The little doctor seemed more than happy to oblige, puffing out his chest in a self-congratulatory fashion as they progressed along the street, his hand taking her elbow with a proprietorial air. ‘I did wish to have a quiet word with you, my dear, to warn you that opposition to your clinic is growing. Sending out those letters calling for an improvement in ante-natal care was unwise. It smacks of criticism of your betters.’
‘My betters?’
‘The medical profession as a whole. You are no more than an amateur, after all.’ He smiled condescendingly at her.
‘Dr Syd isn’t an amateur.’
‘True, but she’s a woman. Medicine is not really a suitable career for a woman.’
‘I beg your pardon? She has been to university, to medical school and qualified as a doctor exactly as a man would.’
He gave what she could only describe as a smirk of displeasure. ‘Nevertheless, a career can never be as important to a woman as it would be for a man, who has a family to support. Once she marries she will naturally leave, as is usually the case.’
‘Dr Syd is already married and has a family.’
He cleared his throat, looking momentarily confused. ‘Nevertheless, generally speaking, I think you will find me correct in my supposition, my dear. Your very able nurse, Mary Shaw - is that her name? - could never consider marriage. In her case, being only a nurse, it would most certainly be against the rules of her profession and quite right too.’
Bella ground her teeth with frustration. Why was it that every time the man opened his mouth, she wanted to take issue with the words that came out of it.
‘You too, my dear, would be far better off married than meddling in matters which are beyond you. I believe I have mentioned something of the sort before?’
Holding on to her determination at least to keep his prying nose out of her affairs, she attempted to smile through gritted teeth. ‘I believe you have.’
‘I should be happy to apply for the post myself, since it is vacant.’
Bella jerked to a halt and stared at him in disbelief. ‘I don’t think I quite understand.’
Nathaniel Lisle smoothed the strands of hair over his bald head as he blithely continued, ‘then perhaps you will allow me to make it quite clear. I believe you to be in dire need of a husband. I should be happy to fill the role and offer you my protection. I think it’s time you settled down and had some children of your own, my dear Miss Ashton, or may I call you Isabella?’
Stunned, Bella could do no more than gaze at him in stupefied wonder while he smiled fondly at her, as if it were perfectly normal to propose in the middle of the street and he’d just provided her with the answer to all life’s problems. ‘I am not asking for an answer this evening, my dear. I shall call upon you again, in a day or so when you have had time to seriously consider the benefits. In the meantime, you promised that you would, at some opportune moment, do me the great honour of taking supper with me. I have taken the liberty to make the arrangements. Mrs Solomon has prepared a nice bit of Finnan haddock for us this evening, as a treat.’
‘Finnan haddock? This evening? But...’
‘I hope you will not refuse me a second time.’ He had halted by the fishmonger’s door, was smiling down at her in full anticipation of her acceptance.
Drat the man, how on earth was she to deal with this? He had caught her entirely unawares. Confused, Bella glanced about in panic, seeking escape. She was perfectly free to decline and walk away from him, to take the risk that he wouldn’t follow her back to the clinic. It would certainly be the best course of action in the circumstances. She was about to do so when, out of the corner of her eye, she recognised a familiar figure hovering a few yards away. Quinn. Why was it that wherever she looked, he was so often there, almost as if he were watching her every move. He’d seen her, was coming over. Oh dear lord, what should she do now? Bella could feel herself going hot and cold all over. She really couldn’t risk taking Dr Lisle into the clinic, because of the student doctor. Nor, because of her own appalling weakness whenever she was with Quinn, had she any wish to be waylaid by him. Not just yet, till she’d got him out of her system. Was it possible for her to escape unseen or unmolested from them both?
She glanced up at Dr Lisle, so patiently awaiting her decision and felt a rush of sympathy for him. Heavens, surely she could fend off one well-meant proposal without causing offence. Let him down lightly as it were. Didn’t she know what it was to suffer unrequited love? After her own disappointment over Dan, she couldn’t find it in her heart to be too brutal with the man, irritating though he undoubtedly was. Quinn was the real danger, plus her own weakness whenever he was around. There was surely none at all in showing a little consideration towards foolish Dr Lisle. Perhaps in befriending him, Bella thought, she might even succeed in putting an end to his campaign against her.
Quinn was almost upon them. She really must make up her mind. ‘How can I resist Mrs Solomon’s Finnan haddock?’ Had it been hemlock she would have accepted.
The haddock was beautifully cooked and running with butter but, seated in Dr Lisle’s claustrophobic room on the top floor of the fish shop, eating off a table draped in a green chenille bob-fringed cloth and surrounded by dusty medical tomes, Bella found she had no appetite. Her mind was on Quinn down in the street; on his taut muscled body; his handsome devil-may-care face, on the fact that he was waiting for her, perhaps to challenge her over why she’d been avoiding him. How could she deny it? It was true. The very idea that he’d ever slept with Jinnie when she was little more than a child revolted her. She could not deal with it, despite her years working in the poorer streets of Salford which had, she’d always believed, broadened her mind considerably.
Finally abandoning all pretence at eating, Bella apologised and watched dispassionately as Dr Lisle wolfed down her leavings. ‘So as not to offend dear Mrs Solomon’s feelings, which would never do after she’s gone to all this trouble.’
‘I’m sorry. Perhaps if I’d had more warning...’
Dr Lisle interrupted. ‘I do believe a surprise invitation is much more pleasing though, don’t you?’ He sat back replete, dabbing his mouth with the corner of his napkin. ‘Perhaps we should celebrate.’
