by Craig McNish
“Are you unwell, Miss Jane? You've barely touched your supper...” Farrowe looked concerned as she spoke, just as a mother might when making sure her child is well. “Maybe I should get Mills to fetch the doctor...”
“I'm all right, Priscilla; just not very hungry. But thank you for your concern. I really do appreciate it, and I am sure my mother does, too.” Jane smiled, and so did the maid.
“Well, if you're sure, but you will tell me if you take poorly during the night, won't you? It would do you no good to come down with a fever so close to your wedding.” Jane almost spoke out of turn, but instead kept her mouth closed. After all, why would Farrowe think the girl to be anything but happy? Jane was happy, but for a reason known only to her among those in this room right now. “Well if you're all finished eating, maybe you would like to retire for the evening so I can get these pots cleaned. Remember, Mister Brass says you all ought to be in bed no later than ten.” The three Brass children left the table, each taking their turn to thank Farrowe for supper and to wish her a good night. Even John Brass was fond of the woman and would treat her with respect, which Mills found irksome.
“So, should we play cards until it is time to go to bed?” John Brass asked his oldest sister.
“Not tonight, brother – I feel tired and wish to sleep. But I would be grateful if you were to keep Elizabeth occupied for a short time – it would only be a half hour or so...”
“Of course. Come on, Lizzie; say goodnight to your sister.” Jane felt like she might start to cry when she knelt down so her sister might kiss her goodnight, but held back the tears and thought only of Bancks and her escape, for which she was now eager. She had already laid out a change of clothes so would be ready to leave in minutes. The grandfather clock that stood in the front room told her it was twenty after nine. Almost time to leave the Brass house, maybe for the last time.
*
“All right – now we go.” Bancks felt his stomach go queasy as he and Ridgway made the final few yards approach to Robert Cutter's house. It was impossible to guess how he might act when faced with the choices Ridgway was about to offer, and so both men were on their guard. They dismounted from their horses, walked up to the front door, where Ridgway rapped on the wood sharply with his knuckles. A small amount of light appeared in a glass panel placed high in the door, most likely a candle given its flicker and low ambience. The door lock sounded, the handle was seen to turn and Judith Lawsonn, a pretty young girl of twenty-two years and maid to the Cutters, opened the door a fraction.
“What can I do for you, sirs?”
“Good evening, Miss. Please could you tell Mister Cutter that John Ridgway is here and would like to speak to him immediately concerning a very urgent matter.”
“Mister Cutter has guests and asked that they not be disturbed – I am sorry. I could deliver a message to him if you wish, or you could call in the morning, after ten.”
“I'm afraid I must insist – I have waited long enough and cannot delay any further. I have no wish to intrude upon his party and upset his guests, so you might tell him it would be better if he were to come here and speak with me.” Lawsonn looked unsure, but could see a resolve in Ridgway's eyes that let her know he was not about to leave at the behest of the housekeeper. She opened the door wider and beckoned for them to step inside.
“Please wait here while I fetch Mister Cutter.” Lawsonn pointed out two chairs for the men to sit.
“Five minutes of your time lad and you can be on your way” Ridgway said quietly to Bancks. “You have a key for the shop; the forge should still be warm and I have coffee. Wait there for me so I can wish you both a proper farewell.” He nudged Bancks with his elbow and smiled, but it soon vanished from his face when a furious Robert Cutter stormed into the passage, demanding to know why he had been disturbed. Both Ridgway and Bancks stood up, ready to say their piece.
“Mister Cutter, I have come here to get the money from you that I am owed. Bancks here has brought the ledger to show you proof of the debt, and I expect it to be paid in full this very hour.”
“You could not wait until morning before doing this? Do you not know I have guests, or was it your intention to try and embarrass me in front of them? Well such a tactic will not work, I assure you. We will talk of this tomorrow, should I have time to visit your shop. Why, from the way you speak it would make people believe I owe you many thousands of pounds! Surely such a trifling sum as you allege I owe can be dealt with more honourably.”
