Eve and Her Sisters (17 page)

March came in like a lion and went out like one too, with icy buffeting easterly winds and sleet, and occasional flurries of snow.An infant spring advanced through April although the month was cold and rainy, and even May was on the chilly side, frosts refusing to give up their grip on the north-east every night. Then in the last week of May the weather changed for the better. Everywhere in the lanes and fields of Durham the scent of wild flowers in profusion filled the air, stitchwort, white dead-nettle and other flowers of mid-spring joined by emergent yellow buttercups, cow parsley, hedge mustard and cowslips.

In the town of Washington, the sudden appearance of days of constant sunshine and dry air brought a sigh of relief. The sun began to accomplish the long awaited job of baking the thick mud in the back lanes and dirt streets. Once again the housewife could let her clean washing blow on the line in the fresh air rather than having it draped over a clothes horse in the kitchen, thereby turning the room into a steam parlour. It had been a long, hard, relentless winter, but it was over.

Along with the arrival of summer came changes in the lives of Eve and her sisters. At the beginning of June, in the week that saw railway and mine workers join builders on strike and two million men and boys laid off, Nell married her Toby.

It was a small wedding at the local parish church with a breakfast at the inn afterwards. Nell, decked in white, was rosy-faced and happy, and Toby was like a dog with two tails. Caleb gave the bride away and Eve and Mary were bridesmaids in simple dresses of deep blue. The day was a torment for Eve. Not only was she losing Nell who had been her best friend as well as her sister, she was acutely aware of the marked contrast between herself and Mary in their identical frocks. But she could do nothing about that. Not for the world would she have upset Nell by refusing to be her bridesmaid, and not by word or gesture did she reveal how she was feeling. She smiled and chatted her way through the day until the time came when Nell and her new husband left the inn for the two-up, two-down house they were renting in Spout Lane. They had only been able to furnish the kitchen and one bedroom and now that Toby was on strike there would be no spare money at all. Nevertheless, there had been no question of Nell suggesting to Toby that she continue at the inn once they were wed. Nell was marrying a miner. She knew he was of the opinion no man worth his salt would allow his wife to work outside the home.

Up in the attic bedroom that would now be just hers and Mary’s, Eve helped Nell gather the last of her things together. Once everything was neatly packed in the big cloth bag, Nell straightened. Careless of her wedding finery she pulled Eve to her, hugging her hard and with tears. ‘I’ll miss you so much.You will come and see me often, won’t you? It’s barely a five-minute walk. Promise me you’ll come, Eve.’

‘Course I will and you know where we are too. You can come for a cuppa or a bite to eat anytime.’

‘Aye, I know. Oh, lass, I wish you were coming an’ all.’

‘I don’t somehow think that’s what Toby’s got in mind.’

They smiled through their tears, Nell giggling weakly. ‘I hate the thought of leaving you here by yourself.’

‘Don’t be daft, I’m not by myself.’ But she knew what Nell meant and already she felt lonely.

Mary appeared in the doorway, as beautiful as a summer’s day, her blonde hair flowing down her back. ‘Toby said to hurry up. He’s champing at the bit down there.’

‘Aye, I’m coming.’ As she reached Mary, Nell hugged her, too, but briefly. ‘You two look after each other. All right?’

Mary stared at Nell, and Nell stared back at her. The exchanged glance declared they were both remembering what had been said the night Eve and Caleb had gone looking for Nicholas Taylor. ‘Have you said goodbye to Caleb’s mam?’ Mary asked into the pause which was getting uncomfortable.

‘No.’ Nell picked up her cloth bag. ‘And I’m not going to either, vicious old biddy.’

Mildred had forever alienated Nell by assuming she was
having
to get married when Nell had told her of her wedding plans at the beginning of the year. There had been a heated exchange which had culminated in Nell telling Caleb’s mother she would never set foot in her room again. She never had.

‘I think she’s got something for you. A sugar bowl and spoon.’

‘She can stick her sugar bowl and spoon where the sun don’t shine ’cos I don’t want it.’

‘Nell, perhaps it would be better to accept the olive branch if she has got something for you?’ Eve said quietly.

Nell turned and looked at her sister, her beloved sister. She didn’t want to hurt Eve but it had to be said. ‘I don’t have to try and pacify her or put up with her whims and fancies anymore,’ she said simply. ‘She’s a hateful old woman and the only person in the world she likes is Mary. You know that as well as I do. And I loathe her, lass. That’s the truth of it.’

