“What can I do for you today, gentlemen?” he asked as we approached. I was surprised to hear him speak English to us without any prompt. Most people in the village had been accommodating of my lack of language skills but tended to fall back into their mother tongue if they weren’t speaking directly to me or were meeting me for the first time. Being greeted in English by a stranger felt both strange and exciting.
“I want to sell a ring,” I said, fishing for it in my pocket. I handed it over to him and he brought it up to his face.
“Nice. Weighty.” He put it in his mouth and bit it. “What do you want for it?”
“How about you tell us what you think it’s worth?” Gwyn shot back, not allowing the man to undersell us. I knew it was worth a couple of hundred pounds in my own time but I had no idea how that might translate to 19th-century Aberystwyth. Fifty pounds perhaps? That seemed like a good amount, and a lot given how many items I’d bought at the post office for pennies.
“Follow me,” he said, beckoning us over to one of the scales. He plopped the ring down on it and stroked his chin. “I’ll give you 14 pounds and sixpence.”
“Done,” Gwyn said before I had any chance to consider. My heart sank a little, unsure about whether or not I was getting a good deal, but I knew if he’d only offered one pound I still would have had to take it. I just had to hope I made my money’s worth.
“Are you sure that’s good?” I asked Gwyn as the man disappeared to the back of the shop again.
“You won’t get better,” he replied. “That’s nearly six months' wages.”
When he put it like that, I felt a little better about the deal.
“Here you go,” the shopkeeper said, returning to the scales. He handed me a small pile of coins and two large sheets of white paper filled with various squiggles and bits of writing, both with the word ‘five’ printed rather ornately in the bottom corner. I’d only ever been given coins to spend at the post office so seeing these notes, which looked as though he’d just written them out himself, was quite a surprise. They were so big compared to the fivers I knew from back home.
“Have a good day now,” he said, tipping his cap to us and then disappearing back to his treasures.
We left the shop and followed along the street until we reached another establishment labelled ‘Outfitters’ above the door.
“Go get yourself a coat. I’ll be back in ten minutes,” Gwyn said, ushering me into the shop before disappearing out of view.
Before I’d had a chance to wonder where he was going a heavy-set man with a beard came upon me to ask if I needed help.
“I’m looking for a coat,” I said, looking around the room. There was a section for suits along one wall, and trousers and shirts hung from railings on the other side, but I could see no sign of outerwear.
“This way, sir,” he said, leading me to the back near the counter and till. “I think this would suit you just splendidly.”
He reached through a rack and pulled out a long grey coat that had far more buttons than it needed. He held it up to me and it hung almost to my ankles.
“I was hoping for something a little shorter,” I said, causing him to eye me curiously. He reached for another, this time in brown, that reached my knees. I screwed my lips up and tilted my head looking at it. “Anything shorter?”
He let out a ‘hmph’ noise and moved to another rack. “We have this,” he said, pulling out a grey woollen jacket. “It’s a new style. Hasn’t really taken off.”
I took the jacket from him and tried it on, its warmth immediate. I walked to a small mirror against one of the walls and admired myself. The fit showed off my broad shoulders and tucked in at the waist, highlighting my shape, which had improved greatly with the manual labour on the farm and the flimsy meals I’d been eating.
“I’ll take it,” I said, not taking my eyes off myself. I did the buttons up halfway and turned again in the mirror, checking myself from all angles. “And I’ll need some socks, trousers and a new shirt. And a new waistcoat, too, please.”
The shopkeeper, excited about the prospect of my multiple purchases, set about gathering styles and sizes. It wasn’t until I was at the counter with a big pile of clothes that I suddenly became worried that I wouldn’t have enough money to pay.
“That’s two, two and one,” he said, handing me a paper bag filled with my items. I had no real idea what the numbers meant so I gave him one of the five-pound notes hoping it would be enough. He put it through the till and handed me enough change that I could have bought it all again. I thought back to all the money I’d spent on fashion over the years and suddenly wished I’d been sucked back in time sooner. I’d have saved a fortune.
“Got everything you need?” Gwyn asked as I exited the shop. He was leaning on the door frame smoking a cigarette, a small bag tucked under his arm.
“Did you?” I asked, motioning to his purchase.
“Just a little something for Mair,” he said. “Are you hungry? I’m starving.”
I’d skipped breakfast that morning and my stomach was rumbling from the lack of food. I nodded and he smiled, motioning for me to follow him.
“We come here every time we’re in the city. They have the best cakes.”
We stopped outside a shop just up from the outfitters and the smell wafting out from inside was incredible. Through the window, I could see trays and trays of candies and sweets, cakes and chocolates. I put my hands on the glass and pushed my face right up to it, savouring every sight and smell.
“You are allowed in, you know,” a woman called from behind the counter inside. Gwyn was already halfway in and followed him through the door.