Beyond a Misty Shore (33 page)

‘That’s why I came. I had a letter today, four pages long, which is very unusual for Maria. She and Mam have been scouring Peel for suitable premises and she says she’s finally found them. Right on the quay, opposite St Patrick’s Isle and just across the road from the beach. It’s part of an old stone storehouse but the big room downstairs will be great for the tea room, and upstairs there are three smaller rooms which will serve as living accommodation. The rent they’re asking isn’t too bad but she says Mam will “negotiate” with the owner as she’s known him for years. It all needs doing up, of course, but Hans will do most of the heavy work himself.’

‘And your mam is happy to help her run it?’ Martha queried, although Lizzie had told her Sarah was delighted with the whole idea. Lizzie had added that it sounded like a
lot of hard work to her: all that baking and waiting on tables and washing up.

‘She is. Maria loves baking and Mam enjoys chatting to people – she’ll make them feel welcome. Hans has ordered a tractor, a Fordson Major, which apparently is the latest thing, and hopes to have it delivered by the end of the month. But it’s the wedding that took up most of the letter.’

‘I thought it was only going to be a quiet affair?’ Lizzie said, thinking that Katie would do well to follow Maria’s example. Her daughter seemed to have plans that would cost a fortune – something she certainly didn’t have.

‘Oh, it is, but she’d like you and Uncle Jim to go over for it and if possible Katie and Matt. She’d like Uncle Jim to give her away, seeing as Pa’s dead. I’ll be going, of course, with Bella and Arthur. She’s having Bella as a bridesmaid and I’m to be matron of honour. Mam’s going to arrange all the accommodation and I’m making Bella’s dress, my own and Mam’s.’

‘Where is Maria getting hers?’ Martha enquired.

‘Douglas, I think, and she’s taking Hans there too for a decent suit.’

Lizzie was digesting all this. It was only natural for Maria to want Jim to give her away in place of her father John; Jim was Sarah’s brother and Maria’s closest male relative. It would be great to go for a brief visit too, she could do with a bit of a holiday. She hadn’t had one in years. In fact she couldn’t remember when she’d last had one at all, but it was the expense. Jim would lose at least two days’ pay and they’d
have to give Maria some sort of wedding present. There was the fare and accommodation, she’d have to have a good dress and a hat, particularly as Sarah was going to be dressed up – she didn’t want to let anyone down. She doubted Katie would go, she was saving hard for her own home and wedding, nor would John, but she wondered would it be wise to leave Billy with his brother and sister. The Lord alone knew what that lad would get up to without Jim’s restraining presence.

‘What about Hans? He’s no family to invite – well, he has but they couldn’t possibly travel so far,’ Martha commented.

‘Mr Sayle is going to be best man and Maude will come too, but that’s all. He says he doesn’t mind, that it will be a very happy day for him even without his family there. Will I write back and tell her you’ll be going over, Aunty Lizzie?’ Sophie asked.

Lizzie hesitated. ‘Well, I . . . I’ll have to talk it over with Jim first.’

Sophie instantly understood. ‘Aunty Lizzie, if you are worrying about the expense of it all – don’t. I’ll be happy to pay for the trip and I’ll make you an outfit too, it’s not for another month. I wouldn’t want Maria to be disappointed and you were so good to us when we first came across. You gave us a home, don’t forget.’

Lizzie nodded. ‘Ah, what else could I have done, Sophie? You’re family, but I’d be very grateful for help with the expenses, luv. I wouldn’t want to disappoint Maria either but it would be a bit beyond me, I’m afraid.’

Sophie smiled. ‘That’s all settled then. I’ll write and tell
Maria. And you must come down to me on Sunday afternoon and we’ll decide on a colour and style for your outfit. I already know what I’m making for Mam so we can make sure we won’t clash. It’s much easier to choose things for a summer wedding, there are more colours that are suitable.’

‘Are you sure about that, Sophie? I mean I know you’re busy and you’ve got your outfits to make.’ Lizzie felt that now she could possibly afford to buy a dress if necessary.

