For The Sake of Her Family (12 page)

She held on tight as the trap swayed over the rough cobbles of the path that led to the old wooden bridge and the picturesque waterfall that cascaded above it. She could make out the shape of
her brother, waving frantically at them as they approached the bridge, but who was the person that stood behind him? Could it be . . . ? Surely not? There was no way that it could be Nancy! How
could she be there? She never left the house.

‘Well, what do you think of that, then? What’s your brother like – he’s kept that quiet, hasn’t he, the old dog?’ Jack blushed and smiled at Alice.
‘I’ve never seen her, but seemingly he met her when he was in the bath with nothing on.’

Alice gasped. ‘What was he doing? She’s met hardly anyone, let alone our Will in the nude. By, the poor lass – it’s not a pleasant sight. I should know, I’ve filled
his tin bath at home often enough.’ She covered her mouth, realizing how familiar she had been with Jack.

‘Yes, well, it was in a bath he met her . . . But shush now, they’ll hear us.’ Jack felt awkward. He was the only one who didn’t know Nancy and yet he had heard so much
about her. He made a conscious effort not to stare at her when he stopped the trap and helped Alice alight to the daisy-covered field.

‘I bet this takes you by surprise, eh, Sis?’ Will bounded over and hugged his astonished sister.

‘Oh, never mind about you giving me a hug,’ said Alice, breaking free so she could run to Nancy, who was standing half hidden under a parasol at the edge of the bridge. ‘I
can’t believe you are here!’ Forgetting that the Frankland family were her employers, she reached for Nancy’s free hand as she would an old friend.

‘I took a lot of persuading, Alice. I’m still very nervous – this is my first time outside in company for years. I had forgotten how wonderful fresh air smells, and how much I
enjoy good company like your brother’s.’ Nancy twirled her parasol coyly and lowered her face so as not to look at the smiling Will.

‘Our Will – good company? It must be the sunshine gone to your head. He’s a big galoot! But still, it’s good to see you outside and enjoying the sun. What I want to know
is, how did he manage it? I’ve been trying to tempt you out for weeks and then he flutters his baby-blue eyes and here you are.’ Alice smiled, putting one hand on her hip and hitting
her brother’s shoulder playfully with the other. ‘And look at him, all dressed up like a dog’s dinner! Where did he buy that suit? I think it’s ’cos of him being
around the manor so much; he has ideas above his station!’

‘Never you mind, our lass. What you don’t know won’t hurt you.’ Will smiled and called over to Jack. ‘Well, lad, did you manage to keep it to yourself, or did my
devious little sister wheedle the secret out of you? And what are you doing back there, hanging about like a bad smell? Come and meet Nancy – you know you want to!’

Will was deliberately playing on his friend’s shyness in order to escape telling his sister that he had been keeping Nancy company since the day he had seen her fleetingly in the bathroom.
Much to the disgust of the manor’s servants – but he really didn’t care what they thought or said.

‘Pleasure to meet you, Miss Frankland.’ Jack reached out his hand in greeting, moving slowly, trying not to look directly at the face of Nancy.

‘Please, Jack, call me Nancy. “Miss Frankland” sounds so stuffy, and as we are to picnic together I don’t want you to feel on edge with me.’ She smiled and shook
Jack’s hand, looking him straight in the eye, not hiding the fact that her face was scarred.

Alice could not help noticing the change in Nancy. Today she seemed much less embarrassed by her scars; perhaps it was Will’s doing. Having him there seemed to be boosting her confidence
and making her life a little more worthwhile. She smiled quietly to herself as Will took Nancy’s arm and led her to the tablecloth that had been spread out on the meadow floor with a
delicious picnic upon it.

‘May I, Miss Bentham?’ Jack held out his arm for Alice and grinned, pretending that he, too, was the perfect gentleman.

‘I don’t mind if I do, Mr Alderson.’ Alice took his arm and sat next to Nancy, who was still holding the parasol, both for shade and to shield her scars from prying eyes.

‘Isn’t it a beautiful day.’ Alice leaned back after eating her way through the manor’s best pork pie and salmon sandwiches, washed down with home-made lemonade from
Jack’s mother. ‘I wish every day could be like this.’

‘Oh, before I forget, I’ve got a little something for you.’ Nancy untied her beautifully embroidered Dorothy bag and took out a small package. ‘You admired this so much
on the first day we met, the day when I was such a beast . . .’ She handed it carefully to Alice. ‘It’s just a thank you on your birthday for helping me get my life back. Without
you I’d still have been dwelling in the past instead of rediscovering the good things in life.’

