The Constant Heart (22 page)

Rosina sat down as her legs went weak at the knees. 'Are you telling me that we're bankrupt, Walter?'

He set his pen down on the inkstand. 'It looks very like it. There are a few debts that I can call in, and there will be enough to settle the funeral expenses, but with the boat laid up and your papa ailing, there is no way that we can continue in business. I cannot commission the shipwright to make the necessary repairs to the
Ellie May
unless we can raise the funds to pay for it.'

'Oh, my goodness. What will we do?'

He rose to his feet. 'Don't look so worried. Leave it to me, and I'll see what I can do.'

Looking up into his earnest face, she was slightly reassured. 'I trust you, Walter. If anyone can save us, I know it will be you. And when Papa recovers his strength, things will be as they always were.'

'Be sure that they will,' Walter said, smiling. He took his cap from the peg behind the door, and put it on his head. 'I'll be back soon.'

'Thank you, Walter.'

He tipped his hat, but he was not smiling as he left the room. She heard the front door open, followed by the murmur of male voices, and just as she was about to leave the office, Harry entered. Before she could protest, he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her on the lips. 'My darling, how are you today?'

She pulled away from him. 'Harry, don't.'

'Don't what, my love? We're on the brink of announcing our engagement, so why can't I kiss my bride-to-be?'

'You presume too much. I haven't accepted your proposal. Besides which, my papa is ill in bed, and I really cannot think about anything as serious as marriage at the moment.'

'But, my darling.' Harry took her hand in his. 'Now is the perfect time for you to consider my proposal. Your father's business is ruined. I'm sorry to put it to you so bluntly, but he cannot trade with the
Ellie May
laid up and the repairs are going to be costly.'

'I know all that, Harry. I'm not a child. But my papa will find a way.'

'He's an old man, Rosie. Old and sick. I am young and healthy and, above all, I have the money to save the
Ellie May
and to keep your father in business. Just say the word and I will make funds available. You need never worry again.'

She did not doubt his sincerity, and once, not so very long ago, she had thought him charming and attractive, but her last encounter with the pirate had changed everything. She was fond of Harry, but to pledge her life to him was another matter, even if it meant that she would be able to save Papa's beloved boat and protect his livelihood. She gazed down at her small hand as it lay in his, and she remembered how it felt when the pirate held her thus. There was no comparison. But she might never see him again. Hadn't he warned her of that? She raised her eyes to meet Harry's expectant gaze. He was so confident that she would say yes. She attempted a smile; but she really wanted to cry. 'Will you give me a little more time to think about it?'

He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. 'My darling girl, of course you may have more time, but please, don't keep me too long in suspense. I want to tell the world, and in particular my mama, that we are to be joined in matrimony.'

The mention of Mrs Gostellow sent a shiver down Rosina's spine that was not at all pleasurable. 'She doesn't like me, Harry.'

'Of course she does. She thinks that you are delightful, and extremely pretty. Mama is certain that she can mould you into the perfect wife for an up and coming young man like me.'

Rosina closed her eyes, trying to blot out an image of Mrs Gostellow training her like a puppy-dog. 'Really?' she murmured weakly. 'How – splendid.'

'I can see that you are touched, my love. As any young girl would be when honoured with the attentions of a woman like my mama.' Harry kissed her lightly on her closed eyelids. 'It will be a union quite literally made in heaven, my pet. As soon as Captain May is well enough, I will ask him for your hand in marriage.'

Her eyes flew open. 'I haven't said yes.'

He touched the tip of her nose with his forefinger, smiling into her eyes. 'But you will, my sweet. I know you will. Even if you hated me, which I know you do not, you would not be so foolish as to pass up the opportunity to save your papa's business and make him a very happy man.'

'Would you really pay for the repairs to the
Ellie May
?'

'Of course I would.'

'And what about Captain Barnum? You seem to encourage him to compete with my papa.'

Harry shrugged his broad shoulders. 'That is good business, my dear.'

'Is it good business to abet two old men in a lifelong feud that is becoming dangerous in its intensity?'

'You worry too much, my darling. What happened on the river was an accident caused by the bad weather. I'm certain that Barnum would do nothing to endanger his own vessel.'

'But it was my papa's boat that was holed, Harry. And he was convinced that Captain Barnum was to blame.'

'My love, you must put all these thoughts out of your pretty little head. These are men's matters and should not concern you.'

She bit back an angry retort. 'You're forgetting that it is my business, Harry. One day the
Ellie
May
will be mine.'

He laid his hand on hers. 'Ours, my love. As I've said before, when we're married, it will be ours.'

A vision of her life as Mrs Harry Gostellow flashed through her mind. She saw herself in the Gostellows' dark drawing room, working away at her embroidery under the eagle eye of her mother-in-law, while Harry and his father ran the company.

He raised her hand to his lips. 'Oh, my darling, I can see that the whole idea overwhelms you, but I can assure you that you will be a fitting wife for a Gostellow, and you will prove my mama wrong when she says that I ought to look higher for a bride.'

She snatched her hand away. 'Thank you, Harry. I'll remember that. Now, I really must go back to the kitchen. Gladys will be bringing the children home soon and I have the dinner to prepare.'

