If only Jinnie would agree to marry him now, instead of waiting. He’d thought, when Bella had mentioned that she had something to tell him, that this might be what it was. However, Jinnie seemed to agree that he needed time to be absolutely certain before committing himself. An absolute nonsense in Edward’s view. He adored her and couldn’t envision a life without her. And he was certain that once the deed was done, family life would settle back into a normal routine and everyone would be happy again. Edward hated discord and ill feeling of any kind.
Following his sister’s eviction from the house it proved to be Jinnie now who was treated as the favourite child. Simeon lavished even more attention upon her, spoiling her outrageously, pandering to her every whim, many of which Jinnie had never even thought of until he made the suggestion.
Would she care for a trip into town or perhaps dinner out; a new gown, or hat? A trip to Bell View perhaps? Or the Opera House in London? A weekend in Paris? Nothing was too good for her, nor too much trouble.
‘I’ve said no to the lot. Not because I’m not grateful but can he afford such fripperies? He’d be bankrupt in a week,’ Jinnie remarked to Edward, who laughed with wry amusement.
‘I doubt it.’
‘Anyroad, he’s turning me from a slattern into a flapper.’ Edward assured her that she’d never been the former and certainly wasn’t the latter.
The very next Sunday Jinnie and Edward were sitting on top of a tramcar, heading home after spending an afternoon listening to the band in Albert Square when Jinnie decided the moment had come. If she didn’t tell Edward the truth about herself soon, then she’d never be free of Quinn. Never. She should be grateful he’d asked no more of her than to take a few bets but who knew what he might do in the future. She didn’t trust the man an inch and had to find some way to break free
Surely Edward loved her enough to forgive the terrible things that had happened in her past, for they’d been no fault of hers. Didn’t everyone in the poorer areas of Salford have similar troubles? She’d been no more than a frightened child when Billy Quinn had taken her to his bed, too terrified to refuse him. Still was terrified of him.
‘There’s something I’ve been wanting to talk to you about, Edward.’
‘Is it about when we are to marry?’
Jinnie couldn’t help but smile softly at him. He reminded her of a little boy with his nose pressed to the window of a sweet shop, longing to taste the ware. ‘Can’t you wait even a little while?’ she teased. ‘Just to be absolutely certain that we are suited.’
‘I could wait for ever,’ he recklessly and inaccurately assured her. ‘And of course we’re suited. I adore you Jinnie.’
‘Oh, and I adore you but why - why did you choose me? I mean, you know nowt about me. You know nowt about where I lived before we met, ‘ceptin that I come from the roughest streets; nor where I were born, not that I rightly know meself. I’d no job, no family, nothing but the clothes I stood up in, so how can you love me? Why did you want to wed me?’
‘I love you because you’re
you
.’
Jinnie felt her heart contract with love for him. No one but Edward had ever said such lovely things to her. ‘But what if I’d done summat terrible?’
‘How could you possibly have?’ He nuzzled a kiss into her neck and Jinnie had to push him away, to make him sit up and behave. Cheeks flushed, she looked so delightfully embarrassed that he kissed her again.
‘Stop it, folk are looking. What if I’d told you lies or summat?’
‘I don’t believe you could ever tell a lie, darling Jinnie.’
He smiled into her eyes and Jinnie experienced that familiar melting sensation deep inside, followed by a clench of pain somewhere she shouldn’t. Oh, but she loved him so much Jinnie felt she might die if she lost him. She reminded herself that it’d been Bella who’d made up the tale of the accident with a runaway cart horse, not herself. She’d been too ill to care. Though it was true she’d had ample opportunity to put the matter right since. She tried again. ‘Well, not a lie exactly. What I’m trying to say is, how could you possibly still love me if I had - done summat terrible, I mean.’
‘What sort of
terrible
thing
can a sixteen year old girl as lovely as you possibly do?’ He was laughing at her now, tweaking her pert nose then kissing it, right there on the top of the tram. ‘Anyway, I don’t care about your life before you met me. That’s over.’
It was all exactly what Jinnie had most longed to hear and her heart soared with fresh hope. But before she could get another word in and finish what she’d started, he began to spoil it. ‘I love you because you are special, different, not like the other girls always up to mischief in those rough streets. No better than they ought to be.’
After a moment’s pause for breath, she said, ‘What if I were the same as the other girls, the ones always up to mischief, would you still love me then?’ She was gazing at him with pleading in her eyes but he didn’t seem to notice because he was busily trying to kiss her cheek before the conductor came upstairs for their tickets.
‘Don’t ever let me hear you putting yourself down in this way again. You’re not like the other girls. You’re
my
girl. You have standards, class, beauty. That much is clear in every line of your lovely face, in your sweet, delicious body, in your fragile fingertips.’
Jinnie closed her eyes, weak with love for him. ‘Give over. You sound like you’re drunk.’
‘I feel drunk. Drunk with love. You make me so happy, Jinnie. Don’t ever talk of my not loving you ever again.’
How could she tell him how wicked she’d been, after that? But she remained thoughtfully silent for the rest of the journey.
‘Same again next Sunday?’ Edward pleaded as they alighted at the corner of Liverpool Street and Jinnie could only nod, bemused and oddly excited, brown eyes glittering with raw emotion.
