A Daughter's Price

by Emma Hornby

  ‘We really are.’

  ‘Eeh, love!’

  ‘Right, then. Let’s go and tell them we’ve made our decision, shall we?’

  Daniel called on Laura that evening and she told him of the news. She explained that she was going to ask Edwin Howarth to look over the legalities and terms of the contract before they signed anything; to her relief, Daniel showed no sign of displeasure at this, instead was quick to agree.

  ‘I trust his expertise,’ she told him. ‘He has a good head for business, after all.’

  ‘He’ll be willing to offer advice, though, d’you think, after …?’

  Laura looked away. However much she told herself she’d made the right choice in turning the marriage proposal down, she couldn’t help but feel a stab of guilt to think on it. ‘Aye. He said he’d like us to stay friends, and I’m glad of that. If he reckons all looks well and good … then we’ll go ahead and the shop will be ours.’ She shook her head. ‘Can tha believe it, though, lad? I still have to pinch myself this is even happening.’

  ‘He ain’t going to like it, Laura.’

  ‘Ambrose Todd? Aye, I know.’ A devil’s smile crept across her features when Daniel grinned. ‘I can’t wait to see his face when he finds out.’

  ‘It’s your chance to get back at him once and for all. And what a way you’re going to get to do it. Success: it’s the best type of revenge, aye.’

  ‘This is for Lizzie, though, an’ all. It’s the least I owe her,’ she added in a whisper, not daring to look at him, lest he spied the longing she still and always would harbour for him. ‘I can’t wait to buy her all the equipment she needs. Proper stuff, mind, from the best stores, that she’s allus hankered for – for years, I’m guessing. She’s going to be so happy.’

  ‘And you?’

  His question threw her. She frowned. ‘What about me?’

  ‘Will you be happy, Laura? I mean, really happy?’

  She swallowed hard and looked away. ‘’Course I will.’

  Continuing quietly, he counted on his fingers as he spoke: ‘Aye, you’re soon to make Lizzie’s dream reality. And today, you mentioned it’s your wish that them rooms above the shop are to be for Bridget and her niece, with jobs downstairs thrown in. That if they’ve a safe dwelling of their own and secure positions, they’ll be able to free themselves of that swine’s clutches.’

  ‘Lad?’

  ‘You even asked me a few weeks ago to trek to Breightmet, insisted I post some of that brass through Dotty Cannock’s door, that you’d not touch a penny else,’ he went on, tapping a third finger. ‘You felt sorry for her, after everything, couldn’t help it. I can just picture her now, cackling with glee at the discovery, not that she deserves it.’

  ‘What’s your point?’

  ‘My point is, when will you do summat for thee? Just once.’

  ‘But I need nowt, have everything—’

  ‘Everything?’ he insisted, eyes creasing.

  Tears stung. She blinked rapidly. ‘Daniel … please don’t.’

  ‘You know, don’t you, now and always, you’ve only ever to say the word and I …’ He dropped his head then, on a painful sigh, rose to his feet. Stooping, he pressed the most tenderest of kisses to her brow. ‘Carpe diem,’ he whispered, before turning and leaving the house.

  ‘But it can never be ours to seize,’ Laura mouthed to the closed door.

  CHAPTER 28

  AMBROSE PAID THE shop across the way little notice. As was usual, he was barely ever at his yard and, when he was, he was either the worse for drink or too consumed with his own problems to focus on anything else. This suited Laura. Out of sight, she’d watch his comings and goings from the confectioner’s window, a grim smile at her mouth.

  The day he’d launched his barbaric attack upon Bridget and Millicent she’d been too consumed with horror and fury to pay his appearance heed; now, however, she was seeing him properly and she was shocked by the change. He was tired-looking and dishevelled, smaller somehow, his shoulders stooped under the clear weight of his crippling worries.

  Nor had he finished reaping what he’d sown.

  Oh no, not by a long chalk. And she knew not a shred of remorse.

  As Laura’s belly grew, so, too, did the improvements inside the shop, and the conversion was fast approaching completion. And still, she was managing quite well to slip in and out each day to check on the progress unseen; her uncle hadn’t the slightest inkling. Even Bridget and Millicent were unaware of her new venture – and its locality. Though she saw them at church, she remained tight-lipped. The least they knew for now, for their own sakes, the better.

