by The Castlefield Collector (Watch for the Talleyman) (retail) (epub)
‘Who says so?’
‘I do. Let that be an end to the matter.’
Evie fired up the engine and drove off at speed, itching to retaliate but mindful of bringing on another attack. ‘I’ll speak to Harold, if you like, get him to call a meeting of those in a position of authority so everyone fully comprehends how they must simply get on with things as if you were still in the office. Which I’m sure they’re doing already. That will have to do.’
Nathan began to splutter with rage, all his good intentions to stay calm vanishing in a blood-red mist of fury. ‘If you choose not to help, Evie, I’ll find someone else who will have other options.’
‘I’m sure you do, so use them. This is all too boring, so can we change the subject? Ah look, here we are, home at last. Now do be a brave old chap and don’t make a fuss.’
With a sigh of relief, Evie drew the motor to a halt on the gravelled drive and Clara came rushing out of the house, pushing a wheelchair before her, ready to sweep him inside and start fussing over his recuperation.
Nathan resisted, refusing to get out of the car, and waving his fist at Evie who made no move to assist while Clara struggled with the wheelchair down the steps. ‘Mark my words I’ll have my way in this matter. I shall expect you to have done something about closing that nasty place down by the time we speak again. Do you understand? You will stop behaving like a floozy, at once, do you hear?’
‘I think Mumsie is here with your invalid carriage, Pops dear.’ And having dismissed both the mill and her father as being of trifling concern, Evie left him to Clara’s tender care and returned her attention to her more important concerns.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Aggie’s son was born without any problems one morning in early December. Rather fancifully she opted to call him Noel, since Christmas was approaching.
‘Isn’t he just the perfect little man?’ she gushed, and even Harold looked thoroughly pleased with himself, as if he’d carried out the entire task: pregnancy, labour and delivery, all by himself, without any help whatsoever.
‘He’s a way to go before he’s a man but he’s certainly perfect, and with my nose, I think.’
‘Most definitely,’ Aggie agreed, relieved that her indiscretion remained undetected. ‘I can’t wait to get home and start to look after him. Nursing and feeding him will be lovely. Now, Harold, about the cot and pram and such like—’
‘I’ve told you already, dear, that there’s no need for you to worry your head over such things. Lizzie Bramley’s cousin can supply everything we need. She’s done with babies now, apparently, and will be glad to have the stuff taken off her hands.’
Aggie could feel her face going all stiff and cold, even as she attempted to smile. ‘But love, I’ve given you a fine, healthy son. Surely he deserves the best? I thought we’d agreed that we’d get all new for our first child.’
‘Of course.’ And his smile grew increasingly fixed as Aggie attempted to appear enticing.
‘There will be others, two or three I hope, so think of it as an investment for the future. Besides…’ Aggie drew in a hasty breath. She’d gone this far, and there was no turning back. ‘I’ve been keeping it as a surprise but I’ve already bought and paid for all the baby equipment we might possibly need: pram, high chair, cot, complete layette, everything.’
Harold’s eyebrows shot up. ‘Everything?’
‘Everything.’ It hadn’t come out quite as she’d intended but it was too late now.
‘But how did you find the money?’ He was giving her a quizzical, sideways look, which made her feel decidedly uncomfortable.
‘I saved hard,’ Aggie lied, hurrying on before he followed this up with too many probing questions. She needed Harold to not only be proud of her, but to show sympathy for her sacrifice and generously offer to refund the cost. ‘Oh, but it was hard, I freely confess. Pinching a bit from the housekeeping here, there and everywhere. Some weeks I never knew how I was going to manage from one day to the next.’
‘Were those the weeks we had tough beef and stringy lamb?’
‘Well, it did leave me a bit short but this is our wonderful boy. I wanted him to have the best, and wanted you to have the best when you take him out for an airing on Sunday afternoons in his fine new baby carriage.’
