Chapter Thirteen

 

 

Kitty added another shovel full of coal to the fire. The late October winds battered against the windows as though seeking for way to enter. She turned and smiled at Martin, who was making one of his infrequent visits home. He had grown an inch and his shoulders had broadened. His black hair fell long over his collar and he hadn’t shaved for days.

Martin placed his teacup on the table. “I have some news.”

“Oh? Tell me you haven’t met a fine young lady?” Kitty smiled and passed around a plate of small cakes not sold during the day. Her buoyant mood resulted from receiving another letter from Ben, which she had just read to the family.

“No.” He avoided Kitty’s gaze and looked at Max as a blush stained his stubble-covered cheeks. “I’m to voyage to India, then through the Pacific Islands and on to Australia.”

A heavy silence descended.

Joe swallowed a mouthful of cake. “I wish I could go to India and see elephants.”

“Me too,” added Rosie, half asleep cuddled up on Max’s lap.

Martin ignored Joe and Rosie as he continued. “I’ve been offered a job on a ship that leaves in a week from Portsmouth. The owner wants to trade in the South Pacific. Sydney will be his base.”

They all stared at him.

He looked at Kitty. “Aren’t you happy for me?”

“Happy?” Kitty jumped from her seat. Anger burned inside her chest, nearly suffocating her. “I don’t believe it!” In a fit of temper, she slammed down the plate of cakes; some of them tumbled onto the table.

Martin reared back under her onslaught. “Kitty, I—”

“I cannot believe you’re leaving us to go to the one place I wanted us to go in the first instance. We all had the chance to live there with Ben. Do you realize what I gave up because I thought you all wanted to stay here, together? I’d be married to Ben by now!” As she stared at them, daring them to deny it, tears threatened to spill.

Mary reached for her hand. “We’re still together.”

Kitty spun towards her. “Are we? Rory is God knows where and Martin is to travel to the other side of the world where Ben is. How is that being together? I let Ben go alone because you all said staying here was better.”

Martin slowly rose from his chair. “Kitty, I’m sorry. I didn’t know I would love seafaring so much.”

“You said you wanted to stay here.”

“I thought I did, but I’ve seen so much these last few months and I want to see more. I’m sorry.”

Max stood, placing Rosie on his chair. He faced them both. “Let’s not shout like fishwives.”

“I’ll shout all I like, Max Spencer! I have earned the right,” Kitty spat.

 

Martin plucked at his trousers. “I never expected to spend my life this way or to be so passionate about it. When I’m out on the open water it’s the most wonderful feeling. I know I only go up and down the coast and I was happy with that, until I met Captain Peterson. He liked the fact I’d an education and he said I could go far. I could even study and sit for my captain’s ticket one day, imagine that?” Martin’s eagerness brightened his eyes.

Kitty’s heart lurched. Her anger deserted her as suddenly as it came; leaving her deflated and wrung out like a dishcloth. How proud would she be if he achieved that after what they had endured? Their parents would be so delighted one of their children had advanced themselves. She sighed. “Well, it’s your life, Martin. You must do as you see fit.”

“My trip is only to Hull this time. So, I’ll be back in two days if everything goes according to plan. I’ll come and see you then. I must be in London by the end of next week. Captain Peterson wants to meet with his crew a day or two before we sail.”

“Are you in an authoritative position then, son?” Max asked, absentmindedly stroking Rosie’s hair.

“Yes, but there are a few men above me. I’m not sure as yet what position I’ll have, but Captain Peterson told me he wants to train me. His other men are not as bright as he’d like. Oh, they know the sea like the back of their hands, but the Captain wants to train someone educated.” Martin grinned. “Once we get to Australia, if the Captain’s business goes well, there is a chance he will get another boat and that could be mine one day.”

Kitty arranged the cakes back on the plate. “How did you meet this Captain?”

Martin lowered his gaze. “I, er, met him in Hull about a month ago. The Captain helped me out of a…er, sticky situation with a…er…a female.” He twisted away to stare at the coals ablaze in the grate, his face flamed the same colour as the embers.

Max winked at Kitty and Clara giggled.

