Flowers on the Mersey (34 page)

Rebekah came down the steps of the building where Joshua’s solicitor’s office was situated near Dale Street. She was wearing an eau-de-Nil chiffon frock and a black straw hat with an artificial green gardenia decorating its narrow brim. There was a bounce in her step as she walked. The street sloped downwards towards the river and soon she passed beneath the Overhead Railway, nicknamed the Dockers’ Umbrella by Liverpudlians. She narrowly avoided a heavily loaded horse drawn cart.

‘Watch it, luv!’ The words were accompanied by a wolf whistle. ‘Got a date, have yer? I wouldn’t mind taking yer on meself.’

Rebekah smiled and felt good.

David was safe with Aunt Esther, who was still in shock after Rebekah had told her that Daniel was David’s father and that they were going to get
married. Hannah had said with relish: ‘Told thee, Miss Esther, she always was one for the men.’

‘Men!’ Rebekah had retorted. ‘There’s only ever been one man in my life.’

Now she looked at the man in her life as he gazed over the river at the ships. In the navy pin striped suit, and with his dark brown hair in disarray by the sea breeze, she considered him still the most attractive man she had ever set eyes on. She came up behind him and slipped her hand through his arm. ‘Are you wishing yourself on one of them boats?’

‘Ships, Becky.’ Daniel turned, smiling. ‘How did you get on? Did you shock the man in your best green frock?’

‘I’m sure I did. He was even more shocked when I told him I was going to a wedding.’

‘You’re wishing it was your own, perhaps?’

She smiled. ‘I thought you might have suggested a double one.’

‘I was excommunicated last year.’

Rebekah stared at him. ‘You never told me that.’

‘Most of us Irregulars were at some time or other. Sure, and I forgot about it in all the excitement. Like you’re forgetting to tell me if I was right about Joshua’s money.’

‘You mean, had he put a clause in his will saying if I married one Daniel O’Neill, then I wasn’t to get a penny?’ He nodded. ‘You were wrong,’ she said softly. ‘You won’t believe this but the shipping line
goes to David. Joshua must have made the will after he was born and strangely, considering what he suspected, he never bothered to change it. There’s some charitable gifts and a hundred pounds for his cousin. The rest is mine.’

‘Odd,’ said Daniel, shaking his head. ‘I can’t understand him. I never could.’

‘I don’t doubt that he was thinking of his reputation even after death,’ murmured Rebekah. ‘But after all, what is he giving me? He told me that he married me for my money.’

‘It doesn’t make sense.’ Daniel shook his head.

‘Some old aunt of his reckoned there was mental instability from his mother’s side of the family.’

Daniel stopped. ‘You’ve had a lucky escape.’

She nodded, remembering. ‘What are we going to do about the business? Someone will have to look after it until David is old enough. I know you fought for a free Ireland, but—’

‘But it’s not the way I dreamt it,’ he said quietly.

‘Is anywhere?’ Her voice softened. ‘If you ask me, the pictures of places people carry in their minds have no reality. They’re like that Land of the Ever Young you spoke of.’

He shrugged and looked over the river. ‘Dreams die hard.’

‘You have to dream new dreams. We have to think of David and he has a future here. We’ll have to become respectable.’

‘Respectable?’ he murmured. ‘Is Liverpool a city full of respectable people then?’

Her lips twitched. ‘It has its share of rogues. But what do you expect? It’s a seaport! Its ships go all round the world and you can hear ten different languages in a day!’

He stared at her then smiled. ‘You don’t have to convince me. I know the place. I thought we might go on a cruise.’ He brought out two tickets with all the panache of a magician successfully pulling a donkey from a hat. ‘I was thinking that the captain could marry us without any fuss.’

‘It sounds a good idea.’

‘I thought so. In the morning do?’

She nodded. They kissed, and arm in arm went off to Brigid’s wedding.

J
UNE
F
RANCIS
’
S
maiden name was Nelson, and although she can’t lay claim to the famous Lord Admiral, she can boast of at least six mariners in her ancestry who came from far and wide. June’s mother worked in service and her tales of the old days have inspired several of June’s published novels.

Friends and Lovers

Step by Step

A Place to Call Home

A Dream to Share

Look for the Silver Lining

When the Clouds Go Rolling By

Tilly’s Story

Sunshine and Showers

It Had to Be You