A Winter Baby for Gin Barrel Lane Page 6

  Out on the street, Jack whistled for a cab and in a moment they were on their way.

  Taking them by way of Moor Street to avoid the busy tramway, the cabbie kept a steady speed.

  Dolly nodded, drawing Jack’s attention to Park Street Gardens as they passed by and he scowled at being reminded of the disastrous outing with Daisy. Skirting the Bull Ring, they then emerged onto Jamaica Row.

  Arriving at their destination, Dolly asked the cabbie to wait, and they wandered over to the building in question.

  Dolly wrinkled her nose at the smell emanating from the public slaughterhouse a little further down the street. Looking to her right towards Jamaica Row, she noted Smithfield Market.

  ‘Bloody hell, it stinks round here,’ Jack put voice to her thoughts.

  ‘Not a very salubrious area, that’s for sure,’ Dolly remarked.

  ‘I know folk don’t care about anything much once they’re full of gin, but…’ Jack left the sentence hanging.

  ‘There’s a bank up there and another down there, both of which we can see from here,’ Dolly said as she pointed. ‘Between those stand three public houses, which tells me there must be enough trade for them all to stay open.’

  Delighted to have been asked to join her, Jack felt obliged to give his honest opinion. ‘It’s a doss-hole, Dolly.’

  ‘Maybe. Should we take a look nevertheless?’

  ‘If it were me, I wouldn’t take it on.’

  Dolly sighed. It was her intention to offer the management of her new premises to Jack, but if he felt this way then he would undoubtedly refuse. To tempt Jack out from beneath the clutches of his mother, Dolly knew her venture would have to meet with his approval. She loved Nellie Larkin dearly and would not upset her for the world, it was just unfortunate she still saw her son as a boy. At eighteen, Jack was a man now, and being under Nellie’s thumb prevented him from growing into the astute businessman she knew he could be.

  Of course, Jack had no idea of Dolly’s true plan, only that she was striving to expand her own business.

  ‘Right, we’ll not bother then,’ she said as she climbed back inside the cab.

  ‘I’m sorry if I put you off,’ Jack muttered as the vehicle bumped over the cobblestone roads.

  ‘Don’t be. I think we were right. I’m not sure I could live with that dreadful smell day and night.’

  ‘You wouldn’t have to if you’re putting a manager in.’

  ‘No, but you would have to.’

  ‘Me?’

  ‘Yes. I’d like you to take over the running of the next gin palace – if we ever find suitable premises that is.’

  ‘Dolly, I don’t know what to say!’

  ‘Just say yes.’

  Immediately Nellie’s voice came from Jack’s lips. ‘How am I to go on without our Jack? He ain’t old enough to be taking on that responsibility!’

  Once she’d stopped laughing, Dolly said, ‘Then it will be up to me to persuade Nellie otherwise.’

  ‘Ooh, who’d have thought it, me being a gaffer.’

  ‘I think you will make an excellent boss,’ Dolly replied.

  ‘Thanks, Dolly, but I’m keeping my head down when you tell Mum!’

  The weather began to change from summer into autumn and leaves turned yellow and brown. A slight chill in the early morning saw to it that jackets were donned and woollen shawls brought out from storage. Hazy mists hung low in the streets, giving the town an eerie quality, and horses pulled carts warily on their way to their destinations. The fog was eventually burned off by the weakening sun, only to reappear the following day.

  There was an urgency about how people traversed the streets, as though they were rushing to complete their tasks before winter set in. Market traders were more insistent about selling their wares and women were the same regarding their purchases. Fruits and vegetables were bought for bottling to fill pantries and so provide a treat during the long cold months. Jams bubbled in pans on ranges and more coal was ordered for fires, many of which had only been lit for cooking but were now burning all day.

  Dolly sat in Nellie’s warm kitchen sipping hot tea and wondering how to broach the subject of Jack becoming her manager if and when the time came.

  Nellie Larkin had taken her in at a time when she most needed help and Dolly always kept in mind how readily she was accepted. She had become one of the family and could not bear the thought of hurting any of them.

  ‘Nellie, you know I’m looking for new premises…’

  ‘You ain’t moving away, are you?’ Nancy said before Nellie could speak.

