The Reluctant Sinner (7 page)

While Daisy was coming to terms with her new life, her skills were sorely missed at the workshop in London Road. Not one of the seamstresses had the talent to match her embroidery and flare and some of the clients were complaining.

‘This beadwork on the bodice of my evening dress is not up to the standard I’ve been used to,’ one lady complained. ‘Ever since young Daisy Gilbert left, the workmanship has deteriorated. Unless it improves, I’ll have to take my custom elsewhere!’

Madam Evans was in a panic and fussed about the woman promising to put matters right and when she marched back into the workroom with the garment she went berserk. Storming and raging at the girls.

Agnes spoke up. ‘Sorry, Madam, but we do the best we can, but not one of us is as good as Daisy, she had a special talent. If certain people had minded their own business, you wouldn’t be in this position.’ And she glared angrily across the room at Jessie.

Following her gaze, Madam muttered angrily to herself. ‘You are probably right.’ Then she stomped away.

Jessie flushed with anger. ‘It’s no good blaming me. Madam wouldn’t want her reputation ruined.’

‘Your bloody jealousy will probably lose all of us our jobs if this goes on much longer. People will go elsewhere and all because of your big mouth.’

The girl began to argue but the rest of the girls spoke in unison.

‘Shut up, Jessie,’ they cried.

‘Do you think the old girl will ask Daisy to come back?’ whispered one of the girls to Agnes.

‘Doubt it. She would be admitting she was wrong, wouldn’t she, and she wouldn’t like that. She’s too bloody stuck-up.’

In her office, Madam Evans was mulling over such thoughts. Daisy was worth her weight in gold and now she certainly did regret asking her to leave, but there was no way she would ask her to return. If she did, it would be a sign of weakness and she’d lose all respect from the workroom and with that – her control.
No, there was no way she’d do that. She’d just have to try and find another girl with the same gift.

The following day, Grace Portman visited the shop to order an evening blouse and as Agnes checked her measurements, Grace questioned her about Daisy.

‘For goodness’ sake, Agnes, no one will give me a reason for Daisy leaving, now what on earth made her go?’

Agnes pulled the curtain of the cubicle closed after checking that her employer was not around. ‘Well, Mrs Portman, you see Daisy got an evening job to make extra money and when Madam discovered this she fired her!’

‘What, for having a second job?’

‘No, Mrs Portman, for having the job as a barmaid in a brothel!’

‘A brothel? Good heavens, where on earth is the place?’

Agnes told her. ‘It’s not as if Daisy was selling herself, she was only serving drinks, but Madam Evans said if word got out she’d lose her reputation.’

Grace was furious. ‘Instead of which, she lost the best seamstress she had. How ridiculous!’

‘Please don’t let on I told you or I’ll be for the chop too,’ Agnes pleaded.

‘No, of course I won’t breathe a word.’

As she walked along London Road afterwards, Grace pondered over this information. Poor Daisy. She must be worried to death, thought Grace, knowing why she needed the money. But she couldn’t think of a way to change the situation. A great pity as she liked the girl and really appreciated the fine work Daisy had done on several of her gowns. She hoped Daisy was still able to make the money she so badly needed.

The time had almost come for Daisy Gilbert to be deflowered! After much argument, Flo had been forced to accept Daisy’s terms. The girl was worth too much money to her to refuse. Now in Flo’s office the two of them went over the list of Flo’s chosen men with the price they offered in a margin beside the name. To Daisy’s great surprise, she saw the name of Steven Noaks at the top and queried it.

‘Oh yes, this young man was very insistent. He said he’d better the highest price offered, and he’s coming in this evening to speak
to you about it. Tomorrow evening has been booked for you and all the men listed can’t wait for your decision.’ She grimaced. ‘I can see there is going to be a lot of bad feeling in the bar among those who lose.’

Daisy looked down the list of monies offered. She was astounded at what was on offer. The bid had risen to fifty pounds! An astonishing amount of money. Was she really worth that much? How on earth could Steven afford to better that offer? As she thought about it, she was undecided. Was it better to take to bed a complete stranger or would she feel better if it was Steven who was so against her selling herself? She really didn’t know.

