The Pawnbroker's Niece

by June Francis

  Rita arched her eyebrows and took the money, but said, ‘Thanks, but it’s not enough. Home’s over a hundred miles away.’

  Once more Eve delved into her purse, shoving coins around. She brought out half a crown. Rita shook her head. Eve muttered under her breath and, lifting the side of her skirt, fiddled with her stocking top and brought out a banknote. ‘That’s my last offer!’ She snatched the ten-shilling note out of her daughter’s hand. ‘Don’t say I never give you anything.’

  Rita gazed at the white banknote in amazement. ‘Five whole pounds!’ Her voice was jubilant. ‘Thanks, Mam!’

  Eve held up an admonishing finger. ‘There’ll be no more. I’ve been saving that for a rainy day. Write to me at Christmas and let me know how you go on.’

  ‘Rightio!’ Rita kissed her mother’s cheek, and then looked down at her half-brother and ruffled his hair, feeling a deep sadness. She wondered what Margaret would have made of her nephew. At least one thing could be said for her aunt, and that was she seemed to have no prejudice against people of other races. ‘Nice meeting you, Josh.’

  She brushed the top of his head with her lips and then, with tears in her eyes, jumped the steps and marched along the street, head held high. She looked back once and saw her mother standing on the pavement with Joshua in her arms. Rita waved and then, with purpose in her stride, she headed for the railway station.

  ‘And where are you off to? Forgotten about me, have yer?’

  Rita stared at the skinny figure leaning against the lamp post on the corner of the street. Her face lit up. ‘Sam, I’m really glad to see you. I’m sorry! I did forget you for a short while and by the time I remembered, you’d disappeared.’

  ‘Felt in the way, didn’t I! But I wasn’t going to go off without saying tarrah.’

  ‘Where did you sleep?’

  ‘In a doorway.’ He moved towards her. ‘How did yer get on with your mam?’

  Rita grimaced. ‘She thinks I’m mad to have left my aunt the way I did. I’m not needed here so I’m going back. Besides, I’ve been asked to be a bridesmaid at a wedding so I have to get home. Mam did give me the money for my train ticket so I should be back in Liverpool this evening, with a bit of luck.’

  His face fell. ‘I’m going to miss yer. Yer me best mate!’

  ‘Why don’t you come back with me, then? I’ve got enough money to get us there. It’s going to be tough on the road with winter coming on.’

  Sam looked thoughtful. ‘What about me dad? If he was to find out I was in the neighbourhood he’d have me life.’

  ‘You’ve got to stop being frightened of him, Sam.’ She slipped a hand through his arm. ‘What you need is a Charles Atlas bodybuilding course so people won’t bully you. My aunt’s been saying for ages that we could do with a man about the place.’ He looked gratified but sighed and said, ‘She’ll take one look at me and say…’ He put on a falsetto voice, ‘You a man! You’re nothing but a shirt button, milad!’

  Rita’s eyes twinkled. ‘You’ve got a real talent there. But don’t you think it’s worth a try? I’m not even sure if Aunt Margaret’ll take me back, and in that case we’ll both be looking for work and a place to stay. I’d really like your company, Sam.’

  ‘Would yer?’ he said wistfully.

  ‘Haven’t I just said?’

  ‘OK!’ He jerked his head sharply. ‘Let’s go and buy them tickets.’

  *

  Margaret gazed at the broken window, angry and fearful. Part of her had been waiting for this to happen for some time. Whether the McGintys were responsible she didn’t know, but at least it helped her to make up her mind about a house she had seen in Abercromby Square, similar to her original dream house. It had four storeys and a marvellous spiral cast-iron staircase going up from the ground floor to the roof.

  She would make an offer and hope for the best. Estate agents were having trouble getting people to take over the lease on properties because there wasn’t the money around these days. There would be rent to pay but that could be raised by letting out some of the rooms. Although that might be risky because moonlight flits were common occurrences. She would have to vet her tenants carefully. Without them she would rattle around the house like a dried pea in an empty tin now Rita had gone.

