by Carol Rivers
The door to Frank’s airey was open as always. Inside the big front room a fire was burning in the grate. There were a few sprigs of holly on the dresser and in the hearth. The room looked festive, Christmas paper chains hanging from one corner to another.
The airey was very familiar now. She almost took it for granted. From the first day she had come here with Danny for the Christmas party, it had felt like a second home. Even when Danny had first gone to Australia she had derived some comfort from it, knowing that it had once been Danny’s home too.
Lizzie sat in the chair and gazed at the hot black coals. So much had happened in the three years he had been away. If she concentrated hard, she could almost see his face in the flames. . .
Suddenly there was a click and she jumped. The front door opened and closed. Frank crossed the room, then took the chair opposite. ‘I built up the fire before I went out. Thought it would be nice,’ he said, looking uneasy.
She nodded. What was he trying to tell her? She waited, her heart beginning to hammer, but still Frank said nothing.
‘Frank, it’s nice sitting here but—’
‘Did you put the kettle on?’
‘No.’
‘I’ll do it then.’ He got up and was about to hurry off when Lizzie stood up too.
‘Frank. I don’t want a cup of tea. Just tell me what the trouble is.’
He turned and stared at her. For a moment, in the light of the flickering flames, she thought it could be Danny standing there, with his wide blue eyes and thick curly blond hair. Her heart gave a painful clench as Frank moved towards her. ‘Oh, there ain’t no trouble,’ he told her. ‘At least, not yet.’
Lizzie frowned. ‘What do you mean?’
‘Sit down again, gel.’
‘But Frank—’
‘It’ll only take a minute.’
Reluctantly Lizzie sat down again. Frank took the other chair. He cleared his throat and, heaving a sigh, looked directly at her. ‘I’ve got to ask you something.’
‘Yes, you said so in the shop.’ She waited. She didn’t understand. It was not like Frank to act this way.
‘You ain’t gonna get all upset, are you?’
‘How can I answer that, Frank, when I don’t know what it is?’
Frank coughed once more. ‘It’s about . . . well, you and me.’
Lizzie stared at him. ‘You and me?’
‘Yeah.’ Frank took a breath. ‘You know how I feel about you?’
‘Frank, I don’t want to—’
‘You’re the light of me life, gel. I ain’t never overstepped the mark, ’cos I know you was Danny’s girl. But he’s been gone three years and he’s . . . he’s got a family of his own now, ain’t he?’
Lizzie had tried to forget the day last year when Bill had received a letter from the other side of the world. Its contents had finally put an end to all her dreams. Danny had written to his father telling him he had married a girl in Australia and they had a baby son. When Bill had read it out, Lizzie felt as though the ground had opened up and she was falling into it. Even though Danny hadn’t written, the flicker of hope had never died. But the day the letter had come the tiny light was extinguished for ever.
As she sat there, a fist grabbed hold of her heart, sending the pain of betrayal shooting through her body once more.
‘I ain’t getting any younger . . .’ Frank’s voice broke into her thoughts. ‘I’m twenty-six.’ He struggled with his collar, releasing it under his jacket as he added in a rush, ‘What I’m trying to say is, will you . . . will you marry me, gel?’
She thought she hadn’t heard properly. Her heart and mind had been filled with an agony that had removed her from the present. But as she looked up, she saw that Frank was staring at her, his mouth slightly trembling.
‘What did you say, Frank?’
‘I asked you to wed me, Lizzie. I love you, that’s what I’m trying to say. I always have.’
‘But . . . I . . . Lizzie knew she was shaking her head, but she couldn’t speak, feeling a deep pity for the man who was sitting on the edge of his seat, looking in great distress.
Frank stood up. He reached into his pocket and brought out a small box.
‘Open it,’ he told her.
Lizzie’s shaking fingers slipped off the top. Inside the box, on a bed of soft blue velvet, sparkled a ring.
‘Frank,’ she breathed in astonishment. ‘What’s this?’
‘Your Christmas present.’
‘But, Frank, I can’t accept this.’
‘Lizzie, ever since Dad got that letter from Danny, I’ve waited for this day. I know you was cut up about the news – him finding himself a wife in Australia – so I kept me feelings to meself Till now.’
