by Betty Annand
__________
For the next few months, Gladys was courted by both men. She thoroughly enjoyed the attention. Her fondness for Keith increased, but it was Tom she fell in love with. One evening, she and Tom accidentally arrived at the Whale’s Tail the same time as his father, and Tom had no recourse but to introduce them to each other. Andrew Pickwick was favourably impressed with the attractive young woman and insisted on their company for dinner. Gladys immediately felt at ease with the older man, and before they took their leave, she invited him to come to the inn one evening to hear her sing. She didn’t notice the look of disapproval on Tom’s face. As for Andrew, he did come to hear Gladys sing, and enjoyed the evening so much that he became a steady customer.
There were times when Gladys thought that Keith was on the verge of proposing marriage. He had even suggested it was time she met his brother, who lived in Sandwich. Unfortunately, Tom’s intermittent display of affection hinted more of passion than love, and she was finding it harder and harder to refuse his advances. Not wanting to hurt Keith’s feelings with a refusal, and afraid her relationship with Tom was headed for disaster, she arrived at Millie’s one afternoon with an announcement. “I need my purse, Millie. I am going to see that teacher who told me about Professor Schneider in London. He just lives around the block from here. You remember; I told you about him.”
“That’s the crippled professor who is going to teach you everything you need to know to be a governess?”
“That’s the one, Millie. He said it will probably take two years depending on how quick I am to learn. I just have to do a little housekeeping to pay for my room and board. I’ve got enough money saved now to take care of my personal needs, so I’m ready to go.”
Millie had been worried about Gladys’s future because she knew that both Keith and Tom were from wealthy families and unlikely to marry a barmaid. Although it would break her heart to see her friend leave Dover, Millie was pleased for her. “That’s wonderful news! You’ve worked so hard for this. But, oh, how I shall miss you.”
__________
When Gladys arrived at the teacher’s home, she was excited with the thoughts of setting forth on a new adventure, but sad to be leaving Millie. She was also a little heart-broken over her disappointing relationship with Tom. Standing on the porch, she hesitated before knocking, knowing that once she gave her word to go to London, there would be no turning back. Then she thought about Sally and took hold of the knocker and banged it firmly against the door.
Gladys was in tears when she returned to Millie’s shop. The dressmaker was busy with two ladies, but seeing how distressed Gladys appeared, she excused herself and followed her into the back room. Gladys was about to explain what happened between sobs when one of the women in the shop called out, angrily, “Mrs McIver, we have no time to tarry. Are you going to take care of us or not?”
“I shall be right there, Mrs Pickwick.”
The name, Pickwick, brought an abrupt end to Gladys’s tears and she whispered, “Did you say, Mrs Pickwick?” Millie nodded and returned to the shop while Gladys put her ear to the curtain.
“Now, Mrs Pickwick, can I show you and your daughter some of my latest patterns?”
By then Rose Pickwick was more interested in gossip than gowns. Feigning concern, she laid her hand on Millie’s shoulder and offered, “My dear, Mrs McIver, you must take more care with whom you keep company. Although I take no interest in local gossip, I have heard that girl,” she nodded toward the back room, “visits you often. Now you mustn’t take offense, but I feel it my duty to warn you that allowing someone of that sort into your home—albeit the back of a dress shop—will do irreparable damage to your reputation. You do know, do you not, that there are now two other dressmakers in town?”
Removing Rose’s hand from her shoulder, Mille stood even straighter than usual, and although Rose Pickwick was five inches taller than the seamstress, she shrunk under Millie’s glare. “Mrs Pickwick, who I invite into my parlour, albeit the back of my shop, is not any of your, or anyone else’s, concern. Now if that bothers you, may I suggest you take your business elsewhere?” Before Rose could reply, Millie continued, “Furthermore, although I have appreciated your business in the past, and will continue to do my best to satisfy you in the future, if you so wish, I shall not tolerate any more slanderous remarks about my niece, Gladys. Do you understand?”
