Leaving Primrose in Annie’s care, they elected to go home and think about what, if anything, should be done about Frank Woolley.
As Violet, wrapped up against the cold, sat on a bench in the garden at Gittins Manor looking over the well-kept lawns, she silently mused on what had happened since Spencer had bought the factory.
Spencer had decided that he, with help from his father, would grow the nail-making business in his new factory. The Woolley’s Nails sign had been replaced by one now stating the factory belonged to Gittins’ Nails. Keeping the name had been agreed between father and son, but each to be in charge of a factory. Working together, they felt, would be more lucrative than Spencer trying to set up in another trade.
Spencer had grown up around nail-making, learning from his father how to run the business as he got older. All the women who had once worked for Woolley were now at the Gittins’ factories. Spencer and Joshua had met with the accountant and were assured the business could stand setting on new workers, thus bringing much-needed employment to the town. Gittins’ was fast gaining a reputation for being the best nail-makers in the country.
The canal people had also played their part, having spread the message far and wide for people to buy their nails only from Gittins’. And Joshua had kept his word to Joyce, ensuring she, as well as all the other workers, got a small raise in earnings. As far as that side of things had gone, everything had worked out well. Then her thoughts turned to Primrose.
She saw the girl again in her mind’s eye, lying on the bed unable to move or even speak properly. Her husband had beaten her to within an inch of her life. She was wondering what the ‘Wives’ would do about the situation when a voice shattered her thoughts.
‘Violet! Enjoying the weather I see!’
Joshua Gittins shivered as he strode over to where she sat on a bench in the garden. He planted a kiss on her cheek. She had been so deep in thought she had not heard him arrive. She smiled at her father-in-law and it occurred to her how much she grown to like this man.
‘Hello, Joshua, got no work to do?’ she said, laughing, knowing only too well his factory was working to full capacity.
Rolling his eyes, he flapped his hands up and down before sitting beside her on the bench.
‘So,’ Violet added, feeling a tad uncomfortable at this unexpected visit from her father-in-law, ‘what can I do for you?’
‘Just thought I’d see how things are with you, my dear,’ he said, not looking at her.
‘Come on now, Joshua, you don’t just drop in on people unannounced, it’s not your style.’ Violet gave him a wide smile, and kept her mind guarded, as he only now looked at her. Why had he come to visit her? What did he want? Holding tight to her patience, Violet felt sure he’d let her know before long and got up and headed indoors to the welcoming fire which was more conducive to a tête-a-tête.
After tea and cake, Violet’s patience was rewarded when Joshua said, ‘You know, I questioned the match at first…’ Seeing her puzzled look, he went on quickly, ‘Between you and Spencer, but I see now that I was wrong to do that. You make a perfect couple and I look forward to what the future will bring.’
Dread filled her as she waited for his next words so she continued to look into the flames in the grate. What was it he was alluding to? Was he asking in his own inimitable way when they would be starting a family? This was something she and Spencer had not as yet discussed. Or was it something to do with business?
‘I’m sure it won’t be too long until we hear the patter of tiny feet.’
There it was! Her question had been answered.
As he watched her closely, Violet said, ‘Oh Joshua, there’s plenty of time for that; besides, I want to support Spencer in his new venture at the factory.’
‘Ar, you’re right there, wench,’ he said, beaming with pride.
Was that the sole reason for his visit, or was there something more? Violet waited, sipping her second cup of tea.
Clearing his throat, he spoke again, ‘I heard about young Primrose Woolley being carried on a board through the streets of the town…’
So that was it!
‘Indeed,’ was all Violet said in answer.
‘Ar well, erm…’ Searching for the words to ask his questions, she decided to make him work for the answers she wasn’t entirely sure she would give. ‘I was wonderin’ if you might know why that was.’
‘Yes.’ Violet deliberately kept her answers clipped. Either Joshua would cease his questioning or, more likely, he would persist.