Martin left soon after, promising to be home again in two days, and Kitty sighed at the knowledge she had now lost two brothers. She just hoped she didn’t lose Benjamin as well.

 

 

* * * *

 

 

Torrential rain bounced off the street as Kitty opened the tearooms for business the following morning. Grey autumn skies replaced summer blue and she sighed at the thought of facing another bleak winter. Alice suggested they should offer soup and hot pies as an alternative to sandwiches, now the weather grew cooler.

Kitty, Mary and Alice discussed this new idea when suddenly the back door was wrenched open and a very wet Mildred entered with Hetta close behind her.

“Ye Gods! That weather,” barked Hetta, shrugging off her coat. “I’m soaked to the bone.”

“Soaked to the bone,” repeated Rosie from her chair at the table.

“I’ll put the kettle on.” Mary chuckled. “A nice hot cup of tea will fix you up in no time.”

“I hate the cold,” Hetta whined, tying on her apron. “Me bones ache all the time an’ then me chest. Oh, me chest hurts me so bad I have t’stay in bed. You wouldn’t believe what I have t’go through.” Hetta kept on about her aches and pains, driving Kitty slightly mad with her moaning, but she knew deep down Hetta was a good woman with a big heart.

Urgent tapping upon the back door interrupted their talking. Mildred opened it and revealed a drenched, pimply youth.

“Miss McKenzie?” he wheezed, bending over to catch his breath.

Kitty frowned. “Yes, I’m Miss McKenzie. Come in. Can I help you?”

“I was sent on before the others…to warn you.”

She closed her eyes. What had happened now?

“What you on about, lad?” Hetta placed her hands on her wide hips.

“Quiet, Hetta.” Kitty’s heart turned over. She ushered the boy inside and closed the door. “Tell me what has happened.”

“Mr Spencer has been ‘urt at t’warehouse an’ is bein’ brought here. They’re on their way now,” he said in a rush, his face red with the effort.

“Hurt? How bad? A scratch? A bump on the head?”

The boy lowered his lashes, not meeting her gaze. “Real bad, Miss.” For a second no one moved, before the room erupted with chatter.

The women all stirred at once but went nowhere.

“Stop! Be quiet all of you. I cannot think.” Kitty turned to the boy again. “Do you know where Dr Myers lives?”

“‘Tis all right, miss, the doctor’s been sent for already.”

“Why was he not sent to hospital?”

“He asked to be tekken home. His last words before he passed out was he’d not die in a hospital.”

Kitty blinked and tried to organize her thoughts. She must prepare for the men bringing Max home, but all she could think about was of him being hurt, and then Connie…

“I’ll put water on to boil, miss,” Alice said, and added more coal to the range.

“Yes, good. Now Mary, go up and put an old blanket on top of Martin’s bed. We will put Max in there for the doctor to attend to him. Then, tell Connie…that…that Max has met with a slight accident, but nothing too dreadful, just a few scratches and bruises. I don’t want her worried.”

She looked at Mildred, who stood silent by the door leading into the tearoom. “Mildred, you will have to see to the tearoom by yourself for a while. If it becomes too busy, which it might because of the rain, then call for Alice to assist you, and then you, Hetta,” here, Kitty twisted to the older woman, “you will have to work the kitchen. Alice will show you what needs to be done, but you have been here long enough to manage, I’m sure?”

They all nodded.

A shout came from the courtyard.

Kitty opened the back door and rushed out into the teeming rain. A group of men held an old door between them bearing Max’s large body covered by old, thin scraps of canvas. She didn’t have time to look at him as the men puffed their way into the backroom. They paused for a moment to decide the best way to take Max upstairs, for there was no room to put him down in the busy backroom.

The staircase was too narrow to let the two men at the side go through, which left them standing in the hot kitchen. Their wet clothes steamed in the warmth. Alice thrust cups of hot sweet tea into their hands while Kitty followed the slow progress up the stairs.

Mary waited in the sitting room and showed the men where to take him. Obviously glad to be relieved of their burden, the men placed the stretcher on the floor beside Martin’s bed and took the canvas off Max and then heaved the big man onto the bed.

