Chapter 21

‘William has been showing you off to one and all.’ Jill Winfield sipped her sherry and looked across at Mary as they sat around a blazing fire in the parlour of the Winfields’ home at Roundhay Park. ‘He’s truly smitten with you, isn’t he?’ William’s mother glanced at the pair of lovebirds sitting together on her sofa and felt the loss that only a mother felt when she knew that she was no longer the keeper of her son’s heart.

Mary blushed. ‘I don’t know, but I certainly am with him.’ She reached for William’s hand and squeezed it.

‘Well, I’m glad that he’s happy and glad that you are staying with us this Christmas. I’m also thankful that Rob has found somebody else to annoy this year – we have had him to stay for several Christmases on the trot and it will be nice to get up and not find the whisky decanter dry every morning,’ Jill said, laughing.

‘Yes, Mary’s not the last of the big drinkers, is she? There’s us sipping sherry like it’s going out of fashion and she’s only drunk one glass in two hours. Are you sure you won’t have another glass, Mary, before we all retire to our beds?’ Thomas smiled at the lass who he knew genuinely loved his son for himself, not for what he was.

‘No, thank you, Mr Winfield. William’s been leading me astray on champagne at the balls we’ve been attending so I think tonight, on Christmas Eve, I’ll just stick to this one glass. I’m so looking forward to tomorrow – I really can’t thank you enough for inviting me into your home.’ Mary looked at William and could see him looking at his mother in an odd way.

‘Yes, and I think it’s time for us to retire to our beds, Thomas. You don’t want to have a hangover in the morning. You’ve got to give the servants their presents and make sure all is in order.’ Jill nodded her head towards the hallway and staircase.

‘I haven’t that much to do. I was thinking of having another drink and discussing with William the plans for the new houses I’m going to be building down in Headingly.’ Thomas stood up and made for the decanters on the sideboard.

‘No, it’s time we went to bed, Thomas, and left these two alone. Can’t you remember when we were young?’ Jill scowled at her thick-skinned husband. ‘Now, Nelly showed you where your bedroom is, Mary, and I believe Cook says that we are allowed a late breakfast tomorrow with it being Christmas Day. So, we will see you at nine in the dining room.’ Jill put her empty sherry glass down and walked over to take Thomas’s arm before going up the stairs to bed.

‘Behave yourself, my son – I don’t want to hear the mice playing dominoes in the middle of the night,’ Thomas said and winked before being made silent by Jill as she pulled on his arm and made him escort her to their bedroom.

William looked at Mary. ‘I’m sorry, my father has all the tact of an elephant in a china shop. I dread to think what he was like when he was younger.’

‘It’s all right – it’s better he says what he thinks and I like him for that.’ Mary sighed and looked around the well-furnished parlour. ‘Your home is beautiful, William; it’s so warming and welcoming and the Christmas tree is absolutely lovely. It makes me feel quite heady with the smell of the pine needles and the logs burning on the fire. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I’d be spending a Christmas like this.’ She turned to William, who was looking for something behind one of the large velvet cushions that were plumped up along the back of the sofa.

‘Well, I hope this is going to make your Christmas even more special.’ William found what he was looking for and slowly dropped to his knees and looked up at her. ‘I wanted us to be on our own when I did this, so I have an early Christmas present for you, my love. Mary Reynolds, would you do the honour of marrying me and becoming my wife?’ He looked up at Mary’s face as she looked down at the green shagreen box which held inside the most beautiful diamond and sapphire engagement ring.

‘Oh, I couldn’t! I mean, yes! I could, I mean … Oh, William, I would love to become your wife.’ Mary watched as William took the ring from the box and placed it on her finger tenderly.

‘It fits, so thank heavens for that, and if it is a little loose the jewellers down Victoria Arcade will alter it. I hope that you like it. I chose the stones especially for their meaning, the sapphire in the middle stands for honesty, purity and trust, while the unusual pink stones are morganite and stand for divine love and prosperity.’ William leaned forward and kissed Mary and held her tight. ‘I will always love you, Mary, and be faithful and be by your side until the earth stops turning.’

