A Winter Baby for Gin Barrel Lane

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  ‘Are you two at it again?’ Dolly asked with a wide grin.

  ‘Always and forever. Nell, Dolly’s here!’

  Nellie Larkin trundled through from the bar, her grey hair piled untidily on her head. ‘Hello, gel.’

  ‘I’ve come for some advice, Nellie, if you have time.’

  ‘Always got time for you, sweetheart. Nance, tea and biscuits if you please.’

  Nancy set the kettle to boil, grumbling under her breath. ‘Been here all these years and still treated like a skivvy!’

  Nellie and Dolly exchanged an amused smile as they sat at the table.

  ‘Now, how can we help?’

  ‘Oh, it’s we now is it?’ Nancy said quietly.

  ‘It’s always been us, Nance, even before you married Fred,’ Nellie replied soothingly.

  ‘Let me explain,’ Dolly interrupted before a full-blown argument broke out. She told them all about the incident in her bar the previous night and how she’d dealt with it.

  ‘You should have let the Bickley boys leather him!’ Nancy said scornfully.

  ‘Oh, ignore her. I think you did the right thing, but you watch this Danny Whitehouse. Make sure he’s honest and loyal.’

  ‘I will, but I came to ask the best way to employ some more muscle. Billy and Bobby are good men but they’re better working the cellar really, and they don’t seem to be cutting the mustard on the door any more. It’s difficult not having a full-time cellar man so I thought to move them into that position, with a little sweetener of course.’ Dolly rubbed her thumb and fingertips together as she spoke, denoting a raise in wages for the boys.

  ‘Then you won’t have anybody in the bar or standing by the door!’ Nancy said as she covered the brown teapot with a knitted cosy.

  ‘Exactly, so alongside Danny, I need to know where to hire some other men for those jobs.’

  ‘What about the bread line?’ Nellie suggested.

  ‘I wondered about that too,’ Dolly concurred.

  ‘Take Fred with you, lovey, he knows everybody, and no one will mess with you if he’s there,’ Nancy said.

  ‘Thanks, that’s a great idea.’

  A moment later the man in question came up from the cellar followed by Jack, and Nellie outlined what Dolly needed.

  While Nellie talked, Dolly looked at Jack and she could barely believe how much he’d grown since the day they’d first met. He was a handsome young man now. His dark hair was always clean and shiny and his brown eyes held a constant twinkle. The timbre of his voice was deep and pleasant, smooth like cream on coffee. Her mind slipped back through the years to how she and Jack had worked Nellie’s bar together, along with Poppy, who was now wed to Noah Dempster, Nellie’s doorman. They had been one big happy family back then, and to a degree they still were. It was a little different now with Dolly living and working across the road, but they always had each other’s backs in times of need.

  ‘I could move over and work for Dolly,’ Jack said, snapping Dolly back to the conversation.

  ‘No, lad, you’re needed here,’ Nellie said, clearly unwilling to let her son go.

  Once more, Dolly’s thoughts travelled back to when at ten years old Jack had discovered he’d been left on Nellie’s doorstep as a baby. Always believing he was Nellie’s boy, it had come as a major shock to discover he was a foundling, but after talking it through with Dolly, he had come to accept it in time.

  Pulling herself back to the present, Dolly listened as Fred, who had always looked out for her, agreed to accompany her to seek out workers from the ever-growing bread line.

  ‘We’ll go after dinner if that’s all right, ’cos I can’t miss my Nancy’s cooking,’ the big man said, rubbing his hands together.

  ‘I don’t blame you for that,’ Dolly said. ‘I’ll see you about two o’clock then.’

  Dolly left them to their work and sauntered back to Daydream Palace.

  Walking through the back door, she was surprised to see Danny Whitehouse sitting at the table waiting for her.

  3

  ‘I didn’t expect to see you for a while yet,’ Dolly said and nodded to Billy, who stood towering over Danny.

  ‘My mother passed away last night,’ the young man said sadly.

  ‘I’m very sorry for your loss,’ Dolly responded quietly.

  ‘Thank you. She enjoyed her drop of gin, though.’ Danny gave a wan smile before his sadness returned.

  ‘I’m glad for that.’

