Act of Will (27 page)

Vincent’s sister Olive was renowned in the family,
and amongst her friends, for the exquisite garments she knitted and in the past year she had been teaching this practical hobby to Laurette. Audra asked Olive to help her with her own knitting, and within a short space of time she had cunningly pressed both Olive and Laurette into making clothes for the baby. The three young women knitted as if their lives depended on it. They were a comical sight when they were together, their needles clicking, their eyes glazed in concentration on their patterns, oblivious to everything. Bonnets, bootees, leggings, cardigans, jackets, and blankets for the cot and the pram were the result of their diligence. Later Audra sewed and embroidered a variety of other baby clothes and she crocheted two beautiful lacy shawls; it was not long before a superb layette had been created. As Audra put the tiny garments away in the bedroom chest she carefully placed tissue paper between the layers of finely worked handmade things, feeling very proud of this exquisite wardrobe of clothes for her unborn child.

Yet with all of her domestic activities and despite being surrounded by innumerable, and often boisterous, Crowthers, there were times when Audra felt more isolated and alone than ever. This was due, in part, to Vincent’s defection, and because she had no real kin of her own. Try though she had to become closer to Eliza, she had been unable to do so. She was still wary of her mother-in-law, and cautious in her presence. She believed that Eliza had blamed her for all of their problems months before, and continued to hold her responsible, whilst exonerating Vincent. Although this was not true, nothing would have convinced her to the contrary.

On the other hand, Laurette and Audra were warm and loving with each other, and Audra enjoyed a good relationship with Alfred Crowther, who considered his
son extremely fortunate to have such a fine young woman for a wife. In fact, Alfred was disapproving of Vincent’s behaviour, and minced no words when telling him so, which he did with increasing frequency. It was Vincent’s father and his favourite sister who helped Audra through some difficult moments and trying situations at this time in her life.

Oddly enough, there were no rancorous feelings between Audra and Vincent during her pregnancy, even though they were in a sense leading quite separate lives. They no longer quarrelled bitterly, and even their bickering had ceased. It was as if a truce had been declared between them. They were civil, even cordial with each other—and totally preoccupied with their own problems and with themselves.

***

Time passed.

The harsh winter gave way to the most glorious spring anyone had seen in years. Blue skies and bright sunshine lifted everybody’s spirits. So did the trees bursting with green buds and the appearance of the first daffodils and crocuses, shooting up early to sprinkle the dark earth with brilliant yellow and purple.

And then suddenly it was the occasion of Gwen’s marriage to Geoffrey Freemantle. Audra had had to decline Gwen’s request to be matron-of-honour, because she felt she would look ungainly in her condition.

But she and Vincent did attend the wedding at St Margaret’s Church in Horsforth on a sunny, breezy Saturday afternoon in the first week of April in 1929.

Audra had made herself a new maternity dress and matching loose coat of navy blue bouclé wool, and had bought herself a gay little hat made of straw and trimmed with midnight lace and deep blue roses. When Vincent
saw her in the outfit he exclaimed at her prettiness, but Audra looked at him sceptically as she followed him out of the cottage. She felt like a small rather rotund whale, and there was no question in her mind that she looked it.

As they drove over to Horsforth in his Uncle Phil’s car, borrowed for the occasion, Audra thought of Gwen, and of the way their friendship had begun to drift during the winter months. Between her work at the Infirmary, furnishing and decorating the house in Headingley and planning her wedding, Gwen had had little time for her, or for anyone else, it seemed. Also, the circumstances of their very different lives these days were slowly coming between them.

There was another problem too, in that Vincent had become friendlier than ever with Mike Lesley, Gwen’s former boyfriend. In consequence, Vincent did not want to make friends with Geoffrey Freemantle, whom he persisted in referring to as ‘the usurper’, and even if he had, Audra knew that the snobbish doctor would have looked down on Vincent.

I’m going to lose Gwen eventually and all because of Geoffrey Freemantle, Audra thought, as she sat staring out of the car window, and she filled with sadness.