‘Oh, William, I love you too. I’ll always be yours; I’ll never need anyone else and I’ll try to be the perfect wife. I can’t believe I’m sitting next to you, in this perfect home, with the most beautiful engagement ring that I’ve ever seen on my finger.’ Mary looked down at the delicate gold ring with the perfect precious stones mounted on it. She shook her head and brushed a tear away from her cheek. ‘I don’t deserve this and I definitely don’t deserve you,’ she said as William kissed her and held her tight.

‘Yes, you do, my love, and more besides. We will make the hotel our home for now, but once we have our children, I will find us a home just like this one. A home with a garden and staff and an automobile in the driveway. The Palace is making money now and I can safely promise you all these things and for you to know that I offer you security and a good life together.’ William held Mary tight. ‘Tomorrow is Christmas Day and we will tell my parents, although I think my mother already has a good idea that I am serious about our relationship.’

‘I don’t have anyone to tell for I’ve no family, my family’s my girls behind the bar and they are a law unto themselves. I wish my mother and Nell and Toby were still alive, they would be so happy for us,’ Mary sighed.

‘We will make our own family in time.’ William looked at her. ‘Stay with me tonight? Ignore my father’s comments, we are engaged now so there’s no harm in it,’ he whispered.

‘You know I love you dearly, but no, I’ll not stay with you tonight. My mother made a mistake like that and I have always vowed I would not lie with a man until I’m married. I do not want to be left like she was. I know we talked and kissed until the early hours after the Mayor’s Ball and on other occasions since, but I will not go to bed with you until we are wed. So forgive me, William, or take back your ring.’ Mary felt her heart beating fast as she hoped that her beliefs would not lose her the man she loved.

‘Of course, I’ll forgive you. Indeed, I respect you more for not making my lot easy. It is only right that I wait – it’s just that you arouse me and I want to show you …’ William kissed her and looked into her eyes.

‘There will be time for that. I too have feelings, but I daren’t fulfil them. Our time will come, once we are wed. Now, let us sit and set a date to surprise everyone with tomorrow and perhaps have another drink to celebrate – only one, mind, in my case. Else I might default on both my promises to myself! You can wait, can’t you, William? You won’t look at anyone else just because I will not lie with you?’ Mary looked worried and thought perhaps she shouldn’t be so stubborn now she had an engagement ring on her finger.

‘Stop it, of course I can wait – it has to be right for both of us. Now, how about spring or early summer? The flowers will be out then and St John’s is such a pretty little church and just a stone’s throw from the Palace. I presume you would be happy marrying there?’

‘Yes, that would be perfect and then we can celebrate at the hotel. With not having any family, the smaller the celebration the better.’ She kissed William on the cheek. ‘I love you, William Winfield.’

It was Christmas morning and, as they sat around the breakfast table, William had broken the news of his and Mary’s engagement.

‘Now, we can’t better that for a present, can we, Mother?’ Thomas Winfield looked at the young couple, so happily in love with one another. ‘It’s like history nearly repeating itself, except you are a bit better off than I was when I met your mother, William. Although I was already making brass and getting a name for myself.’

‘Well, I think it’s splendid news! However, I must confess, I did have an inkling that it was going to happen. Welcome to our family, Mary – I will cherish you as my daughter-in-law.’ Jill walked over and hugged Mary tightly, kissing her on the cheek. ‘Now, if we have all finished breakfast, I do believe Father Christmas has been kind enough to visit us last night. Although when he found the time to enter and place the presents under the tree, I don’t quite know, because I heard you two talking below us until the early hours of the morning.’

‘He’s magical, did you not know, my dear?’ Thomas said, laughing. ‘I hope that he’s brought me something that’s useful.’

‘Just be grateful for whatever he brings, for there are children with empty stockings in the backstreets of Leeds and I will always appreciate what I have. I remember when, like your mother, Mary, all I had were the clothes that I stood up in. But let’s put those days behind us now and celebrate this day as it should be celebrated, as a family that will always be there for one another. Now, who’s going to open the first parcel?’ Jill looked down underneath the sparkling Christmas tree; she knew she would never forget this Christmas Day, the day she had lost her son – hopefully to a woman who would love him just as much as she did.

