A Winter Baby for Gin Barrel Lane

by Lindsey Hutchinson

  ‘Are you planning to up the price for that one?’ Jack asked.

  ‘I’ll put a penny on and see how it goes,’ Dolly replied.

  Jack sipped his tea and listened to the easy banter taking place between Dolly and Wilton. He could hardly believe how his friend had grown in confidence since he found her cowering in the yard of the Crown seven years ago. She was now an astute businesswoman running her own gin palace with a good and loyal crew to help.

  He watched the sunlight play over her shiny dark hair, her brown eyes twinkling when she laughed. Dolly Perkins had turned into a beautiful young woman, Jack realised all of a sudden. Then, as she glanced at him, he felt his heart lurch. What was going on? Was he falling for her? Or was he jealous of the relationship beginning to form between Dolly and this salesman? Concern for her welfare trickled into his thoughts – would Dolly fall in love with Wilton only to be spurned because of her leg? Was Wilton just flirting with her in order to sell more gin?

  Chastising himself, Jack pushed away the thoughts. It was Dolly’s life and she was old enough to make up her own mind. The familiar feeling of wanting to protect her rose in him like a storm, however, and it was a feeling which would not be ignored. Something inside told him Dolly might need his counsel before too long and he wondered how he would deal with that time when it came.

  ‘I’d best get back, otherwise Mum will be screaming for my blood,’ Jack said. ‘Thanks for the tea.’ Jack left his friend and Wilton to it, still unable to fully understand why he felt uncomfortable.

  ‘Are you and Jack…?’ Wilton ventured after a moment when Jack had left.

  ‘Goodness, no! We’re friends and have been for years. Although we’re very close, I don’t see him in that way.’ Dolly was surprised at the question and a little flustered. Why had Wilton asked that? Could it be he was interested in her? No, surely he was just being nosey. He was here merely to cajole her into purchasing the new range of spirits – nothing more.

  The sound of yelling from the bar saved her from the conversation continuing.

  ‘I’m afraid duty calls,’ she said, grabbing her cane and getting to her feet.

  ‘I’d better get gone then. You’ll let me know how well Partiality sells, won’t you?’

  ‘And how will I do that?’

  ‘I could call round again.’

  Nodding, Dolly smiled. Then, at another shout from Janice, she rolled her eyes. ‘Sounds like it’s busy out there. Maybe we could try the new gin today.’

  Walking him through the bar to the door she watched him climb into the driving seat of the horse and cart he’d left in the roadway. With a wave, he flicked the reins and the horse walked on.

  Dolly waved before going back indoors. The room was filling up quickly even at this time of the morning. Her customers were enjoying their destructive love affair with their gin. Even after all these years, Dolly couldn’t understand the attraction; how could they drink the throat-searing stuff? She knew it offered relief from perpetual cold, it sated hunger pangs too, but she couldn’t help feeling they would have done better to buy food with what little money they had. Then again, she did understand that the gin lulled them into a world where they could forget the poverty and drudgery of slum life.

  In the beginning, Dolly had felt guilty about selling the eye-reddening spirit, taking what little money folk had, but it was as Jack told her – if she didn’t then someone else would. Her customers would never be abstemious where gin was concerned and so Dolly eventually felt absolved of any guilt and instead took it upon herself to make sure she took care of her customers and ran a safe establishment.

  Standing behind the bar, she smiled when someone struck up the refrain of ‘Polly Perkins of Paddington Green’. Before long, the whole congregation were singing along. Gin might be a health hazard, but it certainly made people happy – if only for a while.

  The staff were coping admirably so Dolly retired to the kitchen, where Sadie was haranguing Alice for some little misdeed or another. Setting the kettle on the range to boil, Dolly sat at the table, her thoughts once again returning to the handsome Wilton Burton.

  In the meantime, Jack had gone home in a foul mood.

  ‘Whatever is up with you today?’ Nellie asked.

  ‘Nothing, Mum.’

  ‘Nothing, my arse!’

  ‘Leave him be, Nell,’ Nancy put in.

  ‘Nance, summat is wrong and I want to know what it is.’

  ‘Shovin’ yer nose where it don’t belong again, you mean,’ Nancy muttered.

