‘Then let’s get married and that way we can keep the kids together,’ Billy said in a rush.
Every mouth dropped open and all eyes turned to him at his suggestion.
‘Married? You and me? Billy, have you gone stark staring mad?’ Minnie couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
‘Why not?’ Billy asked simply.
‘Billy, I ain’t seen you in over ten years! Then you come knocking on my door one morning and the next thing I know you’m talking about getting wed! You don’t even know me!’ Minnie was exasperated.
The youngsters were watching as the two batted the problem between them, not daring to utter a sound.
‘I could get to know you,’ Billy’s voice was calm and even as he spoke.
‘But – but…’ Minnie’s words trailed off as she looked from each child to the next hoping for an answer to the dilemma. Shrugged shoulders told her she was on her own in this.
‘Minnie, ten years ago I told our friend Ronald if he didn’t sweep you and your children up and away then I would. That’s why I have never married because the candle I carried for you then still burns brightly.’ Billy flushed to the roots of his hair but knew had he not told her then and there – he may never have.
‘What? Billy Marshall you mean…?’ Minnie tried again trying her best to digest what he was saying to her.
‘Yes, but if you don’t want me, I’ll understand.’
‘It ain’t that, it’s just – I had no idea!’ Minnie retorted.
‘Do you think you could ever come to love me, Minnie?’ Billy asked praying she would not refuse him.
‘Well – you’re sweet on the eye and that’s a fact, but what about my children and – these others?’ Minnie’s blush coloured her cheeks as she swept back a stray hair.
‘James, Peter, Adam and Polly, do I have your permission to ask your mother to marry me?’ Billy asked.
All four merely nodded and so he went on. ‘There, your children agree, now what about you? Will you marry me, Minnie?’ Billy’s crossed fingers behind his back began to ache as he awaited her answer.
‘Well I – it’s all a bit sudden but – I – suppose – I could – in time,’ Minnie answered haltingly.
Billy heaved a sigh of relief. ‘Good, now that’s settled we need to discuss housing. I’ve thought on this a lot so see what you think. Is your house your own, Minnie?’
Minnie nodded.
‘Right. This one is mine too. If we were to sell both we could afford a bigger one which would fit us all in comfortably, don’t you agree?’
Minnie nodded again, her brain whirling with all that was taking place.
‘Minnie, I just want you to know, I have loved you from the first time I saw you, and I will until my dying day,’ Billy said in all sincerity.
‘Dying day,’ Echo muttered quietly.
Minnie looked over at the skinny boy whose habit was to repeat everything he heard, then she looked at each child in turn. She saw the pleading in their eyes as they silently asked her to make them a complete family.
Her eyes came to rest on those of the man who was about to turn her life upside down.
‘Well?’ Billy asked once more. ‘You need to be sure, Minnie, certain this is the right thing for you.’
‘All right, yes,’ Minnie answered and was immediately swamped by ten youngsters laughing and chattering. ‘But not straight away, we need a decent courting time first.’
‘Excuse me,’ Billy said pushing his way through the throng of unwashed bodies, ‘I have waited over ten years to do this.’
Taking Minnie in his arms he kissed her gently. Then with a grin said, ‘Better than I could have ever wished for.’ Billy grinned sheepishly as whistles and guffaws sounded loud when the children applauded his action.
It was then that Echo spoke up. ‘Adam, what about Flash and Digit?’
‘Digit – he was the boy we saw arrested in the market wasn’t it? Remember – the one who said he was called Digit when the copper asked him?’ Peter asked his brother and James nodded.
‘That means Flash will be on his own,’ Adam said with concern.
‘We’ll go and get him in the morning,’ Billy said. ‘We can’t leave the lad by himself, now can we?’
‘Oh blimey! We said we’d visit those women from the orphanage as well,’ James remembered.
‘What women?’ Minnie asked.
‘Not sure but there was four of them. They’d just left their jobs at Reed’s and we helped them carry their bags. We promised to let them know when we found Polly and Adam,’ Peter explained.
‘I’ll bet that would be Miss Ashby, Miss Brock, Dilys the maid and Mrs Elliot the cook!’ Adam explained. ‘It sounds like they must have had enough of that place too.’
‘I wonder if they’ve found work yet,’ Minnie mused.
‘Why, Mum?’ Adam asked.
‘Well, with eleven kids to feed and a bigger place to find, we’re going to need some help,’ Minnie replied.
‘It’s a good job I’ve always saved my money by the sounds of it.’ Billy laughed.
