The Constant Heart (15 page)

Rosina said nothing. She had not forgotten Mrs Gostellow's last remark, and was wondering whether the comment 'she might do' was a reference to her or to Sukey, but before she could frame the question tactfully Watson came hurrying along the hall towards them. She thrust a bulging paper bag into Rosina's hands. 'Cook's put a couple more buns in, miss. They was going stale anyway.'

'Thank you so much, Miss Watson.' Rosina said, smiling. 'Please thank Cook too.'

'It's just Watson, miss.'

'Really, Rosie. That was so embarrassing,' Sukey hissed, as Watson bustled away into the depths of the house. 'Don't you know how to behave in front of servants?'

'Maybe not, but they're human beings just like us, aren't they?'

'Treat them like equals and they'll get above their station, that's what my mother says.'

'Where's Potter?' Harry tugged at the nearest bell pull. 'Really, that old man should have been pensioned off years ago. I suppose I'll have to open the door myself.' He strode across the floor and wrenched at the door handle. 'I'll have words with father about the old fool.'

'You simply can't get good servants these days, Harry.' Sukey shot a triumphant glance at Rosina, as if to say that she at least was used to dealing with menials. She picked up her skirts, stepping daintily out into the sunshine. 'Are you coming, Rosie?'

Rosina could not bear to be in the gloomy house one moment longer; she hurried past Harry and ran down the steps to the pavement.

'I think that went well,' Harry said, closing the door behind him. 'Mama certainly took a liking to you, Rosie. And you too, Sukey.'

'What did she mean by saying "she might do"?' Rosina demanded, unable to keep silent a moment longer.

He smiled and shrugged his shoulders. 'My mother is not a well woman. You mustn't mind what she says.' He lifted his hand to hail a passing cab. 'It will be my pleasure to see you home, ladies.'

'Oh, Harry. You are so gallant,' Sukey said, smiling coquettishly.

The hackney carriage took them as far as the entrance to the wharf and they walked the rest of the way, coming to a halt outside Sukey's house. Harry kissed her hand. 'That was delightful, Miss Susan. Thank you for your company.'

'Thank you, Harry. But I wish I knew what your mama meant when she spoke about my dada.'

'It was unimportant, and certainly nothing over which you should bother your pretty head.'

'Oh, Harry. You do say the nicest things.' Sukey smiled up at him, blushing furiously.

Rosina wondered if he was aware of the havoc he was creating by toying with Sukey's tender feelings. Did he realise that she had a huge crush on him, which might just possibly be real love? Or was he such an incorrigible flirt that he could not help himself when it came to a pretty girl? She would have to put Sukey straight one day, but not right now. She tugged at his arm. 'Harry, I'm going home.'

He turned to her with a disarming smile. 'Of course, my dear. I'll escort you to your door.'

'There's no need, really. It's just a short distance.'

'Nevertheless, I will see you safely home.' Harry doffed his hat to Sukey, and tucked Rosina's hand in the crook of his arm.

'You are not being fair to Sukey,' she said hotly as they strolled homewards.

'I don't know what you mean.'

'Yes, you do. You know perfectly well that Sukey likes you, and you were openly flirting with her, even though you had proposed marriage to me, making it plain that you wouldn't take no for an answer.'

'I was just being civil to her, Rosie. My feelings for you must be so obvious that I did not want her to feel slighted. And, as I said before, I did not mean to pressurise you, my dear.'

'Really? That's not how it seemed to me, Harry.'

He patted her hand and smiled. 'I laid my heart open to you, Rosina. If I was too pressing it was only because of my sincere regard for you.'

'Did I imagine that you threatened to put my papa out of business if I did not accept your proposal of marriage?'

His face crumpled with consternation. 'What I meant to say was that if we were married, then naturally I would do everything I could to promote your father's business interests.'

'That wasn't how it sounded.'

'I apologise most humbly.' Harry stopped walking and he clasped her hands in his, crushing the paper bag filled with leftovers from their tea party and covering his fingers with cream. 'Damn. I'd forgotten that you were intent on feeding the poor.'

'It's the cake and sandwiches for Caddie and her children,' Rosina said, suppressing a giggle. 'Perhaps I shouldn't have asked for them.'

Harry licked his fingers, smiling ruefully. 'Oh, Rosie, what do I care about a few rotten cakes? You could turn my house into a soup kitchen for all I'd care, if it made you happy.'

'Harry, please don't say any more.'

'I have to, my sweet. I want you to accept my apology for the way I behaved to you. I must have been carried away by the passion burning in my heart. I confess that I was eaten up with jealousy after that – that creature took such an obvious interest in you at Cremorne Gardens. You can hardly blame me for that, my love.'

She hesitated. He seemed so humble now, quite different to the devil-may-care, self-confident Harry Gostellow she thought she knew. She could almost believe him, but that did not alter her feelings. She drew her hands away gently, and with a smile. 'Oh, Harry. What am I to do with you?'

'Marry me, Rosie. I know that both our families would approve of such a match.'

She angled her head. 'Is that what your mother meant when she said "she might do"? You didn't answer my question when I asked it before.'

'Mother took an instant liking to you, as I knew she would. I had no idea that she was acquainted with your mama, but that is all to the good. Won't you give me a chance, my dear girl?'

'Harry, please . . .'

