Primrose Square (9 page)

‘Would be Tam MacLean who came, though, wouldn't it?'

‘He's no' so bad,' said Elinor. ‘He doesn't mean any harm, Brenda.'

‘I agree,' the tutor murmured, but Elinor could tell that he wasn't thinking of Tam MacLean, only of his own regret that Tam had seen him in the café. Studying his abstracted face, it seemed to her that he was even better-looking than she'd first thought. His features were so regular, his brows so even, and a lot of women would envy that blond hair of his. No wonder his girl students liked to come in early to talk to him. No wonder she'd wanted to do that herself.

But was there some reason why he didn't want to be seen with her and Brenda? Perhaps tutors were not supposed to meet women students outside class? He's like me, she thought, worrying about being seen by other people, and felt depressed that there would probably be no more meetings with him like this one.

‘I think perhaps I should be going,' she said, rising after they'd finished their sandwiches. ‘Shall we settle up?'

‘Don't worry, this is on me,' Mr Muirhead replied, leaping to his feet, but Brenda shook her head.

‘Oh, no, thanks all the same. We like to pay our own way.'

‘Look, we are not going to have three bills – that would be ridiculous.'

‘All right, you pay, and we'll give you the money,' Elinor offered, at which he groaned and settled the bill, not looking happy at that, or at Tam's cheery call of ‘Goodnight' as they made for the door.

‘See you next week, eh?' one of the other young men shouted, and with hasty nods, Mr Muirhead, Elinor and Brenda left the café.

‘I'm sorry those chaps spoiled things,' Brenda murmured, as she pressed some coins into the tutor's hand. ‘But I'll be on my way. Goodnight, then, and thanks.'

‘For what? Are you two some of these modern women, then? Not willing to accept a sandwich and a cup of tea from a man?'

‘It's the principle of the thing,' she said seriously. ‘Not that I'd say this about you, Mr Muirhead, but some men think it makes them seem superior, paying for women.'

‘It's more practical than that,' he said quietly. ‘Men usually have more money than women.'

‘And whose fault is that?' Brenda walked off, waving. ‘See you next week, then.'

‘Thank God we're on our own,' Mr Muirhead murmured with feeling. ‘Miss Cordiner is one tough young woman. Let's go for our tram, Miss Rae.'

Seventeen

As they made their way to the tram stop again, Mr Muirhead said suddenly, ‘Miss Rae – I called you that just now, didn't I? But I was wondering, may I say Elinor? I think you know my name is Stephen.'

She stared at him, amazed. First names – they were for relatives and close friends only. Her family, people at school, people she worked with – those were the only ones who called her Elinor. As for calling him Stephen, she couldn't imagine it.

‘Out of class, of course,' he was saying quickly. ‘Have to be formal there. But Elinor is such a pretty name, suits you so well.'

‘Ma told me she found it in a book of names someone lent her.'

‘May I use it, then?'

‘If you like.' She was self-conscious, her dark eyes searching the road. ‘But here's our tram!'

‘And you're not going to argue over the fare, are you?'

‘I'll let you win that one,' she said, managing a laugh.

‘Know what I wish?' he asked, as they took their seats. ‘That you'd let me take you back to the Primrose.'

She shook her head. ‘I told you, there's no need.'

‘No need, I'd just like to, that's all.'

‘I was wondering, though – you seemed upset when Tam MacLean saw us tonight – is it wrong for you to be with us after classes?'

He hesitated. ‘There's nothing wrong with tutors having a cup of tea with students in a friendly way.'

‘Why did you mind Tam seeing us, then?'

‘I suppose I just didn't want his jokes.'

‘So, that was all right, then?'

‘Yes. What's really frowned on is for a tutor to form a relationship with one of his students. I work for the WEA; I know that that can lead to complications.'

‘I expect it could,' she said, suddenly feeling inexplicably low.

‘Nothing I've said means I can't take you back to the Primrose,' Stephen said quietly, his eyes, as usual, fixed on her face. ‘Why won't you let me?'

‘Here's our stop,' she cried, rising from her seat, and as he gave her his hand, his smile was wry.

