One Step at a Time (9 page)

‘This way, Amy. My car’s at the bottom of your road.’

She looked up at the tall man she had met by the river. Car? She thought they didn’t have any money?

As if he’d read her mind, he said, ‘It was a present from my parents.’

Now his family had money! The little spark of hope his offer had kindled began to go out. It would be sensible to be careful, since it looked as if they
were telling her a pack of lies. Well, she’d see this place they lived in, and if the ‘kindly’ landlady didn’t exist she’d run like hell. Her mother had often warned her about the sort of men who liked young girls, but she was desperate enough to take a risk. She’d be daft not to find out if this was a genuine offer of help. Goodness knows she needed it.

She eyed them cautiously as they walked towards the car. They were both big and strong-looking. The one she’d met at the river was the tallest, but not by much, only about four inches, she thought. They both seemed kind, and she hoped her summing-up was correct, or she could find herself in a lot of trouble. She nearly laughed out loud at that thought. She had nothing but trouble!

When they reached the car, Ben opened the door. ‘Here, sit in the front with me. Howard can get in the back.’

Her courage suddenly disappeared and, frightened, she hesitated. ‘I’ll walk. Tell me where this place is.’

‘Amy, you can’t walk there. We live in Chelsea.’

Oh dear, that was a long way, and much too far to go on foot.

Howard gave her an understanding smile. ‘We only want to help. We wouldn’t harm you in any way.’

She studied the expression in his brown eyes and felt he was telling the truth. There was a gentleness about him that made her feel ashamed of not trusting him. Taking a deep, steadying breath, she slid into the car. She had a shilling in her pocket, so if this
didn’t turn out well, she could get back here all right.

While they drove along she sat tense and silent. This was a stupid thing to do, she kept telling herself, and her mum would be furious if she knew. She looked down at her clasped hands as the tears gathered once again. But her mum wasn’t here any more, and somehow she was going to have to look after herself. And she was terrified of being put in a home – the mere thought of it made her shudder in horror.

Soon the docks were behind them and they were driving along an elegant street. It was a new world to Amy, and despite her anxiety about being with these men, she couldn’t help admiring the houses. They looked so big, with steps leading up to the front doors, and brass letterboxes gleaming on beautifully painted wood. They were all different colours. She liked nice colours. On some steps there were stone tubs holding plants. She thought that was lovely. Absorbed in the scene she forgot her fear, but only for a moment. It came rushing back when they stopped outside an even larger house. She gasped. It was a palace!

‘Here we are.’ Ben got out of the car and came round to open her door.

She stood on the pavement and stared in wonder. She would never be able to afford rent in a place as grand as this.

Howard joined them. ‘Come in and meet our landlady.’

She shook her head as the tears of disappointment
threatened to spill over. Somewhere deep inside she had still been hoping this would be the answer to her prayers, but it wasn’t. It was hopeless. Her shoulders slumped. ‘You shouldn’t have brought me here. I haven’t got a job or enough money for a place like this. Tell me where the bus stop is, please.’

‘Don’t go.’ Ben blocked her way as she appeared ready to run. ‘Let’s talk to our landlady, Mrs Dalton. If she can’t take you in then I promise we’ll find you somewhere else.’

‘Give it a try.’ Howard’s voice was quiet and coaxing. ‘Where are you going to stay if you don’t let us help?’

When she looked up at him her eyes were full of terror and the words tumbled out. ‘If I can’t look after myself they’ll put me in a home. A woman came to see me when Mum died, and they’ve sent me a letter.’

‘What did it say?’ Ben asked.

‘I haven’t opened it, but they’re going to put me in a home. I just know it!’ She was shaking with a mixture of cold and fear.

Howard was frowning fiercely. ‘You’d better read it.’

‘I don’t want to.’ She fished in her pocket and held out the letter to him. Her intention had been to ask the vicar to read it for her, but she had forgotten all about it. ‘You read it if you want to.’

He looked puzzled that she should let him read a private letter, but he slit open the envelope and pulled it out.

Ben looked over Howard’s shoulder. ‘It’s just to say that someone will be coming to talk to you in a few days to assess your situation. Nothing has been decided, Amy. Come inside and we’ll talk this over with Mrs Dalton.’

They were still standing on the pavement, but fortunately the rain had stopped and the sun had come out, making it feel a little warmer.

Howard took her arm. ‘Come on, Amy, we’ll get this sorted out.’

