Nellie blew out her cheeks, feeling the enormity of what she was undertaking. ‘What about the pub?’
‘The landlord is packing to leave as we speak. He’s off to live with his sister in Scarborough – she has a bungalow by the sea, apparently. This is your copy of the signed contract of sale.’
‘So, when can we get in to start work?’ Nellie asked eagerly.
‘Tomorrow! Here are the spare keys, the landlord will drop the other set off at my office before he departs,’ Sharpe said as he laid the ring of keys on the table.
‘Blimey, that didn’t take long! You’m as fast as shit off a shovel and no mistake, Mr Sharpe,’ Nancy intervened.
‘He’s keen to be gone, so he said.’ Mr Sharpe gave a little grin as he shrugged his shoulders.
‘Well, I suggest we have a good look over the place before we decide what’s to be done,’ Nellie said with a smile.
‘With your partner, Nellie, don’t forget that Dolly’s wishes as co-owner must also be taken into account ,’ Sharpe reminded her.
‘Naturally. I have no intention of pushing the girl aside, Mr Sharpe. She’s saved my arse too many times and besides we love her like a daughter.’ Nellie tilted her head towards Nancy who nodded her confirmation.
Standing just behind the door, Dolly covered her mouth with her hand to stifle the sob she felt rising in her throat. Then a couple of seconds later, and with a tap of her stick to herald her arrival, she walked into the kitchen.
37
Ezra’s new plan was relayed to Dolly and this time she whole-heartedly agreed with it.
‘Now, has Arthur seen that necklace before?’ Nellie asked.
‘He may have caught a glimpse of it when Mr Sharpe first gave it to me.’
‘Right, you and I need to get off to the jewellers. We have to find something very similar for Ezra to present to Arthur.’
‘But won’t he be expecting to see me?’ Dolly asked.
‘Ezra is going to tell him he frightened you into giving up your mum’s jewellery,’ Nellie explained, ‘so there’s no need for you to be there.’
‘Do you think Arthur will believe it?’ Dolly was concerned everything could go wrong.
‘Oh, he’ll believe it, don’t you worry about that. So, get your coat on – we’ve some shopping to do.’ Nellie grinned as she fetched her own outdoor clothes.
The two walked steadily down the street with Nellie ensuring Dolly didn’t slip on the frosty ground. Traversing the tramway, they passed warehouses whose brickwork was covered with grime. The Victoria Law Courts took up a massive expanse of land to the right and as the two walked on they saw the smaller building which was the County Court. Reaching the Old Square, they noticed small crowds of people standing around chatting, seemingly oblivious to the cold.
Nellie tilted her head and said, ‘We’ll go down Corporation Street.’
Dolly nodded and they continued on until they came to a staggered crossroads. Turning into Union Street they glanced into the windows of the small shops as they went. A milliner showed off beautiful hats of all colours; a butcher could be heard, slamming his cleaver into a sizeable chunk of meat, through an open door. Then came a shop selling boots and shoes as advertised by the massive wooden boot hanging from its eaves. There were solicitors’ offices and insurance companies as well as a pianoforte manufacturer.
Turning right at the end they entered the High Street where smaller shops filled the thoroughfare on both sides. Wandering along, they scanned the articles for sale in each window.
Eventually they came to a shop displaying some old trinkets in its window. All the while, Dolly’s eyes searched for something which could take the place of her mother’s necklace. With a shake of her head she said, ‘There’s nothing like it, Nellie.’
‘Let’s look inside, cos we can’t get anything that’s new. Arthur would know then it was a trick.’
The shop was dark, lit only by a single gas lamp. Dolly explained what they were looking for and the owner rubbed his whiskers as he considered the challenge. Then he raised his index finger in a flash of inspiration. Rummaging in a drawer he drew out a white stone set in a gold surround. Sliding it onto a chain taken from another piece he waited for the girl’s reaction.
‘Perfect!’ Dolly said with a wide grin.
Nellie paid the asking price from money she had wheedled out of Ezra for that reason, and they left the shop, excited at having found just the right thing. Slowly they ambled back to the saloon in time to see Ezra arrive.
