The Girl from Kingsland Market

by June Tate

  The train journey was long. They changed trains at Waterloo for the final leg of the journey. Waterloo was bustling and Tim’s eyes grew wider, watching all the people rushing around. He’d never ever been in such a crowd or heard such noise and clung tightly to Ben’s hands in case he lost him. Eventually they settled in a carriage. Tim sat next to the window, avidly watching the countryside as they passed by. He was amazed at all the cattle and sheep wandering around in the fields, but it was when he saw a field with several horses he became really excited.

  ‘Do they belong to just one person?’ he asked.

  ‘Probably,’ he was told.

  ‘I’d love to ride a horse one day,’ he said wistfully.

  The train eventually pulled into the station and they alighted with the other passengers. Picking up their cases they headed to the exit and climbed into a taxi. Ben gave the driver the address and they sat back as the vehicle moved off.

  Phoebe was feeling very nervous and glanced at Ben. He saw the uncertainty in her expression and took her hand and squeezed it.

  ‘Everything’s going to be fine,’ he assured her.

  Tim was silent as he watched out of the window. They drove out of the busy town. Here the houses were different, many built in a soft-coloured stone, with lovely gardens. The vehicle came to a halt outside one such house. He then looked at Phoebe for reassurance. She smiled at him.

  ‘Come on, Tim, let’s go and meet the family.’ She took him firmly by the hand and followed Ben up the path.

  The door was opened before they got there. A middle-aged woman with brown hair, flecked with silver, wearing a skirt and blouse greeted them with a warm smile.

  She kissed Ben and hugged him. He quickly introduced Phoebe and Tim to her. Turning to Phoebe, she said, ‘Do come in. You must be longing for a cup of tea after your journey.’ Then she looked at Tim. ‘I expect you’d rather have lemonade, young man, wouldn’t you?’

  Tim beamed at her. ‘Oh yes, I would, thank you.’

  ‘Come with me,’ she invited and led them into a large kitchen with a cosy settee in an alcove and a big table in the middle with chairs. The aroma of cooking filled the air.

  ‘Make yourselves comfortable,’ she said as she put on the kettle to boil. ‘I just need to turn my roast potatoes’. She placed a glass on the table and a jug and to Tim she said, ‘There you are, help yourself. There’s plenty more, I made it this morning.’

  ‘You made this yourself?’

  It was Ben who answered. ‘Mother has always made her own lemonade, Tim. It’s so much nicer than shop-bought. Try it!’

  The boy carefully poured a glass full and took a sip. His eyes brightened. ‘Golly! This is lovely.’

  Ben’s mother beamed at him. ‘Oh, thank you. You can come here anytime. Anyone who likes my lemonade is always welcome!’ She took the potatoes out of the oven, turned them, put them back and made a pot of tea.

  ‘I do hope you like lamb?’ she asked, looking at her visitors.

  ‘Oh, how lovely,’ said Phoebe. ‘It’s ages since we’ve had any.’

  At that moment the kitchen door opened, and a tall man entered. He took off his boots and put on a pair of slippers, then walked to the table, where he greeted his son warmly with a hug.

  Ben took him over to where Phoebe was sitting. ‘Dad, this lovely lady is my fiancée, Phoebe, who I’ve told you so much about. Phoebe, this is my father.’

  ‘I’m happy to meet you, Mr Masters.’

  He shook her hand. ‘Please call me Hugh and I’m delighted to meet you too.’ He looked across at Tim. ‘Hello, young man, you must be Tim. Ben’s told me all about you.’

  ‘Hello,’ said Tim shyly.

  ‘I do hope you’re hungry, Tim, because my wife likes her guests to eat well.’

  Tim beamed at him. ‘Oh, thank you, it all smells so good I’m sure I’ll eat everything!’

  Hugh burst out laughing. ‘A man after my own heart. I must just wash my hands, I’ve been gardening.’

  ‘Can I do anything to help you, Mrs Masters?’ Phoebe asked.

  ‘No, thank you, my dear, I’m all organised, and do please call me Ellie.’

  ‘That’s a pretty name,’ Tim said. ‘I haven’t heard it before.’

