The Marriage Certificate (10 page)

Acting as scouts for the advance,
94 Company, CIV, set out at first light on 8 March. The British target was
Bloemfontein, the capital of the Orange Free State. The town had raised a
number of enemy commando units and to capture it would be a major step in the
defeat of the Boers. Two days later, Frank was part of the British contingent
in full pursuit of a large enemy force. The two forces engaged one another and
suffered heavy losses on each side, with the Boers coming off worse. Skirmishes
continued and the British brought up their heavy artillery pieces once more to
shell the enemy. Frank’s company formed part of the escort for the important
strategic weapons.

The British closed in, and during the evening of 12 March,
the Boers evacuated Bloemfontein and withdrew. Lord Roberts made a ceremonial
entry the following day. The town was in British hands and became the focus for
British reinforcements and military organisation.

The frantic military activity preceding the taking of the
town was over and Frank’s company was given almost two weeks’ break from the
fighting. The days were filled with drill, parades, and the continual need to
ensure grazing for the horses.

Frank finally received his first letter from Rose. He
replied later that evening.

25th March 1900

Dearest Rose

I have just received your letter
today and I am so delighted to hear from you and hear your news. You have no
need to worry my darling; we will get married as soon as I return.

I am sorry that you have had so
much worry and I wish I could be there to share it with you. Have you told
Louisa by now? If not, I think you should. Ask Louisa and John to help you. I
spoke to John on the voyage out and he gave me his word that he would help you
if the need should arise.

I miss you so much my darling. I
wonder what you are doing at this moment. I am looking forward to returning to
England. The country here is very different and I am tired of being on
horseback, but it is far better than walking!

I am sure you will know that we
took Bloemfontein last week. We are resting for a spell, before we make our
next move. The weather has been mixed, with some torrential storms, the like of
which I have never seen in England.

I must end this now as I am on
sentry duty shortly. I am in good spirits and cannot wait to see you. Make sure
you tell Louisa and John everything. They will see you are all right. I will
write to my parents and tell them of our intentions, so they will know too.

When you write can you enclose a
photograph of yourself for me? I do so envy the other men who possess a picture
of their wife or sweetheart.

Good night dearest.

Love,

Frank.

Rose pulled herself together,
finished the orders, tidied her work away, and went upstairs to her room. Mr
Crockford had already gone. He was spending the weekend at his large residence
in Apsley Street. She didn’t know what to do. Should she tell Mr Crockford? Was
Mrs Robins bluffing? Should she go and see Mr Crockford before the shop opened
on Monday? If Mrs Robins told him, should she just deny it? Should she take
drastic action and find a ‘doctor’ who could perform an abortion? Rose began to
panic. She needed to talk to someone. She needed some help. She decided to go
and see Louisa and tell her what had happened.

She took a cab and arrived outside Louisa’s house. She
didn’t know if John was back or not – she couldn’t think. She knocked at the
front door and waited.

From the other side of the door, Louisa asked hesitantly,
‘Who is it?’

‘It’s me, Louisa … Rose.’

Louisa opened the door. She could see that Rose was upset.
‘Good Lord, Rose, whatever’s the matter?’ She ushered her in and closed the
front door behind her.

‘Oh Louisa, I’m in such a mess. Have you heard anything from
Frank? Is he safe? I’ve been so worried since that newspaper report about the
fighting at Britstown.’

‘I think he’s fine. Father told me that his unit was not
involved in that. They’re supposed to be in the Jacobsdal region, which is a
hundred and fifty miles away and anyway we would’ve received a telegram by now
if he’d been killed or wounded. Why are you in such a mess?’

‘I’m pregnant! It’s Frank’s! Mrs Robins has found out and I
don’t know what to do. She says she’s going to tell your father, unless I
resign on Monday. Oh Louisa, what am I going to do? Should I go and tell your
father now?’

Louisa looked worried. ‘Sit down. Here, let’s have your
coat. Let’s not be too hasty, Rose. We need to think about this carefully.’

Louisa hung up Rose’s coat and returned. ‘Now tell me what
has been going on. When did you find out? How long have you known? You didn’t
say anything about this a couple of weeks ago.’

