Casual Blog
She’d been working at the alehouse for almost a year when Thomas Allen first came in. A devout Catholic or so she was told – a man who had lost his wife and young son. With no-one at home to keep him company other than his dour sister who kept house for him he had started to come for a drink once a week after market day. A man of few words he never stayed long. Nodding at acquaintances he drank his ale, exchanging a few words here and there before leaving. Alice began to watch him and listen.
Married Rachel for the farm Alice heard the men say after he’d left the first time. She’d been a dried up old stick on the market for years but he was desperate a younger son. He’d paid for it mind you all those years of being married to that. Her father was getting desperate when Thomas a displaced younger son turned up looking for work. He had a look of the land about him was strong and rough calloused hands showed he was used to hard work and answered questions readily which showed he had a good understanding of farming and its vagueries. The farm was the biggest in the area and Thomas soon showed Albert Richards he was a hard and steadfast worker; doing whatever was asked of him without complaining. He slept in the barn of course with one other farm worker only coming into the house for food and instructions, and was always polite. Clothes were handed to Rachel on wash days when cleaned aired ones were returned. Thomas had never been so well looked after and it showed. He began to take on more and more work and soon became indispensable. The deal between father and prospective son-in-law was struck some six months’ later. It was one he couldn’t refuse. Everything was legally tied up fortunately for just one month after the wedding the old man had upped and died.
It was Rachel who taught him to read and write and for that he would always be thankful. But he had paid for that service over and over again in the years they had lived together. She had not shirked from the physical side of marriage neither showing a reluctance or welcoming the contact between them and had hoped children would result but none came. Seeing families with children on market days and Sundays at mass began to eat away at her though she tried not to show it. She had never been a beauty but discontent started to show on her blunt square face and bitterness began to creep into her voice and she turned inward blaming Thomas for her barrenness.
Talk was she was often to be found on her knees praying for a miracle. The cynical said. Aye, it would take a miracle to get a child on her. Even the priest was surprised when she conceived. She’d had a hard delivery but both husband and wife were overjoyed when a son was born. However, he was a sickly baby, caught the croup and died. His mother followed him not long after. It was then Thomas’s younger sister Mary moved in. Like his wife some said – a sharp tongue on her but a hard worker – you had to give her that. Thin, and compact with dark beady eyes and quick sharp movements many people thought she looked somewhat like a crow, but of course they kept these thoughts to themselves.
Alice who had been watching Thomas stealthily for months decided it was time. With an inbuilt knowledge she could see that he was becoming restless. The sap was rising. She knew enough about men to know he wanted more from his life. She sensed it. First to get him to notice her. With guile she made sure he began to be aware of her listening to him talking, and had to be reprimanded by the others wanting drink . She stayed in the vicinity always on the edge of the crowd but when their eyes met and she looked away she could see he was intrigued. Not a word was exchanged – but a glance can show so much.
In terms of years she was way ahead of the local children; had always been. After all they had an innocence she lacked. That coupled with a voluptuousness buried beneath the surface, caught Thomas’s notice. Alice was content to wait but not for too long. Farmers had wives but unmarried sisters too who often had friends, and she would not be baulked of her prey.
The fact that he had begun to spend more time away on market day than previously did not go unnoticed at home. Thomas’s sister Mary became uneasy. Why was he spending more time away? What was there for him? He had everything at home. Younger than him by 6 years she was apprehensive. Men weren’t built to live alone – and she knew he would eventually re-marry but she hoped it would be to someone suitable, a friend maybe. Alice she discounted but that was a mistake that would cost her dear!
So the spider began to weave her web. She caught him as she knew she would. The hiring fee was paid off, they married and she moved into the farmhouse, determined to show everyone in the village who had looked down on her that as Mrs Thomas Allen, landowner, she was entitled to some respect. She had gained that though most of the women didn’t like her. His sister didn’t – “you are a fool Thomas” . “She’s only after you for your money. She’d even repeated the phrase on the wedding day! However, after living with a Godly but joyless wife for so long, always being reminded it was though her urging he’d done so well Thomas would not listen. Alice’s young body was all he could think of.
Alice was taught how to polish and care for the beautiful furniture. Although part of her missed the company but not the fondling and lewd glances of the alehouse customers, she was shrewd enough to realise she had to give value for money. She did as she was asked by Thomas’s sister , was always subservient, and learned to cook and milk the cows and see to the hens etc though Mary was still suspicious of her. Alice asked for nothing for herself only a small patch of land where she could grow a few flowers. She was fond of flowers. She did not assert herself or try to take over the running of the house, which said Mary to her friends was a point in her favour, but then what did a girl of Alice’s background know about how things were managed.
Thomas was delighted with his marriage and taught Alice to read and write during the long winter hours. At night the three of them could be found in the kitchen near a roaring fire: Mary busy knitting while Alice and Thomas sat at the table. Alice was a quick learner, but always contrived to make mistakes so Thomas could correct her.
People came as they had always done, for eggs, cheese and butter and life was good . The farm was thriving, another worker had been taken on, and Thomas had Alice to warm his bed at night. Alice? she waited. She wanted more and it was her right after all . Thomas was no help. Life for him was good. and he saw no reason to change, and was unaware of the friction that had started to build between the two women. He was content but intimacy with Thomas had proved to be unsatisfactory – at least for Alice. When his sister died after a short illness, as the result of a bad chill so it was said, it left the two of them alone in the farmhouse. She tested the strands of the web – they remained firm – Thomas’s infatuation was as strong as ever.
When he learned he was to be a father Thomas was overjoyed – though it was tempered to some degree by the fear that Alice might be lost to him. He was reassured that she was young and healthy, so different from Rachel. However, he was not convinced and hired someone from the village to help in the house. Waste of money many said, but Alice’s gratitude was all the recompense he needed. His son arrived late one dark night. A strong, lusty individual said the midwife, though in colouring he looked nothing like Thomas or Alice. Mother and son thrived and Thomas was full of pride, showing off his family to all who visited . Lucky Thomas all said.
Patrick was just over a year old when Thomas unexpectedly became ill. A trifling cough, which would not go away. Alice was distraught. No-one could have cared for him more everyone said – even had the doctor to him. She tried various remedies neighbours swore had helped their menfolk. He kept complaining of tiredness and shortness of breath, but no reason could be found.
He died clutching his chest one beautiful June morning and Alice was inconsolable when brought the news by one of the farm workers. She accepted everyone’s condolences with calmness and dignity. As they left the mourners had paid their respects to the grieving widow giving her offers of help, all of which were gratefully accepted. When the last person left the house was quiet, save for the long case clock ticking away in the hall.
Now alone, completely alone save for her son, Alice trailed her fingers over the beautiful furniture, and along the edges of the table with its remnants of food and drink. Then turning round she brought her hands together and smiled. Just the garden to see to now.