The Woman From Heartbreak House

by Freda Lightfoot

  She was staring at him now with a mixture of fear and panic in her eyes. At least that was better than indifference, he thought.

  Callum was about to say more, to hint at his decision to make some sort of investigation, when the door opened and Lucy came in, carrying Mrs Petty’s small brown bottle.

  ‘Kate, really, what are you doing sitting by the window where you’ll catch a draught? Come along, Callum shall help me get you back into bed, then I’ll give you a sip of Mrs Petty’s elixir and you’ll sleep all afternoon like a baby. We shall bring you some lovely fish for your tea.’

  And so Callum did as he was bid and left his mother, beguiled by the prospect of a day’s fishing. But he remained troubled. Something wasn’t right, and surely that was fear he’d seen in his mother’s eyes.

  It had been obvious from the start that he and Jack were not going to be soul mates, and, not surprisingly, the picnic was a disaster. Jack was clearly irritated because Callum caught more fish, and because he and Bunty were giggling together and having a good time. He tried to butt in once or twice but Bunty told him to go away and stop pestering them.

  ‘You can’t be horrid to me one minute and then expect me to be nice to you the next.’

  ‘Well, if you’d rather spend time with the peasant brat, so be it.’

  ‘He isn’t a brat, or a peasant.’

  ‘He lived in a workhouse and was brought up on a farm. Sounds pretty peasant-like to me.’

  ‘Oh, do shut up, Jack. Stop being rude.’

  Jack was annoyed, and, as they were climbing into the boat, began to rock it, very badly, making the water slap against the sides and Bunty let out a little squeal of fear. ‘Go on, peasant, fall in, why don’t you, and give us all a laugh?’

  Callum managed to hold on but then Georgie started messing about and did fall in, getting himself soaked through, which annoyed his mother greatly as he would make the back seat of the motor all wet. Lucy insisted he strip off and spend the rest of the day in his swimming trunks while his clothes dried. Georgie happily obliged, not minding in the least.

  Inevitably, Lucy spent most of the day basking in the sun with her eyes closed, and at lunchtime while she gorged herself on champagne and smoked salmon, Georgie and Jack set about building a camp fire and began cooking dampers out of flour and water, and burnt sausages.

  ‘None for you, peasant, so don’t even think of asking.’

  ‘We don’t want any,’ Bunty stoutly declared. ‘Come on, Callum, let’s take our egg sandwiches and go and fish in peace.’

  Which they did. Callum was beginning to quite like Bunty. She certainly knew how to stand her ground, refusing absolutely to be browbeaten by her two obnoxious brothers. And when he helped her to net a large brown trout, she flung her arms about his neck and kissed him. Her mouth tasted surprisingly pleasant, her breasts wobbling enticingly against his chest, and as she smiled cheekily at him, asking if he’d like another, he grinned shyly back and nodded. The second kiss was even nicer.

  Kate had made sure she took only the smallest sip of Mrs Petty’s elixir, and managed to spit at least some out just the minute Lucy had left. She really must instruct Mrs P to stop giving it to her. Whatever it was, it drained the life from her. A small throb of pain beat in her temple. Ignoring it, she got out of bed, hoping she could fight off any sense of drowsiness as she needed to think, to examine Callum’s comments about the accident, recognising that he’d been suffering the same sort of torment as herself. Asking the self-same questions.

  Why would a car be travelling so fast? And why couldn’t it be found? If only she could get her thoughts into some sort of order and work it all out. Could Callum be right in his suspicions? Could it have been deliberate? Who would do such a thing? Surely even Lucy wouldn’t stoop so low?

  Kate shook the thoughts away. What was happening to her? She must be growing fanciful, confused, wrong in her head to be imagining such wickedness. Lucy may have made mistakes in the past, and was certainly a difficult woman but she’d surely learned her lesson, hadn’t she? In any case, why would she kill Eliot? The answer came at once. For the inheritance, of course. For money, and for power. But was she capable of being so callous, so brutal? Surely not. Most important of all, if Callum was correct, how could they prove it?

