The Best of Daughters (4 page)

She walked from the courtroom in a daze. Ten guineas was more than Betsy earned in a year.

‘You're free to go, miss.' The court usher opened the door leading out into the main reception area.

‘But I can't pay the fine.'

‘It's been paid for you, miss.' The usher pointed to a tall young man in army uniform.

He was standing with his back to her, but she recognised him instantly. ‘Rupert.' Daisy hurried towards him. ‘You're the last person I expected to see.'

He turned at the sound of her voice and smiled. She heard a woman standing close to them utter a gasp of admiration, and even in her agitated state Daisy had to admit that her childhood friend had grown into a handsome man. The Honourable Rupert Pendleton with his fair hair, laughing blue eyes and classic features was every young girl's dream of a hero; particularly so in his officer's uniform. He was tall, slim and his bearing exuded confidence and authority, tempered by a charming smile and a generous curve to his lips. He was what Bea would vulgarly call a ‘good catch', especially for a girl whose pedigree was inferior to his own. Any mother from the upper middle class would be overjoyed if her daughter were to marry above her
station in life, especially if the man in question was the son of a viscount. There was, as far as Daisy was concerned, one drawback. She did not love him. Rupert was like a brother to her.

He enveloped her in a hug. ‘Are you all right, old girl?'

‘I am now, Rupert. But how did you know I was here?'

‘I happened to be visiting Teddy at the office when your tame police constable put the call through.'

‘Does Father know?'

‘Not yet, but he will when the petty cash doesn't balance at the end of the day. Teddy doesn't carry that much money on him, so he helped himself.'

‘How did he know I was going to get a fine?'

Rupert slipped his arm around her shoulders. ‘Put it this way, Daisy. Both of us have been in tight spots when we were at Cambridge. We've been up before the beak enough times to have a pretty fair idea of the penalties incurred for civil disorder, but to be on the safe side Teddy put a call through to your father's solicitor. He gave us a rough idea what to expect and I came galloping up on my white charger to save a maiden in distress. Let's get out of here.'

She shook her head. ‘I've got to find out what happened to Ruby.'

‘Who on earth is Ruby?'

‘I'll explain later, but first I must ask the desk sergeant. You don't mind waiting for a moment, do you?'

‘Would it make any difference if I did?'

She met his quizzical gaze with a smile. ‘Thank you, Rupert. You always were a good sport.' She was about to tackle the gloomy desk sergeant when she caught sight of Ruby edging her way through the motley crowd of people who occupied the waiting area.

‘I knew you'd forget it,' Ruby said breathlessly, thrusting the battered parasol into Daisy's hand. ‘I had to go and claim it for you, so I said as how I was your personal maid. I hope you don't mind, miss.'

Daisy stared at the torn silk and broken ribs of the parasol, but suddenly it did not seem to matter. ‘Thank you,' she murmured. ‘That was really kind of you, Ruby. I was just about to make enquiries about you.'

‘Lord love you, miss. I can take care of meself.'

‘I'm sure you can.' Daisy did not quite believe her, but she was not about to argue. ‘What happened in court?'

‘Bound over to keep the peace. The beak could see that I ain't got two pennies to rub together, but I'll cop it next time if I get nicked.'

‘You won't risk it again, will you? You heard what those women said about prison.'

‘We can't give up now. That's what the men in charge want. They think we're little girls who must do what their dads tell them, or else. Well, I ain't for one. I want a say in what happens to me and my children in the future.'

Daisy glanced up at Rupert, wondering how much he had heard of Ruby's impassioned speech, and she was suddenly ashamed of her inclination to hurry home and forget all about women's suffrage. He met her
anxious gaze with a smile. ‘We've got a warrior princess here, Daisy. Boadicea would have been proud of her.'

‘Are you laughing at me, guv?' Ruby glared at him with a belligerent lift of her chin. ‘I just want what's right and proper.'

‘Of course you do,' Daisy said, shooting a warning glance at Rupert. ‘But on a more mundane note, how are you going to get home? Have you got the bus fare?'

‘I got Shanks's pony, miss.'

Rupert linked his hand through Daisy's arm. ‘We're going to get a taxicab to Pimlico and you're welcome to a lift that far, Miss— Sorry, I didn't quite catch your name.'

