Swansea Girls (48 page)

‘I’m not a child, Martin.’ Katie was standing in the open doorway.

‘You should be asleep,’ Martin admonished.

‘I could hear you arguing when I went to the bathroom.’

‘Please, Katie, Martin’s right, you should be in bed. This can wait until morning.’

‘No, it can’t, John. Please, Martin,’ she begged, ‘John’s telling you the truth. I love him and when his divorce is finalised we’re going to be married.’

‘Katie ...’

‘I’ve heard all the arguments you’ve just brought up from John but they made no difference. John’s good and kind, not like Dad ...’

‘I should never have gone down the pub tonight. I should never have left you and Jack. I knew he was coming out ...’

‘It wouldn’t have made any difference if you’d been there, Martin.’ As tears began to roll down her cheeks, she clung to John, burying her head in his neck.

‘Katie’s right. You had no way of knowing your father was out of gaol. None of us did.’

‘Mr Williams warned me.’

‘And I could have insisted the sergeant tell me why he wanted to speak to Roy when I took the telephone call earlier. But I didn’t. If you persist in thinking of all the “what ifs” in life, you’ll drive yourself mad. It happened; he’s dead.’

‘And I can’t say I’m sorry. Perhaps we’ll finally be able to sleep at night knowing that he can’t come after us and wreck our lives any more.’ Looking anywhere except at John and Katie, Martin left his chair and paced restlessly to the fireplace. Crouching on his haunches, he stirred the coals with the poker.

‘Martin, please, can’t you be happy for me?’

Martin continued to study the flames. ‘Are you serious about marrying Katie, Mr Griffiths?’

‘My name is John and yes, I’m serious if she’ll still have me when I’m free.’

‘Is that why you gave Jack a job?’

‘Katie and I are nothing to do with Jack and Helen.’

‘No? Jack will be both your son-in-law and brother-in-law.’

‘Don’t you think that has occurred to me?’

‘And Jack has a far more vicious temper than I have.’

‘Which I hope he’ll learn to curb. There’s been enough anger in our lives, Martin.’

‘You’re right about that, Katie.’ Rising to his feet, Martin turned and faced them. ‘I won’t pretend I like the thought of you with my sister, Mr Griffiths, but if you’re serious about marrying Katie I’ll try to understand how she feels about you.’

‘You’ll give us your blessing?’

‘Ask me again before you get married, Katie.’

‘I promise you one thing, Martin,’ John said as he held her in his arms. ‘I will never hurt her.’

‘And when the gossip starts?’

‘Unless you tell anyone, it won’t until after we are married.’

‘I wish I had your faith in people. From where I’m standing it’s obvious what’s going on between you.’

Roy was on the doorstep looking up at the sky when John finally left the house. ‘I owe you an explanation, Roy.’

Roy shook his head. ‘Not at this time in the morning, you don’t.’

‘It really will be all right?’

‘Fine, if Katie gets over it.’

‘She’s calm now. She went to bed half an hour ago.’

‘You and Martin sorted things out?’

‘As much as we can for now.’ John opened a packet of cigarettes and offered Roy one. ‘I wasn’t looking for it, it just happened and when it did I wasn’t strong enough to turn my back on her.’

‘You know what people will say.’

‘They can say what they like.’

‘It might hit business.’

‘If it does I’ll ride it out.’

‘You’re a braver man than your son.’

‘I’ll have a word with him.’

‘No, don’t.’ Roy lit both their cigarettes. ‘I spoke to Lily earlier. She needs time to come to terms with who her real mother is and frankly I think that’s all she’ll be able to deal with for now. Joe, his problems and hers with him, will have to wait.’

‘You don’t think Joe can help her?’

‘It’s not what I think, or want, that’s important. It’s what Lily wants and she doesn’t want to see him.’

‘If Joe has any sense he’ll be round in the morning.’

‘Give her a few days. Lily doesn’t say things she doesn’t mean.’

‘Monday, then.’

‘She’ll be in work.’

‘After everything that’s happened?’

‘Especially after everything’s that’s happened, John.’

Esme checked her reflection in the hall mirror. Freshly bathed, made up, with her favourite perfume dabbed on her wrists, she looked good, knew it and intended to make John realise just what he was losing in her. He was standing on the front porch looking out at the view of the bay. Head high, she walked briskly towards him. ‘The housekeeper said you wanted to see ...’

‘You had to have your way, didn’t you, Esme?’ he interrupted brusquely.

