by Anna Jacobs
She heard him tell his driver to take him home but he didn’t wave goodbye or even look round at them.
She looked at Auntie Rhoda. ‘He didn’t mention his wife, not once. Do they not get on?’
‘Not at all. She’s a foolish woman interested only in her social life, always worried about what people will think about her and what she does. They meet at meals and go to church together and that’s about it.’
As she went back into the house, Kathleen’s nerves got the better of her and she had to rush into the scullery to be sick.
When she’d finished, Auntie Rhoda handed her a damp cloth and a towel. ‘You did well, Kathleen.’
‘Did I? I’ll have to do better in future, though, or Ernest will suffer. He must have led a terrible life with that man. He needs handling gently, not bullying.’
‘It wasn’t easy for the poor boy, I will confess. It was Alex who got the brains in the family, but Alex wheezed if he went near horses. Mr Seaton acted as if he was doing it on purpose, which is ridiculous. You’ll no doubt meet Ernest’s brother one day. You’ll like him.’
‘If you say so.’
‘Ernest was always being scolded and told he was stupid. He was never good enough for his father. And as you’ll find, your husband can indeed be infuriating and stubborn. He’s not always meek. A few years ago he fell in with some bad types who started him drinking heavily. But his father didn’t seem to mind that, which surprised me. Hah!’
‘Ernest doesn’t drink now, does he?’
‘No. I persuaded him to stop, because it doesn’t take much to make him drunk. I told him it upset me and cried. He’d never seen me cry before. So he promised me he wouldn’t drink any more. He didn’t really like the taste or the way it made him feel, anyway. It was the company he enjoyed, flattering him they were, pretending to be his friends.’
‘And it sounds like his mother wasn’t much better, was she?’
‘No. Selfish. Stupid. A social climber, though she hasn’t managed to climb very far because people don’t take to her. She left me to raise both her sons.’
‘I’m glad Ernest had you.’
‘He’s the son I never had and I love him. My husband died young and left me to make my own way in the world. Life is never easy for long, Kathleen. I think you’re going to have a peaceful few months, but always be prepared for things to change suddenly. Keep that money to yourself and the bank book safely hidden.’
‘Ernest hasn’t even asked how much we have in the bank.’
‘No. He wouldn’t. Unlike his father, he doesn’t care about money.’
Which made Kathleen wonder why Auntie Rhoda was warning her so strongly about all this. Did she think Mr Seaton would change his mind?
She hadn’t cared whether the baby was a son or a daughter before, but now she thought a son might be better, for all their sakes.
Two men brought Ernest to them that evening after dark and he seemed disoriented, having to be helped into the house.
When he saw Kathleen he flung himself into her arms and burst into tears.
She left Auntie Rhoda to see the men out and took her husband into the little parlour, shushing him and patting his back.
It was a while before she could calm him down. And as she held him, she realised then more clearly than ever before that to all intents and purposes she already had a child. The baby in her belly would be her second one.
What a mess her life was in! Was it to be like this for ever, tied to a man who was so weak, wasn’t very clever and couldn’t even read easily?
Then she thought of Desmond Mannion, with his brutal face and big, bunched fists, and told herself not to be stupid. Compared to him, Ernest was a wonderful husband. And stupid or not, he’d saved her, hadn’t he? She owed him a lot for that.
But she’d have to pay for it for the rest of her life. Every single tedious day.
The following day Jedediah Seaton summoned his foreman to his office. ‘Close the door and sit down. What I have to say to you is to go no further.’
‘Yes, sir. I mean, no sir.’
‘I’ve found out where your daughter is.’
Keller leant forward. ‘Where?’
‘None of your business now. I want you to—’
‘Excuse me, sir, but my daughter ran away, as you know. Goodness knows how she’s living. She needs bringing into line. I’m not having one of my family behaving immorally.’
‘Needs a good beating, does she?’
‘If necessary. She’s a stubborn bitch, impudent too.’