‘Ruby Flagg, mister.'

‘Where do you live, Miss Flagg?'

Ruby eyed him warily and then grinned, nudging Daisy in the ribs. ‘He's a proper toff, ain't he?'

‘Yes, he is, and you must allow us to see you safely home. Your family will begin to worry.'

‘Me mum passed away ten years ago and me dad never sobers up enough to know what time of day it is, let alone who's in or out of the house. Anyway, I live in Vauxhall. You won't get a cabby to go south of the river. You'd think it was heaving with Red Indians armed with bows and arrows.'

‘We'll see about that,' Rupert said firmly. ‘Come along, ladies. The desk sergeant is glaring at us. I think we've outstayed our welcome.'

Despite their combined efforts to persuade Ruby otherwise, she insisted on being dropped off close to
Vauxhall Bridge and seemed determined to walk the rest of the way. Her parting words plunged Daisy into a state of panic. ‘I hope your ball gown turns up, miss.'

Her hand flew to her mouth as she watched Ruby's small figure striding out purposefully towards the bridge. She had completely forgotten the gown. Now she would have to face her mother and be condemned as guilty on all counts.

‘What on earth is the matter?' Rupert asked anxiously. ‘What did she mean?'

Daisy hiccuped on a sob and the explanation tumbled from her lips amidst a flood of tears. The traumatic experiences of that day, coupled with the expense that her parents had incurred due to her folly, were all too much to bear. She would have died rather than let herself down in front of Rupert, but his kindness and understanding made it all the worse. He slipped an arm around her shoulders. ‘Come on now, old thing. There must be some sort of lost property office that cabbies use.' He leaned forward and tapped on the glass. ‘Could you tell me what happens to items that get left in taxicabs? Is there somewhere we could go to find this lady's box?'

The cabby shook his head. ‘Can't help you, I'm afraid, guv. Where to now?'

‘Warwick Square.' Rupert settled back on the seat. ‘Chin up, Daisy. It's not the end of the world. I'm sure you'll look absolutely splendid whatever gown you wear for your party.'

She wiped her eyes on the back of her hand, sniffing. ‘If I live that long. Mother is going to kill me.'

‘I'll come in with you. She's always had a soft spot for me.'

‘You're a man, and one day you'll inherit a stately home and a title. You can do no wrong in her eyes.'

‘I'll do what I can, Daisy.' He squeezed her fingers. ‘But perhaps you ought to think carefully about joining the WSPU.' He grinned. ‘Don't look so surprised. I've read all about it in the newspapers, and some of the chaps at Sandhurst have mothers, sisters and even maiden aunts who are involved in the movement. But it's dangerous and I don't want to see you suffer for a hopeless cause.'

She snatched her hand away. ‘Hopeless? Is that what you really think, Rupert? I had you down for an open-minded fellow, not a misogynistic ostrich with his head in the sand.'

His lips twitched. ‘That's one thing I've never been called in the past, and I do think that women should have their say in how the country is run. I just don't think that violence is the way to go about it.'

‘So says the man whose profession is to kill people.'

‘That unfortunately is often the outcome, but I prefer to think that I'm protecting my country and those I love most in the whole world.' He patted her hand. ‘Don't let's fall out, Daisy. I'm too fond of you to want us to be on opposing sides.'

She managed a watery smile. ‘You always were a charmer.'

‘And you were always covering up for us when Teddy and I had done something wrong. Now perhaps I can return the favour.'

‘I don't remember that, but I'm very grateful for what you've done for me today, and you were very kind to Ruby. But for her I would have found it even harder to cope when they sent us to the cells.'

‘You wouldn't have been in the cell if it weren't for her. You can't save the whole world, Daisy. You must look after yourself.'

She remained silent, preparing herself to face her mother's wrath as the cab drew up outside her house.

She entered the hall, handing her damaged parasol to Betsy. ‘Is my mother at home?'

‘Yes, miss. She's in the drawing room.'

Daisy caught sight of herself in one of the many mirrors. She was hatless again, having lost it somewhere close to Buckingham Palace, and her hair had come loose, curling in a dark cloud around her face. This was becoming a habit and she dared not put in an appearance looking less than immaculate. She turned to Rupert. ‘You might have told me that I look a complete wreck.'

