Convinced he had found the answer, he made his way over there, collected a fallen, sturdy branch, climbed the tree and going as far out as he dared to the edge of the thicker branch, he reached down and hooked up the necklace. He managed to get it halfway up to him, when it slipped off again.
Cursing, he hooked it again and this time he had it in his grasp. ‘Gotcha!’ Climbing down from the tree, he saw Aggie coming towards him. ‘I’ve managed to get the necklace,’ he told her. ‘It needs a bit of a wipe, mind.’ Handing it to her, he said, ‘I’ve been round here God knows how many times and I can’t catch sight of him. I’ll have another look. I shan’t let him get away with this.’
‘No. Leave it, Danny! I don’t want you messing with him.’
Though he respected her wishes, Danny found it hard to understand. ‘The man wants telling,’ he replied, his eyes burning with anger. ‘What he did was shocking! That poor woman might have been killed.’
‘All the same, I’d rather you didn’t go after him.’
By nature Aggie was a private person. Although Emily had probably told him all about it, she could not bring herself to explain the way it was with Clem – the huge amount of money they owed him; the terrible hold he had on all of them; the fear of eviction they lived under day after day.
Then there was the other thing. The thing that gave her nightmares. The thing she could never talk about to anyone.
All she could say was, ‘I know how you feel, Danny, but it’s best to leave him be. I want no trouble. None of us do.’
He was surprised at her stand, but the last thing he wanted to do was to go against her. ‘If that’s what you really want,’ he said. ‘Only remember I’m here for you if you need me.’
‘I know, and I thank you for that.’ Danny had long been like a son to her.
He gave a reluctant nod. ‘How’s the woman?’
‘Yon Ruby will have a pretty scar for some long time, but she’ll be all right, thanks to you.’
They walked back to the farmhouse together, talking more easily now – about Emily mostly. ‘She’s a grand lass.’ Aggie never lost an opportunity to sing Emily’s praises to him. ‘I’m hoping to see the day you and her get wed.’
‘You know how I feel about that, Mrs Ramsden.’
‘Aggie!’ she corrected. ‘Haven’t I allus told you to call me Aggie?’ Lightening the mood, she told him, ‘I think I might just manage to find a new hat for the occasion. The last time I treated meself was for me own wedding – and Queen Victoria still ruled over us all then, God bless her. I should think the moth’s got to it by now and it’ll be riddled with holes. Would be handy to stick me feathers an’ hatpins in, though, wouldn’t it?’
They were still laughing when they arrived back at the house.
Emily was putting the finishing touches to Ruby’s bandage. ‘I’m about finished,’ she said as the others came into the room. ‘I’ve done as much as I can.’
Grey-faced and still shaken by her experience, the unfortunate woman was sipping tea, while Cathleen dutifully stood by with the dress which Aggie told her to look after.
‘You’re welcome to use my bedroom to get changed,’ Emily told her, and that was what Ruby did, emerging some short time later looking far more splendid than Aggie ever did in the blue flowered dress. ‘By! It’s been years since I wore that dress,’ Aggie sighed. ‘I were younger and slimmer then, but even at that I never looked like you do now. You’re a pretty thing, Ruby, an’ no mistake. So what in God’s name are you doing messing with a scoundrel like my brother?’
‘I didn’t know he was such a scoundrel,’ the woman replied in self-defence. ‘If I had, I’d never have gone with him.’
Aggie had been showing the necklace to Emily and now, as Emily fastened it round the woman’s neck, she said, ‘It’s a beautiful thing. I don’t blame you for trying to get it back.’
‘Take it,’ the older woman said. ‘You’ve been so kind, it’s the least I can do.’
Emily graciously refused. ‘What!’ she smiled. ‘After you’ve very nearly been killed trying to rescue it? No. It’s kind of you, but I couldn’t accept. I’m just relieved you came to no real harm.’ She had told no one that, ever since losing her small gold locket containing a lock of John’s hair, she would never wear a necklace again.
She was startled when Ruby threw her arms round her neck. ‘I won’t forget your kindness,’ she said, and there were tears in her eyes. ‘I’d best go now.’ She hadn’t got her money, but she still had her life – and that was thanks to all of these lovely people.
They walked with her towards the horse and cart, for Danny had insisted on taking her back to Blackburn town himself. ‘You’re very lucky,’ Ruby told Emily, her gaze shifting to Danny. ‘I can see how much he loves you. Few women ever know such devotion.’
With that they set off, with Ruby waving to them all the way.
