A Daughter's Ruin

by Kitty Neale

  Percy frowned, and after a pause, said, ‘It’s not that easy. The house has tenants and they have a rental agreement that doesn’t expire until May next year.’

  ‘May would be a nice month for our wedding.’

  ‘I dunno, Mary. I hadn’t planned on Ethel living with us.’

  ‘Please, Percy. I can’t leave her. I just can’t.’ Mary pleaded, tears filling her eyes.

  ‘All right, don’t turn on the waterworks. She can come to live with us, but I want our privacy. I’ll have to see about dividing the house somehow.’

  ‘Oh, Percy, thank you.’

  ‘I’ll have a kiss too, please.’

  Despite the bustling café and people around them, Mary was only too happy to oblige.

  Constance was disappointed to hear that her solicitor was away until Friday. She knew that Albie would be impatient for news and feared he might come to the house. If necessary she would have to stall him, but with any luck she might not have to. If the solicitor agreed to her putting the ten thousand in his account he might give her a cheque for Albie there and then. She also wanted Albie to sign an agreement that this was a full and final payment, along with another one stating that he would not be seeking custody of William. There was also the annulment to sort out, and she’d need Albie to admit in writing that the marriage had never been consummated. She’d speak to the solicitor about that too.

  She was close, so close, but until she had the documents signed by Albie and in her hands, she couldn’t relax. With something needed to fill her turbulent mind, Constance rang the builder to accept his quote. He agreed to start work on Monday, but warned the conversion wouldn’t be completed before Christmas.

  The mention of Christmas brought back painful memories of the previous year for Constance – her mother’s illness, and then her death. It had been such an unhappy time, but hopefully this year would be different and there would be something to celebrate.

  It was already November, but with so much happening she hadn’t given it any thought. Constance picked William up and went down to the basement, where he wriggled to be put down. He wasn’t walking yet, but loved to shuffle along on his bottom, and the lino on the floor down there was just right for him.

  ‘He’s so cute,’ Penny said, watching him shuffling towards the cuddly toy that Constance had put down for him just out of reach.

  ‘Thanks,’ Constance said, looking at the baby in Penny’s arms. ‘Kimberly is cute too.’

  ‘I worry about her future. How will she be treated at school? And because she looks different, will she be bullied? Will she be shunned?’

  ‘That’s a lot of questions that I can’t answer, but I hope not. Kimberly may have darker-coloured skin and curly hair, but she’s beautiful.’

  ‘Constance, you were picked on in Kibble Street just because you spoke well. What chance has Kimberly got? I shouldn’t have brought her into a world where she will never be accepted.’

  ‘Don’t say that. Not everyone is prejudiced, and I think, given time, attitudes will change.’

  ‘I hope you’re right.’

  ‘I am.’ Constance smiled. ‘Now come on, buck up. Christmas is only seven weeks away so tell me what you have planned.’

  ‘I haven’t made any plans. My mother will be cooking her usual Christmas dinner with all the trimmings, but I know I won’t be invited.’

  ‘Well, then, how about the two of us spend Christmas together? I could order a tree and we could decorate it. I’m sure there are lots of garlands and things in the attic too.’

  ‘Yeah, I’d like that.’

  ‘Oh, yes, and I should warn you that it’s going to be a bit noisy and chaotic upstairs for a while. The builders are starting work on Monday.’

  ‘Huh, we’d better get in extra tea then. I’ve known plenty of builders and I can tell you they’ll be expecting a steady supply.’

  ‘Really? I didn’t know that.’

  Penny chuckled. ‘British builders can’t function without tea.’

  Constance smiled. It wasn’t just builders, Ethel was the same. She glanced at her watch and saw that it was time she got ready to meet Jill. ‘Right, I need to get ready. I’m going out for a few hours.’

  ‘Do you want me to keep an eye on William?’

  ‘It’s cold and wet outside, so yes, if you don’t mind.’

  ‘Constance, babysitting is part of my job.’

  ‘Yes, of course,’ she said, ‘but I can’t think of you as an employee. You’ve already become a friend.’

  ‘That’s nice, but I can be both.’

