Sunlight on the Mersey (36 page)

‘I’ll manage, Mam. I got them home on the tram,’ Rose replied. ‘I bought an outfit for my . . . wedding.’

Kate smiled a little sadly. ‘Why didn’t you tell me that’s what you were going for? I’d have come with you.’ Then she caught sight of the wording on the boxes. ‘Dear God! The Bon Marché!’

‘David told me to buy what I needed, they have an account there,’ Rose explained.

Kate shook her head. Only the very wealthy had accounts in shops like that but it was slowly beginning to sink in that soon Rose would be numbered amongst them. ‘It’s a good job
you did go alone then, I’d have been a bag of nerves in a place like that.’

‘I was a bit nervous, Mam, but they were very nice, very helpful. I could have had everything delivered here but . . .’

She shrugged. She’d wanted to show both Iris and her mother what she’d bought and she was also aware that had she given this address eyebrows would have been raised. ‘I’ll have a quick cup of tea and then I’ll go up to see poor Florence,’ she added, leaving her mother to try to guess how much she’d spent.

When she arrived it was to find Florence sitting with Iris and seemingly calmer although still pale, wan and grief-stricken.

‘Florence, I’m so sorry about your father. How are you feeling today?’ Rose asked, handing the girl the bunch of early spring flowers she’d purchased before boarding the tram, remembering how Florence had once brought her flowers. ‘I thought you might like these,’ she added.

‘Thank you, Rose, that was thoughtful. I . . . I don’t feel quite as bad today,’ Florence replied.

‘Mrs Taylor has gone with Charlie to see the vicar, she’s a bit more herself today too,’ Iris informed her sister. ‘Florence, why don’t you put those in water while I make some tea?’

When Florence went in search of a vase Iris lowered her voice. ‘I’ve told Charlie about you getting married but he’s not exactly delighted. He was expecting you to come home and look after Mam while he takes over Mr Taylor’s business. He’s arranging the funeral and when that’s over he’ll take
over the coal business full time and when he and Florence are married he’ll move in here. He intended Tom to run the pawnbroker’s, me the greengrocery and you to look after Mam. I have to admit that he’s got a lot on his plate at the moment but he’s not very happy, Rose, that he’ll now have to think of some other solution. But don’t say a word to Florence.’

‘I won’t,’ Rose promised. ‘I can understand that he’s trying to do his best for everyone but I have my future to think of, Iris. Mine and David’s.’

‘Of course you do!
I’m
delighted for you, Rose, and I know Florence will be too.’

Rose was surprised. ‘You haven’t told her?’

‘No, I left it to you. It’s your good news and, let’s face it, we could do with something good happening.’

As Iris had predicted Florence was cheered by Rose’s news.

‘That’s wonderful, Rose, and it’s to be in a few weeks? So, you’ll both be married before me,’ she added wistfully.

‘It will be a very quiet ceremony, Florence. I’m going to ask David about having the Reverend Owen Williams conduct it, he’s Bethan’s husband and they are both so nice. It will be quieter even than Iris’s wedding, just David’s immediate family and Gwen and Iris and Tom, if they can manage a few days away?’ She smiled enquiringly at Iris. ‘And I’m going to have to get used to a very different life, which might be very difficult at first, but I love David and that’s all that really matters.’

Florence nodded. ‘It is. I’m beginning to understand that now,’ she agreed with a note of remorse in her voice.

‘Do you think your mother would mind if Rose used the telephone before she leaves? She needs to let both Gwen and David know when she’s going back,’ Iris asked.

‘Of course not,’ Florence replied, wondering vaguely how she would have to address Rose in the future. Would she be ‘The Honourable Mrs Rhys-Pritchard’ or maybe even something grander? However, she was still too confused to dwell for long on such thoughts.

Rose was preparing to leave when Ethel Taylor and Charlie arrived back, Ethel looking very pale and close to tears.

Rose offered her condolences which the older woman accepted before going into the morning room to compose herself. Charlie immediately turned to her.

‘I hear congratulations are in order, Rose. You’ve done very well for yourself, very well indeed,’ he said a little curtly.

