She ran to his side and that was all there was to it. Past differences were swept away by the shared sorrow of tragic loss, and a mutual gladness that ultimately, good feelings had been restored.
‘They’ve taken my living away from me, Polly,’ Wallace lamented. ‘Devil take them! I can’t trade any more. What am I to do? How will I earn a crust?’
‘You mustn’t fret, Papa. It could have been far worse. We’ll think of something.’
But what, Polly was at a loss to imagine.
The door from the kitchens opened to admit Edward. Smartly attired in the sober brown of the lawyer, a cravat at his throat and his boots buffed to a fine shine, he was a marked improvement on the lackadaisical youth she had left behind. Polly’s heart warmed towards the brother who, she was to learn, had saved their father and his shady dealings from a far worse predicament than this.
‘There are ways to avoid the law from acting,’ he told Polly over a meal she hastily made from leftovers in the kitchen. They were alone together, Wallace having taken himself upstairs to sleep off his excesses and hopefully waken in a more positive frame of mind.
‘It’s a case of knowing the system. Our papa had been playing with fire for some while and he was careless when in his cups. It was inevitable that the excise men would swoop.’
‘But they didn’t take him away.’
‘No. I heard the men were on their way. We managed to empty the cellar in the nick of time. They couldn’t pin anything on him, fortunately.’
‘I see, but—’ Polly threw a glance around the cluttered and greasy kitchen. The tap-room beyond was no better and neither, she hazarded a guess, were the bedchambers above.
‘Edward, what are we to do?’
‘Pray for a miracle? Papa can’t trade any more, not as a publican nor a hostelry keeper. He’s still at liberty to use the stable yard for the public stage-coaches and the riders bringing the mail. That will bring in a small revenue. It’s something, I warrant.’
‘Yes,’ Polly replied on a sigh. It had been in her mind to turn the Harbour House into a hostel for travellers. Scrubbed from attic to cellar, the walls whitened and rafters swept of decades of dust and cobwebs, herself installed as housekeeper, it had seemed a way forward.
Now it appeared that this was barred to her.
They were still sitting there, pondering what to do, when hoofs rang out on the cobbled yard beyond. Through the grimy window they saw a rider, slim, darkly clad, familiar.
‘Polly,’ Edward cried. ‘I vow our prayers may have been answered!’
Polly was already on her feet, running out of the door into John Royle’s arms.
Thea swam slowly out of the realms of sleep. A strange gladness filled her heart, a certainty that for the lovers in her dream the problems were drawing to an end. Picking up the pebble from her bedside table, Thea clutched it tightly and willed the same for herself and Dominic.
It had been the most fantastic night out ever for Bryony. Geoff had taken her to the nightclub in Liverpool where they had danced until they dropped and feasted like kings on the grandly appointed dining floor above. Now, they were back at Roseacre.
There was no moon but the night was lit with stars and frost glistened on Helen’s rose garden and the fields beyond.
‘Warm enough?’ Geoff drew Bryony into the encircling warmth of his arms. Beneath her long woollen coat, the skimpy black dress was not best suited to the temperatures of the winter night, but here in Geoff’s embrace she felt she would never be cold again.
‘I’m fine.’ She smiled up at him. ‘I’ve had a most marvellous time, Geoff. Thank you, thank you for a wonderful evening!’
He laughed gently at her.
‘It’s been my pleasure. You look beautiful tonight, Bryony. There wasn’t another girl there to touch you.’
‘Flatterer! Wait till I’m back in my jeans and wellies doing the milking. It’ll be a different picture then.’
‘You’ll always look great to me,’ Geoff said and, as if in agreement, a soft lowing from the winter cattle sheds carried over the air.
‘Bryony, this might be an odd place to bring you in the middle of the night but—’
‘It’s the best place in the world,’ she breathed. ‘It’s Roseacre.’
‘Except the roses aren’t out at the moment. Not to worry. They’ll be in full bloom for the wedding.’
Bryony swallowed hard. Her heart was doing strange things in her ribcage.
‘Wedding?’
