The Cockney Sparrow (36 page)

Isobel flew at him, but Clemency caught her around the waist and held her back. ‘Don’t, Izzie. He’s not worth it.’

Jared came striding along the corridor that led to his study. ‘What the hell is going on?’

‘He mauled me,’ Isobel sobbed. ‘He touched me where he shouldn’t have, and he tried to kiss me.’

‘Get out of my house,’ Jared stormed. ‘No one insults my sister. Now get out before I throw you down the stairs.’

Lady Skelton pushed past him brandishing her parasol. She whacked Darcy round the head with it, and he backed away in alarm. ‘I’d only just left the room, you little squit. And to think I trusted you with my granddaughter’s honour.’

‘Honour?’ Darcy’s eyes bulged from their sockets as he stumbled in his attempts to flee the hail of blows. ‘This is a madhouse. My mother said you were no lady and that Stone’s father was a gambler and a cheat… Aarrgh!’ he screeched, as Lady Skelton gave him a hefty shove that sent him toppling backwards down the stairs.

The sound of his body bumping from step to step echoed off the high ceilings, his bellowing sounded like a cow in need of milking – then there was silence.

‘My God, Grandmama,’ Jared said. ‘I think you’ve killed the blighter.’

Jared was first to hurry after Darcy with Clemency close behind him. As she rounded the curve in the staircase, she saw Darcy lying in a heap on the floor. For a moment she thought that he really was dead, but, as Jared reached him, he groaned and moved. Augustus had appeared from the direction of the kitchen, carrying a tray of coffee. He came to a halt and a flicker of surprise crossed his well-schooled features as he stared at the writhing body. At that moment, Dr Wilson came hurrying from the morning room. He shot a questioning look at Jared.

‘He fell,’ Jared said, prodding Darcy with the toe of his shoe. ‘Tumbled down the stairs before anyone could save him.’

Dr Wilson knelt beside Darcy. ‘Don’t move, sir. I’m a doctor. You’d better let me make sure that nothing is broken.’

Darcy groaned even more loudly. ‘I was pushed.’ He turned his head to glare at Lady Skelton, who was standing behind Clemency on the stairs. ‘She pushed me.’

‘And I’d do it again, you disgusting little man.’
Lady Skelton shook her fist at him, but almost lost her balance as Isobel hurried past her.

‘Nick. Oh, Nick. I’m so glad to see you.’ She hurled herself off the last step and he leapt up to catch her.

‘Darling, what happened?’ He held Isobel in his arms, stroking her hair as she sobbed against his shoulder.

‘He m-molested me, Nick.’

‘What?’ Nick glared at Darcy who by this time had scrambled to his feet, clutching his head.

‘I’ll sue you all for grievous bodily harm. You’ll be hearing from my solicitor, Stone. And as for you, doctor – I’ll have you struck off.’ He staggered across the entrance hall, and Augustus, having deposited the tray on a side table, opened the front door. Darcy stopped on the threshold, turning to Jared with a snarl. ‘I’ll see that you are barred from every gentlemen’s club in London. And no decent man will come anywhere near that lying little trollop.’ He pointed a shaking finger at Isobel. ‘You led me on, whore.’

‘That’s it.’ Jared exchanged glances with Nick, who handed Isobel into Clemency’s care. They advanced on Darcy together, shrugging off their jackets. Darcy took one look at their faces, and attempted to run, but in his haste he tripped over the doorsill and tumbled headlong down the steps, landing on the pavement with a thud.
Everyone crowded in the doorway to view his discomfort. Clemency stifled a giggle at the sight of Darcy sprawled on the pavement, with the passers-by looking on in amusement.

‘You haven’t heard the last of this, Stone.’ Darcy struggled to his feet, brushing the dust off his expensive suit.

‘Oh, I think we have, Fairbrother,’ Jared said in a voice that dripped acid. ‘I don’t think you’d want it put about that you mauled and insulted an innocent young girl in her own home.’

‘It’s her word against mine.’

‘There are plenty of witnesses here who will swear in court that you are a cad, sir.’

‘Bah!’ Darcy turned away to hail a passing cab.

Augustus closed the door as Jared and Nick stepped back into the hall. They faced each other for a moment, and Clemency held her breath. She could feel Isobel’s heart pounding as she supported her.

‘Jared, please.’ Isobel’s voice broke as she held her hand out to him. ‘Don’t be angry with Nick. It’s all my fault.’

‘No, sir.’ Nick squared his shoulders, meeting Jared’s stern gaze. ‘I take full responsibility. I should have asked your permission to pay court to Isobel.’

‘So, you’ve been seeing each other behind my back?’

