by Mary Wood
‘Darling, you are speaking out of temper and are not being rational. If we cut Harold out, it will make him want to seek revenge even more. It is a bitter pill, but we have to swallow it. I really want you to think about the consequences for us. We are powerless – we intend to break the law of the land, and of God. If Harold ever found out, he would crucify us with that knowledge.’
‘I know you are right, my darling, but I am angry and do want to punish him.’
‘Isn’t that what has been wrong in your family for so long? This need to punish?’
Flora was mortified at this comment. She stared at Cyrus. ‘How dare you! I – I cannot forgive you comparing me to them.’
‘Oh, Flora, you look even more beautiful when you are angry. I should make you so more often.’
‘It isn’t a joke, Cyrus. That hurt me.’
‘I know, and it was meant to. Well, not hurt you, but wake you up to the fact that you are behaving exactly as they do: wanting revenge, wanting to punish. I don’t like it, and I don’t want you even to think like that.’
Flora felt her cheeks colour with shame. ‘I’m sorry. You’re right. But you’re one of us, don’t you ever feel those traits in you?’
‘Now you have hurt me. Flora, do you look at me and see a brother?’
‘No! No, I see the man I love – the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. My husband. Oh, why are we bickering? We never used to talk like this to each other. I love you beyond all things, Cyrus. I miss you so much. I miss lying with you, being held by you, kissed and—’
‘My darling. We are under a lot of pressure. We shouldn’t take it out on each other. If only I could hold you . . . Come on, darling, let’s go inside. The sooner we have everything to do with your father’s Will sorted out, the better everything will be for us.’
They had reached the office of John Henry Wright, Solicitors. They walked up the steps to the entrance without speaking or allowing their bodies to touch. And yet Flora wanted so much to take Cyrus in her arms. To run with him to a place of safety and have him take and give of himself to her. Sighing, she followed him inside.
‘Good morning, both. Well, today is a good day, as I believe everything is ready to be finalized. A buyer has been found for the shops! He has offered a little below the market value, and has graded the shops according to where they are situated and the takings of each one. He has come up with an average figure of three thousand pounds per shop. What do you think?’
‘No, we won’t take that.’
‘But, Cyrus, it will mean . . . I mean, I think it is a fair offer for someone to make who is proposing to take all of the shops off our – your – hands.’
‘It is a first offer. A tentative one. Please go back to the prospective buyer and ask for three and a half thousand, on average. Which means he is getting the shops for five hundred pounds each below the true value, and that is to include all stock. I don’t want to be bothered with inventories, and it comes with the stipulation that the deal is sealed within a week.’
‘A very good move, if I may say so. I can send a runner now to my agent, as the buyer is waiting with him. I think you will get what you have asked for because, like you, I think the first offer was given in a lot of hope, but not much faith.’
After the runner had been instructed, Cyrus asked, ‘How quickly can my part of the deal be concluded? I need to complete all of the business to do with the Will as soon as possible.’
‘My agent has a contract already drafted. If the offer is accepted, the figure will be added to it, along with wording that will state that the price includes everything. Once you sign that, I can do the rest. Your brothers have given me their bank-account details for their shares, which you so generously are gifting to them. I, of course, have your details, Cyrus. But what about your share, Miss Roford?’
Flora wanted to say that it could go into Cyrus’s account, but knew that she couldn’t. She gave the name of her bank and the details.
‘Very well, today should conclude our business. It has been a pleasure working with you, Cyrus, and I hope that you will engage my services in the future, maybe under better circumstances.’
‘I most certainly will, for you have made a difficult job easy. Now that you have Miss Roford’s details, will you please arrange for an allowance to be paid to her? I will put the money that her father stipulated, in his further instructions to me, into a trust fund, and as you are administering the other trust funds that he set up, I would like you to handle that one, too. Also, I would like you to send all communications to me to this address. It is a friend of mine, and I am willing to sign anything that you need, in order to authorize my dealings with you to go through him. Always mark them “Private and confidential”, as I don’t want him to read anything, but I am going to be travelling and he will know where my next port of call is, to enable me to receive post. I have instructed my bank, and any other party who may wish to contact me, that they are to do so through you. I know that I can rely on your strict confidence. And an annual billing arrangement for your services would suit me, if it does you?’
