A Winter Baby for Gin Barrel Lane

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  ‘Let’s celebrate! Tea everyone?’ Lucas laughed.

  12

  Calling into the solicitor’s office on the way home, Dolly and Jack enthused about their proposal to buy the Bricky and requested the man draw up the paperwork.

  Mr Sharpe listened attentively then said, ‘I will, of course, but I’d like to ensure you are not paying over the odds.’

  ‘I told Lucas Freeman you would do due diligence,’ Dolly replied.

  ‘Then leave it with me. I will accompany you there the day after tomorrow and we’ll take a good look around.’

  Giving her thanks, Dolly and Jack returned to the Crown. Dolly paid the cabbie and they went indoors to the kitchen to share their news.

  ‘Dolly’s going to buy the Bricky!’ Jack burst out, unable to hold his excitement in check.

  ‘Bloody hell, that was quick!’ Nellie said.

  ‘I haven’t got it yet. Mr Sharpe is accompanying us when we go again to make sure it’s a sound investment.’

  ‘Oh, bab! I’m that pleased for you!’ Nancy said, giving the girl a hug.

  ‘Thanks, Nancy, let’s hope it all goes through without a hitch.’

  ‘How about you, Jack? I bet you’re excited,’ Nellie asked.

  ‘It’ll be great, Mum!’

  Nellie’s eyes brimmed with tears. ‘I’ll miss you something rotten, though,’ she mumbled.

  Folding her in his arms Jack said, ‘You taught me well, Mum, now it’s time to show you what I’ve learned.’

  Nancy blubbered into the corner of her apron and Dolly felt a lump in her throat.

  ‘I must get back to work, I’ll be needing the money more than ever now.’

  Back at the Palace, Dolly informed her staff of her possible new acquisition, but asked them not to breathe a word until the sale was finalised.

  ‘I don’t want anyone to pip me to the post,’ she explained, ‘so let’s work hard and see how it goes.’

  Two days later, Mr Sharpe arrived almost at the same time as Jack and all three climbed into the cab and set off.

  Jack was very excited, explaining he’d barely slept for thinking of this new adventure.

  Dolly had worried about whether her finances could stand the expense, not only of buying the property, but also the renovations it would need.

  Mr Sharpe assured her all would be well with the bank and a new mortgage facility. ‘They’re not likely to turn you down, my dear, after all, you have almost paid off your existing loan.’

  Once they had arrived at the pub, they were welcomed by Lucas Freeman and given another tour, the same explanation given for the foul smell to Mr Sharpe who commented on it too. Once in the living room, the landlord said sheepishly. ‘Now then, I’m sorry to tell you that I’ve had another offer for the place.’

  Dolly was dumbstruck for a moment then asked, ‘From whom?’

  ‘I don’t rightly feel I should say.’

  ‘Lucas, we had an agreement!’

  ‘I know, lass, but I was offered more than the asking price.’

  ‘We shook hands! It was a gentleman’s agreement!’ Dolly was becoming distressed and was close to tears.

  ‘Forgive me for saying, but – you’re a woman.’

  Anger at his flippancy replaced her disappointment and Dolly rallied herself. Suddenly a thought struck her. ‘Lucas, who offered you more?’

  ‘I…’ the landlord began.

  ‘Were you coerced into accepting the offer?’

  Lucas lowered his head clearly feeling wretched.

  ‘Ezra Moreton?’ Dolly asked and Lucas nodded. ‘I knew it!’

  ‘Did you sign anything, Mr Freeman?’ Mr Sharpe asked.

  ‘No, but…’

  ‘Then nothing is binding. You are not obliged to accept Mr Moreton’s proposal.’

  ‘If I don’t he’s likely to burn the place down!’

  ‘Your insurance would cover that,’ Mr Sharpe informed him. Seeing the man shake his head the solicitor went on, ‘You have no insurance?’

  ‘No.’

  Dolly and Jack exchanged a worried glance.

  ‘I’m in fear of my life!’ Lucas said.

  ‘But you will be again from me if you sell to Moreton!’ Jack raged. Mr Sharpe interrupted him with a calm voice.

  ‘Now then, I may have a solution, but it would mean keeping our lips tightly sealed.’

  ‘What’s that then?’ Dolly asked.