  By June, they were ready to begin trading. The opening day dawned lead grey with a slight drizzle that showed no sign of abating, but nothing could have dulled their mood. Laura, in particular, glowed with quiet exultancy. The real storm was yet to come and she was ready for it.

  At the appointed hour, she and Lizzie crossed the shop floor. Pausing, they gave one another a quick hug. A deep breath, then they turned the small sign to ‘Open’, threw back the door and stepped outside.

  The court’s residents were there waiting, every one. They let out a cheer, kissed and embraced the women in turn and offered their congratulations and best wishes for their future success. Then Lizzie led them all inside to show them around and treat them to tea and cake, and Laura was left alone.

  Standing in the centre of her doorway, arms folded, she fixed her gaze on the coal yard and her uncle’s imminent departure. His drunken tirade, as he screamed instructions and threats to his long-suffering workforce, spilled over to her across the street. Then there he was. He swung through the gates and, before turning for home, flicked his eyes up with a cursory glance in her direction. Then he looked again. And again. His jaw dropped. He juddered to a standstill.

  ‘Lovely morning, ain’t it, Uncle Ambrose?’

  ‘You …’ His gaze took in the fresh new premises behind her. ‘You?’

  She smiled.

  ‘Never. Never! How?’

  The two men whose approach she’d had one eye on from the start reached the yard. Whatever was written on the paper they handed to Ambrose had the power to strip the colour from his face and turn his bones to liquid; he staggered as though he’d collapse. Laura threw him another smile, turned and re-entered her shop.

  ‘My source was right?’ asked Edwin when he arrived a short while later. ‘The creditors came?’

  Laura nodded. ‘They came.’

  ‘And?’

  ‘It happened just as you said it would. They issued my uncle with a notice to vacate the premises. His yard’s been repossessed.’

  ‘What we discussed …’

  ‘Aye.’

  ‘You’re still in agreement, lass?’

  ‘I am.’

  ‘Right, then.’ He nodded. ‘I’ll start making enquiries.’

  ‘Edwin?’ Laura called when the coal merchant, having turned to leave, reached the door. ‘Thank you,’ she whispered. ‘For everything.’

  He gave her a soft wink. ‘What are friends for?’

  ‘So what d’you say, then, love? Should we give Widow Jessop’s idea a try, see what the customers think?’

  Eyes thoughtful, Laura bobbed her head slowly. ‘Aye. Aye, it’s a gradely idea.’

  ‘I think so. Frank agrees, too. It’ll mean setting up a new display for her creations, but I reckon there’s room in t’ corner over there for the time being. Frank said he’d lend us a hand should we need it.’

  Frank Higson. They saw almost as much of him now as they had when they ran the stall next to his on the market. He was forever popping by the shop for one cake or another, or just to chat – Laura had joked to Lizzie that they would have to start charging him rent soon if he kept it up. Blushing, her friend had been quick to change the subject.

  ‘Widow Jessop reckons that bite-size fancies would be best,’ Lizzie continued. ‘They’ll appear more appetising. Besides, kiddies will find smaller pieces
more manageable.’

  ‘Aye. We’ll talk over the plans with her at the court later.’

  ‘Eeh, look at us, branching out again!’ Lizzie laughed, and Laura chuckled along.

  Her friend was right. The business, and their confidence in it, was going from strength to strength.

  As well as their usual bakes, along with new recipes that Lizzie had practised and soon perfected, they were taking on increasingly more specialist orders. Unique cakes, personally designed for various celebrations, contributed largely to their profits and the women had taken on Mary O’Brien full time to help with demand. Joyce was also at hand if they got too busy. And now, the old herb woman had proposed a new notion: to disguise her bitterest medicines in a much more palatable cake form, which would appeal greatly to youngsters and others with delicate tastes. It was fresh thinking, innovative, and Laura was sure it could do well.

  ‘There he is again,’ Mary announced wearily as the time approached noon, jerking her head outside. ‘He’s getting worse, he is.’

  Lizzie went to stand beside her sister at the window, and Laura followed. Through narrowed eyes, she watched the pathetic figure of her uncle gazing forlornly through the padlocked gates of his lost yard.

  ‘Auction day this afternoon, ain’t it?’ Mary spoke again. ‘I wonder who the buyer will be?’

