‘Nance, I’ve been thinking…’
Nancy shuddered. Was Nellie worried she might die?
‘You should be resting, not thinking!’ Nancy remonstrated.
‘No, listen. I’ve arranged with Mr Sharpe to leave my half of the Palace to Dolly and Jack when I’ve gone.’
‘I’d forgotten it was co-owned,’ Nancy said.
‘I hadn’t. My worry is for you and Fred.’
‘Why? We wouldn’t be turned out if that’s what you’re thinking.’ Nancy guessed what Nellie was fretting about.
‘I know, that’s why I’ve put in my will that they can have the Crown provided you and Fred can live and work here until…’
‘Bless you, Nellie. I’m grateful for that, but I think now is the time for more sleep.’
Nellie nodded and snuggled down. ‘You know what, Nance? I don’t half love you.’ Then Nellie’s eyes closed and she fell into a deep sleep.
‘I love you an’ all, you old bugger!’ Nancy whispered before she returned to the kitchen, her eyes glittering with tears.
During the afternoon, Dolly called in to see how Nellie was doing.
‘She had some eggs for breakfast and some broth for her dinner, and now she’s sleeping soundly,’ Nancy informed her.
‘Good. Sleep is a good healer.’
‘Tell Jack not to worry, she’s doing fine. If I need anything I’ll send for one of you.’
‘Thanks, Nancy,’ Dolly said. Leaving the cook in peace, she wandered back across the road but she was still worried. She loved Nellie and Nancy with all her heart, and the thought of either of them not being around tortured her. Trying to shake off the feeling, Dolly returned to work, sure that would keep her mind off her worries.
Over the next couple of weeks, Nellie’s strength returned and she looked and felt much better. To everyone’s surprise, she had heeded the doctor’s words and left the staff to man the bar.
Dolly called round as she had every day since Nellie took ill. ‘The last payment to the bank for the Palace has been made! It’s ours now, yours and mine,’ Dolly said excitedly.
‘That’s good news. We’ve worked hard enough for it though, ain’t we?’
‘We have, but it was worth it.’
Nellie glanced at Nancy who shook her head very slightly as if to say, don’t tell Dolly what you’ve put in your will because it will only worry her.
‘Something else to celebrate at Christmas,’ Nellie said instead.
‘Absolutely. By the way, I want to get Jack a special gift but I don’t know what, any ideas?’ Dolly said.
‘Whatever you give him, he’ll love it,’ Nancy put in, and Nellie agreed.
‘You could always buy him a new cap. You know how much he thinks of that one he has. I wonder he doesn’t sleep in it!’ Nellie said with a laugh.
‘It’s a thought.’ Dolly was pleased to hear Nellie laughing again, her illness had had them all frightened for a while.
Dolly returned to the Palace to see a new delivery being made. Expecting to see Wilton, she hurried indoors, but was sad to see he was not there.
‘All done,’ the drayman said with a knock to the back door.
‘Thank you. How is Mr Burton, do you know?’
The man took off his cap and shook his head. Dolly’s heart lurched.
‘I’m sorry to say, missus, Mr Burton passed on.’
‘Oh no! How? When?’
‘Last week, the doctor said it was his heart.’
‘Wilton had heart trouble?’
‘Oh no, missus, not young Mr Burton. It was senior who died.’
‘Oh! I’m sorry to hear that. Please pass on my condolences.’
‘Will do,’ the drayman said as he left the kitchen.
‘Blimey, that gave me a scare, I thought he meant Wilton,’ Sadie said.
‘Me too,’ Dolly confessed as she sighed, feeling a little relieved although of course she was sad that old Mr Burton had gone from this world, especially as it added to Wilton’s burdens. Poor Wilton, he had lost his son and now his father. He and his wife were in mourning again and Dolly wondered how Wilton would cope.
Later that day, an official-looking letter arrived from Burton’s Brewery and Distillers informing their clients of Ned Burton’s demise. It assured that there would be no disruption to business or deliveries.
Dolly knew it would upset Nellie when she received her letter. Mr Burton senior and Nellie had formed a tight working relationship over the years. She hoped it would not impact on Nellie’s health, hearing of her friend’s death.
