‘No!’ He seized her arm. ‘You’re coming with me now.’
‘Please, Frank! I have to speak to Mr Barnes. We need that money.’
He hesitated. ‘OK. But you won’t be late?’
‘No, I won’t be late.’ She wondered how late was late and wished she wasn’t finding it so difficult to tell him about Jessica.
Back at the house Molly went upstairs and packed her belongings. Then she sat gazing out of the window at the gleaming expanse of the sea, thinking how different the view would be in Athol Street. Her mind roamed backwards and forwards, trying to decide what was the best thing to do for her daughter. She was still sitting there when she heard Mr Barnes come home.
Molly hurried down the main staircase, pausing when she saw him below in the hall talking to Jessica who was sitting up in her pram, gnawing a rusk. Mrs Collins was there and Molly’s heart misgave her. How she longed to carry her daughter off but commonsense had asserted itself. If she tried to explain things to Mr Barnes he would be so disappointed in her and she valued his opinion. He might believe one of two things about her. Either that she was a loony who couldn’t accept her own daughter was dead or that she had killed his great-niece and lied to cover it up. If she tried to run off with her daughter he would call in the police, she did not doubt that. Why, oh why, had she set out on such a path? Thou shalt not bear false witness. She had broken one of the ten commandments and was paying for it now.
Molly cleared her throat. ‘Mr Barnes?’
He looked up as she descended the stairs. Jessica, dribbling madly, waved the rusk at her, making baby noises. Molly felt as if herwas bleeding.
‘I told you to go,’ snapped Mrs Collins.
‘Hold on there, sister,’ Mr Barnes said, holding up his hand. ‘Give the lass a chance to speak.’
His sister hunched her shoulders and turned her back on Molly.
‘I ain going. I just wanted to thank you for all your kindness to me, sir, and to ask if you could see your way to taking me on at the factory once my husband’s back at sea? We haven’t any money because he was injured and lost his memory.’
Mrs Collins made to speak but Mr Barnes held up his hand again. ‘Come and see me at the factory, my dear. I’ll see what I can do.’
‘Thank you.’ She smiled gratefully. ‘I’m due two weeks’ wages as well, sir.’
‘I’ll speak to my nephew. I’m sorry you have to go, Molly. I’ve enjoyed our little talks. As for this young lady, she’s going to miss you a lot.’ He chucked Jessica under the chin.
‘I’ll miss her too, sir.’ Molly’s voice shook and her eyes were luminous with tears.
‘I’ll see you soon no doubt. Goodbye for now, my dear.’ He lifted Jessica out of her pram and carried her into the sitting room.
Molly gazed after them, the tears trickling down her cheeks.
‘You’ve got a nerve,’ said Mrs Collins, glaring at her. ‘I know what thee’s up to. Thee can’t let go, can thee?’
‘I am letting go and you don’t know how hard it is for me!’ she said on a sob. ‘Not that you care. You hated my mother for some unknown reason, so now you hate me too.’ The older woman’s face quivered. ‘I didn’t used to hate you. But now…’ Her eyes glinted and she rushed at Molly, catching her unawares. She slapped her across the face so hard that the girl lost her balance, falling against the staircase, banging her head and sliding to the floor.
There were hurrying footsteps and Doris entered the hall. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Get her out of here,’ cried Mrs Collins, whirling her arms like a windmill in full sail. ‘I can’t stand the sight of her.’
Doris made to say something but was told to shut up. Hurriedly she helped Molly to her feet and hustled her out of the house. ‘I think she’s flipped her lid. Yer can see fingermarks right across yer mush. What’s wrong with the woman? Yer don’t think she’s guessed, do yer?’
‘Guessed what?’
‘Yer don’t have to pretend with me, Moll. Jessica’s your kid, isn’t she?’ Molly did not know what to say. ‘No resentment, that was yer mistake – and the way you weren’t happy leaving her for a minute. Why did yer do it?’
‘I thought they might arrest me for murder and I’d end up on the gallows,’ she said miserably. ‘Mr Collins’s daughter just didn’t want to live.’
‘Wanted to be with her mam, I suppose. What about yer husband?’
