War in the Valleys

by Francesca Capaldi

  ‘How do you feel?’ said the doctor.

  ‘I – I feel lightheaded, and a bit sick.’

  ‘What did you have for breakfast?’

  Violet thought for a while. ‘Nothing. Saved it for the children.’

  ‘When was the last time you ate something?’

  ‘Had a bit of bread and dripping for supper.’

  ‘That’s not enough to keep a body going,’ he said. He looked up at Olwen. ‘Do you not have food enough in your house?’

  ‘She could have had the leftover mutton and veg, like me. She chose not to.’

  ‘There wasn’t enough,’ Violet said weakly.

  ‘Nonsense,’ said Olwen. ‘You’re just having one of your funny turns, you know, doctor, like I was telling you about?’

  Funny turns? Maybe she was ill, thought Anwen. Then another possibility occurred to her: she was giving all the food to the children and to Olwen, and going without.

  ‘I have not been having funny turns,’ said Violet.

  ‘What I’d like to know, doctor,’ said Molly Prior, ‘is why Gertie here thinks my Brenda had the syphilis, for that’s what she’s meaning by the pox. For she didn’t, did she, doctor? You can confirm that.’

  The look of appeal in her eyes led Anwen to suspect there was something in the story.

  Dr Roberts stood up. ‘Mrs Pritchard, you should not be talking about people’s illnesses. Now I don’t know where on earth you got this piece of tittle-tattle from, but I don’t want to hear again that you’ve been spreading unfounded rumours around about illnesses.’

  ‘And what are you going to do about stopping me, doctor?’ said Gertie, taunting him. ‘Besides, the pox isn’t an illness, it’s a curse from the devil.’ Her voice got louder as she shouted, ‘I don’t want no one with the pox in my shop. You might infect me.’ She swept her arm round to indicate the group of women, including Winnie and Molly.

  ‘What’s all this now,’ said Stanley, rushing through the room. ‘Just been told that my wife’s causing a to-do – again!’

  ‘Aye, and the police’ll be here soon too,’ said the man who’d evidently alerted him, ‘for Harries is being fetched from the Methodist chapel.’

  ‘She says we’ll not get served at the butcher’s no more,’ said Winnie.

  He went red in the face as he bawled, ‘This is the last time I’m going to tell you, Gertie. No one is banned from our shop! What are you even doing here? You’re Catholic. Now get home before you cause more trouble.’

  There was the sound of running feet and Sergeant Harries appeared through the crowd. ‘Stay where you are, Mrs Pritchard. This is not the first time I’ve been called to speak to you. One more time, and you’ll end up in a cell, like your daughter. You understand?’

  ‘You should be dragging her off now,’ said Enid. ‘She’s had enough warnings.’

  ‘Don’t try and do my job for me, Mrs Rhys.’

  Gertie made no reply. Instead she jammed her fists into her hips and, sucking in her lips, she stomped off, just ahead of her husband.

  ‘Come on, get up now,’ Olwen told Violet. ‘Lying around here won’t do. Let’s fetch the children and get you home to rest.’

  She smiled sweetly at everyone, but Anwen wasn’t taken in by her apparent benevolence. There was something not right here. Hywel glanced over at her, his slight frown conveying that he was thinking something similar.

  ‘I’ll come and visit you later,’ Gwen called as Olwen helped Violet towards the room the children were in.

  ‘Don’t bother yourself,’ said Olwen. ‘I’ll look after her.’

  ‘I will call in,’ said the doctor.

  ‘No, no, she’s fine now.’

  Hywel shook his head and joined Anwen at the same time as Gwen and Enid. Anwen was glad that Cadi had taken Sara Fach home halfway through the sermon, when she’d got fidgety and noisy. She’d felt fidgety herself. Pastor Thomas’s homilies tended to be much more philosophical than those of the last minister.

  People dispersed, muttering about the latest rumpus. The four of them were about to walk away when Dr Roberts called her name.

  ‘Anwen, I gather you and Violet have fallen out.’

  ‘Not just me, the whole family,’ she said.

  ‘Her mother-in-law has said some wicked things about Hywel,’ said Enid.

  ‘I am rather worried about her and the influence of her mother-in-law,’ said the doctor.

