Rag-and-Bone Christmas

‘How much did they offer for her, love?’ Ted asked wearily.

‘I didn’t stop to find out, Pa. Miss Appleton would have ruined Flower’s mouth, and broken her spirit.’

‘Best find another buyer then,’ Kelly said casually.

Ted heaved a sigh. ‘What did your friend Mr Lawrence have to say about it, Sal?’

‘I left without telling him.’ Sally slid Pippy to the floor as she rose to her feet. She walked over to the small window, staring down at the wet cobblestones, noting that it had begun to snow again. ‘I know it was wrong, and I should have stayed to explain, but I just wanted to get away as quickly as possible. I hope he doesn’t turn Boney out because of me.’

‘Why would he do that?’ Ted’s voice shook with emotion. ‘Poor old Boney has earned a happy retirement.’

‘Gideon Lawrence is virtually engaged to Miss Cecily, so he might take exception to the way I behaved.’

‘Good luck to him. That’s what I say.’ Kelly rose to his feet. ‘It sounds as if he’ll be taking on a handful if he weds her. Anyway, I should be going. It’s getting late and I’m sure you want to get some sleep, Ted.’

‘I’m very grateful for the supper and your company, Kelly. You’ll come again soon, won’t you?’

‘I will, unless Sally objects to entertaining a rogue like me.’

Sally shook her head. ‘Why do you always put me in the wrong, Kelly? You know you’re welcome to come and keep Pa company whenever you feel like it.’ She followed Kelly downstairs to the stable. ‘I have to give Flower a good rub down before I settle her for the night.’

Kelly led his horse from the stall. ‘What will you do for money now?’

‘I don’t know and that’s the truth, but I’ll think of something and I will pay back the half sovereign you loaned me.’

‘I’m not worried about that, girl. What does concern me is how you and your father are going to manage?’

‘Why would that worry you? It means that we’re not competing for business. I thought that would make you happy.’

He shook his head. ‘I play fair when it comes to my friends. As I said before, your pa was good to me when I first started out, and now he’s the one who needs help.’

‘I’ll find work,’ Sally said with more conviction than she was feeling. ‘Josie is always saying that the Grindles have difficulty in finding reliable servants. Maybe I could work for them.’

‘I know that family. Old Grindle is a miser, and the rubbish they throw out is only fit for the nearest dust heap.’

‘I’ll bear that in mind,’ Sally said, laughing.

‘Be careful, that’s all.’ Kelly was serious for once. ‘There are plenty of people out there who will take advantage of your present situation. You and I haven’t always seen eye to eye, but you can call on me any time you need help.’

‘Thank you, Kelly, and Merry Christmas.’ She was about to enter Flower’s stall when a feeling of dizziness almost overcame her and she reached out to clutch the wooden partition.

‘Are you all right, Sally?’

She heard Kelly’s voice coming from far away and she nodded. ‘Yes. I’m fine.’

‘When did you last have something to eat?’

‘I don’t know,’ she said faintly. ‘I can’t remember.’

Kelly pulled up a stool and pressed her gently onto the seat. ‘I thought as much. Sit there until I come back. Mrs Maggs will have closed her shop, but Jarvis will still be open for business if I hurry. That man works late, even on Christmas Eve.’ He left without giving her a chance to argue and Sally leaned back against the bare brick wall, closing her eyes until the world stopped spinning around her. It was only then that she realised she had eaten nothing since the refreshments that Mrs Wallace had provided, and that was hours ago.

She was more than ready to accept the food that Kelly purchased for her, despite the fact that the pie contained more gristle than meat and the bread rolls might have been freshly baked that morning, but they were now dry and stale. Kelly leaned against the wooden stall, watching her closely.

‘You need to take better care of yourself, girl.’

Sally swallowed the last of the pastry. ‘I know. I was so eager to get home that I forgot about eating. Thank you for the food, Kelly. How much do I owe you?’

He laughed. ‘Don’t worry about that. Old Jarvis likes to sell off the day’s leftovers at knock-down price, otherwise the rats have a free meal during the night.’

‘Maybe, but I will pay you back somehow, Kelly.’

‘Have it your own way – I know you will, whatever I say. By the way, since you won’t be able to do Ted’s round, I’m taking it over. I’ve told him as much, and he doesn’t mind.’

‘It doesn’t look as though we’ve much choice. I never thought I’d say this, but I suppose it’s better you have Pa’s round than one of the other totters.’

