Cherry Tree Lane (19 page)

Robins drew back a little. ‘I’m not game for murder, sir. I draw the line there.’

‘I am not contemplating murder. What the hell do you think I am? But if I could have her safely locked away for her own good, that’d do the trick just as well. She’s obviously lost her wits, the way she’s been behaving lately. Leave Newington House elsewhere, indeed! I’ll make sure she doesn’t do that, whatever it takes.’

Robins gave one of his slow smiles. ‘You’re a clever man, sir.’

‘Yes, I am. If folk knew half of what I’ve got up to in the past few years, they’d be astonished. But it’s filled my coffers and filled your pockets, too.’

‘Always glad to be of help to you, sir. And I appreciate the money, I do indeed.’

‘Then don’t forget where your loyalties lie.’ Arthur went up to his bedroom to wash his hands, staring round sourly, annoyed as always after a visit to Newington House. His place was much smaller and though it was modern, with every convenience, it somehow suffered in comparison. Why had his uncle left that big house to a dried-up stick of a spinster? And what had happened to the family money? His uncle had left him far less than people believed.

But he’d get hold of the big house one way or another. It wasn’t stealing, taking what was owed to you. His uncle had clearly lost his mind in the last years of his life, saying one thing and doing another.

He knew why his uncle had done it. He’d wanted to cause trouble, had hated the whole world after his son’s death, and had resented most of all the fact that his brothers had had children.

Dammit, Arthur had been promised that house! He was the only Newington who had children to carry on the family name. It was only right that they got it.

When Jacob went into the kitchen, he found the children sitting in front of the fire drinking cups of cocoa. ‘Where’s Mattie?’

Sarah put one finger to her lips and whispered, ‘She went up to change out of her pretty dress and when she didn’t come down, I peeped into your bedroom and guess what, Dad. She was fast asleep on top of the bedcovers. So Luke made us some cocoa and we’re being quiet.’

‘You’re a good pair of kids and I was proud of you today.’ He looked at Luke, who’d said nothing. ‘Did you enjoy your special tea?’

The boy nodded. ‘Was there trouble at the big house?’

‘Nothing me and Miss Newington couldn’t sort out. Mr Arthur didn’t stay long.’

‘I’d love to ride in a motor car like that one.’

‘You will when you’re older, I’m sure. We had a good day, didn’t we?’

‘It was lovely!’ Sarah said with her usual enthusiasm. ‘But when I get married, I’m going to do it in church in a long white dress.’

Luke didn’t comment and since Jacob knew his son still wasn’t really reconciled to the marriage, he said quietly, ‘I think we’ll all find life much easier with Mattie to look after us. I’m glad you found her in the lane that day, son.’

Luke shrugged his shoulders slightly and Jacob added, ‘I think your mother would be pleased, too.’

All he got for that was an indignant stare, then words burst out of Luke. ‘Pleased at you marrying someone else? Pleased that another woman’s taking her place? Why should she be? When Tom Peddle’s dad married again, his mum’s family were upset about it, said she’d be turning in her grave.’

‘That’s because he married someone who … um … wasn’t a good housewife.’

‘Then why did he marry her?’

‘Because she was pretty.’

‘Well, I don’t see why Mam should be pleased about Mattie and I’m not calling her “Mam”, not if you beat me senseless, I’m not.’

‘Have I ever beaten you?’

Luke wriggled uncomfortably.

‘Have I?’

‘No.’

‘Then why do you think I’m going to start now?’ He let the matter drop with a sigh.

‘Mattie looked lovely today, didn’t she?’ Sarah said. ‘I want a green dress just like that one when I grow up.’

‘She did indeed.’ Jacob smiled at the memory of how proud he’d felt with his new wife on his arm.

‘She let me try on her hat after we got back.’

‘That was kind of her. And she’s a good housewife, unlike the new Mrs Peddle.’

‘How can you tell?’ Luke persisted. ‘She can’t hardly stand up for more than an hour. What if she doesn’t recover properly? Barry’s aunt’s an invalid. She spends her life lying on the couch an’ they all have to fetch and carry for her.’

‘Mattie’ll recover. She’s getting better every day. Good food and fresh air will finish the job. Now, it’s time you two were in bed. It’s been a long day and I’m sure we’re all tired.’

