Nobody’s Darling

by Nobody’s Darling (retail) (epub)

  ‘You’ll regret saying that,’ he promised. Her fierce outburst had shaken him. If it had come from any other woman, he would have laughed in their face. But Ruby Miller was different. She was strong, and he knew that every word had been spoken from the bottom of her heart. Yet, for the second time in as many hours, she had rejected him, and he couldn’t forgive her for that. Hatred bubbled up in him.

  ‘Tonight, you’ve made yourself a deadly enemy,’ he told her vehemently. He pulled her closer and swept her across the floor smiling all the while yet deliberately hurting her, digging his arm into her back and bending her fingers to his own. In that moment she saw that Luke Arnold was capable of murder. And somehow she knew this would not be the last time their paths were destined to cross.

  * * *

  ‘Go on, lad. You’ve left it late enough. Eleven o’clock he said, and it’s nearly that now.’ Thomas was bone weary. The chill had taken its toll and all he wanted to do was sleep. He pushed the foul-smelling liquid from under his nose. ‘Take it away. I’ve no need of that,’ he grumbled. ‘Are you sure it ain’t the stuff we rub the horses with? Lord knows it stinks like it.’

  Johnny wouldn’t be put off. ‘You’ll drink it or I’ll not go,’ he threatened. ‘And stop being a babby. You know it’s only tar and herbs. Mam said it would have you better in no time at all.’

  ‘Aye?’ Thomas peered at him through small tired eyes, ‘That’s if it don’t kill me off first,’ he moaned.

  ‘Come on. Let’s have you.’ Johnny pushed it towards the old fellow’s tightly closed mouth. ‘It’s you that’s keeping the master waiting, because I’m not shifting ’til you’ve finished every last drop.’

  Thomas grunted and pulled himself further up the bed, remaining there, hunched and reluctant, grimacing at the thought of allowing that black awful-smelling brew to slide down his throat. But he knew how determined Johnny was, and was desperate that the master shouldn’t be kept waiting. ‘Quick then,’ he gasped. Pinching his nose between his finger and thumb, he screwed his eyes tightly shut and opened his mouth wide. When he felt the stuff slithering over his tongue, he made himself swallow deeply, gulping and noisily smacking his lips, until only the disgusting taste lingered in his mouth. At once he was coughing and spluttering, swearing and cursing. ‘You bugger!’ he ranted, ‘It tastes as bad as it smells… bull’s piss.’

  ‘Give over. It’s marvelous stuff.’ Johnny laughed out loud. I’m proud of you, that I am.’ Getting up from the bed where he’d been sitting, he assured the old fellow, ‘I’ll be away now. I’ll not waken you when I come back. If my dad was anything to go by when he was taken badly last year, that medicine will make you sleep like a newborn.’

  ‘Or a dead ’un!’

  Johnny gave no answer, but gently drew Thomas deeper into the bed and covered him to his shoulders with the bedclothes. ‘Rest now,’ he said, and without another word left the room, softly closing the door behind him. One last backward glance told him that his mam’s medicine was already beginning to work, because the old fellow had closed his eyes and turned his head to one side. ‘That’s it,’ Johnny murmured. ‘You sleep well, old ’un. When you wake up tomorrow, you’ll feel like a spring colt.’

  On the way through the stables, he checked the horses as usual, and satisfied that there were no problems, continued through to the outside yard where he had already harnessed the big bays to the carriage. They were fretful to be away, snorting and scraping the ground with their front hooves, and shaking their large heads from side to side with anticipation as he approached. It was only a few minutes later when he edged the cumbersome team out onto the road.

  It was a glorious evening. The moon was high and a trillion stars shimmered, like brilliant jewels scattered across a velvet sky. To Johnny’s mind there was nothing more beautiful unless it was another jewel which he cherished above all others. That jewel was Ruby. Earlier that evening, when he’d gone to collect the medicine from his mam, he’d also called round at Ruby’s house, hoping to snatch a few precious minutes with her. When Lizzie told him that she had been called in to work, he was bitterly disappointed; not only for himself, but for Ruby too. He knew how much her family meant to her, and being taken from the children on Christmas Eve must have seemed so unfair to her. It struck him then that if the master wasn’t yet ready and waiting, there might just be a chance for him to sneak into the kitchens and have a quick word with her. In his mind he pictured her there, up to her armpits in potato peelings, and Cook storming about, giving orders in that bombastic manner of hers. Still, he was sure that Cook wouldn’t refuse him a few minutes with Ruby, especially on Christmas Eve.