  ‘No, I’m hoping to have another gin palace in the area.’

  Nancy was visibly relieved and sat at the table to join in the conversation.

  ‘Can you afford it?’ Nellie asked.

  ‘Yes, I think so, if the price is right.’

  ‘Have you had Mr Sharpe go over your books?’

  ‘Yes, and he’s of the opinion the business will stand it. I will have to apply for a new mortgage facility, but he thinks the bank would agree to it.’

  ‘Fair enough. The question now, then, is where?’

  ‘I’ve looked at a couple of properties already, but they weren’t really what I’m after.’

  ‘You gonna run it yourself?’ Nancy asked.

  ‘That’s the thing, I’ll put a manager in as I want to stay at the Palace.’

  ‘You’ll need somebody reliable, someone who won’t steal from you or cheat you,’ Nellie said.

  ‘Indeed, and I was wondering if you could recommend anyone.’ Dolly had put the notion forward in the hope that if Nellie suggested Jack then she would think it was her idea.

  ‘Not offhand. Ain’t any of your staff suitable?’ Nellie asked.

  ‘I’m not sure they are, a lot are new workers and I need to keep an eye on them.’

  ‘You could put an advertisement in the paper.’

  ‘I would still have the same problem of not knowing them properly though. I need someone I can trust without breathing down their neck every minute of the day.’

  ‘What about Jack?’ Nancy asked.

  Dolly had not expected Nancy to come up with the idea and her face showed genuine surprise.

  ‘Don’t be daft. I can’t do without him,’ Nellie said sharply.

  Dolly smiled inwardly, recalling Jack’s imitation of his mother.

  ‘You can, Nell, most of the time he’s piddling about looking for summat to do,’ Nancy returned.

  ‘He ain’t old enough for a position such as that!’ Nellie snapped.

  Again, Dolly remembered Jack’s words.

  ‘He’s eighteen, for God’s sake! Dolly was only fourteen when she took over the Daydream!’

  Nellie couldn’t deny the truth of that statement and Dolly saw the mixed emotions play across Nellie’s countenance.

  ‘He’s got to leave home sometime Nell, but at least this way he’d have a decent job,’ Nancy pushed.

  ‘I suppose there is that.’

  ‘Well, then! Why don’t you ask him? It might be he would rather stay here but if you don’t ask, you won’t know.’

  Dolly kept her counsel as the conversation went back and forth.

  ‘I ain’t sure.’

  ‘Look, Nell, you d’aint tell him you found him on the doorstep as a babby until he was ten years old and look what happened then. It took him a long time to accept it cos he felt you’d kept him in the dark!’

  ‘What the bloody hell does that have to do with it?’

  ‘If Dolly puts a manager in without considering Jack first because you wouldn’t let him go, how’s he going to feel about that?’

  ‘He’ll be all right…’

  ‘He won’t, Nell! He’ll blame you for holding him back!’

  ‘He wouldn’t – would he?’

  ‘He might, Nellie,’ Dolly put in. ‘He’s the perfect choice to work with me, and if you deny him the chance it could cause a rift and nobody wants that.’

  Nellie was quiet f
or a while as she thought over the suggestion. Nancy was right, as was Dolly, and Jack would be the ideal person for the job. On the other hand, she had brought him up as her own and the thought of him leaving home would be an enormous wrench.

  ‘Right, then,’ Nellie said, slapping her hands on the table and making the others jump, ‘let’s ask him.’

  11

  ‘Jack! Get yer arse in here a minute, will you?’ Nellie yelled.

  Knowing Dolly was here, having heard her voice even over the noise of the bar, Jack had been true to his word and kept his head down.

  ‘Whatcha want now?’ he asked as he entered the kitchen.

  ‘Sit down, lad. I’ve summat to ask you,’ Nellie said.

  Doing as he was bid, he saw Dolly give him a quick wink. Knowing what was coming, he debated whether to say he’d known about the idea, or let Nellie think he had no clue. Wisely, he opted for the latter.

  ‘Now then, Dolly is after another palace and needs a manager and we thought of you.’

  ‘I thought of him,’ Nancy said sharply.

  ‘Nance thought of you,’ Nellie corrected herself. ‘How would you feel about that?’

