A Rare Ruby (44 page)

‘I know how you feel. But at least it’s let young Tom off the hook.’

‘That’s true.’

‘Where is the lad?’ asked Len.

‘He’s at school at the moment. He’s doing very well,’ said Thomas proudly. ‘So what happens now?’

‘Nothing.’

‘What about this place.’

‘Let’s go up and look for the deeds, that’s if he’s got ’em. You do know his father won this in a gambling game, don’t you?’ said Mr Thompson over his shoulder as they made their way up the stairs.

‘But can that be legal?’

‘Gambling ain’t, but if he’s got the deeds, who’s gonner contest it? ’Sides, the original owner can’t still be alive. Not after all these years.’

‘Suppose not. But what about the owner’s family?’

‘It wouldn’t be something they’d be proud of, losing it gambling. They might not even know the old boy was the one who won it.’

‘True.’

 

Tom was grinning from ear to ear when Ruby walked in. ‘You look pleased with yourself,’ she said, taking her hat and coat off. ‘Got more good marks at school?’

Tom nodded. ‘My teacher said I’m a bright boy.’

‘Well, we all know that. What’s this?’ She picked up a bundle of yellow papers.

‘Hello, love,’ said her father, walking in from the scullery. ‘Just been giving this little messy lad a wash.’

Danny ran up to Ruby holding out his arms. She picked him up and cuddled him close.

‘Sit down, love. Tea’s ready.’

Ruby looked from one to the other. Her father and brother were grinning like a couple of Cheshire cats. ‘What is it?’

‘Mr Cox is dead.’ Tom couldn’t keep it bottled up any longer.

‘
What?
How?’

‘Seems he had a heart attack,’ said her father as he poured out the tea.

Ruby gave a muffled cry and collapsed on the kitchen chair. ‘No. When did this happen?’

‘A couple of days ago.’

‘Who told you?’

‘Len. A bloke from the nick told him.’

‘So what happens now?’ asked Ruby.

‘Nothing. It’s all over.’

Ruby didn’t know what to say.

‘I still feel it was my fault.’

‘Tom, I’ve already told you. He must’ve had a dicky heart. So you’ve got nothing to reproach yourself about. These are the deeds to the house,’ said her father, picking up the papers.

‘Who does it belong to?’

‘Nobody.’

‘It must belong to somebody.’

‘It was won by Mr Cox’s father in a gambling game. Look: it says here that “I, William Carlton, do hereby give these deeds to Thirteen Hill Street to Mr Harry Cox as payment for money owed.” ’ Thomas gave the papers to Ruby.

‘Was his name Harry?’

‘Dunno.’

‘Len’s gonner have a quiet word with a bloke what goes in the pub, he’s supposed to be a bit of a legal bod.’

‘Will we have to get out?’

‘Len don’t think so.’

‘I must tell Milly.’

‘Course, love. But don’t forget I’m off soon.’

‘I know. I’ll just put Danny to bed.’

Ruby sat on the mattress looking at Danny as he snuggled down. ‘What a lot I’ve got to tell you one day,’ she said, turning the gas lamp down very low.

 

Milly called up to her mum and dad. ‘You’ve got to come down here and listen to this.’

‘What? What is it? You’re making such a racket, Milly. Dad’s trying to listen to the wireless.’

‘Mr Cox is dead.’

As they exclaimed and chattered at the news, the atmosphere was almost jolly. Ruby couldn’t help feeling sorry for this man. Although he had killed someone, she was beginning to see that Beth’s death had been an accident. Mr Cox had no one to love or take care of him, and now he was dead, who would go to his funeral?

‘Good riddance to bad rubbish, I say. What happens about the house now, Ruby?’ asked Milly’s mum.

‘We don’t know. Mr Thompson is going to try and find out.’

Everybody was seeing something good in Cox’s death, and in a funny sort of way that upset Ruby.

 

The following morning Ruby arrived at work early and went straight up to the office. She hoped Mr Frank Stone wasn’t inside as she knocked on the door.

‘Come in.’

She almost gave a sigh of relief when she recognised Ben’s voice.

‘Ruby! How did things go?’

‘You asked me to let you know how it went at the police station.’