  ‘It’s short for Eleanor, but I prefer Ellie. Now, let’s have that tea. It’s such a lovely day, I think we should have it in the garden. Ben, will you put everything on a tray and bring it outside? I’ll carry the pot.’

  Just outside the kitchen door was a small patio with a round table and chairs. They all settled there. Phoebe looked round the garden, which was full of colour. There were shrub roses, some hybrid tea roses, and small lavender bushes, which scented the air. A mass of white tall Shasta daisies and other flowers. It was like an artist’s canvas.

  Phoebe walked over to get a better look. ‘This is so very beautiful. So much colour.’

  Hugh came and stood beside her. ‘And so much work! But I love working in the garden. It soothes my soul.’

  ‘I can imagine that it would,’ she agreed. ‘I’ve never had a garden.’

  He heard the longing in her voice. ‘Maybe one day you will, my dear.’ He turned to Tim. ‘Come and look at my fish pond.’ They walked off down the garden together and Phoebe sat at the table with Ben and his mother.

  ‘Hugh is so proud of his pond,’ said Ellie, smiling. ‘He will be delighted to have someone new take a look. You know what men are like!’

  Phoebe looked around. ‘It’s so beautiful here, so unlike Southampton.’

  ‘The Cotswolds are known for being picturesque and of course, you live in a seaport, which I’m sure has its own character.’

  ‘Yes, that’s true, but here, it has an air of peace about it.’

  Ellie excused herself to look at her cooking, leaving Phoebe and Ben alone.

  He reached for her hand. ‘There, didn’t I tell you there was nothing to worry about?’

  ‘Your parents are lovely, Ben. They’ve made us feel so welcome.’

  ‘That’s because they know I’m happy and that makes them happy. Now relax and enjoy.’

  An hour later, they sat at the table in the kitchen ready to eat. Tim watched in awe as Hugh carved the leg of lamb, which he placed on the plates. Various dishes held a selection of vegetables from which the diners could help themselves.

  ‘Hugh grows most of the vegetables himself,’ Ellie informed them.

  Tim was helping himself to some peas. ‘Did you grow these?’

  ‘Indeed, I did. I had a good crop this year.’ He also grew the carrots, parsnips and cauliflower that were served, which impressed his visitors.

  To Tim’s delight, the dessert was apple pie and ice cream.

  He looked at Ellie. ‘You are a really good cook, even better than Phoebe, and she cooks very well.’

  Everybody started to laugh. ‘Thank you, Tim,’ Ellie said. ‘That’s the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Really.’

  During the evening, Ellie produced a family album. Ben was horrified but Ellie said, ‘Your fiancée should know of your background if she’s to take you on!’

  Apart from the pictures of Ben as a boy, there were pictures of him in his police uniform, taken before he was a detective. Another showing him receiving a medal for bravery, which he quickly dismissed and to his relief, the rest was of family holidays.

  Phoebe and Tim were fascinated by it all.

  ‘We don’t have many pictures,’ she said, with some sadness. ‘My father went away to the war and didn’t come home. After that we didn’t take any.’

  ‘War is a terrible thing,’ Hugh stated. ‘It destroys family life, leaving children like Tim fatherless, and for those who return, they’re never quite the same. But hopefully there won’t be any more.’

  At bedtime, Tim and Phoebe shared a room next to Ben’s. She was told to sleep as long as she liked, that Ben would see to them in the morning as Ellie had an appointment.<
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  Both of them slept soundly, but Tim woke first. His movement woke his sister and after using the bathroom they dressed and went downstairs. The smell of bacon frying filled the air and they found Ben cooking in the kitchen.

  He kissed Phoebe. ‘I hope you slept well?’

  ‘Like a log! It’s so quiet and peaceful here,’ she told him.

  ‘Dad’s feeding his fish, Tim. Will you go and find him and tell him breakfast is in five minutes?’

  The youngster rushed out of the kitchen to do as he was asked.

  ‘Tim is loving it here,’ Phoebe remarked. ‘It’s a whole different life for him.’

  ‘When we’re married it will be different again – and for you. You won’t have to work in the market, for a start.’

