but for some reason she found herself standing back and allowing Phyllis to walk in. ‘I can see you still feel rough,’ Phyllis said, ‘and as you’re not dressed, I hope I didn’t get you out of bed.’
Carol didn’t reply and returned to the sofa, wiping the tears from her eyes. She felt it dip beside her as Phyllis sat down too, her voice once again soft as she touched her arm and said, ‘You’re upset. Is there anything I can do to help?’
‘I … I don’t want to talk about it.’
‘All right, I won’t pry, but you look so pale and I’m worried about you.’
Like a dam bursting, Carol broke then, and with a sob she flung herself into Phyllis’s arms. Nothing was said as she cried, Phyllis’s soft arms holding her, until at last, limp, her head pounding, Carol was able to say, ‘I … I’m sorry. I’m all right now.’
‘Are you sure?’
Carol nodded, but Phyllis said, ‘I don’t think you are, and listen, if you need me I’m only a couple of doors away. I know Amy is anxious to see you. Can I tell her to call in when she comes home from work?’
Carol managed a small nod, but knew she would never be able to tell anyone that she’d been raped and had an abortion – not even Amy. Self-loathing and shame swamped Carol again. If anyone found out she’d be ostracised, treated like a dirty tart, and it would be no more than she deserved.
‘I’m going shopping soon,’ Phyllis said. ‘Is there anything I can get for you?’
‘No … No thanks,’ Carol managed to say. Her dad had said the cupboards were bare, but she didn’t have the energy to think about what they might need.
‘I don’t like to think of you being on your own all day. I’ll come back later to see how you are.’
Carol wanted to be left alone and said, ‘No, don’t do that. I’m fine.’
‘Well, if you’re sure,’ Phyllis said, ‘but don’t forget I’m only a couple of doors away if you need anything.’
Carol nodded; glad when Phyllis then left. She picked up a cushion to clutch to her chest, lying down again. With so much time to think, Carol went over it all again, despising herself. She had lied about her age, told Roy she was twenty-three, and as she’d gone up to that flat no wonder he hadn’t seen her as an innocent. Roy had raped her, but she had asked for it, and worse, she had aborted the consequences – killed her baby!
Unable to stand the agony of thinking about it any more, Carol closed her eyes and once again escaped into sleep.
Celia forced a smile when Libby called to see her, but it was knocked off her face when the woman spoke. ‘Celia, my dear, I’m so sorry. I must have appeared so insensitive when I sent that invitation to Melissa’s engagement party, but honestly, I had no idea that George has left you.’
‘How … how did you find out?’
‘I was in the grocers and heard two women gossiping. I was of course shocked to hear that they were talking about George and the fact that he went off with someone called Rose Bridges. It seems she’s a common barmaid and one of Amy Miller’s relatives … her mother’s cousin apparently.’
Celia felt her face flame with both embarrassment and anger. She felt sick, humiliated, found she couldn’t speak, though Libby was obviously waiting with relish for some kind of response.
‘It must be dreadful for you, Celia. Of course my husband would never do such a thing so I can’t imagine how you must feel, but if there’s anything Tim and I can do …’
Once again Celia’s pride came to her rescue and standing stiffly she said, ‘I’m perfectly all right, thank you. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m rather busy.’
Libby’s eyebrows shot up, but Celia ushered her to the door, where after saying a swift goodbye, she closed it firmly as soon as the woman stepped outside. Anger swamped Celia now. It was bad enough that George had left her, but for a common barmaid – and one who was related to the Millers!
She’d make George pay for this; for her loss of standing, her humiliation. As sickening as it was, at least she had a way to find him now and Celia stormed out of the house to march down Lark Rise, determined to get the information she wanted.
Mabel had collared Phyllis as soon as she appeared outside of the Coles’ house.
‘Well,’ she asked, ‘did you see Daphne?’
‘Carol said she isn’t there,’ Phyllis said as Mabel followed her home and they walked inside. ‘She’s gone to Kent to look after a sick relative.’
‘I don’t believe it. One minute Daphne Cole was supposed to have food poisoning too, and the next she’s gone off to Kent? I reckon Carol’s lying.’
‘Now why would she do that?’ Phyllis asked impatiently, too worried about Carol to listen to any more of Mabel’s daft ideas.
‘All right, maybe that’s what Frank told her and Carol thinks it’s the truth.’
Both women then jumped when someone pounded on her door. It sounded urgent and Phyllis’s first thought was that something was wrong. Fearing that something had happened to Stan or Amy, she rushed to open it, only to be thrust aside as Celia Frost stormed in.
‘Oi, you’ve got no right to barge into my house!’ Phyllis protested.
‘Where is she?’ Celia snapped.
‘Where’s who?’
‘Don’t act the innocent,’ Celia snapped. ‘You know perfectly well who I’m talking about. That tart! Your cousin! Now, where is she?’
‘I’ve no idea.’
‘You’re lying!’
Phyllis was shaking, but she wasn’t going to be intimidated by Celia Frost and stretching her neck she said, ‘Now listen here. I’ve had nothing to do with my cousin for years and I won’t have you calling me a liar. I don’t know where Rose is, and what’s more I don’t want to know. Now get out of my house!’
Celia stood her ground, eyes blazing. ‘You must know that she’s gone off with my husband and I’m not going anywhere until you tell me where they are!’
‘I don’t know anything!’
‘Don’t give me that! Everyone is talking about it, though I only got to hear about it this morning. My neighbour took great delight in telling me that my husband has left me for a tart from this family!’
Phyllis’s stomach turned and she shot a look at Mabel before saying to Celia, ‘If that’s what you’ve heard, it’s just rumour, gossip, and so far unsubstantiated.’
Celia’s eyes narrowed into slits, her tone venomous as she hissed, ‘You would say that. After all, it’s one tart defending another.’
Phyllis had tried to hold her temper, but now she lost it and though the door was still open she threw it wider. ‘I’m not standing for that! Get out of my house before I throw you out!’
‘Don’t worry, I’m leaving,’ Celia snapped, ‘and keep your daughter away from my son! She’s another tart and I won’t have him tainted by the likes of her.’
Phyllis erupted then, but Mabel grabbed her before she managed to land a blow. ‘Stop it, Phyllis! She isn’t worth it,’ she said before shouting at Celia, ‘Go on, bugger off while you’ve got the chance.’
‘You sound as common as muck, just like her,’ Celia said scathingly as she strode out the door.
Phyllis struggled to get free from Mabel, but she held her fast, and still fuming, she turned on her friend. ‘It was you, wasn’t it? You must have spread the gossip!’
‘I only told Edna Price.’
‘Get