Two Strangers (6 page)

Flo joined in as she served them all with tea and large slices of fruit cake. Vicki didn’t really listen to what was being said; the words and laughter just flowed around her like a comforting blanket.

‘Jim.’

She looked up at the sound of the name she was still getting used to.

‘You were miles away,’ Sid joked. ‘What do you think of your first day in the shop?’

‘I’ve enjoyed it very much, thank you.’

‘And you’ve done very well,’ Bob told her. ‘You’re always there when needed, and the customers like you. Keep that up, lad, and you’ll do well.’

‘Thank you, sir.’ Vicki smiled with relief at the praise. They were pleased with her, and that made her feel more secure.

‘Would you another slice of cake?’ Flo asked her.

‘Er …’ Vicki looked down at her plate and was surprised to see it empty. ‘Oh, no thank you, Mrs Howard. That was lovely.’

‘I’ll have another slice, Mrs H.’ Sid grinned and held out his plate.

Five minutes later the shop bell rang and the two men went back to work. Vicki also stood up and said, ‘I’ll do the washing-up later, Mrs Howard.’

‘No need, son. It won’t take me a minute, and I haven’t got another customer today. Off you go.’

By the time the shop was closed, dinner over, and Vicki was in her room, she was so tired she could hardly stand. But that didn’t matter. She had got through the day and been praised for her work, and she was so happy. Running her hand over the soft pillow, she let the tears trickle down her face, knowing that this tendency to be emotional would stop as she regained her strength.

What a day it had been! She dived into her pocket for the tips she had received and spread them out on the bed. Six whole pennies! On Sunday she would be able to buy another shirt and might even manage to afford a pair of boy’s pyjamas – at the second-hand stall, of course. If she was careful, she wouldn’t have to touch her wages because she wanted to save as much as she could. With some money behind her, she would never have to go back to that terrible life she had been leading. The thought of that made her feel sick, but she soon recovered as she put the money safely away in her purse. Sighing deeply, she looked around her room.

Her room!

Six

The sun was warm, the birds were singing, and the bustle of London seemed miles away in this pleasant patch of garden. Vicki took a deep breath and smiled contentedly, lifting her face to the sun. She had been working for the Howards for two months now and couldn’t remember when she had been so happy. They were more like family to her than her own had ever been. The fact that she was deceiving them still rankled with her, but if she hadn’t pretended to be a boy, she would never have been given a job with them. Because of that, and because she had become very fond of them, she worked extra hard. They never failed to show how pleased they were with her, treating her more like their own child than just someone who worked for them. She was even being allowed to shampoo customers now, and Flo was teaching her how to style hair. If she had a skill like that, she would never go hungry again.

As the memory of that nightmare lanced through her, a shadow fell across her face and she opened her eyes. ‘Hello, Mrs Howard, isn’t it a lovely day? Can I do anything for you?’

‘No, Jim, it’s Sunday and your day off.’ She sat beside Vicki on the old wooden bench. ‘That’s a beautiful book you’re reading. What is it?’

Vicki closed it and ran her hand lovingly over the binding, and then held it out to Flo. ‘This was lent to me on the day after my dad threw me out. I was trying to break into an old outhouse in the hope I could clean myself up. A man came and helped me, and then he bought me breakfast. He said I could increase my chances in life if I improved my speech. He told me to study the book.’

‘So this is why you speak so well,’ Flo remarked, turning the pages.

Vicki nodded. ‘I’ve studied it from cover to cover many times, and practised the lessons diligently, trying all the time to imitate the way he spoke. He was a kind man.’

‘And where is he now?’ Flo handed the book back to Vicki.

‘I don’t know. After we’d had breakfast, he walked away, and I’ve never seen him again.’

‘That is a valuable little book, Jim. When you were desperate, didn’t you consider selling it?’

‘Oh, no!’ She looked at Flo, horrified at the suggestion. ‘It doesn’t belong to me, and somehow, someway, I want to return it to him.’

‘That will be difficult if you don’t know where he went. What do you know about him?’

‘Nothing really. He said his name was Bill, but that was all.’ Vicki gazed into space, remembering. ‘He was obviously a real gentleman. Well educated, I would say, with an upper-class accent and beautiful manners. I couldn’t help wondering why a man like that was living rough. His clothes had seen better days, but I could see that they had once been expensive, and made for him because they fit perfectly.’

