Christmas for the Halfpenny Orphans Read online

  Angela went in search of Nan and found her in the kitchen helping Cook with the baking. She explained about the twins leaving them and that their things would need to be readied. Nan explained that they usually allowed those children lucky enough to be fostered to take one set of clothes with them.

  ‘It helps their new families until they can be bought new clothes,’ she said. ‘Would you like me to do the hand-over for you?’

  ‘Oh no, I think Wendy might like to. She’s quite close to them you know, though I shall be there to sign them out. I want to see what kind of a woman Miss Jane May is for myself.’

  ‘Sister would’ve done the same, had she been here,’ Nan agreed. ‘Was there anything else?’

  ‘Will you come to my office for a cup of tea at about four this afternoon – if you’re free, that is? I should like to talk to you about something.’

  ‘Yes, if you wish, Angela,’ Nan said. ‘Sister Beatrice was still sleeping when I telephoned this morning – nothing is wrong I hope?’

  ‘Oh no, I was told she was satisfactory when I rang and I think that is all we can expect for the moment. No, it’s just something I need to tell you …’

  Angela smiled at her and left them to get on with their baking. She wanted the cake and sherry to be a surprise, but she wasn’t sure that one of the staff wouldn’t let it out during the day. She’d known Nan’s birthday was coming up for a while. Sister had told her the date, and she’d checked the records to make certain it wasn’t forgotten. Most of the carers would pop in to wish her a Happy Birthday, and Angela had arranged a special cake, cards and a present. Nan didn’t realise how popular she was and everyone had been delighted by the idea of a nice surprise for the head carer.

  Entering her office, Angela saw a man standing by her desk looking down at the open book she’d left there; it was a record of the accounts for St Saviour’s and she was annoyed with herself for having left it there, even though she was sure she’d closed it. She was even more annoyed that he’d simply walked in and was taking advantage of her absence to look at private documents. Who did he think he was?

  ‘What do you think you’re doing?’

  ‘Ah, Angela,’ Henry Arnold said, raising his dark brows. Despite her annoyance, she couldn’t help thinking how attractive he was – if he hadn’t been so damned arrogant, she might have liked him. ‘I must say, I’m surprised at your leaving a confidential document like this on your desk for anyone to see.’

  ‘I left it because no one enters my office without my permission – and no one who works here would dream of doing so. How dare you walk in and look at something that does not concern you!’

  ‘No need to get angry,’ he said, a spark of amusement in his eyes. ‘Actually, the accounts here may well be my business in future. As you probably know, one of your sponsors has died – a belted earl, no less …’ He smiled oddly. ‘I may not quite be up to his standards in your eyes, Angela, but the donation I offered secured me his seat on the Board and—’

  ‘You have a seat on the Board of St Saviour’s?’ Angela stared at him in disbelief. ‘Why do you want it?’

  ‘I told you I was interested when we met previously. Had you not been in such a hurry after that very successful jumble sale, for which I understand we have you to thank, I might have told you it had been offered.’

  For which we have you to thank!

  Angela’s teeth grated at that remark. It infuriated her that he spoke as if he were a part of St Saviour’s, a part of all that she’d worked so hard for. But if he’d been given a seat on the Board …

  ‘Sister Beatrice had not been told of this new development and nor had I – when did this happen?’

  ‘I received the letter offering it to me this morning, signed by Mark Adderbury,’ he said. ‘I’m sorry; I thought Adderbury would have told you. Surely you’ve been told of my generous donation?’

  ‘I should certainly have been told about that,’ Angela said. ‘If a large sum has been deposited in the bank for such a purpose I can only be grateful.’

  ‘Even if it kills you?’ he murmured throatily. Something about his eyes seemed to challenge her, managing to get beneath her skin even though she fought against it. ‘It’s all right, Angela. I don’t want to interfere with the way you and Sister Beatrice run this place. I admire what you’re doing here and I hope I can be of even more help in the future.’

  ‘How exactly?’

  ‘If you will come to dinner with me this evening I shall tell you. Otherwise you’ll have to wait for the next board meeting.’

  ‘That’s blackmail,’ she said, wishing she could order him from her office. But if he was telling the truth he had a perfect right to be here – and to look at the accounts.

