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‘You can’t let what’s going on in the world stop you doing what you enjoy,’ she had said. ‘For me, that’s buying nice clothes. No, don’t wrinkle your nose like that. If you don’t want to buy anything yourself, I shan’t make you, but do me the favour of coming along and telling me what suits me best.’
Gwen had recognised this was simply a ruse, as nobody knew what suited Miriam better than Miriam herself. Now she glanced at her friend, beautifully turned out in a lilac skirt with matching light cotton jacket over a cream blouse with a delicate lace collar. She had kept her figure and it was hard to believe she had an adult son. Other women might have been jealous, but Gwen was happy for her, as she knew it mattered to Miriam that she looked smart. She had her role to play as the wife of a successful businessman. Also, she simply loved clothes.
‘I’m sure this little summer coat will come in useful,’ she said happily, patting the bag on her lap. ‘And how lucky that they had a scarf to go with it. You could have got one as well, Gwen.’
Gwen laughed. ‘Where would I wear it? Teaching first aid? I don’t think so.’
‘You’d wear it for the pure pleasure of it,’ Miriam laughed. ‘I always feel better when I have a nice scarf. It can make or break an outfit, you know.’
Gwen raised her eyebrows. ‘I’m sure it can. Just not one of mine.’ She glanced down at her plain grey skirt and serviceable beige blouse, which she’d run up from material she’d found at Ridley Road market.
‘Yes, even yours.’ Miriam tapped her on the arm. ‘Something in dark green would lift it. I have something I could lend you if you like.’
Gwen shook her head. ‘Thank you, but it would be wasted on me. You keep it. You’ll enjoy it more.’
They fell silent as they passed the shop fronts of Tottenham Court Road. There were still goods to buy but not as many as this time last year. There was an unspoken air of people going shopping while they still could. It was partly why Gwen had come. Even if she didn’t want anything, it was still a spectacle, and she didn’t know if or when she would be able to do so again. Like so many Londoners she was filled with a sense of deep foreboding.
A young couple got on and sat a few seats in front of them. The young man wore the uniform of the RAF, and the girl looked as if she had been crying as her eyes were red and puffy. She clung to his arm and looked imploringly up into his face. They were too far away for Gwen to hear what they were saying, but it wasn’t hard to guess.
She caught Miriam’s gaze.
Miriam shifted in her seat. ‘Did I tell you what I have decided to do?’
‘I don’t think so.’
Miriam nodded in determination. ‘I’m joining the WVS.’
‘The Women’s Voluntary Services?’
‘Yes, exactly.’ Miriam’s face was serious. ‘I am tired of hearing the news and feeling I’m doing nothing.’
‘But you’re always so busy,’ Gwen pointed out. ‘You’ve opened your house to families escaping Hitler.’
Miriam shrugged. ‘The families are no trouble – this new couple don’t have children, and they see to themselves most of the time. I have plenty of spare hours and I want to do something worthwhile with them. They need people who are organised and prepared to turn their hand to anything, so I thought I might fit in.’
‘Well, I should think they’d welcome you with open arms,’ Gwen said decisively. ‘You must let me know how you get on. If I can help, I will, but I won’t be able to join full time or anything like that. We’re going to be even busier from now on.’
‘Really?’ Miriam asked. ‘Do you know something I don’t about what’s happening over in France or Germany?’
Gwen realised her friend had misunderstood. ‘No, I meant at the home. We’re taking on two more newly qualified district nurses. These ones are Irish. They start as soon as we can sort out their accommodation.’
Miriam looked surprised. ‘I thought your home was full?’
‘It is,’ said Gwen, ‘but the woman who owns one of the flats next door has told us she’s going to live with her sister, and she’s given us first refusal on renting it from her. Fiona says we’d be silly to turn down the chance. It’s only small but it has two rooms. They don’t need a living room, as they can share our common room and canteen. It’s ideal, even if highly irregular. I don’t say I approve of bending the rules like that but, as long as Fiona’s happy, who am I to say no? She’s in charge.’
Miriam nodded in assent. ‘These aren’t normal times, are they? I could be wrong and I hope I am, but you might need every pair of hands available soon.’
Gwen stared out of the window, as the bus went past Sadler’s Wells. ‘I’d love you to be wrong, I really would,’ she said, ‘but I have a horrible feeling you aren’t.’
CHAPTER FOUR (#ulink_a6c8d656-fade-5533-912a-d73c6797743b)
‘Look, there’s Billy,’ said Peggy, tugging on Edith’s arm as they rounded the corner to the Duke’s Arms. ‘Doesn’t he walk well now? You’d never think he’d been in that awful accident before Christmas, would you?’
