Under Gornstock

by Clive Mullis

  The pub lapsed into silence; everyone looked on, knowing that something was happening, but not quite sure what.

  ‘They’re hugging,’ observed Rose. ‘Look, George is crying.’

  ‘So is the other one,’ added Felicity. ‘They’re both crying.’

  The reason for the behaviour became clear a little later, once they had broken apart and stared into each other’s eyes. They held paws and spoke quietly to each other and then they turned and still holding paws came over towards Cornwallis’ table.

  ‘This is Elsie,’ announce George. ‘You saved her, Commander MacGillicudy, as did you Miss, and you Miss, and you Sir,’ he said looking at Tiffany, Felicity and Dewdrop in turn.

  Rose still stood at the table, her mouth hanging open.

  ‘You know each other?’ asked Cornwallis.

  George nodded and smiled. ‘Elsie and me were an item, but then she were nabbed and taken away to work on the ship. That were four years ago now. We ain’t seen each other since.’

  ‘Oh gods, that’s awful!’ exclaimed Rose, her hand rushing towards her mouth, tears forming in her eyes.

  George shook his head. ‘No, it was awful, but it ain’t now.’

  The tears now rolled down Rose’s cheeks as she looked at George and Elsie, but no one was immune to the force generated by the two bears in their reunion as they held paws and looked deep into each other’s eyes; together once more.

  ‘I don’t know what to say,’ said MacGillicudy, wiping a bit of moisture off his cheek.

  ‘No need to say anything, Commander,’ replied George. ‘You’ve already said it when you saved my Elsie.’

  It took a while for things to settle back down into its normal rhythm. Eddie gave George the rest of the night off and he continued his re-acquaintance with Elsie in one of the back rooms.

  The atmosphere turned to one of celebration which got to Cornwallis in a big way because he decided to put his hand in his pocket and bought everyone in the pub a drink, sending George and Elsie a crate of champagne to help cement the reunion.

  ‘I think that puts everything into perspective,’ said Rose. ‘The Pipe is important, but George and Elsie eclipse even that.’

  ‘They do,’ agreed Cornwallis. ‘I couldn’t be happier for him.’

  ‘Me neither,’ said Frankie. ‘It’s just a shame Isabella wasn’t down, she would have loved that.’

  ‘She would,’ agreed Rose. ‘But she’ll know soon.’

  Frankie nodded. ‘Can’t be in two places at once.’

  ‘No, but she can arrive soon after. Here she is.’

  Isabella sat down and cuddled up to Frankie. ‘What was all the fuss about?’

  Frankie grinned and then told her all that had happened whilst she was getting Tulip to sleep.

  ‘Ah, bless him. He deserves to be happy.’

  ‘He does,’ agreed Frankie. ‘Who’s looking after our precious?’

  ‘Marie’s just going up now.’ She waved at one of the barmaids as she headed upstairs. ‘Oh, I forgot, have you seen this?’ she asked, handing over the evening paper.

  Cornwallis grabbed hold and smoothed out the creases. He read the headline and the article below and smiled.

  ‘What does it say?’ asked Rose.

  ‘Coggs: his bus service has been approved by the Assembly. Father must have forgotten to tell me.’

  ‘Oh,’ said Rose.

  ‘No, it’s good,’ said Cornwallis. ‘It means we’ve got competition, and I like a bit of that. It’ll keep us on our toes.’

  ‘Well, I for one won’t be using it,’ said Rose, slumping back and crossing her arms.

  ‘Well, I will, if it’s handy.’

  ‘Times are changing,’ said MacGillicudy. ‘The Pipe, and now a bus service. This city is moving forwards.’

  ‘So it would appear,’ said Cornwallis. ‘Let’s hope it doesn’t make your job harder.’

  ‘It never gets easier. I’m just glad I’ve got officers like these three here.’

  Dewdrop’s face broke into a smile as he heard the praise coming from his commander’s lips. He turned and looked at Felicity who smiled back and grabbed his hand and squeezed.

  Felicity then turned to Tiffany and smiled at her and then her mouth formed a big “O” as she noticed Tiffany’s hand beneath the table, nestling in the commander’s. She closed her mouth and then leant towards Tiffany’s ear.

  ‘Since when?’ she asked quietly, suppressing the excitement in her voice.

  ‘Yesterday,’ answered Tiffany quietly, smiling back. ‘When we were looking for the Ship Master. We agreed not to do or say anything until this job had finished.’

  ‘But it has now.’

  ‘Oh, yes,’ replied Tiffany excitedly. ‘And guess what we’ll be doing later tonight!’

  end

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  Also by the same author:

  Banker’s Draft

  Scooters Yard

  DEDICATION

  To Glenn Young

  Husband to Carol

  Father to Ian and Emma

  Grandfather

  An extraordinary man and artist — also my friend.

  Taken too soon.

  ACKNOWLEDGeMENTS

  My thanks go to all those who helped me and put up with me not doing what I should have been doing when I was doing this.

  Also thanks go to those that read and gave me advice, suggestions and encouragement, namely Rémy, Lesley, Katy, Dave, Suzi, Sarah, Nigel, John, Ian and Janet.

  Also thanks to my advance reader group in the Black Stoat VIP Club.

  Not forgetting my long suffering wife and my son, who’ve had to put up with me.

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Clive Mullis spent a number of years as a paramedic, until deciding that there must be another way of making a living. He lives in Bedfordshire in the UK with his wife, son, and dogs.

  http://www.clivemullis.com