‘Hello, you.’
Flora felt a peck on her nose and opened her eyes. She came out of her dreamy state and looked up into Cyrus’s face.
‘I’ve been watching you. You have a funny little breathing pattern as you sleep. Two gentle breaths and then a snort.’
‘I don’t, do I?’
‘Yes, it goes like this: brrr…brrr!’
Laughing, she put her hands on his chest and pushed him. Sitting up, she was about to protest when she saw his expression. ‘You’re teasing me!’
He laughed out loud, before taking her in his arms. ‘I have a surprise for you. We’re going to Brighton for three days.’
‘Oh? But—’
‘No objections. Pru knows all about it and has packed a case for you. She checked with that lawyer fellow, and nothing will happen for at least three weeks regarding her court case. And she has an agent looking out for a property for you all, as Pru has put hers up for sale. There! Everything is sorted out, darling. Except, I need to make love to you again, before the breakfast that I ordered arrives.’
When she could, Flora asked how Cyrus had managed to pull off such a secret, and why keep it till this morning?
‘While you were being dressed yesterday, I popped out to the Cook’s travel shop and they arranged it all. Then I got hold of Pru, by sending Freddy for her.’
‘Oh, I remember; he popped his head round and said that he couldn’t fix his cravat and would she help him?’
‘That’s right – Freddy was in on it. They left the table earlier than they needed to, to get to the theatre, and that is when Pru packed your case. And, with my spare key, she popped it in here, under the bed. Take a look.’
When Flora leaned over the side to look, Cyrus snuggled up to her once more. ‘I’m so happy, darling. I don’t have words to express how much.’
Leaning back into his body, Flora felt another premonition. She trembled.
‘What is it, darling? Don’t be afraid for me. I’ll be fine. I promise to take care at all times; it will take more than the Kaiser to harm me!’
‘I don’t know why I keep feeling this dread, but I suppose it’s natural. Let’s do as we said, and put the war and all it entails behind us and enjoy the three days you have planned. Thank you, thank you so much.’
As the train pulled out of the station, leaving Pru and Freddy waving them off, a tear came to Flora’s eye. Pru looked so vulnerable, so afraid and yet courageous, as she stood tall, waving as if her life depended on it.
‘Don’t worry, darling, everything will be fine, I’m sure. When I spoke to Pru, she told me how Abe had bullied her for years, and how she had others who could testify to that. And Freddy is strong; he will be a good witness for her, too.’
‘But Henry Chamberlain said that she still may have to go to jail for a short term, and how will she face that?’
‘She will. She will have a future to come out to. She’ll have you at home with her, and Freddy, and she’s talked of starting a new school. She’s making plans, and that’s good. In the meantime, the selling of her home and finding a new one will take up her time. It’s a new beginning for her.’
‘I wish that she could meet someone who would love her, like you love me. She’s been used by men all her life.’
‘Yes, that would be wonderful. I haven’t known Pru long, but she means a lot to me.’
‘You have a habit of falling for women very quickly, Mr Harpinham – it has to stop.’
The joke lightened the moment, as they made their way along the corridor of the train, searching for a carriage.
‘This one’s empty. And the train doesn’t stop, so we will have it all to ourselves.’
As she watched Cyrus lift their cases onto the rack above the seats, she marvelled at how, with everything they did, it seemed as though they’d done it together for a lifetime; as if something they couldn’t see had always joined them together.
Their time in Brighton had been magical. The sun had shone for them and, yes, the rain had rained on them, but nothing had marred their joy of each other. Whether splashing in the puddles, or walking along the stony beach, all that had mattered was the complete love they had for one another.
But now it was over, and Flora was standing on another platform, this time waving Cyrus off. If it was possible, he looked even more beautiful in his uniform.
Flora had dressed in the same outfit she’d worn on their first date, minus the coat, as this late April day was a warm, sunny one.
They’d promised that they wouldn’t cry, but would hold each other and smile, so that the last picture they had of each other, till they met again, was a happy one. Keeping that promise wasn’t possible for either of them. Their tears mingled as they kissed.
‘Goodbye, my love, stay safe. Please stay safe.’
‘I will, my darling.’
Their hands held as the train pulled slowly away, and until Flora was almost running alongside it, and then she was alone – lost and alone.
Pru stood on the doorstep of the hotel. She’d seen Freddy go happily off to school this morning, his first morning back after all that had happened, and had paced the floor of her bedroom, hoping that he and Flora would be all right. Now she was waiting for Flora’s return.
