Stealthily she opened the front door and lifted the pushchair out on to the pavement, balancing the big suitcase on the seat. ‘You’ll have to walk, Jimmy,’ she whispered. ‘Anyroad, you’re a big boy now, aren’t you? And Joanie, you watch that the case doesn’t topple over…’
With scarcely a sound – it was amazing how quiet the children were being – she pulled the front door shut, then they hurried away through the dark streets. Lily was terrified lest she should hear a voice behind her, shouting for her to go back. But…no; she was certain that Sid, this time, had meant what he said. It was doubtful, too, that he would be awake yet, although that woman, Moira, might well be. Lily had heard a faint stirring as she passed the bedroom door, and a cough which was certainly not Sid’s catarrhal wheeze. And Moira, she was sure, would say nothing at all if she had heard the hasty departure.
She knew it was early to be calling on anyone, but she guessed that Alf Dennison might be up and about and would not mind their premature visit.
‘Lily… Whatever are you doing out at this time?’ he exclaimed on opening the door. Then his eyes alighted on the suitcase. ‘Oh…I see. There’s something wrong, isn’t there? Come on in, and tell us all about it.’
Even though it was only just turned seven o’clock, Alf was dressed, and Edith, on hearing voices, soon appeared in her red woollen dressing gown. Her nose looked red raw from her cold, but Lily noticed that her eyes were brighter than they had been two days ago. Alf put a match to the fire, which was already laid, and then they sat down and listened intently, but with alarm growing on their faces, as Lily told them what had happened.
‘Well, we’re real glad you had the sense to come here first,’ said Alf. ‘And you’re not going anywhere until you’ve had something to eat. I was just going to make us some tea and toast, so now I’ll make enough for five of us.’ He beamed at the children. ‘I bet you’re hungry, aren’t you?’
Jimmy nodded. ‘And I’m cold an’ all,’ said Joanie.
‘The fire’ll soon get going,’ said Alf. ‘Go and sit on the rug and get warm… And while we’re eating our breakfast we’ll decide what’s the best thing to do. Just leave it to me…’
‘You’re very kind,’ said Lily, her eyes pricking with tears. ‘I’m sorry to be such a nuisance.’
‘Nuisance? You’re not a nuisance,’ retorted Edith. ‘Is she Alf? Of course you’re not. And we’ll do everything we can to help you. That’s what friends are for. You leave it to Alf; he’ll know what to do.’ She lowered her voice so that the children would not hear. ‘You’re doing the right thing, Lily, getting away from that brute of a husband of yours.’
Lily was relieved to let somone else take charge for a while. Alf was used to coping with problems at work and he took this dilemma in his stride.
‘We’ll send a telegram,’ he said, ‘as soon as the post office opens, to tell the Reverend gentleman and his wife what time you will be arriving in Middlebeck. Edith has told me what kind people they are; they’ll take care of you and the kiddies, Lily.’ He scratched his head thoughtfully. ‘Oh aye; we’ll have to find out the times of the trains first, won’t we? And then I’ll run you to the station in my car.’
‘That sounds grand,’ said Lily. ‘You’re so kind… But what about the petrol ration? You’re not supposed to use cars, are you, only when you have to?’
‘And what’s this if it’s not an emergency?’ said Alf. ‘Shut up, woman!’ He grinned at Lily. ‘That’s what I say to Edith, isn’t it, love? when she tries to argue with me. An’ I’ll not listen to any arguments now. You can’t manage on yer own, not with a pram and two kiddies and all that luggage. Now then, just you relax while I see to everything. You don’t need to be getting a train at crack o’ dawn. Your husband won’t come here looking for you, will he?’
‘No…’ said Lily. ‘He won’t know I’ve come here, and I don’t think he’ll bother to look for me at all. But I’ll feel safer when we’ve got right away from Leeds.’
Lily relaxed and enjoyed the toast spread with butter and Edith’s home made blackberry jam, and so did Joanie and Jimmy. She drank two cups of the good strong tea and felt the spirit flow back into her. ‘I really called to bring you these,’ she said. ‘Some bits and pieces that your Audrey made at school, and here’s some presents she bought for the pair of you.’
‘Aw, bless her!’ said Edith. ‘That’s lovely… Was she very disappointed that we didn’t go to see her?’
