Authors: Ellie Dean
‘I do understand, Ruby, and I don’t blame you one bit. Unfortunately the police will want to ask you lots of questions, and they’ve taken the money and stamps as evidence.’
Ruby sighed. ‘It were never really mine to begin with, I know that – and I did feel guilty about spending some of it. But I can tell them where he hid that little black account book and the gun. That should ’elp me case.’ She looked at Peggy and saw only understanding and sympathy in her expression. ‘But I still don’t know why they didn’t nab ’im sooner. Surely they was keeping an eye on ’im?’
‘He gave them the slip shortly after he arrived, so they set up surveillance of Beach View in the hope they could catch him.’
‘But he was already in the bombed-out house right under their noses,’ she muttered.
Peggy nodded and then gently smoothed back the hair from Ruby’s forehead. ‘We’re all just so thankful you weren’t seriously hurt,’ she murmured.
‘Poor Rita. I bet she’s heartbroken about her precious motorbike.’
Peggy smiled. ‘She’s learned never to leave the key in it again, that’s for sure. It’s a bit bent and buckled, but she says she’d rather have a damaged bike than an injured friend.’ She glanced towards the drawn curtains that surrounded the bed. ‘They’re all waiting for you out there,’ she said. ‘Do you feel ready to come home?’
Ruby smiled through her tears. ‘I can’t think of nowhere I’d rather be,’ she replied.
Chapter Twenty-Five
THERE HAD BEEN
no sign of Mike when Ruby returned to Beach View, for he’d had to return to his barracks. But he’d left her a long letter explaining that he was being sent away the next day on a training course for some mysterious mission and hoped to see her on his return. He expressed his relief that she was safe, warned her that a Canadian Mountie always got his girl, and signed it with a flourish.
Ruby kept that letter under her pillow and took it out frequently to read it as she rested and recuperated over the next few days. Perhaps, when he returned, they could get to know one another properly – but for now, she was content to know she was safe and no longer had to live in fear.
The police came to question her and she told them about Ray’s hiding place in the skirting board. To her great relief they didn’t press charges over the stolen money and stamps – and she suspected that was down to Peggy and the respect in which she was held in this town.
She’d finally got bored with lying in bed and went back to work, where she became the reluctant focus of attention, for the rumours of what had happened that night had spread all round Cliffehaven. The girls from Mile End were hugely supportive, treating her almost like a heroine, which was embarrassing, and even Lucy looked at her with admiration. Flora had had the grace to admit she’d told Ray where Ruby was living, and actually apologised for causing her so much trouble. Ruby kept her head down and concentrated on her work, knowing she’d soon be yesterday’s news and it would all blow over.
Two weeks had passed since Ray’s attack, the bruises had healed and she was no longer in any pain, but her thoughts had inevitably turned to her mother, and after managing to speak to her on the telephone at the Tanner’s Arms, a plan began to form. It was a plan that she would need to discuss with Peggy if it had a chance of becoming reality.
She pushed through the back gate of Beach View that June afternoon to find Peggy and Cordelia sitting in the garden, with Daisy safely busy with her toys in the playpen.
‘Hello, dear,’ twittered Cordelia from her deckchair. ‘We’re just enjoying the sunshine. There’s tea in the pot, and Anthony brought round some lovely cake from the Cliffe Fortress canteen.’
Ruby went to fetch a cup and another deckchair. The sun was warm, so she pulled the straps of her filthy dungarees off her shoulders, unfastened her blouse buttons and took off the headscarf. ‘How’s Anthony doing?’ she asked.
‘Very well, considering how demanding Doris can be,’ said Peggy. ‘But he’s managed to persuade her to meet Ted on neutral ground to see if they can come to some sort of armistice. Suzy has been a real brick – it’s clear she absolutely adores Anthony, and has been a terrific support to him.’ She gave a wry smile. ‘I think Doris now realises she’s lost that battle.’
Ruby sipped her tea and nibbled on the lovely sponge cake before feeding a small piece to the bewitching Daisy, who immediately smeared it all over her face and laughed uproariously. ‘She’s a right little smasher, ain’t she?’ she said wistfully.
‘You’ll have one of your own some day,’ Peggy replied softly.
