A Winter Baby for Gin Barrel Lane

by Lindsey Hutchinson

Jack nodded.

  ‘May I leave my trumpet here for safe-keeping and come back now and then to tickle the ivories in your bar?’

  ‘Yes, of course. I’ll get Frank to hang your trumpet over the counter for all to see and remember. You will always be welcome here.’

  Shaking Jack’s hand, Wyman left with Renoit, who was bubbling over with excitement.

  ‘I wonder if we’ll ever see him again,’ Bess asked.

  ‘Oh, I think so. It’s my guess we’ll be hearing a lot about Wyman York in the future.’

  ‘Now you have to find someone else to play that piano,’ Bess said and burst out laughing when Jack replied.

  ‘Oh, bugger!’

  33

  It had been over a week since Dolly had seen Wilton Burton and she suspected he was keeping his distance because of his promise made to Jack. Then one morning he arrived at the Palace, but he was not his usual bright and breezy self. Dolly decided to spare him the anguish of having to tell her he was married and so dash any hopes she may have harboured regarding a relationship between them.

  ‘Hello, Dolly,’ he greeted her.

  ‘Ah, Wilton, I believe congratulations are in order on the birth of your son!’ Dolly said and she saw him visibly relax.

  ‘Thank you, he’s a bonny little thing.’

  ‘Jack is home as I’m sure you know, and we are to be wed!’

  ‘Congratulations to you also. I’m happy for you both.’

  ‘Jack told me you found him and I’m so grateful,’ Dolly continued.

  ‘You’re welcome, but I didn’t exactly find him, more like I came across him. However, what is important is that he’s home and – a wedding! How exciting.’ Wilton was back to his old self again.

  ‘Yes, we – or rather I – thought the spring, when it’s warmer.’

  They chatted for a while before Wilton went about his business, and Dolly headed behind the bar.

  Aggie crooked a finger. ‘I hear as Wyman York’s been playing the joanna at the Emporium but he’s now back at the theatre.’

  So, Jack’s plan had worked.

  ‘Nothing gets past you, does it, Aggie?’

  ‘Now Jack needs somebody else to lamp out a tune or two,’ Aggie went on.

  ‘I’m sure he’ll sort it out.’

  ‘Ar. I know summat else an’ all.’

  Dolly sighed and filled the old woman’s glass. A few tots of free gin in exchange for information didn’t hurt.

  Taking a gulp, Aggie spoke quietly. ‘Word is – you’m looking for another pub.’

  Dolly was taken aback at that. ‘Really?’

  Aggie nodded, her grey hair bobbing on top of her head. ‘Ar, an’ it’s got Ezra Moreton in a spin!’

  ‘Why?’

  Aggie coughed and drained her glass, which Dolly quickly refilled. ‘Because he can’t work out where you’re getting the money from!’

  Dolly laughed. ‘I can’t deny it’s a pleasing prospect imagining expanding our business, but it will be some years yet before I can consider it.’

  ‘Yes, but Ezra don’t know that, do he? I, for one, am enjoying watching that bugger chasing his own arse!’

  Dolly laughed again and moved away to serve another customer. As she worked, Aggie’s words stayed in her mind. How had such a rumour started and why? Surely Ezra knew she was in debt to the bank and would be for a long time to come. The thought of owning a string of gin palaces in Birmingham and the surrounding towns was enticing, but it was just a beautiful dream for now.

  Dismissing the idea, Dolly watched a young boy telling his mother he was hungry whilst tugging at her skirt. The woman clipped him round the ear and sent him off into the street, then continued to quaff her gin. Dolly shook her head. Poor kid!

  Then her attention was drawn to a man who was singing loudly and badly. Another joined him and the cacophony assaulted her ears, making her wish she had a piano, too. At least it might keep the singers in tune. She worked on and smiled when Aggie put a stop to the man’s caterwauling with a swift kick to his shin.

  While Dolly was tending her bar, Jack was watching the Hodges family begin work in his dining room. The new gas lamps and chandeliers were being installed, leaving plenty of space for the large mirrors, which were to be delivered later.