‘Yes. And?’

‘We never got to court.’ Ruby told him exactly what had happened and that Mr Cox had died from a heart attack.

‘My dear girl. I can’t believe that all this could happen to one so young.’

‘I ain’t that young. I shall be seventeen in September.’

He smiled. ‘Yes, and you have lived a very full lifetime.’

‘I’d better get to work.’

‘Of course.’

‘Your brother won’t sack me, will he?’

‘Course not.’

Ruby closed the door gently behind her. How old was he? She would try to find out from Mrs Watson, who was sure to know.

 

It was a week later when Ruby was called into the office. She knocked on the door full of apprehension. Was Frank Stone going to give her the sack for taking last Monday off?

‘Come in,’ called Ben Stone. ‘Ruby, don’t look so worried.’

‘What have I done wrong?’

He smiled. It was the first time Ruby noticed his white teeth. He was a handsome man with straight slicked-back dark hair and dark eyes. She knew he was head and shoulders taller than she was. ‘Nothing. I was just going to ask you if you would like to accompany me to the theatre. You see, I’ve been given two tickets and I don’t know any other young lady I would like to take.’

Ruby could feel herself blush. ‘That’s very kind of you. I’d love to. Thank you very much.’

‘I thought if we went straight from work we could go to a café for a bite to eat first.’

‘Thank you. That would be very nice.’

‘Right, that’s settled. Come to work in your glad rags on Friday.’

‘Friday? I can’t come on a Friday; me dad works at the pub and there’s no one to look after Danny.’

‘Oh dear. That was a bit thoughtless of me. Can’t a neighbour or someone see to the lad?’

‘I can ask.’

‘Please do.’

Although Ruby was thrilled at being asked out with Ben Stone she left the office with a heavy heart. Was this how her life was going to be? Would Milly look after Danny just for the evening?

That evening Ruby went into Milly’s first before going home.

‘Hello there, Ruby, everything all right?’

Ruby nodded. ‘Milly, I’ve come to ask you a big favour.’

‘If I can. What is it?’

Ruby suddenly felt embarrassed. ‘Do you think you could come over on Friday night when Dad goes to work?’

‘Why’s that? You got some interesting scandal?’

‘No. I’ve been asked out, but I can’t go as I’ve got to look after Danny.’

‘Who’s asked you out? Here, Ernie ain’t come back, has he?’

‘No.’ Ruby had told Milly that as far as she knew Ernie had gone to Scotland with his family.

‘So who is it then?’

‘Ben Stone.’

‘What, the one what owns the laundry?’

‘Well, his dad does.’

‘Well I never. We are going up in the world. Where’s he taking you?’

‘To the theatre.’

‘Lucky old you.’

‘But I can only go if you look after Danny.’

‘I think I could do that for you.’

Ruby wanted to hug her, but the counter was in the way. ‘What’s he like?’

‘Very nice. Much better than his brother.’

‘Is he good looking?’

Ruby blushed and nodded.

‘You wonner play your cards right. After all, now Ernie’s flown the coop this could be a good opportunity.’

‘I don’t think so. It’s just that he was given tickets and he ain’t got no one else to take.’

‘That’s what he tells you.’

As Ruby walked across the road her mind went over what Milly had said. Had he really had the tickets given to him? He must have, there was no way he was going to spend money on one of his workers. And what about Ernie? Why hadn’t he written to her? If only it were he that was taking her to the theatre - but it wasn’t and she should be grateful it was Ben Stone, since he was rather nice, not a bully like his brother. But she knew in her heart that it was Ernie she wanted to be with.

 

On Friday Ruby was happy when she walked into work. As she was wearing another of Beth’s nice frocks, she was pleased she wasn’t going to get comments from Florrie now she was working in the finishing room.

‘You look very nice, Ruby,’ said Mrs Watson.

‘Thank you. I’m going out straight from work.’

‘Anywhere nice?’

‘I’m going to the theatre with Mr Ben.’ Ruby didn’t mind telling Mrs Watson; after all, he must have told her. Perhaps he’d even invited her before Ruby.

‘Mr Ben Stone?’ There was definitely surprise in her voice.