‘Aren’t you coming in?’ Struggling to keep her equanimity, she opened the door wider. Her mother’s house had a long drive but John hadn’t bothered to lower his voice and several neighbours were in the habit of walking their dogs before breakfast.

‘No.’

‘If this is about the settlement ...’

‘I couldn’t give a damn about the settlement. I just wanted you to know that I intend to inform Joe exactly who was responsible for sabotaging his engagement party and leave what action to take entirely up to him.’

‘I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘No? You went to Richard Thomas; he sent that woman...’

‘What woman?’

‘Very good, Esme, I take my hat off to you. All those hours of practice and years in the Little Theatre have paid off. I’ve seen you turn in some good performances but none quite so consummate as this one.’

‘I really don’t know what you’re talking about.’ Leaving the porch, she stepped down into the drive.

‘The prostitute Richard Thomas sent to Joe’s party yesterday. Lily’s mother ...’

‘Lily’s mother is a prostitute?’

He found himself almost believing her surprise. ‘Richard Thomas sent her to Roy Williams’ house in the middle of Joe’s and Lily’s party. He couldn’t have timed her appearance better. Even gave her money to get drunk first to heighten the “surprise”.’

‘Are you sure it was Richard?’

‘The woman was.’

‘He had no right!’

‘Right! What have rights to do with this?’ As he stared at her he suddenly understood why she hadn’t married Joe’s father when she’d become pregnant and why she’d been furious when Richard had offered Helen a position in his office. ‘My God!’ He stepped away from her in disgust. ‘Richard Thomas is Joe’s father, isn’t he?’

‘I ...’ Unable to lie, she turned away from him.

‘Dear God, Esme, he was your godfather – almost family ... you called him uncle. Christ! You even asked him to give you away at our wedding.’

‘He had no right ...’ She repeated dully.

‘No, he didn’t.’

‘Please, don’t tell Joseph,’ she pleaded. ‘Richard manages his trust fund. It’s grown, because ... Joseph might think Richard had put more money into it and Joseph needs the security of that fund if he is to make anything of himself ... You and I both know that Joseph would take this the same way you are now. Please, John. I’ll waive the right to a settlement, agree adultery, anything you want, but don’t let Joseph find out or think any the less of me than he already does.’

‘Keep the settlement, Esme, and your precious secret. But don’t think I’m doing it for you. For once we agree. It may be best if Joe never finds out who his father is, or the depths he can sink to in order to destroy other people’s lives, and all in the name of decency.’

‘Miss Sullivan?’ Miss Oliver waylaid Lily as soon as she walked into the bank on Monday morning. ‘Mr Hopkin Jones wants to see you immediately. In his office.’

Lily’s heart started thundering as she looked at Miss Oliver.

‘Immediately, Miss Sullivan.’ Miss Oliver gave Lily a smile, but Lily didn’t even see it as she hung her coat on to her hangar and left the cloakroom. She’d expected the scandal to spread throughout the town but not this quickly. Steeling herself for dismissal, she knocked on the manager’s door.

‘Miss Sullivan, it’s good of you to come so promptly.’ The manager indicated a chair. ‘Please sit down. I think we’ve finished, Mr Collins.’

Mr Collins gathered a pile of forms from the desk.

Mr Hopkin Jones waited until Mr Collins had closed the door and he’d watched his silhouette bob away across the general office. ‘Miss Sullivan, we have appointed a junior and it is time for you to take your new position. Mr Collins, Miss Oliver and I did some reshuffling this morning and it has been decided that you should take Miss Drew’s position.’

‘But she’s Mr Collins’ secretary,’ Lily murmured in bewilderment.

‘You don’t think you’re up to the work?’

‘Yes – yes, of course, but Miss Drew ...’

‘Has been transferred to our Wind Street branch. The manager’s secretary left suddenly last week. Her husband is in the Civil Service and was offered promotion in Cardiff. She had little choice but to go with him, but it was rather unfortunate from the bank’s point of view. In my opinion, just one more reason not to employ married women. They are so unreliable.’

‘Mr Hopkin Jones. I have to tell you ...’

‘I know what happened at your engagement party, Lily. I should think most of Swansea has heard the story by now.’

‘Is that why ...?’

‘As you know, Miss Drew had a small office next to Mr Collins’. You would be out of the public eye most of the time. It seems the circumspect thing to do right now,’ he added kindly. ‘A week or two and everyone will be talking about something else, but for the moment I thought you might rather not be pointed out and stared at. However, the work load will be heavy.’