  Billenge House was soon in sight. On arrival, Johnny realised that his carriage was the first one there. Normally, after these social events, carriages would be lined up in the yard, and even partway down the road. I’m sure it was eleven when I was to fetch them, he pondered. He parked the carriage in the yard, keeping to one side so as not to hinder any other vehicles that might enter. Clambering down from the driver’s seat, he stretched his limbs and yawned. One way or another it had been a very long day, but the thought of seeing Ruby was invigorating. Spying the narrow gate which led to the back of the house, he hurried on, over the meandering path and towards the lighted kitchen.

  It was dark at the rear of the house with only the glow from the kitchen window to light his way. The layer of stones and gravel crunched beneath his boots, echoing into the night with a frantic rhythm. Going at a fair pace towards the kitchen door, he stretched his neck to see through the window. It was steamed up on the inside, and so he gingerly tapped on the door. When there was no answer, he tapped again, this time with a deal of determination.

  The door was slowly inched open and a woman with round eyes declared in a nervous voice, ‘Good heavens, young man! Whatever do you want, disturbing a respectable household at this time of night?’ She clung to the door, keeping her foot firmly against it while staring at him disapprovingly.

  Johnny had called at this house on only one other occasion, and that was on a fine afternoon last summer when he had hoped to walk Ruby to the tram-stop. Sadly, she had already left, and when she saw him later that same day, had given him strict instructions never to come to Billenge House again: ‘Or Cook will give me what for.’ He never did, but on that day he had seen at first hand what a formidable woman Cook really was. She had made a lasting impression, and he knew at a glance that this woman was not she. He wondered whether she had been replaced. ‘I’m sorry,’ he said lamely. ‘But — well, I wonder if I could have a word with Ruby?’

  ‘Ruby?’ She leaned forward, thinking how handsome the visitor was and feeling sorry that she was not the one he sought. ‘There’s no one of that name here, young man.’

  ‘But there must be. She works here… in the kitchen.’

  ‘Ah, then I’d better explain. Those of us who are employed here in this kitchen tonight, are only temporary. I believe the usual staff have taken Christmas Eve off. To visit family, I think. I expect your Ruby must be one of them.’

  She would have shut the door then, but he put out his arm and thrilled her with a touch, ‘No. She is here. She must be. Could you please make sure?’

  His insistence frightened her. ‘There’s no need. Your friend isn’t here so you’d best be off.’ She slammed the door shut then, leaving him confused and bewildered. ‘If she’s not here, then where is she?’ he asked the night. With a bowed head and heavy heart, he began to make his way back down the path. ‘Happen she went home earlier and I missed her,’ he mused. ‘Aye, that’s what happened. It’s funny though, because her mam said clear enough, “Our Ruby’s been called to work, and she’ll be staying the night.”’ He didn’t know quite what to make of it all. But one thing was certain: somewhere along the way plans must have changed and he’d missed her.

  Out of sight of the kitchen, he leaned against the wall, hands thrust deep into his pockets while he absentmindedly kicked at the gravel, spraying a c
lutch of small stones into the air. ‘Damn and bugger it!’ he groaned. Seeing Ruby would have lifted his spirits no end.

  After a while he came back to the front of the house. Still there was no one in sight. Lonely now, and impatient to be away, he strolled round the carriage, stroked the horses’ manes, sat on the narrow strip of grass beneath the hedge, where he looked across at the bright lighted house, and warmed himself with thoughts of his Ruby. ‘I expect she’s abed now,’ he murmured. When the big bay gelding turned its head to stare at him, he told it, ‘Don’t lose your heart to any woman. She’ll only break it.’

