Sweet Rosie (30 page)

Alice Sparks was at the millinery counter. The hat she was trying was far too large for her small face but she turned this way and that, admiring herself in the long mirror. Polly tapped her hand on the polished counter and the sales assistant gave her a long look, assessing her clothes, her good jewellery, and immediately bowed to Alice, begging to be excused.

‘Bring me your most expensive hats.’ Polly had adopted the fine accent she had learned from her husband. ‘And you can send the bill to Jem Boucher, pottery owner.’

‘Yes, madam, at once.’ The woman fetched an armful of boxes and placed them on the counter and Polly remained still, waiting. Eagerly, the assistant opened the hatboxes, spreading hats across the counter.

‘Take your time, madam,’ she said. ‘I will be back with you in a moment.’

‘Wait!’ Polly ordered and the assistant stopped in her tracks. ‘I want you to show me the hats not to simply hand them to me as disrespectfully as if I was some street girl.’

‘But, madam, I have another customer.’

‘Yes!’ Alice Sparks called. ‘I
was
here first.’

‘How is that bank-manager husband of yours, Mrs Sparks?’ Polly said innocently. Lily watched in admiration; Polly was cleverly putting Alice in her place as the wife of a humble manager of the bank at which Jem Boucher deposited his great wealth.

The assistant looked from one to the other and then Polly attempted to clinch the matter. ‘I am in rather a hurry, I have other purchases to make, so perhaps you would serve me first?’

‘But I want
seven
new hats.’ Alice made a last-ditch attempt to win the day. ‘I need a new one for every day, you see.’ She smiled sweetly. ‘My dear father has left me his fortune and I intend to spend as much of it here in the emporium as I can.’

‘In that case,’ Polly said sweetly, ‘your need is greater than mine. My companion and I will take a seat until you are finished.’

She hustled Lily to the side of the room. ‘Now the old bitch will have to buy seven hats or risk looking a fool! This is going to be a right scream, Lil.’

‘But if her father has left her money she can afford seven hats.’ Lily was bewildered; it was not like Polly to stand aside for anyone.

‘Don’t be daft!’ Polly said scathingly. ‘Them Sparks haven’t got two half-pennies to rub together.’ She giggled. ‘My Jem knows everything about the bank and Mrs high-and-mighty Sparks is in for a nasty surprise any day now. She can’t afford one hat let alone seven.’

Alice was pale-faced by the time her packages were being put aside for delivery. She looked briefly at Polly, her eyes cold.

‘Day to you, Mrs Sparks,’ Polly said brightly, ‘hope you enjoy your nice new hats.’

As Alice swept past them, Lily felt sorry for her. She was a bitch as Polly put it, but it was sad to see any woman brought low because of a man. Lily wondered uneasily if she had been a fool to trust Alice with her money. Still, there was little point in brooding about that now.

The hours passed quickly and, to Lily’s surprise, she left the emporium with a brand-new gown, two pairs of evening slippers and a fine pure-wool wrap. Polly’s own purchases were too numerous to carry and would be delivered later.

‘You got to look your best for this evening, see.’ Polly hugged her arm as the two women returned to the coach. ‘And don’t look so worried, I wouldn’t do anything to hurt you, would I now?’

Lily was not too sure about that but she smiled; at least she had some new clothes of her very own. She felt a dart of happiness as she thought of the pale blue muslin dress that showed her slim figure to advantage. The pale white wool of the wrap brought out the colour in her cheeks and she had felt for a moment like the well-dressed lady about town that she had always wanted to be.

It was with mixed feelings that she dressed for supper that night. She looked her best and she knew it but she was suspicious. Polly had something up her sleeve. Lily could only hope that her friend’s plans did not include any more eager young men.

But when she entered the large, pleasant dining room, her fears were allayed by the sight of Jem seated at the head of the table, his grey hair highlighted in the flickering light from the candles, his eyes sparkling as he lifted his glass to greet her. At his side was another man, not quite as old as Jem but old enough to be circumspect.

‘Come in, my dear Lily.’ Jem spoke with unaccustomed warmth and though Lily was used to leering smiles from him she was surprised at the pleasant way he greeted her now.

‘Come and sit here, between me and our guest.’ Jem indicated the empty chair beside him and Polly winked at Lily. So this was her surprise, a man as old as Jem but much more handsome with startlingly bright blue eyes.

