Winners and Losers

by Linda Sole

  ‘I have money. I could do a lot of the work myself – set up a little building company, but work exclusively on the estate, at least until it was up and running.’

  ‘I couldn’t ask you to invest your money here . . .’

  ‘Why not? I would take a share of the profits when you start making money – and it would give me somewhere to live.’

  ‘You’re serious about this, aren’t you?’ Connor nodded. ‘When did you come up with this idea?’

  ‘Just now,’ he said. ‘I suppose the building work has been in my mind for a while. Sarah’s father would have taken me on with him before the record deal came up, but I didn’t want to leave Daniel in the lurch. As it happened I did that anyway, but I’ve made it up to him. He has the land and the money to start his garage. After I did that work on the dower house I thought about taking up restoration work one day – and I have the money to set up my own firm now.’

  ‘You’re making it sound tempting.’ Emily looked at him thoughtfully. ‘Don’t think I’m not grateful for the offer, Con, but I need time to consider. I really do have my hands full running the estate, but I suppose with you here I might . . .’ She shook her head. ‘I mustn’t rush into a decision like that, because the estate is only in my care. It will go to Robert when he is twenty-five.’

  ‘That is still a long time in the future,’ Connor reminded her. ‘If you don’t do something you will end up selling land or treasures from the house over and over, until you’re left with a big house and nothing else.’

  ‘I know you’re right – but I still need to think this through.’

  ‘It was just a suggestion,’ Connor said and smiled. ‘I’m not twisting your arm, Emily – but I think I know where my future lies even if you don’t take my advice.’

  ‘And what about Sarah?’

  ‘I don’t know. She says she needs time, so the only thing I can do is to give it to her.’

  ‘Will you stay here?’

  ‘If you will have me. Is there anything I can do to help you? You will want time to look after Alan while he is ill. I’m pretty good at maths so I could keep accounts or do any jobs that need seeing to in the house or on the estate.’

  ‘I was going to inspect some cottages this week. I’ve been told they need work – one of them has a leaky roof and that will definitely have to be done. If you could sort out the estimates for me . . .’

  ‘I would enjoy that,’ Connor said. ‘It will give me an idea of what builders charge for their work. I think I should do a bit of research before I start the business.’

  ‘You’re really thinking of settling in this area?’

  ‘It’s as good a place as any other. I have friends here – and I would be close to you. I can find a house of my own in time.’

  ‘You could live here until you know what you want. In fact, I would be happy if you made it a permanent arrangement, Connor. There are plenty of outbuildings where you can set up your yard. Even if I don’t go through with the idea of the hotel, I would love it if you made your home here.’

  ‘Thanks, Emily.’ Connor narrowed his gaze. ‘It won’t bother you if people read that stuff in the papers?’

  ‘We’ll get a retraction,’ Emily told him and looked determined. ‘One thing about being Lady Vane is that you know people with influence. I’ll contact some of my friends and see if we can’t get an apology from the paper that started all this.’

  Ten

  Sarah wandered disconsolately along the beach at Bournemouth. There were a few brave souls, most of them with dogs, battling against the stiff breeze that blew in from an angry sea. The water looked grey with an underlying brownish tinge and white crests, reflecting the unbroken cloud of the sky above. It was too early in the season for most people. Only one summer show was open; the others started the week after they returned home. There was a dance advertised for that Saturday night, but without friends Sarah was reluctant to spend her evening on the fringes waiting for someone to take pity on her.

  She had been to all the cinemas, and she was bored sitting in the small hotel lounge listening to someone play the piano in the evenings. This holiday had been a mistake, she realized, feeling miserable as she stood staring out to sea. A dark head broke the surface of the water. She thought it must be a seal and felt excited, but there was no one to share the moment with her. Her mother hadn’t wanted to brave the beach that morning. She had gone to have her hair done, making Sarah promise to meet her back at the hotel for lunch.

  Overhead, gulls cried, the eerie sound they made bringing Sarah to a deep awareness of her loneliness. Oh, what was the point of staying here? It hadn’t helped her to resolve her doubts. All it had done was bring home the knowledge that she was still in love with Connor.

