Stay with Me (2 page)

Their mother and father were already in the drawing-room, enjoying a glass of Madeira. When Lena came in John rose to his feet and his eyes dwelt admiringly on his daughter. ‘You look very fine,' he commented.

Lena smiled and inclined her head in thanks.

‘And you too, James,' he added quickly, careful always to treat them equally and never give his step-son the impression that he was any less valued.

Jennie had always been grateful for her husband's attitude towards her son. Once James had reached the age to understand, she had explained his true parentage but without question he regarded John as his true father.

He came to his mother now, holding out his hand for her to take while she stood up. ‘Let us look at your dress and see our two lovely ladies side by side,' he suggested.

Jennie, flattered that he should be interested, took his hand. This was her son all over, a natural charmer.

‘That dress is just right for you, Mama,' Lena approved, her eyes drifting over the pale blue silk bodice and skirt with matching peplum. Tight sleeves fell from the covered shoulders where a lace neck-line mirrored the trim around the cuffs and dust ruffle.

Jennie flicked her skirt with her fingers and did a small twirl before standing alongside Lena, both of them flattered by the attention the men were giving them.

‘Now, Madeira for you both,' said John, crossing to the decanters and wine glasses set on a table on the opposite side of the room from the ornate fireplace. Once he had served them he resumed his chair and fished in his waistcoat pocket for his half-hunter. He glanced at the time and returned the watch to his pocket. ‘Another half-hour,' he commented, and relaxed in his chair as if gathering himself for the lively evening to come.

James glanced at his sister and winked, then spoke to his father. ‘Still wearing the same waistcoat, Father?'

John looked sharply at him. ‘I'll have you know this is new.'

‘Then why didn't you get one like mine?'

‘Black's more befitting.'

‘Oh, Papa, you'd look so handsome in light-coloured trousers and waistcoat,' put in Lena, playing along with her brother. ‘Wouldn't he, Mama?'

Jennie saw the twinkle in her daughter's eyes. ‘I'm sure he would,' she agreed.

‘Now don't you start, Jennie,' countered her husband.

‘You should adopt the modern trends,' James argued.

‘Older men still wear black.'

‘Oh. So if you consider you are old, where does that put me?' His wife assumed a hurt expression while trying to suppress the twitching of her lips.

‘Now, Jennie, I wasn't implying that you—' John stopped talking when he realised that he had risen to their bait once again. It happened every time his choice of clothes was mentioned. He held up his arms in surrender. ‘All right, I've fallen for it again, but you still won't get me to change.'

‘You're too conservative, Papa,' said Lena. ‘I'll bet Uncle Albert has been more forward-looking.'

John gave a grunt of contempt. ‘What? He's more staid than I am.'

‘Well, maybe,' James granted.

John missed the knowing look that passed between James and Lena and on to their mother.

 

The tap of a maid's footsteps across the hall, heading for the front door, heralded the arrival of their guests. They were all quickly out of their chairs and into the hall to greet their friends who were being shepherded into the house. Two other maids, ready to take the new arrivals' outdoor clothes, swiftly appeared.

‘Georgina!' Jennie hurried forward to greet her dear friend. They had been close ever since John had first brought his bride to Whitby, and Jennie had never forgotten the way her friend had helped her settle in to what was to her a strange land. They embraced, and all around them warm greetings were being exchanged.

The handshake between John and Albert marked a friendship that had endured since their schooldays. It had survived the trials and tribulations of herring fishing and the move to greater things, their trading across the world bringing wealth not only to themselves but benefiting the economy of their home town too. The Carnforth and Nash families were highly regarded in Whitby because of it.

While Jennie and John were welcoming their good friends, their sons, with merriment in their eyes, were talking in the low easy way that only comes with long acquaintance. As different as they were in what they wanted from life, James planning to follow his father and Alistair to become a doctor, their friendship was still close.

