Riches to Rags

by Beryl Matthews

  She stopped outside one smart-looking house, her heart beating erratically, but she managed a bright smile. ‘This is it. It was nice to see you again, Gerry. I hope all goes well for you.’

  ‘And you, Miss Winford.’

  She had been hoping he would walk away after that, but he didn’t. He just stood on the pavement, smiling down at her.

  ‘In you go, then.’

  Now she was really alarmed. He obviously wanted to see her enter the house to confirm that she actually lived there. There was nothing for it but to knock on the door and try to persuade whoever owned it to let her in for a moment.

  Her luck was holding. The door was slightly ajar and, without stopping to think, she stepped inside, closing the door behind her. She peered through a small stained-glass window at the side of the door and saw Gerry writing the address on a piece of paper. She had been right to be cautious. He was going to try for the reward!

  He seemed to take ages to walk out of sight, and Jenny expected to be discovered at any minute. If the owners found her standing in their hall, they would think she was a thief. Being accused of that once was quite enough! As soon as she thought it safe, she slipped out, leaving the door slightly open as she’d found it, and hurried up the street in the opposite direction. By now she was shaking very badly; that had been a close thing. Too close: she saw a woman come out of a house two doors down and go into the one she had just left. Then she began to grin to herself as she thought how foolish Gerry was going to look when he found out that she didn’t live there after all.

  That evening the three brothers were having a fierce discussion, with John and Matt trying to convince Luke that the rise of the Nazi Party in Germany was something to be concerned about.

  ‘It won’t affect us,’ Luke argued. ‘All right, I don’t agree with the near-hysteria and fanaticism they’re causing, but you must admit they’re giving the people something to cheer about.’

  ‘Yes, but they’re growing too fast,’ John said. ‘In September the Nazis won about one hundred seats from moderates in the German elections.’

  Luke didn’t look convinced, but said, ‘And you think that makes them a threat?’

  Matt leant forward in his chair and spoke with conviction. ‘I don’t trust this man Hitler. He’s already calling for the Treaty of Versailles to be torn up. Once he’s got the power and the means, he’ll start to regain the territory the Germans lost as the result of the last war. After that he might set his sights on the rest of Europe.’

  ‘Oh, I doubt that, Matt. I’m sure you’re being alarmist.’ Luke glanced at John. ‘Do you think that man would be crazy enough to start a second world war?’

  ‘It’s possible. Like Matt, I have grave misgivings about what is happening in Germany. Fanaticism of any kind isn’t healthy.’ John reached out to pour himself a cup of coffee just as their mother came into the room.

  ‘Coffee?’ Luke asked her.

  ‘Yes, please.’ She sat down and took the cup from Luke. ‘I have some news, but I’m not sure whether to be pleased or even more worried.’

  ‘What is it?’ John asked.

  ‘I’ve just been talking to Mrs Douglas and Edna. It seems Jenny contacted Edna and they met this afternoon.’

  ‘Is she all right?’ Matt asked, feeling a surge of relief that Edna had seen the girl.

  ‘It seems so …’

  ‘Well, that’s good news, isn’t it?’ John said.

  ‘I agree it’s a relief to know she isn’t sleeping on the streets, but –’ She stirred her coffee, and then took a deep breath before continuing. ‘Edna said she was shocked when she saw her – “all skin and bones” was the way she put it. The poor child is obviously living a hard and frugal life.’

  ‘Where is she?’ Matt was on his feet. ‘I’ll go and bring her back here.’

  ‘Edna doesn’t know where she is living.’ She smiled sadly at her youngest son. ‘And Jenny said she wouldn’t leave the elderly woman she’s living with because she needs her.’

  Matt sat down again, not trying to hide his disappointment. He’d really thought they were about to put right the wrong they had done her. Though why he was so worried about Eugenie Winford, or Jenny Baker, as she now called herself, was a puzzle he hadn’t been able to solve. Perhaps it was like the time he had found that emaciated kitten and brought it home for their cook to look after. The poor little thing was so helpless and needed someone to care for it. Jenny Baker had had the same look about her.

  The door of the library opened and their father strode in. ‘I understand you have some news, Louise.’

