Lizzie's Secret (27 page)

‘I don't see why it should happen yet,' Lizzie said. ‘I would rather not be pregnant just yet, because I want to get the bespoke line up and running first.'

Lizzie didn't think it was likely. After all, they'd only been married a few months and Harry hadn't been home that often – besides, Lizzie was young and she wasn't sure she was ready.

She'd had a faint warning tummy ache that morning. If her guess was right, she would start her monthlies in a few hours..

‘I know several women with sons or fathers in the army,' Tilly was saying. ‘I know they're all worried to death – but what I was trying to say was if you're in bother, Lizzie… well, you can come to us. We're grateful that you asked Harry to teach my husband…'

‘Gossiping again?' Mr Oliver glared at Tilly. ‘You're not irreplaceable, girl. Get on with your work and let Lizzie get on with hers…'

‘I swear I'll go down the munitions factory one of these days,' Tilly muttered as Lizzie collected their mugs.

‘It's a necessary job,' Lizzie said. ‘I feel a bit guilty at times because I ought to do something worthwhile. Something to help now that the war is on…'

‘You can't join the forces,' Tilly said. ‘You're married and you'd be away when Harry came home, and he wouldn't like that…'

‘No,' Lizzie agreed. ‘Yet I feel I ought to find something…'

‘I expect there are voluntary things you can do at night.'

‘Yes. I'll speak to Mr Oliver and see if he's heard of anything. He usually knows what's going on…'

Lizzie took the chance to speak to her husband's uncle that evening. He nodded, looking thoughtful, then said, As a matter of fact, if you really want to help the war effort, I know of a canteen opening up and they need voluntary helpers two or three nights a week. Your Aunt Miriam is helping to run it – and she asked if I thought you might like to go along, Lizzie. It will be a sort of social place for servicemen on leave. The committee is hoping to get the use of a church hall, and if they do they can have music on the gramophone and perhaps a spot of dancing – or singing round the piano.'

‘That sounds interesting, tell Aunt Miriam that I'd love to help her.'

‘Right, she'll come round one of these days and have a chat to you,' he said, beaming at her. ‘Now, Lizzie, I've got some news for you …'

Lizzie knew that look. ‘What are you up to now?'

‘I've got another Government contract to make hats, caps and berets for the forces,' he said. ‘The ladies' services this time, and they want a bit of style about their hats. I shall be turning over a large part of my workrooms to the production, but I want to keep the bespoke hats going. That's where you come in…'

‘A Government contract will keep you busy even if there is a turndown in trade for the usual stuff,' Lizzie said, appreciating his astute move. ‘What do you want of me?'

‘We obviously cannot produce anything like the quantity of hats we've been turning over once we start this extra work for the Government, but Ed told me he enjoyed making those special hats for you and I have to admit that the ones we had in stock sold well.'

‘I was going to ask you if I could make some new designs,' Lizzie said, ‘but you won't have time now.'

‘I've talked this over with Ed and we've decided that we'll go for the more stylish hats during this period, Lizzie. I've stocked up on materials as much as I could, because I knew that government orders would be priority once a war started. As a government contractor I'll get all the material I need for their work, but buying for my own use may not be viable for a long; the time might come when the workers would be on short hours… So here's what I thought – I'll oversee the bread and butter stuff but Ed will work with you on your designs… and I'll give you five per cent of the profits we make, on top of your wage.'

‘The profits on the bespoke hats? Not the Government contracts?'

‘You think you're entitled to a share of the business?'

‘No, I don't,' Lizzie said. ‘I just wanted to be sure what you were offering me. I think it's very generous of you – but for how long will you be able to carry on with the special hats?'

‘I have a stockroom full of materials and trimmings, and I've got more in the house ready to bring out when we need it,' Uncle Bertie said and grinned. ‘I know how my father struggled to keep going when I was away in the Army in the last war. At the end he had to look for work elsewhere but he left it too late to get much of a contract. I've been putting every spare penny into stock for months.'