Thoroughly bemused by now, she allowed them to lead her into the house. The inside was every bit as lovely as the outside. There were coloured glass windows either side of the front door, casting pretty patterns on the tiled floor as the sun glanced through them. All around the edge of the ceiling were carved flowers – roses – and they were picked out in gold. A staircase ran up from the middle of the hall where the wood had been polished so highly you could almost see your face in it. But for all its grandeur, there was a homely feel to the place. Amy had always been sensitive to atmosphere.

‘Ah, there you are at last. You’ve been out for two hours.’ Mrs Dalton studied Ben carefully and tutted in disapproval before turning her attention to Amy. ‘And who is this?’

‘Erm… I’m Amy.’ She edged closer to Ben, just to be on the safe side. At first impression the landlady was a stern-looking woman and didn’t look too pleased about something. In her early fifties, she had light-brown
hair without a trace of grey yet, and piercing light-blue eyes. She was well built, but not fat.

‘Amy needs help.’ Howard eased Amy forward. ‘She’s had a rough time, so we’ve brought her to you.’

‘I see.’ She looked thoughtful, and then smiled, transforming her face and demeanour from stern to kindly. ‘You’d better all come into the kitchen. I’ll make us a pot of tea and you can tell me about it.’

The kitchen was enormous. Amy turned in a circle, taking everything in. There were shelves everywhere, holding plates, pots and all manner of cooking implements. A most delicious smell filled the room and she spied a large cake cooling on a rack, along with two pies. She gave a delicate sniff – apples. They were apple pies.

‘Sit down.’ Mrs Dalton put a kettle on the stove and laid out cups and plates. ‘I think the cake will be cool enough to cut now.’

Sitting down as ordered, Amy folded her hands in her lap, quite speechless. At the start of the day she’d had to face the sorrow of her mother’s funeral, alone and frightened. And now she was here, in this beautiful house, being given tea and cake. It was unbelievable.

The tea was soon made. Mrs Dalton poured them all a cup and cut large slices from the cake, handing one to each of them. Amy’s mouth fairly watered. Her piece was as big as the slices the others had. She didn’t attempt to eat until she saw Howard wink at her and take a big bite.

‘Now, Benjamin.’ Mrs Dalton stirred her tea. ‘Tell me why Amy needs our help?’

Amy chewed as she listened to Ben telling the story. He didn’t leave anything out, and when he told the landlady about her father, she swallowed hard. Now she would be sent away.

By the time Ben had finished talking, Mrs Dalton was shaking her head. ‘That’s a sad story. We had better see what we can do for you, my dear. Now show me this letter you’ve received.’

Hope flared in Amy at those words. She handed over the envelope. She had prayed for help. Were her prayers about to be answered?

Mrs Dalton stood up. ‘I’ve got a room on this floor I think will do you very nicely, Amy. There is a bathroom next door and a kitchen down the end of the hall which you will share with Mr Ted Andrews, but he won’t be much trouble because he eats out a lot of the time.’

Amy couldn’t wait to see the room, ignoring for the moment the fact that she knew she couldn’t afford it.

They all trooped along behind Mrs Dalton until she stopped halfway down a long passage and opened a door.

‘This is the room. It’s pleasant and I think you’ll like it.’ The landlady smiled and stepped aside to let the eager girl go in.

It was wonderful. There was a single bed with a dark red eiderdown on it, and curtains of the same
shade with small cream flowers along the bottom. It also held a wardrobe, dressing table and an armchair over by the window. It was all so lovely Amy couldn’t help rushing to look out of the window.

‘Oh, Mrs Dalton,’ she cried in delight, ‘you’ve got a garden with trees and flowers.’ Craning her neck to get a better view, she pointed in excitement. ‘There’s a tabby cat in the garden. Is he yours?’

‘That’s Oscar.’ The landlady’s smile was full of amusement. ‘He thinks he owns me, not the other way around. Cats are funny creatures like that.’

Amy giggled, and the sound surprised her. She hadn’t laughed for what seemed a very long time.

‘Do you like the room?’

‘Yes, Mrs Dalton, it’s beautiful.’ She nodded, giving Ben and Howard a sad glance, serious once again. ‘Er… how much is the rent? Only I haven’t got a job or much money.’

‘We’ll discuss the rent when you’ve found work. Let’s take one step at a time, my dear. The room is yours if you want it.’