  After shooting Lizzie a look, Laura shrugged. ‘Who knows, lass?’

  ‘’Ere, see, he’s crying. See him scrubbing at his tears? He’ll not accept it’s gone, will he?’

  ‘Come on, you, back to the kitchen and your duties,’ Lizzie intervened, ushering her sister away.

  Alone, Laura nodded. ‘Oh, he’ll accept it,’ she murmured to herself. ‘He will, very shortly. Make no mistake about that.’

  By the time Daniel arrived at the shop Ambrose was slumped on the ground outside the yard with his back against the gates. Swigging from a bottle of spirits, he was in a world all of his own, staring into space.

  Having sent Mary home, the three of them now sat in tense silence awaiting Edwin. When finally the door opened and the kindly coal merchant stepped inside, they rose as one.

  ‘Well?’ asked Laura in a whisper.

  Edwin nodded.

  ‘Oh, my …’ She had to lean against the counter for support. ‘Thank you, God. Thank you.’

  ‘Ready, lass?’ he asked when she’d regained her composure.

  ‘More than I’ve ever been for anything in my life.’

  Ambrose glared at Laura, lip curled, as she crossed the cobbles towards him. ‘What the hell do you want?’

  Either side of her were Daniel and Edwin, whilst Lizzie took up the rear, and she drew strength from their unwavering support. She halted before her uncle. ‘I have summat for thee.’

  ‘Huh! I want nowt from a gutter whore like thee, nowt!’

  ‘Oh, you’ll want to see this, believe me.’ She waved the papers under his nose.

  ‘And what the bugger’s that when it’s at home?’ he asked, squinting at the print.

  Laura stooped until their faces were level. Her gaze was cool, measured, her words concise. ‘These are the deeds to your coal yard.’

  His eyes slowly bulged. ‘Liar,’ he breathed.

  ‘I’m afraid not, uncle dearest.’

  ‘Nay. ’Tain’t possible. Where you found the money for that half-shit shop of yourn, I’m yet to figure out – probably earned it lying on your back, I’ll bet. But the yard? You’d have more chance of finding rocking horse shit than the brass for that! You could never afford it, you couldn’t!’

  ‘Aye, you’re right there. I couldn’t, not alone.’ She nodded agreement. ‘But I could with Edwin Howarth as a partner.’

  ‘Joint ownership,’ Edwin confirmed, tapping the deeds. ‘Now, if you don’t mind, Mr Todd, we’d like thee to shift from our premises. This here’s now private property and, if you show your face again, we’ll have thee arrested for trespassing.’

  ‘You bombastic owd bastard,’ Ambrose whispered incredulously. ‘You’re as deranged as she is. This is my yard, d’you hear? Mine! I’ll break every head here if youse don’t get out of my face!’

  ‘Move it, old man,’ Daniel growled, his patience spent. ‘The only skull getting smashed in shall be yours if you don’t get gone right now and take your drunken arse home.’

  Pure murder turned Ambrose’s face to puce. Then he threw back his head and laughed. ‘You reckon so, d’you, young pup? Well, come on, then. Let’s see what you’ve got.’ He dragged himself to his knees then staggered up to his full height.

  Daniel was shaking with rage – worried that fists were about to start flying, Laura stepped forward. ‘Just go home, Uncle Ambrose. It’s over, d’you hear? It’s ov—’ The last word died in her throat on a strangled scream when he struck out suddenly, catching her in the stomach with his beefy fist.

  The group erupted.

  As Daniel and Edwin launched themselves at Ambrose, Lizzie hauled a dazed Laura away towards the safety of the confectioner’s.

  ‘Lass … The child, lass, he …’

  ‘Sshhh. Oh, love.’ Lizzie was beside herself. ‘You’re going to be just fine, you are. Don’t fret, don’t fret!’

  ‘Bridget? Bridget, it is thee,’ Laura croaked, holding out a hand to the woman and girl standing frozen in shock in the distance.

  ‘My aunt insisted we go looking for the master, for he ain’t graced home all day,’ Millicent babbled, running towards them. Her face was bone white. ‘Laura … we saw. We saw what he did. The babby, Laura. What about the babby!’

  ‘Go and fetch the doctor.’ Lizzie’s voice was firm. She sent Millicent on her way with a shove. ‘Go, hurry up!’

