Kitty Neale 3 Book Bundle

by Kitty Neale

  ‘All right, I know it was hasty, but when I made that promise I had no idea that Bessie was going to … to die. I thought she’d live to be a hundred.’

  Derek was annoyed that Pearl had made such a promise without thinking of the ramifications. ‘You don’t seem to realise that looking after Nora isn’t going to be easy. It’ll be like having another child, but one who will never grow up. We’d be responsible for her financially too, but with less income because you’d have to pack in your part-time job to look after her. Not only that, you can’t expect your mother to give up her conservatory indefinitely. We’ll have to find somewhere else to live.’

  ‘I’m sorry, Derek, you’re right. I didn’t think it through. But Bessie did say something about making sure I wouldn’t lose out financially.’

  ‘She never seemed to have two pennies to rub together so I don’t see how,’ Derek said, but then, seeing that Pearl’s eyes were welling with tears again, he shut up. There was no way he’d agree to take Nora on permanently but Pearl’s feelings were too raw to sort this out now.

  ‘Derek, there’s something else. What about Bessie’s funeral? We’ll have to arrange that too.’

  ‘Blimey, do you know if she’s got a life insurance policy to pay for it?’

  ‘I’m not sure, but she told me that if anything happened to her, I’d find papers in a box under her bed.’

  ‘Right, I’ll go and get it while you sort Nora out.’

  Pearl dabbed at the tears on her cheeks before going to wake Nora, while Derek went to Bessie’s room. For a moment he stood on the threshold, looking at the empty, unmade bed. Bessie had been a bit strange, odd at times, but he’d liked her. Though she was no longer there, no longer alive, it felt like an intrusion as he ferreted around under her bed, and at any moment he expected to hear Bessie’s strident voice asking him what the hell he was doing. Blimey, Derek thought, he was getting as fanciful as Pearl in believing that both Bessie and Nora had some sort of strange powers. Nevertheless, once his hand touched a wooden box, he pulled it out and beat a hasty retreat.

  As he passed Nora’s room, Derek could hear her crying, but deciding that he’d be of no use he went to the living room. He felt a little cowardly in leaving Nora to Pearl, but consoled himself with the thought that women were always better at handling such things.

  The box wasn’t very big but it was handsome, made of mahogany and beautifully carved; however, Derek was more interested in the contents. If Bessie had life insurance it would help with the cost of the funeral, yet as he sat down and opened the lid, the first thing Derek saw was an envelope addressed to Pearl.

  He turned it over, finding the flap sealed, but had he opened it, Derek would have been shocked at the contents – as shocked as Pearl was going to be.

  Chapter Six

  Lucy Sanderson sat in her tiny flat. Though deeply saddened by Bessie’s death, she couldn’t help but start to really worry about her wages. She’d been helping out in the shop on a part-time basis for three days a week. However, since Bessie went down with bronchitis, she’d been working every day, along with doing little extras, like cooking their hot meals. On the strength of extra money coming in she had splashed out on a new pair of trousers and shoes for Clive. Now though, she hadn’t been paid and the rent was due.

  I’m daft, she mused, I should’ve had a word with Pearl. But it hadn’t seemed right to bring up the subject of money when they were all so upset about Bessie. Not only that, Lucy had no idea who was responsible for her wages now.

  Though it was sad, at least Bessie had lived to a ripe old age, Lucy thought, unlike her husband, Paul, who had died before setting eyes on his son. She bit her bottom lip, fighting back tears. Clive had seen enough upset for one day without her crying too.

  ‘I’m hungry, Mum.’

  His voice roused Lucy. Clive had soon recovered from the upset at the shop, and though it was a bit early for lunch, she took a tin out of the cupboard. ‘How about beans on toast?’

  ‘Cor, smashing,’ he said eagerly.

  As Lucy prepared the meal, she couldn’t help wondering what was going to happen to the shop now. She had no idea if Bessie owned or rented it, but one thing was certain, Nora wasn’t up to running it.

  Would it remain closed? Lucy suspected it would and she sighed, her financial future even more uncertain now.

  Pearl was trying to persuade Nora to come home with them, but so far nothing was working.

  ‘Bessie said I stay here.’