Frank lifted the ring and it glittered in the firelight. He took hold of Lizzie’s hand and slipped it on to her finger. ‘See them little stones? Lovely ain’t they? Diamond, emerald, amethyst, ruby, another emerald, sapphire and topaz.’
‘Frank,’ Lizzie gasped, unable to contain herself, ‘it’s a dearest ring!’
‘Blimey, is it?’ Frank mumbled, looking vague.
‘Ma told me about them. It was one of her stories. She worked in service when she was a girl. The lady of the house wore a Dearest ring. See? D-E-A-R-E-S-T. It’s the first letters of each stone. D – diamond, E – emerald, A – amethyst, R – ruby, E – emerald again, S – sapphire and T – topaz.’
Frank stared blankly at the ring. ‘Well, fancy that.’
‘It must have cost a fortune.’
Frank shrugged. ‘Only the best for my gel.’ Realizing what he had said, he added quickly, ‘That is, if you’ll be my gel.’
Lizzie slid the ring off slowly. The bridge of tiny stones sparkled brightly as she replaced it in the box. ‘I . . . I don’t know what to say, Frank. You caught me by surprise.’
‘I’d look after you,’ Frank said hurriedly. ‘And Flo. And yer Pa. They could all move into the airey. There’s plenty of room. And you could run the shop, have it all the way you wa—’
‘Frank,’ Lizzie interrupted softly, ‘marrying me and taking care of the family . . . well, I don’t know if you’ve considered it properly.’
Frank stared at her, this time, his eyes holding hers determinedly. ‘I’ve had two years to think about what I just said. But I kept me distance ’cos I knew you two were, well. . . planning a future and I didn’t have no right to make me feelings known. But now I reckon I’m in with a chance.’
Lizzie was in shock. She couldn’t think straight.
‘Think about it,’ he said huskily. ‘Don’t answer me yet. Lizzie Allen, I love you with all me heart.’
The following afternoon, Sunday, Flo had gone to Lil’s to see Ethel, Rosie and Timmy. Pa was in his room and Bert was fast asleep upstairs after the big roast dinner.
Lizzie was putting away the dinner things, thinking about Frank, and didn’t hear the knock on the back door.
‘Got a minute?’ Ethel asked as she walked in.
‘Ethel! I was popping in to see you after I’d cleared away.’
‘I’m only over for a couple of hours. Richard’s mum’s coming tonight. We’re going to discuss Christmas.’ Ethel rolled her eyes. ‘Whoopee.’
The two girls giggled. ‘Got time for a cuppa?’ Lizzie asked.
‘Lovely.’ Ethel pulled out a chair and sat down at the kitchen table. Her wavy fair hair was styled neatly and she wore a stylish tweed suit. Lizzie really admired Ethel’s taste in clothes. One day, when she was a bit more flush, she was going to splash out on a suit for herself – a thought which sent her mind back to Frank again.
Lizzie made the tea, listening with one ear to all Ethel’s news about Rickards. The boss was a bit of a tartar, very strict about punctuality, ticking Ethel off for being just five minutes late. Lizzie was glad she hadn’t gone to work there. Bill never minded what time she turned up, though Lizzie always made a point of arriving well before eight.
‘Well, are you going to tell
me?’ Ethel asked with a twinkle in her blue eyes as they sipped their tea.
Lizzie frowned. ‘Tell you what?’
‘I could have come in here and walked out with the cocoa tin and you wouldn’t have noticed.’
Lizzie giggled. ‘Trust you, Ethel Ryde. As a matter of fact, I would have noticed if you’d taken the cocoa tin.’
Ethel’s blue eyes widened. ‘What do you mean?’
Lizzie got up, reached for the cocoa tin on the shelf and brought it down. A second or two later, Ethel was holding the ring in her fingers and looking stunned as Lizzie told her the whole story.
‘I know,’ said Lizzie with a sigh, ‘that’s how I felt.’
‘What are you going to say?’
‘Well, either yes or no.’
Ethel spluttered. ‘Course you are. But which one?’
Lizzie stared at the beautiful, dainty ring. The bridge of tiny stones twinkled hypnotically, red, blue and green in the afternoon light. ‘I haven’t made up my mind.’
Ethel’s eyes were coming out of their sockets. ‘Talk about making the poor bloke suffer.’
