Ellie Pride (16 page)

‘Ellie dearest, oh, how pretty you look.’

Ellie laughed as her cousin Cecily hugged her.

‘And how kind of Mr Parkes to go out of his way to accompany you.’ They watched Mr Parkes driving away. ‘You are very fortunate,’ Cecily continued, ushering Ellie into her pretty parlour. ‘When I was living at home my father never once offered to chauffeur me on my calls.’

Ellie could feel her smile beginning to stiffen but it was impossible for her to inform Cecily just how much she disliked sitting in the rear of the large car with its smell of leather and cigars, with Mr Parkes seated next to her, his thigh pressed close to hers, his hand often reaching out to hold hers. No, Ellie could not tell Cecily just how much she would have preferred to make her own way to her cousin’s home in Liverpool for her fortnightly visits.

When Cecily’s maid had taken her coat, Cecily rang for tea, demanding, ‘Ellie, my mama-in-law
has directed me to tell her how you are going on with the preparations for the ball.’

Cecily’s mother-in-law, Lady Angela, had come to Ellie’s rescue when Ellie had confided to her cousin just how apprehensive she was about the task Mr Parkes had given her, and although Ellie would not have said so to anyone, she had found herself envying Cecily her mama-in-law and, indeed, wishing that not just her Aunt Parkes but all her aunts were more like her.

Ellie had been instructed to visit the Rodney Street mansion where Paul’s parents lived, and had listened intently to what Paul’s mama had told her.

‘You must not be afraid to ask me for whatever help you might need,’ Lady Angela had smiled. ‘I do not know your aunt very well, of course, but I have heard from Cecily that she is in delicate health.’ She had paused, and Ellie was almost tempted to tell her about her poor Aunt Lavinia’s dreadful headaches, and how much Ellie herself worried about her.

‘However, I can see that you are an excellently sensible young woman, Ellie.’ Lady Angela had given her an approving smile. ‘Indeed, my daughter, Iris, was most annoyed with me for inviting you on a day when she herself could not be here.’

Ellie was guiltily aware that she too had been hoping to renew her acquaintance with Cecily’s sister-in-law.

‘The first thing you must do, if you have not already done so, is to find out from Mr Parkes how many people he intends to invite.’

‘I have done that,’ Ellie had been relieved to assure her.

There would be well over one hundred people attending the ball.

‘Oh, Cecily, I do not know what I would have done without your mama-in-law’s kind help,’ Ellie told her cousin now, pausing whilst the maid wheeled in the tea trolley and then waiting for her to leave to continue. ‘Everything is more or less in hand, Cecily – thanks to the kindness of Lady Angela. I have hired the London caterers she recommended to me, and the florist called round the other day, and fortunately our Aunt Parkes was well enough to look over her suggestions. I own, Cecily, that there are times when I feel a little uncomfortable about taking on a role which, in reality, should be our aunt’s, but she has been most vehement in her assurances to me that she does not wish to be burdened with the arrangements.’

‘Has her health improved at all?’ Cecily asked in concern.

‘No, it hasn’t! In fact, if anything, her headaches are even worse. Her maid has had to go into Liverpool twice in the last month to fetch the special tonic our aunt takes for the pain.’

‘Well, such a task can only be good experience for you once you have your own home,’ Cecily told Ellie with a dimpling smile.

Ellie managed not to flush. Cecily was determined to see Ellie married.

‘Iris has sworn she will never marry, which is a shocking thing, but Paul says she has always
been eccentric, and so, my dearest cousin, I am determined that you shall, and that we shall be young wives together.

‘I am so excited about this ball. Will there be much room for dancing, Ellie?’

‘Oh, yes. Mr Parkes asked me especially to make arrangements for the carpets to be lifted in the large drawing room – which reminds me, I must impose on your mama-in-law again, Cecily, and ask her which band Mr Parkes should hire. She has been so kind and…’

‘She likes you, Ellie,’ Cecily assured her warmly. ‘And indeed, why should she not do, for you really are the kindest person.’

Ellie’s face fell. ‘I do not think that either Connie or John would agree with you about that, Cecily,’ she couldn’t help revealing.

Cecily looked concerned. ‘Have you heard nothing from them yet?’

‘No!’

