by Dilly Court
Annie came breezing in with a large wooden tray and began clearing the table. 'So, what are you going to do today, then?' she asked cheerfully. 'It's lovely and warm outside. I think summer's come, although I don't see much of it meself and it's bleeding hot working in the kitchen with flies buzzing round your head. You might think they're raisins in the spotted dick, but I tell you, most of them is flies what fell in the mixture. Don't eat nothing with raisins or currants in, that's my advice.'
Eloise tried hard to keep a straight face. 'Thank you, Annie. I'll bear that in mind.'
'I got a bit of time off this afternoon,' Annie said, piling dishes onto her tray. 'I could take little Joss for a walk to the Foundling Hospital if you like. I always goes back there on me afternoon off. There's a nice bit of grass, some big trees, and flowers. It's like I imagine the country might be, though I've never been there, but one day I will. I made up me mind to it, I have. One day I'll ride on a train and go into the countryside and see fields and cows and pigs and such. I've seen pictures of them in some of the magazines the lodgers have in their rooms.' She lifted the tray with difficulty and staggered out of the room, calling over her shoulder, 'I'll see you later then.'
Eloise was left feeling breathless, amused and also rather sad to think that this child who had had such a hard life could have such simple dreams, which for her were almost unattainable. As she wiped Joss's mouth and sticky hands and then turned her attention to cleaning up Beth, who had jam all over her face, Eloise thought of her own pleasant childhood in the Dorset vicarage. They had certainly not lived in luxury. It had been a poor parish, and her father had had no private income to supplement the meagre salary of a country clergyman. It was a well known fact that most of the clergy were younger sons of the landed gentry, but Papa had come from a more humble background and had worked his way through theological college in order to follow his calling. Eloise felt her throat constrict as she thought about her parents. She loved and respected her father, but she had always been a little in awe of him and even a bit frightened of him at times. But if Papa had been a little too overbearing and strict, then Mama had made up for his lack of warmth, and there had always been Janet to pet and spoil her. In the sleepy Dorset village, close to the sea, there had been the village children for her to play with, and if she climbed trees and tore her clothes, Mama would darn them before Papa saw the damage and could seize the chance to complain about the cost of replacing ruined garments. There had been egg rolling competitions at Easter, dancing around the maypole at the May Day celebrations, swimming in the river during the long hot days of summer and bonfires in November; followed by Christmas, with carols sung in church and presents under the tree.
Eloise came back to reality with a start as Joss knocked a glass of water over and it trickled off the table onto Mrs King's best red Turkey carpet. Eloise mopped it up hastily and then took the children back to their room to make them ready for a trip to the vicarage in King's Square. She had given it a lot of thought during her wakeful hours before finally falling asleep from sheer exhaustion. The obvious person to go to for help was a man of the cloth like her father, and who better than the person who had taken over his parish? She hoped the new vicar might be able to help her to find work, or at the very least to advise her on the best way to start looking for a position where she would be allowed to keep her children with her.
The Reverend Martin Collins steepled his fingers and stared solemnly at Eloise over the tips of them as if he were about to pray for her eternal soul. 'My dear Mrs Cribb, it is quite unthinkable for a young woman such as you to enter the workplace. You are a mother and your first consideration must be your children.'
Eloise clenched her hands in her lap. She had already explained the circumstances to this man, but he seemed not to have understood a word she had said. 'I do not want to leave my children, vicar. I want to find a position where I can take them with me.'
He raised a delicate eyebrow. 'My dear young lady, I'm afraid that is highly unlikely. I mean, you could apply for a position as governess to a private family, but they would hardly be willing to take two such small children on as well. You cannot teach in a school for the same reason.'
'Sir, I came here for advice. You are telling me what I already know, but I have to find work as I have very little money, and, as you are aware, my father and mother have gone to Africa and are not expected to return for at least two years. I need to earn my own living, and I am at a loss as to what to do.'
'I am sorry to hear it, Mrs Cribb. I can only suggest that you swallow your pride and return to your late husband's family in Yorkshire. I am sure that the rift between you could be mended by an appropriate apology, and it must needs come from you. Pride is a sin, you know. Take my advice, my dear, and travel back to Yorkshire forthwith. Make your apologies and wait for your parents to return from their good works in Africa. I think you know that that is the right and proper course to take.'
Eloise rose to her feet and found she was trembling with suppressed anger, but she was determined not to let it show. 'Thank you for seeing me, vicar. I am sorry to have taken up your valuable time.'
Mr Collins looked up at her, and a flicker of what might have been sympathy softened his expression. 'If you do not intend to leave London immediately and would like to leave your address with me, I will contact you should I hear of anything which might suit.' He handed her pen and paper.
When she was outside the vicarage, Eloise stamped her foot. 'Stupid, pompous idiot of a man,' she cried angrily. Then, seeing that Joss was looking scared and bewildered, she bent down to kiss him on the tip of his nose. 'Mama is not cross with you, poppet. I'm angry with that silly man who told us to return to Yorkshire. Well, I won't do it. I'll take in washing or sewing. I'll make matchboxes or sell bootlaces on the street. I won't go back to Cribb's Hall and that's final.'
