A Change of Fortune

by Beryl Matthews

  ‘We’ll find the money!’

  ‘I’d be happy to make a donation.’

  ‘No, that won’t be necessary.’ Louise gave a small laugh. ‘Many of our acquaintances have deep pockets, and I’m sure the committee can prise some more out of them.’

  Ron, Ivy and Jimmy arrived then, followed immediately by two more of the committee. The idea was discussed and agreed on. Everyone went to work to provide the extra food.

  By the end of the day Jenny was delighted with the way things had gone. The gratitude in people’s eyes was reward enough.

  36

  Spring! Jenny walked along the dingy narrow street of terraced houses. Everything looked grey – bricks, road, pavements and even the sky – yet she was smiling with happiness. There wasn’t a splash of green anywhere, but she could picture the oak-lined drive leading to the Templeton School, the young leaves on the trees bursting out of sticky buds and shimmering in a light breeze. She took a deep breath and could almost smell the carpet of bluebells clustered underneath outstretched branches, and yellow primroses dotted here and there in the bright green grass.

  She sighed. It had been a beautiful sight and something she had looked forward to each year – the eagerness of new growth. Perhaps she would make time today to wander through one of London’s parks and enjoy the exhilaration of life bursting forth. Glancing up, she saw a small patch of blue sky. Yes, that’s what she would do.

  Jenny hummed a tune as she practically danced up Forest Road. Since Christmas she had gone out with Matt at least twice a week, and had Sunday lunch with his family now and again. And last night he had told her that he loved her! She loved him too and was bursting with happiness.

  ‘So this is where you’ve been hiding yourself. What a disgusting place!’

  Jenny stopped in mid stride and looked into the scornful eyes of Gloria Tremain. What on earth was she doing here?

  ‘No wonder Matthew laughs about the hovel you live in. He’s told me so much about it, I thought I’d better see for myself. What a laugh we had about the evening he took you to the Monseigneur and you went into raptures about that singer, Al Bowlly.’

  Jenny was stunned. What was Matt doing talking to Gloria about her? He couldn’t stand the girl.

  ‘You poor fool,’ Gloria sneered. ‘Couldn’t you see he was only amusing himself with you? He’s going to marry me – and soon.’ She pulled her coat open. ‘See, I’m pregnant and Matthew is the father.’

  Jenny stared at the slight bulge in Gloria’s stomach and felt all the air leave her lungs. She tried to breathe, only managing to take in small gulps of air. The hated girl’s harsh laugh cut through her confusion, and she stood straight, head up. ‘You’re lying!’

  ‘Do you really think Matthew would be satisfied with you? He’s a passionate man and needs a real woman.’

  Jenny couldn’t ever remember hurting like this. The pain was almost making her cry out. But she wouldn’t give Gloria that satisfaction!

  ‘I know he’s been playing around with you, but, knowing we were going to be married soon, I let him have his fun.’

  Fun!

  ‘But that’s all over now. Go back to your slum friends and leave him alone.’ Then, with a look of triumph on her face, she walked to her car, which was parked on the other side of the road.

  As Gloria drove away, Jenny couldn’t move. She had lost all control over her legs. In a few short minutes she had plunged from joy to despair. Matthew – the love of her life – had deceived her. Gloria had been far too confident for it not to be true, and he must have told her about their date at the restaurant. She also remembered Gloria calling him ‘darling’ at the Stannards’ party. She hadn’t thought anything of it at the time, but now …

  Somehow she must have turned round and gone back home, because she found herself standing in the front room, staring down at Ma’s chair. She collapsed on to it and wrapped her arms around herself, too shocked to cry.

  She sat like that for some time, and slowly anger replaced the pain. Far too many people had deceived her – her mother, aunt and Greaves – but Matt’s cruelty was the hardest to bear. The only people who had been completely honest with her were Fred and his family, and she had counted Matt amongst them.

  Laying her head back on the chair, she closed her eyes. She was stunned. She couldn’t think straight; couldn’t tell fact from fiction. She would confront Matt as soon as she could, but in the meantime she had to think about herself.

