Whilst Arthur was languishing in a cold dark cellar close to the brewery, work on The Castle was well underway.
Meanwhile Nancy, over at The Crown Saloon, was busy preparing for her wedding to Fred. Nellie had promised to close up for the day in order for everyone to attend and enjoy the celebrations.
In the bar, Nellie nodded as old Aggie sidled up to the counter.
‘You heard the latest?’ Aggie asked with a toothless grin.
‘No, but I’m sure you’ll enlighten me,’ Nellie answered as she passed over a free gin in exchange for the information.
‘Ta, Nell. That bloke – what’s-his-name – young Dolly’s step-father,’ Aggie rubbed her forehead trying to recall the name.
‘Arthur Micklewhite,’ Nellie supplied the answer.
‘Ar, him. Well, he tried to sell a jewel he thought was worth a king’s ransom, only it was just a piece o’glass!’ Aggie cackled before taking a slurp of her drink.
Nellie continued to serve impatient customers as she listened.
‘I heard tell he’s ticked off Ezra Morton good and proper an’ all,’ Aggie added.
‘How so?’ Nellie asked with mock surprise.
‘Seems the neighbours heard he’d hocked his house to Ezra and now he won’t give it up.’
‘Big mistake,’ Nellie said as she refilled Aggie’s glass.
‘He was spied being carted off by Ezra’s goons and he ain’t been seen since,’ Aggie said, shaking her head.
‘Good riddance is what I say,’ Nellie answered.
‘He was telling a bit about you as well apparently.’ Aggie peeped from beneath hooded eyelids as she spoke.
‘Me?’ Nellie asked, her interest even more piqued now.
Aggie nodded. ‘My source says he told Ezra you was out to ruin him.’
Nellie’s laughter boomed out across the bar and everyone cheered in response. A happy landlady meant happy customers.
‘There ain’t much chance of that happening but I thank you for giving me a good laugh,’ Nellie said at last.
Moving along the counter to serve another customer, Nellie stored the information away in her mind to be retrieved and chewed over later. Wherever Aggie got her information from, she had no idea, but it had given her a lot to think about and it might prove useful to share it with the others after closing time.
A while later, Nellie went to the kitchen for a well-earned rest, and she smiled at Poppy and Noah as they stood in the corner holding hands and whispering quietly together. There would be another wedding pretty soon if she was not mistaken. She was pleased the two had formed a relationship so quickly once Poppy had realised Ezra was not for her. She was a beautiful girl and deserved a good man like Noah Dempster.
Sipping her tea, Nellie thought about how easily Ezra had given up on the girl. In the beginning he had been intent on enticing her into his bed, but she had given him the cold shoulder. Then nothing – Ezra had appeared to have completely forgotten her. Then again, all he cared about was money and Poppy had none.
Nellie’s mind came into focus at hearing Dolly praising Jack’s efforts at reading. That young girl had come into the household by chance and had transformed all of their lives. Nellie felt the love swell in her breast for the two children she watched laughing together. She couldn’t imagine life without them now. Her eyes moved to Nancy and Fred discussing wedding plans, and her peripheral vision registered Poppy and Noah going to the bar to help Matt with serving.
Nellie smiled inwardly, feeling very lucky to have such a close-knit family. Then she considered what Aggie had told her. Why would Arthur say she was out to ruin Ezra? How did he think she could accomplish such a thing? Was she seen as a threat by Ezra?
‘Summat on yer mind, Nell?’ Nancy asked.
Jack and Dolly’s ears pricked up at the question.
Nellie nodded, then explained her thoughts.
‘Why would Ezra be afraid of you?’ Nancy asked incredulously.
However, it was Dolly who answered. ‘He’s probably concerned you’re stealing all his staff.’
‘I ain’t, though!’ Nellie replied hotly.
‘I know, but I imagine he thinks you are coaxing them into your employ. He must see himself losing the power he once held over the town and that would frighten him,’ Dolly said wisely. ‘Look at it this way, you paid off your loan to him and he doesn’t know how. You allowed Poppy to make up her own mind about him before she brushed him off and he has no idea why. You’ve invested in another property – which he’s bound to know about by now – but he’s at a loss as to how you’ve managed it. Oh, and you outsmarted him regarding the deliveries from another supplier – I almost forgot that.’ Dolly grinned, seeing Nellie mentally ticking off her achievements.
‘Yes, but all that was down to you really, sweetheart. You’re the one who guided my hand and I’m grateful for it.’ Nellie nodded with a beaming smile.
‘Maybe I helped a little, but Ezra is in the dark about it all and that’s what must irk him. He’s not in control of you and your business any more. And another thing, his staff are like rats leaving a sinking ship, and where are they going? To you, Nellie.’ Dolly glanced around to see Jack and Nancy nod in agreement.
‘Nellie!’ Poppy’s voice echoed through to the kitchen.
‘Now what? There’s always a bloody crisis in this place!’ Nellie grumbled as she got to her feet.
‘Somebody to see you,’ Poppy said as she led a couple of suited men into the kitchen.
