Flowers on the Mersey (13 page)

Joshua, who was wearing a black suit, removed his hat before approaching the bed. ‘Surely you haven’t forgotten me? I’ve come to help you.’

There was a brief silence before she murmured. ‘I haven’t forgotten. You’re the owner of the
Samson
… or you were.’

His expression was grave. ‘It’s a sorry business. A terrible thing to happen. I don’t know what to say—’

‘I don’t think you can be blamed for the fog or for the other ship hitting us, Mr Green,’ she said quietly, easing herself up against the pillows with difficulty. Brigid rushed forward to help her.

He looked relieved. ‘I’m glad you can look at it like that, Miss Rhoades. We are, of course, taking legal action against the other ship. We want damages for the loss of the
Samson
and her cargo – as well as for the lives lost and passengers’ belongings.’

She eased her throat. ‘I would like to go to church.’

He nodded. ‘We’ll have a memorial service for them.’ His voice was sombre. ‘And for the others who died … as soon as you feel able to cope with it.’

Rebekah looked at Brigid. ‘You do know that Mrs O’Shaugnessy’s husband—’

‘Yes. We’ve been talking.’

‘About going back to England?’ she asked.

‘I didn’t think you would wish to stay in New York.’

‘No.’ She stared down at the bedcover and her fingers plucked at the sheet. ‘Mr Green, one of your engineers helped save a boiler from blowing. He was Irish and I knew him in Dublin.’ Her pleading eyes were lifted to his. ‘His name was Daniel O’Neill but he went by the name of Peter Riley. Last I heard, he was in the water. I don’t know if he was rescued.’

For several moments Joshua did not speak. Then, ‘I knew an O’Neill in the war, if it is him you’re talking about. We were on the same ship for a while, I haven’t had time to see if there’s been any losses among the crew because I’ve only been in New York a few hours, but I’ll certainly find out for you.’

She smiled faintly. ‘Thank you.’

‘It’s the least I can do.’ He returned her smile. ‘I was told by the nurses not to stay long so I’ll leave you now but I’ll be back later.’ He held out his hand. She took it, comforted by its strength and warmth.

The moment he left Brigid came and sat on the bed. ‘Well that’s that,’ she said.

‘What’s what?’ murmured Rebekah.

‘Him! His lordship coming to see yer. Apparently it was on his orders that yer got moved from the
hospital to this rest home. They only just about allowed me in.’

Tears filled Rebekah’s eyes. ‘I’m glad they did.’ Her voice was unsteady as she squeezed Brigid’s hand, noticing how bony it felt. The bandage on her head had gone but there was a yellow bruise and a healing cut on her forehead. She wore a black coat which hung on her. ‘How are things? It’s the first day I’ve felt myself enough to consider you.’

Brigid’s eyes, with the dark pouches underneath, avoided hers. ‘I’m surviving. But don’t let’s talk about it.’ There was a pause while they sought strength from the other’s presence. Then the Liverpudlian said in a bright voice, ‘I haven’t told yer but me brother came in on the same boat as his lordship.’

‘Your Pat?’

‘Yeah! We’ll probably go back on the
Gideon
.’ She hesitated. ‘How d’yer feel about going on a ship?’

‘I haven’t thought about it.’

‘I don’t like it,’ said Brigid bluntly. ‘But if it’s the only way to get back home, then I’ll just have to put up with it.’

Rebekah rested her head against the pillows. ‘At least you’ve got a home to go to … and your sisters and your mam.’ It hurt when she thought of her own mother and she wanted to weep.

There was another pause. ‘What about that posh aunt of yours?’ asked Brigid.

‘Aunt Esther?’ She supposed that she had to
consider living with her aunt. ‘She’s family, of course.’

‘Better than none.’ Brigid hesitated. ‘D’yer really believe that Daniel could be alive?’

‘You think I’m clutching at straws?’

Brigid’s answering silence was frustrating.

‘His brother didn’t see him drown,’ said Rebekah, tilting her chin. ‘He could be alive.’ Her mind refused to accept that she would never see Daniel again.

‘I’m not saying he couldn’t be,’ muttered Brigid as if the words were forced from her. ‘But don’t build up yer hopes.’

‘Have you seen any sign of Shaun?’

