by June Francis
Teddy closed the door quietly and crept to the bend in the stairs. He peered over the bannister and could see the maid and the man on the landing below. He had Kitty’s bunch of keys and was opening one of the guest rooms.
‘I’ll see yer later at Morry’s place,’ whispered Hetty. ‘I’m going off now.’
The man nodded and slid inside the room. Excitement almost choked Teddy. Here was the thief who had been burgling the neighbourhood and he, Edward Ryan, had spotted him. Perhaps there was a reward for his capture? What to do? The last thing he wanted was to enlist the big fella’s help.
The man came out of the guest room and went into the next. Teddy crept further down the stairs but had to shrink back as the man came out onto the landing once more and headed downstairs. Teddy followed swiftly. From the second stairway he watched the man go over to the top of the first flight of stairs and stand there a second before walking back and unlocking another door. It was obvious to Teddy that the thief knew which rooms were occupied and which were not, and that had to be down to Hetty.
Teddy decided there was only one thing for it. He would have to trail the man. He was debating whether to risk going upstairs for his shoes when the man came out and went downstairs.
Teddy followed in a rush, scared of losing him. In his haste he slipped on the stairs and, despite all his efforts to save himself, slithered to the bottom. He landed in the lobby with most of the breath knocked out of him. The man glanced at him and dropped the keys on the chiffonier, rushing for the front door.
‘Stop thief!’ gasped Teddy, scrambling to his feet and staggering towards the kitchen. ‘Help! Help!’
The kitchen door opened. ‘What on earth’s going on?’ demanded Kitty.
‘There’s been a burglar upstairs, Ma. He’s just escaped. We’ll have to go after him,’ cried Teddy.
Kitty hurried towards him as John appeared in the kitchen doorway. ‘What’s going on?’
‘Teddy says there’s been a burglary.’ She put an arm round her son. ‘Are you all right? You look a bit dazed.’
‘I fell downstairs. I wanted to catch him.’
John said in exasperated tones, ‘Typical! It’s Sexton Blake as I said.’
‘Love, show a bit of sympathy,’ said Kitty, smoothing back Teddy’s hair. As her eyes went from her husband to her son’s face, she was remembering the atmosphere when they had arrived home earlier that day. She had longed to ask what else had gone wrong between them but her instincts had told her it would be a mistake.
‘I’m OK, Ma.’ Teddy scowled and pulled away from her. ‘We have to go after him!’
‘You’re not going anywhere,’ said John.
The Smoking Room door opened. ‘What’s all the commotion?’ asked a bedding salesman from Lancashire.
‘Nothing,’ said Kitty, pinning on a smile.
The man puffed on a cigar. ‘The lad looks poorly.’
Teddy forced a smile. Having grown up with the knowledge that guests had to be protected from unpleasantness at all times, he knew the procedure. ‘I’m fine.’
‘Yer don’t look it, lad.’
‘I’ve got naturally pale skin,’ lied Teddy.
‘This is getting us nowhere,’ muttered John, and headed for the front door.
‘Something else wrong?’ said the salesman.
Kitty smiled. ‘It’s my son’s pet mouse. It’s escaped.’
‘Oh dear! Don’t tell the ladies.’ The man vanished inside the Smoking Room.
‘Do you think you can catch him?’ whispered Kitty, hurrying after John and followed by Teddy. ‘I wonder what he got away with?’
‘It must only be small stuff. He wasn’t carrying anything,’ said Teddy.
‘Small stuff can be valuable.’ John stood on the pavement looking about him. ‘If I knew what he looked like I might be able to do something. You should have come and told us as soon as you suspected something, Teddy.’
Resentment sparked in the youth’s eyes. ‘I couldn’t risk it! I can tell you that he has big ears and carroty hair and Hetty’s in cahoots with him.’
Kitty and John exchanged looks. ‘So we were right,’ he murmured. ‘I wonder if she’s gone straight home.’
‘She’s gone somewhere called Morry’s,’ said Teddy.
‘That saves a trip to her house straightaway.’ John smiled. ‘Morry’s, Morry’s,’ he murmured. ‘Sounds familiar.’
