Ezra’s new plan was relayed to Dolly and this time she whole-heartedly agreed with it.
‘Now, has Arthur seen that necklace before?’ Nellie asked.
‘He may have caught a glimpse of it when Mr Sharpe first gave it to me.’
‘Right, you and I need to get off to the jewellers. We have to find something very similar for Ezra to present to Arthur.’
‘But won’t he be expecting to see me?’ Dolly asked.
‘Ezra is going to tell him he frightened you into giving up your mum’s jewellery,’ Nellie explained, ‘so there’s no need for you to be there.’
‘Do you think Arthur will believe it?’ Dolly was concerned everything could go wrong.
‘Oh, he’ll believe it, don’t you worry about that. So, get your coat on – we’ve some shopping to do.’ Nellie grinned as she fetched her own outdoor clothes.
The two walked steadily down the street with Nellie ensuring Dolly didn’t slip on the frosty ground. Traversing the tramway, they passed warehouses whose brickwork was covered with grime. The Victoria Law Courts took up a massive expanse of land to the right and as the two walked on they saw the smaller building which was the County Court. Reaching the Old Square, they noticed small crowds of people standing around chatting, seemingly oblivious to the cold.
Nellie tilted her head and said, ‘We’ll go down Corporation Street.’
Dolly nodded and they continued on until they came to a staggered crossroads. Turning into Union Street they glanced into the windows of the small shops as they went. A milliner showed off beautiful hats of all colours; a butcher could be heard, slamming his cleaver into a sizeable chunk of meat, through an open door. Then came a shop selling boots and shoes as advertised by the massive wooden boot hanging from its eaves. There were solicitors’ offices and insurance companies as well as a pianoforte manufacturer.
Turning right at the end they entered the High Street where smaller shops filled the thoroughfare on both sides. Wandering along, they scanned the articles for sale in each window.
Eventually they came to a shop displaying some old trinkets in its window. All the while, Dolly’s eyes searched for something which could take the place of her mother’s necklace. With a shake of her head she said, ‘There’s nothing like it, Nellie.’
‘Let’s look inside, cos we can’t get anything that’s new. Arthur would know then it was a trick.’
The shop was dark, lit only by a single gas lamp. Dolly explained what they were looking for and the owner rubbed his whiskers as he considered the challenge. Then he raised his index finger in a flash of inspiration. Rummaging in a drawer he drew out a white stone set in a gold surround. Sliding it onto a chain taken from another piece he waited for the girl’s reaction.
‘Perfect!’ Dolly said with a wide grin.
Nellie paid the asking price from money she had wheedled out of Ezra for that reason, and they left the shop, excited at having found just the right thing. Slowly they ambled back to the saloon in time to see Ezra arrive.
‘Bloody hell, he’s quick off the mark!’ Nellie said.
‘Avaricious – like Arthur,’ Dolly replied.
Nellie nodded. ‘Come on, let’s get this to him then we can concentrate on sorting out the pub.’
After Ezra had left with the fake necklace, Dolly and Nellie went indoors, but as they entered, Nellie gasped. There stood a man with a duck under his arm.
‘You can’t bring that in here,’ she said as she pushed her way through the crowd.
‘I dain’t. I came in and it followed me!’ the crapulous man said with a look of surprise.
People around who had heard the exchange howled with laughter.
‘Out! Now!’ Nellie said, and pointed to the door just as Jim Jenkins appeared. The man and his duck quietly left the building.
Poppy and Noah were working the bar together and appeared to be getting on well. Nellie nudged Dolly saying, ‘Look at that pair. That’ll be the next wedding, you mark my words.’
Dolly smiled as she followed Nellie into the kitchen. Over hot tea Dolly told Nancy about the man and his duck; Nancy burst out laughing.
It was later that afternoon that the duck was mentioned again. Old Aggie came rushing in to say the bloke with the bird had been arrested.