Jacob banked the fire for the night, put the porridge on to cook slowly on the residual heat of the stove and locked the house. When he tiptoed into his own bedroom, he held the lamp so that it didn’t dazzle her, but she looked so soundly asleep, he doubted it’d wake her even if he shone it directly into her eyes.

Setting the lamp down on the chest of drawers, he moved her slightly so that he could pull the pretty green dress out from under her. She’d taken it off, put on her everyday dress, then fallen asleep. He hung the wedding dress carefully in the wardrobe, stroking the fabric gently. Beautiful, it was.

Then he moved Mattie so that her head was on the pillow and he could cover her up. She was still fully clothed, but he thought sleeping soundly was more important than wearing a nightdress, and anyway, it’d embarrass Mattie to think he’d undressed her, he was sure, even though he’d already done it while she was ill. They’d never mentioned that, but he’d not forgotten her slender body and soft skin.

When he slipped into bed beside her, he smiled wryly. Funny old wedding night, this was, but he’d already decided that he wouldn’t make love to her if she was too tired, had half-expected it. They had the rest of their lives to love one another, after all.

He paused on that thought. Love one another. Surely love would grow between them? He was very fond of her already, she was such a courageous little thing.

He was stopped by a jolt of surprise as he realised this wasn’t just a marriage of convenience, on his part at least. He’d truly wanted to marry Mattie.

But how did she feel? Did she care for him at all, or was she just glad to find a husband and home?

* * *

In the morning Mattie woke to find a heavy weight on her shoulder and felt something pressed across her body. When she opened her eyes she found Jacob snuggled up to her. She was in bed with him, but wasn’t undressed. His head was on her shoulder and his arm flung across her possessively.

She was horrified when she worked out that she must have fallen asleep after she changed out of the pretty dress – on their wedding night, too! – and hadn’t stirred until now. What must he think of her?

He looked very peaceful and she found it endearing that his chin was covered in tiny bristles, his eyelashes were longer than most women’s and a lock of his soft, wavy hair was lying across his forehead. She smiled. Most women would die for those eyelashes and that fair hair, which had golden glints in it where a sunbeam had crept through a gap in the curtains and now slanted across the bed.

As if he could sense her staring at him, he made a sleepy sound in his throat, then opened his eyes. For a moment he stared at her as if he’d forgotten who she was, then his face softened into a smile. ‘Are you awake now, sleepyhead?’

‘Yes. I’m sorry I fell asleep on you and wasn’t able to … to …’

‘To what?’ he teased.

‘To do my duty as a wife.’

The smile vanished from his face. ‘Is that how you think of it, doing your duty?’

‘That’s how the other women always talk about it. I don’t know what else to call it.’

He frowned at her. ‘I’d forgotten.’

‘That it was me here, not Alice?’

‘No, of course not. That you might be innocent still. You are a virgin, aren’t you?’

She blushed furiously and didn’t know where to look. ‘Yes. I’m sorry. I’ll do my best to … to do what’s necessary in bed, if you’ll show me how.’

‘Mattie, we’ll do our best to please one another, and I hope we’ll succeed. It isn’t a duty to make love to one another, or even a necessity. It’s a pleasure and a joy.’ He reached out to cradle her cheek in one hand. ‘I promise I won’t hurt or upset you.’

A weight seemed to lift from her chest. ‘You’re a kind man, Jacob Kemble. I really like that in you.’

‘Good. Let’s hope we grow to do more than like one another. There’s love, too.’

Hope slipped tiny fingers into her heart. ‘Do you really hope for that?’

‘Of course I do. There’s no reason why you and I shouldn’t build a happy life together.’

‘You make it sound so easy.’

‘It isn’t always. Life can be cruel at times. But two people have a better chance of surviving than one on his own, don’t you think? If they work together, anyway. Alice was a countrywoman, a tomboy when she was young, and she worked hard beside me in the fields. Shh! Let me finish. I don’t expect that of you, or want it. But I’d like us to get on well, be companionable, talk, have fun, not just work.’

She nodded slowly. ‘Oh, yes. My mother was happy with my real father. I can still remember that. But after she married Bart Fuller, she was very unhappy. I used to hear her crying sometimes. I was terrified of him, he’s such a brute.’

‘Why did she marry him?’