The sadness she felt was for her lovely Flora and Cyrus. Theirs was a love story of fairy tales, and now they had been forced apart. Flora would need her. However, it wasn’t Flora she saw coming towards her, but Henry Chamberlain. Her sorrow turned to fear.
‘Good afternoon, Pru. There’s no need to look so scared. I have news that I think will help your case.’
They’d just sat down in a small room off the main bar, called ‘the snug’, when the hotel manager showed Flora in, and promised that they wouldn’t be disturbed. Flora’s flushed face told of her tears. Pru’s heart went out to her. She stood up and took Flora’s shivering body in her arms, holding her close.
A cough from Henry Chamberlain brought them out of the hug. Both women dried their eyes. ‘Commiserations, Flora. Pru told me where you’ve been and why. I have a son fighting in France. We have to be strong for them.’
Flora nodded. Pru knew she was having difficulty in speaking. Guiding her to a chair, she told Flora that there was good news. ‘Let’s hope it’s so good that it cheers us both up, eh, lass?’
‘Right, I’ll get on with it. I’ve had a man digging into the ins and outs of Manning’s businesses, and what he’s come up with will make your hair curl. Abe Manning crossed a lot of people – two murders have even been laid at his door. These people feel that you have avenged them, and they are willing to testify. We have a woman who was beaten near to death because she refused to prostitute herself when she couldn’t pay her rent.’
Pru’s head drooped. Shame washed over her. She hadn’t refused, when Abe offered her a way out of her poverty. She’d given in and taken the easy life. Flora took her hand. Henry Chamberlain seemed not to notice anything amiss and carried on.
‘We have a man who will say that he saw Manning brutally murder a young girl, when she had nothing to give him after two weeks on the streets. She’d spent the money on drink. He made an example of her. But everyone kept quiet, afraid of what might happen to them.’
A tear ran down Pru’s cheek as memories of her own beatings came back to her.
‘And a neighbour who will testify to hearing you screaming on occasions, and Abe shouting vile, abusive language at you.’
Pru looked up. She’d never really admitted to herself the extent of Abe’s abuse. She’d brushed it off as her own fault. Before she could say anything, Henry Chamberlain further shocked her. ‘And, best of all, we have Abe’s sister, Rifka, and his brother, Eilam. They will testify to how he has abused Rifka for years. Eilam knew and had witnessed it, but lived in fear of his brother.’
‘Naw! Naw!’
Flora’s grip on Pru tightened, but Pru didn’t speak. But then what could she say? Lass hadn’t thought ever to be involved in such degradation. Not like Freddy, poor lad. But now I’ve pulled Flora down to my level, and I never meant to – I didn’t.
‘You should be happy, Pru. All this is going to help your case tremendously. It makes what you say happened into a truth. It backs you up, until there can be no other verdict but self-defence. You’re going to go free, Pru. Do you understand?’
The word ‘free’ lifted her, as she knew it did Flora. Without knowing how it happened, they were both standing and holding each other, and then doing a little jig. ‘Oh, Aunt Pru, I’m so happy. But, Henry, why does she even have to face a court case? Surely the case can be dropped, if the prosecution sees all this new evidence?’
‘It’s not that simple. A man has died, and they have to be seen to look at all the facts and hear all the evidence. Don’t forget: the prosecution will have some evidence of their own to bring. It’s called justice, and it’s the right of every man – even vile creatures like Abe Manning. The hearing will bring closure to the matter, bring it out in the open and in a proper manner. A jury will decide after hearing all the evidence, after which the case can truly be closed and a certified reason for death issued. In this case, I am sure it will be ‘‘Died at the hand of a victim of his violence, whilst that victim was trying to defend herself”.’
Everything he said was music to Pru’s ears. She wanted to sing out in her happiness. She only wished that her joy wasn’t marred by the sadness in Flora.
Three weeks later they walked out of the court arm-in-arm: Flora, Pru and Freddy. They walked in the direction of Blackfriars station on Queen Victoria Street. They were going home.
Flora had thrown herself into finding the right place, and had found an empty house in Brixton. The area was a little posh and pricey for them, but this three-bedroomed house with its own bathroom had been standing empty for a while. The money that her father had put in the bank for Flora helped to speed things along, and although there was a lot that needed doing, they had moved Pru’s furniture into the house. Pru was to pay Flora half of the money back when she sold her place, but this house was to be hers: her name on the deeds, as Flora argued that her father owed Pru that money.
