by Emma Hornby
‘But lass, quitting without giving notice? What will your uncle say? You’ll be leaving him reet in t’ lurch – and let’s be fair, he deems us having abandoned him as it is, us vacating his house as we are.’
‘Nay, nay. I spoke on it with him. He’s reet about it.’
‘Aye?’
Smiling through the guilt which the lies that seemed to trip from her tongue ever more frequently of late brought, she nodded, eager to reassure him. Ambrose’s reaction to their moving out had hurt her father and she’d do all in her power to salve his conscience. He’d sacrificed so much for her already. If for Amos’s peace of mind she must sing that devil’s praises – false as they may be – she would. ‘Honest, Father. He was understanding, said as how I had his support. Kindness itself, he was.’
‘Ay, that’s our Ambrose for you.’ Mollified, Amos crossed the room to collect his cap. ‘Right, well, I’d best be away to the yard, else he’ll wonder where I am.’
‘I’ll have everything ready for when you get back,’ she said, glancing down the hall at the pile of their bits and pieces ready for the off. Amos would call here with the horse and cart after his first coal round of the day and take their possessions to Ebenezer Court. ‘There’s just a few more items upstairs need packing and then we’re done.’
She began work the second he left and, as promised, had everything sorted upon his return and was waiting in her shawl by the front door. They had the cart loaded within minutes. Before climbing aboard, they went to say their goodbyes to Bridget, who was waving from the step, dabbing at her eyes with the corner of her apron.
‘It’s an eejit I am, making a spectacle of myself, so. But sure, have I not taken ye both to my heart in the short time you’ve been here? We’ll miss youse, the sir and I.’
For a horrifying moment Laura thought Amos would change his mind about the whole thing – the mention of his brother had brought a flash of uncertainty to his eyes – and she laughed quickly to lighten the mood. ‘We’re but a short walk away, Figg,’ she told her, giving her a hug. ‘You’re welcome to visit us if ever you’re free.’
‘And as I said to our Ambrose, the same goes for him,’ added Amos, much to Laura’s dismay, ‘so, you see, you’re not getting rid of us that easy.’
Happy with this, the maid saw them off with a smile. Laura felt a pang at leaving her. Then Kenneth picked up the pace and the house and all it had stood for were out of sight and an overwhelming surge of relief warmed her like a mother’s embrace. She closed her eyes, savouring every inch of distance that was put between them.
As with before, they had to leave the horse and cart on the street – this time, Amos was taking no chances and offered a passing lad a penny to guard them, along with instructions to keep a tight hold of the bridle. Then arming themselves with as many items from the cart as they could manage, they navigated their way to the court.
It seemed Mrs Price was awaiting their arrival; she turned her head towards the entrance as they emerged into the yard: ‘That you, Laura, lass? Amos?’
‘Aye,’ they puffed, dumping their loads on the least mucky patches of ground.
The old woman nodded. She reached behind her into the house and brought out a broom, which she used to knock on next door’s window.
A large woman appeared in a flowery apron, a child clamped to each hip. Spotting Laura and Amos, her round face spread in smile. ‘Hello there! I’m Bee. It’s nice to meet ye.’ She motioned to their possessions. ‘Is that the lot?’
‘Nay, there’s more on t’ cart up yonder,’ Amos told her.
‘Right you are. You, lass, call at Joyce’s for the key and get the house opened up,’ she instructed Laura. ‘Meantimes, I’ve a swarm of kiddies inside that will give a hand to your father. The men of the court are away at their work, else they’d have mucked in, but no bother. My lot ain’t afraid of hard graft. Sure, you’ll have the cart emptied in the shake of a lamb’s tail.’
Laura was touched. Thanking her, she made her way to the house Mrs Price had previously indicated was Nathan’s. Introducing herself to the willowy woman with soft brown hair and eyes who answered her knock, Laura was suddenly self-conscious. She smiled politely, keen, given who she was, to make a good impression. ‘I’m Laura, very pleased to meet thee. Nathan said you’d kindly offered to take in our key?’
‘That’s right. By, the lad weren’t far wrong; you’re a bonny ’un, all right.’
