A Glimpse at Happiness (52 page)
Patrick scooped them up in one movement and held them to him with his eyes shut. They clung to their father and sobbed and he kissed each one in turn as if to assure himself that he was actually holding them. With Mickey and Annie still in his arms, Patrick turned to Sarah and put the children down. He hugged his mother and she sobbed in his chest then she pulled something out of her pocket and handed it to him. He looked at it briefly before hugging Gus for a moment.
He turned to Josie and crossed the space between them in seconds. She smiled up at him and he took her in his arms.
Josie clung to Patrick with her uninjured arm and sobbed incoherently into his chest for a full two minutes and then held him at arm’s length. ‘You’ve lost weight. Are you well?’
‘There, there, my sweet,’ he said, enjoying the way her eyes ran over him. ‘I’m fine and dandy. But what have you done to your arm?’
Mickey spoke. ‘Pa, Miss Josie was—’
‘I’ll tell you later,’ Josie said, as Annie nudged her brother.
Before he could ask any more questions, Josie hugged him to her again. ‘I can’t believe it’s over.’
And neither could he. He kissed her again and then became acutely aware of her parents behind her. Keeping a proprietary arm around her, Patrick stood her beside him in order that they might look slightly more respectable as they faced Dr and Mrs Munroe.
‘Mr Nolan,’ Dr Munroe said offering his hand. Patrick took it. ‘It’s good to see you.’
‘Thank you, sir,’ Patrick replied, and turned to Ellen. ‘I’m very pleased to see you fully recovered, Mrs Munroe.’
‘Thank you, Patrick,’ she said. ‘We had a lovely time in Scotland, but we’ve been fair beside ourselves to hear of all the happenings since we’ve been away.’ Her expression was severe but there was a twinkle in her eye.
Some of the tension left Patrick’s body. Ellen Munroe might not reach up to her husband’s shoulder but you’d be better fighting with a tiger than tangling with her if you’d wronged one of hers.
Superintendent Jackson came forward. ‘Fine show, Nolan,’ he said, pumping Patrick’s hand enthusiastically. ‘I’m glad I returned to find out the truth before you had to suffer a spell in the Surrey House of Correction.’
‘Thank you, Superintendent. So am I.’
‘I must get back to the station,’ Jackson said. ‘I still have to catch Harry Tugman. Also, when you’ve recovered from your brush with the wrong side of the law, make an appointment to see me, Mr Nolan.’ The superintendent touched the side of his well-formed nose twice. ‘It will be to your advantage.’
He shook Robert’s hand again and left.
Patrick and Josie turned back to face Ellen and Robert. The fact that they were here was an encouraging sign but Patrick had still taken their daughter from her home to his bed. Any father would, rightly, take exception to that.
He pulled the letter from inside his shirt and handed it to Robert.
‘This is from Mr Watson, chaplain to the garrison in Alexandria. ’ He glanced at his children. ‘It confirms that my wife Rosa is dead.’
Ellen, Josie, and his mother crossed themselves swiftly. Josie turned to him and threaded her fingers through his. He took her hand to his lips and pressed it before turning to her father.
‘I know it’s not the usual way of doing things, Dr Munroe, but I would like to ask your permission to marry your daughter.’
Holding on to Patrick’s arm, Josie stepped through the double doors and out into the sunshine. Mickey trotted next to her while Annie skipped along beside her father. Behind them strolled Ellen, Robert and Sarah. Josie could already hear her mother and Patrick’s making wedding plans, just as they had done years before when she and Patrick were little more than children.
The thoroughfare outside the Old Bailey was packed with a mass of people from bewigged lawyers to city clerks. Sellers of hot potatoes and coffee hawked their wares in raucous voices, while piemen balancing full trays on their heads rang bells to attract buyers. But Josie barely saw or heard the hustle and bustle - every part of her was focused on Patrick.
There had been times in the past weeks, in the dead of night when her need for Patrick had robbed her of sleep, when she had almost despaired of this moment. But now he was here, close beside her, and she was holding his strong arm. Yet she couldn’t quite believe that all the fears and dangers of the past months were over and soon they would be married.
Josie almost gave in to the overwhelming urge to throw her arms around Patrick and kiss every inch of his face, but of course she couldn’t. Her parents might have accepted what had gone on in their absence, but that didn’t mean they would sanction its continuation. She would have to live the life of a respectable young woman until her father gave her away at the altar. As her eyes ran over the firm line of Patrick’s jaw and the shape of his mouth, Josie hoped that they could have the banns read soon.
As if sensing her gaze on him, Patrick turned. He placed his hand over hers and she smiled up at him. In fact she’d done nothing but smile since the judge smacked down the gavel and dismissed the charges. And if that weren’t reason enough to smile, when Patrick produced the letter proving he was free to marry, Josie thought her heart would burst with happiness. It also meant she didn’t have to tell Ellen and Robert just yet that they were to be grandparents.
Patrick stopped the party at the top of the steps and drew in a deep breath. ‘I didn’t think I’d feel the sun on my face for a very long time,’ he said, tilting his head back to feel the autumn warmth.
‘Well, if it hadn’t been for Josie, you probably wouldn’t,’ Sarah said, taking hold of Mickey before he ran down the steps into the road.
Patrick’s right eyebrow rose and he gave Josie a questioning look. ‘And just what
did
you do, may I ask?’
did
you do, may I ask?’
Josie laughed. ‘It’s a long story.’
‘And one you’d be better off hearing after a good meal and a brandy, I can tell you,’ her father cut in. ‘If you all stay here, I’ll fetch us a cab or two,’ Robert said, walking off towards Ludgate Hill.