Sophie nodded firmly. ‘I’m sure. I know my list of clients has increased over time, people seem to like my ideas, especially for weddings, but I send work out now, Aunty Lizzie: the tacking, plain sewing, hems and finishing off.’ She turned to Martha. ‘Did Frank get off all right? Did he sign on with another company?’ She had to ask, she couldn’t let the opportunity pass.

‘No. The only other places available were on even longer trips. He wasn’t very happy about it but it’s better than being stuck here with
her
.’

Sophie didn’t want to hear about Nora but from the scowl on Martha’s face she realised that she was going to.

‘You know who she’s taken up with now? I was only telling Lizzie about it this morning.’

Sophie tried to look interested but didn’t quite succeed.

Martha didn’t notice. ‘Only that Jake Harvey.
His
lot are as bad as the Richardses, father a drunk, brothers all in and out of jail. And that Jake is probably the worst of the lot. A real hard case, he is. It’s a living disgrace, that’s what it is. She’s been seen out on the town with him regularly, all
dressed up to the nines in stuff that no doubt
he’s
paid for, or thieved more like.’

Lizzie shook her head. ‘Well, you never know, Martha, he might just take her off your Frank’s hands. If it’s serious, that Jake might want to marry her. She might well ask your Frank for a divorce.
She
wouldn’t care about having her name in all the papers and neither would Jake Harvey.’

‘He might be a thief, a blackguard and a jailbird but he’s not a fool, Lizzie. Who’d want to take her on? She’s shop soiled. Damaged goods. Nothing more than a flaming little tart!’ Martha retorted.

‘You never know, Martha. He’s certainly no angel himself so he might not care. They’d suit each other down to the ground,’ Lizzie replied sagely.

Sophie felt her heart quicken. If what Martha and Lizzie had just said was true then . . . then there just might be a ray of hope for Frank and herself.

T
HE TIME SEEMED TO
fly by for Sophie as she rushed to complete all her orders and the wedding outfits; she had little time to dwell on Frank and how, if at all, Nora’s new liaison would affect the marriage. As the weeks progressed Bella was becoming more and more excited at the thought of being a bridesmaid and of going to see her Granny Sarah.

It had been decided that Billy would go too, as Lizzie felt it would be courting disaster to leave him behind, but Katie had regretfully declined to accompany her parents. Even though Sophie had offered to pay Matt had said he wouldn’t feel at all comfortable about going after the way Maria had treated his brother and in the light of the bridegroom’s nationality being somewhat suspect. Ben for one didn’t
believe a word that had been said about Hans Bonhoeffer. Lizzie hadn’t told Sophie that, she’d just said that Katie was grateful but had decided that it was going to cost her cousin quite enough without herself and Matt adding to the expense.

Arthur had purchased a new suit for the occasion and had undertaken the booking of the ferry and the writing of the letters of confirmation to the various bed-and-breakfast accommodations Sarah had found for everyone. Lizzie was delighted with the pale green and cream floral dress and matching jacket Sophie had made for her and had treated herself to a pale green hat, trimmed with cream artificial flowers. They had both been carefully packed in tissue paper and were now in the case. Jim’s suit had been cleaned and pressed; he had a new shirt and she’d got new trousers and a nice white shirt and a tie for Billy, who’d muttered that he hated being done up like a dog’s dinner and was glad none of his mates would be there to skit him. For that he’d received a clip around the ear from Lizzie, who had added that he should be grateful he was being included at all and that none of his “mates” were lucky enough to be going on what she termed as a “bit of a holiday”.

‘I’ll kill him with my own two hands if he makes a show of us, Sophie, I swear I will!’ Lizzie had declared darkly.

‘Oh, he’ll be fine. Bella will show him everything of interest and if it’s fine they can play on the beach,’ Sophie had reassured her aunt.

