A Change of Fortune Read online

  ‘I’ve been out with Harry buying a car.’ He wasn’t going into details now; he would wait until they were all together this evening before he said anything. ‘I thought I’d see how you’re getting on.’

  ‘As you can see’ – his mother brushed brick dust from her jacket – ‘we’re in a mess, but we will open next week.’ She turned to the man beside her. ‘Ron, this is my son, Matt.’

  After shaking hands, Matt said, ‘Do you think my mother’s being too optimistic about getting all this work done in such a short time?’

  ‘We’ll make it, even if we have to work all night.’ Ron sounded very positive.

  A young boy came by, staggering under the weight of a large piece of concrete.

  ‘My goodness, Jimmy,’ Mrs Stannard exclaimed. ‘Where did you find that?’

  ‘It was at the back of the fireplace, ma’am.’ He puffed with the effort of holding the heavy weight. ‘Just going to dump it out the back.’ He tottered off.

  Diving for the door, Matt held it open and Jimmy weaved his way into the yard, jumping back quickly as he let go of the block of concrete, letting it crash to the ground. He turned and grinned at Matt. ‘Wouldn’t have been able to light a fire with that wedged in the grate.’

  Going back to his mother, Matt said, ‘If you need more help, Luke and I could do some work in the evenings.’

  ‘No, my dear.’ His mother lowered her voice. ‘These men need the jobs. They’re so grateful to have something useful to do instead of standing in the dole queues every day.’

  ‘How long can you keep them?’

  ‘We’ve told them about two weeks, but I’ll see what I can do about Ron and Jimmy after that. They’re friends of Jenny.’

  Just then a burst of girlish laughter came from a room at the end of the corridor.

  ‘That’s Jenny and her friend Ivy,’ his mother said. ‘They’re scrubbing out the toilets.’

  ‘Mother,’ Matt said, shocked, ‘you haven’t roped Jenny in to scrub, have you?’

  ‘We are paying her and she’s only too happy to do any kind of work.’ She gave her son a sad look. ‘You must forget how she started life. She’s one of the unemployed now, with an elderly woman to care for. All she asks for is the chance to earn some honest money.’

  ‘I guess so.’ He walked to the end of the passage and opened the cloakroom door. Jenny was kneeling down, scrubbing away at a particularly nasty stain on the wall.

  ‘Wouldn’t it be easier to slap a coat of whitewash on that?’ he suggested.

  Jenny looked up, blowing a strand of dark hair out of her eyes. ‘We’ve got to save as much money as possible. It’ll look fine when we’ve finished.’

  The other girl was giving him an uncertain look and fiddling with the brush she was holding in her hands, allowing the soapy water to drip unnoticed down her skirt.

  ‘Ivy, this is Matthew.’

  ‘Pleased to meet you, sir.’

  Matt looked at the pair with a smile on his face. They were wearing clothes so old they were torn and threadbare in places, their hair was in disarray and their faces pink with exertion, but they appeared to be perfectly happy with their task. He realized his mother was right: they were grateful for any job, and didn’t give a damn what it was as long as they could earn a little money. Some girls were turning to prostitution, but he knew instinctively that these two would rather starve than sink to that level. Since her father’s death, Jenny had joined the working classes, and, like her friends, she still had standards and a certain amount of pride. In common with the vast majority caught up in this terrible depression, they were honest, hard-working people …

  ‘Matt!’ his mother called.

  He smiled apologetically at having to leave suddenly, though in truth he would have loved to stay longer and talk to them. ‘I mustn’t keep you from your work.’ Closing the door, he returned to the kitchen.

  ‘Ah, there you are. Will you tell your father I might be late? Ask cook to delay our dinner for one hour, please.’

  ‘All right.’ He kissed her cheek. ‘I can see you have everything under control, so I’d better get back to work.’

  When Matt arrived at the garage, everyone was clustered around the Rolls-Royce, now sitting proudly on their forecourt.

  Jake slapped him on the back and beamed. ‘Well done, lad. Harry told me you’d sussed out the situation with Greaves. We’re going to make a fine profit on this deal.’

  ‘Harry’s a tough negotiator.’ Matt winked at his friend. ‘It’s a talent he’s kept well hidden.’

