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Half an hour later, and feeling totally ineffectual, Charles left. He was aching to see Jessica, and to find consolation in her arms, yet he still had to talk to Constance so could only stay for about an hour. He hated this disruption to his routine, the inconvenience of his wife being in hospital, and the distasteful meeting he’d had with Albie Jones. He didn’t like the young man, and was determined that once he and Constance were married, neither of them would set foot in his house again.
When he arrived at Jessica’s flat, he let himself in as usual, smiling at last as Jessica rose to her feet.
‘Darling, you look dreadful. What’s happened?’ she asked.
He pulled her into his arms burying his face in her sweet-smelling hair. ‘It’s been an awful day. Hettie had a stroke and I found out my daughter is pregnant.’
‘Oh, goodness, sit down, I’ll get you a drink and then you can start at the beginning.’
‘Just a coffee. If I have another whiskey I won’t be fit to drive,’ Charles said, sinking onto the soft plush sofa with a sigh. He told Jessica all that had happened, comforted by her sympathy. She led him to her bed, where, at least for a while, he could drown himself in her beautiful body and forget the horrors of the day.
‘Daddy,’ Constance cried, running up to him as soon as her father walked in the door. ‘You’ve been gone for such a long time. What happened?’
‘Allow me to take my coat off,’ he said abruptly, and after hanging it up he marched into the drawing room.
‘I thought you’d take me to see Mummy. Is she all right?’
‘After talking to Albie Jones, I didn’t have time to come home again before visiting hours. Your mother is about the same, with no perceptible change, and as for Albie, he’s going to the register office in the morning to arrange your marriage.’
‘Oh, Daddy,’ Constance said, ‘how did you persuade him?’
‘How do you think? With money, of course. And let me make this clear: as soon as you’re married you are to leave this house.’
‘No, Daddy, please, do I have to marry him?’ she asked desperately.
‘Of course you do. You’re pregnant with the man’s child.’
‘What if I refuse?’
‘I can’t force you to marry him, but if you don’t I will not support you, nor will I allow you to live here.’
‘But …’
‘No buts, Constance. I have to admit I don’t think much of Albie Jones. I have no time for a man who has to be bribed to accept his responsibilities, but nevertheless you have made your bed and now you must lie in it. It’s up to him now to provide you with a home and you will no longer be welcome here.’
Constance reeled with shock. ‘But can’t I come to visit you, and Mummy?’
‘I doubt your mother will want to see you, but when she recovers I’ll leave that decision to her.’
‘But … but the baby. It’ll be your grandchild.’
‘Yes, but when I think about the type of man who fathered the child my stomach crawls with distaste. Once you’re married, he too will never be welcome in this house. And as for your wedding, I won’t be attending.’
With that her father walked out of the room, leaving Constance sobbing. She wished she’d never set eyes on Albie Jones, but now she would have to marry him. Worse still was the thought that he’d had to be bought – her father had to pay him to wed her. Feeling desolate, with no one else to talk to, Constance went down to the basement, hoping that Ethel could reassure her about the future.
Mary had learned that if she kept quiet and stayed in the background, people seemed to forget she was there. It had served her well in the children’s home and saved her from many a beating at the hands of the other kids. It worked here too as she was able to listen in to a lot of interesting and revealing conversations. When Miss Constance came downstairs, Mary kept to a dim part of the kitchen and stood quiet as a mouse.
‘Oh, Miss Constance, you’re crying. What’s going on? I’ve been waiting ages to find out. Is it your mother? Has she taken a turn for the worse?’
‘I haven’t seen my mother, but my father said there’s no change in her condition.’
‘Well then, surely that’s a good sign?’
‘I hope so, and as for Albie, he’s agreed to marry me.’
Mary stiffened. This was the first she’d heard of the arrangement and it seemed a bit sudden. Surely they barely knew each other.
‘Thank goodness,’ Ethel said.
‘Yes, but he had to be bribed, paid to marry me.’
Mary’s eyes widened. None of this made sense to her, but her ears pricked again when Ethel spoke.
