AGAIN, PIP PUT a hand to her mouth as another spoonful of porridge threatened to make its escape. Admitting defeat, she pushed her bowl away.
‘All right, lass?’ Cook eyed her worriedly. ‘You’ve barely scraped the surface, there. Not too salty for you, is it?’
‘Nay, it’s lovely, honest. I’m just not that hungry this morning.’
Cook nodded, satisfied, and as she passed Pip’s chair, stroked her hair with a brief but tender touch.
Despite the mounting anxiety churning her insides into ribbons, Pip couldn’t contain a smile. With each passing day, the woman she’d now come around to viewing as a grandmother was accepting her, too, for who she was. It was difficult, would be so for a while to come, Pip knew, but thankfully they were making steady progress. It was all they could do.
Simon entered and she had to stop herself from running to him lest others became suspicious.
‘Did you see the master, then, lad? He weren’t too busy to hear thee?’ Cook asked him.
‘Aye, I saw him. He were all for my suggestions.’ He smiled, then turned to Pip, adding, ‘I had some ideas to put to him about the garden, wanted to get his permission, like.’
‘Oh. Right. That’s good,’ she said as evenly as she could, though her mind spun with confusion.
She could tell when he was lying, and knew he was doing so now. He’d needed an excuse to leave the kitchen and enter the house proper, that was it; for what? Scheming, sneaking around … It was like it had been with Caroline, all over again. But, as then, what choice had they?
When he was seated beside her, she said through the side of her mouth, ‘Lad, please. I must know—’
‘I told thee, I’ll be the one to sort this and me alone. The fewer details you know, the less chance there’ll be of you slipping up and him cottoning on that summat’s afoot.’
‘I understand that, but—’ However, there was no shaking him:
‘Just do as I said and all will work out.’ He picked up his spoon and began to eat, indicating that the conversation was over, and she had no choice but to accept it.
That she could have actually harboured the idea of Simon agreeing to hand over their Mack to that man, even for a second … Her cheeks flushed with shame. She should have guessed he was planning something; he’d not see an ounce of hurt come to that lad, never, never. But what had he in store for Alexander? One down, one to go, he’d said.
Whatever he was up to, it seemed Simon meant to be rid of him for good. She didn’t know whether to be excited or terrified. What if something went wrong – and it could, couldn’t it? Look how matters had panned out the last time they took an enemy on. God above, what will the outcome of this day be? she asked herself, as she had continually since wakening. Again, no answer was forthcoming. All she, any of them, could do was wait and see.
At the appointed hour, Simon gave Pip a look deep with meaning. Though no one would have guessed he had any other agenda when he followed it up with: ‘We’ll make our way to the nursery, now, Pip. You an’ all, Bread, come on. Everyone will be away to church in a few minutes.’
Pip was surprised the servants couldn’t hear her heartbeat as she nodded and followed the lads to the door – it was thumping as hard as a drum. The green baize door closed at their backs and she pulled Simon to a halt. ‘What’s to happen?’
‘I told thee. I managed to arrange for us to sit and keep Miss Lucy company so’s we could get out of going to church with the rest. That way, we’ll be here when that Sutton-Shaw one arrives—’
‘I know all that; I didn’t mean what’s to happen right now this minute, and you know it. After they’re away to church, what then?’
‘How many more times? You don’t need to know, for I’ve got this. Trust me. Please?’
She released a shaky sigh. ‘It’ll work, whatever it is, won’t it? You’ll be careful, lad?’
‘Aye, yes.’ He took a deep breath then squared his shoulders. ‘Come on.’
As expected, not long afterwards, the sound of the front door shutting drifted up to where they sat playing a card game with Lucy. Pip and Simon simultaneously stiffened. The latter slipped from where he sat at the bottom of the bed.
‘Budd?’
Reading a book by the fire, the nursemaid glanced up. ‘Everything all right?’
Simon nodded. ‘Me and Pip and the lad here, we’ll just nip to the kitchen and fetch back some refreshments. There’s them little cakes left what Cook baked yesterday …’ he added temptingly to Lucy as she made to protest at them leaving her. Eyes lighting up, the girl nodded, placated, and he turned back to the woman. ‘You want owt, Budd? A sup of tea? Summat else?’
‘Tea would be lovely, thank you. Although you may as well leave the boy here with Miss Lucy. She’ll soon grow bored on her own; he can keep her occupied until you return.’