  ‘I was wondering… would it be possible…?’

  ‘Do you want to start work sooner? I’m guessing you have no money for the funeral.’

  Dolly’s hunch was proved right when Danny nodded.

  ‘I know it’s a lot to ask, but I’d work off what I owe for the gin so my debt to you is paid. You’ve been kindness itself to me and I know I don’t deserve it.’

  ‘What about laying your mum to rest?’ Dolly asked.

  ‘It will have to be a pauper’s grave,’ Danny said, a look of abject misery crossing his face.

  Reaching into her apron pocket, Dolly drew out her purse. Passing enough for a burial over to the forlorn Danny, she said, ‘Go and bury your mum. Come back when it’s all done and you can start then.’

  ‘I don’t know how to thank you,’ he said, his fair hair falling over his blue eyes as he bowed his head.

  ‘You can thank me by being honest and loyal like Billy here.’ Dolly tilted her head towards the big man who puffed out his chest with pride.

  ‘I will, my oath on it.’

  ‘Then that’s good enough for me. Oh, and Danny, before you go, who does your house belong to?’

  Danny frowned at the question. ‘It was my mum’s, why?’

  ‘I was concerned that it may be rented and that you were at risk of being turned out,’ Dolly answered.

  ‘Oh, I see. No, I’m all right but I thank you for the consideration. I’ll see you next week if the vicar can fit Mum in before then. Thank you again.’ With that, Danny left.

  ‘I hope you’m right about him,’ Billy muttered.

  ‘So do I, but for now I need to speak with you and Bobby.’

  Billy found his brother in the cellar and they stood in the kitchen awaiting their fate. Were they to be yelled at for not protecting their boss sufficiently and allowing her to be put in danger? Was Dolly about to sack them?

  ‘I need to know if you two would take on the cellar work full-time?’

  ‘Is this because of last night?’ Bobby asked.

  ‘Well, yes, the idea stems from that. But honestly, I need your strength with the barrels and kegs.’

  ‘What about the bar?’ Billy asked.

  ‘I’ve decided it’s time for reinforcements so I’m going to the bread line this afternoon and Fred Dell is coming with me. So what do you reckon? I’d need your answers before I go.’

  ‘I prefer the cellar,’ Billy said.

  ‘Me an’ all,’ his brother concurred.

  ‘Good. In that case I’m upping your wages by a florin a week.’

  ‘Two bob! Thanks, Dolly!’ Billy gushed.

  ‘Two shillings will help a lot,’ Bobby added.

  ‘Right, away with you,’ Dolly said with a grin. She knew the Bickley family was a large one and the boys took a little money from their wages back to their parents to help out. They shared a room at the Daydream Palace in order to be on the premises at night and also relieve the overcrowding at home.

  Dolly sat at the table and pondered. She needed doormen and bodyguards, but she also needed more bar staff. Now that Janice had twin boys to take care of, Dolly knew there would be times when they would need their mum at home.

  Jack had helped out at the busiest times over the years but she could not rely on him coming to her aid; he worked for Nellie and he was needed there. So, it made sense to employ more staff. Having checked her books with the solicitor Mr Sharpe regularly, she knew she could afford it.

  A very wise older man, Mr Sharpe had been hers and Nellie’s solici
tor for years and had helped them buy and renovate the Palace. She always thought of and addressed him as formally as his greater years demanded.

  She wondered whether the men on the bread line would be interested in the bar staff positions also. How many would she need to employ, all told? Dolly thought she would ask Fred when he arrived later.

  Going through to the bar, she was pleased to see it was packed, even at this time in the morning. Folk always found the money for their gin, regardless of how badly off they were. Her business was fool proof.

  ‘Here she is!’ a man yelled from the crowd. ‘Our Dolly!’

  She waved and gave him a grin.

  ‘Thank God you’re here, we’re flat out!’ Juliet gasped.

  ‘Go and get a cup of tea, I’ll take over,’ Dolly said.

  ‘We have to get a live-in cook Dolly, it’s too much for the two of us,’ the girl responded.

  ‘I’ve been thinking the same,’ Dolly said as she served an eager customer. ‘I’ll call in at the Servants’ Registry later.’