‘She’s a fortunate woman,’ Aggie said soberly. ‘Another minute and that bull would have had her off that fence and trampled under his feet.’ She had a hankering to go after that bastard Clem with a shotgun, and make him pay for what he had done.
Later, when Danny had returned, and he and Cathleen were trying out the swing again, Emily sat on the grass nearby and watched. The woman’s words echoed in her mind, and she thought: You are right, Ruby. I
am
lucky to have the love of a good man.
Dropping her gaze to the wild flowers at her feet, she plucked one and lightly brushed it against her lips. The sensation was wonderful, reminding her as it did of the day John had picked a flower and traced the contours of her mouth with it, before kissing her for the very first time.
Closing her eyes, she asked silently, ‘What shall I do, John? I can never stop loving you, but now I have Cathleen to consider. Should I do what Mam and Grandad want? Should I wed Danny for my daughter’s sake, and make his life a contented one in return? Or should I wait a while longer, in case you decide to come home?’
It was the most difficult decision, and as always she was torn two ways.
Just then, when Cathleen came to throw her arms round her neck, it almost broke her heart. ‘I love you, Mammy,’ the little girl said.
Emily held her so tight. ‘I love you too, sweetheart,’ she murmured. But did she love her enough to make that one great sacrifice?
From where he stood, Danny saw the love between those two, and he was deeply moved. ‘Aw, Emily, the child needs me, you know she does,’ he murmured lovingly. ‘Let that make up your mind, my darling. I swear, neither of you will ever want for anything while I’m alive on this earth. If only you could find it in your heart to put your trust in me.’
T
WO WEEKS BEFORE
Christmas 1908, Emily and Danny were married in St Michael’s Church in Salmesbury, and in spite of Emily’s misgivings, it turned out to be a wonderful, joy-filled occasion, and one which – especially in the events that were to follow – no one would ever forget.
On her wedding day, Emily was out of her bed on the stroke of six. By half-past, she was washed, dressed in her everyday clothes and out of the house. Tired after another fitful night, she wandered the winter fields, talking to John in her mind, telling him all her thoughts. ‘I’m getting married today,’ she whispered into the chill, dark morning. ‘Like you, I’ve settled for someone else. Danny is a good man and I’m lucky to have him.’
But though she was fond of Danny, and would not hurt him for the world, her heart wasn’t in it. Oh, she put on a show and smiled and laughed and let them think she was content enough, but she wasn’t, and never would be.
Now, having wandered until she was weary, she returned to the farm and sat for a while in the orchard. Huddled in her big, warm cloak, she closed her eyes and allowed her thoughts to drift back to the dear past, to those happier days with John. Even though their plans had fallen apart, just thinking of how it could have been was a bittersweet pleasure …
Unaware that her daughter was even out of her bed, Aggie entered Grandad’s room. ‘Wake up, sleepy head!’ Placing his cup of tea on the bedside cabinet, she went over and riddled the small fire that had been barely smouldering through the night, and added a couple of lumps of coal. The flames sizzled and licked at the dust. She put back the big brass guard and laid her father-in-law’s clean long-johns and long-sleeved singlet to warm on the top.
‘What’s up with yer, woman?’ Regarding the clock through one half-open eye, the old fella groaned. ‘Bloody hell! What d’yer want, waking me at seven o’clock of a mornin’? Can’t a man get no sleep round ’ere?’
‘It’s a special day today,’ Aggie told him. ‘Drink your tea and stop moaning.’
Thomas Isaac dragged himself up in the bed. ‘Special day?’ He followed her with bloodshot eyes as she went to fully open the curtains. ‘What’s all that about, then?’
Aggie swung round. ‘Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten?’
Taking a deep breath he asked on the crest of a sigh, ‘Forgotten what? Aw, Aggie, have a heart. Bugger off and let me drink me tea in peace.’
Aggie swished the curtains back on their pole and let the watery sunshine filter in. ‘I’m surprised you could forget,’ she chided. ‘It’s your granddaughter’s wedding day!’
‘Oh, my good God!’ He laughed out loud. ‘So it is! Why didn’t yer wake me? There’s things to do! I’ve to get washed and shaved, and ’ave yer wrapped me present? Good Lord, woman, what the devil are yer playing at, leaving me in bed till this time?’ He got so excited he gulped down his tea and nearly choked. ‘Now see what you’ve done! Yer trying to kill me off, that’s what yer up to, yer bugger!’
‘I’ll kill yer off with me bare hands if you don’t stop your antics!’ Though she couldn’t help but laugh.