  Constance swooped William up just as he reached the kitchen bin. ‘Oh, no, you don’t,’ she said. ‘Are you sure you can manage, Penny? He’s getting into everything these days.’

  ‘Of course I can. He’ll be fine.’

  ‘Right, I’ll get ready and then I’ll be off. I should be back by around two.’

  ‘Fine. See you then.’

  Constance took one last look at her son, now happily sucking on a Farley’s rusk, and went upstairs. Half an hour later she left to go to meet Jill.

  Jill was sitting in the café, gazing out of the window, deep in thought and finally admitting to herself that she was at the end of her tether. She’d put on a front for so long, but it had become unbearable to live with a man who was like Jekyll and Hyde. Nowadays, she was seeing the monster more and more, and the love she’d once felt for him had been knocked out of her.

  She saw Connie hurrying up the hill towards the café and it struck her again how different her friend looked now. Connie would never be beautiful, but her striking looks drew glances. ‘Hello, over here,’ she called when Connie walked in.

  ‘Hello,’ she responded, drawing out the opposite chair at the table. ‘It’s lovely to see you and I’ve so much to tell you.’

  ‘What can I get you?’ a waitress asked.

  ‘A cup of coffee, please.’

  ‘I’ll have another one,’ Jill said and as the waitress left, added, ‘Where is William?’

  ‘I’ve left him with a babysitter.’

  ‘Right, Connie, you said you’ve got a lot to tell me so spill it out.’

  ‘I’ve reverted back to Constance now.’

  ‘Is that it? I was expecting more.’

  Constance laughed. ‘Of course there’s more,’ she said, proceeding to tell Jill of her plans for the house.

  ‘If you want my honest opinion, I think you’re off your rocker,’ Jill told her, once she’d finished explaining.

  ‘What makes you say that?’

  ‘You’re too naïve, Constance. Not everyone is nice, or honest, and taking in strangers is a hell of a risk. I’ve seen your house, the valuable ornaments, and pictures. They could end up being stolen.’

  ‘Yes, I hadn’t really thought about that. But it’s no problem – I’ll have them put in storage.’

  The waitress arrived with their coffees, and they both thanked her. Jill then said to Constance, ‘What about your lovely furniture and carpets? They’ll end up damaged.’

  ‘They’re just things, and things can be replaced.’

  ‘I can see you’re not going to be swayed.’

  ‘I’ve got something else to tell you. It’s about Penny Nelson. She kept her baby, but Ivy wouldn’t let her take her home. When I found out I offered her my basement flat in return for helping me with William and doing some cooking.’

  ‘Does Ivy know?’

  ‘No, but Melvin does. He’s offered to help out with maintenance and the garden.’

  ‘Has he now?’ Jill said with a knowing smile.

  ‘We’re just friends.’

  ‘Friendship can lead to more.’

  ‘Jill, I’m just getting out of an unhappy marriage and I don’t want another relationship.’

  ‘There’ll come a time when you’ll change your mind,’ she said, wincing at the pain in her arm as she lifted her cup. It was just as well that Andrew was sound asleep in his pram, but when they went home and
she lifted him out again, she knew it was going to hurt.

  ‘Jill, what’s wrong? You look uncomfortable.’

  ‘It’s nothing.’

  ‘I don’t believe you. Has Denis been hitting you again?’

  Jill knew she could trust Constance and decided to tell the truth. ‘Yes, and I’ve just about had enough. It’s getting worse, almost a nightly occurrence now.’

  ‘You should leave him,’ Constance said, taking her friend’s hand in hers for support.

  ‘I know, and seeing you leave Albie has made me realise I can leave Denis too. I’ll have to be careful though, because if he finds out where I am, he’ll drag me back.’

  ‘Have you got somewhere in mind?’

  ‘I suppose I could go back to my mum’s, but I can’t see her being happy about it. She isn’t the maternal type and I think she was glad to see me married off.’

  ‘You could come to live with me. I’ve got plenty of room.’

  ‘Blimey, Constance, first Penny and now me. You’ll end up taking in half of Kibble Street.’