Simon’s face fell. He opened and closed his mouth but was at a loss to think up an excuse. Pip saved the moment: ‘Nay, we’ll need him to help us carry everything. There’s the pot, and cups and saucers and whatnot. Then there’s the tray, and we’ll need to collect a blanket or some such to lay over Lucy’s legs so as not to dirty the nice clean bedspread—’
‘Yes, all right. I see your point.’
Pip swallowed her relief. ‘We’ll not be long, ’onest.’
Outside, she turned to Simon. They shook their heads in thankfulness that they had managed to pull that off. It had been a close call for a moment, there. Without Mack, the plan would be ruined.
‘Come on. Let’s get this over with.’ Swinging around, Simon led the way downstairs.
Pip thought he’d continue for the last flight to the ground floor, so frowned in puzzlement when instead he halted on the landing and motioned to Josephine’s door.
‘You and Bread wait in there.’
‘For what?’
‘Trust me. Now, when that divil arrives, I’ll escort him up then make my excuses and leave.’
‘Leave? What d’you mean? You can’t leave me and Mack alone with him—!’
‘Please, Pip. Just do as I say. Keep him talking for as long as you can, right? Owt you can think of to distract him a while, to drag the time out, do it. You understand?’
She didn’t, not a bit of it, but nodded.
‘Remember.’ His quiet tone was serious. ‘Whatever happens, no matter what, do not leave him alone with the lad. Not for a single second. Right?’
Frightened tears stung her eyes. ‘Right,’ she whispered.
‘It’ll all be over soon. Now, go on.’
Taking Mack’s hand, she led him to the room. Once inside, she closed the door and, looking around the empty space, chewed her thumb, unsure what to do, her nerves shot with worry of the unknown.
‘Why we here, Pip? I want to go back to Miss Lucy.’
‘Soon, lad.’ She pointed across distractedly. ‘Sit down on the chaise longue, there.’
‘But I want to go, want to get back to our game—’
‘Please, lad, just do as you’re told!’ she snapped, regretting her sharpness instantly when his bottom lip wobbled. ‘Eeh, I’m sorry, I am. Please, sit down for just a minute. This’ll not take long.’
He crossed the room and perched on the edge of the seat, and she’d just begun pacing the floor when the door opened and there he was. Impeccably groomed, dressed in the most expensive attire money could buy, as always, he cut the perfect image of a true gentleman. How deceiving appearances could be … She juddered to a stop.
‘Leave us,’ he told her coldly, eyes fixed firmly on the boy. ‘Your friend is waiting for you upstairs.’
Her voice came out in a squeak. ‘Upstairs?’
‘That’s what I said, isn’t it? And you and he had better make sure that Lucy and the hag stay put. One wrong move and I will finish the pair of you without hesitation. Now go. I shall let myself out once I’m done.’
Her mind raced; she fumbled around inside it for something to say, anything. ‘Done with what?’ It was the first thing that came out. Instantly, she regretted it. Alexander’s lips bunched in a leering smile.
‘Oh, come. You’re surely not as green as all that? Slum monkeys like you know all there is to before your age has barely hit double figures.’ He tossed his hat and cane on to a chair and removed his frock coat. Then he reached up to undo the buttons of his waistcoat.
Bile was rising in her throat; she groped desperately for something to stall him. All the while, her eyes flicked continually to the door. Simon, where are you? Help us, please.
‘Listen, do you hear that?’ Alexander cupped a hand to his ear.
Hope burst through Pip’s chest – had he caught a noise from the landing? Was Simon back? ‘Hear what?’ she whispered.
‘His sweet young flesh is calling me, calling me: “Alexander. Alexander.”’
Her heart sank. God above, no …
Breaths now coming in short gasps, he almost tore the waistcoat from his body. He held out a hand. ‘Boy, come here. I must, I must …’
Smiling in bemusement, Mack rose.
‘You. Leave. Now.’ Alexander gripped Pip’s shoulder and threw her in the direction of the door.
By now, tears were streaming down her cheeks. ‘But, but—’
‘I won’t tell you again. Out!’
‘You’ll not get away with this! I’ll tell, I will!’
‘And who do you suppose would believe you? Just take your idle threats and get—’
‘Me.’
That one word, delivered by the familiar voice, had the power to render them both immobile. It ricocheted through the room, shattering the air into a million pieces. They turned to the dressing-room door in astonishment.
Albert Goldthorpe stepped out. His eyes raged sheer fire. ‘Me,’ he repeated, voice like steel. ‘I believe her.’
‘And me.’ Countenance matching the master’s completely, Cook appeared next, to stand beside him.
