‘Tha did well, Annie,’ Robin was full of admiration. ‘I’d never o’ thought of showing her them muslins.’
‘What tha must realize, Robin,’ they were trotting towards the next village, ‘is that just ’cos a woman’s old and toothless, it doesn’t mean she can’t appreciate summat nice. And Mrs Corner back there, I reckon, has a bit o’ money put by.’
And next time we come, I’ve got to bring her tea and ’baccy. Annie pondered on this and wondered if the arrangement was wholly between Mrs Trott and Mrs Corner, or if Toby was involved in the deal?
The third village they reached just before nightfall and were given a space to sleep by the fire in the home of a shepherd’s wife. They had sold cottons and ribbons, and been given a dozen eggs by a farmer’s wife.
‘We’ll stop night at ’hostelry,’ Robin said at the end of the next day as they trotted alongside a beck which ran towards the next hamlet. ‘We’ll get a good night’s lodgings here.’
‘How much’ll it cost?’ Annie felt for her bag of money beneath her skirt. She hadn’t spent anything since being with the Trotts. She’d offered to pay her board, but Mrs Trott had said that it had been taken care of.
‘We can pay out of our takings, if we’re asked. But usually, Master Toby has made arrangements.’
More arrangements, Annie thought. I wonder what the innkeeper will want in exchange.
‘Annie?’ Robin led the donkey into the inn yard. ‘Tha knaws what tha was saying about women still liking nice things, even when they’re old?’
She nodded and looked about her. The inn was small, not much bigger than a cottage, quite unlike the inns in Hull which accommodated foreign seamen and travellers.
‘Well.’ He shuffled about in embarrassment. ‘Well – I wondered. Do old folk still feel ’fire in their belly, same as when they’re young?’
She gazed at him in astonishment and though it was almost dark, saw, by the lantern swinging on a nail above the stable door, that his face had turned crimson.
‘Maybe not to ’same degree,’ she said, hiding the laughter that bubbled up inside her. ‘But I’m not old enough to know yet, even though I might look as if I am.’
‘Aw, no. I didn’t mean that tha was. I just thought tha might knaw.’
‘Why does tha ask?’
He took his time over the donkey’s harness. ‘It’s just – it’s just – well I wondered how long it took afore ’fire died down, ’cos, sometimes,’ his words came out with a rush. ‘Sometimes I wish I was already old so that ’flame’d dampen down a bit.’
She smiled in the darkness. ‘Hast tha got a lass, Robin?’
He shook his head.
‘And never had one, I’ll be bound?’
‘Nay, who’d look at me? I’ve got nowt.’
‘Tha’s got plenty. Tha’s not been in ’front row when good looks were being handed out, but tha’s got a cheeky grin, and tha’s got good temper and humour, and there’s many a lass wouldn’t turn away if tha stole a kiss.’
‘Does tha think so, Annie?’ His face brightened as they went through the low doorway into the hostelry. ‘I hope tha’s right.’
The innkeeper greeted Robin cordially. ‘I’d hoped tha would be along soon. Hasn’t tha brought Mrs Trott?’ He looked enquiringly at Annie and then towards the door.
‘Mrs Trott’s giving up ’business, as tha might say. She’s getting past it, all this travelling – so this is Mrs Hope, she’s taking her place. This is Mr Sutcliff, Annie. He’s got ’best bed and board for miles.’
‘We aim to please, Mrs Hope, we aim to please.’ He was a small round man, with a belly that protruded from his waistcoat and over the top of his breeches. His hair was dark and he wore a neat pointed beard.
‘Come in, tha must be weary.’ He led them into a room where there was a large table set for supper, and a bright fire burning in the hearth. ‘Have a sup of ale, and tha’ll have a taste o’ rabbit pie? Lily, my eldest, makes best pastry in the valley.’
Two young women entered the room as he spoke. Both were tall, taller than Mr Sutcliff, and dark like him. Both were dressed in grey woollen skirts and white aprons, and Lily, for Annie guessed it was she, was wearing a cotton cap, while the other, Joan, had her hair tied back in a knot and fastened with a red ribbon.
