Rosa's Island (23 page)

Delia sat down in a chair with a huge sigh and started to pull off her boots. ‘Oh,' she groaned. ‘My feet!'

Rosa cut some bread and cheese and put it on a plate and handed it to her. She took it without a word of thanks and started to eat ravenously. ‘Mek us some tea, will you?' she said, with her mouth full.

‘Ever heard of
please
?' Rosa said sharply, but lifted the kettle off the fire to warm the teapot.

Delia didn't answer and went on eating until she had finished all that was on her plate. She reached to put it on the table and muttered, ‘Thanks,' as Rosa handed her a cup of steaming tea.

Rosa sat down opposite her. If Delia had come home for good, then there had to be some rules laid down. She would not tolerate rudeness or aggravation from her. Absolutely not, she decided. So the rules must be decided now.

‘You said you'd walked some of the way?' she said. ‘Why was that?'

‘I got a lift with a carrier to Aldbrough, and then I thought if I kept to 'coast road, I'd mebbe
get another lift to Withernsea, but a farm hand came along in his cart and said he'd give me a lift as far as Lelley mill which was where he was going, and then I could cut across country to Keyingham.'

She glanced sideways at Rosa and shifted in her seat. ‘Well, that was all right for a bit, and we'd gone a few miles when he started hinting that I'd have to pay him for 'ride. When I said that I'd no money, he said that that was all right, I could pay him in some other way.'

Rosa took in a deep breath of horror and stared at Delia. ‘So what did you do?'

‘I jumped off 'cart.' She wrinkled her nose distastefully. ‘He was an old fella and smelt of pigs.'

‘What did you do then?'

‘I ran.' She sniffed and rubbed her nose with her hand. ‘I thought he might come after me, but he didn't. But I got lost cos I didn't know which road to take. Then I saw a sign for Humbleton and I'd heard of that, so I walked there and got lodgings for 'night.'

‘I thought you said that you hadn't any money?' Rosa said curiously.

‘That's what I told 'farm hand, but I had my wages,' Delia said reluctantly. ‘So I paid for my bed and a cooked breakfast. I asked directions, and I walked all yesterday.'

She leant forward and cupped her chin in her hands. ‘I thought I'd get home in the day, but it was that hot on Holderness Plain I could barely find energy to walk, and there were hardly any farms where I could ask for shelter or a drink, so
I just kept on walking till nightfall and then I slept under a hedge. I got up at daybreak and started walking again, then I saw a sign for Keyingham so I knew it wasn't much further.'

‘Why?' Rosa asked. ‘Why didn't you send a message and Matthew or Jim would have come for you?'

Delia turned her head away. ‘I couldn't stand working for that woman any longer. She treated me like a slave. Do this. Do that. So I asked for my wages and left.'

‘Were you given notice?' Rosa asked quietly. There could be no other reason why Delia should suddenly depart from her employment, even if the landlady was as obnoxious as she and even Matthew had said she was.

‘No,' Delia replied sharply. ‘I just said, didn't I? I couldn't stand it any longer.'

Rosa stood up. ‘Well, as you're here, you might as well make yourself useful. I've been wanting some help. There are five men in for supper. You can start scrubbing 'potatoes while I chop up 'mutton for the stew.'

Delia glared at her. ‘Don't think you can give me orders about what's to be done. This is my father's house, not yours. I hardly slept last night, I'm going to have a lie-down.'

‘Then you'll get no supper,' Rosa replied calmly, even though she was seething inside. ‘Everybody has to work for a living here and if you're staying then you have to share the load. There's too much for one person to do. I was about to tell your father that I needed some extra help.'

‘Tell him?' Delia said scornfully. ‘You'll not get far doing that. Nobody tells him anything!'

Rosa faced her. ‘I was going to tell him that if I didn't get help then I was leaving. If you're staying, the two of us can manage 'work between us. If you're not willing, then I'll leave anyway and you can stay on your own.'

Delia stared back at her, her face defiant. Then suddenly her expression changed and her features crumpled as she started to cry. ‘I can't,' she wailed. ‘I can't stay on my own. I'm in trouble.' She screwed up her eyes but the tears poured down her cheeks.

‘In trouble?' Rosa's words were abrupt. ‘What sort of trouble?'

‘I've got caught,' she sobbed. ‘I don't know what to do!'

