The Dollmaker's Daughters

by Dilly Court

  ‘That’s right,’ Billy said, nodding in approval. ‘You got to eat for two now.’

  Rosetta swallowed a mouthful. ‘Not for long. Don’t think I’m going through with this, Billy. I’m going to get meself fixed up.’

  Dropping his sandwich, Billy leapt to his feet and grabbed her by the arm, his face dark with fury. ‘Don’t you never say such a thing again, Rose. Don’t you even think about doing something so bloody stupid.’

  ‘Let me go. It ain’t nothing to do with you.’

  Billy tightened his grip. ‘Now you listen to me, Rosetta. You go to one of them back street butchers and you’ll end up dead. I know, because I seen it happen to someone I cared about.’

  ‘Was you the father?’

  ‘No, but the girl was me sister. I watched her die and there weren’t nothing that anyone could do to save her.’

  ‘I’m sorry, of course I am, really sorry, but that don’t give you the right to tell me what to do.’

  Taking her by the shoulders, Billy shook her hard. ‘It is my business because I’m going to take care of you and the nipper. We’re going to get spliced all legal and proper – unless you got any objections, that is.’

  It was not the most romantic of proposals. Looking into Billy’s eyes, Rosetta saw that he was in deadly earnest, and although her instant reaction was to refuse him, she could not think of one single reason why she should not accept.

  ‘So what d’you say, Rose? Will you marry me?’

  Rosetta shrugged her shoulders. ‘Don’t mind if I do.’

  Billy wrapped her in his arms, his mouth seeking hers in a long, slow kiss. Recoiling at first, with the memory of Alf’s beery breath and wet mouth still uppermost in her mind, Rosetta found to her astonishment that Billy’s kiss was something quite different. His lips were firm, teasing and yet tender, patient and yet demanding. He slid his fingers through her hair, holding her head so that she could not escape, and to Rosetta’s surprise she found that she did not want to. Sliding her arms around his neck, she relaxed against his firm young body, parting her lips with a sigh.

  ‘I love you, Rose.’

  Billy’s mouth was hot on her neck, kissing the column of her throat while his hands caressed her breasts. She could feel the buttons of her blouse popping open beneath his eager fingers and the cold air chilled her naked flesh. Suddenly it was not Billy but Alf who was kissing her with mounting desire; it was Alf and not Billy who slid his hand beneath her skirt, feeling for the private place between her legs. Wild with panic, Rosetta pushed him away. ‘No. No. I can’t.’

  Sitting back and running his hand through his hair with a perplexed frown, Billy stared at her then he smiled ruefully, shaking his head. ‘You’re right, Rose. This ain’t going to be a hole in the corner affair. I want you like I’ve never wanted anyone before but we’ll do it proper and wait until we’re legally wed.’ Getting to his feet, he picked up her blouse from the floor where it had fallen in a crumpled heap and laid it on the bed beside her. ‘Get dressed, ducks. We’re going round to see your mum.’

  Once again, Rosetta felt as though her life was being taken away from her and organised by those about her, as though she were a child without a say in her future. Mum and Granny Mole wholeheartedly supported Billy’s intention to make an honest woman of her. Sitting in her mother’s cramped living room, unable to get a word in edgeways as Mum and Billy made arrangements for the wedding with Granny Mole throwing in her usual unhelpful remarks, Rosetta was beginning to feel as though she must be invisible. It was decided that Lottie should be made to pay for the whole thing, since she was always so keen to show off and it was all her fault anyway. Granny Mole said it was not to be one of them Roman Catholic dos with Father Brennan insisting that the nipper had to be brought up in the Faith like it had been when Sarah and Aldo were married. Billy said he didn’t mind if the ceremony was conducted by a witch doctor, so long as it was legal. No one bothered to ask Rosetta what she wanted, and before she had time to protest, Sarah had decided that she would go and see the local vicar and then sort the rest out with Lottie. Of course it had to be done quickly, before Rosetta began to show; after all, there were plenty of seven-month babies in Tobacco Court, which was quite respectable, not like them in Spivey Street who dropped babies like litters of puppies, never knowing who had fathered them. Naturally, Rosetta would need a new dress, and again Lottie would have to pay. Granny Mole and Sarah, once started on a theme, were as unstoppable as the Thames at flood tide.

  ‘I got business to do,’ Billy said, winking at Rosetta and backing towards the door. ‘Can’t hang about now I’ve got a family to support.’

