by Anna Jacobs
He knew he’d changed greatly, grown stronger mentally. It wasn’t only the travel, but being loved by a beautiful woman. That gave you extra confidence. He smiled reminiscently, thinking about their time together, then forced himself to stop that and concentrate on what he was doing. He sipped the tea again, swilling it round his mouth slowly. It’d have to do, but he’d make sure they didn’t order too much loose tea of any sort at one time from now on.
He looked down at the teapot and topped it up with more boiling water, then called to the lad sitting at the other end of the bench. ‘You might as well have a cup. Be a shame to waste it.’
‘I’m all right, thanks.’
When Marshall came in for something he made the same offer.
‘Don’t mind if I do.’
Harry at once popped into the packing area from his office. ‘You’re not paid to drink tea on duty, Marshall.’
Zachary looked at him. ‘Are you going to waste it?’
‘Yes, if it interferes with the work.’ He came forward and picked up the teapot, moving to the sink.
Furious, Zachary took it out of his hands, heedless of how hot it was. There was a short struggle, but he was much stronger than the smaller man. ‘I say it’s stupid to waste anything.’
The door opened and Pandora came in, staring in surprise at the two men struggling over a teapot.
Harry turned to Marshall and the lad. ‘Out!’
They both went into the shop, Marshall with his lips pressed together, his anger clear at being spoken to like that.
‘What’s going on here?’ she demanded.
‘Carr is wasting good tea, brewing up during working hours.’
‘I’m blending the tea and your uncle always said the only way to tell if the blend was right was to have a cup. Would you like to try some, Miss Blake?’
‘This is how my uncle did it?’ She looked first at Zachary and then at Harry.
‘Yes.’
‘Your uncle was a wonderful man but he had old-fashioned ways,’ Harry said. ‘I’m arranging the work more efficiently, Miss Blake.’
‘I think I should like to try a cup. And you ought to as well, Mr Prebble.’
Zachary poured cups for them. ‘I’m not adding milk or sugar because we want to taste only the tea. This is our best blend. Harry had been experimenting with a new mixture, but it wasn’t as good and Mr Dawson told us to go back to the old blend.’
She sipped the tea thoughtfully, saying nothing.
Harry took a big mouthful, swallowing it immediately, looking bored.
Pandora stared into the white teacup, studying the remaining liquid. ‘It’s a slightly different colour from the one we’ve been using, isn’t it? Though our packet says it’s Blake’s Best.’
He nodded and watched her sip again, saw Harry gulp down the rest of his cup without trying to taste it properly.
‘I like this one better,’ she said at last.
‘Your uncle was a connoisseur of good tea. He taught me a lot about blending it, but I’ll never be as good at it as he was.’
‘Well, I can’t taste any difference whatsoever,’ Harry snapped, ‘and the new blend makes much more profit.’ He looked at Pandora. ‘Surely you want to make as much money as you can?’
She cocked her head on one side, thinking, then shook it. ‘No, I don’t think I do. Oh, I want to make money for myself and my sisters, but I want to give people good service too. My uncle was well thought of in the town. If I can live up to his reputation, I’ll be satisfied.’
Harry stared at her in open-mouthed amazement.
‘I’ll give the other lads a cup each,’ Zachary said. ‘They need to learn the difference between the various blends.’
‘They’ve work to do!’ Harry snapped.
‘A few minutes won’t hurt, especially if they’re learning something,’ Pandora said.
This time he didn’t hide his anger, but stormed into his office, though he didn’t close the door.
‘I’ll call the men in. Would you like to pour?’ Zachary asked.
‘Good idea. I’ve not had a chance to talk to them yet.’
Marshall sipped his tea as instructed, rolling it round his mouth and looking surprised. ‘I’ve never had the money to drink this sort before. It’s good, isn’t it?’
The shopmen sipped in silence, eyeing the office door warily, saying nothing. As soon as they could they put their cups down and went back to work.
The shop lad seemed astonished to be offered a cup of the tea. He looked even more surprised when he sipped it. ‘This one is better, isn’t it?’