  Juliet nodded and went to take the weight off her feet for ten minutes.

  The noise in the bar was loud as people talked, argued and sang. The drink was flowing copiously and folk were happy, at least for the time being. The doors were propped open to allow the warm summer wind to circulate and men and women stood six thick waiting to be served.

  ‘Dolly, oh Dolly – I love you,’ an old man said in a sing-song voice.

  ‘I’m glad to hear it,’ Dolly sang back.

  All morning they were rushed off their feet, tots of Cream of the Valley, Royal Poverty and Blue Ruin flying across the counter. Coins rattled into the till constantly, a metal symphony accompanying the call for more gin.

  At lunchtime, Dolly grabbed some bread and cheese and a cup of tea in the kitchen, before starting back again behind the bar. She saw Fred come in and was surprised at how quickly the time had sped past.

  Promising to be as quick as possible, Dolly grabbed a parasol from the umbrella stand in the scullery and left via the back door with Fred at her side.

  The relentless sun was only broken momentarily by a breeze like a soft gentle kiss.

  Fred wore his shirt sleeves rolled up above the elbow, his braces holding up his trousers and a flat cap to shield his head from the sun’s rays. His big boots thudded on the cobbles as they strode down the street.

  ‘How many men will I need, do you think? I’ve decided it’s time to stop cutting corners,’ Dolly asked.

  After a moment’s thought Fred answered, ‘Well, ideally about ten I would guess. Two on the door, four behind the bar to give you ladies a rest, and four walking the floor.’

  Dolly nodded. She knew he was speaking sense, and the business could afford it.

  Eventually they came to the corner of James Watt Street and saw a crowd of men chatting. One or two were standing on one leg, the other foot and their backs resting on the wall of a pub, their hands in their pockets. Some were smoking pipes, others had hand-rolled cigarettes.

  All across the town, many street corners had developed breadlines, groups of men waiting in the hope that some wealthy businessman would come along and offer them work. These men would stand all day, come rain or shine, for the promise of a job. It was thought the term breadline stemmed from the men standing in a neat line waiting to be offered toil enough to earn a crust. In reality, the line spent their time putting the world to rights while they awaited the employers who knew where these breadlines were should they need workers.

  As they neared, Fred said, ‘Cover your ears.’

  Dolly looked up at him and hunched her shoulders, holding out her parasol in one hand and her cane in the other.

  ‘Oh, right. I’ll make it quick then,’ Fred said awkwardly. Then he shoved his forefinger and thumb in his mouth and sent out a loud shrill whistle.

  The talking stopped immediately and the men gathered around.

  ‘Most of you know me but for those who don’t, I’m Fred Dell and I work at the Crown Saloon. This lady is Miss Dolly Perkins and she’s the owner of the Daydream Palace, and she’s looking for workers.’

  ‘Good afternoon, gentlemen.’

  A few grunts greeted her and Dolly looked up at Fred who nodded for her to continue.

  ‘I’m looking for workers, as Fred said. I need to know how many of you are married.’ She watched as all but one hand went up. ‘And how many of you have children?’ All but two raised this time.

  Turning to Fred, she whispered, ‘How do I choose?’

  Fred shrugged.

  ‘I’m thinking to hire ten men,’ Dolly went on and was taken aback by the response.

  ‘Me, miss,’ one man called.

  ‘We’ll tackle anything that pays a wage,’ said another.

  ‘I think it fair to hire those with families to feed,’ Dolly said. ‘I need men to work the door at the Daydream as well as some to throw the trouble-makers out.’

  ‘That’s you out then Bert, cos you’m a trouble-maker yerself!’ a man at the back said, causing laughter to ripple amongst the gathering.

  ‘Fred, what about if I took them all on? That way I could have a day shift and a night shift. It would mean they could all be earning, too.’

  ‘Can you afford that many, though?’ Fred asked.

  ‘Yes, I think so. We were guessing ten, but there’s twelve here so we’ll just have to sell more gin!’

  ‘It’s up to you, Dolly.’

  ‘I can employ all of you if you’ve a mind to take the work,’ she called out.

  ‘Yes, miss.’

  ‘Thank you, miss.’