Amy was flabbergasted. ‘But… but you must tell me how much, please.’

‘Very well. The rent will be two and six a week. When you can afford it.’

‘Two and six?’ Amy had to sit down in shock. Even she knew that was ridiculously cheap. The armchair was very comfortable.

While she was struggling to find her voice, the cat sauntered in, tail in the air, took one look at her and
leapt on to her lap. His paws kneaded her skirt until he was satisfied, then he sat down looking smug.

Ben laughed. ‘Oh, you’ve made a conquest there, Amy. Oscar’s very choosy about whom he sits on.’

Her hand came out and began to stroke the soft fur until a loud purr vibrated through his warm body. This couldn’t be real. She must be dreaming and would wake up soon to find herself alone and homeless again. But if it was a dream she hoped she never woke up. She looked at the three people in the room and could almost see wings on them. They were turning out to be guardian angels.

‘Why don’t you move in right away?’ Howard tickled the cat behind the ear, making the animal squirm in ecstasy. ‘We’ll take you back to collect your things.’

She looked up and saw them all smiling in encouragement. This wasn’t a dream. It was really happening!

‘That’s a capital idea,’ Mrs Dalton agreed. ‘If you’ve got any small pieces of furniture you’d like to bring, there will be room for them. Your china and things like that can go in the kitchen. I shall expect you to look after yourself like the boys do.’

‘I will. I won’t be any trouble, Mrs Dalton. You won’t know I’m here.’

‘Oh, I don’t need you to be that quiet.’ The landlady patted her shoulder. ‘I like to hear people around. That’s why I let out most of this great rambling house. I couldn’t bear to live here alone after my husband died four years ago.’

‘I’m sorry.’ Amy knew all about the heartache of losing someone: she’d lost two parents in such a short space of time.

‘It’s all in the past now.’ Mrs Dalton spoke briskly. ‘Now, there’s just one more thing to deal with. The Council must be informed of your new address. Would you like me to deal with them for you?’

‘Oh, yes please, Mrs Dalton.’ Panic raced through Amy. ‘They won’t stop me living here, will they?’

‘I doubt that very much. You leave everything with me.’

‘Now that’s settled, let’s go and collect your things, Amy.’ Ben pushed himself away from the wall he had been leaning on.

‘Oh no you don’t, young man.’ Mrs Dalton glared at him. ‘You’ve done enough today. Your mother will never forgive me if you have a relapse. You’re going back to bed.’

‘Are you ill?’ Amy was alarmed, but now she looked at him carefully she could see he was very pale and had deep shadows under his eyes.

‘I’m fine.’

‘No you’re not, Benjamin. Do as you’re told or I shall be very cross.’

A look of mock horror crossed his face. ‘I can’t risk that, Mrs Dalton.’

‘And you’d better not. Now.’ She turned her attention back to Amy. ‘Ted Andrews closes his shop at lunchtime on Wednesdays. He’s got a van and I’m sure he’ll help move your things.’

‘That’s a good idea. We’ll get more in the van than Ben’s small car.’ Howard smirked at his friend. ‘We’ll get Ben safely tucked up in bed, then I’ll give Ted a hand.’

Amy was still concerned about Ben being ill. ‘What’s been wrong with you?’

‘A nasty bout of influenza, but I’m over it now.’

‘Don’t you believe it, Amy.’ Howard made a show of testing his friend’s temperature by placing his hand on Ben’s forehead, only to have it pushed irritably away. ‘He got out of a sick bed to find you.’

‘Oh, don’t exaggerate, Howard. I got out of bed because I was tired of doing nothing.’

‘And now you’re going back for a couple of hours. You can’t rush these things. One step at a time, remember.’ Mrs Dalton smiled at Amy. ‘You look comfortable there, so why don’t you rest until Ted comes home?’

Amy nodded, completely exhausted. As she watched them leave her room, the words ran through her mind in awe.
Her room!

The cat on her lap sighed and tucked his head under his paws and, comforted by the warm animal sleeping contentedly, Amy drifted into the first real sleep she’d had since her father had been convicted of murder.

‘I’m glad you brought her here.’ Mrs Dalton ushered the boys back into her kitchen. ‘That poor little girl has had a lot of bad things to deal with in her young life.’

Ben’s expression was grim. ‘To have her father tried and hanged for murder must have been like living a nightmare.’

The letter Amy had received was still on the table and Howard picked it up. ‘What can we do about this?’