For The Sake of Her Family (34 page)

‘Aye, and this little one’s left all alone in the big bad world.’ Hilda Dowbiggin smiled and tickled the chin of the dark-haired baby. ‘It’s a good job she’s
too young to know owt about it all. Now, I’ve put you in your old room and I’ve made what used to be the nursery up for this little one.’

‘That’s lovely, thank you. I’ll just say goodbye to Jack and make sure he’s all right for Friday and the funeral, and then I’ll catch up with you and Faulks over a
cup of tea.’ Alice left Mrs Dowbiggin holding the baby and went outside to thank Jack for bringing them and their belongings down to the manor.

He was unloading the last case as she caught him.

‘I suppose you’re glad to be back here. You always wanted to live in a big house; that’s what you used to dream of.’ Jack looked at her, dressed in her mourning outfit;
even in black she was beautiful.

‘It’s not for ever; it’s only till I know what’s going to happen to the baby. Are you all right for Friday? Can you still pick us all up and take us into Dent for the
funeral?’

‘Aye, I said I would. I’ll pick you all up about eleven. I hope it’s reasonable weather, I’ve had enough of this wet stuff. It’s no good for nothing.’

Alice planted a kiss on his cheek and he returned with a kiss on the lips, holding her close and looking into her blue eyes.

‘See you Friday. Behave yourself.’ With a smile he climbed into the trap and whipped his horses into action.

Alice watched him go. He would want to know where he stood with her before long. Trouble was, she had no idea what she wanted: her head said marry him, but her heart said no.

The cobbled streets of Dent were empty as the small procession walked the few yards to the church, following the beautifully carved coffin along the iron-railed path, passing
the ancient tombstones inscribed with the names of people long since gone. Mist gathered around the fells, making the air heavy and dank as the small funeral party entered the church. The vicar,
who had never met Nancy in her lifetime, preached a quick sermon on good morals and the way to lead a decent life. The few mourners bowed their heads and listened as his voice echoed from the
pulpit.

Alice sat staring out of the window. She’d no time for religion: God had not been kind to her, so why did she need Him? But at the same time there was something inbred in her that made her
still respect the church. She bowed her head as the Lord’s Prayer was said; she’d been taught the words as a child, but she was too bitter to say them. They meant nothing to her. If God
was so good, why had He taken so many people away from her? Jack squeezed her hand and sneaked a quick look at her as the vicar came to the end of his prayers. She smiled bravely and stood up,
ready to follow the coffin out into the graveyard. Faulks put his arm around Mrs Dowbiggin, steadying the distraught cook, who had been more mother than housekeeper where Nancy was concerned. They
walked, the vicar continuing the prayers, down the grassy bank to where Nancy’s final resting place was going to be, and there they gathered around the grave watching the bearers gently lower
the coffin into the deep, dark hole.

As the coffin disappeared into the depths, Alice turned her eyes to the surrounding fells. She’d done this too often; she didn’t want to be here again. Once the coffin had been
lowered, she walked over to her mother and father’s grave, knelt down and said a few words to both, tears in her eyes. There would never be a grave for Will; he’d never be with his
family, where he belonged, under the home turf of Dent. Instead he was lost on the battlefields of France, buried with hundreds of unknown soldiers. She got to her feet, crying, Jack by her side.
Once again she turned and sobbed into the comfort of his jacket, but at the same time she was angry, she was so angry. Why had life dealt her such a bad hand? Perhaps it was time to play it at its
own game. She’d had enough unhappiness; that she was sure of.

‘Come on, pet, there’s nothing you can do about what life throws at you. Time to move on.’ Jack put his arm around her and walked with her out of the churchyard and across to
his horse and trap.

Faulks and Mrs Dowbiggin were waiting, both looking sombre as Jack gave Alice a hand up into the trap, making sure that her black skirt was all gathered in and that his two extra passengers were
sitting comfortably.

‘I never want another day like this one. My nerves couldn’t stand it.’ Mrs Dowbiggin dabbed her eyes with her violet-scented handkerchief. ‘And to think it’s
Christmas Day in a week! When I think back to last year at this time, everything was so different. This blasted war is to blame for everything. I still can’t understand why we are in
it!’

