“You come home with us, love,” said Mrs Kimpton. “You have your dinner with us today, then we can talk about it.”
She wanted to go home and tell her parents they had put the cart before the horse, but this invitation was so much more inviting. And she needed a shoulder to cry on, not someone to argue with.
They crossed the graveyard and slipped out of the other gate, rather than pass Catherine’s parents and all the people there congratulating them. Catherine tried to hold back the tears, but she was finding it impossible. Her mind was a whirl of ‘what ifs’, of possible paths she could take.
“I didn’t really believe him,” she said, stumbling over the words. “Father; I didn’t believe he would really turn me out. But it looks like I was wrong.”
She had her arm tucked into Michael’s and now he leaned down and kissed her forehead beneath the wide rim of her hat.
“Don’t worry, darling,” he said. “We’ll sort it out.”
She looked up at him with wide, tearful eyes.
“I never wanted to marry anyone but you,” she said. “You know that, don’t you?”
He nodded as they reached Evergreen House, the Kimptons’ home, and followed them through the door. As soon as they were inside, Michael turned to her and brushed the tears away from her cheek with his thumbs. Then he kissed her, a kiss he had never given her before with anyone watching.
“We’ve talked about this, haven’t we?” he said. “I think it’s time to act on it, don’t you?”
“Go to Scotland, you mean?” said Catherine.
“Yes. How else are we going to manage things? Even if you tell Reverend Mason you’re not prepared to marry this man, your parents will get at you and get at you until you give in.”
“No!” Catherine shook her head wildly. “No, Michael. I’m stronger than that. But he will carry out his threat to turn me out and he’ll never consent to my marrying you. I have a whole year before I’m twenty one.”
“Then it’s settled, isn’t it?” said Michael. “My father has promised to give me the money. We’ll leave today, straight after dinner. We can get the train from London; I think we might have to change somewhere, but we’ll find all that out at the station.”
Catherine gripped his hand, almost digging her fingernails into his flesh.
“I promised to be here for Jessica,” she said. “Her baby’s due any day now and I promised her. She’s got no one else.”
“We’ll only stay the one night,” said Michael. “Then we’ll be back and we can help Jessica.”
Helping Jessica had been on Catherine’s mind for a few weeks, up until that day in church when she heard her own name called out for everyone to hear. Didn’t her parents realise how foolish they would look when she refused to marry Paul Jameson?
Catherine hadn’t been able to talk much to Jessica about things; there was always someone listening and Jess was afraid something would be done to interfere with the plan they were trying to make.
The plan was only a whispered conversation that had made Jessica’s face light up. It touched Catherine’s heart that, when she had told Mrs Kimpton about Jessica and what had happened, she immediately offered to take the baby. That wasn’t something she expected from anyone; she thought the poor little mite would end up in an orphanage, put out to work as a scullery maid when she was ten, and that only if she was lucky.
They had dinner early and now Michael’s mother was putting the handles of a leather travelling bag into Michael’s hands, drawing Catherine toward her and giving her a hug.
“I’ve put some things in there for you, to save you going home. Some new underwear I haven’t worn yet. You can buy anything else you need, save you going back to your mum and dad.”
“You’re very kind,” said Catherine.
“Now don’t you worry about Jessica,” she said as she released her. “I’ll go and visit her this very afternoon. I’ll sort things out with that Matron, make sure she knows what’s what.”
“You won’t tell anyone, will you?” said Catherine.
“Of course not. Her secret is as safe with me as it is with you.” She paused and straightened Catherine’s lapels, although they didn’t need straightening. “We’ll sort out the spare room for you while you’re gone.”
Catherine hadn’t thought about where they would live. She really hadn’t thought about anything much, it was all so sudden, and now she realised they had nowhere else to go. But that was all right; she loved Michael’s parents.
