The Castlefield Collector

by The Castlefield Collector (Watch for the Talleyman) (retail) (epub)

  ‘I’ve got to go,’ she said, and fled.

  * * *

  Dolly went next to the corner shop and began to pick Edna’s brains about how she’d got started, if it had proved profitable to open and run a shop.

  ‘Profitable? You must joking. I put all me savings into this place when my Bill died,’ Edna said. ‘It’s only rented but I had to pay for the good will and stock. But the chap I bought it off cheated me good and proper.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘He made out there was more stock than there actually was, when half of it were nothing more than dummy packets. I were the dummy, for believing him. I’ve rent and light and heating to pay, fresh food and stock to buy and what with another mill closing down last week, I’ll have even fewer customers coming through t’door to buy sandwiches and pies at dinner time.

  ‘And them what do come in might buy nothing more than half a loaf, ha’p’orth of tea or two ounces of cheese. Not that they have any money to pay for it even then. They pay for everything on t’tick. Worst of it is, if they ever do have any spare cash, they’ll spend it at the Co-op, in order to get their divvy. Nay lass, there’s no profit in shopkeeping, I can tell you that for nothing. They don’t seem to realise that even shopkeepers have to eat. We have money troubles too.’

  Dolly decided against running a shop. Instead, she tried her hand at door to door selling.

  She set herself up with a display box of cotton reels, darning wool, safety pins, tape and elastic and went round the streets knocking on doors. She didn’t sell very many so decided to try standing the market. But then an old soldier came up and accused her of stealing his patch, saying he’d already lost his leg, and was she going to steal his income as well? Dolly fled, gave the box to her mother and vowed to look for some other form of employment.

  It was so frustrating. Not the mill, not a shop, not the market. She was running out of ideas. She had all this money and not the first notion how to make good use of it. And then she remembered something Edna had said, about even a shopkeeper having money troubles, and the answer came to her, clear as day. She’d set herself up as a moneylender. She’d take on Nifty Jack at his own game.

  Chapter Nineteen

  The first thing Dolly did was to use half the money to pay something off the vast sum they owed him. ‘Here’s fifteen pounds on account,’ she told Nifty Jack. ‘I’ll give you the rest as soon as I have it.’

  It was a huge risk to part with such a large amount all at one go, but surely worth it just to see his jaw slacken and his mouth drop open. ‘Where’d you get this sort of money from?’

  ‘None of your business! It’s honestly come by, which is more than can be said for most of your income.’

  ‘I’ll be keeping a closer eye on you in future, girl. You’re up to something.’

  ‘Nothing illegal, unlike some folk, so you keep your nose out of my affairs.’ Looking at him, Dolly couldn’t bear to think that this man had put his grubby hands all over her. The very idea made her want to vomit. She could hardly tolerate being near him and the sooner she no longer needed to act as his housekeeper, the better, even if it was only part-time and he was currently behaving himself.

  ‘I’ll be expecting to see a drop in the amount of interest you add on every week. What’s more, I’d appreciate it if you’d tot up exactly what remains on the book, since I must have worked quite a bit of it off, as has Mam, with all the washing and ironing she’s done for you. You can let me have the details next week.’

  Oh, it felt good to be in control at last.

  She went back to Edna. ‘If you’re tight Edna, or if you hear of anyone else who is, I might be able to help out with the odd few bob.’

  ‘Oh, aye, and pigs might fly.’

  ‘No, I’m serious. I’ve come by a windfall, you might say, and I’d like to use it to set myself up in opposition to Nifty Jack, as a moneylender. An honest one, mind! Is that a crazy idea, do you reckon?’

  Now it was Edna’s turn to gaze, slack-mouthed, at Dolly. ‘I’d say that’s the best news I’ve heard since our Albert left home and got someone else to wash his dirty socks. How can you do that? Where would you come by a stack of money? No, don’t tell me, love, as I don’t want to know.’

  ‘It was honestly got, Edna, believe me. That’s all I can say.’

  Edna nodded. ‘Fair enough. Well then, if you’re serious, I could do with thirty bob to pay one of my suppliers, just to the end of the month. What’s yer rate of interest?’

