Love or Duty--A saga set in 1920s Liverpool

by Rosie Harris

  She could hardly believe it when he eventually told her that as long as he would assume full responsibility for Kelly’s welfare until the adoption papers were finalized there would be no further action taken and she could forget about Kelly ever having to go back to St Saviour’s.

  It brought such an upsurge of relief that she felt as if a great load had been lifted from her shoulders. The worry that had clouded her mind like a thick grey mist seemed to have cleared almost instantly.

  From then on she was able to concentrate on the final preparations for her wedding. Her mother had already organized so much that there was really very little left for her to do but she was anxious to make some last minute changes at the new house they were buying in Belgrave Street. She particularly wanted to be the one to choose the wallpaper for the sitting room and for the bedroom that was to be hers and Bryn’s.

  Penny also accompanied Bryn when he went to buy their new furniture. He was bringing several major items from his own flat in Liverpool. They would not need to buy dining room furniture but they wanted a new sofa or settee and armchairs for their sitting room. The single bed he’d used at the flat was moved up into the attic room to be used by Dillwyn Jenkins.

  Dillwyn Jenkins, a dark haired, dark eyed young girl who was to be the live-in maid was already installed. Mrs Davies had recommended her and since she came from the same Welsh village as Mrs Davies she’d promised to keep an eye on her and explain to her what her duties were.

  Dillwyn and Kelly had quickly become good friends; she had won over Kelly when she had shown unbridled delight in Kelly’s room and promised never to disturb any of Kelly’s precious possessions when she had to clean the room.

  There were also curtains, carpets and rugs to be ordered. On her mother’s advice she bought only the very basic needs for the kitchen. ‘You will get so many things of that kind as well as ornaments and bedlinen as wedding presents,’ Leonora told her.

  As they checked over the list of guests who’d been invited to the reception, Penny was disconcerted when she saw that Arnold’s name as well as that of his parents were on the guest list.

  ‘We couldn’t very well ask Mr and Mrs Watson and not include Arnold, now could we,’ her mother stated.

  ‘Well, let’s hope he doesn’t accept. I shall feel very uneasy if I know he is in the church, or at the reception,’ Penny muttered.

  Kelly was so excited by all that was happening that Penny took her along to Ellison Brothers in Liscard Village so that she could choose the wallpaper for her own bedroom. There were so many pattern books to look through and so many pretty wallpapers that Kelly took a long time to make up her mind. Penny thought she might like one with animals or even fairies on it but Kelly was reluctant. Eventually, with the help of Penny and one of the assistants, she chose one that had sprigs of wild flowers scattered over it.

  A week later Penny took her mother to Belgrave Street so that she could see for herself how very different it looked now that the final decorating had been completed and the new furniture installed.

  ‘Its transformed it from a shell into a home,’ Mrs Forshaw enthused. ‘I’m sure you and Bryn are going to be very happy here,’ she added with a warm smile.

  ‘And Kelly as well,’ Penny reminded her.

  ‘Yes, of course. I hadn’t forgotten about Kelly. You might like to have some time to yourselves, though, so why don’t you leave her with us, just for a week or so until you are settled in.’

  Before Penny could respond there was a loud knocking on the front door. Penny and her mother looked at each other in surprise.

  ‘Who on earth can that be,’ Penny said, frowning.

  ‘I do hope it’s not Bryn,’ her mother said sharply. ‘Its your wedding day tomorrow and it would be most unlucky for him to see—’

  Her comment was cut short abruptly as the kitchen door opened and Arnold Watson walked in.

  ‘I was passing and I knew you were here because there was a blue Austin parked in the driveway and I can’t think of anyone else who owns such a car,’ he said. ‘I think it must be fate working for me because I was on my way to Penkett Road with a wedding present for you.’

  Ostentatiously he held out a large flat package wrapped in shiny white paper and trimmed with silver ribbon.

  Penny hesitated. ‘I’ve already received a very handsome gift from your parents,’ she murmured making no attempt to take it from him.

  ‘This is from me; a personal gift. One which I hope will bring back memories,’ he added, a strange glint in his eyes as she took it from him.

  ‘How very intriguing, do open it, Penny. I’d love to see what it is,’ Mrs Forshaw gushed.

  Rather reluctantly Penny began to untie the silver gilt ribbon and then to remove the wrapping. Inside was a large framed picture in a heavy silver frame. As she stared at it the colour rose to her cheeks and there was anger in her eyes as she looked at Arnold.

  ‘What is it, may I see it?’ Mrs Forshaw held out her hand and Penny passed the framed picture over to her mother.

  ‘The Kiss,’ Mrs Forshaw murmured. ‘Why, that’s by Gustav Klimt, isn’t it? A very famous painting.’