Both glad of and embarrassed by the compliment – and the knowledge that Nathan had spoken of her to his mother and so favourably – she laughed quietly. ‘Well, thank you. I’d better get the house unlocked and make a start. Father must return to work once the cart’s unloaded and I’d like the place looking as decent as I can afore he returns this evening.’
Joyce nodded approvingly. ‘You’re a sound, clean sort, I see. Not like the last lot we had there, nay. Housing a pig indoors, I ask you! Fair shocked the life out of me when I glanced inside one day whilst passing and spied the thing snoring away in bed with the kiddies! A right rag-bag lot, they were, aye.’
Laura looked aghast at her new home. ‘Oh my dear God … What state must they have left it in?’
‘I shudder to think, lass. But worry not, for I’m willing to help thee, if you’d like? We’ll have everything straightened out in no time. I’ll have a word in our Daniel’s ear, an’ all, ask him to give the walls a whitewashing for youse. That’ll brighten up the rooms no end. He’ll not mind none, nay, is good like that.’
Given Amos’s understandable but ill-natured display, she’d refrained from mentioning to Nathan the encounter with his brother. It was a real pity that their fresh start here had already begun on the wrong foot. Would Daniel be willing to help his new neighbours when he discovered who they were? She doubted it, but thanked Joyce anyway. The woman’s offer to help her clean the house, however, she accepted with much more enthusiasm – what generous souls these strangers were proving to be. She hadn’t anticipated this at all.
‘I’ll give young Mrs Anderson a yell, too. Bee won’t mind watching her babby for a few hours whilst she helps out. What d’you say? Many hands make light work, and all that.’
‘Oh aye, yes. Ta, Joyce.’
‘Right, then. Let’s make a start. I’ll fetch a pail to fill at the pump and shall set it to heat on my fire. Meantime, get yon door opened, lass, and we’ll see what we’re up against!’
‘What a welcome committee, eh, Father?’ Laura whispered happily soon afterwards, pulling him aside when he’d carried through the last of their things. As she’d feared, the house was in a sorry state, but with the women’s help, she was confident that the clean-up wouldn’t take too long. ‘They’re all so kind and accepting. I’m so glad we moved here.’
He smiled agreement, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes.
‘Father? What is it?’
‘Nay, there’s nowt wrong. Bit breathless with humping that lot is all. I’ll be reet in a minute. Now, I’d best return to Kenneth and get back to work.’
Frowning worriedly, she reached for his hand as he made to leave. ‘Wait. Are you sure you’re well?’
‘Aye, aye.’
‘Your heart’s not—?’
‘Enough with the fussing, lass. I’ll see thee later.’
‘I’ll meet thee outside the coal yard this afternoon, like we planned!’ she called after him as he walked away.
Amos raised a hand and waved, and Laura returned it. When he’d disappeared out of the court she stood for a moment, biting her lip.
Fret not. The medicine did its job, didn’t it? He’s been healthy for weeks, she reminded herself.
Rolling up her sleeves, she went to continue with her own work inside the house.
‘I don’t know how to thank thee.’ Too choked with emotion to convey her gratitude adequately, Laura let her tear-filled gaze linger over the room.
Though they had all worked like Trojans throughout the morning, it had been far from finished when she�
��d left to help Amos with his round; they had done wonders in her absence. Every nook and cranny was scrubbed and swept. The rag rugs were strategically laid to cover the odd cracked flagstone, their sparse furnishings arranged and highly polished, and the odd picture and aged ornaments they owed adorned the walls and mantel. The women had even hung the curtains and got a nice fire burning to take the chill from the air.
‘We worked like a pair of demented wasps to get it finished for when tha returned,’ Joyce laughed.
‘Aye, buzzing hither and thither till we were fit to drop!’ Mrs Anderson put in. ‘Aye, but it were worth it to see your face, lass.’
‘’Ere,’ added Joyce, ‘just you mind yer don’t sully the place again, afore you’ve had time to wash!’
