The Runaway Women in London

by Lesley Eames

  All the gentle progress she’d made towards becoming comfortable with his touch exploded into nothing. She was back in the pantry. Trapped and unable to breathe.

  No, no, no! Jenny twisted her face away and dragged an arm clear, intending to fight her way out, but she was released abruptly.

  ‘Sorry,’ Johnnie said. ‘I didn’t see him.’

  Jenny’s head reeled. She was with Johnnie, not Jonas.

  Johnnie. The man she loved. The man who wouldn’t hurt her for the world.

  She realised Mr Fitzpatrick was walking towards them. Much as she disliked the man, Jenny was glad because the terrible truth was that, without his approach, she’d have struck Johnnie and how could he ever have forgiven her?

  Johnnie slid out of the car at his father’s arrival.

  ‘We’ve had a telephone call,’ Mr Fitzpatrick said. ‘It’s your grandmother.’

  It was obvious from his expression that the old lady had died.

  ‘We need to return to Hove. You’ll come with us, of course.’

  ‘Of course.’ Johnnie had paled.

  ‘I’m sure Miss Mallory won’t object if—’

  Jenny had already stepped onto the pavement. ‘Please accept my condolences. I’ll make my own way home.’

  Johnnie sent her an agonised look. ‘I’ll be in touch.’

  ‘Don’t worry about me. See to your family.’

  Mr Fitzpatrick nodded curtly, then drew Johnnie back towards the hotel.

  Poor Johnnie. He’d been so fond of his grandmother.

  Jenny turned away and a passing man gave her an admiring look. Little did he know how cold she was inside. No, worse than cold. Indifference to Johnnie’s touch would be a blessing compared to this revulsion.

  Johnnie deserved better. He deserved a woman with warmth and passion. Sooner or later he’d realise Jenny wasn’t that sort of woman and feel bitterly disappointed. How could she marry him, knowing she’d make him unhappy?

  She reached Silver Ladies, relieved to know she could have some time alone. Ruth wouldn’t be back from work yet and Grace had closed the office a few minutes early so she could go out on a booking with Lydia. A glow in the office window showed Grace had left the light on for Jenny. Grace was always considerate.

  Jenny climbed the stairs on feet that felt heavy with woe. She entered the office only to gasp in dismay.

  Jonas Cartwright was sitting at the desk. ‘Hello, Jenny,’ he smiled. ‘I said I’d surprise you one day.’

  Jenny began to tremble.

  Thirty-seven

  There was no need for Ruth to hurry home tonight as no one would be there, thank goodness. Dodging Victor Rabley was challenging enough without constantly having to invent reasons for her lateness: from stocktaking and a broken-down bus to chatting with her colleague, Dorothy, and sheltering from the rain.

  She didn’t pause to see if Vic were lying in wait but put her head down and raced from the shop. Sometimes she turned right and sometimes left. Today she ran across the road, cut down a side street, then ducked into an alley, despite the fact that alleys scared her. They were dark, shadowy and rat-infested. Ruth had run into a spider’s web once and fallen over discarded rubbish another time, but the worst experience had been a bundle of rags suddenly rearing up at her. It had been an equally terrified old tramp, but she’d screamed before she could stop herself.

  Running out, she’d screamed again when a hand had landed on her shoulder from behind. ‘Ruth, it’s me,’ someone had said.

  Johnnie. He’d turned her around, holding on to the tops of her arms to steady her. He was frowning. Concerned for her. Ruth’s heart and mind had been racing but a nugget of self-preservation remained inside her. ‘Sorry! I was taking a short cut because of the rain and I was startled by a tramp.’

  ‘He didn’t hurt you?’

  ‘Of course not. I just didn’t expect to see him.’

  ‘Let’s get you home. I’ve got the car around the corner.’

  She’d made a huge effort to appear normal as he’d driven her back to Shepherds Mews then laughingly told the story of her silly reaction to the tramp the moment they arrived, afraid that leaving the story to Johnnie might invest it with drama and make the others concerned for her too.

  Of Vic she’d seen no sign, but it was too soon to conclude that she was safe from him.

  Emerging from the alley now, Ruth joined a stream of people heading towards the underground station, then turned into another side street and hid in the doorway of the Fox’s Arms before she ran for her bus. Even when she got off near Shepherds Mews she kept looking over her shoulder.