‘Perhaps he’d been in the forces. Many poor souls have had a hard time adjusting after that brutal conflict.’

Vicki sat up straight, eyes wide. ‘I never thought of that! He was about the right age to have fought in the war. He was tall and had an air of authority about him. He could have been an army officer.’

‘Maybe, but if you don’t know his surname, it could be impossible to trace him.’

‘I’ll find him.’ Vicki nodded with determination. ‘Someday I’ll find him – and the man at the station, if I can. I owe so much to those two strangers, and I want to let them know how much they’ve helped me. Let them see that perhaps I was worth helping.’

‘I’m sure they knew that.’ Flo stood up and smiled. ‘We think you have the talent and enthusiasm to become an excellent hairdresser. Probably better than both of us. In a couple of years, customers will be flooding in to have their hair styled by you.’

‘That’s kind of you, Mrs Howard,’ Vicki laughed, ‘but you are both masters with a pair of scissors. I’ll try my hardest, but I could never hope to match both of you.’

‘We’ll see,’ Flo said, as she walked back to the house.

‘Been enjoying the sunshine?’ Bob looked up and smiled when Flo walked in.

‘Jim’s in the garden, and I sat with him for a while. I was intrigued by the book he was reading. It was a small, leather-bound volume, and he let me have a look at it. The cover was beautiful blue leather, and it was clearly an expensive edition.’

‘Oh?’ Bob frowned. ‘Did the boy say where he got it?’

Flo nodded and then related their conversation in full, leaving nothing out.

‘He would rather starve than sell the one item he possessed of value?’ Bob asked, astounded.

‘That’s what he said, and I believe him. The book obviously means a great deal to him, and he wants to return it to the man who gave it to him.’

‘How on earth will he be able to do that? From what you say, he only knows the man as Bill. Was there anything in the book to indicate who it belonged to?’

‘Nothing … except …’ Flo shook her head. ‘It probably means nothing.’

‘What?’

‘Well, there was a coat of arms embossed on the book.’

Bob shook his head. ‘If the man was a down-and-out, he could have got it from anywhere. That won’t be any help at all.’

‘You’re right, of course, but you must admit it’s a strange story, Bob.’

‘And getting stranger the more we learn. My God, Flo, that boy’s been living a dangerous life. He’s far too innocent to be cast out on his own like that.’

‘I agree, but he had enough sense to find himself a safe place to sleep. He told me the only way into the room at the warehouse was through a tiny window – only big enough for him.’

‘Thankfully, he does seem to have his head screwed on all right, but what’s happened to him is criminal. I’d like to meet his father and give him a piece of my mind.’

‘You’ll have to stand in line behind me!’ Flo told him.

They looked at each other, their expressions serious, and then Bob stood up. ‘Put the kettle on, Flo. I’ll just pop down and see if Jim would like a cup of tea with us – and I’d like to take a look at this mysterious book.’

While her husband was downstairs, Flo quickly made some sandwiches with a nice piece of boiled ham and got out the rock cakes she had made in the morning. Jim was eating better now – he’d finished all of his lunch today – but she still liked to see he had food at regular intervals. That gaunt look had gone, thank goodness, and he was beginning to put on some weight at last. The poor little devil had been stick thin when he’d arrived, and that had worried her. But the change in him now was very noticeable. When she’d cut his hair that first day, it had been limp and lifeless, but now it was glossy, with a tendency to curl, and had a glint of golden red in the dark hair, blending in with his startling amber eyes. She smiled to herself in amusement. What would the young ladies of today give for such colouring?

Monday was, as always, a quiet day for the barber, and, seeing that Jim was keeping himself busy cleaning out the stock cupboard, Bob removed his apron. ‘Will you hold the fort, Sid? I’m going to pop out for an hour.’

His assistant looked up from the newspaper he was reading. ‘Of course, Bob.’

‘Thanks.’ Bob found Flo upstairs making one of her delicious cakes. ‘I’m going to see Harry Butler. He’s very knowledgeable about history, as you know, and I thought he might be able to help with that coat of arms on Jim’s book. I’ve made a rough sketch.’

‘I thought you said it wouldn’t mean anything.’

