told. Well, yer won’t ’ave to. ’Cos if that little baggage ain’t outta this house by the time I’m dressed, then I’m off.’ Her voice suddenly wavering, Bessie said, ‘I’ve ’ad enough, Jimmy. What with the boy and worrying what’s going on, with that loose piece prying into every room in the ’ouse, I can’t take any more. It don’t seem like it’s me ’ome any more… an’… an’ I’m tired, lad. I’m so tired.’
His anger evaporating in the face of Bessie’s distress, Jimmy gently put his arms around her trembling shoulders and turned her around, leading her out to where Amy was nervously waiting outside the door.
‘Look after her for a minute, Amy, love, will you, while I try and sort this mess out.’ Running his hand distractedly through his hair, he gave Amy a wry smile. ‘Lord, what a day, and it’s not even ten o’clock yet.’
‘It’s all right, Jimmy, I’ll see Bessie gets back to bed and rests before I go and see the child.’
Flashing Amy a grateful look, Jimmy returned to the kitchen.
‘I must apologise for my housekeeper,’ he directed his remark to the still snivelling Cissie. ‘She’s been under a lot of strain lately. It was nothing personal against you, Cissie. Bessie has always run this house without any assistance, despite my repeated offers to hire help. To her way of thinking, having you here makes her feel useless, and to a proud woman like Bessie, that’s a bitter pill to swallow.’
Wiping the free-falling tears from her reddened eyes, Cissie sniffed loudly. ‘We wasn’t doing anything, sir. Just ’avin’ a bit of a laugh and muckin’ about. Then I told Cedric about how worried I was about me position here being only temporary like, an’ he was just giving me a bit of a cuddle ter cheer me up when that old… I mean, Mrs Wilks came in and started shoutin’ and swearin’ at us… Ooh, an’ she said some terrible, nasty things, sir. An’ like I said, we weren’t even doing anything wrong.’
Jimmy was at a loss as to what to do for the best. He desperately needed help in the house, unless he was prepared to learn how to run a home, do the housework, cook the meals, run his business, and look after a fractious child. And as dexterous as he was, he was still a man, and men didn’t run households, that was women’s work. But after this little fracas today, there was no way Bessie and Cissie could remain under the same roof without murder being done. Sighing deeply, Jimmy took out his wallet. Extracting a five-pound note he laid it on the table.
‘I’m sorry, Cissie, but I’m going to have to let you go. I realise it’s unfair, and I know it might be a while before you find another position, but this compensation money should keep you going until you find work.’
Cissie’s eyes lit up greedily at the sight of the crisp, white note lying on the table. That was more than two months’ wages to her. She’d be able to have at least a month off before she started looking for another position. Careful to hide her glee, Cissie picked up the note and said timidly. ‘Thank you, sir, you’ve been very kind. I was worried sick I’d be thrown out on the streets if I didn’t find work straight away. Me landlord’s a right old skinflint. Now I can take me time lookin’ fer another job without worryin’ about being homeless, especially out in weather like this.’
Jimmy held up his hand to stop the flow of gratitude, impatient now to have the sordid, embarrassing business over and done with. ‘It’s no more than you’re entitled to, Cissie. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to see how Mrs Wilks is… Oh, and if you need a reference, please feel free to come to me, I’ll be more than happy to oblige. It would be the least I could do in the circumstances.’
*
When the tall, impressive figure had gone, Cedric Smith let out a gust of relieved breath.
‘Bleedin’ hell, Cissie, girl, you’ve done well out of this business. Five pounds, phew! I bet you think it was worth all the unpleasantness now, don’t yer. I know I would, if I’d just been given a fiver fer being called a few names, even if it was a bit nasty at the time.’
Cissie was thinking along the same lines. Never in a hundred years would she have expected such a generous offer from the master, but being the greedy girl she was, her mind was busily trying to find a way to cash in further on her unpleasant experience. Her face doleful, she uttered a soft sigh.
‘I know, it was very good of Mr Jackson to give me such a large amount of money, especially as he didn’t ’ave to. But I still ’ave to find another job, and somewhere else to live. I had been hoping I might be offered a live-in position, ’cos to be honest, Cedric, I hate that place where I live. The landlord’s always making a pass at me, he’s a horrible old man, and all the rooms are crawling with cockroaches. I try and keep mine clean, but the whole house is so old and run down, it’s impossible. I even saw a rat the other night. It frightened the life outta me, I hate the bloody things. To make matters worse, I don’t even have a lock on me door. I’m afraid to close me eyes most nights in case I wake up and find the landlord in me room with his dirty hands all over me. I know I can afford ter get a better place now, but I don’t want ter spend the money Mr Jackson gave me until I can get set on in another post. I mean, five pounds is a lot of money, but it won’t last for ever.’ Giving vent to another sorrowful sigh, Cissie added wistfully, ‘I suppose I’ll just ’ave to put up with where I’m living until I get another job.’
Cissie Banks made a pathetic, forlorn picture, and Cedric Smith, his kind heart going out in pity for the girl’s obvious distress, thought
furiously, a germ of an idea entering his mind.
Clearing his throat loudly, he felt the colour rise in his face as he said hesitantly, ‘Now look, Cissie, don’t take this the wrong way, but… but, well, like you know, since me wife died I’ve been living alone.
Now, it’s not a big house like this one, but there’s plenty of empty rooms lying idle.’ The colour in his face deepened as Cissie stared at him wide-eyed, her expression a picture of fearful apprehension. ‘Now hang on, Cissie, love, it’s not what yer think. All I’m suggesting is that if yer want ter come and stay with me… in your own room, of course, then you’re more than welcome… Just till yer find another job and a decent place ter live.’
When the tears began to well up in Cissie’s eyes once more, a look of alarm crossed the anxious butcher’s face. For one awful moment he was afraid she was going to start howling again, then she fluttered her eyes and laid a warm hand on his arm.
‘Oh, Cedric, you’re so kind. I don’t deserve a friend like you. I was dreading going back ter me lodgings early. It’s bad enough ’aving ter live there at night, without spending the day there as well.’
The big man’s features lit up in delight. ‘Then you’ll come and stay with me?… Just temporary, of course, until you’re more settled,’ he amended hastily. ‘And I’ll even put a lock on your door so you can sleep easy,’ he laughed heartily at his own wit.
Ten minutes later Cissie was ready to leave, but not until she’d put several items of silver cutlery into her bag. As she closed the door for the last time she looked upwards and grinned. ‘You’ve just done me the biggest favour of me life, yer old bat. I only wish I could tell yer so an’ see the look on that sour, wrinkled face of yours, but I’d better not push me luck.’