Seaton looked at him thoughtfully. He sounded to hate the poor young woman. What a way to treat your daughter! ‘Well, she’s not your concern now so you’ll do no more beating.’
‘I don’t understand.’
‘She’s married my son, so she’s my concern from now on, and you’ll kindly remember that.’
Keller gaped at him. ‘Kathleen? My Kathleen? She’s gone and married Mr Ernest?’
‘Didn’t I just say so?’
‘I hope you gave her a good beating then, sir.’
‘Certainly not. She’s carrying his child and I want a grandson. If you so much as lay a finger on her, you’ll lose your job here. And if you do anything whatsoever to harm that unborn child, I’ll have you put down like a mad dog.’
Keller stiffened. ‘I was right, though, wasn’t I? She had been behaving immorally.’
‘No. You were wrong. She went to live with a decent woman I know and respect, who wouldn’t lie to me, and Kathleen was married from her house. The child isn’t expected until ten months after their wedding date. Your daughter ran away from you and I’m only letting you stay on here as foreman because you’re the best I’ve seen with horses and because I want to keep an eye on you. A very close eye.’
His foreman scowled down at his boots, then sucked in a sudden sharp breath and looked up. ‘But you’re not Catholics. The child will be brought up a heathen.’
Seaton threw back his head and laughed. ‘The child will be brought up in the Church of England. That’s not heathen. Dammit, man! We worship the same god, use the same Bible.’
There was a long silence, then Keller said sullenly, ‘I suppose so, sir.’
‘Get about your business, now. And remember, you’re not to try to find your daughter or go near her, let alone touch her. She’s my business now. And you’re not to mention this to anyone, not even your own family.’
‘Yes, sir.’
He didn’t tell Keller or his son and wife that one of the reasons for keeping the marriage secret was his nephew Godfrey, who had changed over the past few years, ever since Jedediah had disinherited Alex. It was as if Godfrey felt himself to be the rightful heir now, and although Ernest wasn’t nearly as clever as Alex, he was the only remaining son and he would be the heir, as far as his father was concerned, not his nephew.
Godfrey tried to hide it from his uncle but he now seemed so jealous of Ernest inheriting the family business and fortune that Jedediah was beginning to suspect that he’d do anything, legal or not, to get his hands on it. Godfrey’s own father had been a failure who had lost most of his money in poor business ventures, and then grown stranger and stranger, eventually killing himself.
The older he got, the more like his father Godfrey seemed to become. Perhaps he didn’t like working in his wife’s family’s business. Being an undertaker wasn’t everyone’s idea of a good way to earn a living. It was as if some sickness was festering in his mind.
Damnation! Jedediah thumped the edge of his clenched fist on his desk. Why couldn’t Ernest have married someone of his own class, someone with a family powerful enough to protect her and, more importantly, protect her children?
This situation was like a bomb waiting to explode, and he didn’t know what to do for the best. Some problems weren’t easily solved. If Ernest had been a clever man, he’d have been able to protect himself, but he wasn’t, so Jedediah had to do that and pray that this Kathleen had a son, who could be trai
ned by his grandfather and inherit the business. In the meantime, it would be best to keep them out of sight and conceal the fact that they were married.
To make matters worse, Godfrey had been sucking up to Jedediah’s wife and she was treating him like a favoured son. She had always been a fool. Now, she had to be watched as well.
Outside, Fergus Keller went across the stable yard into the hay store and sat down to have a think. After a while he smiled and nodded a few times. He’d wanted children able to support him and Deirdre in their old age, hadn’t he? Most men did. Well, Kathleen would be able to do that easily.
And when Mr Seaton died, Ernest would inherit and they’d need someone to look after the business. Ernest wouldn’t be able to do that without help. Jedediah Seaton was growing old and looking increasingly unhealthy, but Fergus was still in his prime and one day Kathleen was going to need him.