Kitty rushed to Max’s side. His low moans churned her stomach. Mary gasped at the mangled flesh and bloodied mess of Max’s right leg. His misshapen right arm was clearly broken. Max’s face, cut and scratched from his forehead down to his chin, also bore the brunt of the accident. His ripped shirt exposed deep cuts to his shoulder.

She glanced up at the workmen. “How did this happen?”

The elder of the two men took his hat off and wiped his sodden forehead. “The crane that carries goods from the boats t’warehouse broke an’ it dropped its entire load. Max here pushed a young lad out of the way an’ ended up coppin’ most of it, yet he saved the lad from certain death.”

“Are you certain the doctor is on his way?”

“Aye.”

“I hope he arrives soon. Thank you for your help.” She nodded to the men and then looked at Mary. “Take them down for some tea, and maybe find them a towel.” Kitty waited until they left the room before bending over Max’s face and kissing his uninjured cheek. “You’ll be all right, Max dear, I promise.”

“Kitty. Kitty!” Connie’s shouts startled Kitty and she dashed into her room.

“Where is he?” Connie struggled to get out of bed. “Is he all right? Mary told me nowt.”

Kitty pushed her back against the pillows and straightened the blankets. “There was an accident at the warehouse, but Max is fine. Some cargo landed on him. He has hurt his leg and scratched his face and shoulder.”

“I want ter see him.” Connie threw back the covers again.

“No, Connie. Stay in bed, please.”

“I want t’see for meself what he’s like. You could be lying t’me,” puffed Connie, still trying to get out of bed even though her large stomach made it awkward.

“When have I ever lied to you? Now, stop it,” Kitty snapped. “I cannot deal with the both of you.”

“Mrs Spencer, stop exhausting yourself and behave.” Doctor Myers stood in the doorway.

Kitty went to the doctor’s side. “Max is in the boys’ room, Doctor.”

Mary brought up bowls of hot water and strips of cotton sheeting for bandages. The doctor, with Mary and Kitty’s help, ministered to Max’s injuries for over an hour before he was finally satisfied it was all they could do for the moment.

“He’ll need to be watched constantly for the next few days.” The doctor frowned as he packed his bag. “Someone will have to sit at night with him too. I’m fairly sure there are no internal injuries, but I cannot be completely positive. Bruising will come out once the swelling has gone down. I’ll call back this evening.”

“You don’t think he should be taken to the hospital?” Kitty asked. Her father once told her the poor feared hospitals as places of death, usually because by the time they waited to be ill enough to go to hospital, it was generally too late for the doctors to save them, but she felt Max needed to be there.

“Yes, he should really. But, I’d rather not move him now. I believe we can manage him here well enough. I’ve no doubt we can give him constant attention, which is something he wouldn’t always receive at the hospital. I shall review the situation in an hour or two. Now I must dash, I’ve two women in labour and have no idea which one to go to first.”

“Perhaps his leg needs an operation?” persisted Kitty, believing the doctor needed to pay more attention to this very important patient.

“No, it was a clean break like his arm. His leg looks terrible because of all the mangled flesh around the bone and the other cuts and tearing further up the thigh. It should heal properly in time now it’s splinted. I’m more worried about either internal or head injuries. He may lapse into a coma. I shall consult with another doctor and be back as soon as I can. I’ll ask for a report from the warehouse. I’m concerned about Mrs Spencer, Miss McKenzie. She is ready to have the baby at any moment and she needs to remain calm.”

“Very well.” Kitty sighed. “Show Doctor Myers out please, Mary.”

Left alone, Kitty took a chair from the corner and brought it close to the bed.

“What a to-do,” lamented Hetta, carrying in a cup of tea for Kitty. “Now, I don’t want you ter worry a minute, Miss Kitty. I’ll stay here tonight an’ cook you all a meal an’ see ter the bairns. You an’ Mary will be far too busy tendin’ ter Mr an’ Mrs Spencer to worry about owt else.”

Kitty wanted to protest, as she didn’t think she could put up with Hetta’s chatter tonight. However, it would be easier to have someone attend to Rosie and keep Clara and Joe amused. “Thank you, Hetta, I appreciate it.”

“Not a problem at all, Miss Kitty. I’ve got no one t’go home ter. So I’ll not be missed.”