  ‘This is only a print, I’m afraid.’ Arnold laughed. ‘Even with my wealth I couldn’t afford the real thing.’

  ‘It’s certainly very colourful, very expressive – and of course he’s quite a modern artist. I believe it was painted in 1908 or just earlier, shortly before the war wasn’t it?’

  She studied the picture more closely. ‘A man and woman kissing in a field of flowers. Yes, very pretty.’

  ‘Something I hope Penny will always treasure. I thought it might be rather nice for you to have in your bedroom.’ He smiled as he took the picture back from Mrs Forshaw and handed it to Penny. ‘I have a replica of it as well and I particularly like the golden halo that surrounds the couple. It brings back such wonderful memories of what used to happen and what might have been.’ He smiled again and then looked at his watch. ‘I must be off. I have an important business appointment to keep, but when I saw your car outside, Penny, it seemed to be such an admirable opportunity to give you your present and to wish you good luck for your forthcoming wedding.’

  Before Penny knew what was happening he had grabbed her by the shoulders and implanted a hard deep kiss on her unresponsive mouth.

  She was shaking so much when he released her that the picture she was still holding crashed to the floor and there was the sound of shattering glass as it hit the ground.

  ‘Oh dear, how very symbolic,’ Arnold said dryly as he bent down and picked it up. ‘Still, it is only the glass that is broken and that can easily be replaced.’

  Thirty-Three

  To Penny’s relief the fourth of April dawned sunny and promised to be quite warm; a perfect spring day. It seemed to her to be a good omen; a sign that, rather like Kelly’s adoption, everything was going right.

  After a leisurely breakfast, as she began dressing ready for her wedding, Penny’s spirits soared. Everything was working out so wonderfully well. She was reconciled with her parents and very soon Kelly would be officially in her care for ever.

  Her wedding was the pinnacle of all her dreams, she thought contentedly. She was marrying a man she truly loved; one she trusted and one who loved her and put her happiness and well-being before anything else.

  As she slipped the billowing mass of silk and lace over her head, she stood there reflecting on her good fortune as her mother fussed around her, tweaking the material this way and that to make sure every fold was in its right place.

  Although, like Bryn, she had initially wanted to have a very quiet wedding, Penny realized that so many people had become involved that the church would be packed. As well as friends and family some of her father’s business associates would be there as well as a great many representatives from the various committees that both her parents were on.

  Bryn’s family, who had travelled from North Wales to Wallasey the previous day were staying at a hotel i
n New Brighton. Bryn’s eldest brother was to be best man and his other brothers would be assisting as ushers.

  Mrs Forshaw, wearing a pearl grey outfit and a matching picture hat trimmed with pale cream artificial roses, left Penkett Road for the church with Kelly five minutes before Penny.

  Bryn and his best man, both in morning dress, were waiting at the altar steps when Penny arrived. Bryn drew in an audible gasp as Penny, looking slim and lovely in her flowing white lace wedding dress, came down the aisle towards him on the arm of Captain Forshaw who was resplendent in tails. Kelly, as her bridesmaid, was walking a few steps in front of her and looked very pretty in her pale blue dress that was trimmed with white lace.

  ‘It’s like living in a fairytale,’ Kelly exclaimed to Leonora Forshaw, her eyes shining, when afterwards they all posed for the wedding photographs, before a cavalcade of motor cars transported them all to the reception at the Grand Hotel in New Brighton.

  At the end of the meal Kelly watched in awe as Bryn put his arm around Penny’s waist and more photographs were taken when together they cut the impressive three-tiered wedding cake.

  ‘I wish I could come with you,’ Kelly sighed dreamily when Penny, who had now changed out of her wedding dress into her going away outfit of a pale blue tweed suit and soft white jumper, rejoined them a little later ready to leave for their honeymoon in Scotland.

  ‘I’m afraid it is not allowed,’ Bryn told her gravely. ‘You have to be the one to stay here and look after Captain and Mrs Forshaw. We also want you to make sure that Dillwyn has our new home in Belgrave Street all ready for us when we come home.’

  ‘You are going to let me live there with you?’ Kelly asked anxiously as Penny hugged her and kissed her goodbye.

  ‘Of course we are; for ever and ever. You have even chosen which room you want and how it was to be decorated,’ Penny reminded her.

  ‘Yes, we are all three going to live there happily ever after,’ Bryn promised as he kissed the top of Kelly’s head.

  Kelly’s smile returned. She stood on the footpath between Captain and Leonora Forshaw, along with Bryn’s family and other friends, waving until Penny and Bryn’s car turned the corner and they were lost from view.