The Captain's Daughter (13 page)

She thought about May and Ella on the high seas. Would her plan work out for them? What would the Lancashire girl have made of all the glitz and falseness of tonight’s gaudy spectacle? Celeste was not going to keep silent. There must be ways to stir up debate. What had happened was awful but preventable, of that she was sure.

Back home, in the nursery, she lit a candle, found a writing pad and pencil and began to write down every detail she could recall of that night while it was still fresh in her mind: conversations, scenes, out it all poured onto the paper. She felt such a surge of energy and resolve as she wrote her account of that fateful night, not only for Roddy to read when he was older but to withstand time as a piece of history. Something was shifting within herself as she realized she was no long Grover’s doormat to be trampled on, but a woman of worth who had survived a cruel disaster and would never be put down again. She slept soundly for the first time in days.

Angelo sat slumped in a backstreet bar knocking back glass after glass of bourbon. He could never drink enough to dull the ache inside. What was the point of going home? The tiny apartment was as he’d left it on that April morning weeks ago, gathering dust, but it was somewhere to flop down when he staggered back in the early hours, somewhere to sleep off his hangover and hide from Aunt Anna, who screamed at him to tidy the place up.

‘What for?’ he yelled back. ‘Who is there to see my mess but me?’

‘You will bring rats if you leave food everywhere. Look at you, you’ve not shaved for days, nor worked. How will you pay the rent? They can’t keep a man on who never shows up. Maria would be ashamed of you.’

‘Don’t you dare speak her name! You never even met her.’

‘Salvi says she was beautiful and proud. You soil her memory with all this . . .’ She flung her hands around in despair, picking up his dirty shirts as she swept round the room.

‘Go away, I can do my own washing.’

‘Bah!
You want people to think Bartolinis are filthy pigs? The family name must be honoured. We have a business to run. Drinking solves nothing.’

‘I’ll do what I want,’ he snapped.

‘We worry about you. You are family. We can’t let you sink to the gutter.’

‘Why did I ever come to this rotten country? It has taken all that I had, all I loved. There’s nothing for me here.’

‘Then go back to Italy with your tail between your legs, tell them your sad story. Start again on the farm. Anything. But don’t waste your life.’

‘Leave me alone.’

Anna left him with her suggestion buzzing through his head. Go back to the village, back to his brother, his old mother and Maria’s parents. But how would he face them?

He’d dragged himself out to Rizzi’s bar and drank until there were no coins left in his pocket. There was no shame in returning home, but something was stopping him.

Angelo pushed his way through the crowd into the street. Here he was his own boss. Anna was as bad as his mother nagging him: do this, do that. Go home, no! Here he could do as he pleased, be invisible, drink what he wanted, when he wanted. Here he could hide from friends and family. He’d never go back! It smacked of failure and defeat. For better or worse, he was staying put.

Even before the train drew up in Trent Valley Station, May caught sight of the three cathedral spires. The Three Ladies of the Vale, Celeste had called them. She noticed that the cottages around the track were made of red brick, not the Accrington shiny brick of Lancashire but a softer blue with a pinky hue. Despite her anxiety at arriving in a place where she would be a complete stranger, May was glad that everything looked unfamiliar.

Ella was fast asleep, worn out by their journey. They were helped off the train onto the platform by a soldier in khaki. He was on his way to his regiment at Whittington Barracks, just outside the city. He’d been taken with Ella’s antics on the long ride from Liverpool and had pushed a shilling into her little palm. The kindness of strangers, May mused, and her thoughts automatically strayed back to Celeste.

The spring day was bright and green leaves sparkled in the sunshine. It was more like being in the country, May thought, as she admired the church spires that replaced the mill chimneys she was used to back home. It was all so different from Bolton with its rows of terraced streets.

Thankfully there was an omnibus to take them from the station into town, and before long they alighted in the Market Square. May found a café to slake her thirst, fixing her dusty appearance before she took the short walk up Dam Street to Cathedral Close. It was all very quaint, like a picture book. She saw Minster Pool, heard the quack of ducks and stood in wonder at the cherry trees decked out in pink blossom. Across the pool there were high brick buildings with gardens leading down to the water’s edge. Here was fresh air, cobbled streets and old-world buildings, a world away from what she’d known before. Perhaps Celeste was right, this was a new place and they could settle here.

