A Woman's Fortune

by Josephine Cox

  Right now though, the stationmaster loudly blew his whistle and the guard waved a flag. There was a piercing answer from the driver’s whistle and with a lot of hissing and rumbling the train pulled away, leaving Evie feeling very lonely on the platform all by herself.

  Now what? Better wait for the next one, and if Billy wasn’t on that then she’d have to decide whether to go home or wait longer. She returned to the ladies’ waiting room, subdued now, and sat despondently in the corner, prepared to wait for the forty minutes until the next train was due. So, she sat and waited and worried, constantly glancing at the big old station clock on the wall.

  The distant chime of the bells of the parish church sounded at eleven o’clock, and then there was a station announcement. Evie managed to make out from the very loud yet strangely unclear voice that the southbound train had been delayed and was going to be twenty minutes late.

  She sat back with a deep sigh, wondering how this morning would end. Would she ever get to meet up with Billy? She’d started off so excited and so hopeful; now she was just fed up.

  Everyone had a little grumble as the late train eventually rolled in with a huff and a puff and a loud whiste. It was half-past eleven and Evie was on the platform again, looking and hoping. Again, passengers alighted and a few people boarded, the whistles were blown and the huge wheels turned, gathering speed and leaving Evie alone.

  Except she wasn’t alone this time. From the very last carriage Jack Fletcher had climbed down with Monty, his terrier, on a lead.

  ‘Hello, Evie. What brings you here?’ asked Jack. ‘Is something wrong?’

  ‘Hello, Jack. I’m that glad to see you. I was supposed to meet a friend off the train before this one and he still isn’t here and I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to go home in case he turns up, but I can’t stay here all day.’

  ‘So how long have you been here?’ asked Jack.

  ‘Since well before half-past ten. We’ve been planning today for ages and he’s not the sort to let me down.’

  ‘Maybe he hasn’t been able to help it. Perhaps he’s been delayed through no fault of his own?’

  Evie thought about this and decided that Jack was right. Billy was always so reliable that there could be no other explanation. She couldn’t help the hot tears of disappointment that started to form, and she tried to sniff them away.

  ‘Now, come on. I’ve got the motorbike rig parked round the back. Me and Monty can give you a lift home, if you like.’

  ‘Oh, but you’d be going out of your way. You’re nearly home.’ Evie knew Jack lived on the edge of Redmond, where the countryside ended and the town started.

  ‘It’s no trouble. Can’t leave you looking miserable, with a long walk home. How could I face your grandma if I left you here? Come on, we’ll get you home by dinnertime.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Evie smiled. She blew her nose, straightened her shoulders and her spirits lifted slightly as she went with Jack and Monty round behind the station where a few cars and Jack’s motorbike and sidecar were parked.

  ‘Hop in, Evie,’ Jack offered his hand to help her climb into the sidecar. ‘Thing is, you’ll have to share with Monty.’ He indicated to the restless dog by his leg.

  Evie looked at the long-haired Jack Russell. Monty was, she noticed now, absolutely filthy, with dirt drying in his curly coat, the comical brown patch over one eye and ear less distinctive now the little dog was mostly brown all over. She looked down at her pretty dress, then at Jack’s kindly face and the cute way Monty had of looking at her with his head on one side. What does it matter about the dress? she thought. It isn’t as if Billy is here to see me in it.

  Giving a little shrug, she climbed into the sidecar and made herself comfortable. ‘Come on, then, Monty.’

  Monty sat on Evie’s lap, and gave her a big lick.

  Evie laughed, past caring about her dress now, as Jack started the bike and drove her home, Monty sitting up on her knee with the wind in his ears and pride on his face at a morning well spent.

  Monty leapt out of the sidecar when Jack parked the rig in front of Pendle’s. Evie climbed out after him and brushed the dirt off her dress as best she could. She’d enjoyed the journey home on the hot day, the rush of air through her hair and the different view of the countryside from so low down had been special. This must be how Monty saw life, she thought. She was trying hard to overcome her disappointment over Billy’s failure to show. As Jack had said, there would be an explanation.