‘He wanted a boy.’ Molly felt absolutely wretched, as if the heart had been torn from her.
‘So yer not going to tell him?’
‘No. They might still have me arrested if I told the truth now. You don’t know how even the nicest people will behave if they know you’ve made fools of them. Anyway,’ she sighed, ‘I did it all for her. So she’d have a better chance of surviving. She’ll get plenty of good food here and pretty dresses.’
Doris sighed. ‘It’s a mess. Not that yer could ever have married young Mr Collins. As I told yer, Moll, he’s above yer now. Yer’ve got to forget him.’
‘I know.’ She squared her shoulders. ‘But I can’t forget Jessica.’ Her eyes met Doris’s. ‘I expect you to keep me posted on how she’s getting on. You’ll be visiting your mam.’
‘Yeah?’ Doris looked puzzled.
‘Well, I’ve asked Frank to get us lodgings at Block’s. Hopefully we’ll be able to get a house nearby in a few months.’
Doris wrinkled her nose. ‘But why there? Can’t you afford better?’
Molly took a deep breath. ‘I’m hoping to get a job at the factory, in the sewing room. Mr Barnes said I could call in and see him.’
‘Yer mad!’ cried Doris. ‘Mr Collins works at the factory, remember. Yer should be keeping your distance.’
‘I’m sure once he knows my husband’s back there’ll be no trouble there,’ said Molly, on her dignity.
‘I hope you’re right. Anyway I’ll look after Jess for yer.’
‘I’m banking on it. Just watch Mrs Collins. I don’t trust that woman.’ Molly touched her face gingerly, wondering about the older woman’s relationship with her own mother.
Doris slipped her arm through Molly’s. ‘I’ll walk yer to the station and yer can tell me where yer husband’s been.’
They walked along the road, Molly talking easily, but her legs felt as if they were made of lead as each step took her further away from her daughter.
Chapter Six
‘I wish I could afford better for you, Moll, but considering it’s not far from Scottie Road it could be worse.’ Frank slid both arms around her waist as she gazed about the sparsely furnished room, in the centre of which was an iron bedstead. ‘Although why you want to live round here beats me.’
‘The people are friendly and it’s not far from town,’ she murmured, not daring to mention its close proximity to Mr Barnes’s factory. She thought of what Doris had said about a bit of grandeur spoiling you. It was true. But at least here she wouldn’t have Mrs Collins continually looking over her shoulder. Although without Jessica she felt as if she was missing a limb.
‘It’s a tough neighbourhood but at least the food’s good… cheap and plenty of it.’ Frank nuzzled her neck and cupped her breasts in his hands. Molly turned in his arms to face him, thinking she could already be pregnant. If she was there had to be no doubt in his mind that the child belonged to him. She drew down his head and kissed him. Within minutes he had her on the bed. It felt strange being with him after so long and the palliasse, stuffed with straw that prickled, only added to her feeling of disorientation. She kept thinking his voice was all wrong, that it should be deeper, a baritone like Nathan’s, not a tenor. His lovemaking did not last long and that seemed wrong too.
‘It won’t be over so quick next time.’ Her husband lay on his side, watching her go over to the washstand. ‘But I needed that. I’ve had to wait a long time.’
‘That’s OK.’ She tried to concentrate on the times they had made love satisfactorily. It wouldn’t have worked tonight even if h
e had set out to pleasure her. She was too anxious, yearning for Jessica and filled with guilt. If Frank was ever to learn she had been to bed with Nathan, God only knew what he would do to her.
As if he could partly read her mind, Frank said, ‘What was he like, that bloke you worked for?’
‘Just a bloke.’ She felt panicky and needed to take a deep breath. Careful to keep her voice expressionless, she added, ‘Heartbroken when his wife died. Didn’t want to look at the baby at first. It was the midwife’s idea I should act as wet nurse. Not only to help him out but me, too.’ She allowed distress to seep into her voice. ‘I was on my uppers, Frank! There was me believing you dead and Nanna gone and then the baby… It was terrible.’
‘I can imagine. But you should never have run away. Ma would have seen you and the baby were OK.’
