by June Francis
‘I wish you and Grant could come with us,’ said Joy impulsively.
Wendy looked startled. ‘Don’t be daft, Aunt Joy, it’s your honeymoon.’
Joy’s spirits plummeted. ‘Yes. Of course, it was just a joke.’ She fiddled with her new shiny wedding ring. ‘I suppose I should go and have a word with Patsy. I wonder if she’s heard any more news about Mrs Tanner.’
‘She has,’ said Wendy. ‘But you go and find out for yourself.’
Joy made her way over to the french windows where Patsy was standing, talking to Grant. ‘Hello, you two,’ she greeted. ‘I hope you don’t mind my interrupting?’
‘Of course not, Mrs Bennett,’ said Patsy, smiling. ‘You look really lovely.’
‘Thanks. I just wanted to ask you how Mrs Tanner is?’
‘I was going to come and tell you when you didn’t have people round you. She’s woken up and has facial injuries and some broken bones. Mr Tanner is staying in Blackpool for now. Mr Simpson reckons she probably hit the windscreen.’
Joy shivered. ‘Nasty!’
‘Are you all right?’ asked Patsy, looking concerned.
‘Of course I am.’ Joy smiled brightly. ‘It’s just that someone walked over my grave, that’s all.’
‘I’ve never understood why people say that,’ said Patsy.
Joy said, ‘Neither do I, frankly. I’d better circulate.’
She moved away.
Grant said, ‘They’re going away in the morning, driving down to London.’
Patsy’s eyes widened. ‘It’s a long way, isn’t it?’
‘Nearly two hundred miles.’
‘Perhaps that’s why she had that shiver, worrying about the journey, knowing about the crash.’ Patsy felt trembly all of a sudden and could only pray that they would be all right. ‘I must find our Kathleen and make sure she’s not making eyes at that Chris Davies,’ she said.
‘Don’t be a spoilsport,’ said Grant. ‘You’re only young once.’
‘You don’t have to tell me,’ said Patsy, leaving him to go in search of her sister.
To her surprise she found Kathleen not amongst the young ones but with Alice. Patsy wondered what possible interest she could have in her sister but decided not to interrupt them. She was not to find out about Kathleen’s business with Alice until they were rattling along on the tram to the Tanners’ house.
‘You’re never going to believe this but Flora’s mother told me how much she liked the embroidery on me frock,’ said Kathleen smugly. ‘I told her that I designed the pattern myself and she offered to teach me all that she knows about dressmaking and millinery if I went and worked for her.’
Patsy was delighted. ‘I’m glad to be proved wrong about you’re not finding a job at the wedding. You know she made all the dresses?’
‘Of course I know that,’ said Kathleen scornfully. ‘But did you know that she has her own shop in Chester?’
‘Go’way!’
Kathleen nodded. ‘As soon as I knew that I was keen to speak to her. I had everything crossed that there might be an opening for me. Trouble is that she suggested in payment for her teaching me I could work in the shop for no wages.’
‘What did you say to her?’
‘I asked her what I was supposed to live on. I said that however much I would like to accept her offer, I couldn’t in the circumstances.’
‘It’s a shame,’ said Patsy. ‘I wish you could do it.’
Kathleen chuckled. ‘I thought yer might if it meant you could stop worrying about me. She came up with an answer but I can’t say that it made me happy.’
‘What was it?’
‘Working part-time in the shop and part-time as an all-purpose maid at her house.’
Patsy laughed. ‘You lucky duck! You’ll be living in with the Chester Bennetts! I believe they have a lovely house right by the River Dee.’
‘Oh yeah, great! I could be working for hours for nothing and then cleaning and washing and stuff for a whole two shillings a week in the house.’
‘That’s good! Just think how much you’re going to learn and I bet you’ll have a lovely room and all the food you can eat.’
‘I’ll also have Flora looking down her nose at me and trying to boss me around. She stayed on at school to study for some certificate or other. Mrs Bennett wanted her to do what she asked me to do but working in a shop and being a dressmaker isn’t good enough for her.’ Kathleen glanced out of the window. ‘Isn’t this our stop?’