  ‘Oh, I hadn’t thought. No, you can have it for nothing, you’ve been so good to me.’

  ‘No lass, that’s no way to do business. It should be a penny in the shilling at least. Nifty Jack charges a penny-halfpenny, two pence if he doesn’t like the look of you. If you’re going to do it at all, lass, do it right. I’m certainly willing to pay a proper whack for a loan, so long as it’s all honest and above board.’

  ‘I promise you that it will be. And if you fall behind with your payments because of problems with the shop, Nifty won’t be chasing after your daughter for favours, nor any of his cronies coming round to remove your furniture or stock. We’ll just renegotiate the time you need to pay, or the sum you pay each week. How does that sound?’

  ‘Champion.’

  * * *

  Edna Crawshaw paid off the thirty bob within the agreed timescale, but then borrowed it again the following month, and the one after that. She said it was making a big difference to her cash flow, just to get her through this sticky patch. Edna also spread the word to those on her tick book, the ones she trusted to pay regular, and Dolly gradually acquired several more clients. In some cases she settled what they owed to Nifty, thereby taking over the debt herself. This did not please him in the slightest.

  ‘What’s going on?’ he growled, the first time it happened, but Dolly simply smiled and warned him to mind his manners in future, or he’d find himself running out of clients altogether.

  ‘Like hell, I will.’

  ‘I’m giving you a bit of competition, Nifty, and there’s not a thing you can do about it.’

  ‘You stay off my patch, if you know what’s good for you.’

  ‘Who’s going to stop me? Not those scraggy little men you call your henchmen. They’d best not touch me, or I’ll be forced to call on all my big brothers. And they won’t bother with the monkeys, they’ll take it out on the organ grinder. So lay off.’

  Nifty Jack was left spluttering with rage. Nobody had ever dared to stand up to him before, not like this, let alone set up in opposition. It was bare-faced cheek. He couldn’t believe what was happening, the last thing he’d expected.

  He’d thought he was wearing her down, believing that if he piled on enough interest she’d finally cave in and climb into his bed, just for a bit of peace and quiet. It certainly wasn’t worth her while trying to save that shaky marriage of hers. He’d seen Sam Clayton in the pub night after night, and once, he could have sworn he saw him in the passenger seat of that fancy car which belonged to Nathan Barker’s daughter. Things obviously weren’t going well for the two lovebirds, which he’d taken to indicate that he was winning.

  Now he jabbed Dolly’s shoulder with the stub of one nicotine-stained finger, pushing her back against the wall. ‘I’ll not have some slip of a girl telling me what to do. I don’t know where you’ve come by this money, but don’t think that’ll let you off the hook. You still owe me a tidy sum, and would do well to remember that.’

  ‘I paid you extra last week. I’ll pay you extra next, and every one after that. I’ve a nice little income coming in now, so I can afford to. You were quite right Nifty. Money makes money. You and me will have settled our differences in no time, mark my words.’

  * * *

  Dolly finally broached the subject of the money with Sam one evening, explaining it away by telling a story as near to the truth as she dare; that she’d been working as maid-companion for an old woman during those months she’d been away. ‘I thought she was mean a
nd I was only earning my keep, but then I opened that old bag for the first time since I got home and there it was, all the wages she owed me, all rolled up neat in a clip. Can you believe it?’

  He didn’t believe it, not entirely. Sam frowned and considered the matter for some long moments in silence. ‘This isn’t one of your convoluted ways of telling me you did something wrong, is it, Dolly?’

  ‘What, like I pinched it? Do you take me for a thief? Well, ta very much. That’s a nice thing for your husband to accuse of, I must say.’

  ‘I didn’t accuse you of anything, I was only wondering if you were embroidering the tale, as you so often do. It just seems a bit odd, that this woman, whoever she is, should pay you like that. How much was it?’

  This was something Dolly had no wish to tell him. ‘A few quid that I earned is all legal and above board. Enough to give me a start.’

  ‘It sounds a bit fishy to me. Was she the one I spoke to? Lily, was it?’