As they turned to Pauline and Olivia, who were also busy exchanging greetings, James caught Alistair's dark blue eyes alight admiringly on Pauline before his own exchanged a glance with Olivia. She inclined her head in acknowledgement and felt the nervous quiver inside that she always did when James greeted her this way.

‘Isn't Pauline's dress beautiful?' commented Olivia with genuine appreciation.

‘Yours equals it,' replied Lena. It was plainer than hers, without so much lace, but its simple unfussy lines suited Olivia, as did the yellow silk faille trimmed with pale blue. ‘Don't you think so, James?' she added, knowing Olivia hung on every word her brother uttered.

‘Of course! You both have impeccable taste. Exchange dresses and both of you would look perfect frights.'

‘Not very diplomatic,' commented Alistair. ‘But true.

The maids had collected the outdoor clothes and were away with them to the closet near the front door. The two families, chattering amongst themselves, went into the drawing-room. As everyone found chairs, John and James started serving Madeira.

‘We told you, Father,' said James.

‘What's that?' asked John, knowing full well what his son was getting at but hoping he would not draw attention to it.

‘Uncle Albert has adopted the new trend.'

John's lips tightened as his family joshed him. Laughingly, Jennie explained what had transpired shortly before their friends arrived.

‘You've let me down, Albert,' reprimanded John.

‘Sorry, but don't you think I look smart? Time you shed some of that black.'

John made no comment but looked accusingly at his family. ‘I think you had prior knowledge of this change.'

‘Who? Us?' said James in mock innocence.

‘Or else you schemed with Uncle Albert,' replied his father, suspicion in his eyes. He glanced at his friend who shrugged as if to say, I am innocent.

The light-hearted tone of the evening was set. It continued in such a mood, conversation flowing easily but at times becoming
tête-à-tête
. When it was announced that dinner was served, John escorted Georgina; Albert, Jennie; James, Olivia; and Alistair, Pauline to the dining-room. While they followed the etiquette appropriate to their station in life, they had known each other long enough to dispense with some of the more formal rules and make this a relaxed occasion. The meal brought praise for Jennie who had chosen a menu that catered for all tastes, and equal praise for the accomplishment of her cook. Afterwards light-hearted chatter flowed, especially among the young ones, and everyone enjoyed songs round the piano, gracefully accompanied by Lena.

‘We've done well, Albert,' commented John quietly but with great satisfaction, his glance taking in their wives, deeply engrossed in chatter that was meant only for women's ears. His gaze moved to their offspring, laughing together over a game of cards. ‘And those four couldn't do better than to pair up,' he added, inclining his head in the direction of the group.

‘Aye, I agree. It would give me great satisfaction to see our families united and our firms continuing to thrive in friendly rivalry. Sadly for that scheme, Alistair has his heart set on being a successful doctor and, though he understands the business to some extent, has little interest in taking over from me. But I've always believed, let your children do what they want and they will succeed. Let parents advise only if advice is wanted.'

‘You're an understanding man, Albert. I'm sure you are seeing the results of that in the way Alistair is making such a success of his chosen departure. As far as my firm is concerned, I'm pleased James has always shown a great interest in it, though his father and grandfather were not men of the sea. He has applied himself well and is proving very capable.'

When Christmas Eve had nearly slipped away, John recharged all their glasses and in the first seconds of the new day he raised his own: ‘A Merry Christmas to you all.'

Greetings were exchanged, with kisses and laughter all round, then Jennie called, ‘To the servants,' and led the way through the house to the servants' quarters where they were gathered around the table in the centre of their dining hall. Jennie knew that such gestures, along with careful consideration of their terms of employment, kept her servants loyal and happy.

After greetings had been exchanged below stairs, the two families settled down again in the drawing-room for another hour before Georgina finally made a move to leave.

As they donned their outdoor clothes for the short walk home she took Jennie's hands in hers. ‘This has been a wonderful evening, and I'm only sorry that Albert and I won't be coming with you to Scotland. I felt I should stay and be near my niece when her baby is born, as her only relative.'

