A Sister's Shame (13 page)

‘Joanie said we need new songs,’ Vesta said thoughtfully. ‘You’ll have to ask lover boy for more music’

This woke Marie up. ‘I can’t ask favours from Bing. I’ve told him I don’t want to see him.’

‘He’s mad keen on you.’

Marie stared into the darkness. ‘I don’t want to lead him on.’

Vesta turned over. ‘You know you like him.’

‘He’s just a friend.’

‘I saw your face when Teddy said something about him.’

‘Teddy was very unkind.’

Vesta gave a long sigh. ‘Listen, just ask him the next time we meet. You don’t have to marry the man.’ She glanced at Marie and adopted a more persuasive tone. ‘I’m
sure he would be the first in line to offer his help, if he knew what you needed.’

‘Do you think so?’

‘Yes, I’m sure of it. That’s the kind of nice person he is.’

‘Well, yes, he is nice.’

‘There, so we both agree and our problem is solved,’ Vesta said with a contented sigh. ‘Now, sleep tight, little songbird.’ She kissed Marie’s cheek and was soon
snoring softly.

Marie stayed awake, lost in thought. Although she was almost persuaded that Bing would be eager to help, she wasn’t as certain as Vesta that this was the plan to follow.

The next morning they told Elsie all that had happened. Elsie hugged them and congratulated them, but they didn’t stay long. They wanted to practise.

But Marie was disappointed when, after an hour or so, Vesta flopped down on the bed. ‘We can’t keep going over these two songs.’

‘We’ll have to, until we learn something else.’

Vesta looked up with serious eyes. ‘Next week, you’ll have to ask lover boy.’

‘Don’t call him that.’ Marie sat down on the bed and folded her arms. Neither of them spoke. Marie knew Vesta was unhappy at not getting her way.

‘You’ll ruin our chances,’ sulked Vesta, flouncing out of the room.

The next day on their way home from work, Marie hurried past the dock gates. Vesta dawdled, deliberately stopping to look in. Marie didn’t want to see Bing and Charlie. She couldn’t
let Bing think she liked him, when it was only to get something from him.

When Friday came round, once again, Vesta was a bag of nerves. Hector had already started at the club and this was his third night.

‘What’s it been like at the Duke’s, Dad?’ Marie asked as they made their way to the club on Friday night. ‘Have you met anyone famous?’

‘No, not yet.’

‘What exactly is your role there?’ Marie chanced to ask.

‘The brothers don’t want any riffraff. I stand at the entrance sometimes and see who comes in.’ He hurried them on. ‘Listen, I’ll meet you girls afterwards in Duke
Street,’ he said as they entered the basement and a curtain of cigarette and cigar smoke engulfed them.

The same thrill of excitement was in the air as they made their way across to the door beside the bar. The club was busy; they could hear all the talking and laughing, and the bar was surrounded
by drinkers. Hector led the way down the long passage, disappearing at the end through another door.

The girls walked into the dressing room, which was in a state of chaos as the girls raced round, getting dressed. They were putting on their costumes, blue velvet ones, with golden tassels on
the bodices, and placing blue feathers in strategic places.

‘You’re wearing those dreadful coats again,’ Bev said, without greeting them, turning her back to the mirror and giving her tassels a shake.

‘We’re going to buy new ones when we get paid,’ Marie said, quickly slipping off her coat.

‘I should think so too. What about make-up?’

Vesta went pink. ‘We haven’t got any.’

‘Well, use mine, in that box there. Put it on like we showed you. Sorry there’s no time to talk but we’re due on a little earlier tonight.’

‘That’s all right.’ Marie slid off her coat and made sure to keep out of the girls’ paths as they rushed here and there. She and Vesta huddled together in front of the
mirror.

‘You going to sing different songs?’ asked Joanie, who suddenly seemed to notice them.

‘No, the same ones,’ said Vesta, sounding cross. ‘We didn’t manage to get any new music.’

‘Perhaps we can ask the band,’ said Marie hopefully.

‘Doubt they’ll let you have it free,’ called Bev with a grin as she picked up a feather fan. ‘The price might be too steep for you, if you know what I mean.’

All the girls laughed.

Marie blushed again, but Vesta was still looking angry.

‘My sister has a friend who might help, but she won’t ask.’

‘More fool you, then, ducks,’ said Rose, frowning at Marie. ‘All’s fair in love and war. And I warn you, if you want to survive in this business, it’s mainly
war.’

