Now with the sounds of laughter echoing from the lawn, Sunday returned her attention to the packet and after withdrawing a sheet of notepaper, she began to read. And then she systematically went through the rest of the contents, which consisted of several unopened letters addressed to her and Tom. Seconds later she was on her feet and racing through the house, shouting, ‘Tom! Tom!’
‘All right, all right, pet! Where’s the fire?’ He appeared from the direction of the kitchen and she thrust the letter into his hand. ‘Read this!’
After quickly doing so, he stared at her. ‘Isn’t this Miss Fox the servant who came from Kitty’s mother to take her off to London?’
Sunday nodded. ‘Yes, and she’s saying that Kitty is in trouble and in dire need of our help and will we please take her back? What shall I tell her?’
‘Tell her that of course we will!’ Tom lifted his wife off her feet and swung her about. ‘And there’s no time like the present. Write back now, and I’ll get straight off and put it in the post.’
Ten minutes later he was heading for the post office in Nuneaton with a broad smile on his face. Of course he and Sunday were concerned about what sort of trouble Kitty might be in – but whatever it was, they would help her through it.
One day soon afterwards, Miss Fox called Maggie into the kitchen to make an announcement. ‘My dear, you and Kitty are going home – to Treetops. It’s all been arranged. You will see that she gets there safely for me, won’t you?’
Maggie paled. Treetops was very close to the Daweses’ home in Witherley and she was terrified of bumping into the man who had abused her – but even so, for Kitty and her unborn baby’s sake, she would risk it. Miss Fox pressed some money into her hand. She had pawned the rest of Ruby’s jewellery, her own savings having dried up long ago.
‘There’s a train leaving for Nuneaton at seven o’clock this evening,’ she said, ‘and I want you, Kitty and Tallulah to be on it. This should be more than enough for the tickets, and Sunday and Tom will be meeting you at the station.’
‘Oh, Foxy, I shall miss you,’ Maggie cried in a rare show of emotion, and she was shocked to see that there were tears in the older woman’s eyes.
‘It’s better for Kitty this way,’ Miss Fox told her huskily. ‘But now go and get packed – and not a word to Ruby, mind. There will be a cab calling for you at six and I want you to be ready. There’s something else you need to know, but I want you to promise to keep it to yourself until you get back to Treetops. Will you do that?’
Maggie promised, and just for a second Miss Fox’s chin drooped to her chest. But then with an enormous effort she explained about the letters that had never been sent. Sensing her pain, Maggie embraced her, and not another word was said.
Upstairs, when Maggie told Kitty the news, she was astounded.
‘I can’t go back to Treetops,’ she argued. ‘I was so horrible to Sunday and Tom when they came to see me at the Wilton’s Music Hall. They won’t want me back there.’
‘Ah, well that’s where you’re wrong.’ Maggie smiled. ‘Miss Fox has written to them and they’re already expecting us. You’re going home, Kitty.’
For the first time in many months, Kitty raised a smile. She was going back to where she belonged. But first there was something she must settle so she went in search of Miss Fox and found her sitting in her bedroom, having a little rest.
‘Ah, here you are, Foxy.’ Kitty gave her an affectionate smile. ‘Maggie has told me the news, and I can’t even express my thanks for everything you’ve done for me. But before I go, there’s something I must ask you. Something that I’ve been longing to know, ever since I first heard about him. Won’t you please tell me who my father was now? I promise to keep it a secret. All you’ve ever told me is that he was a politician.’
The older woman’s mouth opened and closed as she wrestled with her conscience. She had tried so hard to avoid heaping any more hurt onto Kitty but now, at this time of endings and new beginnings, the girl deserved to know the truth.
‘The truth of it is, there never was a politician.’ Phyllis Fox lowered her eyes in shame. ‘I just made him up to make you feel better about yourself.’