Back at the lodging house in Nile Street, Eloise was let in by an excited Annie. 'There's a gent to see you, missis. I never seen him afore, but he's a big giant of a chap who speaks funny. I put him in Mrs King's parlour, seeing as how she's gone to the dressmaker's to be fitted for another new gown. If the old mare gets any fatter she'll have to have her frocks put together by a sailmaker.' Annie scuttled off along the passageway, chortling at her own wit.
Mystified, Eloise followed her. Isaac was the only person in London who knew where she was staying and Annie said it was a stranger who had called. There must be some mistake, or else the poor child was a little touched in the head.
'He's in there,' Annie said, pushing a door open. 'Don't let him keep you for long. She'll be back in an hour or so, and she don't approve of gentlemen callers.' With a saucy wink, Annie strolled off in the direction of the back stairs leading down to the basement kitchen.
Holding Joss firmly by the hand and with Beth balanced on her hip, Eloise peeped round the door of Queenie's private parlour. Standing in the middle of the room, Reggie looked out of place amongst the array of china ornaments and heavy crimson-velvet drapes. His face was flushed and he looked uncomfortable in his Sunday best suit, which was made of heavy tweed, more suited to the colder northern climes than to the heat of London in May.
Smiling with genuine pleasure, Eloise entered the room. 'Reggie. What a lovely surprise. What are you doing here?'
His craggy features relaxed into a shy grin. 'Ellie! I've had a right hard time trying to find you, lass.'
Joss broke free from his mother's hand and ran to Reggie, holding up his chubby arms and chuckling with delight.
Eloise set Beth down on the floor. 'I don't understand, Reggie. How did you find us and why are you here in London?'
He bent down to pick up Joss and chucked him under the chin. 'I've missed you, lad. We've all missed you back on the farm.' He sat down on the nearest chair, scooping Beth up and settling her on his knee beside Joss. 'This is grand,' he said happily. 'Just like old times.'
'It's good to see you again, Reggie,' Eloise said, taking a seat opposite him, 'but you
haven't told me why you've come, or how you found us.'
'Well, lass, you gave Mother the address in Myrtle Street and I went there first, thinking I'd find you, but the woman were a right old bitch and she slammed the door in me face. So I went next door and received much the same treatment. I have to say I don't think much of the way southerners behave, but then just as I were leaving, this big fellow comes out of the house and asks what my business is with you. We went to the pub for a pint of ale and a chat, and when he knew why I wanted to see you, he directed me here. And here I am.' After this extraordinarily long speech for him, Reggie paused for breath and sat grinning at Eloise as if he had accomplished something quite splendid.
'But you still haven't said why you've come.' Eloise tried not to sound impatient, but she was beginning to think the worst. Perhaps Gladys had been taken ill, or Meg. Perhaps the farm had been razed to the ground by fire? 'For goodness' sake, Reggie. I only left you yesterday. What could have happened in such a short space of time?'
His smile faded and he set the wriggling children down on the ground. 'Your in-laws turned up at the farm soon after you'd left on the train for London. The old fellow seems a decent enough chap, but his wife and her sister are another matter. My old lady didn't take to them at all. You should have heard her going on at that Miss Braithwaite for not coming to her own daughter's funeral. I almost felt sorry for the old witch.'
'But what did they want, Reggie? Why did they choose that time to come?'
'Happen they didn't know where you were until they got the telegraph about the funeral. It seems they weren't interested in poor Ada, but your mother-in-law has set her heart on having young Joss to bring up as she sees fit. Ma told her it were a bad idea and she couldn't think of taking him away from his mother, but Mrs Cribb wouldn't listen to her. She said as how he were their Ronald's son and he must be brought up as such and be educated like a gentleman, since one day he would take over the business. She made no mention of Beth, but I'm of the opinion she won't rest until she gets her hands on young Joss, or Ronnie as she kept on calling him.'
Eloise stared at him in horror. 'No! No, she has no rights over him. Joss is my son. You didn't tell them where we'd gone, did you?'
'I never, but Meg let it slip you'd gone to London and they know you lived in Myrtle Street. The old woman screamed at Cribb and told him he must travel south to find you. That's why I come down on the night train. I knew I must seek you out and warn you what were afoot.'
'But they would never find me here.'
'I did,' Reggie said simply.
Eloise jumped to her feet. 'I must find somewhere else to stay. We must leave here today.'
'Or you could come back with me, lass.' Reggie stood up, carefully avoiding treading on the children who were clamouring to be picked up again. 'Marry me, Ellie. I know you don't love me, but I love you enough for us both. If you're my wife then I can protect you and the little ones from the likes of the Cribbs. You'd be safe on the farm with us. What do you say, lass?'