  ‘I won’t miss that. No more standing out in the cold. Marvellous!’

  She’d been the one to keep the family going for so long and now all of a sudden the realisation that she was no longer required to do so was overwhelming and tears filled her eyes.

  Seeing her emotion, Ben walked over to her and held her close. ‘Those days will be over, Phoebe. It’s time someone looked after you for a change and I’m the lucky man to be able to do it. Now, please cheer up or my father will think I’ve been unkind to you and I’ll be in deep trouble!’

  This made her laugh and at that moment Hugh and Tim arrived.

  All too soon, the visit was over and the three of them were back on the train heading homewards. Tim was full of the things he’d seen and done, but feeding the goldfish was his greatest treat and he talked about it most of the way home.

  ‘Next week, you’ll be getting ready for school,’ Phoebe reminded him, ‘but you can come with me to the market in the morning and give me a hand.’

  He beamed at her. ‘I can tell Laura about our trip, if she’s there, she will be surprised!’

  Ben looked at Phoebe and smiled, pleased that the boy had enjoyed himself so much.

  In Winchester Prison, Arthur Stanley was not having such a good time. The news that he’d ratted on his brother had seeped through the prison grapevine and he was discovering just how it was received by his fellow inmates.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Arthur lined up at exercise time and walked outside into the quadrangle. It was a warm day with blue, cloudless skies. He found a quiet spot and sat down, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his body. It wasn’t long before he noticed several of the inmates looking at him and talking quietly. That in itself was strange, but what unsettled him was the expression of hostility on their faces when they did so.

  Henry Evans strolled over to him. ‘A warder from Wormwood Scrubs prison has just been transferred here. He was on the same wing as your brother, now everyone knows why you’re here.’

  Arthur’s face paled. ‘That’s why people are looking at me and talking,’ he stammered.

  ‘Just watch your back, that’s all,’ Evans warned, as he walked away.

  To make matters worse, Arthur saw that the convict who’d groped him in the bathroom was now back and he was in the midst of one of the groups. He glanced at Arthur and sneered as he chatted to a couple of men, who then looked over at him.

  Almost paralysed with fear, Arthur looked away, knowing he was now in deep trouble and wondering what would happen to him – and when?

  The hour passed and no one approached him, but he was terrified of the line up to return to the cells. Anyone standing near him was in a position to do him some harm and when the bell rang, his legs were shaking so much, he could hardly stand. He didn’t know if he should stand in line now, or join it at the end.

  ‘Come on, lad, you walk with me.’ He jumped at the voice and saw it was Henry Evans. Evans motioned with a nod of his head. ‘Stand in front of me, you’ll be all right. No one will touch you if I’m there.’

  Arthur walked to the line of men and took his place, but he was shaking. He felt Henry standing close behind him. No one said a word as they filed into the prison and once safely inside, Arthur hurried off to his cell, half expecting a knife in his back at any moment. Once in the cell, he climbed onto his bed with a sigh of relief, fighting off the feeling of nausea rising from his stomach. He managed to keep it under control and lay quietly.

  Len, his cellmate walked in. He glared at Arthur. ‘Not only do I have a first-timer but it seems I have a snout as well! You are a rotten bastard, dobbing your brother in like that. I’ve got no time for a squealer, they’re the worst kind, so don’t talk to me, ’cause I don’t want anything to do with you!’

  The warder came along and shut and locked the door. Only then did Arthur relax, but then he had to face tomorrow and the other convicts once again.

  Breakfast was an ordeal. As Arthur handed over his bowl, the prisoner on kitchen duty slapped a couple of ladles of porridge in it, then looking at Arthur, he spat in it, then glared at him, daring him to say anything. His mug of tea was only half-filled and when he sat down, no one sat near him. It was as if he had some dreadful disease and was in quarantine.

  It was much the same at lunchtime. His food was slapped on his plate so hard it splattered his clothes and again he sat alone, dreading the fact that very soon, he’d be outside, surrounded by men who now despised him. His hands trembled as he ate … and then the bell rang.