  Angela tried to think calmly; the earl had only recently died, a few days before the jumble sale, as it happened, but Arnold must have been planning his approach for a while. What was he up to?

  ‘So you refuse to tell me about your plans for St Saviour’s unless I allow you to take me to dinner?’

  ‘That’s it …’ His smile was maddening, but quite attractive. She was suddenly aware of the pull of his charm – if you liked that kind of arrogant man. ‘It’s a cunning plan, isn’t it? I knew you wouldn’t have dinner with me unless I made you curious – and it’s worked, hasn’t it?’

  Angela couldn’t help but laugh along with him. How often had she had dinner with people she didn’t particularly like in the hope of a large donation? This man had already given several thousand pounds and he was suggesting he might do more in future. She would be foolish to antagonise a benefactor who could afford to help St Saviour’s, even if he did rub her up the wrong way.

  ‘In that case I really have no choice, Mr Arnold,’ she conceded with what grace she could muster. Giving him a wry smile, she added, ‘As Administrator here it is my duty to spend time with sponsors. What time do you wish to meet?’

  ‘I could pick you up at your home – say, eight?’

  ‘You may collect me here at eight,’ Angela said to remind him that she was no pushover. ‘I have a small party for one of the staff at four, but that will still give me time to go home and change and return here.’

  ‘Still don’t trust me?’ His smile challenged. ‘As you please. I wouldn’t want to upset our excellent Administrator. Everyone tells me what a marvellous job you’re doing.’

  ‘Thank you,’ she said crisply. ‘Now, I really must ask you to leave. Sister Beatrice is in hospital and I have a lot of extra work …’ As if to back up her claim someone knocked at the door at that moment. ‘Come in – ah, Michelle, what may I do for you? Mr Arnold is just leaving …’

  ‘I’m sorry to disturb you, Angela,’ Michelle said, looking curiously at the stranger in the office. ‘It’s about one of our longer-term children, Sarah Morgan. She’s only recently got over a nasty chill, as you know, and now she’s running a fever again. With Sister Beatrice away, I was thinking I ought to ask a doctor to call …’

  Henry Arnold had left without another word, though his eyes threw a provocative look at Angela as he paused at the door. She ignored him, giving her full attention to Michelle’s worries; she would face the problem of dinner when it came to it.

  ‘I think you should ring Dr Kent,’ she said. ‘As you say, we can’t be too careful in matters of the children’s health. Given the child’s past history of chest infections, we’d better have the doctor take a look at her.’

  ‘I’m sure Sister would say the same,’ Michelle said. ‘I was only wondering which doctor. You think it should be Dr Kent?’

  ‘Definitely,’ Angela said. ‘He is an excellent man and decisive. If he thinks Sarah needs special treatment, he won’t hesitate to say. We don’t want to lose her though neglect.’

  ‘I’ll telephone him immediately.’

  ‘Yes, you’ll be able to describe her symptoms and explain why you’re worried far better than I could. Telephone from here, if you wish.’

  Angela picked up the
account book that she’d left lying on her desk and put it away in the drawer. She’d never locked her office in the past but she would certainly consider it in future. The last thing she needed was to be accused of negligence by a man who seemed determined to have a considerable say in the way St Saviour’s was run in future.

  ‘Come along, Samantha – and you, Sarah,’ Miss May’s voice was sharp as she addressed her nieces. She’d arrived promptly and seemed anxious to leave as quickly as possible. ‘I want to get home before it starts to rain.’

  Angela noticed the way Sarah May was clinging to Wendy’s hand, clearly reluctant to leave the gentle nurse. She saw an odd look in Samantha’s eyes too, but then the girl went and took hold of her sister, pulling her away from the nurse.

  ‘We’ve got to go, Sarah. Come on or Aunt Jane will be cross …’

  ‘There’s a good girl, Samantha.’ Her aunt looked at her with approval, her thin grey face easing for a moment but not truly smiling. ‘Now, say thank you to Mrs Morton for looking after you while I was unwell.’ She turned her pale gaze on Angela. ‘I had a nasty chest infection for a while, you know. It’s the reason I haven’t been before – but the girls will be safe and comfortable with me now.’

  ‘Yes, I’m sure they will.’ Angela held out her hand to Samantha but the girl ignored it. ‘You’ll be fine with your aunt, Samantha.’