Kitty stared at her and realized the poor woman was lonely. Hetta had no children and her husband and parents were long dead. The people under this roof were all she had for company. At fifty-eight years old, she was alone in a rented room in a tenement building. Compassion filled Kitty and she grasped the older woman’s hand in acknowledgement before Hetta left the room.

Kitty rose and stepped to the window. The grey storm clouds still sent down their deluge. She shivered with cold. The room had no heating and she worried in case Max was cold too.

“How is he?” Connie appeared in the doorway, causing Kitty to nearly have a stroke.

Connie hobbled into the room and sat on the chair. “Get back to bed,” Kitty whispered.

“Yes, I’ll in a minute. I want t’see him first.”

“But Connie—”

“‘Tis all right, our lass. Me time is due now, so it won’t matter if I start. But I had ter see Max. I’m beside meself with worry.” Connie took Max’s right hand and kissed it. “My, he’s a mess.”

“The doctor said he’ll mend in time.” She squeezed Connie’s shoulder. “Now go back to bed.”

“I nearly fell over the first time I put me feet on the floor. I thought I’d forgotten how to walk.” She shrugged, smiling through her tears. “I just had ter see him, lass.”

“I know, dearest.” She planted a small kiss on top of Connie’s head. “Now, let us have you back in bed.” She helped Connie back into her bedroom.

“You’ll come an’ get me if he asks for me?”

“Of course, now rest.” Kitty smiled in reassurance and closed the door. She met Mary in the sitting room. “Is everything all right downstairs?”

“Yes. Alice has Rosie occupied playing with scraps of pastry.”

“Good.”

Max’s moans carried to them and they hurried into his room. His face had lost all colour and beads of sweat developed on his forehead. Kitty swiftly dampened a cloth and wiped them away. His breathing became laboured and she reached for the laudanum the doctor had left. She bit her lip as she measured out the right dosage and then tried to pour it into Max’s mouth. Some of the mixture seeped past his lips and the rest dribbled down his chin. She hoped he swallowed enough to settle again. He groaned and coughed up blood. Her hands shook as she watched him. He looked ghastly.

“Poor Max.” Mary wiped away a tear.

“He is getting worse,” Kitty agonised. She felt his brow. “He is hot one minute and then cold the next. He’s sweating terribly and I think he’s in pain, but he won’t open his eyes.”

Max writhed and gasped for breath. His movement made blood ooze through the bandage on his shoulder.

Kitty groaned. “He must stay still or he’ll tear his stitches.” She lifted off the blankets to check the bandages on his legs. She stilled.

Mary took a step closer. “What’s the matter?”

“Look,” Kitty whispered. She stared at Max’s stomach and his exposed black hairy chest.

“At what…”

“Look under his hair, look through it. What do you see?” Mary peered at Max’s chest and stomach. “Bruises.”

“No, it is different, I have a feeling… Father used to take me sometimes to visit patients… I used to read his medical books, remember?” Her voice faltered. She twirled from the bed and dashed downstairs.

She didn’t stop to grasp her hat or coat as she ran out of the back door and down the side path. Her hair came out of its confinement and whipped into her eyes.

She sprinted down the street, past people with open mouths as they realised who she was. She turned the corner and kept going. The cobblestones poked uncomfortably through her thin house slippers, but it didn’t stop her. She kept running even when a stitch ached in her side. She lost her footing at times and stumbled, but scrambled on.

The street the doctor lived on loomed before her. As she crossed the road, she was roughly grabbed by the arm and pulled back onto the walkway just as a carriage hurtled past. The cold wind from the passing carriage slapped her face.

“By God. What in hell’s name were you trying to do, get yourself killed?” Doctor Myers ranted.

Kitty bent double, heaving. Only after she pulled her hair away from her face and he saw who he held in a vice grip did the doctor calm down.

“Miss McKenzie? What is it? The Spencers?”

“Max…” Kitty nodded, not able to speak. Her chest felt ready to burst as she dragged air into her lungs.

