In the dining room at The Laburnums, Martin listened to the conversation and he reflected on his own life.
Joseph Purcell had up and moved from Bilston, unable to stand being shunned by the town’s society any longer, and he, Martin, had been lucky enough to fill the vacant position as Magistrate. He had also maintained his office in Earle Street; having let it to two solicitors looking for business premises to share.
Martin, also, had been measured for his wedding garb and was eagerly awaiting the day he would marry Cara Flowers. The summer had seemed an eternity away as the winter months had dragged on, but now with the springtime bloom not far away he felt more at ease. He was kept up to date with the renovations at the new building and he surmised the workmen would be in their units and trading by Easter.
Martin watched his bride-to-be as voices buzzed around the dinner table. Something was wrong. Cara had suddenly withdrawn into herself, her moods becoming sombre.
‘Are you all right, sweetheart?’ he asked.
Cara turned her glance to him, saying, ‘Yes Martin, I think this cold weather is getting me down.’
‘If you’re sure,’ he said.
Cara nodded and turned her face away from him.
She had brushed his concern aside but he thought there was something more on her mind than the weather. Could it be she had changed her mind about marrying him and was afraid to say? No, Cara was afraid of nothing. He determined to say nothing more; she would explain when she felt the time was right, he was sure. He dismissed these thoughts as he was drawn into the conversation.
Gracie Cox had seen the change in Cara too and had wondered what had happened to bring about this sudden alteration. Was it the forthcoming marriage that was eating away at the girl? It was possible, for Gracie knew Cara wanted to accomplish more to help the poor folk of Bilston before settling down to housewifely duties. It was after Martin had left and everyone else was in bed that Gracie broached the subject.
With just the two of them now sat in the kitchen, Gracie said, ‘You want to tell me about it?’
Cara’s blue eyes flashed to her friend before once more returning to her teacup. ‘There’s nothing to tell.’
‘Right, and I’m the Queen Mother! Come on wench, something is on your mind, we’ve all noticed it.’ Gracie watched the girl sitting opposite her.
Suddenly the flood gates opened and tears streamed down Cara’s face.
‘Bloody hell girl! Whatever is the matter?’ Gracie rushed round the table and threw her arms around a sobbing Cara.
At last Cara gained control of her emotions and began to speak.
Deciding to go for a walk, Cara had ambled down Proud’s Lane and as she neared St. Leonard’s Church she stopped abruptly. Was that Martin walking briskly through the churchyard? Why was he here and not at his work? Maybe he was organizing their wedding service with the vicar. Surely that was something they should do together? But then that would be typical of Martin… taking control.
Stepping through the lychgate, Cara had followed the small paved path dividing the church from the gravestones. She called out but Martin didn’t hear her. Coming to the corner wall of the imposing building, she stopped. She could hear Martin’s voice then laughter. Peeping around the corner, Cara couldn’t believe her eyes. It was indeed Martin Lander, her fiancé, and he was passionately kissing someone else!
Cara had watched as Martin embraced the dark-haired young woman. Then she had pulled back quickly behind the wall as the two scanned the area, assuring themselves they were alone.
After a moment, she had peered round the corner once more. Swallowing her shock, she saw them move off to the trees that shielded the gravestones from the street. Skirting around the church, she approached from the other side, her footfalls muffled by the grass.
Following the sound of the girl’s giggles, Cara had moved stealthily to a point where she hid behind a large oak. Listening to Martin’s coaxing, her anger had mounted. Should she step forward and confront them? She knew what was about to occur. She had tasted bile in her mouth and her stomach rolled. How could he do this to her? Especially after he had accused her of doing the same thing! Breathing heavily, she stood stock-still and watched.
She saw Martin lower the girl to the ground. With a hand covering her mouth, Cara had watched with mounting disgust as her fiancé made frantic love to another woman. She heard their groans as their passion increased, until at last their lust was sated and they lay together laughing.
Dressing quickly, the pair had walked back the way they had come, totally unaware that they had been observed throughout their liaison.