‘I knew you’d come to my way of thinking in the end.’ Kelly tipped his hat. ‘I’ll say goodnight, but when your friend the veterinary surgeon puts in an appearance, which I’m sure he will – make sure you stick to your guns. Don’t let him or anyone talk you into giving up Flower, unless it’s what you decide is right for her and for you. Merry Christmas, Sally.’ He led his horse out into the street, closing the door behind him.

Now that he was no longer there, with his larger-than-life presence filling the room, Sally began to wonder if she had been selfish in her refusal to let Flower go, but she had only to look into her horse’s intelligent eyes to confirm that her decision had been the right one. However, that did not solve her present predicament. If they wanted to eat she would have to pawn the only material thing she had that belonged to her mother, which was the narrow band of gold that Ted had slipped on Ma’s finger twenty-two years ago. Sally had pawned it once before and she had been loath to let it go, even for a short while, but this time it might be gone for good. She was about to take it from its hiding place in a small box concealed behind a loose brick, when Kelly barged in without bothering to knock.

‘Kelly!’ Sally stared at him in surprise. ‘Have you forgotten something?’

‘I’ll come straight to the point. I’ve had second thoughts about the old heap of wood in your yard. I might have some use for it after all.’

‘Are you referring to Pa’s cart?’

‘The very same. I’m thinking of training up someone to help me on my rounds, and as I’m taking over your Pa’s route, I’ll need another cart. I’ll give you a guinea for it, and you can forget the ten shillings you owe me.’

‘But you told me that the cart was worthless.’

Kelly tilted his top hat at a rakish angle and grinned. ‘That’s business, mavourneen. Anyway, my better self has come forward, as it’s Christmas. So what about it?’

‘You really are a rogue, aren’t you?’ Sally said with a reluctant smile.

‘Guilty, as charged. But I have a conscience when it comes to dealing with friends.’

‘Are you serious, Kelly? Or is this one of your jokes.’

Kelly rolled his eyes, holding his hand to his heart. ‘Do I look as if I’m joking? Of course I meant it.’

‘I don’t know whether to hug you or to slap you for being such a torment.’

‘A hug would be nice, mavourneen.’ Kelly blew her a kiss as he stepped outside into the street.

Sally locked the door after him, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

* * *

Next morning, refreshed after a surprisingly good night’s sleep, Sally was up early. It was not yet light and she decided to take Flower for a ride in Regent’s Park. It was Christmas Day and the streets were deserted of traffic, apart from the odd hansom cab, and they had Rotten Row all to themselves. The ground was too hard and icy for a gallop, nevertheless it was a brisk ride and Sally was certain that Flower enjoyed it as much as she did. This was the time of day she loved when the city still slumbered, and the world seemed to be starting anew. Thanks to Kelly’s unusual generosity, they would have enough food to eat and a week’s supply of coal, kindling and candles. There was money to pay the rent, although Sally knew that she would have to find work soon, or they would be in the same predicament as before.

As she rode slowly home through the park and the gaslit cobbled streets, she could not help wondering whether Gideon had proposed to Cecily at the ball. Sally had glimpsed a world far removed from the way people lived in Paradise Row, and although she did not envy them their riches, the brief experience had left her feeling oddly unsettled. She told herself that she did not care what happened to Gideon, and if he married for money that was none of her business, but even so she had an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had always been told that wealth did not necessarily bring happiness, and now she had seen it first-hand. She leaned forward to pat Flower’s sleek neck.

‘You and I are still together, Flower, and that’s the way it’s going to stay. We’re happy as we are, living in Paradise Row.’

The sound of church bells ringing out joyously reminded Sally that it was Christmas morning, but there was little sign of festivity in Paradise Row. When she reined in Flower outside the stable she was surprised to see a shadowy shape wrapped in a voluminous cloak, hovering in the doorway.

Chapter Six

‘Mrs Maggs? Is that you?’

‘I’ve been knocking on the door for the past ten minutes,’ Mrs Maggs said peevishly. ‘I was beginning to think you’d gone away.’

Sally dismounted and unlocked the door. ‘Is anything wrong?’

