Through Streets Broad and Narrow (Ivy Rose Series Book 1) Page 24

  “Miss!” Iris Jones pushed to her feet. She’d been sitting at the well-scrubbed kitchen table enjoying a well-deserved cup of tea.

  “Don’t mind me!” Ann Marie called gaily hurrying to follow Mary into the back hallway. At any other time she would have enjoyed stopping to examine her surroundings but today she had places to go, people to see.

  “Ivy!” Ann Marie shouted when she saw her friend standing outside the open back door. “I’m ready.”

  “So I see,” Ivy sighed. Ann Marie looked like a child who was being taken to see the circus.

  “Do we not need an umbrella?” Ann Marie looked out at the rain sheeting down. She didn’t notice the young boy pushing himself back into the corner of the portico.

  “Come on, Ann Marie,” Ivy shook her head. “the day will be over before we get started.” She took her pram by the handles and turned away from the door. Ann Marie could follow as she would.

  “I’m so excited, Ivy.” Ann Marie hurried to follow Ivy out through the slowly closing back door.

  “I can tell.”

  “I’ve never come out this way before.”

  “Now there’s a surprise.”

  “Where do those doors lead?” Ann Marie pointed at the long grey granite wall broken by doorways that formed the opposite side of the long back alley.

  “Buck Lane,” Ivy supplied. “That’s a row of townhouses now but it used to be the carriage houses to places like yours.” Ivy didn’t bother looking around. She knew this area like the back of her hand.

  Ann Marie said no more but hurried to keep up with Ivy’s pace. Her head was constantly turning to catch a glimse of the world around her. It was fascinating. At the end of the Lane Ivy turned right towards the main road. Ann Marie could see horse-drawn carriages and the occasional motor vehicle pass. She felt almost faint with excitement. At the main road Ivy turned left in the direction of the Grand Canal. Ann Marie had thought she knew this area extremely well but she had no idea where Ivy was heading.

  “Almost there,” Ivy offered.

  “Really,” Ann Marie looked back over her shoulder. They were mere minutes away from her uncle’s home.

  “Hey, young ones!” A drunken wag stumbling out of the pub attached to the tunnel leading into the Lane shouted. “Here’s young fellas!”

  Ivy ignored him, well aware of Ann Marie’s big-eyed wonder. “Don’t let any part of yeh touch these walls,” she warned, turning into the tunnel, “and watch yer step.”

  Ann Marie walked silently through the tall, wide tunnel trying desperately not to breathe. The stench of urine was overpowering. She gasped with relief when the tunnel was cleared. With her mouth still open Ann Marie stood staring at a place she’d never known existed. She’d expected a long dark alley because Ivy always referred to this place as The Lane. The reality was very different.

  “Ivy, wait!” Ann Marie almost tripped on the cobbles. She hurried to catch up with Ivy who was hurrying over to two young men standing outside what she thought was a long, high barn. She desperately wanted to just stand still and take everything in.

  “Conn, Liam!” Ivy called to the two Connellys standing outside the main stable doors to the livery. “What are the two of you doing standing outside in this lovely weather?”

  “Howayeh, Ivy!” Conn and Liam touched fingers to the brims of their soft caps.

  “Jem asked us to keep an eye on the place,” Conn offered.

  “This is me friend, Ann Marie,” Ivy said when Ann Marie arrived at her side. The lads touched their caps again but said nothing. “I’m going to take her over to visit Granny. Can I leave me pram here with you two?”

  “We’ll put it inside out of the rain,” Liam said. His faithful dog, looking as if she was about to burst, sat at his feet.

  “Grand, I’ll be a while.” Ivy grabbed Ann Marie by the elbow and practically towed her along at her side. “If Emmy gets home from school before I’m finished keep her with yiz, will yiz?”

  “Ivy, for goodness sake will you let me take a breath!” Ann Marie pulled her elbow free and stood looking around her.

