Resisting Mr Rochester

by Sharon Booth

"I don't give a monkey's how many houses or shops he owns," Dad said. "The point is, what sort of man is he? From what I remember, his father was a decent sort, but his mother's side was a different matter entirely. Jennifer Kingston—"

  "Oh!" Tamsin yelped, then gave us an apologetic look. "Sorry, I just realised that their handbag range is named after her. I don't know how many Jenny Kingston bags I have. Fancy that!"

  "Fancy," I murmured, while Dad shook his head.

  "Her family were always in the papers,” Dad continued. “She was a proper party girl before she got married, and her brother and father were notorious playboys. So, what I want to know is, does this Ethan Rochester take after his father's side, or his mother's? Are you safe under his roof? And how many other people are there with you?"

  Was I safe under Ethan's roof? Well, there was a question. "If you're asking if he's a secret maniac with a basement full of torture implements, the answer's no," I said, carefully avoiding mention of the attic and remembering, with shame, my recent unhinged behaviour. "He's a decent man—the responsible sort. His mother's staying, at the moment, and she may have been a bit wild before she got married, but she settled down after the wedding, didn't she?" I crossed my fingers, hoping they wouldn't question Adele's parentage. I didn't think that little story would do Jennifer many favours. "Then there's Mr Rochester's little sister, and Mrs F, who's the housekeeper, and Michael the chauffeur, and Ken the gardener ..." My voice trailed off as, out of the blue, I felt a pang of homesickness. It was as if I was talking about my other family, I realised. They'd all come to mean so much to me.

  "Is the housekeeper pleasant to you?" Mum asked. "I've heard about these bossy women who think they can order young girls around. If she's giving you a hard time …"

  I laughed. "Giving me a hard time? She's lovely, Mum. She's always making sure I eat properly, and she keeps me close, so she can keep an eye on me and check I'm all right." She did, too, didn't she? In fact, sometimes, it was as if she couldn't bear to lose sight of me—as if she was afraid to leave me on my own. Or was it that she was afraid to be alone herself? But why?

  Mum seemed mollified, at least. "Okay, well .... It's just, with everything you've put up with over the years from … him, I don't want you to have any more hassle. You're sure you're okay? Things are working out for you?"

  "Honestly, Mum. They are."

  Dad smiled. "All right. It seems to be in order, which is a relief. You did the right thing," he said. "Leaving … him, I mean. Life's too short to be so unhappy."

  He put his arm around my mum, and they leaned together for a moment, almost as if they'd forgotten they had an audience.

  Tamsin broke the silence. "Well, I'm glad you agree that life's too short," she said. "So, you'll understand why Redmond and I are now separated from Brad and Susan."

  Mum gave her a flinty stare. "Hardly. I don't understand any of that. Especially you, Redmond," she added, glaring at her little prince. "What are you playing at? You had everything going for you. Good job, wonderful wife, nice home. Why would you throw all that away? Is it the male menopause? I was reading an article about that the other day. It does happen, you know."

  Redmond folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. "I've woken up," he said, beaming at us all. "Or rather, I was awakened."

  Mum and Dad looked irritated, but light was beginning to dawn. "You've met someone else!" I gasped. Redmond, of all people! Dad raised an eyebrow, but Mum looked appalled.

  "Oh, no! Please, Redmond, not that. Tell me you haven't become a love rat," she pleaded.

  "You must stop reading those trashy tabloids," Tamsin advised her, before turning to our brother, her eyes wide. "Have you? Got another woman, I mean?"

  Redmond didn't even look ashamed. "I have, and she's absolutely wonderful."

  "Ooh," Tamsin said. "What's her name? What's she like?"

  "You'll be able to see for yourself in half an hour." Redmond glanced at his watch. "I've invited her here to meet you all."

  Mum looked horrified. "But you can't! You can't! Ring her up. Tell her she can't come!"

  "Certainly not. Look, Mum, I appreciate that you don't want a divorce in the family, but the fact is, I love her, and I want you to love her, too, and I'm sure you will, once you meet her. If you'd just give her a chance—"

  Dad shook his head. "It's not that, Redmond," he told him, his voice serious. "Just that, well, your mum was only trying to do what's best for you, that's all."

  "What do you mean?" Redmond gripped his mug of cold tea. "What have you done?"

