Flowers on the Mersey

by June Francis

  ‘Thanks.’ She wandered back into the house.

  Rebekah followed. Not long after that her father called that it was time to go. She walked down the front path to where he waited with Joshua, who held out his hand. ‘The Samson will be sailing tomorrow. Until next we meet, Rebekah.’

  ‘What?’ she asked in a vague voice, thinking that it was too late to get the name of the ship to Daniel. She could only hope.

  ‘Sometimes I come over to America on business,’ he answered, squeezing her fingers.

  ‘Oh, I see!’ It seemed ages since she had actually thought of what it would be like in America. ‘That will be nice,’ she added politely, freeing her hand and moving to the other side of the gate.

  He raised an arm in farewell and as they turned the corner into the main road, she was aware that he still stood at the gate, watching them.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Daniel had not been on the landing stage and although Rebekah scoured the decks, staring at every sailor she encountered, she had not seen him anywhere on the ship. As she gazed at coasters and dredgers, ferry and cargo boats, tall liners and tiny river craft, her vision blurred. He must not have been able to find the right ship in time. Or else – terrible thought – he had not wanted to. She felt quite desperate, especially when she caught a glimpse of Seaforth. The tide was in and although she could not be sure of exactly where they had walked and made love, she had not forgotten what it felt like. She tried not to think of never seeing Daniel again but could not stop. She scrubbed at her eyes and was aware of her mother weeping by her side. She could no longer bear her own thoughts. ‘Mama, shall we go to our cabin?’

  ‘In a minute.’ Her mother wiped her face with a handkerchief and then blew her nose. ‘I’m sorry to be such a misery but it’s just really hit me that I’ll never see Liverpool again. When I went to live in Ireland, I always believed that one day I’d return.’ The tears flowed again and the next words were muffled by her handkerchief. ‘But America, Becky! We’ll never come back from there!’

  ‘We might,’ said Rebekah in bracing tones, determinedly quashing her own misery and slipping a hand through her mother’s arm. ‘Never say never, Mama.’

  Her mother sniffed and dabbed at her nose and eyes again. Rebekah thought of Daniel’s words about leaving Ireland and wondered sadly if the Americas were full of emigrants still mourning the countries they had left behind.

  They passed down a companionway and Rebekah barely noticed that her mother’s colour was changing until she felt her pressing her arm and saw that her face looked clammy and pallid. They managed to reach the cabin before Sarah was sick in the basin. Rebekah helped her to undress and soon had her lying between the sheets in the bunk bed. She rang for the steward and cleaned out the basin before sponging her mother’s face and hands. The steward came and soon her mother was comfortably settled with a couple of arrowroot biscuits and a cup of weak tea.

  Her father arrived from seeing one of the officers. ‘Not feeling so good, Sal?’ He patted the hand lying on the cover. ‘Don’t think about it. Mind over matter and you’ll soon feel well enough to see over the ship,’ he said cheerfully.

  ‘Not yet I won’t,’ muttered Sarah, giving him an exasperated look. ‘You’ve never been seasick, you’ve no idea. Pass me my bag, Becky. There’s a book I can read. And I need my glasses.’

  Her husband frowned and sat sideways on the bunk. ‘Joshua arranged with the captain for us to see over the ship. One of the perks of my new job, Sal. I’d like you to come.’

  ‘Well, I’m not.’

  ‘It’s not until after dinner. You might feel better then.’

  ‘I won’t,’ she said determinedly.

  ‘You’re not sulking, are you?’

  She looked at him. ‘What would be the use? Take Becky.’

  ‘Me!’ Rebekah had no desire to be in her father’s company.

  Her father glared at her. ‘And why not, miss? If you think you’re going to be let loose on this ship to flirt with all and sundry, then you’ve got another think coming! You’ll come with me and like it.’

  ‘I might come but I certainly won’t like it!’ retorted Rebekah, handing the book to her mother.