‘Yes!’ Patsy rose and hurried along the aisle and jumped off the tram, followed by Kathleen.
As they began to walk in the direction of the Tanners’ house, Patsy was about to suggest that her sister give Alice Bennett’s offer some more thought, but one look at Kathleen’s face made her decide to keep quiet on the subject for now. It was possible that Flora’s mother had already told Kathleen to take a little while to consider the matter. If so, she could continue to stay at the Tanners’ house during that time.
At least today had ended on a positive note. The wedding had gone off well. The bride had looked lovely and even the bridegroom hadn’t looked half bad for his age. He had thanked her for the puppy and that had pleased her. She wished the three of them happy.
Chapter Fourteen
‘Do you mind if the puppy sleeps in my room, Robbie?’ Joy was standing on the landing cuddling the puppy.
‘Why not? I heard it whining last night,’ wheezed Robbie, executing a few dance steps on the landing.
‘So did I,’ said Joy, ‘so I brought his basket upstairs and made him comfortable on a bit of blanket and he settled down after a while. I didn’t want him disturbing our guests.’
‘Well, I’d rather he didn’t disturb us.’ Robbie cocked a bushy eyebrow at her. ‘You know what I mean? It is our wedding night and I could do with a bit of tender loving care myself, never mind Rex getting all the cuddles.’
Joy’s hand stilled on the puppy’s head. ‘I thought we had an agreement?’
‘Yes, but…’ He rubbed the back of his neck. ‘Brendan’s death really shook me up. I haven’t been sleeping well. I’m sure I’d feel better if I had your company through the small hours when everything seems darkest. A man needs his wife then.’
Joy knew she should not feel resentful and angry. It was natural that he would want the comfort and pleasure that asserting his marital rights would bring him in the aftermath of his old friend’s death.
‘All right, if that’s how you feel,’ she said, trying her best to sound amenable. ‘But perhaps we should take Rex into your bedroom.’
‘No, leave him in yours,’ said Robbie firmly.
Joy decided not to argue. Without another word, she went to her bedroom and settled the puppy. Then she picked up the plain white cotton nightgown she had bought last week. She held it to her for a moment and then dropped it onto the bed. She undressed and put on the nightgown before quietly leaving her bedroom. She knocked on the door of Robbie’s bedroom and waited for his summons.
‘Come on in, Joy. There’s no need to stand on ceremony,’ he said heartily, flinging the door open. He was wearing paisley-patterned pyjamas.
‘Thank you,’ said Joy.
She hesitated for a second before walking past him. She told herself that it was not as if she had not been in this bedroom numerous times to change the bedding and pick up his dirty clothing, to dust, polish and sweep.
‘You’re all ready for bed,’ he said.
She wondered if that was disappointment in his voice.
‘I thought it would save time,’ she murmured, drawing back the bedclothes from the opposite side to where he normally slept. Strange that he hadn’t taken to sleeping in the middle after Eudora died. She climbed into bed, lay down and drew the bedclothes up to her chin.
Robbie got in the other side. She felt the bed dip with his weight and tossed up a prayer that he would not suffocate her when he crawled on top of her. He had left on the light and so she closed her eyes. Perhaps if she
imagined he was someone else. Chris! No! Chris had been sturdy and muscular with a young man’s skin and smell. Mr Tanner? No, he was a married man, and besides, he had a lean and wiry body.
As Robbie pushed up her nightgown and heaved himself on top of her, the smell of tobacco that overlaid that of soap, hair oil and alcohol threatened to make her throw up. She felt a rising panic as he fumbled down below. When it happened the pain was intense for a short while and then it was just a matter of enduring while he gasped and wheezed as he flopped up and down on her. It was a relief when it was all over and he rolled off her.
Propping up his pillows he rested against them, getting his breath back before lighting a cigarette and saying, ‘You were a virgin,’ in a pleased voice.
Joy waited for him to say something more. Perhaps thank her for agreeing to do what he asked but he continued to puff on his cigarette. Joy felt so angry that she could not speak. She slid off her side of the bed and, clutching her nightgown to her, made her way to the lavatory. She did not return to his bed but to her own where she put on her old nightgown. Then she lay with the puppy beside her on the coverlet, stroking him and thinking of Eudora’s voice before she had left for the church, saying It won’t be for long.
