The Child From Nowhere

by Freda Lightfoot

  She kept her spine stiff, her hands clasped tight on the cup and saucer, as if to a life-line. ‘Flora is grand, ta very much. And she’s not a baby now, but quite the little schoolgirl. She’s been attending a kindergarten on Aynam Road but last September she started school proper, which she loves.’

  ‘Splendid, splendid.’ He looked slightly nonplussed, thrown off-balance by her self-assurance and cool control. Perhaps he half expected her to be scratching his eyes out, or weeping with anguish all over him. Kate heard him clear his throat, as if he didn’t know quite what to say next; noticed from the corner of her eye how he glanced up and down the crowded platform, and down at the still unopened envelope in his hand. He slipped it into a pocket of his great coat. ‘I’ve maintained an interest in your progress. I heard you were doing well, that you were very busy.’

  ‘Indeed I am, as no doubt ye are yourself.’

  He gave a snort of laughter, one which held not a trace of humour in it. ‘As you well know, busy is not the word I would choose to describe Tyson’s these days. I’m sure you are only too aware of the damage you’ve inflicted upon my firm, Kate O’Connor, so don’t pretend otherwise. But then wasn’t that your intention all along? The ship won’t go down, but it is badly holed and taking in water. We are a shadow of our former selves.’

  She opened her eyes very wide as she stared innocently up at him. ‘Indeed I’m shocked to hear ye say so.’

  Had she done it then? She’d beaten him, or at least wounded him badly. So why wasn’t she feeling that warm glow of satisfaction she’d expected to feel? Why didn’t she experience the pure joy of triumph? ‘I’d’ve thought you’d be doing grand, what with the war and all. Still, I’m sure you’ll manage to survive, Tyson’s allus do.’ She turned her head away and sipped her tea, to prove that she really wasn’t interested in whether he did or not, or even if he answered her question.

  Eliot gave of snort of disbelief, exhaling a breath that clouded to mist in the cool morning air. ‘Oh, we’ll survive. I’ll make damn sure of it, even if you did snap up all orders to supply the army with the boots they need, a good twelve months before I even thought to ask. Very forward thinking of you.’

  And now her lovely mouth curled into a tiny smile, relishing her victory, and Kate’s clear grey eyes gleamed with delight to see how his jaw tightened with annoyance at being bested by a woman. ‘I believe it was you yourself, Eliot Tyson, who carefully explained it all to me. I didn’t properly understand, me being only a simple servant girl at the time, but later I got to thinking it might make good business sense, so decided to give it a go. And I must say, the officer I spoke to regarding the order was a perfect gentleman, smothered in badges and ribbons so he was, but still he made time to talk to me.’

  Eliot sighed. ‘I don’t doubt it. Bowled over by that enchanting smile, I shouldn’t wonder. No doubt you made him an offer he couldn’t refuse?’

  ‘I did indeed give him a price that was beneficial to us both, if that’s what yer meaning. But then what else would you expect me to offer?’ Kate tartly responded.

  ‘I wouldn’t know, Kate, would I? Depends what you considered you had of value at the time, or what you thought might be of interest to him. I’m sure whatever deal you cut, it was to your advantage.’

  She could feel a surge of anger at the insinuation beneath his words, as if he were implying that she would offer herself, or her child, if it was politic to do so. Her fingers tightened on the cup in her hand as she struggled to stay calm but they must have been shaking after all, because some of the tea spilled over on to her lap. She leapt to her feet, dabbing at it in annoyance with her handkerchief. ‘Oh no, me new skirt!’

  ‘Can I help?’ he offered, and she slapped his hand away.

  ‘I can manage perfectly well, thank you.’ It certainly wouldn’t do to let him see that he had scored a point and rattled her. Ignore him, the voice in her head urged. He was as arrogant as ever, always so damned sure he was right. Best to pretend you haven’t properly understood. She sat down again, trying to disguise the small damp stain on her lap by pulling her coat close about her. ‘In any case, I don’t believe my business methods are any concern of yours.’

  ‘They are certainly nothing if not individual, and largely seem to involve theft of some sort.’

  ‘Theft?’

