In the Bleak Midwinter

by Stan Mason

  He turned away with an element of remorse. Poor Elsie! She knew the timbers in those upstairs rooms were dangerous. Why did she go up there? Was it deliberate or was it an accident? He went to a nearby bus stop in a confused state of mind. He couldn’t enter the house to collect his clothes now... not with the police there. Damned stupid woman! Why did she have to do a thing like that? If she wanted to commit suicide, why did she simply take an overdose of tablets or put her head in a gas oven? Despite his callous thoughts, he was deeply distressed to learn that she had died. At that moment a bus came along and by the time he had reached his destination the shock had started to wear off. He paused at the door of Teddy’s apartment and pressed the doorbell firmly but he had to wait a long time before she answered the call.

  ‘Oh, no!’ she complained ill-temperedly. ‘Not you again! The only place I want to see you is in the office.’

  He put on a sad face and lowered his eyes like a neglected dog. ‘You don’t understand,’ he explained miserably. ‘I’m standing here penniless with only the clothes I’m standing in.’

  ‘You’re breaking my heart,’ she mocked coldly.

  ‘I mean it!’ he insisted. ‘It’s the truth!’ He moved back from the doorway as she advanced waving a pair of curling tongs at him. ‘I thought you were my friend,’ he bleated with a tearful break in his voice and an injured expression on his face.

  For a few seconds she stared at him strangely and then relented, sighing slowly as though she knew that she would regret it. ‘You’d better come inside, I suppose. look at the state of your clothes!’

  He took her by the elbows and drew her towards him. ‘You won’t regret this,’ he promised.

  ‘I already have,’ she retorted, pulling herself away from him. ‘Go to the bathroom and get tidied up!’ She left him and went directly to her bedroom, slamming the door behind her. The man whose eyes and brutish manner scared her was coming too close to her in life. His capricious nature were features that she had never encountered before in any other man for he always seemed to portray an unhealthy aura of danger and excitement.

  A little later, she went into the lounge to find him seated on the settee. He smiled at her noticing every detail. He smiled at her noticing every detail of her immaculate hair, the carefully applied make-up, the jewellery and smart clothing. ‘You’re a perfectionist,’ he commented. ‘You are such a beautiful woman.’

  She stared at him with contempt. ‘You look as though you slept on a park bench. Come on, we have to get to the office!’

  The smile faded from his face and he became serious. ‘Teddy,’ he began inquisitively. ‘Why did James take me on as an apprentice? Does he want to use me for a particular purpose? One that I might not like.

  Mr. James is one of nature’s honest people.’ she responded earnestly,. ‘You don’t need to fish for information where he’s concerned.’

  ‘How can you be so sure,’ returned Ivan, failing to be satisfied. ‘Where do I fit in?’

  There was a long pause as she dwelt whether or not to answer him. ‘He hasn’t said anything to me about you.’

  ‘Why should he?’

  ‘Because I’m his wife, that’s why! I’m Mrs James!’

  The Russian stared at her as though he had been hit by a steam-hammer. ‘Oh, Hell!’ he blasphemed loudly, recalling the intimate incident between them ‘What have I got myself into this time?’

  ‘Mind you, we haven’t lived together for three years,’ she explained calmly. He employs me as his secretary and pays me handsomely but we lead separate lives. I know that the Botallack mine was in his family for many years and that he wants it back. Recently he learned it was being sold. He’s desperate to find the deeds which will prove that it belonged to his father and now belongs to him. He’ll need a lot of support from you if he’s to regain control. Come on, we’ll be late!’

  A short while later he sat in James’s office with the mining consultant and scanned the man’s face.

  ‘James’s’ wife,’ he thought to himself. ‘What a fool he had been to have allowed himself to become physically involved with her. And what about James himself? Was he immune to other men sleeping in her apartment all night even thugh the didn’t live together any more. After all, she was still his wife! .