‘He only asked me last night. He said the ring was me Christmas present.’
‘Well, I know what I would have said.’
‘What?’
‘How soon can we set the date?’
Both girls burst into laughter. Lizzie wondered if she was being foolish in not accepting Frank immediately. There was security in the shop. Lizzie knew she could make the business pay. She could do a great deal more to add to the profits. As for the family moving to the airey, it would be an answer to a prayer. She wouldn’t have to pay the rent or gas and she could make certain that Flo behaved herself. As for Pa, he could have Danny’s room with the lovely big window.
Lizzie blushed. She was already planning it in her mind. Had she really come to a decision? Perhaps talking it over with Ethel had helped.
As Ethel studied the ring, Lizzie’s fingers played with the pleats of her cream-coloured linen dress. It was one she had made herself, with a fashionable loose bodice and pleated skirt. Her thick, black hair was curled up around her ears and a few stray curls fell across her cheek. Her green eyes were misted as she looked up and murmured, ‘Ethel, are you happy?’
Ethel shrugged. ‘What’s happiness, Lizzie? If it’s having a nice home, two healthy kids and a husband that doesn’t fool around with other women, then yes, I’m ecstatic’ Ethel laughed quickly. ‘Mind you, the happiness soon wears thin at six o’clock tonight when his mother walks over the threshold.’
Lizzie was inclined to believe Ethel never really told her the absolute truth. Richard was a bit of a stuffed shirt. There seemed to be a distinct lack of humour in their lives.
‘Did you love Richard when you married him?’
Ethel’s cheeks flushed. ‘Blimey, that’s a leading question.’
‘Sorry. I just wondered.’
‘Well, yes . . . and no,’ Ethel said hesitantly, looking from under her lashes. ‘It’s not quite what you think when . . .’ she giggled, ‘. . . you know.’
Lizzie stared at her friend. Suddenly she understood Ethel’s embarrassed grin. It wasn’t long before they were both crying with laughter again and wiping the tears from their cheeks. Lizzie knew that the moment for intimacy had passed – as usual, with a joke.
‘Go on,’ Ethel spluttered at last, ‘put it on.’
Lizzie frowned at the ring in Ethel’s fingers, then slowly took it and slid on her left hand.
‘It fits perfectly,’ Ethel whispered in surprise.
‘Yes. Funny that.’
‘And funny it’s a Dearest ring. Bet it cost a bit, you know.’
‘That’s what I said.’
‘He must think a lot of you. What’s he going to do if you say no?’
Lizzie looked up and grinned. ‘Give it to someone else, I ’spect.’
Ethel snorted. ‘Well, that would be a crying shame now, wouldn’t it?’
Lizzie nodded as she stretched out her fingers and the little lights flashed again, making her heart skip a beat.
They sat in silence staring at the ring, a thousand questions pouring through Lizzie’s mind, one of which Ethel voiced.
‘What about Danny?’
‘He’s married ain’t he?’ Lizzie replied rather sharply. ‘They’ve got a baby son. The only thing he said about me in his letter to Bill was to send me his best regards.’
‘You didn’t write back?’
‘No, I thought it was better to leave it at that.’
‘I’d never have thought Danny would—’
‘Well, he did,’ Lizzie interrupted crisply. ‘And that’s that.’
‘Does that mean you’re going to accept Frank?’
‘I dunno, Ethel.’
‘You could do a lot worse.’
‘I know.’
‘Lizzie. Do you love him?’
Lizzie had asked herself the same question, always wanting the answer to be yes. Frank was kind and he could give them all the security they needed. What was more, he said he loved her. Not quite looking at Ethel, Lizzie said carefully, ‘I’m very grateful to him.’
Ethel raised her eyebrows. ‘If Danny had asked you to marry him, and you had accepted, would your reason for marrying have been the same?’
Lizzie smiled sadly. ‘Danny never asked me to marry him. Frank has.’
Once more they sat in silence, gazing at the ring. Lizzie thought over the questions that Ethel had asked her. Was it fair to marry Frank if she didn’t love him in the same way she loved Danny? She knew that Danny would never return for her. He had a wife and family of his own now.
‘Funny how that ring fits so well,’ Ethel murmured suddenly, and Lizzie’s gaze went to the ring sitting snugly on her finger. It was strange how it fitted so well. It was almost . . . almost . . . as though it was meant to be. Like an omen, really, if there were such things.
