Half a Sixpence

by Evie Grace

  ‘Don’t be silly. There’s no reason why anything terrible should happen.’

  ‘I know,’ he sighed. ‘So you will walk out with me?’

  ‘Yes. Yes, of course.’ She’d been caught off guard when Matty had asked her the day before, but with all the drama and conflicting emotions since, she had realised how she needed him, and how the strength of her feelings wasn’t only friendship. She kissed him again. ‘I have to go indoors now before anyone misses me. John sometimes wanders and it’s my duty to send him back to bed. The last thing I need is for Ma to discover that I’m not in my room.’

  ‘I could sit up all night with you.’

  ‘I’ll see you in the morning,’ she said firmly, standing up and straightening her skirts. She picked up the dish, cloth and shirt.

  ‘Thank you for everything. Remember that I would do anything for you in return.’

  ‘You can show that by leaving when I ask,’ she teased. She waved him away as he began to put on John’s shirt, shooing him like she did with the hens, but he looked so sorrowful that she walked up to him, threw her arms around his neck and kissed him again.

  ‘Be careful,’ he said, ‘more of that and I won’t be able to tear myself away. When shall we meet again?’

  ‘Tomorrow, but we must keep it from Ma and Pa for now.’

  ‘I think that’s very wise.’ He grinned. ‘Goodnight, Catherine.’

  She wondered how long they would be able to keep their courtship secret and, when it did come out, whether Ma and Pa would approve. Did it matter? she thought as she retired to bed. Why was she worried about their opinion? They didn’t have any right to say whom she could or couldn’t walk out with when she wasn’t their daughter, but she was still dependent on them and she had a conscience. It riled her that they’d kept the truth from her, but they had brought her up when they could have given her away. She had that, and more, to thank them for.

  Chapter Eight

  Carrying the Anvil

  ‘There’ll be a few sore heads tomorrow,’ George opined as he leaned against the trunk of the chestnut tree where Catherine, Emily and Matty had taken shelter from a sharp late September shower. ‘The vicar will be lucky if just half the pews are filled. Hardly anyone attends the Sunday service any more, not since he sent the choir packing.’

  ‘It serves him right for bringing his newfangled ideas to Overshill,’ Matty said.

  ‘I wish I’d brought my accordion,’ George went on. ‘We could do with a cheerful toon to add to the occasion. I’ve never bin so proud. To think that everyone here is drinkin’ beer and breakin’ bread in honour of one of my sons.’

  ‘Stephen has done well for himself,’ Matty commented.

  ‘He deserves it. He’s worked hard to get through his apprenticeship,’ George said.

  Catherine gave the crowd who had come to join in the celebrations a cursory glance. The Irish had left the area after hop picking – Pa had stumped up the money to pay them. Catherine wasn’t sure if he’d taken out a loan on top of the payment from the brewery to do it.

  She turned back to gaze at Matty, who seemed more beautiful than ever. His wounds had healed after his fight with Stephen, and the scruffy boy had gone, replaced by a young man with his hair trimmed and combed, and wearing a clean shirt with a collar. She felt his fingers tangle briefly with hers, sending a shiver of longing running through her body. He winked at her and she blushed, wondering if he knew what she was thinking.

  The rain stopped and a few cold drops of water dripped from the tree down the back of her neck, as Len and Stephen emerged from the forge.

  ‘Do you remember the first time you tried to carry the anvil?’ Len said. ‘You were worse than useless. You came here a weedy boy who wouldn’t say boo to a goose, and now you’ve become a strong young man and able smith who’s made me proud.’

  ‘Thank you,’ Stephen said, reddening. ‘I’ll always be most grateful to you, and Mrs Gray.’

  ‘You used to struggle to get in the forge at six in the morning,’ Len teased. ‘And I can’t remember how long it took you to learn the sizes of all the nuts and bolts and the names of the different tools.’

  ‘I found it better when I got to work with the horses, taking the shoes off and finishing the hoof.’

  ‘You soon got pretty handy with the fire, if I remember rightly. And you can make a well-tempered hoe. We’ll send you off to Faversham where you’ll do your two years of improving, and then you’ll always be welcome back here as a master blacksmith, and maybe take over when my back’s given in and I can’t do no more.’ Len handed Stephen a copy of his indenture, releasing him from his apprenticeship. The crowd applauded as Stephen tucked it into his pocket.

