Elephant Man - Christine Sparks [30]
He groaned when he thought of it and banged his tankard on the bar to attract some attention.
“Fill it quick, Betty,” he told the girl who hastened to him. “I’ve got to get to work.”
“Shouldn’t you ’ave been there long ago, Mr. Renshaw?” She smiled archly at him as she drew the beer.
He told her to watch her lip but grinned as he said it. It was nice to be sauced a bit by a pretty maid whose face wasn’t blotched with tears or twisted with screaming. Mattie had been like that in the beginning. Why did they have to change?
Marriage she wanted, if you please! What the hell had got into her? Their kind didn’t marry and well she knew it. Renshaw’s parents hadn’t been married, neither had Mattie’s, and now that he applied his mind powerfully to the subject he couldn’t think of any couple he knew who were married—and some of them had a dozen kids. You set up home, you had kids (not that he wanted kids). Tying it up all legal-like was for toffs with money to spend on that kind of thing.
He examined his behavior to Mattie, and couldn’t think of anything he’d done wrong. When she’d first started snapping about “not wanting a little bastard” he’d agreed wholeheartedly and offered to find her some really experienced woman who’d do the job all right and tight and no trouble. He had a sister who’d used the woman three times. But that wasn’t good enough for Mattie. Oh no. She wanted marriage.
He’d started spending less and less time at home during the day, wandering out in the streets to escape from Mattie’s nagging, her sickness, and her general evil temper. He felt hard done by. If only she’d agree to get rid of it, she’d be her old self again and they could go on enjoying themselves as they had before. But if she was going to be unreasonable, he’d have to give her the shove. There were other women who could cook and look after a man. He took a long look at Betty, who was serving at the other end of the bar. She caught his eye and came tripping toward him, her breasts swiveling against each other in a blouse she was rapidly outgrowing.
“Give me a bottle of gin, Betty. I’ve got a long night ahead of me.”
When she produced it he snatched it from her, ripped the top off, and took a large swig. Then he thrust it at her.
“Have one.”
She giggled and tipped the bottle up to her mouth, taking a swallow almost as large as his own. He regarded her in dismay. Never mind. He’d get his repayment later. He leaned over to her and spoke softly.
“I’m a bit short of cash till I get paid Betty. Could you—?”
Her eyes wavered. Having drunk from the bottle herself she was cornered. Then she gave him an arch smile.
“Your credit’s always good, Mr. Renshaw. I’ll put it on the slate.”
“That’s my girl. I’ll be back tomorrow. We’ll’ave a good time together.”
He wandered out feeling justifiably pleased with himself. He knew that bottle would never appear on the slate. Betty would “forget” about it. He took another swig.
Somewhere a clock struck ten-thirty. He was late for work but he refused to hurry. It was beneath him. Besides, there was something he wanted to think about, something that had happened earlier that day, something very funny …
It had been about noon. He’d fled Mattie and headed for his favorite pub using a shortcut that had taken him past the rear of the London Hospital. He had stopped in a small alley that gave him a good view of the back entrance, and stood for a moment considering the sight of Nettleton staggering clumsily through the big iron door, bearing two buckets that seemed to be very heavy. Renshaw had nothing against Nettleton. He was a harmless young bloke who’d be all right when he’d learned a bit of respect for his elders and betters. Renshaw’s enjoyment of Nettleton’s difficulties was quite devoid of personal malice.
But the smile dropped off his face sharply when Nettleton tipped the contents of one of the buckets onto the stones. Renshaw jumped as some of the thick, sludgy material splashed in his direction. He took a step out into the alley so that the young man could see what he’d done. He was pleased to note