  ‘Hi there.’ The voice startled her. She swung round and saw a young man in baggy, worn trousers and long boots up to his thighs. He was wearing a thick roll-neck jumper and his dark hair was cut very short. He had a rugged sort of face, skin tanned and wind roughened, and she guessed that he was a fisherman. ‘You look lost. Are you on your own?’

  ‘I’m on holiday with my mother,’ Sarah said. His manner was friendly, and in her loneliness she hesitated, lingering despite the warnings her mother was always giving her not to speak to strange men. ‘There isn’t much going on yet, is there?’

  ‘The tourist stuff is only just starting. If you lived here, you would know about the clubs for locals. Do you like jive or Rock ’n’ Roll?’

  ‘Yes . . . yes, I do,’ Sarah said and her heart caught. She was about to say that her boyfriend was a singer, but she’d taken off her ring. ‘Is there a club here, then?’

  ‘Yes. We meet on Friday nights at the Old Oak – that’s a pub the locals use. You probably don’t know it. It isn’t near the seafront. You would need to catch a bus – unless I picked you up?’

  ‘That’s this evening . . .’ Sarah thought quickly. She didn’t know him but the alternative was another dull evening at the hotel. ‘I don’t know you – what’s your name?’

  ‘It’s Rod Seagrove. My father owns a fishing trawler and in the summer I take visitors round the coast in my own boat.’

  ‘I’m Sarah,’ she said and held out her hand, then dropped it and laughed in embarrassment, because it was too formal. ‘I should like to come with you this evening, Rod – just as a friend. I’ll pay my entrance fee – if the club is open to visitors?’

  ‘They will let you in if you go with me. It costs five shillings for a one-night membership.’ He hesitated, then asked, ‘Where shall I pick you up?’

  ‘Do you know the Sea View Hotel? It is just a small place up there.’ Sarah pointed to the cliffs above them. She glanced at her wristwatch. ‘I should be getting back for lunch. I’ll leave the hotel and walk towards the bus stop at the bottom at seven.’

  ‘All right. I’ll see you there,’ he said. ‘It will be fun.’

  Sarah nodded. Her heart was racing as she walked away. Already, she was beginning to wonder if she had done the right thing. She didn’t know the young fisherman – and she was still engaged to Connor, even if she had taken off her ring.

  ‘Do you think David is all right?’ Alice asked Daniel when he came in for a cup of tea that afternoon. ‘We haven’t heard anything since he went home.’

  ‘He didn’t want to go, but I told him running away was no good because he would end up in trouble with the police. Maura seemed sober when I handed him over. She told me she was making arrangements to take him to Ireland for a holiday.’

  Alice fiddled with the handle of her teacup. ‘He seemed a nice lad. I hope she keeps her word, Dan. I wouldn’t like to think of him having to cope with her getting drunk. He is only a child, for all he looks so serious.’

  ‘You felt for him, didn’t you?’ She nodded and Daniel smiled. ‘Do you want me to call in one day next week and see how he is? I think it is half-term holiday – or is that the following week?’

  ‘The week after,’ Alice said and shook her h
ead because Daniel never knew what day it was, let alone when the school holidays were. ‘I think you should go tomorrow. It is Saturday and he will be home from school. I’ll get up early and bake a cake for him.’

  ‘You really are bothered about that boy, aren’t you?’

  ‘He looks like Danny – and he’s your son,’ Alice said. ‘I’ve got a bad feeling about things, Dan. I’m not sure why but . . .’ She sighed. ‘I suppose I’m just being silly, but he did come looking for help.’

  ‘Yes, he did,’ Daniel said. ‘You’re a good woman, Alice Searles, and your instincts are not often wrong. I’ll go over tomorrow and see what is going on . . .’

  Sarah put on one of her best dirndl skirts and a tight pink jumper with matching flat shoes. She wanted to fit in with the other girls at the club, ignoring the pretty dresses hanging in the wardrobe that she usually wore for an evening at the hotel. Her mother looked at her oddly as she went to her room.

