A Rare Ruby (35 page)

‘Hello, son,’ he said, affectionately kissing the top of his head. ‘And what’s going to happen to you?’

‘He’s going to bed. He’s getting too big for his pram so d’you think you could get me his cot from the pub tomorrow? ’

To Ruby’s surprise, her father replied, ‘I should think so.’

Ruby was still thinking about this as she pushed the pram into the bedroom. Had her father realised that she needed his help?

She had to get the mattress finished now Danny was going to be in with her. Ruby looked at her frock hanging behind the door. How would she be able to enjoy herself at the wedding at the end of the week with Beth so ill? Beth would want her to enjoy herself; she had been thrilled when Ruby had been given Jenny’s frock to alter. Her thoughts went to Ernie. What sort of Christmas had he had? Perhaps at Elsie’s wedding they would be able to enjoy themselves and not think about what had happened. But she had Danny to think of now, how would Ernie feel about that?

Back in the kitchen Ruby glanced up at the clock. Mr Thompson should have been back to open the pub hours ago. He had promised to tell them if there was any news, but he hadn’t returned from the hospital. What was wrong? Earlier that evening Ruby had begged her father to go to work, but he’d refused, saying he couldn’t walk about in the dark. Danny was asleep and Tom had gone to bed.

‘Dad. I’m going to bed. I’ve got to go to work in the morning. You’ll have to look after Danny.’

‘I know, so don’t keep on.’

Ruby walked away. She felt too tired to argue.

The following morning Ruby got up, cleaned out the grate and lit the fire. Black-leading and whitening would all have to wait till the weekend when she had more time. She sat for a moment or two with her ears alert. She still hadn’t heard Mr Cox walking about. Surely if he was home he would have been down shouting about the state of his kitchen door. A slight smile lifted her sad face. He’s gonner be in for a bit of a shock when he does find it. I only hope I’m here to see it. Ruby got Danny cleaned up and told Tom to get up and see to the toast. She was trying to slice the bread but it was as hard as a bullet.

‘I’ll get home as fast as I can. I’ve left some of yesterday’s dinner for all of you. You’ve got to see to Danny for me.’

‘Have I got to change his nappy?’

‘Afraid so.’

Tom held his nose. ‘He don’t half stink sometimes.’

‘I know, but it might only be for a few days. Let’s see what happens.’ She left the house and hurried to work.

 

The last thing Ruby wanted was Florrie’s comments, but as usual, the minute she sauntered into the room, she made a beeline for Ruby.

‘Where was yer yesterday? I reckon yer’ll get the sack taking time orf again like that.’

As soon as Ruby arrived at the laundry she went straight up to Mrs Watson and explained that her brother had been in hospital over Christmas. She didn’t mention Beth. Mrs Watson had been very sympathetic and told her not to worry, although she would be a day’s money short at the end of the week.

‘Yer look bloody awful,’ said Florrie, continuing to needle Ruby. ‘Yer bin nursing a hangover? Yer bin on the tiles? And what did that boyfriend of yours buy yer fer Christmas then?’

‘What, our Ernie?’ shouted Molly. ‘I bet what he give her she couldn’t wrap up. No wonder she couldn’t get inter work yesterday. Don’t reckon she could walk. No wonder she looks like that.’

Ruby was having difficulty keeping the tears back. She picked up her iron; she wanted to throw it at Florrie, but knew that wouldn’t do any good.

‘Here, take a gander at this,’ yelled Florrie. She held out her arm and flashed a gold-coloured bracelet.

‘Cor, that’s lovely. Is it real?’ asked her mate.

‘Course it is. I don’t go out with no cheapskate.’

‘What d’yer have ter do ter get that?’

‘I ain’t telling.’

‘I bet yer didn’t keep yer drawers on,’ screamed another friend from up the line.

‘Well, it ain’t no good sitting on a fortune. Make the most of it, I say, while it’s still in good working order.’

That brought forth shrieks of laughter.

‘You wonner make use of yours, young Ruby. Find somebody that can give yer a few bob. It might put a smile on that bloody miserable face of yours.’

