An Orphan’s Courage

Ruby hated having to ask a favour of the nun. They had never really got on, and after the mistake she’d made over June Miller’s foster parents, she always felt uncomfortable when talking to her – but if Miss Sampson wouldn’t speak to her, she had no alternative.

Sister Beatrice looked at her impatiently as she entered. She hesitated, and then asked if she could spare a few minutes and reluctantly the nun agreed and Ruby moved nearer to the desk.

‘I wondered if you would consider a suggestion I have,’ she said tentatively. ‘One of my girls … I want to move her from the influence of one of the older girls. She came to me because she caused trouble at her previous school and has recently been caught stealing sweets …’

‘She doesn’t sound as if she can be trusted …’

‘I think if she was moved somewhere she would receive a different kind of care …’ Ruby floundered, feeling about two inches high. ‘Oh, forget it. I shouldn’t have asked …’ She would have left immediately but Sister’s voice stopped her.

‘Please sit down and tell me how I can help?’

Ruby sat, feeling as if she were back at school instead of the confident young woman well able to hold down a responsible job she actually was. ‘Her name is Emmeline but the others call her Mouse – and I think that’s the trouble, she’s nervous and easily corrupted, but given a proper chance I believe she could do better. The home she came from doesn’t have much of a reputation and I thought perhaps if you could take her at that place in Essex … away from Doris and the temptations of too many shops …’

‘Do you have the authority to place her in our care?’

‘Yes – well, I normally clear any transfers with Ruth Sampson,’ Ruby admitted, ‘but I’m sending her a memo and I don’t think she will object … I just think Emmeline would have a chance if she gets right away, but if she stays here I may have to send Doris to a remand home instead and I’m reluctant to do it …’

‘So you do have a heart after all …’ Ruby stared at the nun, shocked and annoyed but managing to control her temper. ‘Forgive me, Miss Saunders, that was rude – but I must admit I had not thought you capable of acting with compassion.’ Sister stared at her and Ruby felt uncomfortable under that intent gaze, as if the other woman could see right into her soul. ‘Yes, I believe we could arrange that for you. I will telephone Angela Adderbury and see if they will accept her but I feel sure that, like you, Angela will believe the girl deserves a chance of a better life, and she can usually sway the Board to her way of thinking. When she was here she had all the market traders and businessmen falling over themselves to offer us help.’

‘Thank you …’

‘Before you go … I was wondering if we might allow some of your more reliable girls to mingle with ours. They could help with the little ones at mealtimes, and perhaps reading stories to them at bedtime – if you thought it might help some of your girls prepare for the future …’

‘Well, yes, I had wondered if you would allow me to bring my girls here for tea sometimes. I think it might be a little treat for them – and really help to encourage good behaviour …’

‘An excellent idea, Miss Saunders. Helping vulnerable children may perhaps make them realise that their lot is not so very terrible.’ Sister Beatrice was actually smiling. Ruby swallowed her annoyance, because she felt peeved even though she was getting what she wanted. She thanked the nun, made her excuses and left, her pulses racing as she struggled to control her aggrieved feelings. She almost wished she hadn’t bothered to approach the nun, but her conscience told her she owed it to the girls. Emmeline, because she’d have a chance of a good life in Halfpenny House, and Doris, because she needn’t go to a remand home – and somehow Ruby was wary of sending any of her girls on there.

If Miss Sampson got her way it was the direction the home was going in the future. Ruby had wondered if Sister Beatrice knew anything about what was going on behind her back, but she’d given no sign of it. For some reason that made Ruby feel a bit guilty; although she’d rubbed up against Sister Beatrice a few times, she was beginning to see that she was actually a caring woman.

In a spirit of defiance, she sent a memo to Ruth Sampson to the effect that she’d arranged for Emmeline to be transferred to the Essex home and didn’t bother with asking permission. If Ruth Sampson was going to ignore her, two could play at the same game!

So, maybe that was the reason she’d stopped off to buy the wine to eat with the pie and mash she’d bought from the corner chippie. Ruby rarely bothered to cook for herself, because there was always some kind of hot food she could take home from one of London’s many shops selling everything from fish and chips to eel pie and curry hot enough to burn your tongue off.

Ruby had been smarting from the humiliation of the day, miserable because a woman she admired – and let’s face it, loved in a way that wasn’t returned – had snubbed her. Sister Beatrice’s kindness had made her squirm inside, because she felt guilty over being part of a plot to oust her from a job she loved and did so well.

Ruby had thought about going upstairs to Carla’s flat and inviting herself for that cup of coffee the girl had offered when she moved in, but something – an inner unease – held her back. Supposing she’d misread the look in Carla’s eyes … and even if she hadn’t, the world frowned on the kind of relationship that Carla seemed to invite. Ruby knew that if she began such an affair its discovery could quite easily lead to the loss of her job. She would probably be considered unfit to have charge of the girls in her care, just because she wanted to be held and kissed by a woman rather than a man. The thought made her frustrated and angry, because for Ruby the love of another woman was as natural as breathing … In fact, Ruby felt at odds with the world and fed up with her life – and so she’d drunk the whole bottle of wine. And this morning she felt like death warmed up!

Never again, she groaned as she swallowed two Aspro and drank a glass of water. She was never going to touch wine again as long as she lived …

‘Well, that is rather splendid of you, to come up and take her down yourself,’ Beatrice said to Angela on the telephone. ‘And thank you for responding so quickly to my request.’

‘You know we all trust your judgement,’ Angela said. ‘Besides, I think we’ve had similar cases in the past. It sounds to me as if Emmeline needs some loving care, which is what we always try to give our children – and Mark agrees with me.’