  ‘Now show us how you handle that anvil,’ Len said.

  Stephen stepped forwards, cracking his knuckles. He bent down and put both forearms under the anvil. He took a deep breath and tensed the muscles and sinews in his neck before he straightened, slowly lifting the heavy weight off the ground. A roar of cheers went up as he held it steady.

  ‘His arms are very strong, very strong indeed. He’s handsome, don’t you think?’ Emily said as Stephen gently lowered it down again.

  ‘He’s very fair,’ Catherine said in a low voice, ‘but he isn’t like my Matty.’

  ‘You’re making me blush now,’ he said, smiling.

  ‘It’s true,’ she said archly.

  ‘I’ll leave you to talk with Emily in peace.’ He moved out from the shelter of the tree and joined some of the labourers in the street.

  ‘You’re a dark horse,’ Emily said. ‘I had my suspicions. Why didn’t you come running to tell me?’

  ‘I didn’t want it to be common knowledge straight away. It was our secret, but now it’s out.’

  ‘What’s it like? Do you think you’ll marry him?’ She reached out and clasped her hands. ‘Oh, Catherine, what is your ma’s opinion?’

  ‘Emily, that’s far too many questions for me to answer all at once.’

  ‘Answer one at a time then,’ she giggled. ‘Have you kissed?’

  ‘What do you think? It isn’t something that a young lady talks about.’

  ‘So you have. I can tell. What about your ma?’

  ‘She doesn’t know yet. We want to keep it that way for as long as possible.’

  ‘I won’t say anything.’ Emily gazed towards Stephen. ‘I wish I had someone special. I can’t wait to have an excuse to get away from the bakehouse.’

  ‘I shouldn’t harbour hopes in that direction,’ Catherine said. ‘It’s true that he’s a good-looking young man who’s done very well for himself, but I’ve heard that his affections are engaged elsewhere.’

  ‘Of whom do you speak?’

  ‘I’m not sure. It’s just a rumour that I heard.’

  ‘From Matty, I suppose.’

  Catherine didn’t confirm or deny it.

  ‘I’d better go. Ma will be expecting me,’ Emily said. ‘I want to be the first to hear the news of your engagement.’

  ‘It is a little early for that, I think. Matty hasn’t talked of marriage, not yet.’

  ‘Oh, Catherine, you’re very serious today. I’m teasing, although I’m sure that Matty will seek your father’s permission very soon.’ Emily touched her arm. ‘I’ll see you in church tomorrow?’

  ‘Ma’s expecting me to stay at home with John. Another time.’ Catherine wished her good evening and was about to look for Matty when Stephen sidled up to her.

  ‘Miss Rook, please allow me to speak with you for a moment,’ he whispered. ‘It’s important.’

  Assuming he was about to give her an overdue apology for the fight with Matty, she stepped aside and walked a little way along the street away from the crowd. He turned to face her and she noticed the petals trembling on the posy of flowers in his hand.

  ‘I’ve built myself up for this and I don’t think I’ll be able to do it again when the moment is more convenient.’ The words came spilling out of his mouth, hot and pass
ionate and heartfelt. ‘I know you probably haven’t even thought of me, but I dream of you all the time, while I’m working at the forge with the heat and the smoke, while I’m lying in bed at night. Miss Rook, you are always in my thoughts.’

  ‘Please don’t say any more,’ she said, reading the anguish in his eyes. ‘This is wrong.’

  ‘I have to speak. I cannot restrain myself. You must understand how much I admire you. I worship the ground that you walk on.’

  ‘This is too much,’ she exclaimed, but he blundered on.

  ‘Will you say that you will walk out with me, if not now, then at some point in the future when you’ve overcome your shock and become used to the idea?’

  For the briefest moment, she wished that she could love Stephen, for he expressed his affection for her more deeply, more strongly than Matty did, but that was only because he was cleverer than his brother with words. When she was with Matty, he didn’t need to speak to reveal his feelings for her.

  ‘I’m sorry, Stephen. My answer is no.’

  ‘Why? At least give me a reason so I know how to change.’