‘I have enough money for myself, after Henry’s fees are paid. You know that he halved them, don’t you, Aunt Pru?’ Flora said. ‘And besides that, Father had put a lot more into the account than I asked him for.’ On saying this, she had persuaded Pru to go ahead. The house was all they needed.
It had surprised Flora to find that, besides her father’s money and the back-pay she received from the Red Cross, she’d been given notification of a weekly allowance from Cyrus’s pay; that, as well as having secured a paying job in the military wards of Moorfields Hospital, through the Red Cross, meant that Flora would soon build up her funds, to enable her to look for a home for her and Cyrus.
Keeping busy had helped her to cope. As had her first days on the ward, as she was called on to assist in all manner of caring for the badly damaged soldiers. Some were affected by the gas that Germany had used – a horrific tactic that hadn’t lasted long as a weapon for enemy use in warfare, as the wind had changed and more of the Germans’ own soldiers had been injured than had the Allies’.
But one of the best happenings of late was the happiness that she saw in Freddy, which she knew today’s news would compound. For Freddy, everything in his world had come good. His ma was no longer in the clutches of the vile Abe. He had moved from an area where he was often bullied for being different, and was engrossed in his military training at school – something that gave Pru and Flora worries.
‘Let’s treat ourselves to a bun and a nice hot cup of tea on the way home, Pru. We deserve it.’
They’d walked along Pocock Street on leaving the Crown Court, and had turned towards the station. ‘Eeh, let’s get the train afore we stop. I want to be as far away from this place as I can get, lass.’
Back in Brixton, they went into the first cafe they came to, with the apt name of the Corner Cafe. The bell that rang as they opened the door had a homely sound. The tables covered in green gingham added to this, as did the fire roaring up the chimney.
They sat eating their iced buns and licking sticky fingers, until the door opened again, sending a cold draught around Flora’s legs and making her look up.
‘Harold!’
‘Flora . . . I – I. How are you? And Pru. You’re not in prison, then?’
Pru reddened.
‘No, she’s not. I suppose you have read about it in the papers? Well, you will read tomorrow that she was found innocent of all charges, and the verdict was “self-defence under extreme provocation”.’
‘Oh, I’m glad. Well done, Pru. And this is?’
‘Me son, Freddy.’
‘Ha, he looks like our father, Flora.’
Flora could have hit Harold. But Freddy surprised her with his answer, ‘That’s because I am his son. And I’m your half-brother. How do you do?’
Harold’s mouth opened and closed again. He didn’t take Freddy’s outstretched hand, but looked at Flora, his face telling of his outrage, his teeth gritted together as he snarled at her: ‘And so, this is what you wouldn’t admit to? Though I had guessed. Do our parents know?’
‘Father knows, but Mother doesn’t.’
‘Is this the news you upset him with? Sometimes, Flora, I think Mother is right about you. You’re nothing but trouble.’
‘She ain’t reet. Flora has never done owt to your ma; your father did it all, and Flora suffered for it. I were just a young lass and in awe of him – he were me master. He took advantage of that, and left your ma in their bed and came to me. He made me feel as if I were special and had a future with him. I were daft to give in to him, but I weren’t the only one. Your ma screamed at him that he had broken her heart by producing a son with his mistress afore she had you.’
Harold’s expression had changed. His anger shook his body. Pru had just confirmed his worst fear. Flora saw the control he had to use as he tried not to show how Pru’s words had affected him. He turned to Pru. ‘Do – do you know who the woman was, and where her son is?’
‘Naw, that’s all I knaw. Except that your dad pacified your ma and made her think it would never happen again.’ Pru went on to explain how Flora became hated by her mother. And although she and Harold had talked about it previously, it all sounded more convincing coming from Pru. She’d tried to make Harold understand, but it seemed he’d since chosen to believe their mother’s version of her character.
‘Sit down, Harold. I’ll order another cup of tea.’
He did as Flora bade him, his face ashen. ‘What do you know of this other son, Pru? Where is he, and did my father recognize him as his son?’
‘I knaw nowt, lad, I told you. I were kicked out. Oh, your da gave me a pay-off and I managed to get meself a place, but I were pregnant and had no prospects. I weren’t thrown quite into the gutter, but near to it.’ As if aware of Freddy for the first time since she’d spoken up, Aunt Pru added, ‘But I had one thing more precious than money, and that were me Freddy.’