  Ignoring the remark, Nellie went on. ‘Jack, a problem shared is a problem halved.’

  Releasing a deep sigh, Jack folded under the pressure. ‘I’m worried about Dolly.’

  ‘Why?’ Nellie asked, her brows drawing together in a furrow.

  ‘She’s a mite too friendly with that salesman – Wilton Burton, you know, the one that came here too.’

  Nellie shot a glance at Nancy who clamped her upper teeth over her lower lip.

  ‘Ah, well, I wouldn’t worry about that. I’m sure Dolly knows what she’s doing, son,’ Nellie said.

  ‘Does she? She ain’t had any experience with men and I’m scared he’ll break her heart. He’s got the gift of the gab, that one.’

  ‘We have to let her go her own way, lovey. You can’t wrap her up in cotton wool. All as you can do is look out for her.’

  ‘I suppose.’ With that Jack went to the cellar, dragging his feet along the way.

  ‘Oh, blimey!’ Nancy exclaimed. ‘You don’t think Jack’s carrying a candle for Dolly, do you? A touch of the green-eyed monster, perhaps?’

  ‘That would be my guess, and a bloody big candle at that! But I ain’t sure Dolly feels the same.’

  ‘How do you know?’ Nancy asked as she sat at the table with her friend.

  ‘I don’t know, Nance, I just feel it in my belly.’

  ‘That’ll be wind,’ Nancy quipped. ‘I suppose time will tell,’ she added, as Nellie ignored her little joke.

  ‘Hmm.’

  ‘There could be ructions if Jack interferes with any blossoming relationship atwixt Dolly and that bloke.’

  ‘That’s what concerns me, and they’ve been friends too long to fall out now,’ Nellie replied.

  ‘Well, there’s nowt we can do about it.’

  ‘Hmm,’ Nellie mumbled again, but her mind was telling her she should discover what, if anything, was going on. She needed to mention this to Dolly – discreetly, of course.

  7

  Later that morning, Nancy grumbled that they were almost out of bread and she didn’t have time to make any. Nellie yelled for Jack and, giving him some money, sent him to the bakers.

  Jack ambled down the street mentally grumbling to himself. A man now and I’m still sent on errands.

  Entering the baker’s, he was faced with Daisy Truckle, her blonde curls bobbing and her cornflower blue eyes shining.

  ‘I ain’t seen you in an age,’ she said.

  ‘Ar well, I’m here now and I need some bread.’

  ‘What’s got your gander up?’

  ‘None of your business,’ Jack snapped.

  ‘Well, whatever it is, don’t you bloody take it out on me!’

  Jack looked at the pretty face, thinking how different it was to Dolly’s. ‘Sorry, I’m out of sorts today.’

  Wrapping two freshly baked loaves, Daisy gave a curt nod.

  Around Jack’s age, Daisy had harboured feelings for the lad for what seemed forever, but it was like he never even noticed her. She knew that if they were ever to walk out together, it would have to be her who instigated it.

  ‘There you go,’ she said, handing over the bread and taking payment. ‘Ain’t it time you asked me out?’

  Jack was momentarily taken aback at the girl’s forthright manner.

  ‘I ain’t got time to go courting,’ he responded.

  ‘You could find time if you tried hard enough.’

  Daisy was a handsome young woman,
there was no denying that, and would make someone a good wife. Could that someone be him? Could he wed another when he had such strong feelings for Dolly? The revelation hit him like a bolt out of the blue. Was his love for Dolly that of a friend and protector, or was it something more?

  ‘Well?’ Daisy pushed.

  ‘All right! Sunday afternoon, we’ll have a walk down to Park Street Gardens, but don’t be expecting anything more.’

  ‘What time?’

  Jack sighed. Daisy was not about to give up. ‘Two o’clock.’ With that he left the baker’s. He did not look back, else he would have seen the broad smile on Daisy’s face.

  Strolling home, he wondered what he’d got himself into. Would stepping out with Daisy give her the impression they were a couple? He had agreed just to stop her from pestering him, but what if she thought he was soft on her?

  Mind you, it would do him good to get away from the Crown for a few hours, and the park was lovely. Benches beneath the trees, blue sky, warm breeze – he found himself actually looking forward to it. Now all he had to do was tell his mum so she’d give him time off.