While Dolly was worrying about Nellie’s reaction to Burton senior’s demise, Ezra Moreton was staring in horror at the pile of letters he had received from the bank about his debt to them, and the mounting warnings that if the arrears owed were not paid immediately then the bank would have no choice but to take further action.
What action? What could they do? He didn’t have the money so how could he pay it? Should he visit Jonah Blessep and try to explain? Or should he ignore the letters and see what would happen? Was he desperate enough to put his pubs up for sale? Would the bank take them if he didn’t pay what was owed?
The thought of Dolly getting her hands on his properties stuck in his craw, but he was fast reaching the point where he would have to do something.
Donning hat and coat, Ezra whistled for a cab. Swallowing his pride, he had decided to approach Dolly who, he was informed, was still seeking new premises. He spat on the road before climbing into the cab.
The cabbie shook his head. ‘Dirty sod!’ he muttered before flicking the reins and moving his horse forward.
Inside, Ezra was furious with himself for sinking so low that he would have to go cap in hand again.
46
‘Out of my way!’ Ezra snapped as he pushed through the throng at the Palace. ‘Miss Perkins!’ he called out.
Dolly turned and said, ‘I’m Mrs Larkin now. I’m surprised you didn’t know.’
‘He ain’t got anybody to tell him now, has he?’ Aggie put in with a chuckle.
‘Mind your own business, old woman!’ Ezra growled.
‘Or what? You don’t scare me, Ezra Moreton!’ Aggie said as she fronted up to the man.
Realising people were staring now, he turned away and addressed Dolly once more. ‘I wonder if you could spare me a moment of your time, Mrs Larkin.’
‘Why, of course. Come through,’ Dolly said, indicating to one of the staff to allow him entry through the little gate at the end of the counter.
Offered tea in the kitchen, Ezra nodded.
‘Take a seat and tell me what’s on your mind, Mr Moreton,’ Dolly said.
Sadie and Alice continued to work but with ears on high alert.
‘I find myself in somewhat of a predicament,’ Ezra began.
Although Dolly guessed at the reason for his visit, she kept quiet and listened.
‘You see, with the brewery unable to function and all of the builders too busy to attend to its repairs as yet,’ he emphasised the last two words, ‘I am in need of capital to meet expenses.’
Dolly nodded. So, he couldn’t pay his mortgage.
‘Therefore, I wish to put one of my properties up for sale.’
Again, Dolly nodded. Here it comes!
‘I was wondering if you might be interested in purchasing one of my properties.’
Dolly looked over at Sadie, who had pushed her tongue into her cheek to stop a grin forming.
‘I’m sorry to hear of your misfortune, Mr Moreton, but I’m afraid I am unable to help,’ Dolly said with a shrug of her shoulders.
‘Why ever not? I was informed you were in the market for another property to convert. Was this information incorrect?’
‘I’m always on the lookout, Mr Moreton, but not to the detriment of my business and overstretching my finances.’
Sadie snorted which she instantly covered with a pretend sneeze.
Ezra ignored the cook and went on. ‘Let me be honest wi
th you, Dolly. May I call you Dolly?’ Seeing her nod, he continued. ‘I have an – expense – I must pay very shortly, which one of my public houses will more than adequately cover. However, it has to be sold first as I’m sure you understand.’
‘Mr Moreton, I understand perfectly, but as I said, I’m not willing to take on a further building at present. Unless it was given as a gift, that is.’ Dolly smiled at her little joke.
Ezra’s smile was more of a grimace. ‘Ha ha.’ His laugh was forced before he said, ‘Most unlikely, of course. Then I take it you are not interested?’
‘No, Mr Moreton, I’m not interested, but I thank you for the offer.’
With nothing left to discuss, Dolly saw Moreton out of the back door.
‘Would you credit it?’ Sadie asked.
‘Moreton’s definitely in the do-do, as Aggie puts it,’ Dolly answered. Then she, Sadie and Alice all burst out laughing.
Dolly knew somehow word would get out about the meeting with Moreton because Aggie had witnessed his arrival. It would not then take long for the astute old woman to deduce the reason, then the whole town would be privy to the knowledge.