Robbie visited Joy in her bedroom some time later that night and she endured his attentions without a word. When he returned to his own bedroom she rose and visited the bathroom before dressing and going downstairs to prepare a picnic for the journey tomorrow.
* * *
Joy was having trouble breathing as she tried again to rouse Robbie but her attentions were to no avail. She was aware of sparrows chirruping under the eaves and it seemed impossible that Robbie’s death could have come so swiftly and on such a lovely spring day. At least he had a smile on his face so he must have slipped away quite quickly after he returned to his own room. For what felt like an age she sat on the side of the bed, staring down at him. Then she drew the sheet over her husband’s face before going downstairs and ringing the doctor.
* * *
‘Auntie Joy, aren’t you ready to go yet?’ asked Wendy, entering the kitchen.
Joy was feeding Rex and did not immediately answer. ‘No, I’m afraid not.’ She sighed and lifted her face to that of her niece by marriage.
‘You’ve been crying,’ said Wendy. ‘Have you and Uncle Robbie had a row?’
Joy realised how difficult the next few hours were going to be. ‘No, love. I’m terribly sorry to have to tell you but he-he’s dead.’
Wendy stared at her in disbelief. ‘It can’t be true. You were only married yesterday.’
‘I know.’
‘You’ve made a mistake.’ Wendy’s face was pinched about the nose and mouth.
‘No, love.’ Joy’s eyes filled with tears. She had been able to forgive Robbie for his thoughtlessness once he was dead and remember his good points. Now she felt deeply sorry for Wendy who had truly loved her uncle. ‘He passed away in his sleep.’
‘Oh no!’ Wendy’s voice broke on a sob. ‘I’d best fetch Mam!’
‘No!’ Joy could not bear having to face Rita just yet. She placed her arm around Wendy’s shoulders. ‘Let’s have these few moments alone.’
‘I don’t understand!’ Wendy was shivering in Joy’s hold. ‘How could he die? He was so pleased with himself yesterday.’
‘A heart attack. I’ve had the doctor and that’s what he’s written on the death certificate. Or something in more medical language. When your uncle had bronchitis last winter the doctor told him that he should give up smoking and take things easy. But what did he do? He joined a dance band. I don’t know why he had to put himself under such pressure.’
Wendy said wretchedly, ‘He loved his music.’
‘I know that and he could have carried on giving music lessons here at the house. His health should have come first,’ said Joy.
‘Playing in bands had been his life, Aunt Joy.’ Tears trickled down Wendy’s cheeks. ‘I should go and tell Mam, although I dread doing so.’
‘I know.’ Joy’s voice quivered. ‘She’s going to blame me.’
Wendy squeezed her hand. ‘She has no reason to but he was her only brother and she wanted to be the centre of his life. She might realise now that he meant more to her than just as a financial prop.’
‘I think you’re right and that will make matters worse.’ Joy took a deep breath and made a real effort to keep calm. ‘He was really looking forward to going to London, you know? Now we’ll never get there.’
‘Oh, Aunt Joy, please, don’t talk like that!’ A sob broke from Wendy and she hugged her. ‘You’ll upset yourself even worse.’
Joy rocked the girl in her arms and then she released her. ‘Do you want to see him? He’s upstairs.’
Wendy wiped her face on her sleeve. ‘No. I’d best go and tell Mam. We’ll see him together.’ She squeezed Joy’s hand and left.
Joy sat there a moment and then went and asked the operator to put a call through to the family motor engineering business in Chester. When her sister answered the telephone, Joy said, ‘Hanny, I need you.’
‘Joy, is that you? Where are you? What’s happened?’
‘At home. Robbie’s dead and Rita is bound to blame me.’
There was a shocked silence at the other end of the line. Then Hanny said, ‘I’m coming. Get someone to make you a cup of hot, sweet tea and I’ll be there before you know it.’
