A Rare Ruby (37 page)

It was dark when on Saturday morning Ruby opened her eyes. A feeling of dread swept over her. Yesterday she had asked Mrs Watson if she could have the day off. She was angry and had at first said no, but when Ruby explained why, for a moment or two she was speechless.

‘So that young lady I read about in the newspapers was a friend of yours?’

Ruby nodded.

‘Well, I can’t let you go to the funeral as she’s only a friend, and you’ve already taken one day off this week. I’m sorry she died.’

‘Till we find out who her mum and dad was I’m looking after her little boy.’

‘You are? What about her husband?’

‘We don’t know where he is.’

‘I see. How old is the boy?’

‘Two.’

‘You poor child. How are you managing?’

‘Me dad and brother look after Danny during the day.’

Mrs Watson smiled. ‘I’ll talk to Mr Stone. I’ll see if I can get you the day off. Perhaps we can get up some sort of collection for you.’

Ruby cringed. She didn’t want Florrie to know. But would she have seen the papers anyway? Could she read? Even if she could, as Mrs Watson had said, you didn’t think that sort of thing happened to people you knew.

As it
had
been in the papers and all the locals were talking about it, had the news reached Ernie? She hoped it had, then he would understand why she wasn’t at the wedding. The wedding: how Ruby would have loved to be there. To be wearing that lovely frock and laughing and seeing people happy.

Danny stirred and began clambering over her. ‘Come on, young man. Let me get you sorted out.’ With Danny on her hip, Ruby padded into the kitchen. She was surprised to see the fire alight and the kettle’s lid gently bobbing up and down.

‘Dad?’ called Ruby.

He poked his head round the door. ‘I’m just seeing to the tea. At least it ain’t raining,’ he said, collecting the kettle. ‘I’ll fill it up again, then you can wash the little feller.’

‘I hope it stays dry for Elsie.’

‘That’s a shame you couldn’t go to her wedding. What about after?’

Ruby shrugged. ‘Wouldn’t seem right somehow.’ The frock was now in a paper bag ready to give back to Elsie’s sister. Ruby knew that she would never wear anything so beautiful now.

‘I know Beth would love you to go and enjoy yourself. She wouldn’t want you sitting around and moping. Besides, you deserve it.’

‘Thanks, Dad. I’ll see.’ Ruby knew she desperately wanted to go. To be with Ernie all evening.

‘Ruby. I’m really trying to get things sorted out.’

Ruby smiled and touched his hand. ‘I know, Dad. I know.’ But at the back of her mind was always the fear of what the doctor had told her, that anything could trigger him off and send him back to his old ways.

All morning Ruby busied herself.

‘Len asked us to be at the pub be one o’clock,’ said her father, standing in front of the mirror and checking the knot in his black tie.

The black armbands Ruby had made after her mother had died were brought out again.

Just before one, the sad group slowly made their way up the street to the Royal Albert. When they reached the pub, Len Thompson took Danny from the pram. Mrs Moss was busy helping Milly and her mother put the food on plates.

‘’Ello, Ruby, Mr Jenkins,’ said Mrs Moss softly, giving them a nod. ‘’Ave yer seen the flowers? They’re lovely. I ain’t seen anythink like them before. Must ’ave cost a pretty penny. ’Ow’s the head, son?’ she asked Tom.

‘A bit better. I had to go to the cottage hospital to have a clean bandage. It hurt a bit when they took the old one off.’

Ruby had made sure his neck was clean this time.

‘A terrible thing. Terrible,’ muttered Mrs Moss as she continued with her chores.

A few of the regulars had gathered in the bar and were having a quiet drink.

Someone at the door announced the cortège was here.

Ruby stood holding Danny as they watched the flowers being placed around and on Beth’s expensive-looking wooden coffin with shiny brass handles. They were beautiful; she didn’t know how they could grow them at this time of the year. Yet the thought that was filling Ruby’s mind was: Beth is in that box.

