Unable to eat his breakfast, he went up to his room to think, and after about ten minutes sat up with a delighted grin. The army had played right into his hands. He had already planned every detail of the ditching and this would make the grand finale even grander.
‘You’re awful quiet,’ Elsie murmured that evening, lifting her blond head from the pillow to kiss him. ‘Is anything wrong?’
He hadn’t meant to tell her yet, but it came spilling out. ‘I’ve been called up.’
Her face fell. ‘Oh God! Already?’
He affected great despondency. ‘We’ve just a week left.’
‘Is that all?’
Neither of them said anything for a few seconds, then Elsie raked her fingers through the dark hairs on his chest. ‘We’d better make the most of it, eh, Len?’
He nodded eagerly. He would give her a week she would never forget, and the crunch would come on the last night.
‘Mrs Fyfe was telling me Lenny’s been called up,’ Jenny observed as she poured a cup of tea for her visitor.
Elsie wondered if there was any hidden meaning intended, but decided there wasn’t. ‘Aye, so I believe.’
‘He’s grown up into a right handsome man, hasn’t he?’ Jenny continued. She was trying to find out if there was any truth in the rumours she’d heard about him lately. ‘He used to be a scraggy streak, but he’s fairly filled out.’
Elsie couldn’t help smiling at this. ‘One bit of him, any road.’
Jenny’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Elsie! You haven’t been … not with him?’
‘I was only joking,’ Elsie said hastily. ‘He’s never been near me.’
But Jenny wasn’t to be fooled. ‘I don’t believe you.’
Angry at herself, Elsie went on her high horse. ‘Please yourself. What business is it of yours what I do and who I do it with?’
‘What about Peter?’
‘Why are you aye so bloody worried about Peter? If he’d been as good as Lenny and Paddy, I wouldn’t have needed them.’
Something clicked into place in Jenny’s mind. ‘It was true what Eck Stewart said, wasn’t it? It must have been this other man that ran out of your house that night, and Lenny had still been inside. Did he catch the two of you at it?’
Stung because she’d hit on the truth, Elsie said, ‘You’re just jealous I’m having a good time, that’s what’s wrong wi’ you, and I’ll tell you something else. I was wi’ a man every time …’ Realizing how indiscreet she was being, she tailed off, her eyes seeking assurance that Jenny was not a jump ahead of her. She was out of luck, however.
‘Every time I kept your bairns?’ Jenny said, her face darkening with anger. ‘When you were supposed to be sitting with your mother? Where were you the night Norma had her colic and Jake Berry couldn’t find you? In some hotel with one of your fancy men?’
Elsie shook her head. ‘I was in bed wi’ Paddy … my own bed.’
‘You mean, when Jake knocked, you were …? Oh, no!’ That seemed even worse to Jenny.
‘So you see the kind o’ wife your precious Peter’s got!’ Elsie gave a stifled sob. ‘Oh God, Jenny, I’m ashamed when I think on the things I did!’
‘And so you should be,’ Jenny said, stiffly. ‘If I’d known what was going on …’
Raising her streaming eyes, Elsie mumbled, ‘I’m sorry, Jenny, I just couldn’t help it. I love my bairns, but … I’ve aye needed a man. Peter saw through me and wouldna touch me, and that’s why I went daft with any man that wanted me, but I’ve learned my lesson. You’ll likely laugh when I tell you, but I’ve gone and fell in love wi’ Lenny, and …’ Stopping to gulp several times, she ended in a rush, ‘He goes away next week and I’m near sure I’m expecting … and it’s nae Peter’s … or Paddy’s.’
Jenny was too taken aback to laugh. ‘It’s the price of you, Elsie. I’m surprised it hasn’t happened before, the way you’ve carried on, and don’t expect me to stick up for you when folk start speaking about you.’
‘Jenny, please? I’ve nobody else to turn to … my father’ll kill me …’
‘You’re still just thinking about yourself,’ Jenny said, scornfully. ‘What about Peter? How’s he going to feel when he comes home and finds you’re having a baby to Lenny Fyfe?’
‘Nobody’ll ken it’s Lenny’s except you.’