  Suddenly the front door of the house opened and he scrambled to his feet, hoping it might be Oliver Arnold. But it was only an old man come out to breathe the night air. He didn’t stay long in the cold. Instead he drew on his cigar, looked up at the stars, sighed aloud as though he was pining for something long gone, and then ambled back into the house.

  Concerned now, because he thought it must be going on for midnight, Johnny toyed with the idea of knocking on the door and letting someone know that Mr Arnold’s carriage was waiting. He went towards the house. The lights were blazing and the music was playing. As he came nearer, he could clearly see the guests inside. Curious, he came up to the window, looking inside the room. There were people dancing, and other couples standing around. There was laughter and chatter and a good deal of flirting going on, he thought, spying an elderly fellow with his hand firmly planted on a pink bustle. In a high-backed chair beside the fireplace, Teresa Arnold was toying with a young man’s affections. Tall and thin, with a pasty face and narrow moustache, Tony Hargreaves bowed and scraped and laughed embarrassingly at her every word. It would have done Oliver Arnold’s heart good to see his daughter married off to this young man; not only because Tony’s father was a wealthy mine-owner, but because Tony was a good and harmless man who would make her a better husband than she deserved.

  The window was high up, and Johnny had to stand on tiptoe to see the whole panorama. His eyes travelled the length and breadth of the room, and there, in deep conversation with a short and somewhat portly gentleman, was Oliver Arnold himself, ‘Hmm! Looks like I’ve a long wait before you’re ready to go home,’ Johnny observed. He shivered. The night air was growing bitter, and the breeze cut spitefully through his clothes. He hoped it wouldn’t be too long before he was tucked up in the comfortable makeshift bed in the stables. Drawing his jacket tighter about him, his attention was drawn by two young women seated beside the fireplace. They too were deep in conversation, and the one he could see more clearly appeared to be growing agitated. From Ruby’s fond description of her employer’s daughter, he thought this one must be Cicely Banks. She certainly looked pale and fragile.

  The second young lady was partly turned away from him, but she was so slim and perfectly shaped, and her hair of that same rich autumn brown, that she might have been Ruby herself. In that moment a man came on the scene, and when he saw that it was Luke Arnold, Johnny instinctively recoiled from the window. If that obnoxious fellow was to see him staring through the window at the guests, there was no doubt he would have him instantly dismissed.

  At first Luke spoke to Cicely, obviously asking her to dance. She blushed and fluttered her eyelids in embarrassment, then she gently laughed and pointed to her feet, implying that she had danced enough for the moment. He then turned to her companion, smiling and debonair, his arm extended towards her.

  The young lady shook her head and put up her hand in refusal. Kindly Cicely was obviously disappointed, and, leaning towards her friend, appeared to be making an effort to persuade her. It took a few moments, but between Cicely and Luke Arnold it was only a matter of minutes before the other woman rose from her chair and was escorted to the floor by the triumphant Luke. Although the young lady’s face was still turned from him, Johnny could clearly see the smug expression on Luke’s face. His sympathies lay with the woman who had been bullied into accompanying him on to the dance floor.

  As the music floated into a slow and romantic waltz, Johnny’s thoughts turned to Ruby. If she was here with him right now, he would take her in his arms and dance her right around this yard. He closed his eyes and imagined her near him. He could see her in every lovely detail; the heart-shaped face, the wild brown hair that curled and teased about her forehead, and those magnificent eyes that could be dark as the ocean or blue as ripe cornflowers. Oh, how he ached for her. Opening his eyes, he looked into the room again, envying the couples there. He began to hum with the music. Ruby came to him then, and he stretched out his arms as though he was holding her close. Twisting and turning on the spot, he slowly danced in time to the melody, with Ruby safe in his arms and his heart soaring with joy.

