Hold on to your Dreams (4 page)

The tension was unbearable as they waited for her father and aunt to return from their meeting with the debt collectors. Sutton had refused to tell them anything about the meeting place, or the men, saying it was for their own protection, but this just made the waiting harder. Florence and Gertrude rushed to meet them as they came in, but all they would say was that the men had agreed to give them another ten days to find the rest of the money. Even her aunt remained silent on the subject, and this was unusual. Every effort was being made to sell the house, but without success so far. And more bad news was that David had been unable to trace Edward. He had disappeared. The only news bringing relief was that the debt collectors had given them more time.

The day after, Gertrude was wandering aimlessly around the house, not able to settle to anything.

‘Why don’t you go to your bookshop?’ her mother suggested. ‘There isn’t anything you can do here.’

‘I was intending to meet two young people there today.’ She was doubtful about leaving her mother, even for a couple of hours.

‘Then you must go, my dear. It will do you good to browse through your beloved books for a while.’

‘The youngsters will be disappointed if I don’t turn up.’ She studied her mother’s face, but she seemed quite calm. ‘If you don’t mind, I would like to go.’

‘Go along then. You mustn’t keep your friends waiting.’ Florence hesitated for a moment. ‘On your way back, will you call on David and see if he has any news?’

‘Of course.’ She rushed upstairs for her coat and purse, eager to be on her way. Standing around doing nothing was against her nature.

Millie and Fred were standing outside the bookshop when she arrived, stamping their feet against the biting wind. Their clothes were inadequate for such weather and Gertrude decided she would bring them something warmer to wear next time she came. ‘You should have waited in the warm,’ she admonished. ‘You’re shivering with the cold.’

‘We tried,’ Fred told her. ‘But he chucked us out.’

She opened the door and ushered them inside, annoyed they should be treated so badly. ‘Please don’t turn my friends out in the cold, Mr Partridge. They were waiting for me and I’m a good customer.’

‘Sorry, Miss Melrose. I didn’t believe them and I know they haven’t got any money.’ He gave the youngsters a
suspicious glare. ‘And I have to be careful. Books have a habit of disappearing.’

‘’Ere!’ Millie was indignant. ‘We’re poor, but we ain’t thieves. My mum says that if a thing don’t rightly belong to you then you shouldn’t have it, and it wouldn’t do you no good if you took it. I ain’t never pinched nothing in my life!’

‘Nor me!’ Fred said forcefully. ‘Being poor ain’t a crime, and just because we ain’t got two farthings between us don’t mean we can’t be trusted.’

‘Quite right.’ Gertrude nodded in agreement. She placed a hand on each of their shoulders. Fred’s words about it not being a crime to be poor echoed through her mind. He was absolutely right. Once her brother’s debts had been paid, the Melrose family would have little left in the way of worldly goods, but that would not be a reason to hang their heads in shame. Quite the opposite, in fact. They could be proud of the way they were handling the crisis.

She smiled at Millie and Fred. ‘Let’s all choose a book and then go to the teashop. Shall we?’

Fred hesitated. ‘We don’t like to let you keep paying. You sure you can afford it?’

‘Today I can.’ She had enough money in her purse for this treat. It gave her great pleasure to see their excited faces as they scuttled off to find themselves a book each.

This didn’t take long and they were all soon settled in the teashop. Millie and Fred’s faces were glowing now and Gertrude felt her spirits lift. Everything was going to be all right. She just knew it.

‘We didn’t think you was coming, Miss.’ Millie peered at Gertrude, her expression concerned. ‘You all right? You look tired.’

‘We have a family crisis and I haven’t been sleeping well.’ Much to her shame, tears filled her eyes.

Millie grabbed her hand, holding it tightly. ‘Oh, I’m sorry. Have you lost someone?’

She nodded, and needing to talk, she told them about Edward. She didn’t know why she felt so at ease in their company, but she did. She didn’t make friends easily, because she found the chatter of girls her age boring and silly. These youngsters were not like that, and they listened with rapt attention as she poured out her hurt.