‘Caught?' Rosa's hands went to her mouth. ‘How? What do you mean?'

Delia shot her a contemptuous glance. ‘Don't you know owt?' she almost shouted. ‘Caught wi' a babby. I'm expecting.'

Rosa sat down again. She felt as if all the breath had been knocked out of her. ‘Who—?' she whispered. ‘What about the man—? Won't he—?'

‘Marry me?' Delia mocked. ‘When I asked him, he just laughed and said his wife would have summat to say about that!'

Rosa groaned. ‘But—!' She was lost for words. How could Delia have become involved with someone so deceitful, so vile as to take advantage of her innocence. ‘Did you not know anything of him?' she asked. ‘Of his family? His background?'

Delia wiped her eyes. ‘No,' she muttered. ‘He used to lodge at 'inn every month. He travelled all over 'county, selling stuff.'

‘A pedlar?' Rosa was aghast. It was getting worse and worse.

‘Not a pedlar!' Delia sneered. ‘A salesman. He sold goods from manufacturers. You had to order them and then he delivered 'following month. Not like 'pedlars that come here!'

It seems like the same thing to me, Rosa pondered. But what would I know about it? And if he was travelling the county he could have any amount of vulnerable young women in trouble. ‘Did your employer find out?' she asked. ‘Is that why you left?'

‘Yes,' Delia admitted. ‘She heard me being sick. She didn't seem to care until she found out who it was, then she said I had to go. She said she needed his custom more than she needed me. I think he was carrying on with her anyway,' she divulged, seemingly without shame. ‘I could tell by her face that she was nettled about it.'

‘He was carrying on with her!' Rosa repeated. ‘And you knew?'

Delia shrugged. ‘I thought I could get him off her. She was too old for him anyway!'

‘I think you are a disgrace,' Rosa said slowly and deliberately. ‘If you had loved this man and he loved you, then I could have understood. But it seems to me that there was no love there at all and therefore your behaviour is inexcusable. I'm only glad that your mother isn't here to witness this.'

Delia put her chin up and there was a suggestion of bravado in her expression, but her mouth trembled and there was anxiety in her eyes. ‘I'm not bothered about what you think,' she started to mutter. She bit her lips together. ‘But what's Da going to say when he finds out?'

‘You should have thought of that before,' Rosa said coldly, and getting up from her chair left the room.

She went back to the dairy and sat down on a stool. It was cool in there and she put her hands over her eyes and tried to think. Mr Drew would be outraged. He might not even let Delia stay. He was such a righteous, religious man, although, Rosa mused, he doesn't go to church so often since Mrs Drew died. And he is no longer a churchwarden. But I'm sure he will send Delia away to have the child elsewhere so that the shame doesn't reflect on him.

Poor baby, she thought. It will have no father's name.

‘Rosa!' She heard her name. ‘Rosa!' Matthew was calling from the yard.

She went to the door. ‘I'm here.'

He smiled when he saw her and she thought how brown and strong he looked. His shirtsleeves were rolled back showing his tanned muscular arms, and the sun had bleached his brown hair in golden streaks. ‘What you doing?'

‘Oh – just cooling off,' she said lamely. ‘It's so hot in the kitchen.'

‘It is,' he agreed. ‘I went in to look for you. Listen,' he grinned. ‘I went to see Flo when I was in Patrington and she's told me of a girl who she
thinks would come over to give you a hand with 'housework. She'd have to live in, of course.'

She gave a low laugh. It might be just too late.

‘I haven't told Da yet,' he said. ‘I thought we'd give him an ultimatum. I've been dropping hints that you were thinking of going into service in Patrington!'

‘Wasn't there anyone in the kitchen when you went in, Matthew?' she asked.

‘No. Don't tell me you've hired somebody already?'

‘No. No I haven't.' She wanted to tell him that everything was about to change. That from now on, their lives were going to be different. Hers, Matthew's, Mr Drew's. Delia's behaviour would be the talk of the island. There were no secrets here, nothing could be hidden. Their lives were as open as the landscape they lived in. But she couldn't tell him. Delia would have to do that.

‘What is it?' There was concern in his voice. ‘There's something wrong?'

She took a deep breath. ‘Delia is here. She's left her employment and come home.'

