The Constant Heart (56 page)

Barnum frowned. 'I had not seen him since he was a child.'

'I heard a little of the story.'

'From your father, I suppose? Well, it would not have been to my credit, and on looking back I am not proud of the way in which I treated Winifred and the boy – but that is ancient history. It is over and done with.'

'Not, it would seem, from Will's point of view.'

Barnum did not appear to hear her; he raised his head and squinted into the setting sun. The saltings were slowly dissolving into the dusk. He sniffed the air like a fox scenting its quarry. 'The tide is on the turn. You must get back to your vessel or you will be stranded here in this godforsaken place.'

'It's over there.' She pointed to where she had left the
Ellie May
. 'But I cannot leave until I have your word that you will not pursue the case against Walter. I mean Will.'

He took her by the arm and began walking briskly in the direction of the barge. 'You must get back on board. These marshes are dangerous, especially at night.'

'Just give me your word and I will go alone. I know the way.'

'And you are as stubborn as your mother was, and just as beautiful. I have three daughters of my own, Rosina. I would not have them walk the saltings alone and in fading light.'

'You really loved my mother, I can tell.'

He lifted her over a rapidly widening channel of salt water, setting her down on firmer ground. 'I was bewitched, besotted and completely beguiled by her. I abandoned poor Winnie and my boy, and I would have gone ahead with the marriage ceremony, even though it was bigamous, if my father-in-law had not found me out. Your father married the only woman I have ever truly loved. I never forgave him for that, God help me.'

His voice broke with emotion and Rosina could almost feel sorry for him, but she was not going to let him off so easily. 'And yet you must have married the present Mrs Barnum fairly soon afterwards. Sukey is only a year or so younger than me.'

'I was a sad and lonely man. Winnie had died of smallpox and her widowed sister took Will in and was raising him as her own. I sent her money, but I could not bring myself to see the boy. I can't say that I blame him for hating me. He has good cause.'

They had reached the
Ellie May
, and she was beginning to float on the incoming tide. Pip and Caddie were leaning over the bows calling out to Rosina to hurry. Barnum lifted her up and tossed her onto the deck. She scrambled to her feet and leaned over the side. 'Captain Barnum, will you at least give me your word that you will visit him in jail, and that you will try to understand why he did what he did?'

Barnum stepped back into the gathering gloom. 'You have my word.'

'The tide is coming in,' Pip said urgently. 'Best hurry, Captain, or you won't get back to your vessel.'

Barnum turned away and his shadowy shape dissolved into the darkness. Caddie threw her arms around Rosina. 'We was so worried. Don't never give us a fright like that again.'

Halfway between tears and laughter, Rosina dashed her hand across her eyes. 'Let's head for home. I've done what I came to do; now it's up to Captain Barnum's conscience. I pray to God that he has one.'

*

Next day, Rosina was back on board the
Ellie
May
watching the city's rubbish being tipped into the hold. She could not afford to break her contract with Gilks by taking another day off, and she had to be content with going about what had become a routine task. It was hard to put her worries aside, but the gruelling work left her little time to fret. She was desperate to know whether Captain Barnum had carried out his promise to see Walter, but it was almost a week before she had time to sit down and write a note to Septimus, asking him to come and see her on Sunday, their only day of rest. It was almost midnight on Saturday when they arrived back at Duke's Shore Wharf. As she sank down on the straw-filled palliasse in the shack, Rosina could only hope that Septimus has received her note and that he would have some good news for her.

She was struggling through knee-deep water and her feet were sinking into deep mud. She was shouting Captain Barnum's name, begging him to stop, but he was striding on ahead of her, his booted feet skimming across the marsh as though he were flying. She could not keep up with him – she was sinking – the water was closing over her head – someone was shaking her by the shoulder and calling her name. Rosina opened her eyes and looked up into Bertha's face.

'Wake up, ducks. There's someone to see you.'

Rosina struggled against the mists of sleep. Even as she drew herself up into a sitting position, she was still trembling with fright.

'You was having a nightmare, ducks. Shouting out and calling for Captain Barnum, the old devil.'

Rosina stretched and yawned. 'Thank goodness it was just a dream. But who wants to see me?'

Bertha moved to the table and poured tea into a cup. 'Drink this first. It's that there lawyer fellow and I made him wait outside on the stoop. Maybe he's got good news for you.'

Rosina sipped the stewed tea. It was lukewarm, sweet and bitter at the same time, but it brought her back to her senses. As she clambered to her feet, she realised that it was unusually quiet in the hut. 'Where are Caddie and the nippers?'

'Gone out with Pip. He come round early and took them off somewhere. He was all mysterious and excited about something.' Bertha grinned, tapping the side of her nose. 'He's been sweet on Caddie ever since he first set eyes on her. I wouldn't be surprised if he didn't pop the question today.'

Rosina almost choked on her tea. 'Caddie and Pip?'

'Why not, ducks? He might not be the full shilling, but he's got a heart of gold and a strong back. The little ones love him, and Caddie could do worse.'

'I – I never imagined . . .'

