Sunlight on the Mersey (39 page)

Iris cleared away after supper, assisted by Tom even though she told him she could manage. Kate relayed Rose’s news to Charlie and asked him to invite Florence on Sunday afternoon for a couple of hours.

‘You’re right, Mam, it might take her out of herself although I think she’s coming to terms with it all,’ he mused aloud. Florence seemed to have matured a lot in these last few weeks, he thought. Now she never mentioned the wedding, for everything had been put on hold as Ethel had insisted that they observe the year of formal mourning. It was the least she could do for Edward, she had said, and he knew that she was still torturing herself with guilt. He had agreed wholeheartedly;
he was beginning to understand Ethel more and to realise that underneath all her pretensions she had loved her husband and had only wanted the best for her daughter. Ethel had even thanked him for being so supportive to them through such difficult times and had expressed the hope that her daughter’s future with him would be as happy and successful as hers had been with Edward. Florence had told him one evening last week that it wasn’t ‘occasions’ that really mattered but ‘relationships’ and she wished she had fully understood that months ago. Yes, he felt that Florence had grown up a lot since Edward’s death and he loved her more because of it. She even treated her mother in a different way, more as an equal, although she was still deferential towards Ethel.

‘Well, I’m glad to hear it. Now, we’ve got to sort out what we’re going to do in the future,’ Kate said firmly. ‘I’ve given this a great deal of thought and it hasn’t been easy to make a decision. Charlie, I presume you intend to go on running the coal business?’

Charlie nodded. He’d had a long discussion with Ethel, who had agreed that he should take it on permanently. She had no interest in it at all, she had said, yet she hadn’t the heart to sell it even though the damned business had been more than instrumental in sending Edward to an early grave. Edward had never been in favour of selling. Charlie had been very relieved and had promised he would do everything in his power to ensure it continued to be successful. He had plans for the future, although he’d kept that to himself. Once he and Florence were married he intended to go into property.
In a small way at first: he’d buy a couple of terraced houses to rent out for in this city there was always a shortage of decent affordable housing. There were sufficient funds in the bank. Ethel had assumed that he would move into Cedar Grove next year. In fact Edward’s death seemed to have left her very subdued and somewhat bewildered.

‘I think it can be expanded too, there is always a demand for coal and providing the miners don’t keep going on strike, I can make a real go of it. I’ve got my eye on a couple of large contracts I’d like to tender for but I’ll have to watch the profit margins carefully. It’s hard work – I never realised just
how
hard nor the long hours that Edward had to put in.’

‘You’ll do well, Charlie. You’ve a good head on your shoulders and you’ve never been afraid of hard work,’ Kate said, smiling. ‘Then what I’ve decided is to keep the pawnbroker’s, it’s the longer-established family business and your da wouldn’t want me to let it go. Tom, are you happy to take it on permanently? It will never be wildly successful, even though some round here say it must be a little gold mine, but it’s a fairly steady income.’

Tom nodded. ‘Of course, Ma-in-law, and it does provide people with a very necessary service.’

Kate agreed and Tom had the right temperament for it too, she thought. In some ways he reminded her of Bill and people liked and respected him for the very same reasons they had Bill. ‘So, we’ll have to sell the greengrocery. I’ve no idea how much we’ll get but the goodwill should amount to something.’

‘It’s such a shame though, Mam. You worked so hard for years to build up that business,’ Iris said sadly.

‘I did but I’m stuck with this condition so there’s no use getting upset about things we can’t change. Whatever we get for it will help tide us over if times get hard,’ Kate said resolutely.

Iris glanced questioningly at Tom and he nodded, smiling. ‘Maybe it’s just as well, Mam, because I’m going to have my work cut out this time next year. I certainly won’t have time to be trying to cope with a house, a business and a . . . baby.’

Kate’s eyes widened and then a smile of delight spread across her face. ‘Oh, Iris, luv! You mean . . . I’m going to be a granny?’

Iris nodded, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright with happiness. ‘You are, Mam.’

Kate suddenly looked stricken. ‘Oh, and the way I’ve let you run around trying to see to the house
and
the shop! You’ll have to take things easier now!’

Iris laughed. ‘Mam, I’m expecting – I’m not ill!’

Charlie was looking a little bemused as he shook Tom’s hand. ‘Well, I never thought you’d make me an uncle quite so soon but congratulations!’

‘We never intended to become parents quite so soon either but babies don’t wait to be invited,’ Tom replied, looking very proud just the same.

‘And on Sunday you’ll be able to inform Lady Rose of the fact that she’s going to be an aunty, Iris. That’ll bring her back down to earth,’ Charlie added.

Iris shook her head reprovingly. ‘Now, Charlie, she’s not
Lady
Rose and you know it and she never set out to become Mrs Rhys-Pritchard.’

Charlie grinned. ‘I know. But everything seems to be working out.’

Rose and Gwen arrived on Sunday after lunch and Kate thought that Rose had certainly blossomed.

‘Rose, don’t you look well!’ she greeted her daughter.

‘I brought you some farm butter and cheese, Kate, and Megan says they will do you good. She sends her regards, as do Bob and Bethan and Owen.’ Gwen placed the neatly wrapped parcel on the table.

‘What’s the lad going to do with himself, Gwen? I suppose he could do with a cup of tea but if he leaves that car outside the door for long every kid in the street will be climbing on it,’ Kate asked. A motor car was such a novelty in this neighbourhood the children wouldn’t be able to resist but if it was damaged in any way Rose may not venture back to Liverpool again.