Ezra walked back to the cab waiting for him in Gin Barrel Lane, his face a mask of thunder.
Bitch! I know your game! You’re waiting for me to drop the price to almost nothing before you dive in and steal it from under my nose! Well, it ain’t happening, Dolly bloody Larkin!
‘Take me home!’ Ezra boomed out as he scrambled into the already moving cab. ‘Damn you, cabbie!’ he yelled as he was thrown into his seat.
The cabbie grinned and clucked to his horse.
As predicted, the news of Ezra’s calling into the Palace travelled quickly, thanks to Aggie. She knew exactly why he had come and had no qualms about telling anyone who would listen. Ezra Moreton was in trouble.
The following day, Ezra received another letter from the bank informing him of their intent to repossess the public houses on Navigation Street. Notice to quit had also been forwarded to the managers.
Ezra screwed up the letter and threw it on the floor of his living room in disgust. Well, at least he would not owe the bank anything now. But Ezra Moreton could not have been more wrong.
In the kitchen of the Crown Saloon, Dolly was relating the tale of Ezra’s visit.
‘So, he’s really up the Swanee!’ Nancy said.
‘He is most certainly in great difficulty,’ Dolly replied.
‘Yoohoo!’ Aggie’s voice screeched out and Nellie and Dolly moved to the bar.
‘Back again, Aggie?’ Nellie asked.
‘Of course. Here, you’ll never guess what!’
Nellie motioned for Aggie to be given her tot.
‘Them two pubs on Navigation Street…’ she paused to take a gulp, ‘now belong to the bank!’
Nellie and Dolly exchanged a quick glance and, responding to a nod from Nellie, Aggie was given more gin.
‘The landlords have had notice to quit and are packing to leave as we speak!’
‘Oh dear, what a shame,’ Nellie said sarcastically. Aggie cackled and Nellie said, ‘Thanks Aggie.’
Returning to the kitchen, they told Nancy what they’d heard.
‘How the hell does she find these things out?’ Nancy asked.
‘I suspect the runners tell her,’ Nellie replied, ‘besides which, she ain’t daft. She puts things together and usually comes up with the right answer.’
‘The bank didn’t waste any time in taking those pubs. I wonder what they’ll do with them,’ Dolly put in.
‘Put them up for sale to cover Ezra’s debt. Why, are you thinking…?’ Nellie asked.
‘No. I can’t afford it, but it would be nice, though.’ Dolly rolled her eyes dreamily. Then added, ‘I’m going to the Emporium, are there any messages?’
‘No, just give our love to Jack,’ Nellie said.
Bidding them farewell, Dolly donned her hat and coat and went outside to hail a cab. It was time to see how the Christmas preparations were doing.
Arriving at the Emporium after a perilous journey on the icy roads, she saw that holly and ivy adorned the welcome rings above the door as she entered. The two metal hoops were looped and tied together in the shape of a ball and were there to welcome all who entered. More holly and mistletoe hung around the room and Randall was at the piano, playing carols.
In the kitchen, Bess and her helpers were busy cooking, not only for the staff, but also for the dining room, which was proving a great success. The little booklets Gwen had designed about the body in the wall helped a great deal to draw in curious customers.
The staff gathering had been planned for Christmas Eve, which was the following day, and Dolly had promised food would be arriving from the Palace and the Crown so as to lighten Bess’s load.
All three gin houses would close at lunchtime and not re-open until Boxing Day to enable all to spend Christmas with their families or friends.
Happy that everything was well underway, Dolly kissed her husband and laughed at the shouts and whistles that came her way. Then she set off in the cab once more. She had gifts to buy and she knew exactly what she wanted to get. A set of embroidered handkerchiefs for Fred. A silk scarf for Nancy. A new cap for Jack, and for Nellie a locket with a lock of Jack’s hair inside. She patted her bag which held the hair she had snipped off whilst Jack was asleep one night. For the staff she decided an envelope containing a financial bonus would be more appreciated. It would eat into her profits, of course, but every worker in all three gin palaces had worked their hands to the bone this last year so, in her mind, they all deserved it.