‘We can still talk,' he told her as they left the tram, and in the street, touched her arm as she was turning away.

‘Come on, Elinor, what's wrong with my seeing you home?'

‘It's a bit like you with Tam,' she said reluctantly. ‘Girls I work with might see you, and there'd be questions and teasing. The manageress might no' like it, either.'

‘Might not approve? I'm perfectly respectable.'

She laughed. ‘Oh, Mr Muirhead – I mean, Stephen – I know you are! No, it's just – well, you understand, eh? How it is?'

‘I suppose so.' He sighed deeply, looking through the West End evening crowds towards his own street. ‘I wouldn't want you to be embarrassed. We'll just say goodnight, then.'

‘Goodnight, Stephen. And thank you.'

‘Oh, not for that sandwich, for heaven's sake! But we'll meet again next week, I hope. You are enjoying my class, aren't you?

‘Oh, yes, it's grand. I'm just hoping I can keep up.'

‘Of course you can, you're very bright.'

‘I was always good at sums at school, but I'm a wee bit worried about the accounts side of things.'

‘No need to worry, I'll be there to help.'

They both stood, prolonging the moment of farewell, until Elinor began to move away.

‘Goodnight again, Stephen.'

‘Goodnight, Elinor.'

She knew he was watching her again as she hurried across the road, and when she turned back at the corner of Maule's department store, she saw that he had not moved. She gave a quick wave and, as he waved back, went on her way, so churned inside with feelings she couldn't face that it was a relief in a way to reach the club and have a problem to solve.

The front door was locked. The area door, she knew, would have been locked by Mrs Petrie some time before, but the main door was not locked until ten. Surely it wasn't as late as that? Yet she knew she was later back this week than last. There was nothing for it but to ring the bell.

‘Elinor!' It was Miss Ainslie in the doorway, her face rather serious. ‘I've been wondering what had happened to you. Do you know it's almost half past ten? Come in, come in, and I'll lock up again.'

‘I'm really sorry, Miss Ainslie,' Elinor said hurriedly, when the manageress had relocked the front door and they were standing in the quiet reception hall. ‘I didn't realize it was so late. Some of us went to the café for a cup of tea, that's what took the time. You remember, I did ask if it'd be all right for me to go and you said I could.'

‘Yes, on the understanding that you would be back by ten.' Miss Ainslie shook her head. ‘But half past ten – that won't do, Elinor. Any country members staying here inform me if they wish to stay out late and that is quite in order, but I am responsible for you and the other staff. I can't have you wandering around after dark, not knowing what time you are coming back.'

‘I'm very sorry, Miss Ainslie. I should have checked the time.'

Miss Ainslie's expression softened a little. ‘I don't want to be hard on you. I know it isn't easy for you, as you have no watch, but there are clocks around, and I'm afraid I must ask you to be in by ten. We always managed that after the meetings, didn't we?'

Her suffragette meetings, Elinor thought, with a sigh. How much easier things were when she was just attending them.

‘I won't be late again,' she promised. ‘Goodnight, Miss Ainslie.'

‘Goodnight, Elinor.' Miss Ainslie paused. ‘And the course you're doing – you're enjoying it?'

‘Yes, thanks, I think it's worthwhile.'

‘That's good. Well, better get to bed now. Try not to disturb Mattie and Gerda.'

Disturb Mattie and Gerda? They were both awake, waiting for her, looking at her with wide eyes, when she reached their room at the top of the house.

‘Hey, what happened to you?' Gerda asked. ‘You get lost, or something?'

‘Bet you got stick for being late,' Mattie said with a giggle. ‘Miss Ainslie would've locked the door, eh?'

‘I did get ticked off,' Elinor admitted. ‘Some of us just went for a cup of tea at a café near the school.' She took off her hat and jacket and began to take the pins from her hair. ‘I've promised to be in by ten next week, so I think I might give the café a miss.'

‘Oh, what a shame!' cried Mattie. ‘It sounds nice, eh, going out to a café with friends?'

‘Might have been.' Elinor, beginning to get ready for bed, gave a shrug.