  She was surprised to hear voices when she let herself into Silver Ladies. Jenny and Johnnie must have returned from their tea. But no, the male voice wasn’t Johnnie’s. It was — Oh, heavens.

  ‘I’m home!’ Ruth yelled, pounding upstairs to see Jonas stepping hurriedly away from Jenny. Ruth’s anger blazed, but she kept her voice calm. ‘Mr Cartwright. What a surprise.’

  He looked like he wanted to throttle her.

  Jenny had turned away, but Ruth could see she was trembling.

  ‘Is Mrs Cartwright here?’ Ruth asked.

  ‘She’s resting in the boarding house,’ Jonas told her. ‘I came out for a walk and thought I’d let Jenny know we’re here. It’s a surprise visit.’

  ‘How lovely. Have you put the kettle on, Jenny? I’m dying for a cup of tea.’

  The suggestion was Ruth’s way of offering her friend an escape and some much-needed time alone. Jenny sent her a grateful look and withdrew to the living quarters.

  ‘Sit down, Mr Cartwright,’ Ruth invited. ‘Not on the sofa. It isn’t as strong as the chairs.’

  There was no way Ruth was going to leave him free to ask Jenny to sit next to him. Taking her hat and coat off, Ruth sat on the sofa herself.

  ‘Has Jenny told you her news?’

  ‘Not yet.’

  ‘She’ll want to break it to her mother herself, but I’m sure she won’t mind if I tell you. You’re good at keeping secrets, aren’t you?’

  Ruth’s tone was accusing and Jonas’s eyes grew wary. How revolting he was.

  ‘Jenny’s walking out with a young man,’ Ruth announced. ‘He’s called Johnnie Fitzpatrick and he’s from a good family in Hove. He adores Jenny, of course, and he’s terribly protective of her. Just the sort of young man you must want for her.’

  ‘They’re engaged?’ Jonas was annoyed.

  ‘I’m sure it won’t be long before they’re engaged. I’m surprised Johnnie isn’t here. He can’t bear to let her out of his sight.’ Ruth let that sink in, then said, ‘Will you be doing some sightseeing while you’re in London?’

  He grunted something about not knowing their plans. Undaunted, Ruth kept him talking until Jenny returned with a tea tray, steadier but clearly upset.

  Ruth took the tray and nodded to Jenny to sit behind the desk. It was as far from Jonas as the seating arrangement allowed. ‘What’s the news from Ruston, Mr Cartwright?’ Ruth asked, as she poured the tea and passed the cups.

  Jonas had no interest in Ruston. He drank his tea so quickly it must have scalded his mouth, then stood.

  ‘I should get back to your mother, Jenny. Will you walk me out?’

  ‘I’ll walk you out,’ Ruth said. ‘One of my buttons fell off as I was coming upstairs and I need to look for it.’

  She stood back at the top of the stairs, insisting that he went down before her so as to block him from making a sudden rush back up to the office on some pretext or other. ‘Goodbye, Mr Cartwright,’ Ruth said, once they were outside.

  He hesitated, glanced up at the office windows then conceded defeat and walked away. ‘You wicked excuse for a man,’ Ruth muttered after him.

  She went back inside, locked the door and returned to Jenny, finding her sobbing quietly, her head on her arms over the desk. Ruth put a comforting arm around Jenny’s shoulders until the sobs subsided, then passed over a handkerchief.

 
; Sitting up, Jenny dried her eyes. ‘Thank you, Ruth.’

  ‘Did he hurt you?’

  ‘He kissed me. Nothing worse.’

  ‘That’s bad enough,’ Ruth grimaced.

  ‘I don’t know what he’d have tried if you hadn’t come home.’

  ‘I thought Johnnie would be here.’

  ‘His grandmother died. He had to go to back to Hove.’

  ‘I’m sorry.’

  They were quiet for a while, then Jenny roused herself. ‘You must be famished, Ruth. I’ll warm some stew for you.’

  Ruth wasn’t hungry but guessed that Jenny needed something to do. ‘You should eat too,’ Ruth told her.

  ‘I had tea.’

  ‘You managed to meet Johnnie’s parents?’ she asked.

  ‘Yes.’ Jenny’s downturned mouth told Ruth exactly how the meeting had gone.

  ‘Johnnie’s too good a person to let his parents’ snobbery influence him,’ Ruth said. ‘He adores you.’

  Jenny squeezed Ruth’s hand. ‘You say such comforting things.’

  ‘It’s the truth.’

