For The Sake of Her Family (15 page)

‘Give over! He’s been nothing but a gentleman. And Nancy is a true friend and always will be, so you’d better not hurt her, Will Bentham, else you’ll have me to answer
to!’

‘Well, you’ll know all about gentlemen, won’t you? After all, you’ve had dealings with them – take Old Todd, he was a real gentleman!’ Will regretted the
words as soon as he uttered them. Regretted them even more when Alice once again burst into tears. ‘I’m sorry, Ali, I shouldn’t have said that. I’d no right. We’re
both as bad as one another, both of us just trying to make a living by fair means or foul. What a bloody pair! What would our mum and dad think of us?’

‘Not a lot, I don’t think. At least, not of me. You’re doing well for yourself, but I keep going from bad to worse. And now look at me: I’m worth nothing; I’d be
better off dead. Father always thought I was a selfish one, and he was right.’ Alice went and stood by the window. Turning her face away from her brother, she stared out into the dark
night.

Seeing that she was shivering, Will picked up her shawl and placed it on her shoulders. ‘Sorry, Ali – I’m a hot-headed idiot. We’ve both said things we shouldn’t.
It’s that bloody Bentham temper. Let’s not fight, eh? We only have one another.’ He smiled and kissed her on her brow. ‘Things will look different when you’ve had a
good night’s sleep. You put your head down in my bed and I’ll make something up for myself in the other room. In the morning, we’ll sort something out for you. I could do with
someone to look after me. Can’t you tell from the state of this house? It needs a woman’s touch. Come on, our lass, I’ve said I’m sorry.’

‘I forgive you, Will. Who am I to preach? And thanks for putting me up tonight; I’m grateful. I’ll get myself sorted tomorrow, I promise.’ Alice steadied her breathing
and gave Will a kiss on his cheek before removing her shoes and crawling under the bedcovers. Tomorrow would be another day. Any decisions could wait till the morning, when she wasn’t so
tired and when the world made more sense.

Leaves twirled and twisted in the autumn wind, torn from trees that had been battered by the northern gales sweeping over the dale. There had been beautiful hues of orange,
russet, yellow and brown as the first frosts nipped, but now the leaves were a nuisance, filling up the gutters and turning to mulch underfoot. It was that time of year when people felt depressed
at the onset of winter, the thought of Christmas being the one bright spark, the time to be with loved ones and family.

It was almost two months since Alice’s unexpected arrival at the cottage and for weeks there had been no let-up in the wind and rain. The cold, wet conditions were making life difficult at
the marble works, with the men growing fractious and unsettled. O’Hara might have been a crook, but at least they could take it easy while he was sleeping off the previous night’s
hangover. The new boss made sure they kept on working even in the pouring rain. And what was he doing in charge of them in the first place? Barely old enough to grow whiskers and knowing nothing
about marble and quarrying. There was only one thing him and his floozy of a sister were good at, and that was hobnobbing with the gentry.

To start with, they waited until Will’s back was turned before giving vent to their resentment. But all that changed one particularly foul morning, with the rain lashing down so hard they
could barely see the rock face and their tools slipping from their hands with the wet, and Will standing there yelling at them all the while, telling them to put their backs into it and earn their
keep. They’d all been muttering under their breath, cursing him, but then one of them spoke loud enough so Will could hear it.

‘What did you say?’ snapped Will, glaring at the dark, thickset form. ‘I’m talking to you, Middleton! Answer me!’ The man was one of his best workers, but he was
also a ringleader, and if Will let a remark like that go unchallenged, the others might follow suit.

‘I said, it’s a pity we can’t all make our living by shagging the boss’s sister.’ Middleton rose to his full height. He was a big, burly man who would have no
problem holding his own if it came to a fight. ‘And I think I can speak for all of us when I say it’s not fit weather to make a dog work, let alone us men.’ With that, he spat in
his hands and bent to pick up his spade.

‘How dare you talk to me like that!’ Will stepped up and grabbed at the bending man’s lapel, hauling on it to bring them face to face.

‘Nay, I’ve said enough – I mean to keep my job. But if the cap fits . . . Think what you will, but I’m right about the bloody weather. We can do nothing on a day like
this – and there’ll be a lot of days like this ’un in winter.’

Shrugging off Will’s hand on his lapel, Middleton made to carry on shovelling. Two of his fellow workers moved in, crowding Will and making him feel vulnerable and alone on the
fellside.