  ‘I wouldn’t give room to Susan Porter.’

  ‘Huh, you’re so soft. I bet if she was in trouble you would.’

  ‘No way.’ Constance chuckled. ‘But seriously, if you want to move in with me, you’d be very welcome.’

  ‘I must admit it’s tempting, but I don’t want to burden you. You’ll have enough to fork out financially with taking in goodness knows how many girls and their babies.’

  ‘You wouldn’t be a burden – you’d be a help. I can offer you a job. I’ve got so much to do that you can assist me with. To start with, if you can find out all there is to know about claiming money and housing for the girls, it would be such a great help. You’re so level-headed too, an experienced mother who can advise the young mums if they have problems with their babies.’

  ‘What, like a sort of matron?’

  ‘Yes, that’s the ideal title.’

  Jill sat back in her chair, deep in thought for a while. She really was sick of being her husband’s punchbag, and now when he went to the pub she was left quaking in fear until he came home again. She also didn’t want Andrew to grow up in a violent home where he’d think hitting women was normal. Surely it was better to be without a father than to have a vicious one like Denis. ‘All right, you’re on,’ she finally said to Constance. ‘I’ll tell Denis tonight that I’m leaving him and why.’

  ‘Are you sure that’s safe? He might try to stop you leaving.’

  ‘He won’t when he’s sober. He’s only violent and unreasonable when he’s drunk, so I’ll tell him before he goes out to the pub.’

  ‘You can come to my house at any time, but you’re going to need help with your things.’

  ‘If I leave this evening, I’ll just bring some stuff for overnight. I can collect the rest tomorrow when he’s at work,’ Jill said, squeezing her friend’s hand gratefully. She hadn’t expected to be offered a home, a safe place away from her husband and a job too. It hadn’t taken much for Constance to persuade her but now she had to break it to Denis.

  ‘I’m sorry, Denis,’ Jill said when her husband came home from work, ‘but I can’t take any more. Your drinking is getting worse and so is your violence. I–I’m leaving you.’

  ‘Don’t be stupid. You ain’t going anywhere.’

  ‘I am, Denis. I’ve made up my mind and I want a divorce.’

  The word divorce seemed to incite him and too late she remembered that his mother had divorced his father, leaving him behind when she left. He’d been raised harshly, his father unloving, and now when Denis glared at her she saw rage in his eyes.

  ‘If you try to leave me, it’ll be the last thing you ever do,’ he growled.

  Jill stiffened with fear. She had never seen him like this when he was sober, and she said placatingly, ‘Please, don’t say that. Can’t we talk calmly?’

  ‘There’s nothing to talk about. You’re staying here. You ain’t leaving so get that stupid notion out of your head. I promise you, if you try, I’ll kill you.’

  ‘Denis, you don’t mean that. You’re just trying to frighten me.’

  ‘Am I?’ he asked, his voice thick with menace.

  Jill was truly terrified now. She was seeing something she’d only seen when Denis was drunk, a hint of madness that she’d always put down to the alcohol, but what if that wasn’t the cause? What if Denis really was mentally unbalanced? No, no, she was being silly, of course he wasn’t. He was just enraged that she was threatening to walk out on him. There was only one thing she could do: she’d pretend that she was staying, but then leave when he went out for a drink. ‘All right, you win. I’ll stay.’

  ‘Yes, I know you will,’ he hissed, ‘I’ll make sure of it.’

  He attacked her then, a vicious assault, using his fists until she fell to the ground and then his boots, until he left her unconscious on the kitchen floor.

  Chapter 40

  Constance waited up, but there was no sign of Jill that evening. She wondered if she’d changed her mind, assumed that Denis had persuaded her to stay. Maybe he’d promised to change, but Jill had once told her he’d given that assurance before.

  Though Constance knew it was wrong, and she should be pleased that their marriage might be saved, she couldn’t help feeling disappointed. It would have been lovely to have Jill helping her to run the refuge.

  ‘Constance, my brother has just turned up,’ Penny said as she walked into the drawing room. ‘I’m going to make us mugs of hot chocolate. Do you want one?’

