The Shoemaker's Daughter (49 page)

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Authors: Iris Gower

Tags: #Historical Saga

BOOK: The Shoemaker's Daughter
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‘What was it you were looking for, Lisa?’ Emily smiled apologetically. ‘Something for the evening was it?’
Before Elizabeth could reply, Lady Caroline was on her feet. ‘Come along, Elizabeth, I really don’t wish to patronize an establishment where a junior salesgirl can get away with such arrant rudeness.’
Caroline swept to the door, her daughter in her wake, leaving a variety of shoes cluttering the floor. Emily summoned one of the girls to restore order to the shop and made her way purposefully upstairs to the living quarters.
‘Morning, Mrs Grinter,’ she said to the elderly housekeeper who appeared to be listening at the door of Sarah’s room.
‘
Bore da
, Mrs Miller.’ The woman appeared flustered. ‘Could I talk to you in confidence?’
‘Yes, of course but can’t it wait? I have something to say to Sarah.’
‘There’s strange, it’s about Sarah I want a word.’ Mrs Grinter kept her voice low. She moved towards the table and stood staring down at it as though looking for inspiration.
‘Well, what is it?’ Emily asked puzzled by the woman’s attitude. ‘Please say what’s on your mind.’
‘Right, then, I think Sarah is with child.’ The words fell into a stunned silence and Emily stared at the older woman in horror. Emily sank down into a chair and rubbed at her eyes distractedly.
‘What makes you think that?’ she asked slowly knowing that the older woman was shrewd and must have good reason for what she was saying.
‘She’s missed her courses,’ Mrs Grinter said, ‘I do the washing for these girls, mind. Apart from that, she’s been retching every morning and anyway,’ she ended firmly ‘it’s something about the eyes, you can always tell.’
Emily bit her lip, not knowing what to think, could it be true? It would certainly explain Sarah’s strange bouts of temper.
‘Who could be the father?’ Emily said desperately. ‘The only young man she’s been in company with is William Davies and he’s been sick for some weeks.’
‘I don’t know nothing about that,’ Mrs Grinter said firmly. ‘I only know there’s been no followers allowed in these premises. What the girls do outside is beyond my control.’
‘That’s all right, no-one is blaming you,’ Emily said quickly.
The woman bristled, ‘I should think not, indeed!’ She rubbed at the table with a duster almost absent-mindedly. ‘Do you want me to speak to Sarah?’ she asked. Emily shook her head.
‘No, leave it to me.’ She rose and went towards Sarah’s room and at the door turned and regarded the housekeeper steadily. ‘Perhaps you would like to go to the kitchen and make us all a nice cup of tea.’
Sarah failed to respond to the repeated knocking on her door so, after a few minutes, Emily entered the room uninvited.
‘Sarah,’ she said softly, ‘I must talk to you.’ She sat on the bed forcing down her irritation as the girl deliberately turned her back to her.
‘I didn’t appreciate that show of bad manners in the shop just now,’ she began, ‘I came up here to tell you to mend your ways or I’d be forced to dispense with your services but, first, I want to ask you if anything’s wrong?’
Sarah didn’t reply but her hunched shoulders and the curve of her spine revealed her vulnerability and suddenly Emily’s irritation vanished.
‘You are going to have a child, aren’t you?’ Emily asked and Sarah stiffened perceptibly. ‘It’s something you can’t hide for ever,’ Emily spoke softly, ‘and if you are in trouble, I want to help you.’
Sarah began to sob, desperate, harsh sobs that shook her body. Emily hesitated for a moment and then took the girl in her arms, cradling her as though she was a child.
‘There, there, everything will be all right,’ Emily said soothingly, ‘your father and I will take care of you.’
She rocked Sarah gently and, after a time, the girl’s harsh sobbing ceased. ‘I’m so unhappy.’ Sarah scrubbed at her eyes, ‘The baby’s father hates me, he doesn’t want me any more, my life is ruined and I wish I was dead!’
‘No, you mustn’t say that, you are young, you will get over this, we’ll see to that.’ Sarah sat up and dried her eyes with sharp angry movements and Emily knew she must be feeling betrayed and rejected by the man she loved.
‘Was it Will Davies?’ Emily asked and Sarah stared at her for a moment in silence, even now, Emily thought, the girl did not want to blame her lover.