Harold looked uncomfortable. He didn’t look in Freddy’s direction, but kept his head down. Flora expected him at least to apologize for their father, or express his own sorrow about what happened, but Harold’s self-centred core came to the fore. ‘How does one go about finding someone? I must find out more about this supposed older brother. I must know if Father recognized him, Flora – it’s vital.’
‘Vital to what? Whether you inherit or not; or to make him your brother, as you appear not to want to do with Freddy?’
‘Oh, for God’s sake, why should I? If Father hasn’t done so, then there is no need for me to. But if Father has recognized this other son, then my life as I expect it to turn out will change, and that’s not fair.’
What Harold perceived as fair was a lot different from what Flora did. She looked at Freddy and smiled at him. ‘You’re better off without people like this half-brother of yours in your life, believe me. He only wants to know if you are of any use to him, or might be a threat to him. I know – I have experienced Harold’s way of loving.’
‘Flora!’
‘It’s true, Harold. You gave me your love, and took it from me, within two days. Anyway, what brings you to these parts? I’m curious.’ The words had hardly left her lips when the doorbell rang again and in walked Susan. ‘Oh, like Father, like son?’
‘Shut up! It’s nothing to do with you.’
Susan stood in the doorway. Flora could see the shock on her face and wanted so much to go to her and to beg her not to trust Harold, but Harold was up and making his way towards her. He took Susan’s arm roughly and hurried her out of the cafe.
‘History has a way of repeating itself. I take it, by the way she were dressed, and by Harold’s reaction, that the girl is one of your ma’s maids?’
‘Yes. Not sure what she is doing around here, though, but Harold’s up to no good, and that worries me.’
‘It might just be that this is far enough away from home. But didn’t you mention that your da had opened a shop in this area?’
‘There was talk of it, but I don’t really know where all the shops are. I just overheard Father and Harold talking about business once. You know, they never discussed anything in front of me, and yet I am surely entitled to know.’
‘I don’t think you are, lass. It’s a man’s world, and the female members of the family have no rights.’
‘Do I have any rights, Ma?’
‘Not unless your father recognizes you as his son. And I’m sorry, lad, but that ain’t going to happen.’
‘It doesn’t matter. I have something of my father – I have his love of music, like Flora has. I heard today that I passed my grade-three music and violinist exam.’
‘Eeh, Freddy.’
‘Oh, Freddy, that’s wonderful. You know, Cyrus plays too and is very accomplished. One day, you, me and Cyrus will form a trio and make wonderful music together. Cyrus writes music and lyrics, too, just like us, so we’ll put on a concert of our own music.’
‘Oh, Flors, as me ma would say, that’d be grand.’
They all laughed. Harold and his exploits and self-centred ways now forgotten, they regained their previous joy, and Flora was glad of it. Nothing could lift her heartache, but like millions of others, she had to get on with life as best she could, she knew that.
Looking for a home for her and Cyrus would help. She’d save every penny of his money towards it, so that he felt as if he had bought it; and she’d have it ready for his return. Please God let him return.
‘Now, lass, no sad faces. Not today. Head held high with courage, and let’s take the next step of our lives, eh?’
‘Yes, we’ve a lot to look forward to, and to celebrate.’
‘Aye, we have our worries an’ all, but life’s like that.’
As they walked along arm-in-arm, Flora realized that Aunt Pru must be worried. She had no means of earning an income now and, with the fees for Freddy’s schooling to find, she had a tough time in front of her. ‘Have you any plans, Aunt Pru?’
‘I haven’t given much thought to it all, I daren’t, I was never really sure as I’d come out of that court a free woman. But I have to plan now. Somehow I have to make a lot of money. Freddy’s schooling is important.’
‘Ma, I only have another term left. I can leave now and get a job. One more term’s not going to make that much difference.’
‘It will, Freddy. You won’t complete your exams, and you have to go on with your schooling after that, to get to university.’
‘Ma, that’s an impossible dream now. Where would we get the money?’
‘I could ask our father.’
‘No! I want nothing from him, Flors – nothing. You getting what you have for Ma is enough. I want to forget that he and the rest of them exist. I have you, and that’s enough. And, Ma, I want to go to fight. I have to. You have to come to terms with that.’
The ‘no-sadness-today’ pact they’d made was broken. Sadness hung over them like a cloud as they reached the door of their home. For Freddy to join up was unthinkable, and yet the latest news was that the war would rage on for years, and they all knew it was inevitable that he would go.