Harold was taking it really rather well, she thought, not showing any sign of being cross with her. He looked almost jovial. ‘My word, Aggie but you’re a likely lass. Who’d have thought you could have managed to save all that money with me still on short rations at the mill. You’re a wonder! And the best of it is we still have my savings, all tucked away nice and safe for a rainy day.’ Kissing her on the cheek, he lifted his son proudly in his arms. ‘And that’s where they can stay, son, isn’t it, since you’ve got such a clever mam?’
Aggie stared at him aghast. It had all gone wrong, as he wasn’t going to give her any money. But the real problem was that Nifty Jack was never off her doorstep.
He was waiting for Aggie, lurking in an alleyway, as she strolled by one morning a week or two later. She was going nowhere in particular but the sun was shining and she was determined to show off her son in his fine new baby carriage. Aggie was feeling quite perky, planning what to make for Harold’s dinner when he suddenly stepped out in front of her.
Grabbing the handle of the pram he tugged it from her grasp and sent it rolling away down the alley. Aggie screamed, watching horrified as the baby carriage bounced over the cobbles, little Noel screaming at the top of his small lungs. Aggie started to run after him but Nifty slammed her up against a wall and held her firm, one hand grasping her chin in a tight grip, the other shoving an arm up her back.
‘Your fancy pram has crashed into that back yard wall so don’t fret about the babby, it’s only given him a shaking up. What you need to fix your mind on is that come Monday morning, at nine sharp, I’ll be round for the balance, which by my reckoning comes to just short of seven pounds.’
‘What? But I only borrowed three pounds ten shillings from you in the first place. Where’s the rest come from?’
‘Interest. Nothing is cheap.’
‘But that’s criminal. You must be charging me a hundred per cent.’
He gave her what might pass for a sympathetic smile. ‘That’s life, Mrs Entwistle. Fair reward for the bother you gave me by missing some payments. And remember, if you don’t settle soon, there’ll be even more interest added. Monday morning, at nine sharp. We wouldn’t want anything worse to happen to your son and heir, now would we?’
Aggie couldn’t get to her baby fast enough, snatching him up and holding him to her breast almost faint with relief. He was all hot and bothered, in a lather of sweat from his crying, his nappy sopping wet, but he didn’t seem to have come to any harm. This time. Dear God, but how much worse of a state might he be in if she failed to comply with Nifty Jack’s orders? But she didn’t have seven pounds, not even half or a quarter of that sum. Aggie no longer had two wages coming in, and she had a baby to feed and clothe and care for.
‘Oh, what on earth am I going to do, Noel? How can we persuade your daddy to hand over his savings?’
* * *
Aggie had never been more frightened in all her life. Everywhere she walked she felt certain Nifty Jack was watching and following her. She half expected him to appear at every corner to snatch the pram off her again and run off with her precious darling. She could hardly sleep or eat for the fear growing in her like a canker. Finally, she gathered together all her courage and asked Harold for more money.
He looked at her askance and then smiled benevolently. ‘I know, it’s hard for you with Christmas coming, and you not earning any money of your own these days. Don’t worry my love, it’s your task to take care of our little Noel and of course I’ll provide you with a bit extra for Christmas puddings, mince tarts and the like. I’m not Scrooge, you know.’
‘I didn’t suggest that you were.’
‘The girls at the mill are planning the
ir Christmas party, their “footings” as they call it and they’ve told me to invite you, so you’ve something to look forward to. It’s going to be a good do that they’ve been saving up for weeks, a shilling at a time. They must have a tidy sum saved.’
‘Who’s organising it?’ Aggie asked, looking thoughtful.
‘Lizzie Bramley, not the most level headed lass, although she’s tucked it away safe in the boiler room under Ned’s eagle eye, I believe.’ Harold chuckled. ‘I reckon they’re all planning to dress up and have a right old time of it.’
‘Well of course, I’d love to come,’ Aggie said, her interest sharpening. ‘And I must call in and show off our little Noel soon, don’t you think?’