“Thank you,” said Catherine. “Thank you for everything. You’ve been so good to me. I wish …” but she stopped here. What she wished was that her own mother could understand her one iota as well as Michael’s mother seemed to.
“You go off now,” said Mrs Kimpton. “Jim’ll drive you in the buggy and you can get the train into London.”
The London train was an adventure; Catherine had never been inside one of the great beasts before and the loud noise from the steam almost scared her half to death. But when they got to Kings Cross Station in London, she realised what scared really was.
This station was almost indoors, the platforms covered by an enormous roof and there were several trains, all puffing noisy steam out of their engines. She clung to Michael, feeling that she was in a dream; this could not be happening.
“Are you all right?” he asked, when they had settled into a small compartment.
She nodded, rested her head on his shoulder.
“Yes,” she said. “It’s just all so sudden. Only this morning I was trying to decide the best way to persuade my father that I didn’t want to marry Mr Jameson, and now I’m on my way to Gretna Green with you. I feel really wicked.”
He laughed, kissed her hand. They had been lucky enough to get the compartment all to themselves, but that might not last. The train had many stops before it got far enough north to change trains for Gretna.
“It was the only way,” he said. “The only way we could be married. And they forced our hand; we were content to wait until you were old enough to marry without his consent, but they pushed us into it.”
“They did,” said Catherine with a note of bitterness. “It was their own fault. My mother is such a snob, first wanting me to marry the Earl, then trying to push me onto his cousin. I’ve told her many times I wouldn’t marry anyone but you.”
“What do you think they’ll say when we get back?” he asked.
“I dread to think,” she replied. “But it’ll not matter. They’ve gone too far now; I never want to see them again.”
***
Jessica was finding it difficult to get about now. The baby was three days late and the great bulk she carried before her constantly kicked and moved so she got little sleep. Miss Jensen told her not to complain so much, that any discomfort was only what she had brought on herself. Then she had to listen to the repetitive diatribe, the lecture the Matron brought out every time a girl in Magpie House dared to complain about anything. It started off with the words if you had waited till you were married, you wouldn’t be in this position.
That was when, like everyone else in the house, Jessica stopped listening. On the previous Sunday, she had expected a visit from Catherine, and was more than surprised to see Michael Kimpton’s mother.
She was glad it was her. She was kind, not judgmental, and because she was older and a respectable married woman, Miss Jensen didn’t question her arrival or her insistence that she would sign the adoption papers before she left.
That was unusual; normally, adoption papers were not signed until the birth, but Mrs Kimpton wanted to be quite sure that she was given the baby. Jessica thought she suspected Miss Jensen of taking money for the infants, but she had no evidence.
Jessica had been sitting in the common room, a pile of darning in the basket beside her, when Mrs Kimpton arrived. She tried to get to her feet, but it took so long, her visitor was beside her and giving her hand a squeeze before she’d even shuffled out of the seat.
�
�Why are you here?” Jessica said. “Is Catherine all right?”
“Catherine is perfectly fine, my dear,” said Mrs Kimpton. “Don’t you worry about her. She’s had to go away for a couple of days, so I said I would come instead. I hope that’s all right.”
“Oh, yes, thank you,” said Jessica. “Catherine said you might come.”
She wanted to ask about Mrs Kimpton taking the baby. Catherine had said she would, but it was all a bit hurried and whispered; she might have changed her mind. But then, why was she here?
“Now then, Jessica,” said Mrs Kimpton, as though she had read her thoughts. “Unless you’ve got other plans, I’ve told the dragon out there that I’m going to her office to sign the adoption papers as soon as I leave you. Is that all right?”
Jessica’s eyes filled with tears.
“It’s so kind of you,” she said. “But anyone can see you haven’t been with child.”
Mrs Kimpton laughed.
“If they’ve got eyes, they can,” she said. “I’ve thought of a tale. People in Knight’s Acre, they don’t know us very well. Let’s face it, they’ve never wanted to know us, not since my son got himself in bother with the law. They don’t know what other family I might have. I’ve invented a niece who is going to die in childbirth and I am going to be the only one who can take her baby. How does that sound?”
