Love or Duty--A saga set in 1920s Liverpool Read online

  ‘Yes, yes, of course you must let them know where she is. You should have done so in the first place. If you had and they’d taken her back into care she wouldn’t have been able to run off and join the circus and none of this silly nonsense would have arisen.’

  ‘You don’t understand what I’m saying,’ Penny persisted. ‘The moment we inform the police that we have found Kelly and that she is with us then they will come and take her back to St Saviour’s.’

  ‘Yes, Penny, I do understand, and as I keep telling you that is exactly where she should be,’ Marcus Forshaw assured her emphatically.

  Penny shook her head. ‘How can you say that,’ she argued. ‘It’s a really dreadful place, Father. When I went there to see her they—’

  ‘I know, I know all about that,’ he cut her short. ‘You’ve already told me all the details so there’s no need to go over it all again.’

  ‘It’s not only the drab uniform or the nuns and their strict discipline but the grim surroundings of St Saviour’s,’ Penny went on, ignoring his interruption.

  ‘It’s a remand home not a hotel, remember, so you must expect the conditions to be like that,’ her father retorted rather impatiently.

  ‘Please Father, you must speak up for her. If you contact the authorities or your fellow magistrates, they know you and will listen to you. Surely you can persuade them to let Kelly stay with me.’

  Marcus Forshaw ran a hand over his chin. ‘I can’t do anything about it at this time of night but I will think it over,’ he prevaricated.

  ‘Yes it is very late,’ her mother intervened as Penny stood up to leave. ‘Surely it would be better if you stayed here tonight and went back to Liverpool in the morning?’

  For one moment Penny was very tempted. The thought of being able to have a hot bath and slip in-between crisp cotton sheets in her own pretty bedroom and all the attached comforts she would be able to enjoy filled her mind. Then, resolutely, she shook her head.

  ‘No, Mother.’ She bent and kissed her mother’s cheek. ‘I must get back.’

  ‘Why, darling? You can leave first thing tomorrow, the moment you’ve had your breakfast.’

  Penny shook her head and kissed her mother on the brow.

  ‘I left Kelly in bed fast asleep and if she wakens and finds I’m not there she will be very frightened. She will think that I have deserted her again,’ she explained.

  ‘Please, Penny. I’ll be worrying about you all night if you go now.’

  ‘Nonsense. I’ll telephone and let you know I’m all right the moment I get to her,’ she promised.

  Twenty-Eight

  Bryn’s flat was in darkness except for a light left burning on the landing when Penny arrived back at Scotland Road.

  Having removed her shoes, she padded in her stockinged feet towards the bedroom she shared with Kelly hoping that she wouldn’t disturb Bryn, because she didn’t want to talk about Kelly any more that night.

  Although she’d felt relieved that she had managed to persuade her father to think again about intervening over Kelly’s future, on reflection she was not a hundred per cent sure that he would do so.

  Kelly was sound asleep, one hand beneath her cheek, her dark hair half covering her face. She stirred slightly as Penny got into bed and murmured Penny’s name. Then as Penny’s arm went round her she snuggled down into sleep again.

  Kelly was still sleeping soundly when Penny awoke next morning. Very quietly she slipped out of bed, gathered up her clothes and took them along to the bathroom to get dressed in there.

  She hoped Kelly would go on sleeping for a little while longer to give her time to relate to Bryn what had taken place when she’d spoken to her father the previous evening.

  ‘My father was horrified by Arnold’s accusation,’ she told him. ‘He also hinted that the real truth was that there was some misdemeanour that Arnold had committed that was extremely serious.’

  ‘It sounds as though Arnold was trying to inveigle you into committing yourself into marrying him so that your father would never reveal his misdeeds,’ Bryn said thoughtfully.

  ‘It seems to be something like that,’ Penny agreed, ‘but my father didn’t go into any details and I thought it was wisest to drop the whole thing. He was extremely annoyed, though, when he heard what Arnold had said about him.’

  Bryn looked dubious when Penny went on to say that her father had promised to give the matter of Kelly more thought.

