by Dilly Court
‘Ta, Polly. But I think I’m too old for Christmas stockings and all that. What story would you like tonight?’ Sparrow and Polly wandered out of the room, discussing fairy stories, followed by Maria with Teddy in her arms.
‘Who would believe that a child could be treated in such a way?’ Rose said angrily. ‘It’s a wonder that Sparrow has turned out so well.’
‘It’s just as well you bought those fripperies in the market when young Sparrow was otherwise engaged,’ Eugene said, smiling. ‘I dare say they’re the sort of thing that girls her age would enjoy.’
‘I would have done at her age, so I think Sparrow will love them. We’ll have to make this a very special Christmas.’ Rose held his gaze for a moment, losing herself in the warmth of his smile, but a sound outside brought her back to reality and she looked away. ‘I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for us. You’ll stay for supper, won’t you, Gene?’
He shook his head. ‘I should get home. I told Simms to pick me up at seven o’clock.’
‘Of course, but you’ll be here tomorrow, won’t you?’
‘If the invitation still stands.’
Rose was about to answer when the sounds outside grew louder and she realised that someone was hammering on the front door. ‘Who could that be?’
‘Are you expecting anyone?’
She shook her head. ‘I’ll go and see. I let Flossie and Cora have the evening off, so I expect they’re in the nearest pub.’ She left the room and went to open the door. ‘Who is it?’ She peered into the darkness and her breath caught in her throat. ‘Jimmy! It can’t be.’
He stepped inside, shaking snow off his cap. ‘It’s none other, and look who came with me?’
Rose’s hands flew to cover her mouth. ‘Max. I can’t believe it.’
He pushed past his brother, coming to a halt when he saw Eugene. ‘What’s he doing here?’
‘Max!’ Rose cast an anxious glance at Eugene, but he was shrugging on his greatcoat.
‘Don’t mind me,’ Eugene said casually. ‘I was just leaving.’
Rose rounded on Max. ‘That was uncalled for.’
‘We mustn’t detain you, Sheldon.’ Max held the door open. ‘Compliments of the season.’
Rose stepped in between them. ‘Wait for me in the parlour, Max. I’ll see Eugene out.’
‘Yes, come on.’ Jimmy slapped his brother on the back. ‘I need to get warm after that walk from the station.’
With a reluctant backward glance, Max followed his brother into the parlour.
‘I’m so sorry,’ Rose said hastily. ‘I don’t know what’s come over Max. That was so unlike him.’
Eugene hesitated in the doorway. ‘He’s jealous, Rose. It’s perfectly natural and I dare say I might be the same if I arrived home from war to find my fiancée entertaining another man.’
‘You wouldn’t behave like that,’ Rose said firmly. ‘I’ll have words with Max to make sure he doesn’t spoil Christmas with his childish behaviour.’
‘I think it best if I stay away tomorrow.’ Eugene took her hand in his and held it in a warm clasp.
‘No, that’s not necessary. I won’t allow Max to upset our plans.’
‘Don’t worry about me, Munday. I’ve had many requests for my company – it’s just a question of choosing which one I’ll accept.’ He raised her hand to his lips. ‘Merry Christmas, Rose.’ He stepped outside into the swirling snow before she had a chance to protest. She stood for a moment, willing him to turn and acknowledge her with a wave, but he disappeared into the darkness.
Rose slammed the door and marched into the parlour to find Max standing with his back to the fire, and Jimmy sitting in the armchair with his booted feet resting on the brass fender. He made to stand but she motioned him to remain seated.
‘Why did you do that, Max?’ she demanded furiously. ‘Eugene Sheldon is my employer and he’s also a good friend. You were incredibly rude to him.’
‘Why is he always sneaking around you, Rose? You’re my fiancée and yet the fellow is always at your side. You followed him to Egypt, and I return unexpectedly to find him here, in my house.’
‘Hold on, Max,’ Jimmy said abruptly. ‘Give Rose a chance to explain.’
‘I don’t have to explain anything, thank you, Jimmy.’
Max folded his arms across his chest, fixing her with a hard stare. ‘The man is a bounder, Rose. He’s bought you with promises of a career in journalism, when we all know that it’s not a suitable occupation for a woman, let alone someone of your age and background.’
