How on earth could the women bring down one of the wealthiest and well-known industrialists of Wednesbury?
They had to know more about Frank Woolley, of his business, who he dealt with, and what his business associates thought of him.
Somehow they had to shut down his operations, but this was something that would affect his workers – badly. They would find themselves out of work and having families to feed with no money coming in…
Listening to the women’s banter in the tiny kitchen, Violet’s mind whirled. This latest task given to the ‘Wives’ seemed impossible to complete without adverse effects on the town and the people in it.
Excusing herself, she decided to go for a walk on the heath to clear her mind. She strode out along the streets of the town before they met the bridge of the canal. Suppressing a shudder as she was reminded of the last time she was there with Joyce and the others, she walked onto the heath. The sun was still warm on her back as she lazily strolled alone. She stopped occasionally to pick the wild flowers, arranging them in a small bunch. She was admiring them when she heard the sound of hoof beats. The blood quickened in her veins as the horse stopped beside her and the rider jumped down. Her heart beat faster as she looked into the dark eyes of Spencer Gittins. Pushing his unruly black hair back, he gave a small bow.
‘Miss Clancy,’ he said formally as he kept his distance from her this time, ‘I’m pleased to make your acquaintance once more.’
‘Mr Gittins,’ she said, nodding once before turning away from him to walk back towards her home. She could not deny he sparked her interest. Before she knew it he was walking beside her.
‘You are not surprised I know your name?’ he asked, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. Ignoring him, Violet walked on. ‘Please Miss Clancy,’ he intoned, ‘I ask only to be your friend.’
Violet stopped and turned to face him. ‘Why?’ she asked. She had never expected to meet a man who would not make her feel angry or frightened, but this young man made her feel neither. She was curious that this was a new feeling for her.
A grin spread over his face showing his even white teeth. ‘Because I like you.’
‘You don’t even know me, Mr Gittins!’ She said as she stepped forward once more. A blush rose to her cheeks at the pleasure she felt at his words.
‘Ah, Miss Clancy, that’s where you are wrong. You see I made it my business to know everything about you.’
Not everything! Violet kept the thought to herself saying instead, ‘Now why would you do that I ask myself?’ Her voice maintained its hardness, but with a hint of sarcasm lacing through it. There was no point at all in encouraging this young man, she knew it could never be that a relationship between them could exist. If it should be that they became sweethearts and he found out about her being abused by Sligo, he would hate her. Then her terrible secret might become common knowledge! No, there was no way she could risk that happening, so it would be best not to encourage him.
‘Miss Violet Clancy,’ he went on, ‘you intrigue me. I have thought of you a lot since our last meeting. You have haunted my dreams.’ He gave a small sonorous laugh.
Stopping again to look at him, Violet said sternly, ‘Mr Gittins, I don’t know what you want from me, but whatever it is – you can’t have it!’
‘Miss Clancy!’ he feigned shock and hurt and she couldn’t prevent the corners of her mouth lifting slightly in a tiny smile. ‘God forbid you should think this to be anything untoward! I should merely like to become a friend to you and your family in the first instance and then...’
‘Why?’ she asked again. Her mind was questioning his motives.
Lowering his eyes, Spencer Gittins fumbled with the horse’s rein in his hand. ‘Miss Clancy,’ he said quietly, ‘I would like to visit you and ask your mother’s permission for us to step out at some time in the future.’
Oh Lord! Spencer Gittins wanted to court her!
‘I know we don’t know each other as such and I would be more than willing for you to bring along a chaperone. I would never wish to cause you any upset or fear.’
His eyes met hers once more and Violet felt the blush rise in her cheeks.
‘Mr Gittins, I’m afraid that won’t be possible.’ Turning away from the disappointment she saw in his eyes, she walked briskly up Portway Lane and headed for home. She did not look back.
Once in the kitchen, Violet could not turn her mind from the handsome young man she’d spoken with on the heath. She had gone out to ponder Primrose’s predicament and come home with one of her own.
Settled with tea before a raging fire in the hearth, Kath said, ‘You want to tell me about it?’ Looking up sharply, Violet’s mouth dropped open. ‘Violet, you’re my daughter and I know when something is troubling you. Get it off your chest, wench, maybe I can help.’
