by Anna King
Not daring to answer in case she burst into tears, Rebecca nodded, her thoughts whirling. Jimmy loved her. That declaration would have been enough to set her heart soaring, but she had never expected him to broach the subject of marriage. It didn’t matter that he hadn’t actually asked her in so many words; he hadn’t needed to. The reference to his future wife, and asking her to wear her hair loose when they were married was as good as any formal proposal.
The next ten minutes were spent in a flurry of tearful goodbyes as Rebecca waved the carriage carrying the two people she loved most away from the house.
*
Alone in her room, she sat staring at the gold locket lying just inches above her breasts, her mind repeating over and over every word Jimmy had said until, her eyelids drooping, she drifted off into a satisfying sleep, her fingers still clasped around the locket, and with a smile on her lips.
She might not have rested so easily if she had known that Phil had been outside her door and overheard the conversation she’d had with Jimmy.
Phil’s eavesdropping hadn’t been intentional. He had been on the way to spruce himself up for the party when he’d heard Jimmy’s voice. Out of curiosity, and a guilty conscience, he had stopped to listen, just to see if his name was mentioned. When he’d realised the intimacy of the conversation, he had quickly become embarrassed and was about to move on when his ears had pricked up at the mention of the safe, and the fact that Rebecca was now in possession of the keys to Jimmy’s house and the combination and location of the said safe.
Once he had finished his ablutions, Phil lay down for a rest before the party was due to start. Now that he had the money Amy had managed to get from Richard – his mind swiftly glossed over how his sister had come by the solely needed cash – his money problems were over. Still, it didn’t hurt to know there was more to be had if he should need it. Not that he would of course. Oh, no. After this scare, he would never get himself into such a predicament again. He’d learnt his lesson. But one never knew what the future held. His mind at peace for the first time in weeks, Phil closed his eyes and, like Rebecca, he fell asleep with a smile on his lips.
Chapter Twenty-five
‘May I have your attention, ladies and gentlemen?’ Richard stood in the middle of the room, obviously in his element. By his side stood an elegantly dressed woman whom Rebecca judged to be in her late thirties. She seemed familiar somehow, but the only place Rebecca could imagine having seen her before was that night in the restaurant. It must be the same one, Rebecca thought wryly. For Richard to have one lady friend was astonishing, for him to have two was, to Rebecca’s mind, beyond the realms of possibility.
Through the small crowd that had crammed into the modest-sized sitting room, Rebecca could see Maude, dressed for once, filling up the entire breadth of the cloth-covered armchair that normally resided by the fireplace. She had insisted she be brought downstairs, saying that if she was to be denied her much-needed rest, she might as well join the guests Richard had invited. Her appearance had come as no surprise to Rebecca. There was no way Maude would be content to lie in her room while there was a party in progress, she would be too afraid she might miss something. Rebecca had watched in amusement as Phil and Richard had struggled to carry the obese woman down the relatively short flight of stairs, all the time knowing her cousin could have easily managed them on her own.
Now Maude’s gimlet eyes were fixed with a cold ferocity on her brother and the woman by his side, and it took all of Rebecca’s willpower not to laugh aloud. It was so obvious now why Richard had gone to all this trouble. He was going to announce his engagement. It was the only possible reason for the build-up to tonight’s event. It was a pity Dr Barker had to cry off at the last minute, due to some emergency. Rebecca didn’t know any of the people gathered for the occasion, and she would have enjoyed having someone to talk to, particularly about Jimmy, and his unorthodox proposal. She was positively bursting to share her news with someone, and Tom Barker was the only one she could think of to confide in. Now it seemed there was another wedding about to be announced. It was also equally obvious that Maude knew what Richard was up to, judging by the vindictive look etched into the folds of her fat face. But Rebecca must put her own thoughts to one side and pay attention to what Richard was saying, if only out of curiosity. It didn’t matter what he did now, it was no longer of any consequence to her. With the feel of the locket Jimmy had given her resting against her skin, and the knowledge that he loved her, Rebecca felt a warmth of contentment she had never experienced before.
