Jack the Ripper – A Love Story ( Excerpt 120 )

Jack the Ripper – A Love Story ( Excerpt 120 )

  And to complete the meal, Mrs Mc Ginty once again excelled herself, by presenting my guests and myself with a winter fruit pudding topped with Chantilly crème, a veritable delight to the taste buds in every sense.

After everyone had eaten their fill and Mrs Mc Ginty had cleared the table to the hurrahs of my friends. Lizzie said, ‘ If you gentleman wish to have your port and cigars and male conversation, I will happily retire to the kitchen and attempt to pick Mrs Mc Ginty’s brains?’

‘I wouldn’t hear of it, Lizzie.’ I stated, ‘ You are a friend. and as such, you are more than welcome to stay and join us for a drink!’

We drank and conversed until late in to the night, Mainly about what my position might be, once I arrived in South Africa. I explained to them that I had little or no inclination, it was up to the caprices of my masters in the War Office.

I was looking forwards to it with a certain amount of trepidation, if I had just one inclination of my final destination, this might have turned to dread, but this all came later.

Fred and Lizzie Abberline said their goodnights and goodbyes, I can in all honesty say that I have never had a finer more supportive pair of friends. Fred shook hands and hugged me and wished me well. Lizzie hugged me, kissed me on both cheeks and then burst out crying. But then, this was a very emotional parting, none of us knew if we would ever meet again.

After the Abberline’s had left, Giles stated, ‘ I liked your friends, they are good people, you are lucky to have made friends like them!’ ‘ Believe me, brother, I am well aware of that fact!’ we retired to our separate rooms. Giles was coming to the docks with me to see me off, Fred wanted to come too, but his duties wouldn’t allow it.

 (C) Damian Grange 2018

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