The Forgotten Family (12 page)

‘Because you are Eleanor’s brother and need help.’

‘Who the blazes is Eleanor?’ Ted was thoroughly confused again. ‘What’s he talking about, Jack?’

‘When they adopted Queenie they gave her another name.’ He handed his brother a large cheese sandwich. ‘Eat this.’

After eating that and drinking three cups of tea, he seemed to sink back into a confused state again, promptly falling asleep just as the cab arrived back to take them to the station.

‘You sure you’re gonna be all right?’ Jack looked very concerned. ‘This is more than too much drink. Ted’s ill as well.’

‘I am aware of that and we’ll see he has a physician to look at him, but first we must take him to Kent. We have only to manage the train journey, and there will be a carriage waiting for us at the other end.’

Between them they managed to haul the now unconscious man into the cab, as Ellie and Pearl joined them.

‘Oh, sir,’ Pearl was agitated. ‘He’s real sick. We ain’t never seen him this bad.’

‘Don’t worry, he will have the best attention.’ Albert helped his daughter into the cab, shook hands with everyone else, then said, ‘You have our address, Jack, and if you would like to visit us next Sunday, you would all be
welcome. You can then see how your brother is faring.’

‘Thank you very much. We’d like that.’

‘Splendid, we shall expect you for lunch.’

Eyeing the sleeping man opposite her, Ellie yawned. She was exhausted, and completely at a loss to understand what her father was up to. Not only had he invited Pearl, her family, and Jack to visit, but he was taking Ted home with him – or at least – to Uncle Henry’s. Although she was terribly worried and churned up inside, she stifled a giggle. Oh, her uncle was going to be furious.

Closing her eyes, she listened to the chug of the train, finding it soothing. If the rest of the journey was as peaceful as this, then it would be all right. She hoped Ted would stay asleep. She wanted to ask her father why he was doing this, but she was much too tired to talk. The joy of finding Jack and Pearl had turned to dismay when she had seen Ted.

Opening her eyes, she smiled when her father winked at her. Whatever this was all about, he wasn’t saying. But she knew her father was a kind man and never did anything without a good reason.

The days were short at this time of year and it was dark when they reached her Uncle Henry’s. The journey had been accomplished without incident as Ted couldn’t seem to stay awake, and he hadn’t said a word the entire time. Her father had remarked that he probably hadn’t slept properly for a long time, and by the look of the exhausted man sitting across from her that was obvious. Ellie couldn’t decide how she felt about this brother. The shock of seeing him in such a poor state had made her want to turn away from him, and she was ashamed of that. Her father had shown more compassion than she had, and this man was her brother. She should have felt more for him than revulsion.

As soon as they pulled up outside the house, the grooms rushed to hold the horses. Ellie and her father were helped
out of the coach just as Henry and Philip appeared.

‘I wasn’t expecting you. Is everything all right?’

‘I need your help, Henry.’ Albert reached into the carriage to help Ted out. He was awake, but still very weak, and clearly far from well.

Philip rushed in to help support Ted.

‘Good God! Who’s that? He needs a doctor by the look of him.’ Henry moved forward to assist.

‘It’s one of Eleanor’s brothers, the eldest.’ Albert slipped his arm around Ted to steady him. ‘You have rooms above your carriage house, so would you let him stay there for a while?’

Henry barked out orders, making his servants rush off to do his bidding. Then he glared at Albert. ‘Bring him inside. It’s perishing out here.’

They made their way into the library, settling Ted in a chair by the fire. He was shaking violently. ‘I need a drink,’ he gasped.

‘I should say you do.’ Henry reached for the decanter.

‘No alcohol, Henry.’ Albert stopped him. ‘That’s a part of his problem.’

‘What?’ Henry stared at his brother-in-law in astonishment. ‘You mean he’s a drunk, and you’ve brought him here? Are you mad, Albert?’

Albert explained the situation. ‘So you see, we couldn’t leave him like that.’

‘I still say you’re crazy.’ Henry sighed and turned to his niece. ‘Is this your idea? Your father cannot be expected to take care of your other family, you know.’

‘But—’ Ellie didn’t get any further.

‘This is not Eleanor’s decision. It’s mine alone. I don’t think she is any happier about this than you, but I want to help him. The rooms over your carriage house would be an ideal place for him to recover, but I’ll take him home to our house if you are set against it. Now, are you going to turn him away, Henry?’

‘Of course not. He’s here now and I wouldn’t turn a dog out in this state. Anyway, by the look of him he can’t go another step. The poor devil’s on his last legs.’

Albert nodded, frowning fiercely as he studied Ted. ‘I agree. We must get him into a warm bed as soon as possible. When we first met him I thought he was ill because of too much drink, but it looks more serious than that.’

There was a knock on the door and the butler entered. ‘Everything is ready for the gentleman, sir.’

‘Good, fetch young Alan, the stable lad, to give us a helping hand. This man is very sick. Ask cook to prepare a hot nourishing meal for him.’

‘At once, sir.’

‘Queenie?’ Ted was staring at her and trying to stand. ‘Are you really our little Queenie?’