‘Hush now, Hilda, don’t you go having one of your do’s. We’ve tea to serve when we get back to the manor.’ Faulks kept his cool as he tried to stop Mrs Dowbiggin
from getting in a fluster.

Alice watched the familiar countryside go past as Jack’s team of horses made their way quietly home to the manor. She looked around her at the bare brown fields and dark silhouettes of the
trees in winter. It’d soon be spring and the vibrant greens of the new season would be showing through. With the new year would come new hope and new aspirations. She just needed to get over
the next few weeks and then things would seem better with the spring sun shining. She sighed and folded her gloves, which caught Hilda Dowbiggin’s attention.

‘Are you all right, my dear? It’s been a terrible time for you, more so than for any of us – you’ve been in the thick of it.’ She reached across and patted
Alice’s knee.

‘Yes, I’m fine, thank you, Mrs Dowbiggin. Just wondering what the next year will bring. Surely it can’t be as bad as the last two.’

‘Well, let’s hope not, my dear. Do you think Baby Alice will have behaved for her new nursemaid? It was good of Mr Bramble to engage one so fast on behalf of Master Gerald. At least
it gives you your life back, my dear. What will you do with yourself now?’ Hilda Dowbiggin enquired, her curiosity getting the better of her as they pulled up at the steps of the manor. Jack
opened the trap door and gave Mrs Dowbiggin his hand.

‘I tell you what she’s going to do, Mrs Dowbiggin – she’s going to wed me, that’s what she’s going to do.’ Jack looked up at Alice as the stout
housekeeper sat gaping at him. ‘I’ve waited long enough for an answer, Alice. Now marry me, and come and live back at your old home, back where you belong.’ He stood his ground,
waiting for Alice’s answer, taken aback by his own forthright manner.

Alice looked at him. Should she? He offered stability; he was worth money; she knew all about him . . . There was just one thing wrong: he wasn’t the dashing Gerald! She looked at the two
elderly servants standing on the steps like a pair of statues, waiting for her answer. She blushed and fiddled with her bag, not knowing what to say.

‘Well, what’s your answer?’ Mrs Dowbiggin prompted her.

Alice looked at the three faces beaming at her. ‘Yes! My answer is yes, I’ll marry you, Jack Alderson, and we’ll make Dale End our home.’ She could feel a lump in her
throat and wanted to burst into tears. She’d no option but to marry him: it was security and he was a good man.

‘You will? You’ve said yes! I can’t believe it! I’ll turn the trap round and set a date with the vicar straight away.’ Jack was over the moon with delight.

‘You will not, Jack Alderson – we’ve just come away from a funeral; show some respect,’ Alice chastised her husband-to-be. ‘We’ll both go and see him after
Christmas when we have finished mourning and have shown respect to the ones we have lost.’

Jack held her tightly around the waist and kissed her on the cheek, nearly making Mrs Dowbiggin faint with the sight of him being so forward. ‘We’ll be happy, my love. I’m sure
we’ll be happy.’

‘Aye, well, that’s enough of that. Remember we’ve just come back from a funeral and there’s a baby in there without a mother. Keep the celebrations quiet for now.’
Alice climbed the steps and watched Jack as he led the horses away. She sighed. She’d said it now: she was going to have to marry him. For better or for worse, she was getting married.

‘Come on, Miss Alice, you’re going to have to get a move on – it’s ten o’clock already. Another two hours and you’ll be walking down the
aisle. Just look at the garden; you can tell it’s the first day of spring. I’ve never seen as many daffodils. The lawn is covered with them.’

Mrs Dowbiggin bustled around as Alice gazed out across the grounds of the manor. It would be the last time she looked out of the huge bay windows and admired the well-kept grounds. After today
she would be back to low ceilings and the small windows of Dale End, with no beautiful garden or wallpapered walls. Ah, well, she should have known that none of this could ever be hers. She ran her
fingers over the back of the leather Chesterfield suite and made her way up to her room to change into her wedding dress. It was all laid out for her on the bed, simple but beautiful, with small
satin buttons that fastened the high neckline round her slim neck and circled her dainty wrists, every inch of her body being flattered by the elegant design. The dressmaker had said she was a
dream to make a dress for because of her slight figure. She’d stood while pins had been stuck into her and tucks had been made at strategic points until the beautiful dress had been finished
and everyone had stepped back and admired the craftsmanship that had gone into it and how beautiful she looked.