He continued to smile as he went back to work. Some things were worth waiting for. Fate had been kind to him and Kathleen had done better for herself than Desmond Mannion, a lot better.
But while he waited for his time to come, he’d find out where Kathleen was and keep an eye on her. He’d know where to put his hand on her when the old man died.
And in the meantime he’d pray that she didn’t die in childbirth, that she would bear sons who would charm the old man.
Chapter Seven
In July the Midwives’ Act received royal assent, and after that midwives were only allowed to practise if they were certified. Mrs Todd, who had been bringing babies into the world in and around Monks Barton for thirty years, was able to satisfy the criteria but even so, Kathleen’s son would have to be born under the supervision of the young doctor who had just set up in the village.
This would the first child Dr Lowcroft had helped bring into the world in the district and the women of the village were not at all sure they liked the idea of having a man interfering.
It felt strange to Kathleen to have a man see her like that, but as the labour progressed quickly she forgot her embarrassment and concentrated on the hard work of birthing the baby. She knew what to expect from her own family but welcomed the guidance and help of Mrs Todd. Not that much help was needed. Her body did what it had to.
Dr Lowcroft watched over the whole process carefully, ignoring the midwife’s muttering and obvious resentment of his presence.
‘It’s a boy,’ she told Kathleen quickly as the baby was delivered.
‘Oh, I’m so glad.’
The infant was already crying good and hard.
Dr Lowcroft stepped forward to supervise the cutting of the umbilical cord, then took the baby from the midwife and examined him carefully, much to the young mother’s annoyance, because she was longing to hold him in her arms.
‘You have a fine strong boy, Mrs Seaton. Your father-in-law will be delighted.’
Kathleen suddenly realised what had made a doctor trained in London choose to practise in a small village like Monks Barton. She held out her hands for her son, and blurted it out. ‘Mr Seaton helped you set up here, didn’t he? Be sure to tell him how straightforward the birth was when you report to him.’
Dr Lowcroft stared at her in surprise. ‘I thought you knew that he’d helped me set up here and why. Didn’t he tell you?’
‘No. He wasn’t concerned with me. He wants grandsons more than anything else on earth.’
‘Ah, I see. That was why he was so pleased that I had made a special study of childbirth.’ He smiled at Mrs Todd. ‘You’re obviously very experienced, ma’am, and I’m sure there will be much that I can learn from you. In return, I’ll share the latest medical findings on childbirth, if you like.’
She smiled at him, annoyance forgotten. ‘I would like that, Doctor. I care very much about my mothers and babies, and if there’s a better way to do something, I want to know about it.’ Then she added slowly, ‘Doctors don’t usually do that. Share, I mean.’
‘There is a new generation of doctors being trained and we want the whole system to be more efficient, which you don’t get by keeping medical knowledge to yourself.’
He turned back to Kathleen. ‘Well, you’ve just provided Mr Seaton with a fine, healthy grandson. Let’s see how much this little lad weighs … Nine and a half pounds! A big first child. And listen to him yell. Fine pair of lungs he’s got, eh?’
After he’d left, Mrs Todd muttered, ‘He seems better than most doctors. Whatever that stupid act of parliament says, they don’t usually want to get involved in childbirth, not the ones I’ve met, anyway. I’d give the devil his due if he did something well, and I’ll do the same for this doctor. I’ve heard nothing but good things about him so far, I must say.’
She continued to talk as she cleared up. ‘He doesn’t turn away the poorer patients or charge them if they have to choose between food and his fees. I still don’t understand what the government was thinking, passing that stupid act about midwives, but perhaps we’ve fallen lucky with this man. Anyway, never mind that now. Let’s finish getting you cleaned up and settled.’
When she’d finished, she wagged one forefinger at Kathleen. ‘Mind, you’re to stay in bed for a week.’
‘What? I’d go mad.’
‘You’ll be the better for a good long rest. Most women are glad of the excuse.’
Kathleen could see it’d be no use protesting, so decided to ignore the order and just take things more easily for a few days.