  ‘Like it or lump it,’ muttered her father, his eyes narrowing. ‘You are definitely coming. It could be useful to you in the future. Mr Green bought the ship from one of the big companies and changed her name. She was designed and built at Harland and Wolff’s Belfast shipyard and used to carry first and second class passengers.’ His voice had risen as if he was trying to impress the knowledge into her. ‘He’s had her converted to transport single class emigrants, knowing he couldn’t compete for the upper-class tourist trade. He’s just had oil-fired boilers installed. It’s a good investment! Coal’s a bulky, dirty fuel to load and carry. Try and remember all that, daughter! It might come up in conversation in shipping circles and you’d know what a man was talking about. A man likes a woman who can listen intelligently, instead of babbling on about mermaids wanting to be painted.’

  ‘Mr Green knew it was a bit of fun,’ she said hotly. ‘He probably hears enough about boilers and engines in his office.’

  Her father stared at her and there was that pinched look about his mouth again. ‘This is one of the times when I wish you’d been a boy!’

  ‘Being a girl was hardly my choice,’ she said, tilting her chin. ‘You can blame that on God.’

  ‘That’s enough, Becky,’ murmured her mother, without lifting her head. ‘Go with your father and give me a bit of peace.’

  Rebekah wanted to say more but considered her mother was upset enough at leaving Liverpool. She went with her father to dinner and ate the soup, roast lamb and tapioca pudding with a lack of her customary enthusiasm for food, taking little notice of the company at their table. Afterwards, her father steered her hurriedly to the bridge.

  It soon became obvious to Rebekah that the officer, Mr Eaton, who was acting as guide on their tour of the ship, was out to please her father. He listened with flattering attention to all his questions and she wondered what the job was that her father had mentioned. The way Mr Eaton was behaving, her father could have been buying the ship!

  They climbed down into the engine and boiler rooms. The pumps were slightly noisy and there was a strong smell of steam and oil. It was hot and Rebekah felt a bit sick as she politely tried to pay attention to the conversation between her father and the second engineer as they discussed valves, pistons, pressures and boilers. Depression clouded her spirits. As her eyes roamed the pipes which seemed to snake everywhere they fell on one of the overalled men. His eyes were fixed on her, the whites gleaming in a face that was shiny with sweat and smeared with grease. A smile drew oily lines in the grease and her misery evaporated. She could hardly believe it but she had found Daniel!

  Rebekah glanced at her father and jumped when she realised he was watching her. Quickly she looked away and smiled at Mr Eaton, praying that she had not given the game away. She forced herself to look subdued and followed her father up the ladder out of the engine room. Even so, her mood was buoyant. Daniel had done it! He must really care! He had told her to trust him and backed his words up with action. Hallelujah!

  As she stood in the tiny space that housed the ship’s wireless, she wondered how he would be able to get in touch with her. It had to be soon! Mr Eaton, who it turned out was a cousin of Mr Green, was at her shoulder, telling her about the advantages that a smaller ship could have over the larger liners when it came to knots per hour. They could be in New York within the week. Rebekah had expected it to take much longer and the news gave a greater sense of urgency to thoughts of seeing Daniel.

  When the tour came to an end her father gave Rebekah no chance to escape but took her upper arm in a grip so tight that she winced. ‘I saw the way you were looking at Mr Eaton, my girl, and I’m telling you now that I have someone better in mind for you.’ He gave her a shake. ‘Just behave yourself! I haven’t forgotten what happened in Dublin an
d I’ll not be having you making a name for yourself among the crew!’ He slackened his grip slightly. ‘Now let’s go and have our tea.’

  She stared at him defiantly. ‘I’m not hungry, Papa.’

  ‘I’ve paid for this food so you’ll eat it,’ he said, his fingers tightening again on her arm. ‘Now, move.’

  She moved, realising that it was unlikely that Daniel would have left the engine room yet.

  She was toying with a smoked herring, thinking of how she was to get away from her father, who was talking engines to the man opposite him, when a pleasant-looking girl with auburn hair twisted in a knot on the top of her head, grimaced and said, ‘All this talk of engines is double dutch to me, even though me brother Pat’s a deckhand on the Gideon. A sister, or brother, whatever you call it, to this ship. Yer’d sure and think I’d have picked up some know-how, wouldn’t you?’ she said in a Liverpool accent.

  ‘I beg your pardon?’ said Rebekah, gathering her wandering thoughts.