‘…proud to announce that Ivy here has done me the honour of agreeing to marry me. The wedding will take place at Saint Stephen’s church on the twenty-eighth of December. I’m sorry it’s such short notice, but at our age, we don’t feel a long engagement is necessary. No formal invitations have been sent out, but you are all welcome to attend the ceremony, and the wedding reception that will be held here afterwards.’
Richard, his rotund body looking fit to burst, so proud of himself did he feel, looked to the young woman who had always treated him with open disdain, to gauge her reaction to his news. In this he was vastly disappointed. For, far from looking put out, Rebecca seemed positively delighted. His feeling of triumph momentarily slipped away, then anger took over.
Well! He’d soon wipe that infuriating, superior look from her face. Now that her fancy man had left London she would have nowhere to go when he, Richard, threw her and that worthless brother of hers out onto the streets. Then see how smug she would look then. Mind you, it had been a stroke of luck Amy going with Jimmy Jackson and his lot. Yes indeed, a great stroke of luck. She was a good girl, was his Amy. He had known she wouldn’t say anything about that unfortunate incident, but still, one never knew with women…!
Denied the response he had hoped for from Rebecca, he cast his eyes to his sister, and instantly his body regained its former importance. The murderous glare Maude was levelling at him had been worth all the expense and aggravation he had endured over the past few weeks. Smiling sweetly, he raised his glass of champagne in her face. ‘I’m sure my dear sister will be the first to congratulate me on my good news, won’t you, Maude, dear?’ he added sneeringly.
Maude, her body wedged tight in the chair, felt all eyes on her. Using the only part of her body she could move, she raised her head defiantly and smiled back at Richard. ‘Of course, Richard. I’m delighted. If you’re happy, then so am I.’ Raising her own glass, she called loudly, ‘A toast everyone. To my dear brother Richard, and his lovely fiancée Ivy. Good health and happiness to you both.’
For a brief, wild moment, Rebecca was tempted to stand up and applaud, so great was the performance Maude was putting on. But even Maude’s sterling accomplishment was nearly destroyed when Richard, his face still smug, said, ‘Thank you, my dear, loving sister. We haven’t seen much of each other over the years, what with my business commitments taking up so much of my time, but as soon as we get back from our honeymoon, you’ll be delighted to know that we plan to move in here. For my part, it’ll be like coming back home, and Ivy is just as enthusiastic as I am to start our married life in the house I was born and raised in.’
The colour blanched from Maude’s ruddy cheeks as the import of Richard’s words sunk in. And if she had any lingering doubts, she had only to look into his gloating eyes to see that her days in this house were numbered.
Smiling inside and out, Rebecca let her eyes wander over the room. There would be another person who wouldn’t be too happy at the news of the impending arrival of Richard and his new bride. Then she spotted Phil lounging by the kitchen door, a drink in one hand, a plate of food in the other. Sensing he was being observed, Phil glanced in Rebecca’s direction and arched his eyebrows in amusement. This act alone brought a surge of suspicion to Rebecca’s mind. She had expected Phil to have a similar reaction to Maude’s. Because once Richard moved in with his new bride, there would be no room for Phil. Yet her brother didn’t seem at all concerned. N
ow that was very puzzling. Very puzzling indeed!
Her eyes fixed on her brother’s, Rebecca inclined her head towards the stairway then got to her feet. Responding to the silent message, Phil followed his sister to her room.
‘Well, well, that’s a turn-up for the books, isn’t it, Becks? Who’d have thought he had it in him, eh? I tell you what, Becks. If Richard can get himself a wife, then there’s hope for me yet.’
Perplexed by Phil’s apparent lack of concern at his imminent homelessness, she asked, ‘You do realise that once Richard’s married, there’ll be no room here for you. There’s no way Richard will support you, and I have no intention of staying once the new Mrs Fisher is installed here. My days of being an unpaid servant are well and truly over. So, why aren’t you panicking like you normally do?’