‘I will be honoured to act for you. And the annual payment is in order, too. Thank you. While we wait, I will get my clerk to draft that into a contract between us. My fee is thirty-five pounds a year, plus any postage costs or out-of-pocket expenses incurred. I will bill you each year, as the fee for my services so far will be payable once you sign the contract that we are expecting today.’
By the time they left the solicitor’s office, Flora was full of admiration for her Cyrus. He’d thought of everything, and now it was all completed. Happiness settled in her. Soon they would be together again.
‘Cyrus, how do I put my house in Rowena’s name?’
‘I don’t think you should, darling. I think you should draw up a contract between you both, which will be just as legally binding as using a solicitor, but more confidential. It should give her and her husband permission to live in your house for life, rent-free, but on the death of them both – or at such time as they don’t need it – it reverts to you. It will be an insurance policy for our future, if our new venture should fail.’
‘Venture? I thought we would have enough money just to live out there in France.’
‘We do, but what kind of legacy is that for our children? We need to build them a new future in France, and one that will sustain them after we have gone. We need to show them that life is about working for what they need. We have tried our best in that field, but now we have a chance to do more.’
‘What have you in mind?’
‘A vineyard. I have been reading about growing grapes for wine and the regions that are best for this, and how the wine is made.’
‘It sounds very difficult, but exciting. But what about our music?’
‘We will find a way of incorporating that into our lives. Once we make friends, we can hold concerts. But if we devote our lives to music, it may put us in the public eye, and we don’t want that. Sadly, the dream we share of owning our own theatre and writing musical plays, and putting them into production, is one dream we have to forgo, for the sake of never being discovered.’
‘Yes, I can see that. Well, we can entertain each other with our music, and we will make wine-making our new dream. Oh, Cyrus, I can’t wait; when can we go?’
‘I have to go first, to find us somewhere to live and—’
‘No! I’m not going to be separated from you again, please, Cyrus. Besides, my pregnancy is progressing and there may come a time when I can’t travel, and then the baby is too young and . . . No, please. I can’t go through all of that alone. I have no one but Rowena and my neighbours now. I need to be with you.’
‘Oh, my darling, I hadn’t thought of that.’
They sat in a tea shop, drinking tea, and had ordered a cake each. Under the table she felt Cyrus touch her leg with his. His mouth moved and silently spoke the words, ‘I love you.’
Aloud he said, ‘What you have said changes e
verything. I will go into Thomas Cook and ask them to book our whole journey from here to the south-west of France, including hotels to stay in on the way. We will drive over in my new car.’ His eyebrows went up and his lips curled in an impish smile.
‘Ha, you sound like a little boy with a new toy.’
‘That’s what it feels like to me. I could pinch myself. I know I have dealt with everything in a businesslike manner, and as if doing so was an everyday thing to me, but inside I do feel like a child at Christmas-time, eager to open the next present. I’ve always wanted a Wolseley car, and to think that I now have one is unbelievable.’
Under the table she sought his hand and held it tightly, never wanting to let it go ever again.
‘Darling, couldn’t we go sooner than all that will take? Couldn’t we get a train to Dover and stay in a hotel together there, where no one knows us, and arrange everything through Thomas Cook down there? I’m sure they will have a branch there. Please agree, Cyrus, I am desperate to be with you. The nights are long on my own, and my grief eats into me.’
‘Oh, my darling Flora. I have been so busy that I haven’t had time to think about . . . No, that isn’t true. I haven’t let myself think about our loss. Or how you are coping. I’m so sorry. I couldn’t face the pain.’