Kitty stared at her steadily for a moment as she digested her words then she said, ‘Ruby didn’t even know who my father was, did she?’ When Miss Fox mutely shook her head, Kitty turned and left the room with no further comment. Could she have known it, Miss Fox had only confirmed the suspicions she’d had for some long time. Why else would she have changed the subject every time Kitty asked her about him?
After pulling herself together, Miss Fox went downstairs, where she found Ruby with a bottle in her hand just about to refill her glass. As Foxy entered the room, Ruby tried to hide it down the side of the chair, but to her surprise the older woman took it from her and filled the glass for her.
‘You have a drink, sweetheart, if that’s what you want,’ she encouraged and Ruby was shocked although she didn’t argue.
Miss Fox spent the rest of the afternoon pacing up and down, thinking everything through. She’d had such high hopes when she had fetched Kitty from Treetops, daring to believe that Ruby would change once she had her own flesh and blood to love, but sadly it hadn’t happened. Ruby had loved only herself for far too long to have room in her heart for anyone else now.
By the time six o’clock rolled around and the cab arrived, Ruby was so drunk that she had passed out, so after checking on her Miss Fox accompanied the girls to the door. The driver immediately began to load their luggage on board as Miss Fox took Kitty’s face between her two hands and stared deep into the girl’s eyes. Kitty was surprised to see that she was crying.
‘I’m so sorry things didn’t work out for you here, my dear,’ she whispered brokenly. ‘But go back now to the people who really love you and make the best of your life. It’s all before you, although you may not think so now.’ She kissed her tenderly on the cheek then turned her attention to Maggie, who was also looking tearful.
‘And you!’ Miss Fox squeezed her hand. ‘You’re a good girl, Maggie, and one day you’re going to make some young man very happy.’
‘Huh, I doubt that,’ Maggie snorted but Miss Fox put her right.
‘There’s more to a person than looks, my girl, and you’ve got a big heart and a good head on your shoulders. But now just one more thing. Ruby and I will be leaving here this evening too, so there’ll be no keeping in touch. But go knowing I thought the world of the pair of you. Now be off before I start making an exhibition of myself! Believe me, this is for the best. If there were any other way, I’d keep you both close for ever.’
Once the cab door had closed behind them, Phyllis waved until the vehicle was out of sight. Then drawing herself up to her full height she went back into the house to put the final part of her plan into action.
Ruby had woken up on the big sofa and grinned at her lopsidedly as Miss Fox entered the room. Phyllis stood looking at her for a long time before taking a tiny bottle from her pocket. A sob caught in her throat, then turning her back on Ruby she tipped half of its contents into a large glass of wine and quickly stirred it.
‘Here you are, my lovely.’ Her hand was trembling as she handed the glass to Ruby, and tears were rolling down her cheeks. ‘Get that down you and your troubles will all be over, God willing.’
Ruby took it greedily and knocked it back, and within seconds her head began to loll. Swiftly moving to her side, Miss Fox lifted Ruby’s feet onto the sofa and placed a pillow beneath her head before sitting close beside her and taking her hand.
‘There, my lovely girl,’ the older woman crooned. ‘You just trust your old mum to know what’s best for you, eh? I’m just sad that I had to send my granddaughter away. You never really took to her, did you? But then that was my fault – I see it now. When she was born and you told me you wanted rid of her, I couldn’t bear it, so I paid all those years to know that she was safe and sound at Treetops. Oh, I admit I wasn’t happy about the way you expl
oited her when I fetched her home, but then I shouldn’t have expected any better of you. It was me, Katherine Smith, who made you as you are, through spoiling you, so it’s me who should take the blame.’
She sighed deeply, and her tears fell on Ruby’s hand, clasped between her own. ‘I can remember the day you ran away from home seeking fame and fortune, and I told you I’d washed my hands of you. But I couldn’t keep it up, could I? I soon came back with my tail between my legs, but you were a star by then and all I could be to you was a servant. I even became Miss Phyllis Fox for you. It wouldn’t have done for all your fancy friends and admirers to know where you came from – a rented room in Tooting with no man about the place – would it? I know how unhappy you are now that your looks are fading and you’re ill, so I’m doing this for the pair of us. At last we can be mother and daughter again, without you being ashamed of me and your beginnings.’