In her pocket were Celeste’s instructions and her father’s address, but try as she might she couldn’t find the house. She walked round the outside of the cathedral to where the West Door rose up to a wall full of statues. She asked directions from a passing woman with a wicker basket, who pointed out an archway into a tiny little square with higgledy-piggledy low houses facing a vegetable patch.

‘Who’re you looking for?’ she asked, smiling at Ella, who’d now woken.

‘Canon Forester,’ May said.

‘Number four. He’s the one with the daughter who was on the
Titanic.
She was saved, praise the Lord! Terrible, wasn’t it?’

May nodded but said nothing. You couldn’t miss the billboards, their sensational headlines screaming news of the disaster.
‘TITANIC
BODIES SALVAGED FROM SEA. BOUND FOR HALIFAX’ – each paper wanted to outdo the others in lurid details. But no one would get anything out of her. As far as they were concerned she’d never set foot on the ship.

‘What a bonny baby,’ said the woman, patting Ella’s curls and looking from her to May with surprise. May was getting used to this response everywhere she and Ella went, be it on the train, the bus, or in the café in the square.

May took her leave with a nod of the head and made towards the door, hoping it was the right one. She knocked. A white-haired man with a lined but kindly face opened the door and smiled.

‘Ah ha! I think I know who you might be. Come in . . . come in, Mrs Smith. I hope you had a pleasant journey.’

‘You know about me?’

‘Of course. My daughter, Celeste, cabled to us. How is my unsinkable daughter?’ His eyes twinkled and May sensed a generous man.

‘I can’t begin to tell you just what a friend she has been to me . . .’

‘Just like her dear mother. Sit down. I’ll make some tea. My lady’s not been in today so you see I’m in a bit of a muddle,’ he apologized, trying to clear piles of books and papers to make room for May to sit down.

May placed Ella down on a chair, surrounding her with battered dusty cushions. ‘Let me help. If you show me where everything is I can . . .’ The room was a clutter of books and newspapers and cuttings. Not one surface was visible.

‘I’ve been cutting out all the articles about the sinking. I was wondering if you were both mentioned but so far no . . . I’ll send them to Celeste. I am very sorry for your loss, Mrs Smith.’

‘We were on our way to Idaho . . . to start a new life.’ May felt the tears that were never far from the surface welling up but she must hold back her despair.

‘What a blessing you have the child for comfort.’

‘Yes,’ she replied quickly, anxious there wouldn’t be too many questions. ‘She’s my priority now. My poor husband had such dreams for her future. He wanted her to have a good education so I will do whatever I can to give her those chances. I have to work for both of us now and that’s why I’m here.’ Having said her piece she busied herself putting some cups and saucers on a tray while Canon Forester set the kettle to boil.

‘I realize that. Have no fear, there’s always work for honest folk in Lichfield. I’m sure I can get you fixed up. Have you any special training?’

‘I was briefly in service and then in the cotton mills. I can get references but it may take some time,’ she offered, knowing this would risk her address being known up north.

‘My daughter’s word is good enough for me. She’s a shrewd judge of character as a rule.’ He paused as if thinking about something in particular and sighed. ‘Let’s have some tea and I can tell you of some options that might work for you both.’

While Canon Forester poured out two cups, May pulled a rusk out of her bag for Ella. ‘I have to fit work around my baby. I can’t . . . won’t farm her out to strangers . . . not now.’

‘I’m sure we’ll find a way around that. Once people know your circumstances . . .’

‘No!’ she said, alarmed, almost dropping her teacup at his words. ‘Please, sir, I don’t want anyone knowing about all that . . . It’s better if no one knows. I’ve seen how some of the survivors get no peace from the newspapers.’

‘It won’t last, my dear. Memories are short but at least the
Titanic
Relief Fund is cashing in on public sympathy while it can. It has raised thousands already. People
want
to help. They want to show their support. But I understand your wish for privacy. The place I’ve got in mind is the Theological College across the Close. They’re always in need of staff to help with meals, or in the laundry. I’ve had a word with the principal’s wife, Mrs Phillips, and she’s willing to show you round and explain your duties. There may be rooms where you can lodge nearby.’