  Back in the kitchen, he slapped the bread on the table and Nellie raised her eyes from the accounts she was studying.

  ‘I’m going out on Sunday afternoon, so I need a few hours off,’ he said. Having thought about it, he decided to take a leaf out of Daisy’s book and be direct.

  ‘Where are you going?’ Nellie asked.

  ‘I’m taking Daisy Truckle to the park.’

  ‘Oh, all right then,’ Nellie said with a quick glance at Nancy.

  ‘Will you be wanting a picnic basket?’ Nancy asked.

  ‘No, we’re only going for a walk.’

  ‘You don’t seem very keen,’ Nellie put in.

  Jack shrugged and went to see Fred in the cellar.

  ‘What do you make of that?’ Nancy asked.

  ‘I think she bullied him into it, you know how pushy that girl is, but it won’t hurt him to get out of here for a while. You never know, he might even enjoy himself.’

  Sitting on an upturned cask, Jack watched Fred sweep the cellar floor.

  ‘Want to talk about it?’ Fred asked.

  ‘What?’

  ‘Whatever’s on yer mind.’

  Jack told him what had occurred in the baker’s shop.

  ‘She’s a nice girl, is Daisy,’ Fred said, ‘even though she speaks her mind and doesn’t care who knows it.’

  ‘I know, Fred, but…’

  ‘You ain’t betraying Dolly if that’s what you’re thinking.’

  ‘It’s not that,’ Jack mumbled.

  ‘Oh, I see. You’d rather be walking out with Dolly, is that it?’

  Jack nodded.

  ‘Have you asked her?’

  Jack shook his head. ‘She seems too taken up with that Wilton Burton!’

  Fred leaned the broom against the wall and sat himself on a barrel, not trusting his weight on a smaller cask.

  ‘Well, the only way you’ll know is to ask.’

  ‘What if she says no?’

  ‘At least then you will know. It might be that you and Daisy find you really like each other.’

  ‘Maybe.’

  ‘Give it a go and if it don’t work out you’re no worse off.’

  ‘All right, thanks Fred.’ Jack climbed the cellar steps to help out behind the bar. At least it would take his mind off things while he was serving customers.

  Over at the Palace, Dolly was pleased to see, despite the rise in price, that the Partiality gin supplied by Burton’s Distillery was selling well. Taking a seat in the kitchen to rest her leg, she was surprised when Janice joined her.

  ‘Dolly, I’ve got something I need to talk to you about. I’ve decided I’m giving up work.’

  ‘Oh! Why’s that?’

  ‘The twins are three years old now and I want to spend some time with them before they go to school. I’ve discussed it with Matt and he agrees.’

  ‘I can understand that, but I hope you don’t mind me asking – can you afford it? Will you be able to manage on Matt’s wage alone?’

  ‘We think so.’

  ‘Fair enough. Well then, we’ll all miss you, but I can see how family comes first. Just promise me one thing. If you find yourselves struggling financially, you’ll come to me.’

  Janice smiled. ‘Thanks, Dolly.’

  Dolly reached into the table drawer and pulled out enough to cover Janice’s pay. ‘Go on, there’s no time like the present. Get yourself off home and enjoy those boys of yours.’

  Giving Dolly a hug, Janice left with tears in her eyes.

  ‘One down in the bar now,’ Sadie said. No sooner were the words out of her mouth than a knock came to the back door.

  Dolly glanced up with a puzzled look.

  Sadie answered and ushered the visitor in.

  Danny Whitehouse stood before Dolly. ‘I’ve come to work off what I owe.’

  ‘Your mum’s…?’

  ‘Mum was laid to rest this morning. The vicar shoved us in between two other funerals.’

  Dolly nodded. ‘Well, Danny, your timing is perfect as I find myself in need of a barman. If you go through to the bar, Juliet will show you the ropes. Remember, Danny, loyalty and respect.’

  ‘Yes, ma’am, and thank you.’ Danny knuckled his forehead and disappeared into the packed bar.

  ‘I hope he works out,’ Sadie said.

  ‘So do I. Now, what’s for dinner?’