Lifting the bottle of wine, she poured another glass and added the remaining contents of the small bottle. Raising it to her lips, she took a long swallow. Ruby’s breath was coming in little shallow gasps now, so Miss Fox quickly drained her own glass and climbing up to lie beside her, she wrapped her arms protectively about her daughter.
‘Sleep tight, my darling girl, and please forgive me, God,’ she whispered as the poison began to work. For a time, there was nothing to be heard but the sound of their breathing … then shortly after, there was nothing but silence.
Chapter Fifty-Five
Kitty sat as if she had been turned to stone all the way back on the train clutching Tallulah on her lap as she tried to imagine what sort of a homecoming she might receive. She had been so cruel to Sunday and Tom when they had come all the way to visit her, and she was no longer the same innocent girl she had been when she left Treetops. Would they ever be able to forgive her?
She also had very mixed feelings about leaving Ruby and Miss Fox. She’d been so thrilled when her mother had sent for her, but her dreams had come crashing down when she realised that Ruby only valued her for the earning power that she might possess. Still, she consoled herself, at least I got to meet her so I won’t have to spend the rest of my life wondering what she was like.
Maggie seemed to pick up on her fears, for she squeezed Kitty’s hand reassuringly. ‘It’ll be all right,’ she promised, and Kitty prayed that she was right.
Sunday and Tom were waiting on the platform for them when they steamed into Nuneaton and Kitty’s fears vanished the second she stepped from the train to be hugged by Sunday, who was crying unashamedly.
‘Oh, my darling girls,’ she sobbed as she tried to cuddle both Kitty and Maggie at the same time. ‘Welcome home.’ The letters from Kitty had explained how Maggie had come back into her life, much to the joy of all at Treetops. Everyone had worried about Maggie since her disappearnce some years ago.
Kitty began to cry too as Tom rushed about collecting their luggage and Sunday led them out to the waiting car.
‘You do know that I’m going to have a baby, don’t you?’ Kitty asked tremulously when they were finally driving through the familiar town.
‘Of course I do, and it will be very welcome just as you two are,’ Sunday assured her as she sat between them on the back seat holding their hands.
She turned to Maggie then and told her gently, ‘But I’m afraid I have some rather bad news for you, pet. Mr Dawes died of a massive heart attack shortly after you ran away and your mother Stella passed away too within months of him going. Their solicitor has been trying to find you ever since. You’re quite a wealthy young woman now. Your parents left you their house and everything they owned. The solicitor had tenants living in The Gables and has kept the money for you.’
Maggie shuddered. ‘I will never go back there,’ she declared. ‘That house holds too many unhappy memories for me.’
‘I see.’ Sunday stared at her curiously. Maggie obviously had a lot to tell her – since she wouldn’t have run away for nothing – but all that could come in her own good time. For now, Sunday was just content to have both girls back with her, where they belonged.
Over the next few weeks, Kitty unburdened her heart and told Sunday everything. She held nothing back – but never once did Sunday condemn her.
‘You are young and you were exploited,’ she told her gently. ‘And Richard was a cad.’
‘But he didn’t really force me to do anything,’ Kitty defended him.
Sunday stroked her hair. She blamed Kitty’s mother as much as anyone for what had befallen the girl, but she wouldn’t tell her that. ‘You might not be able to see it now, but he did so in a roundabout way. He played on your naïvety. But put it all behind you now. You have this precious little one to think of now.’
Kitty bowed her head and cried bitter tears at the mistakes of the past but miraculously Sunday still loved her despite the degrading life she had been leading, and somehow now that she had confided in her she began to feel a little better.
It was much the same with Maggie when she eventually broke down and conquered her shame to tell Sunday about the terrible things her adoptive father had done to her.
‘You should have come to us and told us what was going on,’ Sunday said, as she wept with her. ‘That evil man should have been punished for what he did.’
