A Sister's Shame (22 page)

Marie looked at her reflection in the cracked, rusty cloakroom mirror. Her abundance of blonde waves and her big blue eyes stared back. So Flo Davis had been telling the truth.

‘Unfortunate circumstances’, Mr Morton had said. Marie shuddered at the thought of Flo having Teddy’s child, with little hope of marrying the father.

On Friday, when Marie arrived nervously at the club, neither Teddy nor Vesta was to be found. ‘Teddy said you’re to wear Bev’s old costume,’ said Rose
in the dressing room as she smeared red lipstick over her lips. ‘You’ve seen us do the routine enough times. So you’ll easily pick it up.’

Marie listened as Rose repeated the steps and saw Sal and Shirley smirking in the mirror. She knew the girls didn’t like her, but she wasn’t going to let them see that she cared. She
didn’t ask about Vesta either, as she knew they wouldn’t tell her.

Their performance that night was brief, as a brawl started at the bar. Pedro dealt with the drunks but the club was left empty, and the cabaret and band was dismissed for the night.

‘I told you it won’t be the same round here,’ complained Rose to Shirley as they took off their costumes. ‘Wally is going to save Teddy and his star acts for the posh
lot. We’re the mugs who’ll have to put up with the gropers and the drunks.’

Marie hung her costume on the rail, quickly putting on her coat. She wanted to try to find Vesta.

‘Goodnight then,’ she called as she slipped her bag over her shoulder.

‘’Night,’ answered Shirley and Sal, barely glancing her way as they listened to Rose’s fierce complaints.

‘No use going up there,’ shouted a voice as Marie made her way along the dark passage.

Her heart leaped. She turned quickly to see the familiar figure of the piano player. ‘Oh, it’s you, Benny.’

‘There’s no point in going up there, gel.’

‘I want to find Vesta.’

Benny slid on his battered trilby. ‘Wally’s had the door removed and a wall built there instead.’

Marie frowned. ‘But why do that?’

‘There’s a new club on the other side now. Come on, I’ll tell you on the way out.’

They made their way past the dressing room and office, where the door was open. The office was cleared out, except for a table and chair in the corner.

‘It’s empty!’ she gasped as they paused to look in.

‘Pedro is running the show here,’ Benny explained as he guided her across the deserted club and into the cold night. ‘Keep it under your hat, but the club failed to meet
expectations and is in debt.’

‘And so they’ve just left?’ Marie asked bewilderedly.

Benny nodded. ‘Wally bungs Pedro a wedge, of course, to front what remains of the business. Meanwhile, the new club is called the Blue Flamingo. I hear it’s very
up-market.’

‘But what about us?’ Marie asked. ‘Is Pedro our boss?’

Benny shrugged. ‘Dunno, love. We’ll have to wait and see what happens. Now, do you want me to walk you up to the High Street? It ain’t healthy to be out here on your
own.’

‘I was hoping me dad would meet me.’

‘No chance of that.’ Benny grimaced. ‘That nutter Pedro sent him down in the cellars. It ain’t right an old bloke like him should have to shift all that booze.’

Marie’s shoulders slumped. ‘Poor Dad.’

Just then, headlights appeared and a vehicle drove slowly down the alley. It stopped and Bing climbed out.

‘This is Benny, one of the band,’ Marie said as Bing approached. ‘Benny, this is . . .’ Marie hesitated as the two men eyed each other suspiciously.

‘Let’s just say I’m someone in Marie’s corner,’ Bing muttered, sliding an arm around her waist.

‘Good on you, son,’ Benny approved, nodding. ‘Just you take care of her, eh?’ He tipped his hat and disappeared into the darkness.

Marie smiled up at Bing. ‘Don’t worry, Benny is to be trusted.’

‘If you say so,’ said Bing uncertainly. ‘Did you see Vesta?’

‘No. Benny told me that they’ve had the door sealed up and opened a club on the other side, called the Blue Flamingo. The Duke’s is in debt and the Scoresbys have left Pedro in
charge.’

‘So the rats are jumping from the sinking ship?’ Bing growled.

‘Looks like it.’

‘What’s worse, Pedro’s made Dad go down in the cellars to work.’

‘Christ, Marie, he’s too old for that. In my book, the two of you are better off quitting the club right away.’

‘I can’t yet.’

‘Because of Vesta?’

She nodded.

Bing took her in his arms and sighed. ‘What am I going to do with you?’

‘You could kiss me.’ She slipped her arms around his neck and he kissed her, for a moment dispelling all her fears.

