Dilly Court - The Button Box

‘There was an old man in a top hat who kept peering in the window, but that was not long after you left. He knocked several times, but I ignored him. The others were women and they didn’t look too pleased when they realised that the shop was shut.’

‘They’ll come back if they really want something. I’ll open up now. Anyone else?’

‘Luke came and I did open the door to him, Clara. I didn’t know what else to do and he looked so angry I didn’t want to make things worse.’

‘It’s all right, Jane. What did he want?’

‘To see you, of course. He brought me some sugared almonds. He knows they’re my favourites. I hope you make it up with him, Clara. I know he’s in with a bad lot – Pa told me so – but I think deep down Luke is a good person.’

‘Yes, I’m sure he is.’ Clara tried to sound positive, but she was not so sure. The gangs had not affected them directly – until now. ‘What did Luke say? Is he coming back?’

‘I’m still here.’ Luke emerged from the parlour. ‘Where have you been, Clara?’

She was tempted to tell him everything, but Patches’ threats were fresh in her mind and she had no doubt that they would be carried out. ‘I had to deliver some lace to Lizzie’s employer.’

‘On a day like this?’ He stared at her in disbelief.

‘Yes, you know what rich people are like. They don’t think about anyone else, least of all shopkeepers and servants. I had to do it for Lizzie’s sake.’

He glanced at the sodden hem of her skirt. ‘Come and sit by the fire. Jane has just made a pot of tea. You look as though you could do with a hot drink, and something to eat.’

‘I should have stopped to buy some bread,’ Clara said, sighing. ‘I haven’t stocked the larder yet.’

He shook his head. ‘You girls would starve if it weren’t for me.’

‘Where are you going?’ Clara asked as he picked up the empty basket.

‘To buy food, of course. If you get any thinner I’ll be able to see through you, Clara Carter.’ Luke winked at Jane. ‘And you can’t live on sugared almonds alone.’

She giggled. ‘I’d like to try.’

‘Look after your sister, Jane,’ he said firmly. ‘I’ll be back in five minutes or so.’

The door closed on him as he left the shop, and Jane’s smile faded. ‘Where did you go? You lied to him. I was in the shop, and I saw you getting out of a cab. Then you went off with that nasty-looking old man.’

‘I didn’t tell him the whole truth, which isn’t the same as lying.’ Clara took off her bonnet and shawl. ‘I would love a cup of tea, and maybe you could spare me a sugared almond?’ She hurried into the parlour.

‘I’m not a baby, Clara.’ Jane followed her into the room. ‘You can trust me to keep a secret. Where did you go?’

‘I had to sort out Pa’s gambling debt, Jane. It’s nothing for you to worry about.’

‘How can you pay? Did Miss Silver leave you a lot of money?’

Clara thought of the empty strong box and sighed. ‘There was a little, but I used that to pay for her funeral and to buy Pa’s railway ticket. I should have kept it to buy new stock, but you mustn’t worry. We’ll manage somehow. We always do.’ Clara filled two cups with tea and handed one to Jane.

‘You shouldn’t go off with people like that. Luke wouldn’t like it.’

‘Then we won’t tell him. I know what I’m doing, Jane.’

‘We never seem to be free from trouble.’

‘This is our new start. Just you wait and see.’ Clara spoke with more conviction than she was feeling. Getting out of debt meant betraying Luke – it was a terrible choice to have to make. ‘I’ll take my tea into the shop, just in case the customers come back.’

Jane popped a sugared almond into her mouth and nodded.

Luke returned with a basketful of groceries. Clara shook her head. ‘You can’t keep doing this. We’re not your responsibility.’ She emptied the contents onto the table in the parlour. ‘Bread, cake, ham, cheese, butter. This must have cost a small fortune.’

He shrugged. ‘You can repay me by letting me take you to a chop house for dinner this evening. There’s plenty here to feed Jane and Betsy, with some over for tomorrow.’

At any other time Clara might have refused his invitation to dine, but she was desperate to find out where the Skinner brothers were hiding. ‘Thank you. That would be lovely.’

‘Really?’ He stared at her, eyebrows raised. ‘I was expecting an argument.’

‘Things have changed,’ Clara said, forcing her lips into a smile. ‘With Pa safely in the country we can start afresh, as I was just telling Jane.’

Jane eyed the food, licking her lips. ‘Is all this for us, Luke?’

‘It is, and I don’t want to see any waste.’ Luke tweaked a stray golden curl that had escaped from the ribbons in Jane’s hair.

‘There won’t be. I promise.’

Clara was just about to close the shop that evening when Luke arrived.

‘I’m ready,’ she said, tipping the day’s meagre takings into the strong box. The weather had kept customers away and sales had been poor even when the shop was open, but that was to be expected in the middle of winter. Things would look up with the first hint of spring. She glanced at Luke, who was staring at her, a frown creasing his brow. ‘What’s the matter?’ she asked suspiciously.

‘Is that all you have to wear?’

She glanced down at her serviceable, but plain grey dress. ‘Yes, as a matter of fact it is. You know how things were with us, Luke. We had to pawn or sell everything we owned, or starve.’

‘I knew things were bad, but I didn’t realise that you only had that rag.’

‘It’s not a rag. This material is best-quality cotton.’

‘It’s dull grey and makes you look like a drab.’ Luke fingered the bolts of brightly coloured fabrics. ‘I want you to have a gown made in this.’ He pulled out a length of emerald-green silk.

It was all Clara could do not to laugh at his choice, but even so, his words had hurt. She tossed her head. ‘That would make a wonderful afternoon gown for a lady, but not for a shop girl.’

His winged eyebrows drew together in a scowl. ‘Marry me and forget all this, Clara. I don’t want my woman serving in a shop all day.’

She met his gaze with a straight look, but this was not the right time to assert her independence. It was an argument they had had on numerous occasions, always ending in a stalemate. Tonight must be about gaining the information that Patches wanted, and personal feelings would have to be put aside. ‘I’m sorry, Luke, but this is my only gown. If you’re ashamed to be seen out with me …’

He reached out to grasp her hand. ‘Of course not. I just want to show you off. Is that so wrong?’ He lifted the bolt of silk and placed it on the counter. ‘I’m a customer now, Clara. I want enough material to make a dress. You know more about that sort of thing than I do.’

‘And what then? Are you going to take sewing lessons?’ She could not resist the temptation to tease him. He meant it kindly, she was sure, but such a gown would be far too grand for her purposes.

‘You can laugh, girl, but I’m serious. I leave it to you to choose the style and find a good dressmaker.’ He put his hand in his pocket and took out a leather pouch. ‘How much would that cost?’

‘I’d have to work it out, but it’s an unnecessary extravagance and I’m not sure that it’s proper to receive such a gift from you.’

He threw back his head and laughed. ‘You’re such a little prude at heart, my love.’ He tossed a handful of coins onto the counter. ‘Put that in the strongbox and fetch your cloak. It’s bitterly cold outside.’

‘I’ll just make sure that Jane and Betsy have everything they need.’