  What a memory he had. ‘No, that was someone else entirely. Look, aren’t you pleased I’m doing well? We’re on our way out of this mire, at last. Isn’t that something to be happy about?’

  ‘Aye, course it is.’

  ‘Well, give us a kiss then, you daft ha’p’orth.’ She always had to ask for a kiss these days, and he somehow lacked enthusiasm when he complied. She’d win him round though, once he saw that things were improving for them.

  * * *

  Following her conversation with Evie, Aggie made a few enquiries and soon got wind of her sister’s changed fortunes. She came bustling round to check if the rumours were correct. Dolly groaned the moment she saw her. It was obvious Aggie was bursting to have her say about something.

  ‘Go on then,’ Dolly said. ‘Get it off your chest, why don’t you.’

  ‘I reckon you’d best tell me what’s going on, our Dolly.’ Aggie took off her coat, hanging it with care on the hooks at the bottom of the stairs, set her kid gloves and bag on the table but left her hat in place. It was blue felt with a bunch of purple grapes stuck on the side. ‘What are you up to? I’ve heard you’ve got a job. Who’d employ you after what you did?’

  Dolly was glad that Maisie was out at Nifty Jack’s collecting his laundry, and the two sisters could have the kitchen to themselves. ‘It’s not a job, not as such. I’ve started my own business.’

  Aggie’s mouth fell open. ‘What sort of business?’

  ‘You’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you, like everyone else. Or ask your gossipy friends. They seem to keep you well informed.’

  Aggie settled herself on one of the stand chairs, fidgeting a little as if to show that she wasn’t used to such stark discomfort. ‘It’s got something to do with that woman, Cabbage Lil, hasn’t it? Don’t try any of your fancy fairy stories on me because you were seen talking to her on the market the other day. What have you been up to now?’

  Dolly felt herself go cold. ‘I’ve not been up to anything. Who’s been making up nasty tales about me?’

  Aggie gave a disdainful sniff. ‘Don’t I get a pot of tea? It is customary to offer refreshments to a visitor, or have you lost all your manners?’

  Dolly got up and banged the kettle on to the hob, began to clatter about the sink, searching for two clean mugs. ‘Go on get on with it. Who saw me?’

  ‘As a matter of fact the information came from an impeccable source,’ Aggie said, purring with satisfaction. ‘Miss Barker herself saw you, the gaffer’s daughter no less.’

  ‘Miss…? Oh, Evie Barker, the girl with the fancy motor who started all our troubles in the first place.’ Dolly came back to the table and sank down on to a chair, feeling slightly bemused. What on earth had Evie Barker been doing in that neck of the woods? Surely not her sort of territory at all. ‘So you’d believe her, rather than me, your own sister?

  ‘How would I know what to believe, and isn’t our family famous for keeping secrets? Have you told Sam yet? Have you told your husband about this Cabbage Lil, and what you got up to?’

  ‘Oh, put a sock in it, Aggie, why don’t you? How many times do I have to tell you that I didn’t get up to anything.’ Dolly turned away, glad now of the distraction of making tea, which at least kept her hands occupied and stopped them from strangling her sister.

  ‘Mark my words, if you don’t tell him soon, someone else will. Happen this Evie Barker.’

  ‘Why would she? She doesn’t even know my Sam.’

  ‘Oh, she knows him right enough. Don’t they both work at the mill, so how can she not know him? And Sam is never backward at coming forward when there’s a pretty woman around. I’d keep an eye on that husband of yours, if I were you.’

  ‘If you’ve only come to stir up trouble…’

  ‘You should have wed someone nice and safe, and well placed, like my Harold. He never gives me a moment’s concern. And he’s going up in the world, is Harold.’ This no longer seemed to be true, but not for a moment would Aggie admit as much to Dolly.

  ‘So you’ve told me a thousand times. Pity it isn’t with a bang. Well, you may not believe this, Aggie, but I’m on the up and up too, so put that in your pipe and smoke it.’

  ‘And how could you manage to do that with not a penny to call your own?’

  ‘That’s where you’re wrong. I do have a bit of money, and all honestly earned. So I’ve set myself up in competition to Nifty Jack as a money lender.’