“It sounds wonderful,” said Jessica.
“I thought so,” said Mrs Kimpton. “And it’ll give those gossips something to wonder about. They’ll either have to speak to me or drive themselves mad wondering.”
She laughed again, but Jessica got the impression she was laughing at all those tongues that liked to wag about things they knew nothing about.
“Why are you helping me?” said Jessica. “Most people would think I’m nothing but a whore.”
“Well, to tell you the truth, I was pregnant when I married Michael’s father. I was lucky, see, because he was there. Your Mr Swinburne would have married you, had he lived.” Jessica could only stare silently. This was not the sort of thing to tell anyone, much less a girl she hardly knew. “That’s my secret,” said Mrs Kimpton. “I hope you’ll respect it.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” she said. “I’m so glad you told me. It makes me feel that you really understand, where nobody else does.”
“I do, dear,” said Mrs Kimpton. “I understand completely how a girl can get carried away with a man she loves.”
It seemed there wasn’t much to say after that, until eventually Jessica broke the silence.
“Does my father know anything?” she said hesitantly.
“Well,” said Mrs Kimpton. “He knows you’re not engaged to the Earl.”
“Oh,” was all she could say. “Well, I suppose he had to find out sometime.”
“Right now, he’s afraid to show his face,” said Mrs Kimpton. “He wasn’t even in church this morning.”
“They’ll all think he’s still ill.”
“Well, nobody knows yet. It was Catherine told me; she overheard him yelling to that Mrs Atkin he’s so friendly with.” Mrs Kimpton paused and smiled. “By the way, they’re getting wed. Catherine overheard that, too. He was going to have the banns read, but when he found out he wasn’t going to be moving into the Castle, he sent off for a special licence. They’re getting hitched this Saturday, but it’s going to be in Newmarket, not in Knight’s Acre.”
Jessica blushed. She felt guilty; obviously her father wanted to hide himself away from his fellow villagers because he’d discovered the truth. But damn it, it was his own fault. He didn’t have to go boasting all over the place about how his daughter was courting the Earl, how she was engaged to the Earl. He should have asked her instead of jumping to conclusions.
“I’ve asked the Matron to send word to me as soon as labour starts,” said Mrs Kimpton. “Catherine’s going to be living with me now, at least for the time being.”
“Why?” said Jessica. “What happened?”
“It’s a long story, love, and one she ought to tell you herself. Suffice it say, her father and mother were pushing her to marry the Earl’s new estate manager. It got a bit intense, so she’s gone off to Gretna with my Michael. They’ll be back by Tuesday, I should think, legally married, and I’ve a nice room waiting for them at my house.”
Jessica was shocked. It was clear in her eyes, as they widened slightly, and she began to shuffle out of her seat. Mrs Kimpton stood up and reached to help her and a little puddle appeared on the floor between Jessica’s feet.
“Your water’s broke,” said Mrs Kimpton.
“I’m sorry,” said Jessica. “I don’t know how that happened.”
“I do, love,” said Mrs Kimpton. “You’re about to have this baby and as luck would have it, I’m right here to help you.”
CHAPTER NINE
Embarrassments Abound
When Catherine and Michael arrived back at Evergreen House, they found things more than a little changed. Maud Kimpton was nowhere to be seen, but the sound of a crying baby came from her bedroom on the first floor.
Jim Kimpton got out of his chair and came to greet them. He kissed Catherine’s cheek and shook his son’s hand.
“Welcome,” he said with a broad smile. “Welcome, Mr and Mrs Kimpton.”
Catherine blushed, clung tight to Michael’s arm. She was fond of his parents but now she was married to their son and was going to be living with them, she felt less confident in herself.
But she guessed whose baby she could hear and she was longing to go and see the little mite.