‘Let’s get the formalities over quickly.’ Jem smiled. ‘Matthew Starky, meet our little friend Lily.’

Her fingers were grasped in a warm handshake and smiling eyes looked into hers.

‘And very beautiful you are too, Lily, if I may say so.’ His voice was warm with a West Country accent and Lily found herself liking him on sight. Quite what he expected of her she did not dare to think but, for now, he was just a fellow guest at the dinner table of Jem Boucher and it would not hurt to be kind to him.

The meal was more sumptuous than usual. Rich soup was followed by a fish course and then the main course was carried in by a bevy of servants. Chicken carved into fine slices decorated the edges of the meat charger. At the centre of the plate, a huge joint of beef, still sizzling from the oven, took pride of place on the polished table. Lily did not have an enormous appetite but she enjoyed every mouthful of the dinner.

Matthew was a good companion; he kept the company regaled with anecdotes about his life as a tea merchant, a business that clearly kept him in great style judging by the rich cloth of his coat and the gold stud sparkling at his shirt front.

When the ladies took their leave of the gentlemen and retired to the drawing room, Lily looked at Polly, her eyebrows raised. ‘Well,’ she said, ‘Matthew is a very nice man but what does he want of me?’

‘Don’t be so silly!’ Polly said. ‘He wants to set you up in a fine house at the edge of town and shower gifts on you.’

‘So he is looking for a mistress.’ Lily felt inordinately disappointed; she had found herself hoping for marriage to an old man who would one day die and leave her his wealth.

Polly sank into a chair and fanned her face with her hand. ‘Yes, my love, he wants a mistress, what else?’

‘Nothing else,’ Lily said flatly. ‘You know I don’t like that sort of thing, Polly. I don’t know why you put me in such a position. Now I’ll have to refuse him and he’ll be hurt.’

Polly leaned forward. ‘Play your cards right, Lil,’ she said earnestly. ‘Matt has got no children, his wife is ancient, older than he is even. When she pops her clogs he’ll probably want to make an honest woman of you.’ A wicked smile curved her lips. ‘If you can be a good enough actress to persuade him you love him, love all the things he does for you, he’ll be at your mercy. Men are such fools!’

She spread her hands wide. ‘In any case, what have you got to lose? You and me can still see each other every day but instead of having my cast-offs you can buy your own clothes. Matt is a generous man, he’ll make you a good allowance.’

‘And in return I must sleep with him whenever he wants me.’

‘Lily! You exasperate me at times. Can’t you see what a fine opportunity this is? Matt could have any young girl he wanted.’

‘Exactly, so why does he want me when he doesn’t even know me?’

‘He’s seen you about town with me, he thought you were a lady of quality. He couldn’t believe his luck when he learned you were a working girl without the protection of a man.’

‘So you offered me to him like a bargain package then?’ Lily felt weary; how could she face a liaison with another man? And yet what was the alternative? She could stay with Polly, keep accepting her generosity, but how much nicer it would be if she had a place of her own and an allowance to spend as she pleased.

‘I would want the house in my name,’ she said flatly. ‘I’ve been cheated out of one home by a long-lost relative. I don’t want that to happen again.’

Polly sank back in her chair. ‘I think Matthew would be glad to give you a house.’ She smiled, dropping her cultured accent. ‘You’re not half a bad stick you know, in the looks department I mean.’ Polly sat back and assessed Lily. ‘Nice bosoms, small waist, good ankles.’ She laughed. ‘All the things a man wants in a mistress.’

‘No,’ Lily said, ‘not all the things. A man wants a mistress to be passionate, to look forward to going to his bed. I can never be like that.’

‘But you can pretend, you dumb cluck!’ Polly said. ‘Just moan a bit when he takes you to bed. Wriggle about a bit like you’re enjoying it.’ She grinned impishly. ‘He thinks he’s getting a virgin so if you’re a bit slow, like, he’ll put it all down to your modesty.’

‘Oh, Polly!’ Lily found herself smiling, appreciating the trouble her friend had gone to for her. And perhaps it would not be too bad, Matthew was old, he had a wife, surely Lily could put up with a bit of unpleasantness once in a while?