He took her by the arm and crossed the street to the hostelry on the corner. He told her to wait outside. After a few endless minutes, the doctor drove a horse and gig from around the back of the establishment. He reined in beside Kitty and she bundled into it without them speaking a word. Myers drove straight to the tearooms and Kitty mumbled for him not to wait for her but to go straight to Max. Instead, Dr Myers hurried around to help her out. Together they rushed into the tearooms by the front entrance.

Dr Myers hustled her through to the back room. The silent weeping of Mildred and Hetta confronted them, halting them for a moment before they bounded upstairs.

Silence.

Kitty hesitated in the bedroom doorway as Dr Myers strode to Max. Alice sat on the chair, staring towards the bed. Beside the bed stood Mary, tears flowing unchecked down her cheeks. On the bed lay Connie, curled around Max as much as her huge stomach would allow.

Gently, Dr Myers examined Max where the blueness had seeped across his chest and stomach. Blood dribbled down his chin. “Internal bleeding.” Myers bowed his head. “I’m sorry.”

Kitty gasped and shoved her fist against her mouth to stop her groan. It was as though someone had punched her in the chest. She couldn’t breathe. Some hideous weight pushed against her ribs. Max looked strangely content and her heart ached with acute pain.

Big beautiful Max, taken from them by a freak accident. Never again would they hear his loud booming voice, his laughter, his jokes or his stories. How many hours had he entertained the children in the cellar with his tales and games? But no more.

A sob caught in her throat. It was the only noise in the room. Connie lifted her head and gazed at her. The agony in her eyes made Kitty nearly double up in two. How will we all bear it?

 

 

* * * *

 

 

Kitty gazed around the tearoom at the people who stood or sat at tables sipping tea and eating sandwiches and cakes. It was a good turnout. They did Max proud. So many of his workmates and friends came to the graveside and most of them returned with the family for the wake. A good number of them had to stand in the backroom or in the courtyard due to the crowd. Poor Alice, Mildred and Hetta were run off their feet serving everyone; even Clara did her bit. Kitty gave her an encouraging smile as she passed by with a tray of sandwiches.

Kitty realized she hated the colour black. It dominated the room. Nearly everyone at the tearooms wore it. The girls had draped black material across the windows and tied black ribbons around each vase of flowers on every table. It seemed all colour had vanished. She wished to see something bright and gay and was thoroughly ashamed for thinking such thoughts on this terrible day.

Two days was all it had been. Two days. To Kitty it seemed like two years. Time had stood still since Max died, and she didn’t know how they would move on without him. She gazed at Connie, sitting next to Dorothea and Mary. Despite her ordeal, she looked well, if very pale, as though she was enveloped in a peaceful aura.

Kitty trembled. Nothing more can happen to those I love or I’ll go raving mad.

“You all right?” Martin placed his hand on her shoulder.

She reached up and stroked his face. Today she would also lose her brother. A great sadness welled inside, threatening to choke her. She had to be brave. “I’ll be fine, dearest. What time does your train to London leave?”

“I’m not going.”

Kitty frowned. “Not going?”

“No. I’ll stay home. You’ll need me now.”

Kitty straightened. “Oh, no. No, Martin. You’re leaving on that train today and sailing for a new life. One person in this family sacrificing their dreams is quite enough, I’ll not let you do it too.”

“But without Max to help around the place and his wage, I thought—”

“No, Martin, no. You’re going and I’ll not argue about it.” She smiled to take the sting out of her words. “I love you and I’ll miss you, but I shan’t let you stay here when so much out there waits for you. So, go. Pack your belongings and then come say goodbye to us all.” Kitty reached up and kissed his cheek. Oh, how I’ll miss you.

Later that evening, Kitty and Connie sat on either side of the fire in the sitting room. With everyone in bed the hissing of the fire was the only sound.

Kitty gazed across the rim of her teacup at Connie and again received the impression Connie was at peace. Kitty wondered how she could be after losing Max. “Are you very tired?”

Connie looked at her. “No, lass.”

“Can I get you anything?”

“Nay, there’s nowt you can get for me.”

Kitty hesitated. “I think you have handled this nightmare extremely well, considering.” Her voice cracked with emotion. “I admire you.”

Connie smiled. “That’s because I’m not frightened anymore.”

Puzzled, Kitty frowned. “Frightened? Of what?”

