The Cockney Angel by Dilly Court Page B

always allowed her to run up an account and then patiently waited until the outstanding amount was paid. There was no time now for such politeness. She shook her head. ‘I’m afraid it’s cash on the nail or nothing.’
    Sal’s smile faded. ‘But what shall I tell Cook?’
    ‘I’m sorry.’
    ‘The missis will go elsewhere.’
    ‘I’d oblige you if I could, but it’s impossible,’ Irene said, replacing the jars on the shelf.
    ‘I’ll get it in the neck when I gets back to the house,’ Sal said, pouting. ‘Cook will blame me. She thinks with her rolling pin, that one. She’ll clout me round the head as soon as look at me.’
    Irene thrust the bottle of sauce into her hands. ‘Here, take this to the old crow with my compliments. Since we’re likely to be out of business soon, I don’t suppose it will make much difference.’
    ‘I bet it’s all to do with them Sykes brothers,’ Sal murmured, backing towards the door. ‘It’s well known that your old man is in with the gang.’
    ‘You should watch what you say, girl.’
    The sound of Billy’s voice made Sal spin round to stare at him as he strolled down the stairs twirling his silver-headed cane. She eyed him nervously. ‘I only speak the truth, mister. It’s all round the street that you’re in with the Sykes gang and the police are on your tail. I’d cut and run if I was you.’
    Billy leapt the last three steps and making a growling noise deep in his throat he brandished his cane at Sal, who fled from the shop with a screech of fright. He laughed and hooked his top hat from the peg, tossing it in the air and catching it expertly on his head. In the past this trick had always made Irene laugh, but this time she was not at all amused. ‘Pa, how could you? Now it will be all round town that you terrified poor Sal.’
    ‘And maybe she will think twice before allowing her tongue to run away with her,’ Billy replied calmly. ‘I’ll be off now. Don’t worry about me, my dove. I’ll be home before you know it and all our money worries will be a thing of the past.’ He held out his arms. ‘Come here and give your old pa a kiss for good luck.’
    Irene hesitated but as usual his twinkling eyes and warm smile melted her heart and she crossed the floor to give him a hug. ‘Oh, Pa. What am I going to do with you?’
    He dropped a kiss on the top of her head and then extricated himself gently from her grasp. ‘Trust me, Renie. I know I’ve let you and your mother down in the past, but this time it will be different.’ He pressed a shilling into her hand. ‘Spend it on food and coal, and don’t give it to that bloodsucker Yapp. Tell him I’ll settle up in full on my return from Doncaster.’ Without giving her a chance to reply, Billy breezed out of the shop as if he had not a care in the world. Irene went to the door and watched with a sinking heart as he hailed a hansom cab. She had witnessed this scene so many times before that if she closed her eyes she could see the whole thing replayed to her like a bad dream. Tomorrow evening, or perhaps the following day, Pa would slink home like a whipped cur with his tail between his legs. He would have lost everything, possibly even his overcoat and the battered top hat which he wore with such aplomb. He would profess to be an older and wiser man and promise not to touch a bet again no matter how much he was tempted. By the same evening, he would have shaved, changed into a clean shirt and be off to the club in Blue Boar Court or some other gaming hell, where he would attempt to recoup his losses. In the past, Ma would have cried a little, but she would have been so happy to have him home again that she forgave him unconditionally.
    Irene had seen her mother endure all this with a brave smile and not a word of reproach, and she had been powerless to do anything to prevent Pa from repeating his actions over and over again. She was angry and she was upset, but this latest example of his feckless