  ‘She could have sent her packing long since,’ said Enid. ‘But she’s kept her there. If it were that bad, she’d tell her to leave.’

  ‘I’m not sure that is the case,’ said the doctor. ‘I probably shouldn’t be telling you this, but a month ago, Mrs Jones senior fetched me to the house, telling me that Violet had gone mad and needed locking up in an asylum.’

  Anwen and Gwen said, ‘Oh no,’ the same time Hywel said, ‘She what?’

  The doctor stayed them by lifting his hand. ‘I felt, on talking to her, and visiting a couple of times since, that Violet is very down, but there is no indication she needs locking up. Mrs Jones, however, has mentioned it every time I’ve seen her. What with that, and Violet getting thinner, which I’m sure is due to her not eating properly, I feel there is something awry here and that Violet needs her friends to look out for her, for I can’t be there every day.’

  ‘I knew there was something amiss,’ said Hywel.

  ‘I don’t understand,’ said Enid. ‘Then why would Violet keep that vicious harpy in the house? She’s been controlling her life since she got there.’

  Anwen bit the side of her lip. There was only one conclusion she could reach. ‘Do you think, doctor, that Olwen is not so much concerned about Violet’s mental state, but just trying to get her locked up?’

  ‘Yes, I rather suspect she is. I’ve seen it before, normally with husbands who want to be rid of their wives. It’s too easy, when someone has melancholia, to conclude they’re going mad.’

  Hywel did up his jacket. ‘I’ve a good mind to go round and sort this out, once and for all.’

  ‘I’m not sure that would be the right approach,’ said the doctor.

  ‘No,’ said Anwen. ‘But it is time we took action. I think there is something Gwen and I can do.’

  ‘Really?’ said Gwen.

  ‘Yes. Come for a walk and we’ll sort out a plan. I’ve got an idea.’

  ‘Are you going to tell it to us?’ said Hywel.

  ‘Later. All I’ll say is that it’s about time we involved her family. Now, don’t you go doing anything silly while we’re gone.’

  Enid took his arm. ‘I’ll make sure he doesn’t.’

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  ‘Can we go walk on Twyn Gobaith today, Mam?’ said Clarice, as they approached their house after school the next day.

  ‘Not today, cariad. We’d better get home, for Mamgu will be home earlier today.’

  She guided the children down the alleyway to enter round the back. How she wished she had a house on Edward Street or Alexandra Street, with a back garden that looked onto Twyn Gobaith. That would have been a treat indeed, instead of one that looked out on other houses.

  ‘Mam, can me and Benjy play in the garden?’

  Violet came to. ‘Yes, of course. You look after Benjy now and don’t go outside the gate.’

  ‘No, Mam.’

  In the scullery, she filled up the kettle and took it to the kitchen. It was overly warm in here, the stove being lit to boil the water and make the stew she’d have to start on soon.

  While she was fetching down the cups from the dresser, she heard the clamour of childish voices. Probably a noisy game, but she’d better check.

  She’d only got as far as the scullery when the door opened and there stood her mother. Violet stepped back in shock, which only increased when her father came in behind her.

  ‘Mam, Da?’

  Her mother surged forward, enfolding her in her arms. ‘How are you, cariad?’ She stepped away to survey her. ‘You are look
ing terribly thin.’

  ‘I’m fine.’

  Her father came forward to kiss her cheek. ‘How have you been then?’

  ‘We know how she’s been,’ said Doris.

  Violet was confused. ‘You didn’t write to say you were visiting.’

  Doris undid her jacket and fanned her face. ‘If we’d done that, no doubt there’d have been some excuse made for us not to come.’

  ‘Why would I have done that?’

  There was more noise outside the door, which was flung open wider to admit the children pulling a third person along.

  ‘Look Mam, it’s Tadcu Jones.’

  ‘Brynmore! Why are you here too?’ Then it occurred to her. She walked backwards, towards the kitchen door. ‘I don’t know what you’ve heard from Olwen, but it’s not true. I’m perfectly sane.’

  ‘I think you’ve got the wrong end of the stick, love,’ said her father-in-law.

  Ioan gathered the children up from Brynmore. ‘I’ll take the kiddies out to the garden while you explain.’