‘All right, men, finish for today – but I’m only paying you half a day’s wages. And it’ll be the same for every day wasted: no work, no pay.’

With that, Will turned and set off walking along the stony track that led to the cottage. He heard mutinous voices behind him muttering curses, and Middleton calling him a ‘fucking
bastard’, but he kept on walking. These were not his sort of men. Most were decent enough, but there were a few who were still loyal to O’Hara. If he was to make a success of himself,
he would need to win them over, and the best way to do that would be to prove he’d been given the job because he was worthy of it, not just because of his acquaintance with the boss’s
sister.

By the time he got home, he was drenched to the skin. Middleton was right: this weather wasn’t fit for working in, but he was desperate to get the works running at a profit again. Only
then would his position be secure, regardless of his relationship with Nancy.

‘By the gods, its bloody wet out there, our lass!’ He stopped just inside the back door and threw off his cap and overcoat, leaving them in a wet heap on the floor. ‘Fetch me a
towel, wherever you are. I swear I’m going to lamp that Middleton one of these days. He’s a right bloody troublemaker. I’m going to have to secure a few good orders to win him
over. Alice, where the hell are you, woman? I’m drowning in here.’

Alice came rushing into the kitchen. ‘Be quiet, our Will – we’ve company.’ She handed him a warm towel from the airing rack above the fire. ‘Miss Nancy and Jack are
in the front room. Nancy got him to bring her up because she says she’s missing you.’

Will towelled his dark hair dry, then ran his fingers through it to flatten and layer it thin to his skull, exaggerating his high cheekbones and sharp features.

‘That’s what I like to hear, lass,’ he whispered conspiratorially. ‘Treat ’em mean and keep ’em keen.’ Taking the damp towel and aiming a swipe at
Alice’s bottom, he set off for the front room with a jaunty swagger.

‘Nancy, my dear, what brings you here on this terrible wet day? It’s a wonder you weren’t washed away.’ He leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on her cheek, then stood
and turned to his friend. ‘Jack, what were you thinking, bringing Miss Nancy out in this weather?’

‘Don’t blame Jack, my love. I needed to see you – it’s been a whole week since you’ve been to the manor. Besides, I was sure that Alice would like to see Jack, now
that she is hidden away up here at this terrible place. Did I hear right, my love? Are you looking for more orders? I’ll ask Gerald to have a word with his contacts for you. I’m sure he
can help.’

‘Nay, I can manage. I’ve got to earn my own points with them men up there, else they’ll never respect me.’ Will turned to Jack, giving him a playful punch on the
shoulder. ‘I suppose it’s my sister you’ve come to see, not me. That’ll be why she’s still lurking out there!’ Raising his eyebrows and tilting his head in the
direction of the kitchen, Will hoped his friend would take the hint and let him have some time alone with Nancy.

‘Well, as it happens, there is something I want to ask her.’ For a moment, Jack stood there looking sheepish and twisting his cap in his hands, awkward at being in the way of his
friend’s courtship. ‘If it’s all right with you, Miss Nancy, I’ll go and see her. Let me know when you want to return to the manor.’

Alice was standing by the kitchen fire, hanging Will’s wet clothes in front of the range to dry. She smiled at Jack when he entered. ‘So you’ve had enough of playing gooseberry
with the loving couple? Come and sit next to the fire and keep me company. It’s not only Nancy who gets lonely, you know.’ She plumped up the newly made cushions and offered Jack the
chair nearest the fire.

‘Aye, well, there’s something I want to ask you, and it’s a bit awkward, but I’ve got to know because I’m not being tret right at the Moon. Uriah and his missus
have all on to talk to me, let alone serve me. I’ve a feeling it’s something to do with thee, but I can’t weigh up what.’

‘Don’t be silly, Jack, you’ve done nothing wrong and I’ve never said anything about you to them. Besides, what is there to say? It’s nothing but sour grapes over me
leaving. They’re taking it out on you because they know we’re friends. That’ll be all it is.’ She reached across and took his hand and held it gently. ‘You know
I’d never do anything to hurt you. I think dearly of you.’

‘Aye, and I think a lot of you, but they are acting strange and folk are talking. Everyone goes quiet when I walk into the pub for the odd pint that I can barely afford
nowadays.’

