The Golden Anklet Page 5

It was the sound of the kettle clicking itself off that brought an end to her musing. She went back into the kitchen and finished preparing her food. Usually she cooked her main meal of the day in the evening, but today she had been out to lunch and had had a full meal. It did not take long for her to eat, and she was just about to wash up the egg-cup, plate and mug she had used, when the front doorbell rang. This was unusual. She didn’t know many of the other people in the apartment block and this was definitely an internal caller, because the outside door to the apartment was secure and entry could only be obtained with the cooperation of one of the residents. She hurried to the door and peered through the spyhole. Gerald stood there holding some papers. It was clear to Jane that he would only be calling on her if he wanted to see her about her family history. That was the only thing they had in common. Her excitement rising, she opened the door.

  ‘Ah, Jane. I just wanted—’ Gerald suddenly halted. He appeared almost flustered for a second, and then he burst out, ‘Oh, I can see that I have called at an inopportune moment. Perhaps I can come back some other time.’ As he spoke he was staring at Jane’s undress.

  It was Jane’s turn to be embarrassed. In her excited anticipation she had almost forgotten she was wearing her bathrobe without a bra. Pulling it more tightly around herself, she recovered quickly. ‘No, Gerald. It’s quite all right, really. Do come in – that is, if you don’t mind me being dressed like this.’

  Gerald hesitated. ‘Well, if you’re sure it’s not an inconvenient time.’

  Jane opened the door fully and stepped aside to let him enter.

  ‘I’m not going out or anything. It’s just that it’s so warm this evening that I dressed like this for comfort.’ She smiled cheerfully at him as a way of encouragement.

  ‘Yes. It is rather warm.’ Gerald somewhat reluctantly stepped into the hall.

  Jane closed the door. ‘Come into the lounge,’ she invited, leading the way.

  She was sorry she had obviously embarrassed poor Gerald. He and Anna were such good neighbours and both were quite sweeties, really. Gerald had been so taken aback at her dress; she guessed that he had rarely, if ever, seen a young woman in a shortie bathrobe. He and Anna were very much of the old school. Even on a warm evening he wore a collar and tie and a tightly buttoned-up waistcoat. Jane did not know a great deal about her neighbours, but Anna had once told her that Gerald was a clockmaker and that they had kept a jewellery shop.

  Walking ahead of Gerald, Jane could feel his eyes looking at her legs and bare feet. As they entered the lounge, she indicated the papers Gerald was carrying. ‘I see you have some documents with you. Have you found something out about my family?’

  It was a good ploy. Once onto his favourite subject Gerald seemed more at ease. He immediately brightened up. ‘Yes. I have something quite interesting here,’ he announced, looking for somewhere to display his papers.

  Jane grabbed her parents’ marriage certificate from the coffee table. ‘Put them here,’ she suggested. ‘And do please sit down.’

  Beaming, Gerald spread out the documents and perched on the edge of the settee. Jane sat opposite, all her interest centred on the papers, once again pulling her robe tightly around her body. She waited eagerly for Gerald to explain.

  ‘I have looked at the census for 1901 and I think I have picked up your family living in Great Wishington.’ He handed Jane a computer printout.

  Jane studied the document in silence for a few seconds, trying to take in the information it contained. It was clearly the details of a family, collected on census day. Her reaction was one of excitement.

  ‘Gosh, this is fantastic!’ She hesitated, absorbing the details, and then continued, reading aloud. ‘John Carroll… farmer, and only one son – another John, also a farmer, age 18. All the rest of the children are girls… three of them.’ She looked up at Gerald. ‘So you think this must be my family?’ she asked.

  Gerald nodded. ‘I would think that the son aged 18 will most likely be your great-grandfather.’

  ‘Phew.’ Jane was staggered. ‘That’s a major step forward.’

  Gerald smiled at her. ‘It’s another piece of the puzzle,’ he agreed.

  Jane suddenly thought of something. ‘How often do the censuses occur?’ she asked.

