Mrs Nickleby lived at the neighbouring cottage in Saddleworth to the one that Victor Pendlebury was planning to buy. He brought Mavis Riley along to see it in June 1983 and Mrs Nickleby came out to see if they wanted anything and enquire as to when they would be moving in. She caused a dithering Mavis some consternation when she called her “Mrs Pendlebury” and realised that Victor’s suggestion that they live together without getting married wasn’t something she felt comfortable with.