The Best of Sisters (42 page)

‘Trying to see what was going on in the house. They got a fire halfway up the chimney and that kid, Tommy, he has cake to eat every single blooming day.’

Before Davy could answer, the door to the servants’ entrance was flung open and Ada stuck her head out. ‘Artie, what’s going on? Sammy says you’d got yourself stuck through like a joint on a spit. Oh, my Gawd! Davy, is that you up there?’

Davy set Artie on the ground and ran down the area steps to hug his mother. ‘It’s me all right, duchess. Come home from the sea and mighty glad to be ashore.’

Eliza stood at the top of the steps, ignoring the sleet that had turned to large, feathery
snowflakes, mindless of the cold striking up through the thin soles of her boots and smiling at the sight of Ada and Davy hugging each other. Sammy was clinging to Davy’s legs and nine-year-old Eddie looked on as if he wanted to join in, but considered himself a bit too grown-up.

‘Oh, Davy, Davy,’ Ada said, laughing and crying at the same time. ‘I can’t believe you’re home.’

‘Well, I am, Ma. Home and not particularly eager to go away again.’ Davy glanced over her shoulder. ‘Where’s the old man?’

‘Your dad’s gone back to the mission. It’s a long story, ducks. I’ll explain later.’ Ada mopped her eyes on the corner of her apron. ‘Here’s me going on, like a silly old thing, and you standing out here in the blooming snow. Come inside out of the cold. I’ve just made a brew of tea and we’ve got a nice bit of brawn for supper.’

‘That’ll do a treat, Ma.’ Davy hefted Sammy onto his shoulder and as he was about to follow Ada inside he glanced up at Eliza. ‘Come on down, Liza.’

She shook her head. ‘I must tell everyone that you’re home safe and sound.’ Sensing that he was about to argue, she blew him a kiss. ‘We’ll get together later and celebrate.’ As the door closed on them, Eliza ran up the steps and let herself into the entrance hall. Her first thought was to find Millie and tell her the good news. But
it was Freddie who came to meet her with a look of concern on his face. He helped her off with the cloak that was heavy with melting snow. ‘What on earth were you doing walking out alone and in this sort of weather?’

Eliza brushed strands of wet hair back from her forehead. ‘Don’t scold, Freddie. I just went for a walk, and guess who I met?’

He tossed her cloak onto a chair. ‘Someone special I should think, my dear, judging by the flush of your cheeks and the sparkle in your eyes.’

‘Davy’s come home. Isn’t that marvellous?’

Freddie looked away. ‘Of course. You must be delighted. I’m happy for you, Liza.’

The bleak note in his voice struck Eliza like a punch in the stomach. She wanted to tell him that he had got it all wrong; that it wasn’t for herself that she was pleased, but somehow she could not find the words to express her feelings. She sensed his mood but she could not explain it; she longed to fling her arms around him. She wanted to tell him that she had never loved any man as much as she loved him. But Daisy was coming down the stairs and the moment was lost.

Freddie turned to her, holding out his hand. ‘Splendid news, Daisy. Eliza’s old sweetheart, Davy Little, has returned from a long sea voyage. We must have a party.’

‘No, really,’ Eliza protested. ‘He’s not my—’

‘Don’t be bashful, dear,’ Daisy said, running down the remaining stairs and clutching Freddie’s hand. ‘I couldn’t be happier for you. Freddie’s quite right, we must have some rum punch and cake. We’ll invite the whole family to join us, although maybe not the old drunkard. Hopefully he’ll be serving soup at the mission.’

‘You’re all heart, Daisy,’ Freddie said, giving her hand a squeeze.

‘Oh, you flatterer.’ Daisy cast him an arch look beneath her eyelashes. Her expression hardened as she turned to Eliza. ‘Go and tell Millie to fetch a cake from the bakery and tell Sukey to find the makings for a punch.’

Eliza made a move towards the kitchen: anything was better than seeing Daisy making up to Freddie. But before she had gone two paces, he called out to her.

‘Liza, wait.’

She stopped, looking back over her shoulder. ‘What is it?’

‘We have some important business with my solicitor and I want you to come with me tomorrow morning. I think we may be getting somewhere in our case against the Millers.’

Daisy gave a crow of delight. ‘Darling, Freddie. Does that mean my little Tommy will get his inheritance?’

‘Let’s hope the matter can be settled to everyone’s satisfaction.’

Unable to stand being in their presence a moment longer, Eliza hurried to the kitchen where she found Millie on her hands and knees, scrubbing the flagstone floor. Sukey stood by the range, stirring a pan of soup in a half-hearted sort of way, and with such a sullen expression on her face that Eliza wanted to slap her. She felt her temper rise at the sight of Millie working her fingers to the bone, and Sukey getting away with doing as little as possible.