Cara had leant her back to the tree’s trunk and gazed up into the sky. Anger rose swiftly and she began to shake from head to foot. Her fiancé was having an affair with another woman! Judging by what she had just witnessed, this was definitely not the first occasion they had made love! Cara had dredged her mind, focusing on the times she and Martin had not been together. Had he been with this other woman during those times?
‘You bastard!’ she had muttered. Never in her life had she sworn, apart from the occasional ‘damn’, but there was a first time for everything and she had felt it totally appropriate right then.
Cara had stood by the tree a long time trying to quell the anger in her. She felt utterly betrayed by the man who had asked for her hand in marriage.
Finally retracing her steps still feeling full of rage, Cara debated how to confront Martin Lander about his tryst with the dark-haired young beauty.
When she had finished, Gracie gasped, ‘Christ A’mighty!’
*
Everyone ate a huge lunch before retiring to the parlour. Molly called for quiet.
‘I have a toast to make,’ she said as all raised their glasses, ‘to Cara and her accomplishments.’ The toast was made and Molly spoke again as she turned to her husband Sam. ‘Sam, you are going to be a daddy!’
‘Thank God for that!’ he gasped. ‘I thought you were just getting fat!’
‘The baby is due in late summer so you may have to rearrange your wedding date Cara, so I can attend.’ Molly laughed.
Cara smiled indulgently.
Applause sounded and hugs given.
Sam cleared his throat and all eyes turned to him. ‘We’d best be finding a home of our own, Mrs Yale. I can’t rightly turn the tenants out of my cottage, so we’ll have to find somewhere else.’
Molly grinned, ‘Blimey, you’re right! Maybe Mr Harris at the Estate Agents can help?’ They agreed to start looking for a house not too far away.
Cara watched the joy in Molly’s eyes and thought she would order a new spring built perambulator for Molly’s baby. This could not be delivered until her say-so. Carriage before baby was deemed back luck.
As talk centred on Molly and the baby, Cara’s thoughts led her to how she might feel about having a family with Martin Lander. As her eyes rested on him laughing with Sam, her stomach rolled. No, most definitely not. She could not envisage herself being a wife to this man, never mind having his babies! Watching him now, the seed of a plan began to take shape in her mind. Could she do it? Could she be that cruel? Time would tell.
*
Nothing more had been said about the discussion between Cara and Gracie on that night Cara bawled her eyes out, other than the girl needed to decide what to do in her own time and in her own way. Cara now felt she had made that decision.
Sitting on her bed, Cara picked up the letters she had found in the ottoman and began to read once more. Then laying them aside she closed her eyes and digested the information contained in them.
Why had her grandmother not told her of these? Why had Henrietta Selby denied hearing anything more about her daughter, Cara’s mother? She had said that she’d heard John Flowers had died in a carting accident, which was true. What she hadn’t said was how she’d heard. Her daughter had informed her by letter. One of the letters now lying on Cara’s bed. John, apparently, had been knocked down by a fully laden cart which had then rolled over him, crushing his chest. He had not survived long. Now widowed, Elizabeth Flowers had written to her mother begging forgiveness and leave to return home to The Laburnums. Whether Henrietta had replied, Cara didn’t know.
One letter after another all held similar requests. Could Elizabeth Flowers come home to her mother? Could she bring her other two children with her? Could she resume caring for her own daughter Cara? Begging Henrietta to forgive her, she promised to take care of them all and never again disobey her mother. Cara remembered from the diaries her grandmother had made no mention of Charlie and Daisy. Cara had assumed she hadn’t been aware of their existence. These letters proved that to be false. Why had her grandma not searched for the children?
Whether by fault or design, Elizabeth Flowers had stayed away. Could this be what Henrietta alluded to in the personal letter left for Cara? ‘Also, if you find my daughter, please tell her I rue the day I ignored her plea.’
Elizabeth had begged to come home, but her grandmother had ignored it. Why? Was she still upset and angry that Elizabeth had married John against her wishes?
Cara packed away the letters, she could not bear to read any more. She knew what was contained in them and it was heart-breaking. This was something she would have to deal with at a later date, for now her forthcoming wedding was occupying her every thought. Cara shut the letters from her mind.