Montana.
"He's safe, then, Uncle Albert?" I said delightedly, "Did you give him my message?
"You did? And what did he say?
"… Did he really?
"I can't believe it. I won't sleep a wink until he gets home safely. Thank you, Uncle Albert. I know you must be tired. Get some rest, and please let me know the moment you get any news."
"Yes, of course, goodbye, Montana."
I put the speaking tube back in the holder on my desk and hugged myself in sheer happiness.
"What was that all about?" Cluan Cheap asked from his desk opposite.
"Nothing," I said. Now I really must complete this report for Uncle Earnest."
I began to press the keys on the heavy brass writing machine in front of me. I had not yet acquired skill as an operator, and it was a slow and ponderous exercise requiring the use of alternate index fingers to press the heavy keys. I had to admit that the finished product was impressive, but the process was messy. The ink stained my fingers, and the keys were always sticking. I would have preferred to have completed the report in the copperplate handwriting I was so proud of, but Uncle Earnest said we had to move with the times, so I persevered.
"Uncle Albert, Uncle Earnest," said Cheap, mockingly, quite one of the family, aren't you, girl? Fond of them both are you?"
"Extremely fond," I said, not raising my head, and would you please allow me to get back to work, Mr Cheap?"
"Cluan," he said, "do call me Cluan. The time has come for us to get better acquainted. Seventeen, aren't you? That is the usual age to get married in this world. You do not want to leave it too late.…"
"I have no intention of leaving it too late. Indeed, I…"
I stopped myself from saying anything more.
"Don't tell me you have your eye on that schoolboy? The scruffy one that stayed the night."
"He's not a schoolboy," I said angrily, "he's a student who starts at university next year."
"Student!" said Cheap dismissively. "He fooled me when he first came into the emporium. I thought he was a new client of a good family and not a youth off the street. It seems to me that he should forget this student nonsense and get himself a job. Instead of jeans and a T-shirt, the young man should wear a suit, a collar, and a tie, and dress like a gentleman. He would do well to look to me as a model example; not that he could hope to emulate either my success or appearance, of course."
He flicked an imaginary piece of fluff from the lapel of his jacket and straightened his tie in the little mirror he kept on the side of his desk for exactly that purpose.
"You need a man with prospects in Montana, someone who is going up in the world and will need a wife to keep his house clean, prepare his meals, entertain clients, and do other domestic duties. You are far from the finished article, young lady, but you do possess a certain physical charm, and your family contacts will be useful to me in the future.
Old Earnest is sure to leave you something in his will, him being your legal guardian, and he might even be inclined to give me a promotion before that when he sees the vast brood of children I must support.
"Yes, overall, I am inclined to favour the idea. A little training from me, and I daresay I could get you up to scratch, so what say we give it a go?"
"Give it a go? Mr Cheap, give it a go. If you think that for one moment, I will even consider entering into a Declaration of Commitment with you… Well, you must be completely out of your mind. I wouldn't have you if you were the last man on Earth."
"Don't be hasty, Montana. I know this may have come as a shock, but in time you will come to favour the idea. I will try to be a good master to you in my humble way, and soon I will take the business for myself and get rid of those two old dodderers. I have already got one of them, just where I want him."
I jumped to my feet.
"How ungrateful you are. Uncle Earnest rescued you from poverty and gave you a home here and a steady job from the goodness of his heart, and this is how you repay him."
"Really? From the goodness of his heart, you say, and not, if the truth be known, to conceal a crime committed by his brother; a crime that led to a man's death?"
It was nonsense, of course, but he said it with such conviction…
"It can't possibly be true."
"Evidence, my dear Montana, evidence," he said, patting his jacket where it covered his inside pocket. "I have certain papers in my possession that will send Uncle Albert to prison for the rest of his life if I choose to bring them to the attention of the authorities."
"They must be forgeries," I said. "Uncle Albert would never do anything wrong."
"The papers are undoubtedly genuine, "said Cheap. "Ask Earnest if you doubt me."
"He knows?" I said it in amazement. "But of course… I see it all now. That is the reason he allows you to get away with so much.
"You have threatened to tell the police about these ridiculous accusations, and Uncle Earnest is afraid that his brother will suffer if he does not give in to your demands. You are nothing but a common blackmailer, Cheap, an out-and-out scoundrel."
His face flushed with anger.
"Now, Montana, watch your tongue or I will give you reason to regret your words," he said.
"You may do what you wish," I said. "I will never believe that Uncle Albert would knowingly hurt anyone."
"Such faith is touching, Montana; I trust you will show me the same degree of loyalty when we are finally married."
"Marry you? I would rather die."
"And would you rest easy in your grave," said Cheap sneeringly, "knowing that you had sentenced dear old Uncle Albert to spend the rest of his life in a prison cell?"
"Cluan, please, you must know how ridiculous this is. I could never love you, and any marriage between us would be an unhappy one. No good could ever come of it."
"Come, come, let us not quarrel, Montana. I have enough love for both of us. That pretty face of yours pleases me, and in time you will come to love me too."
His tone changed.
"As the father of your, I hope, many children, you will have little choice, or I will make life extremely hard for you. And all the little darlings, of course."
"No! It can never happen."
My whole body was trembling, and tears were coursing down my cheeks.
"Please, Cluan, I will do anything else you ask to prevent Uncle Albert from going to prison, but not this. I am good as engaged to Peregrine. Does that mean nothing to you?"
Mr Cheap was unmoved.
"Engaged? I think not. I happened to be passing a certain door the other day, and I heard voices inside. Being a gentleman, I did not stop to listen, but I could not help but hear your dear Uncle Albert absolutely forbidding you to enter into a relationship with this ragamuffin from the backstreets. He has much higher hopes for your future, and I am prepared to step up and take you on myself.
"You are legally a free woman. I intend that the clerks formally draw up a Declaration of Commitment between us before your student returns. Or if he returns, I should say. I believe that he has embarked on a foolhardy mission that is sure to end in tears.
"Forget him, Montana; your future is with me."