The Christmas Wedding

by Dilly Court

  ‘You ain’t nothing to me now, Master Toby.’ Jonah tightened his hold on Ivy. ‘I remember when you was a snotty-nosed nipper.’

  ‘Let me go,’ Ivy pleaded. ‘I told you I wasn’t having any of it, Jonah, but you wouldn’t listen.’

  ‘You heard the lady.’ Toby moved closer, hands fisted. ‘Let her go or I might forget that you’re a cripple and sock you on the jaw.’

  ‘You just try it.’ Jonah released Ivy so suddenly that she stumbled and fell against Daisy. He made vague punching motions in Toby’s direction.

  ‘On second thoughts, you’re not worth the trouble.’ Toby turned away. ‘Get back to the hole you crawled out of, Sawkins, and don’t bother this young lady again.’

  ‘Young she may be, but she ain’t no lady.’ Jonah spat on the ground at Ivy’s feet and sidled off towards Whitechapel Road.

  Daisy slipped her arm around Ivy’s shoulders. ‘Are you all right? You’re trembling. Did he hurt you?’

  ‘He tried to put his hand up my skirt,’ Ivy whispered. ‘He called me a whore and said I owed him a favour for all the drinks he’d bought me. But I only had a glass of cider and I told him I don’t like public houses, but he insisted on taking me to one.’

  ‘I wish I had thrashed him,’ Toby said angrily. ‘It’s time someone put that little worm in his place.’

  ‘Forget him, Toby.’ Daisy guided Ivy to the front door and knocked. ‘I’ll look after Ivy. Thanks for the meal and the show. It’ll be my treat next time.’

  ‘I’ll hold you to that,’ Toby said, grinning. ‘Maybe we could all go out on Sunday. I’m not on duty and the weather is improving. How about a trip to Victoria Park and a spot of tea?’

  ‘That would be lovely, Dr Marshall.’ Ivy spoke before Daisy had a chance to answer.

  ‘It’s Toby, and it would be my pleasure,’ Toby said, doffing his hat. ‘Good night, ladies. I’ll see you on Sunday. Maybe we can persuade Nick to join us. You’d like that, wouldn’t you, Daisy?’

  ‘Yes, of course, but I’ll have to check whether or not I’m on duty that afternoon.’

  Toby kissed her on the cheek and strolled off, whistling a tune from the show.

  Daisy smiled and shook her head. Toby would never change. He would always be a boy at heart, despite the responsible position he held, and that was part of his charm. She stood back as the door opened and Ivy pushed past Aggie, who stared at her in astonishment.

  ‘What’s got into her? Miss Price is usually so polite and nice.’

  ‘She’s had a bit of a fright, but a cup of tea would go down well, if you’d be so kind, Aggie.’ Daisy stepped inside and closed the door. She did not think that Jonah would return, but there was no telling with someone like him.

  ‘Cook’s been at the sherry and she’s asleep with her cap over one eye, so she won’t know what I’m doing. I was going to make some cocoa for meself – perhaps Miss Price would prefer that.’

  ‘I’m sure she would. Thank you, Aggie.’

  ‘Perhaps you’d like some too, miss. You always speak to me like I was worth something, whereas the others treat me like I was a nobody.’

  ‘You are someone to be reckoned with, Aggie. We all depend on you for so many things.’

  Aggie stared at her blankly. ‘I dunno what, miss.’

  ‘Well, for one thing, you warn us when Gladys has been making mischief, and you never grumble if we ask you to do anything. I haven’t been here long, but already I rely on you.’

  Aggie seemed to grow an inch or two in front of Daisy’s eyes. She puffed out her chest and smiled. ‘I’m somebody now.’

  ‘You always were,’ Daisy said, smiling. ‘And now I’d better go and make sure Ivy is all right.’ Stopping first to hang her cape and bonnet on the hall stand, Daisy made her way to the parlour where she found Ivy relating the events of the evening in great detail to Minnie.

  ‘Well, you are a muggins,’ Minnie said casually. ‘What did you expect from a fellow like that? It’s obvious he’s after one thing only, but you couldn’t see it. Anyway, he’s as ugly as sin. I wouldn’t go out with him even if he had lots of money.’