  ‘Every ten years since 1841,’ Gerald replied immediately, adding as an afterthought, ‘except for 1941.’

  ‘Can we go forward… to the 1911 census?’

  Gerald shook his head. ‘The 1911 isn’t available yet. They only release them to the public after a hundred years.’

  ‘Hmm…’ Jane thought for a minute. ‘So what should I do next?’

  ‘Well, now you have the names of your grandparents, you need to obtain their marriage certificate. That way you will know that you have the right people.’

  ‘How far can I go back?’ Jane enquired, still scrutinising both her parents’ marriage certificate and the census details.

  ‘Until 1837 with official records, but for events before that date you can look at parish records,’ Gerald replied.

  ‘Parish records?’

  Gerald smiled again. ‘Records kept by the churches,’ he explained, adding for extra measure, ‘Every church keeps records of baptisms, deaths and marriages conducted in the parish.’

  Jane thought for a second. ‘So will I have to go to the Family Records Centre again to search and order more certificates?’ she asked, looking at him for confirmation.

  He nodded. ‘Yes. You can do that, or you can get a computer program with all the records, but you’ll have to buy that.’

  Jane’s response to this suggestion was immediate and enthusiastic. ‘I think I’d like to do that,’ she replied, recalling the hustle and bustle and the time-consuming exercise of her recent visit to the Family Records Centre.

  ‘I can give you all the details of a good one to use,’ Gerald offered.

  ‘Oh, that would be super.’

  Gerald promised to drop the information into her letter box and then they continued chatting for a few minutes, Jane asking more questions and Gerald answering, clearly enjoying being able to talk to somebody else with an interest in family history. However, it was he who brought the conversation to an end. Suddenly, he glanced at the clock on the wall and leapt to his feet.

  ‘Oh dear! I must go now – Anna wants me to watch a television programme with her.’

  Jane jumped up as well, exclaiming as she did so, ‘Yes, of course. You must do that. And thank you for all your help.’

  ‘Oh, I enjoy doing it.’

  Jane knew it was true. According to Anna, Gerald’s main focus in retirement was family history, and not only his own family but those of other people as well. Privately, Jane had already decided that if her own research became too complicated, or time became a problem, she would ask him to continue with the task.

  As she ushered him through the front door, Gerald suddenly stopped and turned to her, as if he had just thought of something. ‘Of course, it might be interesting to make a visit to Great Wishington. You can often pick up snippets of local information that way. Churchyards can be interesting and can yield clues as well,’ he added, looking at Jane as if to determine how she would receive his suggestion.

  Jane was enthusiastic. ‘That’s a fantastic idea. Great Wishington isn’t a million miles away.’

  ‘Do let me know how you get on. Goodbye for now.’ With a beaming smile, he headed towards his own apartment.

  ‘Bye, Gerald, and thank you again.’

  ‘It’s a pleasure.’

  ‘Greetings to Anna,’ Jane called after him.

  He half turned and put his hand up as he disappeared from view.

  She closed the door and went back into the lounge. Once again she took up the documents and looked at them, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

  The beginning of an idea was starting to form.

  Chapter 6

  It was almost an hour since Gerald had left. Jane was reclining on the lounge sofa,
still musing about his visit and occasionally picking up and scrutinising the census details he had given her. She felt that her family history had taken another jump forward, and had already decided that she would take up Gerald’s suggestion to purchase the family history program for her computer and search still further. She would ask him to help her set it up for her. She was quite conversant with computers, but she knew he would enjoy doing that for her.

  Another idea was now taking prominence in her thinking. Gerald’s last remark had stimulated a further plan. She would make a visit to Great Wishington and ask Bob to go with her. The more she thought about the idea, the more attractive it became to her. She had already decided that she would phone Bob this evening and perhaps arrange another meeting. The idea of inviting him down to her apartment one Saturday and then going out for an evening meal had been appealing, but now that was paling in comparison to the thought of a visit to Great Wishington.