As she found each present in turn, shop assistants carried her purchases to the cab, eager to be of help when they saw her walking stick, and Dolly thanked them for their kindness.
On her way home, the swaying of the cab had Dolly feeling a little queasy and she dared to wonder… could she be pregnant? She had missed her monthlies but hadn’t wanted to get too excited. Would it be too early to tell? Would the doctor know? Banging her stick on the roof, she felt the cab draw to a halt.
‘You all right, missus?’ the cabbie asked as he jumped down.
‘Yes, thank you. I wonder if we might stop by the doctor’s house first,’ she asked with a smile to allay the cabbie’s fears. ‘I’m feeling a tad sick.’ Dolly patted her stomach.
‘Ahh! Right away,’ he said with a smile, tipping his hat as he caught her meaning.
Before she climbed back into the cab a little while later, she said, ‘I wonder if you could do me a favour.’
The cabbie nodded as he listened to her request.
On arriving back at the Palace, the cabbie carried her boxes and bags indoors and laid them on the table. Dolly paid him and added a large tip, which he accepted gratefully. Wishing all a merry Christmas, he left.
Alice took a couple of journeys transporting everything to Dolly’s room whilst Dolly sat and enjoyed tea and cake, and she was relieved that it helped settle her stomach.
‘You’ve been busy, I see,’ Sadie said.
‘Yes, now all my shopping is done I can enjoy our party.’
‘I’m really looking forward to it,’ Sadie agreed excitedly.
‘So am I,’ Dolly concurred with a huge smile.
47
Dolly locked up at lunchtime the following day, much to the disgust of her customers. She knew Nellie and Jack would be doing the same. The request she’d made to the cabbie who took her shopping the previous day had been honoured, and out in Gin Barrel Lane six cabs were waiting for all of her friends. Sadie and Alice carried Dolly’s gifts and the food was brought out by everyone else and piled on the cabs where luggage would normally be stored, held in place by the rail which ran around the roof.
Nellie, Nancy and Fred joined Dolly in one cab along with Sadie and Alice. It was a squash but they made room, laughing when Nancy sat on Fred’s knee. Filled to capacity, the cabs rolled away in convoy towards the Emporium. They would be back for the return journey a
t ten o’clock that evening.
Randall was playing as they all trooped indoors, and Dolly was delighted to see Wyman had joined them too. Luckily she had bought a spare box of handkerchiefs just in case that could be given as a gift for him. The food was brought in and taken to the kitchen and laid out on the huge table.
A large roasted goose with sage and onion dressing was placed as the centrepiece on the table. Ribs of beef and Yorkshire puddings were set to the left and a huge ham to the right. Tureens of rabbit stew, dishes of potatoes and vegetables were dotted about and at one end sat plates of cranberry and mince pies and plum pudding.
A small Christmas tree stood in the bar and was decorated with tiny candles and sweet treats. Discussions were taking place about which games might be played once the feasting was done.
There was excitement as mulled wine was passed out and food consumed. Everyone was in high spirits and the piano sat silent whilst the pianists ate.
Eventually Dolly called for silence. ‘This gathering is to honour all of you, and to say thank you for all of your hard work over the last year. I have a gift for everyone, so let’s make a start.’ One by one the gifts, cleverly wrapped as snowballs or crackers, were given and opened, and Dolly’s heart soared with happiness as each person loved their present. Nellie cried a little over her locket.
Then Dolly came to Jack. ‘For my husband – a new cap.’ Cheers sounded and Dolly held up a hand. ‘I have one more gift for you, Jack…’
Everyone waited with bated breath to see what it was.
‘Although I can’t give it to you until the summer.’
Groans sounded loud in the room, but Nellie and Nancy stared at each other, each thinking the same thing.
‘Jack, your special gift will be a son or a daughter!’
Jack’s mouth dropped open as the room erupted. He was patted on the back and had his hand shaken by every single one of their friends, and he watched with pride as Dolly was hugged by them all in turn. Then, as soon as he could get near to Dolly, he wrapped his wife in his arms.
A Winter Baby for Gin Barrel Lane Page 21