Lily of Love Lane (23 page)

Lily knew then that he wouldn’t be returning to the timber yard as she saw the look of defeat in her mother’s eyes.

‘I should never have let him go to work today,’ Josie said hopelessly. ‘Made him stay home and rest . . . that’s what I should have done . . .’

What could she say to comfort her? Lily wondered. It was clear now that her father was incapable of performing any rigorous work and indeed, there seemed very little that he could do, unless he
sat at an office desk, pushing a pen. But even if he was an educated man, those jobs weren’t available now. He had always lived by his physical abilities and would be broken in spirit if he
was told he could never go back to doing a man’s job.

‘Don’t worry, we’ll get Dad better,’ Lily said, putting her arm around her mother.

‘I don’t know how we can.’

‘We will, somehow.’

‘Oh love,’ sighed Josie, ‘just when things seemed to be getting better, this happens. What are we going to do?’

Lily squeezed her mother’s hand. ‘We’ll think of something. Now you put on the kettle whilst I go upstairs to see Dad.’

Lily watched her walk dejectedly out to the kitchen, her shoulders drooping, head bowed. Why had this got to happen to such hard working and honest people? But it was no use railing at fate.
Determinedly Lily squared her small shoulders and made her way upstairs.

‘Lily!’ Charles stood up as she came in. He had been sitting beside the big double bed in which her father lay.

‘Hello, Charles.’ Her voice quivered. She went to her father who had two bright patches of red on his cheeks. The rest of his skin was porcelain white. Lily’s heart felt like
breaking as she saw him struggle to speak, then begin to cough.

She put her arms round him and helped him to sit up, banking the pillows behind him.

‘What an old fool I am,’ he whispered as he sank back, breathless and wheezing.

‘You can’t help being ill, Dad.’

‘Mr Grey has done a lot for me.’

She turned to Charles. ‘I don’t know how to thank you – again.’

‘No thanks are necessary, Lily.’

Lily noticed that the room smelt old and damp and she felt ashamed as she saw the threadbare cloth of her father’s pyjamas, the frayed collar and little darns that her mother had made.
They were from a different world to Charles, yet he had helped them out of their troubles today.

‘Don’t try to speak, Dad,’ she said, as Bob Bright mumbled something then held a cloth to his mouth to hide the noise of his coughing. ‘You need plenty of rest now and
you’ll soon be better.’

Very soon, his eyes closed as the fit of coughing subsided. She felt like trying to rouse him in case he never opened his eyes again, but then she managed to quell the moment of panic as Charles
moved quietly beside her and whispered, ‘He’ll sleep now.’

‘Will he get better?’ she murmured, looking up at Charles as if he should know the answer.

‘I’m sure he will, in time. The doctor has given him something to make him more comfortable.’

Lily knew that they wouldn’t have been able to afford the treatment and the medicines had not Charles come today. She was very grateful, but also deeply ashamed of having to accept his
charity.

Lily waited at the front door as Charles said goodbye to her mother and uncle. When he came out of the parlour, she said simply, ‘Thank you.’

‘I’m glad to have been of some help.’

‘I don’t know what Mum would have done if you hadn’t called by.’

‘It was fortuitous indeed.’

‘I intend to pay you back every penny, Charles.’

‘You may intend it, Lily, but I do not expect it.’

She felt humiliated by this sudden awareness of their poverty. Why did it seem like a disease that was even worse than a physical ailment? She couldn’t look into his eyes. And yet even as
she stood there, a tiny flicker of hope burnt in her heart. Had he come to ask her again if she would work for him? This time, if he did, she knew without question that she would accept. Five
guineas a week would solve all the problems that were beginning to drown them. She could do so much for her family as Charles’ housekeeper. As for her job at the market, well, it was a small
sacrifice to make. And to learn a new skill, as Charles had said, would be reason enough for making such a change in her life.

‘Was there a reason you came today?’ she asked, her heart beginning to beat very fast as she looked hopefully into his beautiful dark eyes.

He nodded. ‘Yes, indeed. Two as a matter of fact.’

Lily felt every nerve in her body straining. Excitement and joy began to take hold of her as she gazed expectantly into his face.

‘Firstly, I wanted to return this.’ He reached into his pocket and held out his hand, in his palm was a small fur brooch.

‘Hattie’s rabbit foot!’

‘I discovered it in the car.’