When he walked into the bar later that evening, Daisy felt her cheeks redden as she went to serve him. He smiled at her and ordered a drink. When she put it down on the counter, he drew her to the far end of the bar away from other customers.

Taking her hand he said softly, ‘Are you going to accept my offer?’

‘But why did you add your name to the list after what you said to me the other night?’

‘Because you are determined to go through with this ridiculous idea no matter what, so I want to be the first man to make love to you, to treat you tenderly, not frighten you. I couldn’t bear the thought of some stranger just using you.’

She felt the tears prick and blinked them away. ‘You won’t hate me after?’

‘I couldn’t do that, Gloria, how could you think such a thing? Will you accept my offer?’

‘But, Steven, it is so much money, how can you …’

He interrupted her. ‘Shh, just say yes.’

Her voice caught in her throat and she just nodded.

‘Then please tell Flo. I don’t want someone else coming in and taking my place.’

‘Wise choice,’ said Flo. ‘I’ll inform the other men on the list. I don’t want a bloody riot tomorrow evening.’

As she walked back to the bar, Daisy passed the other girls making their way to the bar ready for work. She smiled at them as she passed, but tonight there was no friendly repartee, just a feeling of hostility.

‘So little Miss Innocence,’ said one of them. ‘You think this is a piece of cake don’t you? Well, dearie, make as much money as you can; frankly I don’t think you’ll last until Sunday night!

‘So far you can pick the cream of the bunch. You’ll look and think, yes he looks a decent man, but you wait until your bedroom door closes. They’re usually the worst, but you’ll learn as we all had to.’

Daisy felt sick in the pit of her stomach. Ever since it became known she was to work on their side of the bar, the once-friendly girls had slowly turned against her and as Stella had said, she would be taking some of their clients no doubt. But then Stella had told her to toughen up! So she just walked away.

It was a very long evening. Several men that had been on the list of bidders came into the bar only to be told by Flo that their bids had been bettered. When one or two started to argue, Flo was adamant. ‘Sorry, but the bidding is now closed.’

One or two, after much mutterings, tried to book Daisy for another night only to be told that Daisy – or Gloria as she was known – would choose her punter and the price! This made them furious.

‘What game are you playing here, Flo?’ one man asked angrily.

She shrugged. ‘I know and I’m not happy about it, but it’s the only way the girl will work. Take it or leave it!’

The man glanced over towards the bar and stared at the subject of his desire, then at the other girls. No, he’d had them all, some several times; he was looking for someone fresh. He may not have been the first but young Gloria had this look of innocence about her that was very beguiling.

‘Put me down on the list then.’ He leaned closer. ‘There’s a couple of quid in it for you, Flo, if you can get me in.’

She grinned and said, ‘I’ll see what I can do. I’ll put you down for nine o’clock on Friday and keep my fingers crossed, but be prepared to pay extra.’ As she walked away she chuckled to herself. This girl was going to make her a bundle. How many men a night could she persuade Daisy to take, she wondered? It would all depend on how she felt after the first time she supposed. Then an awful thought came to her. What if Daisy didn’t have the balls to go through with it after tomorrow? No, she couldn’t have that, the girl had made a deal with her and by God, she’d make sure she kept her part of it.

When it was time for Daisy to leave the club that night, Harry insisted she stopped and had a drink with him. ‘I’m going to miss
you working with me behind the bar, love. I suppose nothing I can say will make you change your mind?’

She shook her head. ‘Will you still be my friend, Harry?’

‘My dear Lord of course, why ever not?’

‘I would be really upset if you thought less of me. After all, I’ll be one of Flo’s girls after tomorrow night.’

He took her hand. ‘Listen to me, love, you will never be one of Flo’s girls, ever. You are different. It’s what’s inside a person that counts and inside, you are a good woman. I hope you are successful, because I know this isn’t an easy decision.’

Flo walked over and said, ‘Come in a bit early tomorrow, Daisy. I’ve got a lovely dress for you to wear. I want you looking your best; after all it’s an important night for all of us.’

Harry gave her a withering look, drank up and said goodnight.