‘Look at that diamond! And the pink stones are absolutely beautiful!’ Molly, Shona and Beth gathered around Mary as she held out her hand and paraded her engagement ring for the girls to see.

‘It must have cost a small fortune. I wish I could find somebody who loved me that much,’ Molly sighed.

‘You’ve got me – I love you. I love all of you girls,’ Leonard added quickly and grinned as he joined the adoring group.

‘You are a married man and you say it to all of us, so bugger off back to your piano!’ Molly said quickly and glanced at Shona and Beth, hoping that nobody had cottoned on that, after an illicit date or two with him, there was perhaps a little bit of truth in Leonard’s words.

‘William gave it to me on Christmas Eve – I couldn’t believe it when he got down on one knee in the Winfields’ parlour and proposed to me,’ Mary said joyfully. She breathed in and caught her breath. The last few weeks had flown past like a whirlwind and she still couldn’t believe that she was to be married to a man she had thought far beyond her reach a few months ago. Visits to William’s home, where she had been introduced to all manner of people, some with new money and some with old, had made her realise that she would be happy living the life that William and his family lived. She had fitted in well and, when asked, had not lied about how they had met, nor was she ashamed of herself after talking to William’s mother. Jill had made it in society and so would she. So, when the odd person gave her a disdainful look, she ignored them and pitied them for their narrow-mindedness.

‘So, when’s the wedding set for? Are we invited?’ Molly grinned cheekily at her two friends and Leonard, who had let out a long, low whistle at the sight of the ring.

‘We’re looking at the first Saturday in May; it should be getting warmer by then and spring weddings are always so beautiful. And the blossom will be out on the cherry trees in Saint John’s churchyard, so I’ll not need confetti if it’s windy – and of course you will be invited!’ Mary felt warm and loved as she looked at the faces of the three girls.

‘We all wish you well, Mary – it couldn’t happen to a nicer couple. You have always looked after us and Mr Winfield is the most caring boss I’ve ever known. He’s a true gentleman and we truly do wish for you to both be happy.’ Shona spoke on behalf of all of them as they sighed and looked at Mary, so content and full of love.

‘You never know, Shona, you might not be far behind Mary. After meeting my brother at Christmas, neither of you has shut up about the other. I hear he’s taking you out on Sunday afternoon,’ Molly ribbed her friend.

‘It’s only our first outing and time will tell – but yes, I do find your brother interesting. However, the dark horse among us is Beth.’ Shona looked at Beth, who tried to silence her. ‘She’s gone and got herself a fella, but she’s keeping it quiet.’

‘How do you know? You know nothing, Shona Brown!’ Beth said sharply.

‘She’s walking out with our coalman and he told me himself when he delivered our coal for Christmas.’ Shona looked at Beth. ‘He wanted to know all about you because he knew we worked together.’

‘Oh, the bloody gob on him! That’s his problem, he never shuts up!’ Beth glowered. ‘But I suppose he’s a good man – there’s not many men would court a woman with a ready-made family.’

‘Well, it seems that Cupid’s arrows of love have been busy this Christmas. Your turn will come, Molly, somebody is out there for you,’ Mary said quietly and put her hand on her sleeve.

‘Oh, I’m not bothered about a man. I’ll be an independent woman and stand on my own two feet. Men are only good for one thing – and that’s if you’re lucky, so my mother used to say,’ Molly said, looking directly at Leonard, her cheeks flushing as she spoke.

‘Molly Askew, remember that you are a lady and that sort of talk is for a common barroom, not the bar in the Palace,’ Mary said curtly and then turned to Leonard. ‘Leonard, I’m sure your wife will not talk about you in such a way; I’m sure Molly did not include you in her assumption of all men.’

‘She can say what she wants, Miss Reynolds, it’s her without a man at the end of the day. It doesn’t bother me,’ Leonard said and then went back to his piano. Molly’s words had hurt him; he knew that she used him as much as he used her, but there was no need for what she had said. Perhaps it was time to be faithful to his wife; he could do without a woman like Molly – she knew her own mind too much.