Alexander, mouth stretched in a perfect O, could do nothing but gaze from one to the other in utter disbelief. Then another figure emerged and he sagged.
They had been hidden in the dressing room the whole time. They had heard everything. Oh, Simon. You clever, clever lad!
Halting in front of the man she meant to marry, Josephine locked her ravaged eyes with his. ‘And me.’
‘Darling, all of you, what you heard …’ Alexander attempted a disarming laugh but it jerked from him in a series of odd squeaks. ‘It’s not, not what you think—’
‘Aye, it is.’ Simon threw the main door open wide. In his hand, he dangled a small pouch. ‘This here brass you handed over as payment is proof aplenty.’
Alexander hadn’t time to bluster a denial – suddenly, over Simon’s shoulder and taking the room by surprise, Philip appeared.
He took in the scene at a sweeping glance and stepped inside. ‘What the boy here has just informed me upon my timely return … It’s true?’
‘Every word,’ Josephine affirmed with a croak. ‘Simon went to see Father earlier, told him the manner of things. Thus, Father informed Mabel, and the two of them came to break the news to me which, naturally, I didn’t at first believe … God in heaven, who would? I had to witness the truth for myself. Alexander believed us to be at church. We heard it all, everything.’ She was trembling violently. ‘I, I cannot, cannot believe … I, I …’
‘Oh, cease your stuttering, you weak mess.’ Alexander’s simpering stance had gone. No amount of smooth talk would work this time, and he knew it. Now, his true colours finally surfaced. ‘You really are the most pathetic creature I’ve ever had the misfortune of knowing. You disgust me, do you know that? The unchaperoned meetings we were permitted following our betrothal … the holding of hands and chaste kisses I was forced to endure …’ He shuddered. ‘It sickened me to my core.’
‘What?’ yelled Philip.
‘You low-down dog – my daughter is worth ten of you!’ the master added on a roar, purple with outrage. ‘What the hell has this been about, then? Why ask for her hand in the first place?’
‘It’s your son you should be putting your questions to.’ Training his stare across the room, Alexander lifted an eyebrow. ‘Isn’t that so, Philip?’
Every head turned towards him. He shook his own slowly. ‘You claimed you were fond of her.’
‘I lied.’
‘You bastard. We were meant to be friends.’ Philip spun around to face his sister and father. ‘I swear, I would never have agreed to it had I known … He promised me!’
‘Agreed to what?’ the master asked grimly.
Josephine’s words were laced with dread. ‘What have you done?’
‘When my gambling was at its height, I racked up a hefty debt …’
‘Don’t I already know that? It was I who was forced to drag you out of the mess you’d created, remember?’
‘No, Father. This particular instance, you know nothing about. I couldn’t come to you, not again. Already, you had begun to look at me with disgust and shame in your eyes, and it hurt. I couldn’t bear that look to develop into one of hatred. I couldn’t tell you.’
‘However many more … I could never hate you. You’re my son.’
Philip gave a hollow laugh. ‘Don’t honour me with such a title, sir, for I deserve it not. A true son wouldn’t treat his parent as I have you.’ Turning to Josephine, he took her hand in his and brought it to his heart. ‘I was desperate; those I was indebted to were not people a wise man would choose to cross. I, of course, was a fool. The threats were mounting to the extent that I felt I was drowning. Danger to my life was a very real prospect. Then, Alexander offered a silver lining to the black cloud crushing me. He agreed to loan me the sum to get the creditors off my tail. But of course, his generosity came at a price.’ Philip dragged his hand through his hair. ‘When he put forward his proposition … I trusted him, Josephine.’
‘Tell me,’ she murmured.
‘He said if I helped pave the way for the two of you to marry, he’d take the dowry that the union fetched as payment and that we would be even. I asked him, asked him what his feelings towards you were. Though he never claimed love, he did assure me he cared for you. I believed that in time, as do most marriages, it would develop into something deeper. He lied to me.’
Her gaze flickered to Alexander and back again. ‘It would seem he put on quite the show. I, however, hadn’t the need to play-act. My love for him was true.’
‘Lord, I know. I know. Had you not taken to him, I wouldn’t have encouraged it. But you did. You appeared so happy. You shone from the inside. I truly thought that the deal would prove satisfactory to us all.’
