But Lizzie nodded towards the dairy house and all eyes followed. ‘Jesse Clancey, for a guess. My Aunt Sarah says it won’t be long before him and our Sylvia are wed.’
Jesse Clancey knew enough of Lizzie Bishop’s comings and goings to know that most Wednesdays she finished work at one o’ clock. So, this last Wednesday of September he decided to do likewise. He’d delivered his empty milk churns, all rinsed out and clean, to the railway station for return to the farm that supplied them, and waited in the road known as Waddam’s Pool, hoping to catch her as she walked home. She should be passing him in ten or fifteen minutes, assuming she stopped to gaze into a few shop windows on the way.
The day was overcast and chilly. The best of the summer had long gone. All they had to look forward to was a dubious October, with more dense fogs to herald the bleak winter. While he waited, Jesse debated with Urchin, his big, dappled grey horse, yet again, the wisdom and the folly of this ploy. He’d been preoccupied with thoughts of how best to approach Lizzie these last few days, till he was sick of thinking about it and the only way to get some relief, and some sleep, was to actually tell her how he felt. She might turn him down flat but, at least, he’d have tried. If he never tried he would never know what his chances were.
‘I’m old enough to know better,’ he muttered dejectedly, confiding in the horse. ‘I could end up looking a proper fool – she’s little more than a child.’ Even if Lizzie fell over herself to accept him he could hardly expect the emotions of one so young to remain serious and constant. It was a major concern. ‘If some fresh-faced, handsome, young lad came along I doubt she’d be able to resist him; and where would that leave me?’
The horse, sensing his unease, nodded as if in agreement and fidgeted, scraping his huge hooves uneasily on the cobbles. Jesse’s confidence drained away as this train of thought persisted, and so did his resolve. He rested his back against the side of his milk float, loosely holding the reins, contemplating his stupidity and feeling strangely conspicuous to the world, as if the world was listening and could hear his thoughts.
There was no point to all this. He would make a move and return home.
Then, in that same moment, he saw Lizzie Bishop walking towards him with Joe Bishop’s young wife. The sight of her smiling eyes immediately revived his spirits and rekindled his ardour. ‘By Christ, she’s here, mate.’ He slapped the horse’s flank affectionately. ‘And looking as pretty as a picture. Damn it, let’s have a go, eh? I’ll try me luck after all, what d’you say, old mate? If I end up looking a fool forever, so what? If I never try, I’ll never win her.’
So he waited till the two girls reached him.
‘Morning, Mrs Bishop. Morning, Lizzie,’ he acknowledged nervously, touching his cap.
Lizzie returned the greeting and, anticipating no further conversation with Jesse, was about to walk on.
But May stopped to pass the time of day. ‘You mean good afternoon, Mister Clancey,’ she said with a hint of good humoured sarcasm. ‘Mornin’ passed above an hour ago.’
‘You’re right, you know.’ For effect, he took out his fob watch and glanced at it briefly. ‘You lose all track of time on this job, And I’d be obliged if you’d call me Jesse, Mrs Bishop. Everybody else does.’
‘If you promise to call me May, instead of Mrs Bishop … Mr Clancey.’
He felt the tension slough off him like a skin when the girls laughed, and he smiled openly. ‘Sounds fair enough to me. Look, I’m on my way home. Can I give you both a lift?’
‘Yes, if you like, Jesse. Better to wear out the horse’s shoes, eh, Lizzie?’
‘If it’s no trouble.’
‘No trouble at all.’ He mounted the float and took the reins. ‘Seems a shame to walk when I’m passing your front doors.’
This was fine as far as it went, but Jesse had not reckoned on May Bishop’s presence. It occurred to him, though, how much more difficult his task might be if she were not there. This at least was a start.
The two girls raised their skirts a little to step up onto the two wheeled float. ‘Giddup!’ Jesse called, and flicked the reins, causing Lizzie and May to lurch slightly as the ensemble pitched forward. They stood each side of him clutching the sides of the cart with one hand, their baskets with the other. He remained silent for a few seconds, looking straight ahead, desperately trying to devise some way of leaving May at her front door but keeping Lizzie on his float.
‘How’s our Sylvia, Jesse?’ Lizzie enquired. She had put down her basket and was holding onto her hat to prevent the wind taking it.
‘Sylvia? Oh, not too bad … I suppose.’
His lack of enthusiasm prompted May to turn down the corners of her mouth as a signal of surprise to Lizzie. ‘Any sign of you getting wed yet?’ She hoped he might give more away.
‘Huh! None at all. If I said it was serious between us I’d be telling a lie.’
‘Oh, you do surprise me, Jesse. Her mother’s already got you married off and no two ways. That’s right, ain’t it, Lizzie?’
‘To hear her talk it’s all cut and dried.’
Jesse shook his head. ‘She shouldn’t take too much for granted.’
The horse clopped on, steadily pulling the cart up the hill, its big grey head swaying rhythmically from side to side. Lizzie’s thoughts turned inevitably to the Clanceys’ horse that killed her father. This wasn’t the same one, she knew, but there was a bizarre irony in that its replacement was now drawing her home as if that incident five and a half years ago had never happened. She felt like mentioning it, but maybe it was best left unsaid.
Jesse’s comments came as a shock to Lizzie, since she’d always believed that Sylvia and he were devoted. ‘I’m surprised as well, Jesse,’ she said chattily. ‘I was only saying to some of my friends the other day as I expected you to be getting wed after Jack Hardmeat.’
‘You know who he’s marrying?’ he said.
‘No. We never even knew he was courting.’
‘He’s marrying Annie Soap’s youngest daughter, Maria. The one with the black hair.’
‘The one they call the Black Maria?’ Lizzie asked.
Jesse chuckled. ‘That’s her. I don’t know if they’ve got to get wed, but it all seems a bit sudden.’ He turned to May. ‘You must be about due to start a family, hadn’t you, May? You’ve been wed, what? … Nearly a year now, is it?’
May whooped with amusement at his candour. ‘Well I reckon everybody must think it’s about time, Jesse, but believe me, there’s no sign yet. Anyroad, there’s no rush. I’m only twenty-two, you know.’
‘’Course. You’re only a babby yourself yet, May.’
They travelled on in silence for a while, into St John’s Road. By Ivy Morris’s fish and chip shop they turned into Brown Street, where most of Kates Hill’s shops were. Lizzie quietly studied Jesse. He seemed more handsome each time she saw him. He was always well groomed, clean, and he always wore a clean collar and a necktie, even for work. His eyes revealed such a look of sincerity in their blue grey sparkle, and she still couldn’t help thinking how different things might have been. She knew she shouldn’t, because of Sylvia, but she couldn’t help this admiration she still had for Jesse. No, it was more than just admiration; it was a hankering. She felt a warm pleasure, a sense of awe, being in his company so unexpectedly, and was strangely gratified when she noticed him glancing at her from time to time. Yet he seemed tense, despite his easy conversation.
As they turned into Cromwell Street, they saw some activity in one of the shops. During