Phil shrugged. ‘There’s no point, is there, Becks. I’m not as stupid as you think I am. It was obvious Richard was up to something the minute he started chucking his money around on a Christmas party, and insisting it was held here. Looks like you and me’ll have to start looking for somewhere else to live, and seeing as neither of us has any money, and no job, it’s going to be a bit difficult. Mind you, it’s Maude I feel sorry for. She’s for the chop and no mistake. Richard’s always resented supporting her. I wouldn’t be surprised if he chucked her into one of those old people’s homes and left her there to rot, poor old cow… Oh, hang on, Becks…’ He sneezed loudly, then again.
Fumbling in his pocket, he searched for a handkerchief while Rebecca watched him, her mind suddenly attacked by guilt. She had been so sure Phil would go to pieces and expect her to look after them both; instead he was acting like a responsible adult for once and intending to take charge of his own life. Maybe the shock of having the security of his home taken away from him had finally forced him to grow up. Yet he was powerless to start a new life until that blasted gambling debt was repaid. Thanks to Jimmy, her life was now secure, but she couldn’t see Jimmy being so charitable to Phil. The idea that had occurred to her earlier came flooding back. In her mind’s eye she could see once again the pile of money heaped on top of Maude’s bed. Rebecca had been thinking a lot as to how Maude had managed to acquire such a huge amount. The only possible explanation Rebecca could think of was that Richard had been giving Maude a weekly allowance for her keep. But instead of handing it over to Rebecca, the greedy old cow had kept it all for herself. If that was indeed the case, then Phil, having supported them all for years, before he had become addicted to gambling, was entitled to some of that money Maude had so deceitfully withheld from them. Her mind made up, Rebecca was about to tell Phil about the money when the wad of notes that Amy had given Phil earlier fell from his pocket onto the floor.
Her eyes stretched wide, Rebecca could only stare in disbelief at the small fortune lying at her feet. Still caught up in a bout of sneezing, Phil didn’t realise the money had fallen from his pocket, nor did he notice Rebecca’s transfixed gaze as if she was witnessing an apparition.
Sniffing, he wiped his nose and smiled sheepishly. ‘Sorry about that, Becks. It looks like I’ve caught… What! What are you looking at me like that for?’ A feeling of alarm trickled along his spine. Then he followed her gaze and swiftly picked up the incriminating evidence.
‘Now, wait a minute, Becks. I was just about to explain.’ He was afraid to look at her, afraid of what he would see in her face. Instead he turned on his heel and began to pace the room, his fingers running through his thick hair in agitation. ‘I only got that money a few hours ago. I was going to tell you, but you were asleep, and I didn’t want to disturb you. The thing is—’
‘Where did you get it, Phil?’ Rebecca’s voice was low and harsh. ‘You’ve got some explaining to do, so you’d better make it good… I’m waiting.’
Distracted and scared, Phil looked around the room as if searching for some form of escape, but Rebecca was barring the door, and unless Phil was willing to physically tackle his sister there was nothing else to do but try and bluff his way out.
‘Now, listen here, Becks, I haven’t been out robbing banks, if that’s what you’re thinking. I admit I put off telling you about the money, but only because I didn’t think you’d believe me. I can hardly believe it myself. The fact is that Richard loaned it to me, and that’s the truth, so help me, God! He’s been in a good mood lately, and now we know why. I can only think his current state of mind has mellowed him.’ Phil tried to laugh, but the feeble effort came out merely as a choking sound. And all the time he was painfully aware of Rebecca’s eyes, brimming with accusation, boring into him. Clearing his throat, he stuttered anxiously, ‘Honestly, Becks, you can ask him if you like, he—’
‘Liar,’ Rebecca spat at him. ‘Richard wouldn’t give you a farthing if you were starving in the gutter, not unless there was something in it for him. Now I’m warning you, Phil, no more lies. If Richard gave you that money, then he must have had a good reason, and I want to know what it was. You’d better tell me, because I’m not leaving this room until I hear the whole truth, and neither are you.’