  ‘I have asked him to see if it is possible to arrange things so that Kelly doesn’t have to go back to St Saviour’s but is put into my care right away,’ she explained.

  ‘I still think it is our duty to let the police know that Kelly has been found and that she is safe,’ Bryn insisted.

  ‘So we will as soon as I hear from my father,’ Penny promised.

  ‘No, I mean now, right away. The police are still actively looking for her and there are posters on every news-stand in Liverpool. If he intervenes and is successful then well and good but—’

  ‘If we tell them before he has a chance to speak to the authorities then the first thing they will do is come here and take Kelly back to St Saviour’s,’ Penny pointed out.

  ‘Yes, but she will only be there as a temporary measure while the necessary arrangements are being made,’ Bryn persisted.

  ‘No –’ Penny shook her head emphatically – ‘we can’t risk it, Bryn. They’ll insist on taking Kelly away and she will be distraught.’

  ‘We are breaking the law, Penny, and we could both be accused not only of hiding her but also of hindering the police from doing their job,’ Bryn argued.

  ‘Please Bryn, leave it until midday and then come what may whether we have heard from my father or not then I will go along with your idea,’ Penny promised.

  The moment Kelly appeared they changed the subject well aware that she was listening to every word they said.

  ‘I’m sorry but I’m going to make that call before I see any patients,’ Bryn said firmly as he stood up from the breakfast table ready to leave for the hospital.

  Penny followed him out on to the landing. ‘Please Bryn, leave it until after your clinic is over. It’s only a matter of a couple of hours,’ she pleaded laying a hand on his arm.

  He hesitated and his jaw jutted stubbornly, and for a moment Penny was afraid he was going to refuse. ‘Oh, very well,’ he said reluctantly.

  Penny devoted the morning to entertaining Kelly, who very much wanted to go to the park, but Penny was afraid to risk doing that in case someone recognized her and reported the matter to the police.

  ‘In an attempt to delay Bryn making the dreaded call Penny prepared an early lunch so that the moment he came in it was on the table ready.

  They were halfway through their meal when there was a loud imperious knocking on the street door. It was so loud that they exchanged looks of alarm.

  ‘I’ll get it.’ Bryn pushed back his chair and went down the stairs.

  Penny looked startled when a couple of minutes later he ushered Inspector Robinson into the room.

  The Inspector was in full uniform and Kelly took one look at him and her face crumpled with fear. She scrambled down from her chair and dashed into the bedroom she was sharing with Penny and slammed the door shut.

  ‘I’m sorry to interrupt your meal,’ he told them, looking from one to the other. ‘I have been in court all morning dealing with the Kelly Murphy case. I have come to let you know what has been decided about her.’

  ‘Bryn, you told them that she was here,’ Penny exclaimed accusingly.

  ‘No I didn’t, although I know I should have done so. It was the right thing to do.’

  ‘Yes.’ Inspector Robinson looked grave. ‘It was a waste of police time looking for her when all the time she was with you.’

  ‘Now you know she is safe, can she stay here with us? We’ll take good care of her and make sure she doesn’t get into any more trouble,’ Penny said earnestly.

  ‘Well, it’s not quite t
hat simple,’ Inspector Robinson said crisply. ‘Her case will be reviewed again shortly. That will mean another appearance before a magistrate.’

  ‘Surely she doesn’t have to go back to that dreadful remand home does she?’ Penny implored him.

  ‘In the meantime,’ Inspector Robinson went on solemnly, ‘it has been decided that she may remain in the care of a responsible person.’

  ‘Oh, that’s wonderful. So you mean she can stay here with us.’

  Inspector Robinson held up a hand. ‘No, Miss Forshaw. Captain Forshaw has been designated to be her temporary guardian.’

  There was a moment of silence as Bryn and Penny exchanged surprised glances with each other. ‘You mean my father told you where she was and then said he would be responsible for her?’ Penny asked in an astonished voice.

  ‘That’s what the outcome of this morning’s discussion has been.’

  ‘I don’t understand.’ Penny shook her head in disbelief. ‘My parents won’t have Kelly inside their house; my mother certainly won’t agree to that arrangement.’