‘Shouldn’t we call the police?’ said Kitty. ‘We can’t keep this from the guests.’
‘Let me and Teddy have a walk down the Mount first and see if we can spot him,’ said John. ‘Come on, lad.’
Teddy would have liked to refuse. He could have made the excuse that he only had slippers on but he did not want to miss out on anything so he did his best to keep up with John’s long stride. With a certain reluctance, he asked, ‘How did you know Hetty was involved?’
‘She was snooping around upstairs a few weeks ago. Can you see anyone who looks like the man?’
Teddy stood in Ranelagh Place, watching the people coming and going. He shook his head. ‘He must really have legged it.’
‘He would with you shouting thief!’
Teddy’s ears went red and he turned and padded away from John, wishing he had not told him about Hetty and Morry’s. The big fella could have been on his way to Hetty’s house by now and he and his ma could have gone to the police station. He would have been a bit of a hero bringing such information.
Kitty was waiting for them at the front door. ‘You didn’t catch him then,’ she said in a low voice.
‘No sign,’ said John.
‘We’d best go the police station then,’ said Teddy.
‘We?’ said John, his eyebrows shooting up. ‘You’re not going anywhere, me lad. You can get to bed.’
Teddy opened his mouth to argue but Kitty said, ‘John’s right. You had that fall. You’re best in bed.’
‘But I don’t want to go to bed,’ shouted Teddy. ‘I’ll miss all the excitement and it was me that told you about the thief!’
‘You’ve had enough excitement,’ said John. ‘Don’t argue and get up them stairs.’
Teddy opened his mouth but Kitty gave him a warning look and, almost in tears with rage and disappointment, he stomped up the stairs.
Kitty turned to John whose face was screwed up in concentration. ‘I’ll have to tell the guests, love.’
His eyes met hers and he smiled. ‘Leave it as long as you can. This Morry that Teddy mentioned. I’m sure I’ve heard the name before, up Scottie Road way. I’ve a feeling he owns a pawnshop. Why don’t you just wait for the guests to discover the thefts? If they’re only small valuables they mightn’t notice they’re missing until the morning.’
That’s wishful thinking, thought Kitty, but kept her mouth shut.
‘I’ll go and take a decko at the place. I might just catch up with them.’ added John.
‘You’ll be careful?’ she said, instantly worried.
‘I’ll be careful.’ He kissed her lightly and went off down the road.
Kitty closed the door behind him and hurried into the kitchen to make the supper drinks which were now extremely late. She was surprised no one had come looking for her to complain. She took them in, having decided that she would wait until the thefts were discovered and take matters from there. She was glad that there was only a few guests and, feeling guilty at keeping quiet, she served the drinks swiftly before going upstairs to the attic to check on Teddy.
She was about to open the door when she was suddenly aware of movement and whispering inside. The next moment the door opened and all three boys came out.
‘And where do you think you’re going?’ she hissed, folding her arms across her chest.
‘To catch the burglar!’ piped up Ben, his eyes bright. ‘I know where he is.’
‘Big mouth,’ groaned Teddy and poked him with his elbow.
‘Don’t do that,’ said Kitty automatically and fixed her stare on her youngest son. ‘How do you know
?’
Ben pressed his lips firmly together but Mick said excitedly, ‘Ma, you’ve got to let us go. Ben followed Big Ears the day Dr Galloway was burgled!’
‘I see,’ she said, giving Ben a severe look. ‘What have I told you, me lad, about wandering off?’
‘It was only a game,’ he said with a sigh.
‘Thieving isn’t a game,’ she said strongly. ‘Have you all forgotten Charley?’
They exchanged looks and shook their heads.
‘There you are then! Anyway, there’s no need for you to go playing heroes down Scottie Road. Ah, that surprised you didn’t it?’ she said as they all started. She allowed herself a triumphant smile. ‘But you don’t know that the big fella has a good idea where this Morry’s place might be and he’s gone there.’
Their faces fell. ‘He’s always spoiling our fun,’ growled Teddy.
Kitty frowned at him. ‘Do I have to repeat this isn’t a game?’
