Free The Mill Girls of Albion Lane by Jenny Holmes Page A

no sign of cousin Tommy.
    The two Briggs brothers didn’t look alike. Whereas Walter’s appearance seemed threadbare and stuck in a bygone era, George had managed to keep up with the times. He was clean shaven and upright, always to be seen in a collar and tie, with a waistcoat neatly buttoned under a tweed jacket. The two men were of a similar height, though, and had the same suspicious sideways tilt of the head, as if they thought the world meant to do them harm.
    When Walter spied Lily, he gave George a nudge with his elbow then limped towards her. ‘You’ll lend me a shilling,’ he said – not a request but an order.
    â€˜Father, I don’t have one to spare,’ she began. ‘Mother needs—’
    â€˜I don’t care what your mother says she needs. I need a shilling,’ he insisted. ‘And I don’t want you showing me up in the street neither.’
    She shook her head and glanced at her uncle, a sick feeling of humiliation churning in her stomach. This was rotten timing and she saw that she would have to give in.
    â€˜Be nice, Lil,’ George advised. ‘Let the man enjoy a pint of beer down his local.’
    So Lily had no option but to take the money from her pocket and hand it over while Evie took Arthur’s hand and told him she would walk him up to the Common to see the shire horses.
    â€˜Be thankful it’s only a bob,’ George smirked. ‘If you was my girl, I’d take the lot.’
    â€˜And I’m glad I’m not your girl,’ Lily retorted, aware that Tommy and Margie had appeared on the steps, both in an ugly mood by the look of it.
    â€˜What’s got into you, Margie Briggs?’ Tommy grumbled over his shoulder, taking the three steps in one jump. ‘You can’t stand a joke these days, can you?’
    Margie slammed the door shut.
    â€˜Best not to ask ’cos you don’t want to know,’ Tommy warned Lily. Dressed like his father in his weekend best, with his dark hair slicked back, he was eager to be off, but not without a final upsetting jibe. ‘Tell your mother thanks for the dinner. It was a tasty Lancashire hotpot, ta very much.’
    â€˜You didn’t!’ Lily was suddenly furious at the loss of the precious family meal. ‘Not all of it?’
    â€˜Very tasty,’ Tommy repeated. ‘Come on, we’re wasting good drinking time.’ And he overtook the two older men to strut his way down the street.
    â€˜Good riddance!’ Lily called after them. Then she stormed up the steps to tackle Margie over why she’d let the men eat them out of house and home.
    â€˜That’ll be two Saturday nights on the trot that you’ve stayed in,’ Lily pointed out to Margie after the two sisters had settled their differences and retreated to their bedroom. It was then that Margie had announced that she wouldn’t bother to go down to the kitchen and wash her hair since she wouldn’t be going out that evening. The afternoon was grey and the light was dim. ‘Are you sure you’re feeling all right?’
    â€˜Ha-ha, very funny, I’m sure.’ Margie, who was still in her work clothes, had her head stuck in a fashion magazine. She squinted to make out the print, gave up then threw it down in disgust.
    â€˜No, I’m not joking,’ Lily insisted. ‘What’s wrong?’
    â€˜Why should anything be wrong? I just want to stay in and put my feet up for a change.’
    Lily sat down on the bed beside her. ‘It’s not still this silly row with Dorothy Brumfitt, is it?’
    Margie shook her head. ‘Dorothy can take a running jump for all I care.’
    â€˜So it is her.’ Lily sighed, ready to let the subject drop until she remembered her promise to their mother. ‘Is there a boy in the case? You don’t need to tell me the details if you don’t want to, but is there?’
    Lily’s persistence caused