The Marriage Certificate (6 page)

Nick Bastion was in his office with Carol. The ‘Williams’ file
was the first case she’d been given to handle on her own. She wanted to impress
her boss and was hoping for success.

‘Any luck with the Williams case I asked you to look at
yesterday?’ Nick asked.

‘Well, I’ve made a little progress,’ she replied cautiously.
‘I’ve assumed, as you suggested, that the deceased came from the Leyton area,
not South Wales. I’ve ordered birth certificates for all of the Harry – and
Harold – Williams, born in Essex in the fourth quarter of 1900. I think there
are about ten possible births. The certificates will be with us later this
week. There’s a reasonable chance that one of them might be correct, but
obviously it could all be a waste of time and money.’

Nick nodded. ‘Good thinking about the name Harold,’ he said.
‘I realise that we could be wasting our time but I’m happy to throw a little
money at this one. We might be lucky … actually, there is something else you
can do …’

‘Yes?’ Carol said, wondering what she had missed.

‘Try the electoral roll. Find out if the Essex County
Records Office has voting records for Leyton. See if you can find out how long
Mr Williams lived at his address and whether he was there fifty years ago or
so, when his parents might still have been alive. You never know, the record
might show other registered voters at the same address and if they were family
members, then we may be on to something.’

‘I’ll get on to that straight away.’

‘Let me know how you get on.’

Carol returned to her desk downstairs and looked up the
number of the Essex County Records Office. She gave them a call and afterwards
spoke to Nick on the internal phone system. ‘I’ve tracked down the voting
records for the time period we want. One set is at the Vestry House Museum,
just down the road in E17. They’re on microfilm. Shall I go down there or ask
someone else?’

‘Pop down there yourself. It’s not far. Go this afternoon.
That should give you plenty of time to look thoroughly.’

Nick put down the phone and leaned back in his comfortable
leather office chair. He pondered his conversation with Carol. This case was
fourteen years old, so competition, at the moment, was unlikely. It had
obviously gone cold. He had a feeling though about this one, and the thrill of
solving an old case always got his investigative juices flowing … that and of
course the possibility of a nice fat commission.

The hunt was on.

Louisa and Rose were upstairs at
The George Hotel. The reception had gone extremely well. The men had retired to
smoke cigars and enjoy a brandy. Louisa, John, his parents and Aunt Beatrice
were to leave together, as they were all travelling to the Isle of Wight. It
would be Louisa’s first trip to the island and she was looking forward to
staying at Arthur and Florence’s hotel in Ventnor for three nights’ honeymoon.

‘Oh Louisa, Frank is so amusing and such good company. I
can’t believe my luck to be paired with him today. We seemed to have so much to
talk about. I know you told me he was nice, but I never imagined he could be
such fun and so good-looking too. Is the Isle of Wight full of men like John
and Frank?’

‘I doubt it. I think they’re the pick of the bunch. I told
you Frank was nice and that you didn’t need to worry! Mind you, watch him Rose;
I’ve seen how he looks at you. I think he might be well and truly smitten.’

‘Do you think so Louisa, really?’

‘Yes I do, and like I say, watch out!’

Louisa beckoned to Rose to come close. ‘Rose, I know I can
trust you. I want to let you into a secret. You must promise me that you won’t
tell anyone,’ she whispered.

‘Of course, of course … goodness, Louisa, what on earth is
it? Have you got some terrible thing to tell me about John? … or even Frank?’

‘Shush, listen … I’m pregnant,’ she whispered.

‘What do you mean, you’re pregnant?’

‘I mean, I’m pregnant. I’m going to have a baby. It happened
on John’s last leave, back in early December at John’s house.’

Rose put her hand to her mouth.

‘Look don’t look so shocked,’ declared Louisa. ‘I know it’s
… but, well it’s happened!’ she continued. ‘I was so worried at Christmas when
I was late, and when I missed completely I was in such a panic. I told John as
soon as he came back and he said that we would get married straight away.
That’s why it’s all been a bit of a rush.’

‘Does your father know?’

‘No, of course not … and I don’t want him to know, at least
not yet.’

‘So what’s going to happen?’

‘Well, everything’s fine now. We’re married and if the baby
comes on time, well we can just say that it came early. I’m due at the
beginning of September. Mind you, I am worried. I can’t stop thinking about my
mother and what happened to her.’

‘Don’t be silly, you’ll be fine. You’re fit and healthy. I
thought you were a bit quiet at Christmas. I assumed it was because you said
that you were missing John. I didn’t realise you were worried about something.
Sorry, I should have noticed that there was more to it.’

‘It’s fine … don’t worry. If you didn’t notice, then I’m
certain father didn’t either.’

‘Louisa?’

‘Yes?’

‘What’s it like … you know … doing it … losing your
virginity?’