If there'd been any excitement for her in having Stephen watch her the way he did, it had quite faded away by the time she finally tumbled into bed. What was the point, anyway, in getting excited? There could be no way forward for her where the tutor was concerned, for they were, both of them, surrounded by rules that would keep them apart as surely as a prison fence. Best not to think of him, then.

Easier said than done. She sighed into the darkness, listening to the steady breathing of the other maids, and knew it would be some time before she too could sleep.

Eighteen

When class night came round the following week, Elinor made a special effort to be at the school as early as possible, desperately hoping that she would be able to catch Stephen before all his other women students gathered around him. Her luck was in. When she arrived at the classroom, she found him alone.

‘Elinor!' He sprang forward to greet her. ‘You're early!'

‘I wanted to speak to you.'

‘Nothing wrong, is there?'

‘No, no, it's just that I was late back last week and Miss Ainslie had to unlock the door for me. She said in future I must be in by ten – that's the rule, you see. Well, it's nine, unless we have special permission, so I couldn't expect her to give me any more time.'

‘She's a bit of a stickler for rules, is she?'

‘No, it's just that she says she's responsible for us girls, that's all.' Elinor kept glancing at the door, hoping no one else would join them. ‘I thought I'd like to tell you, because I won't be going to the café any more. I'd have to keep watching the clock in case I was late again and I couldn't risk that.'

‘I suppose not.' Stephen heaved a long, deep sigh. ‘That's the end of Rossie's for us, then.'

‘Needn't be for you.'

‘Oh, don't worry about me. As a matter of fact, I'd just as soon not see Tam MacLean again at the café.'

‘I thought you said it was all right for you to be there?'

‘Yes, but as we were saying, there could be teasing, and that's not for me. I'm just sorry you're going to miss out.'

She was about to tell him she really didn't mind, when more students burst in and she moved away.

‘You're nice and early,' Brenda remarked, when they were at their desks.

‘Late back last week, though.'

‘You didn't get into trouble?'

‘Got told I'd have to be in by ten. Means there's no time for me to come to Rossie's any more.

‘Oh, Elinor, that's terrible! What right have they to tell you when to come in?'

‘It's usual in service to have to be in by certain times. The manageress feels responsible for us.'

‘Responsible!' Brenda snorted. ‘You're quite capable of being responsible for yourself, I should've thought. Just tell her you'll be back when you're ready.'

‘And start looking for another job?

Elinor's smile was rueful as Stephen called his class together and began to discuss the financial aspects of office organization, something they might not have to handle themselves for some time, but would need to understand. It was an absorbing lesson, requiring even more concentration than usual, and when the bell rang at the end of the evening, Elinor and Brenda sat back with some relief.

‘Sure you don't feel like coming for a cup of tea?' Brenda asked. ‘I'm sure there'd be time if we leave quickly.'

But Elinor shook her head. ‘I hate having to worry.'

‘I've got a watch.'

‘Don't tempt me!'

They were putting on their hats and coats when Tam, followed by several young men and the rest of the girls, came up with what was for him a polite smile.

‘You lassies coming over to Rossie's?'

‘I have to get back,' Elinor said at once.

‘Ah, no!' one of the men groaned.

‘How about you then, Miss C?' Tam asked Brenda, at which she hesitated, but when one of the girls, a tall, spindly girl named Pearl, took her arm, she agreed that she would come.

‘Let's away, then,' said Tam, leading his flock down the corridor, but at the outer door, he paused to look back.

‘Sure you don't want to join us?' he asked Elinor, who was lagging behind.

‘I have to catch the tram. Mustn't be late.'

‘If you say so. Where's Mr Muirhead?''

‘Still in the classroom, I think.'

‘Och, I get the feeling he's no' keen on being with us anyway. Come on, let's get something to eat – I'm starving.'

As soon as his students had departed, Stephen emerged to join Elinor.

‘Wait for me,' he told her. ‘I'll just have a word with the caretaker, then we can go.'

At their usual tram stop, the late September air was cold around them, the evening sky already dark. Their mood, too, was dark, as fallen leaves blown by the wind rolled down the street, and they stood close, as though that might help.