‘I thought I’d bring you and your pa a little gift. In accordance with the spirit of the season, you understand.’ From beneath the cloak Mrs Maggs produced a loaf of bread, still warm from the oven, and a saucepan. An appetising aroma wafted into the frosty air as she lifted the lid. ‘Frumenty,’ she said triumphantly. ‘My own special recipe with the addition of a tot of rum, plump raisins and egg yolks. This will set you and your dear pa up for the day.’

‘That’s incredibly kind of you, ma’am.’ Sally ushered Mrs Maggs into the stable before leading Flower to her stall. ‘Will you share it with us?’ she added, hoping that her father would put a brave face on having to take breakfast with Mrs Maggs and her hairy wart.

Mrs Maggs beamed from ear to ear. ‘Well, that’s uncommon kind of you, Miss Sally. But I have to get back to the shop. You’d be surprised how many people need my services. I do good business by opening up on Christmas Day.’

‘Perhaps you’d like to have supper with us this evening.’ Sally knew her father would object, but it was obvious that the poor woman was very lonely.

‘Oh, my! Well, I’d like nothing better, but you must allow me to bring something to the feast. I have a York ham, cooked to perfection. I’ll bring what’s left after I’ve served my regulars, and that together with a glass or two of rum punch will go down very nicely.’

‘I’ll look forward to it,’ Sally said, steering her towards the door. ‘Now I mustn’t keep you from your shop, but we’ll see you at six o’clock this evening.’

‘I’ll be there.’ Mrs Maggs stepped outside. ‘Merry Christmas, my dear.’

‘Compliments of the season to you, Mrs Maggs.’ Sally put the pan on the bottom stair tread and went to close the door. Quite what her father would say was another matter, but Mrs Maggs was a kind-hearted soul and the frumenty smelled delicious.

Having settled Flower with a fresh supply of hay, Sally took the saucepan upstairs to set it on the trivet by the fire where it would keep warm until her father rose from his bed. She was in the process of making a pot of tea when she heard someone banging on the stable door, and she hurried to answer the urgent summons.

‘It’s you again, Kelly,’ Sally said crossly. ‘I thought there must be a fire at least.’

He tipped his hat. ‘I’ve come for the cart, but I’ve also brought a little seasonal cheer for Ted.’ He put his hand in the pocket of his greatcoat and took out a bottle of brandy, and from behind his back he produced a fruit cake decorated with glacé fruit and nuts. ‘Brandy for Ted and the cake is for you. I’d like to think of you having a nice festive meal, even though I’ll be taking supper alone.’

Sally resisted the urge to laugh. Kelly was the most unsubtle person she had ever met. ‘Are you angling for an invitation to share a meal with us this evening?’

‘Me? No! Would I be so crass as to invite myself to dinner with old friends, even if I have done them a great favour by taking a worm-eaten cart off their hands?’

‘Stop! You’ll have me in tears in a moment. You are most welcome to share our supper tonight. Come at six o’clock and we’ll eat together.’

Kelly’s face split in a wide grin. ‘Thank you, mavourneen. I knew I could rely on your kindness. Now, I’ve got my old nag outside. I’ll take him round to the back to collect the cart, if you’ll be kind enough to unlock the gate.’

‘I’ll do that with pleasure.’ Sally was tempted to tell him that she had already invited Mrs Maggs to dine with them, but she decided to let him find out for himself. At least his presence meant that Pa would have someone other than the over-eager Mrs Maggs to entertain.

Later, after Kelly had harnessed his horse to the cart and taken the last of the unwanted items that Ted had collected, Sally closed the gates and locked them. It was the end of the rag-and-bone trade for the Suggs family and she felt sad for her father, and for herself. The last links with her mother were rapidly disappearing and sometimes she had difficulty in picturing Ma’s lovely face. It felt as if a mist was gradually blotting out the past, and as yet the future was unknown. Sally put such thoughts behind her and hurried upstairs to wake her father. She would share the breakfast treat with him, after which she would break the news that she had invited Mrs Maggs to supper.

Ted was dismayed at first, but the knowledge that Kelly would also be joining them cheered him up to the extent that he was gracious about Mrs Maggs and her hairy wart.

‘The poor woman will never find another husband.’ Ted scraped the last of the frumenty from his bowl. ‘But I’ll say this for her, she’s a fine cook. Maybe someone with failing eyesight would take her on.’

‘Don’t be cruel, Pa,’ Sally said, trying not to laugh. ‘She can’t help her looks and she is very generous.’