'I know you need time to think it over. That's quite all right with me. I won't press you on the subject.'

'How many times must I refuse you, Harry?'

'It's what young ladies always do. I understand that, my dear.'

'I don't want to give you false hope.'

'But you will think about it?'

His eyes pleaded with her and she could not find it in her heart to disappoint him yet again. She lowered her gaze. 'I will think about it, Harry.'

He raised her hands to his lips. 'Oh, Rosie, my dear girl. I know I've rushed matters. That's me all over – when I want something I can't help myself, I just go out and get it. No, don't say anything. Let us continue as good friends, for the time being at least. I meant it when I suggested that we have another outing. We'll do it properly this time, with your father's permission. We'll make it a foursome with Susan and a most eligible gentleman of my acquaintance. We'll even take your watchdog, Walter, with us if that would make you feel better.'

She felt herself weakening. Perhaps she had misunderstood him in the first place. What harm could there be in a well-chaperoned visit to the pleasure garden? And it might be her only chance to meet the pirate again. The sound of his voice, the thrill she had felt when he had held her in his arms, were all beginning to seem like a dream. She had to find out if he was real or just a figment of her imagination. She smiled at Harry's eager expression. 'Well, if my papa agrees, and if Walter can come too, then I suppose it would be all right.'

'I'll make the arrangements straight away.'

'And it would be nice to see the Crystal Palace, or to go to Cremorne Gardens again. I did love the fireworks and I would love to see another ascent of a hot air balloon.'

'Anything you want is—'

He was interrupted by a cry from above them. Rosina looked up and saw Caddie leaning out of the window, waving frantically. 'Help me, miss. Help.'

'Oh, Lord. Whatever can have happened?' Rosina ran into the building. She could hear the children screaming as she raced up the stairs. Imagining all manner of terrible accidents that might have befallen them, she burst into the room. But nothing could have prepared her for the sight that met her eyes. Ronnie and Alfie were huddled together, sobbing hysterically. Caddie was collapsed on the window seat and her skirts were stained red with blood. Her ashen face contorted with pain as a fresh spasm racked her distorted body. 'Miss Rosina, it's me baby, coming afore its time.'

Harry entered the room just seconds behind Rosina. He took in the scene with a gasp of horror. 'Oh, dear. Oh, I say.'

Caddie held her hands out to them. 'Help me, for the love of God.'

Curbing the desire to run away, Rosina grabbed Harry by the arm. 'Fetch Bertha. She'll know what to do.'

He nodded dumbly, backing towards the open door. 'Yes, all right. Oh, I say. Not too good with blood and such, Rosie. Think I might be sick.' He bolted out of the room as though the devil were at his heels.

'I'm sorry, miss,' Caddie whispered. 'It come all of a sudden.'

Rosina had only the haziest idea of how babies came into the world, and the sight of so much blood terrified her. She knew that many women died in childbirth, and she had not the slightest idea what to do, but she forced herself to sound calm. 'What can I do to help?'

'Look after me nippers, miss.'

Praying that Bertha would arrive soon, Rosina knelt down on the floor beside Ronnie and Alfie. They threw their arms around her and buried their faces in her skirts, sobbing. 'Hush, now. Everything will be all right, but you must be quiet. Your poor mama doesn't feel very well.'

'They're hungry, miss,' Caddie murmured feebly. 'They've had nothing to eat since last night.'

Rosina remembered the bag of food that she had tossed carelessly on the table as she entered the room. She manoeuvred the children into a position where she could reach up to get the bag. 'Ronnie, Alfie, if you stop crying, you shall have some lovely cake.'

It worked like magic and two small, tearstained faces looked up at her as if she had said something wonderful. She placed the paper bag in between them and they fell on its contents like ravening wolf cubs.

Caddie let out a low, agonised moan. Rosina rose to her feet and paced the floor, wringing her hands. She resisted the temptation to cover her ears and shut out Caddie's cries as she tried hard not to panic. She wished that there was something she could do to ease her friend's pain, but she simply did not know what. After what seemed like hours, but could only have been minutes, she heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs. 'Bebe. Up here – come quickly.'

But it was Walter who came through the door. He paused for a moment, taking in the scene. In two strides he was at Caddie's side, and, taking her hand in his, he held it, speaking to her in the soothing tones he might have used to calm a terrified child. 'Don't be afraid, Caddie. Bertha has gone to fetch Mrs Wilkes, the midwife. They'll be here soon.'

'I can't afford to pay her,' Caddie whispered. 'Just take care of me little ones.'

'You mustn't worry about anything, Caddie.' Walter lifted her up in his arms, ignoring her feeble protests, and he carried her into the adjoining bedroom. Through the open door, Rosina saw him lay her gently on an iron bedstead covered with a patchwork quilt. He perched on the edge of the bed, holding Caddie's hand and keeping up a one-sided conversation. The boys were too busy stuffing cake and sandwiches into their mouths to take much interest in what was happening to their mother, and for that Rosina was grateful. Caddie's groans were muffled and it sounded as though she was growing weaker. Rosina had never felt so helpless in her whole life, and she could have cried with relief when Bertha and Nora Wilkes hurried into the room. Bertha's face was crimson with exertion and she was breathing heavily, but she went straight to the bedroom with Nora following close on her heels. They sent Walter out and closed the door.