‘But he was, wasn’t he?’ Maggie gazed at her through a veil of tears. ‘I think it must have been me running away that brought on his heart attack. He would have been terrified that I was going to tell someone.’
Sunday saw the sense in what she said. Perhaps Maggie was right? If she was, then Victor Dawes had paid the ultimate price for his wickedness. And now that Maggie no longer had to live in fear of seeing him again, she, like Kitty, could start to put her sorry past behind her.
‘It’s over! I just heard on the wireless that the war is finally over!’ Ben announced joyously as he burst into the drawing room on the blustery morning of 11 November 1918.
Everyone began to hug each other and shake hands; even Kitty, who was normally so quiet, raised a smile. Then Ben suddenly grabbed Maggie and began to waltz her about the room, much to everyone’s amusement.
‘What a Christmas this is going to be,’ Tom cried as he hurried away to fetch a bottle of wine. ‘I think we should drink a toast to peace at last!’
By the time he returned, the church bells all over the land were ringing and Tom hastily filled some glasses and passed them around. They were all aware that the war had cost millions of lives and that today would be filled with sadness for those whose loved ones would not be returning. The empty stables also told a story. Even so, it was a time for rejoicing.
For the people at Treetops, the last few weeks had been eventful to say the least. First, they had welcomed Kitty and Maggie home with open arms. Somehow Maggie’s confession to Sunday had brought them closer than ever. The Daweses’ house had been put up for sale on Maggie’s instructions and was now sold, and for now the proceeds were sitting in the bank until Maggie decided what she wanted to do with all the money. Until then, Sunday and Tom had promised her that she had a home with them for as long as she wanted. Their little evacuees had returned to their families the month before, and ever since then, the household had been adjusting to the new peace and quiet. The remaining young people that Sunday and Tom had cared for had also grown up and left, and the twins had been adopted, and for the first time in years Treetops had no children racing along its corridors. But Sunday knew it wouldn’t be like that for long. Kitty’s baby was due soon and she could hardly wait for it to be born. Kitty had come out of the terrible lethargy she had sunk into after Richard’s betrayal, but there was a kind of ethereal quality about her that worried Sunday. Despite all their best attempts to get her to eat, her body was painfully thin while her belly was so enormous that Tom often teased her that he was afraid she might pop.
When Kitty had first come home to a royal welcome, both Sunday and Tom had been touched to see how devoted to her Maggie was, and it did Sunday’s heart good
to see how close the two young women had become. Sunday had also noticed how kind Ben was to Maggie and how the girl seemed to glow when she was in his company. She had quietly hoped that a romance between them might develop but up to now there had been no sign of it. She lived in hope that it might still come about, and for now she was content with the way things were going, especially with the wonderful news that Tom had just given them, that this war to end all wars had itself come to an end.
‘Things are finally working out,’ Sunday told Tom with an ecstatic smile on her face. ‘Kitty and Maggie are home and the best of friends. Who would ever have thought it, eh? When you look back to how jealous Maggie was of Kitty when she was little, I mean.’
Tom grinned. ‘They were just children,’ he pointed out. ‘And do you know what? I think Maggie loved Kitty even then. It’s just that she so desperately wanted a family of her very own to belong to. It’s heartbreaking how things turned out with the Daweses, but at least we can make sure she feels loved from here on in.’
That afternoon, Big Ben in London struck one o’clock after four years of silence and suddenly everywhere was a blaze of colour with flags of every Allied nation flying from hastily erected flagpoles on hundreds of rooftops. The King and Queen attracted huge crowds as they took an informal drive through the centre of London to Hyde Park, and thousands of people crowded into Downing Street to cheer the Prime Minister, Lloyd George, and his cabinet. Blackout curtains were ripped down, and suddenly all the shop windows were ablaze with light. It was truly a day to rejoice and by the time they went to bed that night everyone, even Kitty, was in a happy frame of mind.
The Little Angel Page 43
