Lizzie's War (27 page)

‘What's wrong? Have you had another quarrel with Bernie?'

‘Not exactly, but he's been in a foul mood since his desk was broken into and some things stolen…'

‘You were burgled? Oh, I didn't know, Beth. I haven't seen your mum because I've been busy, up at the hospital and talking to Aunt Miriam, so I hadn't heard from anyone. She's in a bit of a state over Bert.'

‘Yes, I heard about him having a heart attack. I'm sorry for her – but he hasn't treated you right, Lizzie.'

‘I went round to make him stop causing trouble for me and he asked me for the truth about Harry – and that brought on his attack, so I feel responsible in a way…'

Beth shook her head. ‘It's too easy to blame yourself when someone else is at fault – I should never have married Bernie, but I couldn't know what he was really like.' She took a deep breath. ‘We weren't burgled. It was me that broke into his desk and took some things – as insurance in case he gets rough with the children or me. I sent it to myself at your house but I'm going to collect it, because if Bernie knew he would come after you…'

‘It hadn't come when I left this morning. When it does, I'll bring it in with me and put in my safe for you.'

‘OK, I'll fetch the parcel and put it in a luggage locker at the railway station…'

‘What about the key? What if he finds that?'

‘I'm going to give the key to Dad and tell him to keep it for me.'

‘Do you think that's wise?'

‘If you have it, he might come after you… I don't want you to be hurt because of me, Lizzie.'

Lizzie thought for a moment, then, ‘What if we ask Ed to look after it for you? Bernie wouldn't think of that.'

Beth hesitated and then nodded. ‘Yes, that's a good idea – if he doesn't mind.'

‘We'll ask him…' Lizzie went to the door of the office and called her partner in. She explained that Beth had an important package she needed to keep secret and asked if he would keep the parcel for her.

Ed frowned, then looked at Beth. ‘Are you in trouble, lass? I didn't want to say before but I've heard some things that husband of yours – things I didn't like to repeat.'

‘What kind of things?' Lizzie asked.

‘He's not the generous man he tries to make out, but it isn't my business to tie labels on him – I'd just be a bit careful if I were you, Beth.'

‘Why can't you tell us?' Lizzie persisted.'

‘My mate wouldn't like it if he knew I'd told you what he told me in confidence…'

‘It's all right, I think I've guessed what he told you,' Beth said and swallowed hard. ‘It's best you keep it to yourself, Ed. Bernie might threaten you if he knew you were telling me about him.'

‘He'd regret it if he did,' Ed told her with a smile. ‘I'm still a bit handy with my fists if I've a mind to it. If Lizzie gives me your parcel, I'll put it somewhere no one will find it, unless you ask for it. Then neither of you knows and you can say in all innocence you have no idea where it went…'

‘Yes, please,' Beth agreed at once. ‘I may never have to use it – but if anything happens to me or my children, Ed, I want the police to have it.'

‘I doubt Bernie would risk really harming you or the children; he knows you've got family and friends – he might threaten and bluster, but if he does, you tell him that you've got the evidence and if anything happens it will go straight to the police,' Ed told her solemnly.

‘Yes, all right,' Beth agreed, though Lizzie thought she looked unconvinced. ‘I'd better go, Lizzie. I hope Mr Oliver gets better… give my best wishes to Miriam.'

‘Yes, of course,' Lizzie said. ‘I'm going to the hospital with her this afternoon. She is staying with me for a few days – until she feels calmer.

‘You take care, Lizzie,' Beth said. ‘It sounds daft, but I think Bernie was behind those threats you had. I don't know why he wanted to harm you, but I can't help feeling he was the one who started it.'

Lizzie nodded, because she too suspected that her friend's husband had set that thug on to menacing her, and she was worried for Beth.

Ed looked at her oddly after Beth had left. ‘Do you think it was Bernie Wright that organized all that business with the paint and the smashed windows?'

‘I think it very likely.'

‘I'll talk to my mate and see what I can find out.'

‘Be careful, Ed. If Bernie did do these things, he's a dangerous man.'