‘That’s bloody awful!’ Fred declared when she’d finished. ‘Excuse the language, Miss. It sounds like your brother got in with rigged games.’

‘What do you mean?’ She felt better now. Talking about it to people who weren’t involved had helped a lot.

‘Cheating. If that was so, then he wouldn’t have stood a chance.’ Fred rummaged in his pocket and brought out a pack of dog-eared playing cards. He began to manipulate them in a way that astonished her. He seemed to be able to make any card he wanted appear in his hands.

‘How do you do that?’ she gasped.

He smirked. ‘I had an uncle who used to work as a magician in the music halls. He’s dead now but he taught me lots of things with cards. No one would beat me if they was playing with me. But I wouldn’t do that to anyone. I wouldn’t cheat. We ain’t got much, but we’re honest. Dad says that’s worth more than all the gold in the world. We got our pride.’

Gertrude couldn’t believe what she was hearing. These youngsters had so little, but they took pride in being honest and trustworthy. Dear Lord, she thought, there were many from wealthy families who could learn from them. But the boy had made her think. Had her brother been cheated out of the money? How she wished there was a way to find out.

‘Hope I ain’t upset you, Miss. I could be wrong, but it sounds as if he played with the wrong blokes. No one loses all the time, and if they’d been decent they wouldn’t have kept taking his money.’

‘You haven’t upset me. You’ve given me a lot to think about. Now –’ she changed the subject – ‘I asked you to bring me a sample of your work. Did you remember?’

The girl slid a sheet of paper out of her pocket and, smiling shyly, pushed it across the table.

‘This is beautiful!’ Gertrude exclaimed as she studied the writing. ‘Where did you learn to do this?’

‘I had a nice teacher at school and he was ever so good. His writing was better than I can do. He had proper pens and he let me use them.’

‘This is excellent, Millie.’ She smiled as the girl beamed proudly at the praise. ‘Did you bring something, Fred?’

He nodded and put a small wooden box on the table. He gave it a polish with his sleeve before handing it over. ‘It ain’t the best wood, but I go and search along the river banks for bits washed up. Sometimes I’m lucky and find a really nice piece, but I use everything I can get. It’s a cigarette box.’

She couldn’t believe her eyes. It had been well put
together. The lid fitted perfectly and he’d even carved the head of a dog on the top. Because of her father’s business she knew a bit about wood. From a young child she had listened to him talking about the furniture he made and had often gone with him to watch the men working. ‘This is really well made, Fred. Even my father would not be ashamed of this.’

They were now beaming at her, obviously thrilled with the compliments.

‘You are both very talented. May I borrow these? I’d like to show my father. I’ll bring them back next week. I’ll give you my address so you can collect them sooner if you want them.’

‘Oh, that’s all right, Miss. We trust you, don’t we Fred?’

‘’Course we do. You keep them as long as you like. Your dad interested in wood?’ Fred asked.

‘Yes, he has his own business making quality furniture.’

The boy’s mouth dropped open. ‘Melrose! Your dad got that place in Putney?’

‘That’s right. Do you know it?’

He stared at her in amazement, leaning on the table eagerly. ‘Everyone knows Melrose furniture. It’s the best you can get. I go there sometimes just to watch them working. When the weather’s good they leave the main door open and I can see in. Cor! Fancy that.’

‘Have you tried to get a job there?’ she asked.

He shook his head sadly. ‘They wouldn’t take on the likes of me. But the foreman’s a good bloke. He gives me a cup of tea sometimes. Haven’t seen the boss though – your dad I mean.’

It saddened her that they should feel no one would want them because they were from the slums. Why should it be a handicap? They were intelligent youngsters. Taking a small notebook and pencil from her bag, she gave it to Millie. ‘Would you write down your full names and addresses for me, please?’

