A Rare Ruby (36 page)

Thomas didn’t answer.

Mr Thompson stopped at the kitchen door. ‘I’m having Beth brought home tomorrow afternoon, so please, come and say goodbye to her.’

‘Thank you for asking Dad to help,’ said Ruby as they reached the front door.

‘I want to help him to get his head round all this.’

‘Thank you. You’re a very kind man.’

‘I don’t suppose I’ll see you till Saturday, with you working all day, and me working all evening, but if you wish to come and see Beth, please do. We have a very nice room we don’t often use.’

‘I’ll come and bring Danny to see his mother.’ Ruby swallowed hard. ‘I promise I’ll look after him.’

‘Thank you. I really do admire you, young lady. Goodnight.’

Ruby tried hard to smile. ‘Goodnight.’ She looked out on the cold night air. It was raining at last, a steady even downpour. Soon all traces of Beth would be washed away. Ruby closed the door and, leaning against it, cried. After a few desolate minutes, she wiped her eyes and returned to the kitchen door.

‘I don’t know if I can go to the funeral,’ said her father as soon as she walked into the room.

‘You will. And what’s more you’ll give Mr Thompson a hand with the drinks and stuff.’

Tom looked at his sister. ‘You can’t make Dad go.’

‘I can. Do any of you realise that I should be going to Elsie’s wedding on that day and at that time?’

‘Ruby. I’m so sorry,’ said Tom.

She looked at Tom’s sad face. What words of comfort could she give him? Ruby sat heavily in the chair. She wanted to cry again, but didn’t have any tears left.

The following evening, after Ruby had put Danny to bed and done his bit of washing, she turned her attention to her brother. Tom was reading; he had hardly spoken a word since they’d been told Beth had died. Their father sat staring into the fire and played with the poker. Someone banging on the door sent Ruby scurrying along to open it.

‘Milly,’ said Ruby on opening the door.

‘Look, it’s in the newspapers.’ Milly waved the paper at Ruby.

‘What does it say?’

‘It ain’t much, what with the trouble in Ireland, Christmas and everything else.’ Milly followed Ruby down the passage. ‘Everybody’s talking about it. I tell yer, if and when Cox gets back, he’ll be lucky to get to prison, the way some of ’em round here feel.’ In the kitchen Milly gave Thomas a nod. ‘Sad do, this. You all right, Tom?’

‘Yes,’ he said softly, watching Milly spreading the newspaper on the table.

‘What’s it say?’ asked Ruby.

‘This is it. Look, it says that Mrs Elizabeth Norton died from head wounds inflicted by a person or persons unknown.’

‘This means everybody will know about Beth,’ said Ruby, reading the few lines, which were almost hidden away on an inside page.

‘Only those that can afford a paper and knew her name was Elizabeth Norton.’

‘That’s true.’

‘The rest of us have to wait till we buy something and have it wrapped in the paper and be then it’s all over and out of date. I’m glad they ain’t said anything about Tom.’

‘No, they ain’t even said where Beth lived. I wonder if old Cox will see it?’

‘Might do. He often bought a paper.’

‘Let me see,’ said her father.

Ruby handed it to him. ‘Milly, did Mr Thompson ask you about doing the food?’

‘Yes,’ she said, sitting at the table.

Ruby sat next to her.

‘Mrs Moss said she looks ever so nice,’ Milly added.

‘You’ve not been to see her?’

‘No. Didn’t like to. I’ll pay me respects when I see him about the food. I tell you, what he’s asked for is gonner cost him a few bob.’

‘Is he opening the pub?’ asked Thomas.

‘Think so. Well, it is for the best. It don’t do any good just sitting looking at her, does it?’

‘No, suppose not.’

‘You could go up there and give him a hand, Dad,’ said Ruby.

‘He’d certainly appreciate that,’ said Milly, giving Ruby a sly wink.

‘No. No. I couldn’t.’

‘Ain’t you going up to say goodbye to Beth?’ asked Milly.

‘Give me time.’

Ruby turned her back on her father.