Jared’s cold tone made Clemency shudder. She
longed to speak up for Isobel, but she knew that she would only make matters worse. Surprisingly, it was Lady Skelton who stepped in between them. ‘Now, Jared. Be reasonable. Thankfully there is no real harm done. Isobel has had an unpleasant experience, and we were mistaken in thinking that young Fairbrother was a worthy suitor. However, it seems that we’ve discovered this romance before things got out of hand. I suggest that you and Dr Wilson have a civilised and frank discussion over coffee in the morning room.’

‘Yes,’ Clemency said. ‘And don’t forget Jack. That’s why you came here this morning, Dr Wilson.’

‘Yes. The reason I came was to tell you that the arrangements are all in hand. If you can have Jack ready within the hour, I’ve been instructed to take him to the clinic in Epping to begin his treatment.’

‘Excellent. Come with me, doctor. There are matters that we need to discuss.’ Jared held up his hand as Isobel tried to follow them. ‘In private, Izzie.’

Lady Skelton took Isobel by the arm. ‘Put on your hat and gloves, Izzie. You and I are going shopping.’

‘But, Grandmama, I need to speak to Jared.’ Isobel’s mouth turned down at the corners as she watched Jared usher Nick into the morning
room, followed by Augustus bearing the tray of coffee. She turned to Clemency with a mute plea.

‘I’m sure that your doctor can stand up for himself,’ Clemency said, smiling. ‘At least Jared didn’t pitch him down the front steps after Darcy.’

Lady Skelton gave Isobel a gentle push towards the staircase. ‘Clemency is right, dear. I’ll send Augustus out to find us a cab.’

Isobel looked as though she was going to argue, but Clemency left them to sort out their differences. Her main concern now was for Jack. She hurried to the kitchen, and found that the news had gone before her, as Augustus had already given them an account of the happenings above stairs. Fancy had gone to pack a bag for Jack, and he was sitting in his usual chair, smoking a cigarette. He smiled at Clemency, but she sensed his nervousness.

‘You’ll be in good hands, Jack.’

‘I know,’ he said, exhaling a cloud of smoke with a sigh. ‘You will see that Fancy is all right while I’m away, won’t you. Clemmie?’

‘Of course.’

‘And you’ll let Ma know about me treatment?’

‘I will. Miss Isobel is going shopping with Lady Skelton so I’ll be free to go round and see her this afternoon.’

Ronnie looked up from peeling potatoes over a bucket of water. ‘I’m not playing in the band
until this evening. I’d like to go with you, if I may, Clem?’

‘Ma would like that, Ronnie.’ Clemency went to Jack and kissed him on the forehead. ‘I’ll be thinking of you, love. You be a good boy and do everything they say.’

He smiled ruefully, but she could see that his eyes were reddened, as if he was fighting back tears. ‘Give Ma my love. Tell her that the next time she sees me, I’ll be walking on me own two feet.’

Clemency wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his dark hair: it smelt faintly of tobacco smoke, and Calvert’s carbolic soap. She knew that she would miss him terribly: this would be the first time in her life that she had been parted from her brother. She could only hope and pray that the staff in the nursing home would be kind and considerate to his wants and needs.

Ronnie cleared his throat. ‘We’ll all miss you, Jack.’

‘Well, I won’t, because I’m going with him.’ Fancy marched into the kitchen carrying a bulging carpet bag, which Clemency recognised as belonging to Ronnie. ‘Don’t look at me like that, Clem. I’ve made up me mind. I’ll sleep in the stables if they won’t let me stay in the hospital.’

There was nothing that anyone could say that
would deflect Fancy from her course. She stuck by Jack’s side like a burr on a dog’s coat until Nick agreed, somewhat reluctantly, to take her with them. The person who protested the loudest was Nancy. She objected to losing Fancy’s services as kitchen maid. She threatened to take the matter to Jared, and was only mollified by Clemency and Ronnie’s offer to take on the menial tasks themselves, and to help with the cooking. An hour later, Jack and Fancy left in the hired carriage with Nick. Clemency stood on the top step, waving until they were out of sight. ‘He will be all right, won’t he, Ronnie?’

Ronnie patted her on the shoulder. ‘Anything is worth a try. Put it this way, he won’t be no worse off, and there’s a chance that they might be able to get him walking. You’ve got to stop worrying about him.’

Clemency wiped her eyes on her sleeve. ‘I know, but I’ve looked out for him ever since I can remember.’

‘He’s a grown man, and he’s got Fancy to care for him now.’ Ronnie slipped his arm around her shoulder. ‘Let’s go and see Edie, and tell her what’s happening. You still got your ma to look after, and there’s always me and Augustus. We’re like family now, ain’t we?’