“Honour, Mister Cutter? You have none! For weeks and longer I have spoken with you about when I would be paid and each time I have not received a single shilling. Still I have carried out more work for you because your custom has always been good, but now you avoid paying your bills like a man would avoid a plague-infested rat. There can be no more delay! I have a business to run and that cannot be done without money, as I am sure you are aware. So you leave me little choice but to come to your house late at night so I might recover what I am owed. Bancks here has the ledger and will show you exactly how much you owe and from when.”
“Ah, Mister Ridgway, Mister Bancks – a pleasant surprise to see you here!” John Brass had been sent by his wife to see why their host had gone missing for so long. “Would there be a problem, gentlemen?” Cutter and Ridgway were about to speak, but it was Bancks who got in first; he was keen to be away and wanted to finish his part in this as quickly as possible.
“Mister Brass, our apologies for intruding on your gathering but we are here to resolve a matter that could not wait any longer. Mister Cutter has amassed a sizeable debt with Mister Ridgway and has avoided paying for some time now. I have the ledger; I can show each outstanding payment right here and now so Mister Cutter can pay Mister Ridgway his money, then we can leave you to enjoy the rest of your evening.” Brass raised his eyebrows; he recalled the words of his daughter and so felt inclined to listen further, for Ridgway was known to be an honest and upstanding man.
“It is a trivial matter, John – nothing you need know about” Cutter insisted to Brass. “Mister Ridgway, you have my word I will be at your shop no later than a half after nine in the morning with all monies owed to you. So if Miss Lawsonn can show you out, we wish you a good evening.” Cutter started to walk away, but he was the only one who had moved any. Bancks glanced over at the Cutter's grandfather clock; it was twenty after nine. Jane would probably be at the oak tree now, waiting for him to arrive. He couldn't wait until it was time for him to take his leave. Soon, he hoped.
“No, Mister Cutter – that will not do at all! I do not believe you have any intention of paying me a visit at my shop, now or any other time! Your word means nothing to me! Why, you have broken your promise so many times I doubt you would know the truth were it to stand in front of you and slap you in the face! I am a patient man, Mister Cutter, but you have tested my patience to its very limit. No more! You live in this fine house, eating good food and drinking fine wine with fair and honourable guests, and tell me you have no money to give me what is due? Lies! So we will resolve this here and now. You cannot withhold a man's livelihood, and I will wait no longer.” Everyone was silent then. Margaret Brass and Elinor Cutter had their attention drawn by the raised voices, and stopped excited conversation of weddings to investigate for themselves. Both were shocked that Robert Cutter should be involved in some kind of financial dispute, but it was Elinor who was the more worried of the two. Why didn't her husband just pay the man what was due so he would leave?
“You seem to doubt I am making a legitimate claim, Mister Cutter. Would you like Bancks to bring Leonard Peart so he might check the evidence I have with me? He is a tailor and a man good with numbers; I am sure he would not fool you, nor would I want for him to. I want only what I am owed, not a farthing more or less. Or maybe we could summon Crawfoote instead?” The sound of the coroner's name gave Cutter a jolt.
“Neither will be necessary” said Brass after a moment. “Bancks, come with me lad and show me what you have. If
it is true what you say then we will reach an agreement.” Finally, a man with sense, thought Bancks, now more keen than ever to take his leave after seeing it was now past a half after nine. He couldn't be too late; he would hate for Jane Brass to think he had changed his mind. All of the men walked through to where they had been dining; the sight of all the trappings of wealth made Ridgway even more furious, but he knew it would do no good to voice his anger here. John Brass took his chair, invited Bancks to sit down beside him. The apprentice took out the carefully-kept ledger and began to present the evidence. The two spoke in whispered tones, Bancks pointing out details here and there while Brass listened quietly and nodded his head from time to time. It took no longer than five minutes for Bancks to finish; he closed the ledger and looked to Ridgway, who could see in the apprentice's eyes his longing to be away from here.