‘I understand. I was already galloping past the age of certain spinsterhood. You pitied me—’
‘No. No,’ he repeated fiercely. ‘I wanted only that you should be happy. Though I seldom demonstrate it, you’re my sister and I love you. I would never intentionally do anything to hurt you. I believed that everything would turn out for the best. And Caroline was forever pushing, pushing, terrified at the alternative. The deal must be finalised, she insisted, for just as we hadn’t had the means to pay the original debtor, so too it would be with Alexander if a marriage wasn’t forthcoming. Who was to say he wouldn’t sully my good name and reputation, to whoever would listen? I would be ruined.
‘The shame, my wife insisted, would be more than she could bear. Father would refuse to bail me out again, would disown me, sling us on to the street. She’d convinced herself that the fault lay with Father. For what was the alternative?’ Philip’s voice turned bitter. ‘Facing the truth that her husband was to blame. And that, she could not do. For it would mean I wasn’t the man she’d perceived me to be, which would reflect badly on her own judgement. It was easier for her this way. And being the spineless dog that I was, it was easier for me to have her – and myself – believe it also.
‘The marriage … I believed we were doing the right thing. I believed it to be the best thing for you. I believed that the man standing there was honourable!’ In a move that surprised everyone, he threw himself at Alexander. Grabbing him by the shirt front, he pinned him against the wall. ‘All these years we’ve been friends … I thought I knew you. Truth is, you’ve been wearing a mask I never witnessed slip, that’s all. Just who are you?’ His stare travelled to the small, light-haired boy now snuggled in the folds of Cook’s arm. ‘You are warped, Alexander,’ he whispered. ‘Degenerate, depraved, putrid …’ Suddenly, understanding smoothed out his face. He nodded into the stiff one close to his.
‘My sister was a smokescreen for your true character to hide behind, wasn’t she? That was your intention from the off. You required a wife, to avoid arousing suspicion as to your true … fancies.’ He spat the word as though it tasted acrid on his tongue. ‘I ought to kill you.’
‘Let him go, son.’
Philip flashed Albert a frown. ‘But Father—’
‘Let him go,’ the older man repeated. He walked forward and removed his son’s hands from Alexander. Then he himself stood before the man, who now looked decidedly uneasy. ‘You are dead to this family. As is now my son’s debt to you.’
‘Mr Goldthorpe, you cannot do this. Such a loss would likely ruin me – he owes me close to two thousand—!’
‘Should I ever see your face again,’ Albert continued, steely tone hacking through the protest, ‘I shall make it my mission to ensure you can never show it to any other in public. Your name in polite society will be dirt. The whole of Manchester and beyond will know exactly who, what, you are.’
Alexander glared from one man to the other, his breathing ragged. Swinging on his heel, he snatched up his apparel, cast them a last, murderous look then stalked to the door.
‘Wait.’
He paused at the threshold. Turning, he watched stonily as Josephine crossed the floor towards him.
With the dignity and grace of a true lady, she calmly eased the ring from her finger and dropped it into his hand. ‘Now get out.’
He did. Pip moved to Josephine’s side and wrapped her arms around her waist.
Cook’s voice was grim. ‘Gone from this house he might be, but that’ll not halt his filthy ways where poor kiddies are concerned, nay.’
Though the master didn’t respond with words, his eyes gave a veiled message of reassurance that Alexander hadn’t heard the last of Albert Goldthorpe.
‘Thank you, dear girl, Simon. What you two have done today … You are the bravest people I know.’
Pip’s chest ached for her. ‘I’m that sorry.’
A ghost of a smile touched Josephine’s lips. ‘Don’t be. Rather a temporary heartache than a lifetime’s worth.’
‘Josephine …’
She turned to look at her brother. He said no more, his stare conveying the heavy sorrow and regret within him. When she nodded, his eyes filled with grateful tears. And Pip breathed a little easier.
Philip had vowed to his sister weeks ago in this very room that he would ensure she was happy. His sincerity then could not be questioned. Nor could it now. He hadn’t meant to cause such pain, she was certain. Weak-willed and foolish he might be. Cruel he wasn’t. He’d made a mistake but one she was sure the family could, in time, find it in their hearts to forgive him for. Somehow, everything seemed just a little bit brighter.
‘Come on, lovies.’ Cook shepherded the children out. ‘Let’s leave the adults to talk matters through.’
Pip was the last to leave. Before closing the door, she glanced over her shoulder. All three Goldthorpes stared back. Their acceptance and love for her filled the space between them. And now, the unquestionable selfsame feelings spread through her to warm her inside and out, and she knew they would dwell there for ever.
She smiled at each of her family in turn. They were bound as one. Nothing could touch them now.