‘Peter’ll know it isn’t his, so what’ll you tell him?’
Elsie’s hands tore at her hair now. ‘Ach, Jenny, I’m all mixed up. I didna mean to tell you about the bairn.’
‘I wish you hadn’t,’ Jenny said, coldly. ‘You’ve put me in a terrible spot. Peter’s Mick’s best pal, and I’ll have to tell him.’
‘Tell him what you like! I never loved him!’
Jenny jumped to her feet, her face red with rage. ‘Get out, Elsie, and don’t dare to set foot in my house again!’
When her erstwhile friend had trailed out Jenny collapsed into her chair again, utterly shocked by what she had been told. She believed that Elsie, for all her bravado, did love her children, and bitterly regretted ignoring Jake’s knocks on the night of Norma’s colic – but if even half the things she’d confessed to doing were true, she deserved what she’d got. Poor Peter!
Lenny made all his arrangements one afternoon, and was fizzling with excitement when he went to Elsie’s at night.
‘You’re looking awful pleased with yourself,’ she observed, surprised that he was so happy when they had hardly any time left to be together.
‘I am pleased,’ he beamed. ‘What would you say to coming to Elgin with me? I’ve booked a room in a hotel for my last two nights.’
‘Lenny!’ she exclaimed, in delight. ‘I’d never have thought you could be so romantic.’
‘Get somebody to take your kids …’
Her face fell. ‘That’ll be a problem.’
‘Will Jenny Jappy not have them? You’re pally with her, aren’t you.’
‘Not now. We’d a bit of a set-to.’
Lenny was bitterly disappointed. Surely this wasn’t the kiss of death on his marvellous scheme? ‘Can you not ask somebody else?’
‘Nobody’s very friendly with me these days.’ Her nose wrinkled for a moment as she thought deeply. ‘I suppose I could ask my mother, but I’ll have to find a damn good excuse for being away two nights.’
The tightness in his chest eased. ‘You’ll manage that. I’ll come for you the morrow about five, then.’
Lenny couldn’t sleep that night. His stomach was churning with fearful anticipation of how Elsie would react to what he meant to do. Would she laugh in his face and tell him she didn’t care? No, she would care. She loved him, he was sure of that, so she’d probably be absolutely livid … beside herself with fury at being taken in. That’s what he wanted … as long as she didn’t cut up rough. He didn’t want to arrive at Catterick with a couple of black eyes and a broken nose.
Elsie was all smiles when he knocked at her door at ten past five the next day. ‘All set!’ she boasted. ‘I told Ma I’d to go to Aberdeen to sort out some squabble over my allowance book from the Navy, and I said I’d be as well having a look round the shops seeing I was there. She wasn’t keen on me being away two nights, but I said it would be a wee holiday for me, away from the bairns.’
Lenny couldn’t help but admire her ingenuity, though he felt his own plot was even more ingenious. ‘We’d better go and catch the bus.’
In Elgin, Elsie was like a young girl, hardly ever wanting to leave their hotel room and telling Lenny how much she loved him, how much she would miss him when he went away. His passions heightened by a touch of doubt that he might come off worst, he played along with her, vowing that she was the only woman for him. As the time went past, however, his nerves were playing havoc with him, and all he could think of was to get it over. But he couldn’t jump the gun; exact timing was essential.
At six o’clock on their second and last day, he suggested having a walk to blow the cobwebs off them. He had expected her to beg fo
r more time in bed, and was prepared to say she had worn him out, but she surprised him by agreeing. ‘We’ll take our things with us,’ he said casually. ‘There’s no point in having to come back, is there?’
Both having something momentous to say that was weighing heavily on their minds, they spoke very little as they strolled through Cooper Park for a good three quarters of an hour and then made their way back to the centre of town. When they came to the small tearoom on the opposite side of the street from the bus station, Lenny said, ‘What about having a wee snack? It’s another half hour till the bus leaves.’
He held the door open for her and made her sit with her back to the window, then he bought sandwiches and a pot of tea, not grudging what he spent. When she gave him his cup, his hand was shaking, but he forced a loving smile. ‘Will you miss me, Elsie?’