  ‘You know I intend to use the Stannary Law procedure to gain control of Botalllack,’ revealed the consultant. Ivan remained impassive waiting to hear his role in the escalating battle. ‘In Cornwall and Devon, there exists local mining law which, in respect of mining, smelting, and dealing in tin, equal those of the national Parliament at Westminster. It’s called Stannary Law. It differs in origin and content to the Common Law of England which governs other industries. Although the use of the Stannary Court relates to mines and their work, it rarely involves the sale or purchase of mines. Nevertheless, such omissions should not be taken that our case is lost.’

  ‘How much will it cost to do that and how will you get the money to pay for it?’ asked the Russian.

  ‘If the winds are in our favour and we can prove that my ancestor owned the mine, it might const us a minor Court fee. As to the second part of the question, I have approached the Bank of Commerce for a loan. I have an account there.’ He continued to outline his plan on how he intended to pursue his claim for the mine which enthralled Ivan . He wanted to visit the mine to get the feel of it and to prepare to face the challenge ahead,

  Eventually he left the office and approached Teddy with a doleful look in his eye. ‘It’s going to be very interesting,’ he told her, ‘but first I have to find a place to stay.’

  ‘I left the switchboard on so I heard your conversation,’ she revealed.’ The trouble is that legal fees might stump him. They’re very high. ‘ She looked up to check whether he was sympathetic to the problems faced by the firm or merely concerned with his own selfish desires. It was clear that the latter predominated so she switched tack. ‘I could provide you with a list of cheap hotels and boarding houses if you like.’

  ‘They don’t take non-paying guests,’ he retorted unfairly. Let’s cut to the chase. Why don’t you let me stay with you at your apartment? Just for a short while until I find somewhere.’ Her eyes flickered but she failed to respond. ‘For the same of Mr. James! For the same of the firm!’ he added cheekily. ‘You can’t really let either of us down!’

  ‘I don’t want to hear all that sentimental rubbish!’ she riposted sharply. ‘Emotional blackmail has no effect on me!’ She paused for a moment to think. ‘Okay!’ she said reluctantly.’ But it’s for two weeks only. After that, you’re out! Do you understand?’

  He kept a straight face wallowing in the wealth of victory and moved his hand towards her shoulder, intending to touch it gently as a token of friendship, but she brushed it off quickly as though it was a large tarantula. He may have been successful in finding temporary accommodation but their relationship was back to square one again!

  ***

  Peter and Anna were relocated as a separate family deep in the heart of a southern part of Cornwall. Anna was a very good mother. She directed most of her energies to looking after little Ivan taking exceptional care of him. By now, the child had begun to utter a few words and occasionally broke into a stream of unintelligible dialogue causing much amusement. Anna was very happy with her offspring, deriving a great deal of joy and pleasure but her mind was always preoccupied with his welfare and never shifted to the state of her own appearance. Her hair was always drawn back tightly, held by a large hairpin at the back, and she still wore the same old clothes which had not only become faded in colour but had frayed at the edges. The fact did not escape her husband although he avoided raising the issue for fear of upsetting her. In due course, he felt that she had forgotten the love that she had for the past leader, Ivan, and that now they were a complete family. One Saturday he returned home from work at the farm with a determined ex
pression on his face.

  ‘We’re going to town to buy you a new dress!’ he exclaimed with conviction.

  She hesitated before shaking her head which dampened his enthusiasm. ‘I don’t want to take the little one to town, Peter,; she told him with concern. It’s too crowded and dangerous. All those motor cars and people.’

  He scoffed at her fears. ‘Anna... really!’ he guffawed. The cars will be on the road. We’ll be on the pavement.. It’s so long since you bought yourself a new dress you’ve forgotten the fun of it.’ He continued to press until she agreed reluctantly.

  They drove along the country lane in a horse-drawn gig that he had borrowed with the baby gurgling with delight as they jolted up an down as the vehicle bumped along the uneven roads. The cottage was soon left far behind. The town itself had changed very little over the past fifty years. with the miscellany of shops and houses being dwarfed by a steep hill masking the horizon. Contrary to any fears the sound of the traffic pleased the child who revelled in the noise and Anna motioned to her husband to stop the vehicle down a side street. Peter alighted and hung a bag of oat over the horse’s head.