‘I know, but I thought I was coping and that nobody need
know, at least not until I had heard back from Frank. He’s written a couple of
letters, but his second letter was sent before he would have received my reply
to his first. I’m sure he’ll stand by me if he truly feels as he says in his
letters. I wrote back straight away and I told him of my condition and asked
him what I should do, but I’m still waiting for his response. I might have to
wait another three weeks!’

‘How did Mrs Robins find out?’

‘I fainted in the shop a few weeks ago. I’ve been feeling
queasy and have been sick several times. You know, like you were at the start.
I think she must have been suspicious; she said she heard me in the privy one
morning. She cornered me after closing this evening and accused me of being
pregnant. I was taken aback and caught off guard. She said that I could tell
her and that she’d help me, but when I admitted it, she turned on me and said
she would tell your father if I didn’t resign. Whether I tell him or she tells
him, I’ll have to leave.’

‘I don’t know why father keeps her on, you know,’ Louisa
said sympathetically. ‘She doesn’t fit in there anymore. I once suggested he
get someone younger, but he wouldn’t hear of it. Mrs Robins is a nasty piece of
work. He said that she brought in a lot of the older long-standing customers
and we mustn’t forget that they are the bread and butter of the business.’

‘I had wondered about getting rid of it.’

Louisa looked aghast. ‘No, Rose! How could you? Don’t even
think of it!’ She rested her hand on her own swelling. ‘I could never do such a
thing and I’m sure you couldn’t really. Besides, there are some terrible
so-called remedies, which could make you really ill, and they don’t work.
Surely, you weren’t thinking of some backstreet physician?’

‘Well, it had crossed my mind,’ Rose admitted. ‘I don’t know
what to do. I need to hear from Frank.’

Louisa was quiet for a moment. ‘Listen Rose, I’m going to
tell you a secret. I’ve been sworn to secrecy, but I feel I have no
alternative.’

‘What do you mean, sworn to secrecy?’

‘You know John took Frank down to Cape Town.’

Rose nodded.

‘Well, one evening during the trip, he and Frank discussed
certain matters. Frank told John that he had made a will before he left London
and that he has left everything to John. I shouldn’t be telling you this
really, but you’ll understand why in a moment. Frank also told him about how
you two became involved and that he is in love with you and intends to marry
you when he gets back.’

Rose was looking intently at her now, hardly believing what
she was being told. It confirmed the sentiment he had expressed in his letters.

‘He told John that if you found yourself in the same
predicament as I was, then he would marry you. He also asked …’ at this point
Louisa’s voice began to tremble slightly, ‘that if he was killed and failed to
return, could we use his estate to help you? John assured him that of course we
would help you and I think you need our help now.’

‘Oh Louisa,’ Rose started to sob. ‘It’s such a relief to
hear that from Frank, and to have your offer of help too. Do you really mean
it? Will John be agreeable too?’

‘Yes, I know he will be. He gave Frank his word; but anyway,
it need only be for a few months, until you have your baby. Frank’s far too
fond of his good looks to go risking any disfigurement or wounding, at the
hands of the Boers. When are you due?’

‘Well I’m reasonably certain it’ll be the third week in
October.’

‘Right then, in the meantime you can live here. I’m due at
the beginning of September. You can help me. We can help each other. Once Frank
is back, you can get married. John reckons he’ll be back by the autumn … maybe
even before you give birth.’

‘When does John’s ship next return? It should be carrying a
letter for me from Frank. Are you sure he won’t mind if I stay here?’

‘He’s scheduled to arrive in London on 16th May. He’ll be
agreeable. I know he will. You can keep me company. It hasn’t been easy
adjusting to life here on my own. I know father is up at the end of the street,
but he still stays at the shop quite a lot and I miss the hustle and bustle of
Crockford’s. It’ll be fun.’

‘But what do you think your father will say?’

‘He won’t be happy about it, that’s for sure. He’ll have no
choice but to accept your resignation. You know what the customers are like and
in the end, Crockford’s is everything to him. He’ll be shocked and
disappointed, but these things happen. Look at my situation. If John hadn’t
stuck by me and agreed to hurry our wedding, then I dread to think what might
have been. No, don’t worry, we’ll make the best of it, and with luck everything
will turn out fine.’