She took it. ‘I don’t even remember losing it.’

‘A rabbit’s foot is lucky, is it not?’

She smiled. ‘Yes, it’s supposed to be. Hattie bought it for me on my birthday.’

‘A perfect gift indeed.’

Lily clutched the soft fur in her hand. Her heart was beating so wildly she looked up and murmured, ‘And the second reason?’

He looked into her eyes, causing Lily to feel all the old feelings once more. ‘I’m leaving England on business this week.’ His gaze was penetrating. ‘This time it is for
a number of months.’

Lily felt as though she had been dealt a physical blow. She clutched the rabbit’s foot as her knuckles turned white around it.

‘I wanted to say goodbye and to let you know . . . to tell you . . . should you call at Dewar Street in my absence . . . that I have filled Annie’s position.’

Lily swallowed. ‘You have?’

‘Yes, a pleasant enough young woman who comes with references. She is – trustworthy – and reliable.’ His voice seemed unsteady and she almost didn’t catch the words
he said next. ‘But sadly, lacks all the qualities I saw in you, Lily, and I would have given the earth to see them flourish had you allowed it.’ Bending slowly he lifted her hand to
place a kiss there, then he turned, stepped outside into the evening and was gone.

July 1934

L
ily gazed at the reflection in the long mirror hanging on the fitting room wall. It was the end of a busy Saturday morning at Madame Nerys’.
The staff had all gone home and outside the compartment, a dozen sewing machines sat idle, their covers over them. Roll upon roll of fabric hung from the shelves on big iron arms and on one of the
tables were spread the cutter’s patterns. But Lily’s attention was not on these, but on her own reflection. It was a long time since she’d felt this way, feminine and attractive.
The beautiful pink bridesmaid’s dress that Hattie had asked Madame Nerys’ permission to work on, in coordination with her wedding dress, looked to Lily like a swirl of ice cream. This
was the last fitting before Hattie’s wedding the following week and Lily could only stare in wonder.

‘You’ve done a lovely job, Hat.’

‘You go in and come out in all the right places. It’s rewarding to make a gown for someone so slim.’

‘It’s a long time since I’ve thought about me figure,’ Lily sighed. ‘In the factory you get used to wearing an overall all day and the clothes underneath all end up
smelling of paint so you wear the same thing week in and week out.’

‘I don’t know how you stick that job.’

‘Because it’s good pay, I do. And it’s not so bad once you get used to it. Some of the women are a bit bitchy, but I’ve been there over three years now and they
don’t bother me.’

‘Three years, is it?’

Lily nodded. ‘I got the job just after you went back with Reube, remember?’

Hattie took a pin from the pad on her wrist and slipped it into the dart on the bodice of the dress. ‘Will I ever forget! That six months we were apart felt like a lifetime. It was a
horrible patch, especially as trade at the market went from bad to worse. And in the end he even had to let you go to keep the stall afloat.’

‘We weren’t taking any money,’ Lily nodded as she looked in the mirror. ‘And Reube ended up paying me out of his own pocket.’

‘He hated losing you.’ Hattie pulled the material a little tighter as she slid in another pin. ‘Breathe in, I want to give you a nice waist.’

Lily inhaled as Hattie worked swiftly, then both girls gazed into the mirror.

‘What do you think?’

They frowned critically at the soft pink satin gown overlaid with lace.

‘Are you sure you don’t want something towards it?’

‘It didn’t cost me a penny,’ Hattie assured her. ‘Madame Nerys said the two gowns are her wedding present. All she wants in return is a photograph of me wedding day to
put in the sample book so she can show her customers. She said it was nice to see a design that wasn’t still twenties.’

‘It is very modern looking.’

‘Let’s try the headband.’

‘Is it finished?’

‘Yes, it’s a smaller version of mine. And of course mine is white whereas yours is pink.’

Lily was going to be the only bridesmaid at Hattie’s wedding. She wanted to do her friend proud. It had taken Hattie four years to get Reube up the aisle and the big day had finally been
settled on; Saturday July the 28th.

Hattie returned with a dainty pink band embroidered with flowers. Securing it behind Lily’s ears, she frowned into the mirror. ‘What do you think?’

‘It fits just right.’

‘These bands are very fashionable now. A definite improvement to the mobcap Queen Elizabeth wore at her wedding.’

‘Did you embroider the flowers yourself?’