  ‘Come!’ he commanded gently helping both of them down from the gig. ‘Now we shall buy you a lovely dress!’

  The walked down one of the side streets, merging with the Saturday afternoon crowd which jostled with interest as they stared into the shop windows. Suddenly Peter felt a noise like a buzz-saw pass through his head and he found it difficult to breathe in the middle of a tightly-packed mass of shoppers. For a town dweller, the hustle and bustle of the throng was the normal pattern of life in the High Street at the weekend. However, as a person who was brought up and lived in the country, contact with people was rare. Consequently, he found the restriction of movement and the loud babble of noise extremely distressing. Without warning, the world seemed to spin rapidly in front of him and he swayed forwards and backwards calling out productively in Russian.

  ‘Vinovat!’ he apologised in his native language. ‘Vinovat!’ He managed to moved to the side of the road, pulling Anna with him, and wiped the perspiration from the back of his neck with a large white handkerchief. ‘I’m not used to being with so many people,’ he told her still distressed.

  Anna calmed his down and the baby seemed to sense the problem bursting into tears forcing his mother to jiggle him up and down to settle him. ‘Let’s do what we have to do quickly and then make our way home,’ he concluded.

  He stuffed the handkerchief into his pocket and they made their way down a much less crowded street. They looked into the windows of a dress shop and Anna began to feel excited as she viewed the array of garments on display. Peter, who felt much better now, smiled as he stared at the expression on her face as he stared at one of the dresses and imagined what it would look like on her. He mused that if he told her to buy the most expensive gowns in the shop, she would probably buy the cheapest and vice versa.

  ‘Why are we standing in the street?’ enquired her husband flat. ‘I feel much better now. Let’s go in. The dresses will look far better on you than they do on those dummies in the window.’

  She showed him the prettiest smile and took hold of his arm to hug him and lead him into the shop. He sat down on a chair holding the child while a female assistant came over to assist Anna in her choice. He stared out of the window watching the crowds starting to stream down the street on an endless gigantic conveyer belt and turned to find himself confronted by his wife holding a dress over the front of her body.

  ‘Do you like it?;’ she asked sweetly.

  He view the garment critically and nodded uncertainly. ‘It’s all right,’ he told her unenthusiastically.

  ‘He doesn’t like it,’ she told the assistant, passing the dress back to her. They drifted to the back of the shop and looked through the merchandise. She suddenly picked a dress of the rack and her eyes opened widely. ‘Don’t say anything!’ she whispered to the assistant. ‘This is the one! I want to surprise him wearing it.’ She disappeared into the changing room and drew the curtain behind her. Peter’s favourite colour was red and this dress was superb. She cast off her old clothes and slid her fine body into the gown Then she sidled out of the changing room to move behind her husband who was still staring out of the window. ‘How do you like me in this?’ she asked surprising him.

  He turned his head slowly and his eyes widened like saucers. ‘Fantastic!’ he exclaimed with admiration. ‘You look fantastic.’

  She paraded around the shop like a model to give him a better view and he could hardly take his eyes off the lovely figure of his wife in the wonderful new red dress hardly believing that he had married someone so remarkably beautiful. She turned and walked towards him, the shimmering red colour ostensibly setting her on fire.

  ‘If you’re not certain, I’ll walk around some more so you an get used to me in it,’ she told him, having decided that it was the dress she really wanted. As she moved towards the back of the shop and spun round, tossing her head in the air, a strange glint appeared in her eyes. At first, Peter thought it was a reflection of the light but he was wrong. Anna stopped and stiffened, her mouth partly open in surprise. She stood as still as a statue for a few moments with her nostrils flaring then, darting towards the door, she pulled it open fiercely, running out into the street.

