A Rare Ruby (15 page)

Ruby hadn’t been into Mrs Bell’s flat again, but every time she knocked on the door she could visualise that lovely room. However, she certainly didn’t want to go down that road.

Throughout the long hot summer, gradually Thomas Jenkins seemed to be getting a little better. It thrilled Ruby to see her father laugh at Danny’s little antics and go after him when he tried to crawl away. It was her mother that was causing Ruby the most worry. She appeared to be getting thinner than ever.

‘Why don’t you have a bit more dinner?’ asked Ruby when she looked at the meagre amount on her mother’s plate.

‘That’s more than enough for me. Always had a small appetite.’

One Sunday afternoon, after the washing up was done, they took the chairs out into the back yard and sat catching the last rays of the sun before it disappeared behind the houses.

‘I’m glad we’re all out here together,’ said Beth. ‘I’ve got something to tell you.’

Ruby opened her eyes and sat up.

‘Oh Beth. Is it your husband? Is he coming home?’ Mrs Jenkins looked very happy.

Beth was taken aback. ‘No, it’s not that. I’m afraid I shall be moving out next Sunday.’

‘Where’re you going?’ asked Ruby.

‘Ruby, don’t be nosy. Beth will tell us if she wants to.’

‘I only asked, Mum.’

‘It’s all right. It ain’t no secret. I’m going to live at the pub.’

‘You’re going to live at the pub?’ repeated Ruby.

Beth nodded. ‘Mr Thompson said he wanted a live-in housekeeper, so I volunteered.’

‘We’re all going to miss you, Beth,’ said Mrs Jenkins sadly.

‘And I’m going to miss you. But I’m only up the road. You must pop in and see me sometime.’

‘Dad’ll miss Danny,’ Ruby said softly.

‘Yes, I know. But I can bring him back to see him - that’s if you don’t mind?’

‘We’d be pleased to see you,’ said Mrs Jenkins quickly.

Tom looked at Ruby. ‘Who’ll help me with the washing?’

‘I’ll have to,’ said Ruby.

‘I’m sure you’ll be able to manage,’ said Beth, ruffling his hair. ‘You’re getting to be a big boy now.’

He kicked one foot against the other. ‘It won’t be as much fun.’

‘When are you going?’ asked Mary Jenkins.

‘Sunday afternoon. Mr Thompson normally has a sleep then, so I’ll be able to move in without disturbing him too much.’

‘We’re really going to miss you, Beth.’

‘I’m sorry. You have all made me so welcome, I feel I’m part of this family.’

‘You are,’ said Mary Jenkins.

‘When I get settled you’ll all have to come along to tea one Sunday.’

‘Cor, I’d like that,’ said Tom. ‘Going in a pub.’

‘We’ll see, young man,’ said his mother. ‘Beth will have enough to do looking after Danny as well as Mr Thompson.’

Beth smiled. ‘I’ll always be grateful for you putting me up. But it will be nice to have my own room.’

‘Course it will,’ said Mrs Jenkins. ‘But we are going to miss you, ain’t we, Ruby?’

Ruby half smiled. ‘Yes, we are.’

‘It’s only me,’ said Beth as she made her way up the stairs.

‘That’s all right. Thought I heard the door go. I was just having a little doze.’ Len Thompson stood at the bottom of the stairs and looked up at her. ‘I’ve put the kettle on, or do you fancy something a bit stronger?’ He gave her a warm smile.

‘No, tea will be fine. We can have a drink when we close tonight. Are you sure the pram won’t be in your way left there?’

‘No, it’s no problem. I’m really glad you’ve come. I was a bit worried in case you changed your mind.’

‘You didn’t have to be. I told you I’d be here.’

‘I know. But what about your reputation?’

‘As far as everyone knows, I’m just your housekeeper and have me own room. I’m glad I
will
have me own room, but where I sleep is me own business.’

‘That’s what I like about you, Beth. You don’t let anybody walk over you.’

‘After the life I’ve had, I’ve found out it don’t pay. Now, where’s this tea?’

Len Thompson smiled. ‘I can’t believe me luck,’ he said, shaking his head as he walked away.