Zachary nodded. ‘Definitely. You have to learn about tea as part of your job, Joe. Sip it slowly. Take the time to taste it properly.’
He did so, smiling. ‘It’s lovely. Nicest cup of tea I’ve ever had.’
Harry came out while he was speaking and walked past them without a word.
The lad looked anxious suddenly. ‘He heard me, didn’t he?’
Zachary looked at Pandora and rolled his eyes, then began to rinse out the teapot.
She took it out of his hands. ‘I’ll do this. You get on with your work.’
He could imagine them working together like this once everything was sorted out. He’d show her all the little jobs that were needed behind the scenes, make her understand about suppliers, keeping stocks at the right level and choosing the best products they could find. When times were better and some of the more expensive items came back into the shop, they’d taste them together.
Not grand dreams, his, but cosy ones.
That evening there was a knock on the back door and Zachary found Marshall there. ‘Come in.’
The other man stayed in the scullery. ‘I’ll not be long. I just wanted to see if you’ve noticed the petty pilfering at the shop yet.’
Zachary nodded.
‘He rearranges the shelves, thinks we don’t notice. He’s overconfident, that one.’
‘How does he get the stuff out of the shop?’
‘His auntie does the cleaning. She’s got pockets inside her skirt. I’ve told Mr Dawson, but he says we can’t accuse Harry of pilfering when it’s her that takes things out of the shop. We have to catch him in the act.’
‘It wasn’t like this in the old days, you know. The shop was a really happy place to work under Mr Blake. Those two shopmen are scared to open their mouths, so is the lad.’
‘I’ll tell Ralph Dawson you’re on to it, then.’
‘I don’t understand why Harry does it. He has a good job, earns enough to live decently, because he’s only himself to support. He certainly doesn’t want for anything.’
‘Some folk are like that. Worship money. Want more than their share. He’s got his eye on your young lady, you know.’
‘My young lady.’
Marshall grinned. ‘A blind man could tell you two love one another. Why don’t you wed her and get rid of Harry. Solve everyone’s problems, that would.’
Why not indeed? Zachary thought as he let the other man out. Because it went against the grain to let Harry get away with stealing, that was why, and if they didn’t prove he was cheating on his employer, it’d look bad to sack him. It was a small town and Harry would no doubt protest his innocence, putting them in the wrong.
If an experienced lawyer and his clerk thought they should tread carefully, that was the right way.
Pandora told Alice what had happened with the tea blending, feeling indignant all over again at the memory of Harry’s petty, spiteful ways.
‘The sooner we’re rid of him, the better. Zachary will do a much better job of managing the shop.’
‘Are you and Zachary courting?’
Pandora hesitated, then admitted, ‘It’s a secret, so don’t tell anyone else, but we got married in Australia.’
Alice gaped at her for a moment, then smiled. ‘How wonderful!’
‘I fell in love with him very quickly. He’s a lovely man, kind but strong.’
‘Why are you hiding it?’
‘We had to get married to get the last cabin on the ship. I wanted to marry him anyway, because I’d fallen in love with him by then. But he’s worried about my money, so he hasn’t—’ She blushed, ‘I’m still only his wife in name. He says I need time to be sure, but Alice, I don’t. I was sure within days of meeting him. And I know he loves me.’
‘But people can be cruel about an unequal marriage, especially if there’s trouble at the shop. Ralph is right. Something is definitely wrong. Dot hates going in there now for our provisions. And when I went in one day, that Prebble creature looked down his nose at me.’
‘I can go for the shopping from now on. It’ll be good to see what it’s like to be a customer.’
‘I’ll ask Dot, but I think she’d rather continue doing it herself. She prides herself on doing her work properly.’
‘All right.’ Pandora hesitated, then said, ‘You’re quite friendly with Mr Dawson and his sister, aren’t you? You just called him by his first name.’
It was Alice’s turn to blush.
Pandora smiled. ‘I won’t tease you. I like Mr Dawson and I hope things go well for you.’
‘And for you too.’