  It had been a bad moment discovering her niece missing. In fact she had been near to tears, knowing she should not have lost her temper. Rita had worked so hard to improve herself and had become a real asset in the shop, as well as good company in the house. For several days she had waited, hoping her niece would return, worrying about her safety, knowing she had little money. When Rita hadn’t turned up she had written to Eve but had yet to receive a reply. If her niece did not return, Margaret knew she would not get the same pleasure out of redecorating and furnishing the house. But still she was determined to move.

  She turned away from the broken window, left the glazier to get on with his job and set off to visit the estate agent in North John Street, thinking she needed to bring more pressure to bear on her clients to pay what they owed her. Perhaps she should visit William, not having heard a thing from those up at the yard since the rumpus in the shop with Billy and Jimmy.

  Margaret found William in the stables talking to a middle-aged man; both were wreathed in pipe smoke and had their backs to her. She waited a moment for them to finish their conversation before making her presence known. ‘Good afternoon, Will! You’ll set yourself on fire one of these days.’

  He turned slowly and looked at her. ‘And will you come and dance round my funeral pyre, Maggie?’ The other man excused himself.

  ‘Maybe! I was sorry to hear about Alice.’

  ‘Nice of you to say so.’ William pointed his pipe at her. ‘You understand her going off the way she did is the reason why you haven’t seen me? I’ve some money for you.’

  ‘That’s what I like to hear.’

  ‘And you’re going to get it regularly from now on. I’m doing what I should have done when my uncle died and am putting a man in charge of this place.’

  That shook her. ‘So you’re taking my advice! Goodness, Will, what next? Giving up gambling and smoking?’

  ‘I’m going back to sea.’

  He couldn’t have surprised her more than if he’d said he was going to hang upside down from the mammoth crane down at the docks. ‘After years on shore? Will you be able to get a ship? These are difficult times for seamen.’ She hated the thought of him going away.

  ‘I’ve still got contacts. We got a card from Alice a few days ago and yesterday Jimmy vanished. She’s in America. I can only think he’s gone in search of her. I’d much rather he’d leave her alone. I thought I’d go over there myself…work my passage. Don’t want him upsetting her.’

  ‘So are the girls together? Couldn’t Billy have gone?’

  William tapped his pipe against the wall, knocking out ash. ‘He has his own fish to fry.’ She thought he appeared ill at ease. ‘How’s young Rita?’ he added.

  Margaret felt suddenly weary and rested her back against the stable wall. ‘She’s gone off, too. What are we going to do with these young people, Will?’

  He looked anxious. ‘I’m really sorry to hear that, Maggie. Did she give you a reason?’

  ‘If you mean Jimmy, then yes, he probably has a lot to do with it.’ Her tone was brusque.

  ‘I can only apologise for his behaviour.’

  She sighed. ‘I didn’t exactly act in a way that made her believe she could depend on me to help her. I was reminded of Eve and that made me say things that I shouldn’t have. I just hope she’s with her mother and is all right.’

  ‘Me, too,’ said William, making a move outside. ‘Nothing changes, does it, Maggie? Today’s youngsters make just as many mistakes as we did when it comes to dealing with their feelings.’

  She could not deny it. ‘So how did Alice get to America?’

  He smiled ruefully. ‘Ellen did some fast talking and got them on a liner crossing the Atlantic as a musical d
ouble act.’

  ‘Clever Ellen!’

  ‘She was supposed to stay in America with Alice but met up with a couple of old friends and decided to stay on the liners.’

  ‘I see. So is Alice with that American sailor she met?’

  ‘She’s staying with his sister in Chicago. He’s gone back to sea.’

  ‘So when will you be leaving?’

  ‘Within the next few days. I’ll come and say goodbye.’ He smiled faintly. ‘Now let’s go into the office and I’ll give you that money.’

  That night Margaret had a nightmare. William hadn’t changed at all but turned up at the shop drunk and smashed the new window. She had remonstrated with him by calling him a fool. ‘Drinking, gambling, unable to face the truth of what you are! You’ve destroyed what could have been a good business and’ll end up in hell!’

  ‘Then I’ll see you there, Maggie,’ he’d whispered. ‘You’re a bloody hypocrite, unforgiving and miserly, and to top it all you’ve frightened that poor girl away. She could have put bricks in her pockets and thrown herself in the Mersey.’