‘Apparently some bugger reported him for thieving the duck and the bobbies went to his house,’ Aggie said so all could hear her.
Nellie passed over a Ladies Delight and Aggie took a gulp before resuming. ‘He’d wrung its neck and was just plucking it when the coppers called. They found him with a handful of feathers and you know what he said?’ Aggie paused in order to drain her glass, enjoying having everyone’s ears tuned to her words. ‘He said, ‘I was holding its clothes while it went for a swim!’
The whole room erupted as folk fell about laughing. Nellie shook her head and poured Aggie another gin. Had she not seen the duck for herself, she wouldn’t have believed it as Aggie was always quick with a joke.
Nellie retired to the kitchen as Matt Dempster took her place at the bar. He laughed loudly as Aggie repeated the tale yet again.
As darkness descended, Fred lit the gas lamps and the place sparkled in the yellow glow. He banked up the fire so the customers would stay warm while they drank themselves into oblivion.
Meanwhile, Dolly and Nellie were discussing their new venture, with constant interruptions from Nancy.
‘Will you be having new gas lamps cos the ones on the outside wall are shite!’
‘Yes, Nancy, we will most certainly have new lamps,’ Dolly said with a grin.
‘You’ll need some new names for the gin an’ all. What about… Nancy’s Nerve Tonic, or Dolly’s Surprise…’ Nancy went on.
‘Nance, for God’s sake shut yer gizzard!’ Nellie protested.
‘I was only saying, anyway you still have to find summat to call the place,’ Nancy said, feigning hurt.
‘Nellie, Nancy’s correct – we need to decide on a new name for that old pub,’ Dolly said.
‘You’re right. You got any ideas, gel?’ Nellie asked.
Dolly shook her head. ‘No, The Castle was good enough for a public house – but for a gin palace? We need something catchy – something people will remember.’
‘What about Daydream Palace?’ Jack asked as he returned from his room where he’d been napping.
‘Oh, Jack! That’s perfect!’ Dolly gasped.
‘I think that’s bloody lovely,’ Nancy said.
‘Me an’ all,’ Nellie concurred.
‘It looks like it’s decided then,’ Jack said with a grin. ‘So, Nancy, how’s about a cuppa then? I’m spitting feathers here.’
‘Cheeky young bugger!’ Nancy muttered, but with a wide grin, for the mention of feathers reminded her to tell Jack about the man and his duck.
Meanwhile, over at the brewery the two men listened carefully to Ezra’s instructions. ‘Take this to Arthur Micklewhite and tell him I got it from Dolly. Ask him for my money and when he says he doesn’t have it, tell him you have to report back to me. Understand so far?’
Nodding, the men said nothing.
‘Then I want you to follow him. See where he goes and what he does. If he tries to flee, then you bring him to me.’ Ezra dismissed them after one pocketed the glass jewel.
Now Ezra would wait. He guessed it would only be a couple of hours before Arthur was once again sitting in his office. He was expecting Arthur to try to sell the gem and once he discovered the diamond was a fake he’d be livid. Knowing he’d been duped, he would try to abscond, but Ezra’s men would be there to prevent that happening.
All was going to plan and Ezra shifted his thoughts to Poppy. He had spotted her working the bar with a young man he didn’t know. He had seen the stolen glances between them and knew then and there he was out of the running for her affections. He had been convinced he was in love with her at one time, but now he knew it was merely an infatuation.
Mentally berating himself for being such a fool, Ezra wondered if it was his destiny never to marry. He sighed deeply; in his heart he knew that when the time came, he was set to die a lonely man.
Pulling out the contract made with Arthur, he asked himself why he was doing all this. What was it for? Yes, he was very wealthy, but was he any happier for it? Who would he leave his fortune to?
Shoving the paper back into the drawer he gave himself a mental shake. He determined to just live his life and not hanker after things he couldn’t have. Besides, it wasn’t too late, one day he just might have a wife and family.
The thought cheered him enough to resume working.