Molly was silent as she went back over to the bed and sat on the side of it, gazing down at him. He had beautiful eyes, the colour of dark chocolate. A much deeper shade than Molly’s but the same as Jessica’s. Molly considered it fortunate that Nathan’s wife’s eyes had been brown. Her heart. She was missing him as well as her daughter.
‘You’ve got to start thinking of yourself as part of a family, Moll,’ continued Frankie, ‘We’re in this world to help each other. We firemen aren’t paid a fortune. What working man is? But if we support each other, then we can get somewhere.’ She wondered what he was talking about. ‘And that reminds me, I must give you the money that was over after paying for this room. It’s ours for a month. Let’s hope you can find somewhere else soon.’
‘I’ll try. Are we going out now?’ She smiled at him, pulling down the bedclothes, telling him to get a move on, wanting to be doing not thinking.
They walked along Scotland Road, which was still alive with people despite the late hour. They gazed into brightly lit shop windows. Clarkson’s the pawnbrokers was doing a roaring trade as women redeemed their husbands’ Sunday suits or shirts. Come Monday they would be returned to the pawnshop. Poorly clad people lingered outside butchers’ shops and carts selling fruit and vegetables, waiting for the hour when a joint or a handful of bones, veg or fruit would be sold off cheaply. There was more than one drunk reeling from pavement to gutter as the pubs began to let out just after midnight.
Molly and Frank made their way back to their lodging where he made love to her again, this time with less haste. She found the experience pleasant enough. They slept and when they woke he asked whether Mr Collins had ever made any advances towards her. The question stunned her and she sought frantically for words to allay any suspicion he might have that there could possibly have been anything untoward between them. ‘He’s not as handsome as you,’ she managed. ‘Why should you think I’d fancy him?’
‘I wasn’t thinking of you fancying him,’ he said, curling a strand of her hair round his little finger. ‘More of his taking advantage of you.’
Molly’s mouth was dry but she managed a laugh. ‘Why should he? I’m not exactly a raving beauty, Frank.’
‘No, but you’ve got something.’ He drew her close. ‘And these rich blokes – looks have nothing to do with it, Moll. I remember reading somewhere that in the olden days the lord of the manor had his way with a man’s bride before the husband got to sleep with her.’
‘That’s terrible!’ She shook her head in disgust. ‘But Mr Collins is no lord. It’s his uncle who owns everything and he’s a gentleman, always as nice as pie to me.’
Those words seemed to satisfy Frank but she realised she needed to be on her guard about what she said if Nathan came up in conversation again.
It being Sunday Molly went to church and gazed about her with interest, wondering if this was one of the churches Nathan might do work for. Frank had a lie-in. Then they took the ferry to New Brighton. On Monday, after a huge fry-up with four Irish eggs, Frank said he had to go down to the docks. ‘Can’t hang about, Moll. Funds are short.’
‘So soon?’ She felt put out, having thought he would stay with her for a while. The last few days had been reasonably enjoyable. Frank could be very good company.
‘Sorry, luv, but you knew how it is. I’m short on funds. I’ll have to go and see Ma as well. She knows I’ve traced you so’ll be wondering what’s happened to us.’
‘I’d say, she knows me well enough to have guessed,’ said Molly lightly.
He frowned. ‘You’re wrong about her, you know. Why don’t you come with me?’
‘I’ve had one mother, Frank. I don’t need another.’ She reached up and caressed his cheek. ‘Besides, I’m sure you’ll find she prefers having you all to herself.’
He did not deny it. They kissed and he went out.
Molly went upstairs to tidy their room and wash a few things. She draped drawers and stockings over the back of a chair, then took out the two sovereigns and gazed at them. Why had she taken them? For security, with Frank saying he had little money if Mr Barnes changed his mind about giving her a job? Yes, they were for if anything should go terribly wrong and she had to fend for herself. She hadn’t really stolen them though she had been given them under a false premise. What about the other four left behind? She wondered. She should have taken the lot, she decided. It probably wouldn’t be long before Doris discovered them. She must have a word next time she saw her. Molly returned the coins to their hiding place and went out, having decided to visit Doris’s mother.