‘But, doesn’t he know I was married once?’ she asked quickly as the sound of laughter drifted in from the hall and Polly smiled. ‘I lied to him about that, made him keep off you, see? He’s thrilled to think he can give his business friend an untried girl.’

That would not be difficult, Lily thought ruefully, she knew hardly anything of the passion that drove other women.

The two men entered the room, the aura of cigar smoke hanging around them like a mark of wealth. Matthew took a seat beside Lily and smiled at her. She tried to respond as she had done earlier, laughing at his jokes and looking up into his eyes but she felt stifled by the thought that sooner or later, she would have to go to this man’s bed. Still, she had endured life with Tom for very little reward. If she gave herself to Matthew Starky, she would make sure that she benefited handsomely from the arrangement.

‘You are very sweet, Lily, do you know that?’ Matthew took her hand and kissed the softness of her palm. Lily lowered her eyes, the colour rising to her cheeks. Matthew spoke again.

‘I have admired you from afar for some time. I’m so happy that my dear friends have arranged this meeting.’ Lily did not reply. ‘Such a shy little miss,’ Matthew said. ‘I promise you one thing, Lily, I will be very good to you.’

Lily looked up at him. ‘Will you offer me security, Mr Starky?’

‘I will offer you anything, my dear Lily.’

‘Once I become your . . . your lady friend, my prospects of making a respectable marriage would be gone. So I would like a house of my very own, somewhere I can sit in the window and watch the world go by. I need to be safe, do you understand that?’

‘I do understand, completely. I have many houses, you can take your pick, Lily. Once you have chosen I will have my lawyer chap draw up the proper papers.’

He slipped his arm around her waist. ‘Don’t be shy, I will not rush you. Indeed, I will woo you like a young man with his first love. I will dress you in silks and shower you in gems. I will be so good to you that you will think every day is your birthday.’

She sighed as she leaned against him; at least now she had a protector, a man who would be generous with his gifts who would not ill treat her. Lily smiled at Polly, her friend had served her well, she had found Lily a good man. Matthew Starky was a real gentleman and quite handsome in spite of his age. If the arrangement turned out as Lily hoped she need never worry about money again. Which was just as well because it looked as if the money she had given Alice Sparks to invest was lost for ever. For the first time since she had returned to Swansea, Lily felt secure and cared for and it was a feeling she very much enjoyed.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Binnie Dundee had arrived at the coast of America early in the morning. It was good to stand on the deck of the ship and watch the land he had come to love draw nearer. The sun was just beginning to bring warmth to earth, sky and sea and Binnie felt his heart lift in anticipation. Soon, very soon, he would be home where he belonged.

As soon as he disembarked from the ship he walked into town to buy some supplies for the journey. The store smelled of coffee beans and tobacco, sacks of meal jostled with bottles of home-made beer and Binnie breathed in the atmosphere, knowing that he was really home.

He bought a horse from the storekeeper. The animal was overpriced, an old mare with little fire in her belly but she would do to carry him home to West Troy.

He travelled by day, stopping only to eat and drink, and rested at night. But, now, his bones ached and the horse, head nodding towards the earth, was as weary as he was. Binnie took a deep breath; he would need to rest soon. He covered his eyes with his hand and realized that the sun was at its zenith. Later, it would turn into a ball of brilliant reds and oranges and sink towards the horizon. But the skyline of West Troy was in sight and his heart bounded with happiness.

‘Nearly there.’ He drew the sweating animal to a stop and patted the heaving flanks. ‘We’ll rest up a bit. Come on, old girl, let’s get under the shade for a while, shall we?’

It was good to stand on familiar soil and Binnie drank in the warmth and the flavour of America. Soon he would see Hortense’s lovely face, he would hear the laughter of his sons. For a moment, his sense of optimism faded. What if his wife refused to take him back?

The horse wickered softly and Binnie rubbed the animal’s neck. ‘Soon be home, old girl,’ he said. ‘I’ll take you to a stream of fresh clean water and you can drink to your heart’s content.’

He was impatient to resume his journey but when he remounted the horse he had to coax the tired animal onward. ‘Good girl, come on, not much further now.’ He sat back in the saddle and stared ahead of him wondering what his reception would be. He prayed that by now Hortense would have forgiven him or at least be prepared to try again to make their marriage work.