Chapter Twenty-Seven
‘There, I can’t see anyone being able to get over that lot,’ John told her later that day.
Marie had been horrified when Annie told her what had happened to Nancy, and John and Simon had spent the afternoon making the garden into a fortress.
A long roll of barbed wire now ran along the perimeter of the fence and they had fitted a sturdier padlock to the gate.
They had also fitted bolts to the inside of the kitchen door.
‘I can’t thank you enough,’ Annie told them, but the men brushed her thanks aside.
‘It’s no trouble at all,’ Simon said as he wiped his hands. ‘But I would consider getting a telephone installed. That way if there’s any trouble you can get in touch with one of us and we can get over here in no time to help you.’
Annie had never thought of having a phone. It seemed like an extravagance, but she could see the sense in what he said.
‘I’ll certainly consider it. And thanks again for coming to do all this.’
John had gone into the kitchen to wash his hands, and they were alone in the garden apart from Alfred who was frolicking around their feet with not a care in the world.
‘I, er . . . don’t suppose you’ve reconsidered my offer to take you out for a meal?’ Simon said hopefully.
Annie smiled. ‘I’d like that, but can we wait a while? I want to feel it’s safe to leave Nancy alone before I venture out at night again.’
‘Of course.’ He glanced at his watch. ‘Anyway, I must be going. And do think about what I said about a telephone.’
‘I will, I promise.’ Annie let him out of the back gate before going back into the shop to join Marie and John. She told them what Simon had said, and they agreed it was an excellent idea.
‘In that case I’ll look into it first thing tomorrow.’
‘Why don’t you all come to us for dinner this evening?’ Marie asked kindly.
Annie shook her head. ‘Thanks for the offer but I might go back to Nuneaton for the weekend to see everyone – that’s if you think you could manage the shop?
Nancy insists she’s okay, but I know this has really shaken her up so I think a little break away would do her good.
I’m actually going to employ someone to help out.
The shop is making enough profit for me to pay someone a wage. ’
‘I am very pleased to ’ear it but I ’ope this will not mean that you no longer need me,’ Marie said with a frown.
‘Oh, not at all, your help is invaluable when I go buying. I really ought to be paying you something.’
Marie wagged a finger at her. ‘I would not ’ear of such a thing. I enjoy ’elping out,’ she said firmly. ‘Now John and I will go if you are sure there is nothing else you need doing?’
Annie saw them off then turned the sign on the door to ‘Open’ again. She couldn’t afford to let what had happened cost her money and she had to carry on as before, although from now on she would insist that Nancy didn’t go into the garden after dark without her.
The rest of the week passed uneventfully and on Friday evening she shepherded Nancy and Adam onto the train at Euston. Alfred had once more gone to stay with Marie and John, who absolutely doted on him, so she had no qualms about leaving him.
Nancy had been somewhat quiet since the attack and Annie was hoping a little break away from London would do her good.
She had the distinct feeling that now the novelty had worn off, Nancy preferred a quieter life back in Nuneaton.
In truth, she missed it too sometimes, especially when she remembered the happy hours she had spent on the cart doing the rag-and-bone rounds.
But she was determined to make something of her life and the new shop in London was the next step towards achieving her dream.
As always, they received a rapturous welcome when they arrived at Peggy’s.
‘How lovely, we didn’t expect to see you so soon after your last visit,’ Peggy told them as she kissed Adam and Nancy.
The girl threw her arms about her and burst into tears. ‘Somebody whacked me over the ’ead when I went out to the toilet the other night,’ she told Peggy tearfully.
‘They did what?’ Peggy looked towards Annie for an explanation.
‘It’s just as she said,’ she admitted quietly. ‘We have no idea why or who it was, but it’s really shaken her up I’m afraid.’
‘An’ why wouldn’t it, indeed!’ Peggy was enraged. ‘I knew it weren’t a good idea you goin’ off all the way to London.’
‘Now, Peg, calm down,’ Levi urged as he saw the stricken look on Annie’s face.
She was clearly blaming herself for what had happened.
‘It were probably just some down an’ out lookin’ about fer what they could steal.
An’ let’s face it, it ain’t a lot safer round ’ere at present.
’ Glancing at Annie, he explained, ‘Another poor lass were attacked two nights ago. Luckily, she’s still alive and in the hospital but it’s time whoever is doin’ this were caught.
They’ve drafted in coppers from all over the county to try an’ catch the devil, but till then I won’t let Peggy venture out alone after dark. ’
Adam started to whimper and rub his eyes; it was way past his bedtime and he was exhausted.
‘Anyway, let’s change the subject an’ get this little ’un tucked in.’ Peggy picked him up and headed for the stairs. ‘Poor little mite is near droppin’ on his feet.’
While Peggy was gone Annie put the kettle on and made them all a cup of cocoa, and when Peggy came back downstairs, they sat down together.
‘Just a weekend visit, is it?’ Peggy asked and Annie nodded.
‘Yes, I thought it would do Nancy good to have a break. Tell me what else has been happening here.’
For the next half an hour they caught up with the local gossip, until finally Peggy yawned and excused herself. She’d had a busy day at the shop and was ready for her bed. Nancy followed her up, and once they were alone, Levi asked, ‘Do yer have any idea who might ’ave hit Nancy?’
Annie bit down on her lip before saying tentatively, ‘Well . . . both Nancy and I have seen someone loitering in the doorway opposite a few times now, but we’ve never managed to see who it is.’