‘Cheer up,’ said Bev with a grin, ‘you might not have new songs, but you can have new costumes. Help yourselves.’

‘Try these, they’re the same size and colour,’ said Joanie, bundling two red silk dresses in the twins’ arms. ‘But you’d better hurry as time’s marching
on.’

They struggled into the red dresses and when Marie looked into the mirror, she was disappointed. The bodice was cut low over her breasts and the sparkling sequins made it look cheap. The skirt
was too short and barely covered her thighs, so that when she moved it rode up. If this happened when they danced, it would be a case of trying to pull it down to look decent.

When Teddy’s knock came, the girls rushed out.

‘This dress doesn’t feel right,’ complained Marie as Vesta twirled in hers. ‘We won’t be able to dance properly without everyone seeing our knickers.’

‘Don’t be daft, we’re performers,’ said Vesta distractedly as she played with the tiny red sequins. ‘Look how these sparkle and attract attention.’

‘Mum wouldn’t approve,’ said Marie doubtfully.

‘Mum’s not here to see us.’ Vesta had a big smile on her face as she posed in the mirror. ‘I love mine!’

Very soon the dancers came bundling back, laughing and chattering. Marie’s heart was pounding behind her ribs as she and Vesta hurried up the steps to the back of the stage.

As they were singing ‘Falling In Love Again’, Marie felt uncomfortable. The red costume was tight and too low at the neckline. When it came to their ‘Million
Dollar Baby’ dance routine, they couldn’t perform their steps properly. When they ended, there were only jeers and whistles.

As they came off the stage, Marie felt her cheeks burning with embarrassment, and when they walked into the dressing room Teddy was standing there. He didn’t see them as they stood at the
door.

‘No one told you to dress them up like tarts,’ Teddy was shouting at Joanie.

Marie wanted to drop through the floor. She had never felt so humiliated. So they had looked like tarts!

Teddy whipped round and glared at Marie and Vesta. ‘Get those costumes off,’ he yelled angrily. ‘And take that stuff off your faces too. You’re lucky Mr Scoresby
didn’t sack you on the spot.’

Marie felt Vesta tremble beside her. When he strode past them and banged the door, Vesta burst into tears.

All the girls gathered round. ‘Don’t cry, love. He’s had a rollicking from Wally, that’s all.’

Vesta sobbed loudly. ‘But it wasn’t our fault.’

‘I know, and I owned up,’ Joanie admitted at once, her cheeks the colour of her red hair. ‘I just thought the dresses were the same size and would fit. Didn’t give much
thought to them making you look like—’ She stopped and faltered. ‘Well . . . too old.’

‘You are a stupid mare,’ accused Bev angrily. ‘You could have got us all into a lot of trouble.’ She patted Vesta’s shoulder. ‘Don’t worry, Wally
won’t hold you responsible. That was just a threat on Teddy’s part.’

‘I told you, it’s mostly war in this game,’ said Rose as she unlaced the front of her costume. ‘You two will have to toughen up if you want to stay in the business. You
may have got on the wrong side of Wally tonight, but he didn’t sack you, be thankful for that.’ She looked at the other three girls. ‘Wally never asked us to help out with these
kids. Let’s hope Teddy manages to smooth things over.’

Marie looked at the four girls and was shocked to find they all wore the same expressions. Was it fear in their faces?

‘It’s not fair,’ Vesta kept on mumbling as they unhooked one another and slid off the scarlet dresses and stockings.

‘We should have had more sense,’ Marie insisted.

‘We’ll keep our noses out of your business,’ Bev called across the room. ‘Wally obviously wants you to keep the innocent look. Anyway, take no notice. Wally and Teddy can
blow hot and cold. You just have to go along with it.’

Vesta sniffed. ‘Teddy’s never shouted at me before. He’s always been so nice.’

‘You’ll learn a lot about human nature in this place, love,’ said Joanie as she took off her feathered headdress and flopped down on a chair.

As they looked in the mirror and wiped their faces with grease, Marie saw the other girls behind them. They were talking in whispers. She couldn’t hear what they were saying, but she
guessed they were talking about them.

The look on their faces when Teddy had shouted at them had not escaped Marie. Yes, it was definitely fear she had seen in their eyes.

Work the next day came hard. The twins were put in the cutting room and made to complete a large order that had to be finalized that morning. The air was full of dust and
debris, the noise of the machines sounded deafening. When they clocked off, they both had sore throats.

‘This isn’t a good start to our career,’ Vesta complained as they began to walk home. ‘First those dresses and now me throat is so dry I don’t think I can
sing.’