‘We’ve started a collection in the shop. I reckon everybody will turn out on Saturday. Mr Thompson’s a nice man and this will be quite a sight.’

Ruby looked at her fingers. ‘I should be at Elsie’s wedding at that time.’

‘Oh Ruby. What can I say? Have you told Mr Thompson?’

Ruby shook her head.

‘What you gonner do?’

Ruby’s head shot up. ‘Go to Beth’s funeral. I’ve got Danny to think of now.’

‘What’s gonner happen to Danny?’

Ruby shrugged. ‘Someone’s got to look after him. Mr Thompson can’t and we don’t want him put in care.’

‘Heaven forbid. Will it be just for now?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘You’re much too young to have to take on so much responsibility.’

‘Who else is there?’

‘She must have a family somewhere.’

‘But where?’

‘They might see that in the paper.’

‘But would they know she had a son?’

‘Dunno.’ Milly leant across the table and gently patted Ruby’s hand. She stood up. ‘D’you know you’ve got a rare one here, Mr Jenkins. I’d better go. Goodnight.’

Milly left the kitchen with Ruby walking behind to see her out. After she’d said goodbye she closed the front door. Shouting was coming from the kitchen. She rushed in and quickly shut the door behind her. ‘What’s all the noise about? Don’t you wake Danny. I need me sleep. Remember, I’ve got to go to work in the morning.’

‘I’m sorry,’ said Tom. ‘But Dad started blaming me.’

Ruby went to her brother and held him close. ‘Dad, please help me. I can’t look after Danny, Tom
and
you.’ There was no response. She looked round the kitchen as if seeking inspiration, but there was none. She had to get away in case she said something she would regret. She turned and left the room.

In the dark bedroom Ruby lay listening to Danny’s steady breathing. ‘There’s such a lot you will have to know about your mother,’ she whispered.

The door opened and Tom came and sat next to her. ‘Dad don’t look very happy.’

‘I should try to be like Mum and have a bit of understanding, but everything is getting on top of me.’

‘I’m so sorry, Ruby. This is all my fault.’

‘Come here.’ She held Tom close. ‘We’ll manage somehow.’

‘What will happen to us if Mr Cox don’t come back?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘Will we have to move?’

‘I don’t know. I can’t answer that.’

Tom’s words sent her thoughts racing. With all that had happened she hadn’t given that any thought. Who was his next of kin? Who would own the house if he were found guilty and went to prison? And if he weren’t, would they be thrown out for smashing his door?

 

For the rest of the week Ruby felt she was in a daze. She had no way of telling Elsie she wouldn’t be going to the wedding. Even if she’d had time she didn’t know where Elsie lived. Every night she had to hurry home to see to Danny and cook. And what about Ernie? She was hoping she would see him at the laundry to explain why she couldn’t go to the church. Would he think she didn’t want to go with him? She seemed to spend her life running from one thing to another. This was all Mr Cox’s fault, but he hadn’t been seen, nobody knew where he was. And what about the house? That was another worry constantly on her mind.

On Thursday night it was late before she left the laundry. Mrs Watson had asked her to iron some lord’s beautiful frilly evening shirt. Although it was a great honour and she couldn’t refuse, it delayed her leaving. It was dark and drizzling and as she was hurrying over the wet cobbles, Stone’s horse and laundry van came round the corner and she slipped. She sat on the ground and cried.

‘You all right?’

It was Ben, the younger of Mr Stone’s sons. She had often seen him attending to his horse. ‘No. No I ain’t.’

‘Here. Let me help you up.’

‘Leave me be.’ She pushed his arm away.

‘Are you hurt?’

‘No.’ It was Ruby’s pride that had been hurt the most. She was only relieved that Florrie and her friends had left the premises and hadn’t had the pleasure of seeing her sitting on the wet ground with her skirt well above her knees. She quickly pulled her skirt down and struggled to her feet.

‘You’re all wet.’

‘It’s raining, in case you didn’t know.’

Ben Stone took her arm. ‘Come under the canopy.’

‘Leave me be. I’ve got to get home.’

‘You’re Ruby Jenkins, aren’t you?’

