Luck Be a Lady

by Anna King

  He had a son – and nobody, least of all that heartless bitch Heather Mills, who was a disgrace to all decent, loving mothers, was going to take his child away from him.

  His face grim and determined, Jimmy began to make plans.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Rebecca couldn’t sleep, which wasn’t surprising since she had slept most of the day, as she had done most days since the onslaught of the influenza that had rendered her as weak as a new-born baby. Now she was feeling a good deal better, but wide awake. Staring into the gloomy room, lit only by a low burning gas lamp, Rebecca impatiently drummed the bedcovers with her fingers while trying to ignore the need to visit the bathroom. Lying flat on her back, she tried to decide which was most urgent: the need to use the toilet, or the craving for a cup of tea.

  Leaning up on her elbow, she looked to the bottom of her bed, and there was the nurse, fast asleep, her mouth hanging open, seemingly dead to the world. But Rebecca knew from experience that the slightest move on her part would instantly awaken the middle-aged woman, and Rebecca didn’t have the heart to disturb her. The poor woman was exhausted, not from looking after the patient she had been hired to nurse back to health, but from running around after that truculent, whining old battleaxe across the landing. Sighing, Rebecca lay back down and tried to ignore her bodily needs, but it was no use. Hardly daring to breathe, she moved the bedclothes off of her and gingerly swung her legs over the side of the bed. As her bare feet touched the icy linoleum she shivered involuntarily then grimaced, fearful that the nurse would sense her movement and wake up, but the exhausted woman slept on.

  Looking over to where Amy lay in the single bed adjacent to hers, Rebecca saw that her sister, like the nurse, was in a deep sleep. Carefully picking up her dressing gown from the bottom of the bed, Rebecca crept out onto the landing, her silent progress halted abruptly as she heard the chain flush in the bathroom. Her heart beating fast, Rebecca retreated back into the open doorway of her room. The only person who could be up and about in the middle of the night was Phil, and she had no desire to come face to face with her brother. The resentment she harboured towards him regarding his underhand, deceitful actions was still fresh in her mind, as was the overwhelming sense of betrayal at the knowledge that he could have stooped so low in order to feed his gambling habit. Rebecca knew she would have to face him sooner or later, but that ordeal would have to wait until she was completely well. Even then she wasn’t looking forward to the confrontation. Conscious of the rapid beating of her heart, she waited, then, as the bathroom door opened, her jaw dropped in shocked astonishment. For it wasn’t Phil who emerged from the bathroom, but Maude. Stunned beyond belief, Rebecca watched as her cousin scurried across the landing and into her room, the agile figure bearing no resemblance to the invalid creature who professed to be incapable of managing more than a few steps, and that feat possible only when assisted.

  Rebecca’s shock soon turned to anger, and that initial anger gradually developed into a slow, burning resentment towards her elderly cousin. Slowly descending the stairs, Rebecca made her way to the kitchen, her mind so preoccupied she no longer noticed the bitter cold that pervaded the house. While waiting for the kettle to boil, she sat down heavily on the hard kitchen chair, her thoughts whirling as she recalled the scene she had just witnessed. Then she thought back over the years and the times she’d had to change Maude’s disgusting, fouled sheets and then wash down the obese, disagreeable woman. And the years of fetching and carrying she’d been subjected to. And the more she recalled those wasted years, the angrier she became, until it took all of her willpower not to go back upstairs and physically pummel the hateful old cow until she screamed for mercy. This idea was immensely satisfying, though her common sense told her that in her weakened condition she was in no fit state to swat a fly. But she was well on the way to recovery, and once her body was restored to full strength she would be out of here. The days of her being a skivvy were over.

  The shrill whistle of the kettle brought her to her feet, her eyes darting upwards, fearful that the sound would wake the nurse, but the house remained silent. After her second cup of tea she gradually began to calm down. She was still angry with the way she had been taken for a mug all these years, but grateful she had discovered the truth while she was still young enough to make a new life for herself and Amy.