  A part of Kate didn’t want to worry about such problems. Her headache was growing worse and she longed simply to climb back into bed and think about Eliot. She needed to remember every last detail about him: the way he would smile at her as if she were all that mattered in the world to him, the twist of his brow when they’d had one of their regular spats and disagreed over something. At least it was never over anything trivial.

  A dozen times a day she would go to his wardrobe and bury her face in his shirts and jackets, breathing in the scent of him, causing a pain to build within her, a physical constriction robbing her of breath, of life almost. Yet it was worth the agony, if for a second she could bring the essence of him back.

  Living as a young widow in Poor House Lane with a starving child to care for, she’d been grateful when Eliot Tyson and his first wife, Amelia, had offered to adopt her son, Callum, even more so when they’d suggested that she should stay with him as his nursemaid.

  But it had been bitter-sweet to be so close to him and no longer be recognised as his mother, and nothing had quite turned out as it should.

  Later, her world had collapsed, everything turned upside-down when her small son had vanished. For most of Callum’s childhood she hadn’t even known whether he was alive or dead. Kate blanked out thoughts of those long painful years, as she always did. She really had no wish to remind herself of the agonies of those times.

  Why hadn’t she gone with her children on their picnic this morning? Somehow she hadn’t been able to bring herself to do so.

  She recalled picnics by the lake with Eliot, sailing in a steam yacht, long romantic walks over quiet fells, and in the spring a visit to the nearby Lyth Valley to see the snow white damson blossom was always a treat, it being such a wonderful sight to see. Every spring when the orchards came to life again a festival would be held, and much feasting and merriment take place. Damson day was special, a day to enjoy tasting the variety of food and drink made from the fruit: jams, chutneys, wine, and damson gin of course. There would be music and jugglers, Morris dancers perhaps, and lovers such as themselves would dance and kiss, Eliot telling her she was more lovely than all the blossom in the world.

  How would she ever manage without him? Where was the point in going on? And yet what alternative was there? Did she really want Lucy to take over the business, which she almost certainly would try to do if Kate didn’t watch out?

  She couldn’t just lie here falling deeper and deeper into depression. Kate crossed to her wardrobe, pulled out a skirt and sweater, began to dress herself with slow, clumsy fingers. The buttons seemed too big for their holes and it took an age to fasten them but finally she managed it.

  Kate knew she had decisions to make about what she was going to do with all the empty years stretching ahead of her but her mind felt like soggy porridge, splinters of light stabbed her eyes so that she could hardly see. Splashing cold water on to her face helped a little. She dragged a comb through her hair, pushed her feet into a pair of shoes, the prospect of struggling with stockings too much of an effort to contemplate.

  She needed to know what was happening at the factory. Somehow it seemed vital that she find out now, without any further delay.

  What had possessed Eliot to give his sister-in-law such a large share? What had he been thinking of? But in her heart Kate knew the reason. Lucy was family and Eliot was nothing if not a family man, someone who believed in loyalty and honour. His family were of vital importance to him, and he’d suffered to the end over the death of his brother, for all the two of them had never been close.

  Had he suffered when the car struck him that fatal blow? Kate prayed there had been no time for him to think, or to face the prospect of his own
death.

  No one heard her go down the stairs. Mrs Petty and Ida were no doubt busy in the kitchen and everyone else was out, the aunts about their church business, the rest of the family on their picnic.

  By the time she reached the garden gate, Kate was panting for breath. By the end of the road before ever she reached the bridge, she guessed that she wasn’t going to make it. The walk to the factory was far more than she could cope with, and she certainly wasn’t fit to drive. The exertion of getting this far had taken everything out of her. It was this damned elixir Lucy kept spooning into her. She wouldn’t touch another drop.

  A dizziness swept over her and Kate was forced to sit down on a wall for a moment or two to wait until it passed. Perhaps if she sat here for a while the nausea would ease and she would be able to go on, but the headache seemed to be getting worse, pounding like a hammer in an iron foundry.

