you to your room.’ He grinned and turned round quickly. ‘Will you be wanting some supper? I’ve some nice cold mutton and
pickles. They’re only tuppence. You can eat them in your room.’
‘That would be grand – and a glass of milk, if you’d be so kind.’ Daisy dug in her purse again and paid him for her supper.
‘My privilege! Any friend of Susie’s is welcome under my roof. She surprises me every day, does our Susie.’ Ebenezer Trotter grinned at Susie as he guarded the candle from the
draught. The door opened yet again, to a courting couple who were laughing loudly in each other’s company. ‘This way, Daisy. Will I be seeing you later, Susie, or will you be elsewhere
tonight?’
‘I don’t know about tonight. I might call by – it depends on how busy I am.’ Susie stared hard at Ebenezer; she didn’t want her game to be given away. ‘You
look after Daisy here. Make sure she’s not disturbed, and point her in the right direction in the morning.’ She turned to Daisy. ‘You take care, girl. Keep your door closed
tonight, and try and sleep. Ebenezer here will look after you. If you need me or get into bother, come down here. I’m always calling in and out of here of an evening. Just tell Ebenezer you
need me, and he’ll tell me.’ With that, Susie gave Daisy a big hug and walked out into the night, leaving Daisy standing with Ebenezer in the middle of his so-called
‘club’.
‘This way then, Daisy.’ Ebenezer led her through some unlit dark rooms and up three sets of creaking stairs, nearly to the attic rooms. There he took a set of keys that had jangled
around his waist on the ascent up the stairs and unlocked a dark oak door, pushing it open for Daisy.
‘You’ll be all right in here, lass. It’s one of my more quiet rooms – nobody comes up here much.’ He held the candle and it flickered, showing the room to be
decorated, but rather sparse. ‘It’s got all you want, and I’ll send your supper up shortly. You can light the fire if you want, but that’ll be another penny, and it’s
not that cold at this time of year.’
Daisy looked around the room. It would do for a night. Hopefully she’d be in work by tomorrow. ‘Thank you, Mr Trotter, I’m most grateful for your hospitality.’
‘You’ve paid me, girl, and Susie’s vouched for you – that’s all that matters.’ The old man shuffled out and closed the door behind him, without saying
anything more.
Daisy lit a further two candles and sat on the bed. It wasn’t like home. There was no mountain air and no stars to see, just the heady bustle of people and horses in the
streets. People didn’t look at you; they were too busy going about their business. And she dreaded to think what it would be like in the morning, when Leeds was truly awake. What had she
done? If it hadn’t been for kind-hearted Susie, she would have been on the streets tonight. She couldn’t help but think that Susie was an odd one. Daisy still didn’t know what she
did for a living, and yet everyone knew her.
A knock on her door brought her back from her thoughts as a small maid entered her room with a laid tray. She bobbed as she placed it next to Daisy.
‘You saw me come in tonight with Susie?’ Curiosity was getting the better of Daisy, and she wanted to find out why Susie was well known by everyone, so she asked the maid.
‘Yes, ma’am, I saw you.’ The maid blushed.
‘Then tell me, what does Susie do that makes her so well known?’ Daisy watched the maid’s face.
‘I don’t know if I should say, ma’am. It’s not my place, and besides she’s a good customer here. Mr Trotter wouldn’t be happy with me if he found out
I’d told you.’
‘You can tell me. I’ll not say anything to Mr Trotter. Besides, Susie’s been good to me and I’d like to thank her, when I can.’ Daisy looked at the young maid, who
appeared distinctly uncomfortable.
‘Well, ma’am, I know her as Shipley Susie. Her patch is
pickles. They’re only tuppence. You can eat them in your room.’
‘That would be grand – and a glass of milk, if you’d be so kind.’ Daisy dug in her purse again and paid him for her supper.
‘My privilege! Any friend of Susie’s is welcome under my roof. She surprises me every day, does our Susie.’ Ebenezer Trotter grinned at Susie as he guarded the candle from the
draught. The door opened yet again, to a courting couple who were laughing loudly in each other’s company. ‘This way, Daisy. Will I be seeing you later, Susie, or will you be elsewhere
tonight?’
‘I don’t know about tonight. I might call by – it depends on how busy I am.’ Susie stared hard at Ebenezer; she didn’t want her game to be given away. ‘You
look after Daisy here. Make sure she’s not disturbed, and point her in the right direction in the morning.’ She turned to Daisy. ‘You take care, girl. Keep your door closed
tonight, and try and sleep. Ebenezer here will look after you. If you need me or get into bother, come down here. I’m always calling in and out of here of an evening. Just tell Ebenezer you
need me, and he’ll tell me.’ With that, Susie gave Daisy a big hug and walked out into the night, leaving Daisy standing with Ebenezer in the middle of his so-called
‘club’.
‘This way then, Daisy.’ Ebenezer led her through some unlit dark rooms and up three sets of creaking stairs, nearly to the attic rooms. There he took a set of keys that had jangled
around his waist on the ascent up the stairs and unlocked a dark oak door, pushing it open for Daisy.
‘You’ll be all right in here, lass. It’s one of my more quiet rooms – nobody comes up here much.’ He held the candle and it flickered, showing the room to be
decorated, but rather sparse. ‘It’s got all you want, and I’ll send your supper up shortly. You can light the fire if you want, but that’ll be another penny, and it’s
not that cold at this time of year.’
Daisy looked around the room. It would do for a night. Hopefully she’d be in work by tomorrow. ‘Thank you, Mr Trotter, I’m most grateful for your hospitality.’
‘You’ve paid me, girl, and Susie’s vouched for you – that’s all that matters.’ The old man shuffled out and closed the door behind him, without saying
anything more.
Daisy lit a further two candles and sat on the bed. It wasn’t like home. There was no mountain air and no stars to see, just the heady bustle of people and horses in the
streets. People didn’t look at you; they were too busy going about their business. And she dreaded to think what it would be like in the morning, when Leeds was truly awake. What had she
done? If it hadn’t been for kind-hearted Susie, she would have been on the streets tonight. She couldn’t help but think that Susie was an odd one. Daisy still didn’t know what she
did for a living, and yet everyone knew her.
A knock on her door brought her back from her thoughts as a small maid entered her room with a laid tray. She bobbed as she placed it next to Daisy.
‘You saw me come in tonight with Susie?’ Curiosity was getting the better of Daisy, and she wanted to find out why Susie was well known by everyone, so she asked the maid.
‘Yes, ma’am, I saw you.’ The maid blushed.
‘Then tell me, what does Susie do that makes her so well known?’ Daisy watched the maid’s face.
‘I don’t know if I should say, ma’am. It’s not my place, and besides she’s a good customer here. Mr Trotter wouldn’t be happy with me if he found out
I’d told you.’
‘You can tell me. I’ll not say anything to Mr Trotter. Besides, Susie’s been good to me and I’d like to thank her, when I can.’ Daisy looked at the young maid, who
appeared distinctly uncomfortable.
‘Well, ma’am, I know her as Shipley Susie. Her patch is
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