‘We’ll gargle with salt water and soon feel better,’ Marie tried to encourage as they approached the dock gates. She felt dispirited after last night’s events. Her
confidence had fallen to an all-time low. She wasn’t looking forward to returning to the club that evening.

‘I wanted to hear Teddy sing last night,’ Vesta continued to complain, dragging her feet. Her shoulders looked as though she carried the weight of the world on them. ‘But I
couldn’t wait to get out of there.’

‘I’m just glad our dad never saw us in those dresses.’

‘Do you think he likes standing at the club’s front door?’ Vesta asked gloomily.

Marie hadn’t said that she’d seen him sweeping up. She hoped that was just an exception. ‘Mr Scoresby told him the job is important.’

‘But it’s only keeping out the riffraff—’ Vesta stopped, staring straight ahead. ‘Well, look who it is. Lover boy and his daft pal.’

Marie’s heart sank. Bing and Charlie were coming out of the dock gates.

‘Our luck has changed.’ Vesta straightened her shoulders and smiled, patting her curls into place. ‘This is the chance to get our music’

Marie glared at Vesta. ‘We can’t do that.’

‘Not “we”, but
you.
He’ll do anything you say.’

‘No,’ said Marie resolutely, beginning to panic.

‘Why not?’ Vesta clutched her arm. ‘Oh, please, Marie. All you have to do is ask nicely. I’ll keep Charlie occupied while you do it.’

‘Hello, girls,’ said Charlie as they approached.

‘Hello,’ said Vesta in a flirtatious manner.

‘Nice day, ain’t it?’ said Charlie, smiling.

‘Which way are you going?’ asked Vesta, which made Marie want to curl up and die.

‘Your way,’ said Charlie. The smile on his face was so wide it showed up under all the grime.

Vesta slipped her hand through his arm. ‘Come on then, handsome.’

Bing stared after them, then turned to Marie. ‘What’s up with your sister?’

‘She’s just being friendly.’ Marie blushed.

Bing gave a puzzled frown but then said, ‘I saw your dad at the Cubby Hole. He was celebrating your success at the Duke’s.’

‘It’s only twice a week,’ Marie shrugged. ‘Not like a full-time job.’

‘So you’re going to become a big star?’

She blushed again. ‘I don’t know about that.’

‘If I’d had any sense I would have kept me trap shut about the club,’ Bing said regretfully. ‘That way you might not have turned me down.’

Marie began to smile. ‘I said I wanted to be friends.’

The September sun streamed through his hair, making it look like bristles of gold. ‘Did you sing them songs I gave to Elsie?’

‘Yes, thank you. They were very good.’

‘Would it put me back in your good books if I got you some more?’

Marie felt he was reading her thoughts and felt guilty. ‘You don’t have to do that.’

‘It’s the least I can do. I’ve got lots of music at home. Shall I bring a couple round?’

Marie lowered her head. ‘That would be nice.’

He slung his jacket over his shoulder. ‘And if you see my mate, remind him he’s got a girlfriend already, will you?’

Marie watched him walk off. She was disappointed he hadn’t offered to walk her home. Had she hurt his feelings again when she had said he needn’t give them any more songs? Would he
really call round?

She began to walk home, considering carefully what she was going to tell Vesta.

‘Did you ask?’ Vesta was eager to know after she had sent Charlie off.

‘Not exactly.’

‘What? After all the time I spent on Charlie?’

‘You’ve never shown any interest in him before.’

‘And I’m not interested now,’ Vesta replied in a huff.

‘I didn’t ask, because I didn’t have to,’ Marie said after a long and awkward pause. ‘Bing offered himself.’

‘He did?’ Vesta threw her arms around Marie. ‘I told you! He’s really crazy about you.’

Marie waited until Vesta let her go. Her sister’s mood had changed and her eyes were gleaming and bright. ‘What song are we getting?’

‘We’ll have to wait and see.’

‘Did you tell him how important it is?’ Vesta pressed.

‘I didn’t have to. And besides, he has lots at home, gathering dust.’

Vesta jumped up and down and clapped. ‘All our problems are solved!’ She slipped her arm through Marie’s. ‘When can we have them?’

Marie decided to change the subject. ‘Vesta, I hope you’ll remember Charlie has a girlfriend.’

Vesta laughed. ‘I’m just larking around.’

‘But you don’t like him.’

‘No, but I’d like to make Teddy jealous.’