  Dolly smiled. ‘Right, come along to the Daydream Palace tomorrow morning at eight o’clock. Doors open at nine so be on time. I expect honesty, loyalty and good work in exchange for a fair wage. Anyone shirking their duties will be out on their ear because I don’t suffer fools gladly. Thank you, gentlemen, I’ll see you in the morning. Oh, and tell your wives you’ll have breakfast with us.’

  Flat caps flew into the air and yips and laughter sounded. Shouting their thanks, the men dispersed and Dolly and Fred turned for home.

  ‘I’ll have to work out a rota now, I suppose,’ Dolly said with a grin.

  ‘You’ve made a lot of men happy today, Dolly. Their families will be able to eat now too.’

  Dolly thought about that as she limped her way back towards the Daydream Palace.

  ‘I have to go to the Servants’ Registry, I’m going to get us a good cook and a maid.’

  ‘A couple more people to be grateful to you.’

  ‘I’ll be the one being grateful, Fred. I need the help with the cooking and cleaning. We’ve had a few years of real hard work and now we can afford it, we might as well have someone to take over the domestic chores. I just hope I can find somebody as good as Nancy.’

  ‘There ain’t anybody like my Nancy,’ Fred said with a beaming smile.

  ‘Well, let’s go and see what’s on offer,’ Dolly answered, matching his grin.

  4

  ‘Good morning, I’m looking for a cook and a maid, both to live in,’ Dolly said to the woman behind the desk in the Servants’ Registry office.

  The office was situated in Hill Street, which flanked New Street railway station. The brickwork was covered in grime carried by the steam from the engines. Inside was a dingy room, the small windows letting in little light, and the gas lamps guttered, giving out tiny flashes before settling to burn evenly again for another short while. There were no chairs other than the one the woman occupied so those seeking either work or workers were forced to stand. A notice was pinned to the wall stating the fees. Sixpence for registry and threepence for an enquiry. Clearly this office took a fee from both employer and servant. Those looking for a job would pay their fee giving their name, address, what type of work they were looking for and their skill sets. All this was entered into a large book.

  Looking up from her ledger, the woman peered over her spectacles, which were perched on th
e end of her nose. Her gaze moved from Dolly to the towering figure of Fred.

  ‘I’ll need details. Your name?’

  ‘Dolly Perkins.’

  ‘Address?’

  ‘Daydream Palace, Gin Barrel Lane.’

  The woman leaned back in her chair and eyed Dolly. ‘I’m not sure I have anyone on my books who would wish to work in a place like that!’

  ‘Have you looked?’

  ‘No, but…’

  ‘Then I suggest you do. That’s what your job is, isn’t it? Besides, how would you feel knowing you had done someone out of work because of your prejudices?’

  The woman harrumphed and flicked through her thick ledger. Running a finger down the column of neatly written names, she stopped at one. Grabbing a scrap of paper, she wrote down the name, then continued down the column before finding another which she added to the first.

  Taking the paper, Dolly paid the fee. ‘When can I expect them?’

  The woman shrugged her shoulders. ‘That’s anyone’s guess, tomorrow maybe – if I can get a message to them.’

  Leaning forward, Dolly said quietly but forcefully, ‘Not good enough. I’ll see them later today or I’ll have Fred here collect that fee you’ve just taken.’

  ‘Very well, I’ll see what I can do,’ the woman muttered, her eyes flicking to Fred and back to Dolly.

  ‘Thank you,’ Dolly said before she and her companion left the office.

  ‘Well done, lass,’ Fred said, laughing, as they meandered back home.

  ‘Bloody woman!’ Dolly said.

  ‘You sound just like Nellie,’ Fred said jokingly.

  ‘She taught me well, as did Nancy,’ Dolly replied.

  Fred beamed his pleasure at having his wife complimented.

  ‘Thanks for your help today, Fred.’

  The big man nodded, delighted to feel so important.

  They parted company at the end of Aston Street, each going to their respective homes.

  Entering through the back door, Dolly heard singing, which told her that her customers were happy. Going through to the bar, she saw old Aggie sidle forward.

  ‘Did you know… old Mrs Whitehouse has passed on? Some say she choked on her gin!’ Aggie cackled as she placed her empty glass on the bar.