Rose’s face turned red, and her mouth closed so tightly that her lips disappeared. If there were a few more hairs on her chin and less under her bonnet, her face would have resembled a dried up beetroot. Nevertheless, as shocked as she was by the dressmaker’s effrontery, she knew Millie was the best dressmaker in town and had no idea what to say. Fortunately, her daughter did. “Oh fiddle faddle, Mommy, who cares who she keeps in the back. I want to see the latest styles. Do you think they will flatter my figure, Mrs McIver?” The girl did have a tidy figure and would have been quite pretty if her countenance didn’t display her character.
Millie smiled, held up a bolt of dark blue and grey striped voile enhanced with bright gold threads, and said, “There is one style I think you shall like, Miss Mildred, and I just received a shipment of this pretty new material that would look lovely on you.”
“Oh. I love it! I think it’s simply stunning, don’t you, Mother?”
The red hue was slowly fading from Rose’s face as she tried to regain her attitude of superiority. “Yes, dear, but I do think the colour would suit me more.”
Millie assured the two women that she had enough material to make them each a gown. They left the shop smiling.
As soon as Millie came into the back, Gladys exclaimed, “Did I hear you right, Millie? You did say my ‘niece,’ did you not?”
“I hope you don’t mind, Gladys. I just thought of it on the spur of the moment, but now that I think about it, why shouldn’t you be my niece?”
Gladys clapped her hand and danced around the room with delight. “Thank you, Millie, or should I say, Auntie Millie?”
“I think I’ve become accustomed to just plain Millie, so we shall leave it at that. And if that Pickwick boy does ask you to marry him, as your only living relative, I will give you my blessing, just to see the look on that old cow’s face when she finds out.
“I don’t think he has any intentions of marrying me, and I really can’t blame him. After all, I am nothing but a barmaid.”
“Never you mind, dear, in a year or two you shall be a governess, and that will be far more gratifying, I am sure.”
This caused Gladys to burst into tears again. Then she shared with Millie the news that poor Professor Schneider had fallen ill and passed away a month ago, so she wouldn’t be going to London after all.
Knowing how hard it was for Gladys to save up the money she needed, Millie was empathetic, but had dreaded losing her young friend, so was also relieved. “I am certain there will be other opportunities for you to have someone tutor you, Gladys, and if not you still have two wealthy suitors, and perhaps, one will propose.”
“I think Keith might. His parents live in Wales, and they’re farmers, so they might not object to him marrying someone like me. But I don’t love him. I love Tom. What do you think I should do, Millie, if Keith does ask me?”
“Only you can decide that, my dear, but it would give you security for the rest of your life, and I’ve often heard it said that love is a luxury only the rich can afford.”
__________
A few days later, Keith and Tom had just finished a strenuous exercise, and were sitting on the ground getting their wind back when Keith said, “Look here, Tom, I’ve decided to ask Gladys to marry me tomorrow night. I suppose you gathered that I’ve fallen in love with her. I hope you don’t mind.”
Tom didn’t know what to say. Although he had no reason, he felt his friend had betrayed him. He had told Keith that he had no intentions of marrying a barmaid, but now hearing his friend admi
t to loving Gladys, he suddenly realized that he did too, although he hadn’t planned on marrying her. Keith was anxiously waiting for his reaction, so he gave a shrug of his shoulders, got up, and said, “Why should I?”
“No reason, I guess. I just wanted you to be the first to know.” Then smiling, he got to his feet, threw an arm around Tom’s shoulder, and added, “If I’m lucky and she says yes, I’m counting on you to be my best man.”
Tom mumbled an answer, then said he had to rush off to meet his father, leaving Keith wondering just how sincere his friend had been when he said he didn’t object to the marriage.
Andrew was surprised when Tom arrived at the café unexpectedly. He was just about to have his dinner, so he ordered another plate. While they were waiting for their food, Tom downed two large whiskies then ordered another after the waiter brought their meals. Andrew knew there was something wrong when Tom hardly touched his meal. He was also drinking far more liquor than he usually did. “Is there a reason for this?” he asked.
