The Constant Heart (10 page)

'It's not you being there that worries me. I'm coming with you to see that there's no hanky-panky on the way there or on the way home.'

'As if either Sukey or me would allow such a thing! Shame on you for thinking so, Bebe.'

'It's not you two innocents that worries me, it's the young gentleman in question. If his intentions are honourable, then that's fine, but if they ain't – then he'll have me to deal with.' Bertha heaved her large body from the chair by the range. 'Your pa would never forgive me if I was to let you go out with a young man without a proper chaperone.'

'But Sukey will be coming too. Won't you just think about it, please, Bebe?'

'Don't pester me, girl. I got the meal to finish preparing, and you shouldn't have invited Caddie and her nippers to supper without asking me. What if there weren't enough food to go round?'

Rosina gave her a hug. 'You always cook enough for an army, and I'll bet poor Caddie has never tasted anything like your steak and kidney pudding. She's close to her time, poor thing.'

'Well, I suppose we must look after her. But don't make a habit of it, Rosie. This ain't a soup kitchen.'

'No, I promise I won't.' Having skilfully changed the subject, Rosina tried not to look too pleased with herself. Given time, she could usually twist Bertha round her little finger. She had until tomorrow evening – a lot could happen in twenty-four hours.

But Bertha remained adamant, and, next evening, Rosina was beginning to despair.

'I'm coming with you, and that's final.' Bertha rammed her bonnet on her head and tied the ribbons under her several chins. 'I'm sure that the Gostellows won't mind if I wait for you in the servants' hall.'

'But, Bebe, wouldn't you rather sit by the fire and rest your weary bones? You're always saying that your bunions begin to play up at this time of night.'

'I don't care. I got to do me duty and I'm coming with you.'

Rosina glanced at the kitchen clock. Harry would be arriving in less than half an hour and there seemed to be no way of deflecting Bertha from her purpose. She hadn't wanted to involve Walter, but she was desperate, and she knew that he was her last chance. 'Bebe, I don't want to put you to so much trouble. If it's the return journey that is worrying you so much, why don't I ask Walter to meet us at the Gostellows' house and keep us company on the way home? You know you can trust dear old Walter. Papa certainly does.' She held her breath, watching Bertha's expression carefully. As she had hoped, there was a flicker of uncertainty in her grey eyes.

'Well, I suppose that would do: so long as Walter promised to see you safely into the house. I am a bit tired after having them dratted kids running wild in me kitchen last evening. You was such a good child at that age, but poor Caddie has no control over them boys. Goodness knows how she'll manage when the next one is born.'

'So is it all right if I go and ask Walter?'

Bertha nodded and slumped down on her chair. 'You can ask him, but I ain't taking off me bonnet until he tells me hisself that he'll do it.'

Walter was tidying up the office in preparation for the close of business that day. Rosina went in with her fingers crossed behind her back. This was not the perfect solution, but it would have to do. They would just have to make certain that they returned from Cremorne Gardens in good time to be waiting outside Harry's house when Walter came to meet them. 'Walter,' she said sweetly. 'I have an enormous favour to ask of you.'

'And he really believed you?' Sukey was seated next to Rosina on the deck of the steamer bound for Cremorne Pier.

'He's a simple soul,' Harry said, spreading his arm along the back of the seat so that it rested against Rosina's shoulders.

She allowed the intimacy without comment. After all, the steamer was packed with people all out for an entertaining evening at the gardens. There was much chatter and laughter, and, as far as she could see, quite a lot of what Bertha would call 'lewd behaviour'. Some of the young women on board allowed quite blatant intimacies to take place as they cuddled close to their gentlemen friends. Rosina was not sure that she ought to allow Harry to call Walter a simple soul, but she decided to let it pass. She leaned back against his arm, feeling the warmth from his body against her shoulders. It was not an altogether unpleasant experience. 'We must be back before midnight, Harry,' she murmured. 'I told Walter to wait outside your house and that we would be travelling home in a hackney carriage.'

'Just like Cinderella,' Sukey giggled. 'You know, having to leave the ball at midnight or the coach would turn back into a pumpkin and be driven by white mice.'

Harry gave her an indulgent smile. 'And which one of you beauties is going to play the part of Cinderella, I wonder?'

Rosina barely heard Sukey's pert reply; she was more interested in the sights and sounds of the river that was almost as busy with traffic in the evening as it was in the daytime. Barges, wherries and lighters plied their trade along the piers and wharves. The sound of the water smacking the bottom of the boat like an angry mother spanking a naughty child was all but drowned out by the chug-chugging of the engine and the piercing blast of the steam whistle warning other craft to get out of the way. A cacophony of hooting and tooting, accompanied by the shouts of watermen, filled the air. The muddy waters of the River Thames glowed bronze in the last rays of light as the sun plummeted towards the west in a great fireball. As the steamer ploughed upriver, the stench of the manufactories in the East End was less pungent, and the smell of hot engine oil was mixed with the cheap scent, pomade and body odour of the closely packed passengers. By the time they reached Cremorne Pier, Rosina was intoxicated with anticipation and excitement. The steamer bumped against the wooden stanchions and there was a frantic scurry as people snatched up their belongings in their hurry to get ashore.

As Harry handed her onto dry land, Rosina gasped in wonder at the flickering gaslights that illuminated the gardens. Coloured lanterns hung from the trees which lined the avenue leading to the famous crystal platform. She could hear music wafting through the foliage and the babble of voices interspersed with laughter. She felt as though she had left smoky, dirty old Black Eagle Wharf and landed slap bang in the middle of fairyland. Harry paid the one shilling entrance fees at the kiosk, but Rosina was barely aware of anything except the magical, musical atmosphere heightened by the dazzling gaslight.