  ‘I felt sorry for him.’ Ivy’s bottom lip trembled. ‘And I’m not pretty like you and Daisy.’ She brightened suddenly. ‘But Dr Marshall is taking us to Victoria Park on Sunday, so he must think I’m all right.’

  Minnie sent an enquiring look to Daisy. ‘Your brother asked her out?’

  ‘Toby volunteered to take both of us for a stroll in Victoria Park.’ Daisy lowered her voice as Aggie bustled in with a tray of steaming cocoa. ‘I think he was sorry for Ivy. She did have a nasty experience tonight.’

  ‘Maybe I should endure something similar and Dr Marshall would ask me out. He’s so good-looking, all the probationer nurses are in love with him.’

  ‘Really?’ Daisy stared at her in surprise. ‘I thought you had a rich gentleman friend.’

  Minnie shrugged. ‘He was only interested in one thing, Daisy. I told him I wasn’t that sort of girl and he bowed politely and walked away. I won’t be seeing him again.’

  ‘Then perhaps you’d like to come with us on Sunday?’

  ‘Yes, indeed. I’ll make sure I’m not on the roster.’

  Daisy had been on duty since very early on Sunday morning, but she had managed to get the afternoon off. She had arranged to meet the others in the park, although it was never possible to guarantee that she would get away on time. It was just as well she had not asked Minnie to wait for her as there had been two emergency admissions and, as usual, the cleaning up fell to the probationer nurse. Daisy was getting accustomed to mopping up all kinds of things that in the past would have made her retreat hastily. Matron was a stickler for disinfectant and Daisy’s hands were reddened and sore from contact with harsh soap and hot water. The smell of carbolic clung to everything, including her clothes and hair.

  Even though she was in a hurry to leave she made time to visit Hilda on the ward, and she answered all the questions that the anxious mother had thought up since their last conversation. Although Daisy had described Creek Hall and its grounds in detail, and the area of marshland with its abundance of wildlife, Hilda wanted to hear it all again. She had been born and raised in the East End and she knew nothing of the countryside and had never seen the sea. She listened enthralled as if Daisy was telling her a tale from The Arabian Nights, and of course she wanted to know how each of her four children was coping with her absence. Daisy was careful to stress that they were happy and well cared for, but naturally they missed their mother and were waiting eagerly for Hilda to return to them.

  Finally off duty, Daisy put on her bonnet and fastened the ribbons under her chin. She checked her appearance in the small cracked mirror that one of the nurses had hidden in the china cupboard and left the changing room, exchanging cheery words with the porter who was on duty in the reception area. She stepped outside the main doors and came face to face with someone she had thought never to see again.

  ‘Julian!’

  ‘I’ve been waiting here for over an hour, Daisy. I couldn’t believe it when that crippled fellow told me that you were working here as a menial.’

  ‘You went to the shop?’

  ‘How else was I supposed to find you?’

  ‘I gave Jonah strict instructions not to reveal my whereabouts to you or anyone in your family. I suppose this was his way of getting back at me.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’

  ‘Why would I want to see you again after the way you treated me, Julian? If you’ve come to apologise, you’ve left it too late.’ Daisy was about to walk away but he caught her by the wrist.

  ‘I know I behaved badly. I am truly sorry.’ Julian’s handsome face was a mask of contrition. ‘I suppose I panicked – it was all too much for me.’

  ‘What do you mean by that?’ Daisy demanded angrily.

  ‘I knew my parents would object to our engagement, and I was afraid that our union might jeopardise my prospects in the diplomatic ser
vice. I know it was wrong as well as stupid, but that’s how I felt.’

  She met his desperate gaze and was surprised to realise that she felt nothing for him, not even pity. ‘I was very hurt at the time, but I’ve changed, too. I know what I want to do in life and it doesn’t involve you. I don’t want to see you again, Julian.’

  He released her and took a step backwards, staring at her in disbelief. ‘You don’t mean that?’

  ‘Yes, I do.’

  ‘But you love me. We were going to be married.’

  ‘You were the one who finished with me, Julian. You didn’t even have the decency to tell me to my face.’

  ‘I wrote you a letter, didn’t I? I practically grovelled.’

  ‘If that’s what you call it.’ Daisy made an attempt to walk past him but he barred her way.

  ‘Is there someone else? My mother said you were a scheming minx.’

  ‘Please get out of my way. I have to be somewhere.’

  ‘You’re meeting a gentleman friend. Is he richer than me?’

