Christmas Child: an absolutely heartbreaking and emotional Victorian romance

by Carol Rivers

  Bella hated eating tea with the Taylor's. She did it as little as possible, and only for Dolly's sake. They sat at measured intervals around the big oval table set with the best china and a cake stand and teapot in matching design. The conversation was always the same. How marvellous Mrs Taylor's cooking was, a result of Mr Taylor's vegetable garden just over the railway line. There were questions slipped in about her mother too and her job as a barmaid at the Rose. So Bella was always on her guard which made eating the unpalatable food even more tedious.

  She took a sandwich from the plate and bit it into it, wincing at the concoction of fatty spam and sliced vegetable pressed inside the bread. Mrs Taylor, always so proud of the miracles she produced from her ration book, smiled at her husband.

  'It's Doctor Carrot again, Neville dear. Fresh from the allotment.'

  'Amazing little chap, isn't he? Don't know how we'd have managed without him during the war. I mean, Doctor Carrot even helped us to see in the blackout!'

  Bella glanced at Dolly sitting beside her. Both girls smothered their laughter.

  Mr Taylor munched noisily as he spoke. Bella had heard it all before as had every other person sitting in the room. The adventures of Doctor Carrot and Potato Pete, the brainchild of the government minister Lord Woolton, who had pioneered the famously indigestible vegetable pie.

  'This is lovely, Mum,' Dolly said making a sly face at Bella.

  'The best,' agreed Raymond as he patted his stomach, clearly full of the watery custard and anaemic looking spotted dick he had just consumed.

  Bella nibbled and between gulps of air, attempted to keep the food down. The Taylors always ate their sandwiches last, to "fill an empty gap" as Mrs Taylor put it.

  'Well now, better clear the dishes,' said Mrs Taylor rising to her feet.

  'Where is my newspaper, Mother?' Neville Taylor rose too as if they were joined at the hip. He brushed the crumbs from his immaculate grey suit. As a white-collar worker at Poplar town hall, he always wore the same clothes, always a tie and freshly pressed white shirt with detachable collar. A custom, Bella noticed, that Raymond had begun to follow.

  'Over there, dear.' Mrs Taylor indicated the direction. 'By your chair, next to your pipe.'

  'We'll do the washing up, Mum.' Dolly winked at Bella. 'You put your feet up.'

  'That's nice of you, dear.' Dorothy Taylor beamed at her daughter. 'Your father and me will sit down, then. Raymond, turn on the wireless.'

  'I'm going to stretch my legs,' Ray said, jumping to attention. Bella looked at Dolly who was also trying to hide her laughter. 'Be back later though, to say goodbye to the girls.'

  'Don't stay out too late,' Mrs Taylor replied predictably. 'You've got to be up bright and early for work.'

  Raymond pecked his mother on the cheek. Following the girls out to the kitchen, Ray paused by Bella. 'What you doing tomorrow?'

  'Breathing, I hope.' Bella lowered the cups and saucers into the bowl.

  Dolly giggled, causing Ray to scowl at his sister. 'You know what I mean, it's Saturday.'

  'I know it is. Because today's Friday.'

  Ignoring the sarcasm, he moved closer, lowering his voice to a whisper. 'Fancy coming to the Troxy?'

  'To do what?' Bella asked, wide-eyed.

  'To see a flick of course.'

  'What's on?'

  'Dunno, a double feature, p'raps.'

  Bella shook her head solemnly. 'You don't even know what's showing, do you?'

  'Give us a chance, Bella. We'll find out when we get there.'

  'And then what?' Bella demanded. 'A grope in the back seats for two hours? No thank you.'

  Raymond Taylor's face turned scarlet. 'That's not what I meant!' he yelled, humiliated.

  Dolly was clattering the dishes noisily but turned round at the disturbance. 'What's going on, you two?'

  'Nothing,' Bella said indifferently. 'Much to your brother's disappointment.'

  'Now, now.' Dolly came between them. 'Keep it down or Mum'll be in.' She pushed her brother back. 'And anyway, Bella's spoken for. You're wasting your time, Ray.'

  It was Bella's turn to look annoyed. Her expression darkened. 'Shut up, Dolly.'

  'Well you are, aren't you?'

  Before Bella could reply Ray caught hold of Bella's arm. 'Micky Bryant is trouble with a sodding great T, Bella. Him and his family. You'll end up on the wrong side of the law. Why can't you see that?'

  'And you are the world's biggest snob for looking down on them,' Bella retorted angrily. 'What do you know of the Bryants or what they've done for me? I wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for them and that's the plain truth.'

  'Have it your way,' he agreed sullenly, 'but don't say I didn't warn you.'

  Raymond Taylor had hit a nerve but Bella wasn't prepared to show it. Instead she retaliated like she always did when she felt she was being attacked. 'Listen Ray, you're no different to any other bloke wanting to get his leg over, but you won't admit it. Added to which you've got a cheek to stand there and critisize me for the way I live my life when there's one or two whispers I've heard about you and a certain blackmarket butcher you're in with. It would give your mother a right old turn if she thought her darling boy was on the fiddle.'

  'You little - ' Raymond stepped forward angrily, but Dolly jumped between them. Bella smiled in triumph; she had brought him down a peg and she was overjoyed at the result.

  Dolly pushed against her brother's chest. 'Come on you lot, shake hands and be friends. Please.'

  But Bella shook her off. 'No thanks, Dolly. I've had enough for one night.'

  She flung the dishcloth down and strode into the hall, snapping her bag from the stand on her way out.

