Arthur himself had thought of no other existence than remaining part of this community and working down the pit. However, for the duration of the one day he spent down the mine, he had suffered from the most appalling claustrophobia. He was unable to overcome his terror of being trapped underground and, despite the jibes from his brothers, had not returned. Instead he had headed south, seeking work on farms and often doing a day’s labour in exchange for a bed and a decent meal until he ended up in Great Chalkham where he had been taken on as stable lad and farmworker.
‘Don’t you miss your brothers and sisters?’ Norah, who was an only child, could not imagine living away from her family.
Arthur shrugged and nodded. ‘Aye, but needs must,’ he responded simply. ‘Now, let’s check your girth.’ Norah obediently raised her knee as she sat on Rusty so that Arthur could tighten the girth which held the saddle in place. ‘It’s your turn in a minute.’
‘Do you think you’ll always work here?’ she persisted.
‘Who knows. I like the work and your father’s a good man. But who knows what the future will bring.’
‘What do you mean?’ Norah, protected and cosseted as she was, was firmly of the belief that a man’s destiny was in his own hands. ‘If you like it here, then there’s no reason for you to leave.’
‘True enough, while things stay as they are, but things, especially good things, don’t last for ever. I try not to make too many plans because then I will probably be disappointed.’
‘But nothing’s going to change here,’ Norah persisted. ‘I heard Daddy saying just the other day what a good worker you are. He was even talking about old Tom’s cottage and saying that now he’s died, you could move in there. I’m sure your job here is safe.’
‘Maybe.’ He turned his serious, brown eyes away from her intent gaze. ‘You just never know. Things can change in an instant and I think it’s best to remember that.’
Norah shivered suddenly. His words trickled a tingle of anxiety down her spine. ‘Well I know what the future holds for me,’ she said defiantly. ‘I’m going to go to St Hilda’s at Oxford like Lydia Turner.’
‘Who’s Lydia Turner?’ Arthur asked.
‘A girl who lived in the village and went to school there a few years back. She was the first girl from Chalkham to go to university. Now she’s a doctor. That’s what I’m going to do.’
‘Well I’m glad you’ve got it all mapped out. Let’s hope nothing happens to scupper your plans.’
‘What do you mean?’ Norah asked but there was no time for a response. Her name was being called and she turned her attention to the show ring.
◆◆◆
When she returned home later that day, flushed with the triumph of another win and two seconds, the house was deathly quiet. Her father, solemn and grim-faced, greeted her at the door and Norah excitedly showed him her latest rosettes.
‘Rusty was brilliant as usual,’ she chattered happily, ‘and I only made two mistakes, Arthur said. Oh, I wish you could have been there.’
He led her into the sitting room without speaking and Norah felt a prickle of fear as he sat her down beside him.
‘Is something wrong? What is it, Daddy?’
Then she realised her father was fighting back tears. ‘It’s your mother.’ The words came out in a sob of despair. ‘She’s gone, Nolly. She’s left us.’ He was crying openly now and clutching her tightly as if he would never let her go.
Norah did not understand. ‘What do you mean?’ she asked. ‘Where’s she gone? She was in bed when I left her this morning. Don’t worry, Daddy, she can’t have gone far. She was much too sick to …’ Her voice tailed off as her father shook his head.
‘No,’ he sobbed. ‘I’m sorry, Nolly. I just couldn’t bring myself to say the words. She’s dead, Nolly ... She died this morning in her sleep. Elsie found her. Oh Nolly, what are we going to do?’
Norah hugged her father tightly. Confronted with his grief, her instinct was to think of nothing other than comforting him. ‘Don’t worry, Daddy. I’ll look after you.’
She repeated the words over and over as she held her father in her arms, helpless in the face of his utter despair. ‘Please don’t cry, Daddy. I can take care of you.’
At last the sobbing subsided and George gently pulled away from her. ‘I’m sorry, Nolly. I should be the one looking after you. Forgive me.’
‘There’s nothing to forgive.’
He looked into her eyes, filled with concern for him, and put his arms around her once more. ‘You’re such a brave girl. We’ll be fine, won’t we?’ He gave her a squeeze. ‘Now, shall we go upstairs and see her?’
Norah swallowed. Up until now, her own feelings had been completely suspended, pushed aside and she had felt strangely numb as she had comforted her father. Now, suddenly, the reality of the situation threatened to intrude and overwhelm her.
‘No, I can’t,’ she exclaimed. ‘I don’t want to see ….’ The burning lump in her throat was choking her but still she felt she could not let her father down. ‘Not yet,’ she finished quietly.
‘Of course, Nolly. Will you be alright if I leave you just for a bit? I feel I need to be with her.’
She nodded, biting her lip to hold back the tears, and watched him as he walked, shoulders hunched, out of the room. Her tall, handsome father suddenly looked so old, so defeated.
Immediately following his departure, there was a gentle
