Free A Rare Ruby by Dee Williams Page B

Beth.’
    ‘That can wait. I’d like you to come upstairs. I’ve got something I’d like to show you.’
    Ruby looked again at her father, who was obviously dozing. Tom was still busy drawing. Why was Beth taking so long? ‘I’m sorry, Mr Cox.’ She pushed him to one side and gathered up some plates. ‘I must help Beth.’
    ‘You could be sorry you’ve just done that,’ he hissed.
    Shocked, Ruby stood stock still. What had she done? She didn’t want to spoil anything. Everything was going so well. Perhaps she was just being silly and seeing things that weren’t there. But somehow she knew she wasn’t. Would Mr Cox throw them out if she didn’t do what he asked?
    She stumbled into the washhouse.
    ‘There you are,’ said Beth, who was at the sink and had her back to Ruby. ‘Grab that tea towel and you can . . .’ She turned. ‘Ruby, what is it? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost.’ She put her wet hands round Ruby and held her close. ‘Your mum’s all right. She’s just tired, that’s all.’
    ‘I think I’ve just lost us this place.’
    ‘What? What are you saying?’
    ‘Mr Cox wants me to go upstairs with him, and I said no.’
    ‘What?’ screamed Beth. ‘The dirty old sod. Let me get at him.’
    ‘No.’ Ruby held on to her arm. ‘Please don’t say anything.’
    ‘I’ve met men like that all me life. You mustn’t give in to ’em.’
    ‘I won’t.’
    ‘Are you sure you don’t want me to thump him for you?’
    Ruby half smiled. ‘No, thanks all the same.’
    Beth wiped her hands on the towel that hung on a nail behind the back door. ‘Now you listen to me, Ruby. I’m a few years older than you—’
    ‘Not that many,’ interrupted Ruby.
    ‘Well, I’ve been around and I’ve seen what those sorts of blokes are like. I never got on with me mum and dad and when the chance came to get away, I took it. It was hard at first but . . .’ She suddenly stopped and laughed. ‘Hark at me getting all silly and sentimental. It must be the port.’
    ‘You must miss your husband?’
    ‘Well, yes.’ Beth quickly returned to the sink to finish the washing up.
    ‘I thought he might have sent Danny something for Christmas.’
    ‘I expect he’ll bring it when he gets home.’
    Ruby was still thinking about Mr Cox. Slowly she wiped the cloth round and round the plate. Just a few hours ago life had seemed wonderful. Now she was worried about all their futures.
    ‘Penny for them?’ said Beth.
    ‘They ain’t worth a penny.’ She had prayed that 1920 was going to be a new beginning, but what now?

Chapter 7
    Tom angrily brushed his dull blond hair from his eyes. He glared at Beth pushing her pram in front of him. Even though he was wearing the new scarf his mother had knitted him for Christmas and the gloves Beth had given him, he was fed up and cold. Christmas had gone and all the paper chains had been taken down and everything was miserable and back to normal. Most of the clean laundry had been delivered and his pram was now full of dirty smelly washing. As usual, when they reached the street where the buildings were, Beth told him he could leave his pram with her while he went up and delivered Mrs Bell’s washing. Tom was worried; he didn’t want to go up on his own as he had caught sight of a gang of boys larking about in front of them when they turned the corner. They had disappeared, and he guessed they would be waiting for him as soon as he was up the first flight of stairs and out of Beth’s sight.
    ‘Please, Beth. Come with me.’
    ‘Oh come on, Tom. You’ll be all right. I’m only down here. Besides, I ain’t dragging me pram all the way up there.’
    Tom had been through this conversation before and knew it was no use. He picked up the neat pile of ironed clothes that were wrapped in a clean towel and made his way to the stairs. He stopped and turned. Beth looked about, then gave him a little wave.
    Slowly he peered round the corner after the first flight of stairs and