  ‘Of my customers.’

  She opened her mouth to deny it but then closed it again, nipping her lower lip between her teeth, firmly resolved to say nothing more. He was probably right. She had stolen a great many of his customers.

  He sipped his tea, which suddenly tasted sour and unpalatable so he set it aside, brow puckering into a troubled frown. Leaning his elbows on his knees, he deliberately kept his gaze turned away from her, though even when staring at the ground, he could see her trim ankles and her small neat feet in their fashionable button boots.

  He sat back, unable to bear being so near to her and yet find a brick wall still stood between them. ‘It’s a pity, in a way, that we don’t get on, that we spend so much time at logger-heads. It would make more sense if we were on the same side. I’m sure then we could help each other a good deal, if we but tried. Particularly now, with the war on, and my business needing more attention than I can give it.

  ‘Who’s taking care of it then, the business? Holy Mother, yer not leaving that bloomin’ foreman in charge?’

  ‘I must do my duty, Kate. What else can I do?’

  ‘You’re mad. Why do you stubbornly insist on trusting him?’

  ‘Who else can I trust?’

  ‘Me. You could trust me.’

  He gave a nostalgic smile, the warmth in his eyes cooling to the chill of polished marble. ‘That might have been true once, but not now Kate, not any more. Why would I risk handing over the running of my business to the woman who has deliberately set out to destroy it? The woman who has stolen not only many of my workers, but some of my best customers by ruthlessly and constantly undercutting me on price.’

  ‘I offer a much faster service. And where was your support, when I needed it? Isn’t it every man, or woman, for themselves? And if your workers leave you, you should perhaps ask yourself why.’

  He frowned, looking thoughtful for a moment, the first shadow of doubt creeping in. Then he cast another glance in her direction, noting the sweep of those fine lashes, the curve of her flushed cheek, the proud way in which she held herself, and something strange happened deep inside him, a clenching of muscles, a burning sensation, so that he was forced to look away. Just because she was a beauty, didn’t mean a thing, he told himself. Of course he wanted her, what man wouldn’t? And he couldn’t get it out of his head that many others had probably enjoyed her too, just as he had. He’d no proof of her innocence. She’d certainly produced two children with comparative ease, and God knows who their respective fathers were.

  She’d climbed into his own bed without a moment’s hesitation. Young Dennis had been sufficiently besotted to leave secure employment to go and work for her, and wouldn’t hear a word said against her. According to rumour, she’d enjoyed any number of suitors in recent years and had now taken on a foreman, Toby somebody-or-other, who she was probably getting cosy with. For all he knew, she might not ever have been married, since her husband had been conveniently dead – drowned apparently, when he’d first met her. He hated himself for being jealous, but was it any wonder?

  ‘You’re probably right. It wouldn’t be appropriate for us to work together.’

  ‘And I’m doing fine on me own, thanks all the same.’ One moment she moved towards him, then he’d lost her again.

  ‘And at least you don’t have to see Swainson every day.’

  She gave a small smile. ‘That is a bonus, yes.’

  ‘You must have liked him once-over, to dally with him as you did.’

  She turned wide, disbelieving eyes upon him. ‘Dally with Swainson? Sweet Jaysus, I’d cut me own throat first.’

  ‘He has implied that his advances
were once willingly accepted, presumably until that little contretemps over pay, when you believed he’d rebuffed you. Isn’t that why you’ve had it in for him so fiercely all these years, out of some need for feminine vengeance?’

  ‘If he told ye all that, then he’s a bigger liar than I gave him credit for, and you a bigger fool to believe him.’

  ‘Is that so?’

  There it was again. The old arrogance back in place, the cold superiority of his expression telling her they were as far apart as ever. Kate set down her cup and saucer with a sharp click on the bench beside her, a great wedge of tears blocking her throat. She was near drowning in tea, having had two cups already while she waited for him to arrive. Oh, but why could he not trust her? ‘Believe what you like, you’re obviously determined to see me in worst possible light.’