‘I'm sorry too,' replied Jennie. ‘I do hope all goes well for her.'

‘Thank you. And thank you too for including Olivia and Alistair in your visit north.'

‘It wouldn't be the same without taking some of you; it has become such a tradition.'

‘There is no need for them to stay here, and I know they are looking forward to it as usual.'

John finally announced, ‘If we don't see you tomorrow, we'll pick Olivia and Alistair up at ten-thirty on Boxing Day.'

‘Where's Lena?' said Alistair as goodbyes were being made.

She appeared from the closet beside the front door. ‘Right behind you,' she said, laughter on her lips as she brought out a sprig of mistletoe from behind her back and held it over her head. Alistair was not going to miss this opportunity. He kissed her full on her lips as lively comments flowed from the others.

‘Do you want it, Olivia?' cried Lena, tossing the sprig to her friend.

Her eyes were bright as she caught it and held it over her head to receive the kiss she wanted from James. She looked round. ‘It's yours, Mama!' She tossed it in the air.

Georgina held it and a moment later felt Albert's lips on hers, but before she could pass it to John he'd taken it from her, turned to his wife, held it over her head and kissed her. ‘For my favourite Scottish lass!' he said proudly.

Jennie's eyes were bright. ‘And may we exchange many more of those in the Christmases to come.'

 

Their friends were departed; their children gone to their own rooms. John closed the bedroom door and came over to Jennie who was sitting in front of her dressing-table, combing her hair. He stood behind her and held the sprig of mistletoes over her head again, leaning down to kiss her neck. She stayed still for a few moments, enjoying the touch of his lips, and then slowly stood up and embraced him.

‘Now enjoy Hogmanay in Dundee,' he whispered.

‘I will if you are there,' she replied quietly as she slid her arms round his neck and looked deep into his eyes. ‘I love you, John Carnforth. Thank you for coming into my life and staying there.'

John surveyed the clear sky with a sailor's experienced eye as he and his family walked on the West Cliff during the early-afternoon of Christmas Day. The morning had been devoted to their final packing for their journey to Dundee and now they enjoyed relaxing in each other's company.

‘Should be fine for our ride to York tomorrow,' he commented.

‘And hopefully for the rest of our journey,' added Jennie.

 

At ten-thirty the following day, at precisely the time John had stated, the coach he had hired from the White Horse hostelry in Church Street pulled up outside their residence in New Buildings on the West Cliff. Amidst all the bustle and excitement their luggage was carefully stored on top of the coach.

‘Have you wrapped up well against this fog?' Jennie asked her daughter as she came downstairs.

‘Yes, Mama,' replied Lena in a jocular tone, displaying her grey coat with its three layers of shoulder capes. Embellished with large buttons down the front, it flared slightly from the waist to the top of her black shoes. The comfortable sleeves had deep cuffs. She wore dark blue gloves to complement her close-fitting bonnet.

‘There's a breeze, Mama,' called James, coming out of the drawing-room, pulling on a pair of leather gloves. ‘It'll blow the fog away.'

‘Maybe,' she returned doubtfully. ‘But it's cold, and could be colder still across the moors.'

‘You're looking quite elegant, brother,' commented Lena. ‘Trying to impress our cousins or the Scottish lasses?' She hesitated a moment and then added teasingly, ‘Oh, maybe the new coat's to attract Olivia's attention?'

‘It doesn't matter whose, so long as you like it,' he said.

‘Very smart.' She admired the tight black frockcoat as he strutted around the hall. ‘And it goes well with those grey-striped trousers.'

‘Come along, come along!' The urgency in John's tone as he came through the front door put an end to all exchanges of compliments.

Servants bustled around, seeing to the family's final needs and plying Jennie and Pauline with rugs as they settled in the coach. A few moments later the coachman sent the horses forward and in a matter of minutes they were outside the Nashes' house. More luggage was stowed; greetings between the two families soon giving way to goodbyes.