  “I’m in a bit of a hurry, Ann Marie.” Ivy wanted to get Ann Marie stashed away with Granny before The Lane was invaded by swarms of children shouting and screaming with delight at the end of the school day. And before the men kneeling and standing around the nearest lamppost, decided to take a minute away from the toss school to ask questions.

  “What is that?” Ann Marie nodded towards the long building the two young men stood before.

  “That’s Jem’s livery.”

  Ann Marie tried to make sense of what she was seeing. She wondered if the livery had once upon a time been a way station for travellers. With the public house backing onto one wall and the sheer size of the extra long barn-like structure it would have been an ideal location for travellers. Its placement was ideal, minutes away from the city centre and the Grand Canal.

  “What are those?” Ann Marie pointed to the long low buildings that covered the end-space between the row of tenements and the livery. She thought perhaps at one time the space might have been dormitories for travellers.

  “Double-front houses.” Ivy took Ann Marie’s elbow again. “Come on.”

  “I’m coming.” Ann Marie stared at the row of tenement houses that Ivy was towing her towards. Each house had a main door that stood open to the elements. In some doorways women stood staring out, each with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders and head.

  “How’s yerself, Ivy?” one woman shouted.

  “Can’t complain. Ethel.”

  “Lovely day for ducks, Ivy!” another woman offered.

  “I’m glad it’s good for something, Ruby.” Ivy didn’t stop pulling Ann Marie towards one of the open doors.

  “What’s going on, Ivy?” Maisie Reynolds shouted from her doorway.

  “I’m on me way to see Granny.” Ivy wanted to get Ann Marie inside before they felt brave enough to walk over and demand answers. The women of The Lane liked to know what was going on.

  Ivy towed Ann Marie up the well-scrubbed steps of the third house from the tunnel. The long, broad, stone steps led up to a wide doorway. Tall, wide windows on both sides of the doorway sported spotlessly clean white net curtains. Ann Marie only had time to catch her breath before Ivy pulled her through the open doorway.

  “What’s going on, Ivy Murphy,” A tall thin workworn woman stood in the open doorway on one side of the main hallway.

  “I’m taking me friend Ann Marie down to see Granny,” Ivy groaned silently. She hadn’t wanted to drag Ann Marie around the tenement block to Granny’s back basement room. She’d hoped she could get through the house without being noticed but another door was opening across the hallway.

  “What’s going on out here?” A woman, slightly younger but as worn as the first, stood in the open doorway, four small grubby children clinging to her skirts.

  “Dolly, Gertie, this is me friend Ann Marie. I’m taking her down to see Granny,” Ivy offered. “You’ll be seeing her from time to time. She’s going to check on Granny sometimes when I’m not here.”

  “Good afternoon,” Ann Marie said softly.

  The hallway they stood in was in size and shape almost a carbon copy of the house her uncle lived in.

  The hemp rope hanging from the highest banister would not have been tolerated in her uncle’s home, nor would the tow-haired youngster with a runny nose be allowed swing from that rope.The young girl sitting halfway up the broad staircase with an open book on her lap, surrounded by a gaggle of small children would never have been tolerated either.

  “Hope that’s not another one of them do-gooders, Ivy Murphy,” Gertie said.

  “I knocked on Granny’s winder when I was out getting water,” Dolly sniffed. “I asked if there was anything I could get her. She gave me the sour edge of her tongue for me trouble.”

  “You know Granny, Dolly.” Ivy understood Granny’s attitude – wherever Dolly went her brood of runny-nosed, nimble-fin
gered toddlers went with her. You’d need eyes in the back of your head when that lot were around.

  “She’s me friend, Gertie.” Ivy grabbed at Ann Marie and towed her towards the back of the hall. A heavy door blocked the entrance to the basement stairs. Ivy wanted to get through that door and away. “I’ll see yeez later.”

  “Quick!” Ivy slammed the door at her back, pushing Ann Marie onto a small landing before her. “Let me go in front. It’s pitch black on these stairs. Put your hand on my shoulder.”

  Ann Marie, feeling like she’d fallen down the rabbit hole, followed along.

