Whilst eating his breakfast, Jack Larkin was trying hard to read the newspaper. His reading skills were deficient due to lack of schooling, but he persevered with help from Dolly.
‘The mutiny of sepoys in Meerut, forty miles north east of Delhi in India, is still raging,’ Dolly read aloud as she took over after Jack had pushed the paper away exasperatedly.
‘Record attendances to see the Art of Treasures of Great Britain exhibition in Manchester in the month since its opening.’ Dolly looked up dreamily. ‘I’d love to see that.’
‘Go on, cocka,’ Nancy encouraged, amazed at how easily Dolly read the headlines.
‘The British Museum Reading Room was opened in May and appears to be in full use,’ Dolly continued.
‘When you’ve all finished with discussing world affairs, there’s work to be done!’ Nellie Larkin stated firmly.
A banging on the doors of The Crown Saloon had Nellie sigh then leave the kitchen.
Poppy and Nancy were chatting quietly and Jack and Dolly were clearing away their empty plates when raised voices were heard. Silence descended in the kitchen as all ears strained to hear what the ruckus was about. A moment later Nellie was back muttering obscenities under her breath.
‘What’s going on, Mum?’ Jack asked.
‘Nowt, lad, can you and Dolly fill the shelves? Poppy sweep the bar floor before you scald the empty bottles, there’s a love,’ Nellie said.
With only Nancy and Nellie in the kitchen it was the former who asked, ‘What’s up, Nell?’
‘Henchmen from the distillers; came round to tell me I have to up my payments!’ Nellie dropped onto a chair with an explosive sigh.
‘That shouldn’t be a problem with the way business has been lately, should it?’ Nancy asked.
‘Hmmm,’ Nellie wasn’t listening, she was trying to work out a way of paying off what she owed in one go. Firstly, she needed to discover how much she still owed, then check her savings before deciding whether she could afford to dispose of this debt completely. Then she made her first decision – she would visit the man who had lent her the money to convert The Crown Saloon from a run-down pub into a glittering gin palace.
‘What are you going to do, Nell?’ Nancy asked.
Nellie said nothing and shook her head.
‘You’re going to see him, ain’t yer?’ Nancy pursued her line of questioning.
‘Looks like I’ll have to.’
‘I bloody knew it! Oh, Nell, be careful! You know what that bugger is like – everybody does!’
‘I know. Ezra Morton is a nasty piece of work if he gets riled, but I don’t see any way around this. I can’t pay any more than I am already,’ Nellie said as she rubbed a cheek with her palm. ‘While I still owe Ezra, this place is a tied house. That means I can’t buy my gin from anyone but him – so I’m stuck on that point. I ain’t got enough to pay him off completely, I don’t think, so that’s no good either. The only option to me is to talk to Ezra to explain my circumstances and hope he’s amenable to finding a solution to suit us both.’
‘We could do with a big burly bloke around here to deal with men like Ezra Morton!’ Nancy snapped.
‘I could take Jack with me…’ Nellie began.
‘Are you out of your stark staring mind?!’ Nancy exploded. ‘The lad’s ten years old for God’s sake! What do you think he could do if Ezra turns nasty?’
Nellie dragged her hands down her face then nodded her agreement. ‘You’re right. I’ll go on my own.’
‘You want me to come with you?’ Nancy asked tentatively.
‘No, Nance, you need to stay here with the kids and oversee the bar. Even if I’m out, we still need to open up else there’ll be murder done,’ Nellie answered. Getting to her feet with a groan she added, ‘I’ll go tomorrow morning.’
Nancy sat with a cup of tea and pondered on the person they had discussed. Ezra Morton, a man of wealth earned mostly from dishonest practices and bullyboy tactics, so the rumours said. He would lend money with extortionate interest rates, and when folk couldn’t pay, he would send his team out to put the fear of God into them.
The stories were rife about men being beaten when late on a re-payment to Ezra while women were threatened with having their children stolen and taken into Ezra’s employ until the debt was paid off.
