Job (Episode 8 - The Further Chronicles of a Young Lady (and her Maid))

Continued from Episode 7 - Ring

The story so far:  You can find out how our two heroines came to be where they are today by reading The Chronicles of a Lady (and her Maid) either here on ABCTales or in book form (link is external).  In brief, 'Ethel' and Gwladys ran away from a life of servitude at the Inn, run by Aefelthrith's former Lord, along with his partner (and their baby), to take their chances on the road , much against Gwladys's better judgement.  Entering a new town, they had to find a waay to fund their life on the road.  A pawn shop run by 'Anty Marj' seemed to be the short-term answer and a lengthy negotiation secured a good deal on Aefelthrith's ring, until Anty Marj suddently vanished before the deal was completed.  Discovering her lifeless body in the Stock Room, Aeflethrith decided this was a sign that they should take over the business.  With 'Anty Marj' safely stowed in an outhouse, Gwladys and Aefelthrith set about running the pawn shop and all seemed to be going reasonably well, until  'Anty Marj'' body vanished and an officer of the Watch, appeared.  When the Watch produced a confused 'Anty Marj' wondering why someone else was running her shop, Gwladys managed to convince her that she had sold the shop to them, palming Aefelthrith's ring into her pocket to demonstrate payment.  A suddenly hugely enriched 'Anty Marj' went away a happy woman and the Watch withdrew, satisfied:

