hadn’t been drinking again because he wouldn’t deceive her. Anyway, she’d overheard his friends teasing him, asking if he didn’t get thirsty any more.
He took her hand and raised it to his lips. ‘Whatever I was in the past, I’m not now. You’ve been the making of me, Meg. So if you’ll wed me, I’ll look for work somewhere else.’
She leaned against him. ‘It can’t happen too soon for me.’
‘Let’s go and see your mother about getting wed, then.’
She sighed. ‘There’s another problem, love. I’m not old enough an’ she’ll not give me permission. She’s been taunting me with that already. We may just have to – you know, go away and live together.’
His face grew tight with suppressed anger. ‘I don’t want us to live together without being wed. You deserve better nor that.’
‘Talk to our Jack, then. He’s the only one who can make her do anything. But if she still won’t agree, I’m leaving with or without you. I can’t stand much more of her.’ Her mother had deliberately torn her best skirt last week. Meg knew it was deliberate because she had seen the flare of triumph in Netta’s eyes when she taxed her with it – though of course her mother had denied it, said she must have caught it on a nail.
Meg didn’t tell Ben about the spiteful tricks her mother constantly played. He had enough to worry about without her adding to it. He said he’d talk to other draymen and drivers, ask them to look out for jobs for him when they delivered or picked up stuff outside Northby.
Toby listened carefully to Phoebe’s ongoing explanations about running a pub, and particularly the difficulties of brewing the beer yourself. You had to pay duty on malt, beer, and even on the hops you used. It made his head spin to think of it.
‘I used to enjoy brewing,’ she said wistfully. ‘Me an’ Hal allus worked together and if I say so myself, we made decent beer. He liked that side of the job best. But when he fell ill, I just didn’t have the time or the strength to do it all myself so we started buying from Gib Travis, the landlord of The Three Tuns over Todmorden way. He sells to quite a few small places now and he’s an honest man who brews good beer.’
‘Makes sense to continue doing that. I know less than nowt about brewing.’
‘You’d better go over and see him then. We need to order some more anyway. Oh, and he’ll want paying on delivery, mind. He doesn’t give credit and I don’t blame him. My Hal let some of his friends put things on the slate and at times we were hard put to find the money for new barrels.’
‘Do they still owe us money?’
She nodded.
‘Why didn’t you tell me before?’
‘I thought it’d do more harm than good if you want to be accepted here.’
It only took a minute’s thought to realise she was right. ‘Well, you know Calico folk better than I do. But no more. If people can’t pay, they can’t drink.’
After some thought he asked her if there was someone who could take over the inn for a few hours, so that she could go with him to The Three Tuns the first time and introduce him.
‘Alice Bent comes in sometimes, when they can spare her on the farm. She’s only fifteen, but she’s got her head screwed on right.’
‘Then get her in.’
Toby drove them over to see Gib Travis in the cart, feeling almost in holiday mood. Although it was cold, the sun was shining and that always cheered you up. He was getting to know the ways of Bonnie, the old mare he’d inherited with the inn. Although she didn’t like to hurry, she was a strong and placid animal, which was a relief because he hadn’t had much to do with looking after horses before and had had to ask Ross for help and advice.
Gib Travis seemed a pleasant fellow. He was so thin Toby couldn’t help wondering if he ever touched his own brew. But he drew himself a pot when he gave one to Toby to test and drained it with every sign of enjoyment.
Phoebe went to chat to Mrs
He took her hand and raised it to his lips. ‘Whatever I was in the past, I’m not now. You’ve been the making of me, Meg. So if you’ll wed me, I’ll look for work somewhere else.’
She leaned against him. ‘It can’t happen too soon for me.’
‘Let’s go and see your mother about getting wed, then.’
She sighed. ‘There’s another problem, love. I’m not old enough an’ she’ll not give me permission. She’s been taunting me with that already. We may just have to – you know, go away and live together.’
His face grew tight with suppressed anger. ‘I don’t want us to live together without being wed. You deserve better nor that.’
‘Talk to our Jack, then. He’s the only one who can make her do anything. But if she still won’t agree, I’m leaving with or without you. I can’t stand much more of her.’ Her mother had deliberately torn her best skirt last week. Meg knew it was deliberate because she had seen the flare of triumph in Netta’s eyes when she taxed her with it – though of course her mother had denied it, said she must have caught it on a nail.
Meg didn’t tell Ben about the spiteful tricks her mother constantly played. He had enough to worry about without her adding to it. He said he’d talk to other draymen and drivers, ask them to look out for jobs for him when they delivered or picked up stuff outside Northby.
Toby listened carefully to Phoebe’s ongoing explanations about running a pub, and particularly the difficulties of brewing the beer yourself. You had to pay duty on malt, beer, and even on the hops you used. It made his head spin to think of it.
‘I used to enjoy brewing,’ she said wistfully. ‘Me an’ Hal allus worked together and if I say so myself, we made decent beer. He liked that side of the job best. But when he fell ill, I just didn’t have the time or the strength to do it all myself so we started buying from Gib Travis, the landlord of The Three Tuns over Todmorden way. He sells to quite a few small places now and he’s an honest man who brews good beer.’
‘Makes sense to continue doing that. I know less than nowt about brewing.’
‘You’d better go over and see him then. We need to order some more anyway. Oh, and he’ll want paying on delivery, mind. He doesn’t give credit and I don’t blame him. My Hal let some of his friends put things on the slate and at times we were hard put to find the money for new barrels.’
‘Do they still owe us money?’
She nodded.
‘Why didn’t you tell me before?’
‘I thought it’d do more harm than good if you want to be accepted here.’
It only took a minute’s thought to realise she was right. ‘Well, you know Calico folk better than I do. But no more. If people can’t pay, they can’t drink.’
After some thought he asked her if there was someone who could take over the inn for a few hours, so that she could go with him to The Three Tuns the first time and introduce him.
‘Alice Bent comes in sometimes, when they can spare her on the farm. She’s only fifteen, but she’s got her head screwed on right.’
‘Then get her in.’
Toby drove them over to see Gib Travis in the cart, feeling almost in holiday mood. Although it was cold, the sun was shining and that always cheered you up. He was getting to know the ways of Bonnie, the old mare he’d inherited with the inn. Although she didn’t like to hurry, she was a strong and placid animal, which was a relief because he hadn’t had much to do with looking after horses before and had had to ask Ross for help and advice.
Gib Travis seemed a pleasant fellow. He was so thin Toby couldn’t help wondering if he ever touched his own brew. But he drew himself a pot when he gave one to Toby to test and drained it with every sign of enjoyment.
Phoebe went to chat to Mrs
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