  ‘Darling, we can’t leave you on your own.’

  Stubbornly, Nora repeated, ‘Bessie said I stay here.’

  With no other choice, Pearl had to use guile. ‘But you haven’t been to see us for a while and I know John would love to see you.’

  ‘Johnny. Like Johnny.’

  ‘Yes, I know,’ she said. Nora was the only one who still called him Johnny, ‘and he likes you.’

  ‘Nice, Johnny nice … But I stay here.’

  Pearl sighed and deciding that it was doubtful Nora had eaten, she tried another tack. ‘If you come home with us, we could buy fish and chips on the way.’

  ‘Yes, I like fish and chips.’

  ‘Right then, why don’t you go and have a nice wash and I’ll sort you out something pretty to wear?’

  The ruse worked and while Nora was in the bathroom, Pearl hurriedly stuffed a few of her things into a bag. She then went to find Derek, puzzled when he handed her a bulky envelope. ‘It was in this box,’ he said.

  Pearl saw that her name was written on it in Bessie’s spidery hand and for a moment she just clutched it to her chest, still unable to believe that she would never see her again.

  ‘Aren’t you going to open it?’

  ‘Yes,’ she said and found that along with a letter, it contained Bessie’s last will and testament. She sat down, read both and cried, ‘Oh, no! How could Bessie do this to me?’

  ‘What is it? What has she done?’ Derek asked.

  ‘Bessie has left me these entire premises, shop and flat.’

  ‘But that’s good, isn’t it?’ he said, looking confused.

  ‘No it isn’t. It’s awful.’

  ‘Pearl, you aren’t making any sense. You’ve just been left this place and you should be over the moon.’

  ‘Read the conditions and then you’ll know why I’m not,’ Pearl said, passing the document to Derek.

  He quickly scanned it. ‘All right, I can see now why you’re upset, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world, would it?’

  ‘How can you say that? You know how I feel about living in Battersea. Bessie knew my feelings too, yet she’s put in this provision that I can’t inherit these premises unless I live in them.’

  Derek rubbed his chin. ‘I don’t know why she’s insisted on that.’

  Pearl brandished the letter at him. ‘I do. It’s all in here. Bessie says that Nora can’t cope with change, that moving away from here would confuse and upset her. This way, she says, if we agree to the provision, not only will Nora have continued stability, but we’ll have a home large enough for all of us, with a business thrown in.’

  ‘Well, she has got a point, love.’

  ‘No! I won’t move back to Battersea. Bessie may have been thinking about Nora, but I’m thinking of my son.’

  ‘I suppose you could always sell the place.’

  ‘Read the will again. If I don’t take this place on it’s to be sold, with the proceeds going to Battersea Dogs’ Home.’

  ‘What! Blimey, that’s a bit harsh. So much for making sure we’d have the finances to look after Nora.’

  Pearl’s voice cracked as she ran a hand tiredly across her face. ‘I still can’t believe that Bessie has done this.’

  ‘Come on, love, I think you’ve had enough for one day. You need time for it all to sink in and we can talk about it later. For now, let’s go home,’ Derek said, a tower of strength and support as ever.

  Pearl didn’t argue. Hoping that Nora was ready, she hurried b
ack to her bedroom, feeling relieved when she didn’t become difficult again.

  Pearl and Derek agreed not to mention anything about Bessie in the car so as not to distress Nora, yet as they neared Winchester she began to cry again.

  ‘Told you, Pearl,’ she sobbed. ‘I told you Bessie not get better.’

  ‘I know you did, darling,’ Pearl said, her mind twisting and turning. They would have to arrange Bessie’s funeral and perhaps consult the solicitor who had drawn up her will. Maybe he’d be able to tell them if there was a way around the conditions of the inheritance.

  ‘Go home now.’

  ‘But we haven’t had our fish and chips yet,’ Pearl said, hoping Nora’s favourite meal would placate her again.

  ‘What’s it to be, Nora?’ Derek asked. ‘Cod and chips?’

  ‘Yes, and can I have a pickled onion?’ Nora asked.

  ‘Yes, love. I fancy fish and chips too, but I think with a gherkin.’