‘Gents. What can I do for you?’ Nellie asked as she eyed the burly men standing meekly before her.
‘No wonder Ezra’s afraid,’ Nancy muttered under her breath, ‘two more defecating!’
Jack and Dolly giggled loudly at the malapropism. ‘Defecting, Nancy,’ Dolly corrected her gently.
‘That an’ all,’ Nancy mumbled.
‘We was wondering if you had any jobs going, Mrs Larkin,’ one said.
Nellie sighed. Inviting the men to sit and take a sup, she listened to their reasons for wanting to leave Ezra. Much the same as the others, they were fed up of doing Ezra’s dirty work and being shunned by the townsfolk.
‘What’s yer names?’ Nellie asked.
‘Billy and Bobby – we’m bruthers, ain’t we?’ the other said.
‘Dolly, you’ll need doormen over the road when it’s up and running,’ Nellie said.
The two men glanced at the young girl, unsure why Nellie was consulting her. Dolly nodded and their attention returned to Nellie.
‘Right then. Here’s the offer, gents. Dolly here is to manage The Castle once it’s renovated – which should be in the next week or so. She’ll need men on the door so you’d be working for her,’ Nellie explained.
‘Her? She’s only a kid!’ Bobby exclaimed.
‘Offer is on the table this one time, fellas. Take it or leave it.’ Nellie waited as the two exchanged a glance.
‘What’s the wages?’ Billy asked eventually.
‘Same as the Jenkins boys working my bar. I’m sure they will have told you already as I know you lot keep in touch whoever you work for.’
A sheepish look crossed their faces as they grinned. ‘Nothing gets past you does it, Mrs Larkin?’ Bobby said.
‘Call me, Nellie, lads. So, you gonna look after my little wench and her gin palace then, or what?’ Nods came quickly and Nellie spoke again. ‘All right, but Dolly will be your boss – you remember that and treat her with respect.’
Billy turned to the young girl watching the proceedings and spoke quietly. ‘Thank you, Miss Dolly.’
‘You’re welcome. I’ll see you at the end of next week when hopefully we’ll be open for business.’
When the men had gone, Nellie and Dolly burst out laughing when Nancy said, ‘The animals came in two by two.’
Fred, who had gone outside for a smoke, suddenly rushed in saying, ‘Dolly, your first delivery has arrived!’
Grabbing her cane, Dolly ambled outside, followed closely by Nellie and Fred.
‘I’ll get yer cellar sorted out with the barrels now that it’s all clean and tidy,’ Fred said.
Dolly smiled her thanks. A moment later Jack was at her side. ‘Blimey, Dolly – it’s really happening now!’
‘Come over and have a look,’ Dolly returned.
Jack, with his arm in a sling, and Dolly with her walking cane crossed the street and stood looking at the front of the building.
Shiny new glass had been fitted and gas lamps hung on the wall on either side of the door. The sign, Daydream Palace, written in gold on a black background, was in place and as they entered Jack gasped. The bar room was massive. There were gas wall lights and two great chandeliers hung from the ceiling. A huge mirror lined the back wall reflecting light back into the room. Small kegs displaying the names of the different gins stood like a line of soldiers in front of the mirror. A layer of clean sawdust on the floor gave off a woody fragrance as Jack and Dolly walked over it. The walls had been whitewashed, then painted with murals. Scenes from myths and legends adorned the room, bringing the whole place alive. The huge counter was polished mahogany and the big black till was placed between the central two kegs.
They heard Fred down in the cellar grunting with the effort of shifting barrels. The clinking of glass said the bottles and drinking glasses had also arrived.
‘Dolly, you’ll need a cellar man and bar staff,’ Jack said at last.
‘I know. Your mum is asking the Jenkins family, on my behalf, if some of them would like to work here,’ she replied.
‘Good. They’re a nice bunch.’
‘What is it, Jack? What’s troubling you?’
‘Everything is changing, Dolly. You’ll be here and I’ll be over there,’ he tilted his head in the direction of The Crown, ‘it won’t be the same any more!’ Jack said, stifling a tear.
‘We have to move with the times, Jack. I know it’s hard but that’s life. Sometimes new doors open and we have to walk through them. Anyway, you can pop over any time you like,’ Dolly assured him.
Having completed the grand tour of the whole building they returned to Nellie’s kitchen.
‘Ah, there you are, I’ve heard back from the Jenkins family. Juliet and Janice have accepted the offer to work the bar with you, Dolly. They’ll be popping in later to have a word. Now, if you’ll take my advice you’d do well to have them move in first so you ain’t on yer own at night when you go over,’ Nellie said.
‘Good idea. I wonder, Nancy, if you have a few moments – would you help me get a couple of rooms ready. One for the Jenkins girls and one for myself. Then tomorrow I think it will be time to move in.’ Dolly spoke gently knowing what a wrench it would be for the woman who was like a second mum to her.
Nancy simply nodded, unable to trust herself to speak for fear of bursting into tears.
The following day would see Dolly Perkins embark on a great new adventure and she could hardly contain her excitement.