‘You like working at that clinic, don’t you?’ Dan said while Bella mumbled something incoherent by way of response.
‘Happen one day though, other events in your life might be more important.’
She glanced up at him, her hair rumpled from his fingers, eyes dazed by the depth of her emotion. ‘Happen they will,’ she teased, ‘but I shall always want to be involved with the clinic. You must understand that.’
‘I do.’ Smiling softly, he pulled her tighter into his arms. ‘So long as I’m right up there, at the top of your list, I’m happy.’
On fine Saturday afternoons, Edward and Jinnie would sometimes join them for a picnic and they’d laugh and giggle together, because they were young and in love, without a care in the world.
‘You know that Tilly and Sam have been given their notice,’ Jinnie whispered as the two girls walked arm in arm along the Flower Path in Seedley Park.
‘Oh lord, I was afraid something of the sort might happen. Poor Tilly. Has she found another place yet?’
Jinnie shook her head, saying that the last anyone had seen of Tilly was when she caught the tramcar home to her grandmother in Irlams o’ th’ Height. ‘I doubt she’ll be welcomed, not unless she’s a regular wage in her hand.’
‘Poor Tilly. We can’t let her end up in the workhouse. We must do something for her.’
‘Save some of your sympathy for Edward. He still hasn’t found a job and your Pa isn’t the man he was. There’s something else worrying him, I can tell. As for your mother -well, she point blank refuses to enter the portals of the kitchen so Mrs Dyson stays, no matter what. I do Tilly’s job, which suits me fine. It makes a change from winding wool and threading needles.’ And the two girls were giggling again as if it were no more than a silly nonsense and not a serious state of affairs at all. But then Bella had suffered her fill of problems recently. She really felt it was time she had some fun, for surely this slump couldn’t last. There’d be work enough for everyone come the spring, she was certain of it.
One bright Saturday afternoon in late autumn, Dan and Bella caught the number thirty-four tram to Belle Vue, marvelling at the fireworks and the set battle pieces. This time they went alone, Jinnie and Edward saying that, cheap as it was, they couldn’t afford such treats. Not until he’d found himself a job. Dan was still getting regular work down at Salford docks and it seemed strange to Bella that Dan should suddenly be better placed than her brother. As if the world had indeed turned upside down. She started to protest that she could afford to pay her own way, thank you very much, but recognising the stubborn light of pride in Dan’s eyes, managed to bite back the words just in time. She knew better now than to risk offending him by showing too much independence. Besides, they were young and in love. What did a tram fare matter anyway? That chip was still there, hard and fast upon his shoulders, and she’d no wish to cause offence or hurt him in any way.
Another time he took her to the Salford Hippodrome to see a Christmas Spectacular, otherwise known as a pantomime. Bella laughed at the Ugly Sisters till her sides ached and almost got hit with a custard pie as one skidded off stage. She’d never had so much fun in all her life which thus far had seemed to be made up almost entirely of duty and responsibility, of seeking opprobrium from her adored father as well as fending off Emily’s imagined woes and crises. For all she regretted these difficulties with her family, it was good to be reminded that she was still a young woman with a zestful appetite for life.
Apart from her days out with Dan, her daily routine continued as busy as ever, if not more so. Bella marvelled at how well her colleague coped with a medical practice as well as the Mothers’ Clinic. She truly was a treasure and there were no real problems now. Even the local press had gone quiet, perhaps because they could find nothing more to complain of at present as the whole operation seemed to be running so smoothly.
In the weeks leading up to Christmas Bella realised she had spoken too soon. Dr Syd became increasingly harassed with yet another round of ‘flu victims as the clinic was locked in the grip of an epidemic. This put extra strain on all the staff as they felt duty bound to visit patients in their own homes, if only to check that all was well and that they were receiving the care they needed.
The local papers had a field day. ‘Mothers’ Clinic is unhygienic!’ screamed one. ‘Don’t get pregnant, get sick!’ yelled another and, as with all other publicity which had been meant to harm them, the articles brought a fresh flood of eager disciples to their door. ‘How will we cope?’ cried the overworked Dr Syd, who looked far from spry herself.