‘He’d be grateful for a cup, Kate, but then he’s going to have a drive around the city, see the sights. He’s never been to Liverpool before, see, and there’s not much traffic on a Sunday.’

Aleric was duly brought in and given a cup of tea and a slice of cake and as he departed Florence arrived.

‘Oh, Rose, it’s so lovely to see you,’ Florence said sincerely before suddenly becoming flustered and clapping her hand to
her mouth. ‘Oh, I forgot! What should I call you now?’

Rose laughed as she hugged her. ‘What you’ve always called me: “Rose”. I’m going to be your sister-in-law, don’t forget.’

Florence was still unsure and had no wish to offend anyone. ‘But aren’t you rather . . . grand now?’

Charlie tutted impatiently. ‘She may have married into the gentry but she’s still just my sister, Florence.’

Gwen’s eyebrows rose and she glanced at Kate. Perhaps a bit of jealousy there? she thought.

‘Charlie’s right, Florence. I’m still just his sister. Sit down and have a cup of tea. I’ll make a fresh pot, I certainly haven’t forgotten how to, even though I did overhear Nora insinuating that I had. I quickly reminded her that I am perfectly capable of cooking a meal and even getting my hands dirty should the necessity arise.’

Kate nodded with some satisfaction. It looked as if Rose was capable of holding her own with those girls.

‘For heaven’s sake, relax,’ Iris urged Florence. ‘I’ve got some good news myself, Rose. I’m expecting a baby. You’re going to be an aunty.’

Rose threw her arms around Iris. ‘Oh, Iris! Tom! That’s wonderful! You’ll have to bring my niece or nephew out to Plas Idris to meet their Uncle David – as soon as he or she is old enough, of course.’

Gwen was helping Kate to set the table and the two women exchanged glances, both wondering if Rose would be blessed with children.

‘Don’t see why not. He’s looking better, getting about more these days and has more energy,’ Gwen whispered, making a clatter as she placed the teaspoons on the saucers.

‘And we’ve decided to sell the greengrocery,’ Kate informed her daughter and her friend. ‘Tom’s going to take over Bill’s business as Charlie is now managing Taylor’s Coal Merchants.’

‘Sensible, that is, Kate, what with Iris expecting,’ Gwen agreed.

Florence looked thoughtful as she sipped her tea. ‘Isn’t it strange how things have turned out?’

‘Strange?’ Iris probed.

‘Well, both you and Rose are now married and you are going to be a mother, Iris. I always assumed that Charlie and I would be the first to be married. Oh, I’m not upset or anything, I can look at things more . . . sensibly now.’ She smiled at Charlie. ‘I’ve even got a few ideas that may save us some money with regard to the business.’

Charlie looked at her in surprise. ‘Really? I didn’t think you were interested.’

‘I do work in an accounts department, Charlie, and I did matriculate from school. I could be of some help to you. After all, I certainly don’t want you working as hard as my poor father did or ending up the same way.’

Kate nodded her approval. Florence had every right to be involved for she was her parents’ only child. The business was her inheritance.

Charlie could see Florence’s point and it was beginning to dawn on him that his fiancée had a brain equally as good as his
own. He smiled at Florence. Maybe they could work together – it would be in both their interests. A feeling of contentment crept over him. He had done well, he was now a successful businessman and the lads in the yard respected him. He had what he’d set out to achieve: a position in society and a healthy bank balance and soon he would have a loving and loyal wife and perhaps business partner.

‘Now, Rose, tell us all about life at Plas Idris. We’re dying to know how you are getting on,’ Iris urged, thinking the conversation could benefit from taking a less serious turn.

Tom refilled Iris’s cup and smiled at his wife. He was a very happy man, he thought. He had a beautiful, loving wife and he’d be a proud father in six months’ time. When he’d first met Iris, on his first day at the market, he had never dreamed that he would one day be his own boss, the proprietor of a pawnbroking business. He’d just been grateful to have a job.

Kate leaned back in her chair and sipped her tea as she listened to the details of Rose’s life. She was remembering a May morning two years ago when Rose had been confined to bed with rheumatic fever. She’d thought then that all she wanted for her children was a decent future, that if she lived to see them happy and settled she’d count herself very fortunate. Her gaze swept over them all fondly. All their futures looked rosy. Charlie had a thriving business which he intended to expand and it looked as if in Florence he had found an ideal partner. Iris and Tom wouldn’t have nearly as much money but they had a good home, a strong marriage
and now a baby on the way, and Iris had never wanted much more than that. And Rose . . . well, she had never dreamed that Rose would marry a man like David Rhys-Pritchard and live in such style. Rose would never ever have to worry about money and, listening to her daughter, she knew that she’d found true love and happiness even if her marriage was viewed with disapproval by some. Yes, Rose was content.

Gwen reached across and touched her arm. ‘A penny for them, Kate?’

Kate smiled at her friend. ‘I was just thinking how fortunate I am, Gwen, they’re all happy and I know that Bill would be proud of how they’ve turned out.’

Gwen smiled back. ‘He would,
cariad.
’

Kate nodded, her eyes misting with tears. The years had not been easy, but together they had come through them. She missed Bill dearly every day, but as she looked lovingly at her family she felt an overwhelming sense of happiness. ‘Yes,’ she said, glowing with pride, ‘we are truly blessed.’