‘I’m not in a mood. In fact there’s been some good news for us all around here. The Baxters got what they deserved in the courthouse today. They’ve all been jailed or sent to the colonies, and that’ll stop them in their tracks.’ Lucy still looked in a foul mood as she heard her mother gasp.
‘They haven’t sent old Robert Baxter to a penal colony, have they? He’ll never survive the journey. Not that I’m that bothered, but he’s old and some of them convicts don’t even make it out there to Australia, the conditions are that bad on board ship,’ Dorothy exclaimed.
‘No, it’s George and Jacob that have been deported. The rest have got hard labour in Halifax jail, I believe with sentences ranging from six to ten years. Adam was there, giving his evidence, and he waited for the sentences to be handed out,’ Lucy said, without thinking. She had not yet told her mother that she and Adam Brooksbank were on first-name terms, and her mother would not like it.
‘“Adam” is it, now? I’ve told you before, young lady: don’t get too friendly. He’s a nice enough fella, but he’s still your boss, and you’d do well to remember that,’ Dorothy chastised her.
‘Oh, Mother, shut up. You don’t know what it’s like, working for him. He insisted that we are on first-name terms after I nursed him back to health. He’s kind and understanding, that’s all,’ Lucy hit back.
‘I know you nursed him back to health – and I hope that’s all you did! It’s not a healthy relationship that you have with that man. You think too much of him. I’m going to have words with your father,’ Dorothy warned.
‘You do that and you’ll look a fool. I’m off for a walk. You can put Susie to bed for once.’ Lucy stood up and stared at her mother as she left by the back door. Mam would never understand how she felt – how could she? She’d never loved a man that she couldn’t have, unlike her. A man who obviously already had a lover and had deceived Lucy into thinking there was no one in his life.
Lucy slammed the door behind her and heard her mother yelling for her to come back, but she wanted some time to herself; time to think things through, to ponder over what could be in the letter, and what this Ivy Thwaite might mean to the friendship that was starting to blossom between herself and Adam.
Adam pushed to one side the remains of his half-eaten supper and reached for the letter from Ivy. He’d nearly given up on her replying, but now he couldn’t wait to read the contents of the letter. He’d not seen Ivy for such a long time and, hopefully, she would be sending news that she would be visiting him soon.
Lucy had been right: the letter did smell of perfume – expensive perfume, which was out of character for Ivy. She was a down-to-earth girl and had not in the past wasted money on fineries.
He opened the letter and unfolded the headed notepaper:
Laburnum House
22 New Street
Kendal
2nd June 1857
My Dearest Adam,
How surprised I was to hear that you are back in the country, and living at your old home too. I am so sorry to hear that the war in the Crimea has not been kind to you and do hope that your wound is healing. It must have been the most dreadful time for you and your fellow soldiers-in-arms.
I tried to keep abreast of affairs, but the news of our brave boys having to fight in such conditions made me feel so helpless, every time I read the newspapers. All those souls freezing and hungry on the Russian Steppes, and all for nothing really. No wonder you have chosen to return to the sanctity of your old home. Your mother and father would be so proud to know that at long last you are back where you belong.
Anyway, my darling, I too have got some news, but I will tell you it when I see you in person. It is partly the reason why I am late in replying to your letter, which filled my heart with joy at the news of your return. As you suggested, I aim to visit you, and perhaps stay a day or two, towards the end of next week, catching Wednesday’s coach from Kendal and arriving in Keighley around 12 noon on the Thursday. Would you be able to meet me, my dear?
Please let me know post-haste if this is not agreeable to you. Otherwise, I will look forward to sharing a few glorious days with you, come Thursday.
With love and affection,
Yours in this world and the next
Ivy
Adam smiled. Dear Ivy, he should have known that she would not have deserted him. They’d always been close, ever since they were small and she got teased for playing with the boys instead of the girls at school. She’d always been a tomboy, so what had she been up to now, which had kept her from writing to him sooner? No doubt all would be revealed on her arrival on Thursday, but before that, he must tell Lucy to prepare for a visitor – a visitor who was very dear to him and had to be made most welcome.
20
‘I can’t wait to see Ivy