  ‘I’d love it!’ Jack said, feigning surprise, and saw Dolly release a relieved breath.

  ‘Right, well, my advice would be for you to go with her when she finds what she’s looking for because you’ll be the one who has to live and work there.’

  ‘That’s an excellent idea, Nellie,’ Dolly said, and she and Jack shared a knowing smile.

  ‘Dolly’s already checked out a couple of places but didn’t like them, so you be ready when she calls for you.’

  ‘Yes, Mum. Thanks, Dolly, I won’t let you down.’

  ‘I know you won’t. I’ll let you know when another pub comes up for sale.’

  ‘That’s that, then. You can get back to work now,’ Nellie instructed.

  Jack gave a little jump, clicking his heels together, and the women smiled at his excitement.

  ‘I’ll miss him around the place, though, Dolly,’ Nellie said a little sadly.

  ‘Me an’ all, but he’s a man now and has to go his own way,’ Nancy said resignedly.

  ‘He won’t be far away, Nellie, maybe only a short cab ride. We’ll have to see, but you can always visit him and give him the benefit of your experience.’

  Nellie nodded but it was all she could do to stem the tears pricking her eyes.

  Dolly stood to make a strategic withdrawal. ‘I’ll see you both later, and thanks.’ Her plan had worked out better than she could ever have hoped.

  When she’d gone, Nellie finally allowed her tears to fall, as did Nancy at seeing her friend’s distress.

  ‘I don’t want him to go, Nance,’ Nellie sobbed.

  ‘I know, Nell,’ Nancy replied as she wrapped her arms around the woman who had taken her in off the street so very many years ago. ‘He’ll be right, you’ll see.’

  With their arms around each other, they cried quietly at the thought of the boy they both loved so much finally leaving home.

  Over the road, customers were spilling out of the doors of the Palace as fast as others rushed in and the bar was packed.

  Dolly made her way around the back to enter the kitchen and was surprised to see Wilton Burton enjoying tea and cake and chatting with her cook, Sadie.

  ‘Ah here she is, the queen returned to her palace,’ Wilton quipped.

  Dolly smiled and blushed scarlet. ‘What brings you to my door again so soon?’

  ‘Merely checking you are happy with our gin.’

  ‘My gin – it belongs to me now I’ve paid the bill.’

  ‘Of course, my apologies, your majesty.’

  Sadie howled at the banter and Alice gazed dreamily at the handsome young man.

  ‘It’s selling well and I’m very pleased, thank you.’

  ‘Good, we can’t have our best customer unhappy now, can we?’

  Dolly shook her head at his blatant sales pitch. ‘My cellar is full, so I have no need to place another order as yet.’

  After a short time of playful chat, Wilton took his leave, waving over his shoulder as he left.

  ‘I think that lad has an eye on you,’ Sadie said.

  ‘Hmm. Only so that he can get me to buy more gin,’ Dolly responded. However, she wished it was true, that Wilton could be interested in her and not just her business.

  ‘There’s more on his mind than that,’ Sadie went on.

  ‘I’d take him on in a flash!’ Alice added.

  ‘You need to get that pastry made and keep your thoughts to yourself!’ the cook remonstrated.

  It crossed Dolly’s mind that the cook should do the same, but she said nothing. Instead, she limped her way into the bar where her staff were run ragged.

  ‘Juliet, go for a break, I’ll take over.’

  Glad of the chance to rest her aching feet, the barmaid scuttled away to the kitchen.

  Immediately Dolly’s attention was called for by a woman wanting to be served. The woman had a sleeping baby strapped to her chest and Dolly wondered how the noise didn’t wake the child. A little gin on the end of a finger perhaps? Having no time to dwell on the matter, Dolly moved on to her next customer.

  ‘Dolly!’ The shout came from Aggie, who pushed her way to the counter.

  ‘One minute, Aggie.’ Then a moment later Dolly said, ‘What can I do for you?’ Other than fill a glass.

  Aggie spoke from the corner of her toothless mouth in a surreptitious manner. ‘I know where there’s a landlord selling up!’

  ‘Do tell.’

  ‘Well, I would, but my mouth is too dry,’ the old woman said before making a sound like a cat vomiting.