'Isn't this fun?' Sukey's voice rose with excitement as she clutched Harry's arm. 'This was such a good idea, Harry. You were so clever to think of it.'

'The evening has only just begun.' Harry offered Rosina his other arm with a self-satisfied smile. 'Tonight, ladies, I trust you will be hugely entertained. We'll visit the sideshows and I believe there is a ballet this evening. I've booked a supper box for later on, and we can sit and watch the dancers on the crystal platform while we eat.'

'And we can dance too? We can't come to Cremorne without dancing, Harry.' Sukey tugged at his arm to attract his attention. 'You will waltz with me, won't you, Harry?'

'Of course I will. We'll dance the night away.'

A chill breeze rustled through the fresh young leaves on the trees and Rosina shivered. 'Don't forget that we have to be home by midnight.'

Harry threw back his head and laughed. 'Don't fret, my lovely. I will look after you.'

She had to be content with that, although a small voice was nagging at her conscience. She had lied to Bertha and to Walter. Papa would be furious if he knew what she had done.

'Oh, just look at that,' Sukey cried, pointing to a huge, hexagonal pagoda. 'Isn't that the most amazing sight you've ever seen?'

Rosina pushed her feelings of guilt to the back of her mind. This truly was an enchanting place – she would worry about the consequences later, much later. They visited sideshows and shooting galleries. They watched a comic ballet performed in one of the theatres, followed by the ascent of a hot air balloon. The gardens were crowded with revellers and some of the entertainers moved amongst them, dressed in costume, some wearing masks, inviting them to come and watch their plays and the fireworks display that was to be held later in the evening.

Harry escorted them to the refreshment room and bought them lemonade, while he drank several glasses of claret.

'Don't look now, Rosie,' Sukey said, leaning over and whispering behind her hand, 'but that man at the next table has been staring at you for the past five minutes.'

Unable to resist the temptation, Rosina glanced over her shoulder. The man raised his glass to her and winked. She turned away hastily. 'Just ignore him, Sukey. He's very rude.'

Harry slipped his arm around Rosina's shoulders with a proprietorial air. 'Take no notice of the masher, Rosie. No one will bother you while you're with me.'

Sukey downed her lemonade and put her glass down with a thud. 'Don't mind me, Harry. I suppose I'm just the chaperone here.'

'Not at all,' Harry said with a tipsy grin. 'I count myself a fortunate fellow to have two such lovely ladies on my arm.'

Rosina wriggled free from his casual embrace and she stood up. 'Perhaps we'd better go to supper now, Harry. It's getting late.'

'She's such a spoilsport,' Sukey said, cuddling up to him.

Really, Sukey was such a flirt. Rosina eyed her impatiently: Sukey was her best friend, but she was making a show of herself with Harry.

He rose, smiling smugly as he helped Sukey to her feet. 'Come, my dear. Rosie's right. I think we should eat, and then we'll dance.'

The man at the next table stood up as Rosina went to pass him and he barred her way, bowing from the waist. 'Allow me to introduce myself, ma'am.'

'This young lady is with me, sir.' Harry turned to face him, but his scowl melted into a grin. 'I say, it's Rivers, isn't it? We met once at the City of London club.' He held out his hand. 'Harry Gostellow, of Gostellow and Son, Hay and Provender Merchants.'

Rivers eyed him speculatively. 'I do vaguely recall you, sir.'

'Well, it's good to meet you again. May I introduce you to my companions, Miss Rosina May and Miss Susan Barnum?'

'Delighted, ma'am.' Rivers took Rosina's hand and raised it to his lips. 'Roland Rivers at your service.'

He had been drinking – she could smell wine on his breath – but he did not appear to be drunk. He was obviously a gentleman and good-looking too, although her taste ran towards men with dark hair like her own, rather than silver-blond as this young man's was, and his light blue eyes were the colour of a winter sky. She snatched her hand away, feeling the blood rush to her cheeks.

He turned to Sukey and kissed her hand. 'Miss Barnum.'

Harry stepped in between them. 'Perhaps we'll meet up again at the club, sir. But as to the present, I've booked a supper booth, so I'm afraid we must bid you goodnight.'

'I'd say this fellow don't deserve you, ma'am.' Roland tipped his hat to Rosina with a disarming smile. 'And I call it rather greedy of a man to hog the attention of two such lovelies for the evening.' He sauntered off into the crowd.

'That fellow's father owns a fleet of merchantmen,' Harry said grandly. 'He's as rich as Croesus, but don't take his attentions too seriously. I don't think he'll bother you again.'

'He was very good-looking,' Sukey whispered. 'And well spoken too.'

'I'm hungry,' Rosina said loudly. 'Supper would be lovely, Harry.'

The supper booths were arranged in tiers overlooking the crystal platform where couples were dancing to the strains of a fifty-strong orchestra. Rosina could not but be impressed when Harry ordered the half-crown menu and a bottle of champagne. The food was brought by a blue-coated waiter and she forgot all about the impertinent Roland Rivers as they ate, listening to the music and watching the dancers swirling about on the platform in a kaleidoscope of colour. Harry kept their glasses filled and ordered a second bottle of champagne. Rosina was rather cross with Sukey, who had quickly reached the giggly stage and did not seem to know when she had drunk enough. Rosina was feeling a bit merry by this time, but she was careful to sip the bubbly rather than to drink it down like lemonade as Sukey had done.