Rose stayed the night at Louisa’s house. The following day,
Sunday, Louisa helped Rose compose her letter of resignation. It was formal in
tone and gave the reason for leaving as a ‘matter of personal circumstance’.
She resolved to see Mr Crockford in his office during a quiet spell on Monday
morning.

Mrs Robins seemed to be in
unusually fine spirits when she appeared for work on Monday morning. She had
thought about her strategy over the weekend and had decided to inform Mr
Crockford of Rose’s plight at the first opportunity. Her intention was to speak
to him before Rose.

Rose had risen earlier than normal and spent time packing
and organising her things on the assumption that she would be moving out later
that day. She appeared in the shop with only moments to spare before
inspection, carrying in her apron pocket the envelope containing her letter of
resignation.

Mr Crockford made his usual morning assessment of staff and
shop, satisfying himself that all was well before telling Sidney to unlock the
front door. Rose’s counter was extremely busy immediately after opening. She
didn’t notice Mrs Robins walking off in the direction of the office.
Reappearing a few minutes later, looking flushed and with an expression of hurt
upon her countenance, Mrs Robins made her way back to the haberdashery
department.

Shortly after ten o’clock, during a lull in customers, Rose
went to Mr Crockford’s office. She tapped gently on the door.

‘Come,’ he called.

With great trepidation, Rose opened the door and entered.

‘I wish to hand in my resignation, Mr Crockford, sir.’ She
placed the envelope on his desk, before retreating a pace to await his
reaction.

He picked it up and using a knife to slit the envelope,
removed the one page letter. He read it slowly, showing no reaction, before
placing it down on his desk.

Rose was shaking. This seemed like the worst moment of her
life.

‘Why are you leaving Rose? What are you referring to as,
“personal circumstance”?’

‘I’d rather not say Mr Crockford, sir. It’s personal.’

He hesitated, choosing his words. ‘Are you in an unfortunate
predicament, Rose?’

Rose hesitated, not sure how he would react. ‘Yes I am, Mr
Crockford, sir. How did you know? Has Mrs Robins told you?’

‘Yes, Rose. She told me earlier this morning and I took no
pleasure from it, no pleasure whatsoever. I appreciate that you have had the
decency to tender your resignation. You know I can’t keep you on here. The
customers would not approve.’

‘I know, Mr Crockford. I understand your position and how
you must uphold the reputation of Crockford’s.’

‘The problem is, Rose, I don’t want to lose you, but I can
see no alternative. You are very good at your job and it won’t be easy to
replace you. What are you going to do, Rose? Where will you go?’

‘I’m going to move in with Louisa, until Frank Williams
comes back from the Cape. Frank is the father.’

‘Is he now? Do you think he’ll stand by you?’

‘I hope so, Mr Crockford. He has intimated as much.’

‘Well, I hope for your sake, he does the decent thing. When
are you expecting the birth?’

‘October.’

‘And when do you … erm … when do you think that others might
start to notice?’

‘Louisa says, end of May.’

‘Listen, Rose, I’m going to accept your resignation, I have
no choice. However, if you wish, we can defer your leaving for a few weeks
until the end of May, but no longer. I can’t let you work here, once your
predicament becomes obvious. In the meantime, I will try to find someone to
replace you. It may be that if you are at Louisa’s, you can assist her with
some of the dressmaking outwork she’s doing, but I make no promises. We will
need to keep your presence there confidential,’ he stated firmly. ‘You are not
to say anything to anyone here at the shop of this arrangement. It is a little
unusual. Normally, dismissal would be immediate. I have warned Mrs Robins that
she is not to repeat the allegation she made of you. I will not have gossip of
that nature spread amongst staff or customers. We can say that you are leaving
to take up an offer of employment in the West End, a promotion, so to speak.’

‘Thank you, Mr Crockford. That is very decent of you. I
won’t do anything to embarrass you, or tarnish the good name of Crockford’s.’

‘Very well, Rose, you may go. I will speak to Louisa of this
and ensure that she understands my decision.’

‘Thank you, Mr Crockford.’     

With that, Rose returned to her post, quietly relieved that
she could continue to work a while longer and that the shame of her condition
was not about to be broadcast all over the shop.