Knowing he was defeated, Phil sank onto Amy’s bed, his body slumped in despair. ‘All right, you win, you always do, don’t you, Becks,’ he muttered bitterly. ‘I wasn’t lying when I said the money came from Richard, but he didn’t give it to me, he gave it to Amy. She was worried about me, so she went and asked Richard for help, and he gave—’ Phil’s body jerked violently as Rebecca let out a piercing shout.
‘Amy! You mean to say that Amy got that money for you… Oh, my God. No! No!’ Like a bolt of lightning striking her, Rebecca knew instantly why Amy had been in such a hurry to leave the house. Her hasty departure had nothing to do with wanting to be with Charlie, or the child, but because something had happened with Richard. A bout of nausea swept over her as the real cause of Amy’s distress sank in. She no longer doubted Phil when he said the money had come from Richard, but what price had her sweet, innocent Amy had to pay for the generous offer? Squeezing her eyes tightly shut, Rebecca groaned. Please, God, not that. Anything but that.
‘Becks, please. She was only trying to help me, and… and, she’s the only one who could get Richard to part with his money. I didn’t ask her though, you’ve got to believe me, Becks. I never asked her. She did it on her own. I would never put her in that position, I swear.’ Yet even to his own ears his words sounded false. When Rebecca remained silent, Phil cautiously lifted his head, and that was his biggest mistake. For Rebecca saw at once the guilt and shame that ravaged Phil’s face, and knew with sickening certainty that her fears were correct. What was worse was that Phil also knew – knew and had done nothing about it.
‘You bastard!’ The words were dragged out with such loathing that Phil, knowing he couldn’t stay in the same room with Rebecca for a second longer, sprang to his feet and, pushing Rebecca aside, ran to his own room. He grabbed his hat and coat and, taking the stairs three at a time, ran through the startled throng of people enjoying the free food and drink and out of the house into the dark night. And as he ran, his face streaming with tears of shame, he knew it would be a long time before he would see his sisters again.
*
It was a good half an hour before Rebecca left her room, and when she did she was carrying a battered suitcase, her lovely features resembling a face carved in stone. Her conscience no longer bothering her, she stopped only long enough to take a handful of coins from beneath Maude’s bed. She would need some money to tide her over until she was well enough to get a job and somewhere to live, and she didn’t see why Jimmy’s money should support her when there was enough hidden under that fat old cow’s bed to aid her financially. Particularly as that same money was, if not legally but morally, hers to take.
Once again the assembled guests were treated to an unexpected form of entertainment as Rebecca, stopping to stand directly in front of Richard, said loudly, so that all present could hear, ‘I know all about the money, Richard. What I’m not sure of is just what my Amy had to do t
o procure it from you. But rest assured I’ll find out.’ Rebecca was aware the room had fallen silent as each guest strained to hear her every word, but her attention was fixed firmly on the red-faced man, whose eyes were frantically darting from one guest to another, fearful of what she might say next. Rebecca didn’t move, nor did her gaze waver. ‘If your conscience is clear, then you’ve nothing to worry about; if not, then you’d better learn to sleep with one eye open. Because if I find out that you’ve harmed my Amy in any way, then I’ll kill you, you have my word on that.’
She didn’t remember leaving the house, nor did she hear the babble of noise that erupted before the front door had closed behind her. Her mind, so full of hatred, didn’t notice at first the freezing temperature. But if her mind was oblivious to the biting cold, her weakened body immediately reacted to the sudden, dramatic change of climate. A wave of dizziness swept over her and she had to fight to keep her body upright.
The keys to Jimmy’s house were in her coat pocket, but there was no way she could make that journey in her condition. Even if she could, she didn’t relish the idea of going to the large, unfamiliar house on her own. What if she had a relapse? No one would know she was there. There would be no one to look after her, or send for help if her condition worsened; and she didn’t intend to die alone. She didn’t intend to die at all, not now, when she had so much to live for. Furthermore there was still the matter of Richard to contend with. She had meant every word she’d said.
Once Amy was back home, she would get the truth out of her – and if Richard had molested Amy in any way, then he would pay dearly for it. Another blast of icy wind hit her full in the face. Knowing she had to get in out of the freezing night air, she stumbled next door.