A Woman Undefeated (29 page)

Alice had enjoyed interfering with the cook’s menu and loved bossing the hardworking maid around. She couldn’t understand why Maggie was more than content to make her home at Seagull Cottage, though she had to agree there was a beautiful view.

It was not like the view that faced number 23 Westminster Street, Toxteth, as an identical house stood across the road, Maggie had heard.

She wasn’t missing Jack, not even by one iota, and at the weekend, during his next visit, she was going to tell him exactly that!

Jack stood before her in the bedroom. Alice had taken young Mikey away to the kitchen. Perhaps she had sensed there was going to be a confrontation that day. Jack was dressed in the very latest style to be considered fashion. Maggie, by comparison, looked shabby, as she had only just managed to get back into the old dress that Peggy had given her.

Jack’s frock coat was dark blue in colour, high collared and double breasted, with cut away tails. Underneath the coat showed a high collared, white frilled shirt and a pale blue cravat at the neck. With this he wore buckskin breeches in a pale cream shade, a pair of black shiny riding boots and under his arm carried a high beaver hat. What a transformation for the man who had landed at the Irish settlement just under a year before! He had given his fair hair a centre parting and slicked it down with a sweet scented pomade.

He had travelled by the railway, as the horse and carriage that had been spoken about, had not materialized as yet, and so he had
caught the ferry across to the station at Woodside and finished his journey by train.

Maggie realised, as Jack began to speak, that if he had ever belonged to her, she had lost him now. This was not the boy she had known in Killala, he had grown beyond that. He walked now with confidence and assurance, in fact he had developed a bit of a cocky strut. He seemed to be enjoying this life of his, so full of danger, with its luxury and all the trappings that went with it. She did not want to share this life of precarious living and she had told him just that.

“Of course yer can live in this house as long as yer want to,” Jack had said expansively, after she had told him of her decision. In fact, it was quite possible that he was more than a bit relieved. He hadn’t shouted or become the dominant husband, just accepted her wishes, as if he’d been expecting them. “As mother of my child you are very much entitled,” he continued pompously. “It will be the child’s house in the future anyway. But should yer change yer mind and yer want us to become a family again, then yer only have to ask. Though whatever business I get up to in the future will be my affair.

Just remember, you are the one who rejected me, but we will still be married in the eyes of the church.”

He went on to mention an allowance that would be paid to her for personal needs, though it was to be spent primarily on the child and not to be frittered. She wanted to tell him where to stick his money, but thought he would be mortally offended by it, so she held her tongue. Things were going exactly how Maggie had hoped they would go. She would be free within reason, to do as she liked, and Jack could have his freedom too.

“Have yer ever loved me, Maggie?” Jack asked sadly, after he had finished acting out the role of “the big man”. “Don’t yer remember the good times when we were children? You, me, Bernie and Joey Mulligan from the cottages, digging in the rock pools to bait the end of our fishing rods. Playing knick-knock around the cottage doors and jumping in the river at the Giant’s
Tub. I always thought that when I grew up and took a wife, you’d be the only girl fer me.”

“But don’t yer see, Jack,” she replied gently, “yer lookin’ back at our childhood with fond memories. Yer thought yer could just drag me away from me roots on the strength of it. I’m only a simple cottier’s daughter. I don’t want this life of luxury yer’ve taken on, or a big pile of money. Living quietly in this lovely place, with me cherub of a son, is enough to satisfy me. And if I ever want something different, I’ll do it meself. I won’t need you to help me. But to answer yer question about love, Jack. What is love? I do care fer yer. Enough to worry about what yer lettin’ yerself in for. I love little Mikey, because I’m his mother and I’m here to protect and defend him. The love I think yer talking about gets confused with making babies and Mikey is the only babby I shall ever want. Now, don’t let the weekend be spoiled by the both of us sulkin’. Mikey still needs yer in his life.”

Their separation had obviously been discussed over the weekend with Jack and his mother, as on the Monday morning, Maggie was told to move her belongings into the smaller back room.

“Yer don’t need the space, now that our Jack’ll only be making short visits,” Alice told her, tersely. “There’s enough room in there fer Mikey’s cradle and a single bed fer you. Me lodger, who’s bin residing at the Ship Inn, wants to come back again.”