  ‘Well, Mr Freeman can sign these papers as can you and then they will be witnessed by Jack and myself. Then we go directly to the bank and explain the situation. You will have to request they pay Mr Freeman as soon as possible. In the meantime, you, Mr Freeman, will discreetly pack your belongings for a quick getaway.’

  ‘It’s risky,’ Jack said. ‘Where will you go, Lucas?’

  ‘My sister married a chap from the Americas and I had planned to go to live over there.’

  ‘Then I suggest you book your passage on the next available ship. This all needs timing to perfection.’

  ‘The thing is, Mr Moreton offered me more, so it would make sense to take his offer. Plus, that way he won’t do for me!’

  ‘Mr Freeman!’ Dolly yelled.

  Again, Mr Sharpe’s calm voice put in, ‘I’m sure Miss Perkins could make it worth your while to accept her offer with – let’s say, a little financial remuneration.’

  ‘I can do that. When was Ezra Moreton coming back to see you?’ Dolly asked.

  ‘Not till next week,’ Lucas answered.

  ‘Then we have time, but it will be tight,’ Mr Sharpe said.

  ‘I ain’t sure. If Moreton finds out what’s happening then the only place I’ll be going is face down in the cut!’

  ‘The canal will not be your final resting place, Mr Freeman, believe me. Now you have to decide who will take over your public house.’

  Lucas looked at each in turn, his mind obviously wrestling with the decision of whether it was worth taking the gamble. He didn’t want Moreton to be the new owner of his beloved pub, but the man’s reputation preceded him. True or not, Lucas was afraid. He needed to be certain he could be aboard a ship and sailing before Moreton got wind of what he would see as treachery.

  ‘I’ll sign, but I need more money! I’ll settle for the asking price of three thousand to get it over and done with quickly, and God help me if I ain’t on my way to my sister’s afore Moreton comes calling again!’

  The papers were signed by Lucas and Dolly and witnessed by Jack and Mr Sharpe.

  ‘What if the bank won’t give her that mortgage?’ Lucas asked.

  ‘Then we return here immediately and you tear these up,’ Mr Sharpe said, waving the documents in the air.

  13

  At the bank, Mr Sharpe, Dolly and Jack were shown into the manager’s office. Mr Sharpe, in his wisdom, had had the foresight to book an appointment in the hope the visit to the pub had been fruitful.

  ‘Nice to see you again, Miss Perkins,’ Jonah Blessep said.

  ‘Likewise, Mr Blessep. This is Jack Larkin and Mr Sharpe.’

  ‘Mr Larkin. I haven’t seen you in a while, Andrew,’ Blessep said to the solicitor.

  ‘Jonah and I go way back, Dolly, in case you were wondering,’ Sharpe explained.

  What she was actually thinking was that in all the years she’d known him she had only now discovered her trusted adviser’s Christian name.

  ‘What can I do for you today?’ Blessep asked, his grey eyes twinkling beneath white bushy eyebrows. His silver hair shone in the light from the window as he gestured to them to take a seat in his huge office.

  Dolly outlined her request and after retrieving her file from a cabinet, the man looked over the figures.

  Andrew Sharpe explained the need for expediency and why the transaction should be dealt with as quickly as possible.

  ‘Ezra Moreton again!’ Blessep snapped.

  ‘I’m afraid so. That’s why the landlord, Mr Lucas Freeman, wishes to have the matter done and dusted so he can he
ad straight to his sister in America,’ Sharpe said.

  ‘At least he’ll be safe over there,’ Blessep said as he rang a little hand bell kept on his desk. ‘Ah, Evelyn, would you be kind enough to bring me a set of mortgage papers, please? Thank you.’

  Two hours later, they left the bank and Dolly had a new mortgage agreement and a banker’s draft for Lucas Freeman. The cabbie took them back to the Bricky where Lucas was pacing the living room floor.

  ‘Well?’ he asked eagerly as they entered via the back door.

  ‘This is for you,’ Dolly said as she handed over the banker’s draft, ‘and now I need the deeds to the property.’

  Lucas stared at the paper and grinned. Rushing to a dresser against one wall, he pulled open the drawer and lifted out a sheaf of papers before handing them to Dolly.

