Calico Road (13 page)

Jethro’s voice became icy. ‘What I like or don’t like is none of your business. And what’s more, if anyone finds out about what you’re doing for me, our agreement will end and you’ll find yourself in hot water. I have a lot of friends in high places and can cause you a great deal of trouble if I so choose.’

The man’s grin had vanished and a look of anxiety replaced it. ‘I’ll say nothing, sir, I promise.’

‘Where can you meet my groom? I don’t want people noticing, mind.’

Cully pursed his lips in thought, then nodded as the solution came to him. ‘In Todmorden, first Thursday of the month. Market Day, it is, stock markets too. I allus see my cousin, have a drink at the White Hart Inn, so I won’t be doing owt different.’

Jethro nodded, pleased by this sign of cunning. He looked towards his groom and beckoned, explaining what he wanted, then dismissed Dean with a jerk of the head and rode off.

Cully watched them go, then grinned and went back to his digging. He’d fallen lucky here. And if he was even luckier he’d be able to do Fletcher a mischief. Teach the bugger to change things when folk didn’t want ’em changing! Teach him to screw every last halfpenny out of poor folk as needed their pot of beer to stop their aches and pains.

Sophia sat nervously in the parlour awaiting the arrival of Jethro Greenhalgh who was coming today to propose marriage formally. She had tried to talk to her sister about the unfairness of the sacrifice she was being called on to make, but had found little sympathy there. Harriet considered Jethro Greenhalgh a good catch, said Sophia was a fool to complain of becoming a rich man’s wife, and was bitterly resentful that his fancy hadn’t settled on her. She had even accused her sister one day of setting her sights on him from the first and they’d had a short, sharp quarrel over that.

The sound of horses’ hooves and carriage wheels on the gravel of the drive made Sophia sit up very straight. She had vowed not to betray her unhappiness at the prospect of marrying him, but to receive him calmly and live with him calmly afterwards, too. If she maintained her dignity and self-respect through all this, and reminded herself that at least her family would benefit from the marriage, then she could cope.

She wouldn’t marry Oswin now if he asked her. To send a message, not to come to see her . . . the thought of that still made her angry, as well as hurt.

Jethro was shown in and stopped briefly in the doorway, staring across at her with what could only be described as an avid expression on his face. It made her feel nervous but she rose and waited for him to come to her, holding out her hand to create a barrier when it seemed as if he intended to embrace her. She couldn’t have faced that, not yet, not till she was more accustomed to him. ‘Do take a seat, Mr Greenhalgh.’

He shook her hand, retained it when she would have pulled back, and smiled at her. ‘Annoyed, aren’t you, Miss Goddby?’

She could only gaze at him in shock, and stammer, ‘I don’t know what you mean.’

‘Of course you do. And
I
would rather we spoke frankly about our situation.’ He let go of her hand and waited until she’d sat down on the sofa before sitting next to her.

He was too close but she didn’t like to edge away. When he reached out and took hold of her hand again, she was startled and tried to draw back but he merely tightened his grasp.

‘I’ve come to ask you to become my wife, Sophia. Will you marry me?’

So blunt. Had he no manners, no tact? Clearly not. She took a deep breath and forced out the words she had rehearsed so carefully. ‘I’d be honoured, Mr Greenhalgh.’

‘Jethro.’

‘Yes, of course. Jethro.’ He pulled her into his arms and started kissing her before she had realised what he intended. She tried to put up with it but didn’t want a stranger’s lips on hers, and in the end heard herself whimpering a protest as she struggled to pull away.

He laughed and let her go. ‘Not bad for an unwilling bride. You’ll grow used to my embraces, Sophia. I’ll make sure of that.’

‘I’m not unwilling. It’s just that I hardly know you.’

‘It’s just that you’re still besotted with Oswin Easdale.’ He clicked his tongue and shook his head in mock reproof. ‘Don’t lie about that. Everyone knows you’ve been seeing him. But I’ll tell you now: I was at school with the man and he’s stupid, however good-looking he may be – and what’s more, he’s a bully. You’re far too intelligent for him. He’d not have made you happy.’

She stared at him in amazement. This was the last thing she’d expected to hear him saying. ‘Aren’t you disturbed about my – my previous feelings?’