‘Is there any more of that frumenty left, Sal? I haven’t tasted anything like that for many a year. Your dear mother wasn’t a good cook, although, to be fair, we haven’t much in the way of cooking facilities, so I couldn’t expect either of you to learn. You say Mrs Maggs is bringing a York ham for supper?’

‘Yes, Pa. That’s right.’

‘In that case I’ll do my best to be civil. Where’s my best cravat, love? It is Christmas after all.’

That evening Sally changed into the only dress she owned. It was plain linsey-woolsey in a delicate shade of blue with a high neck and a full skirt that accentuated her tiny waist. Her dark hair was confined in a chignon at the back of her neck, but strands escaped and curled wildly about her forehead. She had long ago given up all attempts to tame her rebellious locks into the fashionable smooth hairstyles adopted by Queen Victoria and her ladies. Vanity, she hoped, was not her besetting sin, but sometimes it was nice to dress like a woman instead of looking like a stable boy. She knew by the appreciative expression on Kelly’s face that the change in her appearance was a success, and Mrs Maggs remarked on the difference that clothes could make.

‘Fine feathers make fine birds,’ she said tipsily, after the second glass of a potent rum punch concocted by Kelly.

Sally suspected that he had been overgenerous with the spirit and mean with the water, but the spices and sugar made it very palatable. She had never seen her father so relaxed and he made an effort to be civil to Mrs Maggs, who had lived up to her promise. Not only had she brought what was left of the York ham, but out of her capacious basket she produced a large pork pie and a bottle of port. The meal went down well and afterwards, when they could eat no more, they sat round the fire and Kelly amused them with tales of his exploits. Sally joined in the laughter, even though she did not believe a word he said. Then, having drunk a glass or two of port, Mrs Maggs fell asleep in the armchair by the fire, snoring gently, with her double chins resting on her generous bosom. Ted brought out a pack of playing cards and Kelly lit a cigar for himself. He handed another to his host and they sat opposite each other at the table, glasses of punch at hand while they played. Pippy had eaten her fill of scraps from the table and she curled up on the hearth. Sally took the opportunity to go down to the stable to make sure that Flower was comfortable. She took a curry comb from the shelf and began to groom Flower, talking to her as if she were a human.

‘You would have had the best of everything at Fleet Hall. Was I wrong to keep you here?’

Flower turned her head, gazing mutely at Sally with soft brown eyes.

‘You can’t answer that, of course. But I wonder if Gideon did propose to Miss Cecily. She’s beautiful, and she’s very rich. He would own that huge house one day, and all the land around it. Who in their right mind would miss such an opportunity to better themselves? But perhaps he doesn’t love her. What do you think Flower?’

‘You won’t get a sensible answer from her, Sally. She can’t speak.’ Kelly’s amused voice broke into Sally’s reverie and she dropped the curry comb.

‘You made me jump.’ She turned her head and saw that he was supporting a very tipsy Mrs Maggs.

‘Open the door for us, mavourneen,’ Kelly said, chuckling. ‘The lady is a bit tired, so I’m seeing her safely home. Maybe you could come with us. I think she might need putting to bed, and I don’t think she’d approve of having me in her room.’

‘Of course I will.’ Sally retrieved the curry comb and placed it back on the shelf. ‘I’ll finish it off later, Flower,’ she told the horse apologetically.

Together they managed to get Mrs Maggs to her shop next door, and it took both of them to manoeuvre her up the narrow staircase to her room.

‘I’ll leave you to it,’ Kelly said from the doorway. ‘I’m going back to finish my game with Ted.’

‘Thank you, Kelly.’

‘Thanks for what?’

‘Thank you for everything. It’s been a long time since I last saw Pa so happy. You’re good for him.’

‘That means I must be good for you, too.’

She tugged at the strings of Mrs Maggs’s corset. ‘Go away. This isn’t the sight for a gentleman. But I did mean it, Kelly. You’ve made our Christmas a happy one, and I was afraid it would be miserable.’

‘Always glad to oblige.’ Kelly backed out onto the narrow landing and Sally heard his booted feet clattering on the wooden stair treads. She sighed. It had been a pleasant evening, but what would happen in the future was still anyone’s guess. She had never felt so unsettled in her life.

Mrs Maggs stirred and opened one eye as Sally covered her with a quilt. ‘Is there any more port, dear?’