Louisa stifled a giggle and whispered. ‘Trust you to ask,
Rose … actually it’s quite nice … I can’t wait until we get to Ventnor
tonight!’

The carriage pulled away from the
pavement outside The George Hotel and headed towards the railway station. The
newly-weds were departing, along with John’s parents and Aunt Beatrice. The
guests shouted their last farewells and as the carriage rounded the corner at
the end of High Street, they all turned to agree with each other on how happy
the couple looked and how everything had gone so well.

It was mid-afternoon and due to get dark shortly. The staff
at Crockford’s had been given the whole day off, but when Mr Crockford said his
goodbyes and headed towards his shop, most of the staff soon followed after
him.

Back inside the foyer of the hotel, Frank asked Rose if she
had a coat.

‘It’s upstairs,’ she said. ‘Room number 2, where Louisa
changed before the journey. There’s a bag on the bed too, which needs to go
back to the house.’

‘Right,’ he said. ‘You wait here and I’ll go up to fetch
them. If we need to take her bag back to the house, why don’t you come with me?
You can hang up her things and tidy up if you like.’

Rose considered the invitation. At least he hadn’t asked her
to go up to the room with him to collect Louisa’s bag. For a single lady to
accompany a man into a hotel room would be considered as very unseemly and most
improper. What about going back to the house? Surely that would be all right, after
all she
did
need to put Louisa’s dress away in the wardrobe and she
wanted to make sure that the house was in order, ready for her return on
Thursday … and obviously she couldn’t let Frank touch any of Louisa’s clothes
or unpack her bag.

‘Very well, thank you,’ she replied, a little hesitantly.

‘Is that a
very well, I can fetch the things
, or a
very
well, you’ll accompany me to Apsley Street
?’

‘It means fetch the bag and that I’ll accompany you to
Apsley Street, but I won’t stay long.’

Five minutes later, they were sitting opposite each other in
a Hackney cab. Rose’s innermost thoughts were a little confused. Here she was,
a single woman, in a cab with a single man, a very handsome man, on her way
with him to an empty house, where all manner of things could occur. She
shouldn’t be doing this. What might he think of her? On the other hand, she
thought,
don’t be ridiculous Rose! You were the bridesmaid today and he was
best man. Your best friend married his brother. So what’s wrong if you
accompany him? It’s all quite innocent. Isn’t it? You are merely assisting him
in carrying out his duties as best man, to ensure that all the loose ends are
tied up and everything is returned to its place.

Frank looked across at Rose and smiled; a smile she
reciprocated before she turned her head to look out of the window.

God, you’re lovely,
he thought.
John told me you
were pretty, but his description clearly did not do you justice. I wonder if
you like me, if you find me attractive. I’d love to kiss you. What if the opportunity
arises? Should I try, or will you push me away and reject me?

He considered the situation. She had acquiesced to come back
to the house with him. That must say something about what she thought of him;
that had to be some sort of positive concession in his favour. She seemed to
enjoy his jokes and they had conversed on numerous subjects, both on Wednesday
evening and now again today.

As far as age, she was just about right for him, he
twenty-four and her twenty-five, not that she’d told him; he’d asked John. He’d
also enquired whether she had a male companion or suitor and John had made his
day when he replied that as far as he knew Rose had never had a suitor, nor
been engaged. She was probably a virgin too, thought Frank, which surely put
his chances of seducing her at nought. Never mind, he had one trump card, which
if he played it right, might just persuade her, and with luck the evening might
yet end in the manner he so greatly desired.

They drew up at 46 Apsley Street. Frank paid the cab driver
and opened the gate to escort Rose up the short path to the front door. The
house was almost new, the centre one in a terrace of five. It was nearly dark
and the drapes were already closed at the neighbouring properties. He patted
his pockets several times to locate the key, which his brother had entrusted to
him, along with the marriage certificate. He feigned an exaggerated expression
of loss on his face.

Rose looked troubled. ‘What’s wrong? Have you lost the key?’

‘Don’t worry,’ he laughed. ‘I didn’t lose the ring this
morning and no, I haven’t lost the key either.’ He produced the key.

‘Oh Frank!’ Rose exclaimed. ‘You really worried me then!’
She paused a moment, before she giggled and he started to laugh too. He
unlocked the door and they went inside.

In the back room, Frank turned on the gas lighting and
stoked the fire; a few embers still glowed from the morning. It was nice and
warm in the house, especially in contrast to the falling temperature outside,
the clear sky heralding a cold frosty evening. He filled the kettle with water
and placed it on the single gas ring. The house was well equipped with all the
latest conveniences.