They did so without hesitation and Fred gave the book back after checking that Millie had done it neatly. ‘We live next door to each other and we’ve been friends all our lives. Millie ain’t got no dad so we look out for her and her mum. My dad works at the docks and both our mums take in washing when they can get the work. None of the work is regular like and some weeks there ain’t much at all.’

Millie nodded, her little face serious. ‘Me and Fred hate it because we can’t find work. A bit of extra money would help. I could go into service, but I can’t leave Mum. I’m all she’s got.’

‘Don’t give up hope,’ Gertrude told them, but the words sounded hollow to her ears.

‘We won’t do that.’ Fred tapped the box in front of him. ‘I make some of these when I can get the wood and take ’em down the market. I sell one or two now and again. It ain’t much, but it all helps.’

‘I’m sure it does.’ She glanced at the clock on the wall. ‘I must be going, but I’ll try to meet you the same time next week. And wait in the shop this time,’ she told them sternly.

‘All right.’ The girl’s expression sobered. ‘Thanks for the food and books again. We hopes it all works out well for you.’

‘Thank you, Millie.’ She smiled at Fred. ‘Everyone needs a dream, that’s what you said, isn’t it?’

‘That’s right, Miss. It keeps up your spirits.’

‘I’ll remember that.’ She turned and waved as she walked up the street. Now she must see David before returning home.

Like the Melrose family, the Gardeners were in business. David’s father had an office near the London Docks. She didn’t understand what they did, but David had explained how they bought and sold anything, often working for someone wanting to purchase a cargo. They made a decent living, but were not wealthy. David had been around ships all his life, and was extremely knowledgeable about all aspects of shipping.

The wind was a biting northerly as she reached his house. She knew he often came home for his midday meal, and she hoped he was here today.

She was in luck and he took her into the sitting room, where there was a welcome fire.

‘You look frozen,’ he remarked as he took her coat. ‘Are you staying for lunch?’

‘No, thank you. This is just a brief visit. We were wondering if you have any news of Edward.’

‘Not yet. I’ve checked with everyone he might have gone to, but he hasn’t been seen.’

‘Where could he be?’ She stared at the fire, watching the flames dancing, and felt sick with worry. ‘Do you think he’s left London?’

‘It’s a possibility, I suppose. I would have expected him to stay close to the familiar, but if he has left London then
he will be hard to find. I’ll keep looking.’ He gave her an understanding smile, changing the subject. ‘I see from the package you’re clutching that you’ve been to the bookshop again.’

She nodded, and told him about Millie and Fred, showing him their work.

‘Hmm, the girl has a neat hand. What kind of an education has she had?’

‘I don’t know, but she’s intelligent. Fred is an interesting boy. He can make a pack of cards do his bidding and said that Edward might have been cheated.’ Gertrude gazed anxiously at her friend. ‘Do you think he could be right?’

‘The thought has already occurred to me. He lost a terrible amount of money, and no one could be that unlucky. Most people win from time to time.’

‘I wish we could prove the men he played with were cheats.’ She sighed. ‘But there’s little chance of that.’

‘The Hayworth brothers are powerful men. Edward always played with them and they appear to be the leaders of the group. It would be useless accusing them of being cheats without firm evidence.’

‘And that we don’t have.’ Her mood plummeted. It all seemed so hopeless.

David watched Gertrude walking up the road and his heart ached for her and her family. She was desperately worried. He hadn’t said anything to raise her hopes but as he’d listened to her talking about Fred, he’d had an idea. He was going to need the help of someone with influence if he was going to put the idea into action, and Alexander Glendale would be the ideal person. With his influence, no doors were closed to him. If David sought his help then he would have to be told the whole story, but it was already common knowledge about Edward’s enormous debts. Gertie and her family had not tried to hide the disaster, so he wouldn’t be breaking any confidences. He was aware that Glendale had been taking an interest in her, and if he was reading the signs correctly, it was a serious interest.