  ‘You don’t have to change who you are. No, it isn’t you. I thought you might have guessed.’

  ‘Guessed what?’

  ‘That I’m walking out with Matty.’

  Stephen frowned. ‘I don’t understand. You didn’t say you had no feelings for him – you said you hated him.’

  ‘I know, but love and hate are similar passions. There is little difference between them, don’t you think?’

  ‘They are opposites in my book. And you are a most contrary girl.’

  She hated to see him hurt. ‘I didn’t mean to mislead you. I mean, you’ve always been kind to me. I didn’t realise that you paid me attention because you had taken a fancy to me. I would never have encouraged you if I had.’

  ‘How dare you suggest that I was kind to you merely because I wanted you to fall in love with me! You led me on with your fine figure and beguiling eyes,’ he said fiercely. ‘That was a wicked thing to do.’ He was almost in tears. ‘I was prepared to give you everything: the security of a blacksmith’s life above the unpredictable nature of farming; my love; every part of me. I still would if you would only say yes. At least give me a chance.’

  ‘There is no point. I can never love you, Stephen. I’m taken. I’m with Matty.’ She watched the rise and fall of his chest as he fought with his emotions.

  ‘Then I accept your answer,’ he said eventually. He dropped the posy and ground the flowers into the earth with his heel. ‘I wish you and my brother all the luck in the world.’

  ‘And I wish the same for you,’ she said sadly. ‘There’s someone out there for you, but it isn’t me.’ She watched him turn and walk away, his hands in his pockets and his shoulders slumped. She felt wretched for turning him down. Any other young woman would be proud to be seen on Stephen’s arm, but she only had eyes for Matty.

  She turned to look for him, finding him talking to Old Faggy, who had made an appearance to wish one of her pupils well on completing his apprenticeship.

  ‘How are you, Catherine?’ the elderly teacher asked. She had powdered her hair and repaired her gloves with dark thread for the occasion.

  ‘I’m well, thank you. How are you, Mrs Fagg?’ She spoke politely even though she was still in shock at Stephen’s declaration.

  ‘My memory is as sharp as ever, although the body is failing day by day,’ she said with a twinkle in her eye. ‘I always knew you two would end up courting.’ She pointed towards them with the end of her walking stick.

  ‘We most certainly aren’t,’ Catherine said quickly.

  ‘Don’t worry, my dears. I’ll keep it to myself,’ Mrs Fagg said. ‘It’s lovely to see you. Good day.’ She moved on towards the church, disturbing a small flock of sparrows that came flying out of the hedge on the way.

  ‘Matty, will you walk me home?’ Catherine asked.

  ‘We’ll go the long way.’ He smiled, and they walked arm in arm through the woods, stopping to find their secret place, a bowl-like depression in the ground hidden within a clump of hazel saplings and brambles.

  ‘I have something to tell you. You mustn’t be cross,’ she said as she crawled after him into the shelter of the undergrowth.

  ‘What is it?’

  ‘This afternoon, Stephen asked me to walk out with him – he didn’t know about us.’

  ‘I told him not to pester you.’ Matty pulled off his jacket and spread it across the ground.

  ‘Please, don’t get into another fight over it.’ Catherine sat down beside him. ‘I made my feelings clear.’

  ‘Let’s not waste time talking about my brother.’ Matty slipped his arm around her shoulders, and turned his face to hers. ‘Kiss me.’

  ‘Where have you bin?’ Ma demanded later. She was waiting for Catherine at the front door in the dark when Matty gave her one last goodnight kiss and left her outside the house.

  ‘It can’t be nine o’clock yet,’ Catherine said.

  ‘It’s gone ten. It’s way past my bedtime, you thoughtless girl.’

  ‘You didn’t have to wait up for me.’

  ‘I thought something had happened.’

  As Catherine walked up to the door, her mother grabbed her by the ear and pulled her indoors.

  ‘Ouch!’ she exclaimed. ‘Let go of me.’

  ‘This way,’ Ma said, releasing her. ‘Pa is in his office.’

  ‘What is this about?’ Catherine protested as Ma directed her towards the room where her father carried out farm business and, on occasion, hid away for peace and quiet.