Edith waved as Billy glanced along the street and saw the group of young women. ‘That’s nice, we can go in with him,’ she said. Once she wouldn’t have thought twice about going into a pub on her own, but that was when she had been young and carefree. Meeting Harry had steadied her – that and a year of district nursing. ‘He was lucky, though,’ she went on. ‘His leg has healed properly and he doesn’t have a trace of a limp. If he’d got an infection it would have been a different story.’
Belinda, walking just behind them with Mary, joined in. ‘Why? What happened?’
‘Oh, of course, it was before you came,’ said Edith. ‘Billy saw a car careering out of control down the high road and heading straight for a woman and her baby in a pram, so he threw them all into a doorway and saved their lives. The car hit him and broke his leg. Alice was the first nurse on the scene and she said it could all have been so much worse if he hadn’t been there.’
‘Goodness.’ Belinda looked with respect at the young man now walking towards them. ‘He must be very brave.’
Peggy nodded. ‘He wanted to join up but he’s got flat feet. Just as well, though, or he wouldn’t have been walking along at just the right time, and Kath and little Brian would be dead.’
‘Oh, so you know the woman?’ Belinda asked.
‘Yes, she’s our friend. She was all shook up about it but wasn’t really hurt. A few cuts and bruises, that was that. Now we all think Billy’s a hero. And he went over on one of them little boats to Dunkirk.’
‘Did he?’ said Belinda, her eyes glinting with interest.
Billy tugged at the lapels of his jacket as he strode towards the women. ‘Evening, ladies.’ He grinned broadly. ‘What a lovely evening it is an’ all. How you doing, Peggy?’ he asked his old friend with concern.
‘Not so bad, Billy.’ Peggy smiled gamely, pushing her hand through her light brown hair. ‘Me and Edie thought it was time we showed our faces in public again, and we brought along Mary – you know each other, don’t you? – and this is Belinda.’
‘Pleased to meet you,’ said Billy, offering his hand, which Belinda shook. ‘Are you a nurse too?’
‘I am,’ said Belinda. ‘I’ve been at the same home as Edith and Mary since January, but I’ve never been to the Duke’s Arms before.’
‘Well, you’re in for a treat,’ Billy promised. ‘I arranged to meet a couple of mates from the docks and they’re bringing some others, so we’ll make a proper night of it.’ He waved his arm to usher them forward, then dropped back to speak to Edith in a quiet voice. ‘You all right, Edie? Not too soon to come out after … well, you know?’
Edith took a deep breath. In all honesty she was feeling rather shaky, but she was determined not to show it. She didn’t want to ruin her friends’ evening out. ‘No, I’m doing well, thanks, Billy,’ she said as steadily as she could. ‘I’ll take it easy, and if I feel like going home before the others then I will. But thank you for asking.’
Billy nodded solemnly. ‘I’ll walk you back if you like.’
Edith smiled at him in gratitude. ‘We’ll see how we go.’
Billy’s colleagues were gathered around a wooden table and bench in the beer garden, taking advantage of the warmth of the evening sun. He hurried to make the introductions. ‘This is Ronald, and this is Kenny,’ he said. ‘We were all down the same warehouse this morning and they fancied seeing my neck of the woods.’
‘Didn’t tell us that you had such lovely lady friends, though,’ said Ronald, the taller one, with a kindly face. ‘Kept that under your hat, you did, Billy.’
Peggy stepped forward a little. ‘We didn’t tell him we was coming,’ she said. ‘We kept it as a surprise, though we thought he would be here.’
Edith watched her friend with a hint of amazement. She herself was in no mood for talking pertly to a group of strange men, even if they were Billy’s mates. She couldn’t imagine flirting with anyone ever again. But perhaps this was Peggy’s way of coping.
‘Then we’re lucky twice over,’ smiled Ronald. ‘And this here’s my brother, Alfie. He’s not one of us from the warehouse, as you can see.’ He indicated a man with tightly cropped sandy hair, in Royal Air Force uniform, who turned to acknowledge the newcomers.
‘Hello,’ he said, and his voice was pure East End, just like his brother’s. ‘Yes, got a spot of leave so came to see my kid brother. Brought along my mate Laurence, as he’s so far from home.’
Another man turned to the group, his uniform jacket over his arm. ‘Hello, ladies,’ he said, his accent immediately marking him out. ‘Thanks for brightening our evening.’
Mary perked up. ‘I say, are you Canadian?’