  ‘Yes, please, I’ll come down. I’ve got something to tell you, though I’m not sure it’ll happen now.’

  ‘That sounds intriguing,’ Penny said as Constance followed her down to the basement.

  ‘Hello,’ Melvin said to her, smiling warmly. ‘I’ve been reading up on gardening, but there’s not much that needs doing at this time of year.’

  ‘No, I suppose not. The garden will look lovely in the spring. It’s been planted with all sorts of bulbs, but don’t ask me to name them.’

  ‘It’ll be nice seeing what comes up then,’ he said. Soon afterwards Penny put mugs of drinking chocolate on the table.

  Constance sat opposite them and said, ‘It’s not definite, Penny, but a possibility, that Jill Black will be moving in with us.’

  Melvin’s brow rose. ‘Jill Black, Denis’s wife?’

  ‘Yes, that’s right.’

  ‘But why would she do that?’ Penny asked.

  ‘I’m not at liberty to say – that would have to come from Jill – but suffice to say she has good reason to leave him.’

  ‘I bet he’s knocking her about,’ Penny said knowingly.

  ‘In that case, he deserves it if she leaves him,’ Melvin said. ‘I’ve no time for men who lay into women. My mum can be a nightmare, but my dad has never laid a finger on her.’

  ‘He’d find himself flat on his back if he did. Mum wouldn’t put up with it and she’s good at wielding a frying pan.’

  ‘You’re right there,’ Melvin said, grinning. ‘I wouldn’t want to cross her.’

  ‘I did cross her over my baby, and look what happened. She wouldn’t let me go home with Kimberly.’

  ‘My niece is gorgeous so it’s Mum’s loss.’

  ‘But Kimberley is missing out on having a family,’ Penny said sadly.

  ‘She’s got you and me, and between us she’ll get lots of love,’ Melvin said reassuringly.

  Constance was touched as she listened to Melvin. He really was a lovely young man, so kind and thoughtful, and her feelings towards him were warming more and more. If she ever married again, she hoped it would be to someone like Melvin. However, she was still married to Albie, and after what she’d been through, even when free, she wasn’t yet ready for another relationship.

  There was no sign of Jill the next morning, and Constance had a bad feeling. Jill had been so sure that she was going to leave Denis, but what if instead of persuasion, he had beaten her into
submission? Constance worried that Jill could be injured, unable to leave, and so she left William with Penny while she travelled to Battersea.

  It was a cold, windy day, but thankfully she was soon able to hail a taxi. Alighting outside Jill’s house on Kibble Street, she saw curtains twitching, but was too concerned about Jill to care as she knocked on her front door. There was no reply, so she crouched down to look through the letterbox and saw Andrew’s pushchair in the hall. It meant that Jill was probably in, so she knocked again.

  ‘Jill, Jill,’ she shouted through the letterbox.

  ‘I heard a right racket last evening,’ Jill’s elderly neighbour said, clutching a cardigan around her as she came to stand by her side. ‘It was earlier than usual.’

  ‘What sort of racket?’

  ‘Denis shouting and the kid bawling.’

  ‘Have you heard anything this morning?’

  ‘Denis went to work as usual and other than the kid crying for a while, it’s been quiet.’

  ‘I’m worried about Jill. I need to get in,’ Constance said, then bent down to shout through the letterbox again.

  ‘What’s going on?’ Ivy Nelson asked, joining them.

  ‘She’s worried about Jill and wants to get in.’

  ‘Why? Do you think she’s ill?’ Ivy asked.

  ‘Something like that,’ Constance told her.

  ‘You could try the back door.’

  ‘Yes, I’ll do that,’ Constance said, turning to the neighbour. ‘Can I go through your house to the alley at the back? It’ll save me having to go to the top of the street and round to it that way.’

  ‘Yeah, all right.’

  ‘I’ll come with you,’ Ivy said.

  ‘There’s no need.’

  ‘Yes, there is. If Jill’s in a bad way you might need help.’

  They all heard it then, the sound of Jill’s son wailing loudly in obvious distress, and, too concerned to argue, Constance ran through the next-door house with Ivy on her heels.