  As luck would have it, at that very moment, like a pair of small sailing ships with sails flapping, the aunts hove into view. Umbrellas in hand and hats aloft, they were utterly shocked to find Kate sitting on a garden wall.

  ‘What in heaven’s name are you doing here, child?’

  ‘You shouldn’t even be out of bed so soon after losing the baby.’

  They led her back to her room with much stern scolding, then ran about bringing hot water bottles, smelling salts and cups of camomile tea. When they finally left her in peace, Kate put her face in her hands and cried. Would she ever feel normal again?

  Delayed by events, Jack started work on the fifteenth day of September, instead of the first, as initially planned. His first week was spent largely in observing, which he considered to be boring and a complete waste of time, and he was then put to assist old Jem, a journeyman shoemaker. Jack protested loudly, making a great fuss and claiming to be no good with his hands, or to have any ambition to become a manual worker. His role should be in the office, he said, as he was to be one of the bosses. Toby Lynch insisted that the best way to learn the business was from the floor up, and when Lucy made a fuss at home she was not surprised to find that Kate backed him up.

  ‘It’s what Eliot would have expected,’ Kate insisted, proud of herself for making a stand.

  Jack sulked, and was even more peevish as a result but Lynch refused to back down and Lucy was helpless to make any changes without Kate’s agreement.

  Callum might have thought the whole squabble worthwhile, even hilarious, if it had inspired his mother to get back to work, but she remained in her room, venturing out only occasionally to walk about the garden a little or sit in the summer house The workers at the factory were growing increasingly restless at her continued absence.

  Toby Lynch would ask Callum to his face when she might be returning and he could only shake his head and say that he didn’t know. Apparently not satisfied with the answer, one day Toby called at the house.

  ‘I need to speak to Mrs Tyson,’ he told Lucy. ‘There are decisions to be made.’

  ‘You can tell me. I shall make them for her.’

  Toby hesitated. He knew the sister-in-law had been left a share of the factory, which troubled him deeply, and was also aware that she knew nothing about either shoes or business. ‘I reckon I’ll wait for Kate. I’m not surprised she’s feeling low but if I could just have a word, I might be able to persuade her to get going again, to come into the office. The operatives are missing her. The place isn’t the same without her. We need her.’

  ‘She’ll come when I think she’s fit and ready,’ answered Lucy, rather testily. ‘I will not have her upset.’ And smartly showed him out of the house.

  Callum, listening to this from behind the door, was deeply troubled. It sounded almost as if Lucy cared deeply about Kate, which he knew not to be the case. So why didn’t she want his mother to go back to the factory? It didn’t make any sense at all.

  Chapter Two

  At the very next opportunity when Callum had brought up her breakfast tray and they were alone, Kate asked him the question that was bothering her the most. ‘Have the police been round again? Have they found the car?’

  Callum shook his head. ‘They’ve called, but say it’s a hopeless task. It could’ve been anyone. It’s true that there are more cars around Kendal these days, although I wouldn’t have thought all that many, at least not capable of going at a speed that can actually kill a man.’

  ‘It takes very little to kill a man, Callum. Or so it seems.’

  Callum told her then about what he’d found when he examined Lucy’s car. Kate was appalled.

  ‘Dent in the wing? Broken head-lamp? But why didn’t the police spot that when they examined it?’

  ‘Because they haven’t examined it. Why should they? Constable Brown did ask if she possessed a motor, but Lucy started weeping and wailing as if she were the grieving widow, not you, and he was thankful to escape the house before she started having full-scale hysterics. Since then, he’s called once or twice, but only to say that there’s nothing to report, and he never stays a minute longer than necessary.’

  ‘But that isn’t right, not right at all. Oh dear, do you really think she might be involved? Surely even Lucy wouldn’t stoop to – to ...’

  ‘Murder? Why not, since she’s not against abducting and molesting children? Will I call and tell the police constable about what I found, do you reckon?’

  ‘Oh, dear, I don’t know. I can’t think!’

  Yet Callum could see that as painful as the subject was, talking about it had rekindled some of that famous fighting spirit in his mother, which was so much a part of her nature. There was a change in her. He could sense it. A good thing, surely.