‘We will cope because we must,’ answered Bella, aching in every limb, just as if someone had beaten her black and blue all over.
When Nurse Shaw herself took sick, there seemed to be no help for it but to consider the unthinkable. The clinic would have to close.
‘Nay, thee can’t do that,’ Violet protested. ‘What about all them women who aren’t ill with the ‘flu. They still need you. What about asking your Doctor Lisle, see if he’ll help.’
‘Over my dead body,’ Bella protested. ‘And he isn’t my Doctor Lisle.’
‘No, but he’d like to be,’ joked the irrepressible Mrs Blundell.
Fortunately, Dr Syd heard of a student nurse who’d helped her in the past on a part time basis and Bella went to see her. She was called Diana Crompton. She was young, pretty, hard working, and most important of all willing to volunteer for a few hours duty during her free time from the hospital. The girl arrived at her first clinic the very next Tuesday morning on the dot of nine, as instructed. Once she was settled in and seemed to be coping well, working with smooth efficiency beside Dr Syd, Bella hurried off to begin her morning calls, leaving Violet and Mrs Blundell to counsel the new patients.
That same dinner time Quinn strolled into the little pie shop at precisely the moment that the pretty young nurse came hurrying down the stairs, thereby managing to accidentally knock her flying.
‘Aw, now aren’t I the clumsy one? Will ye look at what I’ve done. Knocked all yer bag and papers on the floor, so I have. Let me help you pick them up. Are ye all right?’
‘Yes, I think so.’ The young nurse lifted her eyes to his, ready to assure him that she was fine and he heard the slight intake of breath.
Quinn offered his most dazzling smile and knew with the certainty of experience even as he suggested that he owed her a drink at least, by way of recompense, that this girl would refuse him nothing. This girl would be putty in his clever hands. And wouldn’t Isabella Ashton be sorry, then?
It was one Thursday evening in late November that Bella spotted a shadowy figure standing beneath the gas lamp across the street from the clinic. Not Dan this time but Billy Quinn. She’d recognise those hunched shoulders and that slouch cap anywhere, not to mention the thread of blue tobacco smoke. He glanced up at the window and Bella drew quickly back, heart pounding, not with desire but from recollection of their last, alarming encounter. She was not easily frightened yet Quinn’s behaviour that night had shaken her to the core. As she watched, Bella heard Nurse Crompton call goodnight and clatter down the stairs. The next moment the girl walked across the road, straight into Billy Quinn’s arms.
Bella agonised all the following week over whether she should speak to Diana Crompton. It surprised her that she didn’t feel in the least bit jealous but was concerned for the young student nurse, and angry with Quinn. He mustn’t be allowed to ruin this young girl’s life as well. Hadn’t he done enough damage to Bella’s own, and to Jinnie’s?
No more than eighteen or nineteen, she seemed pleasant and friendly, was gentle and trusting, probably because she came from a sheltered background and possessed a warm heart entirely suited to nursing. In Quinn’s terms, she was ripe for the plucking. Bella decided she would be doing her a favour if she could only break things up between them before matters got too advanced. But it must be done with tact. The very worst scenario would be for Bella to blunder clumsily in, seeming to interfere in
her life. This might only result in a perverse rebellion, which the young were prone to.
She could always dismiss her, save for the fact that Nurse Crompton was a volunteer, working for the clinic for no reward other than out of the goodness of her heart. And since her recovery from the ‘flu, Nurse Shaw was now nursing her brother and nieces, who also had gone down with it. She wouldn’t be back for another two weeks at least and then only on Tuesdays for a while, she’d told them, because of her other commitments. Besides, even if Bella insisted Nurse Crompton was no longer required, which would easily be recognised as a lie, that wouldn’t necessarily prevent her from continuing to see Quinn. It might even make the situation worse as Bella would have no way then of protecting her.
