shocking.â
âWhat was he saying?â Frances gasped. It seemed as if the old runaway had found his way to the court after all.
George breathed out through his long, straight nose. âNot a lot. Just a name. Annieâs name. He kept shouting it over and over.â
âAnd did she hear?â
âNo. I reckon she was out down the market.â
âLetâs be thankful for small mercies,â Frances breathed, composing herself by folding her hands in her lap. âWhat do you think, Ett? Does it seem like Willie Wiggin to you?â
Hettie nodded. âGeorge told me the second I-got back home from the shop. Then I rang you. Course, George here didnât have a due who the old man was, and when he tells me, heâs all of a puzzle about it.â
George came back in. âI was thinking, whatâs the old sod want, shouting for Annie like that? Iâm hoping Duke donât come out and hear. It wouldnât look too good, you know. So Harry and me, we hoiked him up on to the old dray cart and laid him out comfy under one of the horse blankets. He was asleep as soon as his head touched the boards.â
âDrunken stupor, more like.â Frances failed to muster any charitable feelings towards the old tramp, but then her gaze dropped under Hettieâs reproachful stare. âSo what happened next, George?â
âHarry said heâd take him right on up the Mission for me. He has to pass that way anyhow.â He turned to Hettie. âI knew you and your pals could fix him up, and I knew Harry had only to drop off another four barrels before he makes his way back to the brewery. So I says yes, thatâs the best thing for him, and thatâs the last I saw of the old chap. As far as I know, the Missionâs where he ended up.â
Billy broke the silence that followed. âLike I said, itâs a bad business. It was a narrow squeak, only saved by Georgeâs quick thinking. What if Annie had been in this afternoon? Or what ifDuke had heard the row and come out to investigate? What if Duke had been the one to spot him?â
Both Frances and Hettie froze at the very idea. So far, their plan had been to keep the tramp away from Annie until the case was proved either way. But the effect on Duke had also preyed on everyoneâs minds.
Billy continued. He stood, arms behind his back, back to the fire, offering his best advice. âLook, you plan to visit the old man tomorrow, donât you? Well, my idea is that you should talk to Annie before you go, give her the chance to come along with you. Itâs her old man, when allâs said and done.â
â May be her ex -old man!â Frances protested.
âNo, if it is him, then thereâs no ex about it. Thatâs a knot you canât untie for love nor money. If I was a betting man, Iâd lay money on it,â Billy said quietly. âHow come he found his way back to the Duke otherwise?â
âCoincidence,â Frances, suggested. âAnd whereâs he been all these years?â She still felt it was impossible; like a man rising from the grave. She sprang to her feet and began to pace the floor. âAnd if so, even if it is him, what rightâs he got to come back now and upset everything?â
âWhatâs ârightâ got to do with it?â Billy shook his head. But his wife looked stricken, so he went and put an arm around her shoulder. âDonât take on. Letâs wait and see.â
George waited a decent interval for Frances to recover, âI think the same as Billy,â he told Hettie. âAnnieâs gotta be in on this. I canât look her in the eye no more, knowing whatâs brewing behind her back!â
Hettieâs eyes filled with tears. âYouâre a good man, George, and youâre right. We gotta tell Annie!â
âTomorrow,â Frances insisted. âLet them have one more nightâs peace