‘You can leave that,’ Eliza said firmly. ‘Mistress wants you to go to the bakery and buy a cake.’

Sukey stuck out her bottom lip. ‘But it’s snowing. Can’t she go?’ She pointed the wooden spoon at Millie. ‘I got to mind the lamb stew.’

Her temper fraying, Eliza picked up a ladle and brandished it at Sukey. ‘Do as you’re told, girl. Or I’ll report you to the missis.’

Mumbling, Sukey scampered into the scullery, slamming the door behind her.

‘Get up, dear,’ Eliza said, bending down and taking the scrubbing brush from Millie’s swollen and mottled fingers, which looked more like raw pork sausages than a human hand. ‘I’ve got some splendid news, but I think you ought to sit down afore I tells you.’

‘What is it? Tell me, Liza.’ Millie scrambled to her feet, wiping her hands on her grimy apron.

Eliza motioned her to sit down. ‘Davy’s come
home from sea. He’s with Ada and the nippers this moment.’

‘Oh!’ Millie’s eyes rolled upwards and she would have fallen off the chair if Eliza had not grabbed her by the shoulders.

‘It’s all right,’ Eliza said, fanning Millie with her free hand. ‘You’ll be fine again in a minute.’

With her head bowed, Millie buried her face in her chapped hands. ‘It’s not all right. I look a sight. I can’t see him like this. He’ll think I’m a drab.’

‘Not if I’ve got anything to do with it, he won’t.’ Eliza dragged her to her feet. ‘You stop that nonsense, Millie. Come with me and we’ll soon have you looking like a proper princess.’

Daisy’s scarlet gown fitted Millie as if it had been made for her. Standing back to admire her handiwork, Eliza gave a satisfied sigh. ‘You look a treat. Pity we haven’t got a proper mirror.’

‘There’s one in Daisy’s room,’ Millie said, with a mischievous grin lighting her face.

‘Come on then. I’ll show you what a pretty girl you are, Millie Turner. And, if I say so myself, I’ve done your hair up as good as any lady’s maid.’

They went upstairs, laughing like naughty schoolgirls. Eliza didn’t care whether Daisy approved or not. This was going to be Millie’s night of triumph. And if Davy needed a bang on the head with a belaying pin to make him see
sense, then that was what he would get. It was fortunate that Daisy was not in her room, and Millie was able to primp before the long mirror and admire the change in her appearance. Eliza stood back, saying nothing, but silently congratulating herself on her efforts. They were about to leave when the door opened and Daisy entered. She stopped short, glaring at them, and then she smiled. ‘Well, who would have thought it?’

‘We was just going,’ Millie said, blushing. ‘I ain’t never seen meself full-length.’

‘Oh, that’s all right. I suppose you both want to impress your young men. The handsome sailor for you, Eliza, and his brother Pete for Millie. Suits me down to the ground and never let it be said that Daisy Bragg stood in the way of true love.’ Daisy beckoned to Eliza. ‘Undo me buttons, there’s a dear. I’d ask Freddie but he treats me bedroom like a plague pit. I’ll have to get him drunk on rum punch tonight if I want him to have his wicked way with me, and even then he’ll probably run a mile. I dunno what’s wrong with that man. You’d think he was a bloody monk or something. But maybe tonight my luck will change.’ Chuckling, Daisy turned her back so that Eliza could unbutton her gown.

Eliza’s fingers shook as she undid the tiny mother-of-pearl buttons. Daisy’s words echoed
in her head and she could hardly believe that it was true. Had Freddie really tired of Daisy’s voluptuous charms? That is, if he had ever enjoyed them at all. Or was Daisy simply saying these things to torment her?

‘You can go now.’ Daisy whisked away from her, stepping out of the pool of silk. ‘Where’s your wits, girl? Have you lost them, or are you dreaming of your sweetheart?’

‘Don’t talk soft,’ Eliza retorted, biting her lip. She had been thinking about Freddie and, for a moment, it almost seemed that Daisy could read her mind. She felt herself blushing and was vaguely aware that Millie was tugging at her hand.

‘Ta, Daisy,’ Millie said hastily. ‘Ta for the use of your looking glass. We’ll be off then.’ She dragged Eliza out of the room, closing the door behind them. ‘What’s up, Liza? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’

‘It’s nothing. I was just surprised that Daisy was being so nice all of a sudden.’

‘She thinks you’re sweet on Davy,’ Millie said, picking up her skirts as they reached the top of the staircase. ‘She thinks that with you out of the way then Freddie will want to marry her. Some chance of that!’

‘Freddie isn’t interested in me. He still thinks of me as a little girl.’