  Suddenly she shivered as the coldness of the room seeped into her body, and with a reluctant shrug of her shoulders she made her way back to her bedroom. After visiting the bathroom Rebecca paused on the landing; her baleful eyes directed at Maude’s room, she felt her anger returning. She had always guessed that Maude was capable of doing a lot more for herself than she made out, but never in her wildest imaginings had Rebecca envisaged just how active her cousin really was. But Maude’s comeuppance could wait a while longer. Now that Rebecca knew the truth she held the upper hand, and she was going to make good use of her newfound knowledge.

  Turning towards her bedroom, she stopped as she heard a strange sound coming from across the hall. Her curiosity getting the better of her, she resisted the temptation of the warmth and security of her bed a little longer and tiptoed silently along the carpeted landing. Outside Maude’s room Rebecca pressed her ear against the door, her forehead furrowing in confusion. Pressing her lips tightly shut to avoid any sound she might make inadvertently, she gently turned the handle and peeped inside. The sight that met her eyes caused her lips to spring apart, and it was only with a supreme effort that she prevented herself from crying out. For there, with her enormous back to her, was Maude, engrossed in counting a mountain of coins heaped high in the middle of the double bed.

  As Rebecca watched through the crack in the door, Maude gave a satisfactory grunt, before putting the money back into a long, flat box, then, dropping to her knees, she placed the heavy box into a hidden panel in the base of the bed before climbing back under the quilted bedspread. Stunned and shaken beyond belief, Rebecca gently closed the door. Her mind numb, she returned to her own room and quickly got into bed, but she didn’t sleep. Instead she let her mind wander down the years once more, but now she remembered the times she had gone hungry in order that Maude could enjoy nourishing meals; and all the time Maude had been lying on top of a virtual fortune.

  Rebecca was still awake when the dawn broke and the nurse finally awoke. Making a pretence of sleep, Rebecca lay motionless as the nurse bent over her still form. She remained in the same state when the alarm clock woke Amy, wanting and needing to be alone with her thoughts. The time wasn’t yet right to disclose Maude’s unforgivable deceptions, but soon – very soon, because the way Rebecca was feeling, she wouldn’t be able to keep quiet for long. Her eyes heavy, Rebecca fought to stay awake, then let sleep overtake her troubled thoughts. And when she slept, she had a tight smile on her lips, knowing that her days of servitude were numbered. But before she left this house she would tell that dirty, deceitful old cow exactly what she thought of her. That was one confrontation she was looking forward to.

  *

  A few miles away, Jimmy had also experienced the frustration of a sleepless night. Unlike Rebecca, however, Jimmy didn’t waste time lying in bed. At five o’clock he was up and dressed, his agile mind busily putting the final touches to his plans of the previous day.

  When he entered the living room he was momentarily taken aback by the icy coldness of the room. He hadn’t noticed the cold while he was getting washed, he’d been too busy thinking about the day ahead, and the imminent arrival of Heather. Now his thoughts were more in order, the freezing temperature hit him like an icy spray of water. Normally by the time he arose Bessie was already up and about and had the fire going. Rubbing his hands for warmth, Jimmy allowed himself a slow chuckle.

  ‘You’re getting soft, Jimmy lad,’ he admonished himself out loud as he set to the task of lighting the fire. The cold hearth had already been prepared by Bessie the night before and within minutes Jimmy had a blazing fire going. Pulling the armchair near
er the warmth, Jimmy again went over what he planned to do when Heather arrived – if she arrived! Knowing that his former lover’s only real love in life was money, Jimmy was prepared to offer her whatever she requested in exchange for keeping James with him. In return Jimmy was determined to make Heather sign an agreement to the effect that once paid she would never bother him again. That stipulation was essential, for Heather would bleed him dry if presented with the opportunity. And as desperate as Jimmy was to keep his son, he was no fool. The only problem that Jimmy could see was the child himself. The poor lad would be devastated once he knew his mother had abandoned him for good, but Jimmy comforted himself with the knowledge that children were resilient, and with Amy and Bessie’s help he hoped it wouldn’t be too long before his son accepted Jimmy as his father, and acclimatised himself to his new life. And when he had finally got rid of Heather, he would be free to renew his acquaintance with Rebecca. As the image of her sweet face floated across his mind’s eye, Jimmy smiled tenderly. Knowing women as he did, he was confident that once he had made sure Rebecca knew his intentions were honourable, she would welcome him with open arms. Well! Maybe not with open arms, but Jimmy was sure she wouldn’t be averse to his calling on her.