  ‘She already has,’ Inspector Robinson said crisply. ‘The terms agreed are that Kelly Murphy will reside at Captain Forshaw’s house in Penkett Road, Wallasey until the case is brought to court.’

  ‘I don’t believe it,’ Penny gasped. ‘There must be some mistake.’

  ‘There is no mistake, Miss Forshaw. Those are the terms. I also understand that during the period she is in their care you will also reside there to help look after the child. If this is not acceptable to you then Kelly Murphy must be returned to St Saviour’s Remand Home.’

  Penny and Bryn again exchanged bewildered looks.

  ‘Of course I will agree to the terms you have outlined,’ Penny said stiffly. ‘I will do absolutely anything rather than have Kelly sent back to St Saviour’s.’

  Inspector Robinson nodded in acknowledgement of her decision.

  ‘When do we have to take Kelly over to Wallasey?’ Bryn asked.

  ‘Miss Forshaw and Kelly Murphy must both accompany me there now,’ Inspector Robinson told him. ‘I have a motor car waiting outside.’

  ‘Must we go right away!’ Penny protested. ‘I need time to explain to Kelly what is happening and also to pack some clothes for us both.’

  Inspector Robinson frowned and looked at his watch. ‘I can give you ten minutes, no longer,’ he said curtly.

  ‘Take whatever you need at the moment and I will bring the rest of your belongings over tonight,’ Bryn told her.

  Penny realized that Kelly was still hiding in the bedroom because she was afraid of what was going to happen to her so she went to tell her what had been resolved. She found Kelly was shaking so much with fear that it was difficult to reassure her that everything was going to be all right.

  ‘You’ve nothing to worry about; we’re going to my home in Wallasey,’ she repeated over and over again as she hugged her close and stroked her hair trying to calm her.

  ‘No, I want to stay here,’ Kelly sobbed.

  ‘That’s not possible,’ Penny explained. ‘Inspector Robinson is going to take us both back to Wallasey and he has said that you can stay there with me for the time being. If we don’t do as he has asked they will take you back to St Saviour’s.’

  Kelly stopped shaking and there was a look of relief on her tear-stained face. ‘You mean you are coming as well?’ she asked looking up trustingly into Penny’s face.

  ‘Oh yes, of course I am. I will be staying there with you,’ Penny promised.

  Ten minutes later Penny and a very subdued Kelly had said goodbye to Bryn and were seated in the back of the police car on their way to Wallasey.

  It was a dull grey morning with a heavy drizzle making it feel damp and cold. Penny felt almost as nervous as Kelly about what lay ahead of them.

  Although she had said very little since Inspector Robinson had stated his terms she was concerned about the sort of reception they would get when they arrived at Penkett Road.

  Her father was obviously expecting them. He came out into the hallway to greet them the minute Mary opened the front door to them.

  ‘Come along in, Penny, your mother is waiting in the sitting room,’ he said briskly.

  He exchanged a few brief words with Inspector Robinson who left almost immediately.

  Kelly held back reluctantly as Penny moved towards the sitting room. ‘Come on, Kelly, this way.’ Penny placed an encouraging hand on Kelly’s shoulder and urged her forward. ‘You’ve met my mother before so there’s no need to be shy.’

  Leonora Forshaw was sitting in an armchair drinking a cup of coffee when they went in. Her rather forbiding look as she greeted them softened to one of concern when she saw that Kelly was shaking.

  ‘Are you cold, child? Come over here by the fire and warm yourself. I’ll ask Mary to bring you a hot drink. What would you like?’

  Kelly was too nervous to answer. Aware that if she did she would probably ask for lemonade which would not warm her up at all Penny suggested, ‘Shall we both have a cup of hot chocolate, Kelly? Mrs Davies makes the very best hot chocolate I have ever tasted. She used to make it for me as a special treat when I was a little girl.’

  ‘Hot chocolate – what’s that?’ Kelly looked at her in a bemused way.

  ‘Well it’s rather like cocoa only very much nicer,’ Penny explained.