  ‘Once we’ve sold the Rolls, you two can find us a couple more cars to sell.’ Jake was rubbing his hands together in anticipation. ‘This was a damned good idea of yours, Matt. If it goes on like this, I’ll soon be able to pay your brother back the money he lent us to get started.’

  Matt nodded, noticing the happy faces at the garage now. His family were making a small contribution to a few lives in these difficult times. It wasn’t enough, though. What was unemployment now – over two million? Too many – too much suffering.

  24

  ‘Matthew’s handsome, ain’t he?’ Ivy cast an amused glance at Jenny as they walked home at four o’clock that afternoon. ‘And so tall.’

  ‘They’re all tall, and a good-looking family.’

  ‘What are the other sons like?’ Ivy was obviously intrigued.

  Jenny cast her mind back to when she’d seen them together that first Christmas. But in truth, the only one she’d taken much notice of was the youngest. Strange that. ‘John’s the eldest. He’s serious and a fine businessman. Luke comes next. He’s easy-going and over-fond of the girls. Matthew’s the youngest and, I believe, the nicest of the three.’

  Ivy nodded. ‘I can see that. He’s got such lovely, kind blue eyes.’

  ‘You didn’t miss much,’ Jenny laughed, ‘and remember you’re married.’

  ‘Oh, I wouldn’t change my Ron for anything.’ Ivy slipped her hand through Jenny’s arm as they turned into Forest Road. ‘Anyway, men like that make me feel awkward.’

  ‘What on earth for?’

  ‘Well, he’s posh. Don’t laugh, Jen.’ Ivy thumped her arm playfully. ‘You act so natural around him and his mother because you was brought up like them, but you also fit right in with us.’

  ‘I’m glad you think that,’ Jenny remarked drily, ‘because this is where I belong now.’

  ‘Your life’s like one of those books, but you’ve come from riches to poverty.’ Ivy grinned. ‘It’s the wrong way round. You’re supposed to rise from the slums to the gentry.’

  Jenny laughed, highly amused. She knew how much Ivy loved the romantic stories of the day. ‘In my case it would take a miracle for that to happen.’

  ‘I suppose so.’ Ivy sighed wistfully. ‘It must be terrible hard for you, Jen. You knowing what it’s like to have so much, and now you’ve got nothing. It’s all right for us – we was born in poverty and are used to it. Though with all this unemployment, it’s the hardest I’ve ever known it.’

  After pondering this statement for a while, Jenny said, ‘It isn’t true that I’ve got nothing now. I might not have any worldly goods, but I’ve got something far more precious. I’ve got Ma, you, your mum and dad, and all the people in Forest Road.’

  Ivy glanced up at her admiringly. ‘You could have turned out bitter and nasty after what’s happened to you, but you ain’t.’

  ‘That kind of attitude wouldn’t have got me far. I could have gone along with my aunt’s plans for me, but I wouldn’t. I had to make a new life for myself, and I’ve done that.’ Jenny squeezed Ivy’s arm. ‘And I’m so glad I did.’

  They walked the rest of the way in silence, and Jenny let her thoughts wander over Ivy’s statement that she seemed at ease with people like the Stannards, but still fitted in with her friends in this humble street. She was lucky, she realized: not many people had that opportunity to see the heads and tails of life. Matthew was doing it to some extent by working in the gara
ge as an apprentice, but at the end of each day he went back to his life of luxury. So it wasn’t the same for him; but Jenny had the feeling that he understood her position more than many others.

  The girls parted at their doors, promising to meet at ten the next morning to go to the hall to see if there was another day’s work to be had. The ladies were employing them only on a day-to-day basis.

  When she stepped inside, eager to tell Ma about her day and show her the money she’d earned, she was surprised to see the chair empty.

  ‘Ma!’ she called, running to the kitchen and then to the outhouse. No sign of her. She must be upstairs, but why would she go there? Ma never slept during the day, except for a nap in her chair.

  Jenny was halfway up the stairs when Glad appeared at the top, her finger to her lips. ‘What’s happened?’ she asked in alarm.

  ‘Ma’s had a bad turn. She’s asleep now, though.’

  Jenny rushed to Ma’s bedroom and knelt beside the bed, taking the frail woman’s hand in hers. What she saw made her heart miss several beats. Ma’s face was white, and the left side of her mouth was pulled down slightly.