Lily nodded to Annie and Robin, and without speaking placed a large crusty pie in the middle of the table. A vent in the crust had steam escaping from it, which carried the most delectable smell of rabbit and onions. Annie licked her lips and watched as Joan opened up a white cloth she was carrying and brought out a batch of brown loaves, still hot from the oven.
Next, Lily returned with dishes of floury potatoes, carrots and cabbage, and a boiled suet pudding, flavoured with herbs. She stood back from the table, her hands folded in front of her and waited for her father to speak.
‘Sit down please.’ He indicated the places where Annie and Robin should sit and then shouted into the back room. ‘Meg! Rose! Look sharp, we’re ready and waiting.’
Two younger girls appeared, their faces flushed from the heat of the kitchen. Meg was about fifteen, dark like her sisters, with huge blue eyes; she wiped her hands on her apron and grinned at Robin, who blushed; the other, Rose, about thirteen years of age, was just blossoming into womanhood, her skin with an unblemished bloom and her hair as black as night.
Robin bent his head, his neck was as red as fire and Annie saw as he lifted his head, as Lily heaped his plate with rabbit pie, that his eyes were wet with emotion.
Ah, ha, so here’s ’reason for ’fire in his belly. Poor lad’s smitten all right, and that Meg’s leading him on, I’ll bet – and nowt at end of it.
When the four daughters had seen that the guests and their father had been served, they too sat down at the table to eat with them, all keeping silent while their father talked, of the weather, and crops and grain – which Annie found incomprehensible – and how bad business was, and likely to get worse as the winter drew on.
‘We’ll get no travellers passing this way come December, save the military that is, and they don’t stay over, they onny have a bite to eat and a sup, and they’re on their way. Not that I’d have ’em to stay. Can’t take ’risk with four daughters at home.’
It was the daughters’ turn to blush, even the two eldest and Annie saw them exchange covert glances.
Lily’s mouth turned down. ‘It’s onny company we get, Father. Why should tha want to deprive us? There’s no other male company around here.’
‘I’ll not have sodgers dallying with daughters of mine. There’s no future in it. They’re here a month or two, and then they’re off to another garrison and that’s last we’d see of ’em. Beside’s they’re in cahoots with magistrates and they’d be watching every move. Not that I’ve owt to hide,’ he added, wiping his mouth of gravy. ‘But some of my neighbours wouldn’t be too pleased. No, I’ll be pleasant enough and welcome them to my table, for it’s not their fault they’re so far from home, but I’m allus glad to see ’back of them.’
When the pie dish was empty, Lily removed it and brought in its place an enormous plum pudding and a dish of sweet white sauce.
‘I’m stuffed.’ Robin belched. ‘I don’t think I can manage any more.’
‘Come lad, ’course tha can.’ Mr Sutcliff signalled to Lily to heap more on to Robin’s plate. ‘It’ll go to ’swine otherwise.’ He laughed. ‘Then tha’ll be eating it next year instead.’
Annie felt her bloated stomach. The band around her skirt was cutting into her waist. Mrs Trott was a good cook, but her portions were nowhere near as large as the ones she had just eaten. She had never, in her life, she thought, eaten as much as she had at this table.
Mr Sutcliff, when he had scraped his plate clean, pushed it from him and rose from the table. ‘Well, if tha’ll excuse me. I’ve a few jobs to do afore I lock up for ’night. Hast tha locked up geese, Meg?’
Meg nodded. ‘Aye Father. I did.’
‘Rose?’
‘Pig pen’s locked and henhouse fastened, Father.’
‘Good. Our Lily will show thee to thy bed, Mrs Hope, when tha’s ready. I’ll say goodnight, but no hurry, take tha time.’
As soon as he had disappeared from the room there was a flurry of activity. Meg and Rose whipped away the dirty dishes and plates, Joan wiped down the table with a wet cloth, and Lily built up the fire with logs.
‘Now,’ said Lily, turning towards them and dusting her hands together to remove the ash. ‘Come on, Robin, lets see what tha’s got in them packs.’