‘She was a bit upset, of course,’ said Lily, tactfully. ‘But I told her as how you’d go just as soon as you could, once Christmas is over… You’re feeling better now, are you, Edith?’
‘So so…’ replied Edith. ‘My cold’s on the mend, I’m glad to say. I’m not coughing and sneezing as much. It’s just this blessed tiredness that comes over me. Alf tells me to stay in bed, but I can’t. I’ve not been used to it. You die in bed, that’s what I tell him.’ She laughed shakily. Lily had heard her say that before.
‘You look better than you did the other day,’ Lily told her. That was true, but it was clear that she was still far from well. ‘I shall miss you, Edith,’ she went on. ‘You’ve been a real good friend to me, an’ I can’t thank you enough, you and Alf, for what you’re doing for us now.’
Edith’s eyes misted with tears. ‘Just keep an eye on our Audrey, will you, while you’re in Middlebeck? Tell her that we love her and we’ll be seeing her real soon…’
Thanks to Alf, the plans for Lily’s departure went ahead like clockwork. As he had said, there was no immediate rush to catch a train, and so they boarded one in the late morning. Alf insisted on being there to help with the luggage and to find seats for Lily and the children. He was his own boss at work, he assured her, and they would have to manage without him for an hour or two. The train was even more crowded than the one the previous day had been, but they managed to squeeze into a corner of a compartment filled with servicemen who willingly budged up to make room.
Alf kissed her cheek. ‘Chin up, Lily,’ he said. ‘Let us know how you get on. Edith’ll miss you. You’re a good friend.’
‘And so are you, Alf,’ she replied, very touched by his concern for her. ‘One o’ t’ best friends I’ve ever had…’ She watched him waving as the train moved off, then he turned and walked away, a dapper little man in a dark overcoat and bowler hat, carrying a rolled umbrella.
They ate their sandwiches and Lily looked out at the now familiar scenery. It was incredible to think she was making the same journey again, only twenty-four hours after the first one. The children dozed on and off, growing restless as they neared their destination. The telegram which Alf had sent, to the Reverend and Mrs Fairchild, had read, CRISIS AT HOME. ARRIVING BACK IN MIDDLEBECK THREE O’ CLOCK THURSDAY DECEMBER 21ST. LILY. That was allowing time in case the train should be delayed. She did not doubt that someone would meet her, most probably Patience again. But she was beginning to worry that she was being a nuisance. Supposing it wasn’t convenient… Oh dear, she did so hope that she had made the right decision…
Patience was not on the platform when she alighted, but Luke, the rector, was there, and with him there was a man she had not seen before; a grey-haired man in a tweed jacket with a cheerful ruddy face. Luke stepped forward to greet her.
‘Lily… Hello again. We’re so pleased you’ve decided to come.’
Lily nodded. ‘Yes…there’s been a problem…’
‘Yes, I understand,’ replied Luke. ‘There will be plenty of time to tell us about it later. We’re just glad that you’re here.’ He turned to the other man. ‘This is Archie Tremaine,’ he laughed. ‘Sometimes known as the squire.’
Archie held out his hand. ‘How do you do…Mrs Bragg, I believe? But I hope I may call you Lily?’ She nodded, feeling her hand enclosed in a firm grasp. She had guessed who this man might be, but she was too overwhelmed to speak.
‘Come along, all of you,’ he said. ‘You two are Joanie and Jimmy, aren’t you? I’ve heard all about yo
u. Now then, I’ve got my shooting brake outside. And…do you know what? You’re all coming to live at my house!’
Chapter Eighteen
Mrs Tremaine was there at the front of the house when Lily, helped by Archie, stepped down from the shooting brake. She greeted her enthusiastically.
‘Mrs Bragg…I’m so very pleased to meet you,’ she said, shaking her warmly by the hand.
‘Pleased to meet you an’ all, Mrs Tremaine,’ said Lily, still feeling very confused; so much so that the ‘an’ all’ had slipped out without her realising it. She did try to hard to speak properly when she was with Patience Fairchild, and she knew she should when in the company of the squire’s wife. But the lady did not seem to have noticed anything amiss.
‘Call me Rebecca, please,’ she said. ‘My husband calls me Becky, and so do some of the others, but I really prefer Rebecca. And you are Lily, I believe?’