‘Don't worry, Lizzie. He won't get to hear that I've been asking questions. If I'm right, there are a few people who dislike him…'

‘Please, don't do anything silly.

‘Don't you worry, Lizzie,' Ed said. ‘Nothing will happen to me and I'm going to do my best to make sure that both you and Beth are safe too…'

Lizzie nodded, but made no answer. She could only hope that Ed's friends wouldn't take the law into their own hands… A sigh broke from her as her partner went back to his workbench. If only Sebastian was here. She missed him so much and she hated the dreadful war that kept them apart.

Where was Sebastian now – and was he thinking about her?

‘Oh, Lizzie,' Aunt Miriam sobbed against her shoulder. ‘He was a little better yesterday. He spoke to me when I sat with him and told me… where to find things, his will and various papers…'

‘I'm so very sorry,' Lizzie felt a lump in her throat. Despite their disagreements, she still retained some liking for her former boss. Harry's uncle had taken her on at his workshops and let Ed train her. He'd allowed her to have hats she'd designed made up and shown them to Sebastian. In a way she owed her present success to him, and over the course of the past week she'd prayed and hoped that he would recover, but unfortunately he'd had another sudden heart attack and died during the night. ‘I wish it hadn't happened – but if the hospital couldn't save him no one could.'

‘He should've done as he was told and cut down his work,' Aunt Miriam said and drew a deep breath. ‘Well, it's over now and we can't bring him back – so there's no more to be done.'

‘Would you like me to help you with the arrangements?'

‘Yes, please,' Aunt Miriam looked at her gratefully. ‘Bert always looked after everything. I've never had to do any of the legal stuff. He just gave me my housekeeping money and paid all the bills himself…' She made a helpless gesture. ‘I feel so useless. I should've asked about the business but he never wanted to talk about things like that, especially since Harry died – I've no idea how things stand.'

‘His lawyer will have some idea,' Lizzie reassured her. ‘I'll sort things out for you at the workshops, at least until you get used to the idea…'

‘Oh, but…' Aunt Miriam hesitated. ‘I suppose I should wait until the lawyer reads the will – but Bert told me. He's left the house to me and everything else to you, with the proviso that you pay me the same allowance every month and pay all the bills from the profits the way he did…'

‘But that isn't fair or right,' Lizzie cried in dismay. ‘You're his wife; it should all be yours.'

‘Bert felt he owed you something, Lizzie – besides, it was always his intention to leave the business to Harry, and you, when you showed such promise at the workshops. He'd spoken of selling up years ago but when you married Harry, he decided against it. He changed his will after Harry died and took you out of it but then, recently, he changed it back again. He wanted you to take over – and it's what I want too. I have some money of my own, Lizzie – and I could never manage the business. It would soon end up in debt.'

‘I don't deserve it,' Lizzie said feeling tearful. ‘If I hadn't quarrelled with him…'

‘Another attack was on the cards. Besides, you're my friend and the nearest I have to a daughter. I don't want the worry of it, Lizzie, and that's the truth. All I need is my money each month and my house – and when I die that will be Betty's.'

‘I don't know what to say…'

‘Don't say anything. Bert knew what he was doing. You'll keep things ticking over for the duration and afterwards you can expand to become the successful woman Bert knew you to be. He was angry with you and he spoke against you – but he didn't do any of that other nasty stuff at your workshops, though he told me once he might know who did…'

‘I believe I know who was behind all that horrid business, but I'm glad to know it wasn't Harry's uncle. As for the business, I'll gladly run it and when I've had time to discover how much profit it's making I shall be able to settle things. You should have your fair share, Aunt Miriam, and at the very least I shall try to give you more money than you've had previously.'

‘What a lovely girl you are,' Miriam said and pressed her hand affectionately. ‘It was a lucky day for us when Harry brought you into the family – and now, my love, I'm going to go home.'

‘Are you sure? Why don't you stay at mine until it's all over?'

Aunt Miriam shook her head. ‘The worst has happened now, Lizzie. Nothing more can hurt me, and I like my own home. I'll get used to being alone – and I know I can visit you and Betty whenever I want.'