  Margaret had been unable to speak and William had vanished. Then she was running down to the river and there was Rita in the water, her hand stretched towards her. Margaret had tried to grasp it but the tide took her away.

  When Margaret woke she prayed for the first time in a long time, prayed that Rita would come home. It did matter if she was pregnant but the main thing was that she was safe.

  Chapter Fifteen

  ‘There’s some money in here,’ said Sam, gazing in the pawnshop window.

  ‘Of course there is, but getting your money to work for you is the way to make more and you need to have nous to do that, Sam.’ Rita’s brow knitted in thought, as her fingers dug into fresh putty. ‘Come on, let’s go and face Aunt Margaret…and I warn you now not to touch anything. You know what she’s like.’

  ‘Has eyes in the back of her head.’ He pushed the door and held it open for Rita.

  Margaret had just been reading over the clauses in the lease, and thinking she would have to consult a solicitor before signing anything, when the shop door opened. She glanced up and saw Rita standing in the doorway. Relief showed in the woman’s face and then she saw Sam and her expression changed.

  Rita forced Sam towards the counter. ‘Hello, Aunt Margaret! Who broke the window? You been having trouble while I’ve been away?’

  ‘You could say that.’ Margaret pointed a finger at Sam. ‘Don’t I know him?’

  ‘I’ll go,’ said Sam, his expression that of a mouse encountering a female tabby, and would have hightailed out of there if Rita had not kept a firm hold on him.

  ‘Of course you know Sam,’ she said. ‘He’s kind, generous, resourceful and has been a real help to me. I wouldn’t have got to Mam’s if it hadn’t been for him.’

  Sam blushed and mumbled something incomprehensible.

  ‘So what’s he doing here?’ asked Margaret.

  Rita smiled. ‘I thought he might be useful to you. Contrary to his looks he’s quite strong.’

  Margaret sniffed and came from behind the counter and sniffed again. ‘He smells.’

  Sam moaned. ‘I’m goin’!’ And he tried to escape again but Rita hung on to him with both hands. ‘You’d smell, too, if you’d lived on the road. You can’t carry a bath on your back, you know! And the streams and rivers are freezing at this time of year. He left Liverpool because his sister died and his father was a bully.’

  ‘Then what’s he doing coming back? You don’t expect me to take him in?’

  Rita smiled sweetly. ‘You’ve got plenty of room and if windows are getting smashed then it’ll be good to have him around.’

  Margaret could scarcely believe her ears. ‘How do I know that he’s trustworthy?’

  ‘Because I’ll vouch for him! I’ve trusted him with my life. If you’re not prepared to give us both jobs then we’ll look elsewhere.’ Rita’s brown eyes sparkled defiantly.

  At that Margaret laughed. ‘Oh, the nerve of the young! I wish I had half your courage.’ She sobered. ‘So you got to see Eve. How did you find her?’

  ‘Looking good but she wasn’t having me staying there.’ Rita shrugged, resigned as her half-brother to her mother’s ways.

  ‘So that’s why you’re back?’ said Margaret dryly.

  ‘Nope! I had every intention of coming back,’ said Rita, crossing her fingers, knowing she’d thought no further than seeing her mother when she made the journey to Cardiff. ‘I thought you’d be lonely without me.’ Her eyes twinkled.

  ‘Uhh! So you thought I’d miss you!’ Margaret thought that it was good to see that twinkle.

  Rita said boldly, ‘I bet you have.’

  ‘I thought you might have gone to your mother’s so I wrote to her.’

  ‘Your letter hadn’t arrived before I left, but then letters have a habit of going missing — and people do get things mixed up. You were wrong about Mr Brodie and Mam — if it was her you meant. My dad’s name was Harold and he died at sea.’

  Margaret was completely baffled. ‘I don’t remember saying anything about Eve and Will — and what’s your father got to do with it?’

  Rita knew her mother had been right. ‘Forget it,’ she said cheerfully. ‘I misunderstood you. But I’m not mistaken about the letter.’

  Margaret was getting even more confused as to why Rita should go on about a letter. ‘You mean the letter I wrote to your mother?’

