Keepsake (29 page)

Burdock became even sterner. ‘I shall have words with Mr Tupman! Now, enough of –’

‘My point is,’ interrupted Etta with strained politeness, ‘it seems grossly unfair that he’s paid more than twice as much as we women for doing a similar job.’

The manager was succinct. ‘Then find other employment, Miss Lanegan.’

Etta stalled and looked to the others for unity, but Miss Wimp seemed more intent on tying her shoes and Mary-Ann was immersed in rifling the contents of her handbag. Without backing, she had no recourse but to appear peni-tent. ‘I didn’t mean to imply –’

‘Do you wish to remain here or not?’ snapped Burdock.

‘Yes of course, it’s just that I –’

‘Then enough of this nonsense!’ he concluded briskly. ‘Miss Wimp, weren’t you on first lunch?’

‘Yes, I’m just off, Mr Burdock!’ She finished tying her laces and, with a hasty repositioning of her spectacles, jumped up.

Gripping the edges of his frockcoat, the stern-faced manager stood aside for her to scuttle past. Mary-Ann too grasped the opportunity to go out shopping. Bereft of support, Etta could only stand there and fume at the discrimination. But if Burdock thought he had subdued her he had another think coming. By fair means or foul she was determined to increase her pay.

After the dressing down for his laxity with the wage slip, Mr Tupman’s attitude towards Etta underwent a cool change for the rest of that day, indeed for most of the week to come. She tried to explain that she had not intended to land him in trouble, had simply wanted fairness for herself, but he had taken the event to heart and ignored any of her attempts to charm him. As a formerly pleasant work
colleague, his jokes helping to alleviate the daily grind, this was quite a loss, and it took a great deal of work from Etta to rekindle the bonhomie. Only by reason of him being a dreadful flirt and unable to resist a pretty face did he finally succumb, even able to joke about the episode on the next payday.

‘Better make sure I’ve not left anything lying around today else milady’ll have her little hands on it!’ He made great play of folding his wage slip into his pocket as Etta came into the staff room, and nudged her suggestively as she came past.

Despite her failure to attain equal pay, Etta took it in good part, and, happy to have good feeling restored, even dealt him a playful push for his impishness.

To endorse that they were once again friends, his teasing continued into Saturday, and even though the shop was busy he managed to convey mischief, albeit in a silent fashion when Mr Burdock wasn’t looking and more overtly when the manager went out for an afternoon cup of coffee.

With a brief lull in trade, only a solitary customer in the shop and Etta the one to serve her, others joined in the fun, their mood enhanced by the fact that this was the last day of the week. Taking it in turns, they tried to distract her behind the customer’s back, Tupman being even worse than Ficklepenny in some respects; for a supposed adult his antics were very silly.

Etta tried not to laugh and forced herself to concentrate on her task. The customer had asked for a particular pair of shoes she had seen in the window. Knowing this style was limited in its size range, Etta had at first taken several others for the woman’s inspection, but was unable to divert her from the original choice. Eventually she was forced to admit, ‘I’m afraid we don’t have a size four – however, if you’d care to try the three and a half I think you’ll find them a generous fit.’ She tried to avoid looking at Mr Tupman’s clownish gesticulations.

Rather than be disappointed the woman agreed to try them, but her face was dubious as she strolled up and down the carpet. ‘I had set my heart on them, and you were correct in saying they are large-fitting…though the left one nips a little.’

‘Oh we can soon alter that!’ Etta jumped up brightly. ‘Slip it off and I’ll just take it through to Mr Beasley in the back, he’ll put it on the stretcher for you.’

‘You can do that, can you?’

‘Why, yes!’ She fought to ignore Mr Tupman who mouthed theatrically,
what a liar
, and hoped her smirk did not show. ‘They suit you so perfectly that it would be a shame not to resort to a little manipulation.’ Given the shoe, she marched through a doorway and rammed it onto a broom handle, hauling and riving it into the toe for a minute or two, warming the leather in her hands and trying to make it more supple, before finally taking it back to the customer, who pronounced:

‘Why, that’s much better – how amazing!’

‘Yes, he’s a marvel with the stretcher, our Mr Beasley.’ Etta tried to blinker herself to Mr Tupman, who stood across the floor tut-tutting and shaking his head at her lies.

‘He certainly is – I’ll take them!’