  ‘You sit down here by the fire and get warm while Penny goes and asks Mrs Davies to make it for you,’ Mrs Forshaw said indicating the footstool by her feet.

  Penny held her breath wondering if Kelly would comply or not.

  ‘I won’t be gone for more than a minute,’ she promised, smiling encouragingly at Kelly as she gave her a little push forward.

  When she returned Penny was surprised to find that not only was Kelly sitting on the stool but that her mother was talking to her.

  ‘I was telling Kelly how much prettier she is now that she’s done her hair so nicely,’ Mrs Forshaw explained when Penny looked at her enquiringly. ‘She seems to be a changed child since the last time I saw her.’

  ‘Well, that was several months ago,’ Penny commented wryly.

  Mary arriving with the mugs of hot chocolate fortunately broke the uncomfortable silence that followed.

  ‘Your father has told me about Arnold’s accusations,’ Leonora Forshaw stated as they sipped their hot drinks. ‘He also told me many other things, some of which you do not know about and which I must say have deeply shocked me. By mutual agreement we have decided not to mention them again,’ she added cryptically.

  The rest of the day passed fairly amicably. When Penny told her mother that Bryn would be coming over later in the day with some of their clothes, and all the other things they’d had to leave behind because she hadn’t had time to pack them, her mother insisted that she should telephone Bryn and invite him to have dinner with them.

  ‘I think he was going to try and come early so that he could see Kelly. She will be in bed if he comes as late as that,’ Penny demurred.

  ‘Surely not! Is it really necessary for her to go to bed before seven?’ Leonora Forshaw asked in a surprised voice. ‘I’m sure Kelly can manage to stay awake until we have finished eating dinner. In fact, why not let her join us at table.’

  ‘At dinner!’ Penny couldn’t keep the surprise out of her voice.

  ‘Yes, that is what I said. You’d most certainly like to stay up and have dinner with us wouldn’t you, Kelly?’ she asked in a tone that made refusal impossible.

  Kelly shot a scared look at Penny and waited for her to say something.

  Momentarily Penny felt at a loss for words. Everything was so different this time. She realized that her mother was trying to make amends for how badly she had treated Kelly in the past, so she went along with the idea.

  She smiled encouragingly. ‘Bryn will be here as well so you will enjoy that won’t you, Kelly?’

  Nevertheless she was concerned in case Kelly disgraced herself in some way. At Bryn’s flat th
ey had always eaten at the same time and there had never been any problem but a more formal dinner with people she was not at ease with was quite another matter.

  Twenty-Nine

  Penny could hardly believe the change in her parents’ attitude and the way they were accepting Kelly’s presence in their home.

  Her mother was continually fussing over Kelly and making sure that she was being well cared for. There was none of the uncomfortable atmosphere she and Kelly had experienced when she’d brought her home before.

  Her mother had even suggested that Kelly should have the guest room but Penny decided that for the first few nights at any rate it would be best for Kelly to sleep in her room.

  ‘She is probably feeling very unsettled and nervous and if she wakes up in the night and finds herself in a strange bedroom she might be frightened,’ Penny explained.

  ‘Yes, you are probably right,’ her mother agreed. ‘Once she has settled down though if you would like Kelly to have a room of her own then let Mary know and she can make the guest room ready for her.’

  Penny had a quiet hour with her father in his study the morning after she returned home and he told her in strictest confidence the truth behind Arnold’s allegations.

  ‘There has been a case of fraud, or embezzlement, as Arnold described it but it concerned the Watsons’ company, not mine,’ he told her. ‘I won’t bore you with the details but Arnold had been wrongfully taking money out of his company and by so doing defrauding the shareholders. He came to me and asked for my help in covering the matter up because he was so worried. It was not only the disgrace it would bring down on their company, but he was also concerned about his father’s wrath if he ever found out what had been going on.’

  ‘So you let him have money to help replace what he had taken,’ Penny said thoughtfully.

  ‘Yes, but it was the wrong thing to do. At the time, however, I felt I had no option because you two were engaged and planning to be married,’ her father told her.