Pauper's Gold (31 page)

Hannah grinned and pulled a wry face. ‘Sorry, but I can hardly wait to hear all about it.’

‘I gathered that,’ Nell teased.

‘Here’s a cup of tea, love. Special treat.’ Bessie was no less anxious to hear about it all than Hannah but her approach was more patient. ‘Tommy’s fine. He’s
having his afternoon nap upstairs.’

They sat around the table, waiting whilst Nell had taken a sip of her tea.

‘Do you know,’ she began, surprise in her voice as she glanced at Hannah, ‘he’s quite nice?’ Hannah smiled thinly but said nothing. ‘I’d expected
someone like Mr Edmund, but he wasn’t a bit like that.’ She nodded at Hannah. ‘But no wonder he doesn’t want you up there – at the house. You can see in a minute that
you’re his daughter. You’ve got his hair and his eyes, haven’t you?’

Now Hannah nodded and said huskily, ‘And did you see his little girl?’

Nell shook her head.

‘She’s about three or four and she looks just like me. I’m sure his wife saw it too. Anyway, what did he say? Is he giving you a job at his mill?’

‘No, he’s no jobs going there at the minute. But . . .’ Nell paused dramatically, ‘He’s offered me a job as nanny to the children.’

Hannah’s mouth fell open and Bessie murmured, ‘Well, I never.’

‘But – but – I thought – I mean,’ Hannah spluttered, ‘I thought he didn’t want us anywhere near his house?’

Nell touched her hand and said gently, ‘It’s you he doesn’t want there, not me.’

‘But surely, you’ll remind him – and her – of me.’

‘Ah, now,’ Nell glanced away, suddenly embarrassed. ‘Well . . .’ She paused, not knowing quite how to put the next bit.

‘Go on,’ Hannah prompted.

‘I’m sworn to secrecy. I’m not to let on that I’ve anything to do with you, that I even know you. And I’m sorry, Hannah, but you must never visit me there or try to
contact him again in any way.’

The look on Hannah’s face was bleak. If she’d secretly hoped for any kind of relationship with her father, then those dreams were dashed.

‘He did say one thing though.’

‘Go on,’ Hannah muttered through gritted teeth. She was trying desperately not to let the tears that were welling up behind her eyes come spilling out.

‘He said, “The reason I’m offering you this job is . . .” now what word did he use? Ah yes, “twofold”. Yes, that was it. That’s what he said. “The
reason I’m offering you this job is twofold.”’

‘What on earth does that mean?’ Hannah cried.

‘Means he’s got two reasons,’ Bessie put in. ‘Go on, Nell.’

‘“My wife,” he said, “can be a bit difficult to work for. And the two children aren’t easy. We’ve had more nannies than I’ve got workers in the
mill.”’ The three of them smiled thinly at his wry witticism, then Hannah’s smile faded. ‘Oh, Nell, you don’t want to be working for someone like that.’

‘Wait a minute, wait till I’ve finished telling you. You see, the other reason was that he said it would be a link between you and him. “If ever she needs anything,” he
said, “you’ll be able to let me know.”’

Hannah stared at her. ‘He never said that.’

For a moment, Nell looked hurt that her friend could think that she would lie to her. But then, she imagined herself in Hannah’s place. The girl’s father had never shown the
slightest interest in her, had deserted her mother and left them to fend for themselves, had never lifted a finger to help them in their direst need. And even when they’d finally met a few
days ago, he’d forbidden her to try to see him again. Why, then, should she believe that he’d had a change of heart? No, she wouldn’t have believed it either. So she said gently,
‘That’s what he said, Hannah. I wouldn’t lie to you.’

Now Hannah was contrite. ‘Oh no, no, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It . . . it just came out because . . . because I couldn’t believe it.’

‘Mebbe when he saw you, love, he had a change of heart,’ Bessie suggested softly.

‘Huh! It was a big one then, ’cos the other day he didn’t want to see hide nor hair of me ever again.’

‘Well, that’s what he said, Hannah, I promise you.’

Hannah was torn now. ‘But I still don’t like the thought of you working for a tartar just so that I’ve got a link with my father. I’d sooner you got a job alongside me at
the mill.’

‘Wait a bit. There’s more.’

‘More? Go on, then.’

‘I was honest with him. I didn’t think there was much point in being anything else. I told him I’d got a little boy and he said that would be fine. I could take him with me
sometimes if I wanted.’

‘By heck,’ Bessie blurted out. ‘They must be desperate for a nanny if he offered that. But you know you can leave him with me, love. You don’t need to take him there
unless you want to.’ Suddenly, her face fell. ‘Oh – you mean, they want you to live in?’