‘Bloody hell, he’s quick off the mark!’ Nellie said.
‘Avaricious – like Arthur,’ Dolly replied.
Nellie nodded. ‘Come on, let’s get this to him then we can concentrate on sorting out the pub.’
After Ezra had left with the fake necklace, Dolly and Nellie went indoors, but as they entered, Nellie gasped. There stood a man with a duck under his arm.
‘You can’t bring that in here,’ she said as she pushed her way through the crowd.
‘I dain’t. I came in and it followed me!’ the crapulous man said with a look of surprise.
People around who had heard the exchange howled with laughter.
‘Out! Now!’ Nellie said, and pointed to the door just as Jim Jenkins appeared. The man and his duck quietly left the building.
Poppy and Noah were working the bar together and appeared to be getting on well. Nellie nudged Dolly saying, ‘Look at that pair. That’ll be the next wedding, you mark my words.’
Dolly smiled as she followed Nellie into the kitchen. Over hot tea Dolly told Nancy about the man and his duck; Nancy burst out laughing.
It was later that afternoon that the duck was mentioned again. Old Aggie came rushing in to say the bloke with the bird had been arrested.
‘Apparently some bugger reported him for thieving the duck and the bobbies went to his house,’ Aggie said so all could hear her.
Nellie passed over a Ladies Delight and Aggie took a gulp before resuming. ‘He’d wrung its neck and was just plucking it when the coppers called. They found him with a handful of feathers and you know what he said?’ Aggie paused in order to drain her glass, enjoying having everyone’s ears tuned to her words. ‘He said, ‘I was holding its clothes while it went for a swim!’
The whole room erupted as folk fell about laughing. Nellie shook her head and poured Aggie another gin. Had she not seen the duck for herself, she wouldn’t have believed it as Aggie was always quick with a joke.
Nellie retired to the kitchen as Matt Dempster took her place at the bar. He laughed loudly as Aggie repeated the tale yet again.
As darkness descended, Fred lit the gas lamps and the place sparkled in the yellow glow. He banked up the fire so the customers would stay warm while they drank themselves into oblivion.
Meanwhile, Dolly and Nellie were discussing their new venture, with constant interruptions from Nancy.
‘Will you be having new gas lamps cos the ones on the outside wall are shite!’
‘Yes, Nancy, we will most certainly have new lamps,’ Dolly said with a grin.
‘You’ll need some new names for the gin an’ all. What about… Nancy’s Nerve Tonic, or Dolly’s Surprise…’ Nancy went on.
‘Nance, for God’s sake shut yer gizzard!’ Nellie protested.
‘I was only saying, anyway you still have to find summat to call the place,’ Nancy said, feigning hurt.
‘Nellie, Nancy’s correct – we need to decide on a new name for that old pub,’ Dolly said.
‘You’re right. You got any ideas, gel?’ Nellie asked.
Dolly shook her head. ‘No, The Castle was good enough for a public house – but for a gin palace? We need something catchy – something people will remember.’
‘What about Daydream Palace?’ Jack asked as he returned from his room where he’d been napping.
‘Oh, Jack! That’s perfect!’ Dolly gasped.
‘I think that’s bloody lovely,’ Nancy said.
‘Me an’ al
l,’ Nellie concurred.
‘It looks like it’s decided then,’ Jack said with a grin. ‘So, Nancy, how’s about a cuppa then? I’m spitting feathers here.’
‘Cheeky young bugger!’ Nancy muttered, but with a wide grin, for the mention of feathers reminded her to tell Jack about the man and his duck.
Meanwhile, over at the brewery the two men listened carefully to Ezra’s instructions. ‘Take this to Arthur Micklewhite and tell him I got it from Dolly. Ask him for my money and when he says he doesn’t have it, tell him you have to report back to me. Understand so far?’
Nodding, the men said nothing.
‘Then I want you to follow him. See where he goes and what he does. If he tries to flee, then you bring him to me.’ Ezra dismissed them after one pocketed the glass jewel.