Beth was singing softly as she began to carry the few bits and pieces she possessed up to the room Len had given her. It was a small compact room with a bed and dressing table. It had been his wife’s room. Mr Thompson told her he had long since moved her stuff out. She opened the wardrobe door; it was empty and smelt musty. She put her few clothes on the floor and went down to collect her coat and hat.

She looked in the pram and smiled down at Danny who was fast asleep. She bent her head closer. ‘Looks like we’ve landed on our feet this time, my love,’ she whispered and, kissing her finger gently, touched his forehead.

Len Thompson came from the room at the back of the stairs carrying a tray. ‘Wasn’t sure where you wanted this tea.’

‘We can have it in your living room if you like. Danny shouldn’t wake for a while.’

Len turned round and walked along the passage. He gently pushed open the door with his foot and set the tray down on the table, which was covered with a thick brown oilcloth tablecloth. The roses had been washed away long ago.

‘Everything all right?’

‘Lovely. Thank you.’

‘Sit yourself down.’

Beth had been in this room many times; it was a dark manly room with a table and four matching chairs. As she pulled the chair out from under the table she did wonder if they came out very often. A very old large dark sideboard took up the whole of one wall; a photograph of the late Mrs Thompson smiled at her. She had been a very beautiful woman, but had eyes that looked sad and wistful. There were pictures of old hunting scenes on two other walls. A window hung with thick heavy brown brocade curtains looked out on to the back yard full of wooden crates and beer barrels. A brown leather armchair stood next to the fireplace. The range hadn’t been black-leaded for years. The whole place smelt of the tobacco Mr Thompson used in his pipe. Now as his housekeeper she would keep it tidy and perhaps add a few knick-knacks. He had told her he had let things slide after his wife died ten years ago. But as he was in the bar mornings and every night it didn’t matter. Beth had other ideas.

That evening when the pub opened, Beth kept out of the way. She didn’t want everyone to know right away she was living there, but knew it would soon get out.

As she sat in his living room, Beth looked around. The first thing that’ll have to go is this pile of old papers and books, she said to herself as she thumbed through them. Unlike Ruby, she couldn’t read properly, but she had kept that secret to herself. Beth had envied Ruby when she sat with Tom teaching him. She would listen very carefully, trying silently to learn along with Tom. Beth was very quick and somehow she had managed to bluff her way round that failing. She picked up things fast, and she could count. Her mother hadn’t taught her much, but she was a shrewd old bird, streetwise, and knew how to make the money go round. When her father - Beth shuddered at the thought of him - came home from the pub three sheets to the wind, her mother would go through his pockets and take just enough to make sure her kids were fed, but no so much that it would be noticed. They all learned very early on never to take it all as that would be far too obvious.

Sitting in the armchair, Beth cast her mind back over these past months. She thought she had done well when she moved in with the Jenkinses, but now, this time, she really had come up trumps. She would miss the Jenkinses; although they had nothing they were a loving family and she was very fond of them. Mr Cox was a bit of a pain. She smiled to herself. After she had found out he had property she had thought about going after him, but quickly decided against that when she saw what he owned. Ruby was the one she had been wary of. Ruby was a clever girl, and very watchful. Beth had worried about those alert eyes seeing more than Beth wanted. But despite the age difference, Beth would have liked to have been more friendly with Ruby: she was kind and thoughtful, always worrying about her parents, and certainly not afraid of hard work; she should go far. Beth felt guilty about the fibs she’d told to people, especially the Jenkinses, but it was for the best. She didn’t want to finish up in the workhouse. She smiled to herself. Wouldn’t they all be surprised if they knew the half of it?

She settled back in the armchair and looked about her. It was going to be lovely to be the mistress of this place. Soon everybody would know she was living at the pub as Mrs Moss would still do his cleaning and would tell everybody. Of course they’d all want to know their sleeping arrangements. Beth was going to help in the bar and cook his meals. Later on, who knew, things could change. She grinned. She might even get him to marry her.

 

Ruby looked round the bedroom as she settled down for the night. Without the pram and Beth’s mattress, the room looked very empty. She knew they would all miss Beth and Danny, but none more so than her father. The little boy had certainly brought a lot of happiness into his life. How would her mother manage without Beth’s money? Ruby knew that now she would have to work a lot harder and try to bring in more money as well as help Tom with the collecting and delivering. She liked Beth and had grown very fond of Danny. Beth was lucky - but was it luck, or just her?

