It must be confessed, upon Miss Jane's first acquaintance with Mr Denton, her judgement of his character may have been ill-affected by The Dolton Women’s Club. Wishing to protect their spouses’ businesses, members were notorious for fabricating unsavoury and tortuous ideas of newcomers, and with Mr Denton, they acted accordingly. Since his arrival to Dolton two weeks prior, she could not recall mention of either affability or charitability. The Denton name, in fact, had quickly become synonymous with the uncivil, vulgar and avaricious! With these words in mind, one would expect a gentleman bearing physical resemblances to a rodent.
During one such discussion at the Dolton, a high-pitched squeal sounded from the opposite room. An obvious quarrel caused an immediate silence and the gaze of every lady to turn.
‘Sir, Sir! I tell you once more, this club is strictly for women only,’ shrieked the voice of Miss Lollery. ‘You are not permitted within these premises!’
With complete disregard for her cries, a handsome gentleman entered the room. The whisper of several women confirmed this to be the Mr Denton. Miss Jane was pleased to note he displayed no features a rodent might exhibit.
'Forgive me ladies! Forgive my intrusion! I certainly did not wish to cause a disturbance!' Mr Denton shouted pleasingly, looking around the room with an enigmatic smile. 'You see, conferring with gentlemen all day, one does feel the need to look upon the beauty of women to hold onto one's sanity!'
This caused a wave of chortles and many ladies to blush. Mr Denton continued his inspection of the room.
‘But, alas, one finds himself sorely disappointed!’
The titters promptly changed to gasps, causing no less than three women to faint!
‘Outrageous!’ shouted Mrs Furfen with a swooning Ms Greer in her arms. ‘An apology at once, Mr Denton! Ms Greer is quite weak of heart!'
‘Of course, how impolite of me,’ replied Mr Denton. ‘On her awakening, please offer my apologies. Perhaps I may have found sanity if she were twenty years younger!'
Upon such an insult, Ms Greer, a widow no older than thirty, aroused and bawled, 'Barbarian! Guards!' Grasping her chest, she resumed her unconsciousness in the arms of Mrs Furfen.
‘Now see here, Mr Denton. I shall endeavour to ensure every gentleman in town hears of your senselessness. Such impertinence!' The ladies of the room murmured in agreement while the purple-faced Mrs Furfen continued. ‘Take heed, Mr Denton, for my husband is a boxing master and shall no doubt settle this matter accordingly.’
'A boxing master, you say!’ Mr Denton’s smile grew more jovial. ‘May I then ask your spouse’s name?’
‘Why, indeed, and forget you shall not! Johnathon Furfen of thee Furfen Industries!’
‘Ah, Johnathon. Alas, a wager your husband has lost, my dear Mrs Furfen! For surely I have succeeded in gaining further disapproval from the notorious Dolton Women.’
‘Mr Denton! You wish me to believe my respectable husband has a part to play in this vile display? How shameful of you, sir!’
Before he could reply with another insult, he was silenced by the arrival of the guards. It was whilst being forcibly removed, Mr Denton paused as his eyes made first contact with Miss Jane. Mesmerised by her countenance, he halted on the spot, causing the guards to topple. Playfully plodding over them, he stopped before her.
'I stand corrected; perhaps sanity has been reclaimed,’ he whispered.
Miss Jane concealed a smile behind her folding fan as the guards regained their balance. Elegantly yet eagerly, the women of the Dolton Club bustled to the front windows in time to see Mr Denton thrown at the feet of the Dolton Men. Upon lifting him off the pavement and dusting him off, they gave him an almighty applause.
‘Oh, Mrs Furfen! Unless I am mistaken, I do believe Mr Furfen has a rather large grin on his face,’ teased Mrs Russel.
With a gasp, Mrs Furfen dropped the still unconscious Ms Greer to the ground and propelled towards the window. Unfortunately, Mrs Russel was not mistaken. Mrs Furfen, in the most unmannerly way, and with a look of pure wrath, wrenched open the window and bellowed, ‘MR FURFEN, IF YOU HAD ANY PART TO PLAY IN THIS BARBARITY YOU SHALL HAVE TO FIND YOURSELF A BED IN THE FARMYARD TONIGHT!’
