Chapter 61: Mary Schormann & Ellen Booth

Ashford: Tuesday 14th October

‘You could stay here, now our William’s gone.’ Ellen gave her nose a long blow and shoved her handkerchief in her cardigan pocket. She flopped onto the chair. ‘Where’s Peter?’

‘Out at the car, tidying it up.’ Keeping out of the way more like, Mary thought.

Ellen had been pegging Ted’s white overalls on to the line when they’d opened the gate of the yard. She’d dropped them into the wash-basket and burst into tears.

Peter had retreated.

Now Ellen adopted a pained expression. ‘I’ve hardly seen our Linda since she came back from your house. Ted works all hours. I get so lonely, Mary. And with all this business about Shuttleworth…’

Mary looked round, worried that Peter might still be within hearing distance and was relieved to see that he’d gone.

Ellen began pleating the hem of her black cardigan, nervously plucking at it. ‘You could stay here.’

Mary had known what was coming and had words ready. ‘No thanks, love, we’re better to actually be in Manchester; gives us more time to get around the places Jackie’s listed for us.’ She put her hand over Ellen’s to stop the frantic movement of her sister’s fingers, recognising the old signals that meant she’d been drinking heavily again. ‘How is he? William? We couldn’t believe what had happened when Ted rang the B&B.’

‘He’ll be fine. We called round at his girlfriend’s house after Ted came back from the shop last night. That’s when he phoned you.’

‘Right. Well… Good. It could have been nasty. What’s she like, his girlfriend? What’s she called?’

Ellen pushed her lower lip out. ‘Susan. Ordinary. Married. With a kid – a lad.’

‘Now, Ellen, you should be the last to judge her on that.’

Ellen lowered her head so Mary couldn’t see her eyes. ‘I didn’t mean it that way. I just don’t see why William had to keep it all so secret.’

Mary could: her sister was obsessed with her son, had been since the day he was born. And he knew it. And he knew how she’d react to Susan. Quite clearly, Ellen had had her nose pushed out of joint.

‘As long as he’s safe, and happy with her, that’s all that matters,’ Mary said. ‘What’s going to happen about the husband?’

‘He’ll get away with it, I suppose.’ Ellen hunched her shoulders. ‘Ted says they’re sure he’s off the scene for good. That he’ll just be so relieved he got away with it he won’t dare come back. Apparently, if he can’t have her he’s not interested in the boy.’

‘Nice, I must say. Still it’ll be easier for them.’ Mary looked up at Peter, who was hovering at the door. ‘Look, we only called in to make sure you’re still all right to have Richard stay here. I could ask Jean—’

‘Don’t you dare. I don’t want that woman lording it over me again. Stuck up cow.’

Mary let that one go; Ellen and Jean had never got on and she wasn’t going to be drawn into old arguments. ‘Okay. Well, thanks for looking after him. Where is he, by the way?’

‘Out. He was out all day yesterday as well. With that girl. Sooner or later there’ll be trouble about that, Mary—’

‘It’ll be okay,’ Mary interrupted. ‘But yes, I know what you mean. He has some studying to do before next week. I’ll have a word when I ring him tonight.’ Worried that Ellen was going to start talking about George Shuttleworth in front of Peter, Mary stood up. ‘We’d better go.’

‘Sure you won’t stop here?’

Mary saw Peter’s look of alarm. ‘No, thanks. Like I said, better we’re in the city; we have more places to check.’

‘No news on Victoria, then?’

‘No. Not yet.’

‘You could stop for a brew?’

‘No.’ Mary felt guilty that they were leaving her sister when she was so distressed. No doubt she’d hit the bottle as soon as they left but there was nothing she could do about that; they had to make the most of their time here. She nodded at Peter.

He fetched his wallet from the inside pocket of his tweed jacket and took out two ten-pound notes.

‘There’s a tenner for Richard and ten pound for you, for his keep this week.’

‘You don’t need to do that. You’ve just had Linda staying with you,’ Ellen protested.

‘Richard eats like a horse,’ Mary said. ‘And Linda ate like a sparrow. I think this business with Martin’s upset her more than she’s saying.’

‘She finished with him, so she says.’ Ellen followed them to the door, keeping hold of Mary’s sleeve, as though trying to stop their leaving. ‘It was her choice.’

Peter was already at the back gate. He was pushed backwards when it was abruptly opened.

‘Jean!’ Could it get any worse? Mary frowned at her old friend, hoping she wouldn’t start on about George Shuttleworth. She needn’t have worried.

‘Is William going to report Jack?’ Jean crossed her arms and glared at Ellen. ‘I’ve worried about it since Jack telephoned from the barracks last night and told us what had happened. It wasn’t his fault – you do know that, don’t you? It was that lunatic friend of his.’ She sniffed, her mouth like a tight red rosebud. ‘The husband of that girl your William’s got himself involved with—’

‘Jean—’ Ellen let go of Mary’s sleeve.

‘Yes or no will do. After all, we’ve done you enough favours in the past. Just yes or no.’

‘How have you done us any favours?’ Ellen looked at Jean challengingly. ‘When, exactly?’

‘Now, you two… Stop it.’ Mary said.

Jean played her trump card. ‘I’m only thinking of Jacqueline. It could affect her career.’

‘The daughter you’ve stopped speaking to, you mean?’ Mary couldn’t stop the quick anger.

‘Yes well… I’m still concerned—’

‘For that bastard that your husband lumbered you with years ago?’ Ellen snapped.

‘Pot calling kettle!’ Jean raised her eyebrows in triumph. ‘Pot calling kettle!’

Mary brushed past her. She wasn’t stopping to witness yet another vicious row between the two women. ‘Come on, Peter, let’s get out of here before I lose my temper. I’ll leave you two to sort yourselves out. Tell Richard I’ll telephone,’ she said to Ellen. ‘Jean.’ Mary nodded towards Jean who didn’t meet her gaze.