She called the very next day, allowing all her old mates, even those who’d teased and played tricks on her, to hold Noel and pass him around like a parcel. They kissed and tickled the baby and then Aggie retrieved her son, wrapped him in his blanket, and holding him close promised she’d see them all at the party and went on her way. She’d spotted old Ned, through the grimy window. He was in the mill yard, playing football with one or two of the lads on his morning tea break. It was easy enough to slip into the boiler room, and it took no time at all to find the tin box, secreted in Ned’s locker where he kept his tools. What a very silly place to put all that money.
There were one or two of the girls’ bags left with him for safe keeping, and she quickly rifled through them, finding the odd sixpence or shilling tucked away. Aggie felt not a trace of guilt. What had they ever done for her except plagued the life out of her, making fun because she was the overlooker’s wife. Well, her need was greater than theirs. Noel’s welfare was far more important than some silly party.
When she got her little hoard safely home, Aggie was disappointed to discover that the total sum was far less than she’d hoped for. Little more than a couple of pounds had been saved towards the party. And not even that from the girls’ bags. Nowhere near enough to get her off the hook with Nifty Jack, although it might pacify him for a week or two. She also had the problem of disposing of the tin box. She quickly bundled Noel back into his pram and hurried down to the canal where she threw it in, standing on the tow path till it had sunk quite out of sight.
On her way home she was surprised to bump into Matt Thornton.
‘Hello Aggie, I thought it was you. Hey up, does this young ‘un belong to you? He’s a bobby dazzler, isn’t he?’
Her first sensation on seeing Matt was one of pure panic, worrying he might have seen what she was up to. Now, flattered by his comments she stood back for him to admire her child.
After a moment, Matt said, ‘How’s Dolly? I never seem to see her these days.’
‘Oh, she’s busy trying to patch up her marriage.’
A small silence, then he gave a sigh. ‘Well, next time you see her, give her my regards, will you, Aggie?’
‘Of course, if I remember, but I don’t see much of her these days, what with my new baby and Harold working hard on the new orders.’
As she turned to walk home, Nifty Jack appeared at her elbow, like a ghost out of nowhere. Aggie almost jumped out of her skin. ‘Have you got the money I asked for, Mrs Entwistle?’ She glanced quickly back over her shoulder to check that Matt had gone, then handed over three of the pounds she’d stolen. She needed the other few shillings to get her through the week.’
‘This isn’t enough, I’m afraid. The whole sum should have been paid by now or I’ll have to increase the interest. Have you spoken to your husband yet?’
Aggie could feel herself start to shake. ‘I’ll have the rest next week, I promise. I’ll get you the money as soon as I can. Please give me time Nifty, will you? I’m doing my best but I have my baby to think of.’
‘Course you do,’ said Nifty, picking a thread off the lapel of his fine tweed jacket. ‘But I’d recommend you walk him some place safer in future, eh lass? The canal is a damp, dangerous place for babbies.’
* * *
The theft was soon spotted and poor Ned was devastated.
‘Who would steal the party money? Someone must have slipped in from outside when my back was turned. No one from this mill would ever consider taking it. I’d trust everyone here with me life, so I would.’
‘What a sad thing to happen,’ Aggie softly said.
When Harold sat down to their meal of boiled ham and tomatoes, he gave a sad shake of his head. ‘The party has been called off, as no one can afford to pay for it twice. Lizzie suggested that we could maybe all of us take in a bit of food, instead. I told her you would certainly make a contribution.’
Aggie flared up instantly, all pink-cheeked and flustered outrage. ‘You’d no right to say such a thing. Aren’t things difficult enough with a new baby and down to one wage? I can’t afford to pay for no fancy party food.’
Harold frowned at her. ‘But I thought you were managing so well, and it doesn’t have to be fancy. A few sandwiches or some of your home made scones would go down a treat.’
‘I’d manage much better if you dipped a bit deeper into those savings of yours.’
Harold smiled kindly at her. ‘They are for our dream, Aggie, as you well know. Our projected move to the suburbs.’
‘Which won’t happen till I’m old and grey, at this rate.’
‘Well then, it will be a good place to retire to,’ said Harold placidly. ‘Is there any more ham, dear, I’m a bit peckish this evening?’