He gazed out at the bustling activity of the Port of
London. Glendale had always treated him in a friendly way, and he liked the man. They had even been able to sell a cargo for him when he hadn’t had the time to deal with it himself.

Yes! He’d go and see him. The man was always straight, and if he didn’t want to help he wouldn’t hesitate to say so. If he went now it might be possible to catch him while he was at lunch.

With his mind made up, David closed the office and hailed a cab, anxious to get to Park Lane as quickly as possible.

The butler answered the door and showed him to a waiting room. ‘I’ll see if he is free, sir.’

‘Thank you.’ While waiting he studied the paintings on the wall, pleasantly surprised. They were all beautiful landscapes. Not one dark, dreary picture among them.

The door opened and he spun round to face the impressive man who had just entered. He topped David’s six feet by at least three inches. His green eyes held warmth as he greeted his visitor.

‘Hello, David. How’s your father?’

‘He’s well, Mr Glendale. I apologise for calling on you like this, but if you could spare me a moment, I have something of importance I would like to discuss with you.’

‘No need for such formality. Call me Alex, if you please. Come into the sitting room, where we can be more comfortable.’

This was a promising start, and he stifled a sigh of relief. Glendale had a reputation for being distant and brusque at times, but David had only ever found him agreeable.
They had met many times, but he was always conscious that Alexander Glendale was from an influential family. David’s father was highly respected, but they didn’t have the wealth and prestige of the Glendale family.

‘What would you like to drink?’ Alex was standing by a table with an array of decanters.

‘Whisky, please.’

After pouring them both a whisky, Alex sat down.

David didn’t waste any time. ‘Thank you for seeing me. I need your help, Alex.’ It sounded wrong addressing him by his Christian name, but he’d been told to do so.

‘Go on.’

He watched Alex’s expression change as he went into detail about the trouble the Melrose family were in. By the time he had finished, Alex was on his feet, fury evident on his strong features.

‘This is intolerable!’ he exploded. ‘I’d heard Edward was in debt and his father was going to pay it for him, but I had no idea they were about to lose their home. This can’t be allowed. What can we do?’

‘Well, I have a plan.’

Alex sat down and leant forward. ‘Tell me.’

Half an hour later there was silence as the plan was considered. Then Alex nodded. ‘Bring the boy to me, and don’t mention my involvement to anyone, especially Gertrude. The last thing we want is for her to interfere.’

He laughed at the wry expression on Alex’s face. ‘Not a word, I promise. I see you’re under no illusions about her character.’

‘None at all.’

He was struck by the realisation that this strong man and Gertrude would suit each other very well. He doubted it would be a tranquil union, but it would never be dull. ‘I don’t understand why she’s so hostile towards you.’

‘Perhaps she fears I would curb her independent nature.’

‘And would you?’ David couldn’t help asking.

‘I’ve never broken a spirited horse, and I wouldn’t do the same to a human being. Now, let us return to the problem in hand. I would love to see those men shamed, whether they are cheating or not. Their conduct towards Sutton Melrose is criminal. You approach the boy, and in the meantime I’ll see if there is a way to stop them losing their home. Gertrude may not like me, but I have a lot of respect for her parents.’

‘It would be a relief to me if you could, but they won’t take money from anyone. They consider this their problem and they must deal with it.’

‘I am aware of that. I would not insult them in that way. No, I will have to think of something they would accept.’

David stood up. ‘I’ll go to the bookshop tomorrow and find the boy. When would it be convenient to bring him here?’

‘I’ll be at home after two o’clock.’ Alex held out his hand. ‘Thank you for coming to me. We’ll see if we can sort out this mess between us.’

David felt as if a great weight had been lifted from him as he walked away from the house. Alex was a good man to have fighting for you.

How to approach Sutton Melrose with a proposal he would be able to accept had kept Alex awake most of the night. The Melrose family had their pride and would turn him down immediately at any hint of charity. The situation was delicate, but he had to see they didn’t lose their home. The only way he could do that was to make this a strictly business deal. Since his own family tragedy, he had had a greater understanding of the suffering of others. He was in a position to help, and he was damned well going to.