It was with mixed feelings of relief, apprehension and excitement that Jim and Arthur shepherded the little party to their seats on the
Lady of Man
that June morning. The early mist that hung over the waters of the Mersey gave promise of a fine, hot day and Sophie remarked that it would be a lovely crossing. They’d brought sandwiches with them and Bella and Billy had been promised that they could have their ‘picnic’ on deck, providing they behaved and didn’t run around and annoy everyone else.

‘Is there a
real
beach, Bella? Not just a mucky bit of sand like there is at New Brighton? Mam said she thought there was but she couldn’t remember,’ Billy asked as they sat on the deck, watching the Mersey estuary fade in the distance.

‘Of course there is, there are lots of beaches and there’s a harbour with fishing boats and the lifeboat and the causeway across to the Isle. And there’s a castle and a church there too.’

‘Does anyone live there, in the castle?’ Billy was beginning to feel that this was going to be quite an adventure and worth having to be ‘dressed up’ for.

‘No, it’s all falling down, but it’s a great place to explore.’ Bella too was looking forward to this visit.

‘Is it much further now?’ Billy had no concept of distance whatsoever and it already seemed ages since they’d left Liverpool.

‘There’s miles and miles to go yet, Billy,’ Bella replied, remembering how the crossing had seemed interminable to her when she’d first come across and how everything had seemed so strange and frightening.

‘Maybe we should ask Mam can we have the picnic now,’ Billy wondered.

Bella raised her huge blue eyes to the sky. Boys seemed to think of nothing else but food!

Everyone was up on deck as the ferry steamed slowly into Douglas harbour.

‘I have to say that this is going to be a much happier occasion than my last visit here turned out to be,’ Arthur remarked to Sophie.

‘And it’s thanks to Hetty that we’re all here today, bless her,’ Sophie replied as she took Bella’s hand.

Lizzie was hanging on firmly to Billy and Jim had the suitcase and was looking rather nostalgic. It was the first time in more years than he cared to remember that he’d been home, he thought, watching the hills behind Douglas drawing nearer. It was so long since he’d thought of this small island with its glens and mountains, quiet villages, tranquil harbours, steep cliffs and long stretches of sandy beach as ‘home’.

They had caught the bus and Billy had been fascinated by the horse-drawn trams on the promenade and then as they’d left the town behind he had gazed around in delight at the passing scenery. He’d never realised that there could be so much open space; there seemed to be miles and miles of fields with sheep and cows in them and there were very few buildings. There were no rows and rows of houses and pubs and shops as there were in Liverpool and when the bus finally came over the brow of the hill and Bella pointed out the fishing village below with its little offshore island complete
with castle and church, he decided that this was definitely worth all the travelling and fuss.

It was a while before they were all settled in the various houses and cottages around the village but Sarah had insisted that Sophie at least have a cup of tea and that the wedding finery be unpacked and hung up before Maria dragged her off to view what was destined to be the tea shop.

They left Bella with her Granny Sarah and walked the short distance down to the quayside.

‘Oh, I remember this place. Didn’t they used to store herring barrels here?’ Sophie stood looking up at the old stone building. ‘I hope the place doesn’t still smell of fish,’ she laughed.

‘Of course it doesn’t! We’ve had all the windows and doors open. Hans has cleared out the rubbish and has given everywhere a coat of whitewash, just to make it look clean and bright. Then we’ll get it painted properly.’ Maria let them in and Sophie nodded as she could see the potential.

Maria was full of enthusiasm and ideas. ‘We’re going to have a seaside theme, we think it’s appropriate. White tablecloths, blue and white china, shells and things as ornaments and I think we could even drape a bit of fishing net across those beams up there. I’m going to go to the next auction and see what I can pick up in the way of old copper kettles and pans; they’d look nice as decorative pieces too.’

Sophie smiled at her. ‘You’ll do well, I know you will, and is Hans happy at not having to work here?’

‘Oh, he’s delighted and he can’t wait for the tractor
to arrive. He’s going to be in great demand at harvest time.’

‘Have you decided on a name for it?’

‘We have. “Castle View Tea Rooms”.’

‘And everything is in hand for the big day?’