“But that’s not fair, Alice,” she protested. “I’m still married to Jack and he said nothing about me having to move out of the front bedroom and losin’ me beautiful view.”

“Well I’m tellin’ yer, see. Like it or lump it! He’s told me yer marriage is over, so yer should think yerself lucky that you’ve still got a roof over yer head. Yer only here now fer the sake of the baby, as far as I’m concerned. Yer just a nursemaid, Maggie. That is all yer are to our Jack now, if yer don’t want to be his wife.”

“I didn’t want to marry Jack in the first place,” Maggie shouted out in anger. “It was you and him that plotted to get me away!”

“Oh, stop playing that old tune on yer fiddle, Maggie. I’m tired
of listening to it. Living in Killala indeed. Why don’t yer go back there then and see what state the country’s in? Then perhaps you’ll be thankful fer the life yer’ve got here.”

She flounced off, and for the next few days there was a hostile silence between them. Maggie did as she was told and moved herself and Mikey to the back room. She mourned though for the view of the Welsh hills, as the side wall of another house was all that she could now see. Maggie couldn’t believe how Alice had changed in her attitude. Her mother-in-law had been so kind, helping Nellie at Mikey’s birth, accompanying her to St. Winefred’s, when it was time to give thanksgiving for a healthy baby and to have her “churching” done. There had been angry words only on one occasion, when she and Alice were discussing who were to be the godparents at Mikey’s christening. Maggie had wanted Miss Rosemary to be godmother and Alice was dead set against it. It seemed that godparents had to be from the same religion. Catholic in Mikey’s case, but Miss Rosemary attended St. Mary’s. It just wasn’t done, Alice had raged, when Maggie had insisted that she should choose her friend. Catholics and Protestants were like oil and water, according to her mother-in-law.

Maggie had stuck to her guns, pointing out how well they seem to mix in Neston. Look at the way all religions were mixing on Ladies’ Walking Day. That had been the only time that there was discomfort in the household, but Alice chose the people in the end. Seamus and a couple from the St.Winefred’s congregation, whom Alice had decided were her bountiful friends.

By the following Wednesday, Maggie couldn’t stand the atmosphere there any longer, nor could she bear the smug look on the face of the lodger, as he had moved his belongings back. She decided to take Mikey for a walk in his pram, drop in on Ezra, then maybe discuss her options with Miss Rosemary. She could be relied on to give Maggie good advice about her future and, after three months at Seagull Cottage, it was time she stopped idling
her life away. Perhaps if she made a start by helping the dressmaker, she would begin to feel needed and useful again.

“Oh, Maggie, just the person I wanted to see,” Betty said, coming into the grocery shop when she saw the baby carriage outside Ezra’s. “I am hoping that you are also going to spend a little time with me. Hasn’t Michael grown since I last saw him?” she continued, as she helped her carry the little vehicle over her shop doorstep.

“Come, I’ll help you push him into the kitchen. He’s fast asleep, so we can talk quietly and, before we do, I’ll make a cup of tea.”

She listened sympathetically as Maggie told her of Alice’s churlish behaviour, after she had heard that the couple were to go their separate ways. Betty appeared shocked at first that they had decided their marriage was over, but she didn’t condemn, or openly take sides, knowing that Maggie would not have been happy with a city life.

“From my point of view, your decision could perhaps be a godsend,” Betty remarked, after handing the girl a handkerchief, to mop away her bitter tears.

“Christmas is nearly upon us, as you know, and I have very many commissions, what with evening gowns and winter visiting wear. And, I don’t know where Miss Madeline gets her money from, but she has asked for another of those crinoline gowns!”

“I could do with making meself a warmer dress, too, Miss Rosemary,” Maggie said, brightening once she heard of a way of changing her future. “But now yer come to mention it, I’m dreadin’ Christmas too. It would be to my advantage if I could get away from Alice and came to help yer each day. Though it might be a problem with Mikey. He isn’t always so peaceful as he is now, yer know. I dare say I can rock him to sleep while we’re walkin’ up the hill each time and I’ll try to keep him awake in the mornings, before I come here. Yer won’t mind if I hide away in the kitchen when I need to feed him, will yer? ‘Cos I don’t think he’ll take to one of those new fangled milk bottles I’ve seen in the chemists
and it will be a while before I try him on a bit of mashed up food.”