‘Ours, of course! Who else’s?’ Geoff was doing his best to make this a serious occasion but as always with Bryony, it ended in laughter. ‘You’re impossible and I love you to bits. Now, I’ve brought you out here to ask if you’ll marry me and if you say no I shall pick you up and dump you in the—’
‘You wouldn’t dare! I won’t. Oh, Geoff!’
Bryony’s whoops of joy echoed around the silent garden and slumbering farmyard, bringing a chorus of affronted clucking from Helen’s chicken-cotes.
‘Of course I’ll marry you. I’ll marry you tomorrow. We don’t have to wait till the roses are out. That’ll be June! It’s ages away!’
‘No, it isn’t. We’re going to do this the right way. Tomorrow, we’ll go into Chester and buy the ring.’
Bryony saw the sense in his words and nodded.
‘So we’re officially engaged? Wait till I tell Liz!’
And wait till Thea hears, she thought in the next breath. But then Geoff’s lips came down on hers and all thought fled.
The following day, Saturday, they went early to town and chose the ring, a pretty platinum and diamond cluster.
Passers-by smiled at the happy young couple who seemed to have discovered the secret of perfect happiness, and when Geoff suggested they stop off at Woodhey on the way back to break the news to her parents, Bryony agreed readily.
They were driving up the bumpy track to the farm when the idea came to her. All at once she was determinedly calm.
She turned to Geoff.
‘Geoff, d’you mind going in on your own and talking to Mum and Dad for a bit?’
‘No, of course not. Why? It’s not an attack of nerves?’
‘Nothing like that. There’s something I have to do.’
Emotion throbbed in her voice. Geoff reached out and squeezed her hand.
‘Looks as if Chas is back from the fields. Great. Mae should have some food on the go.’
‘You and your stomach!’ Bryony laughed.
Having parked the car in the main yard, they went their different ways. Bryony headed for the corner of the old stone barn and the unmade cow-lane, making for the pony pasture where she knew Thea would be.
She found her sister hard at work in brushing the dried mud from caked manes and tails. At her footfall Thea glanced round, pushing wisps of hair from her face, squinting through the small dust storm she had created to see who it was. Immediately her face tightened.
‘Oh, it’s you. Hello.’
Ignoring the less than enthusiastic welcome, and keeping her left hand with its band of tell-tale diamonds hidden in her coat pocket, Bryony strode into the field shelter and began to make much of the ponies.
‘Hi, Dancer. Goldie. Hello, Misty baby. Remember me?’
Taking her time, she went round each one tied to the long manger, stroking and petting, plucking up courage to speak.
She turned to her sister.
‘Thea, there’s something I want to say.’
Thea hesitated, then lifting a shoulder in a small gesture of compliance, she put aside the dandy brush and leaned back against the manger, waiting. Even in her shabby cords and old jumper, her hair escaping its long plait and a smudge of grime across her forehead, she appeared the picture of elegance, and Bryony experienced a remembered pang of envy.
Never in a million years would she develop Thea’s sense of style.
She managed a smile.
‘Thea, I want to apologize for the other day. I was an absolute idiot. It’
s really time I grew up.’
‘No, it was my fault. I was in a state over something, and I took it out on you. It was unforgivable. Sorry, Bri.’
‘That’s OK. I truly didn’t chase Geoff, you know, not when you and he were together. You’re right, I had a teenage crush on him at one time but I never acted on it and neither did he.’
‘I know that,’ Thea nodded. ‘He was flattered all the same. He used to say you were the cutest thing ever.’
‘Did he?’ Bryony swallowed hard. Heck, she thought, I’m not doing this very well.
‘Thea, I honestly believed I could explain things but now I’m not so sure. I feel such a little kid all of a sudden.’
‘It’s called big-sister-little-sister syndrome. Mum still gets an attack of it when she meets up with the aunts. It’s perfectly natural.’
‘Is it?’
‘Apparently. So whatever’s bugging you, cough it up, otherwise we’ll both freeze to death standing here!’
Slowly Bryony withdrew her hand from her pocket and displayed the ring. Gazing at it for a few seconds, Thea then gave a small smile.
‘Geoff?’