  She glanced casually at her watch and then at the clock on the wall. It was just after eight. Bob should be home by now. She knew that he often worked late in London and was not home much earlier, but now would be a good time. She jumped up and went into the hall. Extracting her address book from her briefcase, she glanced at Bob’s number as she dialled. Perched on the edge of the chair, she waited for him to answer. She listened as the phone continued to ring. Disappointment clouded over her. Bob couldn’t have arrived home, or he was out somewhere. She was about to put the phone down when suddenly there was a response.

  ‘Bob Harker.’

  Jane was overjoyed. ‘Bob, it’s Jane. I thought you were out. I was just about to ring off.’

  ‘I just got back. I heard the phone ringing as I opened the front door. I’m glad I caught you. Anyway, how are you? It’s great to hear from you again.’

  Jane could hardly contain her excitement. ‘I’m fine, but I’ve got lots to tell you.’

  ‘OK, fire away.’

  ‘Well, I’ve received the marriage certificate we ordered and it confirms everything. My parents were James and Sarah Carroll and they were married in a place called Great Wishington. Also, Gerald – that’s my neighbour who is an expert on family history – has been looking at the census and discovered some Carrolls living in the same place at the time of the 1901 census. So it looks as if the family roots could be there.’

  She paused for an instant to let Bob absorb her news. His response was immediate and enthusiastic. ‘That’s fantastic! Tell me more.’

  Jane was eager to continue. ‘I’m going to get a program for my computer. Then I’ll be able to do some research at home and not have to go to the Family Records Centre each time, though I suppose I’ll have to go there to order any certificates I need…’ She was almost thinking aloud.

  Bob butted in. ‘You can order those online as well,’ he advised.

  ‘Oh, that would be helpful – and time saving.’ She chuckled. She paused for an instant before launching her big idea. ‘Bob, I’ve been doing some thinking. Gerald thinks it might be a good idea to make a visit to Great Wishington and try and pick up some local information about my family. What do you think?’

  ‘It sounds a great idea.’

  She hesitated. ‘Would you come with me?’ she asked hopefully.

  ‘Of course I will. When are you thinking of going?’

  Bob’s obvious enthusiasm took Jane off-track for a second, but she recovered quickly. ‘It would have to be a Saturday. What about next weekend?’

  It was Bob’s turn to hesitate. He spoke slowly. He was obviously thinking. ‘I’m working next Saturday morning, until about one. That’s a bit late. How about the Saturday after? I’m free then.’

  Jane was a bit disappointed it couldn’t be sooner, but she was determined not to show it. ‘That would be fine. We could start early then.’

  Bob hesitated again. When he replied, he was clearly concerned. ‘Hmm… There’s just one minor problem. I’m a bit worried about taking my old car on such a long trip. It’s getting a bit long in the tooth now. Perhaps I could hire a car for the day. It would—’

  Jane butted in. ‘That’s not a problem. We can take my car. It needs a long run.’

  ‘That would be great, if you don’t mind using it.’ Bob was his normal self again.

  ‘Of course not. I’ll come up to you early and you can help me with some of the driving. I’m insured for any driver.’ Jane was beginning to take to the idea.

  What Bob said next caught her unprepared. ‘I’ve just had a thought…’ He paused. ‘It might be an idea to stay overnight somewhere.’

  Jane’s surprise at his suggestion made her reply sound vague. ‘I suppose we could do that,’ she said.

  Bob took control. ‘We can talk about it nearer the time.’ His tone was firm and final.

  ‘I’ll give you a ring next week and we can finalise our arrangements then,’ Jane suggested, trying to put more enthusiasm into her voice.

  ‘That sounds to be the best idea.’

  Jane suddenly thought of something else and changed the subject. ‘Bob, you’ve only just come home and I’m hogging your time. You must want to have something to eat.’

  She could hear a bit of a laugh at the other end of the telephone.

  ‘That will be welcome,’ he said, ‘but I enjoy talking to you as well.’

  ‘That’s sweet of you, but I’ll let you get on now and talk to you again.’

  ‘I’ll look forward to that.’ He sounded as if he really meant it.