  ‘No! The one your father got rid of because he didn’t want you going off to China.’ Rita yawned. ‘Can Sam and I stay or not? Because if we can’t I’d like to get something from my room before we leave. It’s a red and gold phoenix that Billy gave me. I hope you haven’t sold it.’

  ‘No, I haven’t sold it,’ said Margaret, resting against the counter, trying to get things sorted out in her head. Had she misheard Rita? ‘Can you repeat that about my father getting rid of a letter to stop me going to China?’

  Rita shifted uncomfortably. ‘Perhaps I shouldn’t have mentioned it just like that.’

  ‘Well, you have! So you’d better tell me everything our Eve said about it.’

  ‘There’s not much to tell. Only that it was from Mr Brodie’s brother and your father destroyed it. She had no idea what was in it.’

  Margaret paled. ‘When was this?’

  Rita shrugged. ‘It must have been after she left home because she came back here to try and wheedle money out of him.’

  ‘And she kept quiet all this time,’ whispered Margaret.

  The shop door opened and a customer entered. Rita recognised the woman and said to her aunt, ‘Let me deal with her. I’ve really missed the shop.’

  Margaret turned on her heel and went into the back premises.

  Sam looked at Rita. ‘Just stick around,’ she said in a low voice, going behind the counter. She faced the customer with a smile. ‘Right, Mrs Swift, what can I do for you?’

  From a tatty shopping bag the woman drew a chipped jug. ‘Can yer give me a tanner for this, girl? Me kids haven’t had anythin’ to eat today, and I wanna get some neck ends to make soup.’

  The jug wasn’t worth sixpence, tuppence more like, and Rita told her so, but she felt sorry for the woman so gave her fourpence and wrote out a pawn ticket, knowing it was highly unlikely the jug would ever be redeemed.

  No sooner had that customer left than another entered. ‘Glad to see yer back,’ said the woman, leaning on the counter. ‘I see Miss Sinclair’s had the window fixed. That must have cost her a few bob.’

  ‘What happened? I haven’t had a chance to find out yet.’

  ‘Someone threw a brick through it, didn’t they? Real big hole it made.’

  ‘Was anything stolen?’

  The woman tightened her headscarf and laughed. ‘What d’you think? Nobody goes and does that for the fun of it.’

  Rita served her as quickly as she could to get rid of her and was soon ushering Sam into the back.

  The
re was no sign of Margaret. ‘Where is she?’ said Rita, looking about her. She went into the scullery but her aunt was not there. She put the kettle on and made tea. She took the teapot into the kitchen and found Sam standing in front of the fire, his hands held out to the blaze. She told him to pour the tea and went upstairs. There was no response from Margaret’s bedroom, which was locked. Slowly Rita returned to the kitchen. She and Sam were hungry so she made toast, wondering where her aunt could be.

  *

  Margaret almost flew up Leece Street. She had to see William. Why she should be so certain that he knew what had been in the letter that her father had destroyed she could not explain. Perhaps it had something to do with him and Alan being twins. Despite their differences, they’d been alike in many ways. She reached the yard. A couple of men were talking by the stables. One of them was the man she had seen with William two days ago. She called over, asking if Mr Brodie was about.

  ‘He’s not here, Miss Sinclair. He collapsed shortly after you left. Peritonitis! They’ve operated but it’s touch and go. He’d said he’d been feeling a bit off but none of us expected this.’

  For a moment Margaret could not speak and then she found her voice. ‘Where is he?’ she croaked.

  ‘The Royal Infirmary.’ The man hesitated before adding, ‘We’re not sure what to do about things here with him gone — buying feed and the like. His credit’s not good, as you know only too well. What d’you advise?’

  Margaret managed to pull herself together. ‘What’s your name?’

  ‘Dixon. Albert Dixon!’

  ‘Then, Mr Dixon, you will do what should be done. You tell the tradesmen to send their bills to me.’

  He looked relieved and touched his cap. ‘Right you are, Miss Sinclair.’

  Although she was feeling dreadful, Margaret made her way to the Royal Infirmary in Pembroke Place. She could have taken a tram but she was in a dreamlike state and just set one foot in front of the other. She prayed earnestly as she had prayed for Rita’s return. At last she reached the soot-begrimed red-bricked Victorian building and went inside.