‘No. You’ll get over that. What
would
upset me was if you didn’t see the sense of marrying me, because that’d mean you were as stupid as him. I want you, Sophia, and have done ever since I saw you talking to your sister at the gate a week or two ago.’

‘You’re surely not pretending to have fallen in love with me?’ she asked, unable to hide her scorn.

‘I’m not pretending anything. I don’t believe in
falling in love
. All I know is, I want you to wife and have found a way to achieve this.’

She didn’t know what to say so bent her head, only to jerk it upright again when he continued to surprise her.

‘I thought we’d get married next month. March is a good time for weddings, don’t you think?’

It was out before she could prevent it. ‘So soon?’

‘Oh, yes. The sooner the better. In fact, now I come to think of it, your brother’s case is desperate, so maybe we should get a special licence and marry next week?’

She heard herself begging, ‘I pray you, give me the month, Mr – um – Jethro. We hardly know one another as yet.’ She knew she couldn’t marry him so soon, just couldn’t do it.

He looked at her, his eyes narrowing, then nodded. ‘I will, if you’ll give me your solemn word not to see or speak to Easdale in the meantime.’

‘That’s easily done. He wouldn’t come and see me, not even to say farewell. I wouldn’t want to see him now.’

‘Doesn’t surprise me that he wouldn’t come. He never did enjoy unpleasant scenes.’ Jethro studied her flushed and unhappy face. ‘I’ll make you a far better husband than he would. I’ll be faithful, for a start. He’s not stopped his trysts with maidservants and tenants’ daughters while courting you.’

‘I don’t believe you! He
wouldn’t
!’

Another of those confident smiles of Jethro’s. ‘I don’t need to lie about that because it’s the simple truth. I could find you a dozen witnesses if you wanted to make your feelings public.’

Hot shame scalded through her. Somehow Jethro’s words rang true. She had believed Oswin loved her. Surely a man in love with one woman wouldn’t . . . couldn’t . . . do that with another?

There was a tap on the door and Perry and her mother came in, looking questioningly from one to the other.

Jethro pulled Sophia to her feet and stepped forward, keeping tight hold of her hand so that she was obliged to go with him and remain close to him. ‘I’m delighted to inform you . . . Mrs Goddby . . . Perry, that Sophia has done me the honour of accepting my proposal of marriage. We intend to marry as soon as the banns can be called.’

‘My dear girl.’ Mrs Goddby stepped forward for one of her brief embraces. ‘I’m so happy for you.’ She turned to their visitor. ‘But I’m afraid we can’t possibly be ready that quickly, my dear Mr Greenhalgh. There are the bride clothes to make, everything to arrange . . .’

‘We’ll be married as soon as the banns have been called,’ he repeated. ‘I don’t care if she comes to me with only the clothes she stands up in, as long as she comes.’

He smiled at Sophia in the way she was coming to recognise, a tightly possessive smile, then turned back to her brother. ‘I’ll need a word about the business side of things before I leave, Perry. And Mrs Goddby . . . Sophia – I hope you’ll come and dine with me on Sunday, shall we say to arrive at noon? You’ll want to look over the house. Parkside needs a lot doing to it, I’m afraid. It’s spacious enough, but has never known a woman’s touch and the furniture is old-fashioned and uncomfortable.’

Mrs Goddby inclined her head graciously. ‘We shall be happy to visit you, Mr Greenhalgh.’

‘Good. And where is Miss Goddby today?’

‘She’s not feeling well,’ Sophia said hastily.

‘But I shall see her on Sunday, I hope?’

It was an order couched as a polite wish. Sophia bent her head in agreement. She had quickly come to realise that her betrothed was a forceful man who made other people do as he wished. After a careful sideways glance at him she decided that she would save rebellion and protest for the things that really mattered to her, things she could and would change.

A shiver ran through her as she saw his eyes rest on her again and that half-smile appear on his lips. Jethro was a good-looking man, but so tall and well-muscled he made her feel nervous. Physically she would be like a child in his grasp, without any physical power at all. She would have to find ways of standing up to him, though, have to learn to manage him, because she didn’t intend to become a subservient creature who rushed to obey his every whim and command. That wasn’t in her nature. Sophia raised her chin and gave him a cool glance. He would find that out after they were wed.

