The Best of Daughters (6 page)

‘No, I didn't, Mother. I went at the request of a fellow suffragist, but had I known what they intended to do I too would have chained myself to the railings. We should have a say in how our country is governed. I believe in what they're doing.'

‘Then you are no daughter of mine. I disown you, Daisy Maria Lennox. I rue the day I brought you into the world. There will be no celebration of your birthday tomorrow. I'm cancelling the party.'

It was all over the papers next day. The embezzlement of funds from a prominent firm of stockbrokers in the City coupled with the disappearance of one of the partners made headline news. The pictures of suffragettes chained to the railings of Buckingham Palace featured on the second page, but unfortunately the press photographer had captured the moment when Daisy had whacked the police constable with her parasol, sending his helmet flying into the air. She had had her back to the camera, but Ruby's face was clearly
recognisable and both their names were printed in the caption. The article below it contained details of their court appearance together with those of the other women who had been arrested.

Having seen the newspapers, Gwendoline locked herself in her bedroom and refused to come out. The household was thrown into chaos with a constant stream of tradesmen hammering on the front door demanding to be paid. Word seemed to have gone round that the Lennox family was on the verge of bankruptcy. The telephone rang almost constantly until Daisy took the receiver off the hook and left it dangling. Her father and Teddy had gone into the office early that morning and the family home was in a virtual state of siege. The only person enjoying the drama was Beatrice, who stationed herself in the drawing room peering out from behind the curtain at the small group of reporters who had gathered in the street below.

‘I thought I'd find you in here,' Daisy said with an exasperated sigh. ‘Really, Bea. This isn't a peep show. Come away from the window.'

‘It's exciting. Like something out of the French Revolution. I expect to see a tumbrel arriving any minute and we'll be dragged off to the guillotine.'

‘Hardly,' Daisy said, suppressing a grin with difficulty. ‘You have an over-active imagination, my girl.'

‘Well, at least they'll take Father off to the debtors' jail. I'll be like Little Dorrit, heroically supporting my poor papa by doing fine sewing for an eccentric but rich old lady.'

‘You couldn't darn a sock, and the Marshalsea prison
was demolished years ago, so I'm afraid you'll have to move to Rainbow's End with the rest of us. You can make yourself useful by packing up your things. We can't expect Mrs Myers and Betsy to do all the work, especially if Mother is going to have to let them go.'

Beatrice turned away from the window. ‘No, surely not? We can't manage without them.'

‘We might have to. Now come along, let's get the cabin trunks down from the attic.'

‘But it's spidery and horrible up there, and Teddy says it's haunted. Can't Betsy do it instead?'

Daisy shook her head. ‘Don't be such a baby. We've got to learn to stand on our own two feet now, Bea.'

But Beatrice was not listening. She had turned her attention once again to the scene in the street below. ‘Someone's just thrown a stone at the window, Daisy. There's a girl waving at me.'

Daisy hurried to her side. ‘It's Ruby. I wonder what she wants.'

‘There's only one way to find out.' Beatrice raced from the room.

‘Oh, no.' Daisy picked up her skirts and ran after her. She was just in time to see her sister sliding down the banister and landing with a flurry of starched petticoats. ‘Don't open the door, Bea.' But her warning came too late. A gust of air blew in from the street bringing with it the smell of warm grass and even warmer horse dung. A man was attempting to force his way into the house but he was elbowed out of the way by Ruby, who slammed the door in his face.

‘Whew!' she said, dumping a carpet bag on the floor. ‘I only just made it.'

Beatrice gazed at her in open admiration. ‘He was twice your size. How did you do that?'

‘Sharp elbows. You got to be quick on your feet where I comes from.' She glanced at Daisy and grinned. ‘We're famous, miss. I got me mug plastered all over the papers.'

Daisy glanced anxiously at Ruby's shabby piece of luggage. ‘It's nice to see you again, Ruby, but why are you here?'

‘I got fired from me job in the vinegar works, and I thought I'd scarper before me dad discovered that I'd been up before the beak. Very strict about that sort of thing he is. So the long and the short of it is that I come to offer me services to your family. I can cook and clean and I don't eat much.'

