The Best of Daughters (26 page)

The months went by and the wedding drew ever nearer, and it was only her connection with the FANYs that kept Daisy from going completely mad. Surprisingly Lady Pendleton had no objection to Daisy attending their training sessions, and the occasional weekend camp where the volunteers had the opportunity to undergo training by the military. Daisy even managed to persuade Lady Pendleton to allow her to attend the summer camp at Pirbright in Surrey, where the FANYs were instructed in cavalry drill by the 19th Hussars.

Despite her initial dislike of riding Daisy was beginning to look forward to the lessons. She had been very nervous at the start of her training, but after a while she managed to overcome her fears and found it quite exhilarating to gallop and even to take fences. She learned how to drive a horse-drawn field ambulance and how to cater for a large number of hungry military personnel in the cookhouse. Life at camp was far removed from the palatial surroundings of Pendleton Park or the house in Grosvenor Square, but even the
discomforts of living under canvas did not dull Daisy's spirits. She felt free for the first time in her life, and more than that she felt useful. She was doing something that if war came, and it seemed inevitable after the assassination of the archduke and his duchess at Sarajevo, she would be able to do her bit for her country.

She returned to London after the summer camp with a feeling of confidence in her own capabilities and renewed optimism. The wedding was now only three weeks away and they were to travel to Essex the next day. Lady Pendleton was eager to get home in order to supervise the final arrangements for the wedding reception at Pendleton Park. She had left Gwendoline to liaise with the vicar, having given her a list of instructions as to the readings and the hymns, the anthems and the seating of the guests. Now the real work was to begin as the last minute checks were put in place.

The journey to Nutley Green began early in the morning. Lady Pendleton and Daisy travelled in the Rolls, and the second car, an Austin Grenville landaulet which was kept for just such an occasion, followed on behind. Their considerable amount of baggage was piled on the roof, and Lady Pendleton's maid, Worley, was entrusted with the onerous task of taking care of the wedding gown, which was wrapped in tissue paper and draped over her lap for the entire journey. For practical purposes, Rainbow's End being too small to store the precious garment in the required manner, the gown was to be taken to Pendleton Park where it would have a whole room to itself and the constant attention
of Worley, who treated it with the reverence that a designer creation in pure silk and Brussels lace deserved. The rest of Daisy's trousseau would be aired, ironed and repacked by Worley and her acolytes in Louis Vuitton luggage as befitted the bride of the future Viscount Pendleton. Matters had been taken from Daisy's hands and she was powerless to do anything other than to acquiesce gracefully.

It was only now, when they drew nearer to their destination, that Daisy realised how much she was looking forward to a brief respite with her family. She had missed them all during the long months in London, and her mother's constant carping and criticisms seemed like a small price to pay for being reunited with those she loved most. Perhaps when she was a married woman her relationship with her mother would improve; she hoped so anyway.

It was approaching midday when the Rolls pulled up outside Rainbow's End and Daisy climbed out of the motorcar, eager to stretch her legs. Taking her leather valise from Parkin, she hesitated, resting her hand on the front gate as she gazed at the old house, savouring the moment of homecoming. The hot July sunshine reflected off the lattice windows and she spotted a bird's nest stuck on top of one of the tip-tilted chimneypots. She made a mental note to have it taken down before the weather changed in the autumn and it became necessary to light fires. She lifted the latch and walked up the path, noting with a frown that the flowerbeds were overgrown with weeds and the grass needed cutting. The paintwork was peeling off the
front door and the brass lion's head knocker was in need of a good polish. She must do something about that, she thought as she knocked and waited. She was expecting to see Ruby's perky face smiling at her as the door opened with a groan of rusty hinges. But to her astonishment it was her mother who stood there, and even more surprising, she was wearing a pinafore.

‘Mother, it's good to see you.' Daisy stepped over the threshold and embraced her, but the response was unexpectedly cool.

Gwendoline pushed her firmly away. ‘You're early. I didn't think you would arrive until later.'

Daisy put the valise down, looking about her with a worried frown. The smell of dust and soot lingered in the air and there was a vague hint of burning, as if a pan had boiled dry on the hob. ‘Where's Ruby, Mother? Why didn't she answer the door?'