'No, well, you've been a bit preoccupied, my duck. But you mark my words, there'll be a wedding soon and I'll say Amen to that. Caddie's a good girl and she deserves a bit of happiness.'

A pang of what felt like jealousy seared through Rosina's heart. She could not and did not begrudge Caddie the love of a good man, but somehow the knowledge sharpened the pain of her separation from Walter, and the dreadful misunderstanding that had come between them.

Bertha patted her on the shoulder. 'Cheer up, chicken. Maybe young Septimus has some good news for you.'

'Yes, I certainly hope so.' Rosina rose to her feet, smoothing down her crumpled skirts. She had been so exhausted last night that she had gone to bed fully clothed and she was suddenly conscious that she must look a terrible sight. She raked a comb through her tangled hair, and hurried out onto the stoop where Septimus was waiting for her.

He greeted her with a smile. 'Good morning, Rosie.'

'What news, Septimus? Have you seen Walter? Is he all right?'

'I'll tell you everything in good time.' He gave nothing away by his expression. 'But first, there is something I want to show you.'

'What? Where is it? Don't keep me in suspense.'

He offered her his arm. 'As we men of the law say, you will hear something to your advantage. Come with me. There is a cab waiting for us.'

Her hand flew to her hair. 'I haven't even had time to change or put my hair up.'

'No matter. You look lovely as you are.'

'You are a flatterer, Septimus. But I must tell Bertha where I'm going.'

'No need, ducks. I'm coming with you.' Bertha emerged from the door tying the ribbons of her bonnet beneath her chin. 'I ain't going to miss this for worlds.'

'Of course, Miss Spinks,' Septimus said, acknowledging her presence with a nod of his head. 'This concerns you as well.'

The hackney carriage dropped them off at the entrance to a narrow alley close to Black Eagle Wharf.

'Why have we come here?' Rosina demanded. 'What's going on, Septimus?'

He tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. 'You'll see.'

Rosina turned her head to cast a questioning glance at Bertha. 'Bebe?'

Bertha shrugged her shoulders. 'I'm as much in the dark as you, ducks.'

'Come along then, Miss Spinks,' Septimus said, proffering his other arm. 'I think you'll both be pleasantly surprised.'

He led them down the narrow alleyway leading to Black Eagle Wharf. As they approached her old home, Rosina was surprised to see Caddie, Pip and the children waiting on the pavement outside. What was even more astounding was the sight of Harry standing there with Sukey on his arm. Rosina looked up at Septimus. 'I don't understand. Is this some kind of joke?'

He grinned, squeezing her hand. 'Wait and see.'

'This is a rum do,' Bertha said, panting with the exertion of keeping up with them. 'What are that lot doing here?'

As they drew nearer, Sukey broke away from Harry and she rushed up to Rosina to give her a hug. 'My dear, I'm so happy for you.'

'Will somebody tell me what's going on?' Rosina looked from one smiling face to the other.

It was Harry who came forward to take her by the hand. 'Rosie, you have this man to thank, although I'm not certain he has done me much of a favour.' He jerked his head in Septimus's direction. 'He has worked tirelessly on your behalf and to my detriment.'

'Don't tease her, Harry.' Sukey waved her left hand in front of Rosina's eyes and a sapphire ring glinted in the sunlight. 'We're engaged to be married. It was so sudden.' She slanted a smile at Harry beneath her lashes. 'Harry swept me off my feet.'

'Congratulations, Harry,' Rosina said with a genuine smile of pleasure. 'I wish you well, Sukey. I couldn't be happier for you.'

'That ain't all,' Caddie said, jumping up and down with barely concealed excitement. 'Go on, Septimus; give her the you-know-what.'

Ronnie and Alfie seemed to catch her enthusiasm and they gambolled about laughing and shrieking. Septimus put his hand in his pocket and drew out a key.

'I don't understand,' Rosina said dazedly as he gave it to her, closing her fingers around the cold metal.

'It's all yours, Rosie,' Septimus said, kissing her on the cheek.

'Open the door, Rosie,' Sukey cried, clapping her hands. 'You've got your old home back from the Gostellows.'

Bertha uttered a stifled scream and Pip leapt forward to support her as she seemed close to fainting. 'There, there now. Hold on, missis.'

'Don't be so familiar, young man,' Bertha said sternly, pushing him away. 'I'm quite all right, ta very much. I was just took by surprise.'

'I looked into the matter of the pledge,' Septimus said solemnly. 'It seems that the house is worth far more than the cost of the repairs to the
Ellie May
, and so I took the matter up with Mr Gostellow.'

Sukey pulled a face. 'Don't be so pompous, Septimus. The fact of the matter is, Rosie, that Harry and his pa talked it over. They decided that you had been unfairly treated and that the property rightly belongs to you.'

'Although,' Septimus added hastily, 'the monies for the repair of the barge will have to be repaid to the Gostellows with interest. But now you are back in business that should not be a problem.'

Rosina turned to Harry. 'Is this true?'

'It's true, Rosie. I acted out of pique when you threw my ring back at me. I was wrong to treat you so badly, and I want to make amends.'

'Why? Why now?' Rosina stared at him, totally bemused by the sudden turn of events.