  She’d had plenty of time to study the back view of Jack as he carefully drove the motorbike – rather slower with her as a passenger, Evie suspected, than he usually did. He was wearing an old waxed jacket, despite the heat, with many pockets. She wondered how old he was. Older than Dad, no doubt, but not as old as Grandma Sue. Maybe about the same age as Mr Bailey? But Jack had such an easy way with him that he was almost like a much older brother or an uncle. All the Carters liked him.

  Jeanie was at the door.

  ‘Oh, Evie, but what’s happened? Where’s Billy?’

  ‘He didn’t come, Mum,’ said Evie, her voice wobbling with threatened tears again. ‘I waited and waited, and then I saw Jack and he gave me a lift.’

  ‘There’ll be a good explanation, don’t you worry, Evie,’ smiled Jack.

  ‘Oh, no, what a shame, Evie! You were that excited about Billy coming here today. Come here, love,’ said Jeanie, giving her daughter a big hug. ‘We were all keen to see Billy again and we were hoping he’d bring news of Shenty Street and all our friends, too.’ She sighed heavily, also disappointed. ‘Well, we’re one less for dinner, Jack,’ she said. ‘I’ve cooked some brisket and you’re very welcome to have some.’

  ‘Jeanie, my dear, that would be perfect,’ said Jack. ‘If I can just wash my hands … Monty and I have been busy this morning and neither of us is fit to be seen.’

  Jeanie laughed and welcomed them in, and in a few moments she could hear greetings all round, and Peter and Robert making a fuss of Monty.

  ‘Sorry, love,’ she said to Evie, and hugged her again. ‘As Jack says, there’ll be a good explanation. Billy would never let you down. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there wasn’t a letter from him, come Tuesday, explaining everything.’

  Dear Evie,

  I’m so very sorry not to have got down to see you as we’d planned. I hope you weren’t waiting a long time at the station before you realised I wasn’t coming. I am that disappointed that I couldn’t go at the last moment and it was impossible to get word to you. I expect you were a bit upset and I was, too.

  Mum was taken poorly with one of her migraines on Sunday morning, early, just as I was getting ready to leave. It struck her down very quickly and she was quite helpless so I had to help her into bed and stay to look after her. She said she thought she was going blind, and she’d been sick in the night, too, and knew that one of her heads was coming on then, but I have to admit I must have slept through that. Poor Mum, she did seem very bad and I was going to go for the doctor but she insisted I wasn’t to. She was much better in the afternoon, though. I really couldn’t leave her, when she felt so ill. I’m sure you understand.

  I’d been looking forward more than anything to our day together and I wouldn’t have let you down if I could possibly have helped it. Please apologise to your parents and Mrs Goodwin, too, who I know had planned their day around me being there.

  We must make another arrangement soon to make up for this one falling through. I truly am very, very sorry.

  Missing you lots.

  Love from Billy xxx

  Evie sighed. ‘That was bad timing. Poor Mrs Taylor. I do hope she soon recovered,’ she said, having read the letter through for a second time aloud while Sue tacked a replacement zip into a skirt for Josie’s mother.

  Sue’s mouth was a thin line and she didn’t look particularly sympathetic. ‘Oh, I expect she did,’ she said dismissively. ‘As you say, love, bad timing. Now, Evie, let me show you how to get a zip in invisib
ly …’

  They got down to work on the skirt and then Sue turned up the short trousers of Robert’s new school uniform, which were completely covering his knees, while Evie machined together some curtain widths, stopping frequently to check that the pattern matched exactly.

  ‘Come here, Bob, and let’s see how these look,’ called Sue. He came in dragging his feet and hunching his shoulders. She held the short trousers against him. ‘They’ll do,’ she decided.

  Robert looked even more miserable.

  ‘What’s the matter?’ asked Evie. ‘You look like someone’s done you a bad turn.’

  ‘It’s school,’ said Robert glumly. ‘I don’t want to go. I want to stay here with you and Grandma.’

  ‘Don’t be such a baby,’ Sue replied. ‘Whoever heard of a boy your age stopping at home with his grandma and sister? Why, I bet little Archie Lambert won’t be making such a fuss when he starts school. It’s not as if you haven’t been to school before, either.’