  Rosetta got up, intending to follow him.

  ‘And where are you going, Rose?’ Sarah turned on her with a fierce frown.

  ‘With Billy, Mum.’

  ‘Sit down,’ Sarah said, wagging her finger. ‘There’ll be none of that there until you’re married.’

  ‘But, Mum …’

  ‘No,’ Billy said, hooking his arm around Rosetta’s shoulders. ‘Your mum’s right, ducks. Anyway, my place ain’t fit for you to stay in. You’ll be better off here.’

  ‘That’s right,’ Sarah said. ‘And when you’ve tied the knot you’ll both live here. I’ll move in with Ma and Elsie and you two can have the bed that me and Aldo shared for thirty years.’

  ‘What?’ Rosetta heard her voice rise to a shriek. ‘Don’t I get no say in all this?’

  ‘No,’ Granny Mole said, pointing a finger at her. ‘Girls what ain’t no better than they should be get what they deserve.’

  Rosetta turned to Billy, who was already halfway out of the door. ‘Billy!’

  ‘Don’t worry, love. It’ll all come right. Trust Billy Noakes.’

  The door closed behind him. Rosetta turned on her mother. ‘I’ll not be treated like this.’

  ‘There’s always the workhouse,’ Granny Mole said darkly.

  ‘Think yourself lucky that you’ve got a decent bloke what’s prepared to take on another man’s bastard,’ Sarah said, snatching up her shawl and bonnet. ‘I’m going to have it out with Lottie and you, miss, can stay here and make a bit of dinner for your gran.’

  ‘I’m not a skivvy,’ Rosetta said, tossing her head. ‘Where’s Elsie? Ain’t that her job?’

  ‘Elsie went out early delivering the clean washing and she’ll be bringing back the soiled things. She’s been a good help to me, Rose, and when the baby comes she can look after it while you go out and get yourself a proper job. We’ll have no more of that theatrical nonsense.’ Slipping her shawl over her shoulders, Sarah marched out of the house, closing the door with an emphatic bang.

  ‘Prancing about on the stage,’ Granny Mole said, glowering. ‘Just look where it’s got you.’

  Struggling to hold back a torrent of harsh words, Rosetta snatched up her jacket and slammed out of the house. Let the old witch get her own dinner.

  Ruby! Rosetta’s first thought was to find her sister. She arrived at the hospital hot and breathless, desperate to see Ruby and quite unprepared for the cold reception she received from the senior nursing sister. No matter how much she pleaded and wheedled, Rosetta came up against a solid wall of officialdom. Probationer nurses were not allowed visitors during working hours and Nurse Capretti was not due off duty until nine o’clock in the evening. Personal matters must be conducted out of the hospital and on her own time. Determined not to go home, Rosetta walked back to Billy’s place and, finding the door locked, she sat down on an upturned bucket in the empty stable, waiting for him to return.

  She had lost count of time, but it seemed as though she had been sitting in the smelly stable for hours. Getting to her feet, Rosetta paced the floor, raging inwardly at the stroke of misfortune that had brought her to this. Just a couple of days ago she had been heading for stardom in the theatre, earning good money and independent of her family, and now she felt as though her life had come to an abrupt end. She could imagine no worse punishment for her folly than hav
ing to live back at home, with Mum, Gran and Elsie, not to mention Billy and the baby, with the daunting prospect of yearly pregnancies to follow. Never had the future looked so bleak.

  ‘Miss Rose.’

  Rosetta stopped pacing and spun round to see Elsie standing in the doorway. ‘If they’ve sent you to bring me home you’ve wasted your time.’

  ‘No, I guessed where you was and him in the baker’s shop told me where Billy lived. I brung you this.’ Shyly, Elsie held out a scrap of cloth wrapped round a hunk of bread and cheese.

  It was a long time since breakfast and Rosetta was ravenous. ‘Ta, Elsie.’ As she bit into the bread, she realised that Elsie couldn’t take her eyes off the food. Suddenly guilty, Rosetta divided the bread and cheese in two, handing a share to Elsie. ‘This was for your dinner, wasn’t it?’

  ‘You was always good to me in Raven Street. I wanted to do something for you.’

  ‘Well, you can,’ Rosetta said, smiling. ‘You can go home and tell me mum that Billy’s looking after me now so she’s not to worry. I’ll come and see her when I’ve got me wedding band to flash in front of the neighbours. Can you remember all that?’

  With her mouth full of bread and cheese, Elsie nodded.