  ‘There’s nothing here for me now, Ma,’ she murmured. ‘I’ll go to America and see what it’s like. I couldn’t bear the pain of knowing that he was married to someone else. I made a new life for myself once, and I’m sure I can do it again if I have to.’

  Never being one to waste time when her mind was made up, Jenny hauled herself out of the chair, went to the kitchen and splashed water on her face; then she picked up her bag and left the house, not fully aware of what she was doing or where she was going. The feeling driving her was the same as the one she’d had when her father had died. The need to do something!

  She arrived at the bank and strode in. ‘My name is Eugenie Winford,’ she declared as soon as she arrived, ‘and I would like to see Mr John Stannard, please.’

  The teller had been gone only a minute when John appeared, smiling. ‘Hello, Jenny. Please come into my office.’

  When they were both seated, he asked, ‘What can I do for you?’

  ‘I want enough money to buy a ticket to New York.’

  ‘Ah, going to visit your father’s family.’ John nodded. ‘They will be pleased to see you.’

  ‘Yes, and I might stay there if I like it.’

  John looked up sharply in astonishment. ‘You mean you might not come back?’

  ‘That’s right. If I do decide to stay, I’ll ask you to transfer my money.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’ John sat back and studied her intently. ‘My brother Matt is going to be upset. What’s happened?’

  ‘I don’t think your brother will be at all upset, because I have just been told that he has found someone else and they are to be married soon.’ She got to her feet, not wishing to discuss the painful subject any more. ‘Will you instruct the young man at the desk to give me one hundred pounds? I think that should suffice for the moment.’

  ‘Just a minute, Jenny.’ John came from behind the desk and barred her way to the door. ‘This is absolute nonsense. Who is the person Matt is supposed to be marrying?’

  ‘You must ask him that. I intend to demand an explanation when I see him!’ Not giving him the chance to ask more questions, Jenny pushed past him and waited at the counter for her money.

  John joined her and counted out the money himself. She put it in her purse, thanked him politely and left.

  On arriving home, not being able to sit still, she began to pack her battered old suitcase with her few belongings. She needed to get away, give herself time and space to think clearly. She had fallen headlong in love with Matt, believing he was perfect. That had been foolish; everyone had their faults, including her. She knew she was acting rashly, but it hurt so much.

  ‘What are you doing, Jen?’ Ivy was standing in the doorway, watching her.

  ‘I’m leaving for America tomorrow. I’m going to Southampton and I’ll get the first ship going to New York.’ She continued to stuff things into her case.

  ‘Tell me what’s happened,’ Ivy pleaded. ‘You were so happy this morning and never said a word about going away.’

  Jenny stopped what she was doing and gulped, looking at Ivy with tortured eyes. Finally the tears came, in great wrenching sobs.

  ‘Oh, no.’ Ivy put her arm around Jenny. ‘Don’t leave like this. Whatever’s wrong, we can sort it out between us.’

  ‘I can’t stay – I just can’t!’ She sobbed on Ivy’s shoulder. ‘I love him so much.’

  ‘What’s going on?’ Glad came in, carrying little Bert.

  ‘I’m so glad you’re here, Mum.’ Ivy made Jenny
sit on the bed, and then went to her mother, whispering urgently.

  Jenny didn’t care what they were saying; she was so unhappy and tired. She stretched out on the bed and was instantly asleep.

  ‘I wanna see Matt. It’s urgent like.’

  On hearing Fred’s voice, Matt stood up so suddenly he hit his head on the open bonnet of the car he was working on. ‘Ouch!’ Wiping the grease from his hands, he went over to Fred, worried about the grim expression on his face. ‘What’s happened, Fred?’

  ‘We don’t rightly know.’ He glared at Matt. ‘Our Jen’s breaking her heart and it seems to be about you. If you’ve hurt her, I’m gonna break your bloody neck!’

  ‘I haven’t done anything to upset her.’

  ‘Then why’s she going to America tomorrow?’

  ‘What! She can’t do that.’ Matt couldn’t understand this. They had been getting on so well and even declared their love for each other. Now he was really alarmed.

  ‘Don’t you say what she can or can’t do!’ Fred was shouting now. ‘She’s got her case packed already.’

