A.N. So I have rewritten this chapter - mainly because it was full of hideous mistakes so I hope its better now xxx
If you were to walk down Evant Street, you would see a world of poverty and strife enfolded in the back streets of east London. Eventually you would come to a small shop, with 'Gold and Son' written in peeling gold letters, across its bay windows 'Pawnbrokers and Unusual Acquisitions' in copperplate text. The door to the shop is a dull green colour in need of a lick of paint. The windows are dirty and thick with dust. If you peered in, you would be able to see little if at all. However you might be able to see the outline of a man, who lingered at his till, like a ghost lingering at a grave. This would be Mr. Gold.
There were many stories about Gold's and all of them different, some said Gold himself had once been a mercenary who had been shot in the leg and used his savings money to open the shop, some said he was murderer who snapped the neck of the real Mr Gold the dya before he opened the shop himself and who stolen the identity of the aforementioned gentleman, some even said that he was the devil himself. But what was clear is that no one knew the true origins of Mr Gold. Simply that he lived alone and that he was by all accounts a man to be feared in every way.
What everyone did know was that he dealt with all kinds of people; the desperate, the poor, the needy, the rich, the successful and the infamous, people from all walks of life. It seemed there was no one he did not have some kind of hold on. So it came as no surprise when one overcast morning the Duchess Regina Snow of Stonecliff appeared in her carriage at the door of Gold's Pawnbrokers. She descended from her carriage dressed in the finest red silk coat with ermine trim, the buttons gold and cast with the Stonecliff emblem. Her dark hair pinned up high and elaborately. She carried a small but elegant parasol, made of black velvet and lace. Around her neck she wore black jets and white diamonds, everything about her was a testament to her wealth and power. Her beauty was remarkable, from her high cheekbones, to her piercing eyes and full lips, but there was something about her which held an element of cruelty as well, the way she stared down all those who looked at her. She paused only for a moment before entering the little shop, just enough time to see the envious and fearful looks on the people's faces, she pulled herself up more, almost growing taller, it was as though she gained power from their hungry and scared glances.
The bell rang above the door as Regina swept in, but the man, Gold, failed to look up, he appeared to be fixing an ornate gold pocket watch, beautifully decorated with silver flowers and tiny green emeralds. 'Be careful, that bell is an antique.' came his voice, a lilting Scottish brogue on his tongue. Mr Gold was a slender man, his hair hung just above his shoulders, a mottled mixture of brown and grey. His eyes were large and hawk like, slightly sunken back into his head, his nose slightly hooked and his cheeks as sharp as ice. His clothes made of fine material in rich purples and greens (quite a contrast to the dusty and frankly ugly surroundings of stuffed animals, antiquated jewellery and foreign artefacts.)
Regina rolled her eyes at his utterance, 'So droll Gold.' She glanced around the shop with a look of mild disgust in her eyes careful not to touch anything, less she be tainted with dirt or a common world to which she was not party too.
'And pray what is it you have come to see me about today?' Gold finally looked up, his voice calm and collected, his gaze unflinching.
'I need a favour.' Came her quick reply.
'Oh really dearie?' Gold grinned.
'It's your grace now, Gold.' She retorted, her voice just a little smug.
'Oh I don't I know it. Don't forget I gave you that title.' Gold added knowingly, his eyes widening.
'I believe my husband gave me the title actually.' Regina fixed her stare on Gold.
Gold's eyes flashed, his lips grinning 'Oh... don't play games with me Regina. The Duke had little to do with it, we both know that. It would be foolish to think I would forget that. Anyway' he resumed tinkering with the pocket watch, before continuing 'What is it you want?'
'I want to find a way to cut out my husband's daughter from his will, in fact I want her destitute.' A venomous streak in her voice, she gripped her hand into a fist.
'Isn't it enough that you married the poor girl's father?' Gold quipped.
'I would never have had to, if it wasn't for that vile little trollop.' Regina replied with a sneer.