  ‘Toby Lynch has called too. Several times, in fact. He says they need you back at the factory, Mam. There are decisions to be made, and everyone there is worried about you.’

  ‘Are they? Toby called here, you say?’

  ‘Aye, to see you.’

  ‘Sure and he’s the kindest of men! Maybe I will go in next week, or even tomorrow. Mebbe it’d do me good. What do you think? Is it too soon?’

  Callum was pleased. ‘I think you should go.’

  The next morning Kate rose at what had once been her usual early hour, and dressed for work, feeling very proud of herself at how much easier it was this time. She even managed to put on her stockings correctly. But when she went down to breakfast, Lucy was appalled by the very idea, and insisted she go straight back to bed.

  ‘I thought I heard you getting up. What are you thinking of? You simply aren’t up to it. Your health and your nerves are far too fragile.’

  ‘I’m feeling much better, so I am. Mebbe doing something, getting back to work, will be good for me. Callum thinks so.’

  ‘Callum is a stupid boy. What does he know about losing babies and grieving? And how can you think of yourself at a time like this? You’re still in mourning. This is not the moment to be doing deals at the factory, with Eliot barely cold in his grave. Don’t you care about him at all that you can so quickly recover? People will think you heartless.’

  And Kate fled back to her room.

  A day or two later, Callum called at the police station. The desk sergeant rubbed a hand over his chin and looked doubtful about his story. Confronting Lucy Tyson with suspicions that her motor car might have been involved in the accident evidently did not appeal to him.

  ‘Are you sure about this, lad?’

  ‘Yes, I’m sure. I saw it with me own eyes, just the other day. It had a dented wing and a broken headlamp.’

  ‘That doesn’t prove her car sustained this damage as a result of her running down Mr Tyson. She might have hit a lamp post.’

  ‘I know, but you must admit it’s suspicious?’

  ‘We’ll have to see about that. I’ll happen have the constable call by for a brief chat and see if he can wangle a look at the car in question, without causing too much upset, like. I can see you’re a lad what cares about his mam but this is a delicate matter. We have to tread carefully. Be sens
itive to family feelings.’

  Callum couldn’t see what was so delicate about checking out a vehicle. Seemed like common sense to him, however, his own part in it certainly was very delicate indeed. ‘You’ll warn the constable not to mention that I was the one who told you?’

  There was curiosity and speculation in the sergeant’s gaze, yet he pursed his lips and gave a sharp nod. ‘I’ll tell him it’s a routine check which should have been done before now. I’ll claim it was my fault for not thinking of it earlier, only she’s a bit of a tartar your aunt.’

  The constable paid his call and, to Callum’s great surprise, Lucy did not throw a tantrum when he tentatively asked if he might just take a look in the stables at the Austin. Quite the opposite, she led him there with a cherubic smile on her lips, which instantly aroused Callum’s suspicions.

  The Austin looked pristine, the wing smooth and shiny, the broken lamp replaced with a new one. The constable took off his helmet and scratched his head, then offered his deepest apologies for having bothered her, and slunk away. He didn’t even glance in Callum’s direction. But Lucy did.

  When the policeman had gone and they were alone in the stables, she turned to him with a sweet smile. ‘I wonder what, or who, gave Constable Brown the notion that my car might be damaged? I really can’t think, can you?’

  Callum shook his head and made himself scarce.

  Kate was not in the least surprised by their failure. ‘It must have been Swainson. She’ll have kept in touch with him, though I’ve heard nothing from the man in years. He could have fixed up the car for her, no questions asked.’

  ‘You need to tell me more about this Swainson.’

  ‘He’s a bad lot. Trouble with a capital T. Greedy and resourceful. The kind of man who uses other people for his own ends. I tried to persuade Eliot to sack him from the job of foreman at Tyson’s. That’s what we were quarrelling about when you were taken that day. I’m not sure I have the strength for another battle, not on my own. Look what happened when I thought of going into the factory the other day. Lucy demolished me in seconds.’