‘Then why has the big fella gone there?’ demanded Mick. ‘He should have informed the police instead of charging off himself.’
Teddy nodded. ‘Mick’s right. What if they bash the big fella over the head and they get away?’
‘They’re not going to bash him over the head,’ said Ben with a positive jerk of the head. ‘He’s too big.’
‘The bigger they are the harder they fall,’ murmured Teddy, gazing at his mother.
‘OK!’ said Kitty, giving in to her fear. ‘We’ll go to the police with the information, just in case.’
Her sons exchanged looks and Mick said, ‘I suppose it’s better than being sent back to bed.’ And they crowded round her as she went downstairs.
‘Someone should stay and hold the fort,’ she whispered as she pulled on a jacket and looked at Mick.
‘Awww! Don’t be mean, Ma,’ he protested. ‘The burglars have gone and this place isn’t going to run away.’
She relented and they left the hotel, closing the door quietly behind them.
Everything happened much quicker than Kitty expected because they had not gone far when they met a policeman on his beat. She explained what had happened and in no time at all they were at the police station and she was giving a statement. A police car was dispatched to Morry’s place and they were allowed home.
There were a couple of irate guests for her to soothe when she arrived back but the news that the identity of the thieves was known, and that it was likely that their property would soon be recovered, helped her in her task. She saw the boys to bed and then sat waiting for John to arrive home.
It was one-thirty in the morning before her husband returned. Kitty made toast and cocoa and did not ask any questions until they were both settled on the sofa in front of the fire.
‘Well? Did they catch them?’
‘Red-handed.’ John’s teeth crunched into a slice of toast. ‘The police have suspected for some time that Morry’s might have been acting as a fence for stolen goods but had never been able to trace anything to him. I had a lecture on taking the law into my own hands, but as they arrived before I’d done much, I didn’t take any notice.’ He smiled at her and pulled her against his shoulder. ‘Everything’s been recovered and the police’ll be here in the morning to sort everything out.’
‘Well, I hope they do it discreetly,’ murmured Kitty, pleased by the news but wondering just what her husband had done for the cause of justice in the pawnshop.
‘I did manage to bring something away with me.’ He placed his cup on the floor and drew from his pocket the locket which had belonged to her mother.
Kitty’s eyes widened and the fact that Hetty had stolen from her somehow made the whole thing worse. ‘The bitch! I should have got rid of Hetty ages ago but with her being sort of family I gave her more second chances than I should have.’
‘You’ve got rid of her now and it’s Teddy you have to thank for that.’ He pulled a face.
‘You’ll give him a few words of praise,’ she said lightly.
‘He went about it all wrong,’ he said.
She looked at him. ‘Fair’s fair, love. If it wasn’t for him, as you’ve just said.’
‘OK!’ He rested his head against the back of the sofa. ‘I’m thinking it was a good job you had your money in your corset.’
‘Me too.’ She smiled and added, ‘Fasten my locket on for me.’
John did so, kissing the back of her neck before easing her against his shoulder and undoing her blouse and slipping his hand inside. ‘You’re going to have to get a new maid.’
‘Hannah!’ said Kitty, closing her eyes and enjoying his touch. ‘I trust her.’
‘But she’s Becky’s maid! You can’t just snaffle her.’
She sat up abruptly. ‘Ah, but I know Becky only took her on because she felt sorry for her and they don’t really hit it off. Besides, Becky wants someone younger.’
‘We could do with someone younger. How about offering Celia the job?’
Kitty turned her head and stared at him. ‘Are you mad? Hannah’s experienced and she’s a hard worker.’
‘Celia’s young and a worker too.’
‘Her and Mick are like May and June! I have it from Hannah’s lips.’
‘Take the two of them on then. I bet Hannah won’t let Celia get away with canoodling with Mick on the stairs.’
Kitty half smiled, imagining what the elderly maid might say if she caught the two young ones kissing. She felt young herself tonight and remembered a film she’d seen a few weeks ago with Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonald called Love Me Tonight. ‘I’m wide-awake,’ she said.
‘Me too.’ He glanced at the clock, which stood at two, and pushed her against the cushions, kissing her. Relief, excitement and exhilaration filled them with exuberance not caution.
