He swallowed hard, then bent his head to hers. Mattie had expected a quick peck on the cheek, but he touched his lips to her, drew back an inch or two, then moved forward to kiss her soundly. She lost herself in that kiss, for it seemed to carry so many promises.
It was Miss Newington clearing her throat that made them both remember they were not alone. But Jacob’s smile gave her the courage to face everyone, as did the lingering warmth of his lips on hers.
Mr Longley said, ‘I wish you both happy!’ Then he turned to his client. ‘If I might have a quick word, Miss Newington?’
They stood aside in the waiting room to let a very small and subdued bridal party enter the inner room.
Jacob reached for Mattie’s hand and she stood lost in quiet happiness, not in a hurry to move out into the crowded streets.
Emily went across to the Kembles, happy to see that Jacob was holding Mattie’s hand. They looked so right together it made her breath catch in her throat. ‘Perhaps you’d go ahead and wait for me at the railway station?’
She didn’t wait for his agreement but let Frank escort her outside. ‘What did you want to see me about?’
‘The family I told you of, who were looking for a house. They’ve found somewhere else to live. I’m sorry. I shall ask around and I’m sure we’ll find someone to rent your house.’
‘Oh. What a pity!’
‘I’ll walk with you to the railway station.’
‘No need. I’d like a few moments on my own to think.’ She consulted her little fob watch. ‘The next train isn’t due to leave for a while, so I’ll just stroll there at my leisure. Thank you for coming to act as witness today.’
‘My pleasure.’ He raised his hat in farewell, set it firmly on his head and walked briskly off down the street.
She made her way towards the railway station, feeling very disappointed about his news. She’d been hoping to move back to the north quickly.
She stopped to stare in a shop window, wanting a few more minutes on her own before she faced Jacob and his new wife. The goods she saw reminded her that the two of them had received no wedding presents at all. That didn’t seem right, so she’d buy them one.
Inside she chose a clock, a small but elegant timepiece. She left with it in a box, tied up with cord that formed a handle.
But her day was marred by the news from her lawyer, even though she tried not to let it show and spoil the newly-weds’ day.
* * *
Fanny Breedon was walking past the station with a bag of shopping. She set it down for a minute and stared at a woman who was dressed so fine, envying her the beautiful green dress. She’d started to pick up the bag again when she suddenly realised who the woman was.
She turned away quickly, apologising to a man she’d bumped into, and pretended to look into a shop window as the woman and her family stopped in the entrance. She kept her back turned but could see their reflections clearly.
It was definitely Mattie Willitt! Everyone knew she and her sisters had run away and that Bart Fuller was furious about it. Well, when you lived on the same street you knew most things that happened. Everyone had decided Mattie must be far away by now. She’d be a fool to stay nearby because Bart would beat her within an inch of her life if he caught her. He’d done it before, hadn’t he?
Even in the wavery reflection the green dress looked lovely. Where had Mattie got those fine clothes from? And who was the man she was with? Jealousy seared through Fanny as she looked down at her own much-mended garments, then suspicion crept into her mind. You didn’t get lovely clothes by behaving yourself, that was sure. Had Mattie gone to be someone’s mistress? You’d never think it of her, but people surprised you sometimes.
Intrigued, Fanny kept her back turned till they went into the station, then hurried across the road, stopping just inside in the entrance. They were sitting on a bench now and if she went to stand behind that pile of boxes, she’d be able to see and hear better. She nipped quickly into place, delighted with this opportunity to find out what was going on. Just wait till she told people what she’d seen.
‘Shall we call you Mum now you’ve married Dad?’ the little girl asked.
She had a very penetrating voice and the words carried clearly. Fanny stiffened in shock and peered between the boxes, trying to see Mattie’s left hand. But she was wearing gloves. And when she answered the little girl, she spoke quietly so that Fanny couldn’t hear a word. But she noted how fondly Mattie smiled at the child and then the way she exchanged smiles with the man. The boy wasn’t smiling, though, he looked sulky.
Mattie Willitt married! How was that possible?
And how come she’d never noticed before how pretty Mattie was? The younger woman had always seemed rather plain, a typical old maid, with her hair bundled back into a tight knot.