‘Thank you, madam. Would madam care to peruse a selection of our hosiery whilst I wrap these?’

Only when the customer had departed with the ill-fitting shoes and a bagful of sundries did Etta take the opportunity to chastise her tormentor. ‘You’re determined to get me the sack, aren’t you?’ she laughingly accused.

‘Never! I love you too much, my dear.’ Mr Tupman grinned and, with the shop still divest of customers, came to help her pack the assortment of unwanted footwear back into boxes.

Mary-Ann, now dusting away at the fixtures in a spare moment, joked to her companion, ‘Never helps us, does he, Miss Wimp? We’re obviously not pretty enough for him.’

‘Oh, go on then!’ The ginger-haired man grabbed a feather duster and minced across the room, performing more silly antics to their laughter.

A smiling Etta shook her head, piled the boxes and returned them to their rightful place, parrying jokes along her way.

In the quiet of the stockroom, having replaced all the footwear, she bent to adjust her wrinkled hose prior to going back into the shop. Involved in smoothing the stocking around her thigh she did not notice that the door had opened and someone stood there admiring the view.

Upon looking up, she expressed startlement and hurriedly lowered her skirt before rebuking him laughingly, ‘Mr Tupman, how unseemly!’

Arms crossed, he grinned unabashed.

Expecting him to move aside, she made to pass, but then he caught her arm and pressed his groin against her. The assault lasted only a second but it so shocked Etta that she dealt him an angry shove, which took him off-guard and sent him sprawling backwards into the shop.

Mr Ficklepenny had begun his virtuoso piece for the amusement of the rest of the staff and had just put a lighted match to the puddle of methylated spirits on the counter which burst into flame, but at the sight of Tupman’s undig-nified ejection from the cupboard he forgot about this and exploded into guffaws, inviting others to join the spectacle.

All but Etta seemed highly amused, Mr Vant falling prey to a violent smoker’s cough, hawking and wheezing fit to expire, until Mary-Ann hissed a sudden warning, ‘Dandy’s back!’ and those that heard, scattered.

Tears running down his face, Mr Ficklepenny panicked. ‘Ooh shit!’ Immediately he tried to beat out the flames but in doing so managed to ignite his cuff and was still beating at it frantically as Mr Burdock came through the main door.

But he need not have worried for the manager’s ire was focused on Mr Tupman, who was just picking himself up
from the floor to much ridicule from the Saturday girls who had just come down from their tea-break.

‘Disgraceful!’ Horns bristling, nostrils flared like those of an enraged cow, the manager rushed forth to condemn his salesman. ‘Tupman, on your feet at once! What the devil has been going on here – don’t tell me! You can issue your explanation after closing time. Back to your posts, all of you!’

Mr Tupman was furious and glared at Etta, muttering as he stormed past her, ‘Little bitch, if you get me sacked…’

She gasped in outrage but had no chance of redress for Burdock caught the interchange and announced damningly, ‘I can see you are involved in this, Miss Lanegan. You shall stay behind too!’

With the manager keeping watch on the culprits for the rest of the day and trade resuming its normal Saturday briskness, there was little opportunity for discourse – besides which, Etta had no wish to speak to her molester. After an agonising wait, not only for closing time but for the takings to be cashed up too and everyone else to be allowed to leave, the miscreants eventually faced their destiny.

Mr Burdock saw them individually in the staff room, Tupman being addressed first and emerging with a face like thunder. Etta detected not just anger but a warning in his eye, though without knowing what he had said she was unsure how much to offer in her defence. However, she was quickly to learn, as Mr Burdock followed him out and addressed her in his presence.

‘Mr Tupman has acquainted me with all the silliness that transpired this afternoon, and I have to say I am disgusted by such antics from the pair of you. Pushing each other about like children in the schoolyard – I will not suffer such tomfoolery in my shop!’

From this Etta deduced that Tupman had presented the episode as some innocent prank and not the sexual assault
it had been. Obviously he did not want to chance being dismissed and his wife finding out the reason. Not wanting to risk dismissal either, she went along with it for now.

‘It’s fortunate for you, Miss Lanegan, that you have been here so long! If I was of a mind to waste the time it’s taken me to train you you’d be out on your ear and no mistake.’

She nodded, vastly relieved that she was not about to lose her job.