‘You’re imagining it, Jack. Anyway, what’s to do with you not affording to go for a pint? Things can’t be that bad.’ Alice tried to change the subject from the
Woodheads.

‘I’m not for saying, but you’ll find out soon enough.’ Jack’s mood lightened and there was a definite twinkle in his eye as he added, ‘Let’s just say
I’m counting the pennies at the moment.’

‘Go on, Jack, tell me – what are you up to?’ Alice’s thoughts were racing. She’d come to realize that there was more to Jack than she’d given him credit for.
He might be quiet, and his job at the manor didn’t have the same prospects as Will’s, but she’d found him to be a caring, sensible lad. What’s more, he was good with money
– something not to be overlooked.

‘Nay, you’ll have to wait; I’m not saying anything. But I’ve got to look after my money, so there will be no more fancy tea and scones in Mrs Handley’s tea rooms on
a Sunday. Sorry, Alice, but this is more important.’ He gave Alice a stern look, frowning slightly as he calculated the saving that he would make by not giving her a Sunday treat.

‘Oh, Jack, you mean thing! All you think about is money. You don’t care about me one bit. I bet you’re only saving up for a bloody horse or a new saddle – anything but
looking after me.’ Sunday was the only day of the week Alice got treated like a lady and she spent the rest of the week looking forward to it. ‘I can’t be bothered to talk to you,
Jack Alderson. I’m off to join my brother in the other room – at least him and Nancy can think of better things to talk about.’

‘Alice, it’s only until spring and then you can have scones and tea every Sunday,’ Jack pleaded, grabbing her by the arm. ‘You’ll soon see that it’s worth
going without for.’

Alice shook her arm free. ‘Spring! That’s nearly five months off. Things can all have changed by then. I’m not always going to be here – I aim to do something with my
life, not spend it waiting for a servant lad.’

Her sharp words stung at Jack’s heart and her blazing eyes burned his soul. So that was what she thought of him, a servant lad, nothing more, nothing less. Well, he was going to show her,
and by God, she’d want him then, because he loved the fiery Miss Bentham and he was going to get her, no matter what it took.

‘Suit yourself, Alice,’ he said to her retreating back. ‘But you’ll still be here. I know you will.’ Then he turned and sat by the kitchen fire, hoping that Nancy
would not stay long. He wanted to get home and nurse his wounded pride.

The shadows had lengthened by the time Nancy came through into the kitchen. Jack, who’d been dozing in the comfortable padded chair, quickly roused himself after hearing
the farewells exchanged.

‘So that’s sorted, then, Alice: you’ll come to the manor three days a week. You can sleep in the maid’s quarters. I’m sure my brother won’t complain as the
room’s not being used. You’ll be a great help for Mrs Dowbiggin: she’s not getting any younger – but don’t tell her I said so! And of course it means that Jack will
get to see more of you.’ Nancy turned and smiled at him. ‘So, it works out well for all. Come, Jack, take me home – it will be night-time before we get there.’

There was an uncomfortable silence from Jack as he put his coat on and opened the kitchen door for Nancy. He remained silent throughout the journey home, and Nancy said nothing, leaving him to
his thoughts until they were back at the manor.

‘Jack, are you all right?’ she asked as he reached up to help her alight from the carriage. ‘You seem a little upset.’

‘I’m fine, Miss Nancy, thank you. Just in love with the wrong woman – and there’s nothing I can do about it.’

It was a year since Bess Bentham died and the November day was not dissimilar to the one on which she passed away. A sharp wind blew from the north, whipping around the huge
pillars of the Stone House viaduct, nearly blowing the railway workers who were busy repairing the track off the top of it. Alice watched them as she sat sheltered behind one of the limestone
walls, alone with her thoughts, apart from the song of a solitary late skylark. She had walked along the rutted track, past the marble works and underneath the railway’s towering arches to a
secluded spot that had become her thinking place. Where she could sit surrounded by tufts of moorland grass and ling heather, the smell of which she was sure would make a fortune in the fine shops
of London if you could only capture it in a bottle.

With a sigh, she gazed out at the view. In the distance she could see Combe Scar, tipped with snow, behind the little village of Dent and the vast slopes of Whernside rising up from the valley.
She closed her eyes and covered them with her hands, quietly despairing at the situation she was in. Things had gone from bad to worse since her mother died, and now, to top it all, she had fallen
out with Jack, all for the sake of a stupid cup of tea. Her and her sharp temper!