‘She’s old, Nell.’

‘So are lots of folk but it doesn’t make them like Caleb’s mam. She would have been a nasty bit of work when she was young and she’s a nasty bit of work now. She looks on gentleness and kindness in a person as weakness and she despises them for it.’

‘Charming.’ Mary was visibly affronted. ‘So I’ve got neither of those qualities then according to you if she likes me so much.’

‘I didn’t say that. Now did I?’

‘Not in so many words, no, but that’s what you meant.’

‘Don’t tell me what I meant.’

‘And don’t treat me as though I’m half sharp, Nell.’

The conversation was brought to an abrupt halt by the sound of Eve laughing. As her sisters’ eyes swung to her, she shook her head at them. ‘At least some things never change. The sky could fall in and the earth swallow us up but still you two would spend your last seconds arguing.’

Nell and Mary smiled sheepishly. Eve walked over and put her arms round them and the three hugged, Nell and Mary united for a rare moment.

They filed downstairs and joined the wedding party in the main room of the inn. Eve watched as Caleb’s gaze immediately went to Mary. It had been the same all day, he hadn’t been able to keep his eyes off her. She couldn’t blame him. Mary looked enchanting. The cut of the bridesmaids’ dresses which the three girls had sewn themselves, along with Nell’s wedding dress, showed Mary’s tiny waist and full high breasts off to best advantage, and the cornflower blue exactly matched her eyes. She always looked fetching whatever she wore but today she was exquisite. And to give Mary her due, she had tried to stay in the background and let Nell have the limelight, Eve thought. She had noticed that and had made a mental note to thank her sister once they were alone.

Nell and Toby were making the short journey to their rented house in Caleb’s horse and cart which had been decorated with wild flowers and greenery. Even Rosie, the horse, had a topknot of bright flowering whorls of bird’s-foot trefoil, the yellow and golden-orange pea-like flowers dazzling in the sunshine. Amid somewhat ribald shouts of encouragement to Toby for the night ahead from his pit mates, and general good wishes from the rest of the wedding party, the couple climbed into the seat of the cart. Then Caleb led the horse out of the inn yard and through the village centre; everyone followed, throwing rose petals and clusters of creamy white blossoms from dogwood and elder. Once the horse and cart had turned into Spout Lane, the wedding guests shouted their good-byes, and Eve’s last sight of Nell was her sister’s radiant face as she turned to wave.

‘He’ll make her happy, lass. Have no doubts about that.’ Mrs Grant, Toby’s mother, was standing by Eve and Mary as they watched the cart disappear into the distance. ‘Fair barmy about your Nell, my lad is.’

‘I know that, Mrs Grant.’ Eve smiled through her tears. ‘And she loves him very much.’

‘Aye, Jack for a Jill, they are. Course it’s not the best start with the men coming out on strike the very week they get married, but you come from mining stock, don’t you? You know all about strikes and what have you.’

Mary had not joined in the conversation, standing slightly apart from the other two women. Now she made a small sound in her throat. It could have meant anything but Eve realised Toby’s mother had got the measure of Mary when she looked at her and said, ‘A working man has to do what he can to try and force a decent wage out of them owners, m’girl. Don’t be mistaken about that.And there’s nowt wrong with a man providing for his family whatever job he does.You’d be quick to complain if there was no coal for a fire, now then.’

‘She didn’t mean anything, Mrs Grant.’ Eve glanced at her sister, willing Mary to say something conciliatory to the irate woman but Mary just stared back at her in the aloof way she adopted sometimes.

‘I know what she meant, lass. She’s never considered my lad good enough, we all know that. Why, I don’t know, because like I said, you come from mining stock. Still, I don’t want to cast a pall on the day so we’ll say no more about it.’

Oh dear. Eve searched for the words to pour oil on troubled waters as Mary turned and left them and made her way back towards the inn, but before she could speak, Mrs Grant patted her arm. ‘Don’t you fret, lass. I know you’re of the same mind as Nell and she’s a canny little body without any airs and graces. I shouldn’t have spoken out today of all days, but my lad is a good son and he’ll make a good husband an’ all. It gets up me nose to see him looked down on by a bit lass like your Mary.’