  ‘We think she’s had a stroke,’ Glad whispered. ‘She’s lost the use of the left side of her body.’

  ‘I must get a doctor.’ Jenny was on her feet, eyes brimming with tears. ‘I’ve earned enough today to pay for one.’

  ‘I think that would be best. I’ll stay with her while you go for him.’ Glad settled herself in a chair she’d brought up from the kitchen.

  Jenny was in the street in a moment and running for all she was worth. The doctor’s house was about half a mile away, by a small parade of shops. With each gasping breath she prayed that he was there.

  Dr Rayner was just getting out of his car when she hurtled up to him. ‘You must come, please.’ She bent over, trying to catch her breath. ‘Ma Adams is bad. I can afford to pay you.’

  ‘Forest Road?’ he asked, opening the car door for her to get in when she nodded. ‘I know her house.’

  They arrived in no time, and the doctor hurried up the stairs, having a quick word with Glad before examining Ma.

  It was an anxious wait and Jenny thought her heart was going to break when Ma woke up and gave everyone a bewildered look. But she never said anything. Ma had always been tough and determined, but how was she going to recover from this? She would hate being completely helpless.

  Dr Rayner straightened up after replacing the covers and patted Ma’s hand. Then he signalled that they should go downstairs.

  ‘It’s bad, isn’t it?’ Jenny thought what a daft question that was, when any fool could see that Ma was very ill.

  ‘I’m afraid so. Mrs Adams has had a stroke.’ He had a sympathetic look in his eyes. ‘She is very frail, and you must prepare yourself for the worst.’

  Those words cut through Jenny, but she gulped back the emotion threatening to engulf her and straightened up. She had to know the truth. ‘You mean she’s going to die?’

  ‘Would she stand more chance in a hospital?’ Glad asked. ‘If so, we’ll get the money somehow.’

  The doctor shook his head. ‘There isn’t anything we can do for her. She would probably be happier in her own home. She will take a lot of looking after, though.’

  ‘That’s all right.’ Jenny was determined that Ma should stay here. ‘I’ll look after her.’

  ‘And we’ll all help.’ Glad shook hands with the doctor. ‘Thank you for coming.’

  ‘Yes, thank you.’ Jenny took the few shillings she earned today out of her pocket. ‘How much do I owe you?’

  The doctor glanced around the shabby room, giving a quiet, weary sigh. ‘I wasn’t able to do anything, and there isn’t any medicine that will help, so I won’t charge you.’

  ‘But we must pay for your visit,’ Jenny insisted.

  He picked up his bag, ignoring the money she was holding out to him. ‘Use that to buy some nourishing food. You look as if you can both do with it.’

  ‘Would you like me to stay?’ Glad asked when the doctor had gone.

  ‘No, I’ll be fine. I’ll get us something to eat and then I expect Ma will sleep for a while.’

  ‘You call if you need us, Jen. I’ll come round in the morning with Fred and Stan so we can turn Ma. She’ll get sores if we don’t move her a couple of times a day.’

  ‘Thanks, Glad.’

  She kissed Jenny on the cheek. ‘Try not to be too upset. We’ll all pitch in to make Ma’s last days as comfortable as possible.’

  After Glad had left, Jenny went to the kitchen. There was still a nice bit of soup left, so she heated that up and took it upstairs. Before entering the room she pinned a bright smile on her face. ‘Who’s being spoilt with supper in bed, then?’

  Ma watched her intently. ‘Sit me up.’ Her speech was slurred.

  Jenny nipped into her own room and pinched a pillow from her bed, placed it behind Ma and hauled her to a sitting position. She fed Ma, wiping her chin as the soup trickled down from her stiff lips. All the time she chatted away brightly, telling her about the work she and Ivy had been doing today. She got little response, but at least Ma was eating.

  After the last mouthful, Ma leant back on the pillows and startled Jenny with a string of swear words, slurred but nevertheless clearly audible.

  ‘Ma!’ she laughed, but in truth she felt like crying. It was clear that there wasn’t anything wrong with her mind, and she knew that this was going to be frustrating for Ma. ‘Do you want a cup of tea?’