  ‘My name’s Brigid O’Shaughnessy.’ The girl’s eyes were warm. ‘The trouble is I never listened to Pat when he chunnered on. All I need to know about a boat is that it’ll get me to where I’m going. Not that I was in any rush to leave Liverpool, but as my Keith said, they promised him a land fit for heroes. And while round Mere Lane isn’t too bad, it’s hardly Paradise. Even so I kept telling him it was home, but he wanted a better future for our kids when we have ’em, so I had no choice but to pack me bags and come.’ Tears welled in her eyes and her voice wobbled when she spoke again. ‘He might be right, but I’m already missing Mam and me sisters.’ She sniffed and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. ‘He’d like a bit of land to farm, and a cow. I’m not keen on cows. I’ve lived next door to the dairy all me life and the smell was something awful at times. They’re dangerous as well.’ She nodded sagely. ‘One of the cowmen had his eye flicked out by a cow’s tail. That wasn’t much fun for him, I can tell you.’

  Rebekah suppressed a giggle. ‘Do you have to keep cows?’

  Brigid raised her eyes ceilingward. ‘It’s what he wants! But I’ll get to work on him. You can change a man if you go the right way about it, so Mam always said.’

  Rebekah gave up all pretence of eating the smoked herring. ‘Are there lots of things you want to change about him?’

  ‘There’s never been a perfect man.’ A dimple appeared in Brigid’s cheek. ‘Are yer leaving someone behind?’

  Rebekah glanced in her father’s direction. ‘There’s someone. Papa doesn’t approve.’

  ‘Dads are like that.’ Brigid’s tongue darted out, licking the jam at the side of her mouth. ‘I used to nip down the yard to the lav meself and sneak out the back way.’

  ‘Not a bad idea.’ Rebekah smiled and stood up, murmuring her excuses to her father. He nodded but told her that he’d expect to see her back in the cabin in ten minutes. She smiled a goodbye to Brigid and left.

  Rebekah walked the promenade deck but saw no sign of Daniel. He was not in the general saloon either. She wondered whether the crew were allowed in such places. Continuing her hunt she gazed through the door of the smoking saloon and withdrew her head, coughing, after a hurried review of the few men’s faces present. She was starting to believe she was wasting her time and that Daniel must still be down in the engine room when he came up a companionway, talking over his shoulder in an emphatic voice. He stopped in mid-sentence when he saw her and there was a brightness in his eyes.

  She felt as if the whole of her body was smiling and without hesitation flung her arms around him. ‘I’m so glad to see you!’

  ‘Same here.’ He hugged her.

  ‘I was so worried Papa might have recognised you.’

  ‘I’d heard he was coming so I had my disguise ready.’

  She spoke against his shoulder. ‘Your own mother would hardly have recognised you.’

  ‘But you did.’ He held her off from him and her smile deepened.

  ‘You were staring at me.’

  He grinned. ‘You had the best legs in the engine room!’

  ‘You shouldn’t say things like that,’ she said demurely. ‘You’ll have me blushing. How did you find the ship?’

  ‘I had a mate check the passenger list – then I signed on. Crazy though it might be.’

  They continued to stare at each other, smiling until a voice said, ‘Danny, isn’t this the girl who was in Dublin? Did she tell her father about us and that’s why you said—?’ Rebekah jumped. It was Shaun.

  Daniel frowned. ‘No, she didn’t. Her and me are none of your business. Go for a walk and I’ll find you later.’

  Shaun did not move. ‘Mam would want me to be looking out for you, and I know for sure your taking up with a Quaker wouldn’t be to her liking.’

  Daniel’s mouth tightened. ‘Go away, Shaun.’

  His brother jingled the change in his pocket. ‘I knew she was trouble as soon as I saw her.’

  ‘It’s you that’s trouble,’ said Daniel grimly. ‘Now, go.’

  He scowled. ‘What about our business? I hope she’s not going—’

  ‘She has nothing to do with our business,’ said Daniel emphatically. ‘And if anyone was going to get us into trouble, it would be you!’

  Shaun’s face reddened and he scuffed his feet before turning and walking away. He looked back several times with an angry expression.

  Daniel pulled Rebekah down on to a bench. ‘I’m sorry about that.’

  ‘It’s all right,’ she said in a low voice. ‘I understand why he doesn’t want me around. But what’s he doing here?’