When Zachary came to work the following morning, the shop lad was nowhere to be seen.
‘Where’s Joe?’
Harry gave him a triumphant smile. ‘I sacked him this morning. Lazy little devil, he was. He left things dirty. I’ve already found a better lad, one who will work hard.’
Zachary said nothing but he knew this wasn’t true. Joe had been a very hard worker. Unfortunately Zachary had no power to reinstate him. Not yet, anyway.
The atmosphere in the shop was leaden that day. Even Marshall, normally the most equable of men, was grim-faced, with a growling undertone to his voice when he spoke to Harry.
At dinner time, Zachary got out of the shop, picking up his free sandwiches and wrapping them in his handkerchief. He went to eat them in the nearby public gardens, sitting in a secluded corner. Afterwards, he walked briskly round the perimeter paths, relieved to be away from Harry, who hadn’t stopped smirking and nagging today.
On his second circuit of the gardens he saw a lad he recognised walking into the alley where the side entrance to the emporium was – Harry’s young cousin, another little weasel of a Prebble. He’d guess Ronnie was there for the job. The cleaner was Harry’s aunt. How many other members of his family was the man intending to find jobs for?
Well, Zachary vowed, as soon as things were sorted out, Joe was going to get his job back. And afterwards the shop wasn’t going to be filled with Prebbles. In the meantime, he’d slip Joe and his family some money and make sure they didn’t starve.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another lad duck back behind a street corner as he turned down the side path of the gardens. When he was behind some bushes, he stopped to look back and saw the lad peering out from behind the corner, clearly watching him. There wasn’t any doubt about it because there was no one else nearby.
No wonder Pandora said she’d felt as if someone was following her. Harry had a whole tribe of young cousins. Had he got them watching both Zachary and her? Why?
What was he up to? Where did he think this would lead?
Dot came back with some shopping that afternoon, her eyes fairly sparkling with indignation. She marched up the stairs and knocked on the parlour door, finding Miss Blake sitting reading by the window and Alice writing a letter.
‘Can I speak to you, please, miss? Well, both of you, actually.’
‘Of course.’ Pandora put her book down. ‘You look angry. What’s wrong?’
‘That Harry Prebble has gone and sacked poor Joe.’
‘The shop lad? What for?’
‘Nothing. Joe’s the only one in his family who’s working and he’d never do anything to put his job at risk. He’s a good little worker. I’ve watched him out of the window. He never slacks off, not even when he’s alone in the yard. His family lives down the street from us. His Dad’s not well and they rely on Joe’s wages.’
Pandora had a sudden memory of the lad trying the tea and saying, ‘Nicest cup of tea I’ve ever tasted’, then worrying that Harry had overheard this remark. The two shopmen had not made any comment at all on the tea. Surely Harry wouldn’t sack the boy because of that?
Anger rose in her. ‘I’m going to see that Prebble creature and find out what’s happened to Joe.’
‘Shouldn’t you leave that to Ralph and Zachary?’ Alice asked.
‘No, I shouldn’t. I’m the owner of the shop. I can’t bear to think of people I employ being treated so badly.’
When she went into the shop she found another lad packing goods in the rear, a dull-faced lad who didn’t have the manners to stand up when she entered. She glared at him and crossed to the half-open office door, rapping on it sharply.
Harry was sitting there, bent over some account books. When he saw her, he slid the top book under the other one and got to his feet. She tried not to show that she’d seen him hiding the book, but noted its colour and shape.
‘Can I help you, Miss Blake?’
‘You certainly can. Why did you sack Joe?’
He stared at her in surprise. ‘That’s my business. I manage your shop and I must do what’s necessary in hard times like these.’
‘Tell me why you sacked Joe.’
He drew himself up. ‘Because he wasn’t doing his work properly.’
‘In what way?’
‘He wasn’t clearing up properly, wasn’t working fast enough.’
‘I’ve always found him polite and helpful, and this room has never looked anything but immaculately clean and tidy.’
Scorn dripped in Harry’s words. ‘My dear lady, you must allow me to know my job.’