  Satisfied the work was progressing well, Jack returned to the bar and glanced at the piano. He missed Wyman’s playing and sadly no one had touched it since the man had left. Jack wondered if the instrument was thought of with a kind of reverence and he smiled. There must be someone out there who could play, but finding them was another matter entirely.

  ‘Have you heard the latest?’ Frank said as Jack joined him behind the bar.

  ‘What now?’

  ‘Dolly is supposed to be looking for a couple of cheap pubs.’

  Jack laughed. ‘Good luck to her finding the money first.’

  Frank grinned and nodded his agreement.

  ‘I need to find somebody to play that now Wyman has gone,’ Jack said, tilting his head towards the silent piano.

  ‘Send the runners out,’ Frank suggested.

  ‘Good idea.’ Jack pushed his way through the crowd and went out of the front doors. He gave a loud whistle and shook his head at a waiting cabbie. A moment later a young girl came hurtling across the road from a triangle-shaped island of trees and bushes which divided the roads. About ten years old, the girl was wearing a shabby coat which hung off her skinny frame. She wore no socks or stockings, only a pair of tattered shoes on her bare feet. Her dark hair was long and matted and her face and hands were blue with cold beneath the dirt.

  ‘I need a piano player to work long hours in my bar,’ Jack said as he pulled a shilling from his pocket.

  ‘Righto, guv.’

  ‘When you’ve done that send a couple of boys to the kitchen where I’ll be waiting.’

  ‘Will do. Thanks, Jack!’ the girl said as he passed over the shilling.

  Going indoors via the back way rather than fight his way through the customers, he called out, ‘Bess, I’ve a couple of runners coming shortly and I’d like some food put up for them to take back to their mates, please.’

  Bess nodded and sent Gwen in search of a large basket from the scullery. Together they packed bread, cheese, ham, pickles, cake and biscuits as well as tea, sugar and milk.

  Jack asked his staff if they had any old clothes that could be passed on to the runners. Frank and Joey said he could have those they had sorted out for Wyman. Jack ran upstairs to the room the pianist had occupied and found shirts, trousers and jackets hanging in the wardrobe. Gathering them into a bundle, he carried them to the kitchen.

  A moment later a knock came to the door and Bess called, ‘Come in.’

  Two boys entered – covered in snowflakes.

  Bess and Gwen had found some unused clothes which would help the girl runners out and Jack donated his old cloth cap.

  The boys shivered and Bess threw open the range doors and told them to warm themselves while she poured hot tea and cut a slice of cake each for them.

  ‘Ooh, ta!’

  ‘There’s a hamper there for you to share, though we’ll need the basket back,’ Jack said, ‘and the staff have sorted out some clothes that might be useful.’

  ‘Ta, Jack,’ one said through a mouthful of cake.

  ‘You’re welcome.’

  Having finished eating, the boys took the basket of food and the bundle of clothes and with more thanks they stepped into a world which by night-time would be white over.

  ‘That was a lovely thing to do,’ Bess commented.

  ‘Those poor buggers have nothing. They rely on their message money and I’ll bet not everyone tips them well.’

  ‘How many of them are there, do you think?’

  ‘God knows, but I’m willing to wager there are more joining every day.’

  ‘It’s a bloody shame. Somebody ought to take them in off the streets,’ Bess said.

  ‘Don’t look at me! I can’t have hun
dreds of urchins roaming around the place. Dolly would have a blue fit! I’ll help out where I can, like today, but further than that I can’t go.’

  ‘You’re right, of course, but I feel sorry in my heart for them, especially in this weather,’ the cook said, closing the range doors again.

  ‘Me too, Bess, me too.’

  There was another knock on the door and Bess answered it, coming back with the basket, which had been returned as promised.

  Jack smiled before heading out to the bar to serve while another barman took a break. He couldn’t help but wish he could aid the runners a little more. His attention was diverted by a man in a fighting stance challenging his doormen. I wouldn’t do it if I were you, mate! Jack thought with a smile.

  He laughed when the burly doormen caught the man under the arms and carried him out of the doors into the snow. Then Jack went back to his work as his thoughts swirled around the rumour of Dolly chasing up another pub. Was there something Dolly wasn’t telling him?

