The Girl with the Creel (17 page)

How could she buy things like that? His subconscious told him why, but he didn't want to think about her parading herself half-naked in front of George Buchan. He couldn't shut it out of his mind and found himself picturing a faceless man slipping down the straps of the nightdress and fondling her, stroking her, kissing her, mounting her. Groaning aloud, he tortured himself further by remembering that she would have been his wife if the man from Cullen hadn't interfered. Until today there had always been hope that he would get her back, but now there was nothing but a void inside him that only she could fill.

Stopping to take a deep, shuddery breath, he realized that his mother would be wondering why he hadn't come home for his supper and made his way back, slowly and wretchedly.

Bella Jeannie Tait was really worried about her son. He had been in a queer mood for over a week, and he'd been sitting staring into the fire since dinnertime … not that he'd eaten anything. He wouldn't tell her what was wrong, but she knew there was something.

‘I'm going next door to see Mary Kate,' she told him now. ‘She's got her phlebitis again, and I promised I'd take her some o' my scones. I'll not be long.'

He turned his head listlessly. ‘You don't need to hurry.'

Mary Kate was pleased to see her neighbour, and not just because of the scones; she had some gossip to pass on. ‘I'd Ruby Strachan in this forenoon,' she said, her pain-filled eyes momentarily gleaming. ‘She was saying Lizann Jappy's getting wed the day. Your Peter was engaged to her at one time, wasn't he?'

Bella Jeannie understood now why her son was so down in the dumps. ‘He broke it off. She wasna the right lass for him, ony road.'

‘Oh?' The older woman seemed surprised. ‘I aye thought she was a real nice wee thing.'

‘I suppose she was nice enough, but …' Bella Jeannie shrugged as if she knew something she wouldn't tell about Lizann Jappy.

‘Oh, well, it takes all kinds,' the other woman said, philosophically. ‘Mind, I got a right shock when Ruby tell't me they'd to wait till the man's first wife divorced him.'

This was also a shock to Bella Jeannie. ‘Well!' she exclaimed, quite pleased to have something concrete against Lizann at last. ‘That shows what kind o' lassie she is. Hannah'll nae be so high and mighty now, but I'm surprised Willie Alec didna stop it.'

‘It's a wonder your Peter didna say onything about it. He musta ken't. Him and Mick Jappy were aye great pals.'

‘I dinna think they're so pally these days. Mick's been going steady wi' Jenny ower the road for a good while now.'

As Bella Jeannie had hoped, this took Mary Kate's mind off Peter, and for the rest of her stay, they discussed how the Cowies would manage if Mick married Jenny and set up house away from Main Street.

As soon as she went into her own home again, she said, ‘Did Mick tell you their Lizann was getting wed the day?'

‘She told me herself,' Peter muttered.

‘And you didna let on? I aye said she wasna right for you, and she's proved it now. Taking up wi' a man that had a wife already!'

‘That's her business!' he snarled.

‘Ach, Peter, you're nae still hankering after her, are you? She didna want you, m'loon. Get yourself another lass.'

About to say he only wanted Lizann, it struck him that seeing him with somebody else might make her jealous. She would realize, too late, that it was him she loved after all. But it wasn't too late! He wouldn't ask her to divorce George, he would just take her away. He would easily get a job in a shipyard where nobody would know they weren't married. His lack-lustre eyes brightened. ‘You know this, Mam? I think I will look for another girl.'

When the wedding party returned from the manse, the kitchen was packed with people. ‘I wanted this to be a day you'd never forget,' Willie Alec crowed to his daughter, letting his eyes sweep round the people he had invited for a ‘wee dram' to celebrate.

During the issuing of presents and congratulations, Lizann saw that the guests were all her father's friends – fishermen and their wives – some of whom she had never met before, and she presumed, correctly, that her mother had not invited any of hers. Hurt that she was still holding George's dissolved marriage against him, Lizann told herself that this was the happiest day of her life and nobody was going to spoil it – not even her mother.