  ‘Yes, but, Grandma, I won’t know anyone,’ whined Robert. ‘Pete and Martin are going to school in Redmond and I’ll be all by myself at the village school.’

  ‘You’ll soon make friends,’ Evie assured him. ‘You won’t get to meet new people if you don’t go, will you?’

  ‘S’pose not …’

  ‘And it is only down the road. And you’ll be home by the middle of the afternoon.’

  ‘S’pose …’

  ‘No “suppose” about it. Get on with you and put the kettle on,’ ordered Sue, giving him a wink to show she understood but was taking no nonsense anyway.

  ‘Do you think he’s all right?’ asked Evie, once Robert had disappeared to the big kitchen.

  ‘Just nerves, I reckon, though I’ve noticed he’s made no friends of his own over summer. Martin Clackett is Pete’s friend and they let Bob tag along with them. And Pete’s been playing music with those Thomas boys next door to Josie, but Bob doesn’t go there any more. I think he was soon bored because he can’t play an instrument himself.’

  ‘Well, he’s always been a bit of an odd one out,’ said Evie. ‘I’ll make a cake or summat for after school on the first day. That’ll cheer him up.’

  ‘Good idea, love.’ Sue raised her voice. ‘Bob, put the cups on the tray to bring them through, please. And I think there’s a packet of biscuits in the tin.’

  ‘Biscuits, Grandma! We must be doing well,’ laughed Evie, and she pedalled the sewing machine treadle furiously to race to the end of the seam.

  Jeanie was enjoying her work at Frederick Bailey’s house. She liked that it was something she was doing on her own, away from her family for once. She, Sue and Evie had worked well together at their little laundry but, though she loved her family dearly, now that Robert was no longer a child she wanted to get away from them sometimes. The thought of working on her own – working here – had come to her all of a sudden on the day she’d met Frederick Bailey. It had felt so exactly the right thing to do: something she’d chosen for herself when the new life in Church Sandleton had been forced upon her by Michael. She’d just had to be bold for once. And it had worked out fine. Maybe she’d be bold a bit more often from now on.

  She laughed aloud at that thought as she opened the ornate gate and walked up the steps to Frederick’s smart front door. Of course, she’d swapped one lot of domestic chores for another, but here was cleaning such as she’d never done at home!

  It was nice to come to such a pretty house. Nothing here was ordinary. She felt her shoulders straighten as she produced the key Frederick had given her and let herself in. At such moments she could almost pretend that this was her own house. The hall floor was polished wood and the central light was a brass lantern with shiny glass. They were so perfectly suited to the space that Jeanie thought she would have chosen to have exactly the same, if this were her house. But what had happened to the painting that hung on the wall next to the sitting room? The wall was bare and Jeanie noted a trace of cobwebs where the frame had rested at the top.

  ‘Frederick – hello,’ she called.

  ‘Ah, Jeanie …’ He came out of his study at the back, reading glasses perched on the end of his nose. ‘Thought we’d have a little outing today, if you’re agreeable?’

  ‘An outing?’ she smiled. ‘But I’ll need to tackle those cobwebs, and give the kitchen a once-over.’

  ‘Cobwebs and kitchen be damned. There are more important things in life than cleanliness,’ he replied mildly. ‘Rise above it all and see what’s important in life.’

  ‘A clean kitchen is important,’ said Jeanie, pretending to be severe. ‘That’s what you employ me for.’

  ‘Ah, but today, I shall take you out of the kitchen and on a trip to a place of beautiful things.’ He spread his hands like a showman, looking faintly ridiculous with the baggy knees of his worn trousers and his fraying shirt, but a little bit dashing, too, with his red kerchief knotted at his throat. He looked a jolly, peculiar little man with a smile wider than his face.

  ‘Don’t talk rot, Freddie. Just tell me where we’re going. I’m not sure I’m dressed for anything but cleaning.’ Jeanie was learning to give as good as she got, which Frederick evidently appreciated. She wore a pretty summer coat that Sue had made for her out of a remnant, but underneath were her everyday worn slacks and a cheap sleeveless blouse. These were quite good enough for cleaning Frederick’s kitchen but possibly not the right outfit for any form of outing.