  ‘Faggots, taters and cabbage with onion gravy if Alice bucks her ideas up and peels them spuds.’

  The maid scowled. ‘I’m doing my best.’

  Dolly smiled and left them to it. She wanted to see how Danny Whitehouse was getting to grips with his new job.

  Laughing, joking and serving, Danny seemed to have taken to the work like a duck to water.

  ‘You ain’t as pretty as Janice,’ a customer called over the noise.

  ‘Maybe not, but I’ve got the gin so you’d best be nice to me,’ Danny responded with a grin.

  The Palace was busy all day and the staff were run off their feet. Taking turns to slip away for a meal, they then returned to the melee.

  After lock-up that night, as a few sat with a well-earned cup of tea, Dolly piped up. ‘I think I’ll go over to Horse Fair tomorrow and have a look at the pub for sale.’

  ‘Great idea, but it might be an idea to take somebody with you,’ Sadie suggested.

  ‘You’re probably right. Danny, you up for a trip out?’

  ‘Certainly, it will be my pleasure. I’ll be getting off home now then. Thanks, Sadie, for that good home-cooked meal. See you all tomorrow.’

  Once he’d gone, and with a beaming smile, Sadie said, ‘Nice lad, that Danny.’

  ‘Dreamy looking an’ all,’ Alice muttered.

  Dolly could barely contain her smile as Sadie sighed and rolled her eyes. Then one by one they retired to their respective beds, feeling weary to the bone.

  8

  The following morning, Dolly and Danny boarded a cab which set off for Horse Fair. The cab travelled down Corporation Street, passing the county court and the Grand Theatre. Coming to New Street, it circumnavigated the railway station before cutting down narrower streets. Horse Fair was a wide thoroughfare lined each side by trees, giving the impression of being a relatively wealthy area.

  On arrival, they alighted and stared up at the soot-blackened building. Dolly looked around her. With a position not far from New Street Station it would bring in custom from passengers. The public house stood on the corner of the tramway and Essex Street, opposite an inn right next to St Catherine’s Chapel. It was busy with carts, riders and foot traffic, but everyone was in a hurry to get where they were going, not even sparing the pub a second glance.

  Going indoors, she smiled inwardly as the buzz of conversation halted at seeing a woman in a drinking den. Stepping up to the bar, she said loudly, ‘I’m here to see the landlord, please.’

  The barman nodded a
nd disappeared into a back room. Dolly glanced around. She counted only six men, quaffing ale and smoking clay pipes, all of whom were most likely retired from working life. They looked at her with disgust on their faces. Women in their local – whatever next!

  A tall thin man with a hooked nose and very little hair followed the barman, and said, ‘You wanted to see me?’

  ‘Yes, I believe your premises might be up for sale?’

  He nodded.

  ‘I could be interested in buying. May we have a look around and then discuss business somewhere more private?’

  Nodding again he approached a door which led to the stairs. Ascending, Dolly wrinkled her nose at the smell of dank decay. The whole place was riddled with damp and would need a lot of attention. She was surprised to find it only had four rooms upstairs, all of which were completely empty.

  ‘Clearly you don’t have people to stay, then,’ she said.

  ‘No.’

  Dolly shot a quick look at Danny, who shrugged his shoulders.

  Returning to the lower level, the landlord pointed to behind the bar. ‘My living quarters.’

  ‘May we see?’ Dolly asked.

  ‘No,’ the man replied abruptly, and Dolly wondered if he was ashamed of where he was living.

  ‘Well, then, thank you for the tour.’

  ‘So, are you buying it?’

  ‘I’ll think on it and consult my financial adviser but I appreciate your time. Good day to you.’

  Climbing into the waiting cab once more Dolly blew through her lips. ‘Well, that was like trying to get blood out of a stone.’

  ‘He wasn’t very forthcoming, he never even told you how much he was asking for it!’ Danny replied.

  ‘It’s my guess he didn’t want to deal with a woman. I should have realised and asked you to take the lead.’

  ‘So, what did you think of the place?’

  ‘It smelled damp, and it’s dark and dismal. God knows what the living quarters are like. It would take an immense amount of work and money to make it into a going concern.’

  ‘It’s a busy area, though.’