“Thank you, Bancks” said Ridgway. “Now get yourself away home. I can finish up here.” Bancks wasted no time in wishing the others a good night and hurrying for the door. He was out before Lawsonn could catch up to see him depart.
“Well, Mister Brass, what do you think now you have seen the numbers? Do you believe it to be a trifling sum, as Mister Cutter would claim? I think it was apparent to all of us that Bancks was telling the truth the whole way through.”
“That he was, Ridgway. I must say, I am impressed by the standard of his bookkeeping – you have taught him well.”
“And of the debt?”
“Maybe I should ask that question of Mister Cutter” said Brass, and so he did. “It is indeed a large debt, Robert; maybe not to the likes of you and I, but Mister Ridgway here has done you fine work and deserves to be paid. I think it entirely reasonable he should have waited this long before acting as he did here and now. So you will pay the man, I take it?” Cutter said nothing, but Elinor could hold back no longer.
“How much is owed?” she wanted to know.
“Some way over three hundred pounds” John Brass told her. Elinor looked shocked, raised a hand to cover her mouth in disbelief. She turned on her husband now.
“Why would you run up such a debt, Robert? I cannot say I am surprised Mister Ridgway is here demanding his money. Sir, to you I can only apologise; if I had known I would have made sure it had not gone this long.”
“None of this is on you, Mistress Elinor; I would not expect you to know every detail of your husband's business. But I do appreciate that you would see this from my point of view. It is a lot of money, and I too have bills to be paid.”
“So pay the man!” Elinor shouted at her husband, who was stood looking at the floor, afraid to meet her eye. He said nothing for a while, just stood there and shook his head ever so slightly.
“That I cannot do” he said. “For I do not have the money.”
*
The clock on Jane's desk moved to a half after nine now, and she was terrified that if she did not get to the oak tree soon that Bancks might think she had changed her mind. She couldn't bear to be without him now, and it would make her miserable her whole life if he departed on his own with a broken heart. But she was almost ready to take her leave, and could easily be at the oak tree for a quarter to ten. Jane smiled when she thought how he would still be standing there waiting for her even if she were to turn up after midnight. There was some noise from the bedroom next to hers as her younger siblings played a game. Normally, she would have gone to the room and asked for them to quiet down, but tonight she was glad of the noise. Just a few minutes and she would be out of sight, free to spend the rest of her life as she wished. With a trembling hand and a thudding heart, she opened her bedroom door and peered out into the pitch dark passageway. Nothing moved. A few deep breaths, and she stepped out into the darkness, clutching to her chest the small bag she had packed.
“Going somewhere, are we?” Jane almost screamed out at the sound of Mills' voice. He had spoken quietly, but in a very sinister way.
“I cannot sleep, so thought a brief ride into town on my horse might help” she said quickly, ever thankful that Mills would not be able to see her face. She knew he would be able to tell in an instant that she was lying.
“Then why the bag?”
“Just a change of clothes, in case the cold gets worse or I fall from my horse and get wet through. Now if you'll excuse me, I really should be going. I don't expect to be any more than an hour or so.” But Mills didn't move. He still blocked the way to the top of the staircase.
“Mister Brass said you weren't to leave the house after he was gone – I heard him clearly from my room. He has a very loud and commanding voice, does he not?” The longer Jane was stalled, the more impatient and angry she became, as well as a little scared now.
“Look, I'm nineteen years now and do not need you or anyone else to tell me what I can or cannot do. So if you would let me pass then maybe I will not tell my father you tried to attack me while he was gone.” Jane was unable to see Mills' face, but he had gone silent. She hoped her ploy would work and she could be gone.
“You would lie about such a thing?”
“If you were to keep telling me what I can and cannot do. You should know your place, and it is not to be controlling of me!” Jane took a few steps forward in the hope that Mills would retreat, but she was quietly horrified that instead he chose to move in her direction instead.