“For what?” Tom replied sharply.
“For gulping down four drinks and ignoring your food?”
“I’m just not hungry.”
“Come on, son, I don’t believe that. You’re obviously very upset, and I’ll not let up until you tell me why. Has it anything to do with Gladys? I’ve become very fond of that girl, you know.”
“Keith will be delighted to hear that! He’s going to marry her,” Tom blurted out with more vehemence than he could suppress.
“I always suspected he was brighter than you.”
“She’s a barmaid, Father.”
“And you think it would be wiser to marry a lady? Perhaps someone like my wife, Rose? Now there’s a lady for you, or how about your stepsister, Mildred? Now she’s what they call a real lady. Are they the sort of wife you intend to provide me with grandchildren?”
“You mean that you wouldn’t object if I were to marry a barmaid?”
“I don’t give a damn what she is! Gladys has more character than any of the other girls you’ve ever courted, and she’s by far the prettiest. If I was a few years younger and single, she wouldn’t be marrying anyone else; you can bet on that.”
“But Keith is my best friend.”
“Look here, Tom, if you love her and she loves you, their marriage would be a mistake. Now go on, boy, go and propose before he beats you to it!”
Tom reached over the table to shake his father’s hand, and then with a big grin, he said, “Wish me luck!” As Andrew watched Tom leave, he couldn’t help but think how he would love to see Rose’s face when she found out her stepson was going to marry a lowly barmaid.
When Tom arrived at the inn, Gladys was singing “Home Sweet Home,” a popular new song by an American songwriter, John Payne.
One of the Watts’ regular customers was leaving the following day for Australia and his wife had asked Gladys to sing it for him. After she sang the chorus the first time, everyone joined and sang along with her.
When she had sung all the verses, they begged her sing it again. As she looked around the room, she was surprised to see Tom since he didn’t usually come to the inn during the week. Gladys thought that the only reason he would be there must be because he was going to India. She knew he didn’t love her, but she loved him and didn’t think she could sing the song again without crying. Then he smiled at her and said he would like her to sing it especially for him. Knowing she might never see him again, she couldn’t refuse.
When the song was over, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Gladys started to leave while the crowd was still applauding, but Tom blocked her path and said that he had one more request. Gladys wiped the tears from her eyes as she informed him she was through singing for the night. Tom shook his head, then put his hands around her waist, lifted her off the floor and sat her up on the bar. The crowd cheered, and when they quieted down, Gladys, more angry than amused, said, “Now you’ve had your fun, Tom, please lift me down.”
“But I have one more request.”
One of the patrons called out, “Go on then, Gladys, sing another one for him, that’s the girl!”
Tom looked at her and smiled. She couldn’t refuse. “Oh very well then, one more. What shall it be?”
Tom’s answer took her completely by surprise. “My request is that you, Gladys Tweedhope, consent to be my wife.”
Chapter Fourteen
When Gladys accepted Tom’s proposal, everyone in the pub, except Laura, gathered around to offer congratulations. Knowing that losing Gladys would harm their business, Laura was too upset to join in and busied herself wiping down the tables. Their profits had tripled since Gladys became their barmaid and songstress. They would have only needed one or two more such lucrative years before they could sell the inn and buy one in Scotland.
They had planned to ask Gladys to go with them, knowing she would be just as popular in Scotland, and they even talked of giving her a healthy raise in pay. But now that she was going to marry Tom Pickwick, it would take twice as long before they could pay off their mortgage and sell the business.
Later, after Tom left along with the rest of the customers, Neil, still in a festive mood, brought out a bottle of his best Scotch whiskey, and suggested that the three of them have a drink of the ‘guid’ stuff to celebrate. Pleased by his thoughtfulness, Gladys replied, “I think that’s a wonderful idea! My heart is still beating so fast I feel lightheaded. I cannot believe that Tom asked me to marry him.”