‘He pretended to care for her at first, so he fooled her. She’d been left a little money and I expect that was what attracted him. As for her, she was lonely, missed being married. Strange how I’d forgotten about the good side of marriage … until now.’ She smiled at him. ‘I’ll do my best, Jacob, my very best.’

‘No one can do more.’

There was a sound from one of the other bedrooms.

‘That’ll be Sarah,’ he said. ‘She always wakes early and comes in to say good morning. I usually have to wake Luke, though.’

‘I’ve heard you doing it. He’s grumpy in the mornings, isn’t he?’

There was the sound of bare feet pattering across the landing. The door opened a little and Sarah peered round it. ‘Are you both awake? Can I still come in, Dad?’

‘Of course we’re awake. Come and give me my morning kiss, then you can kiss Mattie too.’

Smiling, she marched round to Jacob’s side of the bed, while Mattie marvelled that a man should show so much love to his family, and that a child should be so confident of being loved she’d come to give her father a kiss every morning.

Suddenly, Mattie wanted Jacob to love her like that. She wanted it so much it hurt.

Sarah came round to her side of the bed looking solemn. She hesitated, then kissed her quickly on the cheek.

Mattie put her arms round the child, pulled her close and gave her a proper hug. Sarah relaxed against her, gave her another kiss, then ran out to get dressed.

‘She’s such a loving child,’ Jacob said fondly as he got out of bed.

Mattie averted her eyes as he got dressed and waited till he’d gone downstairs to get up and have a quick wash, then change into a dress that wasn’t crumpled. She smiled as she did so. What a lovely start to the day! It had made her feel warm inside.

* * *

Fanny knocked on the door of Stan Telfor’s house, a bit scared of what he might say and worried about whether he’d give her something as a reward. Just a few shillings would be such a help. She was always short of money to feed her hungry family.

He opened the door and looked at her with an unwelcoming expression. ‘What do you want, Fanny? If your Jimmy’s kicked his ball over into my yard again, I’ll go and throw it over the back wall.’

‘It’s not that, Stan.’ She looked over her shoulder, then back at him. ‘It’s something I thought you ought to know, but you won’t want anyone else hearing it.’

‘Look, Fanny, I know you enjoy gossip, but—’

‘It’s about Mattie Willitt. She—’ Fanny let out a little cry of shock as he dragged her into the house and slammed the door shut.

‘What about her?’

‘I saw her today.’

‘What? Where did you see her?’

She hesitated. ‘You’ll give me something for my trouble, won’t you, Stan? I’ve not told anyone else.’

‘Just get on with it!’ he said in a tight, low voice. ‘Then we’ll see.’

‘I saw Mattie at the station with a man and two children. I sneaked across and got close enough to hear them talking. And Stan … she’s gone and married him.’ She flinched at the ugly expression on his face.

‘She can’t have got married,’ he said at last.

‘She has. I reckon she’d just done it today. She was all dressed up in a fancy dress and she looked … well, she looked pretty. I didn’t think she had it in her. I never saw her looking so fine before.’

He stared at her so angrily she began to edge towards the front door.

‘Come through into the kitchen!’

She didn’t dare refuse.

He made her go over it all again, questioning her about every single detail, and then she suddenly remembered the older lady who’d joined the family group, so mentioned her as well.

‘Who was she?’

Fanny frowned, trying to remember the lady’s name.

‘Well?’

‘Don’t rush me. I’ll forget everything if I get agitated.’

He moved away, jingling the coins in his pocket, then spun round and came back to her, holding a handful out. ‘Look. These are all yours if you can remember the lady’s name.’

Fanny stared at the coins longingly and racked her brain desperately. ‘New-something,’ she managed at last.

‘Newman, Newstead?’

She shook her head.

It was his turn to rack his brain for more names. ‘Newton?’

She brightened. ‘That’s more like it, but it’s longer. Please don’t get mad at me, Stan, I can’t remember any more.’

He controlled his anger and nodded. ‘You’ve done very well to come to me.’ He tipped the coins into her hand.

As he did so, she said, ‘Oh. I’ve remembered something else, not about the lady. The husband’s name was Jacob.’

‘Well done. Now, are you sure that’s all you can think of?’

A pause, then, ‘Ye-es. I think so.’

‘If you remember anything else, anything at all, you’ll come and tell me, won’t you?’ He looked meaningfully at the coins.