‘I'm grateful for the five per cent on the profits from the special hats. It will make a big difference to us.'

‘It's like this, Lizzie. Ed will probably leave if I don't let him work with you, and it keeps me ticking over until this war ends… God knows how long that will be. Besides, I promised Harry I would look out for you and this could be the start of a long working relationship. After all, you and he are all I have to come after me…'

Lizzie knew that Uncle Bertie had no one but Harry to hand his business over to when he died. He and Aunt Miriam had had two children, both girls, and both had died of diphtheria when they were still children. He was fond of Harry, and after the first shock of their marriage, he'd become fond of Lizzie too – and she of him.

‘Then of course I am delighted to agree,' she told him and gave him a quick hug.

‘I'm glad,' he told her gruffly. ‘I'm not getting any younger, Lizzie. I could have done with Harry around, but I knew he'd go once the war started and at least he got his training done before the rush.'

‘Yes,' Lizzie said. ‘He told you he's in the Observer corps now?

‘Well, that's a responsible job. He always had a good eye for things – that's why he picked you, Lizzie girl – and I'm going to need you. Some of my best girls have already gone to work in the factories.'

‘Yes, I know, but I think Tilly will stay, because she doesn't fancy working there even though the money is good.'

‘It goes against the grain to give up any of our basic work, but by catering for the better end of sales and conserving our stocks it should keep us going for a while – and you never know what I may be able to wangle. Once you're in with the right people you can sometimes get in on anything that's going cheap…'

‘Uncle Bertie!' Lizzie cried. ‘I think we shall do very well, because there will always be a woman looking for a pretty hat – and the shops won't have so many to sell once the materials become hard to find, will they?'

‘No, that is the problem, not just for us but for everyone in the manufacturing and the retail business. Materials will soon be in short supply and overseas orders will be almost impossible to get.' He shook his head over it and then looked at her. ‘What other styles do you want to introduce, Lizzie?'

‘I need to sit down and draw a few shapes before I say – but I've been thinking that women are doing men's jobs now and I rather like the idea of them wearing men's styles. Some of the ladies I know are brave enough to wear them without much change, but if the shape were slightly softer at the front and then some could be trimmed to make them more feminine…'

Uncle Bertie nodded. ‘Yes, I think you may be on to something, Lizzie. I saw a design for women's forces uniform the other day, and I noticed that styles were becoming less feminine. You work something out and I'll tell Ed to talk to you about the detail.'

*

After work that evening, Lizzie got out her sketchbook and let her imagination soar; the designs she created were magical and she knew that she'd moved on to a new level. These were the kind of hats that Sebastian admired and would want in his showroom – but he hadn't been in since that last time and she didn't want to show them to anyone else. Perhaps one day…

Coming out of her dream, Lizzie laughed and put some of the designs into her folder, leaving just four she wanted to show Ed, including a design for a woman's trilby and also a rather fetching bowler that was worn to the side of the head and adorned with a ribbon bow.

It was late and Lizzie put away her sketch pad. She had to get up for work in the morning, but at least for a while she'd forgotten the loneliness of knowing Harry wouldn't get another leave for ages. He'd been sent off somewhere for extra training on some new equipment and expected to be away some months.

‘I shan't be able to get home for ages, perhaps not until after Christmas,' he'd told her when he rang. ‘Take care, Lizzie darling. I love you and I'll be in touch as much as I can.'