  Ma nodded, grabbing hold of Jenny with her right hand. The left was lying useless on the blanket. ‘What’s the doc say?’

  ‘You’ve had a slight stroke, but you’ll be as right as ninepence in a couple of weeks.’

  There was a humph of disgust. ‘Bloody liar!’

  Sitting on the edge of the bed, Jenny schooled her expression carefully. The last thing she was going to do was tell Ma what he’d really said. She didn’t want to admit that Ma was dying, even to herself. Doctors had been wrong before. ‘You’re going to be fine, and I’ll be with you all the time. Now, I’ll just pop downstairs and make our tea. I’ve got a few biscuits left.’

  As soon as Ma finished her tea, she fell into a sound sleep. Jenny hauled a more comfortable chair up the stairs, and settled herself beside the bed for a long night’s vigil.

  It wasn’t until they’d had dinner and were all settled in the sitting room that Matt told his family about Greaves and the Rolls-Royce.

  ‘Are you sure he’s in financial difficulty, Matt?’ John asked. ‘I haven’t heard a whisper about that.’

  ‘The signs were all there – blank spaces on the walls and furniture missing. But when he took Harry’s offer of cash for the car I was certain. He could have got more for the Rolls if he’d held out.’ Matt could practically hear John’s mind working. ‘He’s desperate. I’m sure of it.’

  ‘If that’s the case, why is he so intent on finding Jenny?’ Their father was frowning fiercely. ‘He would need to marry for money, surely?’

  ‘That’s what has been bothering me ever since I saw the house.’ Matt stared at John, who was deep in thought and stirring his coffee aimlessly.

  Putting the spoon in the saucer, John looked up. ‘I’d better look into this. If Greaves is in trouble, I should be able to find out.’

  Luke took an apple from the fruit bowl and tossed it in the air. ‘The plot thickens,’ he said. ‘I do love a mystery.’

  ‘It’s all very odd.’ Their mother seemed bewildered. ‘An under housemaid who turns out to have come from a wealthy family – now living in the slums of London. And a man reputed to be extremely wealthy – now short of money.’

  Luke chortled. ‘It would make a good pantomime.’

  ‘Except it isn’t funny, Luke.’ Matt knew his brother just couldn’t help being flippant, and it grated at times, but Luke wasn’t uncaring.

  Luke raised his hands in surrender. ‘Sorry, Matt, I don’t mean anything by it. It must be wretched
for the poor girl, but you must admit that it has all the ingredients of a good suspense story.’

  ‘Damned strange business, if you ask me.’ Their father poured himself an after-dinner brandy. ‘See what you can find out, John. He doesn’t bank with us, but it’s best to have the whole picture in case he comes asking for a loan.’

  ‘Yes. Some who are in difficulties have been going from bank to bank, trying to raise money. I’ll make a few inquiries tomorrow.’

  ‘Good.’ Their father nodded in approval. ‘If anyone can find out what the situation is, it’s you, John.’

  The Rolls was sold the next morning at a good profit. In fact it was enough to repay Luke almost half the money he had lent Jake to get started, and to buy two more cars to sell. They weren’t quite so fussy now, and if a car needed work, they had the expertise to make it look as good as new. They found that there was more money in doing this than in just buying quality cars, and they made sure they had a good selection at all prices. The petrol pump was still well used. The garage was once again busy and they were all in high spirits. With the economic depression really gripping the country, it was nothing short of a miracle that they were doing so well. Their Mayfair location had a lot to do with their success, though.

  In his lunch break, Matt decided to go to see how his mother and her committee were getting on at the hall.

  When he arrived, he found his mother in the kitchen, looking rather harassed. ‘Hello, Matt. I’m glad you’ve come. Have you got some spare time?’

  ‘I can spare an hour. Why?’

  ‘I wondered if you’d go to see if Jenny needs anything. She hasn’t been able to come today because Mrs Adams has had a stroke.’

  ‘I’ll go round there straight away.’

  It was only a short distance, but he drove to save time. He knocked on the front door, and when there was no reply he turned the handle and found it unlocked. He walked in. The house seemed uncannily quiet, and he remembered the last time he’d been here and seen Ma Adams sitting in her chair, studying him with shrewd eyes. The room was empty now.