He handed his peaked cap and gloves to Betsy. ‘You look fine to me, Daisy Bell.'

She frowned. ‘Don't call me that.'

‘You used to love that song.' He hummed a few bars of the popular tune, causing Betsy to stifle a giggle.

‘Thank you, Betsy,' Daisy said stiffly. ‘That will be all. No, wait a moment. We'd like tea and cake in the drawing room. I'm famished. What about you, Rupert?'

‘That would be just the ticket.' He flashed a smile in Betsy's direction. ‘And if Cook has made one of her delicious chocolate cakes, I would be her slave forever.'

‘Oh, sir.' Covering her mouth with her hand, Betsy bobbed a curtsey and hurried off in the direction of the green baize door, which kept the two worlds neatly apart.

Daisy shook her head. ‘You shouldn't tease the girl, Rupert.'

‘You sound like my mother, Daisy Bell.'

She knew that he was trying to make her laugh, and he almost succeeded. ‘Call me that silly name if you must, but only in private. I don't want Mother to get the wrong idea.'

He took her hand in his. ‘We're good friends though, aren't we? You know you can always rely on me.'

‘The best of friends,' she said, standing on tiptoe to kiss his cheek. ‘And thank you for rescuing me today. But now you can do something else for me. Go and charm my mother while I make myself fit to be seen. Will you, please, Rupert?'

‘Of course. I'll do anything for a slice of Mrs Myers's chocolate cake; you know that, my dear.'

‘Wretch.' She pushed him away, chuckling. ‘You always could make me laugh. Just work your magic on Mother. I won't be long.' She headed for the staircase and ascended with as much speed as was possible in her fashionable hobble skirt, making her way to her room.

It was a full twenty minutes before she felt presentable enough to face her mother. She was inwardly quaking but making a supreme effort to appear calm she strolled into the drawing room. The speech she had been rehearsing as she tidied her hair died on her
lips. The tea tray was untouched on the table and her mother was seated on the sofa, ashen-faced and clearly upset. Racked with guilt, Daisy went to sit beside her. ‘Mother, it isn't such a terrible thing. It will soon be forgotten.'

Gwendoline stared at her blankly.

‘Daisy,' Rupert said softly. ‘Mrs Lennox has had some rather bad news. I think perhaps it would be best if she told you about it herself.'

‘Mother?'

‘It's nothing that should concern you, Daisy. Don't fuss.' Gwendoline folded her hands tightly in her lap, shifting her position on the sofa so that she put a space between herself and her daughter.

At the best of times she did not encourage physical contact with her children, and Daisy could see that this was not the moment for an outward demonstration of affection. ‘But what is it?' She looked to Rupert but he shook his head with a slight shrug of his shoulders.

Gwendoline rose to her feet and went to stand by the window, gazing out onto the square. ‘It's to do with business, Daisy. Your father will sort it out in due course, I'm certain.'

She sounded anything but certain. Daisy bit her lip. She had been expecting trouble, but nothing had prepared her for this. She had never seen her mother in such an agitated state. It was alarming and apparently had nothing to do with her recent arrest. ‘Is there anything I can do, Mother?'

Gwendoline turned on her with a scornful curl of
her lip. ‘What would a silly girl like you know about business matters?'

Rupert rose to his feet. ‘Perhaps I'd better go.'

‘Yes, perhaps that would be best.' Gwendoline managed a tight-lipped smile. ‘See him out, Daisy.'

There was nothing that Daisy could do other than to obey her mother's curt command. When they were safely out of earshot she caught Rupert by the sleeve. ‘What on earth is going on? Why wouldn't she tell me anything?'

His expression was unusually grave. ‘Your father's partner has absconded with a great deal of money. It's not common knowledge yet, and Mr Lennox is doing everything he can to save the company.'

‘You knew about this?'

‘Teddy told me everything.'

‘And you kept it from me?'

‘You had enough to cope with, Daisy. I was hoping that your parents would break it gently, but it appears that I was wrong.'

‘Poor Father. He must be in a terrible state.'