  “So, I finally get to meet your fancy friend.” Granny was propped up against the two down-filled pillows Ivy had taken from the belongings of a dead woman. The old woman’s grey hair hung down on either side of her face, in well-maintained plaits.

  “Good afternoon.” Ann Marie stood just inside the open door of the basement room. The place was cluttered to put it kindly.

  “You’re letting the hot air out. Come in and stop standing there like a statue!” Granny snapped. “Girl, move the kettle over to boil!”

  Ivy hurried to do her bidding.

  “Come in,” Granny snapped again when Ann Marie made no effort to move.

  “Here!” Ivy pulled one of the wooden chairs from the side of the table under the window. “Sit here.” She put the chair by the side of Granny’s bed. She’d re-arranged the room so Granny’s bed was closer to the fire. Granny’s belongings had been pushed in a heap at one end of the room.

  “Girl, get that,” Granny waved vaguely at the ground.

  Ivy understood – she’d got the whiff when she first came in. Granny’s po needed emptying.

  “Have yeh fresh water?” Ivy fell to her knees to search out the po which was stashed away under the bed.

  “Young Conn got me some.” Granny leaned back on the pillows. Her old eyes had never left Ann Marie’s face.

  Ivy stood up with the po in her hand. She didn’t stop but hurried from the room. “I won’t be long.”

  “I haven’t time for niceties,” Granny said as soon as the door closed at Ivy’s back. “Ivy calls you her friend – are you?”

  “I want to be.” Ann Marie was conscious of the intent scrutiny Granny was subjecting her to.

  “I’m going to get rid of Ivy.” Granny could hear the girl coming back. Ivy never walked when she could run. “I want to talk to you. We’ll have to be quick about it.”

  “Did yeh rinse your hands?” Granny snapped as soon as Ivy stepped over the threshold. “Use the water from the kettle to wash them,” the old woman ordered. “There’s a new bar of Sunlight soap beside the basin. I’ll visit with your friend while you make us all a cup of tea.”

  “Yes, Granny,” Ivy, her back turned to Granny, grinned. The old woman was making sure they knew who was boss.

  “This coverlet is beautiful,” Ann Marie said, admiring the cover on the woman’s bed.

  “Ivy’s blood, sweat and tears!” Ivy and Granny said in almost one voice.

  “We made this coverlet out of all the pieces of needlework the girl put together,” Granny added.

  “That cover is the history of my years under Granny’s thumb,” Ivy offered.

  “It’s wonderful,” Ann Marie said.

  “Girl, did yeh think to bring in any milk?” Granny snapped.

  “Oh, I forgot! It’s in me pram.” Ivy took her hands out of the enamel bowl of warm water she’d filled. “I’ll run over and get it – won’t be a minute.”

  “Take your time!” Granny shouted at Ivy’s disappearing back. “That girl will break her neck one of these days.”

  “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you.” Ann Marie didn’t know how to address the woman.

  Granny tried to push herself into an upright position. “We won’t have much time before she’s back again.”

  Ann Marie jumped to her feet. She helped Granny to get into a sitting position. “Is that better?”

  “Sit down,” Granny said. “I know I’m being impolite. I know me manners but I’m old and don’t have much time left to me. Listen, Ivy tells me you’re not short of a few bob, is that right?”

  Ann Marie felt her back stiffen. “I’m comfortably situated.”

  “I’m not after yer money.” Granny liked the look of this woman. She might be good for her girl. “Well, I am, but not in the way you think. Do you see that sewing machine over there?” She pointed towards a heavy black wrought-iron item with a wooden top.

  “I don’t see a sewing machine.” Ann Marie didn’t know what she’d expected from this meeting but this was not it.

  “It folds down into the base.” Granny waved a hand. “I want you to buy that machine off me for Ivy. No!” Granny held up her hand when Ann Marie looked as if she was going to say something. “I’d give Ivy the machine and gladly but I need to be able to pay my way. I’ve been taking jobs I’m not fit to do. Ivy does them and gives me the money. I don’t want that to go on. If you buy that machine off me – and we’d keep that fact between us – well, I’ll give Ivy the machine. It will make her life a great deal easier.”