‘I’ll cope.’

‘I’m sure you will. I’d appreciate it if you move desks right away. I don’t doubt Mr Collins will have some dictation for you.’

‘Yes, Mr Hopkin Jones, and thank you.’

‘Nothing to thank me for, Miss Sullivan. We’re getting a bargain. You’ll be paid shorthand typist rates for a secretarial post.’ He glanced at her over his horn-rimmed spectacles. ‘But come and see me after your month’s trial. I don’t doubt Mr Collins will have let me know exactly what he thinks of your competence by then and if you think you warrant a rise, we’ll discuss it.’

‘Joe wants to see you, Lily.’ Roy hovered in the doorway of her bedroom.

‘I’ll be down in a minute, Uncle Roy.’

‘Don’t do anything hasty, will you, love?’

‘Like get engaged? Sorry, Uncle Roy, bad joke.’

‘It took courage for him to knock on the door after the way you sent him packing on Saturday. The least you can do is listen to what he has to say.’

‘Where’s Mrs Lannon?’

‘In the kitchen. Don’t worry, I’ll keep her there.’

Lily took her time. Brushing out her hair, she twisted it into a neat knot at the nape of her neck. She cleaned off every trace of make-up with lotion and cotton wool, and reapplied it, working slowly, mechanically, not thinking about what she was doing but about the changes that a single weekend had wrought in her life. She had expected to be ridiculed or ostracised. Instead, she had been pleasantly surprised by her colleagues’ attitude both to the gossip and her sudden and rapid promotion. They had been sympathetic and quietly supportive, asked her if she felt like talking and, when she’d said ‘no’, had offered commiserations on having to work for Mr Collins, trotting out all the well-worn jokes about his obsessive behaviour.

Helen and Judy had done their best, rallying round her and Katie yesterday, organising visits to the cinema and gossipy girl evenings for the coming week, but they all knew it wasn’t the same as it had been before she had gone out with Joe. Judy’s main topic of conversation was London and the job she’d been offered at the BBC. Helen’s conversation, much to her and Judy’s amusement, revolved around curtains, linens, cake tins, recipes – and Jack’s opinions on every topic under the sun. And Katie had been unusually quiet and withdrawn, which was only to be expected after seeing her father die.

Applying a final coat of lipstick, she looked at herself in the glass. It was no more than a perfunctory check. Neither her pallor nor the strained look in her eyes registered. Finally she left her room and walked down the stairs. Joe wasn’t in the parlour; he was in the hall, waiting for her. She looked at him for a moment, then went to meet him.

‘Lily, I’m sorry ...’

‘Please, let’s talk in the parlour.’ She led the way. As he followed her in, she closed the door and turned to face him. ‘There’s no need to apologise, Joe. Given the circumstances you have nothing to be sorry for.’

‘I behaved badly ...’

‘You behaved as any up-and-coming young man with a career to look forward to would have.’

‘Try telling that to my father. I was a fool, Lily, and a bigger one than you know. I should never have gone home with Robin ... I should have stayed ...’

‘Angie?’

‘Nothing happened between us.’

‘Not for want of her trying, I know.’ She gave him a small smile as she sat in an easy chair.

‘I know I don’t deserve you, but ...’ He held out a box. She recognised it as the one that contained the engagement ring he had bought for her. ‘I’d be honoured if you’d take it.’

She shook her head.

‘Because I let you down?’

‘Because, as Uncle Roy hinted, we’re too young. Auntie Norah used to say that you’re not really grown up until you learn to ignore what other people say. I think our engagement party proved we’re both a long way off that.’

‘So what are you going to do now?’

‘Same as I did before, go to work – the new junior began today and instead of starting as a shorthand typist I’ve been made secretary to the assistant manager. I even have my own office.’

‘Congratulations.’

Coming from him, the word rang oddly hollow.

‘I had hoped we could at least go out together again ...’

‘No, Joe.’

‘Please, Lily, give me a chance to make it up to you. Please...’

‘You’ve got enough to do with your finals coming up and then there’ll be your job at the BBC.’

‘Will you at least allow me to try to change your mind?’

‘Perhaps, when we’ve both had time to forget Saturday night.’ She suddenly realised she meant it. She was talking to him face to face. It hurt, but it was bearable. She hadn’t thought it would be when her uncle had told her he was in the house.