  ‘And she’s withdrawn enough money for her fare and expenses.’ John strode into the workshop. ‘She told me some ludicrous tale about you having found someone else and would be marrying her soon. What have you been up to, Matt?’

  ‘Nothing. Oh, God, what’s going on?’

  Jake came over. ‘You’d better go and find out, lad.’

  Matt didn’t bother to change out of his overalls, but instantly hurtled towards his car, calling over his shoulder, ‘Are you coming, Fred?’

  Lambeth was reached at breakneck speed and Matt screeched to a halt outside Jenny’s house, disgorging a white-faced Fred.

  The front door was shut and Matt hammered on it. ‘Open the bloody door, Jen.’

  Glad opened it and glowered at him. ‘You ain’t coming in here in that temper.’

  Realizing this wasn’t the way to deal with the crisis, he stepped back and took a deep breath to calm his racing heart. Then he said softly, ‘Sorry, Glad. I don’t know what this is all about, but I must see her.’

  ‘She’s upstairs.’ Glad moved aside, allowing Matt and Fred to come in. ‘But you ain’t seeing her on your own.’

  ‘All right. Just as long as I can talk to her.’ He ran up the stairs, taking them three at a time, with Fred and Glad right behind him.

  The commotion had woken Jenny up, and when he saw her sitting up looking confused, her face tear stained, it tore him apart. He sat on the bed and tried to take her hand in his, but she pulled away. ‘What have I done, my darling? Please tell me.’

  She stared at him for a few moments, as if she were looking at a stranger. ‘You’ve got some explaining to do. Your future wife paid me a visit this morning.’

  ‘My what?’ Matt jumped to his feet, his face like thunder. John had said something about this.

  ‘The girl you’re going to marry soon – the one who is expecting your child.’

  ‘What?’ This was unbelievable. Where had this ridiculous tale come from?

  ‘Is that the only word you know?’ Jenny exploded. ‘She said you were going to marry her because she was having your baby. I want to know if it’s true!’

  ‘You’re talking rubbish, Jen.’ Matt ran a hand through his hair in agitation. If he didn’t sort this out quickly, he would lose Jenny – if he hadn’t already. ‘The only girl I want to marry is you, and I certainly haven’t made you pregnant!’

  ‘You better hadn’t, mate.’ Fred stepped forward threateningly and Glad pulled him back.

  Jenny shuffled to the edge of the bed and frowned. ‘Why would she tell me such things if they weren’t true? And she was definitely pregnant.’

  ‘She? She?’ Matt raged. ‘Who the hell is she?’

  ‘Gloria Tremain.’

  There was silence as this penetrated Matt’s mind; then he erupted. ‘That bloody woman! I’ll kill her. It’s a pack of lies, Jen. I swear she’s trying to make trouble between us. I’ve rejected her and she’s obviously trying to get her own back by breaking us up. If she is pregnant, it’s nothing to do with me. I’ve never touched her – or wanted to.’

  ‘But if that’s true –’

  ‘It is!’ Matt gazed at Jenny’s strained, unhappy face, and felt his future with her slipping away. She had been told so many lies in the last two years that it must be hard for her to know what was the truth. He grabbed her hand and pulled her off the bed. ‘Come on, we’re going to sort this out right now.’

  She tried to pull away.

  ‘You believed Gloria, so you’re accusing me of playing games with your affections. Well, I’m not going to have my integrity questioned in this way. We’re going to face her together, and if you still want to go to America then, I’ll put you on the boat myself.’

  He pushed Fred out of the way and started down the stairs, making Jenny go before him.

  The Tremains lived in Kensington and in a house not nearly as grand as Jenny had imagined from the girl’s airs and graces. She now had grave doubts that Gloria had been telling the truth, which made her even unhappier. Matt wasn’t going to stand for this – she had lost him for sure. He was furious, and if he had been going to marry Gloria, then he would just have shrugged it off and walked away. But that would have been very callous, which didn’t fit with his character at all. She should have faced him before deciding to run away again. But she had acted in panic because it had hurt so much.

  ‘Matthew –’

  ‘Don’t, Jen!’ Matt was grim-faced as he led her to the front door. ‘Let’s get this cleared up; then we’ll talk.’

  Mrs Tremain opened the door. ‘Hello, Matthew.’