Gwendoline sniffed and tossed her head. ‘Don't mention that woman's name in my presence.' She stalked off in the direction of the kitchen and Daisy ran after her.

‘But what has she done? Where is she, and why are you going to the kitchen?' She hesitated in the doorway, gazing in horror at the sight that met her eyes. Obvious attempts at pastry making had seemingly met with disaster. There was a veil of flour misting the furniture and the floor, with pieces of dough sticking to the walls. The fire in the range was a mere glow of embers and as she looked around in dismay the source of the smell became obvious. A blackened saucepan had been set on the windowsill and the charred remnants inside
might have once been potatoes. The air was thick with smoke and Daisy flung a window open. ‘What's going on, Mother?'

Gwendoline's face crumpled and she sank down on the nearest chair. ‘I can't cook, Daisy. Heaven knows I used to once, at the very beginning when your father and I were first married, but I've forgotten everything I knew. It's been ghastly. Absolutely ghastly.'

Daisy peeled off her gloves and divested herself of her duster coat and hat. She plucked a clean apron from a drawer and tied it around her waist. ‘I'll put the kettle on and we'll have a nice hot cup of tea and you can tell me what's been going on.'

Gwendoline fished in her apron pocket and produced a hanky. She blew her nose, shaking her head. ‘It's been positively awful since Teddy joined the army, and then you deserted us. Beatrice spends all her time at that dreadful farm and she seems intent on marrying a farmer. Can you believe that?'

Daisy riddled the ashes and shovelled more coal onto the fire. ‘Jimmy seems a nice enough chap, and Bea is very fond of him. She could do worse.'

‘Worse?' Gwendoline's voice rose to a shriek. ‘My eldest daughter is marrying a lord and my youngest wants to tie herself to a peasant. I don't think she could stoop much lower than that.'

‘It's a changing world, Mother,' Daisy said gently. ‘And Jimmy is a nice young man. I believe that he loves Bea and she adores him. Why shouldn't they be happy together?'

‘Your father will never permit it,' Gwendoline said
resolutely. ‘I know Victor. He'll put his foot down when he knows what's going on.'

‘You haven't told him?' Daisy filled the kettle and put it on the hob.

‘I daren't. You know what a temper your father has when he's roused.'

Daisy had never heard her father so much as raise his voice, but she did not bother to challenge this statement. She pulled up a chair and sat down beside her mother, taking her hand in a firm hold. ‘Tell me what's been going on. Where is Ruby? And why are you slaving away in the kitchen?'

Gwendoline mopped her eyes on the crumpled hanky. ‘I caught that person consorting with a workman. They were outside in the garden. I saw them from my bedroom window.'

Daisy held her breath. Her heart felt as though it was trying to escape through her mouth. ‘What man?'

‘Does it matter? I can't remember his name, but it was the wretched fellow who fixed the Humberette. Your father asked him to come and do some odd jobs around the house and garden, and that was how he repaid us.'

The kitchen seemed to be spinning in concentric circles around her head. Daisy had to exert all her willpower to remain in control of her wildly fluctuating emotions. Bowman was up to his old tricks again, and Ruby was fool enough to be taken in by him. He had betrayed them both, professing undying love for her and then taking advantage of poor Ruby, who had already suffered pain and loss at his hands. She rose
to her feet, and her hands were shaking as she selected china from the dresser.

‘Well? Aren't you going to say anything?' Gwendoline demanded angrily. ‘I'm telling you, Daisy. That girl was consorting in our garden, and it wasn't quite dark. I could see everything.'

‘A kiss and a cuddle is hardly a crime, Mother. Ruby is young and attractive. She was bound to have a boyfriend sooner or later.'

‘It had obviously gone much further than that, Daisy. The harlot is in the family way. Of course I sent her packing the moment I discovered the truth. I won't have such loose morals in my house.'

‘Are you certain?'