‘Oh yes, Lenny,’ she breathed, stretching over to lay her hand on his. ‘I never loved Peter as much as I love you, and when I think you’ll be going away in the morning, it’s like there’s a great big stone in my stomach. I don’t know what I’m going to do without you.’
Feeling like saying she’d find plenty of other men, he took a bite of his corned mutton sandwich instead, though he had a problem getting it down once he had chewed it.
‘Lenny,’ she said, more serious than he had ever seen her, ‘you won’t take up with anybody down there, will you?’
He evaded the question skilfully. ‘What d’you think I am?’
‘So you really do love me?’
‘I’ve never felt this way about any other girl.’ That was true, Lenny thought, then he noticed that their bus was now sitting at the terminus and had a quick look at his watch. Ten minutes yet, though Elsie thought they had a lot longer than that. Pouring some milk in first – he had taken no sugar since it went on ration – his trembling hand raised the cup to his mouth, but after one sip, he laid it back in his saucer. Oh God, this waiting for the right moment was agony.
‘Lenny,’ Elsie began again, then stopped.
This time, it occurred to him that she looked worried … about him, more than likely. Women always worried about their men when they went off to war. But he wasn’t her man, not even her fancy man, not any longer. His mind replayed the scene that had haunted him every night since he had witnessed it. He saw again the two naked bodies thrashing about on the couch in their lust; he heard the ecstatic moans and triumphant cries … Oh Christ, she deserved what was coming to her!
‘Will you write?’ she murmured now.
‘Every day.’ He could have said every five minutes, it wouldn’t have been any more of a fib. Looking out of the window again, he saw that the bus was already half full, and praying that his watch wasn’t slow, he turned round to check with the clock on the wall behind him. Spot on! Five more minutes.
He took another sip of tea, grimaced and put the cup down again. He couldn’t take any more. Speak about a lump of stone – he had a bloody great boulder in his throat! Elsie, her eyes fixed on her plate, was crumbling the edges of her sandwich as if she too couldn’t swallow anything. They both looked towards the door when two young boys came in.
‘You were about the same age as them when …’ Elsie faltered and then went on, ‘… when I gave you your first lessons in love.’
Recalling the raw youth he had been, Lenny smiled a little at the last word. Love hadn’t come into it. ‘I ended up showing you a thing or two, though.’
‘Lenny,’ she started once again, ‘we’re good together, aren’t we?’
But his eye was caught by the clock, and his stomach jolted. This was it! It was now or never! Shoving back his chair, he got to his feet.
‘Is something wrong, Lenny?’ Elsie inquired, anxiously.
His heart beating twenty to the dozen, he leaned across the table. ‘You’re what’s wrong, you bloody two-faced whore! I’m finished with you, so see how you like being ditched!’
He strode to the door, expecting her to come after him, but a quick glance back showed her sitting with her mouth gaping, as if she couldn’t believe what was happening. So much the better, he thought, it hadn’t been as bad as he’d thought. Reaching the bus as it started to move, he jumped aboard and plumped down on a seat. His palms were sweating, bile was coming up in his mouth, but he’d done it!
Congratulating himself on the success of his plan, which had gone like clockwork, Lenny was amazed that he’d had the nerve to see it through. He had fooled Elsie right up to the end, and by jingo he’d got his own back on her for what she did to him.
He went over it all again. When he’d first come up with the idea, he hadn’t been too sure of what would happen afterwards. He had planned to get the last bus; Elsie would have to stay in Elgin all night and she’d really have been after his blood when she got home. She might have come storming to his house and he wouldn’t have put it past her to stand outside in the street and broadcast to all and sundry what she thought of him. But as it was, by courtesy of the army, he would be long gone by the time she got home.
He was quits with her, more than quits with her, and he would soon he taking his pick from the girls around Catterick.
It was fortunate for Lenny that he did not see the consequence of his revenge. It had taken Elsie’s shocked brain a full minute to register what he said – she had been concentrating on trying to tell him she was expecting his child – and when she saw him sprinting towards the bus and it dawned on her that he was leaving her in the lurch, she sprang to her feet and dashed blindly out on to the street … straight into the path of a huge army truck.