‘Ruby?’ Tom’s voice came from out of the darkness.

‘What do you want?’

‘I really will miss Beth coming out with me.’

‘I know you will.’

‘It made the journeys go ever so much quicker when we played games and I didn’t have to push the pram up some of the alleyways.’

Ruby was upset. Tom had never said that about her. Perhaps she had always been too busy and serious to have fun.

‘Go to sleep.’

‘Will you come out with me more now?’

‘I should think so.’

It wouldn’t be so bad at the moment; it was the winter Ruby always dreaded, the long, dark, cold nights and mornings. She would have to get up very early if she had to collect washing before she went to work. If only her mother didn’t have to work so hard. Ruby was certain her mother wasn’t in good health even though she quickly dismissed it when Ruby caught her with her head in her hands, looking worn out.

‘Will I ever get to see those moving pictures again?’ asked Tom.

‘Of course you will. These times won’t last for ever.’

Some of Beth Norton’s luck had fallen on her once before when she got her job at Stone’s. Could it happen again? She prayed it would. Ruby fell into an uneasy sleep as she dreamed of being buried under piles of dirty washing.

 

As the winter began to close in, Mary Jenkins found it increasingly hard to manage without Beth’s money coming in. Extra money was needed for coal to dry the washing and Mr Cox was complaining about his windows steaming up.

‘He’s asked for more rent money as well.’ Mary Jenkins slumped in the chair, running her thin red hands through her hair. ‘I don’t know what I’m going to do.’

Ruby glanced at her mother. ‘Would you like me to go and have a word with him?’

‘No, what good will that do?’

‘I could explain things.’

‘He won’t listen. You know what he’s like. Sometimes I just feel like running away from it all.’

Tom looked up from his writing. ‘I could get a job now if you like.’

‘I need you here.’

‘When I get a bit older I’ll go out to work - that’ll help, won’t it?’

His mother gave him a faint smile. ‘Of course it will, love.’

Ruby looked over at her father. He was definitely a lot better now, although he hadn’t been out. Perhaps she could find him some home work to do, anything that would bring in a few more pennies every week and keep him occupied. Perhaps she could have a word with Beth? Although Ruby hadn’t seen much of Beth since she left, Ruby knew she had been to the house a few times while Ruby herself was at work.

Ruby recalled the conversation that had taken place in the dairy only a few days ago.

‘They say she’s more than just a housekeeper. Some of the old dears told me she sits up at the bar most nights like Lady Muck. They reckon old Thompson wants his head examined, getting involved with a flighty young bit like that. She’s only a kid; he’s old enough to be her father.’ The large woman pulled her floral overall round her.

Mrs Moss was sitting on the stool. ‘She has got her own room, mind, but it makes you think.’

‘Well, I reckon his wife must be turning in her grave. And what about her husband? I reckon there’ll be some trouble there when he returns,’ said the large woman.

Ruby had been upset to hear people talk about Beth like that, but didn’t know how to stop them.

There were a few women in the shop and they were all laughing about the situation.

‘Nobody knows about this so-called husband of hers, do they?’ said Mrs Moss.

‘What about you, Ruby, do you know if one exists?’ asked another of Milly’s customers.

‘Only what she’s told me.’ Ruby had had to get out. She had to tell Beth what they were saying.

She decided she would go tonight and ask Beth if she could help her father. Ruby knew Beth was streetwise and she might know of something he could do at home. That was it. She had made up her mind. And if Beth wasn’t sitting in the bar Mr Thompson would get her, then she could tell her what was being said.

 

It was almost nine o’clock when Ruby finally had the chance to go out.

‘Mum, I’ve got to go out for a little while.’

‘What, in this weather? Where’re you going?’

‘Just out.’

Her mother smiled. ‘Have you got a boyfriend?’

‘No.’

Tom looked up from the sums he’d been doing with his sister. ‘I bet you’re going to meet that Ernie Wallis.’

Ruby blushed. She hadn’t told them she had been seeing him. But now the weather was on the turn it was getting too cold to sit in the park. ‘No I’m not,’ she said abruptly. She couldn’t tell them she was going to the pub to try and get her father some work.