Brigid shook her head and freed her hand. ‘I think yer’d be better resting. Short visits – that’s what I was told. Yer haven’t been well and yer don’t want to have a relapse.’ She hugged Rebekah and went out.

For a long time Rebekah lay there, fighting back tears and a terrible sense of desolation. Then two nurses came in, one carried a basket of fruit which she said was from Mr Green. The other brought a bowl of broth. She had a nasal twang to her voice and spoke cheerfully about the visitors and how lucky Rebekah was to have an excuse to stay in her nice warm bed as it had begun to throw it down outside. Rebekah let the words flow over her as she drank several spoonfuls of broth voluntarily, and was coaxed into swallowing the remainder.
Afterwards, she was left alone, which was the last thing she wanted as thinking only served to depress her spirits further. What if Daniel was dead? How was she going to live without him?

The morning sun put a bit of heart into her and Rebekah felt less inclined to accept the worse. She managed some porridge, a cup of coffee, three grapes, and a trip to the lavatory on her own. Joshua came to visit, and because everything and everybody else was unfamiliar, he seemed to represent reality.

‘Did you find out anything about Daniel?’ she demanded as soon as the pleasantries were observed.

He paused in the act of sitting on the chair beside the bed and said in deep tones, ‘No. I can’t find anyone who has seen him since the
Samson
sank.’

‘Oh!’ She almost fell back into utter despondency, but not quite. ‘Have you seen his brother?’

‘Brother?’ He seated himself, his expression severe. ‘Should I have?’

His reaction gave Rebekah pause for deliberation and she lowered her gaze. ‘I suppose not. Have you seen Brigid since yesterday? She won’t have to pay to return to England, will she?’ Her voice was concerned. ‘They didn’t have much money, and now she has nothing.’

‘You’re very friendly with this woman?’ There was a note in his voice that caused her to slant him a challenging look.

‘Mama and Papa didn’t object to our friendship and I don’t see why you should. Or that it has anything to do with you, Mr Green.’

There was a silence and she saw a brief flicker of annoyance in his face. ‘Your father named me as your guardian.’

‘You!’ She was dismayed and the fingers of her left hand kneaded the sheet as she remembered what her mother had said about her father’s plan for her. ‘I thought my aunt—’ She stopped abruptly. ‘No! Of course not Aunt Esther.’

‘I know it will come as a shock to you, but it seems there was no one else.’ His expression was affable once more as he withdrew an envelope from his pocket. ‘I went to see your aunt as soon as I had the news about the
Samson
. She was concerned for you and gave me this note. I was to tell you that her home is now your home, and I consider the way matters lie at the moment, that’s not a bad idea.’

Rebekah took the letter and placed it on the bedside cabinet. ‘When can I leave for Liverpool?’

He turned his hat between his hands. ‘I’ve arranged the memorial service for the day after tomorrow. You’ll need some clothes. I’ve asked for some to be brought in for your inspection – and some footwear as well. We’ll be leaving the day after the memorial service.’

‘Thank you. How long have I been here?’

‘Two weeks.’

‘Two weeks!’ She was aghast. Surely if Daniel was alive she would have heard from him? The realisation sapped her newfound strength and she sank back against the pillows, closing her lids tightly on the tears of weakness.

Joshua leant forward and took her hand. ‘There now, Rebekah. Don’t be upsetting yourself. The service will be an ordeal, I know, but I’ll be with you. Don’t be worrying about anything.’

Her wet lashes lifted. ‘I wish people would stop telling me not to worry,’ she said through gritted teeth. ‘I’m frightened, and terribly unhappy, and I don’t know what I’m going to do with the rest of my life. I’ve got loads to worry about!’

‘You’re overwrought.’ He patted her hand. ‘You’ve suffered a great shock as well as your injuries. It’s natural you’ll feel this way. What you need is building up. I’m certain your aunt will see to that.’

‘Aunt Esther?’ Rebekah laughed slightly hysterically. ‘She’ll expect me to become a Quaker. And I’m not a good girl.’

‘Shh! I’ll get the nurse and she’ll give you something to calm you down.’ he said soothingly, dropping her hand and going out of the room.

