The Buffer Girls (24 page)

The following Sunday afternoon, Trip came hurrying towards Emily when he saw her waiting for him in the park. Laying his bicycle on the ground, he put his hands on her waist,
picked her up and swung her round. ‘I’ve got something to show you.’

‘What is it?’

Setting her on the ground again, he grasped her hand and said, ‘Come on.’

He retrieved his bicycle and they walked to where Trip had his lodgings. Parked outside the house was a shiny new motorcycle.

Emily gasped. ‘Is it yours?’

‘Yes, my father bought it for my twenty-first birthday.’

‘But that’s not until November.’

‘That’s only next month. We’re already in October.’

‘I hadn’t realized,’ Emily murmured. ‘We’ve been here over a year.’

He squeezed
her hand. ‘Any regrets?’

‘For myself, obviously not, but for Josh – yes, plenty. He should be married to Amy by now, not mixing with Lizzie and her brother and his cronies.’

Josh still went out now and again with Mick, coming home the worse for drink and with some of their precious housekeeping money spent – wasted, in Emily’s view. Surprisingly, Martha
said very little and when Emily
dared to criticize him, all she said was, ‘A young man’s got to sow a few wild oats before he settles down.’

‘And your dad?’ Trip asked now.

‘Not good, but he’s better than I expected he would be when we first came here. I thought that first winter would be dreadful. The house was cold and damp and I thought we’d be
forever fetching the doctor or that he’d be in hospital. He’s been better
through the summer, able to sit outside in the yard on really warm days, but now . . .’ She stopped and
needed to say no more. Now, they were facing yet another winter. How would poor Walter be this year?

They stood gazing at the motorcycle. ‘It’s a Wilkin, made here in Sheffield,’ Trip told her.

‘It’s a magnificent gift. Your father must be very pleased with you.’

‘It’s the biggest
present he’s ever given me, but I think my mother’s had something to do with it. She complains that I don’t get home often enough.’

‘You – you could go on a Sunday,’ Emily said in a small voice.

‘What? And miss meeting you? I wouldn’t do that. I love my mother dearly, but . . .’ There was a pause before he added in a rush, ‘Emily, there’s something
I’ve wanted to say to you for ages,
but it didn’t seem right when I’m not earning very much.’ Slowly, he turned to face her and put his hands on her shoulders. ‘I love
you, Emily Ryan. I think I always have. Dare I hope that – that—’

‘Oh Trip, I’ve loved you for years. Ever since the four of us used to play together as children.’

‘Oh Emily – Emily . . .’

He put his arms around her and kissed her, oblivious to whoever
might be watching. They drew back, breathless with the wonder of their declaration to each other. ‘I can’t ask you to
marry me yet, you know that, don’t you?’

‘You’ll be of age next month. You won’t need parental consent then.’

‘It’s not that. I’m not earning enough . . .’

‘But I’m earning. Our little business is doing very well – surprisingly well in these hard times.’

‘But
what if babies came along?’

Emily smiled and touched his cheek as she whispered, ‘Now, wouldn’t that be something.’

‘Oh Emily,’ he buried his face in her neck, ‘don’t tempt me.’ At last, he raised his head and they stared again at the motorcycle.

‘Can I ride on the back with you?’ She pointed to the luggage carrier behind the rider’s seat. ‘I could put a cushion on that.’

‘There’s
nowhere safe for you to rest your feet. I couldn’t risk you getting your foot or even your dress caught in the wheel. Tell you what, I’ll see if I can pick up a
sidecar cheap and then I’ll take you out. Would you like to go to Ashford?’

Emily hesitated and then said, ‘Josh ought to go back, not me. Would you take him?’

‘Of course,’ Trip said at once.

That night, in their attic bedroom,
Emily whispered, ‘Trip’s father’s given him a motorbike for his twenty-first birthday. And he’s going to see if he can find a
second-hand sidecar to fit it and then he’ll take me out, but he’s also said he’ll take you back to Ashford to see Amy.’

Josh stared at her for a moment and then shrugged. ‘She can’t want anything to do with me, Em. It’s over a year now and she’s not written – not
once.’

‘But you should at least go and find out for definite.’

Josh was silent for a long moment before muttering, ‘I’ll think about it.’

‘Nearly Christmas already, Dad,’ Amy said, a little wistfully. ‘Harry’s first Christmas.’

Bob smiled at his daughter. ‘We’ll make it a very special one, love.’

‘It’d be special if—’ She broke off and turned away so that he wouldn’t see the tears filling her eyes. But Bob knew. He put his arms around her. ‘I know,
love, I know. But I think you’ll have to come to terms
with the knowledge that, after all this time, Josh isn’t going to come back – or even write. Not now. It’s been too
long.’ He paused and then asked gently, ‘Are you still writing to him?’

Amy shook her head. ‘I wrote a few times and then, when I didn’t hear anything more from him, I – I stopped.’

‘I think you’ve done the right thing. Now, I’ve got something to show you. Harry’s asleep,
isn’t he? Just come with me. It’ll only take a minute.’

Intrigued, Amy followed her father into the smithy. There, in the centre of the cluttered floor, was a baby walker fashioned in wood; a little box on four wheels and a handle at one side for the
child to push it.

‘Oh Dad, have you made that? It’s wonderful.’

‘I’ve seen him trying to pull himself up already and he tries to say
his first words. He’s a clever little chap.’

Amy laughed. ‘Of course he is.’ In her father’s eyes, little Harry could do no wrong and he was the brightest, cleverest child that had ever been born. Amy counted herself very
fortunate in having Bob for her father; some parents might have disowned her and thrown her out of her home. Bob had not only stood by her, but he was also devoted to his
grandson and
couldn’t do enough for him.