‘And what is my background, Max? What is it that puts me above others?’
‘Don’t play word games with me. You know very well what I mean. You were well educated, thanks to the Dorincourt family, and brought up to be a lady. Eugene Sheldon will drag you down to the level of the gutter.’
‘I can’t believe you’re saying these things,’ Rose said slowly. ‘What happened to you in Egypt, Max? You weren’t like this in Australia.’
‘I’ve seen more of the world since then, and I want my wife to be above reproach. I intend to move up the ranks, and my lady will be expected to mix with the higher echelons.’
‘I say, Max, old fellow. You’re laying it on a bit thick, aren’t you?’ Jimmy rose to his feet. ‘For heaven’s sake, calm down. Let’s have a drink and put all this behind us.’
Rose took a deep breath. ‘That’s a good idea, Jimmy. We’ve been given a superb Fortnum and Mason hamper from the man you so obviously despise, Max. I left it to Flossie and Cora to unpack, but I believe there’s some brandy and maybe a bottle of rum. I’ll go and see.’ She made a move towards the door but Max stepped in front of her.
‘You have servants. Ring for them.’
‘I gave them the evening off,’ Rose said coldly. ‘And for your information, I don’t think of Flossie and Cora as servants. They saved my life when I was lost and alone in London, which was largely your fault for not making proper arrangements for me. They took me in and gave me shelter.’
‘Who are these women?’
‘They’re my friends, Max. They’ve escaped from a life of brutality and degradation and they’re putting the old ways behind them.’
‘Do you mean to say that you’re sharing my house with common prostitutes? You’ll tell them to leave, or I will.’
‘Max! That’s enough,’ Jimmy said angrily.
Rose clenched her hands at her sides. For a wild moment she had been tempted to slap Max’s face, but she managed to control herself. ‘Cora and Flossie are my friends. If anyone leaves this house tonight it will be you.’
‘You can’t throw me out of my own property.’
‘As far as I know this place still belongs to Caroline, and I think she would agree with me. In fact, I know she would. Your sister is a warm-hearted, compassionate woman. I don’t know what the army has done to you, Max, but I don’t like it.’
Jimmy placed himself in between them. ‘This is getting out of hand. Max, you’re being unreasonable. You’ve upset Rose and I think you should apologise.’
‘I come home and find another man in my house.’ Max turned on Rose, his nostrils flaring. ‘And I haven’t forgotten that you seemed more interested in that fellow’s welfare after I rescued him than you were in mine, and I’m your fiancé.’
‘This is nonsense inspired by jealousy. You should be ashamed of yourself, Max.’ Rose turned away. ‘I’m going to the kitchen to find you some food and something to drink. Talk to him, Jimmy – make him see sense.’
‘Don’t bother on our account,’ Max said stonily. ‘We’re leaving.’
‘We are?’ Jimmy countered. ‘Where the hell will we go on Christmas Eve, in the midst of a blizzard?’
‘Yes, that’s ridiculous,’ Rose added. ‘You two can share the room you had when you were boys.’
‘I know where Phineas hid a set of keys for Pier House. I overheard him telling Caroline that he’d done it in case the old woman had a fall o
r a fit, or some such thing. We’ll spend the night there, Jimmy.’
‘But it’s been locked up since the murder.’ Rose looked from one to the other. ‘It will be freezing and the beds won’t be made up. Please stop being so pig-headed, Max. You’re behaving like a five-year-old.’
‘Thank you for that,’ he said coldly. ‘Now I know exactly what you think of me. Come along, Jimmy. We’re leaving.’
‘This is madness. Let’s have something to eat and a few drinks and remember that it’s the season of “peace on earth, goodwill to men”.’ Jimmy turned to Rose with a wry smile. ‘Do you remember the year when Laurence made us learn the poem by Longfellow, and we had to recite it in full or forfeit breakfast on Christmas morning?’
Rose nodded and was about to answer when Max pushed past her.
‘Coming here tonight was a mistake,’ he said angrily. ‘We’ll spend the night at Pier House and it will give you time to think things over, Rose. If you still cling to your mindless loyalty to that libertine, then I consider our engagement terminated.’