  "It's Susan," Mum whispered. "She's on her way here. I'm so sorry."

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  It was like waiting for someone to die. The silence was deafening as we all sat nervously at the table, glancing at a watch every so often, in Redmond's and Dad's case. Or the display on her mobile phone, in Tamsin's, or the clock on the cooker, in Mum's. And, in my own case, at the big, red clock on the wall, which was shaped like an apple with a bite out of it. I'd never liked that clock. It made me uncomfortable. I kept expecting the bitten part to turn brown, which, of course, it never did. Funny how, considering my dislike of the thing, I kept staring at it, almost daring it to go rotten. Tick, tick, tick. I wondered what Ethan was doing. I thought about the text and felt all warm inside.

  "Well, this is another fine mess you've gotten me into," Dad joked. He was a huge Laurel and Hardy fan.

  Mum tutted. "A pretty pickle, I must say."

  "And whose fault's that?" demanded Redmond. "You had no right to invite Susan here. I can't believe you went behind my back like that."

  Dad gave him a stern look. "Your mother was only trying to help. She thought bringing the two of you together here would make you sort things out. How was she to know you'd been playing away with some floosy?"

  "Kitty is not a floosy!" Redmond said angrily.

  "Kitty? Sounds like a real pussy cat." Tamsin giggled. "Not surprising she got her claws into you."

  "Stop being a bitch," Redmond snapped. "No wonder your husband left you."

  Tamsin's face turned an alarming shade of purple. "How dare you? My husband left me because, like you, he couldn't keep it in his trousers. You're all the same. Lecherous, deceitful, lying ratbags."

  "Maybe Brad couldn't cope with your pathetic lifestyle any longer." Redmond picked up her mobile, waving it in the air. "Ooh, Zumba today! Thrilling!" he trilled. "Off to yoga! Happy days!" He slammed the phone down and tutted in disgust. "You must be the most boring person in the world to live with. You're like a Barbie doll. There's nothing real to want to come home to. You're not a proper woman, and neither was Susan."

  "Stop being so bloody horrible," I snapped, putting my arm around Tamsin, who looked like she'd been slapped across the face.

  "That's enough, Redmond!" Dad glared at him, his expression thunderous. "Don't punish your sister because you're feeling guilty about abandoning your wife."

  "I'm not feeling guilty," protested Redmond.

  "Well, you damn well should be. Whoever this woman is who's made you cast Susan aside, I don't think she's someone we'd welcome into the house."

  "You don't even like Susan!"

  "Who says we don't like Susan?" Mum demanded. "I'm quite sure I've never said any such thing."

  "I have," Tamsin admitted. She turned to Redmond, her face still shocked. "I said it loads because I was defending you. I know what she's like. I can't believe you turned on me like that."

  He finally looked ashamed. "I'm sorry." He hung his head. "I just can't stand hearing anyone mock Kitty, especially when they've never even met her. If you'd just give her a chance, you'd see how wonderful she is. Really you would."

  "Do you think," Tamsin said faintly, "that Brad feels as strongly about his bit on the side?"

  I squeezed her hand, as Mum said, "Brad has a bit on the side? Oh, my God. It gets worse."

  "Tell me you haven't invited him here, too," Tamsin pleaded.

  Dad sighed. "She tried. Cou
ldn't get hold of him. Probably ignored her calls. Just as well, by the look of it. Things are fraught enough ‘round here, without adding more fuel to the flames."

  "What happened between you and Brad, love?" Sounding a bit gentler, Mum laid her hand on Tamsin's arm. "You always seemed so happy, so in love. What went wrong?"

  I felt a lump in my throat when Tamsin's eyes filled with tears, and she whimpered, "I don't know, Mum. I thought he loved me, but then he just—he just—" She crumbled completely, dissolving into noisy sobs, and Mum put her arm around her while Dad looked stricken.

  Redmond's expression was one of guilt. As if noticing me watching him, he said, "It's not like that with me and Susan, honestly. I don't know what Brad's playing at. He always seemed to think the world of Tamsin, so I don't understand why he'd do what he's done, but with Susan ..." His voice trailed off, and he looked at us all, as if pleading for our blessing. "It was never right. It was always so difficult to please her, in every bloody way. And Kitty's so different, so straightforward, so kind."