‘I can’t believe it. I never thought my Albie would behave like this, first denying that the baby is his and now taking money from your father.’
For Mary, everything fell into place. She wasn’t as thick as they thought, or as daft. She knew about sex – boys in the kids’ home had been fond of trying it on, but thanks to seeing another girl kick them where it hurt, she’d learned to do the same and they would back off in pain, holding their tackles. Now, if it had been Albie trying it on, she wouldn’t have minded. She would have happily had sex with him, but instead he’d been with Miss Constance.
‘My father said that Albie is going to the register office in the morning. Ethel, I know he’s your grandson, but I wish I didn’t have to marry him. I wanted to finish my education, to become a doctor or a barrister, but that’s impossible now. There’s no point in going to college any more and anyway, as I’ll be showing soon I don’t think I could stand the gossip and sniggers.’
‘I’m sorry, love. Though I’m not happy with the way Albie has behaved, taking money and all, he isn’t a bad lad and he’ll treat you right.’
‘My father said that as soon as I marry him, I’ve got to leave this house.’
‘Well, we’ve got something in common then. I’ll be leaving too.’
Mary once again stiffened. Ethel was leaving! Her stomach sank at the thought of it; Ethel had become like a mother to her and she didn’t want to stay working at the house without her.
‘I’m so sorry, Ethel. Where will you go?’
‘Don’t worry about me, Miss. There’s a letting agency just across the common and I’ll ask them to find me a nice little flat to rent. I’ll have my pension so I’ll be all right.’
‘I expect Albie will rent us a flat too.’
‘Yes, I should think so, and as your father is helping him out financially, he won’t have a problem finding a deposit.’
‘No, I suppose not,’ Constance said disconsolately.
Mary couldn’t understand why Constance was so unhappy. She was having Albie’s baby, he was going to marry her, and it sounded like they’d have a few bob too. She wished she could swap places with Constance, but after hearing what Ethel said at least she had thought of a way of getting out of this house too. She waited until Constance had gone upstairs and then quietly approached Ethel and said, ‘Can I talk to you?’
‘Bloody hell, girl, you made me jump. I’d forgotten you were there.’
‘I heard all that. I can’t believe that Albie is going to marry Miss Constance. She isn’t his sort and if you ask me he’s off his rocker.’
‘Look, I know you like him, but Miss Constance is having his baby and I wouldn’t want it born a bastard.’
‘Why not? I was.’
‘Sorry, love, I didn’t know.’
‘It doesn’t bother me. Most of the kids in the home were bastards and anyway, that isn’t what I want to talk to you about. I heard you say you’re leaving,’ she said, wiping her nose on the cuff of her sleeve.
‘For Gawd’s sake I’ve told you before, use a hanky,’ Ethel said, pulling a clean one from her apron pocket and passing it over before continuing. ‘Yes, I’ve been asked to go, but I don’t mind. With my legs in this state I was going to retire anyway.’
‘Would you take me with you, Ethel?’
‘What? No, I can’t do that.’
‘Why not? I heard you saying that you’re going to find a flat. I could share it with you, get a job to pay my share of the rent and surely that would be better than living alone.’
Ethel’s brow rose and then she smiled. ‘You’re not as daft as you look, are you? I must admit it sounds like a good idea.’
‘What do you say then?’
Ethel cocked her head to one side, obviously thinking it through and then said, ‘Well, my girl, despite that nasty habit of using your cuff as a hanky, I must admit I’ve grown very fond of you.’
‘I’ll stop doing it. I promise I will.’
‘Make sure you do, and as for moving in with me, I think that’s a lovely idea.’
Mary did a little jig of delight. All she had known was sharing a dormitory with lots of other girls, followed by sleeping in the little room at the top of this house. Now for the first time in her life she would be living in a proper home. Her smile was wide as she bent to kiss Ethel’s papery cheek. ‘I’m fond of you too. You’re like a mother to me.’
‘At my age, more like a grandmother, but I think we’ll rub along nicely together.’
Feeling choked up, Mary sniffed back tears of happiness as she looked forward to the future.
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