  ‘That is a pretty jumper,’ Mrs Jenkins said. ‘Are you ready for dinner, Sarah?’

  ‘I’m not hungry, Mum,’ Sarah said. ‘I met someone today. I’m going to a Rock ’n’ Roll club with her.’ She crossed her fingers behind her back as she lied. ‘I’ve got to go because I’m catching a bus and I’ll meet her there.’

  ‘I’m not sure you should, Sarah. I don’t really like you going out with people you don’t know. This is a big town and you might get lost . . .’

  ‘Mum! I’m nineteen. I’m old enough to make my own decisions. Besides, I’m bored with sitting around in this hotel every night. I want some fun.’

  ‘I thought there would be more on,’ her mother admitted. ‘I’ve been asked to join a whist-four this evening. I suppose you are old enough to know what you are doing – but be careful of the men you meet at this club. What is the girl’s name?’

  ‘Rose,’ Sarah lied, crossing her fingers again. ‘I’ve got to go, Mum. Have a good evening. I shan’t be too late.’

  ‘I want you back here by eleven at the latest,’ her mother said. ‘Are you sure you have enough money for bus fares? I should keep enough for a taxi if I were you, because you never know if you might need one.’

  ‘Yes, I’ve got plenty,’ Sarah said. ‘I’ll be home on time.’

  She kissed her mother’s cheek and escaped. Sarah didn’t enjoy lying to her mother, but it was ridiculous that she should have to tell her everything. A lot of her friends had already had sex with their boyfriends. The only reason Sarah hadn’t was because Connor was away so much. Not that she had any intention of going that far this evening, but she might let Rod kiss her a few times. If she didn’t have some fun soon, she would die of boredom!

  Maura stared at the clock on the mantle. It was nearly nine and she was dying for a drink. She’d got rid of every bottle she had in the house after Daniel Searles’ visit. Her intentions had been good. She’d really meant to keep off the booze until she took David to Ireland to stay with his grandmother, but the need inside her was becoming unbearable. It was like a gnawing ache, an itch that couldn’t be scratched.

  She couldn’t bear it! She needed a drink. Just one little drink to take away the craving, the emptiness deep down inside her. There was nothing wrong with that, was there? All that fuss just because she’d had a couple too many once or twice. She would only have one. She just needed one small drink. Where was the crime in that?

  She got up and walked softly through the hall to David’s bedroom, glancing inside. Her son was fast asleep. He wouldn’t miss her for half an hour. That was all she would be, just thirty minutes. Long enough to have a drink and talk to someone.

  She went into her bedroom, changed her skirt and cardigan for something more glamorous, put on lipstick and perfume and smiled at her reflection. She still looked attractive when she was dressed up. She was too young to stay at home every night with a young boy. She needed the company of men – and she needed a drink.

  Maura had already forgotten her intention to have one drink and then go home. It was a while since she’d been to the High Flyer pub. Would there be anyone new? Sometimes men from out of town came there to drink; they were members of a fishing club and they were usually out for a good time – playing away from home.

  Her heart raced as she went into the bar and discovered that it was full of men. Her eyes went over them and she saw that most of them were strangers to her. She went up to the bar, waiting for her turn.

  ‘Well, what have we here?’ a deep voice asked from her right. ‘I think things just got interesting, boys. Buy you a drink, pretty lady?’

  ‘I’ll have a whisky, if you don’t mind,’ Maura said. She appraised the man who had spoken. He was dressed in decent clothes and looked as if he had a few bob in his pocket – and the gleam in his eyes told her that he was looking for company. He wasn’t really her type, too big and bulky, but she was past caring. She smiled, forgetting her son sleeping at home. ‘My name is Maura – what should I call you?’

  ‘Call me Pete,’ he suggested and his hand moved to touch her backside, giving it a little squeeze. Maura didn’t move away or glare at him. He was making it obvious that he wanted sex, but so did she, so that was just fine. ‘I think we are going to have ourselves a good time . . .’