Joy replaced the receiver and returned to the kitchen. Rex was sniffing at the outside door. She let him out and sank into a chair. Suddenly she began to shake. She felt as if she was falling to pieces and could not understand why. It was not as if she had loved Robbie in that heart-wrenching way she had felt when the news had come that Chris was missing. She wrapped her arms around her, thinking that she had to hold herself together or she would fall apart.
She remembered that smile on Robbie’s face when she had found him dead. It had been totally unexpected.
There was a sound at the door and Joy braced herself as she saw her sister-in-law standing in the doorway. ‘What did you do to him, you bitch?’ yelled Rita.
Joy did not answer.
‘Cat got your tongue? No excuses ready?’ shrilled Rita.
Joy found her voice. ‘You know what his health was like. I’m sure Wendy told you the doctor’s diagnosis.’
‘I want a second opinion,’ gulped Rita.
She rushed out of the kitchen and Joy was tempted to follow her but decided it was best to leave her to have these moments alone with her brother’s body. It was not long before Joy heard Rita descending the stairs.
She burst into the kitchen and there were tears on her cheeks. ‘You killed my brother! You were determined to get your hands on this house and his money,’ she accused.
‘You can believe what you like,’ said Joy. ‘But I know Robbie wanted to marry me.’
‘You led him on. You waited until your mother was out of the way and you made a play for him.’
‘That’s not true.’ Joy tried to set aside her dislike of Rita. ‘Can’t we mourn together?’
‘No thanks,’ spat out Rita. ‘I’ll do my grieving with my family, so you just keep away from them.’
She turned to go but at that moment the door opened and Wendy came in. She paused in the doorway and looked at the two women. ‘I could hear you outside, Mam. Can’t you be friends?’ she asked.
‘I’m willing,’ said Joy.
Rita looked at her with loathing and seized her daughter’s arm. ‘You’re coming with me. I want you to have nothing to do with this woman.’
‘Don’t be daft, Mam. Joy’s Uncle Robbie’s widow and my aunt now.’ Wendy tugged herself free. ‘Don’t you even want to see him? I thought we could go upstairs together.’
‘I’ve already seen him,’ said Rita, her lips trembling. ‘You always were one for sucking up to her. She killed your Uncle Robbie as sure as I’m standing here. We should phone the police.’
‘By all means do, I’ve not
hing to hide,’ said Joy, starting to get really annoyed with her sister-in-law.
Wendy said, ‘Mam, I’ve no time for this. I know it’s been a shock for you but Aunt Joy’s no murderess.’
‘You don’t know her.’
‘I know her better than you.’
Rita’s face was set like stone. ‘I’m going to tell the police what I think.’
‘More fool you,’ said Wendy.
Rita’s face twisted with rage. ‘You’d never have spoken to me like that in the past. It’s her influence and your working in that detective agency mixing with the lowest of the low. I won’t stand for it!’ She raised her hand.
‘Don’t try it, Mam,’ said Wendy in a low voice.
Rita gazed at her and then, instead of trying to get past her daughter to go out the back way, she turned and went through the other door into the main part of the house.
Wendy exchanged glances with Joy. ‘I’m sorry.’
‘So am I, love, but you don’t need to feel that you have to choose between us. Your first loyalty is to your mother. I’ve telephoned my sister and she’s coming over from Chester to be with me.’
Wendy heaved a sigh. ‘I’m glad. Our Minnie and the lads are going to be really upset when they hear the news.’
‘You go after your mother. I’ll be all right.’
Wendy gave her a hug and then made her way to the front door but paused when she thought she heard a noise in the dining room. There it was again. It sounded like a drawer being opened. Cautiously, she pushed open the dining-room door and to her amazement saw Rita rifling through the sideboard. ‘What do you think you’re doing, Mam?’ she asked.
Rita started and turned a ravaged face on her daughter. ‘None of your business. Go away!’
‘You’ve no right to be in here.’
Rita turned and faced her with her arms folded across her bosom. ‘I’ve every right! You meet all sorts serving behind a counter and I’ve met Joy’s sort before. They seem lovely and kind on the surface but underneath they’re sly and selfish.’