  Inside the shop, Laura allowed her friend to guide her to a chair behind the counter.

  ‘Have you any pain, love?’

  ‘Nay.’

  ‘Is there any movement at all?’

  ‘Nay.’

  ‘Oh ’eck.’

  ‘Why did I do it, Lizzie?’

  ‘Do it? Do what? This is his doing – his! He hit out at thee, love—’

  ‘Why did I seek revenge? Why didn’t I learn from what’s gone afore?’ Laura spoke quietly. She felt weightless, far away from here, suspended in shock. ‘I knew it solved nowt, but I went ahead with it anyway. I bought the yard from under him to get my own back, but he’s bested me again. This is his final act of revenge. He’s murdered my child.’

  ‘You mustn’t talk so, for the babby will be just fine, you’ll see—’

  ‘Edwin helped me in more ways than one. After looking over that contract for the shop for us he happened to mention its closeness to my uncle’s failing business, and I broke down. I told him everything, all that my uncle had done, was still doing with poor Millicent. He was enraged. It was he who put the idea to me about buying the yard, said he’d go halves with the cost, and I leapt at the chance.’

  ‘I know, love, I know. But you mustn’t dwell—’

  ‘When the yard went to auction, Edwin said he’d do whatever it took to be the highest bidder, and he was. He did it, did it for me. He even asked around weeks ago to find out exactly when the creditors would come to collect their debt from Ambrose. The opening day of our shop … it was no accident. I planned that day ’specially, wanted to see him broken, wanted him to see me beginning a new venture just as his business went under. It worked. It all went perfectly, just as it should. But that wasn’t enough. I needed more, to finish him completely. I took his yard and now he’s made me pay for it. The child … The child …’

  ‘Laura, love, please try and save your strength. The doctor will be here very soon.’

  ‘I have to see him one last time. I must. I have things to say, Lizzie.’

  Her friend was horrified. ‘Nay, you must stay put and wait for the doctor!’

  ‘Please. I must speak them. My uncle has to hear.’

  Seeing she wouldn’t be dissuaded, Lizzie relented with a sigh. ‘All right, love. Give me your arm
. That’s it, lean on me for support.’

  Outside, the skirmish was still ongoing – spotting the women emerge from the confectioner’s, Daniel yelled across: ‘For God’s sake, get her out of here, Lizzie!’

  ‘I tried, but she’ll not listen, lad!’

  ‘Lift him up.’ Laura had halted in the centre of the road a short distance from where the men were scrabbling in the gutter. ‘Daniel, Edwin … I must speak with him.’

  Though they frowned, they did as she bid. Grabbing Ambrose’s head, they turned his bloodied face, twisted with evil, towards her. Grunting like a stuck pig, he bucked and thrashed with all his might, but his energy was flagging, and the other men’s strength was too much to fight off alone. Finally, he sagged, but his eyes as they bore into hers held a world of pure black hatred.

  ‘Uncle Ambrose.’

  ‘Bitch! You’re nobbut a troublesome, devilish little—’

  ‘Keep a civil tongue in your head,’ Daniel snapped, shaking him hard.

  ‘You’ll hear me out, Uncle Ambrose,’ Laura repeated calmly. ‘It’s over, now. Do you understand? Even should the child … even should the child not survive what you just did—’

  ‘Now that, I didn’t mean to do,’ he blustered, squirming beneath her stare. ‘You, you got in the way and—’

  ‘You’re a liar. You meant it, all right. But here’s the thing: I just don’t care any more. Not about the feud, not about the past, not about you. You once said you’d ruin me, and I warned you to be careful I didn’t ruin you first. I succeeded not with that. You did it all by yourself, for a fool and his money are soon parted.

  ‘I swore I’d make your life hell. I swore I’d take everything from you, as you did to me. It was your time to suffer. But I have lost in that quest as well as you – I lost my peace of mind, for I allowed hate into my heart. Now, it’s finished. I’m on the up and you’re on the way down, that much is true. The tables have turned. It was my fight and I’m the victor, but the revenge doesn’t taste sweet. For it never ends, does it, if you continue to stoke the flames of bitterness? Well, I am putting this fire out. From today, I refuse to waste another second of my life on Ambrose Todd.’