  34

  ‘Say that again!’ Ezra Moreton boomed at the man standing before him.

  ‘Dolly Perkins is after two pubs, boss, in Navigation Street by the market hall.’

  ‘Somebody is having a laugh! She can’t be! Are they up for sale?’

  ‘Don’t know, boss.’

  ‘Then find out!’

  ‘Yes, boss.’ The man fled the office in terror.

  ‘This is past a joke,’ Ezra muttered to himself as he watched large fluffy snowflakes float lazily from the sky.

  He scowled as his mind whirled. If it should be that those pubs are up for sale then they would soon belong to him!

  It was mid-morning when the answer came back – the pubs were indeed up for sale.

  Ezra lost no time. He and his two bodyguards caught a cab to Navigation Street and he was in no mood to argue. The landlords of both were persuaded to sell their premises to Moreton and by late afternoon, after visiting the bank, Ezra was the proud owner of two more drinking dens. The purchases had put a sizeable dent in his finances, but he was certain he could rectify that by putting good managers in place as he had with his other properties. Money was coming in from his assets situated all across the town so he was not unduly worried, but he would have to keep a close eye on things nevertheless.

  In his office once more, Ezra whistled a little tune as he built up the fire. He wondered how Dolly would react when she found out Ezra Moreton had bested her yet again.

  Whilst Ezra was gloating, Dolly was being informed about his new acquisitions.

  ‘How do you get to know these things?’ she asked.

  Aggie gave a toothless grin and tapped the side of her nose. ‘You know me, wench, I’ve got spies everywhere.’

  ‘Why on Earth is Ezra buying all these places?’

  ‘Because, and it’s only a guess mind, he thinks you’re after them and he won’t be outdone by a woman!’

  ‘But I’m not after them. What on Earth gives him that idea?’

  ‘He’s convinced you are so you can have another palace.’

  ‘If that’s what he believes, then he’s pretty stupid.’

  Aggie grinned again as her glass was filled. ‘Ta, sweet’eart.’

  Dolly shook her head in mock indignation and work behind the bar went on.

  Meanwhile, in the dining room at the Emporium, the lighting was all in place and the mirrors were being hung, beneath which sturdy shelves were fitted. Jack had been to the cooperage works on Loveday Street and ordered miniature casks which would adorn the shelves.

  All that was left to do was wait for the diners. Jack fretted that his venture might prove fruitless and people wouldn’t come. He would have wasted Dolly’s money and he couldn’t bear the thought of letting her down.

  ‘That’s it, Jack, all done.’

  ‘Thanks, Eli, you’ve all done a sterling job.’

  ‘Jack, can I ask… are your fancy diners going to enter by way of the bar?’

  Jack’s mouth fell open. ‘Bloody bugger! I never thought of that! Christ, Eli, what am I going to do? Dolly will kill me!’ He dragged his hands through his hair as he paced the floor.

  ‘My lads can put a door in the wall just there,’ Eli pointed, ‘but we’ll have to put a lintel in to strengthen the structure. We can paint the door to match the others and you can hang a sign to tell folks it’s the dining room.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me this before?’

  ‘Because it ain’t my place to tell you what to do. Besides, I didn’t want you to think I was after getting more money out of you.’

  Jack nodded at the man’s honesty. ‘How quick can you do it?’

  ‘We’ll get on to it straight away. We ain’t got anything else on the books at the minute.’

  ‘Thanks, Eli, you’re a life saver.’

  Eli grinned and yelled for his sons to give them their instructions. To Jack he said, ‘There will be a lot of dust, I warn you.’

  ‘I’m not bothered as long as it’s done before Dolly pays us another visit!’ Jack felt badly about spending Dolly’s money but was sure once the dining hall was up and running they would recoup the expense in no time.

  Eli laughed, then the Hodges family returned to their yard to collect the necessary things to knock a large hole in a wall.

  Jack informed Bess and Gwen of his oversight and apologised for the cleaning that lay ahead of them.

  ‘Better to have it done now,’ Bess said philosophically.

  ‘True. I’m off to the sign-writer. Just pray Dolly is too busy to visit for a while.’