‘Like another orphanage, Mrs Fitch?’ Matt asked.
‘Yes, but there’s one thing I want you all to do for me first.’ Minnie looked at the faces watching her. ‘You have to call me Minnie or Mum – I don’t mind which.’
‘Mum!’ Echo shouted with a grin spreading across his face.
‘Does that mean we would take in other kids as well?’ Polly asked.
‘Would you like that?’ Minnie responded.
‘Yes, cos there’s lots of kids out there who don’t have a mum like we do,’ her daughter said.
As everyone sat around making excited plans, Polly and May fell asleep holding hands on the sofa.
Early the following morning, Peter and James were dispatched to request the four women pay them a visit with a view to being part of their grand new plan. Billy, Adam and Echo set out to find Flash and bring him into the fold. Unfortunately, Digit was lost to them as he was most likely now in jail.
They found Flash sobbing pitifully. Adam couldn’t believe the difference in the boy. Gone was the arrogance to be replaced by a cowering wreck.
Flash threw his arms around Echo the moment he saw him and hugged him like he would never let go.
‘Echo, you came back!’
‘We came for you, Flash. We want you to come and live with us all at Billy’s house. It’s lovely there – you’ll like it. Say you will Flash – please!’ Echo begged.
‘I’m all right here, Echo mate, I’m waiting for Digit to return,’ Flash said as he looked at the man Echo had spoken about.
‘Digit ain’t going to Flash, he was nabbed by the coppers in the market,’ Echo said in his own inimitable way.
Flash burst into tears once more at hearing his friend had been arrested. Echo wrapped an arm around his shoulder and waited until he was all cried out.
‘There, that’s better ain’t it? So, am yer coming then or what?’
Flash nodded.
‘Glad to have you with us, Flash,’ Billy said.
‘Me too,’ Adam said with a grin.
Flash managed a thin smile as he followed them out of the door.
*
It was before school time had begun that the four women arrived at Billy’s with James and Peter and were swiftly brought up to date with the exciting new plans. There were tears shed as Mrs Elliot fawned over the children she had missed so much.
‘How long have you been thinking about doing this then?’ Mabel Elliot asked.
‘Since last night,’ Minnie confessed.
‘Oh blimey!’ Dilys wailed.
‘Look, I have enough savings to get a mortgage on a property big enough for everyone. Miss Brock you are already in work so I expect you’ll want to remain there at the school, however if you wish to teach our charges that would be ideal. We have need of a cook and a maid which are the positions you held had Reed’s ladies so if you would join us, we’d be delighted,’ Bil
ly said.
‘There will have to be some changes made though,’ Minnie put in, ‘Ruth, you’ll have to give up the drink.’
‘I – how did you know?’ Ruth spluttered.
‘You’re joking ain’t you? I can smell it a mile off,’ Minnie said.
‘Well, I won’t need it now. I only drank because I was so unhappy at Reed’s!’ Ruth confessed.
‘Anyway, our difficulty would be paying wages. I ain’t sure how we would manage that,’ Minnie said with a frown.
‘I can sort that out, I’ll badger the council until they give us enough money to run the place!’ Ruth said drawing her mouth into a tight-lipped smile. ‘We can campaign the wealthy for donations too. We can fund raise and—’
‘Well I’m game,’ Dilys interrupted.
‘Count me in,’ Mabel agreed.
‘Me too,’ Celia said with a grin.
‘Right then, I’ll send the boys when we’re ready for you. I just have the small matter of a wedding to arrange first.’ Minnie grinned.
After the women had left, Minnie realised how dreadfully tired she was. The children all sat on the floor around her armchair chatting quietly together.
Minnie drifted off to sleep thinking how in the near future she would be married again and running a home for lost and forgotten children. Her mouth curved up at the corners in a smile as she enjoyed the beautiful dream.
She woke to Billy whistling quietly. It was the same lullaby she used to sing to John and Minnie smiled at the good omen. Even her baby in heaven was happy about how life was turning out for her at last. This for Minnie was the final seal of approval, and with a happy sigh she knew she had made the right decision – for all of them.
Acknowledgements
My agent Judith Murdoch.
My editor Sarah Ritherdon and everyone ‘behind the scenes’ for their hard work.
About the Author
Lindsey lives in Shropshire with her husband and dog, loves to read and has recently discovered photography. She is the daughter of million-copy bestselling author Meg Hutchinson.
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The Five Shilling Children Page 25