  ‘Ivan!’ she called out at the top of her voice. ‘It’s you! It’s you!’ Oblivious to the crowd and the traffic, she fought her way through the mass of people, pushing, heaving, kicking and thrusting to get to the other side of the street.

  Peter sat petrified, holding the baby in his arms. His anxiety increased at the sound of a motor horn followed by a squeal of tyres and the noise of metal crashing into metal. He turned away from the window holding the child closely to him, hardly daring to learn what might have happened... fearing the worst! His face paled as white as a sheet and he stood there trembling as the assistant took the boy from him. Surely it couldn’t happen twice to a man in his lifetime... that his wife was killed in a motor vehicle accident! There was his first wife and her lover and now Anna! The crowd closed into on the accident with morbid curiosity masking every detail so that he had no idea whether or not his wife was involved.

  ‘What can you see?’ he asked the assistant with trepidation holding his head in his hands.

  The woman shook her head slowly. I can’t see anything,’ she told him unhelpfully.

  He stood up to look out of the window to find any evidence of the red dress but it was nowhere to be found. Two cars had pulled to the side of the road and the traffic began to flow smoothly again. The crowd began to clear but Anna wasn’t there... she had disappeared!

  Ten minutes later, Peter left the shop. He had grown tired of waiting aimlessly and paid the assistant for the red dress before leaving. Eventually he made his way back to the gig only to find his wife sitting on the passenger’s seat. He approached her without speaking, laying the baby on her lap. The red dress had seemingly lost all its attraction especially as it was torn badly at the knee. Anna’s mind was distant until he passed the baby to her then her eyelids flickered to herald her return to the living world and she glanced mournfully at Peter’s face.

  ‘I’m so ashamed!’ she cried pitifully. ‘So ashamed!’ She burst into tears, sobbing as her husband removed the feedbag from the horse’s head, climbed into the driving seat, and drove the vehicle homeward bound.

  The journey back to the cottage seemed to last a lifetime but not a word was uttered between them. There was no doubt that the incident would remain a blight on their happiness for a very long time for she still had an affinity for Ivan and Peter now knew how she truly felt!

  ***

  Teddy felt unduly discomforted by the fact that Ivan was sharing her apartment with her. He was a rough diamond, audacious, untamed, impatient, immature, arrogant and impulsive. She mused that, contrary to any other person she
knew, it was hard to find any qualities in his favour. After they had eaten their evening mean in comparative silence, the room was left in semi-darkness, lit by a single electric lamp on a small table. Ivan sat on the floor with his back against one of the large armchairs which Teddy sat opposite him in a similar position.

  ‘Life is strange,’ he philosophised. ‘You’re married, separated from your husband, and I’m an itinerant student engineer who never completed his studies. What are we doing here? I should be building bridges in Russian. You should be caring for your husband with a brood of children around you.’ She failed to respond, slightly heady from the brandy she had imbibe. ‘I meant what I said,’ he continued to comment. ‘You’re very attractive.’ He moved forward to kiss her on the lips but she turned her face away sharply to prevent him from doing so. Her action angered him and he refused to let is pass. ‘That’s your trouble, Teddy,’ he persisted. ‘You never want to get emotionally involved, do you?’

  She giggled as the brandy took hold of her. ‘You’re getting very annoyed, aren’t you?’ she countered, teasing him, ‘and I’m going to have a terrible headache tomorrow.’

  He watched her slide gently sideways in a stupor and a shaft of moonlight cut through a gap in the curtains across her face as he rose and switched off the electric lamp. Even with her hair in disarray she looked very attractive. He pressed his lips on hers without receiving a flicker of response and began to move his hands over slowly and gently over her body to excite her. Suddenly a surge of resistance featured at the back of his mind. ‘To Hell with it!’ he muttered to himself. ‘Someone has to teach her a lesson!’ He struck her extremely hard on one side of her face with the flat of his hand before doing the same to the other side. Then he picked up a vase containing an array of flowers from a small side-table, tossed the blooms across the room, and poured the water over her head and shoulders. She spluttered and choked, sitting up sharply to catch her breath.