If she’d failed to tell him the truth about her past, what did it signify? He loved her and would hear no word said against her, not even from her own lips. She was perfectly certain that nothing and no one could ever destroy their love. Not ever.
Edward was waiting for Bella in the pie shop after the clinic closed the very next Thursday evening, and begged her to come and talk to their father. ‘He’s looking for you to meet him half way and he’ll be only too happy to take you back. He already regrets his outburst of temper.’
‘He hasn’t said as much though, has he?’
‘Not in so many words but he does feel it, I can tell. He’s miserable as hell and hardly leaves his study.’
Bella pursed her mouth into a tight line, apparently unconvinced. ‘He knows where to find me if he wants me. You did. He can leave a message any time at the clinic, or with Aunt Edie here,’ indicating Mrs Heap whose ears were flapping along with a good many other interested spectators as she slid pies into waiting basins. Then she grinned up at her brother. ‘Have you any money with you? Buy me a pie. I’m fair clemmed, as Violet would say.’
‘You’re just as stubborn as he is,’ Edward railed, slamming some coins down on the counter. Bella bit into the hot pastry, hazel eyes bright with mischief.
‘Maybe that’s where I get it from.’
Taking her by the elbow, he marched her out into the street where they might talk with greater privacy. ‘Is this what you’re living on? Pies.’
‘I’m living on charity.’
‘With Violet Howarth? Pa would never think to look for you there. And he’d not come here either.’
‘If this is a battle of wits he’s on to a loser, because I won’t give in. Ever. The clinic stays and I’ll fight anyone who tries to close it.’
‘You would too, you daft idiot. You were always the spirited one in the family. I remember you socking me one on a number of occasions when we were children. There were times at school when I could’ve done with your strong right arm.’
Bella chuckled as she made a parody of punching him, then tucked her arm into his. They walked for some time in affectionate but gloomy silence, each acknowledging the impossibility of either one backing down. ‘Do you know something, I’m happy here. I feel I’m doing something useful. But I miss you. Jinnie too.’
‘And we miss you. I admire your gumption, sis, but we’d both like you to come home.’
‘I can’t ever do that. I’ve certainly no intention of abandoning what I passionately believe in, just to please Father. It’s far too important. Has Jinnie spoken to you yet? Has she told you...’
‘Told me what? You’ve asked me that before. What is this?’ He held her away from him, a frown puckering his brow.
‘Nothing. I just thought... Nothing. I’m probably worrying unnecessarily.’ Bella fondly patted his cheek. ‘Go on with you, soft lad. Go home and be a better son than I’ve been a daughter. Tell Mother I’m fine and I’ll pop in and see her one afternoon while Pa’s at the mill. Is she up and about yet?’
Edward shook his head, his expression doleful. ‘I despair she ever will be. And it’s all my fault she had that damned stroke. I shouldn’t have gone charging in like a bull in a china shop with my decision to marry Jinnie.’
‘Well, perhaps your ardour should have been tempered just a little. But don’t worry, mother’s state of health is not your responsibility. These things happen. It isn’t your fault and I’m sure she’s not half as bad as she makes out.’ Bella was sorely tempted to tell him the truth, that it was all a pantomime to bring him to heel, but decided against it. Family emotions were stretched to breaking point as it was, heaven knew what might happen if Emily’s little scheme were ever discovered. It could destroy the mother and son relationship for all time. Much better she be left to come out of her sulks in her own good time. ‘Don’t fret. She’ll make a miraculous recovery one day, I guarantee it.’
‘Ever the optimist.’ Edward poured the contents of his pocket, little more than five shillings in coppers and silver coins, into her hand. ‘I’ll get you some more. I can do that for you at least, even if Father won’t. What a family, eh?’
‘Bless you. Yes, what a family!’
A few days later Bella returned from a visit to Sally Clarke to find a note propped up against the mantle clock. The compassion in Violet’s eyes told her it was from Seedley Park Road, even before she recognised the handwriting.
Bella picked it up with a sense of foreboding. It had not been a good day. Her visit had been entirely unsuccessful. Only once had she persuaded the woman to come to the clinic and every time she’d called at the house since, Bella never could get to speak to Sally without her husband being present. Today had been no different. Reg Clarke had been adamant that his wife would use no artificial means that went against his religion and might be seriously detrimental upon his own health.
‘We will leave the matter in God’s hands,’ he’d told Bella, showing her firmly to the door.
It was, she felt, like beating her head against the proverbial brick wall.
Now she opened the letter and was horrified to discover that Simeon had stopped her allowance. Afraid of being a burden to her kind hosts, she barely touched the substantial meal set before her. How dare she take food from out of children’s mouths? It wouldn’t be right. She did what she could to help Violet around the house but with no money coming in how could she pay her way? Bella decided that she must find employment, and soon.
Dr Syd expressed concern on being brought up to date on events and instantly suggested that the clinic pay Bella a wage. She refused. ‘That’s not why I opened it, to make money for myself. Anyway, it isn’t possible. The clinic barely has enough to survive. I have some savings to call on. Besides, I mean to speak to Mother. She may be willing to help. Failing that, I shall sign on. Isn’t that what everyone else does?’
‘You could always find yourself a husband,’ Dr Syd suggested, lips twisting into a wry smile. ‘That’s usually the answer for a penniless female.’
‘No thanks. ‘
‘You surprise me. I heard you were walking out with Doctor Lisle.’