Laurence’s eyes crinkled in appreciation. ‘Got it in one. Must say I’m impressed. Most folks think I’m from the States.’
‘Oh, it was a lucky guess,’ said Mary.
Edith smiled to herself. Before her colleague had met Charles, she had been extremely keen on going dancing to meet Canadians. She could see that this particular Canadian liked Mary’s attention – but then, plenty of men took notice of her friend’s curves.
‘Where are you stationed?’ asked Belinda.
Billy and Edith looked sharply at her. Everyone knew that it was best to say as little in public as possible when it came to such matters, as you never knew who might be listening. There was even a new poster out from the government, warning that ‘Careless Talk Costs Lives’. Belinda registered their disapproval and hastily explained. ‘I mean, my brother is in the RAF and I know it’s a long shot but maybe you know him. He was meant to be in London this weekend and I was looking forward to seeing him, but he wasn’t able to make it in the end.’
Edith noted with relief that she hadn’t said why. A call had come through to say his leave had been cancelled. Gwen had been cross that the home’s single telephone had been used for a personal message, but their superintendent, Fiona, ruled that it was allowable in such circumstances as long as the message was kept brief.
‘Suppose we might. What’s his name?’ asked Laurence.
‘David. David Adams,’ Belinda replied, but both men shook their heads.
‘But if we bump into him in the future we’ll say we met you,’ offered Alfie, picking up on her disappointment.
She shrugged, and her tight black curls caught the evening sun. ‘I know it was a bit unlikely,’ she said. Rallying again, she turned to Laurence. ‘So, where have you visited so far?’
He smiled easily and even Edith admitted to herself he was very good-looking. ‘Well, my mother’s from Scotland and so when I first got here I went to see my long-lost relatives up near Edinburgh. But for the rest of the time I’ve been down south. Alfie here took me to Brighton yesterday but it wasn’t how we imagined it.’
‘No,’ said Alfie. ‘For a start you aren’t allowed on the beach now. Even the streets near the sea have a curfew, so you can’t go down the seaside pubs after nine thirty. Put a bit of a kybosh on our plans.’
Peggy patted her hair. ‘All the more reason to enjoy tonight then,’ she suggested.
Billy met Edith’s gaze behind their friend’s back, and gave her a quizzical look. Edith gave him a little shrug. She didn’t know what Peggy’s game was either, but this wasn’t turning out to be the quiet night out she’d foreseen.
Laurence and Alfie offered to get in a round of drinks. Edith didn’t mind that; she only wanted half a shandy, and it was well known that the RAF men generally weren’t short of a bob or two. Peggy ordered a port and lemon, while Mary and Belinda chose lemonade.
‘They seem nice,’ Peggy said, coming over to her. ‘Makes a change, seeing new faces in here. Usually it’s full of people I’ve been to school with, or at least their brothers and sisters.’
‘Yes, but that’s why I like it,’ said Edith. ‘Not that I was at school with them all but … well, you know, Harry was, and so I felt like I had this new group of friends to count on. It was never like that where I came from.’
Peggy bit her lip. ‘I know. I’m only having a bit of fun. You don’t mind, do you? It feels as if I’ve been sitting in Pete’s mum’s front room for ever. It was driving me nuts. It’s a real breath of fresh air coming here again.’
Edith recognised that Peggy was dealing with her grief in a very different way, but didn’t want to blame her. ‘Of course not. I’m just not feeling very chatty yet. It’s nice to be out, so don’t mind me if I’m a bit quiet.’
Peggy’s face broke into a big smile. Then the RAF men returned and she hurried over to help hand round the glasses. She took her own and raised it. ‘Cheers!’ she said, beaming at Alfie and Laurence, then knocked back half of the gleaming purple drink in one go. ‘To having fun.’
‘Blimey,’ said Billy under his breath, yet loud enough that Edith heard, while Laurence raised his own pint and said, ‘To a fine evening, in the best city in England!’
‘To the best bit of the best city in England!’ said Peggy, and knocked back the rest of the port and lemon.
After a couple of hours, Edith was more than ready to go home. She’d tried her best, keeping up her end of the conversation when one of the others spoke to her, but it was an effort and her heart wasn’t in it. After a while she drifted to the edge of the group and watched them rather than joining in. Billy’s friends seemed nice enough, but she wasn’t remotely interested in getting to know them any better. What would be the point? She’d probably never see them again anyway.
Peggy, however, continued to accept the port and lemons, which the RAF men obligingly bought her, and to drink them down as if there was no tomorrow. Her voice grew louder and she laughed at everything they said, playing with her hair or shaking it loose around her shoulders. Edith was slightly shocked. She was no prude, but it was no time at all since Pete had died, and here was Peggy behaving as if she hadn’t a care in the world.