  A loud growl from Jimmy’s stomach reminded him how hungry he was after lying awake most of the night. Glancing over at the grandfather clock, he saw it was just coming up to six o’clock, which meant that Bessie would be up quite soon. It also meant he didn’t have to stir himself to make his own breakfast. Settling himself more comfortably in the chair, Jimmy fixed his gaze on the far door, waiting for Bessie to appear. His lips curved into a smile as the door handle turned, then dropped in surprise when, instead of the grey-haired woman, James – his dark hair standing on end, and dressed in a white nightgown that reached his ankles – tentatively poked his head around the door.

  ‘Morning, Mister. Has… has my mum come yet?’

  His hunger forgotten, Jimmy felt a lump rise in his throat. Hot on the heels of the unfamiliar emotion came the sinking realisation that his earlier thoughts about keeping the child weren’t going to be as simple as he’d imagined.

  Clearing his throat to hide his awkwardness, Jimmy said kindly, ‘I shouldn’t think your mum’s even awake yet, mate, it’s only six o’clock. Still, now you’re up, you’d better come over here and get yourself warm. Come on, I won’t bite,’ he added self-consciously as the boy hesitated. Then the inviting sight of the roaring fire got the better of James’s wariness and slowly, his eyes flickering over the room, he came to stand by Jimmy’s chair.

  Seeing the shivering, tiny figure, Jimmy reached out and plucked the boy up into his arms, cuddling the cold form into his body, at the same time steeling himself for rejection. But none came. Instead the child nestled deeper into Jimmy’s strong arms, his tousled head resting comfortably against Jimmy’s broad chest. His body relaxing, Jimmy absently stroked the dark hair.

  ‘I expect you’re hungry, I know I am. Here, listen to that.’ Jimmy let out a roar of laughter as another loud growl rippled through his stomach.

  The boy lifted his head to look into Jimmy’s face, his childish lips crinkling into a shy smile. ‘My tummy does that when I’m hungry. It happened once when we were in a shop, and my mummy said I embarrassed her.’ James’s voice lost some of his merriment as he recalled the incident, then his face brightened. ‘But sure you can’t help it if your tummy makes a noise, can you, Mister?’

  Jimmy looked down into the large, beguiling eyes and smiled tenderly. ‘No, you can’t help it, mate.’ Holding the boy’s thin shoulders, Jimmy held him at arm’s length so he could see him better and asked quietly, ‘Have you often been hungry, James?’

  The boy swallowed nervously as he avoided Jimmy’s gaze. ‘Not very often, Mister, only since we had to leave Ireland, and sometimes when I haven’t got an uncle to look after me and Mummy. But I’ve got plenty of uncles, but… but they don’t stay with us for long…’ His low-pitched voice trailed off guiltily as if suddenly aware he had said too much, and in doing so was being disloyal to his mother.

  Guessing what was going through the boy’s mind, Jimmy hugged him tighter, mainly to keep the child warm, but most of all so that James couldn’t see the rage that was suffusing his face. He had already made up his mind to keep the child, but even if James wasn’t his son, Jimmy would still have been outraged at the way he had been treated. Gradually Jimmy relaxed, taking comfort from the child’s proximity. James too was content to stay where he was, feeling secure in the arms of the man who was his father, even though to James’s young mind the word father was just that, merely a word. Still, it was comforting to sit like this in front of a blazing fire. The child hadn’t felt so wanted and secure since before Sean Finnegan had died. The warmth of the fire, added to the closeness of their bodies, caused a feeling of drowsiness to settle on them, and when Bessie stuck her head around the door some twenty minutes later, she found them fast asleep. Smiling broadly, she wisely left them in peace.