Rose stared at him aghast. ‘I’m beginning to think I was a fool to agree to marry you in the first place. Even so, it’s Christmas and I’ll expect you both for dinner tomorrow, and we’ll say nothing about this, because I’m not going to ruin Christmas Day for the children.’
‘Of course we’ll join you for the celebration, Rose.’ Jimmy slipped his arm around her shoulders. ‘Who’s staying here with you, tonight? I don’t want to leave you like this.’
‘Flossie and Cora will be home soon, and Maria Barnaby is here with her two children. Last, but definitely not least, there’s Sparrow, a child from the streets who now lives with us.’
‘You seem to delight in using my house to shelter undesirables, apart from Maria and her children, of course.’ Max headed for the door. ‘We’ll continue this discussion tomorrow, Rose.’ He turned to his brother. ‘You’re welcome to remain here, if you wish, Jim. This is my business, not yours.’
Jimmy shook his head. ‘I don’t agree with you, Max, but I’ll keep you company. Maybe we could find a nice warm room in one of the pubs. I really don’t fancy breaking into a house where an old lady was murdered.’
‘Ghosts can’t hurt you, Jim.’ Max shot a reproachful glance in Rose’s direction. ‘Only the living can do that.’ He marched out of the room.
Jimmy kissed Rose on the cheek. ‘I’ll try to talk some sense into him, Rose. Maybe after spending a freezing night in a haunted house he’ll see things more clearly in the morning.’ He followed Max into the hall.
Rose remained standing in the middle of the room, stung by the unfairness of Max’s remarks, and angry that he should have behaved in such a cavalier fashion. It was she who had suffered from his thoughtlessness, and yet he had never apologised for dragging her halfway around the world without making any provision for her welfare. What a naïve fool she must have been to undertake such a journey. She spun round at the sound of the door opening but it was Maria who rushed to her side.
‘What’s happened, Rose? Who was here? I heard raised voices but I couldn’t come immediately without scaring the children.’
Rose sank down on the nearest chair. ‘You won’t believe it when I tell you.’
‘You’re trembling.’ Maria eyed her worriedly. ‘I’m certain I saw a bottle of brandy in the Fortnum’s hamper. I think we could both do with a tot, and then you can tell me what happened just now.’
Rose was about to follow her from the room when she heard someone knocking on the front door. ‘I’ll go and see who it is,’ she said wearily. ‘Perhaps Max has had second thoughts.’ She went to open the door.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Eugene brushed past her, sending a shower of snowflakes onto the floorboards as he took off his hat. He tossed it at the hallstand and this time his aim was perfect. ‘I’m done with being a gentleman, Rose.’ He wrapped her in his arms and kissed her long and hard.
His face was ice-cold but the warmth of his lips sent fire racing through her veins, and although Rose’s first instinct was to push him away, she found herself responding in a way that seemed completely natural. The powdery snow on his greatcoat melted, soaking through the thin woollen fabric of her gown, but she was oblivious to everything other than the achingly familiar scent of him and the strength of his arms around her.
‘I’m not going to apologise, Rose,’ he said softly, caressing her cheek with his lips. ‘I’ve held back because I thought you were in love with someone else, but from what I witnessed tonight he’s not worth it. I’m a bad lot, but at least I admit my failings.’
Dazed and breathless, Rose gazed into his eyes and saw her own bewildered reflection. ‘This is all wrong, Gene.’
‘Maybe, but I love you and I know now that you’re not indifferent to me, Rose. For once in my life I’ve tried to do the right thing, but to hell with that. You were meant for me and I’m not giving you into the hands of that stiff-necked idiot.’
‘Is that what you came back to say?’ Rose broke free from his embrace. ‘You never gave a hint of having any feelings for me before now.’
He dropped his hands to his sides. ‘That’s what comes from trying to do what I felt was in your best interests. I’ve never met anyone like you, Rose. I’ve led a completely selfish existence, doing precisely what I wanted with no thought to other people, unless they were likely to make the front page of the Leader.’
‘But you abandoned me. You went off to Egypt and left me to cope on my own. That doesn’t seem like the action of a caring man.’
‘I ran away, Munday. I’m ashamed to admit it, but I was scared for the first time in my life.’