“Of course you will have to bring the little one,” Betty replied, looking pleased, that she would be getting some company, “and if you could do the plain stitching, I could spend my evenings cutting out and seeing to all the twiddly bits. I have to confess I am finding it difficult to keep my stitches as small as they should be. Your eyes are so much younger than mine and of course I will pay you for all of your time.”

“You will not!” Maggie said, indignantly. “Look how yer helpin’ me money to grow and I can’t help thinkin’, that you’ll find just the right amount of material fer me to make me dress. No, I need to keep busy fer the sake of me sanity.”

Betty smiled and put her arm around the girl’s shoulder. “It’s a great pity when a relationship flounders, my dear,” she said, “but I can see both sides of the story. You want a simpler life than Jack aspires to and neither of you want to compromise. From what you have told me in the past, your marriage was never one to have been made in Heaven. You were forced to leave your country in such dire circumstances. All that was bound to make you bitter towards your husband, but I have to say I admire your tenacity. Many girls would have simply gone under with what you’ve had to go through.”

“I’m tougher than people think I am and I’m a good actress,” Maggie replied, as Betty sat down in a chair in front of her. “I put it down to me faith in the good Lord Jesus. He guides me when I’m in need of Him. I’m sure the reason I’m sittin’ here now is because He sent me.”

“Oh, Maggie, what a lovely girl you are,” Betty exclaimed, her cheeks pink with pleasure, at her words. “He must know that I would never do you a bad turn. You’ve helped me out when I’ve needed you too and I’ll always be grateful.”

It was arranged that Maggie would begin to work every afternoon from the following Monday. Before then, Miss Rosemary was going to put on her “thinking head.” She had a plan of action in mind, which would not only fulfill a need that she
thought Maggie could probably assist her with, but it would give her time to look at her own finances too.

“Never trouble trouble, because trouble will always find you,” was a saying of Miss Rosemary’s, Maggie thought, as she wandered slowly back to Seagull Cottage later. Living as she did, having to walk on eggshells when Alice was around, she was finding it very hard to keep her mouth shut. She would have loved to stir up her mother-in-law to anger and be shown the door. Then perhaps Jack would be moved to pay for somewhere else for his wife and child to live, though Maggie couldn’t see that happening. Both Alice and Michael would be loathe to lose their grandchild, and Alice had once hinted when the tension was at its highest, that Maggie could always move away to work, leaving Mikey in their hands.

“Ah, Maggie, yer back at last,” greeted Michael, as she eventually walked up the path of the boarding house in the gathering gloom. It was late and Mikey would soon be wanting another feed.

“Maggie, I need to speak with you,” Michael said, grimly “It is something that concerns you and Jack. Take the baby through to Alice, as I’ve asked her to look after him.”

Worried now, Maggie did as she was bidden, but couldn’t fail to see Alice looking at her, quizzically. Fleetingly, she wondered why it was Michael who wanted to speak alone, as it was Alice who would be putting in her oar usually.

“Jack has asked me to tell you that he wants to come and stay after this next match. It is planned for next Friday. It’s quite a small affair, to be held in a warehouse off the Dock Road in Liverpool. We think about two hundred and fifty people will attend, as it is a ticketed event and they have been selling quite readily. Of course all the stevedores and seamen will be trying to get in as well, but he has to take on this contest to get him ready for the Northern circuit. He will need time to recover, as he has an even bigger event planned for the last week of January. Alice says you must move back into the big bedroom, because we have to keep up appearances. She doesn’t want it to get about that you and our
Jack are estranged. Mr Dickinson will move into the back bedroom, as he doesn’t want to go back to the Ship Inn at what will be the noisiest time of the year.”

Maggie looked askance at her father-in-law. Trust Alice to come up with that one and send Michael to do her dirty work! She bent her head to show Michael that she was considering it, while he moved about uncomfortably, as the silence between them grew.

Ah, poor Michael. He hasn’t changed, she thought. He was still under Alice’s thumb, still looked to her for guidance. Why, she probably even chose those smart clothes that he was wearing, and noticed that his hair at the front was getting very thin.