  Samantha gave her a look filled with reproach and then turned to Wendy. ‘You promised,’ she said, a flash of anger in her eyes. Then she took Sarah firmly by the hand and led her from Sister’s office, where Miss May had signed the release papers a few moments earlier.

  Angela felt a distinct sense of unease as she heard the aunt’s voice rise sharply as they walked away and down the stairs, her annoyance seemingly aimed at Sarah. She glanced at Wendy and saw tears in her eyes.

  ‘What did Samantha mean?’

  ‘She didn’t want to go to her aunt’s,’ Wendy said. ‘I’d told her she would be staying here … It was after I’d spoken to you the other morning. I did tell you that she said her aunt didn’t like Sarah, and I meant to tell you that she’d begged me not to let her be taken away, but it was the end of my break and I had to go back to work. I didn’t know it had been arranged for the aunt to take them. Samantha said that her aunt didn’t want Sarah; she seemed convinced of it – and the way that woman looked at Sarah …’ Wendy wiped a tear from her eye. ‘I can’t help thinking she won’t look after them properly. I feel awful about the whole thing. Those girls are frightened, Angela – really frightened.’

  ‘It wasn’t your decision to make, or mine,’ Angela said. ‘From what I’ve seen today I’m not at all sure it was the best decision. Like you, I wonder whether she has their best interests at heart … But the authorities always prefer to keep children with relatives if they can, and perhaps it is for the best in the long term.’

  ‘Yes, I suppose it is,’ Wendy agreed. ‘But I didn’t like the look of her – her mouth is mean and cruel. If I had my way, they’d have stayed here with us.’

  ‘Well, there was nothing we could do at such short notice,’ Angela said, though she couldn’t get rid of the unease she’d felt when Samantha looked at her as if she’d betrayed them. ‘It was good of you to come in on your free day to see them off, Wendy.’

  ‘I’m fond of them,’ Wendy said, and forced a smile. ‘Well, I’ve got some shopping to do – I want to get a present for Nan. I’ll see you later …’

  Angela returned to her own office, intending to get back to her typing, but she found it impossible to settle. There was definitely something about Miss May … something Angela wasn’t keen on. However, there was nothing she could do, the Welfare people had decided Miss May was the best person to have the twins and the decision was made …

  She picked up the telephone receiver and dialled Mark’s number, wanting to talk to him, but the phone rang for a while and no one answered. Sighing, Angela replaced it. She would simply have to accept that the twins had gone …

  ‘Happy Birthday, Nan,’ Angela said, raising her sherry glass. ‘I’m sure we all want to congratulate you on such a special day – and everyone contributed to the card and gift, which we hope you will like.’

  ‘I’ve never had such a lovely blouse,’ Nan said, and looked pleased. ‘Where on earth did you buy it, Angela?’

  ‘Peter Robinson had some rather nice things in last week,’ Angela said. ‘When I saw this I knew it was for you – and I knew your size because of the bring-and-buy sales we’ve been having.’

  ‘It’s absolutely ages since I had anything new,’ Nan said. ‘It feels so nice to the touch. Is it silk?’

  ‘It’s silk voile,’ Angela said. ‘You’ll need a petticoat underneath, but that navy-and-white polka dot will suit you, Nan.’

  ‘Michelle and I wondered if you would come out for a drink this evening,’ Muriel said, and kissed her cheek. ‘Alice will join us and we can have pie and chips. Angela can’t be there, but the rest of us would like to treat you.’

  ‘Well, I don’t mind having an orange juice before we go home.’ Nan seemed touched by the invitation. ‘But I’m going to see Sister Beatrice at eight, so I can’t stay long …’

  ‘We didn’t want you to be alone on your birthday.’

  ‘I’m used to it,’ Nan said, but her eyes were suspiciously wet. ‘It’s good to know I have such friends. My friend Eddie sent me some lovely flowers last night, and I got a card in the post this morning. He couldn’t come today, but he’ll be in town next week and we shall have tea somewhere then.’

  ‘That’s lovely,’ Michelle said. ‘I wish I had someone to send me flowers …’

  ‘I should think Dr Kent might send you some if it was your birthday,’ Tilly teased. ‘I saw ’im looking at you when I brought the drinks tray to the sick ward earlier …’

  ‘Tilly!’ Michelle made a face at her. ‘We were discussing a patient. He was giving me his opinion of Sarah Morgan’s condition. He says we worry over her too much, that she is stronger than we imagine.’