Not much later, as she stood in the pew with Vincent, watching Gwen walk slowly down the aisle on the arm of her father, the sadness seemed to intensify, as did a sense of separateness and distance. Gwen looked so beautiful, more beautiful than she had ever been, and Audra was momentarily stunned. This was a different Gwen from the one she had known.

She wore a crinoline gown of cream lace over cream satin, a veil and a long train of Alençon lace; the veil was held in place by a coronet of waxy orange blossoms. She carried a bouquet of white roses whose petals were tinged
with the palest of pinks. A diamond heart on a strand of pearls glittered at her throat and there were diamonds in her ears. Gwen was a radiant bride, blonde and blue-eyed and everybody’s idea of the typical English rose; there was no question that on this very special day in her life she was absolutely breathtaking.

And I’ve already lost her, Audra thought wistfully. She’s gone from me. Gwen’s entered a new world, one
I
shall never know. Suddenly she was choked with tears and there was an odd ache in the region of her heart.

There was a time in my life when I had absolutely nothing and no one. All I had was Gwen
, Audra thought.
And she was so good to me. I’ll never forget her for that. I’ll always love her and she’ll always be my best friend. Not even Laurette can take her place, dear though she is, and so loving and loyal
.

As Gwen drew level with Audra she smiled with warmth and radiance.

Audra smiled back, looked fleetingly, but deeply, into that pretty, open, honest face and she said goodbye to her friend in the silence of her heart. But she wished Gwen nothing but happiness and joy all the days of her life.

Even though her sense of loss enveloped her, Audra did manage to seem carefree at the reception. This was held at The Meadow, and Audra experienced a little spurt of pleasure to be back in that house where she had spent so many happy hours. But whereas she was able to put up a good front, she noticed that the Thorntons were not so successful at this bit of deception. Audra decided she had never seen a family looking so glum.

She had not been in the drawing room long before Mrs Thornton led her into a quiet corner, to speak to her alone. Phyllis Thornton immediately confided, without
any preamble, that none of the family cared very much for Doctor Freemantle. Audra tried to cheer her up by saying positive things and smiling a lot, but Mrs Thornton was not deceived. She shook her head mournfully. ‘He’s an odious man, and you don’t like him either, Audra, whatever you say… poor Gwenny, whatever has she done?’ Mrs Thornton sighed heavily before gliding off to greet some wedding guests who had just arrived.

Audra’s eyes followed her. She was filled with sympathy for Mrs Thornton, who had always been kind to her. Vincent joined her and they went over to the buffet, where they took a selection of sandwiches, then moved away. Charlie found them a few minutes later, and he brought over his fiancée to meet them. She was a petite, dainty girl called Rowena, who, Audra immediately noticed, was moulded from the same clay as she was. She smiled. Perhaps it was true that men always fell for the same type of woman. But she was glad that Charlie had found someone he so obviously cared about. That he was indeed smitten with Rowena was written all over his face.

After the introductions had been made, Charlie lowered his voice and pronounced Gwen’s marriage to be a horrible mistake. ‘My parents are heartbroken, and so am I,’ he confided. He and Vincent were soon picking the doctor apart, and agreeing that Gwenny should have married the devoted, and desirable, Mike Lesley.

Why are people always so dreadful at weddings? Audra wondered. She had no ready answers for herself.

***

Gwen’s marriage was the highlight of the spring and the early months of summer. Audra and Vincent plodded along in much the same way, absorbed and preoccupied with themselves.

Audra was on her own a lot more than ever, since
Vincent was now spending two and three days a week in York. Varley’s had won the contract for building the small extension onto Rowntree’s chocolate factory, and Mr Varley had put him in charge of the project. But neither Audra nor Vincent minded too much about these absences; they were both far too relieved that he still had a job.

More and more men were on the dole. When Audra went to Calpher House she would see them standing outside the Labour Exchange at Hill-Top and her heart went out to them. They looked so without hope. She thanked God that Vincent was not one of them.

By the end of June the building job in York was completed, and Vincent was again working locally and living at home all the time. It was a scorching Saturday morning at the beginning of July that Audra experienced her first contractions. Vincent rushed her to St Mary’s Hospital in his Uncle Phil’s car and several hours later their first child was born. It was a boy.