Levi frowned. He knew Annie so well, he could read her like a book. ‘And . . .?’
‘I did wonder if Reggie might have found out where we live,’ Annie admitted. ‘Although I can’t say for sure, of course.’
Levi stroked his chin. ‘It’s the sort o’ thing he’d do if he thought he could get away wi’ it,’ he agreed. ‘But like you said, you’ve no proof, so you’ll just ’ave to keep yer eyes peeled, an’ if you’ve any concerns speak to the police.’
‘I will,’ Annie promised, and they finished their drinks in a companiable silence.
Bright and early the following morning Annie left Adam with Nancy and Peggy, and went to visit Monty’s grave.
She’d picked some roses from Peggy’s small garden and as she placed them in the pot in front of Monty’s headstone, she felt unutterably sad.
Poor Monty, he’d been such a good man and it seemed so unfair that he’d died at such a young age.
She was all too aware that she’d never loved him as he deserved and that, added to the fact that she had never told him Adam wasn’t his son, only added to her feelings of guilt.
It was so tranquil there with nothing but the sounds of the birds in the yew trees to be heard so she sat for a while, letting the peace wash over her. Eventually she rose and turned to leave only to start as she found Reggie standing on the path behind her.
‘Wh-what are you doing here?’ she asked shakily.
‘I could ask you the same question – I thought you were in London. You didn’t inform us that you were coming.’ His voice was cold and despite the warmth of the day she shivered.
‘It was a last-minute decision,’ she told him as she thrust her chin in the air and stared back at him. There was no way she would allow him to know that she was afraid of him. ‘But don’t worry, I have every intention of bringing Adam to see your mother later today.’ With that she walked away.
As promised, after lunch Annie took Adam to visit Mrs Taylor-Lloyd in Swan Lane.
‘Reggie told me he’d seen you in the churchyard this morning,’ the woman said coldly when the young maid showed Annie and Adam into the drawing room.
‘I wonder you bothered to go. There would be no one to tend Monty’s grave were it not for me.
’ She sniffed disapprovingly. ‘Not after the way you hot-footed it off to London when he was barely cold in the ground.’
‘I still have to earn a living for myself and Adam,’ Annie pointed out equally coldly.
‘Hmm, I thought the Nuneaton shop was doing that!’ She turned her attention to the toddler clutching Annie’s hand – he was never at ease in Mrs Taylor-Lloyd’s company. She narrowed her eyes and studied him closely before saying pointedly, ‘He still doesn’t resemble Monty at all, does he?’
Annie swallowed. It wasn’t the first time the woman had said this and the trouble was she was right. Sometimes his resemblance to Alex made her heart ache.
‘I think he takes after my side of the family,’ Annie said lamely.
Mrs Taylor-Lloyd snorted with derision. ‘Really? And how would you know that? You were abandoned as a newborn, so how would you know what your family looked like? He certainly looks nothing like you.’
‘I don’t know what you’re insinuating, but if you don’t want to see him then we’ll go.’ Annie turned towards the door but as she reached it the woman’s words stopped her momentarily in her tracks.
‘I’ve always questioned how quickly after the wedding Adam was born.’
Her words cut Annie like a knife, but she kept her back ramrod straight and without turning back she answered, ‘Then perhaps it would be as well if I don’t bring him here again.’ And with that she hauled Adam through the door and left.
It was only when they reached the end of the road that she drew to a halt to take a steadying breath. Adam was distraught, sensing that his mother was upset, but she smiled at him reassuringly.
‘It’s all right, darling,’ she soothed as she swept him up into her arms. ‘Let’s go and see Auntie Peggy and Uncle Levi, eh?’
The moment Annie entered the kitchen, Peggy sensed that all was not well, and sent Nancy off to the corner shop asking her to take Adam with her.
‘All right, let’s be havin’ it!’ She eyed Annie shrewdly. ‘What’s the old witch said to upset yer now?’
Annie took a deep breath. ‘She intimated that she doesn’t believe Adam is Monty’s son,’ she said miserably.
‘I see.’ Peggy sighed. ‘Well, no offence intended, pet, but there’s no resemblance to Monty nor you in Adam.’
‘I know,’ Annie admitted. ‘Every day he grows to look more like his father but there’s nothing I can do about that.’
‘Nothin’,’ Peggy agreed. ‘So don’t let the vicious old sod get to yer.
You can manage perfectly well wi’out the likes o’ her in yer life.
I often wonder ’ow someone as nasty as ’er could ’ave given birth to someone as nice as your Monty.
An’ truthfully, Adam won’t be missin’ nowt by not seein’ her! ’
Annie nodded; Peggy was right. But a deep sense of foreboding was building in her and she didn’t think it was just down to what Mrs Taylor-Lloyd had said. The last time she’d felt like this was just before Monty had passed away and she wondered what life was about to throw at her next.
The feeling persisted all that night and by the time she rose to get ready to catch the train, the circles beneath her eyes were so dark they looked almost like bruises.
Peggy and Levi insisted on getting up early to see her off and made her promise she would come again soon.
‘I might even surprise yer one o’ these days an’ hop on the train an’ come an’ see you in London,’ Peggy told her.
‘You know you’ll always be welcome.’ Annie kissed her cheek and shortly after she, Nancy and Adam set off to start the journey back to London.