The Tenants Of Fell End Farm Part Three

In this fashion they spent the rest of the evening, in each others arms kissing and listening to the radio. Andrew drank quite a bit of sherry.  He found it sweet but it was all there was.

As midnight approached he poured a glass for Lynn.  He noticed her mood was changing, not so talkative, not so light hearted.  They listened to Big Ben strike midnight.   The announcer, in his clipped, B.B.C accent, wished everybody a happy New Year in Britain and across the Empire and they listened as the crowds sang Auld Lang Syne in Trafalgar Square.  'Andrew felt a surge of conflicting emotions.  'Happy New Year Love.'  He spoke huskily, as he raised Lynn's face up to kiss her, he saw she was crying.   She shook her head, 'I'm sorry Andy.'

He held her close,  'I understand.  You're thinking of your Mum.  I'm thinking about Dad.'

Lynn laid her head on Andrew's shoulder, 'I miss her so much.  I feel so alone.

'You will never be alone,' Andrew replied.  'I will always take care of you.'

'Oh Andy,' Overcome with emotion she kissed him passionately.  'It was too much for Andrew. He had been aroused all evening.  He responded by covering her face and neck with kisses and forcing his head down into her cleavage as far as her night dress would allow.  Lynn cradled his head in her arms.  He forced his knee between her legs and prised them slightly apart, caressing the inside of her leg with his hand.  Instantly Lynn was alarmed 'No Andy.'  She tried to take his hand away but she had not the strength.  She said again, 'No Andy, I don't want to go too far'  Despite her attempts to stop him he started to lift her night dress.  Her thighs were delicious, her soft generous lips parted.  Her pupils were distended so that her grey blue eyes seemed darker.  Andrew continued to force her hands away finally, all her strength gone she stopped struggling.  He exposed her breasts.  June's breasts were small and pear shaped.  Andrew had never seen anything so beautiful, he bent his head to them.  They were warm and fragrant.  He new he could not hold back a moment longer.. As he moved into position, Lynn spoke, 'If you do this you will spoil it for me Andy.  I will never, as. long as I live, forgive you....You promised.'

He went to kiss her but she turned her head away, her eyes wet with tears.  Andrew paused, the blood pounding in his temples.  She was here for the taking.  Nobody would blame him.  He thought of David Nicholson's words, 'If you want to keep her, get your leg thrown over her.'  He pleaded, 'Lynn please.'

'No!'

Lynn lay still, She was completely helpless.  She could feel Andrew's heart pounding against her chest.  Slowly she felt him relax.  The only sound was of the expiration of his breathing.  Finally he moved back from her and stood up.  Lynn quickly got to her feet and pulled her night dress straight

They stood for a few moments both breathing heavily, then she said, 'Thank you. …    I think I will go to bed now.'  Andrew nodded, he did not make eye contact with her.  Lynn quickly took up a candle and left.  Once in her room she collapsed on the bed her thoughts in turmoil.  She tried to calm herself and think rationally.  There was no sound of Andrew coming up to bed.  What was he. doing.?  It was remarkable that he had regained his self control.  She had been out with other boys who would not have hesitated in Andrew's position.  Poor Andrew, He had been through such a lot and had been her saviour.  The other thing she had to take into account now was her own feelings.  She realised that if she stayed with Andrew she would want intimacy as much as he did.  She had felt overwhelmed by feelings of love.  Could she stay here and be his wife.  She saw the advantages of life at the farm.  She loved Andrew, she was sure of that now.  She would be safe and secure with him.  Life in Aqueduct Street had been nothing to write home about.  Here her children would grow up healthy, away from the mills and factories.  She enjoyed the fresh air' the moors and the views.  She came to a decision, got to her feet and tip toed down stairs.  He was sat where she had left him in front of the dying embers of the fire.  She came up behind him, 'Andrew.' She walked round the settee and stood in front of him.  Andrew looked up, then dropped his eyes.

'I have something to say.'

Andrew raised his eyes, 'Don't leave me on New Years Day.  Stay and leave tomorrow.' He spoke resignedly.  'You will be safe, I promise.'

 'I'm not going to leave.'  He looked up. Lynn went on, 'You really are one in a million Andy.  I realise that now.  Other men would have forced me and I would have been blamed for being stupid or asking for it or deserving all I got.  That's how people talk.'

'I'm sorry,' Andrew replied, 'I lost my head, made a complete mess of it.  Not as slick as your town boys am I.'

Lynn knelt down before him and took his hands in hers.  'No man has ever made me feel like you did.  I think I do love you Andy.'

Andrew was confused.  He got to his feet and raised her up.  He spoke guardedly, 'I thought I had lost you.'

Lynn smiled, 'No you haven't lost me.'

'So you will stay here and marry me?'.

Lynn put her arms around his neck and kissed him.  Andrew was stunned by the turn of events.