‘As I’m the owner, it is you who must allow me to oversee what you do and if I don’t approve, then you are the one who must change your ways.’
Zachary, who had just come back from his dinner break, heard the conversation clearly. He turned to the lad and jerked his head. ‘Go and help out in the shop, Ronnie.’
The lad smirked, looking so like Harry it made Zachary feel sick.
‘I don’t answer to you. I only have to do what Ha— Mr Prebble says.’
Zachary lifted him by his shirt collar and seat of his trousers and propelled him out into the shop at a run, then shut the door. He went towards the office. To his amazement they didn’t seem to have heard his altercation with the new shop lad.
‘You will send for Joe at once and give him his job back,’ she ordered.
Zachary suppressed a groan. Trust Pandora to rush headlong at this. She should have left it to him. If she didn’t take care, they’d not be able to catch Harry out.
‘There is no vacancy. I appointed a new lad this morning.’
‘Who is he, the new lad?’
‘I beg your pardon.’
‘What is his name?’
‘Ronnie.’
‘Ronnie what?’
Zachary smiled. She’d noticed the resemblance too.
‘Ronnie Prebble.’
‘Another relative of yours. In other words, you sacked Joe so that a relative could have the job. Well, I’m not tolerating that sort of thing.’
Zachary thought it time to intervene. ‘Sorry to interrupt, but you two can be heard from the shop.’
‘Go away, Carr!’ Harry said at once. ‘And don’t come into my office in future unless I invite you in.’
‘Stay, Zachary.’ Pandora said. ‘Did you know Prebble had sacked that nice shop lad?’
‘Yes.’
‘Why didn’t you tell me?’
Reluctantly Zachary decided he couldn’t intervene, not if he was to keep working and watching here. ‘It wasn’t my job to tell you.’
Harry nodded, a tight smile on his face.
‘Well, I want Joe brought back again.’ She looked from one man to the other. ‘It wasn’t fair to sack him and put a relative in his place. What’s m
ore, I don’t believe Joe did anything wrong.’
Zachary shook his head slightly to warn her.
Harry folded his arms. ‘I’m sorry, but I can’t do that.’
‘Right. We’ll see about that.’ She marched out of the shop and strode down the main street, suddenly realising from other ladies’ surprised glances that she was wearing neither hat nor gloves. Even the mill girls never went out without covering their heads with their shawls to proclaim their respectability. Well, she was too angry to go back for her hat. Let them stare.
She stormed into Mr Featherworth’s rooms.
Ralph looked up and saw who it was through the open door of his office. Good heavens, Pandora Blake looked magnificent: colour high, eyes flashing. She really was a beautiful young woman. What had upset her? He got up and went out quickly.
‘I want to see Mr Featherworth at once.’
‘I think he’s free. I’ll just check.’
He hurried along the corridor, warned his employer that something was wrong, then ushered her in.
‘Don’t go away, Mr Dawson!’ she said. ‘This involves you too.’
She explained what had happened and it took all their powers of persuasion to prevent her from sacking Harry Prebble on the spot.
‘I’ll send some money to young Joe,’ Ralph promised. ‘And we’ll give him his job back later.’
‘But Prebble will think he’s won. He’ll think I have no control over my own shop,’ she protested. ‘It’ll be humiliating.’
Ralph looked at her thoughtfully. ‘That might serve our purpose very well. He’s already scornful of others and far too confident about his own cleverness. Yes, I think this might be just the thing to make him do something rash.’ He smiled ruefully at her. ‘Please, Miss Blake, I know it’s hard, but could you bear with us for a few more days?’
After a few rebellious moments, she sighed. ‘I suppose I’ll have to.’
‘We’ll catch him out for you,’ Ralph said. ‘I promise.’
‘And the sooner the better,’ Mr Featherworth said. ‘This is all most upsetting.’
‘I’ll go home, then. Though how I shall face that nasty little man, I don’t know.’
‘Ignore him,’ Mr Featherworth said soothingly. ‘Don’t go near the shop. Leave it to Zachary and Mr Dawson.’