At Willie Alec's behest – and with the help of Peggy May Yule, who had popped in with a gift and offered her services, which had included going to the baker for boxes of fancy cakes – Hannah had made platefuls of various kinds of sandwiches. No one noticed that she sat with her mouth pursed through all the light-hearted chaffing, not even Lizann, who was delighted to see her friend there, though she didn't stay long. Willie Alec was happily dispensing liquor from the battery of bottles on the dresser, and wouldn't take no for an answer when George put his hand over his glass to stop it being topped up again.

Lizann wondered how her husband would stand up to the amount that he was pouring down his throat – she had never seen him drinking before – and she wasn't surprised when his eyes glazed over just after half past eight. She was thankful when Mick said, about twenty minutes later, ‘I think it's about time we let Mr and Mrs Buchan get to their bed. Come on, Jenny, I'll see you along the road.'

With many knowing winks and nods, the visitors dispersed to their own homes, and Willie Alec said, slurring his words, ‘Never mind the dishes, Lizann, I'll help your mother to tidy up.'

When George got to his feet he grabbed at the back of the chair to steady himself, and Lizann had to help him up to their room. She made him sit on the bed so that she could remove his shoes, socks and shirt, but she felt shy about taking off his trousers, and while she swithered about how to manage, her bridegroom toppled back with his mouth gaping, out for the count.

It wasn't her mother who had spoiled their wedding night, she thought, mournfully, as she undressed herself, it was her father. He'd certainly given them a day she would never forget, though she doubted if George would remember much about the last few hours. With a sigh, she lifted her lovely white nightdress and slipped it over her head. It didn't matter now that Peter had seen it first, for George wouldn't notice if she went to bed in a sack; he was snoring like an old man. Heaving him over to make room, she lay down beside him.

Mick, who had purposely sipped his drinks slowly and hadn't taken nearly as much as George, was sitting in the Cowies' kitchen with Jenny on his knee. ‘A wedding's a wonderful thing, isn't it?' she sighed, laying her head on his shoulder. ‘Lizann looked really happy.'

‘I doubt if she'll be so happy now,' he smiled. ‘George'll not be much use to her the night.'

‘Ach, Mick,' she scolded, giving him a playful slap on the side, ‘you say some terrible things.'

‘Nothing terrible about that,' he retorted. ‘It's natural when a man and woman love each other.'

‘It's natural once they're wed.'

He knew what she wanted him to say, and he would, but not yet. ‘Some folk don't bother about getting married,' he muttered.

‘Some folk,' she said, disdainfully, sitting up, ‘but not me. So you needn't think you'll get round me like that, Mick Jappy.'

‘I wasn't trying to get round you,' he sighed. ‘I love you, Jenny, and I want you, but I'll never take you by force.' To prove that he wasn't putting any pressure on her, he gave her a tender kiss, and she snuggled against him once more.

Earlier that same evening, to stop him wondering what Lizann and George might be doing, Peter Tait went to the dance in Buckie, and took a full thirty minutes to pick out a girl suitable for his purpose. Elsie Slater wasn't as beautiful as Lizann; in fact, she looked real common with her bleached hair, plucked eyebrows and scarlet lips. She was an awful flirt, but so much the better – it wouldn't bother her much when he dumped her. She seemed pleased that he claimed her for every dance, and he found he quite liked the feel of her in his arms. Elsie was clearly attracted to him and, even better, he was getting envious glances from other young men. Showing off, he pulled her closer, letting his hand slide slowly down her back.

‘Oooh, Peter,' she giggled, ‘you dinna ken what that does to me.'

When he took her home he kissed her at her door in North Pringle Street, the way she opened her mouth to him letting him know she was no novice. He was also sure that she would have let him go further if he tried. ‘It's getting late,' he said, breathily, after a while, ‘but I'll see you again?'

‘You bet,' she laughed.

He arranged to meet her on Monday evening, and walked home wondering if he had been stupid to let the opportunity pass. The thing was, he had never made love to a girl before and was afraid she would laugh at him if he didn't put up a good show. But surely nature would tell him what to do and when to do it? Hopefully, Elsie wouldn't know he was just a beginner, however experienced she was.