  ‘Actually,’ Frederick said in his normal voice, ‘there’s an auction in Kingsford and I thought I’d take Flora along. There will be other paintings of the period and I suspect a few experts will be in to have a look.’

  ‘Sounds exciting,’ beamed Jeanie. ‘So long as you don’t mind the mess waiting until next time …’

  ‘Excellent. You make us some coffee and I’ll go and put on my glad rags.’

  Jeanie left her coat and bag on the hall chair and went down to face the electric coffee percolator, which she’d learned to operate but which still made her nervous. Frederick drank mostly coffee in the mornings and Jeanie was getting a taste for it.

  In a few minutes Frederick appeared in a sports jacket and flannel trousers that Jeanie had pressed for him the previous week. His shirt was clean and tidy, and he wore a natty silk tie.

  ‘Flora’s already in the boot,’ he said. ‘Drink your coffee and let’s go.’

  He led Jeanie out and through a narrow ginnel at the back of the square, which opened out into garage space.

  ‘I wondered where you kept the car,’ said Jeanie. ‘I did know you had a car. A friend in the village mentioned it.’

  ‘Oh, yes? And what else did this friend say?’ he asked casually.

  ‘Nowt really. Just that you have some properties in Church Sandleton and you drive a car.’ Jeanie felt defensive. She wasn’t a gossip.

  ‘Best not to believe everything you hear,’ he said, looking pointedly at her. Then he beamed his handsome smile and opened the garage to reveal a little red car. Surprisingly, considering the volume of stuff in the house, aside from the car the garage was completely empty.

  As he drove to the auction, Frederick explained that he’d decided to submit the painting only at the last minute and they had to be there early so it could be included in the viewing. ‘I know the people there, so it’ll be all right,’ he said.

  Kingsford was about the size of Redmond, and the auction was to take place on the premises of an auctioneer who occupied a grand building behind the town hall. Jeanie hadn’t been to Kingsford before and she looked around eagerly as Frederick parked right outside the auctioneer’s and took the painting, wrapped in brown paper, out of the boot. She felt a world away from Shenty Street and all she knew, and that felt exciting and scary all at once. Jeanie took a deep breath and followed him inside and went to wait in a room where there were other paintings on view and some precious objects in cases, while he saw to business. There were pretty pieces of jewellery and great piles of crockery, and some g
loomy old paintings that Jeanie wouldn’t even consider buying if she had a home like Marlowe House to furnish. She’d have only beautiful things, she decided. She saw a whole dinner service decorated in a way that looked very like the pattern on Sue’s precious cup and saucer that she had been given by her employer when she got married. Jeanie must remember to mention that when she got home … Then there was a glass case of brooches, some small and neat, others big and gaudy. A tiny one was shaped like a bow, the loops and tails set with shiny white stones. Jeanie traced a finger over the glass of the case: so pretty …

  ‘Nice,’ said Frederick, suddenly beside her. ‘You’ve got good taste.’ He gave a little chuckle. ‘Aren’t folk strange, eh?’

  Jeanie laughed. She’d never heard that she’d got any taste before.

  ‘Right, I’d like to see how Flora does, and I might have found something interesting that will replace her, at the right price, but the sale won’t start for a while so let’s go and have something to eat.’

  ‘Lovely – thank you,’ said Jeanie, pleased she was wearing the summer coat. At least she hadn’t got her pinny on! She wasn’t worried about getting home to feed her family. Now the boys were back at school, dinner was a more casual meal.

  Jeanie finished her lunch and sat back, feeling full.

  ‘Thank you, Freddie,’ she said. ‘That was delicious. I’ve never had fish with grapes before. Perhaps I’ll try it at home, see what Michael thinks of it.’ She laughed, then stopped suddenly, feeling disloyal.

  ‘Good. Glad you liked it,’ Frederick said. ‘I’ll pay the bill and then we need to get to the sale, or there will be nothing left worth having!’

  ‘What do you do at an auction?’ asked Jeanie as the waitress, wearing a black dress and frilly white apron, came over with the bill on a plate.

  Frederick barely glanced at the total, just put down a note and some coins, then helped Jeanie on with her coat, which she slid into without properly standing up, in order to hide her work clothes.