Chapter 23 #3
She tightened the ribbon beneath her chin and walked into the pharmacy. Archibald followed.
‘Mrs Walters, you are behaving disgracefully. I allowed you to assist me with my work, but you have got ideas far above your station and completely inappropriate for your sex!’
Gwen unlocked the door and drew back the bolts at top and bottom. ‘Archibald, you are talking complete rot. The only thing that has got into me is an understanding that I am more capable than I ever believed I was.’
‘I dislike it,’ Archibald said.
‘Well, I am very sorry to hear that,’ she said placidly. ‘But I like it, very much. Perhaps if you had been able to like it, too, we might have had a hope of remaining together.’
Archibald gaped at her then shook his head as if he was waking from a dream.
‘Are you speaking of divorce? On what grounds? It’s against the law for you to leave me without reason!’
Gwen considered his words.
‘Oddly, I find that I don’t really care what the law has to say on that matter. But I will tell you that a man of law has seen my face and knows how I obtained that bruise. Divorce may not be possible for me on such slight grounds, but I doubt you would like it to be made known.’
Archibald moved to the doorway and positioned himself between Gwen and her exit, his face growing redder.
‘I am your husband! I say you cannot do this.’
Gwen breathed in slowly, counting to five before answering. ‘You are my husband, and as such I should warn you that there may very soon be a scandal attached to my name. Do you wish it to be attached to yours, too?’
‘Scandal? Have you been an adulteress? Is it not enough that my son disgraces me, but my wife does, too?’
‘I am no adulteress.’ Gwen thought of Danny; the kisses they’d shared and the way her body had urged her to do much more than that, and she flushed.
She’d searched her conscience and was completely certain that he had no bearing on this decision.
The callous mention of Archie brought tears to her eyes, but strengthened her certainty.
She lifted her head, stood tall, and with great pleasure, said, ‘You were unhappy that your operation was paid for by charity. It will no doubt make you glad to hear that it was not, in fact. It was funded by the income I made from making and selling a tincture with intoxicating and libido-enhancing effects.’
Archibald leant back against the door and it occurred to Gwen that he might physically attempt to prevent her from leaving. His mouth moved wordlessly, then he gave a great laugh.
‘You? How ridiculous! You wouldn’t be capable of such a thing. Tell me the truth.’
‘That is the truth,’ Gwen said, narrowing her eyes. Danny had been furious but at least he hadn’t laughed at her or assumed she wasn’t capable.
‘It was accidental to begin with, and I was reluctant, but when I realised we could save up for your operation much quicker, it seemed only sensible to take advantage of it.’
She gathered her skirts in one hand and reached for the handle of her trunk.
‘It transpires that I’m rather good at working precisely and replicating the same results each time. I’ve made rather a lot of money, but unfortunately a rather unpleasant group of people have become involved and I’ve decided to put an end to the matter.’
‘You could have taken in ironing to raise money,’ Archibald said, jutting out his bottom lip. ‘Or sewing, if you consider ironing beneath you.’
‘Good God, man! Do you hear a word that comes out of your mouth? I was already doing more than I should have been by making the medicines, to keep you in your job without Conrad knowing.’
She turned her back before her exasperation became too great and bubbled out of her even more.
‘Yes, I could have spent the evenings ironing and washing for other families, as well as us. But I didn’t. If I had, you would still be waiting for your operation. Moreover, I am proud of what I managed to achieve.’
The last declaration was a partial lie, but he didn’t need to know that, and as she said it, Gwen realised that she was proud of herself, if not her actions.
She held her head high.
‘I have people waiting for me. If I’m not there when they arrive, they’ll come looking for me. Would you like them to come here, Archibald?’
She held his gaze. She wasn’t sure what he could see and whether the nuances of her determined expression were lost on his poor eyesight, but he moved away from the door. Gwen opened it and stepped through, pulling her trunk behind her.
She turned back to look at Archibald with a sense of sorrow. They had, after all, shared the greater part of their lives.
‘I wish you well,’ she said.
He scowled. ‘Go to the Devil, woman.’
He slammed the door, causing Gwen to wince.
She had burnt her bridges with two men in a short space of time and should be fearful of her future, yet she felt oddly uplifted.
The clouds were beginning to part, the road smelled fresh after the night’s rain and the sun was starting to shine.
Gwen turned her face up to it, feeling alive for the first time in a very long while.