A Sister's Shame (12 page)

Vesta was right. Their dream
was
coming true.

‘Are you all right, Ada?’ Elsie stuck her head round the door of Ada’s front room. She had knocked lightly, but had no reply. Chancing that Ada was in the
kitchen and couldn’t hear, she was surprised to find no one in the kitchen either.

‘Ada?’ she called more loudly, slowly making her way into the hall. Standing still for a moment, she called out again. After a few moments, Ada appeared from the bedroom.

‘I thought you might like a port and lemon, ducks.’

‘No, thanks, Elsie.’

‘Are you worried about your girls?’

Ada sunk her head. Elsie hurried along to where she stood. ‘Ada, you’ve been crying.’

‘No, I haven’t.’

‘Come and sit down.’ Elsie led her friend into the front room and drew her down onto the sofa. ‘Tell Elsie all about it.’

‘You know all about it. You’re the one person who does.’ Ada wiped her eyes with her handkerchief.

‘It was in the past, love, a long time ago.’

‘Not long enough, Elsie. I don’t want my daughters to be in danger.’

Elsie patted her hand. ‘Why should they be? Look, nothing you could say or do would have changed their minds about tonight. Your girls have got performing in their blood. If this
hadn’t happened sooner it would have later.’

‘The later the better, as far as I’m concerned. Oh, why did Hector keep on encouraging them?’

‘Because performing is in his blood too.’

‘But he was the one who . . . who . . .’ Ada gave a huge sob and closed her eyes. ‘Oh, Elsie, I’ve tried to forgive and forget. Well, I can forgive, but I can’t
forget.’

‘Is he up to his old tricks again? Is that why you’re so worried?’

Ada looked down to her lap. ‘Not as far as I know. But I’m always on edge wondering – wondering . . .’ She frowned into Elsie’s concerned gaze. ‘Hector is so
easily led. We know nothing about these two brothers, do we?’

‘But he’s with the girls, at least.’

‘That should make me feel better, but it doesn’t.’

‘He learned his lesson, Ada. No reason for something like what happened before to happen again.’

Ada sighed and looked into the distance. ‘All I ever wanted was my girls to find themselves decent husbands. Lead happy, normal lives with children and homes. Why do they have to be
different from everyone else?’

‘Because they
are
different, Ada,’ Elsie remarked. ‘They have class as well as talent, and you gave it to them.’

‘So it’s me that’s at fault, is it?’ Ada said bitterly.

‘No, love. Don’t twist me words. It’s just you can’t live their lives for them.’

Ada nodded sadly. ‘I was hoping Marie might bring home that young man from the Cubby Hole.’

‘She could do a lot worse, that’s true.’

‘But Teddy!’ Ada exclaimed. ‘There’s something about
him
that worries me.’

Elsie made no comment, for she felt the same. He had latched on to Vesta a little too quickly for Elsie’s liking. Set up that audition without letting Ada know. Now, if he was a decent
sort, he’d have gone and asked their mother first.

Elsie smiled at the memory of the girls as leggy seven-year-olds, sitting on the bench outside the pub, that first day Hector brought them to the East End. A right pair of little ragamuffins!
Didn’t look as though they or their mother had eaten a decent meal in a week! No wonder she’d offered Hector the rooms above the pub to tide them over. She couldn’t have lived
with her conscience if she’d not helped them out. And Hector being the double of her late husband, Joe, well, it hadn’t been difficult to take the little family under her wing. Perhaps
she had seen a reflection of herself and Joe, with the kids they’d never been lucky enough to have . . .

‘Elsie?’ Ada’s voice brought her back to the present.

‘Sorry, gel, I was off on one, then.’

Ada smiled weakly. ‘Look, it’s late. Off you go to bed.’

‘I was going to stay with you till they came home.’

‘No, don’t worry about me. I’ll send them in to you in the morning.’

Elsie nodded. She fancied a quick port before she went to bed. A good sherry or port made the perfect nightcap.

‘Goodnight, then, love.’ She kissed Ada’s cheek.

‘ ’Night, Elsie. And thanks.’

Elsie got up and left, closing the door quietly after her. She stood in the hall for a few seconds, glancing up the stairs to the rooms above and then back to the front door. She was about to go
into her rooms, when she heard the whisper of a soft voice.

Gradually the front door opened and Nina stepped in. She didn’t see Elsie at first. When she did, she gave a little gasp. ‘Oh, you’re still up, Mrs Goldberg.’

‘Hello, ducks.’