In the light of what the Revered Martin Collins had said, Reggie's proposal looked like an easy way out, but tempting as it was she simply could not marry a man for whom she felt nothing more than friendship. Eloise raised her head to look steadily into Reggie's eyes. She knew she was going to hurt him, but far better to do it now than to marry him and make his life miserable in the future. 'You hardly know me, Reggie.'
'I know you well enough, lass. Sometimes it only takes a moment for a man to know he's in love with a lass, and will be for the rest of his life.'
'I'm so sorry, Reggie,' Eloise said gently. 'You are a dear, sweet man, but I cannot marry you.'
He dropped his gaze and bowed his shaggy head. 'I know I'm a great, clumping thing, and not what a lady like you is used to, but I would be true to you, lass. I would be good to you and I would love the little ones just like my own.'
Her heart wrung with pity for him and Eloise put her arms around Reggie and kissed him tenderly on the lips. It was a brief embrace and she drew away immediately, but not before the door had been flung open and Queenie stood on the threshold, breathing heavily. 'What's this? Who is this man, Mrs Cribb? I don't allow followers in my establishment.'
Eloise stepped away from Reggie, hastily composing herself. 'It's not what you think, ma'am. Mr Danby is my cousin from Yorkshire. He is in London on business and called in to pass the time of day.'
'Is that so?' Queenie eyed Reggie suspiciously.
He reached for his cap, clutching it before him like a shield, and looking so sheepish that Eloise had to stifle the desire to giggle. She linked her hand through Reggie's arm. 'He was just leaving, Mrs King. Reggie has a train to catch.'
'Then the sooner he goes the better,' Queenie said, bridling.
Eloise felt Reggie's arm muscles tauten and she could see a pulse beating in his throat. She had never seen him angry before but she sensed that he was about to put Queenie firmly in her place. She squeezed his arm. 'We're still dressed for outdoors, so we'll walk a little way with you, Reggie.'
'If you say so, Ellie,' he muttered between clenched teeth.
'We would like another little walk, wouldn't we, Joss?' Eloise said brightly. 'Perhaps Cousin Reggie would give you a piggy-back?'
Reggie glared at Queenie, and was obviously having difficulty in controlling the desire to tell her a few home truths, but to Eloise's relief he said nothing as he plucked Joss from the floor and set him on his shoulders. Queenie stood by the door with her arms folded in front of her and watched him leave the room with a martial light in her eyes. Eloise was about to hurry past her when Queenie barred her way. 'You only paid for two nights, Mrs Cribb. Your room is taken by one of my regular business gentlemen from tomorrow onwards, so I will have to ask you to find somewhere else to stay.'
'That suits me, Mrs King,' Eloise said with as much dignity as she could muster. 'I wouldn't want to stay on here even if board and lodging was offered free.' She did not believe Queenie for one moment, but she was not going to beg to be allowed to stay in this awful place, and she left the room with her head held high.
When they were outside on the pavement, Reggie gave her a searching look. 'What did the old bat say to you then, Ellie?'
'Nothing of importance.' Eloise slipped her hand through the crook of his arm. 'We'll walk with you as far as the Eagle Tavern in the City Road, and then I really must get back to the lodging house and give the children their dinner.'
Reggie looked deeply into her eyes. 'Won't you change your mind, lass? If you won't have me for your husband, just come back to the farm and live with us as you did afore. I won't press my suit, in fact I'll never mention marriage again.'
'It wouldn't work, Reggie. For one thing I would be too near the Cribbs, and they would never stop harassing me, and for another – I couldn't expect your family to take us in. It wouldn't be fair on them.'
'They love you, Ellie,' Reggie said with a catch in his voice. 'We all love you and the children.'
'Don't make this harder for me, please. I really can't come with you, but I will always remember how kind you all were to me.' Eloise flashed him a smile, even though she felt more like crying, but she forced herself to sound cheerful and confident. 'Anyway, I have a position in mind with comfortable living accommodation included, and an employer who does not object to my taking Joss and Beth with me. We will be all right, Reggie. I promise you.'
'You never mentioned it before,' Reggie said suspiciously.
'You didn't give me a chance,' Eloise replied, hoping that God would forgive her for such a big, black lie, but she knew she must convince Reggie that they would be safe and secure or he would refuse to leave without her. 'The vicar who took over from my father knows of a family who need a governess for their children and they do not mind if I take Joss and Beth with me. We will be all right, Reggie. I promise you.'
They walked on in silence until they came to the Eagle Tavern, which was a well-known rowdy pub and music hall; a place where shameless
women flaunted their charms in front of drunken men, or that was what Papa had claimed when Janet had once said she would like to go there to see a show. He had made it plain that it was not a place he would wish his parishioners, let alone members of his family circle to patronise. Eloise had always been curious as to what actually went on in such a venue, but at this particular moment the Eagle was just a landmark, not too far from Euston station. Standing on tiptoe, she kissed Reggie on the cheek. 'This is as far as I go. Goodbye, dear Reggie. Give my love to your ma and pa, and remember me to Jacob and Clara. Tell them I wish them all the happiness in the world and I am just sorry that I cannot see them married.'
