For The Sake of Her Family (35 page)

Alice glanced nervously at Jack as the congregation rose to sing the first hymn. The notes from the ancient church organ were not quite in tune with the congregation as both organ and vicar sang
in a higher key.

It was at the end of the last verse of the hymn that everyone turned their heads when they heard the church door open. Slowly a figure entered, gradually emerging from the shadow of the clock
tower and into the spring light that was streaming through the windows. Thin and unsteady on his crutches, Gerald Frankland walked up the aisle, his face scarred and drawn. He stopped three pews
away from the couple, just standing in the aisle, before sitting awkwardly down.

Alice couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Forgetting where she was, she dropped her wedding posy and rushed to his side, dropping down on her knees, speechless, with tears in her eyes.
Jack just looked on, not knowing what to do. The vicar tactfully gave a small cough, urging Alice to rejoin her husband-to-be. She rose to her feet, tears streaming down her face. Gerald was alive!
The man she secretly loved and adored was back, and there she was, getting married to a farmer’s boy.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, I want to remind you that we are gathered here today to join together John Richard Alderson and Alice Bentham in holy matrimony.’ The vicar looked down into
his prayer book and coughed.

‘Just hold on, Vicar.’ Jack looked at Alice, her eyes red with tears. Then he lifted her veil and kissed her.

‘This is highly unusual! You can do this after the marriage, Jack.’ The vicar looked displeased.

Jack blushed, uncomfortable. ‘There’s not going to be a wedding. I’m not going to be second best and marry a lass that doesn’t love me. I don’t think she ever has.
She’s never looked at me the way she looks at Lord Frankland there. And I don’t blame you, lass. I’m just an ordinary fellow that does his best, but you will always want more than
I can give you and he’s got everything I haven’t got.’

Alice sank into a heap, still clutching her posy, and wept. He was right: she didn’t love him. She was marrying him for security, but now Gerald was back and everything had changed.

Jack reached for his cap and put it on. Placing his hand on Alice’s head, he whispered, ‘Don’t cry, lass, you’ll be all right. As for me, I’ll just stick to my
horses in the future.’

He walked down the church aisle past Gerald and his family and out into the spring sunshine. The congregation listened to the sound of his horses and trap driving off across the cobbles,
whispering and feeling uncomfortable at the unfolding event.

‘I’m sorry, ladies and gentlemen, I’m afraid there will be no wedding here today.’ The vicar walked down the steps. ‘It seems that I nearly undertook a most
unwanted service by one of the party.’ He ushered the congregation out of his church, leaving Gerald and Alice alone.

Gerald gripped the pew and pushed himself up onto his feet again, making his way towards Alice.

‘I’m sorry, Alice, I’ve ruined your wedding day. I shouldn’t have come, but I had to see you. Every day when I was fighting for my life in that awful Red Cross hospital I
thought of you – your blonde hair, those blue eyes, that mischievous smile and the way you can make me lose my head, like drinking the most exotic wine. When I went home to the manor and Mrs
Dowbiggin told me you were here, getting married, I knew that I had to make speed and stop you from making the biggest mistake of your life.’

Alice sniffed and wiped her eyes, then looked at Gerald’s face and smiled.

‘That’s better! Where’s my feisty Dales lass?’ Gerald made fun of her Yorkshire roots. ‘Don’t you know how much I love you? It’s taken a bloody war to
make me realize it and to know that class is nothing.’ He hobbled forward on his crutches, then lifted her chin and kissed her on the lips. ‘Come on, Miss Bentham, let’s go home.
I know at least three bodies who will be pleased to have you back where you belong, and Mrs Dowbiggin is going to be so busy with a proper wedding to plan, she isn’t going to have time to
gossip with Faulks.’

‘Do you really feel the same way as I do, Gerald?’ Alice lowered her tear-filled blue eyes, not daring to look him fully in the face. She felt sick with happiness and relief. She had
almost settled for second best, until Gerald had rescued her. Poor Jack – she hoped he’d understand.

‘If you’d been through what I have been through, you’d know just what you wanted. I know I love you with my every breath. Now, where’s that reprobate brother of yours and
my sister? I didn’t see them as I entered the church.’

‘Didn’t Mrs Dowbiggin tell you?’

‘Tell me what? I didn’t stop. I had to get here and see you. What is there to tell? Is there another baby on the way?’

‘Oh, Gerald, if only there was, if only it was such good news. I’m afraid both Will and Nancy are dead.’

‘Dead? No, they can’t be; they were both safe here in Dentdale. It was me who went to war to give them life and hope.’