“Jessica’s had the baby,” she said.
“Oh, yes,” said Jim. “Little mite was born on Sunday. Maud was there with her when it started; she fetched her home this morning.”
“Jess?” said Catherine.
“No, no,” said Jim. “The babe.”
“Already?”
“Maud wanted Jessica to keep hold of her for a while, to feed her herself just to build up the little one’s strength, you know. But she said she couldn’t, that she wouldn’t be able to give her up once she got that close. She’s got to stay there for ten days, but there wasn’t any reason why the babe couldn’t come home right away.”
Catherine glanced at the stairs; the child’s crying had stopped.
“So,” she said. “It’s a little girl.”
“It is. You go on up and see her while I put the kettle on. I expect you could both do with a cuppa after that long journey.”
Catherine climbed the narrow staircase slowly. She had never been upstairs in the house; it wouldn’t have been proper before, but now she and Michael were married, she would be climbing these stairs every day, climbing to their bedroom.
That thought reminded her of their short honeymoon and how that had made her feel. She didn’t think anything could feel that good and she was only now realising how much her life was changing. She still had to visit her parents and tell them she had married the one man they were so set against.
Maud Kimpton was sitting in an old wooden rocking chair with Jessica’s baby in her arms, feeding her from a glass bottle with a rubber teat on the end. She was a beautiful baby; she had the same auburn hair as her mother already and no doubt one day she would also have her mother’s unusual green eyes.
Catherine stood watching quietly for a few moments until Maud realised she was there and looked up. She smiled.
“What do you think?” she said. “Is this little one going to wear me out?”
Catherine came forward and knelt on the floor beside the chair, put her little finger in the tiny hand and allowed the baby to squeeze it.
“She is beautiful,” she said. “What have you named her?”
“Jessica wanted her named Virginia,” said Maud. “I think she wanted some indication that she was a virgin before this. But she plans to go away when she’s recovered. She wants to go to London.”
“She doesn’t want to be too hasty,” said Catherine. “London’s likely a scary place.”
“I know, but her father’s not likely to welcome her back, is he?” said Maud. “He might never find out about this one,” she glanced down at the baby in her arms. “but he still has to tell the whole village that she was never engaged to the Earl. That’s going to half kill him and he isn’t likely to forgive her.”
“It was his own fault,” said Catherine. “Him and my mother’s.”
“Your mother’s?” said Maud with an eyebrow raised in query. “How come?”
“She was so busy trying to push me onto Lord Harrisford and she’s such a snob, Jessica’s father was dead keen on putting her back in her place. If it hadn’t been for her, he might have asked Jess who she was seeing.”
“Well, dear,” said Maud. “We’ll never know, will we? All I know is that he’s marrying Mrs Atkin this week and she’ll be doing for him.”
“So that’s still on, is it?” asked Catherine.
“Seems so,” said Maud. “I don’t think she really wanted to go ahead with it, once the Earl told Jack Milligan the truth of the matter, but she’d stayed overnight, twice, and people knew it, so she didn’t have much choice really.”
“I’ll go and see Jessica tomorrow,” said Catherine. “But today, I’ve got to visit my parents and give them the worst news of their lives.”
Maud laughed cynically.
“I’m sure worse things than this have happened to them,” said Maud. “Perhaps they’ll come round, when they see that Michael has pulled himself together. All he needs is a really good job. I know he helps his dad in the forge, but he really wants to go to law school. I’m not sure we can afford it.”
“You’re very kind, Mrs Kimpton,” said Catherine. “But if they can’t accept him as he is, then I don’t accept them.”
“Call me Maud, love,” said her new mother-in-law. “Now you’re family.”
***
Michael insisted on accompanying his new wife. Her parents were going to be furious and it was his place to stand beside her, to defend her from any sort of abuse, verbal or physical, they might throw her way.
Knight's Acre: Till Death Do Us Part Page 14