Bob shrugged. ‘It probably doesn’t, but I’m intrigued, Flo. Why would that man give away such a valuable book? It was a first edition, as well.’

‘Was it? I never noticed that.’ Flo smiled at her husband. ‘Well, you haven’t visited Harry for a while, and he’ll be pleased to see you.’

‘Won’t be long.’ Bob kissed his wife and left by the side door, whistling as he walked up the street. He didn’t know why he was bothering with this, but there was a mystery surrounding that boy, and it had caught his interest. Anyway, it would give him something to do on a slow afternoon.

Harry was a retired teacher and always happy to see Bob. He smiled broadly when he opened the door, and ushered Bob into the front room. ‘What a pleasant surprise. What brings you out during shop hours?’

‘It’s very quiet today so I thought I’d take the chance and pop round. I’ve got a mystery for you, Harry.’

‘Good, good. Sit down and tell me all about it.’ Harry poured them both a beer, sat down and leant forward in his chair, eager to hear what Bob had to say. ‘All right, tell me what this is all about.’

Bob gave him a brief outline of Jim and the book, and then he took the sketch he’d made and handed it to Harry.

‘Ah, you haven’t got the book, I suppose?’

‘No. It means a lot to the lad, and I didn’t like to ask if I could borrow it. And I haven’t told him I’m here.’

‘Hmm.’ Harry took a large book from a shelf near him and began turning the pages, referring often to the sketch as he did so.

After about fifteen minutes of silence, he jumped up and sorted through another pile of books until he found what he was looking for. He thumbed through that for a while and then looked up.

‘Have you found something?’ Bob asked, noticing the excited gleam in Harry’s eyes.

‘I think so, but I need the book to be certain. Any chance of that, do you think?’

‘I’m sure Jim won’t let it out of his sight, but why don‘t you join us for dinner one evening? We could bring up your interest in old books, and he will probably let you have a look at it.’

‘Good idea. And I never turn down a chance to have one of Flo’s dinners.’ He grinned. ‘What about tonight?’

Bob laughed. ‘You are eager. All right. Now, will you tell me what you’ve found?’

‘Not until I’ve seen the book.’ Harry closed his large reference volumes. ‘Want another beer?’

‘Are you going to leave me in suspense?’ Bob held out his glass.

‘I want to be sure before saying anything.’ He refilled both their glasses. ‘Tell me what the boy said about the man. Every detail.’

They had a guest for dinner! Vicki paused in the doorway, not sure what to do. ‘Er … I can eat downstairs, Mrs Howard, and I’ll come and wash up when you’ve finished.’

‘There’s no need for that, Jim,’ Flo said, leading Vicki over to the man who was studying her with a deep frown on his face. ‘Harry, this is Jim.’

‘Ah.’ The serious expression disappeared and was replaced with a smile. ‘You’re not quite what I expected. I’m pleased to meet you … Jim.’

Vicki didn’t miss the pause before he said her name, and her insides churned with fear. She was well aware that now she was filling out it was becoming harder to pass herself off as a boy, and she had the uncomfortable feeling that this man had seen through her disguise. As she shook his hand, she looked him straight in the eyes, silently beseeching him not to give her away, and when he gave a slight nod of his head – and the hint of a wink – she relaxed. ‘And I’m pleased to meet you, sir.’

‘Sit down,’ Flo ordered, ‘and eat while the food is hot.’

During the meal, Vicki listened with interest. Harry was a knowledgeable man, and his account of historical events was fascinating. She remained silent for most of the time, speaking only when spoken to, but when the conversation turned to more recent times, she ventured a couple of questions about the war. She knew it had been terrible, of course, but she wanted to know what it had really been like for the men and officers. She had seen for herself how so many had been damaged, physically and mentally. Her dad could never tell her anything because hadn’t joined the army – flat feet, or something.

The things Harry told her brought a lump to her throat, but she managed to hold her emotions in check – boys didn’t cry. And when he said the casualty rates were very high among the young officers, Vicki wondered if Bill had been one of them.

‘I believe you feel you might have met one of those young officers?’ Harry asked.

‘I’m not sure, sir. I’m only guessing.’

‘Bob told me about the book the man gave you. Would you let me have a look at it?’

‘I don’t think it will tell you much, sir. It’s only a little book.’