Alice had not always known that her husband was a drunkard and gambler but the realisation came about quite quickly after their wedding; in the long year that they had been married he had often come home late from the inn drunk and penniless. She could only be glad they had not yet had children as there was scarcely enough food to feed the two of them as he lost more often than he won.
But lately a darker mood had settled upon him, he was often bad tempered and threatening and if she dared to ask how bad the monetary situation was he would become downright nasty so she had never pressed him on the matter but then one night he came home in a worse mood than ever before gathered what few belongings he had not yet gambled away and was gone.
The house they had lived in was her uncle's so would be unaffected by her husband's debts so Alice for the main part mostly felt relief at her husband's disappearance knowing that she could make enough of a living on the small amount of money she made by taking in laundry and sewing.
Late one night as Alice sat in candle light by the fire making alterations to a dress belonging to the butcher's wife considering what cut of meat a good job might earn her she was startled by the hammering on the door.
Jumping up in alarm Alice dashed across the room throwing open the door panicking at what kind of emergency might have brought someone to be hammering on the door to her cottage with such ferocity only to lay eyes on two large gruff looking men.
As she stood at the door spluttering in shock one of the men pushed past her and stalked to the fire to warm himself while the other stepped inside and closed the door behind him and just stood there leering down at her as if he was a tiger about to pounce.
'Where is your husband' growled the man by the fire 'he apparently hasn't been seen at the inn for nigh on a week now'
'He's gone' Alice replied simply
'Well it appears he has left us with a slight dilemma, him disappearing like that with none to look to for his debts but his wife' said the man
The other man grunted as he looked around the cottage parlour seeing that quite clearly that Alice had nothing of value and nowhere near enough money to clear even a reasonable portion of her husband's debts.
'Who are you men to just waltz into my house and poke your nose in my belongings' Alice questioned trying to keep the quaver from her voice as she batted the other mans hands from her sewing basket.
'I'm sorry madam it seems we forgot to introduce ourselves; I'm Mr. Markus langburry money lender and debt collector and this inquisitive gentleman is my employee Mr. Shamus raffety 'he replied giving a slight bow and producing his business card.
'It would appear that your husband has left you in quite a bind but however some sort of agreement will have to be brokered' with these words a chilling smile spread across Mr. langburry face turning Alice's blood to ice.
'Well i can pay you a little each week until the debt is cleared' Alice suggested hopefully
'I'm afraid, madam that won't be enough at this late stage in the proceedings but perhaps there is a rather more satisfactory solution'
His gaze travelled from her face and her red hair down to her ample breasts ,down further to her slender waist then once again his gaze met hers leaving no room for misunderstanding.
'Mr. raffety it would appear necessary for my business here to detain me longer than expected, please return to the inn and give our usually eager clientele my sincerest apologies I'm sure they will be more than happy to deal with you in my stead'
'Yes sir, I'm sure you'll be sadly missed' shamus raffety replied with an ironic smirk as he slipped out the door closing it firmly behind himself.
'Now madam to my proposed business arrangement am lacking of a considerable sum of money in your husband's absence which now falls to you to pay. as you are in no position financially to reimburse me my loss then the debt will have to be earned and as I'm in no need of a washer woman or a Taylor then it would be another type of service I would be expectant of, if you catch my meaning.'
'i think i catch your meaning quite clearly sir' Alice retorted with distain.
'but firstly we will have to set a few rules, the first being that that tone will not be acceptable although the form of address quite so'. He said making himself comfortable in the chair by the fire.