  Dolly passed over a glass of Partiality and waited while Aggie took a slurp.

  ‘That’s better. Over behind the cattle market on the corner of Great Barr Street and Watery Lane. Bloody big place it is an’ all. It ain’t common knowledge as yet so if you’m interested I suggest you stir your stumps.’

  ‘What’s the name of it?’

  Aggie coughed pushing her empty glass across the counter. Dolly filled it again.

  ‘The Bricklayer’s Arms but it’s known locally as the Bricky.’

  ‘Thank you, Aggie. That deserves another drink.’

  Aggie grinned, showing pale gums, and after serving her, Dolly went to the kitchen and called Danny Whitehouse up from where he was helping in the cellar.

  ‘Would you do me a favour and fetch Jack from the Crown and also whistle for a cab, please?’

  ‘Will do. Back in a mo.’

  Five minutes passed but in no time Jack and Dolly boarded the waiting cab. Giving the address, Dolly then updated Jack about where they were going and why.

  On arrival, Dolly saw with pleasure that Aggie was right – the building was huge. She stayed outside in the cab whilst Jack went to speak with the landlord. Then the cab door opened and a large man with a deep voice spoke. ‘You wanted to see me?’

  Dolly noted he was an older man, his hair beginning to turn grey. Blue eyes stared back at her as she nodded.

  ‘I believe you are selling up?’

  ‘I am, but how did you know?’

  ‘I make it my business to know. I’m Dolly Perkins and I co-own Daydream Palace.’

  ‘And you’re looking to buy my pub.’

  ‘I could be interested if the price is right. Of course, Jack and I would need to see the whole place before I decide if it’s right for me.’

  ‘Come along in, then. I’m Lucas Freeman but everybody calls me Luke.’

  As he helped her from the cab, she could see that the man noticed her stick, but he remained tight-lipped.

  Once inside, Jack and Dolly were given a guided tour. The bar was a massive room with only a few curious customers. Next they were shown a kitchen, scullery, dining room, and then stairs down to an impossibly big cellar, and stairs leading to bedrooms and private quarters.

  ‘There’s a strange smell in this bedroom,’ Do
lly mentioned as they stood in one of the doorways. The room was piled high with spare furniture so it was impossible to go in further.

  ‘Ar, it’s the sewage I think. I’ve informed the council, but you know how slow they are to get anything done. The night soil men come regular as clockwork, though, and I’ve had a word with them an’ all. It’ll be sorted out soon, I’m sure.’

  Once they had seen everything, Dolly had to admit that she was impressed. Sitting now in Lucas’s own living room, Dolly broached the subject of the sale price.

  ‘That’s how much I paid for it and that’s how much I want for it,’ Lucas said, passing two documents to Dolly to peruse. Handing them to Jack to read, Dolly nodded.

  ‘You paid two thousand pounds, which seems a low price if I may say, and you are asking three thousand. I wonder what Mr Sharpe, my solicitor, would have to say about that.’ Dolly watched the landlord squirm under her scrutiny.

  ‘It’s a going concern, now! It was dead on its feet when I took it over.’

  ‘A few elderly gentlemen in the bar does not, in my opinion, constitute a going concern. I’m interested, but not at that price.’ Dolly pointed at the documents in Jack’s hand.

  Wanting rid of the property, Freeman considered his options. He could stand his ground and watch this woman leave his premises without having come to an agreement, or he could reduce the asking price and ensure a buyer.

  ‘I’ll come down by two hundred and fifty pounds,’ he said at last.

  ‘Five hundred,’ Dolly argued.

  With a loud sigh, Freeman nodded.

  Looking at Jack, who returned the papers to their rightful owner, she said, ‘I’d like your opinion.’

  ‘I think it would be ideal.’

  ‘Would you be happy here, do you think?’

  ‘I reckon so.’

  ‘Do we have an accord, then, Dolly Perkins?’ Lucas asked.

  ‘We do, Lucas Freeman.’

  Shaking hands, Dolly added, ‘I will return in a couple of days with my solicitor and the necessary documents to be signed. Once that’s done, I will instruct the bank to make payment. All that will be left to do then will be for you to move out and Jack to move in.’