Ellie had admitted to their cousin that she was anxious at the lack of letters from her siblings, but she had not felt able to tell her why. Cecily was a dear, but Ellie knew that she was very much under the influence of her indomitable mother, and Ellie did not want Cecily innocently to inform Aunt Amelia that her nieces and nephew longed to return to their own home.

‘I dare say that they are too busy to think of writing to you, Ellie,’ Cecily told her sunnily.

Ellie made no reply. She had written to their Aunt
Jepson three times asking her for news of the baby and had still heard nothing.

‘I am going to ask our aunt if Connie might be invited to the ball,’ Ellie informed her cousin. ‘She is sixteen now and old enough.’

‘Oh, Ellie, do you think that is wise, especially when, as you have told me, Mr Parkes is most anxious that everything should go well? Mama has said that Connie does not always behave as she should, and that our aunt is often distressed by her wilfulness.’

‘She might be high-spirited, but she has never been wilful,’ Ellie defended her sister, adding protectively, ‘I worry sometimes that our aunt and uncle’s household is not a very happy place for her to be. They are very religious and –’

‘Ellie, how can you say that?’ Cecily looked very shocked. ‘They have been generous to give Connie a home, after all.’

Ellie bit her lip, wishing she had remained silent. It was foolish of her to expect Cecily to understand how they all felt.

‘What time is Mr Parkes picking you up, Ellie? Only Iris telephoned this morning and when I told her you were to visit she made me promise that I would keep you here so that she could see you.’

Ellie’s face lit up. ‘Oh, yes, I would love that. Mr Parkes said that I was to telephone him when I am ready to leave.’

‘Ellie, how lovely! I have been looking forward to seeing you again,’ Iris exclaimed as she hugged Cecily and then Ellie herself.

‘Ellie has been so good. She has brought some baby clothes she has sewn for your charity, Iris,’ Cecily informed her sister-in-law as she poured her a cup of tea.

‘Oh, Ellie, how kind. And how clever of you,’ Iris enthused.

There was a tradition of philanthropy in Cecily’s husband’s family, and Ellie had been only too pleased to do something to help.

‘Oh, but these are exquisite,’ Iris encouraged, when she had looked at the small garments. ‘I dare say if Mother’s friends saw these they would all be begging you to sew for them. You could quite easily establish yourself in a little business, I am sure. Not that you need to, I realise,’ Iris was quick to add, ‘but you know how I feel about women having some financial independence. I have not given up on persuading you both to attend a women’s movement meeting with me.’

The three of them talked happily together for a further half-hour, and Ellie listened eagerly whilst Iris regaled them with a droll story of her experiences as a doctor.

Ellie had never met a woman like Iris before, and greatly admired her. She was so strong and independent, and seemed to care not one jot for the fact that at twenty-six she was neither engaged nor married.

‘…And, of course, Ewan is such a stick in the mud,’ Iris was saying.

Ewan Cameron was a close friend of Cecily’s husband, Paul, and Cecily had confided to Ellie that Paul very much hoped that his sister and his friend would marry.

‘I have borrowed Father’s car, since he and Mother are in London, and I have to drive out to Hoylake to see a friend when I leave here, Ellie, so why don’t I take you home?’ Iris suggested.

‘Oh, but Mr Parkes always collects Ellie. All she needs to do is to telephone him and he will drive over to collect her immediately,’ Cecily broke in. ‘Mr Parkes practically dotes on her, doesn’t he, Ellie? Mama says that you have been very fortunate.’

‘Indeed?’ There was a crispness in Iris’s voice that surprised Ellie. ‘Well, on this occasion there is no need for Ellie to bother Mr Parkes, since I am to drive to Hoylake anyway.’

Iris had a way of saying things that made it impossible to argue with her, Ellie acknowledged. Not that she minded being driven by her in the least. Thanks to Iris she had laughed more this afternoon than she could remember doing in a long time. Even the air in the sitting room felt different with Iris in it: almost crackling with energy and enthusiasm.

‘You know, Ellie, you really should learn to drive yourself,’ Iris announced as she turned into the road that led to Ellie’s aunt and uncle’s house.

‘Oh, I don’t think my aunt and uncle –’ Ellie began, but Iris stopped her.

‘I could teach you. In fact, I would enjoy doing so. I love Cecily,’ she added, ‘and she is the perfect wife for Paul, but,’ she paused and gave Ellie a wry look, ‘but she is still very much beneath her formidable mama’s influence. Whilst in you, Ellie, I detect a certain independence of spirit! You must always be true to yourself, Ellie. That is the most important thing that we, as modern women, can do. We owe it to our mothers and to our daughters,’ she added solemnly, expertly bringing the large car to a halt.