Chapter Twenty
‘I now pronounce thee man and wife.’ Reverend Green had whistled away the service in less than half an hour. ‘You may kiss the bride.’
The slim gold band on her third finger glinted in the sunlight. It was Wednesday 24 September 1925, Lizzie’s wedding day. Nine months after Frank’s Christmas proposal.
Lizzie had given her answer in the New Year and Frank had booked the church in February. Now she placed her hands on her husband’s shoulders and he grasped her ivory veil, turning it over the garland of pink rosebuds pinned to her hair. His warm lips pressed down hard and hungry over hers.
‘Thank you, er . . . Mr and Mrs Flowers?’ Reverend Green’s embarrassed tones caused Lizzie to pull away, blushing as she caught the look in his eye. ‘We’ll go along and sign the register now. Come this way.’
Lizzie thought how much it had pleased her to marry in church. St Peter’s wasn’t known for its beauty, rather its practicality. The sharp stone, unpainted ceilings and draughty aisles were sombre and grey. But Lizzie didn’t care. In her long cream silk wedding dress and three-quarter veil she felt beautiful. She’d always dreamed of a church wedding. Today her dream had been fulfilled.
She looked down at her dress. The bodice was embroidered with tiny pearls and the skirt flared down to the floor, showing the tips of her cream satin shoes. She had made the dress herself and carefully sewn on the small pearl buttons. The material had come from Ethel’s shop, but the ivory lace veil was Lil’s. The tiara of pink rosebuds, also made of satin, was over three decades old, but Lil had preserved it in tissue paper. The intricate little rosebuds looked real as they pressed close to one another on top of her head.
Frank extended his arm. They walked to the vestry and signed the documents with Reverend Green. Flo, wearing her pale pink bridesmaid’s dress with an ivory sash, was waiting beside Doug and Bert to follow them down the aisle.
The organist played the Wedding March. The church was full. All the traders from the market were there, her neighbours from Langley Street, Frank’s family, Dr Tapper and
his wife and the Hailing sisters.
Frank squeezed her arm as they went. ‘You look beautiful,’ he whispered.
The gathering turned to follow. Once outside, people threw confetti and it floated down on the warm September breeze. The sun shone brightly as the photographs were taken. Frank had thought of everything, Lizzie realized. Even her posy of roses had been delivered before she left the house.
Doug Sharpe stood beside her in his hired suit. Lil and Bert stood on the other side. Bert was dressed in a new brown suit especially bought for the occasion. For once the sleeves and trouser bottoms fitted. Lil looked lovely, Lizzie thought. Her blue woollen day dress, the one bought for Ethel’s wedding during the war, peeped out under her coat, her brown hair was tucked up into a wide brimmed hat.
‘Congratulations, love,’ Doug whispered, proud to have been chosen to give her away. He puffed out his chest as the photographer lifted his hand and the camera flashed.
‘You look a cracker, ducks,’ whispered Lil with a wink, leaning forward. ‘Really lovely.’ Lizzie had managed to bring Lil round to her way of thinking over the last two months that marriage to Frank wasn’t such a bad idea, after all.
‘Thanks, Lil, so do you.’
‘One more,’ shouted the photographer, and everyone stood to attention.
Frank looked down at her. ‘How do you feel then, Mrs Flowers?’
She laughed softly. ‘Wonderful, Frank.’
‘Lizzie!’ Ethel called. Her face was hidden under the wave of smooth fair hair that curved from an apricot hat. She wore a matching dress and coat in ruched wool, its yoke trimmed with narrow tucks of a deeper shade. Richard stood beside her in his grey suit, looking very proper, whilst Rosie and Timmy played in between everyone’s legs. ‘Don’t forget to throw your posy.’
Lizzie threw her posy into the air. A roar went up as Flo caught it. Her cheeks were flushed with pleasure as she laughed shyly.
‘Come on, time we went,’ said Frank, leading her along the path. The horse-drawn carriage waited in the road. He tucked the veil in carefully, before jumping up beside her.
They waved as they went, leaving everyone to follow to the Methodist hall. Frank slipped his hand around her waist. He looked very handsome in his formal dress, with a blue silk tie and top hat.