‘Aunty Grace has knitted him a warm coat for winter and Mrs Trippet sent some lovely toys.’

Bob chuckled. ‘I’ve a stack of little gifts hidden in my bedroom ready for Christmas Eve. We must hang a stocking up for him.’

‘Oh Dad, you shouldn’t have spent so much.’

‘I haven’t – at least, not yet.’ He grinned. ‘The presents I’m talking about
are all from the villagers. Someone stops by most days and leaves a little
something for him for Christmas.’

Amy’s mouth dropped open and she stared at him. Her eyes filled with tears at the thought of such kindness from people who very well might have ignored her in the street. Instead, they
were showing their understanding and support.

It was more than she could have dared to hope
for.

‘You will never guess in a million years,’ Lizzie announced one morning at the beginning of December. ‘The missus stopped me in the court last night and told
me that Mr Waterfall and Mr Trippet are joining together to hold a works’ ball at Cutlers’ Hall in a week’s time. And best of all, we’ve all been invited because we were
employees at Waterfall’s until recently. Mrs Nicholson said Mr
Waterfall himself had asked her ’specially to make sure that we were invited. Isn’t that wonderful? And of
course,’ she smiled at Emily, ‘Trip’s bound to be there and you’ll come this time, won’t you, Nell?’

But Nell shook her head. ‘I can’t, Lizzie. Sorry, but I really can’t.’ She turned away and started up her machine almost as if to prevent any more questions.

Lizzie shrugged and
turned to her work. She was determined to go and that evening she waylaid Josh in the court as he arrived home from work.

‘Have you heard about the ball?’

Josh nodded.

‘We’ve been invited even though we don’t work for Waterfall’s any more. We’re “Dugdale and Ryan” now. Doesn’t that sound grand? Nell didn’t
want her name in the title and she doesn’t want to come to the ball either.’
Lizzie shrugged, mystified as to why any young woman would want to miss such a glittering occasion.
‘So, I hope you’re taking me.’

‘Of course,’ he smiled gallantly. ‘Who else would I take, because I rather think my sister is already spoken for, don’t you?’

‘I’d’ve thought her an’ Trip would have announced an engagement before now. They’ve been meeting almost every week for over a year.’

Josh stiffened. He and Lizzie had been seen together for all of that time as well. Was she hinting that they, too, should have a better understanding? Josh felt torn; in his own mind, he was
still engaged to Amy. He glanced down at the girl beside him. She was pretty and lively and she was
here
. Amy wasn’t and whilst, in his heart of hearts, he knew he still loved Amy,
how could a man be
expected to stay faithful if he never heard a word from her?

But for now, he pushed these uncomfortable thoughts aside; he didn’t want to face them.

The two girls and Josh travelled to the ball at Cutlers’ Hall together and once again, Trip was waiting impatiently for them. In full view of everyone, he kissed Emily,
tucked her arm through his, and led her into the ballroom.

‘Well,
well, things have certainly progressed a little since last year,’ Lizzie said, ‘and be warned, my fine prince, I mean to have a kiss like that from you before this
evening’s over.’

Josh merely laughed. What harm was there in just one kiss?

It was a merry evening for all except for one person, who watched from the shadows with anger and resentment. After Belle had at last found out what
he wanted to know, he’d laid his plans
carefully and, now he could see the couple for himself, he was incensed. He would take no action until the New Year, he decided. Thomas was due home for the Christmas holiday and Constance would
make her husband’s life a misery if the occasion were spoiled by a quarrel between father and son. No, he would bide his time, but as he watched Thomas and Emily
dancing so closely together,
it took a great effort not to rush onto the dance floor and physically tear them apart.

Arthur turned away and left the hall to seek solace in Belle’s comforting arms.

Trip and Emily couldn’t remember ever feeling so happy. No longer were they hiding from the world, for tonight everyone could see the love they had for each other shining in their
eyes.

Later, in a secluded corner, Trip whispered words of devotion. ‘Oh Emily, I do so want to marry you. Please say you will.’

‘Trip, darling,’ she breathed. ‘You know I will.’

He kissed her again and murmured. ‘We’ll announce our engagement in the New Year. It might have to be a long one, my darling.’

‘I’ll wait,’ Emily said simply.

As he walked her home through the darkness, Trip
said, ‘I won’t see you until then, my love. I must go home to see my mother at Christmas and I really will try and see Amy this time.
I tried last Christmas, but she was ill. I asked Mother when I went home at Easter, but she seemed very vague about what was going on in the village, even though I know she’s involved with
the Friendly Society. Father, of course, never takes any interest in
anything that’s happening in Ashford. He never has.’

‘Of course you must go and see your mother. You don’t get over very often as it is.’

‘It’ll be easier now I’ve got the motorbike, but I can’t wait to get back to you. Will you meet me at the bandstand in Weston Park on New Year’s Day? It’s on
a Sunday this year.’

‘I’ll be there,’ Emily promised.

In the shadows of the court,
Lizzie was doing her best to wheedle a declaration of love from Josh. ‘Now, how about that kiss you promised me?’ she murmured. She slipped her arms
around his waist and offered up her face to him.

For a moment, Josh held back but then, with a deep sigh, he closed his eyes, bent his head and kissed her gently. As he felt desire surge through him, he held her tightly and his kiss
deepened.

Triumphant in what she believed to be his capitulation at long last, Lizzie pressed herself against him.

She’d make him forget that he ever knew a girl called Amy.

Christmas Eve, 1921, was colder than it had been the previous year, with ground frosts at night, so, instead of arranging a party in the court, Mick prevailed upon his mother
to hold ‘open house’ so that all the neighbours
could visit the Dugdales’ house and partake in a buffet-style meal. In addition, the young man took a hamper to each house in the
court and toys for Rosa’s children.