  His wife went through the story again. ‘So you see, Gilbert, there is very little we can do. As she obviously has to work, I would be happy to try to find her a place as a personal maid in some good household, and I’ve told Edna as much. She has promised to tell Jenny the next time she meets her.’

  ‘It isn’t likely she’ll agree,’ Luke pointed out. ‘I think she would find it very hard to trust us after the way we treated her.’

  Matt watched his father wince; he was obviously still feeling very uncomfortable about his part in dismissing the girl. ‘Edna said she was thin, so what kind of a life is she living?’

  ‘She is out very early every morning scrubbing floors, and the rest of the time she’s caring for an elderly woman, whom she seems to be fond of. Jenny told Edna that the people she is with are very poor; she has to earn money because they can’t afford to feed her. They took her in and showed kindness when she had nowhere else to go.’

  ‘Oh, God, what a mess!’ Gilbert bent and kissed his wife’s cheek. ‘I’m never going to dismiss a servant again. It’s your job anyway, my dear, and I should have left it to you. But I was so furious that someone under our roof had been stealing that I acted without thought.’

  ‘A failing of yours,’ his wife said, with a smile of affection on her face. ‘However, we cannot change what has happened, and at least we know she is living with kind, if poor, people. In the meantime I have told Edna she is to meet her whenever she can and keep an eye on her. We shall have to be satisfied with that for the time being, and hope that there will be some way to make amends in the future.’

  Matt sincerely hoped there would be.

  15

  It was nearly a month before Jenny was able to meet Edna again: Ivy’s two children had gone down with the measles; Fred had been laid up with a nasty bout of influenza; and Ma was growing increasingly frail. And they weren’t the only people in the street suffering. Lack of nourishing food was taking its toll. Unemployment was now hitting hard, and each day becoming more of a struggle to survive. Jenny did everything she could: hurrying from one task to another, taking on extra cleaning jobs, spending nearly all her money on food and coal. It was the beginning of December, and with so much sickness around these were essential needs.

  Over the last week things had improved: Ron, Ivy’s husband, had managed to get a job as a bus conductor; the children were fit once again; and Fred was back on his feet.

  Jenny tipped the money out of her purse and counted it. She had been squirrelling away a few pennies each week until she had enough for the pictures and a pot of tea afterwards. She’d written to Edna and suggested that they meet outside the cinema in Hammersmith where they were showing a Laurel and Hardy film, Big Business. After the last few weeks a laugh would do her good.

  Ma was fast asleep in her chair after a lunch of stew and dumplings. Jenny put more coal on the fire, kissed Ma gently on the cheek, being careful not to wake her, and stepped outside into the cold biting wind. She hoped Edna was going to be able to come; if she didn’t, then she would see the film anyway.

  But she need not have worried; her friend was already there. They bought their tickets and hurried into the warmth of the cinema.

  ‘I’ve got things to tell you,’ Edna whispered as they took their seats. ‘We’ll find a tea shop after the film’s over and talk then.’

  There wasn’t time to say anything else, b
ecause the lights dimmed and the programme started. Jenny settled back with a smile on her face. She was going to enjoy this treat.

  First there was a ‘B’ cowboy film and then the main Laurel and Hardy one. It was hilarious, and Jenny couldn’t remember when she had laughed so much.

  Edna was grinning when they came out. ‘Blooming funny pair, ain’t they? Now let’s get that cuppa. I’m gasping.’

  There was a café almost next to the cinema, and they went in there.

  ‘You said you had something to tell me,’ Jenny said, when they’d found an empty table and ordered.

  ‘It’s about your mum. The girl I know got talking to the housemaid in your aunt’s house. She said Mrs Winford was all right and walking out with a very wealthy man. He’s old, though.’

  ‘Who?’ Jenny asked eagerly.

  ‘She didn’t say, but there’s talk of a wedding in the offing. If it’s true, then it sounds as if your mum’s going to do all right for herself.’

  Jenny sat back stunned but pleased with the news. ‘An elderly man with pots of money will make her very happy.’ She ordered another slice of fruit cake for each of them. After that startling news she was starving! ‘Will you let me know if you hear anything else?’