Nina’s expression was hidden under her long hair.

‘Late night at work, was it?’ asked Elsie casually. ‘’Spect you’re all in.’

Nina was about to reply when Elsie spotted a figure behind her. Nina followed her gaze. ‘Oh, er, you know my Uncle Ivor,’ Nina said hesitantly. ‘He saw me home as I missed the
bus.’

Elsie studied the short, well-dressed, bespectacled and balding man who she had seen once or twice before. He now seemed eager to depart and stepped backwards into the darkness.

‘Goodnight, Uncle.’

Elsie watched Nina close the door quickly. Had the young woman been going to take her uncle upstairs? But the house rule was, after ten, no guests were allowed.

Elsie felt sorry for this young girl, although Nina never gave very much of herself away. Like Teddy Turner, she was a model lodger. She was also a loner. Her only relative, it seemed, was this
strange little man whom she called Uncle Ivor. Elsie had no liking for him. She had a knack of weighing up people at a glance. And, usually, she wasn’t far wrong.

‘Well, I’m off to me bed,’ said Elsie pleasantly. ‘But I’ll warn you that Hector and the girls ain’t come in yet and there may be a bit of noise.’

‘Another visit to the Queen’s?’ said Nina softly.

‘No. As a matter of fact, the twins got a chance to sing and dance at the Duke’s. That club over Poplar way.’

Nina looked shocked. ‘I wouldn’t have thought they would like that sort of place—’ She looked awkward. ‘I mean, they are still very young to work in a—’
Once again she stopped, going red.

Elsie smiled. ‘Well, this club is supposed to be very posh.’

Nina nodded uncertainly. ‘Oh, I see.’

‘As I said, if you do hear anything, don’t worry. It’ll only be them. Goodnight, ducks.’

‘Goodnight, Mrs Goldberg.’

In her room, Elsie put her ear to the door. She heard Nina go up the creaky stairs, but she continued to listen for the front door. If that old sod tried to get in again, she’d catch him
in the act. But all was quiet, and after a while Elsie went to her late husband’s cocktail cabinet and took out a bottle of port.

She then made herself comfortable in Joe’s favourite chair, an old, chintzy relic that was worn on the arms, and the polished wooden frame had long ago lost its shine. In places, the
upholstery was quite threadbare. The seat had sunk a little too, but with a cushion spread there, and one at her back, it was as comfortable as a bed.

She sipped the mellow liquid and sighed deeply. Now what had that been all about with Nina? It was no business of hers, of course. Had Nina acted strange because she’d been caught in the
act? Bringing in a visitor after hours was understandable if it had been a young man. A kiss and cuddle with a boyfriend was only natural, and she wouldn’t blame Nina for trying. But an old
codger like him, even if he was her uncle . . .?

Elsie gave a shudder. She didn’t like that set-up at all. She didn’t want to admit to herself what she was really thinking. The girl couldn’t be on the game, could she? If she
was, she was hiding it well. But when the Duke’s was mentioned, Nina’s comment – that it wasn’t right for the twins – had struck Elsie as more worldly-wise than her
looks gave her credit for.

Elsie’s thoughts went to the future. If push came to shove and she ever found Nina trying it on under her roof, what would she do?

Elsie took another sip of her drink. A landlady always had trouble with her lodgers in one way or another. Some paid up, some didn’t. Some were noisy, dirty and drinkers. Others
couldn’t be bothered to give you the time of day. She’d had a few since Joe died. But her present residents were the best of the lot.

Coming to a decision, Elsie reckoned that if Nina followed the rules of the house and kept her business away from here, then that was all right by her. A living was hard enough to make these
days and some didn’t even bother to try. Even if the supposed Uncle Ivor paid for her rent, who was Elsie to judge anyone? Least of all a hard-working, quiet and decent sort who never said
boo to a goose. Besides which, she had a soft spot for the girl. And that counted for a lot with Elsie.

‘Everything turned out wonderful!’ Vesta hurried over to Ada who had fallen asleep on the couch. ‘Mum, we’ve got the job two nights a week.’

Marie sat on the other side of Ada. ‘Friday and Saturday. Teddy said Mr Scoresby was very pleased with us.’

Ada wiped her eyes with her knuckles. ‘What time is it?’

‘Not much past eleven.’ Vesta tugged off her coat and did a little dance. ‘You should have seen us, Mum. We sang “Falling In Love Again”, followed by “Million
Dollar Baby”. We were very nervous at first and couldn’t see a thing as the lights blinded us. But when we finished everyone clapped loudly.’