“Of havin’ this babby. You see, now Max is waitin’ for us, I have no fear of dyin’.”

Appalled at this confession, Kitty stared. “B-but you won’t die, Connie, and neither will that baby.”

Connie turned back to stare at the fire. “You can’t guarantee it, our lass. Not that it matters, because Max’ll tekk care of us. He had t’go first so he wouldn’t be left behind.”

“I’ll not listen to this kind of talk, Connie.” She took Connie’s hand and squeezed it. “Are you telling me you are willing yourself and that baby to die? Is that what you’re telling me?”

Connie heaved herself up off the sofa and looked down at Kitty with a resolute expression. “All I’m sayin’ is, if either me or the babby die, then it’ll be all right, because Max’ll be there t’tekk care of us.”

“Well, it is not going to happen, and you have to believe that too.”

“‘Tis not up to either of us t’say what’ll happen, only fate can decide.”

Connie leaned over and gave Kitty a peck on the cheek. “Goodnight, lass.”

The night brought a cover of soft snow to the city of York. Winter was still a month away, but nature decided to bring an early warning to the townsfolk that the cold was here to stay for a long time. People rushed about a little bit quicker now, trying to complete their business so they could be indoors where it was warmer. The elderly complained of sore joints and achy bones at the thought of another long cold spell. While poor, harassed mothers wondered if they could manage to get another winter out of clothes already too short for their children and worn thin.

The first day of opening after Max’s funeral proved busy. The cold weather gave people the excuse to call in for a cup of tea or bowl of tasty soup to warm them before they went on their way again. Alice made plenty of hot savoury pies and pasties, which proved just as popular as her cakes.

The back door opened as Hetta, with snowflakes casing her coat and hat, marched through carrying a wicker basket full of the family’s freshly pressed clothes. “It’ll be a foot deep by nightfall, you mark my words!” She huffed, placing the basket on the floor and then removed her hat and coat. “How are you all?” she greeted them. Not waiting for their reply, she went straight into a tale about one winter when it snowed for weeks on end trapping old people in their own homes.

“Stop your chatter, woman, and have some tea,” said Connie. Inching her way to the edge of her chair, she used the table as a support to help her stand.

“If you get any bigger, Mrs Spencer, you’ll explode.” Hetta shook her head in disapproval.

“It ain’t summat I’ve enjoyed.” Connie’s eyes narrowed at the other woman. “Do you think wearin’ tents for clothes is fun?”

Kitty stepped between them and took Connie’s arm. “Are you going upstairs to rest? Dr Myers—”

“Is an idiot,” Connie scoffed. Unexpectedly, she groaned and lurched sideways.

“Connie!” Kitty eased her back onto the chair.

“Oh, lass.” Connie gazed down. A soaking stain spread through her skirts.

Everyone stared, mesmerized by the sight.

“I’ve been havin’ an odd pain all night. Only, I thought it were just the babby lyin’ funny.”

Mary came into the backroom with a customer order. “What’s happened?”

As though Mary’s tone triggered something in their minds, they all moved at once in panic.

“Connie is having the baby.” Kitty wondered if her legs would hold her up, such was her anxiety. “We must help her up to bed.”

Alice began filling up a large pot with water from the kettle. “Hot water, we’ll need hot water.”

Kitty, with Mary on the other side, helped Connie upstairs.

“We need the old towels to cover the sheets with, Mary,” Kitty instructed. She bit her bottom lip. For weeks she had been quietly organizing for this day and now that it had arrived she was so nervous in case everything wouldn’t go as smoothly as she planned. Connie’s statement on the night of Max’s funeral lingered on her mind.

Connie took hold of Kitty’s hand. “Listen. I want ter say this now in case I don’t get the chance later.”

“No, Connie, please—”

“Listen ter me. No one knows the outcome, lass. So, I want you t’know that I love you. I love all of you, an’ if I go ter be with Max an’ the babby stays here, then will you tell it me an’ its father loved it very much? Will you tell it that?” Her eyes begged Kitty.

Kitty nodded, her throat full. “Come, let’s get you comfortable. Then you can have a cup of tea. We’ve a long night ahead.”

