Secrets and Lies (27 page)

‘The child will probably end up in an orphanage if it survives the pregnancy and birth.’

A peeved expression appeared on Ma’s face, and she folded her arms across her chest and said stoutly, ‘Over my dead body.’

With Ma standing a little way off, Minnie approached the girl when the mourners began to move away. ‘I’m Wally’s widow.’

Lillian flinched, as though she expected to be hit, then gazed dully at her.

‘Wally’s mother wants you to come home with us.’

‘Why should she?’

‘Because you look as though you need help.’

‘I went to her for help once, and she shouted at me . . . though she did give me some money. Why should she want to know me, especially after what happened to Wally? Why should you?’

She fed this girl the same lie as she’d offered Ma, since it would help them both feel better. ‘My marriage to Wally was only on paper. We were going to seek an annulment, and he was going to return to you and the baby.’

Tears trembled on her eyelashes and hope filled her eyes. ‘Is that what he said?’

‘That’s what he told me the night before he died.’

‘What about his mother . . . does she know?’

‘Yes. Think about it, Lillian, you’re carrying her grandchild. That’s all the family she has left. Ma might be noisy, but her bark’s worse than her bite and she’s got a heart of gold.’

Ma joined them, saying indignantly, ‘Who’s noisy?’ She scrutinized the girl, her gaze lingering on her stomach. She sighed. ‘You are telling the truth, aren’t you?’

‘Course, I am,’ and her hands went to her stomach. ‘What d’you think this is, a suet pudding?’

Ma glowered. ‘It could be for all I know, and that’s enough of your lip. I meant, about my Wally fathering it.’

Lillian’s voice took on a despairing note, but her eyes shifted away from Ma. ‘I haven’t been with anyone else. He gave me a drink or two, and said he loved me. It just happened, and I didn’t know how to stop him. I didn’t know he was married then.’

That sounded about right for Wally, who’d hardly been the last of the great lovers, Minnie thought unkindly, but it still struck a false note with her.

Ma shrugged. ‘I suppose it’s not the kid’s fault. Well . . . we can’t stand around here all day. Are you coming or not, Lillian Teagan? If you are, you might as well know that I’ll expect you to do your share of the work. And be warned, there will be no hanky-panky with the customers.’

Minnie chuckled as one of them walked past, respectfully doffing his hat and leaning heavily on a stick. ‘I don’t think you need to worry about that, Ma. I doubt if your customers have any hanky-panky left in them.’

‘You might be right. As for you, Minnie girl, less of your cheek, too. Off you go and join your friends while I sort this one out. And be careful of that sheep farmer. He’s got a wicked gleam in his eye, and will have your drawers down around your ankles before you can say Jack Robinson.’

Ma smiled approvingly at Lillian when she giggled, and Minnie left Ma with the satisfaction of having the last word.

Lillian’s presence took the pressure off Minnie. The girl wasn’t frightened of getting her hands dirty, and she could cook.

Minnie roped Esmé in to do volunteer work at the women’s shelter, three mornings a week. Money was donated to provide a fund of emergency money for women who had no husbands as support. Esmé was kept busy issuing dockets and keeping the records, anything that didn’t tax her as she gained strength

There was only a small amount of relief to go round, and much of that was donated from the better off for those female victims of the Depression, who were ineligible for government support. Some women had been forced to go on the streets to stop their children from starving. Some were evicted from their homes because they couldn’t pay the rent and had to camp along the river in makeshift tents.

Esmé and Minnie shared what they had. Ma kept a roof over their heads and fed them. Esmé didn’t know how she’d be able to afford a wedding after she gradually gave all the money Wally had owed her to those more needy.

A month later Leo removed the plaster from Esmé’s arm. She lightly scratched the skin, sighing with relief, then held them both out at his request. ‘One’s brown and one’s white. I’ll have to even up the tan.’

‘Wriggle your fingers,’ he said. She wriggled. Gently Leo edged his fingers down the bone to lightly press his thumb against the nerves in her wrist. ‘Any pain?’

‘None.’

She found herself gazing into the blue intimacy of his eyes when he whispered, ‘Hold your arms out, Esmé, my love.’

His fingers walked along her collarbone in more of a caress than an examination and skated lightly up over her ribs, leaving a trail of raised bumps that prickled against her skin.

‘Mmmm,’ she murmured when he took the weight of her small breasts in his palms, and ran a thumb over the sensitized nub. Sliding her arms around him she melted into his body.