‘Yes. Thea, I.…’
‘It’s all right. I don’t mind, truly. I accept what you’ve said and I wish you both well.’
With a little cry Bryony sprang forward and embraced her sister. When they broke apart she was surprised to see tears on Thea’s cheeks.
‘Don’t mind me,’ she said, brushing the teardrops away with the back of her hand. ‘You’ve caught me in an emotional mood, that’s all. Bri, I really am glad for you. Is Geoff up at the house?’
‘Yes, we called to tell you all but I wanted to see you first.’
‘Thank you,’ Thea said simply. ‘You’d better go along in. They’ll be wondering where you are.’
‘Right. Are you coming?’
‘In a moment. Just the ponies’ feeds to do then I’ll come in.’
Weak with relief that all had gone well, Bryony left, retracing her steps to the house. Here, Geoff had already broken the happy news.
‘Sweetheart, I’m so happy for you both,’ Mae cried, admiring the ring and hugging her daughter. She raised a brow suggestively in the direction of the fields and said in lowered tones.
‘Am I to take it that things are all right with…?’
‘Perfectly,’ Bryony whispered, and was hugged again.
Chas, who had broken off a farming conversation with Geoff, came forward, jovial and beaming.
‘I don’t know, Bryony lass. If I’d had an inkling you were this taken up with dairying I’d have bitten the bullet and restocked myself. If I were to do that, would you consider giving Geoff up and come and work for me instead?’
‘Not a chance, Dad.’ Bryony sent her father a grin. ‘But good try!’
Chas, his broad, countryman’s face working with emotion, held his daughter close. Bryony, the last of the brood, the golden-haired child who had captured his heart from the beginning, now about to be married.
‘You’ll make a grand bride,’ he said gruffly. ‘Won’t I be proud, walking up the aisle with my girl on my arm?’
‘It seems to me we’d better start cutting back on cake and pastries,’ Mae put in robustly, ‘otherwise you’ll never get into your suit on the day!’
Everyone laughed, stopping abruptly when the kitchen door opened to admit Thea.
‘Hi,’ she cried, deliberately cheerful. ‘Congratulations and good luck, both of you.’
‘Thanks!’ Geoff grinned. ‘Am I going to need it, d’you think?’
‘Probably!’ She rubbed her hands, eyes bright. ‘My it’s cold out there. Makes you hungry. Is lunch nearly ready?’
‘Coming up.’ Mae moved to the stove where a large pan of soup simmered fragrantly.
All in all, it was more like old times. There were still bridges to be built, but time would see to that.
‘Why don’t we celebrate, have a bit of a jolly?’ Mae said suddenly.
‘A Christmas do, d’you mean?’ her husband queried.
‘Dear me, no. That’s far too soon for the preparations. New Year might be best. It’ll give me more time to get ready. We’ll have a proper party, invite all our friends. And Helen, of course, and as many family members from both sides as can make it at such short notice. What do you think?’
Bryony caught Geoff’s gaze for confirmation. He nodded.
‘Mum, you’re on,’ she said with delight.
It was New Year’s Eve and spirits were high as Richard, Tracey and members of the jazz band left the Irish boat at Liverpool. They had agreed on a short break before embarking on the tour arranged by their agent. Exciting times were ahead, but for now the focus was on seeing their respective families again and seeing out the old year together.
Except for Richard, who was suddenly experiencing an uneasy qualm at the prospect.
‘Cheers, Rich, Tracey,’ shouted drummer Jack Roscoe and his best mate Danny Shine who played bass guitar. Both lived in the same street in Rock Ferry and were making the last leg of the journey together.
‘Cheers, you guys. See you soon.’ Richard waved the other band members off.
Laden with luggage and instruments, they vanished into the crowd. Richard and Tracey stood alone on the quayside, surrounded by parcels and baggage. Richard took Tracey’s hand, on which sparkled a plain gold band as well as the simple diamond solitaire they had bought in Dublin.
‘No regrets?’ Richard said.
‘None whatsoever. What about you?’
‘Don’t be daft.’