‘Not exactly. I’ll be given a room of my own there – and a bed in it for Tommy too – and they might want me to stay so many nights of the week, two or three
maybe.’

Bessie was struggling with her feelings. It was like being desperately thirsty and being handed a cup of water only to have it snatched away again before being able to take even a sip. Yet she
couldn’t stand in the girl’s way and little Tommy would live in the lap of luxury compared to her humble home.

She felt Nell’s touch. ‘I’m not going to live in, Auntie Bessie. I don’t want to. She’d have me at her beck and call all day and all night too. And I don’t
want Tommy learning those kids’ bad ways, ’cos they must have got a few if they can’t keep a nanny for long.’

‘Are you sure, Nell? I mean it’d be much better for you both living in a nice house.’

‘Maybe,’ Nell agreed. ‘But there’d be no laughter, no fun – and no love.’

Bessie was thoughtful for a moment. ‘Have you thought, Nell, that that’s probably what those kiddies need? A bit of love? Children are sometimes naughty just because they want
someone to take a bit of notice of ’em.’

Hannah and Nell glanced at Bessie and then at each other.

‘You know, she could be right, Nell. Folk like them don’t have much to do with their children. Look how the Critchlows sent Adam away to school. He was hardly ever at home, now was
he?’

Bessie gave a snort of laughter. ‘Well, Jimmy Gregory wasn’t born into that sort of class, but I expect he thinks he’s one of them now.’

‘Yes,’ Hannah said slowly. ‘I expect he does.’

‘Well, I’m going to give it a go,’ Nell said. ‘If it doesn’t work out, I can always leave. One more to add to the long list of nannies who didn’t stay long.
I’ll tell you one thing though,’ she ended as, hearing Tommy’s cries from the bedroom, she levered herself up from the stool to go to him. ‘I shan’t stand any nonsense
from the kids – or from Lady Muck, whoever she thinks she is.’

The sight of a policeman knocking at one of the doors in Paradise Street was unusual on a Sunday afternoon. Though it was not one of the wealthier streets in the town, the
residents were, in the main, God-fearing and law-abiding. A wayward youngster was dealt a cuff around the ear by his father or a neighbour – or even the local peeler on the beat – and
no ill-feeling resulted. The community watched out for each other, helped one other, laughed, quarrelled and made up to laugh together again. But when a young constable was seen visiting
Bessie’s house, that was cause for Flo’s curtains to twitch and the tongues to wag.

‘Come away in, lad,’ Bessie welcomed, and ushered Jim into the kitchen where the two girls were sewing. Little Tommy was lying on the hearthrug, looking about him and gurgling with
glee.

‘I was just passing.’ Jim smiled, tucking his hat under his arm. ‘Constable Robinson put me on this beat special-like, so’s I could call in and see how you
are.’

Hannah threw her sewing aside and jumped up to pull out a chair for him. ‘Oh, how kind of you – and Mr Robinson. I’m fine. I’ve got a job at one of the mills. Been there
for two months now. And this is my friend, Nell, and her little boy, Tommy. They’ve come to live here as well. Nell’s got a job as a nanny.’

‘Sit down, lad, sit down,’ Bessie waved him into the chair. ‘Now, I don’t ’spect your superior would mind if you had a cuppa with us, would he?’

Jim grinned. ‘Not if he doesn’t know, missis.’ And they all laughed.

He laid his hat on the table and squatted down to Tommy to tickle his tummy. ‘You’re a grand little chap, aren’t you?’

Tommy looked up at the tall man, startled for a moment. His baby round chin trembled and he screwed up his eyes, about to cry.

‘Aw, I’m sorry. I must’ve frightened him. Must be the uniform. I’m usually quite good with little ones. Got nephews and nieces of me own.’ He stood up and backed
away, but continued to smile down at the little boy.

Nell picked Tommy up and held him against her shoulder, patting his back comfortingly.

‘It’s not your fault. He’s not used to men, see. In the workhouse, we were segregated. He’s only been around women, really.’

The smile faded from Jim’s face to be replaced by a look, not of disgust or censure, but of concern. He sat down in the chair Hannah had pulled out for him. ‘I’m sorry to hear
you was in there. Very long, was it?’

Nell pressed her lips together. ‘Since just before Tommy was born.’ Tears hovered in her eyes but she smiled at Hannah. ‘But thanks to my friend here – and Mrs Morgan
– we’re out. And,’ she said firmly, ‘I mean to stay out. I don’t want my son growing up in that place.’

The household soon settled into a happy routine. Hannah loved her job at the mill. The other workers there were friendly and helpful and she soon fitted in. And the conditions
were much pleasanter than in the cotton mill. No fluff or dust floated in the air and Hannah revelled in the sight and the touch of the silk.