With a sigh Nancy considered whether these tales were true or whether they were circulated by Morton’s men as a warning to others not to default. Either way, Nellie would be putting herself in harm’s way and Nancy was terribly worried for her.
An image of Ezra formed in her mind and she could not deny the man was handsome. He was tall with dark hair greying slightly at the temples. Hazel eyes that could twinkle with mischief or bore into your very soul. Well-dressed at all times, Ezra was shown deference by those around him. Always taken to the best tables in restaurants, the proprietors being careful not to upset the man who could see them out of business in the blink of an eye. Staying on the right side of the law, Morton was untouchable. Hiding behind a cloak of being an honest businessman, Ezra’s suspected underhand dealings could never be proved.
Nancy couldn’t understand why such a good looking man had never married; maybe he had just not met the right woman. Or, it might be his desperation to make money which ruled his life. Whatever the reason, he lived alone but was always surrounded by his men; was this for protection against anyone who would do him harm? Nancy doubted it was for companionship.
Having finished her tea, Nancy thought it time to begin preparing their lunch. Whatever she said, she knew Nellie would proceed with her visit to Ezra the following day. All she could do was pray it went well and her friend returned home safe and sound.
Dolly and Jack had been busy in the bar with Poppy. The place was packed to the gunnels as usual and folk were already inebriated to the point of falling down. Dolly smiled when Jack dug her in the ribs and pointed to a man trying to dance a hornpipe. They watched as his legs tangled and he landed hard on his rump. Dragging himself to his feet he looked at the ground for whatever had tripped him over, and the youngsters collapsed in a fit of giggles.
‘Hey, take it outside, ladies!’ Poppy yelled as two women began to argue. Ignoring the girl, the disagreement became heated so Poppy shouted again. ‘Stop that or there’ll be no more gin for either of you!’ That immediately got their attention and with a harrumph the women moved away from each other – another crisis averted.
‘Ah, Poppy, give ush a kish,’ a drunken man slurred as he leaned forward across the counter.
‘Not on yer life,’ Poppy replied with a smile as she pushed him away, ‘you ain’t even got yer false teeth in!’
The drunk smacked his lips and gave her a toothless grin as he staggered backwards.
‘Now if it was him who was asking…’ Poppy grinned at the handsome young man leaning on the bar watching her.
The rest of the morning went on in the same vein; customers arguing, women singing, men tottering – all drinking as fast as they could get served.
Joining Poppy, Nellie shook her head. ‘All enjoying their destructive love affair with gin I see.’
Poppy nodded and sighed. ‘Have you seen old Aggie over there?’
Nellie’s eyes roamed the crowd in search of the woman. ‘Oh, blimey! What happened?’
‘She pawned her frock to buy her drink!’ Poppy answered as they both stared at the old girl dressed only in her drawers, chemise and long petticoats.
‘Aggie! Get off home and get dressed!’ Nellie called out.
‘Can’t do it, Nell, this is all I’ve got left!’ Aggie shouted back.
‘Shall I get—?’ Poppy began.
‘No. Don’t give her one of your dresses cos she’ll pawn that as well,’ Nellie interrupted. ‘Don’t worry we won’t see her again after today until she’s got some pennies in her hand.’
‘Nell, this gin tastes like camel p—’ a man started to complain about the dregs in his glass. Clearly, he was hoping for a free refill.
‘Don’t you bloody dare say it!’ Nellie jumped in. ‘You don’t like it – don’t drink it!’
Turning to Jack she said, ‘You and Dolly go and get your dinner now.’
Nancy welcomed them into the kitchen with a plate of faggots in rich gravy, peas, fresh bread thick with butter and a cup of tea. She laughed loudly when told about Aggie drinking gin wearing only her underwear.
During the afternoon whilst everyone was busy in the bar, Nancy spent her time thinking while she baked. She was making a meat and potato pie which she knew was everyone’s favourite. Rolling out pastry she wondered how Ezra Morton would react to Nellie’s visit the following morning. Nowt to do now but wait and see.