* * *
‘You’ve got to help me, I’m in desperate trouble.’ Aggie would rather have cut off her right arm than ask her sister for help, but she knew now that she had no choice.
Dolly regarded her with a somewhat jaundiced eye. ‘What sort of trouble? You’ve got a fine baby, a loving husband, so what have you got to complain about?’
‘Money, what else?’
‘Overspent on baby stuff? This is certainly an expensive looking pram. Fit for a prince.’ Dolly jiggled it, smiling down at baby Noel.
‘Maybe I have overspent a bit, so I need to make use of your facilities as a money lender.’
Dolly gave a brittle little laugh. ‘No doubt at a special rate of interest.’
Aggie looked affronted. ‘I wasn’t expecting to pay any interest at all. You’re my sister.’
‘Oh, you’ve remembered at last, have you? Now that it suits you. Although I don’t remember you helping to pay off Mam’s debts when she was in hock up to her eyeballs. Considering I’m the cuckoo in the nest, a bastard as you insist on calling me, I really feel I’ve done more than my share. Nobody ever thinks to ask what I might need, or feel about the way things have turned out. You were the one who started all of this upset in the first place, with your mean mouth and nasty jealousy. I’m the one who had to fight to regain my job and damaged reputation, I then lost my husband, thanks to your interference.’
‘You can’t blame me for everything.’
‘Why can’t I? Not satisfied with happily informing me I didn’t belong in your family, you were the one who ruined my marriage.’
‘What makes you say that?’ Aggie stammered, her cheeks flushing bright pink.
‘Didn’t you talk me into telling Sam about Cabbage Lil? Quite unnecessarily.’
‘Oh, that’s all. What else could it be?’
Dolly frowned. ‘Now I’ve lost a man I love and find myself stuck with a no-good lump who refuses to leave my home and treats the place like a flipping hotel, expecting to be fed like a lord and waited on hand, foot and finger. You should have married Sam Clayton, Aggie, you and him were made for each other.’
‘Oh, stop complaining. I’m the one with real problems, having got the talleyman on my tail.’
Dolly’s jaw dropped open and she stared at her sister, aghast. ‘Oh, Aggie no, after everything that’s happened to us in the past, why on earth would you be so stupid as to involve yourself with Nifty Jack?’
Desperate for some sympathy, Aggie told the tale from start to finish, carefully omitting any mention of
the missing party money, and how she’d nicked it.
Dolly didn’t interrupt once, not until she was done, then asked the obvious question. ‘Have you told Harold?’
Aggie’s voice rose on a familiar note of hysteria. ‘No I haven’t. He insisted we buy second-hand, which I couldn’t tolerate. He’s not nearly so generous as you might imagine.’ Neither did she make any mention of forging his signature, cheating the store or lying to him by pretending that she’d saved every penny. ‘How can I admit to him that in trying to sort myself out, I’ve got into debt with Nifty Jack? He’ll hit the roof.’
‘I’m not surprised. Have you no sense, Aggie? No, of course you haven’t, you’re too full of venom and selfishness to allow your brain the opportunity to think clearly.’
‘I never meant this to happen, so you must help me.’
‘Where were you when I tried to do the right thing and pay off Mam’s debt? Handing out second-hand boots, that’s all you ever did. You should’ve made do with second-hand stuff for the baby, like everybody else. No, Aggie, there’s only one solution and that’s to own up to Harold, hope he forgives you and digs deep into his pocket, or at least into his savings account.’
‘Are you saying you don’t intend to help?’
‘That’s exactly what I’m saying. It may have escaped your notice but I’ve enough problems of my own striving to keep clients Nifty Jack is constantly trying to pinch off me. And look what taking over Calvin and Mam’s debt did to my marriage, having ruined my life. So getting myself tangled up in yours wouldn’t do me any good at all would it? No more debt for me, love. Sorry, but you’re on your own.’
* * *
Furious with the need for revenge against her sister for taking this attitude, the very next day Aggie called on Mrs Barker. She sat in the fine drawing room jigging baby Noel on her lap to keep him quiet and faced her employer’s wife with a face like granite.