Violet told her mother of the meeting on the heath, of the words spoken between Spencer Gittins and herself.
‘Why,’ her mother asked, ‘would you not want to be courted by this young man? Don’t you like him?’ Seeing the flush rise to her daughter’s face, Kath went on, ‘Ah, I see that you do!’
‘Mum… how can I after… after…’
‘After John Sligo?’ Kath’s face screwed up as she remembered. ‘Yes, I can see why now, but, Violet, someday someone will want you for who you are; they won’t care a jot about your past, they will love you, and you need to give them a chance.’
‘Mum… I couldn’t… you know…’ Embarrassment flooded through her.
‘One day, all that will be forgotten, sweetheart. The man you love and marry will help you forget, I promise.’ Kath held Violet in her arms, kissing her hair, ‘Take your time, find the right man, you’ll know when you do.’ With that she climbed the stairs to bed, and Violet sat before the fire.
I think I have found the right man, her mind said, and I think it’s Spencer Gittins!
*
Violet heard voices in the living room as she entered the tiny kitchen the following day.
‘Oh Kath, I’m so sorry but he was at me, questions coming so fast I didn’t know what to say!’ Joyce simpered.
Kath replied, ‘It’s all right, Joyce, I don’t think Violet knows he was asking you about her.’
Hearing her name, she stood and listened behind the slightly open door.
‘Just tell me what he was asking, Joyce.’
‘Well… he wanted to know all about your Violet, her name, where her lived, who her lived with…’ Joyce pulled in a breath, ‘…had her got a financee?’
Kath laughed, ‘Fiancé, Joyce, the word is fiancé.’
‘I don’t give a bugger what the word is, he wanted to know had her got one!’
‘What did you tell him?’
‘Well,’ Joyce continued, ‘I told him she hadn’t. Said we three lived here together on account of you helping me with money a while back and I was paying you back. I made no mention of the Wednesbury Wives, Kath, honest! I wouldn’t, you know that!’
‘Rest easy, Joyce, I know you wouldn’t. So tell me more about young Spencer Gittins.’
So that was who they were discussing! Joyce had been asked all about Violet. The question now was, just how much had she told him?
Determined to find out, she waited, hardly daring to breathe, in her hiding place behind the kitchen door.
‘Well,’ Joyce resumed, ‘he said as he wanted your permission to court young Violet and I told him he had to see you about that.’
‘Quite right,’ Kath said.
‘Ar, and then he asked why her weren’t married already.’
Violet listened eagerly for the answer, moving closer to the doorway.
‘And what did you say to that?’ Kath asked gently.
‘Well he was insistent… why weren’t her married? Had anyone asked for her hand? Had her refused anybody? I was flummoxed I can tell you! I got to the state I was meeting myself coming back! Then it just sort of came out…’
‘What did?’ asked Kath feeling concerned.
‘Well you know… about John Sligo! Oh God, Kath, I’m real sorry. I could have bit me own tongue off!’
Joyce had told him! Spencer Gittins now knew Violet had been violated and was soiled goods! A sob escaped her lips and tears rolled down her face.
Kath had heard Violet come into the kitchen but she had not entered the living room. She had kept her counsel, after all the girl had a right to hear what was being said, but as she heard the sob she knew Violet would now need the comfort of her mother more than ever.
Pushing the door open Kath rushed to her sobbing daughter.
Joyce followed close on Kath’s heels and wailing sorrow at seeing Violet’s distress. ‘Bloody hell!’ she cried, ‘my mouth opens and both my clodhoppers wade in!’
Despite her misery, Violet gave a little laugh at the expression. ‘Joyce,’ she said through her tears, ‘it’s all right, he would have found out sooner or later, I don’t doubt. I know how persistent he can be.’
‘Oh cocker,’ Joyce wailed again, ‘I ain’t half sorry!’
‘It was never meant to be,’ Violet said, accepting the inevitable along with a cup of tea from her mother. ‘I only pray he keeps the knowledge to himself!’