‘Oh, Ruby, I'm sorry. But it's not a good time,' Daisy said gently. ‘As a matter of fact we'll be leaving for the country at the end of the week. We won't be able to take you on.'

‘We can't even afford to pay Mrs Myers and Betsy,' Beatrice said, nodding in agreement. ‘We're going to have to look after ourselves and grow our own food. We're going to be really poor.'

Ruby folded her arms across her chest. ‘Then I'll work for nothing, just me bed and board. I got no home, so anything is a step up from the gutter. Now where do I begin?'

Faced with such determination, Daisy was at a loss. ‘Well, perhaps you could help out just for today. It's not
up to me, Ruby. My mother will have something to say, and I don't hold out much hope that she'll take you on.'

‘Then I'll do what you need me to do today, and tomorrow I'll start looking for another job. Where do I start?'

‘She can help you get the cabin trunks down from the attic,' Beatrice said hopefully. ‘She doesn't look the sort who would mind spiders and ghosts.'

‘That's right, miss.' Taking her straw hat off and setting it down on top of her bag, Ruby rolled up her sleeves. ‘Lead on. I ain't afraid of nothing, except me dad when he's had a drop or two over the odds.'

Daisy led the way. She was certain that her mother would object to Ruby's presence in the house, but when Gwendoline eventually emerged from her room she was too preoccupied with the forthcoming party to make any objections. She seemed to be in a state of denial and astounded Daisy by agreeing that extra help was needed. ‘The girl can stay and help us with the move to the country. We need another pair of hands and I'm far too busy with last minute preparations for the party to think about anything else.' She shot a searing look at Daisy. ‘Yes, young lady. As usual your father is determined to spoil you. I would cancel the party but he insists that it should go ahead as planned. Think yourself very lucky.'

Daisy could not help wishing that the party had been called off as she stood between her parents, ready to receive her guests. She smiled until her face ached but very few of the people on her mother's guest list, with the exception of Rupert, would have been her personal
choice. She had lost touch with most of the friends she had made at the expensive girls' boarding school she had attended. They were either married or lived in different parts of the country too far away to consider travelling to London for a party. The young persons present were all sons and daughters of people whom her mother cultivated for their wealth and position. They were bright young things with very little thought in their heads other than the next social event. As Daisy shook their hands or kissed their cheeks, she was suddenly aware how shallow and brittle these acquaintanceships really were. She suspected that most of these so-called friends would vanish like morning mist if her father were declared bankrupt. The world that her mother had created so lovingly would burst like a soap bubble.

‘Daisy, you look positively ravishing.' A genuinely friendly face beamed at her. ‘Happy birthday, my dear.' Lady Pendleton squeezed her fingers gently and kissed her on both cheeks, before moving on to speak to Gwendoline.

Rupert followed in her wake. ‘You do look splendid, Daisy Bell.' He raised her hand to his lips and brushed it with a kiss. ‘And that must be the gown you almost lost. It's lovely and so are you.'

‘Thank you,' she murmured, smiling up at him. ‘The cabby delivered it to our door.'

‘I hope you tipped him well.'

His infectious grin warmed her heart. ‘Thank you for everything you did yesterday.'

‘It was a pleasure, Miss Lennox. And I hope you've remembered to save the first dance for me.'

‘Move on there, old boy.' One of Teddy's friends shuffled up behind him. ‘Don't hog the gorgeous Daisy. I want to give her a birthday kiss too.'

Rupert held on to Daisy's hand. ‘You'd better make certain the lady doesn't object before you take liberties, old boy.'

‘Move on, Tulley, old man,' Teddy said, nudging his friend impatiently. ‘Let's get the formalities over. I could do with a drink.'

Rupert winked at Daisy as he walked away. ‘See you in a while, Daisy Bell.'

She shook Tulley's hand, keeping him at arm's length. ‘Good evening, Bobby. Let's keep this formal, shall we?'

‘You're a hard woman, Daisy Lennox. A dashed heart-breaker.'

‘Except that his is made of India rubber and it bounces back every time,' Teddy said, chuckling. ‘Do hurry up, Tulley. A chap can die of thirst standing here.'

