Hutchinson, L [Black Country 02] The Wives’ Revenge by Lindsey Hutchinson

Author:Lindsey Hutchinson
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Aria
Published: 2017-05-13T23:00:00+00:00

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Joshua watched through the window of his office as Spencer gave his orders regarding the old building. Jack Hesp had drawn workers from the ‘bread line’ in the town; men who waited every day in the hope of someone giving them some work. These men were work-worn and weary from their days in the coal pits. But a lot of them had been laid off from the closure of these collieries, which had meant losing their jobs and their homes. Some were lucky enough to find lodgings, but others lived in derelict houses or out on the heath.

Standing the ‘bread line’ at first was humiliating, they felt it was tantamount to begging and they were fiercely proud. However, soon desperation replaced their shame. They huddled together in small groups watching keenly for anyone who might give them work. Ragged clothes hung from their cadaverous frames and battered caps sat on unkempt hair. Boots lined with cardboard insoles covered bare feet. Lacklustre eyes stared from skeletal looking faces. Tiredness and depression weighed heavily and grew in intensity with each passing day.

Now, glad to be in work at last, they set to clearing the rubbish out of the building with gusto. As the men worked, they laughed and joked – it was a good sound.

Spencer came into Joshua’s office with the sketches of the new building drawn up by W. Morgan, the architect in Pinfold Street. The accountant had advised Joshua and Spencer there was enough in the coffers to accomplish this task from the factory profits, provided they didn’t overstretch themselves. Downstairs in the building there was to be a large waiting room, a consulting room too; out the back would be a lavatory. Upstairs would house the doctor’s equipment and medicine stock and a cabinet for the patients’ records. The doors would have sturdy locks and the keys given only to Dr Shaw. Houses hereabouts were never locked but this building was not a house; it would hold medicine to be kept safe and out of the hands of people who might decide to help themselves. As many in the town were illiterate and were unable to read the labels, the pilfering and use of medicines could turn out to be very dangerous.

Dr Shaw had been assigned the task of employing a nurse and a receptionist. Joshua and Spencer had agreed to cover the cost of their wages; a donation box was to be put in the waiting room for those able to contribute, until such time as the money from the workers would cover all the outgoings.

‘Dad, it’s good of you to help out with the building and all, but I do feel a bit guilty, after all this was our idea – Violet’s and mine.’

‘Look, son,’ Joshua said, ‘your mum was wealthy in her own right – old money – and she left you an inheritance, which you spent wisely. The rest she left to me. I know by rights it should have come to me when we married, but we agreed between us that wouldn’t happen.

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