Robin grinned and went to fetch the packs from a corner of the room where he had left them.
‘Why there’s nowt much left, Miss Lily. Mrs Hope here is a right good trader. We’re practically out o’ cotton, onny fancy stuff left, nowt that thy would want, muslins and nets and such.’ He winked at Annie as he leaned past her to place the packs in front of Lily.
‘Wait. Wait for us.’ Meg and Rose squealed from the other room where there was a clatter of pots and pans.
‘Leave them,’ Joan called. ‘Tha can do them later when Mrs Hope’s gone to bed.’
‘Tha can call me Annie.’ Annie said shyly. She wasn’t used to formality, and Lily and Joan, she thought were probably of her age, if not older.
‘Has tha got a husband, Annie?’ Joan asked curiously.
‘Me husband’s dead. I’m a widow.’ Annie bent her head as if in sorrow.
‘Does tha like working for Master Linton?’ Meg came into the room and stood by Annie’s chair. ‘Doesn’t tha think he’s handsome?’ She closed her eyes and puckered her lips.
‘That’s enough, Meg.’ Lily was sharp. ‘Mrs Hope’s just said she’s a widow.’
‘Oh, I beg thy pardon, I didn’t hear. How long has tha been a widow?’
It feels like years, Annie thought. Scrimping and saving on Seaman’s Sixpence. Still, without it we’d have starved.
‘Less then six months,’ she said softly, trying to put sadness in her voice. ‘Now I’ve to make me own living.’
‘Tha must be heartbroken.’ Meg’s eyes were full of sympathy. ‘Why Lily, can tha imagine? Mrs Hope must be onny same age as thee, imagine losing ’man tha loves, when tha’s onny young.’
‘Aye.’ Annie sighed. ‘I wanted for nowt, and now I’m penniless and driven to working as a hawker. Not that Master Linton isn’t kind,’ she added hastily, in case she had gone too far. ‘He’s a very fair employer – more than patient to somebody not used to working for a living.’
‘I heard that he’s vowed never to marry.’ Meg’s voice dropped to a whisper. ‘Mrs Morpeth’s niece has a friend who’s cousin works for his father in his kitchen, and she said that he’s been crossed in love and has pledged celibacy, even though there’s another lady willing to have him.’
‘Don’t talk such nonsense.’ Lily reached out to slap her. ‘If tha doesn’t shut up tha can take tha self off to bed.’
Chastened, Meg sat on the floor while Annie, vaguely thinking that there was no smoke without fire, opened up the parcels of muslins and nets, and began deftly draping them about Meg and Rose, softly folding the lengths of cloth about their hair and shoulders, while Robin, his eyes misty and lips apart, gazed dreamily at them.
‘Wilt tha have a dish of tay, Annie, afore tha goes to bed?’ Lily having decided on the household purchases and a length of fine cotton for herself, stood up, while her sisters hummed and hawed over which colour and fabric suited them the best.
‘Aye. I’d appreciate that no end. I allus used to take tea about this time,’ she emphasized sorrowfully. ‘In ’old days I mean.’
Lily nodded sympathetically and hung the kettle which was standing at the side of the hearth, on to the hook over the fire. ‘Fetch me ’tay caddy, Rose. Look sharp now, ’kettle’s almost on boil.’
Rose returned with the caddy and Lily took a key from her pocket and opened it.
‘Oh. Would tha look at that. Here am I offering our visitors tay, and ’box is near empty. There’s onny enough for a mashing either tonight or in ’morning. Which would tha prefer, Annie?’
She held the caddy towards Annie and she peered in. There was very little tea in the bottom; as Lily had said, only enough for one brewing. As she tipped the box towards her, Annie saw the glint of coins beneath the leaves; she looked up and caught an enquiring glance in Lily’s eyes.
‘Tomorrow, Lily,’ she said. ‘Let’s keep it ’till ’morning.’
Robin was given a palliasse by the fire, and there was a truckle bed made ready for Annie in a corner of the girls’ room. She fell into it just as soon as she could make her escape from the excited chatter of Joan, Meg and Rose who talked and giggled about the designs they would make for their new dresses.