‘Yes,’ Sarah said at last, ‘Will is the only boy I’ve ever walked out with.’
‘He must be made to face up to his responsibilities,’ Emily said firmly. ‘I know he’s been sick but he’s well on the road to recovery now, isn’t he?’
Sarah nodded, ‘He’s well enough, that’s why I went to see him but I don’t want anyone else speaking to him, perhaps when he’s home from the hospital I can talk to him again, perhaps he’ll see reason then.’
Emily rose from the bed. ‘Right, you must rest now, don’t come back to the shop until you feel ready to face it.’ At the door, Emily paused.
‘Do you want me to speak to your father or will you tell him yourself?’
Sarah shook back her hair. ‘Leave it!’ she said sharply. ‘I’ll wait until I’ve spoken to Will,’ she added more gently.
Emily returned to the shop, still overcome by what had happened. Into her bewilderment crept a slight feeling of envy, why should Sarah have a child when she obviously loathed the very idea and Emily be deprived of the joy a child would bring?
How she got through the rest of the day, Emily didn’t know, she was becoming obsessed with the thought of Sarah’s baby. If Sarah didn’t want the child then perhaps she would allow Emily to bring it up, it was, after all, blood of John’s blood. But of course Sarah would want it, once she held the baby in her arms, how could she help but love it?
As she closed the doors of the emporium for the night, Emily found that she was exhausted and her head ached intolerably. She wished she could talk openly to John but she must wait until Sarah had made up her mind what to do for the best. Perhaps William would agree to marry Sarah and, if he did, her problems would be over.
Emily stared out at the darkening sky and wondered why, having everything, success, wealth, a beautiful home and a fine husband, she suddenly felt that she had nothing.
The afternoon was fine but chilly and Sarah drew her coat closer around her as she made her way towards Salthouse Passage. William was home from the hospital now and she must try to persuade him to marry her, it was the only way out of her desperate situation.
Sarah was aware that Hari had overheard her quarrelling with Sam, knew the child she was carrying was his but who could prove anything? Many a woman had mistaken her dates, it was easily done.
In any case, she didn’t think Hari would say anything to William about what she’d overheard, Hari was the sort who kept her nose out of other folks’ business.
Sarah stopped at the end of the row of tall, depressing houses that made up Salthouse Passage and her heart sank, she didn’t want to live in such awful surroundings but she needed a husband, a father for her child.
She thought of her lovely rooms above the emporium and her footsteps faltered, how could she live in this dingy street after the comfort she’d become used to? She had been a fool, she had allowed her natural desire to be loved to lead her astray.
Sarah sighed heavily, her father no longer wanted her, he had his precious Emily now. In any case, she had never really been close to her father, they were so different in every way. And Sarah had always felt that dad blamed her somehow for the death of her mother.
She leaned against one of the grimy walls, she could not help being born, could she? And she could not help it that she’d been unlucky enough to fall for a baby, a baby she really didn’t want.
Sarah moved forward listlessly and knocked on the door of the house where Will was lodging. It was true she had hated visiting him when he was really sick, but she could not help her nature could she?
And now Will was himself again, a strong handsome young man, he would make a fine father, a better father than Sam Payton would ever make.
A tall old lady opened the door and Sarah looked up at her questioningly. ‘This is where Will Davies lives, isn’t it?’ she asked politely.
‘Aye,’ the woman smiled, ‘are you a friend of his then?’
‘I’m walking out with him, my name is Sarah Miller.’
‘And I’m Hetty,’ the woman stepped aside, ‘go on up, Will’s room is in the attic but leave the door open, mind, we don’t want to cause any misunderstanding, do we?’
Sarah forced a smile and then made her way up the gloomy staircase, her spirits sinking lower with each step. This was no way to live or to bring up a baby.
‘Sarah!’ Will was sitting in a chair, a last between his knees, a piece of leather in his hands. At least he was working again and he would do better in the future surely? Once he was really well he would go back to work for Hari Morris.
In any case, Sarah thought, with a sudden surge of anger, once she and Will were married, dad and Emily would have to help set them up nicely, they would just have to.
Will came to her and took her in his arms, holding her close. ‘I’m glad you came, I wanted so much to see you but the fussy old doctor told me to take things easy for a few more days.’