Rebekah sobbed into her pillow. What was life going to be like with Joshua Green in charge of her affairs, and her having to live with Aunt Esther? She could not see it being exciting or fun. All her dreams
had sunk beneath the stormy waters of the Atlantic. She wanted to die, die, die. She thumped the pillow and unexpectedly remembered that was what Brigid had said too.

By the time Joshua and the nurse entered the room Rebekah had gained some control over her emotions. Willingly she took the tablets that would give her brief respite from her misery. ‘Good girl,’ she heard Joshua say as her eyes closed, and then she drifted, was whizzing across what appeared to be a misty sea. For an instant she recaptured the dream in which she had escaped from the castle and her depression was if anything worse than it had been waking. Then unconsciousness claimed her.

Daniel was tired when he alighted from the train at Penn station in New York City, but a restless anxiety drove him on through the bustling sidewalks to the vicinity of West 19th Street. It was a fortnight since he had been plucked half-drowned and concussed from the sea to be laid in the bottom of a lifeboat by one of the passengers. He could remember little of what had happened after that but later was told in hospital that the wind had risen and they had lost an oar. The boat had drifted but eventually they were picked up by a liner heading for Philadelphia. The captain had refused to take them to New York, saying his first duty was to his own passengers. He would wire to Green’s agency in New York that they were safe, and once they were fit for travel they could make their own way there.

Daniel reached the agency with its rather pretentious frontage and went in. A
fiercesome-looking
female stared at him over steel-rimmed spectacles and he wished he had taken time to freshen himself up. ‘Can I help you?’ she said frostily.

‘I’m looking for a Miss Rebekah Rhoades and Mrs Rhoades. They were passengers on the
Samson
.’

Suddenly it appeared that she knew whom he was talking about because her expression thawed slightly. ‘Are you a relative? Because if you are you’ve just missed the memorial service. It was this morning. Perhaps you’d like to talk to Mr Green?’ She stood, and before he could answer, hurried through a doorway behind her.

Memorial service! Daniel sat on one of the chairs in the reception area and put his head in his hands. Dear God, he hoped that was just for Mr Rhoades. He had heard that several passengers had been killed but had hoped … could not believe that …

‘Oh, it’s you, O’Neill. Or is it Riley? What can I do for you?’

Daniel lifted his eyes and met Joshua’s cool gaze. ‘Miss Rebekah Rhoades?’ He stood up.

Joshua feigned surprise. ‘You knew her?’

‘Yes. From Dublin.’ He cleared his throat. ‘That woman said something about a memorial service.’

‘That’s right. Friends of yours, were they, O’Neill?’ There was the slightest hint of derision in his voice.

Daniel’s back stiffened. ‘I wouldn’t be saying 
that of Mr and Mrs Rhoades. But Rebekah—’

‘The daughter? She’s dead,’ said Joshua, watching him intently. ‘They’re all dead. The cabin was smashed to bits. I’m sorry, O’Neill, if she was a friend of yours. Tragic. But there it is. I knew them myself, you know.’

For a moment Daniel just stood there, his face quivering, then he turned and made for the door. Joshua hurried after him and thrust an envelope in his hand. ‘Here’s your pay, O’Neill. I’m sorry I can’t offer you another berth right now.’

Daniel thrust the envelope into his pocket without looking at it or Joshua, and walked out. He had not gone far before he heard the women from the agency calling after him. ‘There was a message for you, Mr O’Neill. From a Shaun Riley. He said that if you turned up, to look for him at Kelly’s place.’

Daniel gave no sign of hearing but carried on up the street. He could not get the image of Rebekah out of his mind. God, God, God! He wanted to smash something! Anything! Anyone! He wished now he had hit Green’s smirking face. The coward didn’t give a damn that he was suffering, and Daniel had known it. Aye, he’d known the pain he’d been inflicting, Daniel thought grimly. Becky! Oh Becky, love! That swine didn’t care that you were dead!

A long time ago, he had liked Joshua. Funny, that. They had been on a ship leaving Pennsylvania then, carrying a cargo of horses, wheat and oil. It was
1916 and they had been intercepted south-east of Cape Race by a German submarine. They had taken to the lifeboats – or what was left of them. That was when Daniel had discovered a different facet to Mr Joshua Green. If he hadn’t been so bloody-minded then, they wouldn’t have lost so many men. It had all come back to Daniel when he had been struggling in the water.