‘How you could have the audacity even to suggest that you are worth the same pay as Mr Tupman…’ He shook his head in disgust. ‘Now, you will apologise to your senior colleague.’

Disbelief caused her to bristle. ‘But I’ve done nothing wrong!’

‘Are you denying that you pushed Mr Tupman to the floor?’

‘Well, no, but with good rea—’

‘No buts! There can be no excuse for such behaviour. My goodness, what if there had been customers present? Now, apologise to Mr Tupman or face dismissal.’

Seething with outrage, Etta had no option but to mutter an apology, though it tasted like vomit.

‘Very well, consider yourselves reprimanded, and I trust that will be an end to it.’ Burdock embraced both parties in his warning, then said, ‘You may go, Mr Tupman. I’d like a further word with Miss Lanegan before she leaves.’

Once they were alone, he became friendlier towards her, though to just as insulting an effect. ‘Now, I understand that a young lady possessed of such attributes as yourself might not understand what impact those charms have on a fellow, especially when accompanied by such flirtation as we have come to expect from our Miss Lanegan, flashing those sparkling black eyes…’ He all but wagged a finger.

Etta was astounded. Flirting? She had simply been pleasant and friendly. But from what had just been said it appeared that Tupman
had
revealed the true extent of the
situation – then why had Burdock not dismissed him?

‘You must appreciate that Mr Tupman is a married man and it’s quite wrong of you to tease hi—’

‘I beg your pardon!’ Etta cut in. ‘If he chooses to misinterpret a friendly smile as an attempt to seduce him, surely the fault lies within his character?’

‘Come, come, Miss Lanegan.’ Though scolding her, Burdock was to maintain his avuncular manner. He even laid an arm across her back, cupping one of her shoulders in his pudgy little mitt. ‘That is most improper speech, and, I might add, a most improper suggestion. Mr Tupman did not seek to lay fault at your door, and has had the decency to admit that he might have been led astray by the gaiety of the moment. You must accept some of the blame. If we cannot reach an understanding with your colleagues it will be impossible for you to continue working here, and that would be a shame, especially for those of us who appreciate the decorative effect you have on the place.’

Etta stiffened. Was this one about to molest her too?

But no, Burdock was far too proper, seemingly content just to have this beautiful creature in proximity, to look and perhaps to administer a little harmless if unwelcome touch.

‘If I have misconstrued the situation, then I am very sorry,’ replied Etta, fighting her inner revulsion, for she could not lose this precious job. ‘I shall endeavour to be more thoughtful towards Mr Tupman.’ And not to place myself in the stockroom at the same time as him, came the dark thought.

‘Splendid!’ Oblivious to how angry he had made her, Burdock dealt her a happy beam and a final unwanted squeeze, then took her completely by surprise. ‘Now, don’t worry your pretty little head any longer. Having accepted your oath of good behaviour I have a proposition…’

She gave an inward groan at her own naivety and braced herself for some lewd proposal.

‘Miss Bunyon has today rather inconveniently given notice that she intends to marry in two weeks’ time. It would save me a great deal of interviewing if you would take over the job of cashier.’

Etta could not prevent a gasp.

‘I’m glad to see it was as big a surprise to you as it was to me,’ nodded Burdock. ‘It was very remiss of her to keep it under her hat until the last minute. I expected more from someone who’s been here since she left school. Anyway, you seem quite an intelligent young woman and are familiar with the workings of the shop. It wouldn’t take long for you to pick up the book-keeping system – thereby giving you the increase in pay that you so obviously covet – though I make it clear here and now there will be no shenanigans.’ He broke off to laugh at his unintended pun. ‘No shenanigans, Miss Lanegan! If you agree, I shall ask Miss Bunyon to show you the ropes before she leaves next Saturday.’

If that idiot can do it than I’m damned sure I can, thought a somewhat stunned Etta, but kept this retort to herself as she made quick acceptance of his offer. ‘I should be delighted, Mr Burdock.’ Delight was hardly the word – after such a terrible afternoon and the expectation that she was about to be sacked, she was ecstatic.

The manager seemed delighted too. ‘Then we shall see you in the office on Monday.’ He beamed and dealt her a series of affectionate little pats before ending with a joke. ‘And let us hope that enclosing you in a glass booth goes some way to keeping you out of mischief – run along now!’