‘Oh, Eliza. Maybe Daisy was right when she
said you’d lost your wits. You are a noodle sometimes.’

‘What d’you mean by that?’ Eliza demanded, but Millie was already halfway down the sweeping staircase. The sound of voices and laughter was rising up from the entrance hall and Eliza could smell hot rum punch. She reached the wide curve of the staircase in time to hear the gasp of surprise from the assembled party as Millie came into view.

‘Well, look at you,’ Ada cried, clapping her hands. ‘You look like a real princess.’

‘What?’ Dolly craned her neck from her seat in the middle of the hall where Pete had set her down. ‘She can’t be a princess. I’m the queen and I don’t know her.’

Tommy tapped her on the shoulder. ‘She can be in our game, your majesty.’

‘It ain’t no game, son. I’m queen and I wants a drop of that punch. And a slice of seed cake too.’

Ada hurried over to the table where a cut-glass punchbowl steamed, sending out a spicy fragrance. ‘Don’t pay no heed to her, ducks. You look good enough to eat.’

‘Cake,’ Dolly shouted. ‘A big piece.’

Millie giggled nervously, covering her hand with her mouth. Eliza could see Davy standing next to Pete and Mary, who had come from Islington on her one half day a month. They were all staring at Millie open-mouthed. Eliza willed
Davy to come forward, and, as if in answer to her summons, he broke away from his family. The look of surprise and admiration on his face as he approached the foot of the stairs was reward for all her labours. He put his hands around Millie’s trim waist, lifting her off her feet and holding her for a moment before setting her gently on the ground.

‘Well, you’re a sight for sore eyes and that’s a fact, Millie.’

Eliza clasped her hands together, biting back tears of happiness. Then Davy patted Millie on the head and looked up, holding his hand out to her. ‘But you got a way to go before you outshine your big sister.’

Millie’s mouth drooped at the corners and teardrops sparkled on her eyelashes. Eliza was tempted to give Davy a good shaking, but somehow she managed to restrain herself. She ran down the remaining stairs and seized him by the arm, standing on tiptoe so that she could whisper in his ear. ‘You’ve hurt her feelings, you big booby. Say something nice to Millie or I’ll never speak to you again.’

‘What did I do?’ Davy stared at her, his eyes widening in surprise. ‘I told her she looked nice.’

‘Nice! She looks beautiful and it was all for you.’

‘She’s a kid.’

‘No, Davy. She’s a grown woman and she loves you.’

If she had hit him with a flagpole, Davy couldn’t have looked more stunned. He swallowed hard, glancing over his shoulder at Millie. ‘But – I don’t understand – surely she knows how I feel about you, Liza?’

Eliza followed his glance and her heart swelled with love as she saw that Freddie had noticed Millie’s distress, and he was making her laugh as he ladled punch into a small glass cup. Almost as if he sensed that Eliza was staring at him, Freddie looked up and their eyes met. He smiled and there was both tenderness and understanding in that long glance. Suddenly, it was as though they were the only two people in the room. Everyone else had vanished, time had stopped and there was silence except for the beating of her heart. At the end of a pathway of light, there was Freddie. Eliza could hardly breathe. Then Davy nudged her and the moment was lost.

‘She looks all right to me, Liza. I think you’ve got it all wrong.’

Eliza turned to him with a sigh. ‘It’s you who’s got it wrong. I love you like a brother, Davy. We’re friends and always will be, I hope. But I can’t promise you more.’

‘It’s him, isn’t it?’ Davy scowled at Freddie. ‘It was always him.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘I’ve been a fool.’

‘No, don’t say that. You’re a wonderful person and we’ve been through so much together.’ Eliza tucked her hand in the crook of his arm. ‘Let’s be friends again, Davy. Forget about me and give Millie a chance. She’s a sweet girl and she loves you so.’

‘You’ve broke me heart, Liza.’

She squeezed his arm, smiling. ‘Come on now, Davy Little. Don’t tell me you lived like a monk when you was ashore in foreign parts. I’ll bet you broke a few hearts yourself.’

Davy shrugged but the corners of his mouth twitched and an irrepressible twinkle danced in his eyes. ‘Not really. I may have flirted a bit, but nothing more.’

She gave him a gentle push. ‘A big, handsome bloke like you would set any female heart aflutter. Go now and use your charm on Millie. But I warn you, Davy, if you toy with her affections you’ll have me to deal with. And I can be a devil when I’m cross.’

‘No, you could never be anything bad, sweetheart.’ He bent his head and kissed Eliza on the mouth, smiling into her eyes. ‘I ain’t one to take no for an answer, Liza. But, for your sake, I’ll be sociable.’ He strolled across the floor towards Millie and her face lit with an artless smile of delight when she saw him.