‘It’s all right, I understand. I have tried to block it all out, too. But I can’t do it. It crowds me during my long hours alone.’
‘Then it must come to an end. We will do as you say. I cannot see anything that could stop us. Mother has left for her sister’s; her finances were sorted out very quickly, as they were nothing to do with the main body of the estate, but were set up separately. She is keeping her apartment, even though it hurts her to think how callous the man she loved was, in letting her think the apartment he’d found for her and me was rented from an agency. And she will visit us when we are settled. So that just leaves your house. How soon can you sort Rowena out and be ready?’
‘Rowena is at my house now, taking care of Freddy. I can write out the contract for her, and she will help me pack my clothes.’ She told him how the neighbours were going to look after Alice’s grave. ‘And they will tidy Pru’s grave, too. I couldn’t refuse the neighbours. Rowena wanted to do it, but she understands and she will be part of the group undertaking the work.’
‘It will be a wrench leaving our little Alice.’ Cyrus’s eyes suddenly filled with tears.
Flora told him what Mrs Larch had said. ‘Wherever we are, Alice will be with us in our hearts, and I’ll pack her knitted doll that she loved, to take with us.’
‘I can’t bear it, Flora . . .’ His tears flowed freely.
When they walked outside, the wind whipped around them. Cyrus put his arm round Flora and pulled her to him. ‘Cyrus, no – not in public.’
‘I don’t care; if we are seen, I am merely protecting you from the wind, as would be natural. Look, there’s a flower stall: shall we buy some flowers and take them to Alice and Pru? It might be the last time we can do so for a long time.’
They stood by Alice’s grave. Neither spoke. Cyrus’s tears flowed freely once more, but Flora was empty of tears, though full to the brim with pain. She wanted to scream the feeling out of her and pound the earth with her fist, begging it to give her daughter back to her. Her arms ached to cuddle her darling Alice.
Cyrus pulled her into his body once more. He shook with sobs. Together they laid the flowers on the diminishing mound of earth. ‘What will we do about marking the grave, darling? Look over there: there is a little boy’s grave with an angel statue on it. I’d like something like that for Alice.’
‘I would, too, Cyrus; and one of those oval-shaped stones for Pru. And something else I would like to do: I’d like to detour to Dieppe and visit Freddy’s grave, and see the area, now that there is peace there. I think that will rest my mind of all the horrible images that haunt me.’
‘Yes, we can do that. Let’s get you home, darling. I’ve seen a stonemason’s shop nearby, so I’ll go in and arrange the headstones. What would you like inscribed on Pru’s?’
‘After her name and details, which I will write down for you, I would like: “A woman who cared”. That’s all, as it sums up Aunt Pru. For Alice: “A child loved dearly, now with Jesus and safe from pain”.’ Saying the words gave Flora some comfort.
‘That’s lovely. I would add: “A child loved dearly by her mummy and daddy and brother Freddy, and missed every day”.’
Flora thought this nice, but far too long; but, as her daddy, Cyrus had a right to have what he wanted, too. And it was all so true. Alice was missed so very much.
Chapter Thirty-Five
‘You sure are full of surprises, Missy! My, you mean it? Me and my old man can move into this lovely house and stay forever?’
‘I mean it, Rowena. I’m going away. I can’t tell you where, because I don’t know yet, but it is going to be in France. I just haven’t settled on where in France. No one must know. Not a soul. I am only telling my closest friends, of which you are one. I will miss you, Rowena.’
‘I’m going to be missing you, too. But I hope as you’re taking the lovely Cyrus with you. You two are made to be together.’
Thankfully, before she could answer, a knock on the front door interrupted them. ‘I’ll get it, honey, you have work to do. It’ll probably be someone trying to sell something.’
‘Thank you, Rowena. I’ll pop upstairs and make a start. Is Freddy asleep?’
‘He is – he’s been one little monkey today.’