They had chosen his names weeks before. He was to be baptized Adrian Alfred, after their respective fathers. But right from the beginning Vincent called him Alfie and the name stuck.

Everybody loved Alfie.

He was a happy, laughing, easy-going baby with bright green eyes, dark silky hair, and a cherubic face. He hardly ever cried and his disposition was so sweet that Vincent and Audra considered themselves to be the most fortunate of parents. All of the Crowthers petted and spoiled Alfie, most especially Eliza and Alfred, who doted on their first grandchild. But his aunts adored him too, and Audra knew there would never be a shortage of baby sitters, whenever they were required.

As the months passed, Alfie only became sweeter and
happier. He gurgled and laughed and kicked his legs a lot, whether lying in his cot or his pram, and when Audra wheeled him out down Town Street total strangers would stop her to go into raptures over ‘the beautiful child’. He was the kind of cuddly baby that everyone wanted to pick up and hug and squeeze and kiss. Audra soon learned to be on guard about this, forever trying to prevent it, afraid as she was of Alfie being exposed to germs.

She loved her child to distraction. Sometimes she would stop her work and go out into the little garden to look at him. As she peered down into the pram she was certain his face lit up at the sight of her, that there was recognition in his dancing green eyes, and this made her heart leap with happiness. She had never known such happiness as this tiny person gave her.

It was obvious to Audra and everyone else that Alfie was going to favour Vincent in his looks—certainly his vivid colouring echoed his father’s perfectly. Vincent loved his son as much as Audra did, and both parents were aware that their infant boy was unusually alert and bright. He was already showing signs of exceptional intelligence by the time he was six months old, and they took great delight in little Alfie and were proud of him.

In a way, the child had brought them together again.

Their relationship had improved and there was a peaceful atmosphere in the cottage in Pot Lane. Vincent stayed home more during the week now, and when he went out on Saturday nights Audra accompanied him more often than not. This latter development was due in no small measure to Laurette, whose own circumstances had changed—and for the better.

Vincent had played matchmaker successfully.

His favourite sister and Mike Lesley were courting. Laurette was constantly issuing invitations to Audra, and
these were readily accepted. Vincent had become close to Mike, after Gwen had broken off with him the previous year; the two men enjoyed each other’s company and Vincent was quite happy to forgo his Saturday nights at the pub to take his wife out with them.

These four shared a love of music, in particular the popular operettas of Sigmund Romberg and Victor Herbert. Since these were currently all the rage, touring companies from London came regularly to the Grand Theatre in Leeds and Mike was the first to buy tickets for such hit shows as
Naughty Marietta, The Desert Song
, and
The Student Prince
. Sometimes they went dancing to the Mecca, or to see the latest talking pictures, but whatever they did they generally had fun together.

The foursome became a regular thing during the summer and autumn of 1929, and they were all looking forward to spending Christmas together. Audra, for one, was especially happy this year. Her marriage was suddenly steady, she had a family of her own, and there was harmony in her home.

Audra and Laurette walked slowly up Pot Lane in the gathering twilight of the January day.

It was the first week of 1930. The beginning of a new year and of a new decade.

Both young women were full of good spirits and happier than they had been in years. Despite the worsening conditions in England, and the world economic crisis, their own futures seemed rosy—and secure at last.

Audra was content with her life, and with Vincent. And, of course, there was Alfie, her darling little baby, who grew more beautiful by the day, who was the joy of her life. Vincent continued to do well at Varley’s; he had had an increase in pay and they were finally out of debt. Things had never looked better.

As for Laurette, she was filled with a marvellous sense of euphoria. She was deeply in love with Mike Lesley, and he with her, and last night they had become engaged; they planned to be married in the summer.

Although Mike was still studying medicine at Leeds University, his bachelor uncle had recently died and left him a small inheritance. This unexpected and welcome little windfall had enabled them to speed up their marital plans, since it would enable Mike to support a wife until he qualified as a doctor at the end of the year. And so her head was teeming with thoughts of her wedding, her
trousseau, finding a house in Upper Armley, where they wanted to live, and making a comfortable home for this man whom she so adored.