Mary detached herself from the conversation she’d been having with Ronald and Kenny and came over. ‘You all right, Edie? You’ve gone quiet.’
Edith grinned awkwardly. ‘Just tired.’
Mary nodded. ‘Me too. Shall we go?’
Edith nodded, grateful that Mary had made the suggestion. As a point of pride she hadn’t wanted to say anything, but the light was beginning to fade and she wasn’t keen to stumble back in the blackout. Besides, she simply didn’t have any energy left to socialise. She longed for her bed in her little attic room, where she wouldn’t have to speak to anyone.
‘Would you mind?’ she said.
‘Not a bit. I’ll see what Belinda wants to do.’
After a brief chat with Belinda, and a word or two with Billy, Mary came back and told Edith: ‘Belinda wants to stay longer, but Billy said he’d make sure she gets back all right. I’ve said goodbye on your behalf, so we can leave whenever you like.’
Edith sighed with relief. ‘Let’s go right now. No point in hanging around. Thanks, Mary.’ She shrugged into her bolero and drew it around her. ‘Come on, we can go out the back way.’ She linked her arm through her friend’s and they quietly made their way through the gate into the little lane behind the beer garden – where once Harry had led her, the night she’d realised he was the only man for her.
At breakfast the next morning, Belinda was last down, almost missing the porridge. Edith, who had been chatting to Alice, waved her over. ‘How was the rest of last night?’ she asked. ‘Did Billy walk you home like he said he would?’
Belinda looked guilty. ‘Yes, but I lost track of time and I missed the curfew. I didn’t realise it was after ten o’clock until he looked at his watch. I had to sneak past the front door and hope nobody was watching. I remembered what you used to do, though, and found the loose fence panel. I almost ripped my skirt getting through the gap – I’d hate to think what would have happened if I’d been any bigger. Mary said she’d leave a window open just in case and so I climbed in that way.’
Edith grinned. ‘Good job you’re so tall. I always needed help to reach the windowsill. I’d have been completely stuck on my own.’
‘I scraped my knee as it was,’ Belinda said ruefully. ‘Still, it was worth it. I really enjoyed myself and it took my mind off David. I’m trying not to think about what he’s doing, you see.’
Edith and Alice nodded in sympathy, although Alice had no brothers and sisters, and Edith wasn’t close to any of her brothers in the way Belinda evidently was.
‘Billy’s ever so nice, isn’t he?’ Belinda went on. ‘He had to come out of his way to bring me back. I assumed he must live near here when he offered but, no, his house is in the opposite direction, yet he swore he didn’t mind.’
Edith agreed. ‘He’s one of the kindest people I know. That’s typical of him.’ She watched Belinda with curiosity. Was there something more than friendly appreciation behind what she’d said? Had Billy taken her fancy? Belinda had never talked about a boyfriend so perhaps it was possible. Edith decided not to mention the complication of Kathleen.
‘Anyway, Peggy certainly seemed to enjoy herself,’ Belinda continued. ‘She and that Canadian airman got on like a house on fire. I think she’s going to see him again.’
Alice raised her eyebrows in surprise. ‘Really? Isn’t that a bit soon?’
Edith pulled a face. ‘Well, I’d have thought so, but if that’s her way of getting over Pete then I don’t suppose we can blame her. Perhaps it’s just a bit of fun.’
‘What’s he like?’ Alice asked.
‘Very good-looking,’ Belinda said at once. ‘Dark hair, dark eyes, easy to talk to. Generous as well – he bought everyone drinks all night.’
‘Yes, you couldn’t fault him for that,’ Edith agreed, remembering all the port and lemons Peggy had had.
Alice picked up on the tone of her friend’s voice. ‘But what? Didn’t you like him, Edie?’
‘No, it’s not that.’ Edith stopped to think about her impressions of Laurence. Everything Belinda said was true, and yet there was something about him she hadn’t warmed to. Was it the way he had eyed up Mary when they’d arrived? Then again, she was hardly in the mood to start taking an interest in men. ‘I’m just being silly, pay me no notice. I didn’t really speak to him enough to say either way.’
Alice glanced at her sceptically but Belinda didn’t see. ‘Well, I thought he was a bit of a catch. I don’t suppose he’ll be around for long, though. They’re based down on the south coast somewhere, so they’re bound to go back there soon and that’ll be that.’
Edith got up, clearing her plate and cup. ‘I expect you’re right.’ But she couldn’t shake that faint feeling of unease.