‘I’m sorry, Mrs Grant,’ Eve said helplessly.

‘Aye, well, like my Seamus always says, it takes all sorts.’ She smiled at Eve. ‘He’s always telling me least said, soonest mended an’ all, but I think that’s easier for men than women, don’t you? Me, I like to call a spade.’

Eve nodded. She could see why Nell got on like a house on fire with Toby’s mother. They talked for a minute or two more and then, the wedding guests having dispersed, Eve said goodbye to Toby’s mother and returned to the inn. Mary was sitting in the kitchen with Caleb as she entered, a fresh pot of tea on the table. Eve could see immediately from the expression on Caleb’s face that Mary had been putting herself out to be nice. Sometimes when her sister was in what she and Nell had always termed Mary’s bratty moods she would hardly speak for days on end and then Caleb was always subdued and on edge. But the smile slid from Mary’s face as she saw her, and her sister’s voice was sharp when she said, ‘Been having me over with Mrs Grant then?’

‘Of course not.’

‘There’s no of course about it. I know what she thinks of me, same as she knows what I think of them. Ignorant, loud-mouthed lot.’

‘You can hardly call the Grants that, Mary.’

‘Why not? Just because Nell’s took up with one of them?’

Eve sighed. This was Mary, as mercurial as quick-silver. She had been as nice as pie all day but something had got under her skin. And then she felt she had her answer as to what the something was when Mary said, ‘And as for her lumping us with them, you might be happy with that but I’m not. All they can talk about is the pit, religion or Toby’s da’s allotment. ’ Her lip curled in a sneer. ‘They’re pathetic, the lot of them, and she dares to have a go at me! And you, apologising for me.’

‘I said you didn’t mean anything, that’s not the same as apologising.’

‘But I
did
mean something. Why should I pretend to be over the moon about Nell marrying a miner and a miner who’s out on strike to boot? She could have got far better than him.’

‘Toby can’t help the strike.’ Caleb entered the conversation, his voice low, almost soothing. ‘It’s one out, all out. You know that. His life wouldn’t be worth living if he didn’t go along with the others and the union. He’s only doing what he has to.’

Mary turned her great violet-blue eyes on Caleb. ‘So you’re sticking up for Eve and the Grants? Is that it?’

‘You know I’m not. It’s not a question of that.’

A catch in her voice, Mary said, ‘It sounded like that to me. I’m the odd one out here, I can see that.’

‘I’m going to change out of this dress.’ Eve left the kitchen, she couldn’t bear to witness what would inevitably occur. Mary would pout and toss her curls and maybe even force a little tear or two, and Caleb would soon be eating out of her hand again. She didn’t understand how a strong, sensible, good-looking man like Caleb, a man who could have any one of a number of lassies round about, could allow himself to be manipulated so. And then she shook her head at herself. Of course she understood it. She endured all manner of agonies of mind to be near him, didn’t she? And whereas Caleb might not be deliberately playing with her feelings like Mary did with his, it all boiled down to the same thing: love made one foolish. Mary knew Caleb cared for her; they had never discussed it but Mary knew he was in love with her all right. And one day, when Caleb made his feelings plain and brought his love out into the open, she would have to endure seeing them walking out together, getting wed, having bairns.

Eve closed her eyes for a moment before ripping off the blue frock and throwing it on the bed. Hastily she pulled on her everyday dress and tied her big serviceable apron round her waist. Wedding or not there was work to be done and it wouldn’t do itself. But one thing she had become clearer about over the last months. When the day came and Caleb wed her sister, she would leave Washington. Nell was settled, there would be nothing to keep her here. She would come and visit, she couldn’t bear the thought of losing touch with either of her sisters, but to stay and deliberately torture herself was not an option.

When war was declared on 4 August as Britons returned from the annual Bank Holiday, the announcement after weeks of uncertainty was met in many quarters by cheering and singing the national anthem. It was generally agreed by all classes that the Kaiser needed teaching a lesson and the English were man for the job. Maniac he was, the Kaiser, and cruel with it. Look how he’d treated the poor Belgians. Such things couldn’t be tolerated in a civilised world and he’d better learn that and fast. Thousands of men and boys volunteered. When the British Expeditionary Force landed in France in the middle of the month, folk everywhere were predicting the war would be over by Christmas. Still more young men, desperate to do their bit before it ended, enlisted in their thousands.