‘I think you’ve had quite enough, Mrs Maggs.’ Sally laid the large corsets on a chair beside the bed. ‘Thank you for the ham and the pie.’

‘My pleasure.’ Mrs Maggs rolled onto her side and began snoring loudly.

Sally took the opportunity to leave the shop and returned home. The parlour was thick with cigar smoke and the fire blazed up the chimney. It was a profligate waste of expensive coal, but she could not begrudge her father his comfort, or the companionship of a former business rival. She was happy to see Pa enjoying himself, and with Pippy at her heels, Sally went to her room, leaving them to finish their game.

Next morning the smell of stale cigar smoke and alcohol fumes lingered in the parlour as Sally cleared away the debris. She wondered whether Mrs Maggs was up and about, or whether she would be suffering from the after-effects of imbibing too much punch and port. Sally took a bucket of ashes downstairs to the back yard, which was covered by a fresh fall of snow, shining pure and pristine in the light of early dawn. It seemed impossible to think that just a few short days ago the yard had been piled high with the unsold remainder of their collection, but Kelly had cleared everything away including the last scraps of iron. However, knowing him as she did, Sally suspected that he would manage to make money from each piece, down to the last rusty nail. She trod carefully on the frozen surface, taking care not to slip and spill the contents of the pail as she opened the gate. She walked to the ash-pit at the end of the back alley where she emptied the contents, to be collected later by the city dustmen. It was still very early but it was a working day and Paradise Row was already buzzing with life. The better-off householders in the nearby streets and squares would still be sleeping off the excesses of their Christmas celebrations, while their servants lit fires, emptied night-soil and began preparations for breakfast. The workers who lived in the poorer area were already hurrying to their places of employment, to begin another long day. Trains were leaving the station accompanied by shrieks of steam whistles, and in the goods yard the sound of engines shunting, and the rattle and bumps of the buffer and chain couplings vied with the blaring of factory hooters summoning people to work.

Sally had a sudden longing for the peace and quiet of the countryside. Hill Farm had seemed like heaven on earth, but she doubted if she would ever see it again. She would not blame Gideon if he refused to see her after the way she had left so abruptly, not once, but twice. She wrapped her shawl more tightly around herself and hurried as fast as the slippery conditions would allow, making her way back to the stable. What had happened was in the past, and there was little she could do about it now. Life had to go on and she must concentrate on finding work, or else face the prospect of eviction if she could not raise the next month’s rent. Number seventeen Paradise Row might not be much compared to Hill Farm or the magnificent Fleet Hall, but it was the only home she had ever known, and losing it would be heart-breaking.

Sally went about her usual morning tasks of filling the empty bucket with coal and another with water from the pump. She made sure that Flower was comfortable before she went upstairs to light the fire and put the kettle on the trivet. She had just got a reasonable blaze going when her father staggered into the room.

He clutched his hand to his head. ‘I shouldn’t have had that second glass of brandy last night. It’s all Kelly’s fault. He encouraged me to drink.’

‘You didn’t need much encouragement, as I remember it, Pa.’ Sally replaced the bellows on their hook by the fire and rose to her feet. ‘You’ll feel better when you’ve had a nice hot cup of tea and some toast.’

Ted sank down on his favourite chair. ‘What? No frumenty?’

‘We ate it all yesterday. I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with toast. That’s if you don’t mind using the toasting fork yourself.’

‘My head aches and my throat is dry. I don’t fancy toast, Sal.’

‘I’ll get you some seltzer when I go out, Pa.’

Ted eyed her warily. ‘Kelly is a good man.’

‘Yes, I suppose he is.’

‘There’s no suppose about it, love. You could do worse.’

Sally stared at him in amazement. ‘What are you saying, Pa?’

‘He’s doing well, and he’s in the trade. You’d be well looked after.’

‘Pa! Finn Kelly is a rogue. You’ve always said so.’

‘A man can change his opinion.’ Ted stared moodily into the fire. ‘Like I said, you could do worse. Don’t turn your back on an old friend.’

‘You’ll feel better after a cup of tea. I’m going to Mrs Maggs’s shop for some milk. Maybe she’s got some seltzer. She stocks all sort of things.’

‘Think about what I said. We could live here for ever if you was to marry Kelly. He could use our yard, and stable one of his horses here.’

‘Is this your idea, Pa? Or did Kelly say anything about me?’

‘He didn’t have to, love. I can always tell when a man fancies a woman.’