  Eliot again felt confused and uncertain of his ground. He told himself that he would have stood by his decision to sack Swainson, had he thought it would do any good, if he’d believed for one moment that her accusation over his abuse of women could possibly be true. But he only had her word for that, no evidence to back it up. From the moment Swainson had said, no - implied - they’d once been lovers, he’d had no doubts about the decision. The Union had not found it difficult to convince him to do nothing. He’d wanted to believe in her innocence but how could he, when she’d been more concerned with her own welfare than the safety of her own child? If she hadn’t been fussing over this foolish vendetta with Swainson, Callum might still be living safe and well at Tyson Lodge to this day. He could very easily hate her when he put his mind to it.

  Yet he wanted her too. God, how he wanted her.

  A silence had fallen between them, long and awkward. Desperately needing to break it, Eliot changed the subject. ‘Once I’ve completed the initial training, I’ll be allowed home for a few days before being shipped overseas, in order to sort out my affairs. Will I see you again?’

  Kate deliberately kept her heart hard, a piece of granite with sharp edges even if its core might be soft as mallow. ‘I very much doubt it. And I’m sure you’ll have enough to see to, without bothering about me. Won’t you want to spend time with Lucy? I’m surprised she didn’t come to see you off today.’ There, she’d said it. Now he would know how she too listened to gossip.

  He gave a snort of laughter, as if she’d said something amusing. ‘I do assure you that Lucy would be the last person I would want to see. I can’t wait to escape her greedy talons, and if she did come to see me off, it would only be to give me her latest shopping list, or yet more bills to pay. The woman drives me demented.’

  She glanced up at him, stunned. ‘Then you’re not – I mean, you and she . . . I heard that you . . .’

  He frowned. ‘I haven’t the first idea what tales you’ve been listening to, Kate, but I do assure you there is nothing between my sister-in-law and myself but tiresome duty.’

  So he wasn’t sleeping with her, after all? Kate found herself smiling. ‘Looks like we both have a habit of jumping to conclusions.’

  He regarded her thoughtfully for a moment. ‘It would seem so. I do assure you that if I could find some way to prise her, and the blessed aunts, out of my house, I would do so.’

  Kate suddenly felt so ridiculously light headed that she actually giggled. ‘I could lend you a lever, or mebbe you could change the locks when they’re out on their calls.’

  ‘Now why didn’t I think of that?’

  ‘Oh, drat, there’s the train whistle.’ Her whole body jerked, face naked with fear and his startled gaze took in the horror she clearly felt over his imminent departure into unknown dangers.

  ‘I’ll be fine,’ he soothed, as if she had spoken these thoughts out loud.

  Kate cleared her throat and gave him what she hoped was a cool and distant smile, keeping her tone brisk. ‘Course ye will. Only the good die young,’ and then she gulped, realising what she’d said and unable to prevent herself, leaned over and kissed him quickly on the cheek.

  He seemed startled but then smiled at her, a smile warm enough to soften any woman’s heart. Any, that is, but Kate O’Connor’s. ‘Thank you for coming. And for that kiss. I’m not sure I deserve it.’

  She felt flustered now, wishing she’d managed to stay calm, but his reaction to her mention of Lucy had quite unnerved her, set her pulses racing. ‘I’m quite sure you don’t, but everyone else seems to be getting one, so we can’t have you feeling left out, now can we?’ As she got swiftly to her feet, tugging at her immaculate gloves, there was the sound of muffled weeping coming from all sides as mothers, wives and sweethearts said their goodbyes to loved ones. Even the band had muted their tone. The Mayoress was handing out packets of sandwiches and cigarettes to the new recruits as they climbed aboard. Eliot got to his feet and picked up his bag, ready to join them.

  ‘You’ll send word if you hear anything, about Callum?’ He raised his voice against the din of banging doors and the insistent hiss of steam.

  She nodded, quite unable to answer. The whistle blasted again and, glancing about, Kate saw that the platform was rapidly emptying with very few soldiers left on it. Most had already boarded, holding the hands of sweethearts through the windows.

  ‘At least you have another child.’

  ‘I do so, and I take good care of her.’

  ‘Are you ever going to tell me if she’s mine?’