Now Ezra would wait. He guessed it would only be a couple of hours before Arthur was once again sitting in his office. He was expecting Arthur to try to sell the gem and once he discovered the diamond was a fake he’d be livid. Knowing he’d been duped, he would try to abscond, but Ezra’s men would be there to prevent that happening.
All was going to plan and Ezra shifted his thoughts to Poppy. He had spotted her working the bar with a young man he didn’t know. He had seen the stolen glances between them and knew then and there he was out of the running for her affections. He had been convinced he was in love with her at one time, but now he knew it was merely an infatuation.
Mentally berating himself for being such a fool, Ezra wondered if it was his destiny never to marry. He sighed deeply; in his heart he knew that when the time came, he was set to die a lonely man.
Pulling out the contract made with Arthur, he asked himself why he was doing all this. What was it for? Yes, he was very wealthy, but was he any happier for it? Who would he leave his fortune to?
Shoving the paper back into the drawer he gave himself a mental shake. He determined to just live his life and not hanker after things he couldn’t have. Besides, it wasn’t too late, one day he just might have a wife and family.
The thought cheered him enough to resume working.
38
Arthur saw the two huge men in suits coming down the path and he grinned. Excitedly, he opened the door and let them inside.
‘Ezra sent us,’ one said.
‘To give you this,’ said the other.
Arthur frowned. ‘Where’s Dolly?’
‘She was too scared to come,’ the first man informed him.
‘But our agreement was…’
‘You got what you wanted so now we need Ezra’s money!’ the second snapped.
‘I… I need to sell this first, then I’ll bring the money to Ezra.’ Arthur hooked his fingers through the chain and the stone swung in mid-air.
The two men exchanged a glance, playing their part to perfection.
‘We’ll have to report back to the gaffer then,’ the first man said.
Arthur nodded and watched them leave the house. He continued to stare out of the window until he was certain they had gone. He threw back his head and laughed loudly.
His eyes then moved to the necklace still hanging from his fingers. That went well, he thought, then, pocketing the gem, he grabbed his coat. He needed to get to the jewellers before it closed for the day.
Traversing the streets as fast as he could without slipping on the ice, Arthur rushed to the shop he had in mind. It was high class with lots of gold in the window, and Arthur felt sure he’d get a good price there. Rushing into the shop, he banged the door closed behind him and scuttled towards the salesman standing behind a counter.
‘I need to sell this,’ he said breathlessly as he pulled the necklace from his pocket and handed it to the jeweller.
The man placed his magnifying glass to his eye and turned the stone this way and that. ‘Hmm.’
‘How much?’ Arthur asked impatiently.
‘Five pounds,’ the jeweller said as he removed the glass from his eye.
Arthur stared open-mouthed. ‘Are you kidding me? Five quid! This diamond is worth thousands!’
The man shook his head. ‘I’m sorry but it’s not.’
‘I don’t understand,’ Arthur mumbled as he rubbed his forehead.
‘What’s not to understand? This trinket is virtually worthless to me so I’m doing you a favour giving it a value of five pounds. May I suggest you take it to a pawnbroker; you may be offered more there.’ The man wrinkled his nose in distaste.
‘But…’ Arthur began as he stared at the man.
‘Sir, this piece of rubbish would not sell in our emporium.’’ He waved an arm to encompass the whole room.
‘It’s a bloody diamond! Of course it would sell!’ Arthur’s frustration was mounting. Was the man trying to dupe him by saying it was of no value.
‘Sir, I say again, it’s worthless – it is not a diamond! It is a piece of glass set in a cheap surround!’
‘Glass!’ Arthur’s brain tried desperately to process what he’d been told.
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Glass…’ he repeated. Then the penny dropped. ‘Bloody Ezra!’
Snatching the gem back, Arthur turned and fled the shop, leaving the jeweller with a grin from ear to ear. Making his way home he fumed every step of the way. Ezra had fiddled him. Why? What was the point?
So incensed was he about being fooled, Arthur didn’t see the two suited men following at a discreet distance.