With a smug look, Florrie sat down the instant Mrs Watson walked in.

‘Now come on, girls, settle down. The merrymaking’s over and you’ve got a lot of work to catch up on.’

Merrymaking was the last thing on Ruby’s mind.

 

Ruby hurried home as fast as she could. Seeing Mr Thompson sitting at the kitchen table with such a sad expression on his face, somehow she knew the worst had happened.

‘When?’ was the only word she could say.

‘Early this morning. Last night her breathing became very bad. They let me stay till the end. I couldn’t leave her.’ He blew his nose. ‘I’m sorry.’

Danny clambered up onto Ruby’s lap and Ruby held him close, letting her tears fall onto his back. ‘I don’t know what to say,’ she sobbed.

‘I understand. I feel that there ain’t no words . . .’ He stopped.

Ruby wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. ‘Where’s Tom? How’s he taking this?’

‘Leave him. He’s outside,’ said her father.

‘I’ve been busy all day arranging her funeral. Do you happen to know who her mother was?’

Ruby put Danny on the floor. ‘No. I was hoping Beth might have told you.’

‘The little lad might even be an orphan.’

‘Mr Thompson, I don’t know how to say this.’ Ruby wiped her eyes. ‘I don’t think Beth
was
married. Nobody knows who Danny’s father is. She would never talk about her past.’

‘I know.’

‘You’re not angry at that?’

‘No. I loved Beth for what she was, not for what she’d been.’

Ruby was amazed. This man had been ready to accept Beth whatever her past held.

‘Did she ever have any letters while she was living here?’

Ruby shook her head. ‘Would you like me to go through her things?’

‘Thanks all the same, but I can do that. I don’t think it’ll do much good, though.’

‘Did you know where she came from?’ asked Ruby.

‘She never said a lot.’

‘Are you going to open the pub tonight?’

He shook his head. ‘No. I can’t. The customers will understand. She’s going to have the best funeral money can buy. Horses, carriages and flowers, plenty of flowers.’

‘She would have liked that,’ said Thomas Jenkins quietly. ‘She loved pretty things.’

‘Does Milly know Beth’s . . .’ Ruby couldn’t say the word.

‘I’m afraid I came straight here. I wanted to see the boy.’

‘I think they do their stock-taking after Christmas so she wouldn’t have seen you arrive. I’ll go over later. Tom’s a long while outside, he’ll freeze to death.’

‘He feels very bad about Beth.’

Ruby stood up. ‘I’d better go and get him.’

‘No, leave him be,’ said her father.

‘Has Mr Cox come back?’

‘No,’ said her father again, with more force than Ruby could believe he was capable of. ‘This is all his fault.’

‘We know, Dad.’

Suddenly there was a loud knocking on the front door.

‘I’ll go,’ said Ruby.

She was taken aback to see two large policemen standing on her doorstep.

‘I understand a Mr Cox lives here,’ said the one who stood at the front.

‘Yes, but he’s not here.’

‘Do you know where we can find him?’

‘No.’

‘Can we come in?’

‘Yes.’ Ruby stood to one side. As they pushed past her in the narrow passage, a feeling of guilt fell over her, although she hadn’t done anything wrong. What if they found out about Tom’s stealing? Would he go to prison? ‘Mr Cox lives upstairs,’ she said as they reached the bottom of the stairs.

‘Who lives there?’ The one who had been doing the talking pointed at the kitchen door.

‘Me, my dad and my brother.’

‘Would that be Tom Jenkins, the lad that was injured?’

‘Yes.’

‘We’ll just go up and look in Mr Cox’s room, then we’ll have a word with the lad.’

‘Shall I come up with you?’

‘No, it isn’t necessary.’

Ruby watched them go up the stairs.

‘Who did this?’ called one of the policemen over the banisters.

‘We was worried about him when we didn’t see him. At first we wondered if he’d been taken ill. Then we tried to find out where he might have gone to,’ said Ruby.

‘You could be had up for criminal damage, you know?’

Ruby was shaking. ‘We didn’t know what else to do.’