After they had exchanged goodbyes, Ellie hurried into the house. Cecily had promised to telephone their uncle to advise him that Ellie was on her way home, and Ellie could see that there was a light on in his study.

Lizzie was waiting for her in the hall, and as Ellie handed her her coat she told her, ‘I must just go up to my aunt’s room and see how she is. I do wish something could be done about these headaches she has, Lizzie. I –’

‘The master said that he wanted to see you the minute you returned, miss,’ Lizzie stopped her, woodenly.

A closeness had developed between Ellie and her maid, and Ellie often found herself confiding things to Lizzie that she would normally have told only a sister or close friend. Lizzie knew all about Ellie’s concern for her younger sister and her aunt, and now there was a look in Lizzie’s eyes that sent a
quiver of apprehension down Ellie’s spine. Had her aunt’s health taken a turn for the worse?

Worriedly, Ellie knocked on the study door and then opened it.

As always the room smelled strongly of her uncle’s cigars, and, indeed, a cloud of smoke enveloped the desk, obscuring his expression.

‘Lizzie said that you wanted to see me, Uncle,’ Ellie began anxiously. ‘Is my aunt –’

‘Why did you not do as I instructed? Who brought you back to Hoylake? What is his name?’

Completely bemused, Ellie stared at her uncle. ‘I…I…’ Ellie gave a small gasp of shock as her uncle stood up and strode towards her. She had never seen him looking so angry, and instinctively she stepped back from him.

‘Oh, no you don’t.’ His hand shot out and grasped Ellie’s wrist in a bruising hold.

Ellie could feel the frantic racing of her heart. What had happened to the kind, attentive uncle she was used to? This angrily violent man who had taken his place was frightening her.

‘Well, miss?’

The sharp tug her uncle gave her wrist as he shook her made Ellie cry out in pain.

‘Why did you not do as I instructed you?’

The pain in her wrist was making Ellie’s eyes smart with fear.

‘I…we didn’t think you would mind. Iris had to drive to Hoylake anyway, and I didn’t want to offend her by refusing. Her mama has been so kind,
helping me with everything for the ball…’ Ellie could not bring herself to look into her uncle’s face. She could feel the sulphurous heat of anger through the thick silence.

‘Iris? It was Iris who drove you here?’

‘Yes, in her papa’s car,’ Ellie managed to whisper past the nervously constricted muscles of her throat.

To her disbelief, Mr Parkes started to smile, his anger evaporating as though it had never been.

‘Well, I must say that I am surprised that her father should allow her to drive at all, and I am angry with you, Ellie, that you did not obey my wishes. However, I can understand that you would not wish to offend your cousin’s family. However, on another occasion I must insist that you do as I tell you.’

His voice had become almost jovial now, and the fingers holding her wrist had slacked their grip, much to Ellie’s relief. She could still feel the burn of pain in her tender flesh, though, and now that Mr Parkes’ anger had subsided rather like a violent summer storm, Ellie felt so weak that her whole body trembled.

‘Poor Ellie, I am sorry if I have distressed you,’ her uncle said. ‘Why, you are trembling,’ he added softly, taking a step towards her and, to Ellie’s shock, lifting her wrist to his mouth so that he could kiss the bruised flesh. ‘There,’ he told her softly. ‘That should make your poor wrist feel better.’

Ellie’s face burned as much as her wrist. Her
body was shuddering violently with revulsion and disbelief, but her uncle seemed to be unaware of her distress, because he was smiling widely at her, his eyes glittering with a look that Ellie instinctively denied to herself she had seen.

‘I have some business to attend to now, Ellie, but this evening after dinner you may tell me what progress you are making with our little venture! Which reminds me – you are a good girl, Ellie, and I think you deserve a small reward. What would you like, eh, my dear? Some pretty little trinket to show off to your cousin? Young ladies always like jewellery, don’t they?’

Ellie had to swallow hard on the sick feeling that was clogging her throat. There was a favour she wanted to ask her uncle, she reminded herself, although her stomach churned miserably at the thought of having to do so.

‘I…it is very kind of you to be so generous, Uncle,’ she managed to say shakily. ‘But more than anything else I would like it if Connie could be invited to the ball.’