  Bella walked with her head held high, satisfied she had had the last word although she would have preferred to give Ray Taylor the argument he deserved. How dare he tell her what was good for her and more importantly, what was not? He wasn't averse to flogging an off-cut of beef or pork on the quiet, pocketing the proceeds as fast as he made them. A fact that didn't quite fit with Mrs Taylor's image of her perfect son.

  Bella blew out a long breath allowing her anger to cool. It was a beautiful summer's night. Why should she let Raymond Taylor spoil it? The street was full of children rummaging in the derelict houses of the bombed sites, just like she and Terry had once done. But she was older and wiser now and would never stand for such humiliation again. It was jealousy that made people like the Taylors look down their noses at others. And it certainly wasn't for the likes of Ray to sit in judgement when he was such a hypocrite himself.

  'Bella!'

  Dolly's call was panic-stricken. Bella turned round to find Dolly running after her, tripping over the cracks in the pavement in her haste to catch up. Her hair had lost all its clips and her round face was full of concern. 'Ray didn't mean what he said. I'm sorry,' she gasped as she drew level with Bella.

  'It's not your fault.'

  'He likes you, he really does.' Dolly held her sides, breathing hard. 'He wouldn't hurt you for the world. And what you said about the butcher? You won't let on to Mum, will you? She'd kill him.'

  'You know me better than that.'

  'It's just a little side line he's got going.'

  'I don't care what your brother does,' Bella snapped. 'As long he leaves me alone.'

  'He will, I promise.' Dolly groaned. 'I've got a stitch now.'

  Bella giggled. 'All you need is a needle.'

  Dolly laughed breathlessly. 'Oh, Bella, you're a laugh a minute you are.' Her eyes filled with tears. 'I keep forgetting we won't be going back to school after the holidays. I get a rotten sinking feeling inside when I think of that.'

  'I don't,' Bella replied at once. 'I'll be free at last. And anyway, what are you worrying for? You're brainier than me and will get a job without any trouble.'

  'Yes, but I'll be all on me own somewhere without you.'

  'You'll have to learn to stick up for yourself, Dol.'

  Dolly blushed. 'I know. You always s
tuck up for me. I was such a wimp.'

  'Well, it's the real world for us now. People will walk over us if we let them.'

  Dolly looked sad. 'I wish I was like you.'

  Bella laughed. 'That's a funny thing to say. You've got everything a girl could want. A nice family, a proper roof over your head and you're bound to find a nice boyfriend.'

  'But I'm weak and you're strong, Bella. You've always got the answers.'

  'Only because I make them up.'

  Dolly giggled. 'And you're funny. I never am.'

  'Oh Dolly, do cheer up. Look on the bright side of life. You can start the morning with a smile on your face or a frown. It's your choice, as easy as that.'

  Bella looked at her friend and wondered where they would both be in ten years time. Would Dolly be a replica of Mrs Taylor, with a neat and tidy terraced house, have kids with shiny faces and be married to a parrot of a husband? If that was so, good luck to Dolly! But that wasn't what Bella wanted and today had confirmed it.

  'We can still go out together, can't we?' Dolly asked plaintively.

  'Course we can.'

  'Shall I call round your house?'

  Bella smirked. Dolly never called. No one ever called, except Micky or Ronnie. 'If you dare.'

  Dolly went pink. 'He won't answer the door, will he?'

  Bella laughed. 'Tell you what, I'll come round to yours.'

  Dolly looked relieved. 'Will you? Promise?'

  Bella nodded. 'We'll go up the market. Cox Street or the Lane.'

  Dolly flung herself forward and hugged Bella so tight, her bones cracked. 'I'm going to miss you so much.'

  As they parted, Bella felt the shackles of their friendship fall away for unlike Dolly, she wanted to experience everything! She knew that life had only just begun now they had left school and the thought of freedom excited her beyond measure. She was going to meet new people and make new friends, though she didn't said as much to Dolly who was in floods of tears, trying to wipe her wet cheeks surreptitiously as she said goodbye.

  Also by Carol Rivers

  LIZZIE FLOWERS AND THE FAMILY FIRM

  Another Amazon Bestseller!

  Gripping. Unputdownable. Addictive.

  She’s a lone woman fighting tooth and nail for her turf in a dirty world.

  If you like juicy family dramas, feisty heroines and conflicted romances, then you’ll love Carol Rivers’ page-turning novel.

  Lizzie Flowers has history with the corrupt gangs of London’s East End; she’s won more battles than she’s lost. But this time she must think out of the box - and quick!

  A violent racketeer nicknamed The Prince threatens the life of her treasured niece and plans to steal her business empire.

  To add to her troubles, lifelong lover Danny falls under the spell of another woman and walks away from the action.

  Ultimately, it’s close family she turns to. But can the Flowers swallow on their personal issues before the enemy closes in? United, there’s a small chance they’ll bring the most infamous gangster of all to justice. Divided, they fall!

  Can one single-minded lady unite her clan in time to save The Firm and the life of little Polly?

  Lizzie Flowers and the Family Firm from the Sunday Times and eBook bestselling author of A Wartime Christmas. Read as a riveting STANDALONE or enjoy as part of the Lizzie Flowers trilogy. Please click on cover to purchase.

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  First published in Great Britain by Carol Rivers Publications

  This ebook edition published 2019

  Copyright © 2019 Carol Rivers Publications

  All rights reserved.

  The right of Carol Rivers to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious sense. Any resemblance to real people alive or dead, events or locations, is coincidental.