Those words haunted Kitty as afternoon drew into evening and Connie only had the odd pain every hour or so.

By nearly eight o’clock, apart from constant backache, Connie suffered no more pains. Alice and her mother, Nora, the local midwife sat talking with Mary. Hetta, bless her kind soul, had taken Joe, Clara and Rosie home with her to save them from hearing Connie’s moans.

“Well, Mrs Spencer.” Kitty grinned. “How about a game of cards?”

“Aye, might as well, since nowt else…” Connie screwed up her face in pain.

Instantly, Kitty stroked her hand. “Is it very bad?”

Connie’s low groan caught the ears of the women in the sitting room. In seconds the bedroom was full. Nora went straight to Connie and rubbed her back as she arched upwards in pain.

“There now, lass, that’s it, go with it. Well done,” Nora murmured.

The pain receded and Connie relaxed again. “That was the worst one yet.”

“Obviously the little mite has decided to get a move on.” Nora nodded, smiling. “I think you should try to sleep while you can.” She shooed everyone out again except Kitty, who sat back on the chair.

For the next three hours, Connie dozed between intense pains. The others sensed the labour was progressing and Alice, in her nervousness, had so much boiled water ready it made everyone laugh. Kitty asked Mary to sit with Connie while she went to wash and freshen herself.

In her bedroom, Kitty stood at the window and stared out along the street. New snow gave it a clean appearance. She knelt at the windowsill to pray to the unknown fates to spare Connie and her baby. “God, I know I haven’t been a dutiful believer, but I beg you to listen to me now. Let them live long and happy lives, please,” she whispered.

Opening her eyes, she rose with a feeling of calmness. As she washed her face and hands, her engagement ring glinted in the lamplight. Kitty kissed its emerald stone for luck and smiled. She missed Ben more this night than any other. She longed to see his smile and feel his arms around her, to hear his voice and see his eyes sparkle just for her. With a deep sigh, she straightened her shoulders and headed back to Connie and the fate awaiting them.

As the clock chimed one o’clock in the morning, Nora stood entrenched at the bottom of the bed. “Right, now Mrs Spencer, do you feel like pushing at all?”

“Noooo!” Connie moaned through clenched teeth as a contraction peaked.

“That’s fine. Just fine. You’ll feel it when the time’s right,” said Nora, watching the development between Connie’s drawn-up legs.

Mary and Kitty, on either side of the bed, held Connie’s hands and wiped her brow when needed.

“You’re doing so well, dearest, so well.” Kitty encouraged her.

“I’ve had enough,” Connie puffed, her face wet with sweat.

“Soon it’ll all be over and your baby will be in your arms.” She helped Connie take a sip of water from a cup.

“No, no, it’s tekkin’ too long. It won’t make it, I know.” Connie panicked as another pain seized her. She squeezed their hands until the blood stopped flowing, but Mary and Kitty ignored it as they helped her through the ordeal.

Over the rooftops the sky lightened in the distance, heralding a new dawn. Only, above the tearooms, Connie weakened. Half an hour earlier, Nora had sent Alice for the doctor. Hours of constant contractions and pain had exhausted her.

Nora pulled Kitty to one side. “I’m worried the baby is stuck or turned in the womb.”

“The doctor will know what to do, though?” Kitty whispered.

“Aye, but it’s a tricky job. With the strength of her pains that babby should be out by now and it’s just not happening.”

A groan from Connie, gripped by another contraction, interrupted them. This time there was a subtle change in her as nature took over. Connie grabbed her thighs and pushed. A guttural noise came from deep within her chest and she went red in the face from straining.

Beads of sweat broke out on Nora’s forehead and her wispy grey hair stuck to it. She looked up from her position at the end of the bed. “I can see the head, Mrs Spencer. That’s good. Now, slow down, it’s over for the minute, just take it easy.”

A bustle from the door announced Doctor Myers with Alice close behind him. He took in the situation then led Nora away a little so they could talk in private. Their attention was soon diverted back to Connie as she rose again to grip her legs and push. Doctor Myers talked her through it and praised her once it was over. He washed his hands and then felt her stomach. For some minutes he listened to and probed her extended mound.