  ‘Of course.’ Edna poured them both a second cup of tea. ‘Oh, and another thing. Mrs Stannard said that I was to tell you that she would be happy to help you find a job somewhere as a personal maid. She probably knows lots of families who would take you on, Jen.’

  ‘No, I’ve told you I won’t leave Ma.’

  ‘They’re really sorry about what’s happened to you, and would be only too happy to help you, but I understand how you feel. You’ve grown right fond of this woman, haven’t you?’

  ‘Yes, and I’m happy where I am, Edna.’ Jenny smiled at her friend, and while they drank their tea, she took a pencil and piece of paper out of her bag, wrote her address down and gave it to her friend. ‘I know you won’t tell anyone where I am.’

  ‘I won’t utter a word to a soul.’ Edna tucked the paper in her purse. ‘Thanks, Jen.’

  Jenny then told Edna about her meeting with the footman in Oxford Street.

  ‘I’ll bet he looked a fool if he did try to claim the reward,’ Edna chuckled.

  ‘Probably, but nevertheless I’m quite proud of that deception.’

  ‘So you ought to be.’ Edna glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘Whoops, I’ve got to go.’

  Jenny saw her friend on to the bus and caught her own to Lambeth. All the way back to Ma’s she pondered the news about her mother. It sounded as if she was making a new life for herself. She wondered who the man was. Perhaps she would write just to let her mother know she was all right, but not give her an address, of course. That idea was immediately dismissed. By allowing Aunt Gertrude to take charge and arrange for her to go to Greaves, her mother obviously hadn’t cared what happened to her, so she wouldn’t bother to contact her.

  She still had tuppence left, and when she got off the bus she went to the baker’s and bought two buns for their tea. Ma would enjoy that. It had been a good afternoon, and she sang to herself as she walked home. Now she must think about Christmas, which was only three weeks away. A few coppers put away each week and she should be able to give Ma a special time.

  The garage workshop was worryingly empty. There were only two cars in today, and Matt was fully aware of the economic situation; many businesses were struggling and unemployment, if not already a fact of life, was looming. None of them had missed Jake’s distracted air of late, and the lack of work told its own story. Matt saw Jake standing at the window of his shop-floor office, gazing at the empty spaces and men hanging around with nothing to do. Some firms in a similar situation were letting the workers in only when there was work, and then sending them home when it was finished. Although the men still officially had jobs, their weekly wage was greatly reduced. Harry was particularly concerned because his wife was expecting their first baby in February.

  Matt made his decision, knocked on the office door, then stepped inside, closing it behind him.

  ‘Hello, Matt,’ Jake greeted him. ‘I was going to have a word with you. We’re suffering and I can’t afford to go on like this much longer.’

  ‘Are you going to have to lay people off?’ he asked.

  ‘I don’t want to.’ His boss ran a hand through his hair, making it stand up on end. ‘I’ve got a bloody good workforce here and don’t want to lose even one of you, but I don’t see what else I can do. I’m afraid that as the last in, you’ll have to be the first to go. I know how disappointed you’re going to be. Young Jim’s already leaving to join the army.’

  ‘We’re the two lowest paid, so will you be able to survive if you don’t have to pay us each week?’ Jake was a decent man, and Matt could see how painful this was for him.

  ‘God knows!’ Jake sat down heavily. ‘I might have to get rid of Harry as well.’

  ‘Don’t do that.’ Matt spoke quietly – this office was of a very flimsy construction and he didn’t want anyone else to hear their conversation. He’d always been able to discuss things with Jake, who chatted to him quite naturally, although he was only his apprentice. ‘Let me help, Jake. I’ll continue my apprenticeship without pay and invest in the business. Once you’re back on your feet again you can pay me back. You’ve got a first-class reputation and things will pick up again.’

  Jake was studying him intently. ‘That’s more than generous of you, Matt, but you might lose your money.’

  ‘Not a chance,’ he stated confidently. ‘Let’s try to save the business and the jobs. No one need know about my involvement.’