Neil filled the glasses, lifted his in the air, and with spirits accentuating his brogue, he announced, “A wee toast to our ain nightingale, Gladdy!
“May the best ye’ve e’re seen
Be the worst ye’ll e’re see;
May a moose ne’er leave yer gimal
Wi a teardrop in his e’e.
May ye aye keep hale and hearty
Till ye’re auld enough tae dee
May ye aye be just as happy
As I wish ye aye tae be.”
Gladys had tears in her eyes as she hugged him, but when she attempted to embrace Laura, the woman moved aside. At first the landlady’s rebuff upset her, but then she became angry, and for the first time in all the years she had worked at the inn, she felt free to say whatever she pleased without fear of retribution.
“Mrs Watt, ah, Laura, I know we have never been close friends, but this past year, working side by side, I assumed we had at least come to respect one another. There were many times when I thought you were far too cruel with your demands; nevertheless, I think I shall be a better wife to Tom because of it, and for that I thank you. Now, I don’t know why you can’t be happy for me, but if it is because you think I would leave you without a replacement—well I promise that will not happen. I have heard Pinky sing and she has a lovely voice. I know she will be a perfect replacement if I teach her some songs and train her to be a barmaid.”
The promise did little to ease Laura’s concerns. She knew no one would ever be able to take Gladys’s place, but she also knew how much she and Neil owed the girl. She really had enjoyed working with her in the pub over the last two years and wanted to remain friends. Although she gave a little cough trying to clear her voice, it still broke when she said, “Tis not that I dinna like you, Gladdy, for I do. ‘Tis that I dinna want to see you go.” And, for the first time, the two ladies hugged each other.
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That night, when Tom returned to barracks, the place was in darkness, and Keith and the other eight men who shared their quarters were sleeping. Tom couldn’t wait to share his good news. Shaking Keith’s shoulder, he whispered, “Keith, wake up.”
Keith woke with a start. Seeing it was Tom, he sat up, rubbed his eyes, and said, “What happened to you? I was worried. Did something happen to your father?”
“No, he’s just fine.”
“You left in such a hurry, I thought
it must be an emergency. You know this was our last practice before we play the officers this weekend. I covered for you by saying you had a family crisis.”
“I’m getting married!”
“You’re what?”
“I’m getting married!”
“That’s nice. Let me know when you find the girl. Now go to bed,” Keith said, as he laid down again, pulling the blankets over his head.
Yanking the blankets down, Tom laughed and said, “It’s Gladys, you idiot! I’m marrying Gladys.”
“What kind of a bloody joke is that?” Keith demanded, sitting up.
“It’s no joke, I asked her tonight and she said yes. Can you believe it? I’m actually getting married.”
The windows in the old castle allowed little light in, and since Tom didn’t see the look of anger on Keith’s face as he jumped out of bed, he opened his arms expecting an embrace and was knocked to the floor by a solid right to his chin. Stunned, he looked up to see Keith standing over him shouting, “You bastard! You dirty, backstabbing bastard. Come on, you yellow-livered coward! Stand up so I can knock you down again.”
The shouting woke the rest of the men, and they gathered around to see what was going on. They were surprised to find that it was Keith who was the instigator since he was known to be the better natured of the two.
Tom rubbed his jaw, and remaining on the floor, replied, “I’m not fighting you, Keith. I am sorry, but I only realized tonight how much I loved her.”
“To hell you say! Just because I told you I was going to propose to her, you went behind my back and got there first. You only want one thing from her, you bounder, and you were afraid if she agreed to marry me you would be out of luck. You don’t love her, and I shall bloody well tell her so.”
Tom got up from the floor while attempting to explain. “Now look here, old boy, I do love her, and she loves me. I’m sorry if you—” His apology was shortened by another blow aimed at his chin, but due to the darkness landed on his shoulder. “Ouch, damn it, that hurt. That’s about enough, Keith. Cool down and let’s talk about it.”