‘I hope so,’ she sighed. ‘But London ain’t the place to bring up kids – not if you’re poor. My mum’s had a hard life since Dad died, and although she done her best, the East End slums grind you down until you lose all hope of anything better.’
‘You don’t have to go back there,’ said Peggy. ‘You have work and a home here for as long as you want it; you know that, Ruby.’
Ruby took her hand and smiled. ‘I do know, and I can never express how much that means to me, Peggy. But I miss my mum, and I want her to share what I’ve found here in Cliffehaven.’
‘Then write to her and ask her to move in here,’ said Peggy immediately. ‘You’d have to share, because I don’t have any spare rooms, but—’
‘That’s really kind of you, Peggy, but I have a much better idea,’ she broke in before turning to Cordelia. ‘Is that bungalow still empty, Grandma Finch?’
‘Well, yes,’ she replied. ‘I keep meaning to find a tenant, but somehow I haven’t found the time.’
‘Would you rent it to me and Mum? We’d pay the going rate and look after it for you,’ she added swiftly.
The little face brightened and the blue eyes twinkled. ‘What a splendid idea, but I won’t charge you rent as long as you pay all the other bills.’
Ruby gently hugged her. ‘We’ll pay a proper rent and the bills,’ she said firmly. ‘I get good wages at the tool factory and me mum will soon find work there or in one of the other factories on the estate.’
Cordelia smiled. ‘I think that as you’re family you should get a discount. Would you agree to that at least?’
Ruby laughed. ‘I’ve got to persuade Mum to leave London first and that may take some doing – but yes, I’ll agree to a discount.’
‘That’s all settled then,’ said Peggy as she poured them all another cup of tea. ‘When are you planning to go up to London?’
Ruby felt a flutter of excitement at the thought of seeing her mother again. ‘I’ve asked for two days off next weekend.’
Peggy took her hand and squeezed her fingers. ‘We’ll miss you, Ruby, but I think you’re doing the right thing. You and your mother can settle into the bungalow and make a brand-new start – but you’ve got to promise me you’ll come and visit at least once a week. I don’t want to lose sight of you.’
Ruby’s heart was full as she kissed Peggy’s cheek. ‘You won’t get rid of me that quick,’ she said through the tearful lump in her throat, ‘and once Mum settles in and sees how lovely it is here, I wouldn’t mind betting you and her will get on like a house on fire.’
Ruby had said her goodbyes to everyone at Beach View, knowing it wouldn’t be long before she saw them all again. She reached the station to find Stan waiting for her with a bunch of beautiful roses.
‘I thought your mum might like these,’ he said bashfully.
‘Oh, Stan, she’ll be over the moon.’
He reached into his ticket office and drew out a small parcel and a thermos flask. ‘I made you some cheese and pickle sandwiches and a flask of tea to take with you. There could be some long delays going into London, and I don’t like the thought of you going hungry.’
Ruby blinked away her tears and softly kissed his bristly cheek. ‘You’re a diamond, Stan. Did I ever tell you that?’
He cleared his throat and picked up her case, his own eyes suspiciously bright. Having deposited the case on the overhead rack, he dusted the seat with his large white handkerchief. ‘Now you have a good journey, and be careful up there. And I’ll see you in a couple of days.’
‘Thanks, Stan – for everything.’
He stepped down from the carriage and slammed the door. Quickly blowing his nose, he shouted, ‘All aboard,’ to the empty platform, then blew his whistle and waved his flag. The train began to chuff slowly away from Cliffehaven.
Ruby leaned out of the window and waved until he was a mere speck at the end of the platform. Then she settled into her seat, the scent of the roses drifting up to her, promising a new beginning and a brighter tomorrow – her tomorrow.
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Epub ISBN: 9781448165254
Version 1.0
Published by Arrow Books 2014
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Copyright © Ellie Dean 2014
Ellie Dean has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
This novel is a work of fiction. Apart from references to actual historical figures and places, all other names and characters are a product of the author’s imagination and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
First published in Great Britain in 2014 by
Arrow Books
Random House, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road,
London SW1V 2SA
Addresses for companies within The Random House Group Limited can be found at:
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A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
ISBN 9780099585282