  Billy had not returned by the time Elsie set off for Tobacco Court and Rosetta decided to go looking for him. It should be easy enough to find him if she kept her eyes open for his old piebald horse and brightly painted cart. It didn’t take her long to track him down in a pub at the end of Cable Street. Rosetta found him in the public bar doing a deal with a shifty-looking man over a pint of bitter.

  ‘Rose, what the bleeding hell are you doing here?’

  Rosetta flashed him a dazzling smile. She could feel all eyes upon her and hear the murmurs of admiration as she strolled up to the bar. Sensing the appreciative audience, it was almost like being on stage at the Falstaff. Standing very close to Billy, Rosetta fluttered her eyelashes. ‘I couldn’t bear to be away from you, darling.’

  A small cheer rippled round the bar, with a few whistles thrown in.

  Pushing his cap to the back of his head, Billy took a bow. ‘Keep your mince-pies off her, lads. This lady’s took.’ Grabbing Rosetta by the arm, he pulled her to one side. ‘Are you mad? Walking out alone in this area? I thought you was staying at your mum’s.’

  ‘Well you thought wrong,’ Rosetta said, snatching her arm free.

  ‘Come outside.’ Still smiling, Billy wrapped his arm around her waist and walked her out into the street. ‘Now then, Rose?’

  ‘I ain’t going home and you can’t make me.’

  ‘But I thought we agreed …’

  ‘No, Billy. You and me mum agreed, but I never.’

  ‘What am I going to do with you, girl? You can’t stay at my place and that’s that.’

  Spotting a glimmer of sympathy in his eyes, Rosetta cuddled up to him. ‘Let’s not wait for the wedding band, Billy. Find us a nice cosy room with a proper feather bed and a coal fire and bugger the rest of them.’ Reaching up, she brushed his set mouth with butterfly kisses until his lips parted in a reluctant smile.

  ‘Well,’ Billy said, drawing her closer. ‘I just done a good deal. I can afford it, although I was going to save the money for our honeymoon.’

  ‘Why wait?’ Rosetta whispered in his ear. ‘Let’s have the honeymoon first, shall we?’

  Billy grinned. ‘There’s me trying to make an honest woman of you and now you’re leading a poor bloke astray. What am I going to do with you, Rosetta?’

  ‘I expect you’ll think of something, Billy.’

  ‘Saucy mare!’ Laughing, Billy lifted her onto the cart. ‘We’d best collect your things first. Don’t want to offend a respectable lodging house by turning up without any luggage.’

  ‘And a ring,’ Rosetta said, waving her left hand in front of his face. ‘I got to look the part.’

  The lodging house in Aldgate was not exactly what Rosetta had in mind, but the room was clean and reasonably comfortable. Mrs Wilkins, the landlady, took them in without asking any questions, having insisted on a month’s rent in advance. Small and wizened like a brown monkey, her hooded eyes were shrewd and button-bright.

  ‘No cooking in the room,’ she said, pointing to a list of house rules pinned to the back of the door. ‘No smoking and no spitting. Evening meal at six sharp. Those what turn up late don’t get nothing.’

  ‘Understood,’ Billy said, nodding. ‘I’m sure this will suit us fine.’

  ‘You won’t get no better, if I say so myself.’ Turning to go, Mrs Wilkins shot a piercing glance at Rosetta. ‘Breakfast is at seven, but I’ll make allowances for a woman in your condition. If he’s willing to bring it upstairs, you can have tea and toast in your room.’

  Wondering how the woman could possibly know such a personal detail, Rosetta’s hand flew to her stomach.

  ‘Don’t worry, dearie. I ain’t no witch,’ Mrs Wilkins said, with a glint of humour in her dark eyes. ‘I just seen it all before. Just one thing though: no babies in this house. Nasty, squally things, babies. I can’t abide ’em.’

  ‘Well!’ Rosetta said, giggling as the door closed behind their new landlady. ‘I bet she is a witch.’

  Lifting her off her feet, Billy carried Rosetta over to the bed. ‘Never mind the old girl, let’s give the bed a go and see if it’s as comfy as it looks.’ Dumping her down on the coverlet, Billy sat on the edge of the bed, kicking off his boots.

  ‘Not now, Billy,’ Rosetta said, struggling to a sitting position. ‘You heard the old bat. Supper is at six sharp and I’m starving.’

  ‘Come on, love. We got a good quarter of an hour to get downstairs. You can’t act all coy and virginal now.’