Marie knew Vesta was still on cloud nine and, as usual, was exaggerating. There had been a brief and rather weak applause, which had been very disappointing. But the dancers had said the
customers needed to get to know them.

‘So, you were successful.’ Ada’s voice was flat. ‘I’m very pleased for you both. But it’s very late hours to keep.’

Vesta shrugged. ‘The club doesn’t get going till ten. The dancers are on first, then it’s us. After us, the band plays and Teddy sings. Although we didn’t stop to listen
to him as we came home to see you.’

Ada blinked her tired eyes. ‘You sang with a band?’

‘Yes, three musicians, one playing the piano, another the drums and the third a bass.’

Ada nodded slowly. ‘What about your father?’

Marie glanced at the door. Hector was still in the hall. His evening hadn’t gone so well. They knew he was preparing himself to face Ada. When he walked in, he had a bright smile.
‘Hello, Ada, dear. There, you see, I returned your daughters safe and sound.’

He took off his black coat and folded it over his arm. ‘They sang and danced very well, I understand.’

‘Didn’t you see them perform?’

Hector cleared his throat. ‘No, Mr Scoresby had other work for me to see to.’

Everyone went silent. Marie looked at Vesta, who was lost in a world of her own.

‘What sort of work?’ Ada asked suspiciously.

‘This and that,’ Hector answered vaguely. ‘When one of the acts leaves I shall take their place. I’m in the wings until then and am quite prepared to start at the bottom
of the ladder.’ Hector smiled even wider under his moustache and, bracing his shoulders, he added, ‘The pay is very good, you’ll be pleased to hear. Two pounds and ten shillings
for only four nights a week.’

‘Have you accepted?’

‘Of course,’ said Hector, sounding surprised. ‘A regular job is what you’ve always wanted me to have. And I hope to make you proud of me again.’

They were all silent when he went into the kitchen to make cocoa. Finally Ada spoke. ‘I suppose you are going to tell me you will be paid good money, too?’

‘Yes,’ said Vesta proudly. ‘We get two pounds, and if we’re good enough, much more.’

‘So you’ll keep your jobs at the factory?’ Ada asked anxiously.

Marie glanced at Vesta. On the way home they had decided that if by Christmas they were still working at the club, they would leave Ellisdon’s. But neither of them wanted to tell Ada
that.

‘Don’t worry,’ said Vesta quickly. ‘We promise not to do anything rash.’

‘I hope not.’ Ada looked doubtful. Then turning her head towards the kitchen, she said in a whisper, ‘Perhaps things will work out for the best, after all.’

Marie couldn’t bring herself to tell Ada that she had seen Hector at the end of the long corridor, sweeping and clearing rubbish. His sleeves had been rolled up and he was mopping the
sweat from his brow. It was humiliating for a man like Hector, with all his acting experience, to be made to do such work.

‘I wish you could have been there tonight,’ said Vesta, encouraged by Ada’s remark. ‘You should have seen the other girls in their costumes. They’re called Bev,
Sal, Joanie and Rose. There was another girl too, Irene. But we didn’t see much of her. She was helping the barman, Pedro.’

Ada nodded, pushing herself up from the couch. ‘All this excitement has made me tired.’ She bent and kissed them both, cupping their faces in her hands. She gave a deep sigh.
‘Elsie was asking after you. I said you’d drop by tomorrow.’

‘We will,’ they said together, but it wasn’t long before they too were yawning.

‘Goodnight, Dad,’ they shouted.

‘Goodnight, my clever girls.’ Hector appeared from the kitchen. He drew them into his arms. Kissing the tops of their heads, he whispered, ‘Your mother and I are very proud of
you. I hope you know that.’

‘We do.’ They hugged him tight.

Marie knew they had two wonderful parents who cared about them. She hoped dearly that, in the weeks ahead, they could make them even prouder.

‘I’ve never been so happy,’ sighed Vesta as they lay in bed. ‘Tonight we sang with a band, something we’ve never done before. And those girls
seemed to like us.’

‘Yes,’ agreed Marie. ‘But they did give us strange looks.’

‘Because of our silly clothes,’ Vesta giggled. ‘With our old coats and no make-up we must have looked very old-fashioned. But soon we’ll have lovely clothes, new shoes,
and powder and lipstick.’

‘We can’t afford all that.’

‘With the money we earn, we will.’

‘Having two jobs won’t be easy,’ Marie reminded her sister. ‘Especially going to work at Ellisdon’s early on Saturday.’