Ruby looked surprised. ‘How d’you know my name?’

‘I know a lot about you.’

‘Do you now? Who told you?’

‘Mrs Watson.’

‘What’s she been telling you?’

‘She said you’re one of the best workers we’ve got.’

Ruby couldn’t believe her ears. ‘She said that?’

‘Yes. And she reckons, with a bit of time, you could almost take over running the place.’

Ruby was glad he couldn’t see her blushing. ‘Don’t talk daft.’

‘No. It’s true.’

Ruby was suddenly aware this was all flattery. ‘I’ve got to go.’

‘What’s your hurry? I reckon I should take you out to make up for knocking you over.’

‘Thanks all the same, but you didn’t knock me over, I fell. These cobbles are slippery when they get wet.’

He stood in front of her. ‘She reckons you’ve got a lot to put up with, with some of the others here.’

‘She said that? Is that all you’ve got to talk about: me?’

‘Don’t flatter yourself. We sometimes talk about the staff.’

‘Now, please let me get home.’

‘I’d like to take you out one night.’

Ruby remembered what Elsie had told her when she went out with Ben’s brother. ‘You only want to take me out for one thing.’

He laughed. ‘And what’s that?’

‘I can’t say. I’ve got to get home, I’ve got a lot to do.’

He stood to one side. ‘Goodnight, Ruby Jenkins.’

She ran all the way home. Her mind was full, but it wasn’t Ben Stone that filled it, even though he was nice looking and seemed kind.

 

Milly was sitting at the kitchen table when Ruby walked in.

‘What is it? What’s wrong?’

‘A lot of people have been in the shop today. Stories about this murder are spreading like wildfire. Mrs Mann come in this morning. She reckons she could find out who Danny’s dad is.’

‘How can she? She said she didn’t know anything about Beth before.’

‘That’s as may be. But it seems she’s changed her tune.’

‘I bet that’s cos there ain’t anybody to deny it. Where’s Dad?’

‘He’s gone up to Mr Thompson,’ said Tom, who was feeding Danny.

‘What?’ Ruby looked at Danny. ‘Tom, what are you giving him?’

‘A bit of soup me mum made,’ said Milly.

Danny grinned and let the soup run out of his mouth. Ruby sat at the table and mopped his face. ‘You’re a mucky little boy. Thank your mum, Milly. So what’s Dad up to?’

‘Well,’ said Tom, ‘he’s been helping Mr Thompson.’

For the first time in days, Ruby let a smile lift her sad face. She turned to Milly. ‘What else did Mrs Mann have to say?’

‘She’s gonner pray for Beth and she’s gonner try and find out a bit more from her people.’

‘Do we really want to know?’

‘Well, I think we owe it to Danny.’

‘Suppose so.’

‘We’re closing the shop Sat’day afternoon as a mark of respect,’ said Milly.

‘Beth would be tickled pink if she knew all what was going on for her.’ Ruby looked at her brother. He sat silently putting food into Danny’s open mouth.

‘I wonder where Cox is?’ said Milly.

‘I don’t know. Any day I expect him to come back and throw us out.’

 

Thomas Jenkins looked down at Beth’s pale face.

‘She was lovely,’ said Mr Thompson, who was standing beside him.

‘Yes, she was.’

‘Don’t have a lot of luck with our women, do we?’

‘Don’t seem to. But I blame meself for Mary’s death.’

‘Well, I can’t say anything about that, but, Thomas, I think you should look after that daughter of yours. She’s a good girl and works hard.’

‘I know. I’m definitely going to try. I’m glad you’ve asked me to help you.’

‘Good for you.’ He put his arm round Thomas’s shoulder. ‘Come on. Beth wouldn’t want us to stand here moping.’

They left the darkened room together.

‘By the way, call me Len.’

‘Thanks, Len.’

Thomas Jenkins had resolved to push his demons to the back of his mind for ever. It wasn’t easy: no one could appreciate how hard it was for him to defeat the voices and images that were the war’s dreadful legacy. But he would succeed. He had to, otherwise he might lose his precious Ruby.