“Twins, I think, Mrs Spencer,” he declared, before withdrawing to the end of the bed.

Connie, resting between pains, jerked at the doctor’s words. “Nay…”

“Twins,” Kitty and Mary spoke as one.

Connie stared at them in fear as another wave of pain descended on her.

“Right, Mrs Spencer, push hard now. We need to get these little ones out,” he said as the baby’s head emerged. Quickly, he felt around its neck for the umbilical cord. At the next push, Dr. Meyers turned the shoulders and the baby slid onto the bed.

“It’s a boy!” Kitty rushed up to kiss Connie’s hot, red cheek.

“Is…he…alive?” croaked Connie.

As though sensing his mother’s doubt, the tiny fellow roared out his fury at being unceremoniously wiped over with a warm cloth by Nora.

“Got a fine pairs of lungs on him,” declared Nora, passing the scissors to the doctor for him to tie off and then cut the cord. Soon after, Nora picked the baby up and wrapped him in a soft woollen blanket. “Come, Miss Mary. Hold this little one, for there is more work to be done.”

Tears formed in Mary’s eyes as Nora gave her the baby. Slowly, she stepped to the bed and bent down to show Connie her first born, her son.

Connie raised her head to gaze in wonder at the tiny miracle. “My son,” she whispered

“Oh, Connie, how beautiful is he?” Happiness and relief burst out of Kitty.

“He’s as handsome as his dad.”

“I think you should get some rest before the next one makes its appearance, Mrs Spencer,” Dr. Myers murmured.

“I’ll go make her a cup of tea,” Alice said rushing out.

Ten minutes later, Connie heaved and strained to push the next baby out. “Wait, Mrs Spencer, wait,” Myers instructed. “The head is out but I must check for the cord.”

With the next contraction, Connie pushed.

“You have a daughter, Mrs Spencer. Congratulations.” Doctor Myers cleared the baby’s airways of mucus.

“Is she all right?” Connie tried to sit up, anxious because the new baby hadn’t cried.

Before the doctor could answer, the baby boy in Mary’s arms cried and the tiny girl answered with her first wail.

Connie slumped back against the pillows and closed her eyes. “‘Tis done, Max, I did it, me love.”

Only Kitty heard Connie’s whisper. “Connie!” Kitty, thinking she was slipping away from them, shook Connie’s shoulders hard. Startled, Connie’s eyes flew open. Kitty yelled into her face. “Don’t you dare leave me.”

“I’m tired, lass, so very tired,” mumbled Connie. “What you yellin’ for?”

Kitty bowed her head. Tears wavered on the edge of her lashes. “I’m sorry. I thought…I…never mind.”

Doctor Myers peered over Connie’s bent legs. “Your job is not finished just yet, Mrs Spencer. There is the afterbirth. Then you can sleep the day away.” He smiled at her.

A short time later, Alice and Nora cleaned Connie and made the bed up with fresh sheets. Kitty sat with the baby girl in her arms beside Mary, who held the baby boy. They watched as Connie, dressed in a new nightgown, settled back against thick pillows and sipped a cup of tea.

“Two babies.” Kitty grinned at Connie. Her fear of losing Connie had receded now as good colour returned to her cheeks.

“What are they to be called then?” Nora asked, bundling the soiled sheets into a basket ready to take downstairs and boil.

“Charles an’ Adelaide,” announced Connie. “‘Tis a relief to finally say their names. I was plagued day an’ night that this would end in nowt but disaster.”

Kitty gripped her hand. “That is because you didn’t listen to me.”

“My, they’re fancy names and no mistake,” declared Nora. “Right posh.”

Connie smiled. “I had a lot of time t’look through Kitty’s books while I was in bed for all those months. I was lookin’ at one book about Australia, an’ I noticed a town called Adelaide. I liked it an’ so did Max.” Her bottom lip trembled.

“And Charles?” inquired Mary, holding the newly named Charles Spencer.

“Charles is Max’s father’s name. Max wanted it.” Connie dashed away her tears and sniffed.

“They are both fine names.” Kitty kissed Adelaide’s soft downy head. “I’m sure Max is smiling down, so proud of his babies.”