At least she was luckier than Beth, Lizzie thought just before she went to sleep. Beth had heard nothing from Mark Allen since he went off to sea. They could only keep their fingers crossed and hope all was well…

Beth stared at her white face in the mirror. She was now three weeks late and her period still hadn't come. She couldn't believe that she could be so unlucky. Her own mother had told her that sometimes children didn't come for ages, and, until she became pregnant, Beth's elder sister had complained all the time that she hadn't fallen for a child although she'd been married several years – and Mark had tried to be careful…

It just wasn't fair! Beth knew that her parents would be disappointed in her and angry that she'd let them down, and in her heart she didn't blame them. It was just so stupid – if she was pregnant she would lose her job. She would have to return home in disgrace and the thought made Beth feel like curling into a ball and hiding herself away. She knew Mark was at sea and that his job was dangerous – supposing he didn't get back…

Beth's spine crawled with fear. A wave of shame and remorse swept over her as she remembered that she'd initiated their lovemaking. Had Mark thought she was cheap and easy because she'd given herself to him so willingly? Her flesh cringed at the thought and she thought she might die of the shame, but then she remembered what he'd said to her about her being the only one and that he loved her and wanted to marry her. Surely he'd meant those words? The reason she hadn't had a letter recently was just that he hadn't been at sea and unable to send anything; he wouldn't just desert her.

At least she didn't feel sick yet, Beth reflected, pulling herself together. She couldn't be sure yet that she was pregnant so she must just carry on as usual and hope for a letter from Mark. It was probably just her guilty conscience, she decided as she got dressed and went down to breakfast in the nurses' home.

She couldn't be sure she was pregnant just because she was a bit late with her period. Beth didn't have leave for Christmas, but she would get a few days leave the week after. Perhaps by then her period would have come and she would have nothing to worry about…

*

‘Oh, Beth,' Lizzie said when she saw Beth waiting for her when she left the workshop that evening a week after Christmas. She'd spent Christmas Day with Beth's family and the day after with Aunt Miriam, because both families had refused to take no for an answer. ‘I was just thinking about you.'

‘And here I am like the bad penny.'

‘Your mother told me you'd got a week off and would be home today.' Lizzie smiled at her. ‘I was going to ask if you wanted to come with me to the social club Harry's aunt has started with some other ladies. It is for servicemen on leave… and a lot of them will be injured…'

The Germans had torpedoed British ships, beginning the day war was declared and the casualties had continued, although as yet the only air raid warnings had been trials or false alarms, but as the fighting intensified overseas and in the air, there was bound to be many casualties. All kinds of regulations had come in, from every household having to have a stirrup pump in case of incendiary bombs to the blackouts in the streets. It was impossible to buy the material for blackout curtains, because the shops had sold out and the government was advising people to paint their windows black; fines for those who showed a light could be swingeing.

‘What would I have to do – at the club?'

‘Help me cut sandwiches, set out plates, serve cups of tea and wash up – but in between we get to talk to the men and that's nice. Last night one of the men played the piano and some of the girls were dancing with the others… it's a nice atmosphere, Beth, and we can do with more volunteers.'

‘Yes, all right, I'll come. Why not? I haven't got anything better in sight.'

‘I go on Monday, Thursday and Friday evening. We don't open on a Sunday at the moment, because most women have children and a home to look after.'

‘I suppose it would be fun if we're together…' She hesitated, then, ‘Do you think I could stay over the nights we go to the club? It's not easy getting home late at night in the blackout and Mum would let me if you came round and asked…'

‘Of course I will,' Lizzie said. ‘I often feel lonely at night and there's nothing to do but draw my hats or listen to the radio. You can sleep with me – unless Harry comes home on leave…'

‘Then I'll go home,' Beth said and laughed softly. ‘I wouldn't want to cramp his style, Lizzie.'

‘No, he does rather like to spread himself around.' Lizzie's eyes lit up with amusement. ‘He is in the habit of walking around in the middle of the night with nothing on…'

‘I'll definitely go home in that case,' Beth said and giggled. ‘Have you heard from him recently?'

‘I get five minutes on the phone every so often and the occasional letter, but he doesn't say much because he isn't supposed to – you know how it is now. He didn't even get home at Christmas, which didn't please him…'

‘I know how that feels,' Beth nodded her agreement. ‘I just wish I could hear something of Mark.'