  ‘I know you come from a banking family, but we need to talk this through. My own bank has refused me a further loan, and once you have all the details you might not think it such a good investment.’ He gazed out at the shop floor again. ‘But we can’t do it here; we’re already causing a lot of interest.’

  ‘I expect they think you’re sacking me,’ Matt said, grinning. Jake’s eyes now held a gleam of hope.

  ‘No doubt.’ His boss snorted in amusement. ‘You’d better go out there and put their minds at rest – at least for another day. They know you’d be the first out, and then perhaps some of them. It’s a damned worrying time for everyone. Once they’ve all gone home, we’ll thrash out some kind of deal. But there’s no way you’re going to work for nothing!’

  ‘Right.’ Matt left the office whistling to himself, and began to give a car that had just been serviced an extra polish.

  ‘Have you still got a job?’ Harry stood beside him, very worried.

  ‘Yes, things are tough, but this is a sound business.’ He stood back to admire the shine on the bonnet, and then tossed the duster to Harry. ‘Jake will survive until things pick up again.’

  ‘Maybe, but will we?’ Harry said. ‘The chances of getting another job are pretty slim at the moment.’

  ‘You won’t need to.’ Matt’s smile was confident. He was going to make sure his idea worked. ‘Everything’s going to be all right, you’ll see.’

  ‘Wish I could believe that.’ Harry chucked the duster back at him. ‘Keep polishing. Anyway, I’m glad you’re staying. It gives hope to the rest of us.’

  It was nine o’clock before Matt arrived home that evening.

  ‘You’re late,’ his mother scolded. ‘Have you eaten?’

  ‘Yes, thanks; I had a pie and a pint in the pub with Jake.’ He pulled a wad of papers out of his pocket. ‘The garage is in financial trouble, and we’ve been working out a rescue package.’

  John was immediately interested. ‘What are you proposing?’

  For the next hour Matt, his brothers and father sat around a table, discussing the idea. They all had fine business brains, even Luke; although his brother could appear superficial at times, that was only an act. Matt trusted the judgement of each of them.

  ‘You know you’re taking a risk?’ John pointed out. ‘Things are bad and going to get wor
se. You are intending to use your inheritance from grandfather, and could be throwing it away.’

  ‘I know that, but I’m prepared to take the chance.’

  ‘Do you want a partnership with Jake?’ Luke was scribbling figures on the back of Matt’s notes.

  ‘No. I just want to try to save the business and the jobs. When things take an upturn, Jake can repay me.’

  ‘Time limit?’ his father asked.

  ‘No limit. Jake can have all the time he needs.’

  John was carefully checking the figures Matt had brought home with him. ‘Well, if you’re prepared to risk your money, Matt, then I say go ahead. This is a sound business with an excellent reputation. Even in a depression I still believe he’ll get a steady stream of work – perhaps not as much as usual, but enough to keep him ticking over. If he can weather this bad time, then I’m sure the business will recover.’

  ‘That’s my feeling.’ Matt sat back with a sigh of relief and grinned at his brother. ‘Luke, will you draw up a contract? Jake wants all this done legally.’

  ‘I’ll do that right away. And if you don’t mind, Matt, I’ll put in a bit of my own money.’

  ‘Wonderful.’ Matt looked hopefully at John and his father. ‘Any more offers?’

  His father glanced at his eldest son with a wry smile on his face. ‘I think we can help Matt out here, don’t you?’

  John lifted his hand in a resigned gesture. ‘Why not?’

  Over the next few weeks the business did improve a little, as the garage began to look after the Stannard Bank’s cars and those of family and friends. The tuneful whistles of the men could be heard again; the air of worry and tension eased. If anyone suspected that Matt and his influential family were propping up their jobs, they never mentioned it; they were only too grateful to still have work.

  They closed at lunchtime on Christmas Eve and headed for the pub across the road. Jake had lost his frown, and the rest were in high spirits. No one would let Matt buy a drink, saying that it was a celebration to mark the finish of the first year of his apprenticeship, but he guessed it was their way of saying thank you for trying to save their jobs. It didn’t take a genius to know that Jake’s business had been on the edge of collapse, or to guess where the extra money had come from.