  ‘You know very well. I’ve bin watching you since you started going around, smiling like a cat that’s got the cream. You’re walking out with Matty Carter. Don’t deny it. I’ve just seen you with your tongues down each other’s throats. Ugh.’ She flung the door open. ‘Thomas, I told you so.’

  Pa looked up from his desk where he sat with a pencil and a blank piece of paper. The candle flickered as Ma and Catherine entered the room, Ma prodding her in the back as if she was one of the sows being sent for despatch.

  ‘You must thrust them apart.’

  ‘You mean Catherine and Matty?’ Pa said calmly as if he’d known all along.

  ‘She must be forced to work in the house at all times. She must not on any account enter the fields without a chaperone.’

  ‘I believe that their proximity should be encouraged. Matty is fond of her. He’ll treat her right.’

  ‘He’s nothing but a poor labourer with coarse manners.’

  ‘That isn’t fair. He’s a clever lad. And he knows where she’s come from so he won’t have any nasty surprises in the future. He’s patient with John, which I would have thought would be worth more than anything to you.’

  ‘Thomas, you will be the death of me.’

  ‘How many times have you accused me of that? Look at you,’ he goaded. ‘You’re still alive and kicking.’

  ‘You can’t blame me for not liking the boy,’ Ma argued. ‘His tongue is too loose in his head. Look at the way he let the Rooks’ secrets slip out like water through a sieve. He isn’t to be trusted. We will find someone else to care for our son.’

  ‘Whom do you suggest?’

  ‘George will do it.’

  ‘He is old and weary,’ Pa said. ‘John would run him ragged within a day. Listen to me, Margaret.’ He stood up, moved round the desk and took his wife’s hands. ‘John is very fond of Matty. It would break his heart if Matty should decide to leave because we banned him from seeing our daughter.’

  ‘Catherine?’ Ma said.

  ‘Who else? Oh, Margaret, you can be very wearisome. I shall always think of Catherine as our daughter – that will never change.’ Pa paused for a moment before going on, ‘Think of John.’

  ‘I wish Matty to stay for John’s sake, but I can’t bear the thought of him courting Catherine. What will everyone think? What about our reputation in Overshill?’

  �
�That doesn’t matter. All things considered, we should give our blessing for them to walk out together and see how it works out between them.’

  ‘I’m not happy with this. If she marries a Carter, her life – and ours – will be steeped in misery. Can’t you see that?’

  ‘We aren’t talking of marriage. We’re talking about courtship, time for two young people to get to know each other and decide whether or not they’re suited.’ Pa turned to Catherine. ‘Run along now.’

  She left the room, smiling to herself. Pa had betrayed her over her birth, but he had proved that he was on her side. He wanted her happiness, admittedly with some consideration for John, even if Ma didn’t. Her pulse began to race as she thought of Matty’s arms around her and his kisses sweet on her lips.

  A week after the celebration at the forge, she was walking through the village with her basket and money to buy beef and cheese. The leaves on the chestnut tree were fading to yellow as late summer turned to autumn. She could hear the sound of a threshing machine in the distance, a steam-powered beast that Mr Nobbs had invested in. Everyone had been invited to see it, but Pa had declined. The word was, though, that Squire Temple had been impressed by its speed and efficiency and now he was sending grain from the home farm to Sinderberry Farm for threshing.

  Stephen was trotting a horse up and down the street near the forge. He pulled it up and greeted Catherine.

  ‘I hope you are well, Miss Rook,’ he said awkwardly.

  ‘I’m well, thank you. I thought you’d moved to Faversham,’ she said, a little embarrassed to have run into him after what had happened at their last meeting.

  ‘Not yet. I have some business to complete here in Overshill first. Did you know that I’m walking out with Emily?’

  ‘I have to admit that’s news to me. Do you wish me to congratulate you?’

  ‘I believe that would be appropriate in the circumstances.’

  ‘Congratulations, then.’ She hesitated before going on, ‘I don’t think you can love her, not so soon after declaring your affection for me.’

  ‘You might disapprove of my change of heart, but it was only to be expected. Rejection is painful. It’s like the wind and rain turning iron to rust. It fair takes the shine off. I’ll always be fond of you, but your preference for my brother has altered my feelings.’ The horse nuzzled at his arm.