Mr Thompson came out of the kitchen. ‘Ruby? Everything all right?’

‘Yes. The police are here.’

‘Are they? I’ll go up and have a word with them.’

Ruby went in to her father. ‘That was the police. Dad, I must go out to Tom. I’m very worried about him.’

‘He won’t come in. I don’t know why, but he thinks this is all his fault, you know?’

‘I know. But he might have to answer some questions.’

‘He won’t like that.’

It was very dark outside and Ruby made her way to the lav carefully. She knew she was stepping on the dried blood. If only it would rain and wash it away. She gently knocked on the door. ‘Come on, Tom. You’ve got to come in. You’ll freeze to death out here.’

Tom opened the door and rushed into Ruby’s arms. ‘It was my fault. It was me what made him kill her. I loved Beth.’

Ruby held him close. ‘I know. Now come on. There’s a policeman inside, and he might want to ask you some questions. Don’t say anything about the money.’

‘I don’t want to talk to him.’

‘You must.’

‘But—’

‘Come on.’ She rubbed his hands. ‘You’re freezing, you’re gonner end up with bad chilblains again.’

As they walked back Tom stood still for a moment at the place where they had found Beth. ‘I was gonner wash the blood away, but I couldn’t. It would be like washing Beth away.’

Ruby held her brother tight. ‘We’ll never ever forget Beth. She was part of our lives, and with Danny to look after, in a way, she’ll still be here with us. Now come, let’s get in the warm.’

Tom, with fear written all over his pale face, sat at the table and looked from one policeman to the other as they sat opposite him. Mr Thompson stood behind Tom with his hands gently resting on the boy’s shoulders.

‘Now, young man, don’t be nervous,’ said the policeman who had been doing all the talking. ‘It’s not you that’s in trouble, unless you’ve got something to hide? The doctor told me you came to the hospital the same time as the young lady. Is that correct?’

Tom nodded.

‘You told the doctor a Mr Cox hit you and Mrs Norton. Can you tell me why?’

Tom bent his head and shook it furiously, making his bandage wobble.

‘Don’t worry, son,’ said Mr Thompson. ‘I’ve told them what happened. They just want to make sure it was Cox what did it.’

‘It was. It was.’ Tom looked up, his face full of despair.

Ruby looked at her father. It should be him standing beside his son giving him support. Danny began to whimper and tried to climb on Ruby’s lap.

‘I’ll take him,’ said her father.

‘It’s time for his drink and bed,’ said Ruby, but she didn’t want to leave Tom. ‘I don’t think my brother can tell you much more.’

‘No, perhaps not at this stage. When we find Mr Cox, he may well have to give evidence in court.’

Tom let out a little cry. ‘I can’t. I don’t know what to say.’

‘Just tell the truth, son. That’s all.’ The policeman looked at Ruby and her father. ‘We’ve taken a few papers from upstairs. When he comes back would you tell him we wish to talk to him at the police station?’

‘Course,’ said Thomas Jenkins.

‘Now we must be off.’ The policemen stood up and put on their helmets. Ruby went with them to the front door.

‘Remember: Mr Cox is innocent until proved guilty, so I don’t want any of the family, or friends, taking the law into their own hands.’

‘We won’t.’

‘I hope not, but after looking at that door . . .’

‘As I said, we was worried he might have been taken ill or something.’

‘I see.’

As soon as they left the room Tom let his tears fall.

When Ruby returned to the kitchen, she was pleased to see that Tom was being comforted in his father’s arms.

‘I’ll get Danny’s things down to you later on,’ said Mr Thompson, gathering his overcoat and trilby.

‘You didn’t tell us what day and time Beth’s funeral will be,’ said Ruby softly.

‘No. It’s at two o’clock on Saturday.’

‘Saturday,’ repeated Ruby.

‘Yes. I expect a lot of the regulars will want to attend. I thought that was the best day and time. Now I must go. I’ll be along in the morning. I shall be asking the young lady in the dairy if she and her mother would do a bit of food for everybody. And, Thomas, I’d like you to give me a hand.’