Afterwards as she lay in bed, Kitty thought they had never made love like it. Lovely! It had been lovely! And if they hadn’t made a baby during it, then surely they never would.
Chapter Thirteen
Kitty was sitting in the O’Neills’ garden a couple of evenings later. Sarah was out of earshot, pushing her youngest sister Siobhan on the swing, whilst Rebekah’s eldest, David, and Ben, were playing in the tree house built in the branches of the old oak that shaded Kitty and Becky from the sun. It was an idyllic setting and for a moment Kitty thought how lovely it would be to have a garden and more time to relax, but the thought passed. For too long her ambition had been making the Arcadia the best hotel of its kind in Liverpool.
‘Of course you can have Hannah,’ said Becky with a grin. ‘Your need is greater than mine. I’ll give that servant bureau on Mount Pleasant a visit, I’m sure they’ll be able to find me someone pretty quickly. I pity Celia, though, if she does agree to work for you. Hannah gave me a rough time with the boys years ago. Although, if I’m honest, she’s mellowed a bit since then.’ She began to tell Kitty something of her youth but the tale was cut short when Siobhan fell off the swing and her screams caused them to wince. Both women rushed to pick her up but Kitty reached her first and soothed her whilst Sarah looked on.
‘Sarah pushed too hard,’ wailed her sister who, despite her tear-stained face, still managed to look like an angel with fair curls and brown eyes.
‘I didn’t! You’re just a crybaby,’ said Sarah, sticking out her tongue.
Becky slapped her. Sarah pressed her lips firmly together and flounced away to climb the rope ladder to the tree house. Her mother called her to get down but was ignored.
‘Be thankful, Kitty, you don’t have daughters,’ said Becky, shaking her head at Sarah and taking her youngest into her arms. ‘They can be right cats and real secretive. Boys are much more open.’
Kitty did not doubt it but it did not put her off wanting a daughter. If she could manage three boys she could cope with one girl. If only! She had her fingers crossed and was praying for a baby girl.
With Hannah promised for the following week, Kitty’s next task was to find out if Celia would leave the Galloways and come
and work in the hotel. She decided to give her eldest son the task of asking her.
Mick concealed his delight over Kitty’s proposal extremely well. He’d had some idea of what was coming because Ben had told him what he had overheard whilst up the O’Neills’ tree. Ben was not at all pleased about the elderly maid joining them because he had not forgiven her for threatening to cut off Twitchy’s tail, but the mouse’s fate was the last thing on Mick’s mind that summer afternoon in 1933. ‘I’ll ask Celia, Ma. But you do know she’s got kind of fond of the Galloways.’
Kitty smiled. ‘I’m sure you’ll be able to persuade her.’
Mick was sure of that as well, and went in search of his love. He found Celia brushing the steps outside Dr Galloway’s house. She seemed to be in a dream and appeared not to have noticed him. ‘Hiya!’ he said, waving a hand in front of her face.
She blinked and slowly a smile replaced her rather sombre expression. ‘What are you doing here?’
‘I’ve a message for you.’ He paused for effect, although he was almost bursting with the news. ‘Ma wants you to come and work for us.’
Celia could scarcely believe it. ‘Say that again?’
Mick repeated the words. ‘Well, what d’you think? You’ll come won’t you?’ he said eagerly.
She rested her chin on the end of the broom handle and did not speak for several moments. ‘I don’t think I can,’ she said slowly.
Mick could not believe it. ‘What do you mean you don’t think you can? Of course you can,’ he protested. ‘It’ll be better than your working here. Remember what you said months ago about it being really interesting working in an hotel?’
‘I haven’t forgotten.’ Celia lifted her head and began to sweep dust towards the gutter. ‘But Miss Geraldine coughed up blood this morning. It was awful to see her suffering. She clung to me hand – and afterwards told me how fond of me she was and how lovely it was to have someone young about the place. She’s only twenty-two, you know.’
He stared at her with a sinking heart. ‘You’d be best getting out of that job, Cessy. I’m surprised the doctor hasn’t got her into the consumption hospital on the corner if she’s that bad.’