  She saw the bleakness in his eyes, heard the plea in his voice and turned away, unable to bear it. Doors were being banged shut, a porter’s whistle, the sound of urgent shouts. ‘Ye’d best go.’ Still he didn’t move a muscle. ‘Sure and you’ll miss the damn train, if ye don’t get a move on.’ The last thing she wanted was for him to leave like this. She wanted to hold on to him, to hold back the train, to not let it take him away from her.

  Almost as if it were happening in slow motion, she saw how he stiffened his spine, pushed back his shoulders and lift his head in that proud way he had as he glanced back over his shoulder at the waiting train, hissing like a restive animal in its impatience to be off, then he leisurely swung back to her, as if he had all the time in the world, his face unexpectedly soft. ‘Will you write to me at least?’

  It stunned her momentarily that he should ask, that he should want a letter from her. She could feel her cheeks growing hot at the thought, was perfectly sure her heart was making more noise than the damn band and all the sobbing wives and mothers put together. She very nearly refused, but then remembered his ultimate destination, of how much a letter from home must mean to a soldier. She gave a little shrug, trying to appear indifferent ‘Sure and where’s the harm in that? I could send the odd postcard, if you like. I might even knit you a balaclava.’

  He gave a shout of laughter. ‘That’s my Kate.’ Then before she guessed what he was about, he dropped his bag and swung her up in his arms and the power of his kiss was everything she remembered.

  She was still reeling as he snatched up his bag again, managing to leap on to the train just as it began to shunt out of the station. Kate found herself running beside it, waving to him, doing her best to keep sight of his beloved face till the last possible moment, but it wasn’t until she reached the end of the platform and had to stop and let it go on without her, that she finally called out, ‘Yes, she is. She’s yours.’

  It was one morning three weeks later that Kate opened the door of her cottage and, to her complete astonishment, found him standing on the doorstep grinning at her. He was in full dress uniform and looked absolutely marvellous.

  ‘I’ve got forty-eight hours before I leave for France. I’ve arranged for us to be married at the Parish Church at noon. Can you be ready by then?’

  ‘What?’

  ‘Don’t argue with me on this, Kate. Don’t go into one of your Irish paddies. I don’t have time. You know it makes sense. We were meant to be together so stop squabbling with me the whole damned time and do as you’re told for once. If nothing else, Flora needs a father.’

  ‘But …
but …’ She wanted to say but you’re going off to war, you’ve never spoken to Flora, you’ve never even told me that you love me. Except that her mind was in a whirl and she couldn’t seem to get her tongue round the words.

  Millie’s voice came softly from behind. ‘She’ll be ready, don’t you fret, if I have to carry her there meself.’

  Eliot grinned, saluted both women, winked broadly and turning smartly on his heel, strode away, looking every inch the officer.

  ‘I will not!’ Kate yelled, the minute the door was slammed shut. ‘How can you even imagine that I’d marry that no good, arrogant, full-of-himself bastard who thinks I’m nought but an Irish whore. Jaysus, Mary and Joseph, do you think I’m mad? Why would I do such a damned fool thing?’

  Millie was busy riffling through a chest of clothes. ‘Because you love the bastard, why else? And think what an exciting forty-eight hours you’ve got to look forward to. Now, how about this? You always look good in powder blue. Your nightgown is a bit old fashioned, but I doubt you’ll need that anyroad, do you?’ She was holding up a crepe de chine gown, a wicked smile on her face, a gaggle of children gathered about her, giggling behind their hands.

  ‘I can’t believe you’d do this to us.’ Lucy couldn’t believe that she’d heard him aright. Wasn’t it enough that she’d been forced to get rid of that dreadful girl’s child? Now the little tart had responded by presenting him with another.

  Eliot was smiling happily upon his womenfolk, whom he’d deliberately gathered together to impart this latest news, and generously repeated his statement in a clear and steady voice, steadfastly adding more besides. ‘I do indeed intend to wed Kate O’Connor. And yes, it’s true that we succumbed to a moment of attraction shortly after Amelia’s death, when I was grieving and at a low ebb. You mustn’t blame her for that. It was my fault entirely. I was out of my mind with grief. Later, for no real reason that I can truly justify, we were intimate again, which has resulted in a beautiful daughter.’