Frantically wiping at his nightshirt, he then spilled the rest of his tea all over the bedclothes. ‘Aw, just look at that!’ Shaking a fist at her he yelled out with surprising gusto, ‘Yer mekking me nervous, woman! Just look what yer made me do now.’
When she didn’t answer he glanced up, to see her still standing at the window, a troubled look on her face. ‘Aggie – what’s to do, lass?’
But Aggie wasn’t listening. Instead she was gazing down into the orchard, where Emily sat alone and forlorn on the bench by the apple tree.
‘What are yer looking at?’ the old man asked curiously.
Aggie half turned. ‘Come and see for yourself.’
So, with a groan and a sigh at every step, Thomas Isaac made his slow, painful way over to the window. ‘By, it’s brass monkeys!’ he grumbled. Poking his head over her shoulder he stared out. ‘Why! It’s our Emily. What’s she doing out there at this time of a morning, on her wedding day an’ all?’
Aggie smiled, but it was a sad little smile. ‘She’s thinking, Dad, that’s what she’s doing.’
‘What’s she thinking about?’
‘Oh, just thinking. It’s what women do just afore they get wed,’ Aggie explained. ‘There’s allus them few, lingering doubts. You can’t help but wonder if you’re doing the right thing.’
Like all men, he didn’t fully understand. ‘I’ve never heard owt so bloody daft in all me life. If you’ve made up yer mind to get wed, what’s to wonder, tell me that, eh?’
So Aggie told him. ‘You wonder if it’ll all turn out the way you want it to, and most of all, you ask yourself if you love the man enough to wed him in the first place.’ Her voice faltered. ‘That’s what she’s doing, bless her heart.’
The old man began to understand and for a moment he fell silent. Then, because Aggie was the only one he could talk to about it, he asked quietly, ‘D’yer really think the lass is regretting what she’s about to do?’
‘Mebbe,’ Aggie replied. ‘Mebbe not.’
‘D’yer reckon she’s learned to love him?’
‘Who knows?’
‘Or d’yer think she’s only marrying Danny for the sake o’ the child?’
‘I don’t suppose we’ll ever really know the answer to any of that,’ Aggie sighed.
Thomas paused, wondering how he could help Emily, yet knowing there was nothing he could do to persuade her one way or the other. It was all beyond him, and that was the truth of it. He’d loved his Clare every day of their married life, and still missed her so much. ‘Aye well. Today’s the day, so she’d best get it right, or spend the rest of her life suffering the consequences.’ Like his daughter-in-law Aggie, he was torn two ways.
When he gave a long, telling shiver, Aggie was alarmed. ‘You’d best get back into bed, Dad.’
‘I can’t. The bed’s all wet.’
‘Oh, Dad! You didn’t –’
He gave her a withering look. ‘No, I bloody didn’t. I’ll remind you that I have never once wet the bed, and I’ll thank you to apologise for what you said.’
‘I’m sorry.’
‘I should think so an’ all.’ Taking hold of her arm he instructed, ‘You’ve worn me out, fetching me to this winder. Help me to the chair, and get me a blanket. Oh, and I’d like another cuppa tea. The last one got spilled all o’er the bed, thanks to you!’
Aggie was visibly taken aback. ‘For somebody who’s worn out, you’re very forceful with your orders, aren’t you?’
‘It’s up to you,’ he said weakly. ‘Either yer do as I ask, or you’ll ’ave me down with pneumonia, then what will yer do?’ For good effect he gave another dramatic shiver.
Aggie lost no time in getting him to the chair next to the fire. When he seemed more comfortable, she rushed to take a blanket from the cupboard and tuck it round him. ‘There – is that better?’
‘Where’s me tea?’
‘I’m not your slave, you know.’ She thought he’d made a remarkable recovery. ‘I’ve only got one pair of hands, and I’d be thankful if you’d kindly stop your blessed grumbling and groaning.’
As she went at the trot out the door, he called after her. ‘Aggie!’
‘What now?’
He gave her one of his cheekiest winks. ‘You like me having a go at yer, don’t yer, eh? Life wouldn’t be the same if we didn’t ’ave a bit of a banter now and then, would it?’
First giving him a warm smile, she hurried down the stairs. ‘You’re right, Dad,’ she chuckled heartily, putting the kettle on to make him a fresh brew. ‘Life just wouldn’t be the same.’
Glancing out of the kitchen window, she saw how Emily was still there, huddled against the sharp winter morning, her old shawl drawn tight about her head, which was bent, deep in thought. Aw, lass, her mother thought tenderly. What are we going to do with you, eh? But there was nothing at all she or anyone else could do. Except John, and he was not here.