When the last guest had been welcomed Daisy moved away from her parents and was immediately claimed by Rupert. His smile was replaced by a look of genuine concern. ‘How goes it?'

She glanced around, making certain that no one was listening. ‘It's awful. Mother is beside herself although she's putting on a good show tonight, and poor Father hasn't said much, but I know he's desperately worried. I could kill that wretched man Carlton.'

‘You and several hundred others, I should think.'

‘I know. It's terrible. Father is going to sell the London house in the hope of paying back at least some
of the money that Carlton embezzled. We're leaving for Rainbow's End at the end of the week.'

‘I've always loved that name. When I was a boy I was convinced that a crock of gold was buried in your garden.'

She smiled. ‘Yes, I remember. You and Teddy decided to dig up the vegetable beds and were severely punished. At least, Teddy was, and I suppose your father was furious too.'

‘I couldn't sit down for a week after the beating I received. But I still love that old house. I believe it used to be the dower house in the eighteenth century, but the dowager Lady Pendleton at that time considered it was too small and had another one built overlooking the lake.'

Daisy sighed. ‘I can't imagine what it must be like to have all that family history to fall back on. As far as I know my grandfather was a tea merchant and gambled away most of his money on the horses. Mother's side of the family isn't well documented although she's convinced that they had blue blood running in their veins. She's taking this very badly.'

‘If there's anything I can do? Please don't be afraid to ask.'

She met his anxious gaze with a smile. ‘You're a good friend, Rupert.'

He was about to respond when Beatrice rushed up to them, clutching an over-full glass of lemonade. ‘Rupert, dear Rupert. Mother won't let me have a proper drink. Will you be a darling and put a dash of gin in my glass?'

‘Certainly not,' Rupert said, tweaking one of her curls. ‘This is Daisy's party. We don't want you falling down drunk and disgracing the family.'

‘That's rich considering the state we're in at present.' Beatrice tossed her head, scowling. ‘And the cost of all this would keep us for a year in the country. We'll be living off bread and jam next week.'

‘Bread only, I'm afraid.' Daisy managed to keep a straight face. ‘It will always be jam tomorrow, never jam today.'

‘Oh, you beast!' Beatrice flounced off in the direction of her brother and Bobby Tulley, who were chatting over drinks.

‘Never mind her,' Rupert said, chuckling. ‘You can always have the pick of the kitchen garden at Pendleton Park. We won't allow young Bea to starve.'

Daisy glanced over his shoulder. ‘Here comes Mother. I'd better circulate.'

‘Let's give her something to think about, Daisy Bell.' He took her hand and tucked it through the crook of his arm, turning to face Gwendoline with a smile. ‘Wonderful party, Mrs Lennox.'

The frown lines on Gwendoline's brow were wiped away in an instant. ‘How kind of you to say so, Rupert.'

‘And I hear that we might soon be neighbours. Daisy tells me that you're thinking of spending more time at Rainbow's End. Mother will be delighted and so will I. It will be like old times.'

‘I hadn't looked at it in quite that way, but I'm sure you're right.' Gwendoline smiled vaguely and moved
away to speak to a middle-aged couple who had just arrived.

Daisy gave Rupert's arm a gentle squeeze. He always managed to say exactly the right thing when dealing with her mother. He could charm her out of a mood simply with a smile. She wished that she possessed a similar talent. ‘Let's not think about tomorrow. I'd love some champagne.'

‘Then champagne you shall have.' He beckoned to a waiter who was circulating with a tray laden with brimming glasses. Taking two, Rupert gave one to Daisy. ‘I expect you're wondering why I haven't given you a birthday present.'

She sipped, eyeing him over the rim. ‘No. Well, perhaps I did, just a little.'

‘I'm not joining my regiment for a couple of weeks, so in between fittings at Hawkes, I thought I'd spend the time at Pendleton Park.'

‘That will be nice.'

He grinned. ‘And even nicer, I plan to give a certain young lady driving lessons.'

She stared at him, momentarily at a loss for words. ‘You're going to teach me to drive?'

‘I thought you'd prefer that to a bicycle made for two or a gold watch.'