‘Yes, well, we all have him to thank for a great deal,’ Beatrice said. ‘It was his drive and concern for the children that got St Saviour’s up and running.’

‘So are you getting on better with Miss Saunders?’

‘Well, I wouldn’t quite say that,’ Beatrice replied. ‘At least it shows she has a heart … I’m afraid I offended her by saying that to her face, but it surprised me and the words were out without my realising …’

‘That isn’t like you.’

‘No, but I had been used to thinking her rather a monster, and I suppose it shocked me that she came to me for help. I thought she was just one of those smart modern young women who care for nothing but getting on, but now … I think she is very unhappy. She normally doesn’t let anyone see it, but it surfaced as she spoke of Emmeline. Her guard went up immediately, of course – but I think perhaps we can begin to understand one another better, and work together for the good of the children. I know her children are difficult … but we’ve had some difficult ones ourselves and with love and trust …’ Beatrice sighed. ‘I can only hope …’

‘Yes, well, I’ll see you next week then. I do need to talk to you face to face because we have important decisions to make,’ Angela said. ‘Give Miss Saunders the good news and I’ll look forward to seeing you and bringing Emmeline back with me.’

Beatrice smiled as she replaced the receiver carefully. It was good that she had some happy news to pass on, she thought as she went down the stairs and out into the street. Children were just starting to come home for their tea, and she saw that some of the girls from the probationary centre were talking to her children. Some of them had actually entered the hall of St Saviour’s and she could hear the sound of laughter, though one or two looked at her apprehensively, as if they feared she would be angry because they’d dared to step inside her domain. She nodded as she passed them and entered what had once been her new wing, feeling a pang at its loss – but perhaps it was being put to good use. If her influence could help Miss Saunders to make the right decisions for these girls, perhaps a lot of unhappiness could be saved in the future, especially if Angela’s fears came to pass – and that was surely worth the loss of a few beds for her …

CHAPTER 8 (#ulink_5d8f2d95-9724-502e-9668-8e020acea90c)

Andy saw the man he most wanted to avoid hanging round the school gates and hung back, feeling panic as his eyes moved from side to side, wondering how he could avoid passing his step-father.

‘You three …’ Mr Barton, the sports teacher, appeared from nowhere, blocking their path. ‘I want volunteers for sorting out the cricket and rounders stuff for Saturday morning. If you all give a hand it won’t take more than twenty minutes.’

‘I’ve got to meet my mum,’ Sandy Jones said. ‘We’re goin’ ter get some new boots and this is the only time she can go after work.’

‘Off you go then,’ Mr Barton said. ‘What about the rest of you? I’ll run you back to St Saviour’s afterwards so you’re not late.’

‘Yes, sir,’ both Andy and Keith Roberts, the other lad the master had cornered, agreed with alacrity. The promise of a ride in his old but beautiful sports car would have made them agree to almost anything.

For Andy it was a reprieve. His step-father would give up and go home long before he was finished helping the sports master and since they would be leaving by the back entrance, the Beast wouldn’t know he was here. He just hoped he hadn’t spotted him amongst the crowd of boys and girls in the school playground.

‘Come on then,’ Mr Barton said and smiled in his genial way. ‘It’s a chore but we have to pack the gear up ready to take on the coach with us. You’re in the rounders team, aren’t you, Roberts’

‘Yes, sir,’ Keith said and looked pleased. ‘Andy is real good at catching balls, sir. You ought to put him in the team too …’

The master’s dark intelligent eyes centred on Andy’s face. ‘Would you like to join either the cricket or the rounders team?’

‘Yes, sir. Keith is a mate of mine and I’d like to play with him.’

‘In that case we’ll take you with us on Saturday,’ the master said, leading the way into the gym where piles of equipment were waiting to be sorted and packed into canvas bags to make it easier to carry and stow on the bus that was to take them to the fixture with a rival school that weekend.

Keith grinned at him and gave him a little poke in the ribs as they followed Mr Barton’s instructions. They soon had all the sports gear stacked and ready to be loaded the next morning. Mr Barton was in good form, cracking jokes and getting stuck into the task himself, looking pleased when they had it done in double quick time.

‘Thanks, lads,’ he said. ‘I’m grateful for the help. I’ll run you both home now and don’t forget to be bright and early on Saturday morning.’

They thanked him, following eagerly to the red Morgan that was parked at the rear of the school, scrambling into the passenger seat, squeezing up together. Their teacher gave them a nod of approval and shot off at speed, making them both crow with delight as the car gave a throaty roar and its wheels crunched on gravel.

‘Wow! I want a car like this when I’m old enough to drive,’ Keith cried excitedly.

Andy didn’t say anything, but he felt as if he’d reached the gates of heaven and suddenly the world was a golden place. He’d been glad to stay behind because he hadn’t wanted his step-father to see him, but now he felt on fire with a new longing. He knew that it wasn’t likely a boy like him would ever own a car like this, but he wanted to drive it – and other cars like it. He decided that he would learn to drive as soon as he was old enough and he would find some kind of work that involved cars for a living.

They stopped outside the home and Mr Barton turned to look at them as both boys thanked him for the ride. He grinned and nodded, lifting a hand as he drove away.

‘That was fantastic,’ Keith said. ‘I’ve always wanted a ride in his car.’

‘I hadn’t thought it about it much,’ Andy replied, ‘but it was great. I’d like to drive cars like that for a living …’

‘Who wouldn’t,’ Keith said and punched him lightly on the arm. ‘You’d need to be good to be a racing driver. Come on, I’ll beat you in to tea …’