  ‘He’s the only brother I’ve got left. I thought it less likely that he’d get into trouble if I brought him.’

  ‘Papa might recognise him. You’d better warn him.’

  He nodded, ‘I never thought.’

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ she said softly, squeezing his hand.

  ‘Let’s forget them both. I’ll enjoy seeing your pretty face after being down in that hellhole every day. But don’t expect to see much of me. We work long hours.’

  ‘I’m just glad you’re here.’

  ‘Me too.’ He stared down at her and she wondered what he was thinking, just before he kissed her in a manner as starved as her own.

  It was the sound of children’s voices that caused them to draw apart. As soon as the girls and their mother had passed they turned to each other again, but the sight of a man coming up the companionway to stand at the rail, puffing his pipe, was enough to make Rebekah draw back. ‘You’ll have to go,’ she whispered, ‘it’s my father.’

  Daniel looked down at her. ‘D’you think I’m the kind of man to run from your father?’

  She lowered her gaze. ‘Do it for me. If he discovers you’re on this ship, there’ll be terrible trouble. I know him, you don’t.’

  There was silence and her father turned his head and glanced idly about. She pressed herself against the back of the bench, hoping that Daniel’s bulk would conceal her, and did not dare look in her father’s direction again.

  ‘I’ll go,’ murmured Daniel, ‘I’ve a few hours before I’ve to be down in the engine room again. If you can make it, we can meet on the boat deck after supper.’

  She nodded. ‘I’ll find a way.’

  He turned up his jacket collar and went in the opposite direction from her father. She watched him go, thinking that some women were being emancipated but that didn’t make most of them any freer than in Victorian times.

  Her heart thumping, Rebekah rose to her feet and went over to her father, standing at the rail.

  He turned and frowned at her. ‘Your hair’s a mess. What are you doing here? I thought you were going to see your mother.’

  ‘I got lost.’ Relief lightened her voice.

  ‘After having a tour round the ship?’ he said sarcastically. He prodded the hollow beneath her collar bone with the stem of his pipe. ‘If I catch you flirting, you’re in trouble.’

  ‘You won’t catch me, Papa,’ s
he retorted.

  ‘What’s that supposed to mean? That you think you’re too smart for me?’ His eyes narrowed as he put his pipe back into his mouth and his teeth bit into the end.

  ‘No, Papa. I mean that I have no intention of flirting with any man,’ she said, adding with a self-assurance that she was far from feeling, ‘You should trust me, Papa.’

  ‘Hmmph!’ he grunted. ‘Let’s go and see your mother.’

  Sarah still showed a wan face. ‘Was it a good tea?’

  ‘Kippers, and bread and preserves. I didn’t eat much.’ Rebekah sat on her bunk and spoke about the people at their table, but it was not long before her mother’s eyes closed and she dozed off. Rebekah sighed and hoped that she would be able to get away after supper.

  At the dining table Rebekah got into conversation again with Brigid, who asked her, ‘This fella you spoke about, will he be following you out?’

  Rebekah whispered, ‘I’m seeing him after supper. He’s one of the engineers.’

  Brigid’s brows arched. ‘Oh! So you haven’t left him behind.’ Her voice was low. ‘Is he your first boyfriend?’

  Rebekah’s head lifted. ‘My first real boyfriend.’

  Brigid smiled. ‘Well, yer probably in luv with luv, as me mam used to say. Enjoy it while it lasts, but be careful because yer know what they say about sailors.’ At that point in the conversation her husband nudged her arm and she turned to him.

  Rebekah noted that her father was talking to someone else and swiftly left the dining room.

  Up on the boat deck she looked about for Daniel. The wind was cold and it was almost dark. She shivered and huddled inside her coat. Suddenly a hand seized hold of her shoulder and she was pulled into the space between two lifeboats. She trembled as she held up her face to Daniel’s kiss. Was this being in love with love? Would it pass as Brigid had warned her? She did not want it to because it was wonderful.

  His head lifted and he rubbed his cheek languorously against hers. ‘You had no trouble getting away?’

  ‘No. Although—’

  ‘Good.’ He undid a couple of buttons on her coat and she remembered what Brigid had said about sailors. He looked down at her, and there was the slightest gleam in his eyes. ‘You don’t mind?’