Gossip came thick and fast about the young prostitute found murdered in the town, some people saying she got what she deserved. Others, however, maintained that whatever the girl’s profession she didn’t warrant a death such as that.
Victoria Beckett kept her mouth shut as she listened to the exchange between two women in the shop. Personally, she thought it would do the town a favour if all those ‘ladies’ of the night suffered the same fate! Whoever had committed the grisly act, she couldn’t help wondering if the perpetrator would strike again.
‘Well, it ain’t stopped ’em, they was on the corner agen last night,’ one woman said.
‘Ar I know, but there weren’t as many. I think they’m scared now,’ her companion said.
‘So they should be,’ the first agreed.
‘Have you decided yet?’ Victoria intervened, watching the women sliding their hands over the bolt of silk.
‘I can’t afford this,’ the companion said. ‘I’ll look on the market.’
The women turned and left the shop.
Victoria sighed as she replaced the bolt on the shelf. They know it’s too expensive so why do they bother to look in the first place!
Mr Williams bustled through with a cup of tea, which he placed on a shelf beneath the counter.
‘Thought you might be ready for that,’ he said, nodding to the cup.
‘Thank you.’ Victoria was about to pick up the cup when the doorbell rang again and a large woman waddled in.
‘Mrs Price, how nice to see you,’ Williams said.
‘Can’t say the same for you. At these prices, I wouldn’t come in if I didn’t need to!’
‘It’s always a pleasure to hear you moan,’ Williams grinned.
‘I wouldn’t if you dropped yer prices!’
‘Your scowl is a sight to behold,’ the owner went on.
Suddenly Mrs Price burst out laughing. ‘You’m a cheeky sod an’ no mistake.’
Victoria sighed again. She hated all this nonsense and would have served the woman immediately had it not been for her boss. She pasted a sickly smile on her face as she waited to see what the woman wanted.
‘Half a yard o’ white ribbon,’ Mrs Price said eventually.
As Victoria moved to cut the required length, she heard her employer speak again. ‘For the delightful mop of hair you have left I take it?’
Victoria shook her head. If she didn’t need this job so badly, she would walk out right now. Handing over the ribbon, she placed the money in the till and watched the woman leave.
‘They do love a bit of banter,’ Mr Williams said as he moved towards the back room.
‘Indeed,’ Victoria said by way of acknowledgement.
It was late afternoon when Victoria saw Ann enter the shop. Instantly her hackles rose.
‘Good afternoon, Miss Beckett, I wondered if anyone has shown an interest in my wedding gowns.’ Ann tried her best to be civil to the girl who had tried to run her down with the trap.
‘No.’ Victoria’s clipped answer sounded in the quiet of the shop.
‘Oh dear, I was hoping…’ Ann’s words trailed away.
‘Clearly people don’t like them,’ Victoria said quietly so as not to be overheard by Mr Williams in the back room. She noted the surprise on Ann’s face at her words.
‘Do you really think that’s the problem?’ Ann asked, feeling her confidence wane. Doubt seeped into her mind and she wondered for the hundredth time whether this gown making was such a good idea.
‘Well, I wouldn’t wear one,’ Victoria shrugged her shoulders.
‘Maybe I could redesign…’ Ann began.
‘Maybe you should quit and go back on the streets with your cronies!’ Victoria’s words came out as a rasp.
‘How dare you!’ Ann was mortified. This was the second time this young woman had accused her of being a prostitute.
‘I believe the few standing the corner of Camp Street last night missed your company.’ Victoria’s grin was feral as she watched the shock register on Ann’s face.
‘I don’t have to listen to this!’ Ann eventually found her tongue.
‘No, you don’t, so I suggest you get out. I wouldn’t bother coming back either because those cheap frocks won’t sell!’ Victoria thrust a finger towards the window display.
Ann fled the shop, tears coursing down her face.
‘Another satisfied customer?’ Mr Williams asked a moment later.
‘I’m afraid I couldn’t help her, but I told her where to go,’ Victoria said on a sweet smile.
‘Jolly good,’ Williams muttered, ambling back to continue his task of stocktaking.
*
Ann was still in floods of tears when she entered the house.
‘Hey up! Whatever’s the matter?’ Maisie asked, rushing to her friend and wrapping her in her arms.
‘That Victoria Beckett!’ Ann managed between sobs. Finally, as her emotions calmed, Ann related the conversation which had taken place in the shop.
‘That girl needs a slap if you ask me!’ Maisie said.
‘Oh, Maisie, what if she’s right? What if my gowns don’t sell? The girls will hate me for making them stay off the streets and changing their work!’ Ann was becoming distraught.
‘We won’t,’ Patsy’s voice sounded as she came through the door, followed by the others.
‘Oh, Patsy, I didn’t hear you come in. I’m sorry, ladies, I think this venture is doomed to failure!’ Ann wailed.
‘Now then sweetheart, it’s not like you to give up so easily,’ Floss said soothingly.
‘Floss, I don’t know what to do!’ Ann snapped.
