Chapter 42

 

Mrs. Bishop started at the sight of her son but quickly took charge.

“Davey, coming in the house looking like that. Whatever ast’ thou been doing?”

Edith held her breath.

“Nowt mam, what are you talking about?”

Then, just for a second, Edith saw a look of uncertainty pass across Mrs. Bishop’s face and wondered with a shot of panic if Mrs. Bishop was quite as controlling of her son as she seemed.

She broke the silence herself. “Davey, a young girl is missing, a child. She’s a niece of Mr. Etherington.”

He began agitated pacing and Edith could see that he was building up to an outburst. Her heart painfully skipped a beat.

His arm jerked upwards just in the corner of her vision and she couldn’t help flinching. She glanced at Mrs. Bishop and saw naked hurt in the woman’s eyes.

Davey’s hand was plucking at the back of his collar.

“I’d not take a child, Miss.”

Edith heard dignity in the simple statement. She wouldn’t allow herself to feel shame just at the moment. Now, was the time to try and find Daisy; nothing else.

“Davey, would you have any idea of who could be involved in this?” Edith paused for a second hoping that he would give her the time of day as she had practically accused him of the most heinous crimes.

“Mam can I have my tablets?”

He sounded like a child and didn’t look at Edith. She was filled with doubt again. Tablets? Why wasn’t he even looking at her? Just because of outraged denial she wasn’t sure that he hadn’t taken the child. For a moment terrible dread followed graphic images of blood and Daisy and Davey Bishop coming into the kitchen with what was like menace in his tone. She looked across at Mrs. Bishop who had gone to a high cupboard by the side of the stove.

She turned back and came to the table with two aspirins in the palm of her hand.

“Get yerself some water, lad.”

He obediently got up and went to the sink and Edith thought…hoped that he seemed a small bit calmer.

“He gets bad headaches and they’re made worse by any kind of pressure.” Mrs. Bishop’s tone was even but Edith knew there was admonition in her words.

“Can I get you a cup of tea?” the woman asked, her manners so bred into her that she seemed able to fight her urge to be rid of Edith.

Davey came back to the table with a glass of water. He was looking down.

“No, thank you very much, Mrs. Bishop. I don’t think you’re able to help me and I’m sorry if I’ve upset…either of you.”

Mrs. Bishop nodded and Davey sat down and took the tablets, still avoiding eye contact.

It was as she was getting to her feet feeling awkward and defeated that Davey looked straight at her; true blue eyes in a face, so handsome it was breathtaking.

“Young girl, taken? Not Colonel’s Etherington’s daughter.

Edith looked across at Mrs. Bishop and sat down again. She hardly dared hope, but he knew something.

“It’ll be Michael Benson. He were always going to do something bad, were Michael.”

“Davey, what are you saying?” Mrs. Bishop’s tone was such that Edith changed her mind back again. Mrs. Bishop was in control here.

“Let me be now, mam. My head is bad and I’m going to go to my bed. I’m sorry, Miss. I hope you find the little girl. He’s bad, Michael, always were bad to the core. He deserved ‘is punishment, drunk and swearing at an officer; confined to barracks, lucky to ‘av escaped shackles. Always ‘eld it against Colonel Etherington, though. You’re right mam, don’t know why I go to the pub with them…does my mind no good.”

Edith couldn’t believe it when he got up and through a door at the other side of the kitchen that must have led to the staircase. Surely, Mr.s Bishop wasn’t just going to let him go like this when he could help them to find Daisy? The woman had lost two children and look at how damaged Davey was; surely she would do anything in her power to spare another mother, other parents.

“Mrs. Bishop?”

The woman shook her head.

“When Davey gets them headaches he’s fit for nowt. I’m sorry but that’s how he is, how he’s been left. He can barely lift ‘is head from the pillow.”

But, Edith thought, it just isn’t good enough. Her frustration filled her head making her feel as if her very blood was fizzing. She got up and turned to the door. Inactivity wasn’t possible. However, pointless she would have to do something.

There was a commotion and the door leading to the stairs flew open. It was Davey and Edith’s heart leaped because his face was dark with anger.

“I’ll find him, Miss.”

He ignored his mother’s cry for him to calm down and stay put and made for the door.

Edith followed him, ignoring Mrs. Bishop’s words though she heard them.

“Oh, Miss Horton what have you done?,” the woman said.