A tall, thin, elderly lady entered the station and went across to join the small group, smiling at them. The man stood up, doffing his hat.
‘I hope everything’s all right, Miss Newington.’
She shook her head. ‘It wasn’t good news, I’m afraid. The people who wanted to rent a big house like mine have found somewhere else. So I’ll have to wait a little longer to move back to the north.’
‘I’m sorry to hear that.’
‘Not your fault, Jacob.’ She sat down next to Mattie.
A couple of minutes later a train puffed into the station and when the passengers had got off, Mattie and her companions went through onto the platform and boarded it.
Well! This was going to cause a scandal, an absolute scandal, but before the news broke Fanny was going to try to profit from being the first to find out what had happened to Mattie Willitt.
She waited till the train had left, then asked a porter where it was going.
‘To Bristol eventually, and all stops in between.’
‘Thanks.’ That wasn’t much use. She walked away, trying to work it all out. Was Mattie living in Bristol now? No, she couldn’t be. If she was, she’d not be here in Swindon. Had she really got married today? It looked like it, what with everyone being dressed up fine. Mattie and her husband must be living somewhere along the line, then, somewhere much closer to Swindon than Bristol, or they’d not have come here to get married, it stood to reason.
Fanny walked back to her house, grimacing at the shabbiness inside and feeling envy of Mattie surge up again as she caught sight of her own reflection in the specked mirror over the mantelpiece, saw her sallow skin, the gaps where her teeth had fallen out, and the faded, shapeless clothes.
It might be better, she decided, to tell Stan Telfor about what she’d seen, not Bart. That one never parted with a halfpenny unless it was doing the work of a penny.
But Stan. Yes, he’d want to know. They’d read the banns out in church for him and Mattie, and he’d be furious at being made a fool of. He’d be much more likely to slip Fanny a shilling or two for bringing him the news. He wasn’t a stingy old devil.
Decision taken, she waited impatiently for the rest of the afternoon to pass. When the hooter went at the Railway Works, echoing out across the town, she waited ten minutes, then put on her hat and coat, and went round to Stan’s house, telling her husband she’d forgotten something at the shops.
As Jacob drove them back into the village, Miss Newington said to him, ‘We’re all going to my house now. Cook has prepared a special tea to mark this occasion.’
‘That’s very kind of you.’ He turned to glance quickly at his wife, seeing how tired she was. ‘Are you all right?’ he asked softly.
‘You’ll have nothing to do but sit and be waited on,’ Miss Newington said in a coaxing tone. ‘And Cook will be so disappointed if there’s no one to enjoy her cake.’
‘I’m fine,’ Mattie said. ‘Just a little tired, that’s all. It’s very kind of you to do this for us, Miss Newington.’
Jacob would far rather have gone straight home but he pasted a smile on his face, added his thanks and drove up the lane, past his home.
When they stopped outside the big house, he helped the ladies down and let Horace take the horse and trap away. He grabbed Luke and Sarah’s arms before they could start running round. ‘Remember your manners, you two. Sit quietly, eat slowly and don’t talk with your mouth full.’
Then he let them go inside with him, and saw with relief that the very size of the place had awed them into silence. It was, he realised, the first time he’d entered the big house by the front door as a guest. It felt different coming in this way, knowing he was going to be waited on.
Lyddie and Cook peered out of the servants’ door at the rear of the hall, smiling at them.
‘Come and greet our newly-weds,’ Miss Newington called.
Jacob accepted the two women’s congratulations, then allowed himself to be shepherded with the others into the small sitting room he’d been in before.
The food was brought in to them on a trolley and he saw they were expected to eat from plates balanced on their knees. He didn’t dare let his children do this, was sure crumbs would go everywhere or they’d spill something on the beautiful carpet. ‘I wonder if the children could eat at a small table,’ he suggested. ‘They’re not used to balancing things.’
Miss Newington looked at him, head on one side, like an alert bird. ‘I should have realised that and had tea served in the morning room.’
‘I can easily set the table there, miss,’ Lyddie said. ‘Won’t take me more than a few minutes.’
‘Good idea.’