Danny was squirming to get down and see the black horses with their black feathered plumes, snorting and shaking their heads.

Finally it was time to leave. Mr Thompson took Ruby’s arm and helped her and Danny into the carriage.

As they made their way to the cemetery, Ruby was astonished to see so many people had come out to watch them passing. Ruby looked at the back of the crowds. She was searching for Mr Cox. Would he be here? Had he seen it in the newspapers?

 

At last it was all over and they were back at the Royal Albert. It had been so bitterly cold as they stood at the graveside. The wind had gone through Ruby’s thin coat and her thoughts had gone to Elsie: I hope she’s wearing something warm under her long frock.

The lounge bar’s welcoming fire roared in the grate, sending out plenty of warmth.

‘That vicar gave her a nice send-off,’ said one of the customers, warming his behind.

‘Yes,’ said Mr Thompson. ‘Now we’ve got to find the bastard who put her there.’

His customers now knew why Beth hadn’t been behind the bar on Christmas Eve and they were very angry.

‘Not heard nothing from the police then?’ said the man who was standing with his back to the fire.

‘No. But give ’em time.’

Ruby was taken aback at the cold fury in Mr Thompson’s voice.

People milled about saying nice things about Beth. Ruby couldn’t believe that she had gone for ever. And in a way it was her brother’s fault. She looked at him sitting in the far corner. He had cried a lot and Ruby knew he would have to carry this burden for the rest of his life.

A commotion at the door caused all the heads to look up.

‘I tell yer we should be ’ere,’ someone was shouting.

Ruby couldn’t see who it was because of the crowd, but she did see Mr Thompson, who was the other side of the room and a good head taller than most, stride over to where the person was shouting.

Ruby heard her brother make a funny sound in his throat. She quickly looked round. Tom had gone a pasty white.

‘Tom? Tom! What is it?’ Ruby looked back towards the door. The crowd had parted. ‘Alfie Anderson,’ she said, barely above a whisper. ‘What’s he doing here?’

‘I tell you the pub ain’t open.’ One of the customers was trying to push him out.

‘I’ve got every right to be here.’ Elbowing the man to one side, he strutted into the bar.

Len Thompson quickly went over to him. ‘Out.’ He took hold of Alfie’s collar and began manhandling him towards the door.

A silence fell over everybody save for a quiet muttering from Mrs Moss. ‘Ought ter be ashamed of hisself, coming barging in like that, on terday of all days. Got no manners, that’s the trouble with some people.’

Alfie was struggling to get away, but he was no match for Len Thompson. ‘Get your hands off me,’ he yelled out.

‘If you don’t get out I’ll have to do something I might regret.’

‘I don’t think you will when you find out who I am.’

‘So, who are you then?’

‘Lizzie Anderson’s brother,’ he said softly.

Mr Thompson quickly glanced round the bar and let go of him as if he were a hot coal.

‘That’s better.’ Alfie shook himself and brushed himself down. After retrieving his cap from the floor, he put it on at a jaunty angle. ‘Thought that’d git your attention.’

‘What do you know about my Beth?’ hissed Mr Thompson.

Alfie smirked.

Once again Len Thompson was filled with anger. ‘If you’ve just come here for a free drink and food you can think again.’ He swiftly moved towards Alfie, who hastily stepped back.

Alfie knew he had this bloke where he wanted him and said out loud, ‘Lizzie was me sister. When she got up the spout me dad chucked ’er out. Wouldn’t say who did it.’

The silence in the bar was complete.

‘It took a while to put two and two together at first. But when everybody started ter say who she was and where she lived, and then about the boy, well, we got there in the end.’ A look of triumph filled Alfie’s face.

Ruby’s heart went out to Mr Thompson, whose face had turned ashen. He stood looking at this intruder.

‘How can I believe you?’ he said in a hushed tone.

‘Come and see me mum. She’s ever so upset. She would have liked to come and see Lizzie but Lizzie wouldn’t have anythink to do with us. I tried once to make her come and see Mum, but she wasn’t ’aving any of it.’