He grimaced as he walked towards the front door. Gertrude was going to dislike him even more after this, but he had never stood a chance of winning her, so he would ignore her scorn. Gambling was a regular activity in the army and what the men did with their money was up to them, but he’d never tolerated cheating, and he wouldn’t now!

Fortunately, Sutton Melrose was alone and Alex was immediately shown into the library. He was shocked by the man’s appearance. Some of the bruises were still visible. He had aged ten years and Alex wanted to lift some of the burden if he could. And that wasn’t just because of the feelings he had for the daughter; he liked and respected her parents. The fact that their son was putting them through this made him angry.

After the usual greetings were made, Alex wasted no time in setting out his proposal, making sure it was presented as a business venture on his part. He knew this was the only way Melrose would agree to the transaction.

An hour later he was with his bankers, making arrangements for the money to be transferred that very day.

Satisfied with his morning’s work, he returned home and waited to see if David would bring the boy to see him. It would be interesting to see if the youngster was as good as Gertrude believed.

On the stroke of three, David ushered two scruffy youngsters into the library. The boy had locked his gaze on Alex, his eyes wary. The girl was turning round and round as she took in every detail of the room.

‘Millie insisted on coming as well,’ David explained.

She stopped at the sound of David’s voice and studied the tall man for the first time. ‘You don’t think I’d let Fred come here on his own, do you? You might be posh, but that don’t mean you ain’t up to no good. Mr Gardener said he was Miss’s friend so we trusted him, but we don’t know nothing about you.’

‘What you want me for?’ Fred spoke, still suspicious.

‘Miss Melrose told Mr Gardener that you’re clever with cards. I’d like you to show me.’ Alex pulled a cord and when the butler appeared, said, ‘Bring refreshments for my guests, please, Hunt.’

‘Yes, sir.’ His expression remained composed, showing no disapproval about the strangeness of his master’s guests.

‘Right.’ Alex placed two chairs at a small table, motioning Fred to sit opposite him. ‘Sit in the chair next to Mr Gardener,’ he ordered Millie.

After giving the pale gold satin chair a careful examination, she sat on the floor.

‘What are you doing down there?’

‘I can’t sit in that! I’ll make it all dirty and then you’ll tell me off.’

David was shaking with silent laughter and Alex was only managing to keep a straight face with difficulty. Without saying a word, he stood up, lifted the girl off the floor and dumped her in the chair, then sat down again.

She bristled, offended. ‘Well, don’t swear at me if I mess up your posh chair!’

‘I won’t. I don’t care if you’re covered in mud, you will sit properly when you’re in my house.’

She snorted, not a bit frightened of this important man. ‘I don’t suppose you have to bother about cleaning.’

‘That is done for me. Now, will you be quiet for a while?’

‘Suppose.’ She folded her arms and glared at David. ‘Is he a friend of Miss Melrose?’

‘Not exactly.’

‘Thought not. She’s got more sense than to let herself be bossed about by him!’

‘Millie.’ Alex spoke quietly, but there was no mistaking the authority in his tone.

She clamped her lips together for a moment, wriggled in the chair, and then said, ‘I don’t like you very much.’

‘You are not alone,’ Alex remarked dryly. He turned his attention back to Fred, who had been watching the exchange with amusement. Placing a new pack of cards on the table, he pushed them towards the boy. ‘Let’s see what you can do.’

Fred ignored the new cards and pulled his own,
dogged-eared
ones from his pocket. ‘What you want me to do?’

‘We’ll play Brag. Deal me a winning hand.’

For the next fifteen minutes, Alex watched Fred carefully, as he was dealt one winning hand after another. The boy seemed to be able to make the cards do whatever he wanted, and it was impossible to see how he did it.