The house was only a few minutes away on the other side of the road in an area known as the race course district. Aintree Street was straight opposite the corner where the refreshment house stood, and Ascot Street ran off it. There were signs of poverty on all sides. Some of the children playing in the streets were barefoot; those who had shoes or boots more often than not wore no socks and their footwear was well-worn and often split across the toes. Tiny tots were sometimes clad in nothing but a grubby shirt or vest. There were houses with broken windows that had never been replaced, the holes blocked up instead with cardboard or filthy rags. Yet on this sunny August morning Molly could hear the sound of laughter and children at play and her ears caught the occasional snatch of song. Women were out scrubbing their steps and gossiping.
She found Mrs McNally cleaning windows with a handful of newspaper that smelled strongly of vinegar. ‘Hello, luv! What are you doing round here? There’s nuthin’ wrong with our Doris, is there?’ ‘There wasn’t last time I saw her.’
‘Then what can I do for yer?’
‘Could you keep your eye out for a house for me?’
‘Round here?’
‘That’s right. Me and my husband have lodgings in Athol Street.’
‘Husband?’ Her eyes widened. ‘I thought yer were a widow?’
‘Me too. But it was all a mistake.’
‘Really!’ Mrs McNally stepped down off the chair. ‘Why don’t yer come in and tell me over a cuppa?’
They went inside and Molly explained as the tea was poured.
‘Well, fancy that,’ said Mrs McNally, eyes as round as doorstops as the tale was told. ‘But you’re going to miss the family, aren’t yer? And be a bit lonely once yer fella goes back to sea.’
‘I’m hoping to work in Mr Barnes’s factory. Frank’ll be against the idea but he won’t know until he comes back.’ Molly bit into the Wet Nelly she’d been offered and syrup ran down her chin.
Mrs McNally shook her head in disbelief ‘You’ve got a nerve, girl, going against yer man. What if he finds out?’
‘Then I’ll do something else. Work from home. I’ve a sewing machine. Hopefully I can have it delivered once I’ve got a house.’ ‘Yer’ve got it all mapped out, haven’t yer, girl? Well, I hopes it works out for yer.’
So did Molly, although she knew that the best laid plans didn’t always come to fruition.
Frank arrived back an hour after her. She was surprised to see him so soon. ‘I thought you’d be ages at your mother’s?’
‘I’ve got a ship and it’s sailing tonight.’
‘Tonight!’ S
he could scarcely believe he would leave her this soon. ‘Where’s this one going?’
He hesitated and looked a bit sheepish. ‘China.’
She gasped. ‘But that’s the other side of the world, Frank! You’ll be away months.’
‘I’m sorry, Moll.’ He pulled her against him and rested his face against her hair. ‘But you knew what it would be like when you married me. I’d rather have a shorter trip but the money’s better, and besides, I’ve never been to China. I’ll be able to bring you some real nice trinkets.’
‘Trinkets?’ It took her all her self-control not to shout the word. ‘Why should I want trinkets, Frank?’ she said as calmly as she could. ‘Don’t you think it would be better if you found another ship?’
‘Jobs aren’t that easy to come by, Moll,’ he said, frowning. ‘I have to take what I can get.’ She saw then there was little use in trying to persuade him to change his mind. He wanted to go to China because he loved travelling. She thought of how she had left Jessica and had to quit her job, all for the sake of being with Frank for a few days. But she could not say any of that without him getting annoyed. So instead she drew away and poked him in the chest playfully. ‘You save your money and maybe we’ll be able to get a decent place one day, Frank Payne. I don’t want to live in a hovel for the rest of my life. Now what about your advance note?’
‘I had to pay that ’tec the rest of his money and give Ma a bit for my keep but I’ve some for you.’ He pulled her back into his arms. ‘I know you’re upset, I can understand that, but the sea’s my life, Moll,’ he said earnestly. ‘And don’t tell me what to do with my money. I like buying you things, so shut up and let me have my way. I won’t spend up.’
She was angry but put on a smile, knowing she wasn’t going to change him. ‘China! You’ll have to watch yourself, Frank. The Tongs and all that.’
He grinned and swayed sideways with her, to and fro. ‘Britannia rules the waves, Moll. There’ll be British warships out there guarding our interests. Besides I can look after myself.’
Another Man's Child Page 11