‘Who’ll see thee in them?’ Lily had asked, as she’d grudgingly agreed to their purchases. ‘Nobody, that’s who. Onny chapel folk, and they’ll have plenty to say about it.’
‘I hope tha fayther won’t be angry about thee buying fancy stuff?’ Annie sat up in bed as Lily came into the room; she’d been worrying in case they got into trouble.
‘Nay, he won’t. We all twist him round our fingers. We get most of what we want.’ Her solemn face brightened as she smiled but then became dismal again. ‘Except for what we really want – men’s company. We’re all doomed to be old maids.’
‘Nowt wrong wi’ that.’ Annie yawned and stretched. ‘Not everybody makes a good match. Happen tha’s better off without a man. Tha might get somebody who beats thee and doesn’t treat thee right.’ She sat up and leaned on one elbow. ‘That’s what I’ve heard anyroad. I wouldn’t know of course. I never had owt to complain about.’
Lily came and sat on her bed. ‘I had an arrangement wi’ Mrs Trott,’ she whispered. ‘She used to get me—’
‘Tea. Aye. I know. But there wasn’t a shipment this time round. I’ll have to bring it next time. But what about tha fayther? What did she bring him?’
Lily looked blank. She shook her head. ‘Nowt, as far as I know. A bit o’ baccy maybe. Though – Master Linton comes himself sometimes, on his way to see his father, does tha think he brings summat?’
‘Nay. I must have been mistaken. Master Linton doesn’t travel wi’ goods himself.’
‘That’s what I thought.’ Lily started to undress. ‘Tha won’t mention to me father about ’tay, wilt tha? He’d be that mad if he knew what I was up to.’
Robin banged on her door the next morning to waken her. All the Sutcliff girls were up and about their tasks, and from the kitchen came the smell of bacon, kidneys and thick pork sausage, and on the table as she went down were hot wheaten cakes, split and running with butter. Tea was made and a jug of ale was on the table.
‘Do we settle up wi’ thee or tha fayther,’ Annie asked as she finished her breakfast. ‘For our bed and board, I mean.’
Lily hesitated. ‘Mrs Trott and me had—,’
‘An arrangement, aye, I know.’ Annie shouldered her almost empty pack. ‘But I’ve brought thee nowt.’
‘I don’t like to charge thee, not when tha’s on such hard times.’
Annie stared. This was genuine compassion. She felt ashamed. She’d played on the sympathy of this kindhearted woman with her makebelieve of sorrowing widowhood.
‘Tha’s bought plenty from us,’ she said. ‘I’ll get paid from Master Linton, be sure of that. He’ll be generous, make no mistake.’
‘But,’ Lily looked down. ‘I’ve enjoyed thy company. Tha’s a lot livelier than Mrs Trott,’ she laughed.
‘I can’t make thee pay for me company.’ Annie reached beneath her skirt for her money bag. ‘I’ll give thee that for nowt, gladly.’ She handed over some money. ‘Take this for our food and lodgings, for Robin and me. It’s best I’ve ever had, and tha’ll be sure I’ll be back again.’
Robin was talking to Mr Sutcliff as she went into the yard. The donkey was harnessed into the cart and it lifted its head and brayed as she approached.
‘He thinks we’re off home.’ Robin scratched the donkey’s back. ‘He’s allus a lot livelier going back.’
‘Tha’ll give Master Linton my regards, Mrs Hope? Tell him I look forward to a visit soon.’ Mr Sutcliff stood watching them as they put the depleted packs into the cart. ‘He, er, he didn’t send owt? A parcel or such?’
Annie shook her head. ‘He didn’t. Probably next time.’
He waved them off from the gate and they turned towards the next dale. The donkey brayed and rammed all four legs to a halt.
‘Come on tha daft brute.’ Robin cracked the whip above the animal’s head. ‘We’ve another day yet.’
‘Dost think it’s worth it, Robin?’
‘What?’ Robin took hold of the donkey’s snaffle and pulled, but it obstinately stood its ground.