To Alice, it felt more like dressing in slave chains. She didn’t want to go back to farming, getting up first thing in the morning to milk cows, and having to eke out a meagre existence on
a bleak fellside. She’d enjoyed the few months she had lived at the manor. Baby Alice had settled with her nursemaid, leaving Alice with time on her hands – perhaps not a good thing, as
her mind had been doing overtime. The devil making work for idle hands, as her father once said when she’d done something wrong instead of helping him.

She pulled her silk stocking up her leg and fastened her suspenders, slipped her silk cami down over her body and studied herself in the mirror of the wardrobe. She looked tired; after all, she
hadn’t slept for a night or two, wondering if she dared go through with the wedding, wondering whether to pack a bag and walk over to the next dale, where nobody knew her. But that
wasn’t her style. She’d never walked away from anything, and she couldn’t break Jack’s heart again. He was a good friend; happen in time she’d grow to love him. She
slipped the wedding dress over her head and did up all the buttons, then sat on the edge of the bed to put on her shoes.

There, she was dressed. She just needed the hat from downstairs and the bunch of primroses and violets that Jack had picked for her. She flicked her long hair over her shoulder and walked down
the sweeping staircase. She remembered the first time she had walked down those stairs, conscious of the stares of all the Frankland ancestors in their picture frames, watching the young country
lass with attitude, saying what she thought, regardless of her class. She’d learned a lot since then.

‘Miss Alice, you look beautiful, absolutely beautiful! We are so proud of you.’ Mrs Dowbiggin brushed tears away as she watched Alice glide across the hallway.
‘Say something, you big useless lump.’ She dug Faulks in the ribs as he stood next to her.

‘You do indeed, my dear. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful bride.’ He smiled at Alice and then scowled at Mrs Dowbiggin. ‘I believe your carriage awaits
outside, Miss Alice. There is a stable boy with a decorated trap. I understand your husband-to-be has sent it for you.’

Alice couldn’t resist opening the front door for a quick peek at her transport before putting her hat on. Standing in the courtyard was Jack’s trap, decorated with white blossom from
the hedges, and his team of horses had their manes plaited with blossom threaded between the braids. It must have taken him ages.

‘Good morning, Miss Alice. Mr Jack says he hopes that you like the trap and he’s waiting for you at the church.’ The young stable boy smiled and pulled at the horses’
harnesses as they reared their heads.

Alice blushed and closed the door, checking herself in the hall mirror and arranging her hat so that the white veil from around the large brim fell about her face.

‘Here’s your flowers, love. I’ve put a bit of ribbon round them and tried to make them look posh.’ Mrs Dowbiggin passed her the posy and squeezed her hand, and then
Faulks opened the door for her to mount the trap.

‘I’ll miss you both, you know that.’ Alice hugged the stout figure of Mrs Dowbiggin and kissed Faulks on the cheek. ‘You’ve both been good to me.’ Her eyes
were filled with tears.

‘Get away, go on, be gone with you – your man’s waiting. You know where we’re at. You know you can always come and see Baby Alice at any time. Now go on, get gone, before
I start crying.’ Mrs Dowbiggin shooed her out of the hallway and down the steps.

It was too late to turn back. Alice could hear the church bells ringing out in the distance. It was her wedding day and Jack was waiting.

Alice stepped out of the trap onto the cobbled street of Dent. A few locals were gathered around the church gate to wish the new couple well and they watched as she nervously
walked up the path. Her stomach was churning and her heart was still asking her head why she was going through with the marriage. She reached the porch entrance and swallowed, keeping her stomach
in check, then stepped up to the doors of the church. Jack’s father took her arm as soon as she entered. He was a man of few words and just smiled as he offered her his arm. They walked up
the aisle to the traditional wedding march until she was at Jack’s side. He looked nervous, scrubbed to within an inch of his life, with shiny cheeks and pink blossom in his buttonhole that
matched them. He smiled and shuffled his feet, looking at his beautiful bride.

The vicar smiled at Alice, his long, thin body towering in front of them in his white surplice.

‘Please be seated.’ The few people present duly sat, and then he cleared his throat and continued with the service.