Alice looked at the gift that Nancy offered her, so delicately wrapped in purple tissue paper, the perfumed smell of sweet violets rising from the wrapping. ‘Oh, no, I couldn’t, I
really couldn’t accept this.’ Her eyes filled with tears as she unwrapped the gift, the sun shining on the beautiful glittering jewelled wings of the dragonfly comb that she had so
admired on her first meeting with Nancy. ‘It’s too precious, and it’s from your Russian past.’

‘Exactly, Alice. Time to put the past and Russia behind me. Besides, it will look so beautiful in that long blonde hair of yours. Won’t it, Jack?’ Nancy turned and smiled at
Jack, turning the scarred side of her face for him to see.

‘Yes, yes, it would, it would look good in your hair, Ali.’ Jack faltered over his words having finally realizing how badly scarred Nancy was. ‘It will suit you down to the
ground.’

‘Well, if you insist. But really, I shouldn’t. It’s too fine for a farm girl like me.’

‘Nonsense! If you were nothing more than a simple farm girl, my brother would not have asked you to be my companion – believe me, he knows quality when he sees it. Especially now
that your brother has asked for me to walk out with him. Gerald is thinking about giving him more responsibility at Stone House marble works – he needs a new foreman and is going to give Will
a trial run. Your Will has been an inspiration these last few weeks and I’m sorry I’ve not mentioned him visiting me on the days I have been with you, but we wanted to keep it a
secret.’ Nancy patted Alice’s hand in apology, but Alice withdrew it sharply.

‘You’re what, our Will? Going to be foreman at Stone House? When were you going to tell me? I’m stuck working my fingers to the bone at the Moon, and you’re planning a
life without me. I thought we were going to stick together. And you walking out with Nancy – when were you going to tell me that?’ Alice tried to keep calm but she was angry with her
brother: he should have been the one to tell her, not Nancy.

‘Quiet, our lass. If you’ve anything to say, tell me tonight when I pop into the Moon after seeing Nancy home. I’ll tell you all then, not now in front of Jack and Nancy
– you’re embarrassing them both.’ Will stood up, shook the crumbs from his lap and brushed the grass from the back of his breeches. ‘Nancy, would you care for a stroll along
the riverbank?’ He offered her his arm and Nancy quickly accepted, wanting to be free of the situation she had caused.

Jack and Alice watched the couple walking by the side of the river. Nancy’s long white dress seemed to have a mellow haze around it, the buttercups giving it a golden sheen. Dressed in his
best bib and tucker, Will was the epitome of the aspiring young gent. They made a perfect couple. You would never guess, just by looking at Will, that he was from working-class stock.

‘I can’t believe it! What’s he playing at, going out with Lord Frankland’s sister? Has he lost his senses? My father will be turning in his grave!’ Alice removed
one of her shoes and started banging the heel on the ground in an effort to let out her pent-up aggression.

‘If you’re not careful, you’ll break that heel, and then you will be in a bad mood.’ Jack put his hand on hers to spare the shoe from getting any more anger taken out on
it. ‘Wait and see what he has to say to you tonight. I’m sure he will tell you all.’

‘But he’s spoilt the day.’ Alice pouted and pushed her foot into the abused shoe.

‘No, he hasn’t. You should be glad for the pair of them. Come on, sulky – I’ll beat you to the waterfall.’ Jack offered Alice his hand and smiled at her surly face
as she stood up. He gave her a little shove. ‘Race you, sulky.’ And then he took off, running to the waterfall.

‘Just you wait, Jack Alderson! I’ll catch you – that was cheating.’

‘I know, but it’s stopped you sulking,’ he shouted.

Alice caught up with him, panting, her cheeks flushed. Jack took hold of her hand and they both walked onto the ancient wooden bridge. As they leaned over the railings, looking at the sparkling
waterfall and dark frothy waters below, their heads were inches apart. They turned to each other and laughed. Suddenly Jack plucked up courage and gently kissed Alice on her lips, whispering,
‘Happy birthday, Alice.’

‘Jack Alderson, you can just stop that!’ Alice cried. ‘What do you take me for? This is our first date!’ Then she blushed and turned away, but she was blushing with pride
and happiness.

Jack grinned at her. He wouldn’t have had her say anything else, but he hadn’t noticed her struggling when he’d kissed her. By, she was a grand lass.