‘I'll come with you and see you settled,' Lizzie said. ‘We'll talk to the undertaker and make all the arrangements – and then I expect you'll have a few visitors, people wanting to pay their respects. It's Betty's birthday next week and I'm having a little party on Sunday, just Ed, Jean and her children, and Tilly and her daughter. Beth can't come, which is a shame because Betty misses the twins; she thinks of them as a brother and sister.'

‘Of course I'll come,' Aunt Miriam said. ‘It's after the funeral and I'll feel better when it's over. We'll have the tea at home, but we shall need a caterer because I think there will be quite a few at his funeral.'

‘Yes, I expect so. He knew a lot of people.' Lizzie thought quickly, then, ‘I'm going to take a week off work. Ed can manage the orders with Tilly to help him. I can work on my designs wherever I am and I want to make sure everything is as it should be for you. I'll pop into the workshops – but I think we'll close on the day to show respect and allow everyone to attend if they want to.'

‘Good.' Aunt Miriam signalled her approval. ‘I knew you would do things properly, Lizzie – and so did he. That's why he left things the way he did…'

*

‘I don't know if I shall be able to get to the funeral,' Beth said when Lizzie told her the details. She'd popped into the workshops to give Lizzie a little present for Betty's birthday. ‘Mum will probably have the kids if I ask, but Matt has been unwell, tummy trouble again – and Jenny is teething, though she's putting on a bit of weight now, thank goodness.'

Her friend looked pale and tired and she could see a slight bruise on her cheek. ‘What's wrong?' Lizzie asked. ‘Has Bernie hit you again?'

‘We had a row,' Beth said. ‘Somehow, he knew I'd been to see you, though I don't know how, and he was so nasty – tried to tell me you were a controlling bitch and said all sorts of things. I told him he was mad and he lunged at me…' her hands clenched at her sides. ‘I warned him that if he hurt either me or the twins he'd be in trouble with the police. That stopped him but he's been looking at Matt so viciously and hinting what he'll do if I defy him. I don't want to worry you, but be careful not to be out alone at night, Lizzie – I think Bernie might harm you if he got the chance.'

‘Why should he?'

‘I don't understand it, Lizzie – but I'm sure he hates you. I thought it was because he was jealous that I took too much notice of you, but surely there must be something more? You don't have any idea I suppose?'

‘None, I'm afraid.'

‘It might be anything, he's so vindictive.'

‘I'm not afraid of him,' Lizzie said, though she knew that perhaps she ought to be. ‘I worry about what he might do to you or the children.'

Beth shrugged her shoulders. ‘I think he's done his worst, for the moment at least. For some reason he's letting me escape lightly – because he still thinks I may be having his child…'

‘You're not, are you?'

‘No, but I haven't told him,' Beth admitted. ‘When we married I was prepared to be a good wife in every way – but after the way he treated me I've told him to leave me alone. I cook and clean, but that's all…'

‘He won't put up with that forever.'

‘No, I'm sure he won't,' Beth agreed. ‘He seems amused about something – I've caught him smiling to himself in a horrible way. Sort of smug and malicious. I think he's planning something unpleasant, but I have no idea what.'

‘Well, take care.' Lizzie leaned forward and kissed her cheek. ‘I wish I'd told you not to marry him, Beth – I know you should only marry for love.'

‘Oh Lizzie…' Beth said tight with emotion. ‘Have you heard from Sebastian?'

‘No, not one letter. He used to send postcards when he went away, but I knew he hadn't posted them and I told him I only wanted genuine news. He'll be in touch as soon as he can. I know what he's doing is important and I have to be patient.'

‘Mum told me that Tony went round hers the other day and asked about me. She said he was disappointed when she told him I'd married…'

Lizzie's gazed narrowed. ‘Do you still care about him?'

‘I don't know…' Beth's eyes mirrored her despair. ‘I'm not sure I could ever trust a man again. Even if I were free…'

‘Oh, Beth, I'm so sorry,' Lizzie said. ‘I felt a bit that way once – but I think you've suffered more than I did… Harry forced me but he didn't mean to hurt me, not like Bernie does you.'