Rose, meanwhile, slipped upstairs. The house had two
bedrooms: the main one at the front, and a smaller one at the rear, which
belonged to Frank, overlooking the garden. Rose went into the main bedroom.
Louisa had shown her on Wednesday where to put her things. She unpacked
Louisa’s bag, hung up her dress and shawl. The bed was unmade. She supposed
that John had not had time to make it before he left for the church. She
debated whether to touch it and decided that she
would
make it, so that
the bedroom would look nice for when they returned from the Isle of Wight.

As she smoothed the sheets, Rose’s mind wandered to what she
assumed had taken place in this very bed, just a few weeks before. She
remembered Louisa’s reply to her question of,
what was it like?
She
tried to put such thoughts out of her mind, but the problem, she realised, was
that she was a little jealous of Louisa. She knew she shouldn’t be, but
jealousy was a failing with Rose, be it money, position, social standing, or
whatever. It was probably deep-rooted and connected with her impoverished
childhood and lack of a proper family.

Why should Louisa have all of the fun? Why couldn’t she,
Rose, just for once experience what Louisa had? Surely, now, this evening, was
her chance, a rare opportunity. Here she was, alone in a house, with a lovely
man, of whom she was growing increasingly fond. What would be the harm? Should
she give him some indication of what she might be prepared to offer him? Maybe
she should seduce him, but how? Rose had no experience whatsoever in these
matters.

As it happened, Frank took the initiative. When Rose went
back downstairs, he greeted her with a large glass of sherry. They sat down and
started to chat.

‘I think everything went off very well today Rose. Don’t you
agree?’

‘Yes it did. Louisa looked so happy when they left. I know
she was really looking forward to seeing the island.’

‘Gosh, I nearly forgot.’

‘Forgot what?’ asked Rose.

‘The Marriage Certificate.’ He stood and went over to where
his jacket hung and withdrew the certificate from the large inside pocket. ‘Do
you think it’ll be all right here on the dresser?’

‘Yes, I’m sure it will. They’re bound to see it there and of
course I can remind Louisa when they return.’

Frank walked over to the fire and turned to face Rose. ‘My
brother married at last,’ he remarked, shaking his head slightly in apparent
disbelief. ‘Let’s raise a glass to John and Louisa, to wish them success and
happiness.’ He came over to Rose and sat down in the chair next to her. They
gently clinked their glasses in a toast.

‘I thought your cousin George and wife Charlotte were very
nice. I enjoyed chatting with them. They certainly laughed at those stories you
recounted, when you and George were children. Before you joined us, they were
describing to me where they lived on the island and even invited me to call on
them if ever I got the opportunity to go to Ventnor. You know they’re staying
on in the capital for a few days. They’ve never been to London before, so I was
able to tell them something of what to see and where to go.’

‘Oh, well done. George would appreciate that and you’re
right, they are very nice.’

Rose began to relax, enjoying Frank’s company, as well as
the warm ambiance of the room and the effect of the sherry. They got on to the
subject of Frank’s enlistment.

‘It’s not just John who’s worried about you enlisting and
going to South Africa,’ Rose began. ‘I am too, you know. The Boers have
inflicted some very embarrassing defeats on our troops.’

‘Don’t think about it. I’ll be all right … but obviously
there’s no guarantee that I will survive unscathed …’ He left the thought
hanging just long enough for it to take effect. He decided that this was the
moment. ‘Rose,’ he said gently. ‘You and I have become well acquainted with
each other these past few days. I think we’ve become good friends.’

Rose looked at him steadily, not wishing to interrupt.

‘I am going to a very dangerous place and there is a risk
that I may not return. There is something I would like to do before I go, if
you would permit me.’

‘And what is that?’ Rose asked, barely able to keep her
excitement under control, sensing that something was going to happen.

‘I would very much like to kiss you.’ With that, he stood.
He offered his hand to hers.

Rose took Frank’s hand and stood up in front of him. For a
few seconds they looked at each other cautiously, not sure whether to proceed.
Then, Frank bent his head down to her and they kissed a soft gentle kiss. He
drew back a little to check her reaction. He was worried that he had been too
forward, but his concern was unfounded. Rose put her hand around his neck and
pulled his head down to hers. She stood on tiptoes to meet his lips and this
time they kissed firmly and with passion.

Later that evening, Frank escorted her in the cab on the
return journey to Crockford’s. He asked the cab driver to pull up a few doors
down from the shop. ‘This will do fine. Can you wait a minute? I’ll need to go
back to Apsley Street.’

‘Certainly, sir.’ The cab driver descended and opened the
door.

Frank stepped down first and when he offered his hand to
Rose to help her descend, they both felt again a measure of the warmth and
intimacy that they had so recently shared. Rose had given herself completely to
this man.

He whispered, ‘I’ll see you here on Wednesday evening at
seven o’clock then.’

‘Yes,’ she said quietly. ‘I usually go to a painting class
with Louisa on Wednesday evenings, so nobody here will think any different.
They’ll assume I’m going on my own, but I will need to be back here by ten
o’clock.’