  Shaking her hand, he said, ‘Pleasure doing business with you. I’ve a passage booked on a ship bound for America tomorrow morning. I ain’t waiting around for Ezra bloody Moreton to slit my gizzard!’

  ‘Very wise, if I may say so,’ Andrew Sharpe put in.

  ‘The place is yours now, Dolly, look after her for me.’

  ‘I will, Lucas, and if you should return to this country, then do come and visit us. Good luck for your new life.’

  ‘And to you an’ all cos you’ll need it when Ezra finds out what’s occurred here today!’

  They left the man packing his belongings and returned to the Palace, dropping Mr Sharpe at his own workplace on the way.

  As they celebrated later with tea and cake, Dolly and Jack discussed what should be done with the new premises.

  ‘I can’t believe how swiftly the business was concluded!’ Dolly said, looking over the deeds.

  ‘It’s my guess Mr Blessep dislikes Ezra as much as everybody else does,’ Jack replied, ‘so he decided to help you rather than see the Bricky in Moreton’s hands.’

  ‘If Lucas is away on his voyage tomorrow, then you’ll need to go over and sort out staff. Let them know what’s occurring if Lucas hasn’t already.’

  Jack nodded. ‘It’s really happening! I can’t believe it. Thanks to you I’m going to be a boss!’

  ‘And I’m sure you’ll do a grand job. Now, if you two don’t mind I’ve meals to cook so clear off out of my kitchen!’ Sadie blustered.

  Dolly and Jack left to tell Nellie Larkin the good news.

  ‘She sounds just like Nancy,’ Jack said referring to Sadie the cook as they crossed the road.

  ‘I know and it’s wonderful!’ Dolly grinned. ‘It’s almost like being back at the Crown.’

  ‘Mum! We’re home!’ Jack called as they entered.

  ‘How did you get on?’ Nellie asked.

  Dolly waved the deeds, saying, ‘All signed, sealed and delivered!’

  ‘Well done!’

  ‘Ooh, congratulations,’ Nancy said. ‘I’m so proud of you both.’

  ‘Me an’ all, Nance,’ Nellie added.

  Dolly told the women the whole tale as tea was served, until eventually Nancy asked, ‘What you gonna call it?’

  ‘Oh, that takes me back. I remember you asking the same thing about Daydream Palace,’ Dolly said with fondness.

  ‘Nance all over that is, lace curtains up afore the floorboards are down,’ Nellie said.

  ‘There you go again, I was only asking. She’ll need a name, won’t she?’

  ‘Maybe we could all give it some thought, but there’s work to be done refurbishing the place first,’ Dolly said, trying to prevent all-out war.

  ‘I think I’ll move in tomorrow, Mum, after Lucas Freeman has departed, that way I can be right there to help work get started,’ Jack said excitedly.

  ‘So soon? I thought…’ Nellie’s eyes glistened.

  ‘We can’t leave the place unattended in case it’s vandalised.’

  ‘I know, son, it’s just all happened so quickly!’

  ‘Who will you get to do the work?’ Nancy asked.

  Dolly looked at Jack. ‘Eli Hodges?’

  ‘Why not? He did an amazing job on the Palace and I’m sure he’ll be glad of the work,’ Jack replied.

  ‘That’s your first task as manager, then, go and ask Mr Hodges to call at his earliest convenience.’

  ‘Thanks, Dolly,’ Jack said before striding from the kitchen.

  ‘I’m worried what Moreton will do when he finds out who the new owner of the Bricky is,’ Nellie said once her son had gone.

  ‘I am, too. That’s why I’m going to put some of my new workers in there to help Jack until such time as he hires his own staff. However, he’ll need a cook and maid straight away. None of my workers are qualified to help with that.’

  ‘The Servants’ Registry?’ Nancy asked.

  ‘That will be his next step – interviewing applicants,’ Dolly said with a grin as Nellie rolled her eyes. Nellie would rather nothing ever changed…

  Lucas Freeman had only two barmen because although the Bricky was a huge place, it was not a busy one. He told his staff that he had sold up and was moving to America, but he didn’t say who had bought the building. Instantly the rumours started that Ezra Moreton was to be the new owner, and both barmen dreaded the thought of working for him.

  With a bag packed full of his meagre belongings, Lucas left the Bricky for the last time – in the middle of the night. He was taking no chances at being seen and the knowledge finding its way back to bully-boy Moreton.