‘Well we’ve hardly any cloth left. A few odd lengths o’ calico, not enough to make much. Some bits o’ net, and buttons and bootlaces. What’s women going to think if that’s all we’ve got to offer ’em? They might buy from ’next hawker that comes round. But if we don’t go, then they might wait for our next visit. They’ll know that tha usually has plenty o’ good stuff?’
‘Aye. Tha could be right, Annie. They’ll be disappointed I expect, if we haven’t got what they want.’
‘Let’s get back then. If we crack on a bit we’ll be back in Hessle by nightfall.’
Annie set off in the opposite direction and Charlie with an eager bark, jumped down from the cart to follow her. The donkey pricked up his ears and set off at a trot after them which set Robin running.
‘Jump in Annie, if tha’s a mind.’
She shook her head. ‘I’ll walk for a bit, I’m enjoying this.’
It was a fresh cool morning and she took in a deep breath of country air. By, this is grand, she thought. I can feel it doing me good. I don’t know if I could live here though, even though ’scenery is lovely. She looked down beyond the sheep studded banks into the dry valley bottom and saw ploughmen and their teams ploughing up the springy pasture, making ready for crops. What would I do for company? Those poor Sutcliff lasses. Nobody lively to talk to. They’ll get snowed in every winter I bet, and then no visitors at all. Onny pigs and geese for company.
Towards midday they turned into the next valley and trotting along the narrow winding road towards them was a company of red-coated soldiers.
‘It’s ’same lot as before,’ Robin muttered. ‘What ’they after?’
‘Good day.’ The Scots sergeant was pleasant enough, though he didn’t smile. ‘We meet again!’
‘Aye.’ Annie nodded to him but noticed that he was looking in the back of the cart.
‘Have you done good business?’
‘Not bad.’
He got down from his horse and gave the reins to one of his men. ‘Have you got anything interesting in your packs?’ Idly he picked one up and shook it, as if testing the weight.
She smiled and lowered her lashes. ‘A few ribbons and fripperies. Would tha like to look, hast tha a lady to buy for?’
There was a ripple of amusement from the men and the sergeant looked annoyed. ‘Open it,’ he demanded sharply.
Annie took it from him, brushing her hand against his and smiling a shy apology. ‘There, sergeant,’ she breathed. ‘Pink or blue, or a pretty yellow, which colour would suit her? Or—.’ She leaned over him to reach for another pack. ‘If she’s not partial to colour, I’ve a piece o’ plain linen?’
He shook his hand for her to fasten them up. ‘That’s not what I’m after.’
‘Well maybe next time. We’ll be getting fresh supplies. We’ll have good linen, nice muslins and such. Stop us if tha sees us and tha can have tha pick.’
He swung back on to his horse. He looked tired and dusty, as all the men did, as if they had been riding all night.
‘Sergeant?’ She called him back as they prepared to ride away. ‘Could tha eat a good dinner?’
‘Oh, couldn’t I?’ he said wearily. ‘I’d be glad to get off this damned hoss’s back for an hour or two.’
‘I can tell thee where tha can get ’best food in ’Wolds, if there’s a mind for it. Good ale, and pleasant company.’ She shaped a female form with her hands.
His face brightened, and his men turned eagerly towards her. ‘Will we be welcome? Not all folks round here will have us over the threshold.’
‘I can promise thee tha’ll be welcome, just be mindful o’ thy manners and treat ’daughters of ’house wi’ respect. Tell ’em Mrs Hope sent thee.’
Robin gave them instructions for finding the Sutcliff inn and Annie translated slowly for them, for they still couldn’t understand him.
‘We’ll have to learn to talk proper, thee and me, Robin, if we wants to make our way in life.’ She watched them ride away up the hill.
‘I hope we’ve done right, Annie, sending them there. What if Mr Sutcliff won’t have ’em in?’
‘He’ll not turn them away. They’ll spend money with him. He’ll be glad to make on, with winter coming. And Sutcliff lasses will be thrilled to bits.’ She smiled and climbed into the cart. ‘I reckon we’ve done everybody a favour, including ourselves.’