Suddenly, there was an uproar at the bottom of the stairs as the milling crowd objected to someone pushing between them. Men shouted, a woman screamed, and a young man was sent sprawling to the floor. Josie turned.
There was something familiar about the stocky figure shouldering his way through the throng. At first, seeing the ragged jacket and dirty face and hair, Josie thought he was one of the vagrants she’d seen begging for a few coppers from passers-by as she went into the court. But then he raised his head, and Josie found herself gasping for breath as Harry Tugman climbed the stairs towards them. He acknowledged her recognition with a crooked, crazed smile.
Two women selling lavender on the steps screamed and dropped their baskets. The lilac-coloured stems scattered and Harry crushed them underfoot. For a brief moment their heady fragrance filled the air. Then he reached into his jacket pocket and drew out a gun.
‘Patrick!’ Josie screamed.
Patrick turned and, pushing Josie aside, sprung at Harry. He collided with him just as Harry squeezed the trigger and the hammer ignited the charge. There was a flash and an-ear splitting crack as Josie shielded the children. A lawyer on the step above them shrieked and fell to the floor.
Patrick grasped Harry’s arm and bent it upwards, twisting his wrist as he did so to force him to drop the weapon. But Harry, with the strength of the deranged, held on, his face flushed purple and hatred contorting his heavy features.
He shoved Patrick away but Patrick caught him again and people around them fled as the two men grappled on the steps. Harry disentangled himself from Patrick and aimed the gun at him, but before he could discharge the second barrel, Patrick lunged and caught his arm again. Holding the gun away, Patrick snapped his head forward and smashed the bridge of Harry’s nose, splitting it instantly - but still Harry held on.
Paralysing terror took hold of Josie as she watched the two men battle for their lives. Patrick could match Harry for strength and speed any day of the week, but he’d been in prison for over a month and her heart pounded with fear that at any moment Harry would get the advantage and blow Patrick’s brains out.
‘Police!’ screamed Ellen and Sarah, while Mickey and Annie clung to them, sobbing, and others took up the cry. Gus stood with his mouth open for a moment then started down the steps.
The lawyer who’d been injured by Harry’s first bullet was being tended to by those around him; court officers streamed out in response to the furore. Harry would be captured for sure, but would it be too late?
Patrick lost his footing and, although he stayed upright, he stumbled down two steps. Harry saw his opportunity and cocked the gun but Patrick landed a bone-crunching kick to Harry’s knee cap and he grunted and lurched sideways. Patrick crouched for a second to judge the distance and then pounced again.
Police officers from the court were beside Josie now, but Patrick and Harry, locked together in combat, rolled over each other down the steps. As they crashed on to the pavement there was a muffled shot.
The crowd around them drew back as Harry staggered to his feet.
‘Patrick!’ Josie screamed, and tore down the steps. She threw herself onto her knees beside him, her skirts spreading over the muddy pavement. She covered her mouth as she caught sight of the blood splattered over his shirt and face. Heedless of her parents, the crowd and her own aching shoulder, Josie threw herself on him and sobbed helplessly on his chest. She tucked her head under his chin and clung to his shoulders.
How could it be, that after all the danger and heartbreak they had been through, their happiness was now to be snatched away from them again - this time forever . . .
‘Patrick, Patrick,’ she sobbed, feeling the steady beat of his heart under her hand and fearing that at any moment it would stop.
His finger hooked under her chin. ‘It’s all right, Josie,’ he said, raising her head and smiling at her. ‘It’s not my blood, sweetheart.’
Lifting herself off him and pushing her bonnet back, she saw Harry Tugman standing a few yards away, holding his stomach as blood oozed through his fingers. He stared at Josie and Patrick with an astonished look on his face, his mouth open and his lower lip trembling. He pulled his hand away and looked at the sticky redness covering it for a moment, then staggered back.
‘Ma,’ he croaked, as his eyes rolled up and he crashed to the ground.
The police swarmed around Harry’s inert body as Mickey and Annie ran down the steps to their father. Gus reached them just an instant before Ellen and Sarah. Robert, who had just returned, crouched down beside Harry. Patrick got to his feet and helped Josie up as Ellen, Sarah and the children gathered around them.
‘Is he dead? Patrick asked.
‘Not yet,’ Robert replied, ‘but he will be in a day or two. The bullet’s gone straight through his bowels and even my old friend Chafford, chief surgeon at Bart’s, would not be able to extract that slug without corruption taking hold.’ He pointed to the injured lawyer, who wore a makeshift bandage around his shoulder. ‘Thankfully, Tugman only winged that young man. I’ve told them to take him to Mr Chafford and say that I sent him.’
Suddenly, the ground under Josie’s feet swayed and she caught hold of Patrick. His arm slipped around her. Feeling his strength, Josie’s dizziness passed.
‘Josie, are you unwell?’ Robert asked.
She shook her head and the floor shifted again. ‘It’s the shock, I think, that’s all,’ Josie said, giving him what she hoped was a reassuring smile.
‘Well, I’m not surprised,’ Robert said, raising his cane to signal the hansom cab to come forward.
Ellen tilted her head and studied her daughter and Josie’s cheeks grew hot under her mother’s gaze.
Mickey and Annie demanded Patrick’s attention so, leaving Josie with her mother, he made a fuss of them, hugging and tickling them until they squealed.
Ellen put her hand on Josie’s forehead. ‘You look very pale, sweetheart,’ she said.
‘It’s the shock,’ Josie repeated, not quite able to meet her mother’s eye.
Ellen’s lips twisted into a wry smile. ‘Is it now? And is it the shock that made you turn your nose up at breakfast since you’ve come home? And shock that’s straining at your waistline?’
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