Jacob tried not to show how relieved he was, but he saw by Mattie’s fleeting smile that she understood his feelings. ‘This is a lovely room,’ he said, trying to make conversation. It was all done in pale colours with a mirror over the fireplace that had a fancy gold frame round it.
‘It’s my favourite room in the house. There is a bigger drawing room, as you’ve seen, but it isn’t nearly as pleasant. Both rooms look down the drive towards the village, not across the countryside, so I can see some of the comings and goings, but this one hasn’t got that walled garden in the way so I can see more from here. I often sit on the window seat and read.’ She turned to the bride. ‘Do you read much, Mattie? Jacob borrows books from me regularly and you’re welcome to do so, too.’
‘I’ve not had much time for reading, but I enjoy it when I can. My stepfather doesn’t believe in wasting time with books.’
‘He sounds to be a most unpleasant man.’
‘He is.’ Mattie didn’t elaborate.
Jacob saw her shiver as she spoke. That part of her life was past now. Surely her stepfather wouldn’t continue to pursue her now she was married, even if he did find out where she was? He’d have nothing to gain by it.
Lyddie appeared soon afterwards to say everything was ready and they all moved into a very pleasant room at the rear of the house, where a table was loaded with plates of sandwiches. In the middle stood a cake covered with white icing and the words
JACOB
and
MATTIE
in pink in the middle with two linked hearts piped underneath.
He could see that Mattie was pleased by this.
‘Just a minute.’ Miss Newington stood up and went out into the hall. She came back carrying the parcel she’d brought to the station. ‘I bought you a wedding present.’
Jacob stared at her in surprise. ‘Well, I didn’t expect … It’s very kind of you. Very kind.’ He turned to his wife. ‘You open it.’
She untied the cord and folded the box flaps back carefully to reveal a pretty clock with its cheerful face set in glossy wood. There was a brass ring round the clock face, which set it off nicely. It must have cost a fair penny, she thought, amazed.
‘It’s beautiful.’ Mattie couldn’t stop tears welling in her eyes. ‘Thank you so much, Miss Newington. No one’s ever given me such a lovely present.’
* * *
Her hostess went a bit pink but seemed pleased, and Jacob noticed that Mattie kept the clock in front of her on the table and stroked it a couple of times with her fingertips. He wished he’d thought of buying her a present, even something small. He’d used his mother’s wedding ring for the ceremony, which fitted Mattie perfectly, thank goodness. But he should have bought her a present, too.
After they’d eaten, Cook and Lyddie came in for the cutting of the cake, which Jacob and Mattie were instructed to do together, both holding the knife.
By the time everyone had eaten a piece, Mattie looked chalk white with exhaustion and he was getting worried about her.
But Miss Newington missed nothing. ‘I think we’d better send you home in the trap now, Mrs Kemble. Lyddie, could you go and ask Horace to get it ready?’
Mattie smiled. ‘I want to thank you for making today special, Miss Newington. It means a lot to me.’
‘I’ve enjoyed myself.’
Arthur Newington was driven up to the big house in the rear of a big Standard motor car just as Horace was about to drive the Kembles home in the dog cart. In spite of the fine weather, the hood of the motor car was up at the rear, where Arthur was sitting in solitary state.
The horse shied at the noisy machine and Jacob hastily put his arm round Mattie as they clopped past it, to hold her safe, remembering the accident that had taken his first wife’s life. He was glad the children were walking home across the fields. Then he remembered that Miss Newington would be alone and asked Horace to stop.
‘I’d better go back and make sure Miss Newington is all right. Her cousin is a bully and the man driving that car looks a rough sort to me. She’s only got those two women to look after her. Will you be all right, Mattie?’
‘Of course I will.’
Horace sighed. ‘I’m glad you’re a-going back, Mr Kemble. I can still fire a shotgun but I’m not much use in a fight any more. It’s as much as I can do these days to look after the horse and do a bit of work outdoors. You wouldn’t think it to look at me but I used to be a strong young fellow once. Make the most of life while you’re young. It doesn’t last.’
‘I will, Horace.’
‘Take care, Jacob,’ Mattie called as he got out of the trap.