The Winds Of Fortune Episode 23
Minnie walked beside Harry through the centre of town.
It was a busy afternoon and a market bustled in the square.
Women with baskets over their arms walked around in wool coats, and a group of children were playing by the war memorial with marbles and sticks.
Minnie recognised most of her surroundings. She’d been shopping here with her mother and Pearl.
It wasn’t long, however, before Harry was striding down a side street that she had never seen before.
The houses were closer together here and the cobbles were muddy.
Not all the windows were curtained, and a scruffy boy with a torn jacket and a dirty face watched them from a doorstep.
They carried on for a few more minutes through a maze of paths and alleys.
It was clearly a poor area, and Minnie was glad of Harry’s solid presence beside her.
In a dark corner, an old man watched them, his face sunken and unshaven, his stare malicious.
He muttered something and spat as they passed.
“Are you all right, Miss Vandunlan?” Harry asked, concerned. “You still wish to continue?”
Minnie nodded. It was uncomfortable, but she had promised to help.
“Yes,” she replied with determination. “We must do all we can for poor Norah.”
Harry smiled, and they continued on their way.
Minnie was relieved when they stepped out of a narrow road and into a small square with a green at its centre.
At last she saw their destination.
The Black Swan looked quaint from the outside.
It was run down, but the ancient building held a certain charm.
A couple of cartwheels rested against the wall and two trestle tables had been placed outside with up-ended barrels as seats.
A cracked sign swung from a chain.
“Are you happy to wait here, Minnie? I really can’t permit you to come inside.”
“I shall be fine. As long as you promise to tell me everything when you come back.”
Harry went up to the low front door and pushed it open.
Minnie heard the tinkle of a bell and the interior fell silent as he entered.
She took a handkerchief from her bag, spread it over one of the barrels and sat down to wait.
Although the sun was shining, it was cold, and she pulled her coat tightly around her, putting her hands inside her pockets.
It felt like a long time until Harry emerged from the public house, although it was probably no more than five or ten minutes.
His face was grim and an unpleasant odour of cheap spirits and stale smoke hung about him.
He pulled on his gloves, put his trilby on his head, and came over to her.
“How did you get on?” she asked, although his expression already told her.
She was glad she hadn’t mentioned the planned expedition to Norah.
“Not well at all, I’m afraid. I do hope you won’t be too disappointed,” Harry replied.
Minnie attempted a smile.
“Please don’t worry about me. I’m just very grateful that you tried.”
“Shall we discuss it as we head back?”
“Yes.” Minnie jumped up from her seat and crammed the handkerchief into her pocket. “It’s too cold to sit still any longer.”
They made their way back along the narrow lane that led from the green, but this time, as they wove through the streets, Minnie hardly noticed her surroundings.
“Who did you talk to?” she asked.
“The landlord, Jakes, to begin with. He seemed a polite enough fellow. He knew who I was and had the decency to ask after my parents.
“His grandfather was once a gardener on the estate apparently. He’d have talked to me longer about this and that, but he was very tight-lipped about his clientele.”
“Did he tell you anything at all?” Minnie asked.
“I’m afraid not. Said he might have had a customer by the name of Enoch, but so many people came and went that he couldn’t rightly say.”
Minnie shook her head.
“I spoke to a couple of other fellows who were in there, but they said nothing,” Harry continued.
“Denied any knowledge of an Enoch. Said they didn’t know Joe, either.”
“What about the landlord? Does he know Joe?”
“He did admit that he knows him and that he comes in now and then, but swore he knew nothing about any job, though he was sorry to hear he was in trouble.”
Minnie was frustrated.
“Someone must know something. Don’t people know each other well in these small communities?” she demanded.
“They do.” Harry grinned ruefully. “I’ve no doubt any one of them could shed more light on the subject.”
“But what about Joe? He’s in trouble and it’s completely undeserved.”
“That’s as may be, but they don’t trust me.
“To them, I’m just a toff with no understanding of the lives they lead,” Harry explained.
She supposed he was right, but if so, how were they going to help Joe?
To be continued…