  Pressing her down amongst the feather pillows, Billy tried to kiss her, but Rosetta turned her head away. ‘Get off me.’

  ‘Don’t act soft,’ Billy said, holding her down and unbuttoning her blouse. ‘You wanted this, Rose, you said so. You can’t go back on it now.’

  His mouth sought hers, his kisses laced with anger and frustration as Rosetta struggled, attempting to push him off. She knew that she had flirted outrageously, had given him the idea that she wanted him to make love to her, but she was not ready. This was not how it was supposed to be; she wanted romance, just like in the penny dreadfuls. She wanted lover-like words, wine and flowers. She didn’t want to be treated as Alf had treated her, like a whore; she wanted to feel like a beautiful lady, not a tart. In the end, there was nothing she could do but lie still, waiting for Billy’s pent-up passion to reach a climax that she could not share. He was telling her again and again that he loved her, but it was too late, the words meant nothing now. When it was over he lay beside her, stroking her hair and promising her that he would always love and take care of her. Turning her head away, Rosetta felt hot tears sliding down her cheeks. She knew then that she did not love Billy; she had deluded herself, confusing liking with loving.

  Billy sat up, patting her on her bare flank. ‘Come on, love. I thought you was starving. I know I am.’

  They were to be married on 28 July in the local church with Ruby, Sarah and Granny Mole in attendance. Billy had managed to persuade Sarah that a quiet wedding was the best option, although how he had done this Rosetta did not know. She had kept well out of the way until she was certain that a visit home would not incur long arguments and lectures. Surprisingly, Granny Mole had backed Billy up. He had related the story to Rosetta on his return, mimicking Granny’s voice with deadly accuracy. Father Brennan’s nose, she had crowed, would be put well and truly out of joint, and leaving her out of things would be a slap in the face for that Carlottie, the Eyetie tart. It would show her, once and for all, that the Moles had more pride than to accept her ill-gotten gains.

  *

  ‘Rosetta! What are you doing up so early?’

  Opening her eyes with a start, Rosetta looked round to see Mum standing at the foot of the stairs, wearing her nightgown and a worried frown. ‘I couldn’t sleep, M
um. It was too hot and Granny snores like a stuck pig.’

  Sarah’s brow cleared and she smiled. ‘I know, ducks, but I’ve had a lifetime to get used to it. You are feeling all right, aren’t you?’

  ‘I’m fine,’ Rosetta lied. ‘But I could murder a cup of tea.’

  ‘Of course you could,’ Sarah said, bustling over to the fireplace. ‘I’ll soon get the fire going and we’ll have some tea and toast. Got to keep your strength up on your big day. I wish your dad was here to see you get married, Rose. He’d have been proud of you in spite of everything.’

  ‘Yes, Mum.’ Biting back tears at the mention of Poppa’s name, Rosetta went to get up but Sarah motioned her to sit.

  ‘You stay there and rest, there’s a good girl. You’re going to be the prettiest bride that Tobacco Court’s ever seen and I don’t want you looking peaky.’ Riddling the embers of the fire, Sarah chattered on. ‘We’re going to see you get hitched in style, all proper like so that the gossips haven’t got anything to talk about. If I’d left it to you and Billy, you’d have bowled up together for the wedding and everyone would have known you’d been living in sin. As it is you’re not showing too much, not if we drape Lottie’s Spanish shawl round your shoulders.’

  ‘Yes, Mum,’ Rosetta said, thinking that she would rather die than be seen in that hideous black thing, never mind what the neighbours said about her.

  Wearing the floral-patterned cretonne dress that Sarah and Granny Mole had run up for her, Rosetta walked down the aisle on Billy’s arm, forcing her lips into a smile when all she really wanted to do was cry. Casting a sideways glance at Billy she saw, with a stab of irritation, that he was grinning like an idiot. Rosetta was still fuming inwardly, having discovered that Billy had bought himself a sharp, chequered suit for the occasion, topped with a brown bowler hat. He must have spent a small fortune on it and yet she, the bride, was walking down the aisle in a homemade dress made out of material bought from a stall in Petticoat Lane. She had refused point-blank to wear the black shawl, declaring that she would faint with the heat, but that was not much consolation. Rosetta had barely heard the vicar’s words as he droned through the marriage ceremony. She had responded to her vows in little more than a whisper, with Billy squeezing her hand and making his responses in a bold, clear voice that bounced off the stone pillars in a mocking echo.