Thinking back to that conversation now, Ruby felt tears prick her eyes.
‘Ruby, are you all right?’ Stella asked, bringing her back to the present with a start.
‘I’m fine. I’m more than fine,’ she smiled. ‘Let’s just think of this money as coming from a benefactor. It will be put to good use.’
9
May 1910
Ruby had never seen so many people gathered together in one place. When Stella had first mentioned going to London to pay their respects to the late king, she’d been unsure. She wasn’t one for crowded trains and the like. But once Stella had explained that she doubted they’d ever experience such an occasion again – after all, look how long the king’s mother had lived – she’d relented. It would be good for George to see the grandeur of London and the soldiers on guard around the coffin. It would be something to tell his children, she’d thought to herself. ‘Mum went up to London to see the late queen’s funeral procession. She talked of nothing else for weeks. She always loved a good send-off.’
Stella and Wilf had burst out laughing. ‘My old mum was the same. She’d compare her neighbours’ funerals against each other, then weeks later she checked the graves to see who had the best headstone,’ Stella said.
‘Don’t forget to tell Ruby about the list she made so you’d give her a better send-off than her friends had. I can see them all now, up there comparing notes,’ Wilf guffawed.
‘Oh, my goodness!’ Ruby said. ‘I hope we don’t get as bad as that when we grow old.’
‘You have a way to go to catch us up,’ Stella laughed. ‘Seriously, I could pack up some food and once we’ve been to pay our respects, we could take the children to look at Buckingham Palace or sit by the river and relax.’
Ruby had relented and along with the Green family they’d set off to London.
Waiting at Erith station, they were jostled this way and that as it seemed most of the townspeople had decided to make the trip on the same day. ‘George – don’t get too close to the edge of the platform,’ she called out nervously.
‘It’s all right, Ruby, I have hold of George as well as our Donald,’ Derek called out to her as he held up George’s hand and nodded to where he had hold of Donald’s collar to reassure her.
‘And I’ll watch you,’ Frank said as he stood alongside her.
Ruby smiled up at Frank. He’d been a good friend to her over the years. They shared the same love of reading, and would often meet just to chat about books. As a rule, it would be Frank recommending a book to Ruby, and usually she went along with his suggestions. Occasionally she would accompany him to a lending library, where they shared the thrill of poring over books they’d yet to read.
‘I’ve not seen much of you lately, Frank. Have you been busy at work?’ He was now in charge of a section of the accounting department of the coal merchant’s office, but he didn’t talk much about his work as he said it would not interest her.
‘No, not really – but there is something I wish to talk to you about, Ruby. I have plans for the future and if you’re interested . . . well, they could include you.’
Ruby took a deep breath. She’d feared that this might happen before much longer. Was it possible that what Frank was about to say had something to do with them becoming a couple? It was getting on for five years since Eddie had gone, and although she missed him sorely, Ruby did wonder whether it was unnatural not to consider finding another man with whom to share her life. Although she was close to Frank, she wasn’t sure if she had the same depth of feeling for him that she’d had with Eddie. When she’d first met her husband she would tingle at his slightest touch and could happily stay in his arms forever. With Frank, it was different: they shared the same thoughts and interests, and at times it was as if they could read each other’s minds. However, on the few occasions he’d kissed her it had felt more like the kiss a brother might bestow on his sister’s cheek, with no hint of passion or romance. Ruby knew that Stella would like nothing more than for her to become the wife of her eldest son – but of course, until she knew what had happened to Eddie, she could not draw a line under their marriage and move forward with her life. As much as she would dearly love a brother or sister for George, it could not be.
Ruby was at a loss to know what to say to Frank. The last thing she wanted to do was encourage him, but to knock him back could cause a rift between the two families. ‘I look forward to hearing all about it,’ she murmured as the train pulled into the station, shrouding the family in steam. They pushed through the crowd so that they could all be seated in the same carriage. Ruby sat down with a sigh of relief, as for the moment the subject was dropped.
Arriving in London, they paused outside Charing Cross station as Frank consulted his map. ‘We jump on a tram at the Embankment and get off at Westminster. It’s only a short walk from there.’
‘Sounds good to me,’ Wilf Green said.
‘I’m not too sure about jumping onto a tram at my age, but I’d prefer that to walking,’ Stella agreed, while George hopped up and down in excitement. Donald, now fifteen years of age, looked suitably keen.
‘I’m just glad to be out of the station,’ Ruby shivered, recalling a story