  Aggie’s mouth fell open. ‘Moneylender? I don’t believe it. How can you lend money when you can’t pay off your own debts?’

  ‘Not my debts but our father’s debts, or rather your father as you frequently remind me he was.’

  Aggie had the grace the flush, since she’d done nothing to help clear them.

  ‘I pay off other folk’s smaller debts and then they pay me, week by week and, because of the interest I charge, fair and less than Nifty Jack charges, I make a profit which helps pay more off Mam’s. I’ve cleared quite a bit already and feel confident of being rid of the lot within a couple of years, if I’m lucky.’

  Aggie could hardly believe her ears. Having her little sister go up in the world was not part of the plan at all. And the worst of it was, it was so clever. She would never have thought of it herself. She scoured her mind for some way to fight back. ‘So what is Sam’s reaction to all of this?’

  Dolly turned away to warm the teapot, aware that her cheeks were flushing as she recalled the suspicious questions he’d asked when she’d tried to explain, and the many more since, all indicating complete lack of trust. ‘He’s coming round to the idea,’ was all she said, and heard Aggie’s grunt of satisfaction.

  ‘Ah, so he smells a rat too, which doesn’t surprise me. He’ll have his own private source of information about what you’re really up to: that you’re very likely keeping Nifty Jack’s bed warm as well as Cabbage Lil’s clients. You watch him with that Evie Barker. They’re up to no good, mark my words.’

  Dolly whirled upon her sister. ‘Shut that nasty trap of yours before I shut it for you. If you’ve nothing decent to say, don’t bother coming round here again. I’m sick of your spite and vicious tittle-tattle.’

  Whereupon Aggie departed before even the kettle boiled, slamming the door shut behind her.

  ‘I’ve done it,’ Dolly announced to Matt. It was a day or two later and she was on her way back from Martin’s Bank where she’d set up an account, strictly for business, and there he was on Potato Wharf, just as if he’d known she’d come by and was waiting for her. ‘I’ve set up in competition to Nifty Jack. I expect you’ve heard.’

  ‘I have and I’m proud of you. But then I always was. I hope Sam is too.’

  She gave a self-conscious little laugh. ‘Oh, you know men, he’s a bit miffed that I’ve done something off me own bat. He wanted to know how I came by the money but I’m afraid he didn’t believe me when I tried to explain.’ She was smiling brightly but the shimmer of light and the way his face blurred told her that her eyes were filling with a rush of tears ag
ain. ‘He wouldn’t properly listen but I earned it honestly. I swear it. I’ve done nothing – nothing wrong, or to be ashamed of.’

  Matt nodded, his expression grim. ‘I’m sure you haven’t. You never would. Not our Dolly.’ He put a hand in his pocket, drew out a clean white handkerchief and handed it to her. ‘Don’t worry, with luck he’ll come round. It’s his pride, I expect.’

  Dolly dried her eyes and blew her nose, feeling foolish now, embarrassed by this show of emotion. ‘What a sorry sight I must look.’

  ‘You look wonderful, Dolly, as always.’

  She glanced up then and met the full impact of his gaze. His eyes were moving over her face and yet seeming to be riveted on hers, gazing right into the heart of her. He wasn’t smiling, didn’t say a word, just stood there as if memorising every feature. Deep in the pit of her stomach was a beat of what she could only call excitement. What was happening to her? How could she feel so anguished about Sam’s lack of trust, and yet so disturbed and flustered simply from looking at Matt? Always, in the past, she’d felt quite comfortable with him, now she felt anything but. She felt exhilarated, yes that was the word, as if something had changed between them but Dolly wasn’t quite sure what, or why. Oh, what a muddle she was in, and what of Sam? Aggie’s comments had been typically blunt and cruel, but were they true? ‘Do you know if he’s…’

  ‘If he’s what, Dolly?’

  She was going to say, if he’s seeing anyone, if he’s having an affair, but how could she involve Matt in this mess? Sam was her problem and nobody else’s. Besides, why listen to Aggie’s nasty gossip? It was all jealousy, retaliation against her success in making some money at last. Aggie had ever been so and Dolly knew that she really shouldn’t take her sister’s malice so much to heart.