He kissed her, a deliciously long, lingering and infinitely sensual kiss. Afterwards he gazed down at her, saying nothing.

When she fluttered her eyelashes at him, he grinned. ‘Sometimes I can’t believe my luck. You wouldn’t like to come to bed with me, I suppose?’

Heat rushed into her cheeks. ‘I’d love to, but I’m . . . oh, I don’t know.’

‘Scared?’ he suggested.

She touched his cheek with a fingertip. ‘No . . . I’m not scared, Leo. I know how things work between people, and why. I’m just not ready to take that step. I’m enjoying the chase, though.’

He groaned. ‘So am I in a way, but it’s playing havoc with my sleeping habits. The trouble with you, Es my darling, is that you think too much.’

She laughed.

There came the sound of a throat being cleared and they jumped apart when Ma appeared. Looking from one to the other, she grinned. ‘You Thornton men are becoming fixtures around the place. If it isn’t one, it’s the other.’

Leo’s eyes sharpened. ‘Alex has been here? How did he manage to escape from the farm.’

‘He brought young Minnie home a couple of times from the women’s shelter. He’s courting her, I reckon. Not that she’s got much time to be courted in. She’s always rushing around doing things for people.’

‘Alex is seeing Minnie . . . the sneaky hound,’ Leo breathed, and a grin spread over his face. ‘Did you know about it Es?’

She shook her head. ‘No . . . she hasn’t said a word. I work mornings at the centre, doing paperwork and dishing out advice, and Minnie does nights. I’m hoping to get a paid job now this cast is off. The agency has my details, but I can only take a temporary position, so that sets my chances back.’

Ma had been shopping and she handed Esmé a parcel. ‘I’ve bought you a present. I found a length of damask that would make a classy wedding dress, with a little jacket. I went to see a dressmaker and pretended I was a prospective customer, and I looked at their designs. I used to be a seamstress before I married, and I reckon I can make you one. Apparently, long dresses worn with hats with lace are fashionable this year.’ She grinned in triumph. ‘The material came from the market, and it was really cheap. There’s a sewing machine somewhere. I’ll see if I can dig it out.’

‘Thanks, Ma. That’s kind of you. I’ve spent all my savings.’

‘I know. You and Minnie both. The pair of you are getting names for yourselves as soft touches.’

‘What can you do when a child is hungry and has nobody to turn to?’

‘You can’t feed them all.’ Ma’s face softened. ‘Your heart is in the right place, I’ll give you that. Now . . . where’s that Lillian got to?’

‘I sent her upstairs to have a rest before the bar opens.’

‘Good. I’ll leave you lovebirds alone and go and peel some potatoes for dinner, it will save doing it later.’

‘Leo was just about to leave, anyway.’

He frowned after Ma had gone. ‘The fact that you might be short of cash had never crossed my mind. You must allow me to pay for the wedding expenses. I’ll go to the bank and get you some money tomorrow. I’ll drop it off.’

‘Why didn’t you tell me you were seeing Alex?’ she asked Minnie that same evening.

‘With it being so soon after Wally’s death, I didn’t want people to gossip. You know what those men in the bar are like when they get together. Besides, I’m not seeing Alex, at least, not officially. I’m allowing him to see me. He’s taken me home from the shelter a couple of times, that’s all. Oh . . . and he’s invited me out to the station and has offered to teach me how to ride a horse.’

Esmé laughed. ‘He’ll have you shearing sheep and tossing them over your shoulder before too long.’

Minnie grinned. ‘I’m quite enjoying the display of his male skills. Alex is quiet and shy by nature, you know.’

‘He won’t be when it gets down to brass tacks, I imagine.’

Minnie dissolved into laughter. ‘Lady Esmé, you surprise me sometimes. Don’t you say another word, and before you ask: Yes, I like Alex . . . a lot. Yes, he knows the circumstances of my marriage to Wally. Yes, he’s kissed me goodnight and yes I enjoyed it. And if he happens to ask me . . . the answer to that question will also be yes. But I don’t want to rush into anything yet, or do anything to frighten him off.’

‘So we might end up as sisters-in-law, if you survive the riding lessons.’

‘We might. Would you mind, Es?’

‘I’d welcome it. Alex is such a solid, hard-working man, one who takes his responsibility seriously. Leo has a great deal of respect for him. You know Min, in all seriousness, Alex is just the type of man you need, and you’ll suit each other perfectly. As for him, he’ll get an absolute gem to share his life with.’