Still wearing her working clothes, Laura had made to sit in the chair by the gleaming, black-leaded fireplace – she straightened quickly with a guilty grin. ‘You’re right. I’ll go and swill my face and hands at the pump and, when I’ve got changed, I’ll make a well-earned pot of tea.’
Stepping outside, her mouth stretched in a smile as she imagined her father’s reaction when he set eyes on their dirt-free, cosy dwelling. She could hardly believe things were running so smoothly, had been expecting something to go horribly wrong, as it always seemed wont to of late. But no. Glory be to God – dare she trust it to be true? – their run of good fortune showed no sign of abating. Please may it continue.
To her relief, Amos had appeared refreshed, his energy restored, when he’d emerged from the yard with his cartful of sacks to find her waiting, as promised. Throughout the delivery he’d given no indication that he felt unwell, and by the time they had finished and she’d set off back to Ebenezer Court, she was convinced she’d been fretting unnecessarily. Hopefully, the new house would lift his spirits further. She planned to make his favourite meal this evening, wanted their first night here to be just right.
‘Oh, Lord, not you. Now see ’ere, lad, it were nobbut a scratch yon horse received from Smiler here, so if it’s compensation your father’s after, you can just tell him to go and whistle. He ain’t getting a single farthing out of me.’
Releasing the pump’s long black handle, her ablutions now forgotten, Laura turned to find Daniel glaring down at her, his dog sitting obediently by his side. For a moment, she didn’t know how best to answer. He still thought her a male, and no wonder: she was once again in his presence in her ragged, too-big cart clothes and, after all, she hadn’t corrected his false assumption last time, had she?
She suddenly felt the strongest urge to laugh, but one more look at his face and her mirth died. He thought her here on instructions from her father to demand money for damages from him – and he wasn’t best pleased about the fact. He might very well thump her one, if she wasn’t careful. She stepped forward. ‘You’re mistaken. Father never sent me. The horse is just fine, just as tha said he’d be.’
‘Oh.’ The antagonism left his face. ‘Then what’s your business? Well, speak up, lad.’
‘That’s summat else you’re mistaken about.’ Moving back to the pump, she cranked the handle with one hand and with the other splashed the gushing stream on to her face, scrubbing the coal dirt away. She turned back towards him, reached up and removed her flat cap. Set free from its confines, her long hair fell with a swish, uncoiling about her shoulders like liquid butter. ‘I’m no lad. Lad.’
Daniel’s lips parted in shock. He blew air through them slowly. ‘So you ain’t. But last time—’
‘I should have told thee, aye. But well, now you know. Didn’t you suspect owt when I opened my mouth?’ she asked, a bemused smile hovering.
‘Some lads take a time longer than others to mature, don’t they, and …’ He shrugged. ‘Nay, it never crossed my mind. Well, it wouldn’t, would it?’
‘I suppose not.’ She motioned to her trousers and jacket and held up her cap. ‘I help Father on his coal round. These save my own clothes getting dirtied and it’s easier to hop on and off the cart with no skirts getting in t’ way.’ She held out a hand and, reverting to the maiden name she much preferred, said, ‘I’m Laura Todd. Your new neighbour,’ she finished, nodding towards her house.
‘You’re Laura?’ A look she couldn’t identify flashed in his eyes and a frown appeared. ‘Our Nathan speaks of nowt but thee.’
‘He’s a sound lad,’ she said quietly, cursing her blush.
‘Aye.’
The silence stretched as they stared at one another. Then something at the end of the court squeaked, and a barking Smiler – their resident rat-catcher, so Joyce had informed her earlier – raced off in pursuit, breaking the stillness.
‘Well. It’s nice meeting you. The real you, I mean.’
‘And you,’ Laura told Daniel’s retreating back – he’d already turned and was making for his house, opposite. He disappeared inside without a backward glance and, when the door closed, she headed inside her own home, feeling somewhat deflated.
From what she’d read in his demeanour he wasn’t overly keen on his brother’s new friend. Which was a pity, for her initial opinion of him hadn’t changed at all.
CHAPTER 10
THE THREE WOMEN were on their second cup of tea when the rattle of the front door opening heralded Amos’s return. They smiled at each other in readiness, picturing his amazed expression when he entered the room – Laura, in particular, was giddy with anticipation – but they were swiftly disappointed.