Gwendoline stared at her in astonishment. ‘Why would I make up a story like that? Of course I'm sure. She was being sick and fainting all over the place. I recognised the symptoms, and when I charged her with it she said it was true. What's worse the man is already married. He has a wife and a child and she knew it. She is a fallen woman and I won't have anyone like that near my innocent daughters.'

Daisy made the tea. Concern for Ruby was overriding her anger and disgust for Bowman. She should have warned her parents that they were harbouring a cheat and a liar. He was a man who seduced women without any thought or care for the consequences and poor, besotted Ruby was the one to suffer. She had lost one baby and now she was pregnant again and probably alone. Daisy poured the tea, forcing herself to remain calm and objective. ‘When did all
this happen, Mother? Do you know where Ruby went?'

‘Why would I care what happens to her? I assume that she's got family. She's their problem, not mine.' Gwendoline lifted the cup to her lips. ‘Where's the sugar? You know that I take one lump in my tea. Anyway, now you're home you can take over the cooking. I'm quite worn out with it all, and we haven't had a decent meal since Ruby left three weeks ago.'

‘She's been gone three weeks?'

‘I don't know why you are making such a fuss about a slut like her. I've tried to get other help but that Iris is no better than she should be. She left us in the lurch months ago, but at least the man married her.'

Daisy smothered a sigh of relief. ‘So Jed married her after all.'

‘I believe you knew about it all along,' Gwendoline said, frowning. ‘You might have warned me, Daisy. It was all round the village that Teddy was involved but of course that was just idle gossip. Anyway we've lost our cook and we can't afford to hire anyone else, or so your father says, although I think he enjoys making me suffer. He said that business is flagging since Teddy left, but he has that nice fellow, Arley, helping him. I think he's just being mean.'

Daisy patted her on the shoulder. ‘You're exhausted, Mother. You should never have attempted to take on this sort of work. Go upstairs and rest and I'll have everything sorted in no time.'

Gwendoline stared at her with tear-filled eyes.
‘You're a good girl, Daisy. I don't know what I'll do without you when you're married.'

‘I'll only be half a mile away, Mother, and I'm going to ensure that you have adequate help in the house. If Lady Pendleton had known, she would never have allowed this state of affairs to exist. Now, please do as I ask and leave things to me.'

Gwendoline rose unsteadily to her feet. ‘I feel so much better now that you're here.' She made her way slowly from the room.

Daisy had been keeping a tight rein on her temper, but now anger roiled in her belly. She picked up the last lump of sticky grey pastry and hurled it at the wall. It stuck there for a moment before plopping onto the tiles below.

She set about tackling the mess with a will but her mind was racing. Where would Ruby have gone? She might have returned home, but as her relationship with her father was strained at the best of times it seemed unlikely that she would throw herself on his mercy. She had a sister living somewhere south of the river, but where exactly Daisy did not know. She worked frantically, cursing herself for being so wrapped up in her own affairs that she had neglected those who were left at home. For all she knew Ruby might have lost this baby too. She might have died in childbirth or be starving on the streets of London. At this moment, Daisy did not know who she hated most in the world, Bowman or herself.

When she had finished tidying the kitchen she put on her hat and gloves and set off for the village. It was
still only mid-afternoon and the sun was high in the sky. Heat haze shimmered off the road surface and bees droned lazily in the hedgerows. The scent of honeysuckle and dog roses filled the air and above her head a skylark warbled its sweet song, but she was too intent on her purpose to appreciate the peace and tranquillity of her surroundings.

She found Bowman in his workshop tinkering with the engine of a Model T Ford. The mere sight of his dark head bent over his work was enough to make her heart lurch against her ribs, but she held on to her anger, forcing herself to think of Ruby's sorry plight. ‘Bowman, I want words with you.'

He straightened up but his initial smile faded as he met her furious gaze. ‘Daisy?'

‘Where is she?' Daisy had to curb the instinct to fly at him and pummel him with her fists. If she had a pistol in her hand she might well have shot him through his black heart. ‘Where is Ruby?'

‘I dunno, and that's the truth.'

‘I don't believe you. She's expecting your child, but of course you know that, don't you?'

He shrugged his shoulders, eyeing her warily. ‘She told me, but there wasn't much I could do about it.'