Joshua was also aware of the little business the women had set up selling hair wash. He had arranged a visit to Gittins Manor to see young Harry and decided to have a little chat with the women who were probably up to their eyeballs in hair wash mixture.
Peeping into the perambulator Joshua tickled his belly, enjoying the baby murmurings. The women rushed out to ensure the baby was all right as they’d heard him wake, before tea was offered and Joshua was led into Annie’s kitchen. The room was crowded and pots, labels and mixtures lay on every surface.
‘How the bloody hell do you wenches work in here?’ Joshua asked, looking around at the mess.
‘It is hard an’ no mistake,’ answered Mary.
Annie ushered them into her living room with their tea.
Joshua said, ‘Why don’t you move your business?’
‘To where, Joshua?’ Kath put in. ‘We couldn’t find anywhere we could afford.’
‘Move it to my house!’ He watched the glances exchange. ‘Look, Gittins Lodge is a big house and there’s only me in it! The kitchen is all yours to use if you’ve a mind to.’
‘What about rent?’ Martha asked, always the sensible one, never to be carried away with the excitement of a prospect.
‘I don’t want rent!’ Joshua shot back, ‘All I ask is that somebody cooks me a decent bloody meal now and then!’
Peals of laughter rang out and Kath said, ‘We could do that, couldn’t we ladies?’
In the next few days the hair wash business was moved over to Joshua’s house and work began in earnest. He returned home from his work at the factory to the laughter of women filling the air, and the smell of home cooking filling his nose. He revelled in having time with his grandson while the women worked, and he loved the idea that he got to see Kath every day.
Joshua often walked the heath with Kath, picking plants and herbs to be dried and stored. His life was improved by her very presence and he couldn’t imagine ever being without her. Each night she returned to her own house, his home and his heart felt empty. There had to be some way he could get her to marry him. Joshua thought long and hard on the matter but the answer eluded him. He wanted her – no, he needed her in his life!
*
One evening when the others had left Gittins Lodge after another busy day of working, Kath remained behind and shared dinner with Joshua.
‘Kath,’ he said, ‘I have something I want to discuss with you.’ Watching her take this in, Joshua continued, ‘Why don’t you be my housekeeper…?’ Seeing the surprise register, he plunged on, ‘You could have rooms at the other end of the house, like Annie and Charlie do at Gittins Manor; you could rent out your own house, which would provide a bit of extra income for you, then you wouldn’t have to traipse home down the lanes every night.’
‘Well,’ she said, drawing the word out on a light sigh, ‘this is a surprise! I’m not sure I want to take on another job though Joshua, and I certainly don’t need the money were you to offer a salary. However, I have Joyce to think about too.’
‘Bring her with you if you want Kath – just say yes.’ Joshua was almost begging.
‘I suppose it would make sense to move in here at Gittins Lodge, as I’m here most of the time with work anyway. I would insist on having the rooms you offer too but you do realise there would be talk in the town.’
‘Ar well, there will always be talk no matter what, but if people are told you are running your business from here … gossip shouldn’t be too bad.’
‘Oh, the business side of things has already travelled the grapevine,’ Kath gave a small tinkling laugh.
‘Oh God Kath! I bloody love you wench, you have no idea!’
‘Oh I think I do, Joshua.’
‘Then marry me!’ he pushed.
Tentatively Kath said, ‘If I were to consider marriage to you, Joshua… there would have to be conditions.’
‘Anything, anything…!’ His excitement getting the better of him, he realised he was practically begging. Joshua watched as Kath composed herself.
‘Firstly, I would not be giving my money over to you, because as you so rightly pointed out, you have enough of your own.’
‘Fair enough,’ Joshua replied as he fidgeted in his seat.
‘Secondly, if we were to marry, it would have to be in total secrecy, and thirdly I would continue to use Clancy as my name for appearance’s sake.’
‘I agree!’ he said, moving to her.
Throwing up her hands, she added, ‘Promise me, Joshua, the only ones to know about this would be our children and my friends, the Wednesbury Wives.’ He knew the collective name for her friends but he had no notion of their activities, and Kath wanted to keep it that way.
‘I promise with all my heart, may the Lord strike me dead!’
‘Then, Joshua Gittins, I accept your proposal,’ Kath said with a beaming smile.