  ‘Super. I’m looking forward to the trip to Great Wishington, but I’ll say goodbye now. Talk to you again soon.’

  ‘Great. Bye for now. Thanks for ringing and giving me the news.’

  ‘Bye for now.’ Jane replaced the handset.

  She went back into the lounge and resumed her relaxing position on the sofa. She felt quite pleased with everything. Her search for her roots was well under way and Bob’s response to her suggestion to visit Great Wishington had been positive and full of enthusiasm. She was excited about the prospect of their visit.

  Suddenly a horrible thought struck her. Suppose Bob had got the wrong impression from her response to his suggestion that they stop somewhere overnight… She now realised that her reaction could have been off-putting. Her reply had been stimulated by the suddenness of the invitation and the fact that she had assumed they would discuss the arrangements for the weekend nearer the time. Now on reflection she knew that she had most likely given Bob the impression that she wasn’t interested in deepening their relationship.

  In reality nothing could have been further from the truth. She knew that she was prepared for such an eventuality and considered that it was only a matter of time before they became more intimate. She sensed that Bob felt the same, but there was hesitation in his approach to things – hesitation she had initiated on their first meeting. He had been very sweet to her on that first evening, accepting her statement that she was not up for one-night events. She could hardly blame him for respecting rules she had made up. She knew that many men would have taken the opportunity that evening and tried to get her into bed within a short time. Somehow she had felt safe with Bob, but now she realised that her initial explanation that she was not free with her favours was no doubt working against her.

  Permissiveness had not been something she had indulged in at any time. She had lost her virginity while she had been at university. She had met a fellow student, and a relationship had developed between them. One night he had taken her back to his room and she had allowed intercourse to take place, believing in her naive way that they were in love. When she learned later that her lover had other women in line and she actually witnessed him with another student, she had been hurt and upset. She had also learnt the hard way that intercourse was not the emotional encounter for men that it was for women. The experience had taught her to be on guard in her approach to men and their desires, and then she had met Graham. With him she had enjoyed an adventurous and positive sexual relationship. Since l
osing him, she could have had several intimate relationships, but she had declined to do so, partly out of loyalty to Graham and partly simply because she recognised that the opportunities offered weren’t what she was looking for.

  With Bob it was different. In him she recognised many of Graham’s qualities. It gave her the encouragement and the confidence to want to break her own boundaries. Having reached this point, she did not want anything to mar their blossoming relationship. The more she pondered the evening’s phone call to Bob, the more concerned she became.

  She got up from the sofa, deep in thought; the glimmer of a solution was beginning to emerge. She wandered over to the window, staring out but, absorbed in her thoughts, taking in little of the view.

  Suddenly she snapped into action, at the same time talking aloud to herself. ‘Jane, my girl, it’s time to show where you stand.’

  She grabbed her mobile, which was lying on the table. Her hands trembling a little, she retrieved Bob’s number. Sometimes, she thought, a girl just has to take the lead.

  The phone seemed to ring for a long time.

  ‘Bob Harker.’ The answer came suddenly.

  ‘Bob, it’s me again – Jane.’

  ‘Hello. I didn’t expect to talk to you again so soon.’

  ‘Well, I just had an idea—’ She stopped short. A thought suddenly struck her. ‘Bob, I haven’t interrupted your meal, have I?’

  She could hear a chuckle at the other end of the line. ‘Just finished. I’ve got a mug of tea in my other hand, so don’t worry if you hear me slurp from time to time. But do carry on with what you were going to say.’

  ‘I’ve been thinking…’ She hesitated. Might as well come straight out with it, she thought. She changed tack. ‘What are you doing this weekend? I mean, after you finish work on Saturday.’

  There was a pause at the other end. Bob was obviously thinking. Then he responded. ‘Nothing, really. Might have to do a bit of shopping, some paperwork perhaps.’

  This was the opening, Jane thought. ‘Would you like to come and visit me here?’

  She didn’t have to wait long. Bob’s reply was almost instantaneous. ‘I’d love to. I could get down to you by early evening.’