Alice held his hand while she sat with him on the church pew and told the sorry tale of the two deaths. Then they walked out into the spring sunshine and she showed him Nancy’s grave.
Gerald bent down, his army cap in hand, and prayed for his lost sister. The newly sprung yellow cowslips nodded on the earthy grave in agreement with his prayers as a low cloud passed over the
spring sun in keeping with the mood in the little village churchyard.

‘Well, I nearly dropped down dead when I saw Master Gerald on the step. I hadn’t time to tell him anything – he turned round as fast as he appeared soon as I
said everyone was at Miss Alice’s wedding. It wasn’t half good to see him. Looks frail, mind you, but we’ll soon build him up now he’s home.’ Mrs Dowbiggin kneaded the
loaf of bread that was going to be wanted now that Gerald Frankland had returned. ‘That poor horse of his got the biggest whip across its backside I’ve ever seen. I suppose he wanted to
see Alice getting married. It’d be a change after dreary army life.’

‘I’m just glad he’s back – a fellow man in a house full of women. We can stand together against you females.’ Faulks folded his newspaper.

‘You, classing yourself in the same bracket as Master Gerald? He’s twice the man you are, you old goat.’ Mrs Dowbiggin patted her hands against her apron, causing a dusting of
flour to cover the kitchen floor, before putting the loaf of bread to rise next to the open fire.

‘You’d be lost without me, you know you would, you old fool.’ Faulks winked at the blushing Mrs Dowbiggin, then buried himself in his newspaper.

‘Happen I would. We go together like a pair of well-worn shoes. Life wouldn’t be the same without you.’ She busied herself and cleaned the pine table, not looking at the
smiling Faulks. They’d been in service together for years and she was content in his company.

‘Put the kettle on, Mrs D – we are home,’ Gerald Frankland yelled across the hall after slamming the front door. ‘We’ll be in my study.’

‘We? Who’s we?’ Mrs Dowbiggin looked at Faulks in puzzlement. ‘Well, go and see who’s with him. You need to welcome him back; that’ll give you an excuse to
see who’s there.’

Faulks folded his paper, rearranged his waistcoat and solemnly made his way to the study. He coughed before knocking on the door and entering.

‘Come in, Faulks. How have you been, old man? There was many a day when I could have done with your service, when my boots needed cleaning and my buttons shining.’ Gerald Frankland
held his hand out to be shaken by his trusted old butler.

‘It’s good to see you, sir. May I say it’s a pleasure to see your smiling face. It seems a lifetime ago that you left us for the front. Was it terrible out there, sir? From
what I understand, we’ve suffered a shocking loss of young life.’

‘I prefer not to talk about it, Faulks. I’m trying hard to forget the whole terrible episode.’

‘Of course, sir. I understand.’ Faulks coughed politely. ‘Did sir say he wanted tea? One cup, is it, sir?’ Faulks had spotted the delicate white lace of a woman’s
dress from behind the winged chair that was facing out of the study window.

‘No, Faulks – allow me to introduce my wife-to-be. I’ll be needing two cups of tea and, I suspect, smelling salts for Mrs Dowbiggin. Alice, take my hand, my darling. Rescued in
the nick of time, Faulks: the woman who kept me alive. All those months in those dreaded trenches and hospital, this face of an angel kept smiling at me and I knew I had to survive to marry
her.’

Alice stood up, bashfully holding Gerald’s hand, not quite knowing what to say to the gobsmacked Faulks.

‘But Miss Alice was marrying Jack. I don’t understand.’

‘She was, Faulks, but I saved her and now we are to marry. Go! Go and tell Mrs Dowbiggin – no doubt she will have something to say. And ask the nursemaid to bring me my niece. I want
to see who she takes after. If it’s her delightful aunt, then I’m doubly blessed.’

Alice smiled at Faulks as he walked out of the study door. Gerald grabbed her by her waist and held her tightly in his arms. ‘I see nothing’s changed here: the servants still need to
be the first ones to know the news.’ He smiled and kissed her hard on the lips. ‘That tastes good. You don’t know the times I’ve dreamed of that when I was lying in that
dreadful hospital bed.’

‘Gerald, behave yourself! What would Faulks think if he walked in? Besides, they have been wonderful to me since Nancy and Will died; they’ve always been there for me.’

‘To hell with them. I’ll kiss you when I want. You’re mine now and I want everyone to know it.’ Gerald’s dark eyes flashed as he held Alice tight and kissed her
more firmly. ‘Tonight you’ll sleep with me. I’ve needed company for so long.’