He was almost at the Jappys' house when he realized where he was and his eyes went up to Lizann's window. The room was in darkness, and his stomach jolted nastily as he remembered that it wasn't her first time with George Buchan. She would be in bed with him now in one of those revealing nightgowns, or, more likely, with nothing on at all, letting him explore her body. Feeling like kicking the door in and screaming that she should have been his, Peter forced himself to move on.

His torture was so great that it was a relief to hear footsteps coming towards him. Whoever it was, he would stop and speak, to get his mind off Lizann. Unfortunately for him it was Mick, on his way home from Jenny's. Pulling himself together and striving to sound as if it didn't mean a thing to him, Peter said, ‘How did the wedding go?'

Mick looked at him in amazement. ‘You knew Lizann got married today?'

‘I bumped into her over a week ago. Why didn't you say anything the last time I saw you?'

‘Well, I thought … with you and her being engaged at one time …'

Peter had to swallow before he said, ‘It was somebody else she wanted, and that's it.'

‘You'll not … try anything to …?'

‘If she's happy, that's enough for me.'

‘Thank God for that! And you'll likely find somebody else.'

Trying to prove that he wasn't the heart-broken wreck Mick thought he was, the heart-broken wreck he truly was, Peter boasted, ‘I think I've found her already.'

‘Good for you. Well, I'd better be going in. See you again, Peter.'

‘Aye, cheerio.'

If Mick only knew, Peter thought, as he carried on to his own house.

Lizann was awake in the morning almost ten minutes before George opened his bleary eyes. ‘You've come round, have you?' she asked, with just a hint of sarcasm.

‘Oh, God!' he groaned, his hands going to his head. ‘What time is it?'

‘Nearly eight o'clock.'

‘In the morning?'

She couldn't help laughing at him now. ‘Aye, in the morning.'

‘But … how did I get … was I drunk?'

‘Paralytic!'

‘Oh, Lizann. I'm sorry.'

‘It wasn't your fault.'

‘But … our wedding night … and I …?'

‘I hope you've learned your lesson.'

‘I'll never drink again, I swear. It's like a traction engine's going full blast inside my skull.'

‘Poor George.' She stroked his brow and his arm came round her.

‘Lizann, my darling …' he said thickly.

‘We haven't time for that. We should be up.'

‘But we haven't …'

‘There's always tonight.'

‘I'm sorry,' he said again, watching her get up, but the sight of her in her nightdress sent the blood pounding through his veins. ‘Come back to bed … please, my darling.'

She steeled herself to withstand his entreaty. ‘No, my mother'll have the breakfast ready in a minute, and you'll have to rise and all.'

He got out at her side of the bed and grabbed her round the waist. ‘Give me a kiss, then.'

The kiss would probably have had the desired effect if Mick had not knocked at the door. ‘Come on you two lovebirds,' he called. ‘You can't lie there all day.'

Lizann jumped away from her husband. ‘I told you. We'd better hurry.'

When they went into the kitchen, Hannah fixed George with a glare of disapproval. ‘You were in a fine state last night.'

‘Ach now, Hannah,' Willie Alec said, ‘you ken fine it was my fault.'

‘He didna need to drink what you gi'ed him.'

‘I'm sorry, Mrs Jappy,' George put in. ‘It'll never happen again.'

‘I hope no'.'

Sighing, Lizann said, ‘I'd like for us to be kirked this morning.'

Her father beamed. ‘Aye, it would make you feel right married.'

She wouldn't feel that until the marriage had been consummated, but it was the custom for manse ceremonies to be blessed in the church and she didn't want to flout convention. She turned to her brother. ‘Will you and Jenny come with us?' That, too, was part of the custom.

He nodded. ‘She was saying last night we'd likely have to go.'

Breakfast over, he went to collect Jenny, and the four of them walked to church together.

Left alone with his wife, Willie Alec looked reprovingly at her. ‘You could have been a bit friendlier to George, Hannah.'

‘And him that drunk last night Lizann had to help him up the stair?'

‘Ach, surely you could excuse him that once.'

‘I've never seen you as drunk as that. You were aye able to walk, even on our own wedding night.'

‘I was able to do a lot more than walk,' he chuckled.

Blushing at the memory of what he had done that night, she muttered, ‘I'll never take to him. I canna forget he's had a wife already.'