‘It is not a matter of “doing well for myself”, Charlie. I am simply going to be David’s wife. Just as Florence will be yours. I’m sorry if I’ve upset your plans. I know it’s been a very difficult time for you but . . . but everything happened so suddenly. I . . . We didn’t plan it. When has the funeral been arranged for?’

‘Wednesday morning,’ he replied, wishing he could feel more enthusiastic but her news had simply added to his burdens.

‘Then I will leave for Tregarron the day after. There is a bus on Thursdays. I’ve asked Florence’s permission to telephone both Gwen and David to inform them, so if you don’t mind . . .’

‘Help yourself, Rose,’ Charlie replied, indicating the instrument on the hall table and thinking that already her manner of speech and her attitude had changed. This wasn’t the Rose he was used to and he felt saddened but a little envious too. She was seemingly walking effortlessly into a position of wealth and status which he and so many others could only ever dream about. But he didn’t envy her too much, it would be hard for her to fit into such a different world and he hoped she wouldn’t come to hate it.

Later that evening Rose confided to Iris that she had been rather taken aback at being addressed as “Miss Mundy” by Lewis when he had answered the phone at Plas Idris. ‘It made me realise that things have already changed, Iris.’

Iris nodded. ‘I suppose everything will be done by the book from now on, Rose, you’ll have to get used to it.’

‘That’s what Gwen said too,’ Rose added. ‘I’ll go on staying with her until the wedding but it won’t do for me to help out in the post office and when I go up to Plas Idris I have to use the front door now. That will seem strange at first.’

‘You’re not regretting it, are you?’

Rose shook her head and smiled. ‘No, but I’m not looking forward to seeing the rest of the staff for the first time. I know things will be awkward.’

‘At least no one’s given in their notice so that’s a start,’ Iris reminded her for Rose had relayed most of her conversation with David to her.

‘And then there’s Olivia and Elinore. I know I’ll have to see them both and I’ve got the feeling that as it’s her home, Olivia
in particular isn’t going to be very happy.’

‘She’ll have to get on with it though, won’t she?’ Iris stated, thinking she didn’t envy Rose much.

‘I’d much prefer it . . . if we could at least be . . . pleasant to each other.’

‘Give her time, Rose. She’ll get used to it – to you. Now, I’ve already spoken to Tom and he is urging me to come and stand for you. He’ll stay to keep his eye on Mam as our Charlie is going to have his hands full . . .’

‘But I was hoping he might give me away, Iris?’ Rose confided. ‘Charlie will be much too busy.’

Iris could understand that but she was worried about leaving Mam. Charlie would be at the office and yard of Taylor’s all day and probably spend a few hours at Cedar Grove too and if Kate fell with both herself and Tom away . . . ‘We’ll see, Rose, but I have to think of Mam.’

‘I know. It was a bit selfish of me to ask. I’m sure Gwen’s brother Bob would be quite happy to stand in.’

Iris sighed. ‘Nothing is ever straightforward, is it? None of our lives are turning out the way we thought they would. Yours. Mine. Florence’s. Only Charlie’s seems to be running to plan.

‘I wonder will our Charlie finally be happy with that house and business?’

‘For Florence’s sake, I hope he is,’ Iris answered quietly.

T
HE FUNERAL HAD BEEN
quite a large affair, attended by not only Edward and Ethel’s relations and friends but also by suppliers, employees, neighbours and many of Edward’s customers, for he’d been greatly respected. As she and Iris followed the cortège out into the churchyard after the service Rose thought that both Florence and her mother had held up very well.

Iris had commented
sotto voce
that Charlie already looked the part of the respectful son-in-law and successful businessman as he supported Florence, he having purchased a new dark suit, Crombie overcoat
and
a bowler hat. He also carried a furled black umbrella for it had threatened rain. ‘He’ll be joining a Masonic lodge next,’ had been her sister’s final terse remark.

The following morning Rose had taken her leave of both her mother and sister, hugging them both.