  “I can do that.”

  “I know you’ve offered to buy Ivy a coat. She’ll never agree. All that girl’s got that’s her own is her pride but pride doesn’t put food on the table.” Granny began to cough violently. “She can’t keep going like she has,” she said when she could. “She is running herself ragged looking after me. I won’t have it.”

  “Ivy is very fond of you . . .”

  “Call me ‘Granny’, everyone else does.”

  “Very well, Granny.”

  “Now, the money from the sewing machine will let me pay me rent for the rest of me days. I haven’t long. I’ve been waiting for the good Lord to take me but he’s taking his time. I never thought I’d live to this age.” The old face on the pillows was wrinkled like an apple left out in the sun too long. “Ivy’s paying young Conn Connelly to look in on me – out of her own pocket. I know she’s not taking any money from me jar for the vittles.”

  “That sounds like the Ivy I’ve come to know.” Ann Marie waited. She was sure there was more.

  “I’m happy for you to visit me here.” Granny said. “Ivy is out and about every day. We’ll have time for me to tell you what you can do to make Ivy’s life a little bit easier. What do you think?”

  “I think you are a very crafty old woman!” Ann Marie said. “I’ll buy the sewing machine from you, willingly. I’ll listen to your advice but in return I want you to tell me everything you know about Miss Ivy Rose Murphy.”

  “It’s a deal,” Granny only had time to say before Ivy exploded into the room.

  “Sorry it took me so long.” Ivy held the can filled with fresh milk in her hand. “Conn was telling me he’s got a few days’ work at the butcher’s. He’ll be able to get his hands on a bit of tripe and some gooseneck giblets for us. We’ll be eating high off the hog, Granny!”

  “You’re going to have to give this one lessons in making tea, girl,” Granny grunted. “She’s sat in that chair with her hands folded in her lap the whole time you were gone.”

  “What . . . ?” Ivy held the steaming kettle in her hand.

  “Never mind, I’ll do it meself,” Granny said. “I’ll soon have your woman beat into shape. You can’t go visiting the sick if you don’t know how to make a cup of tea.”

  “Is Ann Marie going to be calling on you, Granny?” Ivy kept her back turned while she made a pot of tea.

  “Yes, she is, girl,” Granny agreed. “We’re going to get to know each other.”

  Chapter 22

  “Auntie Ivy, Auntie Ivy, come quick!”

  “Miss Emmy,” Ivy pulled open her front door and grinned down at the little girl practically dancing in place. “What’s the matter?”

  “I opened the stall door, Auntie Ivy. Uncle Jem said no but I opened the door. The pups are out, Auntie Ivy!” Emmy tried to pull Ivy out of her doorway. “You have to come. Uncle J
em will be so angry with me. Uncle Jem said to be careful but I let the pups out.” Emmy was talking so fast and wailing so much her words tumbled over each other.

  “We’ll get the pups back in their stall, Emmy. Uncle Jem won’t be mad at yeh.” Ivy turned into her front room to fetch her keys and a shawl. The longer days and brighter evenings led local kids into all kinds of mischief. Why should Emmy be any different? “How was school today?” Ivy asked.

  Emmy insisted on sharing her schoolwork with Ivy. Each evening Emmy and Ivy sat at Ivy’s table and worked at their lessons. Emmy was endlessly patient, taking her teaching duties very seriously.

  “School is easy. I love my reading, writing and arithmetic,” Emmy said, skipping along backwards without looking where she was going. “I don’t like the sewing things!” Emmy tittered at her oft-repeated refrain.

  “That’s okay for you to say!” Ivy moaned for Emmy’s sake. In fact, Ivy was enchanted by everything she was learning. Liam Connelly was a strict taskmaster. Ivy sometimes felt like the village idiot but she was learning and loving every minute of it.