  Gwen giggled as Jack rushed out of the back door.

  ‘He’s doing his level best to get this project underway,’ Bess said.

  ‘I think it could be a great success, especially once folks know what you’ve cooked up.’

  Bess beamed her pleasure at the compliment. ‘We’ll need to get the menus printed up, though.’

  ‘Why? I can write them out,’ Gwen said.

  ‘Do you reckon? Give it a go then and we’ll see how they look.’

  By the time Jack returned, a menu in beautiful copperplate writing was waiting for his approval. Having written ‘Emporium of Dreams Dining Room’ on the top, Gwen had listed neatly the foods on offer, each with a price by its side. At the bottom in smaller script she’d put:

  Thank you for your visit and we hope to see you again soon.

  ‘Gwen, this is amazing!’ Jack gushed. ‘I had no idea you could write like this!’

  ‘I love to do it,’ she responded simply.

  ‘Would you be in charge of them, please?’

  ‘Certainly.’

  ‘Ladies, I don’t know where I’d be without you. Thank you both.’

  ‘We’re happy to be of service, let’s just hope it takes off,’ Bess answered.

  ‘It will, I feel it in my bones,’ Jack said. He just wished he felt as confident as he sounded.

  The following day saw the Hodges arrive at six o’clock and soon they were hard at work installing the door. Jack grimaced as each hammer blow was struck, hoping the mirrors on the adjacent walls were safe. He needn’t have worried, the builders were professionals and in no time at all the lintel and door were fitted, the rubble swept up and transferred to their cart, and a coat of paint finished it off.

  Eli and his sons had toiled throughout the day in an effort to get the job done in one go. They had not stopped for their usual breaks but had eaten while they worked and only slipped away to use the privy.

  Jack was delighted at how swiftly the work was completed and couldn’t thank them enough. The sign arrived and Jack hung it himself. Standing back to look at his handiwork, he smiled proudly.

  Going inside through the new door, being careful of the wet paint, he was happy to see Bess and Gwen already hard at work cleaning away the dust. By the end of the day they would be ready for their first customers.

  Please God let this work, he thought as he went to make the ladies a cup of tea.

 
35

  At Jack’s instruction, Joey had lit a fire in the dining room to take the chill off after it had been exposed to the weather all day. Jack knew there would be an icy blast each time the door was opened, but he could not do anything about that other than keep the fire stoked.

  The ladies sat, grateful for the tea he’d made, and Bess reiterated Jack’s worries. ‘You’ll need a porch of some sort over that door.’

  ‘I know, I was thinking the same thing but I daren’t spend any more of Dolly’s money.’

  ‘Put it to her, see what she says.’

  ‘I will,’ Jack said.

  It was a couple of days later when Dolly visited and she was thrilled by the work done.

  Jack breathed a sigh of relief when she suggested adding a porch to the door.

  ‘I’ll see if Eli is available,’ Jack said.

  He was, and along with his sons, Eli worked on building a portico, moaning all the time that the cold was murder on his old bones.

  Nellie and Nancy were invited to see the changes made, as were Sadie and Alice from the Palace. The women sat around the kitchen table, exchanging gossip over pots of tea and home-made cake and biscuits.

  ‘Have you thought any more about your wedding, Dolly?’ Nellie asked.

  ‘No, we’ve been so busy I haven’t had time.’

  ‘You’ll need to book in with the vicar and get a frock,’ Nancy added.

  ‘A gown, Nance,’ Nellie corrected.

  ‘Gown, frock, it don’t matter as long as she doesn’t go in her birthday suit!’ Laughter filled the kitchen and talk of the wedding petered out as it was a way off yet. It was replaced by the swapping of recipes and cooking tips, ready for the new dining room to receive its first guests.

  Dolly joined Jack in the bar when an urchin runner pushed his way to the counter. After speaking with Jack, the boy was given a shilling and ran off happily.

  ‘He’s found us a pianist,’ Jack said and Dolly grinned. ‘A fella is coming round shortly.’

  An hour later, the man arrived by cab and sought his way through the crowd with the aid of a white stick.