‘Look here, our Ali, I’m doing it for both of us. Would you have turned down the chance to potentially become foreman if you’d been offered it?’ Will
was finding it hard to persuade Alice that the job at Stone House was going to be good for them both. ‘There’ll be a house, once it’s been repaired, and I’ll get decent
brass if I’m officially put in charge. I’ve even got my own horse. I’ve decided I want to make something of myself. It’s like you’ve always said: put your mind to it
and you can do better.’ He strutted back and forth underneath the little attic window of Alice’s bedroom. ‘I thought you’d be pleased that Nancy and me are walking out
together. What’s wrong with that?’

‘What’s wrong with that? We’re farmers, Will – she’s gentry, she has different ways to us, and you’ll be the talk of the dale. It was you who kept me away
from the manor when I wanted to work there. Now you’re going out with Lord Frankland’s sister and being bought by him. Wasn’t it you who told me he wasn’t to be trusted? I
thought I knew you better, Will. You’ve changed this last week or two.’

‘You’re only jealous. You always wanted money and posh things. Well, I’ve found out so do I. From the moment I soaked in that bath and put on clean clothes I realized what we
had been missing. And by God, even if I have to marry a scarred banshee, I’m going to get it.’ Will’s temper was getting the better of him.

‘You mean you’ve no feelings for her at all? You’re just after her money?’ Alice gasped. ‘But she’s been hurt enough – don’t you go hurting her
more. If Gerald Frankland finds out, he’ll kill you.’

‘You bloody little hypocrite! Do you think I’ve not been hearing about you? The men up at Stone House don’t have the manners of us locals; when I heard them talking of the
young lass doing favours for Old Todd, I soon put two and two together.’ Will’s face was thunderous. ‘There, I’ve bloody well said it! I vowed I wouldn’t even think
it, let alone tell you I knew, but I won’t have you lecturing me, our Ali. Not when you carry on like that. Just be thankful that Jack doesn’t mix with anybody but farm lads and me,
else he’d have heard about it too. Then you would be in bother.’

Alice started to cry. She lowered her head, unable to look her furious brother in the eye. ‘Do you think I’m proud of what I’ve done? Well, I can tell you I’m not. I
didn’t do it for the money; I did it because he made me. Can you remember that bacon I gave you, right after I first started at the Moon? He saw me putting it in my pocket. He threatened to
tell the Woodheads and said I’d lose my job when they found out. You think I wanted that filthy old man letting his hands wander over me? It’s true the old lech gave me money
afterwards, and I wish I’d flung it back at him, but I thought I might as well get something out of it. I dread him showing up at the Moon. I was going to tell Annie about the bacon myself
– even if she threw me out it’d be better than putting up with that old lech. Please don’t tell Jack. How could he love me if he found out what I’m like?’

‘Oh, Ali, you stupid girl, what have you done? Now stop crying. With me going up in society, things are bound to get better. Just keep your legs together in future and ignore the randy old
bugger. If he tells Annie about the bacon, she’ll only laugh. She knows you’re no thief.’ His anger subsided as he put his arm around Ali’s shoulders. ‘What I’m
doing, I’m doing for us both. Let me get that cottage up at Stone House and make sure that my job as foreman is secure, and then I’ll let down Nancy gently. I must admit, it
doesn’t sit easy with me, using someone like that, but I’ve found out you’ve got to look after yourself in this world.’

‘That’s all I was trying to do, Will. But I couldn’t have gone on being Old Todd’s floozy. I’d got to the point where I wanted to hit him where it hurts, never mind
anything else.’ Alice wiped her nose on her sleeve end and grinned at Will in between the sobs.

‘What are we like, me and you! Two orphans out in the world and taking it head-on. You stick with Jack and your jobs, and I’ll try to make the money and home for us, all right, our
Ali?’

Alice nodded, relieved that Will had learned her secret, shocking though it was. She felt as though a burden had been lifted now it was out in the open.

It had been a busy morning in the Moon. The drovers who’d taken lodgings for the night wanted an early breakfast before herding their cows and sheep to Hawes for the
weekly cattle market. With bacon in high demand, Uriah was kept busy cutting thin strips from the newly cured flitch. It was a job he insisted on doing himself because he reckoned Annie and Alice
cut it too thick. When Annie told him to hurry up, he swore under his breath and muttered that he had to make a profit and that meant cutting it wafer-thin. You should be able to feed at least six
on half a pound of bacon – and damn them all for rushing him.