  ‘Come on Tadcu Wynne,’ said Benjy, pulling on his sleeve.

  When they’d gone, Doris said, ‘It wasn’t Olwen we heard from, it was Anwen and Gwen. In fact, they came to see us yesterday. Took a trip down on the train, they did.’

  ‘But why?’ Could this be to do with her fainting in church? She was still confused.

  ‘They’re of the opinion that Olwen is trying to get you committed. Apparently she’s been trying to persuade Dr Roberts for ages.’

  ‘How would they know that? Anwen isn’t even talking to me, nor any of her family, because Olwen, well…’

  ‘We know,’ said Doris. ‘Olwen has been obsessed with the idea that you and Hywel were up to no good.’

  ‘Mam!’ Violet went red. ‘It’s not true. He was only a friend, trying to be supportive.’ She leant her weight against the table. How many times had she said that? Much of the time it felt like she was trying to persuade herself. ‘And I do miss Charlie.’ This was true, even if it was the old one she missed, not the domineering one of latter years.

  ‘Violet, love,’ said Brynmore. ‘We know you miss Charlie, but he’s not coming back. Olwen has taken it hard and I think it turned her brain a bit.’

  ‘I don’t understand what happened with you and her,’ said Violet. ‘Did she leave you? She never gave that impression, but she never seemed to want to go home either.’

  ‘I wish I knew. I kept writing, asking her to come back. I had the impression you needed her here. In fact, Olwen hinted that you’d asked her to stay.’

  She shook her head. ‘I didn’t. I thought she’d go home after Christmas, but didn’t want to push it as she seemed to like being with the children. Later, I appreciated having someone to look after them when I had to work, and then I was grateful she was bringing in some money. By then I think she had the idea she was staying forever.’

  ‘What about all this nonsense about you going to an asylum?’ said Doris. ‘Dr Roberts told Anwen and Gwen. I tell you, I was that furious I was all for coming yesterday, but Anwen persuaded us to meet up with Brynmore first, to discuss things. Why on earth didn’t you tell us?’

  ‘Dr Roberts shouldn’t have been saying anything.’

  ‘He did it for your wellbeing.’

  A quite unexpected urge to cry overtook Violet. Tears streamed down her cheeks and she found herself weeping. Despite what had happened, Anwen did still care about her, it seemed.

  ‘Oh lovey,’ said her mother, hugging her. ‘There, there now.’

  ‘I was afraid if I didn’t go along with what she wanted, that she’d get me committed and I wouldn’t see the children grow up. It happened to that woman in the village when I was about twelve. Louise someone, do you remember her?’

  ‘I certainly do,’ said Doris.

  ‘She was diagnosed with melancholia after she had her second baby and was taken away to the asylum in Abergavenny. I think her children ended up with her mother and the father left the village altogether.’

  ‘Louise Bennett. Yes, I remember her. That was back in Dr Howell’s time. I wonder whatever happened to her. Anyway, you’re not to worry about that. It’s not going to happen to you.’

  ‘I’ve felt so tired and weak lately, I didn’t have the strength to fight Olwen anymore. I thought you’d come to help put me away,’ she sobbed.

  ‘No,’ said Brynmore. ‘But we are going to sort this out once and for all. Olwen did tell me after Charlie died that she wished she could go back to when he and his sister were little. I reckon that’s why she wanted to look after Clarice and Benjy.’

  ‘Hello?’ came a voice from the hall.

  ‘It’s Olwen.’ Violet straightened herself, took a handkerchief from her skirt pocket and wiped her eyes. Her pulse was thumping in her head. Despite her mother’s words, what if her mother-in-law persuaded them she did need locking away?

  Olwen marched in with confidence, until she noticed who was there. She came to a sudden halt. ‘Brynmore? Doris? What on earth is going on here? I suppose you wrote to them to come, did you?’ She frowned at Violet.

  ‘No, she didn’t,’ said Doris, coming to within three feet of her.

  ‘Well it’s just as well you’re here, for there’s been all sorts going on. She’s got the melancholia, has Violet, and now you can help me persuade the doctor to—’

  ‘Don’t go any further,’ said Doris. ‘I know you’ve been trying to get my daughter locked up, and I’ll not stand for it, you hear?’