‘How do I know you’re telling the truth?’

Alfie picked up a sandwich. ‘You don’t. Me brother and sisters will tell you all about our Lizzie. Thought she was better than us. Especially when she landed you.’

Ruby wanted to hit him. How could he say things like that?

Mrs Moss suddenly jumped to her feet. ‘Look, go out in the back room,’ she said, ushering Mr Thompson and Alfie through the bar.

Milly also jumped up. ‘Mr Jenkins,’ she said. ‘Get everybody a drink.’

The mumbling became very loud and Ruby followed Alfie and Mr Thompson through the back of the bar. Why hadn’t he thrown Alfie out? Did he know something about Beth’s past? What had Beth told him?

Outside the church Elsie was looking anxiously around for Ruby when she suddenly caught sight of Ernie. She gave him a wave. Why wasn’t Ruby with him? Perhaps she’d missed her, after all there were a lot of people there. When they got back to the house she tried to look again but it was very crowded. Elsie was about to check upstairs, when: ‘All right, my love?’ asked Charlie, following her.

‘I’ve been looking for Ruby and Ernie.’

‘I expect they’re around somewhere. You look so lovely. I can’t wait to get you home.’

Elsie giggled. ‘I am home.’

‘Not any more.’ He sat on the bottom step and patted the stairs, Elsie sat down with him.

‘I do love you, Charlie.’

‘And I love you. You’re all mine now, you belong to me.’ He nuzzled his lips against her neck.

‘Charlie, don’t. You’re making me come over all unnecessary.’

‘Good.’

‘I’ve been looking for me frock,’ said Jenny, Elsie’s older sister, as she leaned over the banister. ‘I can’t see it. Ain’t your mate turned up?’

‘I’ve not seen her, but she must be here, I saw her boyfriend outside the church.’

‘P’r’aps they’ve run off together. Pity, I’d like to see what sort of job she made of me frock. If she was any good I might get her to do some alterations for me. And, Charlie, you’ll have to wait till you get home before you start having your wicked way with my little sister.’ Jenny walked off laughing.

Charlie put his arm round Elsie’s waist. ‘Don’t look so worried, she must be here somewhere.’

‘I’m surprised at Ruby. I would have thought she would have come and seen me.’

‘Could she get time off from work?’

Elsie clapped her hand to her mouth. ‘I’ve been so stupid. I thought they might have got today off, seeing as how it was New Year’s Eve. I thought at least old Watson would have let them go early. Poor Ruby. She’s been so looking forward to this.’

‘Don’t worry. She’ll turn up.’

‘She don’t know where I live.’

‘With all this racket going on, somebody will tell her. Now come on, give us a kiss.’

Elsie laughed. ‘Well, only one.’

Charlie kissed her eager lips.

‘Come on, let’s go and join the others.’ She stood up and pulled Charlie to his feet.

By the time evening came, Elsie was truly worried. Where was Ruby? Elsie hoped she’d find her house after she had gone to so much trouble with that frock. Something was troubling Elsie, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Was it something she’d heard? Please God, she prayed, don’t let anything have happened to her. She’s had more than enough to put up with in her young life.

 

Earlier Ernie had stood around waiting for Ruby to appear. He had a great deal to tell her. So much had happened since they last spoke. That morning he had looked again at the letter that had arrived last week. He still couldn’t believe it: they never received letters. In one hand he had clutched the letter and, in the other, pound notes. He and his mother had discussed the contents of the letter all yesterday evening, and at breakfast he’d asked her once more: ‘Are you sure this is what you want?’

She’d nodded. ‘I always did like Richard. He was very kind.’

‘So he couldn’t get down to see us cos of the bad weather. You sure that ain’t just a excuse?’

‘No, he’s not like that.’

‘How do you know?’

‘From when I met him at the wedding. I loved your father very much, and he loved me enough to give up his family. But he always missed his young brother.’