Richard dropped a kiss on the tip of Tracey’s nose. She was a girl in a million and his love for her was absolute. Throughout the tour she’d been his rock, encouraging and supporting. Giving her utmost at every gig, night after demanding night, no matter how exhausted she might have been feeling.
Always a smile, always good to look at, always with a song that just about brought the house down around them. His Tracey.
‘Let’s go and find the hire car, eh? Here, give me the heavies. You take the lighter stuff. Ready?’
‘After you, boss!’ Tracey laughed.
Richard was quiet as he drove the hired car away from the city, leaving the motorway for the quieter roads of his boyhood. When he had last travelled this way, relations with his family had been less than good. Now, turning up like this – unexpected, unannounced – could turn out a mixed blessing.
What sort of reception would they get?
‘You’ve gone quiet all of a sudden, everything OK?’ Tracey’s voice broke into his thoughts. ‘No prizes for guessing why. You’re anticipating trouble with Chas, aren’t you?’
‘I don’t know what to expect, to be honest.’ Richard slowed down as a highways lorry loomed up in the darkness ahead. ‘Oh, they’re gritting the roads, we must be in for a spell of bad weather. I hope it doesn’t mean snow. We wouldn’t want us to be marooned at Woodhey if things turn awkward.’
‘Oh, Richard.’ Tracey touched his arm lightly. ‘I’m sure it’ll be fine. Would you rather we went on to my mum’s instead? We could always come back another time.’
‘No, let’s get it over with. I’m not concerned about Mum, she’ll be fine. And Thea of course. Not sure how things are with Bryony, but no doubt she’ll be doing her own thing anyway tonight, so I don’t expect she’ll be around.’
‘What about us? How d’you think they’ll react to our going ahead and getting married without them being there? While we were in Ireland it seemed the right thing to do. It was a great wedding, wasn’t it? The boys made it such fun. And then when we walked into that bash they’d cooked up behind our backs it really made the day!
‘Now, though, I’m having a tiny bit of guilt. How will your mum feel? You’re her firstborn, and you know how she loves an occasion. ’
‘It’s OK,’ Richard said, chugging impatiently along behind the slow-moving lorry. ‘It’s crossed my mind too. I must say your mum’s been great about the whole thing, didn�
��t bat an eyelid when we rang and told her.’
‘Oh, Mum’s like that. She’ll wait till we turn up and then see if we want a celebration. It’s different for her. She’s on her own and she’s very tied up with her job. It would have been hard for her to get away at such short notice. All the same, it would have been great if she’d been there. I suppose.…’
‘Go on.’
‘Well, I was thinking. Perhaps we could have one of those ceremonies where couples repeat their vows.’
‘A blessing? No reason why not.’ A clear stretch appeared on the road. Richard seized his chance and overtook, glad to be free of the slow crawl of the big vehicle at last.
‘Let’s get this over with first,’ he said, ‘then we can decide what to do.’
A blaze of lights met them as they approached Woodhey. The main yard was full of haphazardly parked cars. Music floated on the sharp night air.
‘Looks like there’s a bash on,’ Richard groaned. Away from the stifling environs of home he had felt in command of his life. Now, confronted with his old home, previous grudges and misgivings came hurtling back. One glower from his father and that would be the end!
‘Oh, well,’ he said to Tracey, having found a slot to leave the car amongst the random clutter of vehicles. ‘Let’s go for it.’
The back door was unlocked. Lacing his fingers in Tracey’s, he led her through the fragrant warmth of the big kitchen, noting the table and work surfaces laden with food and drink, the blast of jazz from the music system growing louder as they approached the spacious front lounge.
It was his own band playing, Richard noted with surprise. That had to be a good sign!
The door to the room was open, displaying a backdrop of glittering festive greenery and leaping log fire, and the first face he saw amongst the jigging crowd was his mother’s. Spotting the couple, Mae’s expression registered shock, then delight, and then seemed to crumple.
‘Richard!’ she said in a breathy whisper.
Geoff was here, dancing with Bryony who smiled up at him as if the world was theirs alone. Thea was handing round refreshments and had her back to the door but Chas, sipping a drink, caught sight of his son and the girl and all but choked.
Across the Sands of Time Page 21