Marie’s thoughts were scattered as they drove home. She knew that Bing was right about leaving the club, but she still felt close to Vesta there and was sure Hector felt
the same way.

The curtains in the front room were drawn against the cold night. Marie sat by the fire with her mother and Bing; Ada wore her dressing gown, a cup of cold tea by her side. Her hands moved
restlessly as she listened to Marie.

‘You should try to get some rest, Mrs H,’ Bing said gently. ‘Won’t do no good to worry.’

‘But my daughter is missing,’ replied Ada fiercely. ‘I want her home, where she belongs.’

‘We all want that,’ agreed Marie. ‘Except Vesta.’

‘So what is the name of this place she’s gone to?’ Ada asked again.

‘The Blue Flamingo,’ Marie and Bing said together.

‘Your father is to blame for spoiling her,’ Ada accused. ‘But he always gave in.’

Marie wanted to defend her father but Ada was in no mood to listen.

Bing reached for his overcoat and stood up. ‘I’d better call it a night and get home to me bed.’

Ada pushed herself up from the chair. ‘Goodnight, Bing.’ She added as always, ‘Don’t stay up too late, Marie.’

On the doorstep, Bing drew her into his arms. ‘Give me a moment to look at you, beautiful.’ He lifted a lock of blonde hair from her forehead and twisted it behind her ear.
‘Marie, I don’t reckon your sister will want to come home.’

‘Why? Because of Teddy?’

‘No, because she’d have your mum to face.’

‘Mum only wants to see Vesta happy.’

‘Yes, but being happy is down to Vesta.’

Suddenly tears filled Marie’s eyes. ‘Bing, it’s all such a mess.’ He held her close and she laid her head on his chest.

‘Listen, Mum and Dad want us to go round to tea on Sunday.’ He ran his fingers through her hair. ‘Do you fancy that?’

‘Yes, of course.’ She knew he was trying to act as if everything was going on as normal. But with Vesta gone, it all felt far from that.

It was a cold Monday in early December when Marie started her new job at the factory. The girls in the cutting room had wished her good luck, but she missed Vesta. To her
surprise the clatter of keys in the typing pool was almost as deafening as the noise on the factory floor.

She was given a large box on four wheels. In it were the correspondence and parcels to be delivered to the rest of the factory. The trolley was heavy and had to be left at the bottom of each
staircase. Sometimes, she had to wait for the head of the department to reply; other times she was directed elsewhere, with more parcels and packages and even small sheets of leather.

The office staff ate in a room on the top floor. There were comfortable tables and chairs, unlike in the works canteen with its hard wooden benches. There was also a tea-making trolley with real
china cups and saucers. Marie received a few smiles and nods, but eventually her loneliness became too hard to bear and she had to go to the cloakrooms and shed a quiet tear for Vesta.

At one o’clock, the manager, Mr Morton, told her to put on her coat. He led her out through the big doors and onto the cold and windy wharf. Here, the tugs off-loaded their cargo.
Afterwards, it was collected by the labourers who stacked the warehouse. It was Marie’s job to check everything off on her list; when an item was missing, she had to find it, going through
all the crates, containers and boxes again. She didn’t mind it, though, as the waiting bargemen and impatient warehouse staff kept her busy. She also discovered she was good at figures.
Adding up the totals in her mind was easy and she received a smile of approval from Mr Morton. But when she went back to the small room she had to herself, no larger than a cupboard, she missed
Vesta so much that once again tears were close.

By the end of her first day, her back ached unbearably and, though she knew she would get used to going up and down stairs, the backs of her legs had cramp. As no one had warned her that flat
shoes would have made her job easier, she had worn her one pair of fashionable strapped heels. But although they went well with her navy-blue skirt and blouse, the following day they would have to
be exchanged for lace-ups.

‘Well, how was it?’ asked Elsie the moment Marie stepped in the door that evening. Elsie was talking with Nina and Wippet, but the little monkey was very subdued. It clung to Wippet,
his big eyes blinking sadly.

‘It’s different from the factory,’ Marie answered, smiling at Nina and Wippet. ‘But I’ll get used to it.’

Nina looked very pretty as usual, in her pale green beret and coat of the same colour. ‘I’m sure you’ll do very well,’ she said.

‘You never came to see me escape my chains,’ interrupted Wippet, running his stubby fingers comfortingly over the animal’s back.

‘Sorry, there wasn’t time,’ Marie apologized. ‘How is Kaiser?’

Wippet shook his large head. ‘He is very nervous now. His leg hasn’t mended properly, you see.’

Marie reached out to stroke the monkey, but it cowered away.

