Sweet Rosie by Iris Gower Page B

washing up dirty pans for Lily. It was James who paid the girl but, all the same, Lily enjoyed playing the lady of the house.
    ‘Yes, Betty, what is it?’
    ‘It’s the butcher, miss, he wants paying, he says his bill is overdue.’
    ‘Then tell Mr Wesley, he’ll pay the man.’ James seemed to be a man of means; he would soon sort the matter of a measly overdue bill.
    ‘I can’t miss, he’s gone out.’
    Lily sighed. ‘I won’t be a minute.’ She hurried upstairs to her bedroom and took her bag out of the cupboard. She still had some money from her husband’s savings, money he had stored in an old tin. It was not much, it would not keep her in any sort of luxury and she begrudged paying the butcher out of her own little hoard.
    She gave the maid some coins. ‘Tell him if that’s not enough, he’ll have to come back when Mr Wesley is in.’
    The maid returned after a few moments, she seemed agitated. ‘He won’t go away, miss, he says there’s more money owing, much more.’
    ‘We’ll see.’ Lily marched to the door, her colour high. ‘Well, Stan Fellows, what’s this then, think I’m going to run away for a few joints of meat, do you?’
    The man looked at her with a smug grin. ‘No, you can’t run away, can you?’ He laughed showing white, even teeth. He was a very handsome man but he was just not Lily’s type. Was any man her type? she wondered.
    ‘What do you mean I can’t run away? Do you think I’m a prisoner here then?’ she demanded. ‘This is my home, the home my husband brought me to as a bride.’
    ‘Ah but now you don’t have a husband and no money, do you? Living in sin, so folks say.’
    ‘Rubbish!’ Lily stared at him. ‘I am doing no such thing. Mr Wesley and I have separate rooms and we are well chaperoned by Betty.’ She wondered why she was bothering to explain this to an ignorant tradesman.
    ‘Aw, go on, pull the other one!’ Stan said. ‘But I’m broad-minded, see.’ He put his arm around her shoulder in a gesture of familiarity that offended her. He smelled of stale meat and Lily was repulsed. ‘If you give me a bit of what you gives him, I’ll forget the rest of the bill.’
    ‘How dare you. Go away!’ She slammed the door and leaned against it trembling with anger. So the whole village thought she was living in sin, did they? She was suddenly annoyed with James; he should not put her in such an embarrassing position.
    She stared through the window, watching the butcher walk away, his basket swinging on his arm. Just then, James came into view, striding purposefully towards the cottage. He was frowning; he did not seem in a very good mood. Perhaps she had better let the incident with the tradesman pass without mention. But on reflection, why should he get away with neglecting to pay his bills?
    When he entered the room a few moments later, she stared up at him, her eyes steely. She faced him, her hands clasped together, wondering where to start.
    ‘I have been insulted by a common butcher!’ she said as James walked past her and sank into a chair. ‘You owe him money, he’s complaining that his bills haven’t been paid.’
    James looked up at her, his eyebrows raised. ‘What am I, your own private bank?’ He leaned forward and lifted the small brass bell to summon the maid. ‘I have no money, you silly girl, why do you think I’m living here?’
    ‘Ah, Betty, some hot cordial if you please. And you, Lily, sit down. Lily, I think it’s time we had a talk.’
    Lily obeyed him, she had never heard such a note of command in his voice before. She was trembling. What could he have to say that was so important?
    ‘Lily, I am going to have to do some entertaining.’
    She was bewildered by the triviality of his words. ‘Entertaining, when you can’t even pay the butcher. Isn’t that a bit silly, James?’
    ‘No, you don’t understand. I have some friends, colleagues if you like, who are travelling men. They get lonely for a little bit of home