  ‘Don’t be ridiculous. What I do is none of your business.’

  ‘Then return the ring I bought you. It cost me all the money I had at the time.’

  ‘Gladly, but I don’t have it on me. I’ll send it to you at Queen Square.’

  ‘No, don’t do that. I don’t want Mama and Papa to find out that I’ve seen you again.’

  ‘So nothing has really changed, has it, Julian? You’re still a little boy afraid to stand up to your parents. What do you think would have happened had I fallen into your arms and agreed to marry you now?’

  ‘You would have given me courage, Daisy.’ Julian’s lips trembled and he dropped his gaze. ‘You have more strength of character than I have. I admit that humbly and freely. I need you, Daisy.’

  ‘I’ll leave the ring with Jonah Sawkins, but you’d better collect it quickly or he’ll have taken it to the nearest pawnshop. I’m meeting my friends, so I can’t stay here and talk, but I wish you good fortune, Julian. Goodbye.’ Daisy raised her hand to hail a cab. She had intended to walk, but it was a long way and she was tired. Ignoring Julian’s pleas for her to stay and talk, she climbed into the hansom cab. ‘Victoria Park, please, cabby.’

  The unexpected encounter with Julian had upset her more than she cared to admit, even to herself. He had been her first love and the life they had planned together had seemed perfect, but she knew now how wrong she had been. She had taken Julian at face value and might have married him in total ignorance of the fact that he was selfish and shallow, only to discover his faults when it was too late. But she had loved him, and the pain he had caused her was not yet forgotten, although she had buried it deep within her heart. Perhaps the scars would remain, but she had said her piece and as far as she was concerned that was the end of a sad affair.

  It was good to see smiling faces when she found Toby and the girls in the tearoom in the park, and Nick was with them. He rose from his seat and pulled up a chair for her.

  ‘We didn’t think you were coming, Daisy.’

  ‘I was delayed at the hospital,’ Daisy said truthfully.

  ‘I suppose you were chatting to Hilda.’ Minnie reached for the teapot and filled a cup, which she passed to Daisy. ‘You look pale, love. Have a cup of tea and a currant bun. Ivy’s eaten two, but then she’s a little piggy.’

  ‘I am not,’ Ivy protested, giggling. ‘I didn’t have any dinner.’

  ‘Have as many cakes are you like, Ivy,’ Toby said cheerfully. ‘My rich friend the Harley Street specialist is treating us.’

  ‘My pleasure.’ Nick smiled as he laid some coins on the table before rising to his feet. ‘Would you care for a walk by the lake, Daisy?’

  She put down her teacup. ‘That would be nice. It’s such a lovely day and the greenery reminds me of Little Creek.’

  ‘Don’t worry about me,’ Toby said lazily. ‘I’ll look after the two ladies. I don’t often get the chance to enjoy such charming company.’

  Minnie shot him a sideways glance. ‘Come now, Doctor. I heard that you’re very popular with the nurses.’

  ‘I have heard it said.’ Toby leaned across the table, fixing Minnie with his most charming smile. ‘And what about you, Nurse Minnie?’

  ‘Probationer nurse,’ Minnie said primly. ‘I’m not so easily impressed, Doctor. Handsome is as handsome does, so my mama always says.’

  Daisy slipped her hand into the crook of Nick’s arm as they left the tearoom. ‘I think Minnie can hold her own with my brother. Toby won’t find her as easy to impress as poor little Ivy.’

  ‘Ivy told me how that fellow Sawkins treated her. I’m glad you don’t have to deal with him now.’

  ‘I can handle Jonah.’ Daisy fell into step beside him. ‘It’s such a lovely day, let’s talk about something else.’

  ‘Don’t change the subject. Toby told me about your encounter with Sawkins. I think you should keep well away from him.’

  ‘I intend to, don’t worry.’

  He came to a sudden halt as they reached the lake. ‘But I do worry about you. I can’t help it. I feel responsible for everything that has happened since you tried to help me pay my father’s debts.’

  She avoided his intense gaze and stared down into the green water where fronds of weed waved as if in a breeze. ‘That’s ridiculous. It was my idea to trick the squire into believing that I was an heiress, and now I look back on it I realise how foolish I was.’

  ‘No, I won’t have that, Daisy. You went out of your way to help a friend. We are still friends, aren’t we?’