‘After what Teddy did, Kaiser doesn’t trust humans any more. I wonder how that cruel man would feel if someone broke his leg?’

‘Come in and have a cuppa,’ said Elsie, giving Marie a wink. ‘You’ve had a long day.’

Everyone said goodnight. A few moments later, Marie was sitting in Elsie’s front room, drinking tea.

‘Wippet ain’t stopped moaning,’ Elsie confided as she made herself comfortable in the easy chair. ‘He’s got a bee in his bonnet about Teddy still.’

‘I’m not surprised.’

‘It was a terrible thing to do.’

‘Yes, poor Kaiser.’

‘Now, tell me your news, love. What was your day really like?’

Marie looked down. ‘I missed Vesta.’

‘Bound to, she’s your twin.’ Elsie leaned forward. ‘Your mum told me all about this new club, the Blue Flamingo. So the Scoresbys have left the Duke’s?’

Marie nodded. ‘Benny, one of the band, said it’s because of the debt it’s run up.’

‘That’s an old trick of the trade.’

‘Perhaps Vesta is better off after all.’

‘Maybe,’ Elsie said hopefully. ‘I can’t help thinking she’ll be bored after a while. Without you, she ain’t got no one to complain to.’ Elsie grinned.
‘My money’s on her packing it in, and soon.’

‘Yes, but will the Scoresbys let her go?’

Elsie sat up. ‘Why shouldn’t they?’

‘It was something one of the dancers told me.’ Marie hesitated as she didn’t know whether to tell Elsie. ‘That no one leaves unless the brothers let them.’

‘What did she mean?’ Elsie frowned.

‘I don’t know; she was dismissed after that.’

Elsie patted her hand. ‘Look, you know what Vesta’s like about Christmas – she won’t want to miss out on the presents or singsong we all have on Christmas Day.’

Marie looked up. ‘I hope you’re right.’

Elsie smiled brightly. ‘So, you say this new job they’ve given you at Ellisdon’s is all right?’

Marie put out her hands. ‘It’s the first time I’ve come home without brown stains all over me fingers.’

‘Why was you offered the job?’ Elsie asked curiously.

‘A girl called Flo Davis was leaving.’ Marie went red. ‘Due to “unfortunate circumstances”.’

‘You mean she was up the spout?’

‘Vesta was surprised when she claimed the father was Teddy.’

Elsie put her hands to her mouth. ‘What did Vesta say about that?’

‘She thought the girls at the factory were just jealous.’

‘I don’t put anything past that charmer,’ Elsie said bitterly. ‘I rue the day he ever came here and I let him have lodgings.’

‘You weren’t to know.’

‘Listen, why don’t you leave the Duke’s now? There ain’t no reason to stay.’

‘There might be a chance I’ll see Vesta. And anyway, Dad has been made to work in the cellars. I wouldn’t leave without him.’

Elsie gasped. ‘Does your mum know?’

‘Don’t think Dad would say, as it would worry her.’ Marie drank the rest of her tea. ‘I never thought our dream would tear the family apart,’ she said, emotion
filling her.

‘Come along, lovely,’ Elsie said kindly, leaning forward. ‘Cheer up.’

‘I can’t be happy without Vesta.’

‘Now you do sound like your sister, a drama queen!’ Elsie exclaimed with a rueful grin. ‘Listen, the parting of the ways was bound to happen.’

Marie shook her head firmly. ‘We wanted to sing and dance and go on the stage. Neither of us knew it would lead to this.’

‘What’s done is done,’ Elsie pointed out as she raised a black-pencilled eyebrow. ‘It just wasn’t what you imagined it to be.’

‘And neither was it for Dad,’ Marie whispered hoarsely.

‘Ah, well, my love, that’s show business.’

‘Is it?’ Marie asked in surprise.

‘Everyone wants a bit of that cherry. It looks red and sweet as it hangs from the tree, but it’s bitter when you taste it.’

‘You sound like Mum.’

‘She has her reasons.’ Elsie lifted a warning finger. ‘Your dad and Vesta have chosen their paths and you, yours. One day they’ll cross again, but until then, have no
regrets. Regrets are a waste of time and spoil the here and now. They are just hurtful thoughts you torture yourself with.’

Marie smiled. ‘How did you get to be so wise, Elsie?’

Elsie winked. ‘You don’t get to look as good as I do at my age without knowing a trick or two.’

Marie giggled. ‘You always put me straight.’

‘Then remember this, gel. You can either wake up and be happy. Or wake up and be miserable. Now which do you choose?’

Again Marie laughed. ‘I’d be daft not to want to be happy.’