‘Of course you are.’

‘Then get your bonnet, ducks. We’ll slip out
without anyone seeing us and we’ll get a bus to Carter Lane. I can’t wait to see Edie again.’

Edith was in the pub kitchen preparing a large piece of steak for the pot. She looked up with a delighted smile as they entered through the scullery. Clemency was still wary of walking through the bar, just in case Hardiman had grown bold enough to frequent his old haunts. Edith rushed over to give her a hug. ‘This is a lovely surprise.’ She glanced at Ronnie beneath her lashes. ‘And you too, Ronnie. This is an honour, I’m sure.’

‘It’s good to see you again, Edie.’ Ronnie grasped her hands, despite the fact that they were covered in blood.

Clemency eyed them in surprise. Ma was actually flirting with Ronnie, and he was responding as if he liked it. She had grown used to seeing Ma as she had been in the old days, a poor victim of drink and vice. Now she seemed changed almost beyond recognition; she was plumper and prettier, quite stunningly so considering all that she had suffered. Ronnie seemed to think so too. He was smiling down at Edith with an almost boyish look on his lined face – a mixture of shyness and admiration.

Clemency turned with a start as Nell came bustling in from the parlour. ‘Well, this is a nice surprise,’ she said, unconsciously echoing
Edith’s words. ‘You’re looking so fine these days, Clemmie. Quite the young lady.’

‘And you’re looking well too,’ Clemency said, smiling. ‘As to Ma, well, I’ve never seen her looking better.’

‘She’s certainly bloomed since she come here.’ Nell’s smile faded and she pursed her lips. ‘She attracts the punters like flies round jam. Ned says it’s good for business, but I like to keep her out of the bar. We don’t want that sort of thing going on in a respectable pub.’

Edith turned away from Ronnie and hurried over to the table. ‘Don’t talk soft, Nell. I don’t encourage them silly old sods.’

‘That fellow Hardiman hasn’t been back, has he?’ Ronnie’s voice was sharp with concern.

‘No. My Ned would throw him out if he dared to show his face.’ Nell’s expression lightened as she mentioned her son. ‘He’ll be pleased you’ve come to visit, Clemmie. Why don’t you go through to the bar and give him a surprise?’

Clemency decided that her news could wait until they were all together, and she went through to the bar, where she found Ned serving a customer. He looked over his shoulder as she came up behind him, and his face split into a pleased smile.

‘Clemmie.’

‘Hello, Ned.’ She reached up and brushed his cheek with her lips. It seemed so natural to greet
him as she would Jack, but she realised immediately that it had been a mistake. He thrust the tankard into the customer’s hands and snatched the money without taking his eyes off her. She had seen that hot look in other men’s eyes, and she lowered her gaze as she felt a blush rising to her cheeks. ‘Can you spare a moment, Ned? I’ve got something to tell you all.’

‘What is it?’

There was an anxious note in his voice, but she could not look him in the eye. ‘Come into the kitchen and I’ll tell you.’

He followed her, demanding to know what was so urgent, but Clemency did not answer. She was more concerned about how Ma would take the news, and she made her sit down on a stool next to Ronnie before she told them about Jack’s consultation with Mr Chance, and his admission to the private clinic in Epping. Edith’s eyes widened and she fanned herself with her apron. ‘Well, I never did.’

‘Is that all you can say, Ma?’

‘I’m flabbergasted! I dunno what to say.’ Halfway between tears and laughter, Edith clutched Ronnie for support. ‘I never thought he’d be able to walk again. My poor little Jack. My crippled boy.’

Ronnie pulled a crumpled hanky from his pocket and gave it to her. ‘There, there, don’t take on, Edie. It’s good news.’

‘It’s the best news I could have. When my Cyril left me, I thought nothing would ever come right again, and then I fell in with that bugger Hardiman. Life can be so cruel at times and then something like this happens.’ She mopped her streaming eyes with the hanky.

‘Cyril! You never mentioned his name before.’ Nell said with a sharp edge to her voice. ‘My old man was called Cyril.’

Ned hooked his arm around her shoulders. ‘It’s just a coincidence, Mum.’

‘And he was a publican too.’ Nell glared at Edith.

‘There must be hundreds of pub landlords called Cyril,’ Ronnie said stoutly.

‘Yes,’ Clemency added. ‘And my dad was called Cyril Skinner. Your old man was Cyril Hawkes.’

‘And my Cyril was the landlord of the Pig and Whistle pub in Wapping.’ Edith crumpled Ronnie’s hanky into a ball, staring nervously at Nell.