‘Gerald, I can’t, it wouldn’t be right. This was supposed to be my wedding night, in case you’ve forgotten.’ Alice was horrified. ‘We need to take things
slower, do this the right way.’

‘Nonsense. Just pretend it is your wedding night, that I’m your husband. I assure you I won’t be as disappointing as your farm boy.’

Gerald released Alice when the nursemaid knocked on the door and entered the study carrying Baby Alice in her arms.

‘So this is my niece.’ Gerald peered over the cream lace blankets at the dark-haired baby.

‘Would you like to hold her, sir?’ The portly nursemaid offered the gurgling baby for him to hold.

‘Oh my God, no. Babies are for women. You won’t catch me holding one. Is she perfect? Nothing wrong with her? Is she showing signs of having all her faculties?’

‘She’s perfect, sir. Aren’t you, my little angel?’ The nurse tickled under Baby Alice’s chin, making her smile and blow bubbles.

‘Good, good, I’m glad to hear that. I was worried, you know. You can’t be too sure. Er, now I’ve returned and Miss Alice is to be my bride, I’m afraid I won’t
have need of your services.’ He looked at the distraught nursemaid and then at Alice. ‘Of course, I will pay you to the end of the week, and then Miss Alice will take charge of your
ward.’

The nursemaid fought back tears. She had been so contented looking after the beautiful little girl and it had given her a purpose in her life, but now she was without a home and pay.

‘Thank you, sir. I’ll pack my bags and be gone by Friday.’ She curtsied with the baby still in her arms and left the room.

‘Gerald, that was hard. Of course I’ll be glad to look after Alice, but an extra pair of hands would be useful around the place.’ Alice frowned, wondering what was going on in
Gerald’s mind.

‘We don’t want a nursemaid wandering around the place. Besides, she isn’t exactly an oil painting – a bit dour in that black dress.’

‘She’s just lost her husband: he was killed at the Somme. I thought you’d be more understanding of a war widow who was trying to make a living.’ Alice turned and stared
at Gerald. Even in the few hours that she had been with him she’d realized that he’d changed since he’d come home from the war.

‘She’ll make a living somewhere else. Now, where is that blasted Faulks with our tea? I could have made it myself at this rate.’ Gerald stormed out of the study in pursuit of
his elusive cup of tea, shouting for Faulks as he crossed the hallway.

Alice flopped into her chair. Had she done right? She did love him, but she wanted to take things more slowly, not be bedded on the first night of his return. Perhaps she could talk him out of
it. Besides, her mind would only keep wandering to thoughts of Jack; after all, it was his bed she was meant to be in. Poor Jack, he’d been a good friend and always would be. She only hoped
that he’d forgive her for the way she felt about Gerald. He had to be the one: he had the looks, the charisma and most of all the money – what else could a girl want?

Gerald sat in his study before retiring to his bed. Will was dead, likewise Nancy. Leaving just Alice, his flight of fancy, the one he had to have. Just why he had become
obsessed with her when he was in the trenches, he could not understand. A waiflike commoner, yet she’d been the fantasy that had kept him alive through the fighting. What a sight she’d
looked, marrying that oaf of a farmer. Gerald swilled the last dregs of brandy around his glass and smiled. He’d enjoy bedding her. The ever-willing Alice was waiting and he could resist no
longer.

Alice lay back beneath the crisp sheets of the master bed, the morning’s sun shining through the windows and an early visitor of a swallow was tweeting outside. She
sighed and ran her fingers through her long blonde hair, feeling the warm imprint of where Gerald had lain. It had been a night of lust and passion, neither of them holding back their hunger for
sex. Alice had soon forgetten that she should have been in the arms of Jack as the experienced hands of Gerald held and caressed her most intimate parts, making her feel more pleasure than she ever
had in the hands of a man. At first she’d been frightened, remembering the feeble fumblings of Old Todd and the aggression Uriah Woodhead had shown her when she was raped in the bedroom of
the Moon, but these memories had all faded into insignificance as Gerald held her close and spoke his words of magic.

He must have woken early and crept out of the bedroom; it was still well before six and the manor was silent. Alice sat on the edge of the bed looking at herself in the full-length mirror for a
moment, then pulled her dressing gown around her. On her way to the bathroom she saw Gerald in his nightshirt, leaning over the baby’s cot in the adjacent bedroom. Not a sound did either of
them make; he was just staring at the sleeping baby. She walked into the room behind him and slipped her arms around his waist.