May nodded with relief. ‘Thank you, it sounds like work I could do.’ She sipped her tea. Whoever was keeping house for him needed a lesson in washing up. The little kitchen was none too clean and several of the cups were chipped.

When they’d finished their tea, Canon Forester escorted May and Ella across to the college principal’s house, where a maid told them the mistress was in the cathedral somewhere.

‘I can wait,’ May said, not sure if this was the right time for her to be interviewed.

‘Why don’t we go into the cathedral and I can show you around? I can introduce you right there. No time like the present,’ said Canon Forester, not waiting for her reply.

May smiled. How like Celeste he was with his brisk no-nonsense manner.

They entered by a side door and May immediately felt the dampness of cool stones, looked about her in awe and saw the high vaulted ceiling. The silence was overwhelming.

‘Can I sit for a while?’ she whispered.

‘Of course. I won’t disturb you. I’ll go and see if I can find Mrs Phillips.’

May sat with bowed head, Ella on her lap. There was something about the echoing vastness of the space that made her want to cry. She was so utterly weary. It was time to find a safe refuge. Was Lichfield the place? Was she worthy to be here? Just how dishonest was she being?

One day at a time, one slow step in front of another was all she could manage.

Ella must have a good life far away from any chilly orphanage. Here was as good a place as any. The truth about her history would never be known nor would it benefit anyone to start poking around. Her real story was lost with the ship. The lies of this new life were all in a good cause.

May saw the old man and a stout woman making their way towards her with purpose, their feet echoing on the stone flags. She braced herself to face them knowing this was her and Ella’s only chance.

Ella was an orphan and nothing made up for the loss of a mother’s tender care. But here was she, a mother without a child, willing to take on the precious task. Like ewe and lamb, they were, she smiled. Why shouldn’t they be together?

She stood up to greet them. ‘Hello, Mrs Phillips. I’m May Smith and this is my daughter, Ella. I do hope you can help us.’

The
Titanic
Survivors’ Committee waited until the
Carpathia
arrived from Naples to settle in her berth on the pier in New York. How different from her last historic voyage in the darkness, Celeste mused, following the line of silk dresses and fine hats up the gangplank, not without a shudder of fear. How could she ever go aboard a ship again?

Yet May had gone willingly into the unknown only days after the disaster. So she must swallow her fear. For goodness’ sake, this was only a visit, one long overdue. Margaret Brown was holding the silver cup they’d had engraved and many of the survivors were going to be present: Frederic Seward, Karl Behr, the tennis ace, and Mr Frauenthal, a German industrialist, were accompanying them.

They waited until all the passengers were off the ship and Captain Rostron summoned his crew. There were still over two hundred of the original crew, with some familiar faces lining up. Officers and engineers stood at their head, while the captain waited to receive the cup from the Survivors’ Committee. Rank and file together, smart officers in navy next to nut-brown sailors, coal-smudged stokers and firemen, all were present and correct.

Celeste felt proud to be part of the Survivors’ Committee. It had taken subterfuge to get this time away, chaperoned, of course, by Harriet Parkes, who was peeved not to be part of the actual ceremony, hoping for a chance to be seen with the great and the good of New York society.

It was this ambition that had persuaded Grover that it would do the directors of the Diamond Rubber Company no harm to make a generous donation to their cause.

Celeste’s mother-in-law had scoured the Cleveland dressmakers’ shops for something to wear that befitted the occasion. Celeste refused to wear anything but black. She was still in mourning for her own mother when out of sight of Grover, but forced to wear muted lilac and grey around the house.

The more she saw and read of Margaret Brown in the papers, now the nation’s heroine, the more she admired her go-getting determination to make sure this organization was up and running before they left the ship. The sums raised now totalled hundreds of thousands of dollars. Celeste had been fundraising herself, holding sales of hand-made craftwork, paintings and tea parties, a soiree of musical entertainment, echoing similar evenings held in New York.