  The anxious note in his voice made her look up. ‘Of course we are. Why would you think differently?’

  ‘The others are coming. Let’s walk on before they catch up with us.’

  ‘What’s the matter, Nick?’ She had to quicken her pace in order to keep up with him. ‘There’s something on your mind, I can tell.’

  ‘Yes, there is. I don’t think Toby broke any confidences when he told me that the squire had proposed to you.’

  ‘I dealt with that. He won’t bother me again.’

  He shook his head. ‘I’m not so sure. Tattersall is a man who hates to be crossed. He won’t give up easily.’

  ‘I suppose I should be flattered by his advances, but there’s nothing on earth that would persuade me to marry him.’

  ‘I’m glad, but …’ he paused. ‘But what about Jay?’

  ‘Jay comes and goes as he pleases, but if I choose to be his friend I think that’s my business.’

  ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you, it’s just that I care about you, Daisy, and I’m stuck in Harley Street until I’ve saved enough to pay off Tattersall, but Jay isn’t for you. Please believe me. I grew up with him and I know him all too well.’

  ‘What do you mean by that?’

  ‘He’s wild and he thinks only of himself. He doesn’t seem to care that he’s upset his entire family.’

  ‘You don’t know then,’ Daisy said slowly. ‘Didn’t you ever suspect that there was something strange about the way Jay’s father treated him?’

  ‘I thought it odd, but then people are strange. Perhaps Lemuel was jealous of the affection his wife showed the child.’

  ‘Or maybe it’s because he isn’t Jay’s natural father.’ Daisy had the satisfaction of seeing Nick’s expression change from one of disbelief to consternation. ‘Mrs Fox was a servant in the squire’s house when she was very young,’ she added pointedly. ‘Do I have to spell it out for you?’

  ‘Are you saying that Squire Tattersall is Jay’s father?’

  ‘Yes, I am, and it came from the squire himself.’

  ‘How do you know this?’

  ‘Jay was at Creek Hall when I arrived with Hilda’s children. He’d heard that his parents were about to lose their home, and he was furious. I was afraid he would do something rash so I went to see Mrs Fox, but she wouldn’t tell me anything.’

  ‘You should leave that family to sort out their own probl
ems.’

  ‘Is that all you can say? Lemuel Fox worked for your father for years and now he’s fallen on hard times, made even harder by the squire’s vindictive treatment.’

  ‘You can’t take that man on, Daisy. He’s too rich and powerful.’

  ‘I know that all too well. He’s still holding the threat of eviction over my aunt and uncle, and I decided that it was time I stood up for the people who were too afraid to speak for themselves. I persuaded Billy to drive me to Creek Manor.’

  ‘I’ll have words to say to that boy when I go home.’

  ‘Billy didn’t have much choice. Anyway, when I arrived at the manor house I was too late. Jay had already spoken to the squire, and Jay left in a fury after a terrible row. He stole the squire’s favourite horse, and I arrived in time to see him being pursued by a small army of estate workers and grooms.’

  ‘I hope you told Billy to take you home.’

  ‘Everything happened so quickly. Jay took me on the horse and it was a wild ride, ending up at the cove where the Lazy Jane was moored.’

  ‘So Jay ran away to sea, leaving you to sort out the tangled web of lies and deceit that had been built up around him. How typical.’

  ‘It’s easy for you to stand there and criticise his actions. You know who you are and everyone loved and respected your father. How dare you set yourself up in judgement against someone who was supposed to be your friend?’

  ‘Don’t let Jay fool you into thinking he cares about you, Daisy. He’s selfish, as I said before, and if you allow yourself to fall for him he’ll ruin your life.’

  ‘I’m disappointed in you, Nick. I thought you would be more loyal and understanding.’

  ‘I’m just trying to protect you, Daisy.’

  ‘I can look after myself and I don’t need you to act as my conscience.’ Daisy turned away at the sound of voices. ‘Here come the others. Don’t spoil their day out. Try to look as if you’re enjoying yourself.’ She greeted them with an attempt at a smile.

  ‘You two look serious,’ Toby said cheerfully. ‘We can’t have that. This is our afternoon off and we won’t get another for heaven knows how long. Let’s do a couple of turns of the lake and maybe take a boat out, and I’ll treat us all to ice cream.’