Her calm lasted until she’d waved him goodbye at the front door, then she ran upstairs and shut herself in her bedroom, locking the door and pressing her hands to her flushed cheeks, telling Harriet when she knocked that she needed time to compose herself.

What would it be like being married to such a man?

The mere thought of it terrified her – and yet she found it excited her, too.

7

J
ethro had himself driven over the tops to see Andrew Beardsworth who had been a friend and business associate of his father’s. He’d been promising to do this for a while. Andrew was always very pleasant and had put some useful business his way recently, though he was a harsh master in his own mill.

It was annoying that the quickest way to get there was to drive past the Packhorse. Jethro studied it, noting the repairs that had been made and the small cart that drove straight round the back, as if this customer was familiar with the ways of the place. He’d rather Fletcher had proved lazy like Dixon had been, and that the inn had remained little frequented by the gentry.

There was another man visiting Beardsworth so they sat and drank a pot of tea together, since none of them was the sort to drink wine in the daytime.

Hugh Madson looked at Jethro. ‘Have any trouble coming across the tops?’

‘Not on a day like this.’

‘We had some trouble a while back. It was snowing and my wife fell ill, so we had to stay at that little inn in Calico.’ He looked at Jethro. ‘That’s where I’ve seen you before – or rather a face just like yours.’

‘The landlord’s a distant connection.’

‘Looks very like you. Could be your twin brother.’

‘Indeed.’ Jethro kept his expression calm, glad he was able to do this however he was feeling, for he was in fact furious at the mere thought of people connecting him and Fletcher like this. ‘How did you find the service there?’

‘Better than I’d expected. The new landlord did his utmost to make us comfortable, though he’s still refurbishing the place. I shall have no hesitation in recommending his inn to others.’

When he’d gone Andrew Beardsworth cocked one eyebrow at Jethro. ‘Sounds like your half-brother is improving matters.’

‘Yes. I’d rather he failed, though. One reason for my visit is that I’m getting wed and wanted to invite you to the wedding. It’s to Sophia Goddby, actually.’

‘County gentry, no less. You’ve done well for yourself.’

‘Or she has. They’re in a bad way financially or they’d not be letting her marry me.’

‘I’m thinking of getting wed again myself. Life’s a lot easier when you have someone to warm your bed for you.’

‘Do you miss your wife?’

Andrew pulled a face. ‘Not exactly. I just miss
having
a wife. They’re damned convenient. You’ll have to keep your eyes open for someone for me.’

Jethro nodded. ‘I’ll do that. Now, about those new machines you’ve seen . . .’ It was a relief to turn the conversation to the main reason for his visit. He didn’t like discussing his personal affairs with anyone.

In March Ben came home one Saturday after work with a broad smile on his face. He gathered Meg into his arms, swinging her round exuberantly. ‘I’ve done it! I’ve found mesen a new job. It’s over in Rochdale. One of my old mates spoke up for me, the one as knows my cousin, an’ he sent me word to get over there as fast as I can. I sent word back I’d take it.’

They stood together for a few moments with his arms round her and her head resting against his chest, but curiosity got the better of Meg’s love of cuddling and she pulled away from him. ‘What’s the job?’

He hesitated, then admitted, ‘It’s in a brewery, looking after the horses an’ driving a dray. Same as I do now.’

‘Ben, no! Not a brewery.’

‘It’s a right good job, love. Much better pay than in the mill stables.’

‘But you’ll be working with beer. How will you stand it? Oh, Ben, I don’t want you turning into a drunkard again!’

‘I’ll not let the drink get to me, not with you to come home to, I promise.’

She wasn’t sure of that and didn’t want to spoil his joy but couldn’t hold back some words of caution. ‘Maybe you should wait and find another job?’

He shook his head, his expression determined. ‘I’d never find one as good as this. An’ if we stay here, who knows what your damned mother will say about us next?’

‘Say about us?’

‘She’s been tellin’ lies again. Eh, it’s first one thing then another with her.’

Meg’s heart sank. ‘What’s she saying now?’

‘Nothing you need to hear, but I’d be a poor husband if I didn’t get you away from the owd besom.’