‘Let us know when you’ve got an exact date sorted out and I’ll get myself organised. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks with my wedding outfit,’ Iris had promised. Tom had decided that only she would make the journey to Tregarron for he really could not be spared under the circumstances, although he would have liked to have seen Rose married and installed in the splendour of Plas Idris.

‘You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers, Rose, every day, and I wish you great happiness. I mean that. Just be yourself, luv. He’s a thorough gentleman and I did like him so I feel he’ll be protective of you,’ Kate had said a little sadly, wishing it were possible for her to accompany Iris.

Gwen had welcomed her back warmly but warned her that although she had not breathed a word to a soul, the news had already reached the village, probably via one of the servants at the big house. Rose felt very apprehensive as she reached the top of the drive and the pale grey stone walls of Plas Idris rose before her. It
was
a beautiful house, she’d always thought so, she reminded herself, and in a few short weeks it would become her home. The March sunlight was reflected by the long windows and the stone urns on the terrace were filled with spring flowers.

She had dressed with care in her new heather-coloured costume with a pale lilac fine wool sweater beneath the jacket for it was still chilly. Her black shoes, gloves and bag were also new and a purple and black cloche hat covered her dark hair.
The feeling of apprehension intensified as she slowly walked up the steps to the front door, but she was looking forward to seeing David again for they’d had so little time alone together before she’d left and she had so much to tell him.

Lewis opened the door to her and inclined his head formally. ‘Good morning, Miss Mundy. Mr David is expecting you. He’s in his drawing room.’

Rose managed a shy smile, clutching her bag tightly to disguise the fact that her hands were trembling a little. ‘Thank you, Mr Lewis.’

He leaned toward her and lowered his voice. ‘Just “Lewis” from now on and if you are unsure about anything . . . anything at all, I’ll be here on hand to help. Don’t hesitate to ask.’

Rose was very relieved. ‘Thank you, that’s very kind of you . . . Lewis.’ Encouraged by his generosity of spirit she continued: ‘Can I . . . can I ask how everyone else feels about . . . ?’

He glanced around and then smiled at her. ‘Surprised, of course, but I hope there won’t be any . . . remarks . . . or . . . unpleasantness from the staff, although I can’t guarantee it. I will try to make sure things go as smoothly as possible, you have my word on that.’

‘I have so much to thank you for and I have so much to learn . . . I dread making a fool of myself and – more importantly – David,’ she confided.

‘You’ll be all right, don’t worry. Now, follow me before he comes to find us both.’

David’s face lit up in a smile as Lewis ushered her in. ‘Rose,
you look beautiful! Welcome back! That’s a very becoming colour.’

Rose smiled back happily as she crossed and kissed him on the cheek. ‘Thank you. I’m so happy to be back, David.’

David addressed the butler: ‘Could we have some tea, Lewis, please? Say in about fifteen minutes? Miss Olivia is going to join us shortly.’

‘Certainly, Sir. I’ll instruct Nora to bring it up,’ Lewis replied, wishing he could be a fly on the wall during that interview but feeling a little sorry for Rose just the same.

Rose sat beside David and he took her hand. ‘Don’t look so terrified, Rose. Livvie won’t eat you, I promise.’

Rose managed a wry smile. ‘What did she say? Was she . . . upset? I really don’t want to cause any trouble.’

‘She was surprised and upset, I won’t deny that, but I think she’s getting used to it . . . slowly. I haven’t seen Ellie; Livvie drove over to see her but she hasn’t seen fit to inform me of Ellie’s reaction to our news.’ He sighed, remembering Olivia’s set expression when she’d returned, which he assumed meant that Elinore hadn’t been nearly as outraged as her sister.

‘Gwen says it’s already common knowledge in the village although she vows she hasn’t mentioned a word to anyone.’

He nodded. It was impossible to keep the servants from gossiping; he’d known that. ‘And your mother is quite happy with your decision?’

Rose nodded. ‘She wishes us every happiness although at first she was upset. Is . . . is Olivia quite happy to continue to take charge of everything?’ This had been worrying her
for if Olivia flatly refused she would find it very difficult to manage.