'What?' Harry frowned. 'No, this won't do at all, Rosie. Where is that servant woman? Cooking is her job, not yours.'

'Bebe is not a servant,' Rosina said indignantly. 'She is part of our family, and she is worn out with nursing my papa. And I can cook, or at least I will have a good try at it, so there.' She brushed past him and walked out of the office, not caring if he took offence at her abrupt departure. How dare he call her beloved Bebe a servant? She went into the kitchen and slammed the door. If he followed her now, she would give him a piece of her mind that he would not soon forget. But she heard the front door close with an emphatic bang, and she guessed that he had gone off in a mood like a sulky schoolboy. She shrugged her shoulders and set about peeling potatoes – at least she knew how to do that. Having put the saucepan on the range, she went outside into the yard intending to light the fire under the copper. But the kindling was damp and she was having difficulty in using the old-fashioned tinderbox. She had used the last of the vestas to coax the fire in the kitchen range into life this morning. That was another item which she had omitted from her shopping list. She stood back, wiping her damp forehead on the back of her hand. Who would have thought that it was so difficult to light a fire? She sniffed the air – something was burning. The acrid smell was coming from the house. She ran through the scullery into the kitchen. The air was blue with smoke and there were hissing noises coming from the pan on the range. She covered her mouth with her hand, and with streaming eyes made her way to the range. The pan had boiled dry and the potatoes were reduced to a black smelly mess in the bottom; when she tried to lift it she burned her fingers on the handle. She let it go with a yelp of pain and the saucepan fell to the ground. Tears ran down her cheeks as she surveyed the damage to the pan, and the mess of scorched potato that had splattered all over the flagstones. She had not heard the door open, and she turned with a start at the sound of Bertha's voice. 'Gawd almighty! What have you done, girl?'

'I was trying to make dinner, but it all went wrong.' Rosina sank down on a chair, covering her face with her hands.

Walter had followed Bertha into the room. He took a cloth from the table and stooped down to retrieve the smoking saucepan. 'There's not much damage done.' He hurried through to the scullery and Rosina heard the hiss of cold water hitting the hot metal.

'Pans cost money,' Bertha said crossly. 'And what's all this?' She snatched up the bag of biscuits and poked her finger into the fatty bacon. 'Did you waste our last few pennies on this rubbish, Rosina May?'

Tears spilled from her eyes and Rosina nodded wordlessly. 'I was going to cook dinner.'

'What sort of meal would you make out of biscuits and fat bacon? I thought you had more sense.' Bertha pushed the food away with a disdainful snort. 'I can't leave you on your own for one moment.'

'I'd say that she was trying her best.' Walter came back into the room empty-handed. 'I'm afraid the pan is ruined, but it's not the end of the world. And if you've never taught her how to do things, how can you expect her to manage on her own?'

Bertha puffed out her chest and her cheeks flushed wine red. 'Don't you speak to me like that, young man. I've brought Rosie up since she was a baby, and I don't need you telling me what I should or shouldn't do.'

'I'm sorry if it offends you, Miss Spinks, but I'd say that you're not being fair to her.'

Rosina leapt to her feet. 'Stop it, both of you. I've made a terrible hash of things and it's all my fault. Now we've no food and no money either. Tell me off if you want to, Bebe, but I was just trying to do my best.'

Bertha's face crumpled and she flung her arms around Rosina. 'Oh, my pet. I'm sorry. I'm just tired and I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. Walter is quite right.'

'I'm pleased to hear you say so,' Walter said, grinning. 'Was that an apology, Miss Spinks?'

'Certainly not.' Bertha tossed her head. 'I got nothing to apologise for.'

'How is Papa?' Rosina asked, changing the subject. 'Is he any better?'

'I've done all I can, ducks. I think he's on the mend, but he could do with seeing the doctor.'

'There's no money left,' Rosina said, shaking her head. 'None at all.'

'Not quite.' Walter took a leather pouch from his inside coat pocket and placed it on the table. 'There is enough there to pay the doctor, and also the funeral expenses.'

Bertha picked up the pouch, weighing it in her hand. She raised her eyebrows, staring at Walter. 'This feels like a lot of money. Where would you get so much?'

'Bebe! That sounds so ungrateful.' Rosina linked her hand through Walter's arm. 'Well done, my good friend. I know that I can always rely on you, Walter.'

'I hope so, Rosie.'

'Rosie? Remember your place, young man. It's Miss Rosina to you.'

Bertha's voice was severe, but Rosina saw that she was smiling, and she allowed herself to relax. 'I'd say it doesn't matter where the money came from. Perhaps we could use some of it to buy proper food, Bebe?'

'Yes, indeed. But I'll tell you what to buy this time. And you can take Walter with you to make sure that you don't spend it on chocolate or iced buns.'

'May I see Papa first?' Rosina clasped her hands together, casting a pleading look at Bertha. 'May I? Please.'

Bertha nodded her head. 'All right, but if he's asleep, don't wake him. And don't get too near the bed.' She turned to Walter. 'And you, young man. Go and fetch Dr Wilkinson. He can see young Caddie while he's about it, and maybe give her some tonic that will set her back on her feet. It's not good for a young woman to turn her face to the wall. I've known some do that and simply fade away.'