‘Yes, I am.’ She was surprised he should ask now, because he had completely ignored her before.

‘Oh, God.’ Great tears rolled down his cheeks. ‘We were so worried about you.’

His reaction made her rush over to him, concerned to see him so upset. Up to now she had been convinced that he didn’t care, but he did – too much in fact. It was now becoming clear to her that Ted Bonner was a sensitive man who loved deeply. Losing his wife and child had torn
him apart and wrecked his life. She suddenly felt a great tenderness for him.

He ran a finger down the side of her face. ‘We always knew you’d be a beauty, and you are. I’m sorry you’ve had to see me like this.’

‘Don’t worry about it.’ She cradled his hand in both of hers, feeling it tremble. ‘You have to concentrate on getting well again.’

He nodded. ‘I feel very ill, but it’s my own bloody fault. I fell into a pit of depression and couldn’t pull myself out again.’

‘You will now. We’re all here to help you.’

Henry called his butler again. ‘Send someone for the doctor and ask him to come as soon as possible. And where’s Alan?’

Before the butler had time to answer, a boy of around fifteen rushed in. ‘I’m here, sir.’

‘Help us to get this man to the carriage house.’ Henry glanced at Albert. ‘You’ll dine here tonight. Eleanor, you look exhausted, rest by the fire until we’ve made your brother comfortable. Philip will stay with you.’

‘Come on, Ted.’ Albert took his arm, and with Alan the other side, urged him towards the door.

‘Where’s my case? Mustn’t lose that.’

‘It’s been taken to your room.’ Henry led the way.

Ted stopped suddenly, turned his head and looked at Ellie, a tortured expression in his eyes. ‘Oh, dear God, I’m so relieved to see you. I really am.’

She went and slipped her arms around him briefly, then stepped back. ‘I know. Get some rest and I’ll come and see you in the morning. We can talk then.’

Seeing that Ted was at the end of what little strength he had, Albert made him move forward again.

Fortunately the carriage house was close to the main building, but even so, Ted only made it with the help of all of them. Removing only his shoes and top clothing, they settled him in the bed, propping him up on lots of pillows. His breathing was laboured and sweat was running down his face.

A maid arrived then with a tray of food. ‘Cook’s prepared a light meal for him, sir.’

‘Put it on the table by the fire.’

She did as ordered, and quietly left the room.

Alan picked up a spoon. ‘Shall I feed him, sir? I don’t think he’s able to do it for himself.’

Henry nodded, his expression grim as he studied Ted. ‘I hope the doctor comes soon. He’s got a high temperature. This man’s going to die on us, Albert. We can’t leave him here alone all night.’

‘I don’t mind staying, sir.’ Alan was spooning broth into Ted, patiently waiting for him to swallow before giving him more. ‘I’ll look after him, and let the doctor in when he arrives.’

‘That’s kind of you.’ Albert nodded to the young boy.

‘Ain’t no problem, sir. I used to do this for my old gran.’

‘You come and fetch us if there is a change for the worse.’

‘Yes, sir.’ Alan continued with his task.

Albert and Henry made their way back to the house and found Eleanor pacing anxiously, with Philip trying to calm her.

‘Is he all right? He can’t be left alone tonight.’ Her eyes were clouded with worry.

‘The doctor should be here at any moment, and young Alan has offered to remain with Ted until the morning. There’s nothing more we can do now.’ Albert held out his arm. ‘We’ve had no time to eat today and I am starving, my dear, so let us enjoy one of Henry’s excellent meals.’

During dinner, Henry and Philip had to be told the whole story, and when Henry discovered that Jack, Pearl and her family had been invited to visit next Sunday, he nearly exploded. ‘Damn it, Albert, have you taken leave of your senses?’

‘I agree that this isn’t what we had planned, and I could very well be unwise, but—’

‘Unwise!’ Henry looked furious. ‘It’s downright foolhardy. You don’t know these people. They could turn up here expecting you to keep them in luxury.’

‘They won’t do that, Uncle Henry.’ Ellie spoke sharply. ‘They are good people.’

‘Sorry, my dear, I didn’t mean to offend you, but you don’t know anything about them either.’

Noticing that his daughter was upset about Henry’s remarks, Albert stepped in. ‘What you say is true, Henry, but before you get on your high horse, remember one thing. You started this fifteen years ago, and now Eleanor wants to meet them. Are we to turn our backs on them if they need help?’

‘Damned difficult to do that in the circumstances,’ Henry growled.

‘Exactly, and I am not a fool, Henry. Have I ever allowed anyone to take advantage of me?’

His brother-in-law smirked. ‘Actually, yes.’

‘Who?’

‘A little girl from the slums by the name of Queenie.’

‘Ah.’ Albert’s expression softened as he gazed at his daughter. ‘Well, I couldn’t help that, for you see, I fell in love with her.’

Henry laughed then. ‘And what a good thing that was for me. I do believe you would have killed me otherwise.’

‘I was tempted to.’

The door opened and the butler showed in the doctor. It was the same one who had attended Mary, so Albert knew him well. ‘How is he, doctor?’