Chapter Twenty-nine
After an initial period of resentment on Meggie’s part, she had become more friendly towards Lizann, even encouraging her to go out for walks after her day’s work was done. On her first such outing she had gone to collect Cheeky from the shed where all the collies were housed at night. His ears had gone up when he saw her, but he had stayed where he was, and she supposed he got enough exercise during the day. He was a farm dog now, not a pet.
She didn’t bother to go near him now and usually made her way along the burn, which had always been her favourite walk. She didn’t mind going by herself … though it would have been nicer if Mr Fordyce was with her. Still, he wouldn’t think it proper since he was her boss.
One Thursday night – Meggie’s day for visiting the cook at Wester Duncairn – Lizann set off down the path from the back door. She passed the little wooden bridge because she liked to go along the near side of the burn and cross the water by the stepping stones about a mile farther on. As she strolled along, contentedly breathing in the smell of moss and bracken, the sound of heavy feet behind her made her look round.
‘I thought this is where you’d be,’ Dan said as he came alongside her. ‘It was so stuffy in the house, I needed a breath of fresh air, and when I came through the kitchen, there was no one there.’
‘Meggie’s out seeing her friend.’
‘Does she got out every Thursday?’
‘Usually.’
‘Um … I’ve missed our little chats, you know.’
‘So’ve I, Mr Fordyce.’
‘It’s Dan, remember? Would you mind if I came with you every Thursday? Meggie wouldn’t be here to get any ideas.’
‘Yes, Dan, I’d like that.’
They kept walking slowly, talking about this and that, but sometimes not saying anything at all, merely enjoying each other’s company. When they returned to the house Dan said goodnight and left her, but she was really pleased that they were good friends again, even though she would be with him for only an hour or so every Thursday.
‘Mrs Jappy?’
The sight of the tall policeman had made Jenny’s mouth dry up, but she managed to murmur, ‘Yes?’
‘Can I come in?’
Once inside, he took off his hat. ‘I believe you’re acquainted with Mrs Elsie Tait?’
‘Yes?’
‘She was involved in an accident in Elgin last night.’
/> ‘Oh, no! What happened?’
‘I don’t know. I was just told to take you to Doctor Gray’s Hospital. Apparently she wants to see you.’
‘Me?’ Jenny could hardly credit this when they had parted on such bad terms. ‘I’ll have to get my neighbour to look after my bairns, but I’ll not be a minute.’
In half an hour she was at the reception desk of the Elgin hospital asking for Mrs Tait. When she found the correct ward, the sister detained her before she went in. ‘Mrs Tait’s condition is critical, but in her brief spells of consciousness she is very agitated and keeps asking for you. I think she wants to get something off her mind, so let her tell you if she can, but whatever she says, try not to upset her.’
Judging by the woman’s grave expression, Jenny guessed that Elsie was not expected to live, and she was turning away when the sister said, ‘We know from letters she had that her husband is in the Navy, but is there anyone else we should notify?’
‘Her mother and father live in North Pringle Street in Buckie. I don’t know the number, but their name’s Slater.’
‘The police’ll trace them from that, I’m sure. I’ll tell the almoner.’
She hurried away and Jenny went into the ward, but when she saw the white, still figure on the bed she thought she was too late. As she stood uncertainly, a young nurse came over to her. ‘Mrs Jappy? Let her know you’re here, but don’t stay longer than a few minutes.’
The girl went to attend to another patient and Jenny leaned forward. ‘Elsie, can you hear me? It’s Jenny Jappy.’
The eyes opened. ‘Jenny?’ It was very faint, the lips scarcely moving. ‘My bairns … wi’ my mother … be all right … have to tell you …’
The fidgeting fingers told Jenny that she was about to learn something she wouldn’t want to hear, but she bent her head to listen.
‘I … made … Lizann … run away.’
Jenny was shocked, but the tic flickering at the pain-filled eyes made her murmur, ‘It’s all right, Elsie.’
The voice became a fraction stronger. ‘I said … I’d tell … she was … carrying on … with Peter.’
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