Becky … Funny, lovely, warm, sexy Becky! He could hear her now saying that she loved him – offering to live in sin with him. He scrubbed away the tears with his coat collar. He would find his brother and get rotten drunk. His fingers searched for the hip flask in his pocket. He hoped that Shaun had not drunk any of the so-called whisky on offer at Kelly’s. Some of it could blind a man. He had given his brother fair warning.

Daniel carried on through the wet streets, shivering with cold and shock, until he came to Kelly’s. Inside there was a strong smell of sweat and wet wool but the room was warm, if smoky and crowded. Daniel’s eyes scanned the room and saw his brother over in a corner with another man. He pushed his way between tables until he reached them. ‘So you survived then,’ said Daniel, in a voice slurred with grief and weariness, looming over his brother.

Shaun slowly got to his feet, his face alight with relief. ‘I knew you weren’t fish food! I just knew
it!’ Awkwardly the brothers hugged each other and then sat with knees touching in the confined space. Daniel exchanged greetings with the other man, whose name was Brendan O’Donovan.

He was a large man with a balding head and several chins. ‘Tell us what happened to you, Danny boy.’

Daniel told his tale succinctly. ‘Green told me that the Rhoades’ cabin was really smashed up. That they were all dead. Did you see it, Shaun? Did you see any sign of Rebekah?’ His voice shook. ‘Did she suffer, would you say?’

Shaun’s throat worked and he avoided his brother’s eyes. ‘Are you meaning that Quaker that you’d taken a fancy to?’

‘Aye.’ Daniel’s mouth set in a hard line. ‘You’re knowing right enough who I’m talking about.’

Shaun swirled the beer in his glass. ‘I’m knowing nothing about her. I was worrying myself enough about you without caring about her. If Green says she’s dead then she must be. Will you have a drink?’

Slowly Daniel shook his head. ‘And rot my guts? Get me a coffee.’ He took some coins from his pocket. His brother sloped off. Daniel sat, staring at nothing in particular, his thoughts turned in on his own misery, until Brendan jogged his elbow.

‘A beauty was she, Danny? English?’

‘I’d rather not talk about her.’ Daniel’s eyes
focussed on the American. ‘How are things with you? Did Shaun manage to save the goods?’

‘He got them to me. Although how much longer De Valera will be exchanging Irish Republican Bonds for dollars, I don’t know. Word’s out that he’s fallen out with the IRB and Devoy. And he didn’t do well politically in Washington, as you know. He’s not liked for whipping up enthusiasm for the interests of what many in the Senate see as a small, unimportant country on the other side of the ocean.’

‘You think there might be a chance of him returning to Ireland?’ Daniel frowned and gnawed at his inner lip. ‘God knows, from what I’ve seen of the mess everything’s in, they need him. It’s anarchy there, and something’s got to give. You can’t govern a country by bullying methods and the law of the gun. In the end it’s got to be done above board. I think it’s time de Valera went home.’ Daniel stopped abruptly as his brother placed his coffee in front of him. He took out his flask and poured Irish whiskey into the dark liquid. It felt good going down.

‘What’s this about going home?’ asked Shaun eagerly, seating himself. ‘I’m game if you are.’

Daniel exchanged glances with his brother and forced a smile. ‘I’m all for going home. But I won’t be trying for a berth with Green’s again. I’ll get us on another ship. I’ve friends.’

Brendan shook his head. ‘Well, boys, don’t go getting yourselves into trouble.’

Daniel laughed harshly. ‘Perhaps this time I will.’ He gulped at the hot drink and started to feel the sharp edges of his grief change shape. The room had begun to spin slightly already. He had not eaten all day, but it did not seem to matter. He was thinking that at least talking about Ireland, he had found some outlet for his anger and sorrow. Hadn’t he spoken to Rebekah about Oisín and his love for his princess and country? Loss of love might break your heart but the land was always there. Rebekah had said it was sad for the princess but Oisín had gone back to Ireland – found faith, only to die.

Life was bloody unfair! Just when you started to believe there was a chance of something different – something sweet, something good – it all went bloody wrong. Rebekah was dead and nothing seemed to matter any more.