  *

  Richard Fisher let himself into the house he still regarded as his home and immediately set about making a nuisance of himself. The first person he encountered was the nurse, who was indulging in a much-needed mug of strong tea together with a substantial fried breakfast. Even though Richard had already eaten a similar meal cooked by Ivy’s housekeeper, the sight and smell of the food set his lips watering. Greedy by nature, he eyed the fried eggs, bacon and sausages with undisguised relish.

  ‘I see you’re making yourself at home, nurse,’ he said heartily, in what he thought to be a condescending manner. If the cutting remark was meant to intimidate the middle-aged woman, he was sadly disappointed. Gladys Hook had been nursing for over thirty years, and during that time she had dealt with a variety of people. It came as no surprise to her that this fat, overbearing man was the brother of the equally fat, obnoxious woman upstairs. They were two of a kind. She was only grateful that this was her last day. Though if the young, pleasant woman she had been hired to look after had been her only patient then she would have been more than happy to stay on.

  When the night nurse had been discharged Gladys Hook had imagined her time would only be required from eight in the morning until eight at night. But she was a kindly soul, and although Rebecca had assured her that she and her sister could manage without her, Gladys had been loath to leave the two young women at the mercy of the cantankerous old bag who professed to be helpless. And of course the extra money came in useful, especially at this time of year, though sleeping in a chair instead of her own soft bed had been very uncomfortable. But at least she’d only had to endure the inconvenience for two nights, and tonight she would be back in her own bed. She hadn’t met the mystery man who was footing the bill for her services, and she would have been less than human if she hadn’t wondered about the unusual set-up, but she was kept too busy to dwell on the subject for long.

  Swallowing a large chunk of sausage, she replied scathingly, ‘Miss Rebecca told me to treat the house as my own while I’m here, and seeing as how you’re not paying for my time, I don’t see as how it’s any of your business what I do.’

  Stupefied at the woman’s cheek, Richard stared down at the uniformed figure, his fleshy jowls quivering. To Richard, any person in service was supposed to be just that, servile. Pulling himself up to his full height, he was about to reprimand the woman for her lack of respect when she looked up, and the contempt and studious disregard mirrored in the steely grey eyes stopped him in his tracks.

  The prospect of another breakfast denied him, he mustered up his courage and said in what he hoped was an authoritative voice, ‘I’ll thank you to keep a civil tongue in your head, woman, else you may find yourself out of a job.’

  Without looking up the nurse answered, ‘As a matter of fact, this is my last day. Miss Rebecca has told me she no longer requires my services, though I have to say she’s had precious little benefit of them, seeing as I’ve spent most of my time running around after
your sister. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m trying to eat my breakfast in peace.’

  Like all bullies, Richard was no match for anyone with a stronger personality than his own, and had to content himself with a loud grunt of disapproval before flouncing upstairs.

  *

  Rebecca was getting dressed when Richard burst into her room, and with a loud cry she snatched her clothes to her breast and shouted angrily, ‘How dare you burst in here without knocking, you horrible little man. Get out of my room… NOW!’

  Taken aback by the ferocity in Rebecca’s voice, Richard hurriedly backed from the room, his fleshy face sweating profusely, his mind filled with the image of Rebecca standing in her underclothes. He had never seen his cousin so scantily dressed, and the experience had been a revelation. Mopping his brow with a large handkerchief, he walked quickly to his sister’s room, hoping that he wouldn’t encounter a similar scene. The thought of witnessing Maude in her underwear was too nauseating for words, though that unappealing prospect was hardly likely. Maude hadn’t dressed herself for over twenty years, and Richard didn’t think that habit of a lifetime was likely to change now.

  As with Rebecca, he didn’t bother knocking, though his reception was just as welcoming. ‘Oh, it’s you,’ Maude snapped in disappointment as she saw her visitor. ‘I thought it was the nurse. I’ve been awake for a good twenty minutes and I need seeing to.’ She glowered up at him, and she made such an awful sight first thing in the morning that Richard had to avert his gaze to the floor. ‘Anyway, what are you doing here at this time in the morning? You haven’t come to start on about that wretched party you were planning, I hope. We haven’t had people in this house since Mother and Father died, and I certainly don’t want to start entertaining now.’