  Sarah glanced at the clock on the wall. It was already nearly eleven o’clock. She’d been having so much fun she hadn’t noticed the way the time was going. There was a small bar and Rod had bought her two glasses of gin and orange, which she had drunk straight down because she was thirsty. He had nuzzled her neck during one of the slower dancers, and she had let him, even though she didn’t really fancy him. He looked different dressed in drainpipes and leather jacket, his hair slicked down with oil that smelled strongly of some heavy perfume. Connor always had the fresh smell of soap on his skin.

  Rod was a good dancer and he’d introduced her to his friends. She had danced with several of the men at the start of the evening and chatted to the girls, but the last few dances had all been with Rod. Sarah had enjoyed herself, but she felt a little apprehensive as she told him that she had to leave soon.

  ‘You don’t need to go for ages yet,’ he told her. ‘Stay for another half-hour, Sarah. We’re having a good time, aren’t we?’

  ‘Yes, it has been fun,’ Sarah replied and smiled. ‘I’ve enjoyed myself – but my mother will worry if I’m later than eleven. I could catch a bus if you tell me which one I need.’

  ‘Don’t be like that,’ Rod said and looked annoyed. ‘I’ll take you back to your hotel, Sarah. I brought you and I’ll see you home. Just another couple of dances and we’ll go.’

  Sarah hesitated. A little voice in her head was saying she should go now. She thought Rod might have had a few beers too many and she didn’t really want a snogging session in the car. Dancing with him had been fun, but she suspected that he would be looking for more than a couple of kisses. At the start of the evening she had been up for it, but now she had changed her mind. She didn’t want anyone but Connor touching her and kissing her.

  ‘All right, one more dance,’ she told him. ‘But first I have to go to the cloakroom . . .’

  She kissed him on the cheek and walked away, disappearing into the cloakroom to fetch her coat and bag. She had money in her purse and some in her coat pocket too. If she couldn’t find the right bus stop, she would look for a taxi.

  She left the club, going down the stairs and through the pub. There was a lot of raucous laughter in the bar and it was very busy. She hadn’t realized what a rough crowd it was when she’d arrived, but it had been early then and she’d been with Rod and his friends. Now she was alone and she felt suddenly vulnerable as a couple of men wolf-whistled her. She ignored them and went outside, aware now that it was dark, late and, worst of all, she had no idea where she was. She knew that Rod had driven for some twenty minutes or so before they reached the club, so she wasn’t going to be able to walk home.

  The door from the pub opened, spilling light on to the pavement. Sarah started to mov
e off but hearing a shout behind her she glanced over her shoulder and saw one of the men from inside. He lurched towards her, making a grab for her arm. Sarah gave a little scream, dropping her handbag as she fled down the street. The man didn’t attempt to run after her, but Sarah was too nervous to look back or retrieve her bag.

  She ran for some time, because she was frightened. She was alone in the streets of a strange part of town. She had only a pound or so in her pocket and she couldn’t think straight. She wished she had stayed for that last dance with Rod. Even if he had tried it on, she didn’t think he was the sort who would make her do anything she didn’t want to. She had behaved like an idiot and this was all her fault.

  She was crying now. She seemed to have been wandering for ever and she didn’t know where to go. She hadn’t seen a taxi since she left the pub, and she realized that it had been naïve to think they would be easily available at this hour. There were plenty of taxis at the sea front where the hotels and theatres were located, but here in the middle of this residential area there were none.

  Perhaps she could find a phone box. There might be a number for taxis in there – or she could ring the hotel and ask them to contact one for her. If she only knew where she was . . .

  Sarah saw the lights of a car approaching. It slowed to a halt and she gasped as she saw it was a police car. One of the policemen wound down his window and looked out at her.

  ‘Are you all right, miss?’

  ‘No,’ Sarah almost sobbed with relief. ‘I was attacked as I left a jive club and I dropped my bag – and I’m only here on holiday. I need to get to my hotel.’

  ‘Where are you staying?’ the officer asked. He leaned over and opened the rear door for her. ‘Do you want to make a statement about the attack? Did the man steal your bag?’

  ‘I dropped it as I ran away,’ Sarah said, feeling foolish as she slid into the back seat. ‘He grabbed my arm, that’s all. I was frightened. I should have waited for Rod.’