Then she looked into the cradle and forgot about everything else. Her whole body felt warm with love at the sight of the little red face. And her son – her son! – had already got one arm loose and was waving it at the world.
Mrs Todd came to stand on the other side of the cradle. ‘He’s a lively one, isn’t he? I think you should feed him now.’
It seemed a long time till Mrs Todd left her in peace.
Soon afterwards Auntie Rhoda peeped into the bedroom. ‘Shall we send word to Mr Seaton? He wants to see the child straight away.’
‘Well, I want to show Ernest his son first.’
‘He and his father will probably come to see the baby together.’
‘Did you know that Mr Seaton had helped Dr Lowcroft set up here in order to have a doctor who understands childbirth to hand?’
Auntie Rhoda stared at her open-mouthed. ‘He never did! The cunning old devil.’
‘Yes. But I didn’t need a doctor’s help.’
‘Mrs Todd said you were made to bear children.’
Not one a year, though, Kathleen thought rebelliously. She’d seen how that wore down her sisters.
But her father-in-law must have had someone keeping an eye on them, or the doctor must have sent word, because Mr Seaton was at the house within two hours of the birth.
When she realised from the voices in the hall that he hadn’t brought Ernest with him, Kathleen locked her bedroom door. Auntie Rhoda knocked on it and called, ‘Mr Seaton is here to see his grandson.’
‘He’ll have to knock this door down if he wants to see the child before its father does,’ Kathleen yelled. Then she set her ear to the door to see what they said about that.
‘Whatever’s got into her, Rhoda?’ Mr Seaton asked.
‘She wants to show the child to his father first. It’s what normally happens, you know. And it’s best to humour a woman who’s just given birth. Where is Ernest?’
‘Out making a delivery.’
‘And when did you send him out?’
Silence, then Rhoda’s voice again. ‘That wasn’t kind, Mr Seaton.’
‘To hell with being kind, tell her to let me in or I will knock the door down. I’ve been very forbearing about this marriage. The least she can do in return is show me my grandson.’
‘You’ll have to drag me out of the way to force your way in,’ Rhoda replied.
Tears welled in Kathleen’s eyes at this support, because she knew how nervous the older woman usually was when dealing with her former employer.
Then there was the sound
of a horse and cart pulling up outside and she wished desperately that she had the front bedroom and could see who it was.
Someone burst into the house and she heard Ernest call out, ‘Where is she?’
‘She’s locked herself in the bedroom,’ his father said. ‘Childbirth does strange things to women’s brains. It’s why they weren’t made to be masters or to vote.’
Kathleen stuck her tongue out at him, even though he couldn’t see her. How could he say that when he knew how slow-witted his son was compared to her? If Ernest deserved a vote, so did she. Though she’d not go as far getting herself arrested for protesting about it.
She heard Rhoda speak soothingly. ‘She’s waiting to show you the baby first, Ernest dear. Come along, Mr Seaton. You can sit in my parlour and I’ll make you a nice cup of tea, after which you can see your beautiful grandson.’
He grumbled all the way down the stairs but he went, thank goodness.
Kathleen waited to unlock the bedroom door until she’d heard them going into the parlour, then she flung her door open and smiled at her husband. ‘Come and meet your son, Ernest.’
He seemed to be holding his breath as he followed her across to the bed and stared down at the crumpled red face of the infant in the cradle.
‘My son.’ It was little more than a whisper, but she thought she’d never seen such awe and love on a man’s face, and she felt the same. She couldn’t believe how strong her feelings were for the tiny creature in the cradle, even after only a few hours of having him out in the world with her.
She linked her arm through her husband’s. ‘The midwife says he’s a big baby and going to be tall, though how she knows, I can’t tell. Perhaps she’s seen that you’re tall, Ernest. You should stand up straighter and not slouch. It’s good to be tall.’
He was hardly listening, his eyes still devouring the child. ‘What shall we call him?’