“So you still continue to insult me. Your brother is quite probably the most loathsome human being I have ever met. He has no regard for anyone but himself. I spoke to your father a number of times, tried to reason with him about Master Brass' boorish behaviour, but rather than chastise the boy he positively encouraged him to continue on as he already was. A disgrace! And you, Jane Brass, are almost as bad as he. I offer you my love, and you reject it out of hand like I am nothing! You believe me to be so unimportant that never would you consider I might have much to offer other than money. But rather than stay with your own kind and marry that idiot Cutter, you choose to elope with a blacksmith's apprentice. Do not think I know nothing of your intent. What do you think your father would say if I were to tell him the truth about you and George Bancks?”
“Then go off and tell him, see if I care!” It went unnoticed that the noise from the bedroom had ceased some minutes ago. Had she thought about it, Jane would have realised that her brother and sister were most probably listening to the ongoing dispute between her and Mills.
“So you might slip out of the house while I am away? I think not.”
“What I choose to do with my life is of no concern to you, Andrew Mills. It is I who will have to face consequences of my actions if I choose to leave here with George Bancks and get caught, not you. So move out of my way so I can leave, right now!” Mills almost looked ready to comply with Jane's demand when the door midway between them squeaked as it opened.
“You're running away with George Bancks?” Jane was in despair when her brother asked her this through the part-opened bedroom door. She feared her chance of happiness was gone for ever.
“Brother, I cannot marry William Cutter. I do not love him as I do George. This is my chance to gain the happiness that I seek. I will worry about redemption at a later time, but now I must go.”
“Then I will help you, if that is what you want.” Master Brass stepped out into the dark passage, stood between Mills and his sister. “You” he shouted at Mills. “Get out of the way so my sister might leave.” But Mills didn't move an inch.
“You believe you can tell me what to do? Not any more. Jane Brass is leaving here with only one person, and that would be me.”
“Not a chance. My sister has no desire to be with an errand boy” said John Brass in retort. “George Bancks will be a good businessman one day, while you will never amount to anything above servitude. It would be wise of you to clear off now before my father hears of your insolence.” Mills was growing more furious by the second, but did not let it show. He knew he couldn't hold back much longer.
“There is one very good advantage about working
the fields” said Mills. “It makes you stronger. You also become accustomed to the cold of winter just as much as the heat of summer. I hate no season any more or less than the other, for I have worked through them all. And I also become very skilled in the use of the tools of my trade, which happen to make very effective weapons.” Jane got a chill when Mills said this, for she perceived it as a threat. Now she began to feel very scared.
“Not even you would be so stupid as to use your axes against another man” John Brass goaded Mills. Young Elizabeth peered around her brother's legs now. Jane grabbed a hold of the girl's arm and pulled her forward, telling her to go into the next bedroom and keep the door closed.
“Admirable that you should be brave enough to care for your sister in the face of danger rather than running your mouth like your brother” Mills said. “But neither will be harmed if you come with me right now. It is us that shall run away together, not you and Bancks.”
“That will never happen.”
“Then you leave me no choice.” Mills retreated a few feet to the top of the staircase and bent to pick something from the floor. “If I cannot have you, Jane Brass, then I will have you DEAD!” Jane screamed, a piercing cry which sounded throughout the whole of the house. Rooted to the spot, it was only the actions of her brother that got her out of harm's way; he sprang forward from where he had been stood and pushed Jane through the door he had just opened into her bedroom, where Elizabeth was already cowering in fear. It was lucky that this door had a lock; she fastened the bolt and moved away, over to the bed where Elizabeth was scared and crying. Jane thought the lock could not possibly keep out Mills for long. She knew there was only two choices to be had; either overpower the madman outside her door with an axe, or escape by leaping from the window. They could hear Mills pounding on the door with his fists as Jane opened the sash window and looked down to the ground.