‘I don’t believe that for a moment. I saw how you handled those costermongers in a fight, and you accompanied an army patrol into the desert. You were captured – that must have been truly frightening.’
‘Those were physical things, Rose, and I knew it was only a matter of time before we were rescued, but as for myself – I felt that I’d lost control of my senses, and that was what worried me most. I wasn’t interested in my personal safety – all I could think of was a girl with the most amazing green eyes and a mass of flame-coloured curls. Someone who was determined to take on the world all by herself. Your small hands held my heart from the first moment I met you, Rose Munday, and I’ve been fighting against it ever since.’
Rose took a step backwards. ‘Stop there, Gene. I’m more confused now than when you started. You say one thing and then you contradict yourself.’
He seized her by the shoulders. ‘I’m very bad at this because I’ve never told a woman that I loved her and meant it – until now. I need to know if you have the smallest regard for me, Rose.’
‘You’ve taken me completely by surprise. I suppose you’re used to women swooning at your feet, but I honestly don’t know what I feel for anyone. I thought I was in love with Max, but now I’m not sure …’
‘Where is he? I’ll have it out with him here and now.’
‘He left with Jimmy. We had an awful row and he’s decided to spend the night at Pier House.’
‘Then that’s where I’m going. I can’t let this rest.’
‘What are you going to do?’ Rose turned her head at the sound of footsteps and saw Maria standing by the parlour door, clutching a bottle of brandy in her hand.
‘What’s going on?’ Maria demanded. ‘I heard you from the kitchen. You’ll wake the children.’
‘I’m sorry,’ Eugene said humbly. ‘I’m leaving now. I have important matters to discuss with a military gentleman.’ He retrieved his hat from the floor and rammed it on his head.
‘No, you don’t.’ Rose grabbed him by the arm. ‘This is madness, Gene. Leave it until morning and we can talk about it then.’
He gave her a penetrating look. ‘Tell me that you don’t have any feelings for me, Rose, and I’ll go back to Tavistock Square and all this will be in the past.’
‘I don’t know what to say,’ Rose whispere
d. ‘This has got out of hand.’
‘All right. Let me put it another way,’ Eugene said softly. ‘Do you love Max Manning?’
Rose cast an anxious glance in Maria’s direction, but Maria merely shrugged. ‘Tell him the truth, Rose. Listen to your heart.’
‘I – I don’t feel as if know Max any more,’ Rose said haltingly. ‘He isn’t the man I thought he was.’
‘That’s what I hoped you’d say, Rose.’ Eugene wrenched the door open. ‘I’m going to Pier House to tell Max how things stand. I should have done it earlier this evening, but I thought you were still in love with him.’
‘What are you going to do?’ she asked nervously. ‘Don’t start a fight because he’ll beat you, Gene. He’s a trained soldier and Jimmy is bound to take his side.’
‘Leave everything to me, Rose. I can take care of myself.’ Eugene rushed out into the snowstorm.
‘He’ll be killed.’ Rose snatched Maria’s fur-lined cloak from the hallstand. ‘You don’t mind if I borrow this, do you?’
‘No, take it. Go after him, Rose. Bring him back here and talk things over.’
Rose wrapped the cloak around her, covering her head with the hood as she raced after Eugene. ‘Wait for me.’
He came to a halt at the foot of the watermen’s stairs. ‘Go back, Rose. This is between Max and me.’
‘I think it concerns me, too. You men seem to think that we’re chattels that you can pass from hand to hand, and it’s just not so.’
He held out his hand. ‘You’re right. We’ll do this together, and if you decide that he’s the one you want, so be it, but don’t expect me to give up without a fight.’
They battled their way through a fierce blizzard, and it took twice as long to reach their destination as it would have done normally. It was a relief to arrive at Pier House, where lights shone from several of the ground-floor windows.
‘At least they made it here,’ Rose said breathlessly. ‘I can see someone moving about in the morning parlour.’ She tightened her grasp on Eugene’s hand, dragging him to a halt. ‘But that’s neither Max nor Jimmy.’ She uttered a gasp of horror. ‘It looks like Regan, but it can’t be. I know that he evaded arrest, but surely he wouldn’t be stupid enough to hide out here.’