‘No, our embroiderer stitched them,’ said Hattie lowering her voice. ‘Don’t let on though, as Madame Nerys didn’t give anyone else permission to work on
you.’

‘Oh, no, I won’t say a word.’

Hattie looked at Lily’s hair. ‘I don’t like to say it, Lil, but your hair reeks of paint.’

Lily blushed. ‘I haven’t had time to wash it yet.’ The distemper fumes that filled the factory were so strong they clung to hair, skin and clothes alike. To get rid of it, you
had to thoroughly wash anything that was contaminated.

‘I’m having my hair cut short after me honeymoon. Reube likes it long, so as soon as we get back from Brighton I’m going up West for a Marcel Wave. Perhaps we could go
together.’

‘Has Reube booked the place you’re staying at?’ Lily didn’t want to say that a West End Marcel Wave was beyond her means.

‘Yes, a boarding house called Shalimar.’

‘Is it on the front?’

‘Yes, quite near.’

‘Oh Hat, what a dream!’

Hattie giggled. ‘It will be nice not to have to find places to go to have a cuddle.’

‘You’ll be Mr and Mrs then and allowed to have all the cuddles you want.’

‘Yes, and they’ll be free, which will please Reube no end.’

Both girls burst into laughter as they gazed in the mirror.

‘Mrs Heather James,’ Lily murmured, ‘has certainly got a ring to it.’

‘I hate Heather,’ Hattie sniffed. ‘But Mrs James sounds lovely.’

‘Just as long as you don’t start wearing fur hats.’

Once more the two girls laughed. ‘I hope Reube’s mum don’t wear that dead animal to the wedding. Did you manage to get the Saturday morning off all right?’

‘Yes, though the foreman didn’t like it much.’

‘What a sauce! You ain’t had time off since you’ve been there. If you ask me I think you could do much better if you tried harder to look for another job that was more
suitable.’

Lily had looked for another job but nothing was as secure or well paid as the factory. Her wage packet meant a roof over their heads and food in the larder. She didn’t have to worry that
the factory would close or that her overtime would dry up. Each week she collected a brown envelope from the office and gave it to her mother. And in no time at all it seemed, the contents were
spent.

‘What are you doing the evening before your wedding day?’ Lily asked quickly.

‘It’s bad luck to see the groom the night before. The market traders are taking him down the pub.’

‘Do you want me to help with your hair?’

‘I was hoping you’d say that. Follow me, now, and I’ll show you me dress.’

They went through to the main rooms where Hattie pulled aside a curtain. Lily gasped. ‘Oh, Hat, it’s gorgeous!’

The long white satin gown hung on the wall. Its wide, scooped neckline was adorned with pearls, its semi-fitted bodice and long sleeves the latest statement in fashion. The silk-tulle veil with
a headband of embroidered white flowers was a perfect match to Lily’s.

‘You’ll look breathtaking, Hat.’

‘I never did get that engagement ring though.’

‘He bought you another one.’

‘But it’s not as nice.’ Hattie held out her finger. ‘Just a plain gold band with a tiny diamond.’

‘Well, I think you’re lucky.’

As they returned to the compartment where Lily’s clothes still hung, Lily thought yet again how fortunate Hattie was to have everything she wanted. As she reluctantly removed the beautiful
gown and put on her skirt and blouse, she was ashamed of her appearance. Drab and shabby against the perfect pink, her clothes looked worn out. Even though Hattie had waited four years to marry,
now she had it all.

‘Have you found a place to live yet?’ Lily asked as Hattie hung the bridesmaid’s dress on a hanger.

‘Not yet. We’re going to live with Mrs James for a short while. I told Reube it will have to be a short while an’ all as I’ll go crackers not having a place to
meself.’

Lily knew Hattie wanted to move over to Greenwich where some of the houses had real gardens and were decorated nicely. Reube hadn’t wanted to move, but Hattie was insisting. She wanted
somewhere she could start a new life, away from her parents and Sylvester.

Hattie pulled the curtain open. ‘Did you know Pedro’s popped the question to Mrs James?’

Lily gasped. ‘No!’

Hattie nodded. ‘Surprise, ain’t it?’

‘What did she say?’

‘She’s going to think about it but doesn’t want to commit herself yet.’

‘What do the boys think of that?’

‘Reube don’t mind either way. But I told Reube if Pedro moves in, it’s all the more reason for us to move out.’