A maid arrived with a trolley laden with sandwiches, cakes, tea and fresh fruit juice. After bobbing a curtsy to her master, she smiled at Fred and Millie, who were staring at the food in wonder. ‘Shall I serve, sir?’

‘No thank you, Daisy. We’ll help ourselves.’

As soon as she’d left, Alex handed Fred the new pack of cards. ‘Before we eat, show me again with these.’

‘Mine ain’t marked, but if that’s what you want.’ He smirked, broke the seal on the pack, removed the cards from the box, shuffled and dealt. The result was the same.

Sitting back, Alex looked across the room at David. ‘He’s good.’

‘What’s all this about?’ Fred asked. ‘Why you interested in card tricks?’

‘I’m going to ask you to help me. But let’s eat first. Millie, can you pour the tea?’

‘’Course I can.’ She was off the chair in a flash, eager to get at the food. She waved her hands at the men. ‘Me hands is clean. I washed them before we come here.’

As the girl busied herself pouring the tea, with her tongue sticking out slightly in concentration, Alex watched her every move. If he had seen these children in the street he wouldn’t have given them a second look. He was ashamed of himself. They were desperately poor, but clearly bright. He wondered what they, and many like them, might achieve with a good education. He wished he
could do something for them. His desire to help people in need was growing in him. It gave a feeling of purpose and structure to his life, something that had been missing since he left the army.

He smiled and nodded his thanks when Millie handed him a cup of tea. There was hardly any milk in it, but he guessed that would be used sparingly in her home.

‘That all right?’ she asked.

‘Perfect, thank you, Millie.’

She beamed, warming to him at last. ‘You want something to eat? There’s lots.’

‘I’ll have a sandwich, please.’

Turning back to the trolley she began to count the sandwiches.

‘What are you doing?’ David asked.

‘There’s four of us so they’ve got to be shared properly. Got to be fair.’

Alex’s jaw clenched as he watched her earnest little face. He’d always had a life of plenty, and this scene humbled him.

David put the plates in her hands. ‘You don’t have to worry about that. If we eat everything the maid will bring more. Hand the plates round.’

‘Empty?’

‘Yes, then you offer the large platter of sandwiches and we all take what we want.’ When she rushed towards Fred, he stopped her. ‘You serve Mr Glendale first.’

Fred was ginning, more relaxed now. ‘That’s ’cos he’s top of the heap,’ he told Millie.

‘That right?’

Alex couldn’t stop himself from chuckling. ‘Not quite top of the heap. Now Millie, if there were ladies here, they would be served first, and then the men.’

With the point cleared up to her satisfaction, the girl happily trotted around seeing that everyone had lots to eat, including herself. It looked as if a plague of locusts had hit the table by the time they’d finished.

Eyeing the empty plates, Alex asked, ‘Would you like anything else?’

‘Couldn’t eat another crumb,’ Fred declared, patting his stomach.

Millie nodded agreement, giving Alex an impish smile. ‘When Miss takes us to the teashop she gets them to give us some food to take home. She’s ever so kind.’

Without saying a word, he rang the bell for the trolley to be removed. While the maid was doing this, he said, ‘Daisy, ask cook to prepare a basket of food for both Mille and Fred.’

‘At once, sir.’

After the maid left the room, Fred gave Alex a determined look. ‘You being kind to us don’t mean I’m gonna do what you want. I don’t get involved in nothing criminal. I promised my dad. He said just because we’re poor don’t mean we have to sink into the gutter.’

‘And he’s quite right. I’m not trying to bribe you, Fred. Listen to what I have to say and then make up your own mind.’

‘Fair enough.’

Alex sat back, his respect for these youngsters growing by the minute. ‘The men Mr Melrose gambled with are
members of my club and I would like to find out if he was cheated. If you were able to watch them, could you tell if they were manipulating the cards?’

‘That all you want me to do? Just watch?’

Alex nodded.

‘Hmm. They’d have to be very good for me not to see …’ He paused. ‘But I’d have to be near them for some time.’