  He’d already ordered a cab to wait for him at the corner of Great Barr Street, which would take him to the railway station to board the milk train to Liverpool. Only when the cab was rolling did Lucas feel a little safer, but he knew he could not fully relax until he was in his berth on the ship, way out on the ocean. Moreton had eyes and ears everywhere.

  The following morning, whilst her customers were drinking their breakfasts, Dolly and Jack took a cab to the Bricky. There they were to meet Eli Hodges, the builder who, along with his sons, had transformed an old pub into the Daydream Palace.

  Nellie and Nancy said they would be along later with Jack’s things to help him to settle in. Dolly had also arranged for two of her best men from the breadline to help Jack out for the time being, which they were happy to do.

  Lucas’s barmen, who lived at the property, let them in when they arrived and, over tea, Jack reassured them their jobs were safe. They were elated to know they wouldn’t be working for Ezra Moreton after all, even when Jack explained what the plans were and how they would be destined to live in dust and upheaval for the time it took to renovate the old place.

  ‘Who supplies your beer?’ Jack asked.

  ‘Moreton’s Brewery,’ one answered, and Jack exchanged a glance with Dolly.

  ‘Well, no more orders are to be placed. Once we’re up and running the gin will come from Burton’s,’ Jack said.

  ‘What do we do with what we have?’

  ‘Sell it cheap. Get rid of it before Mr Hodges gets going,’ Jack answered.

  ‘Did I hear my name mentioned?’ the builder asked, strolling into the bar where the meeting was taking place.

  ‘You did, thanks for coming.’

  Dolly sat at a table at the back of the bar, determined to let Jack as the new manager make his mark. Everyone needed to understand he was their gaffer now and show him the respect the post deserved.

  ‘Tea?’ Joey, the barman, asked.

  ‘Porter would be better,’ Eli said with a grin. ‘Now, Jack, what do you have in mind for this bloody great monstrosity?’

  ‘Much the same as Daydream Palace, we thought, didn’t we Dolly?’

  Dolly nodded.

  ‘Lamps, mirrors, chandeliers, and big windows,’ Jack went on.

  ‘Right, then.’ Swigging the beer the barman had given him, Eli wandered around, pencil tucked behind his ear and paper tucked in his pocket.

  Nancy and Nellie arrived, puffing and blowing, with bags of Jack’s clothes.

  ‘I’ll show you upstairs,’ Joey said as he and the other barman Frank too
k the bags. They showed the women the room which Lucas had vacated and would now become Jack’s. It was clean and tidy and Nancy enthusiastically expressed her approval.

  ‘He’ll be able to settle in nicely,’ she said, pleased to be able to help Jack get organised.

  Whilst the women poked around upstairs, Joey and Frank returned to the bar.

  All morning, people moved from room to room, upstairs and down, to the cellar and back to the bar.

  Eli Hodges left to assess the numbers for the cost of the work to be undertaken and as the afternoon wore on, everyone met in the bar for more tea and discussion.

  ‘There’s a hell of a stink in that one bedroom,’ Nellie said.

  ‘There is, isn’t there? Lucas said he’d reported it to the council, he seemed to think it might be the sewer,’ Dolly replied.

  ‘Well, it wants sorting – and soon!’ Nellie said with a grimace.

  The front door burst open and the figure of a tall man was silhouetted against the daylight.

  14

  ‘Might I ask what the bloody hell is going on here?’ the man’s voice boomed out as he strode purposefully into the room.

  ‘Hello Ezra,’ Nellie said.

  ‘Nellie,’ Moreton replied waspishly as he cast a glance at each face in turn.

  ‘What can we do for you, Mr Moreton?’ Dolly asked.

  ‘You can tell me what’s occurring. Where’s Lucas?’

  ‘Mr Freeman has gone to live with his sister,’ Dolly informed him, although she made no mention of where that was.

  ‘And where does this sister live – exactly?’

  ‘I’m afraid I have no idea,’ Dolly answered truthfully.

  Ezra frowned as he digested the information. His hazel eyes scanned the little gathering again and Dolly noted the grey creeping into his dark hair. Impeccably dressed as always, he tapped his silver-topped cane on the floor.

  ‘He’s up and gone – just like that?’

  ‘Yes,’ Dolly said.