‘Celebrate? But I haven’t given you an answer yet.’ Bella was horror-struck. What was she even doing here, becoming embroiled in Dr Lisle’s fantasies?
‘And I hope you won’t. You mustn’t feel it incumbent upon you to make any hasty decision this evening. Think upon my offer, my dear. I am sure you will find that accepting it would be to our mutual advantage. You are clearly a young lady with energy and robust good health, and I like that. As I pointed out, I can provide you with the stability you sorely need in your life. Now, if we hurry, we could catch the last show at the Cromwell Picture House. Come along, my dear, let me fetch your coat.’ As if he had satisfactorily concluded a business deal.
Seconds later they were clattering down the stairs, making their way out through the usual queue of women waiting in the fish shop and Bella again determined to make her escape. But as they burst through the late shoppers seeking a bargain, out onto the pavement, there he was again. Billy Quinn, watching her from his adopted station across the road. Slipping her hand under Dr Lisle’s arm, Bella smiled up into his face. ‘Let’s hurry then. We don’t want to miss the big picture.’
The cinema smelled of unwashed bodies, cigarette smoke and the all- pervading stench of the neighbouring gas works. The film itself did not hold her attention and, tired after her stint at the clinic, Bella found herself slipping into a doze, grateful for the relative warmth and fug of the darkness, lulled by the melodious piano music.
She suddenly jerked awake, wondering if a more lively rendition of music had disturbed her before becoming aware of a hand upon her knee which had somehow found its way beneath her skirt. It was smoothing and rubbing with a persistently increasing pressure, each movement bringing the hand a little further up her stocking-clad leg. Bella froze with horror, wondering what on earth she should do. Her first reaction was to scream but realised hysteria was not the answer. How long, during her snooze, had this been going on? Dr Lisle must have thought she enjoyed it. The hand slid a little further up her leg, too far for Bella’s comfort. She kicked him, right on the shin.
‘Oh, I do beg your pardon,’ she whispered, in freezing tones. ‘I was simply moving to a more comfortable position.’ But if she’d hoped that the ploy would work and he’d take the hint to desist, she was instantly disappointed. Instead he slid one arm about her shoulders and within seconds the other hand had once more shamelessly crept beneath her skirt and was making no bones about its destination.
Bella jumped to her feet, red faced and livid with fury. ‘You despicable little man. Take your filthy hands off me.’
‘My dear. I thought this was the sort of thing you enjoyed.’
‘Despicable toad. I’d like to...’ What it was she would like to do to him he was never to discover for, shushed and shouted down by her neighbours more interested in watching the film, despite many of them chuckling and giggling at her maidenly outrage, Bella scrambled her way along the row, pushing past knees, falling over feet until she’d reached the aisle where she fled outside. Once gaining the pavement she almost fell into Billy Quinn’s arms. They seemed a reasonably safe haven after her experiences with Nathaniel Lisle.
‘And that’s the truth of it,’ he finished. ‘I never laid a finger on the girl until she was fifteen, I swear to God. And only then at her instigation.’
They were sitting on a wall down by the docks, strands of moonlight fingering the wide expanse of water, illuminating a partly laden coal barge. Bella looked about her at the criss-cross lines of derricks and cranes forming an intricate pattern against the deepening blue of the sky; dark bulwarks of a cotton warehouse; the arch of a foot bridge and a string of recently docked timber boats waiting their turn to be unloaded at first light. The ethereal beauty of the industrial scene almost made her want to reach out and clutch it to her breast. It seemed to pulsate through her fingers, along her arms and grasp her by the heart, making her breathless to be a part of this land, this north country of hers with a passion she had never before experienced. She felt young and vulnerable and yet vibrantly alive, consumed with power, capable of anything.
She’d put the accusation of child molestation to Quinn and he had answered without hesitation, without any protests, freely admitting that he and Jinnie had indeed been lovers. ‘But not until she was old enough to know what she was doing, for all she was a forward little madam.’
‘But didn’t you realise you could be accused of taking advantage of her?’
He gave a dismissive shrug. ‘Can I help it if she had a fancy fer me from the start? ‘Twas no more than a young girl’s crush but she wouldn’t let me alone. I swear if she’d told me about the babby, I’d’ve wed her, so I would. You do believe me, do you not, Bella?’
He turned those piercing blue eyes full upon her and Bella felt her insides turn to water. What was it about this man which gripped her so compulsively? ‘I’m trying to.’
‘Aw, it’d break me heart in two if ye didn’t. More than anything in the world I want you to think well of me.’
She considered him in all seriousness, aware of the slow beat of her heart. ‘And why is that, Quinn?’
‘Aren’t you and I meant for each other? Ye can feel it too, can ye not? Don’t deny it for tis writ clear as day in yer lovely face.’ He reached for her then, knowing that if he didn’t make his move soon, he’d lose all chance of winning her. If that little bitch had told on him, then it behoved him as a good Irishman who’d certainly kissed the blarney stone, to put his own case well and he was almost certain that she’d swallowed his explanation hook, line and sinker. All he had to do now was give her no chance to question him too closely.
‘Aint ye the loveliest little colleen I ever set eyes upon. Ye know how I feel about ye, Bella. How much I want ye.’
Even before she felt the flutter of his breath upon her cheek some primeval instinct told her that he was going to kiss her, and that she wouldn’t resist. When his mouth closed over hers Bella gave herself up to it, not minding in the least that it tasted of Player’s Weights. The burning need in her was far to strong to concern herself with such trifles, with anything but her own physical need. Another hand now was upon her knee, smoothing her leg with an urgency that robbed her of breath, of every thought in her head. This time she was making no protest at all when it sought, and found, its target.