‘Yes, somebody gave him tickets and he didn’t have anyone to take, so he asked me . . .’ Ruby’s voice trailed off when she saw the look on Mrs Watson’s face.

‘I see. Well, don’t let anyone else know. It’s not good for the owners to go out with staff, we’ve had troubles before.’

Ruby watched her walk away. What did she mean about troubles before? She remembered that Elsie had been out with both of the sons and that Frank was married, but Ben wasn’t. She wanted to say to Mrs Watson: What about when you took Ernie Wallis to the music hall, and gave him the money to get a suit out of the pawnshop? Ruby tossed her head back. What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.

At the end of the day Ruby hung about till everyone else had left the building. The clattering of someone running down the concrete stairs told her that Ben was on his way.

‘Sorry to keep you hanging about but I’ve just had a telling-off from Mrs Watson. She’s been here so long she feels she’s part of the family.’

‘What did she tell you off about?’

‘I didn’t get a receipt for the petrol I bought for the van. But not to worry, I’m going to open an account there, so she won’t have to nag me about that. All this extra paperwork is getting to her - I reckon we’ll soon have to get someone in to help her. Mind you, she’s not a bad old stick. Right. Let’s be off.’ He took hold of Ruby’s arm and they made their way out of the laundry and up to the tram stop.

‘This isn’t a very posh place, but they do good food.’

To Ruby, after the café in the market, it looked very posh. At first she felt a bit like a fish out of water and imagined that everybody was staring at her; she was terrified of not doing the right thing. She carefully waited to see what Ben would do first, then followed suit. Fortunately she had read something about the way to behave, and, after all, everybody has to learn.

He looked at his watch. ‘Now we’d better be off. Would you like to go to the ladies’ room?’

It took a moment or two before Ruby realised what he was asking her. She blushed to the roots of her hair.

‘It’s through that door over there.’

When Ruby went into the ladies she couldn’t believe her eyes. After the outside lav, everything was so lovely, from the deep red flock wallpaper to the shining silver taps in the washbasin. She pushed open the cubicle door; the lav had real toilet paper in a little box that had ‘Jeyes’ written on the outside. This was something she had seen in the shops but never been able to afford. It seemed such a waste of money to pay for paper just to wipe your bum on. She giggled to herself. This was wonderful.

 

Thomas smiled when Mrs Bell walked in. She was alone.

‘Hello, Thomas,’ she said, sitting on her favourite stool next to the bar.

Thomas could sense by the looks she was getting from the other customers that she was wearing one of these new shorter skirts and showing a bit of those lovely legs. He would go round and collect glasses shortly just so that he too could have a look.

‘How’s that family of yours?’

‘Very well, thank you.’

A tall man came in and kissed the back of her neck.

‘Darling. I didn’t think you’d be able to make it. I was just about to ask Thomas here to take me home tonight.’

‘Hard luck, mate. Better luck next time.’ He took her arm and led her to a seat at the far end of the bar.

When she left with the punter Thomas felt very deflated. He’d been sure she was going to ask him to take her home.

 

Ruby was over the moon. All evening she had been sitting enthralled at everything she’d seen: dancers, singers, jugglers. It was truly wonderful. It must be lovely to have money to spend on such luxuries.

Ben was being a perfect gentleman and only took her arm to help her across the road or on to the tram.

‘Did you enjoy yourself tonight?’ he asked when they were seated on the tram.

‘It was the best night of me life. Thank you so much.’

‘The pleasure was all mine. You look very nice, is that a new frock?’

She nodded. She wasn’t going to tell him whom it once belonged to. Deep down Ruby was wondering if some of Beth’s luck was beginning to rub off on her. She would have loved to have her locket on show, but didn’t think it looked right on the thread. Perhaps one day she could get a chain.

‘We must do this again one evening. Do you think your friend will look after that little boy again?’

‘I think so, but if it’s in the week me dad will be there.’

‘I’ll have to see what I can arrange.’

‘Did you really have those tickets given to you?’

Ben laughed and held his hands up. ‘I must confess. I bought them. I wanted to make it up to you for all you’ve been through and for Frank being so nasty, but I didn’t think you would come with me if you knew the truth.’