Each day Bella meant to search him out at his favourite places in order to tackle him on the subject, to tell him to leave the girl alone. Yet each day she avoided the task. As eagerly as she had once used to rush to Quinn’s side, now she felt anxious to avoid him at all cost. Unable to decide what to do, she called on Jinnie for advice. Jinnie’s response was not encouraging as she reminded Bella of what little notice she herself had taken of well meaning intervention. Bella accepted the truth of this, and admitted that confrontation with the young nurse might not be the best approach.
‘Besides, Quinn is the one causing the problem, the one still interfering in your life, albeit indirectly, so he’s the one you should tackle,’ Jinnie bluntly told her. ‘But don’t ask me to do it. I’ve enough on my plate. Besides, Edward wouldn’t want me seeing Quinn again and I’ve no intention of even taking the risk of losing what I have with my lovely husband.’
‘What you’re saying is that I’ve got myself into this mess, so I can get myself out of it.’
Jinnie’s expression was bleak. ‘Nay love, don’t put it quite like that.’
‘How else can you put it? It’s true.’
‘I would help you, if I could, only... I can’t. I really can’t.’ And unable to bear the disappointment in Bella’s eyes, Jinnie turned and hurried away.
The very next Thursday evening when Diana Crompton arrived at the clinic as usual, Bella could sense in her that same pent-up excitement she herself had used to experience just before a meeting with Quinn. It alarmed her now to observe another fall into the same trap.
‘Nurse, I wonder if you could stay on late tonight. I have some paperwork to do and I really could do with your help.’
The girl looked stricken, her young face naked in its disappointment.
‘You didn’t have any other plans, did you?’
She seemed to mentally shake herself, give a tremulous smile. ‘Well...’
Bella gave her shoulder a conciliatory pat. ‘Sorry, but what with the ‘flu epidemic and Christmas coming, poor Dr Sid has had enough on her plate recently. It’s desperately important that we catch up on these record cards, or we’re going to end up in a hopeless muddle.’
‘Of course, I’ll be glad to help.’
Quinn was again leaning against the lamp, head cocked to one side as he constantly cast sideways glances up at the window; waiting impatiently for his new love. Bella felt sick remembering how she had once ached with need before every meeting with him. Quinn, however, had very quickly found a replacement.
And then it dawned on her that he wasn’t waiting for the young student nurse at all. He knew Bella often stood at this window, her favourite place to watch the world go by; that he’d seen her there the previous week watching for Dan, and was actually challenging her to come down and speak to him. Bella was suddenly quite certain that he’d only started seeing Nurse Crompton in order to take his revenge on her.
Her fear now curdled into a bitter anger. She hated Quinn for having put her in this impossible position and there was only one way out. Since she must save the poor girl from herself, Bella must take the risk and play the game through to the end.
She did not make the mistake of rushing across the road to meet him. Instead, she waited in the cook shop doorway, knowing he would come to her. The ploy clearly irritated him but he came nonetheless.
‘So, ye’ve come to yer senses at last, have ye?’
She refused to even discuss the matter until they’d found a quiet corner in the Ship and Quinn had placed a glass of port and lemon before her. Bella told him then, in no uncertain terms what she thought of his heartless treatment of the nurse and that she knew exactly why he was behaving in such a despicable manner. ‘You’re a cold-blooded, evil-minded cad and I won’t allow you to get away with ruining a young girl’s life, just to get your own back on me.’
‘Flatter yerself, do ye not?’
‘Are you trying to pretend that it’s pure coincidence that, having failed to seduce me, you are now courting my nurse?’
‘She’s a pretty little thing.’
Bella screwed up her fists into tight, fierce balls, wishing she had the courage to plant one in the middle of his arrogant face. ‘Why are you doing this?’
He took his time answering, lighting a dog end with a match he struck against the heel of his boot, drawing on it deeply. The smoke blew out through his nostrils as he spoke. ‘Well, as ye’ve rightly guessed, I’d much rather have yourself, Bella, than some eejit nurse. Aren’t you and I the perfect pair? All ye have to do to save this little colleen from what ye clearly see as my terrible clutches, is to agree to come out with me again. That’s not too much to ask, is it?’