  Jenny served up the stew and Ruth forced herself to eat it. When Grace and Lydia returned, Ruth told them what had happened. Predictably, Grace hugged Jenny, while Lydia threatened to break Jonas’s nose.

  ‘Ruth was wonderful,’ Jenny said.

  ‘I only did what anyone else would have done,’ Ruth protested, but that wasn’t strictly true. Her old self would have panicked instead of taking control. ‘How did he get in?’ she wondered aloud now.

  ‘He said he found the door open,’ Jenny told her.

  ‘A likely story. The devious old goat must have picked the lock,’ Lydia concluded, looking like she’d like to wring his neck.

  ‘We need to make sure Jenny’s never alone with him,’ Ruth said.

  With no booking the next day, they agreed that Grace would accompany Jenny to visit her mother in the boarding house in the morning, then Lydia would take Jenny, her mother and Jonas sightseeing in the Silver Lady during the afternoon.

  ‘I’ll put Jonas in the front with me,’ Lydia said.

  ‘After that we’ll see,’ Grace finished.

  ‘Thank you,’ Jenny said. ‘All of you.’

  They settled to their usual evening tasks of sewing, mending, letter writing and shoe cleaning, but anxiety was clearly gnawing away at Jenny. She needed something to take her mind off Jonas.

  ‘I’m thinking of cutting my hair,’ Ruth announced, to looks of surprise. ‘I think it’s time.’

  Her chestnut hair might be her only claim to beauty but she no longer felt like the girl who wore a plait down her back.

  ‘You shouldn’t rush into a decision,’ Grace cautioned. ‘It would take years to grow again.’

  ‘I’m not rushing. I’m ready. Jenny, will you—’

  ‘Of course.’

  Jenny had been cutting all of their hair for years. She washed Ruth’s auburn locks, then sat her down with a towel around her shoulders and combed the waist-length hair free of tangles.

  ‘Are you sure, Ruth?’ she asked, pausing with her scissors in hand.

  ‘Completely sure. Just cut it however you think best.’

  Jenny began to cut. Ruth swallowed when the first locks landed on the floor, but she fixed her expression into a smile.

  Only when Ruth’s hair was dried and styled did Jenny let her look in the mirror. ‘What do you think?’ Jenny asked anxiously.

  Ruth was surprised. She hadn’t expected short hair to frame her face so well, but the cut brought out her hair’s natural waves, adding softness and taking away from the size of her nose.

  ‘It isn’t too short?’ Jenny worried.

  The style was a loose bob that finished just above her shoulders. ‘Not at all. I like it. You’re a marvel, Jenny.’

  ‘You look lovely, Ruth,’ Grace confirmed. ‘See how your hair catches the light now it isn’t squashed into a braid.’

  ‘It has so many different shades,’ Jenny enthused. ‘Chestnut, copper, bronze… It’s beautiful.’

  Lydia took a practical view. ‘You’ll be able to dunk it under the tap and forget about it like me.’

  Ruth wasn’t sure about that, but she did feel the new hairstyle suited the woman she’d become. It might also make it harder for Victor to spot her if he came looking for her, because the unfashionable plait had been rather distinctive.

  Grace made tea and they sat down to work out how to keep Jonas away from Jenny for the four days of the Cartwrights’ visit, while keeping up with Silver Ladies business. Fortunately, Grace and Jenny both had driving licences now which meant Lydia – voted the person most likely to keep Jonas in check – could be freed from bookings to spend time with him. A schedule of shopping and sightseeing was drawn up.

  The next day help arrived unexpectedly in the form of Harry Dellamore.

  ‘I couldn’t decide if Lydia wanted to cry in relief or grab him by the throat,’ Grace reported. ‘He’d assumed it was obvious he wanted her to race because they won the treasure hunt. Lydia had assumed nothing of the sort. But she got her revenge by telling him he’d arrived just in time to accompany her and Jonas to the Science Museum so Jenny and her mother could see the London shops. Poor Harry had no idea what was going on, but he’s quick on the uptake. All Lydia had to do was send him a long look and he realised it was important.’

  Ruth couldn’t help during the daytime but was happy to take over the evening arrangements, though she was glad when the final evening arrived. They all were.

  Grace had already cooked a meal before going out on a booking with Lydia, so Ruth and Jenny had only to serve it. Ruth called the Cartwrights to the table, then, as on the previous nights, ensured that Jonas sat between herself and his wife.