His hollow-eyed gaze didn’t seem to register the improvements, nor did he appear even to notice their neighbours’ presence. Without a glance at either of them, let alone a greeting, he crossed to the fire, cap scrunched tightly in his fist. Resting an elbow on the mantel, he stared mutely into the yellow-blue flames.
‘Well,’ said Joyce awkwardly, placing her cup on the side table and rising to her feet, ‘I’d best get myself off home and prepare the lads’ evening meal. Bye for now.’
‘Aye, and me.’ Mrs Anderson was right behind her. ‘My husband’ll not be best pleased if his grub’s not on t’ table when he comes in.’
Murmuring her thanks, and expressing a silent apology with her eyes, Laura saw them out. When she re-entered the room, her father hadn’t moved a muscle; he seemed lost in a world all his own. Trepidation worked cold fingers up her spine – something was clearly wrong. What? She’d never known him like this, was almost too afraid to ask.
‘Father?’
Nothing. She placed a tentative hand on his shoulder.
‘Father, what is it? What’s happened?’
The choked answer that fell from his lips turned her veins to ice: ‘Ambrose.’
He knew. Dear God, how? That low-down beast hadn’t the courage, the decency, the stupidity to confess his depravity. Did he? Then again, had he twisted the way of things, concocted some wild and devilish tale of untruths, placed the blame that was his alone squarely at her feet? Or had he followed through with his vow to visit Bolton? Did the Cannock brothers know of her whereabouts? What was it? What?
‘Ambrose. He said …’
‘He said what, Father? Tell me.’
‘He’s given me the shove.’
‘He’s …? Oh, nay!’ Hadn’t he warned he’d do just this if she left? But she’d believed it an idle threat, never thought he’d do it. This would shatter the man before her completely. How could he? ‘Oh, Father …’
‘He reckons I’m not up to it.’ Amos swiped a sleeve across his nose. ‘Past it, I am. That’s what he thinks. I’m fit for nowt.’
‘Nay – he knows nowt!’ she told him fiercely. ‘You possess more drive in your big toe than any other worker in this city, I’ll be bound. Well, to hell with him. There’s merchants aplenty what will take you on and feel the lucky for it, you just watch and see. We managed just fine afore without him, and we’ll do the same now. We don’t need nowt – nowt at all – from Ambrose Todd.’
Amos allowed Laura to guide him to a chair. She placed a filled cup before him, but though he l
ifted it absently, he made no attempt to sip the sweetened brew. Staring into space, his features were wreathed in raw misery. She could have wept for him. She could have quite happily killed her uncle with her bare hands.
‘We’re the both of us out of work – with rent on top of everything else, now, to find. Then there’s Kenneth. We can’t expect Ambrose to keep him on at the yard, not any more. There’s fresh stabling needs securing, the cost of his grub to consider. How will we cope?’
She’d never seen her father so flat, so defeated, and it both scared and enraged her in equal measures. Damn that blackguard to Lucifer’s flames! Another level of hatred towards him was born this day; she’d get even with her uncle if it was the last thing she did. ‘Don’t despair so, please,’ she beseeched Amos, taking his hand in both of hers, desperate to infuse a little of her passion into him. ‘God is good; he’ll deliver, you’ll see. Summat will come up, it allus does.’
But it was as though her words were falling on deaf ears: ‘How could he cast me aside like that?’ he continued to lament, almost to himself.
He’s punishing you to get back at me. He’s not the person you think he is.
‘My one and only brother. I’d never of believed it possible.’
I’m sorry. So sorry …
‘I told him I were well, told him it wouldn’t happen again, but he’d not listen.’ Amos squeezed shut eyes swimming with tears, his hold on Laura’s hand tightening to near-painful proportions. ‘I’ll not leave thee on this Earth like this with nowt!’
The last part of his speech had been barely audible, but she’d grasped enough for it to make sense. Her gaze narrowed in deep confusion, this slowly giving way to dreaded suspicion. ‘What d’you mean? What ain’t tha telling me?’