Sarah put her ams around him and hugged him. ‘You’re awful thin, Will, you need feeding up,’ she said gently. ‘I want to look after you, my boy, make you strong again, you are going to need all your strength when I tell you what’s happened.’
Will held her away from him. ‘What is it, Sarah, what’s wrong?’ His face was full of concern and Sarah felt guilt sear her. But Will had been the one who had first taken her innocence, he’d had his fun with her and he must pay.
‘I’m with child, Will,’ she said softly, ‘I’m sorry to shock you this way but I couldn’t say anything before with you so ill.’
Sarah held her breath as Will stared at her in silence for what seemed an eternity, would he swallow it?
‘My poor little love!’ he said at last. ‘You must have been half out of your mind with worry.’ He held her close and kissed the top of her head. ‘I’ll take care of everything, we’ll get married as soon as possible, you are to leave everything to me.’
Sarah felt a great sweep of relief as she relaxed against him, tears came to her eyes as she pressed her cheek against the thinness of his chest, he was a good man worth ten Sam Paytons, so why did she wish it was Sam holding her close?
But she would never stray from the straight and narrow again, she vowed silently, she would be faithful to Will always.
‘Come on, sit down,’ Will said smiling, ‘I’ll get you a nice hot cup of tea in a minute but, first, I’ve got to tell Hari the good news.’
‘Wait!’ Sarah said. ‘Couldn’t it just be our secret, at least until we’re married?’
‘Don’t be silly, Hari’s not one to stand in judgement and she’s the nearest to family I’ve got, I must tell her.’
He called urgently down the stairs and Hari came immediately, her eyes anxious as they rested on Will. When she saw Sarah, Hari’s expression was suddenly guarded.
‘Hari,’ Will took her hands in his, ‘Sarah and me, we’re getting married, we’re going to have a baby.’
‘Oh? . . .’ Hari looked at Sarah and frowned but then the words she was about to speak died on her lips.
‘Aren’t you pleased for us, Hari?’ Will asked abruptly, his voice questioning.
‘Are you sure this is what you want – both of you?’ Hari’s eyes were on Sarah and she felt her colour rise. She lifted her head defiantly but didn’t speak.
‘Of course it’s what we want,’ Will said impatiently, ‘I don’t understand you, I thought you’d be happy for us.’
‘I’m just concerned,’ Hari said softly, ‘you are both so young to be married, to have the responsibilities of a baby.’
‘What would you suggest then?’ Will said. ‘That Sarah be left to cope on her own?’
‘She wouldn’t be alone, Will,’ Hari said gently, ‘she’s got her dad and Emily. It’s just that you’ve been in the hospital for quite some time and how far gone are you, Sarah?’
‘I don’t know exactly,’ Sarah felt suddenly triumphant, it was clear that Hari didn’t have the nerve to come right out with it and tell the truth about what she’d heard.
‘What difference does it make anyway?’ Will obviously couldn’t see what Hari was hinting at. ‘Sarah is going to have my baby and we’ll be married as soon as possible, that’s all there is to it.’
‘I see,’ Hari said softly, ‘well then, I can only wish you every happiness.’ She kissed William warmly. ‘I want only the best for you, you know that.’
‘I know,’ William said, ‘and there’s no need to worry, we’ll make a great success of our life together, Sarah and me.’
Sarah smiled, knowing she had won, the moment of danger was past, Hari would hold her peace.
33
Hari stood outside the old premises in the crowded, dingy backstreets of World’s End where once her father had run a successful shoemaking business, and mused on how her world seemed to have turned full circle. Here she was, back at her roots and hoping to make a new beginning.
She could no longer afford to rent the premises in the centre of town, trade had not been too good which was perhaps her own fault for being so idle after Edward’s death.
Business was picking up now but Hari reckoned that if her overheads were lower, she would feel more secure. She peered in through the grimy windows; the place seemed unoccupied and that at least was reassuring.
Hari moved resolutely into the back yard and stood outside the rear entrance to the tall house where she had spent her childhood, here she had learned her trade and here she had seen both her parents die. And here, said a small voice inside her head, she had first met Craig Grenfell.
She had tried hard to forget that Craig ever existed but it was difficult when she ached to be with him, longed to hear his voice, feel the touch of his hand. And her son, Craig’s son, looked so much like him.

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