  Olwen pursed her lips and regarded them as if they were silly children. ‘You don’t know the half of it. I’ve been duty bound to protect the honour of this family. You should know there’s been a man sniffing about—’

  ‘We know all about it,’ said Brynmore, ‘and it’s time you stopped interfering. You’ve caused a rift between Violet and her friends and it’s got to be mended. What you did, trying to persuade the doctor to put Violet away, is terrible. It’s time for you to come home, Olwen. And let’s hope that all the people you’ve upset in the village – and I believe it’s quite a few – can forgive you. I think it’s you what needs the doctor.’

  ‘I’m not going back to Bargoed. I’ve got a job here and Violet needs the money.’

  ‘If she needs help and some money, that’s up to Ioan and me to sort out,’ said Doris. ‘You can go home or not, that’s up to you, but there’s no place for you here anymore, do you understand?’

  Olwen didn’t budge. ‘I think that’s up to Violet. Not said a word, she hasn’t, so I’m guessing she doesn’t agree with you.’

  Violet lifted her weight from the table and went towards her mother-in-law. She had nothing to lose any more, so she could say what she wanted. ‘It’s time you went home, Olwen. You should have gone after Christmas. I appreciated your help, but it came at an awful high price and having you here has not been pleasant.’

  Olwen didn’t budge. ‘There’s thanks for me putting myself out for you.’

  Even now Violet couldn’t see her leaving. The possibility of it had been a blessed dream for so long but seemed as far away as ever. No! Something in Violet snapped. Enough was enough. What she said next poured forth in a rapid outburst.

  ‘Putting yourself out for me? When did you do that? When you were saving food for yourself but not for me? When you were telling the children off all the time for no good reason? When you ruined Christmas as Anwen’s? When you were spying on me and accusing me of all sorts and embarrassing me in front of people? When you told the police you saw Hywel in the back lane the night of the bookshop break-in, when you couldn’t have done? When you pretended that I’d attacked you to the neighbours and Dr Roberts, and that it wasn’t the first time? When you expected me to feed you on my widow’s pension and contribute nothing when you first arrived? When you insisted I work rather than get a lodger, which would have been handier with the children? When I was working and had to do the cleaning in the evenings because you’d done nothing? When you were wor
king, but insisted on looking after all the money, keeping us short and not lifting a finger at home?’ Violet came to a halt, exhausted by the tirade.

  ‘Good Lord, you’ve a lot to answer for!’ said Doris. ‘No wonder Violet’s so thin. You were starving her!’

  Brynmore tutted and shook his head. ‘What on earth were you thinking?’

  For a long while Olwen eyed each of them, her jaw clenched. At last she spoke. ‘Right, if that’s how you feel, I know where I’m not welcome. I will pack my things. Brynmore, you will come and help me.’

  He followed her out to the kitchen. Violet felt the gloom of the last six months lift from her slim body. She was giddy with relief.

  ‘Good riddance to bad rubbish. I’ll put the kettle on, shall I?’ said Doris.

  ‘Yes. I could do with a cup of tea. The kettle’s already on the stove.’

  ‘Righty ho. Why don’t you go and tell your da it’s all over.’

  ‘Let me just pull myself together and I will.’

  Doris left the room. Violet took several deep breaths, bathing in the knowledge that she had her house back again.

  But there was still Hywel there, round the corner, unobtainable.

  ‘One thing at a time,’ she told herself, then went to find her father.

  * * *

  ‘So, are we going to meet Hywel?’ asked Doris, as they sat round the kitchen table drinking tea.

  ‘You already know Hywel,’ said Violet, hoping the topic would soon be over.

  ‘Yes, but we’ve not seen him since things changed.’

  ‘I like Nuncle Hywel,’ said Benjy.

  ‘It’s Uncle,’ said Clarice. ‘Silly!’

  His little face fell. ‘I not silly.’

  ‘Why don’t you get your train set,’ said Ioan. ‘We’ll have a chuff around the track.’

  ‘It’s in the front room,’ said Clarice, jumping off the chair and making for the room in question.

  Ioan helped Benjy down and they followed her.