The furious comment did not go unnoticed during the evening peak hour bustle - all eyes soon fell upon Mr Furfen, whose grin had swiftly melted away. At his features turning an almighty red, the Dolton Men set off howling again, jeering at his blushed complexion. Mr Denton returned his gaze to the women, still crowding the windows, and gave a pretentious bow, topped off with a curtsey of his hat. All the women, bar Miss Jane, rushed outside to publicly scold and discipline their husbands, while the remaining sought to chase down that ghastly Mr Denton. But, before he was off, he hazarded a look for the handsome Miss Jane, and catching her gaze through the bay windows, blew her a kiss that caused her a blush.
✽✽✽
‘Good morning, Miss Jane. Shall you breakfast in bed?’
Really Germaine, must you ask once again?
'As I have every morning these last few years, yes. Thank you, Germaine,' Miss Jane replied sarcastically as her heavy eyes woke. Stirring to her feet, she recalled the previous day's events with a smile.
'Shall today be so eventful, I wonder Germaine?’
‘Excuse me, Miss Jane?’
‘An unwelcome visitor at the Dolton yesterday. Poor Ms Greer, I do hope she has recovered,’ she attempted a look of sincere concern, though a day without Ms Greer would be most certainly welcome.
✽✽✽
Miss Jane's stroll to the Women's Club proved quite uneventful, though she truly quizzed why she expected Dolton to offer any difference - Dolton, undoubtedly the country's most mundane location. The townsfolk herded about their days; lives cemented in tradition and a rigid social hierarchy, in which the top tier could be defined in a word: ostentatious.
Their importance did not permit the acknowledgement of plebeians, who they generally agreed were more animal than civilised. It was no surprise to Miss Jane then, as she rounded the corner, to find the distraught cries of a ragged young man being ignored by passers-by completely. As she neared, she realised the man's cries were directed at the Dolton Women's Club.
‘Please, I beg of you! My job! Allow me to return! I have no options! Please, please, please!’
‘Mr Simons?’ questioned Miss Jane.
The street fell silent as the young man turned to her and his cries broke.
'Miss Jane, oh am I pleased to see you. They fired me as the doorman for letting that bastard Mr Denton enter yesterday! I swear I did not permit him. The other men crowded and mocked me. He slipped in without my knowing!'
‘Mr Simons, if I may ask. Did you ever find a moment of joy during your employment with the Dolton?’
By the ex-doorman's confused expression, she gathered that her question had caught him off guard.
‘Miss Jane, I will not allow myself to fall into your trap - surely any disagreeable words I speak of will be repeated within.’
‘A wise man, precisely what I require. Mr Simons, do not confuse me with the likes of the donkeys that herd within this club. I am merely a spectator who finds great pleasure in watching these fools make asses of themselves day after day.’
Miss Jane waited for a reply in vain.
‘By your silence and bewildered expression, I can only assume you agree with my statement.’
He continued to gaze at her sceptically.
‘Very well. Perhaps I can provide you with a question that will allow you to respond. Are you much of a gardener, Mr Simons?’
As if broken from a stunned curse, he cautiously answered, ‘Why, yes. My father was a groundskeeper when I was a child. I would often accompany him to work. I'm sorry to appear rude, Miss Jane, but where is this conversation headed?'
‘This conversation is leading to your re-employment, Mr Simons. My maid has long complained the strain she is under to uphold the appearances of the household. I would require your services to maintain the gardens of my properties.’
‘Properties? As in multiple homes, Miss Jane?’
‘Excellent. Clearly you also understand the concept of plurals,’ she jested. ‘Would that be an issue? I assure you all are within walking distance. But enough of that. What were your weekly earnings from the Dolton?’
Mr Simon's bewildered expression returned once more and he attempted to stutter a reply. However, thinking of Miss Jane’s wealth compared to his pitiable earnings caused him to choke on his words.
‘Never mind. Your wages shall be doubled if you agree to my offer.’
‘D-doubled?! Oh no, miss. I couldn’t accept.’
‘I am afraid the only other option is for me to find someone who will, Mr Simons. However, I shall leave you with my card. Later today, once you’ve recognised your error, you will at least know where to find me. I should not let this offer escape - if I were you. Good day, sir.’
Miss Jane turned on the spot before remembering one detail.
‘Oh, and Mr Simons. Should you find me absent from my home, mention the name on the reverse of that card to Miss Germaine.’
Upon checking the card, he thought to question her further, though she had already entered the Dolton.