Reaching home, he scuttled indoors and slammed the door behind him. Throwing the cheap jewel on the table, he paced the kitchen. Running a hand through his hair he tried to think. He slapped his forehead as the answer hit him like a thunderbolt. Ezra knew the gem was fake, he also knew Arthur wouldn’t be able to pay the promised amount; therefore, he would be taking Arthur’s house!
Pacing again, with his fingers tangled in his hair, he began to panic. What should he do now? He could try pleading with Ezra to give him more time to come up with the money, but he doubted that would work.
Finally, he had a flash of inspiration – the contract had been for Ezra to deliver Dolly – not the necklace. Clapping his hands together he grinned. Ezra had broken the agreement which surely meant he was home free.
Yes, he would remain poor but at least he was still breathing and it was Ezra who had reneged on the deal. Arthur began to relax, he had the upper hand over Ezra Morton and it felt good. He would simply wait for another visit when he would politely point out that it was Ezra who was in the wrong. He would tell the man that if he didn’t fulfil his part of the contract then the deal would be off.
Arthur would be no further forward but at least he could be free of Ezra and his underhand dealings. Picking up the fake stone again, Arthur smiled.
Nice try, Morton, but you’ll have to get up earlier in the morning to get one over on me!
Ezra’s men immediately reported back once they saw Arthur enter his property, after which they were sent back to keep watch and ensure Mr Micklewhite stayed where he was.
Ezra assumed Arthur was now aware the gem was made of glass and was holed up at home awaiting a visit from his people. The man was probably rigid with fear at being unable to pay his debt.
Of course, Ezra was aware of the agreement between them which he again pulled from the desk drawer. Reading it once more, he screwed it into a ball and threw it into the fire. Now there was no agreement concerning the young girl.
Reaching for another paper, Ezra grinned wickedly. This contract had been drawn up immediately after the first and was virtually the same but was for delivery of said necklace and not young Dolly. Ezra had completed his part of the bargain by sending Arthur the necklace given to him by Dolly and Nellie. He could always claim he didn’t know it was fake. Now it was up to Micklewhite to pay what he owed. He smiled as he read the document again. The forged signature on the bottom was excellently done; even Arthur wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.
Ezra always made sure he was well ahead of the game when dealing with clients
and contracts.
Ezra folded the paper and tucked it into his inside pocket. It was time to visit Arthur Micklewhite in person.
Meanwhile, having been given the keys to The Castle public house, Nellie and Dolly threw open the doors and had a good look around. With pencil and paper in hand, Dolly made notes as the two began to formulate their plans for refurbishment.
‘It will take a lot of work,’ Dolly said as they moved from room to room.
‘Yes, but if we renovate downstairs first, then the place can be open and making money while the upstairs is being done,’ Nellie said.
‘How long do you think it will take?’ Dolly asked.
‘If we get the blokes in who did The Crown – not too long at all. They’re fast workers and will be eager for the job, I suspect,’ Nellie replied. ‘I was thinking – the Jenkins family would be glad of work here if you’re in agreement.’
‘John and Jim’s family?’ Dolly asked, and at Nellie’s nod added. ‘Yes, of course, but would you mind asking them, Nellie; they know you and might be more inclined to accept.’
‘I will,’ Nellie replied.
‘Best get the builders and decorators in as soon as possible, don’t you think?’ Dolly ran her hand over the bar top and blew the dust from her fingers.
‘Ain’t no time like the present,’ Nellie said with a smile.
Re-locking the doors, they crossed the road and entered The Crown where Jack was busy awkwardly changing the labels with his one good arm. Down came the Ladies Delight and up went Royal Poverty. White Satin was replaced by Cock my Cap.
It really didn’t matter what the gin was called, it was all the same throat-searing stuff which would inevitably lead some folk to debtors’ prison and drive others to madness.
‘Jack, do me a favour and go down to the Hodges’ and ask them to come and see me. Don’t say what it’s about cos I don’t want Ezra to get wind of it all yet, and walls have ears.’ Nellie said.
The Children from Gin Barrel Lane Page 22