  I understood. Kindness was very underrated, if you asked me, whereas passion—well, it might be fleetingly glorious, but it didn't guarantee happiness, did it? Of course, if you found someone who was kind and ignited a passion in you, you should … Should what, Cara? Never let go?

  I blinked and turned back to Redmond, smiling as he patted Tamsin awkwardly on the shoulder. He jumped at a knock on the door, and we all stared at each other in horror. Which of Redmond's women was going to turn up first?

  Dad hurried into the hall, and we heard muffled voices, then he returned, trailing behind him a rather shy-looking young woman, with auburn curls and creamy skin, and a dusting of freckles across her nose.

  She looked from one to the other of us, and her pale skin turned pink, then her gaze fell upon Redmond and she absolutely lit up like a Christmas tree. I glanced at Redmond and saw the same light in his eyes. He couldn't wipe the smile from his face.

  My throat felt tight. I'd never seen my brother look at Susan like that. Not even on their wedding day, come to think of it. Without warning, the memory of Ethan's expression, as he told me how much I meant to him, overwhelmed me. I had a sudden longing for him, and I felt panicked as I wondered if I was strong enough to walk away from someone who provoked such an intense reaction in me.

  "Kitty, sweetheart," Redmond said, stepping towards her and draping his arm over her shoulder as if he was claiming possession. "This is my mother, and that's Dad, and this is Tamsin and Cara. Everyone, meet Kitty."

  We all nodded and murmured awkward greetings, then Dad said in a rather jovial voice, "Well, this is nice. Take a seat, Kitty, and I'll put the kettle on. Here, give me your coat."

  Kitty glanced at Redmond, who nodded. Slowly, she unbuttoned her coat and handed it to Dad. We all stood there, gaping at her. She wore a bottle green dress, in a clinging jersey fabric, and there was no hiding the swelling around her middle. As she saw our incredulous stares, her face turned pink again and she hung her head, but Redmond, unbelievably, beamed at us all and said, "Surprise!"

  Mum practically fell into her chair.

  "You're not bloody wrong there," Tamsin said.

  "Well," said Dad, "are there any more shocks you plan to spring on us today?"

  Kitty looked mortified. "I thought you were going to tell them," she murmured to my brother. She had a soft, Scottish accent that was rather pleasant to the ear.

  "I might have done, if they'd given me the chance," he said. "Unfortunately, they were too busy springing surprises of their own. And, darling, I should warn you—"

  His voice trailed off at another, louder bang on the door.

  Kitty raised an eyebrow. "What is it? You look as if you've seen a ghost."

  "If she gets her hands on me, I might well be the sodding ghost," Redmond told her. "I'm sorry, sweetheart, but Mum invited Susan."

  Kitty made a weird strangled sort of noise, while Mum shook her head dazedly.

  "Sit down, Kitty," I said, feeling sorry for her. "And congratulations. To you, too, Redmond," I added, smiling at him. "I know how much you've wanted a baby. It's wonderful news."

  "Thank you, Cara," he said, while Kitty shot me a look of unmistakable gratitude.

  "This is going to be fun." Tamsin mopped the tears from her face and sat up straight.

  Dad rushed off to open the door to Susan, and we waited, eyeing each other nervously. My stomach was in knots, so goodness knows how Kitty and Redmond felt.

  I sort of expected Susan to storm into the kitchen in a whirlwind of rage and righteous indignation, but she seemed to have decided to play the wounded wife card, and almost crept in behind Dad, looking suitably hunched and pathetic. She soon straightened up and found her old spark when she clapped eyes on Kitty, though.

  "You!" She practically spat the word out, as Kitty stared up at her with a mixture of guilt, shame, and fear.

  "Do you two know each other?" Mum eyed her warily, as Susan plopped herself down into the chair beside her, her eyes never leaving her rival's face.

  "Of course," Susan snapped, no longer looking in the least bit pathetic. "She works in the newsagents at the bottom of our road. Oh, it all makes sense now. I couldn't fathom your sudden passion for Curly Wurlys. Now I understand, you cheating rat-bag!"

  "Looks like she's got you by the Curly Wurlys, Redmond." Tamsin giggled.