Lily nodded. ‘Yes…I’m Lily. Rebecca’s a lovely name,’ she added, a little shyly, looking in some awe at the smartly dressed woman in the tweed skirt and pale blue twinset, with a string of pearls at her throat. She was tall and elegant with dark hair greying a little at the temples, and what Lily thought of as noble looking features; a longish nose and wide mouth and clear grey eyes. To Lily’s way of thinking she was ‘posh’, and so was her voice, much posher than that of her husband, the squire.
‘And here are Lily’s two little ’uns,’ said Archie Tremaine. ‘Joanie and Jimmy. That’s right, isn’t it, you two? And we already know your big sister, Maisie, don’t we, Becky?’
‘Indeed we do,’ said Mrs Tremaine. ‘Come on in, all of you. I’m sure you’re ready for a cup of tea after your journey, and I baked some scones this morning…’
Lily and the children followed her through the palatial hall into a large room which opened off to the side. She had thought that the sitting room at the rectory was posh, but this could beat it into a cocked hat, whatever that saying meant. It was truly elegant, like the lady of the house, decorated and furnished in varying shades of green. The floor-length velvet curtains, in what Lily thought of as a grassy green colour, matched exactly the green background of the carpet, which was patterned with black and yellow leaves. She had never seen such a luxurious suite, or one so large; two massive chairs and a sofa that could seat at least four, in dark green with chair back covers and cushions of cream linen with a crocheted edging.
‘Do take your coat off, Lily,’ said Rebecca, ‘and make yourself at home. Because this is going to be your home, as I’m sure my husband and Luke will have explained to you. That is, if you are agreeable to staying with us, you and your two lovely little children.’ She smiled fondly at Joanie and Jimmy, who, like their mother, were still very bewildered.
‘Of course we want to stay,’ said Lily. ‘It’s…it’s…well, I can hardly believe it.’
‘And we are very glad you are here,’ said Rebecca. ‘It seems…providential; I suppose that’s the word; almost like an answer to a prayer, although I must admit I hadn’t got round to saying a prayer about it.’ She laughed. ‘You deciding to come and live up here, I mean, in Middlebeck, after Sally had let us down. No…I really shouldn’t say that. It was not her fault at all, poor Sally… But, it’s an ill wind, as they say… Now, I won’t be long, Lily, then we’ll have a good chat over a cup of tea.’
Archie Tremaine, also, had disappeared for the moment, and Lily, mesmerised by her surroundings and by all that had happened, and so quickly, too, leaned back in the comfortable chair and closed her eyes. As Rebecca Tremaine had said, it was like an answer to a prayer. But Lily’s prayer, on finding a strange woman in her house, had just been an impassioned plea, ‘Oh, God please help me…’ without any real belief that He would come to her assistance.
The thought had occurred to her when they had met Bruce and his dog in the lane – when was that? Only yesterday? That hardly seemed possible – that she, Lily, would be only too pleased to take over from Sally Booth, the young woman who had had to go back home so unexpectedly; if she was suitable, of course, and if it could be arranged. She had had a feeling that the same idea had occurred to Patience as well, but neither of them had voiced their thoughts, knowing that Lily was obliged to go back to Leeds that same night. And now, by some miracle, here she was. It had actually happened. She was to live here in Tremaine House, she and the children, and assist Rebecca in looking after the land girls who would be arriving in a few day’s time.
It was Archie and Luke, between them, who had explained the plan to her on the drive up from the station. Would she be willing? Archie had asked. Would she be willing! Lily had felt like throwing her arms around him and kissing him, and Luke as well. She guessed, correctly, that it had been Patience’s idea on receiving the telegram that morning, and Luke had gone round to Tremaine House to see what Archie and Rebecca thought about it. There had been no hesitation on their part, especially when Luke had explained a little about Lily’s unhappy background. They were only too pleased to help her, and it would be solving a problem for themselves as well. And they already knew Maisie, the delightful little girl who had been living at the rectory since September.
Archie had stopped the shooting brake at the rectory gates and Luke had got out. ‘We haven’t told Maisie, yet, that you are here,’ he explained. ‘She doesn’t even know about the telegram. We thought it was best for you to get settled with Archie and Becky, and then you can explain to Maisie yourself about what has happened. It’s best coming from you, I think… Cheerio, Archie. Bye for now, Lily. See you soon; we’re so glad you’re here.’