  Once again the thought of food quietened Nora and at last they were pulling up outside a chippie close to home. Pearl got out of the car, pleased to be served quickly, and then with packets of steaming fish and chips they arrived at the cottage.

  Inside, Nora ran straight to John. ‘Bessie dead, Johnny.’

  ‘I know, but don’t cry,’ he said, hugging her short, bulky body to him. ‘Bessie wouldn’t want you to be unhappy.’

  Pearl was impressed by her son’s maturity, but when she looked at her mother it was to find her expression less than pleased. She drew Pearl into the conservatory to ask quietly, ‘What is Nora doing here?’

  ‘I couldn’t leave her on her own, Mum.’

  ‘But she can’t stay with us. We’ve got nowhere to put her.’

  ‘It won’t be for long. We’ll find somewhere else to live as soon as we can, but in the meantime, I … I thought maybe a camp bed in here.’

  ‘Well, yes, I suppose so, but—’

  ‘Mum, can we talk about it later?’ Pearl interrupted. ‘I don’t think Nora has eaten today and I need to dish out the fish and chips before they get cold. Would you like some?’

  ‘No, thank you, darling.’

  Pearl went back into the kitchen to find that Derek had already put the meal onto plates and Nora was already tucking into her portion.

  ‘Are you all right?’ he asked her softly.

  Pearl nodded, but in truth she was far from all right. Their life had been chugging along nicely, without a care in the world really. She loved living here with her mother, loved the area, the cottage and her little part-time job.

  Now, with the responsibility of Nora, they would have to make changes and Pearl felt as if her world was spiralling out of her control.

  Chapter Seven

  On Tuesday morning Kevin Dolby punched the air in triumph as the prison gates closed behind him. He was free, but to fulfil his immediate needs he had to have more than the funds he’d been given on release. Still, he had the means to get to Southsea; and once he’d twisted his mother around his little finger, his wallet would be stuffed with notes.

  Mugs, that’s what most people were in Kevin’s opinion, including the parole board who had fallen for his pious act. His religious persona was one he’d continue to use – at least when it suited him, he thought, chuckling.

  Despite his bravado, after thirteen years in prison, Kevin found the outside world intimidating as he walked to the train station. The sound of traffic was loud in his ears, the roads busier than he remembered, and there was space, so much space after the confines of prison walls.

  On reaching the station, Kevin purchased a ticket and then stood on the platform, taking note of the people around him. Most of the fashion was unrecognisable to him and he was amazed when he spotted a bloke with hair flowing over his shoulders, wearing burgundy velvet trousers that flared at the bottom and a flowery top beneath an odd-looking fur-edged, suede coat. In his day poofs didn’t flaunt themselves; but the bloke was good looking and for a moment Kevin felt a twinge of interest. However he got a shock when the girl standing next to the poof suddenly stood on tiptoe to give him a kiss, the pair becoming locked in an embrace. Kevin couldn’t help staring and the bloke met his eye over his girlfriend’s shoulder.

  ‘What are you looking at?’ he asked belligerently.

  There was nothing girly about his manner and in no mood for a confrontation, Kevin said, ‘Nothing,’ before quickly looking away.

  ‘Leave it, Pete,’ he heard the girl say. ‘Don’t get into a fight.’

  ‘Yeah, yeah, all right. Peace and love and all that.’

  It clicked then and Kevin kicked himself for being stupid. They were hippies – but this was the first time he’d seen them in the flesh. Blimey, there was no way he was going to wear daft clothes like that, and now, as a girl passed him wearing a skirt that was little more than a belt, he feasted his eyes on her legs. Now that he was free and had the choice, Kevin found he much preferred the female form to the male, and licked his lips in anticipation of holding a woman in his arms again.

  By the time Kevin reached the village he felt a little more confident, though his parents’ cottage was on the outskirts and hadn’t been easy to find. Before walking up the path, Kevin braced himself. His mother had ruined his life, had made him think from childhood that sex was a dirty word. If he so much as touched himself, she called him a filthy boy, saying she wouldn’t love him if he dared to do it again. She had ruled his father too and his sickening weakness had made Kevin determined to be different, to show any woman he took out who was the boss. To keep them in line, he’d enjoyed giving them a few slaps, and then one day it had escalated into violent rape. He’d loved it, relished showing the woman that, unlike his father, he was a real man, and she was helpless to stop him.