Gwladys had made herself a warming drink, kicked off her shoes and was enjoying five minutes peace and quiet, sitting at the kitchen table.  She was quite pleased with how things had gone during their recent encounter with the Watch, and the former owner of the Pawn Shop, and was happily contemplating a trouble-free future when:
“And another thing, just who is Sarah?”  Aefelthrith had stomped into the kitchen and was standing before Gwladys, with her hands on her hips and a cross expression on her face.
“Oh gawd!” Gwladys muttered, looking up to the ceiling in the hope of divine intervention.
“Well?”
“I dunno, I give up, who is Sarah?” Gwladys shrugged.
“You said that we were distant cousins of Sarah, who was related to Anty Marj”
“Oh, yeah, that’s right” Gwladys chuckled to herself.
“So, who is she?” Aefelthrith’s hands remained firmly on her hips.
“Like I said, I dunno!  I just made ‘er up”
“Made her up?  What do you mean, you ‘made her up’?”
“Werl, I ‘ad to say summat, didn’t I?  I ‘ad ter find some way of explainin’ as ‘ow we came to be ‘ere.  I could ‘ardly say we were tryin’ to pawn the very ring she thinks she took as payment fer the shop, now, could I?”
“So, you just…”
“Made ‘er up, yeah” Gwladys looked rather pleased with herself.
“But…but…Anty Marj seemed to know her, didn’t she?” Aefelthrith looked confused.
“Yeah, that were a stroke of luck” Gwladys nodded, “I took a bit of a risk there”
“How, what do you mean?”
“Werl, I figured that most of us ‘ave got a Sarah somewhere in the family.  I know I ‘ave..” Gwladys began.
“Yes, I have a niece by that name, too” Aefelthrith nodded.
“Werl, there y’are then” Gwladys grinned, “I played the odds a bit, but I ‘oped as ‘ow I’d be right”
“And what if she had said that she didn’t know any Sarahs?”
“Yeah, that could ‘ave been awkward, I’ll grant yer” Gwladys looked thoughtful, “I s’pose we’d just ‘ave ‘ad to crack on as ‘ow she was barmy and ‘ope fer the best”
“It seems to me that this was a very ill-advised venture” Aefelthrith sniffed.
“’Ang on!  It were your idea in the first place.  When we found ‘er spark out, you were all for it.  Didn’t ‘ave a problem nickin’ a shop off a dead woman, didjer?   And it got the Watch off’n our backs, so just be thankful” Gwladys eased herself back in her chair and sipped her drink.
The shop bell rang, insistently.
“I’ll go and see who that is, shall I?  Probably the Watch returning for a second try, I should not wonder!”  Aefelthrith stomped off through the curtaining, separating the kitchen from the shop.  She returned a few moments later.
“It is that grubby child to whom you seemed to take a liking” She said with some distaste.
“What, ‘Arry?  Oh, that’s good.  I’ll come and see ter ‘im” Gwladys beamed and bustled away.
From just over the counter, Gwladys could see a mop of dirty and decidedly unbrushed hair, that signified ‘Arry could be found, below.
“’Arry!  Nice to see yer” Gwladys grinned.
“I’ve come fer me mam’s ring” ‘Arry announced.
“Right!” Gwladys nodded, “’Ave yer got the money?”
“Yep” He deposited a small pile of grubby coinage on the counter.
Gwladys counted the coins, whilst trying not to make too much contact with the metal.
“That’s right” She said, eventually, “Good lad!  I’ll go an’ get yer mam’s ring”  
She bustled off and rooted through a few of the shelves, in order to give an impression of having to find it amongst the vast number of items that they had taken as pledges, although, in reality, she knew exactly where it was.
“’Ere yer are, young ‘un” She placed the precious ring on the counter.  ‘Arry grabbed it swiftly, as if frightened that it might disappear before his eyes.  “Mind yer don’t lose it, now!” Gwladys warned.
“No danger of that, missus” ‘Arry shook his grubby head, “”me dad’d ‘ave me guts fer garters”
He went to march out of the shop, but Gwladys called him back.
“’Arry, could you manage a bit of work for us, d’yer reckon?”
“Depends dunnit” ‘Arry looked dubious, “what yer got in mind?”
“Werl, it’s only if yer got time, yer know” Gwladys shrugged.
“There’s other stuff, yer see” ‘Arry explained, “me dad want to ‘prentice me to a sweep”
“Does ‘e?” Gwladys looked shocked, she knew how cruel sweeps could be with their climbing boys.
“Ar” ‘Arry nodded, “but I fancy workin’ dahn the mine across the valley.  They’re after young lads to work the tight seams an’ it’s better money than what a sweep pays”
“Right” Gwladys looked despondent, “so yer canna ‘elp me then?”
“Didner say that” ‘Arry shook his head, dislodging a number of nameless things in the process, “I ain’t doin’ none of them things at the minute, on account of me mam’s not well an’ I’m lookin’ after ‘er, enni?”
“Oh, right” Gwladys nodded, “werl, only if yer mam can spare yer?”
“If there’s a penny or two to be ‘ad, she’ll spare me” ‘Arry grinned.
“Right then, come with me, young man” She patted the top of the counter and ‘Arry jumped up with surprising agility.  Gwladys marched off into the kitchen, with ‘Arry in tow.
“What is going on?” Aefelthrith looked at ‘Arry with considerable distaste.
“’E’s goin’ to ‘elp us out” Gwladys explained as she swept through.
“Help us out?  With what?”
“I’ll show yer” Gwladys flung open the back door and marched into the yard. “Now, ‘Arry, yer see that mess of weeds an’ stuff fillin’ up this back garden?”
“Ar” ‘Arry nodded.
“Werl, I wanna grow veg. an’ stuff in there, an’ I canna do that with it ‘ow it is, can I?”
“No, s’pose not” ‘Arry conceded.
“So, I need someone to clear it fer me, ‘ow yer fixed?” Gwladys cocked her head to one side.
“Werl” ‘Arry took a sharp breath in, through his teeth, in the time-honoured fashion, “It’s a ruck of work, that.  It’ll cost yer, yer know”
“We’ll pay a fair rate.  Can yer do it?”
“Erm, just one minute…” Aefelthrith interrupted, tapping Gwladys on the shoulder, completely perplexed at this turn of events.
“’Arry ‘ere is lookin’ after ‘is mam, what’s poorly” Gwladys turned and explained to Aefelthrith and looked at her, meaningfully.
“Oh, I see” Aefelthrith blushed a little.
“So, can yer?”
‘Arry spat on his hand and offered it to Gwladys, which she shook, reluctantly.
“When d’yer want me to start?”  He grinned.

You can find the previous adventures of Gwladys and Aefelthrith in both Kindle and paperback formats at The Chronicles of a Young Lady (and her Maid (link is external)