  Judging that Jonas was unlikely to try anything with his wife present, Ruth deemed it safe to carry the dishes into the living quarters once the meal was finished. But Mrs Cartwright followed and, with awful timing, dropped a plate.

  Ruth grabbed the broom and swept the shattered pieces into a corner. ‘I’ll clear up properly later.’

  She hastened back into the office to see Jonas had seized his chance. One of his hands was under the table. Stroking Jenny’s leg, Ruth suspected, though she couldn’t be sure.

  One person could be sure, and that person was Johnnie. No one had noticed him enter, but the fury in his eyes showed he’d noticed everything.

  ‘Johnnie, how lovely,’ Ruth said.

  Startled, Jonas snatched his hand away and reddened. Poor Jenny looked too ashamed and distressed even to look at Johnnie.

  ‘Sorry to arrive unannounced.’ He strolled into the room with an ease that fitted ill with his anger.

  ‘This is Jenny’s mother,’ Ruth said, anxious to give everyone time to think about how best to respond to the situation and particularly eager to give Jenny a moment in which to recover at least a little composure. ‘Mrs Cartwright, this is Johnnie.’

  Mrs Cartwright’s eyes widened as she took in Johnnie’s golden looks and exquisite clothes. ‘Goodness. It’s a pleasure, to be sure.’

  ‘The pleasure is all mine,’ Johnnie said, kissing her hand, though Ruth could sense the fury still sizzling inside him.

  ‘This is my husband, Jenny’s stepfather.’

  Jonas had got to his feet. He offered a hand and for a moment Ruth wondered if Johnnie was too angry to take it. But he did take it and the sudden pain that flared in Jonas’s eyes suggested he crushed it.

  ‘I was sorry to hear about your grandmother,’ Ruth said.

  Johnnie sent her a grateful smile. ‘Thank you. I have to return to Hove tomorrow to prepare for her funeral, but I was keen to see Jenny again after I abandoned her in the street. I’m delighted to find you here, Mrs Cartwright, because my grandmother was a wonderfully kind person and her kindness hasn’t ended with her death. I’m very much in love with Jenny, but I didn’t expect to be in a position to marry for a while because my finances were irregular. I’m
pleased to say that’s now changed because my grandmother has left me a substantial legacy. So,’ he smiled winningly, ‘I’d like to ask for your daughter’s hand in marriage.’

  Mrs Cartwright’s mouth had opened in wonder. She looked at Jonas, but he was imitating a block of wood. ‘Well, yes,’ Mrs Cartwright said. ‘We couldn’t be more pleased.’

  ‘I promise to be a good husband to Jenny,’ Johnnie continued. ‘I’ll protect her with my life. In fact, if anyone harmed a hair on her head I might just have to murder them.’ He laughed but met Jonas’s gaze momentarily, making the older man’s colour deepen even more.

  Jenny was staring at Johnnie in shock.

  Taking her hands, he raised them to his lips. ‘It’s fine, darling. I understand now. About… everything.’ He nodded as if to assure Jenny she had him to depend on now, then he grinned at everyone else. ‘No engagement is complete without a ring.’ He dug in his pocket for a handkerchief, which he unfolded to uncover a ring. ‘This was my grandmother’s. I know she’d want you to wear it, Jenny.’ He slid it onto her finger.

  Jenny looked overwhelmed. ‘It’s beautiful,’ she said.

  ‘Does it fit?’ Johnnie asked eagerly.

  ‘Perfectly.’

  Ruth walked over to admire it. Three sparkling diamonds were set in a row on a gold band. Exquisite. Just as darling Jenny deserved. ‘Congratulations,’ Ruth said.

  She glanced around at Alice Cartwright who couldn’t have looked happier and at Jonas who couldn’t have looked more disgruntled. Gratified, Ruth returned her attention to Johnnie and Jenny. ‘Congratulations to you both.’

  ‘Thanks,’ Johnnie said. ‘And congratulations to you on the new hairstyle.’

  ‘Jenny cut it.’

  ‘Isn’t she wonderful?’

  Ruth smiled and nodded. She was thrilled for Jenny and Johnnie, but she was also conscious of feeling a pang of something. A touch of sadness, she supposed, because life would be different once Jenny was married and living with Johnnie.

  It wasn’t long before Jonas gave an awkward cough and nudged Alice. ‘I think we should be getting back to the boarding house now, love, what with our long journey tomorrow and everything.’