The Colonel's Spinster - Audrey Harrison Page 0,65
Bamber Mill, and he stepped to the side. “Take some advice Miss Bamber. Don’t leave the mill until the crowds have completely dispersed. It is not safe, and when we lose the light, goodness knows what will happen.”
He rattled the gate, and the watchman came from his brick building at the side of the gate. He looked astonished to see Prudence but quickly unlocked the large iron structure and allowed Prudence and the horse entrance into the quiet mill yard.
Prudence turned to thank the foreman for his help, but he had already disappeared into the crowds. Feeling more unsettled than she ever had, she quickly dismounted.
“Please tell me my father is here and not at the other mill,” she said.
“He’s here, Miss Bamber. The looms are quiet though. Never known it like this ‘afore.”
“No. Nor I,” Prudence admitted before taking Scarlett into the part of the yard in which the horses and her father’s carriage were stored. She helped the coachman settle the horse and warned him they would not be leaving for some time. Securing Scarlett, Prudence gave her a pat and apologised for her mistreatment on the journey.
Walking into the mill, which was eerily quiet she took off her gloves and hat. Heading straight to the office, her footsteps echoed across the empty, still room. The looms were suspended mid-action, where they had ceased working when the power had ceased.
Mr. Bamber looked up in surprise when she opened the office door without knocking.
“Prudence, what the devil are you doing here?” he demanded upon realising who was coming into his office.
“Mr. Huxley had to turn back on his way in. He told me of the crowds and the strange behaviour of everyone. I had to come to you,” Prudence said.
“And put yourself in goodness knows what danger?” The normally amiable gentleman was furious.
“I had to make sure you were safe.”
“I was a lot better off when I knew you were secure in Stretford, well away from all this trouble!”
“I am sorry, but I would not have been able to rest.”
“Prudence, I’ve no idea when this is going to pass over. We could be here all night.”
“At least this way, I know you might be uncomfortable and hungry but not in any danger. My imagination would have kept me worrying if you had not returned. I am even more convinced that, for me at least, I made the right decision.” Prudence sat on one of the wooden chairs. “Why has this escalated so quickly?”
“The workers and the jobless have decided to march to show their displeasure at the low wages, lack of jobs, and prices of goods. I do not understand the willingness for whole families to lose at least a days’ pay when they are already struggling to feed themselves, but then I am not in their position,” Mr. Bamber explained.
“It seems so unfocused an activity when I was travelling through the streets. Are they aiming for somewhere specific?”
“Any open spaces where speakers can make rallying speeches, I think. Some of the other mill owners have threatened that they won’t have the workers back if they return to work tomorrow.”
“And you?”
“If I see any trouble-makers causing problems or delays to the production lines, they will be dismissed, but so far I will accept a day strike. They want to make a point, and as long as there is no damage, there will be no harm done.”
“It will cost you though.”
“Aye, it will. It will not cripple us quite yet, so there’s no need to worry.”
Prudence smiled. “As you are the most astute businessman I know, I am not worried in the slightest.”
“I am honoured. You are on first name terms with most of the mill owners in this town. You obviously know what talent there is out there.”
“Which just shows how much faith I have in you.”
A noise outside drew them both to the window, which overlooked the yard and the gates. They watched in silence for a few moments as the crowds continued to surge and occasionally the gates rattled in protest.
“If they get inside the yard, there will be mischief,” Mr. Bamber said.
“Will the gates hold?”
“I hope so.”
Prudence felt the first stirrings of unease. She had been so confident making her way in, arrogantly presuming that, as the daughter of a respected master, nothing untoward would happen to her. Doubts had started to crowd in on her when she had been outside until she was rescued by the foreman. Having felt safe in the familiar surroundings once