‘I was also wonderin’ if you might tell me what it was all about.’ Again he avoided eye contact, keeping his eyes trained on the fire, and Violet knew he was feeling uncomfortable.
‘No,’ Violet said flatly.
‘Oh!’ Joshua said as he snapped his head round to look at her, he was surprised that she had refused to divulge the information he so obviously wanted. ‘And why would that be?’ He looked at her expecting a favourable answer.
Violet remembered her mother’s words: ‘…be wary of Joshua… he’s wily…’
‘Because I don’t gossip.’ Her tone took on a slight air of exasperation.
‘But I heard you were one of them carrying the wench on the board!’
Looking at him, she said, ‘You heard correctly.’
‘Well…’ he said incredulously, ‘I thought you might…’
‘Might what Joshua?’ Violet’s question hit him like a slap. ‘Might tell you my business? Might tittle-tattle? Might pass on gossip?’ The change in the tone of her voice now evident, she forged on. ‘No, Joshua! Whoever you heard from obviously only gave you half a story. I suggest you return to them for the full account of events. Oh, and be sure to tell them my husband will hear of their touting my business all over the town!’
With open mouth, her father-in-law stared at her before throwing back his head and laughing loudly, slapping his hands on his knees he rocked his upper body back and forth. ‘By God, wench,’ he said at last, ‘I am right proud of you. Spencer was right to choose you as his wife and I am glad you chose him as your husband.’
Despite her earlier indignation, Violet smiled, and was surprised at his next words.
‘You are just like your mother. Speaking of Kath, how is she?’
Sliding a sideways glance at him, Violet said, ‘Mother’s fine, thank you for asking.’
‘She never remarried did she? You know… after her husband drowned. I remember the gossip was all over the town,’ Joshua said as he gave her a quick glance. ‘I would have thought she would have, handsome woman like Kath.’
‘Clearly, being married twice was enough for her,’ Violet answered. ‘But then if you wish to know the reason, maybe you should ask her yourself.’
‘Erm…’ he began again. ‘I was wonderin’…’
She laughed and said, ‘Stop wondering, Joshua, and go and visit her, she would be pleased to see you and… she bakes the finest bread in Wednesbury!’
‘Ar well…’ Flustered now, he stood to leave, ‘Maybe I will, I like a bit of good home-made bread.’
With a wave he was gone. Sitting alone once more, Violet pondered their conversation, and smiling to herself she came to the conclusion that her father-in-law was carrying a candle for her mother!
*
Over their meal in the evening, Violet told Spencer of Joshua’s visit. They both laughed as they speculated the scenario of his father and her mother coming together as a couple. Now that would be very strange indeed!
‘So,’ he asked her eventually, ‘what on earth were you doing carrying Primrose on a board across the heath?’
She knew it would come and she was prepared. ‘She had not visited any of us for a while, Spencer, and we were worried about her! Annie and I went to visit and found Frank drunk out of his mind. Primrose was upstairs in her bed and… Oh Spencer, he’d battered her beyond belief!’
‘Oh my God!’ Spencer rushed over and knelt before his wife, holding her hands as her tears welled.
‘We couldn’t just leave her there, so Annie stayed while I fetched the others.’
Violet’s tears fell as she told her husband how they carried Primrose through the streets on a lavatory door as that was all they could think of and that she was now staying with Annie and Charlie.
‘But what if Frank comes for her?’ Spencer asked.
‘I don’t think that’s likely to happen, he’s wallowing so deep in self-pity he won’t give another thought to his poor wife.’
‘Very well, but if any of you ladies need my help, you have only to ask.’ Squeezing her hand, Spencer once again took his seat at the table. ‘So…’ he picked up, ‘my father could be interested in courting your mother?’
Smiling again, Violet said, ‘If I’m reading the signs correctly, yes. There could even be a wedding!’
She rushed to her husband, patting his back gently as he choked on his food.