Reaching the landing, Flora stopped in her progress towards her bedroom, as a familiar voice came to her.
‘What are you doing in my sister’s house, black woman?’
Harold?
‘And who are you to ask me that? And, for your information, I know I’m black – you don’t need to tell me that I am, Mister.’
‘Step aside, you filthy negress.’
‘I’m as clean as the day I was born, Mister. And I ain’t stepping aside until I knows who you are and what your business is here.’
‘It’s all right, Rowena, it’s my brother. Let him in.’
‘Oh, one of them as cast you out? Well, that ain’t nothing to be proud of, and none of us black folk would do such a thing.’
‘Rowena, Freddy is crying – please go to him, love. I’ll take my brother through to the kitchen.’
‘The kitchen! Hasn’t this awful place got a withdrawing room?’
‘I have a front room, but I wouldn’t allow you to step inside it, Harold, as it is where my daughter died, and you would taint her memory with your presence.’
‘Charming! I see your pregnancy is showing. Good God, Flora, you should be ashamed of yourself. With your own brother! Disgusting.’
‘You have done all you can to me on that score, Harold, so there is nothing more you can hurt me with. I know you gave the story to the paper, thinking that I would be hounded out. Well, it didn’t happen. My neighbours are good people, and they believed me when I told them the truth of Cyrus and me not knowing. And the masses didn’t take up the story, so it didn’t go further than London. A failed operation, I would say.’
‘Worth a try. I would do anything to bring you and that so-called “brother” of ours to your knees.’
‘We know that.’
‘I know you are still seeing him.’
‘I have to. He is my guardian, so to speak, as Father made him so.’
‘You know what I mean.’
‘You are mistaken, and if that is all you have come for, I think you should leave.’
‘It isn’t. We are selling the parents’ house. And there is the question of Francis. His mental state is worsening and, as his sister, you should take responsibility for him. I want to bring him and his things here – you must have room.’
‘That’s not possible, Harold. Did Mother leave a Will?’
‘I told you that she did, and there was nothing for you; you aren’t even mentioned.’
&nb
sp; ‘I didn’t expect to be. Is Francis joint beneficiary?’
‘Of course, why?’
‘And has he agreed to the sale, knowing that he will be homeless? Won’t he have enough to buy himself a place, or enough to rent somewhere?’
‘He is too ill for that. And I have power of attorney over him, so I can sell the house without his say-so. You don’t know what he has been like, since he came home from war. He has shaking and screaming fits. He runs around naked in the garden. He digs trenches; he wakes the household at night with his nightmares. The staff have coped admirably with it all. But, after the sale, I am going north to live, and then Mags and I will be married. I can’t take Francis with me. You have to have him.’
Flora was shocked to hear just how bad Francis’s condition was, as she hadn’t considered it. But she couldn’t take care of him. She couldn’t give up her plans for him. None of them could ask that of her. ‘I refuse. You will have to find a home for him.’
‘You callous bitch! This is your brother you are talking about.’
‘Neither of you has been a brother to me for a long time, and I owe you nothing. Nothing! Do you hear me? I don’t care if I never see either of you again.’
To her surprise, Harold slumped into the chair next to the fire. ‘How did it come to this, Flora? How did we let our parents divide us in this way?’
‘Because you wanted it all. You are like Father, and you sacrificed our relationship to make up to Mother and Father. But it didn’t happen the way you planned it, and now you are jealous of me, and of Cyrus; and you are plotting all the time to wreak revenge on us. It has all gone sour for you. If I had my way, I wouldn’t give you what Cyrus is planning to.’
‘And you are all Mother said you were. I offer you an olive branch, and you shove it right back in my face. Mags is going to be very upset. She hoped we could be friends, but she just doesn’t know you.’
The realization came to Flora that, from the moment Harold had sat down, he’d decided on different tactics. He’d tried the ‘I’m really a loving brother’ act before and hadn’t meant it, and it wasn’t going to work this time.