‘He’s a very sick man, weak and undernourished, but the thing that concerns me the most is that he has pneumonia.’

‘Oh, damn.’ Albert held Eleanor’s hand to keep her in her seat, as she had been about to leap up in alarm. ‘If I’d known that I would never have dragged him down here. I should have taken him to a hospital in London.’

‘What are his chances?’ Henry signalled to the butler to pour the doctor a cup of coffee.

Taking the cup, he sat down. ‘It’s hard to say. If he were fit and strong it wouldn’t be too much of a problem, but he’s in a sorry state. He’s quite rational though. He explained that the pain of losing his wife and child in that way was so bad that he’d had a few drinks to dull the senses. After that he couldn’t stop. I’ve told him he must never touch alcohol again.’

‘We must get him into hospital now.’ Ellie was frantic with worry.

The doctor shook his head. ‘He’s warm and comfortable
where he is, and it would not be wise to move him. Alan is a capable lad, but I shall engage a nurse to take over the care for a couple of days. If the boy could stay as well?’

‘Of course.’ Henry agreed at once.

Draining his cup, the doctor stood up. ‘I’ll make the arrangements at once. A nurse will be with him within the hour, and I’ll call again in the morning.’

When he’d gone, Ellie bowed her head in sorrow. ‘He mustn’t die, Father. We shouldn’t have moved him.’

Albert was by her side, hating to see his beloved child so upset. ‘No, we shouldn’t have, but we all thought his condition was mostly due to drink. If we had left him there, Eleanor, he would certainly have died. He will receive the best care here.’

She clasped his hand. ‘You’re right, Father.’

‘You go home now and rest.’ Henry smiled gently at her. ‘Come back in the morning, and I am sure you will find him much improved.’

‘You will send someone for us if we are needed in the night?’ Albert asked.

‘Of course. Now go home, there’s nothing more you can do here and Nanny will be worrying about you. Philip, see that the carriage is made ready.’

She wanted to stay, but Ellie had never felt so tired in her life, and knew that she would only be in the way. Everything possible was being done for Ted. She prayed his condition would improve after a good sleep. The day had been a mixture of happiness and horror.

After receiving another assurance from her uncle that he would send someone for them if it became necessary,
Ellie reluctantly went out to the waiting carriage.

The night was cold and frosty, making the breath from the horses come out of their nostrils in filmy clouds. As she shivered in the cold night air, she was relieved that Ted was warm and being well looked after. All that could be done for him was being done, and she must be content with that. She couldn’t help worrying, though.

As soon as they arrived home, she removed her coat and hat, and went straight to Nanny’s room. The elderly woman was in bed, but sitting up, alert, waiting for news.

‘There you are at last,’ she grumbled. ‘Why are you so late?’

‘We dined with Uncle Henry. It’s been such a day, Nanny.’ Tears filled her eyes.

‘Now, now, come and sit beside me, and tell me all about it.’

It took nearly an hour to relate everything that had happened, the good and the sad.

Ellie blinked away the tears. ‘I’m so ashamed of myself, Nanny. I didn’t like him at first. I thought he was some awful drunk, but he isn’t really. He’s an unhappy man, and so ill. Do you think he will survive?’

Nanny gazed into space for a moment, then nodded. ‘Your Uncle Henry is a brusque gentleman, but he has a good heart, and understands the pain of losing a wife, as does your father. With those two looking out for him, he won’t dare die on them.’

‘Oh, Nanny.’ Ellie couldn’t help laughing. ‘You’re a wonder, do you know that?’

‘So I’ve been told – occasionally.’ Smoothing a strand of
golden hair away from Ellie’s face, she said, ‘You go and get some sleep. Everything will seem much brighter in the morning.’

She stood up. ‘Goodnight, Nanny, sleep well.’

‘And you, my little Queenie.’ Nanny chuckled. ‘I can call you that again now, can’t I?’

‘Of course you can.’ Ellie kissed her leathery cheek. ‘See you in the morning.’

Ellie could not sleep; she lay awake listening for the sound of galloping horses coming to bring them bad news. The events of the day ran through her head in vivid colour. She had always believed that she was an only child, and to discover that she wasn’t, had come as a tremendous shock. As far as she knew there were seven of her brothers and sisters living – or she hoped so. Jack, Ted and Pearl had been found quickly, but the others were going to be more difficult to trace. She particularly wanted to find out what had happened to Harry. It was alarming to know that he had been out on the streets of London at the age of twelve. All manner of unpleasant things could have happened to him. Her insides churned as she tried to control her imagination. ‘Oh, Harry,’ she moaned softly, ‘please be all right so we can find you.’

A fire had been lit in her bedroom and, fed up with tossing and turning, she slipped out of bed. A quick stir with the poker made it burst into flames, sending fingers of yellow light dancing along the walls. Settling on the carpet in front of the blaze, she gave a ragged sigh, wishing it was morning so she could go to see Ted. Her first impression of him had been totally wrong, and she would make sure she
didn’t jump to conclusions again. Her father hadn’t done that. He had looked beneath the surface and glimpsed a different man. What was it he had said? Oh, yes. ‘He is worth saving.’