  Of course he hadn’t had to rape Pearl. She’d been so innocent, so naive, a virgin, and it’d been easy to take her down. He’d been careless though and had been forced to marry her.

  From their wedding night, it had all gone wrong, thanks to his mother. She’d walked into their bedroom and the disgust on her face at their nakedness had made him impotent. From then on, with his mother in such close proximity, he’d been unable to make love to Pearl. Kevin scowled. His mother had turned him into less than a man, weak like his father, and he would never forgive her for that.

  Kevin knew he couldn’t continue to stand outside, and shook off his thoughts, his hate veiled as he now walked up the path to knock on the door. ‘Hello, Dad,’ he said with a false smile when it was opened.

  ‘What do you want, Kevin?’ Bernie asked, his expression cold.

  ‘To see you and Mum, and to show you I’ve changed, Dad.’

  His mother appeared behind Bernie, her eyes lighting up when she saw him. ‘Kevin! They’ve let you out?’

  ‘Yes, and praise be to God,’ he said piously.

  ‘Oh, son,’ Dolly cried as she shoved Bernie to one side. ‘Come in. I’ll make up a bed for you.’

  ‘No, Mum, I didn’t want to burden you so I’ve made other arrangements,’ he said. The thought of sleeping under the same roof as his mother again made him shudder.

  ‘You’ll never be a burden to me,’ Dolly said, drawing him inside.

  The words almost choked him, but he managed to say, ‘I once was, Mother, but never again.’

  ‘We’re about to have lunch. Would you like some of my home-made soup?’ she asked eagerly.

  ‘Yes, please. I must admit I’m rather hungry,’ Kevin said as he looked around the room. He recognised a lot of the furniture from their old place in Battersea, along with the mahogany-cased clock in the centre of the mantelpiece and the silver candlesticks that stood at each end. A fire was burning in the hearth, but with his father’s eyes fixed on him, Kevin hovered uncertainly.

  ‘Kevin, come and talk to me in the kitchen while I’m heating the soup,’ his mother said.

  ‘Yes, all right.’

  ‘How are you finding the outside world?’ she asked as she lit the gas
under a saucepan.

  ‘A bit strange,’ Kevin replied, which was actually the truth.

  ‘Of course you are. You need time to adjust and you can forget those other arrangements. I’ll get the bed in the spare room made up for you. It’s nice and quiet here so you’ll be able to take things slowly.’

  Bernie marched into the kitchen. ‘Hold on, Dolly. I haven’t agreed to that.’

  ‘It’s all right, Dad. I can’t stay. I feel I’m being called to London; that my mission is there.’

  ‘So you’re going back to Battersea?’

  ‘No, Dad. I know I have much to repent for in that area, but I’m going to Ealing.’

  ‘But why there?’ Dolly asked. ‘And where will you live?’

  ‘I’m in God’s hands, Mother, and He has been guiding me,’ Kevin told her, ‘so much so that while in prison I met a fellow inmate in the chapel, one who is like-minded. He was released six months ago, but we’ve been corresponding. He’s interested in setting up a refuge in a needy area too and to that end he’s offered me a rent-free room in his house.’

  ‘Humph,’ Bernie grunted, a sceptical look on his face as he walked out of the kitchen.

  Kevin wasn’t worried. He knew his mother handled the purse strings and that she was a soft touch where he was concerned. He intended to get every penny out of her that he could. His father had disowned him, had refused to visit him in prison, and this was the first time he’d seen him in thirteen years. Despite that, it was his mother Kevin hated the most: it had been his desperation to get away from her that led him to robbery. Then when it all went wrong, something had snapped in his mind and while bludgeoning the jeweller over and over again it had been his mother’s head he saw … her blood flowing …

  ‘What do think of our little cottage?’ Dolly asked, breaking into his thoughts.

  Worried that she’d see the hate in his eyes, Kevin fought to hide his feelings. ‘It’s very nice,’ he said quietly.

  ‘Your father chose it, and got it for a good price. He handles all our finances now.’