Lynn spoke soothingly, kissing him as she did so, 'Everything is going to be fine.  Let's get engaged.  Introduce me to your mother and then take things from there.'

Andrew frowned, 'Lynn, will you marry me or not?'

Lynn smiled, 'Yes but not in such a hurry.'

Andrew was overjoyed.  They kissed then he said, ' We will go down to the phone box and ring my mother, tell her the news.  Then we can go and see the vicar of Inglebeck, Mr. Gerrard and arrange the wedding.'

'There you go again, rushing things,' Lynn said, smiling wearily.

Andrew was insistent, 'I just don't want anything to go wrong.  I might lose control again.  It's hard for me.'

Lynn had to admit, that was a problem, 'Yes, she smiled, 'that's a problem for me too.'

'Honestly?'

Lynn nodded.

'Then we have to get married quickly.'

After a pause Lynn agreed, 'Alright but we must get engaged first.'

They stood smiling at each other then Andrew said softly, You had better get off to bed.'

'What about you?'

He reached out and stroked her hair.  'I'm too excited to sleep, besides I have a bad headache, That sherry is awful stuff.  It's half past one. I'll be getting up to milk in a few hours. I'll just stay down here.'

'Then I'll stay with you,' Lynn answered.  'You put a couple of logs on the fire.  I'll run up for a blanket.  Despite all the excitement and momentous decisions the young couple slept heavily and were wakened by the bawling of cattle waiting to be milked.

Six inches of snow had fallen and had drifted two foot deep in the lane.  Andrew cleared a path through the deepest drifts and when all the stock had been seen to and accounted for, he declared that they would go down to the phone box on horseback as Lynn had no footwear suitable for the conditions.  She enjoyed the ride sat up behind Andrew on the horses warm back.  In the phone box Andrew confessed that he had never used a telephone.  He was embarrassed.  Lynn explained.  She had used telephones in the course of her work.  She showed him the procedure.  'lift the receiver, put the pennies in that slot.  Now dial the number.  The phone will ring.  When you hear your Mum speak, press that button there, button A and Bob's your uncle.'

Andrew followed Lynn's instructions, vexed at his own clumsiness, 'Hello Mother.'

Lynn heard her prospective Mother in laws voice, 'Hello Andrew, Happy New Year, I thought you would be snowed in.'

Andrew let his mother speak for a while and then said, 'Mum, I've got some news for you.

I've got a girl with me.  Her name is Lynn Trevor.  We are getting married.'

'What!'

'We are going to see the vicar to fix a date.'

Jean was incredulous.  'Who is she?  How long have you known her?'

'Her mother died of influenza like Dad, then she got evicted so I brought her here.'

'Andrew are you out of your mind.  You can't marry a girl you've just picked up off the street.  How long has she been at the farm?'

'About four days.'

'Four days!  Jeans voice changed, 'Have you touched her?

'What do you mean?'

'You know fine well what I mean.'

'Andrew winked at Lynn, 'No, I haven't touched her, she wouldn't let me.'

Lynn heard Jean speak authoritatively, 'I'm coming over to see you.  It can't be tomorrow I'm tied up but it will in the next few days.  In the mean time do not touch that girl and don't take her anywhere.'

Lynn saw Andrew's face redden with anger, 'I'll take her where I like.  She's a grand lass.'

'She might be a grand lass or she might be a scheming little slut whose already pregnant and just trying to' … 

Andrew slammed the phone down, 'Did you hear that.'

'Yes,' Lynn smiled and took his hand.  'She's worried about you.  It's understandable.'  It won't do any harm to wait until she's been here and seen for herself.'

Andrew was having none of it, 'We are going to see the vicar She can go to hell.'

'Right,' Lynn sighed wearily.

Clarence Gerard the vicar of Inglebeck village was a tall, lean man in his early fifties.  With his athletic physique he was a commanding presence, and an influential personage.  His wife, Gwen, Was equally tall.  A kind, thoughtful woman whose intelligence and influence was often overlooked.  When Andrew and Lynn presented themselves at the vicarage.  They were shown into Gwen's presence by the maid Daisy.  'Andrew!  What a pleasant surprise.  We haven't seen you since you came to church on Christmas Eve.  Are you alright?'

'Yes thank you,' Andrew replied

'Good, and who have we here?'

Andrew put his arm around Lynn, This is my fiancé, Lynn Trevor.  We would like to see the vicar.  We want to get married.'

'Married...I see,' Gwen was obviously surprised.  'Well just wait one moment, Mr Gerrard is in his study.  I will just go and speak to him.'

Gerrard was writing at his desk when Gwen entered the room.  He looked up questioningly.

'Darling, Andrew Emmott is here with a girl.  They wish to get married.'

The vicar frowned, 'Do we know the girl?''

'No.'

