his car was in the garage for a small repair, Adrian hopped on a bus, then made his way through several streets of small terraced houses, noticing that many of them were in a very poor state of repair. It had been a long time since he’d visited this side of Battersea and he hadn’t realised the extent of the poverty. The roads had few cars, though there were plenty of scruffy young children with dirty knees and snotty noses playing outside their houses. He’d heard Robbie refer to Dottie as living in the slums, and could see why the area was due for demolition.
Dorothy’s parents lived in the middle of their street and as Adrian approached he noticed white curtains twitching in one of the houses. He suddenly felt very out of place. His shiny shoes, smart tailored suit and long wool coat stood out, and he was glad he hadn’t brought his car, because if he’d parked it in this area, he doubted it would have its wheels for long.
When Adrian knocked on the street door a thin woman answered it. Frowning, she looked him up and down before saying, ‘Yeah, what do you want?’
‘Mrs Butler, hello. I’m Adrian … Adrian Ferguson, brother of Robbie,’ he said as he doffed his trilby hat. ‘Please excuse the unannounced intrusion but I believe there are some things we need to discuss.’
The woman looked stunned and opened the door fully as she smoothed her hair. Adrian immediately noticed the sores on her hands, and as she invited him in and he walked behind her, he saw her back was bent.
‘Please, take a seat, Mr Ferguson.’
‘Thank you, Mrs Butler,’ he said, running his eyes over the small kitchen. It was bare and basic but clean, though it could have done with a lick of paint. He twitched his nose at the smell of soap suds and noticed the pile of wet washing on the side, ready, he assumed, to go through the mangle. ‘Thank you for inviting me in, and please, call me Adrian.’
‘Yeah, well, you can call me Alice, and can I offer you a cup of tea?’
‘No, no, thank you, and as I don’t want to take up too much of your time I’ll get straight to the point.’
Alice nodded, her brow furrowed as she took a chair on the other side of the table, saying nothing as she waited for him to continue.
‘I know that my brother has left Dorothy in a rather unfortunate situation, and I have pledged to pay for Robbie’s mistake.’ He blushed slightly. ‘Sorry, I don’t like to refer to the child as a mistake, and I apologise for that.’
‘It’s the truth so there’s no need to apologise,’ Alice said gruffly.
‘To be honest, other than the circumstances, I’m quite chuffed about becoming an uncle again. My sister Myra has three children, but as she lives in Scotland I don’t get to see them much. With Dorothy living here, at least I will have the pleasure of seeing this niece or nephew growing up.’
Adrian shifted in his chair, aware that he was rambling on a bit. He cleared his throat before continuing. ‘The thing is, as Dorothy is such a young woman with enough to deal with at the moment, I think it best that you and I talk finances.’
‘My Dorothy told me you’ve offered to help,’ Alice said, ‘and it’s ever so kind of you. Let’s face it, you’re not obliged to do anything.’
‘I think I am. Robbie is my brother.’
‘I’d like to get my hands on your brother,’ Alice said, scowling. ‘He’s a no good so-and-so, but it seems you’re nothing like him.’
Adrian saw Alice’s lips purse at the mention of his brother’s name. He couldn’t blame the woman for holding Robbie in contempt. ‘Mrs Butler, you are quite right, I am nothing like my brother and I will never condone his actions. Now then, from what Robbie told me, am I right in thinking that your husband isn’t well enough to join our discussion?’
Alice nodded sadly. ‘He hasn’t been himself since he returned from fighting in France during the war.’
‘In that case, let’s get down to business, you and me. I’ve given it some thought and I think the fairest way would be for me to give you a fixed sum each week or month, whichever you’d prefer.’
Alice looked down at the table. ‘I’m a bit embarrassed about all of this. I don’t like charity coming to my doorstep, but I have to be realistic. Thing is, my Bill ain’t gonna be in a fit state to work for some time yet, and me, well, I do what I can, but taking in washing won’t cover much once Dottie has to give up work. We’ve gotta put a roof over the baby’s head, so what are you offering?’
Adrian was quite taken aback by Alice’s words. She had seemed a bit timid at first, but underneath that quiet exterior there was a little firecracker willing to speak out to protect her family. ‘As I told Dorothy, I will ensure that the baby wants for nothing. I’m going to suggest nine pounds a week. How does that sit with you?’
‘Nine pounds?’ Alice squealed. ‘But that’s more than we have coming in now!’
‘Mrs Butler, you will have an extra mouth to feed and the baby will require many things, a pram and a cot for starters.’
‘It’s … it’s so generous.’
Adrian smiled. ‘Good, that’s settled then.’
‘Thank you, I’m very grateful, but it doesn’t take away the fact that my daughter will be unmarried and her name will be dirt around here. If only that brother of yours would show his face, then he could marry her and make her an honest woman.’
‘I doubt any of us will be seeing Robbie for quite some time, but I can at least ease your family’s financial burden. I’m sorry there isn’t much I can do for Dorothy’s reputation.’
Alice scraped back her chair and turned away from Adrian as she looked over the butler sink and out of the window to the small back yard.
‘You could marry her,’ she said quietly.
‘I’m sorry?’ Adrian replied, stunned at Alice’s suggestion. ‘Did you say I should marry Dorothy?’
Alice spun around. ‘Yes, and it makes perfect sense. From what I’ve heard you’re a single fella and my Dottie is a beautiful girl. Any man can see that, and I’m not being funny but she’s the best-looking woman you could hope to have. She would make you a good wife.’
Adrian was at a loss for words. It had never occurred to him to marry Dorothy. Apart from anything else, Adrian didn’t consider himself attractive to any woman, let alone one as stunning as Dorothy. He thought his face was nice enough, but his chubby cheeks and double chin detracted from his acceptable features. Dottie would never look twice at him, and anyway, she was still obviously in love with Robbie. No, it was out of the question and he knew that Dorothy would never agree to marry him.
‘Yes, she is beautiful,’ he said slowly, ‘but I can’t marry her. It’s my brother she loves. Not me.’
‘Dorothy is pregnant and needs a husband. What does it matter who she’s in love with?’ Alice asked.
‘I’m afraid it matters to me.’
To Adrian’s relief Alice seemed to accept defeat and didn’t push the idea of marriage further. She did, however, insist that in future she did all his laundry. Adrian was about to refuse,