  ‘He probably knows best,’ Tilly told her. ‘But the way he looked at you wasn’t ’cos of Sarah Morgan …’

  ‘He’s done a lot for my father, that’s all.’

  ‘He wasn’t thinking of your father when he smiled at you. I think you’re lucky to have someone nice take an interest in you like that.’ Tilly looked wistful.

  ‘For all we know, he’s married with a family. Besides, I’ve no intention of getting involved with anyone.’

  ‘Well, I have to get back to work,’ Nan said. ‘I have the rota to prepare for my girls, and Sister isn’t here to consult. What’s more, Kelly’s away again. It appears that her mother is ill and—’

  ‘Yes, she really is,’ Angela said, and they all looked at her. ‘I took Dr Kent to see her last night and he says Mrs Mason’s chest is in a bad way. He doesn’t think it is consumption, which is what the family feared, but chronic bronchitis brought on by the damp conditions she has to live in.’

  ‘You went to see the family last night?’ Nan looked at her with respect. ‘So you know what they have to cope with? What did you think to their house?’

  ‘The walls were brown-streaked and running with moisture in places, and in others the plaster was crumbling. When you touched it, all sorts of creepy crawlies came wriggling out.’ Angela shuddered at the memory. ‘It was quite horrid – and the smell from the lavatory in the back yard was awful. Kelly told me she’d scrubbed it out with disinfectant the previous day, but the smell comes back almost immediately. It must be the drains. I’ve told her we’ll send someone to see if they can do something, but that whole district looks as if it wants pulling down.’

  ‘Now you know what I was talking about,’ Nan said.

  ‘Yes, I certainly do. I’d seen derelict houses that were about to be pulled down, but I think Kelly’s home was worse. It isn’t fit for anyone, particularly a sick woman, so I shall do what I can to find somewhere better for them. I’ve asked Dr Ke
nt to write a full report for me so that I can appeal to the housing charity on their behalf. There are others waiting, and I can only recommend that the Masons be given priority. Kelly’s father seems a decent sort – but his wage barely covers the rent and food they need. Kelly’s wage is important so it would be a shame to get rid of her, and she’s promised to put in extra hours at night when her sister is home to look after the younger ones. She could clean the offices and rest room when we’ve all gone home.’

  ‘Yes, well, I’ll make allowances for her, but she needs to pull her socks up,’ Nan said, though she clearly agreed.

  ‘It’s difficult for the girl with her mother so ill.’

  ‘It’s a pity Kelly’s family has to wait,’ Nan said. ‘It’s obvious that her mother needs to move as soon as possible.’

  ‘Unfortunately, charities like the one I help out cannot hope to meet the need we see around us,’ Angela said. ‘We do what we can, but it’s time the Government did more to rehouse people in council houses. If they did their job properly perhaps people wouldn’t need to live in squalid conditions. It’s no good blaming the war for the slums – they weren’t much better before the war, from what I’ve been told. Anyway, I’ve done what I can for Kelly’s family, but I can’t guarantee it will mean they get a new home.’

  ‘You’ll have to go into Parliament, Angela,’ Nan teased.

  Angela shook her head. ‘No thank you! I couldn’t stand all the dithering and the hypocrisy. At least working with various charities I can help get things done. All the Government seems to do is set up committees – they talk endlessly, but nothing ever changes.’

  ‘I still think we need people like you to stand up and say what’s needed.’

  ‘Well, I must get on,’ Angela said. ‘There’s a lot to do and I’m going out this evening!’

  FOURTEEN

  Mark rang the bell of Angela’s apartment, feeling annoyed and frustrated when there was no reply. He should have phoned and saved himself the bother of coming out here for nothing. It was the second time he’d called on the chance that she might be at home, but so far he hadn’t found her. So much for her saying she hardly ever went out with friends! Mind you, he knew she did a lot of extra charity work these days. Her time was divided between the post at St Saviour’s and the various good causes she’d taken up. Naturally, she was at liberty to do whatever she pleased when she wasn’t working, but he hoped she wasn’t overdoing it.