'A bit soon after his father's death to be making such big decisions don't you think?'

'Possibly, let's hear what they have to say,' Gwen responded.  'The girl's name is Lynn Trevor.'

The vicar nodded, 'Show them in.'

Gwen showed Andrew and Lynn into the study and left.

The vicar was surprised to see Lynn.  She was not at all what he had been expecting and looked nothing like a prospective farmers wife.  After a short conversation about how Andrew was coping with bereavement, the vicar asked, 'So this is Miss Trevor and you wish to get married.'

'That's right,' Andrew replied.

'Don't you think it's a bit soon after your father's death to be making such an important decision?'

Andrew shook his head, 'No, we want to be married as soon as we can.'

Gerard turned his attention to Lynn, 'And what about you Miss Trevor.  Are you from a farming background?'

'No sir.'

'You are choosing a hard life you know.'  You will be very isolated out there at Fell End.'

'I understand that sir,' Lynn replied

After a few moments reflection (he was not happy with the situation) the vicar said, 'Very well, I will take your details.  The interview was going well.  (They had agreed to say they had been courting for two years) when the vicar asked, 'And what is your home address Miss Trevor?'

Andrew cut in, 'Her address is the same as mine.  She is staying with me at the farm.'

The vicar rose to his feet aghast, 'She is staying at the farm with you!  You mean you are living openly as man and wife?'

'She got evicted, she has nowhere else to stay,' Andrew pointed out.

Gerrard was furious, 'How dare you come here and ask me to marry you when you are blatantly

living in sin.'

Lynn placed a restraining hand on Andrew's shoulder but it was too late.  His temper was already lost.

'I've attended this church as my father and grandfather before me did but we will get married in the Registry Office if we have to.'

'You may marry where you please Emmott.  I will not marry you whilst you are openly living in sin.'

Gwen heard the raised voices and saw the young couple leave.  Lynn in tears and Andrew red with anger.  She entered the study and found her husband equally agitated.

'Darling?'

'They are living openly as man and wife at Fell End.  Blatantly, for all to see.  We must put a stop to it.  This open immorality that is consuming the country Gwen.  The church must take a firm stand.'

Gwen placed her hand on her husbands shoulder and calmed him, she new how rattled the whole establishment of the church was.  The abdication of the king only a few weeks previously had caused consternation.  The whole Empire was put at risk.  The new king might not be good enough.  The gossip and scandal about the abdication was poisoning the country.  Gwen was all too aware of her husband's concerns.  He hated, as he saw it, the deplorable influence of America on the popular culture of the day, the films churned out by Hollywood, the music, Jazz-the music of the negro people.  It was weakening the moral fibre of all sections of society.  Not that he was happy with home grown popular culture either, what he called music hall smut.  Gwen reasoned that people needed something to cheer themselves up and take their minds off this terrible recession that had gone on so long and was causing such suffering, anger and unrest across the world.  Clarence Gerard saw only drift and indecision from politicians that was leading to the break up of the country, the loosening of the ties of empire and the loss of everything that he held sacred.

Lynn was upset by the reception they had received at the vicarage. Andrew was angry.  News of the confrontation spread through the village. People had seen the young couple leaving, clearly upset.  Andrew had made no secret of his plans to visit  the Vicar, telling David Nicholson. The only person who stood their friend was Alf Holdsworh.

 Holdsworth was an Inglebeck character In his mid forties.  He was a  heavily built man with with iron grey hair and a florid complexion. He had married young and his even younger wife had died in childbirth.  His loss had a profound effect on him.  He felt a great sense of grievance.  He started drinking heavily and one day in the depths of despair, he sat down at the piano at the Laycock Inn and started to learn to play.  Within two weeks he could stumble through a recognisable version of  Galway Bay.  His musical career was further stimulated by the landlord Reg Butterworth saying, ‘For Gods sake learn another song or I’ll bar you.’

Wanting better provision for women in childbirth, He was moved by a woman speaker at a Postal Workers union meeting talking about improving care for pregnant women based on clinical need and not the ability to pay and became a trade union activist.  It was through this common interest in left wing politics that He became friendly with Harold Emmott.  They were unlikely friends.  Harold was an introverted, bookish man whilst Alf was a happy go lucky character who liked a good laugh and a glass of beer.  Some said he was a bit of a rogue.  That at dances, concerts, jumble sales and raffles, Alf always ended up handling the money.  It was rumoured that as postman he had had dalliances with a few isolated farmers’ wives but for all that he was popular and a good friend to Andrew, supporting him through his parents’ divorce and his father’s death. He was sceptical about religion saying he would back it each way and he was  a free thinker about human relationships.  The village was scandalised by the Emmott divorce and a woman shouted after Andrew one day in the street, ‘Your mother is a wicked woman Andrew Emmott.

 

To be continued...