  As he lined up to be let out with the others, no one spoke but he was jostled as he waited. Each time someone knocked against him, he waited for the pain from some hidden weapon that one of the convicts had either stolen or made, but as he walked out into the fresh air, he was still unharmed. By now he was sweating profusely and couldn’t stop trembling. He walked to his usual spot, sat down and hurriedly tried to light a cigarette. His hand was shaking so much, it took several matches before he was steady enough to light it.

  A group of cons stood nearby. ‘Perhaps we should set up a noose like the one in the execution block, so our little canary here will understand what it feels like to get the death penalty.’

  They all laughed loudly and moved on.

  Arthur looked round and saw a prison warder on duty. He rushed over to him. ‘Get me out of here, my life’s in danger. I want to be put in solitary confinement until my trial!’ He grabbed the man’s jacket ‘Please!’

  The warder pushed his hands away. ‘Go and sit down.’

  Arthur pleaded with him. ‘They’re all out to get me. I’ve been threatened! Can’t you ask the governor? A murder wouldn’t be a good thing to happen, especially if the press got to hear. Please!’

  The warder looked at him. ‘All right, I’ll have a word when everyone is back in their cells, now go and sit down.’

  As he walked back there were sounds of a chicken clucking being made by all that he passed.

  When the bell rang for the inmates to return to their cells, Arthur looked round for Henry Evans, but he was nowhere to be seen. Now Arthur really panicked, knowing that Henry had been his saviour the day before. He waited until he was the last in line. At least then, there was nobody at his back. To his surprise, there were no taunting or threatening comments from those ahead of him and he walked to his cell with a sigh of relief. But as he walked inside, the door was slammed shut and two men stood facing him!

  Later that day, Ben was sitting at his desk working when DI Bentley sent for him. Ben knocked on the man’s door.

  ‘Come in and take a seat,’ he was told.

  ‘Something wrong, sir?’

  ‘You could say that. Arthur Stanley has been murdered. They found him bleeding profusely in his cell. He’d been stabbed several times, but by the time they got him to the hospital, it was too late.’

  ‘Oh my God!’

  ‘Well, you know what this means, don’t you? Miss Collins is now our only witness. We do have Arthur’s testimony, but we’ve taken advice and because he isn’t here to collaborate it and be cross-questioned, it’s inadmissible. I’d like you to visit her and inform her before the news gets out. I’m sorry.’

  Ben rose from his chair. �
��I’ll go now.’

  As he walked towards the market, Ben was dreading having to tell Phoebe of Arthur’s death. His statement, had he been able to appear, would have strengthened her evidence. He was worried about her standing in the witness box with Percy in the courtroom too, in the dock, listening to her. Knowing how the man scared her, he wondered if she would be able to cope, giving her evidence and with the cross-questioning that would follow? How quickly things could change, he thought. Only a few days ago, Phoebe and he were celebrating their engagement with friends, happily planning a future, and now this!

  Ben entered the market and walked over to Phoebe’s stall. She was serving a customer, so he waited. Marj looked over and frowned. The last time she’d seen Ben was when several of them went out to dinner and Ben placed an engagement ring on Phoebe’s hand to make it all official. Now he looked as if he carried the worries of the world on his shoulders. She waited and watched.

  Phoebe, having served her customer, came from behind the stall and kissed Ben on the cheek. ‘Hello, darling! What are you doing here in the middle of the day?’

  He took her hands in his. ‘I’ve some bad news, I’m afraid. Arthur Stanley was murdered today. They found him in his cell. He’d been stabbed.’

  Phoebe put her hand to her mouth. ‘Oh, that’s awful! I’ve no time for the man but I wouldn’t see that happen to my worst enemy. I am sorry.’

  Taking a deep breath, Ben continued. ‘You don’t understand, Phoebe. This means you are now the only witness.’

  She let out a cry and just stared at him, speechless, as she realised what he’d said.

  ‘I’m so sorry you’ll have to go through this, darling, but now only you can put him away. Without your evidence, we don’t have a strong enough case. Before the trial, a solicitor will help prepare you to take the stand and I’ll help you too. We have to put him away and I know you can do it.’