Lily felt her eyes growing moist at the thought of the welcome she had received. But this surely must be a dream from which she would soon awaken, finding herself back in her nightmarish existence in Armley… No; she was here and it was real. Joanie was pulling at her arm.
‘Mummy, Mummy…I want to wee…’
‘An’ I do an’ all,’ echoed Jimmy.
‘Of course you do,’ said Lily. ‘How silly of me not to think about it. You must be bursting by now. Come on; let’s go and find out where the lavvy is.’
Archie, entering the room at that moment, summed up the situation and showed her to a little room to the side of the staircase. It was a wide staircase with carved oaken bannisters, which branched before reaching the upper landing. The little room was where coats and umbrellas and boots were kept, and as well as a toilet there was a little wash-basin with a nice smelling cake of soap and fluffy white towel. Lily guessed there would be a bathroom upstairs as well; maybe even more than one.
‘Eeh…I don’t know,’ she murmured, more to herself than to the children. ‘It’s just like livin’ in Buckingham Palace.’
‘Where, Mum?’ said Joanie, pulling up her knickers and and then helping Jimmy to adjust his pants; she was getting to be a very helpful little girl.
‘Where the King and Queen live,’ said Lily.
‘Do they live here an’ all then, the King and Queen?’ asked Joanie.
Lily burst out laughing. ‘No, of course they don’t. I was only saying…well, it’s posh enough for them…’
‘When are we goin’ to see Maisie?’ asked Jimmy. ‘You said we was goin’ to see ’er…’
‘Soon,’ said Lily. ‘When we’ve had our cup of tea…’
Rebecca explained, over tea, that Lily’s job would be to assist in all manner of things. There was a cleaning lady, Mrs Kitson – the mother of Daisy, Miss Thomson’s former maid – who came two mornings a week to help with what she called the ‘rough’. Rebecca was used to doing her own cooking and baking because she enjoyed it. Even when they had had the influx of evacuees, now all departed, she had done most of it, helped sometimes by Sally Booth.
‘I’m not much of a cook,’ Lily told her, thinking it was best to be honest. ‘Well, I do me best I suppose, but I’ve never really had the chance to do much fancy cooking, like.’
‘These girls won’t be wanting fancy dishes, I’m sure,’ laughed Rebecca. �
��It’s all the same if they do, because they won’t be getting them. Good old-fashioned Yorkshire fare, that’s what they’ll get.’
‘I’m a good cleaner though,’ said Lily. ‘I love dusting and polishing and making things nice and shiny. An’ I like ironing an’ all…as well. Some folks don’t like it, but I do.’ It had been a joy to her to iron the shirts of the ladies’ husbands for whom she had worked; pristine white shirts, crisp with newness, and casual coloured ones for weekends. Sid’s and Percy’s had been so grubby and stained with sweat that sometimes she could scarcely get them clean, never mind neatly ironed, and the collars and cuffs were all frayed; most times, though, they hadn’t worn collars at all.
‘I think one of our biggest jobs will be coping with the washing,’ said Rebecca. ‘I know how muddy Archie’s clothes get, and there will be twelve of these girls, possibly more. We’ve had a big washing machine installed though, in the wash-house. We had it put in when we knew that the WLA were coming here. We’ve had a supply of single beds delivered as well. Iron bedsteads; army stock, I suppose. We’ve managed to get four of them in each of the three largest rooms. It’ll be rather like school dormitories, but I expect the girls will be glad of the company. No doubt some of them will be homesick…
‘And you can have the bedroom that Sally and her children used to have. It has a nice view over the hills and across to the ruined castle… Now, would you like to unpack your things, Lily, and then Archie will drive you round to see your daughter before we have our evening meal…’
Maisie’s greeting was ecstatic. ‘Mum, Mum…’ she shouted, on seeing Lily and the two children on the doorstep. ‘And you two an’ all! What are you doing back here? Hello, Mr Tremaine,’ she added, just noticing that Archie was with them as well. Then her smile faded a little. ‘Is there summat wrong at home?’ she asked. ‘I mean…in Armley?’ She thought of Middlebeck as her home now. ‘Is it Sid, Mum? What’s he done?’ But her mother was still smiling, and so was Patience, so everything must be all right again now.
Above the Bright Blue Sky Page 28