‘It’s so shiny and all the pretty colours they dye it,’ she enthused to Bessie and Nell. Bessie nodded and smiled sadly. She fondly remembered watching Bill in his garret
working with the lovely yarn.

As for Nell, forthright, no nonsense Nell, she soon had the Gregory youngsters eating out of her hand.

‘You were absolutely right, Auntie Bessie.’ Already Bessie Morgan was ‘Auntie’ to Nell too, and to little Tommy she was ‘Nanna’. ‘Those poor
kids,’ Nell went on indignantly, ‘are just starved of attention. That’s all they need. Mind you, this job’s not long term anyway. They’ve hired a tutor for the little
boy for two years and then he’s going away to boarding school when he’s seven.’ Her eyes darkened. ‘Fancy choosing to be separated from your kids. I can’t believe it.
They don’t know how lucky they are.’

‘But there’ll still be the little girl to look after,’ Bessie put in, trying not to get her hopes up that Nell and Tommy would be coming back to live all the time with her.

‘Not really, ’cos when the boy goes to school, they’ll get a governess for the girl. Madam told me so.’ She laughed. ‘That’s what I have to call her –
“Madam”. And she can be a right “madam” an’ all. Mind you, I don’t stand no nonsense from her. I tell her exactly what I think. She keeps asking me to go and
live there full time, but I keep giving her the same answer. I’ll stay there some nights but I want to keep coming home.’ She glanced at Bessie. ‘’Cos this
is
home to
me an’ our Tommy. I told her I don’t want him growing up thinking he’s part of that household – that he belongs there. It wouldn’t do, wouldn’t do at all. Funny
thing is, she seems to take it from me whereas her poor lady’s maid gets shrieked at from morning till night. It’s a wonder she doesn’t up sticks and leave. I reckon she would if
she could get another position. Trouble is, she doesn’t get any time to get out and look for another job. Madam keeps her working day and night. She never seems to get any time off. And the
poor kid hasn’t got the guts to stand up to Mrs Gregory. She’s a mousy little thing – from the workhouse, so I suppose she’s used to taking orders and never thinks to answer
back.’ She laughed. ‘Not like us, eh Hannah? Old Goodbody and his missis couldn’t wait to ship us out of the way, could they?’ Her laughter died. ‘But I turned up
again on their doorstep like a bad penny and about to give birth. He wasn’t best pleased, I can tell you.’

Nell chattered on about her life with ‘the upstarts’, as she referred to the Gregorys. ‘She might’ve been born to that life,’ she would say, ‘but he certainly
wasn’t. He’s no better than you and me, Hannah. He was just lucky enough to be born goodlooking.’

‘Yes,’ Hannah said bitterly. ‘A curse on all goodlooking men.’ And she knew that Nell was aware she was including Edmund Critchlow. But then Nell countered her remark by
saying softly, ‘He asked after you today. Mr Gregory. Asked if you were all right – if there was anything you needed.’

Hannah stood up suddenly and turned away. ‘What did you tell him? It’d’ve been nice to’ve had a father when I needed one. His concern comes a bit late in the
day.’

She left the kitchen, slamming the back door and leaving Nell staring sadly after her.

‘He’s here again,’ Bessie called from the front doorstep as she saw Jim coming down the street. ‘And on his day off, an’ all, by the look of his
clothes. That’s not his uniform or I’m a Dutchman.’

Hannah poked her head out of the door, looking over Bessie’s shoulder.

‘This is the third time he’s come.’

‘I reckon he’s got his eye on you.’

‘Oh no, Auntie Bessie,’ Hannah lowered her voice as the young man came closer. ‘It’s Nell. Haven’t you noticed how he looks at her?’ She raised her voice,
‘Hello, Jim. She’s not here. She’s at work.’

There was no mistaking the faint flush that coloured his face nor the fleeting look of disappointment.

‘You’re right, Hannah,’ Bessie muttered, but then raised her voice too. ‘But we’re glad to see you. Come away in.’

He stayed an hour, but Nell was still not home by the time he rose reluctantly and said, ‘I’ll have to go. I’m on duty at six.’

‘Nell will be sorry to’ve missed you,’ Hannah said archly.

‘Come an’ have your Sunday dinner with us tomorrow, lad,’ Bessie invited. ‘She’ll be here then. It’s her day off.’

‘Mine too.’ There was no denying the sparkle in his eyes. ‘Do . . . do you think she’d go for a walk with me? See . . .’ He was embarrassed now, but pressed on.
‘See I’ve got something for her. A perambulator. The lady my mother cleans for has one to sell. It’s a bit battered.’ He smiled. ‘It’s been well used, but little
Tommy must be getting heavy for her to carry far now. I thought it’d be just the thing for him.’