Tears misted Minnie’s eyes and her voice thickened. ‘Thank you, Es. I’m really going to miss you.’

‘Think of it this way. When you snag your farmer we’ll be related, and so will our kids, so we’ll see a lot of each other in the future.’

They hugged each other tight, then Esmé said as they pulled apart, ‘Good luck. Ma will miss you.’

‘Oh, Ma will manage. She gets on famously with Lillian, and has the baby to look forward to.’

‘I do hope Lillian has the baby before I leave for England in October. I think she might have the dates wrong. Which of us will deliver it?’

Ironic laughter trickled from Minnie. ‘I shall claim that honour because she’s carrying my former husband’s child. But you can assist if you like, and if I’m not here at the time, then it will all be up to you.’ She spread her hands. ‘I think you’re right about the earlier date. If I dare utter the unspoken . . . I have my suspicions.’

‘I think we need to give Lillian the benefit of the doubt. I’m curious to see the baby, though.’

‘Lillian’s young to have the responsibility of a child.’

‘She might be young, but she has a sharp mind, and is shaping up to be a real asset. And haven’t you noticed how Ma’s been doing herself up a bit lately, especially with Reg paying her more attention. If you ask me she won’t miss either of us for long.’

With the money question resolved, and a budget set, Esmé was able to get on with arrangements for her wedding.

‘If I smarten the bar up we could have the reception here, one of those help yourself affairs,’ Ma said halfway through September. ‘I haven’t polished the brass for years.’

Everything took off after that. Reg layered two coats of whitewash over the smoke-stained ceiling and painted the inner walls a golden yellow and the outer walls cream. The maroon tiles outside were given a wash. The final result was dazzling, as though they’d let the sunshine in. The bar fittings were polished, as were the brass handles on the two oak entrance doors. Mirrors and windows were cleaned, and the flypaper swapped for a new curl.

Ma went down to the cellars and rummaged around, coming back up covered in dust and staggering under the weight of a sign.

‘The chains broke in a storm some fifteen years ago, and nearly flattened one of the customers. My Harry promised to put it up again, but he never got round to it. Fetch us a dish of soapy water and a cloth, Lil. I’ll give her a good dowsing.’

From under the dirt emerged the picture of an over-endowed woman in historical clothes, and the words,
Red Rafferty’s Inn
. She had a leery face, flaming red hair; a low-cut green bodice and a tankard of ale clutched in her podgy fist. The other side showed her in the same position but painted from the back view.

‘What do you think?’ Ma said.

The four of them contemplated Red Rafferty in silence.

‘She’s a bit on the vulgar side, but she has something,’ Esmé said cautiously.

‘Big whatsits?’ Ma suggested.

Minnie added her opinion. ‘That aside . . . she’s certainly no Van Gogh.’

Cocking her head to one side, Esmé countered that with, ‘Actually, it’s an original William Cheeseman, painted in 1902.’

Ma’s eyes widened as she gazed at Esmé. ‘And how do you know all that arty-farty stuff, Miss Clever Clogs?’

Esmé’s smile had an edge of smugness to it. ‘It might look like an inscription, but the details are painted on the side of the tankard.’

Peering closer, Ma squinted at the tankard. ‘I can’t see what it says.’

‘Try putting your glasses on, Ma!’

‘Another know-it-all. Still, you can’t help it, being nurses, and all. It’s trained into you.’

Lillian gave a trill of laughter. ‘I like Red Rafferty. It’s a bonza of a name for a hotel.’

Ma sent her a smile. ‘So do I, love, though she looks like a bit of a baggage. I’ll send Reg to buy some new chains and hooks, and he can go up the ladder tomorrow and hang her back up.’ Her eyes went to Esmé. ‘Shouldn’t you be prettying yourself up for that man of yours? He’ll be here before long to take you to the flicks. You might as well take advantage of the courting while it’s going, because it stops when the honeymoon is over.’

When they all laughed it struck Esmé as peculiar that the others understood the nuances of the honeymoon – while she, who’d never experienced a relationship with a man of any physical depth, didn’t really have a clue what would be expected of her.

‘I wonder who Red Rafferty was,’ Lillian said.

‘Some old convict tart, I expect. She’s no lady, that’s for sure.’

Lillian began to laugh, and they all joined in, dancing about in a spontaneous and relaxed manner that said they were comfortable with each other.