'Isn't she a missionary?' Gold asked a flicker of amusement in his voice.
'So saintly... if only people knew what I had to endure because of her, they would not be so quick to lay malevolent comments at my door.' Regina eyes narrowed as she stared past Gold, her mind clearly lingering on her intended victim.
'Well dearie, I can see what I can to do, but you know what I want in return-' Gold raised his eyes again to take in the fiery Regina.
'-a favour. Yes I know how this is done.' Regina snapped.
'Well then, I am sure we can work something out.' Gold's voice mockingly cheerful.
'Good. Find a law, a story, a lie, I don't care, just a way to disgrace her, something she can't come back from. And soon, I can't bare the sight of her smug spoilt face. She is still in some ditch half way round the world at the moment, but she's back soon and I don't want her to be greeted with open arms.' Regina spat.
'Do you think her father will let her go so readily?' Gold queried. 'A parents love is hard to diminish despite your own history.' He added lightly.
Regina raised an eyebrow at his comment, 'Don't worry about him, I'll bring him round in the end.' The tone of her voice was less emotional and now sounded icier as it spoke. Gold had clearly hit a nerve when mentioning her past.
Gold was losing interest in what she had to say, and once again resumed his work on the watch,'As I said, I am sure I will think of something. I'll contact you by the usual method when I have an idea. Anyway is that all you want? Because I am very busy man.' Came the reply, a little impatient.
Regina raised an eye brow before she turned to leave and Gold lowered his gaze again.
'Oh! I almost forgot, I brought you something.' Regina spun round whilst pulling a newspaper from her the inside of her coat. She cast it down onto the glass counter.
On it was circled an article in the Society column;
Society Darling Lady French to Marry Mr G. Flount
In a surprising turn of events Lord French (owner of the major shipping company French, French & Co.) announced this week that his daughter was to marry his own right hand man Mr G. Flount. Many had expected to Lady Isabelle French start the season a free girl, but events changed this week. It is said that a lavish wedding ceremony will be held in just eight weeks time, suggesting that the marriage had been expected for quite some time. Lady French is set to bring a dowry of more £300,000.00. Mr Flount drank at his club on Thursday toasting champagne to his upcoming nuptials.
'Why would I care about some society wedding?' Questioned Gold, mild confusion dancing on his face.
'It's not the wedding that should interest you. It's the nuptial agreement.' Regina began to wander round the shop. 'I happen to know that Lord French is one of the worst gamblers in London, and he loses a small fortune each night, and when he has run out of money, he gives away shares in his company, which makes a lot of people who work for French very worried. Mr Flount has very generously offered to take the company off French's hands, on the day he marries his daughter, as a way of preserving the company. All he has to do is make sure daddy doesn't lose anymore of the company.' Regina finally turned and faced Gold, his face baring mild intrigue.
'Go on.' voiced Gold, his voice curious at Regina's information.
'Well with eight weeks left to play for, that could be a lot of shares for a man who knows his cards well.' Regina replied with all the innocence she could muster (very little at that.).
'You're a devious woman your Grace.' Gold grinned.
'I prefer calculated Mr Gold, it has a better ring to it.' She smiled cruelly. 'Anyway, think on my step-daughter problem, will you.' Regina turned and strode towards the door.
'Always a pleasure... Your grace' Smirked Gold.
'I'm sure it is Mr Gold, I'm sure it is.' And with that the bell tinkled and Gold was left alone still smiling whilst he stared down at the little circled article.
As much as he disliked Regina, he admired the way she thought, it was a similar way to him. She was not sentimental by any stretch of the imagination, she had the same way of being as her mother, more emotional, something, which Gold did not think did her any credit. He immediately cursed himself for remembering her, Cora, wretched woman, the last woman that would ever claim on his heart.
But enough – He had to think about what he was going to do with French – Easy money for the play – Yes this could be a very easy little handover if he was clever about it.