  Inspired by his antics, the horses grew impatient and started to move forward, taking the carriage with them. ‘Whoah!’ he called out, coming to an abrupt halt and almost falling into the low shrubbery when he unbalanced himself. ‘It’s no good you being fretful,’ he laughed. ‘You’ll have to be patient, the same as me.’ They stopped then, snorting and fidgeting, and throwing their large heads high in frustration. ‘It won’t be long now, my beauties,’ he coaxed softly. Returning his attention to the scene on the other side of the window, he waited and watched. Gentle music was still playing, the couples were still dancing, and Luke Arnold appeared to be entranced by his partner, drawing her close and holding her as though he would never let her go. Johnny was fascinated. These two danced well together, he thought.

  Although he himself was no expert, he could do a jig and enjoyed a good barn-hop, but these fancy dances were only for the toffs. Somehow, Johnny couldn’t take his eyes off Luke and his partner. Now and again Luke would lean his head towards her, and she would look away. Shy, Johnny thought. But together they twirled and moved about the floor with confidence and grace. He began to grow curious about the woman who had so captured Luke Arnold’s attention. From her slim shape and the lively manner in which she moved, it was obvious to him that she was young. He wondered if she was also beautiful. He hoped she would have the good sense to recognise Luke for the rogue he was.

  * * *

  ‘You hate me, don’t you?’ Luke hissed beneath his breath.

  ‘I loathe you!’ Ruby didn’t even look up. The sight of his face leering at her was more than she could bear. Luke Arnold could go to hell for all she cared. Just now, when he had deliberately caused a ‘gentlemanly’ fuss in asking her to dance, Ruby had seen it as a veiled threat to expose her as a fraud. On top of that, poor misguided Cicely had taken his side, insisting that she should accept his kind invitation.

  ‘Really, Ruby, you mustn’t be so anti-social,’ she had chided. Ruby realised that it would be easier to accept than to antagonise the pair of them. Later, she could talk to Cicely and reveal what Luke’s own sister had said about him. Surely then Cicely must realise she should stay well clear of him. She hoped so. Thank God the music was coming to an end and soon the evening itself. Afterwards she would have Cicely all to herself and they could talk to their hearts’ content.

  As Luke swung her round, Ruby caught sight of his sister Teresa. She was dancing only an arm’s reach away, partnered by a tall handsome man with greying whiskers and dark penetrating eyes that swept over Ruby with interest. Unaffected, she shifted her gaze to Teresa and was deeply disturbed to find herself being carefully studied. It was only a moment before Teresa turned away, but she had left Ruby with the awful feeling that Teresa Arnold had marked her well.

  As she raised her eyes, Ruby saw that Cicely was also watching her. When their eyes met, Cicely excitedly waved her hand and smiled a wide angelic smile. Ruby took a deep breath and returned a bright happy smile that belied her true feelings. Any minute now it would be over and she could escape from this man who had thrown a dark and evil shadow across her life.

  What Ruby didn’t realise was that a third person was watching from outside the window. Deeply curious, Johnny had followed her and Luke as they wound their way across the fl
oor, every step bringing them closer and closer to the window. Suddenly, Luke had swung his partner round and Ruby was in full view. Horrified, Johnny stared with disbelief. He gasped out loud, recoiling as though a huge fist had hit him full in the stomach.

  ‘RUBY!’ Her name burst from his lips without him knowing, echoing in the cold night air and sounding strange to him. ‘IT’S RUBY!’

  He closed his eyes, his mind reeling from what he had seen. Dressed in finery and looking every inch a lady, his Ruby was dancing in there, closed in Luke Arnold’s arms as though she belonged. He couldn’t believe what his eyes were telling him. Ruby was in there with the toffs. Dancing and smiling and done up like she was one of them! Suddenly he was laughing out loud, shaking his head and promising himself, ‘You’re seeing things, Johnny boy. It’s just somebody that looks like her, that’s all.’ He felt breathless, sick to his heart. He couldn’t, wouldn’t accept what he had seen.

  Climbing on to the low wall once more, he pressed his face to the window. All of his fears were confirmed when he stared across the room. The music had stopped and everyone was making their way back to the seats. Cicely Banks was on her feet now, a look of delight on her face and her arms stretched out towards the young woman who had danced with Luke Arnold. There was no denying it. The young lady with Luke Arnold was Ruby. And Johnny still could not believe it.