‘You do what you always do, my lovely, you carry on regardless of what anyone else says,’ Floss’s voice had a calming effect on Ann and she nodded.
Over tea, the whole debacle was discussed at length. Then Ann remembered something Victoria had said.
‘Victoria said some of you were still standing the corner last night.’ Ann looked at each of the women in turn. Two heads lowered with sheepish looks on their faces.
‘Sure, me and Floss had to, Ann, we ain’t got two ha’pennies to rub together! And, we have to pay our rent,’ Mary said quietly. Ann was aware the two shared a house with all the expenses that went along with it.
‘This is all my fault and I’m so sorry, but I’m frightened for you!’ Ann became distressed again.
Floss spoke up at seeing Ann’s tears fall once more. ‘We won’t do it again – honest.’
Mary shot her a scowl. ‘Ah bejasus! And just what am we gonna live on, eh?’
It was Floss’s turn to burst into tears. Having had no sleep, the girl was tired to the bone.
‘This is getting us nowhere! We’m sounding like Len and Gladys with all this bickering!’ Maisie said over the mutterings.
Ella agreed, saying, ‘We just ’ave to ’ope the advert brings you some custom, Ann.’
‘I’m not sure, Ella, maybe the whole thing was a big mistake.’ Ann tried to stem the tears threatening to fall again.
Suddenly Maisie’s voice brought Ann back to her senses. ‘Our Annie left the pub because of “Lecherous Len” and now she’s trying to earn her keep by dressmaking. She’s got us off the streets, where any one of us could end up dead! I know we ain’t earning yet – but at least we’m still breathing!’
Embarrassed looks showed on each face as Maisie attempted to control her temper.
‘We’m all grateful, Maisie, but like was said a minute ago, we ’ave to eat.’ Eve spoke tentatively not wishing to enrage the already fuming Maisie.
‘Well, I’ve got an errand to run, so you lot get cracking on the next garment,’ Patsy said, grabbing her shawl.
‘Where you goin’?’ Ella asked.
‘I ’ave summat to do that’s got nowt to do wi’ you!’ Patsy said sharply. In a moment she was gone, leaving the others staring after her.
‘Best not to ask, she’ll tell us all about it later I expect,’ Floss said gently.
Marching down Queen Street, Patsy’s anger fumed hot inside her. Turning onto the Holyhead Road, she heard a carter call for her to ‘get out of the hossroad’.
‘You watch where you’m bleedin’ drivin’!’ she yelled back.
Angrier than ever now, she cut up Loxdale Street and on into Union Street, her boots tapping a sharp rhythm on the cobblestones. Flinging the shop door open, she stamped inside. Three customers stared at her as she pushed through them to the counter.
‘I want a word with you!’ Patsy’s forefinger shot forward towards Victoria Beckett’s face, causing the girl to step back.
The three women in the shop exchanged a knowing smile and they settled themselves into a corner to enjoy the inevitable shouting match.
‘You’ve ’ad my friend in tears, you nasty witch, but yer won’t do the same to me!’ Patsy shouted.
‘I don’t know what you mean,’ Victoria blustered.
‘Don’t ya? Well let me remind yer. You told Ann Felton ’er gowns was rubbish and wouldn’t sell!’ Patsy’s voice boomed out in the quiet of the shop.
‘Hey, what’s all the noise about?’ Mr Williams came bustling in from the back room.
‘Yer girl ’ere has upset our Annie! Her’s bawling ’er eyes out at ’ome ’cos of this one!’ Patsy was in full swing now.
‘Now now, let’s all calm down,’ Williams tried to placate the irate woman.
‘It’s hardly my fault if those – dresses – won’t sell!’ Victoria said, looking down her nose at Patsy.
‘Victoria, have you upset Miss Felton?’ Williams asked.
‘No! I merely said I thought…’ Victoria’s words halted mid-sentence as Patsy yanked up her skirts and scrambled over the counter, grabbing the frightened girl by the hair.
‘Oh, my goodness!’ Williams gasped, his hands flapping wildly in the air.
The three customers were thoroughly enjoying the spectacle and watched as Patsy pinned the shop girl to the wall.
‘Now, you listen to me, Miss High and Mighty Beckett, you so much as look at our Annie in a way which upsets ’er and yer’ll ’ave me to answer to. You got that?’ Patsy rasped into the girl’s face as she shook her hard.
Victoria’s head bobbed up and down.
Patsy nodded once. Climbing back across the counter, she turned to the shop owner. ‘I ain’t half sorry, Mr Williams, but I ain’t havin’ ’er makin’ Annie cry with her spiteful remarks. If I was you, I’d get rid of ’er altogether.’ Patsy gave Victoria a sickly smile, poking her index finger in the girl’s direction as a warning reminder, then she stamped out of the shop. The three customers were close on her heels, off to spread the gossip.
Calmer now, Patsy smiled inwardly. That damned Victoria Beckett might keep her tongue behind her teeth now, especially where Ann was concerned. But Patsy could not know at that moment how wrong she was.