‘I’ll have Stella dress you; she’ll be able to give you a few tips before you start.’

The matter-of-fact tone in Flo’s voice brought home to Daisy that Flo Cummings looked on her as a piece of merchandise. Something to be sold for the most money possible and she wondered just how she could ever have felt she was a friend. Well that was fine. She now knew exactly where she stood. Flo would have to treat her well from now on if either of them were to be successful. She rose from the stool and left the club.

The following day, Daisy tried to keep busy. She helped her mother clean the house and prepared the vegetables for the evening meal while Vera went to visit Fred. Daisy made an excuse for not going with her. She couldn’t face her father knowing what the evening held for her. She would feel too ashamed to sit talking to her father. Instead she went for a walk and spent her time window shopping. To her surprise, Agnes walked out of the door of a haberdasher’s just as Daisy was passing. The two greeted each other warmly and decided to go for a quick cup of coffee and a chat.

‘Tell me all the news,’ urged Daisy.

‘Well,’ said Agnes, thrilled to see her friend, ‘since you left Madam has lost a few of her valuable customers.’

‘Really?’

‘I’m afraid that none of us are the seamstress that you are, Daisy love. Your fancy work was exceptional and none of us can match it,
so some ladies have gone elsewhere. Pity you don’t have your own place; you’d do just fine I’m sure with your skills.’

This was just what Daisy needed to hear. If she could save enough money to start her own business, then selling herself wouldn’t be so bad.

‘If by some miracle this ever happened, would you come and work for me, Agnes?’

‘In a second! And so would a few of the others, I’m sure. Madam is becoming impossible. I don’t suppose she ever approached you about coming back did she?’

‘No, sadly not. I would have been only too happy to have done so had she asked, believe me. I miss you all … except for Jessie of course.’ And she laughed.

‘That rotten bitch. She won’t be there much longer I wouldn’t think. She messed up a collar the other day on a piece of very expensive lace. Madam was not pleased. Then the cheeky girl argued that it was the material that was poor, not her sewing. I ask you! How’s the bar work going?’

‘Oh you know, it’s a job and I’m earning money. I’m not doing it by choice.’

‘Oh I must tell you,’ said Agnes with a chuckle. ‘Remember that Mrs Grant, the landlady from the White Swan you measured? You know, whose husband is the lover of Mrs Cummings?’

‘Oh yes, I remember her well.’

‘When her husband got the bill for the stuff she ordered, he came into the shop and created merry hell!’

‘Why?’

‘Because she spent so much money there.’

‘What happened?’

‘You have to hand it to Madam Evans, she handled him beautifully. She said that she could not interfere with the clothes his wife ordered – or Mrs Cummings, and as both the bills were sent to him for payment what did he suggest she do? There was no answer to that so he paid up! What a hoot.’

As they parted company, Daisy walked home, chuckling over their conversation. She was indeed sorry to hear that the gown shop was losing business, but it wasn’t her fault. Her boss had a choice, and she chose the wrong way when she fired her. If only things had been different. But life is full of what ifs.

Daisy tried to eat her meal listening to the account of her mother’s visit to her father, but she pushed her food around her plate until it was time to leave for work.

‘You take care,’ said Vera. ‘You work so hard, standing all them hours.’

‘See you later,’ said Daisy and thought
well
I
won’t
be
standing
so
much
tonight
that’s
for
sure.
She wondered what creation Flo had for her to wear? This time would it be a dress that was less demure, one which showed her attributes like the other girls? Well she certainly wouldn’t dress like a tart, not for anyone!

Stella was waiting at the bar for her. She ordered a couple of gin and tonics for them and then took Daisy upstairs. Handing a drink to her she said, ‘Here, get that down your throat, it’ll relax you.’

Daisy’s hands were trembling and she had to hold the glass with both hands.

Stella tried to make light of her nerves. ‘No one is going to kill you, love, it’s not that bad. As for the lucky young man, I couldn’t have chosen better myself. He looks kind, but better still, he looks experienced. The room is booked for the whole evening, so enjoy yourself.’

‘The whole evening, not just for the hour?’ Daisy asked wide-eyed with terror.