  ‘We’ve come to see Gloria. Is she in?’ Matt gripped Jenny’s hand tightly, making sure she didn’t run away.

  ‘Yes, she is. Please come in.’

  Gloria and her father were in the sitting room reading when they came in. She looked up and a moment of uncertainty flashed in her eyes – then it was gone.

  Matt stood in front of her, furious and still holding tightly to Jenny’s hand. ‘That was a nasty trick you played on Jen.’

  ‘Who is Jen?’

  ‘You know who I’m talking about, Gloria. Now we will have the truth. Are you and I engaged to be married?’

  Gloria gave her parents a nervous glance, then shook her head.

  ‘Say it,’ Matt demanded.

  ‘No, we are not!’

  ‘And am I the father of the child you are expecting?’

  Jenny flinched when she saw the colour drain from Gloria’s face, and the alarm of Mr and Mrs Tremain. Oh, Lord, she thought, they don’t know. Their daughter must have been hiding this from them.

  ‘What is this nonsense?’ Gloria’s father asked Matt.

  ‘Ask your daughter, sir.’ Matt faced the parents.

  ‘Gloria has been trying to make trouble by telling Jen a pack of lies. I’m sorry to upset you, but I want the truth – and now!’

  Mr Tremain nodded and glared at his daughter. ‘I don’t know what you’ve been up to, my girl, but you will answer Matthew.’

  Gloria stood up and lifted her head defiantly. ‘I am not engaged to him, but I am pregnant. He is not the father, though.’

  Jenny sagged in relief and cursed herself for being so gullible.

  Gloria rounded on Matt, now out of control and shouting. ‘What do you want with her? Look at her, in her shabby clothes. How can you prefer her to me?’

  ‘Gloria!’ Her father caught her arm. ‘Sit down. If you really are with child, then you must marry the man who is responsible.’

  ‘I can’t!’ She sat as ordered and folded her arms. ‘He’s already married.’

  Mrs Tremain was crying quietly as her husband turned to Matt and Jenny. ‘I can only apologize for our daughter’s conduct. We will deal with her.’

  Matt nodded grimly. ‘I’m sorry you’ve had to find out like this, but I couldn’t let Jen be upset by Gloria’s lies.’

  Witho
ut saying another word they left the house. Jenny couldn’t help but feel sorry for the parents. They now had a great problem on their hands. And so did she. Matt wouldn’t want anything else to do with a girl who had believed such malicious lies about him.

  What a damned fool she was!

  37

  Matt didn’t take Jenny home; instead he headed for his own house in Mayfair. She didn’t argue or speak, because she was feeling too ashamed of herself for having doubted him. And she had probably done irreparable damage to their relationship. She couldn’t blame him if he wanted to find somewhere private to have this out with her.

  Once inside, he led her up to the library and, finding it empty, took her in. He closed the door behind him, leant against it and folded his arms across his chest. His gaze raked over Jenny, who was standing silently in the middle of the room. The silence was unnerving, and she wished he would get this over with so she could go home and wallow in the misery of losing him. She had no one to blame but herself. How could she have been so foolish as to have allowed a seed of doubt to be planted in her mind? Why hadn’t she waited until she had seen him, before rushing off with the mad idea to go to America?

  When he did speak, his words startled her.

  ‘Don’t go to America, Jen.’

  ‘But, but …’ she stammered, trying to gather her thoughts. This was a time to be honest. ‘Without you there’s nothing here for me.’

  ‘Do you love me, then?’

  ‘Of course I do!’ She was getting rattled now, and in no mood to let him torture her like this. He only had to say they were finished, and she would walk out of here and out of his life. It would be agony, but she wouldn’t make a nuisance of herself if he no longer wanted to see her. Closing the distance between them in three steps, she looked up at his face. ‘I love you so much that Gloria’s lies tore me apart. I didn’t know what I was doing! My heart was telling me it wasn’t true, but my mind reasoned that Gloria had nothing to gain by deception.’

  A single tear trickled down her cheek and she swiped it away. ‘It hurt so badly that I just had to do something. I hardly remember going to the bank and asking John for money …’ She ground to a halt. ‘Say something, damn you!’