One Snowy Night by Rita Bradshaw

Author:Rita Bradshaw
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pan Macmillan UK

Chapter Fourteen

Daisy and Howard arrived at the workhouse just as Ruby walked out through its gates. The weather had changed again and a few desultory snowflakes were beginning to drift from a low, leaden sky as she saw Daisy jump down from the horse and cart Howard was driving and come towards her. As Daisy reached her, she said softly, ‘Oh, no, lass, no. She’s not passed?’

Ruby nodded, she couldn’t speak. She felt her heart had been cut out, the feeling a hundred times worse than when she’d found out about Adam and Olive. She had remained sitting by Ellie until the nurse had come to check her again, and when the girl had said quietly, ‘I’m afraid it was too much for her,’ and had leaned across to pull the sheet over Ellie’s face, she had made the nurse jump when she’d said sharply, ‘No, don’t do that, she likes the light, she’s always liked the light. Her da used to shut her in a cupboard when she was little and she’s frightened if she can’t see anything.’

The nurse hadn’t said anything to that, but when ten minutes later she still hadn’t been able to persuade Ruby to let go of Ellie’s hand, she had fetched her superior, who in turn had sent for Matron Henderson. She hadn’t cried in front of them – the shock of Ellie’s passing had been too great for tears – but she had been adamant they weren’t taking Ellie down to the morgue. It would be Ellie’s worse nightmare to be shut in there.

It had been Bridget coming on duty that had broken the impasse. Matron Henderson had brought Bridget to her and after a while Ruby had been persuaded to leave Ellie’s side. Bridget had taken Ruby through to the laundry and everyone had been very gentle with her, helping her to wash and then sponging down her coat and dress, which had Ellie’s blood on them, and cleaning her shoes. Ruby had submitted to their ministrations in a kind of vacuum. It had only been when they’d tried to persuade her to eat something that she had protested. Matron Henderson had come to see her shortly afterwards and had insisted she go home and rest and she hadn’t argued. In truth, she felt nauseous and her head was thudding.

Now, as Daisy put her arm round her, she said, ‘Come on, lass, me an’ Howard’ll take you home.’

Ruby looked across at Howard sitting holding the reins. ‘No, it’s all right. I can catch the tram.’

‘We’re taking you, lass. You’re in no fit state. Besides, I need to fill you in on what’s been happening while you’ve been at the hospital.’

It was only as Daisy helped her climb up onto the thin plank seat of the cart that Ruby noticed the back held a number of boxes and bags. As Daisy followed her gaze, she said, ‘We’re going down south, lass, to make a new start. When we got back last night Dan was ranting and raving about the mess you’ve made of his face.

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