He frowned, drawing his dark eyebrows together. ‘To stay?'

‘Ye-s. I think so.'

‘She's taken her time about it, but I suppose she had to work her notice?'

She nodded. ‘I expect so.'

He looked at her and there was pleading in his voice. ‘Don't leave, will you, Rosa? Please don't.'

She gazed at him, at his anxious blue eyes. You know that he loves you, his mother had said, and she'd answered yes. Slowly she went towards him. She was trembling, her emotions in turmoil, and as if he knew, he drew her to him. She bent her forehead onto his chest and he folded his arms around her and softly kissed the top of her head. ‘Rosa – !' he whispered. She lifted her head and placed her finger on his lips to silence him. ‘Ssh,' she murmured. ‘Not now.'

He gazed down at her and she saw the love in his eyes, but how could she return it when there was so much conflict ahead?

‘Rosa – !' His eyes searched her face, looking for the truth. ‘You're leaving, aren't you, and you daren't admit it?'

She shook her head. ‘I won't leave,' she said softly and reaching up she kissed him tenderly on his lips. ‘How could I?'

Delia looked up from the sink when they went into the house. She had made a start on the potatoes. She had also washed her face and combed her hair and looked altogether more presentable than she had done when she had first arrived.

She greeted Matthew and glanced at Rosa as if wondering whether she had disclosed the reason why she was here, but she visibly relaxed when Matthew asked her what had made her change her mind and come home. She told him the same as she had told Rosa, that she couldn't bear to stay any longer.

‘I'm not surprised you left,' Matthew
commented. ‘She was a dowly woman. Did you come by carrier's cart then?'

‘Yes,' she answered swiftly. ‘Practically all 'way.' He expressed surprise, but then added, ‘There's more folks coming through Holderness now that 'roads are being improved, and especially now it's dry. Though you'd have to walk from Keyingham, I expect. Is that 'way you came?'

She was saved from answering by Jim coming in to ask if there was a cup of tea. ‘What you doing here then, Delia? Been given time off?'

Rosa handed him a cup of tea and gave one to Matthew. ‘She's left,' she answered for Delia. ‘Now, can we keep 'questions until later or we'll never get your supper on 'table.'

‘Who's left? Left what?' Mr Drew stood in the doorway. ‘Delia! What you doing at home?'

Again the question was asked of her.

‘I've come home to help,' she answered nervously. ‘I knew Rosa couldn't manage on her own and none of 'others can come.'

Her father stared at her. ‘Never known you to think of anybody else! So why didn't you come afore?'

‘I'd to work my notice,' she mumbled.

Jim took a sup of tea. ‘They haven't finished you, have they?' he asked. ‘You'll never get another job if they have. Not without a reference.'

‘I just told you,' she said sharply. ‘I've come home to help. All these questions, I'm beginning to wish I hadn't come.'

James Drew's eyes had narrowed as he heard Jim's comment and he asked abruptly, ‘Have you
been finished? Is that 'reason why you've come? That was a good house you were at, you wouldn't give up a job like that and good money just to come home. Did you do summat you shouldn't?' His voice became sharper as he cross-examined her.

Delia started to shake. ‘No. No,' she denied. ‘I didn't. It wasn't my fault.'

‘What wasn't your fault?' he roared. ‘You have been up to summat! What was it? Did you break some china or summat valuable? You allus was clumsy.'

He turned to Rosa. ‘What's up with her? What's she done?' He shook a finger at Delia. ‘I'll get to bottom o' this, my lass. If you've scarred my name at yon house!'

‘Delia left that house some time ago, Da,' Matthew interrupted. ‘She took employment elsewhere.'

‘Elsewhere? Where elsewhere? How is it I didn't know about it? Your sisters have stayed in 'same employment, why haven't you?'

‘I didn't like it,' she whimpered. ‘We didn't get on.'

‘Didn't get on! Didn't get on! And now you've left this other position and I suppose you didn't get on there either?'

She shook her head and looked down at the floor. Her face was ashen. ‘No,' she muttered. ‘We didn't.'

‘So they asked you to leave?' His voice dropped and it seemed more threatening than when he was shouting. ‘Where is this other place? I'll ride over to Hornsea myself and speak
to them. I'll not have this. Sullying my name! Sending you off without a reference as if you're a nobody! I'll find out 'reason why.'