‘Not for the world would I ever agree to such a thing. It’s over between us. I’ve come to my senses at last.’
Quinn got to his feet and in a leisurely, unhurried fashion, finished his beer in one long swallow then wiped the froth from his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘Aw I think ye’ll change yer mind on that one, Bella my lovely, when ye’ve had time to reconsider. After all, as ye say yerself, she’s pretty, and we wouldn’t want aught to spoil that fresh young beauty, would we now?’
Bella sat speechless with rage as he strolled calmly away, hands in pockets, whistling softly. By the time he’d reached the door she was on her feet. ‘Quinn!’ She shouted to him above the noise and chatter. ‘Don’t you dare touch her. I’ll not be bullied by you ever again, nor have you bully her. I’ll see you in hell first.’
He didn’t reply, barely paused long enough to listen, simply chuckled softly to himself, pulled open the door and continued on his way. The other drinkers all turned to gaze upon her in fascinated horror, appalled that a woman should elect to even enter a public house, let alone shout out at the top of her voice in such a brazen fashion. What was the world coming to?
Stubborn to the last, Bella sank back into her seat to calmly finish her drink, which she felt in dire need of after her outburst.
Unable to think of any other solution, Bella did speak to Diana Crompton and warned her off Quinn, with the same kind of bluntness that Jinnie had used upon her. It seemed the only way. The girl went white to the lips then, pressing them firmly together, responded exactly as anticipated, stating very succinctly that it was her life and she would do exactly as she pleased with it. She even accused Bella of jealousy.
‘Just don’t ever say that I didn’t warn you,’ Bella told her with a sad shake of the head when all attempts at further persuasion failed.
Diana Crompton was madly in love, young and hot headed and had every intention, she informed Bella, of moving into Quinn’s house on Bromley Street. Bella felt sickened at what might happen to this foolish young girl, and all because of her. Yet she’d no intention of allowing Billy Quinn to win. She refused the girl’s notice, at first asking her to stay on at the clinic and finally insisting that she couldn’t leave until they’d found a replacement. The girl must be saved, against her will if necessary.
In the end she went to see her parents. Mr Crompton came at once to the clinic and gave his under-age daughter a thorough dressing down in front of everyone. She burst into noisy tears, confessed that despite being besotted by him, she was also nervous of going against Quinn’s wishes, whe
reupon she was promptly gathered safely into her father’s arms. After this touching reunion, the girl was taken safely back home and Bella breathed a sigh of relief. At least she had succeeded in rescuing another victim from Quinn’s wickedness.
Quinn continued to linger under the lamp every Thursday evening, gazing up at the clinic from beneath the neb of his slouch cap. He was waiting, Bella realised, for her to come down and tell him that she’d changed her mind, that she would see him again after all. Courting the young nurse had been only the opening skirmish in this battle. He was letting her know that he could wreak much greater havoc on her life, should he choose to. Bella resolved not to flatter his vanity by allowing him to see she was concerned. She would waste no more of her energy on the likes of Billy Quinn. What more could he do? He had no hold over her whatsoever. And in the weeks before Christmas she became far too busy to give him more than a passing thought.
Chapter Twenty-One
It had become a part of Bella’s self-imposed duties in the community to raise money each year to provide treats for children most in need. In the summer they would be given a week’s camping holiday at Lytham St Anne’s or on a farm in North Wales. Much of the money for this was provided by local firms who also supplied the transport to take the children on their trip. In the winter the grind of daily life grew ever harder with the constant battle against the cold and damp, on top of the worry of where the next hot meal was coming from. Simeon had, for several years, sponsored the Christmas Breakfast, a treat greatly looked forward to and enjoyed. This always took place on Christmas Day at the chapel schoolroom, where a hundred or more children would be fed on bread and sausages. Bella had always relished sharing the task with him, readily going along to help.
The Favourite Child Page 25