  Redmond glared at her, then turned his gaze upon his estranged wife. "It really is pointless you coming here, Susan. I do appreciate that I should have confessed our relationship to you before I left, but then again, you weren't particularly in the mood to listen. I seem to recall you were too busy hurling my CD collection at me, at the time."

  "It's hardly a loss to the music world," she snapped. "Bloody middle of the road rubbish! You never did have any taste, and now you've proved it. What the hell are you doing, walking out on me for … that!"

  Kitty's lip trembled, and Redmond immediately sat beside her and put his arm around her. "I love her. I'm sorry, Susan, but that's how it is. I intend to marry her as soon as I'm able."

  Susan laughed. "Don't be ridiculous. You've had your fun, but now it's time to come home and start rebuilding our reputation. I'm a laughing stock, but I daresay people are mocking you even more. I don't know how you're going to show your face at work once this gets out."

  "I'm not coming home, Susan," Redmond said firmly. "It's over. I want a divorce."

  Susan's overplucked brows struggled to meet. "You're not serious? Look, you're obviously having some sort of breakdown. It's probably overwork. You have been putting in long hours at the university lately .... Oh, stupid me. Of course. You were shagging the Highland cow in the stock room, no doubt. Rolling around amid the toffee bon bons and the jelly babies. Terribly unhygienic."

  Redmond cleared his throat, and Kitty's hand tightened on his arm. "Funny you should mention babies, Susan."

  "You're kidding me. Tell me you're joking." Susan's eyes darted toward Kitty's stomach, and then her hand flew to her mouth. "Oh, my God. She's pregnant."

  "She is." Redmond's voice was full of pride.

  Susan seemed to gather herself together. The shock vanished from her eyes and her lip curled. "So, the Highland cow is in calf," she sneered. "Well, you've really gone and done it now, haven't you?"

  I watched her curiously. There were no tears, no sign of despair, or heartbreak, at all. Whatever her motives for wanting Redmond, I seriously doubted love was one of them. My heart went out to Kitty and Redmond. I was glad for them. Glad they'd found each other. Susan wasn't right for my brother, but I had a strong feeling that Kitty was.

  Susan tossed back her long, straight, dark hair and looked around at us all. "And you all approve of this, I suppose?"

  Mum looked shell-shocked. "Well, I, er ..."

  Dad put his hand on her shoulder. "We didn't approve of him walking out on you, Susan, no. Then again, having seen the way you two are together, and the way Redmond is with Kitty, I can clearly se
e that he's happier out of the marriage, and I would think you'd feel the same. Be honest, love, it hasn't exactly been moonlight and roses for a while, has it?"

  I was astonished. It wasn't like my dad to be so brutally honest—and, believe me, that was brutally honest for him.

  "Seems to me, all you two had in common was a desire to own a posh house and work all the hours God sends at those fancy jobs of yours," he continued. "It obviously wasn't enough to sustain a happy marriage. Maybe it's all worked out for the best."

  Susan looked ready to explode. "So, that's the way the land lies, is it? You're on his side. I might have guessed." She tapped her fingers on the table and seemed to be considering for a moment, then in a much calmer voice, she said. "Well, if that's the way you want it, I'm happy to divorce you on the grounds of your adultery."

  "Thanks," Redmond muttered.

  "Of course, that will damage your reputation," she added.

  He shrugged, pulling Kitty tighter to him. "I don't care."

  "How sweet." She turned a fake smile on her love rival. "Just so we're clear, you won't benefit from this relationship, at all, in case that's what you're hoping."

  "I'm sorry?" Kitty looked baffled.

  Susan leaned back in her chair, worryingly relaxed. "I shall drag you through the courts for every last penny. I want the house. I want you to sign it over to me, and I'll fight tooth and nail to make sure I get it. I shall hire the best solicitor in town to take everything from you. And by the time I've finished telling everyone at the university what a rat you really are, your life won't be worth living. I know what that place is like. I know how reputations count. I should imagine they'll not take long to start nudging you out, and then what will you do? You'll be bankrupt, by the time I've finished with you. I shall make damn sure that neither you, nor your brat, make a penny out of this relationship."

  Kitty and Redmond stared at each other, and I waited with bated breath to see what they would do. Mum looked ready to strangle Susan. I suspected her opinion of her had just been radically altered. Finally, she might see her daughter-in-law for what she truly was. But what about my brother? How would he raise a child like that?